Page 73 of His Playground

It seemed like it took the doc hours to finish doing whatever he was doing with my wife. She still hasn’t woken up, though.

“Is it normal for her to sleep like this?” I ask him.

“Her body needs it. She’ll wake up,” he says.

“Okay. Thank you.”

“I’ll be out in the living room if you need anything,” Doc tells me. “I’ll stay until she wakes up. To make sure she’s stable.”

“Thanks, Doc, appreciate it.” I nod.

“Sammie has them all,” Louie announces once the doc is out of earshot.

“I can’t leave until she’s awake,” I say.

“We’ll keep them entertained,” Louie replies.

“Thanks.” I sit on the bed next to Antonia, feeling utterly fucking helpless.

“She’s going to be okay,” Louie repeats.

“I know,” I lie. I don’t know that, and until she wakes up and tells me as much herself, I won’t believe it. “Can you grab my laptop and the disk? It’s in the safe.”

“Got it,” he says, turning and walking out.

“You have to be okay, Antonia. I cannot… Iwill notdo this life without you. I just got you back. I need you.”

“Hmm,” she groans.

“You’re awake? Shit, thank fuck! Damn, you’re awake.” I lean forward and press my lips against hers.

“I don’t feel good,” she says.

“I know. You’re sick, but the doc is here. He’s going to make you better,” I tell her.

Louie walks back into the room with my laptop and the disk.

“She’s awake. Tell the doc,” I say.

He sets the laptop on the bed, pockets the drive, and walks right back out of the room.

“What happened?” Antonia asks.

“You were poisoned. I was supposed to be poisoned. You ate the soup meant for me,” I tell her.

“I… who would…? Oh god.” Her eyes widen. “My father.”

“Shhh, don’t worry about it now,” I soothe her.

I stand and give the doc room to check her over as soon as he pushes through the door. He asks a bunch of questions, but Antonia keeps her eyes on me.

“Carlo, where’s Jazzy?” she says.

“In her room, asleep.”

“She can’t be alone. You need to go sit with her, in case she wakes up.”

“She’s not alone. Emmanuel is in there.” Of all the people in the world, he’d be the last I’d expect to be comforting a kid over her nightmares. He usuallyisthe nightmare.