Page 28 of C is for Comfort

She chooses a purple sticker with a panda on it and puts it on her jumper.

“There are some rules I need you to follow,” Spence says once Lexi has taken the pain relief.

“What rules?”

“Don’t lean on your plaster or put anything heavy on it.”

She frowns. “Like what?”

“I don’t know. You might want to see how many books you can balance on it.”

“That’s silly!”

It is silly, but at least she’s smiling. Spence is great with her. I know it’s his job, but it still warms my heart in a way it really shouldn’t. He gave me a massage and fucked me. He’s not about to whisk Lexi and me away.

Spence shrugs. “I know, but you’d be amazed about all the silly things people do.”

“I’m not silly.”

“That’s good to know. Your arm might get itchy and uncomfortable, but whatever you do, don’t try to cut it off.”

“My arm?”

Spence laughs. “Your cast.”

“Oh! I won’t.”

“You can’t get your cast wet, so you’ll need to get your dad to help you put a bag over it before you have a bath or shower.”

“Okay.”

“Lastly, even if your arm gets itchy, promise me you won’t poke anything down the cast.”

“I promise,” she says solemnly.

“There are also some exercises I’d like you to do every day.” He hands her an A4 sheet of paper with instructions and diagrams on it. “Maybe your dad can do them with you. Now, follow the signs to the plaster room to get your cast, and then you’ll be able to go home. I’d like you to come back in four weeks for another X-ray so we can see how well the bone is healing.” He looks at me. “You’ll get an appointment through the post. There will be a lot less waiting around than there has been today.”

“Thank you, Doctor Price.” It feels weird using his title when he’s been inside me.

“You’re welcome.” His gaze lingers on me, and he doesn’t move. “Bye, Lexi.”

“Bye, Doctor Price!”

Spence holds his hand out to me. I stare at it dumbly for a second before realising he wants me to shake it. I’ve never shaken a doctor’s hand before. I grasp his hand.

“Bye, Lexi’s dad,” he says warmly. As he shakes my hand, he presses something into my palm.

Then he’s gone. I stare at the small piece of paper in my palm. It has a mobile number scrawled on it, along with two words:Call Me.

* * *

Archie and Blake are waiting for us when we get home.

“Wow,” Blake says to Lexi. “You’ve got a cast and everything!”

“Yup,” Lexi says proudly. “Will you sign it?”

As Spence promised, she’s been in a lot less pain since getting the cast put on. Now she’s just tired and uncomfortable.