Chapter 101
He nodded. "I'll drive you."
"What about my car?"
Frank stood up and then pulled a hundred-dollar bill from his wallet and laid it on the table. Then, he turned around and nodded to the bartender who nodded back, his eyebrows pulling together in concern. Then, Frank turned his attention back to me. "Give me your keys and I'll have someone drive it to your house later."
I fished around in my purse and pulled out my keys and handed them to him. I was in no condition to drive, and I knew it. I tried to stand up, but the room whirled around me. I gripped the edge of the table to steady myself, but Frank's strong hands gripped my shoulders to steady me. I picked up my purse and started to walk away, but I weaved. So, Frank scooped me up in his arms and carried me outside, walking quickly toward his car.
"How could he do this?" I asked, and then everything went black.
I opened my eyes, and it was dark. I heard voices in the distance. Concentrating, I realized that Frank and Alanna were talking. They sounded concerned.
As I looked around, I slowly realized that I was in my bedroom, and was fully clothed. I sat up on the edge of the bed, and my head spun. Groping along the side table, I found the light and turned it on. I plopped down on the edge of the bed again and raised a hand to my head, trying to regain my bearings. After a minute, my head stopped spinning so I stood up and held onto the edge of the bed to steady myself.
"Frank, you don't have to stay. You need to go home to your family," Alanna said on the other side of the door. "I'll call you if I need anything."
"I'm not leaving until I know she's okay," Frank said. I had never heard him so worried before.
"Do you think we should take her to the hospital?" Alanna asked. "She may be in shock."
"Oh, she's in shock, all right," Frank agreed. "She just needs some rest and she'll be fine. Her mind needs time to process it."
I opened the door, and the light streamed into the room, too bright.
"What are you doing up?" Frank asked as he hurried to my side.
"How are you feeling?" Alanna asked, concerned.
I let out a deep breath. "I'd be better if Frank hadn't plied me with alcohol."
Frank let out a deep breath as he smiled. "She's okay," he said to Alanna, and then turned his attention back to me. "You had me worried sick!"
"How long was I out?"
Frank shrugged. "A few hours."
"Frank, go on home," I said as I reached for the door facing to steady myself. "And thank you for everything." I wrapped my arms around him and pulled him in for a hug as he rubbed my back.
"Anytime, darlin'."
I pulled back and looked in to his eyes. "Be sure to thank Roxanne for me, too. She's a sweetie."
Frank smiled at the mention of his wife. "That's why I keep her. She was concerned about you, too. She'll be happy to hear that you're okay. We were both worried."
I turned him around and gently pushed him toward the door. "Well, I'm fine now, so go."
Frank laughed. "Are you kicking me out?"
"Not kicking," I teased. "Escorting."
He laughed as he opened the door.
"Frank?" I stopped him, suddenly serious. "Thanks for everything."
He reached over and gave me a kiss on the forehead. "Anytime, pumpkin."
"Pumpkin?" Alanna asked behind us. "How come I don't have a nickname?"
A mischievous grin curled his lips. "Oh. I have a nickname for you, all right!"
"Hey. Wait a minute!" Alanna teased as she picked up a pillow to throw at him.
"Bye!" Frank said, laughing as he disappeared out the door.
"He's a great guy," Alanna said, and then added, "but I'd never say that to his face."
I laughed, but cringed. My head was pounding. I needed to take some Tylenol now. "He's one in a million."
Alanna placed her hand on my back. "Alyssa, you need to go back to bed. Can I get you anything?"
"Just some tea."
Alanna laughed. "You and your sweet tea."
"Hey. I have you hooked on it now, too," I said. I had taught her how to make it, and now she loved it just as much as I did.
"Here," she said, slipping her arm around me. "Let's get you back to bed. We'll talk in the morning."
I nodded, and didn't fight her as she led me back to my bed. I sat down on the edge and reached for my purse.
"Here; I'll get that for you," she offered as she picked it up and handed it to me.
"Thanks, hon," I said as I took it from her and got out some Tylenol.
Alanna headed for the door. "I'll be right back." She came back a moment later with a glass of sweet tea.
"Alanna, I'll be fine," I said in a gentle voice. "You go on to bed and I'll call you if I need anything."
She nodded as she forced a smile. "Okay. I'll be in the next room if you need anything."
"Thanks, Alanna," I said, and watched as she walked out and closed the door behind her.
I set my purse on the side table and lay back down, but questions raced through my mind. I looked at the clock. It was just nine o'clock, even though it seemed much later. I hadn't talked to Greer in a while, so I picked up my cell phone and dialed her number.
"Alyssa!" she answered on the first ring. "How the heck are you?"
I laughed. "The kids must be in the room, or you wouldn't be curbing your cursing."
She sighed. "Oh, the joys of parenthood!"
I smiled. "How are the kids, by the way?"
"Oh, mean as ever," she teased.
"Those little angels could never be mean!"
"Angels, ha!" she replied. "You don't live with them all the time!"
"I wish I did," I said with a sigh. "Tell the kids that I miss them."
"Well, then, come and visit more often!" she said.
