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“That’s a good thing. If you could limit caffeine too—that might help. Drink lots of water. Eat lots of nutritious foods. Every bit matters. Unfortunately, there isn’t just one thing you can do to prevent migraines.”
This was nothing I hadn’t heard before.
“All of this information will be on your discharge papers. As soon as this IV finishes up, we’ll get you out of here.” She pressed a few buttons, and a lock screen appeared. “I assume you have someone who can take you home.”
“I can take a cab,” I said sweetly, while throwing Beck a saucy grin.
Beck scoffed. “Cab my ass. I'm taking you home.”
The doctor's eyes volleyed between us. “Right…I'll let you two figure that out.” Then she focused on me. “Take care of yourself, Luna. And at least consider trying some of the strategies we talked about.”
“I will,” I said solemnly, although I'm pretty sure the doc was astute enough to see through it.
I couldn't exactly change my schedule when I had The Chateau to get off the ground. All my money, everything I’d been working towards, was building up to this.
The nurse came in and removed the IV, the bag now empty where it hung down off the metal stand. She made a few notes on the computer and handed me my clear plastic bag of belongings.
Beck outreached a hand. “Come on, Marks. Let's get you home.”
CHAPTER13
Beck
“Daddy,why is the neighbor lady sleeping on our couch?”
I barely had time to drop Luna off at home before it was time to pick Alice up from school.
While I intended to drop Luna off at her house, she'd promptly fallen asleep the second the car departed the hospital.
Despite my attempts to rouse her, I failed. I carried her inside my house and gently laid her on the couch, making sure to cover her in the fuzziest blanket we had available, before heading right back out to get Alice.
Did I forget to mention our house guest to my daughter?
Yes.
But not because I'm a bad dad.
It was because I had a rather loquacious kiddo who proceeded to talk my ear off the whole journey home, regaling me about the hottest gossip in the second grade. How Avery liked Luke, but Luke didn't like Avery, and how that essentially…
Actually, never mind.
Now, she sat stunned into silence, unsure what to do about the woman sprawled on our couch.
“Daddy?” Alice asked again. Then, on her tippy toes, she walked closer to investigate. You’d have thought my daughter had just stumbled upon a giant cake in the forest the way she was looking at Luna with awe and wonder.
Then Alice poked Luna.
Luna’s hand rose and swiped through the air, as if swatting an invisible fly, missing Alice’s nose by a hair.
Alice giggled, approaching again, this time lifting up the corner of the blanket and swiping it across Luna’s face.
“What the—” Luna startled some more. Her eyes flew open, and her hand lifted as if to swat again. I swooped in, picking up my daughter before she—rightfully—got bonked for disturbing someone’s sleep.
“Snack time,” I told my daughter, carrying her to the kitchen. The open floor plan allowed me to keep a good eye on Luna.
I opened the fridge and removed a brick of cheese before heading to the pantry to get some pita chips and peanut butter. Alice loved the disgusting combination and who was I to stand in the way of her getting some good nutrients into her body?
While I was at it, I sliced some more cheese, making a plate for Luna.