Chapter Fifty - Busy weeks ahead

Farrah

It was eight p.m.; Asher and I had just left the hospital once we knew his grandma was comfortable. She would be OK in time, but I knew Asher was worried sick, and I can’t blame him. I was too. I was used to seeing her up and about, full of energy and life, so seeing her in the hospital bed hurt and bruised was heartbreaking. It was going to take time for her to heal, especially with her age. But, she was a strong woman, and she would get there.

“You going to be OK?” I asked as he walked me to my car.

“I will be worried sick until she is home, even though I know she is getting looked after,” he sighed.

“She will be home in a couple of days,” I smiled, “And I will help any way I can,”

“Thank you, love,”

I rested my back to my car, and Asher stepped in and kissed me softly.

“Is there any way you can come and stay with me tonight? It will be strange in the house without my grandma,”

“I will call my parents and explain what has happened, and hopefully, they will understand and let me stay with you. But, even if I need to promise them, we will be in separate rooms,” I giggled.

“Whatever it takes, sweetness,” he laughed.

“How about we head back to yours, order pizza, and I will call them?”

“Good plan. I am hungry and tired,” he replied.
“We can snuggle up in bed, and watch a movie, have an early night,”

We stole one last kiss before getting into our separate vehicles to head back to his. I don’t know how my parents will be when I ask if I can stay with him. However, I have been with Asher for a while now, so they can surely trust me to spend the night with him.

We arrived at Asher’s place and headed inside. He called for the pizza, and I went to the kitchen to call my parents. My mom would be the better option. It rang, one, two, three times and then she answered.

“Hey, sweetie,” she said.

“Hey, mom. Can I stay with Asher tonight, please? He is upset and worried about his grandma,” I asked hopefully.

I had let my mom know earlier what was going home and why I wouldn’t be home for dinner.

“Farrah, I don’t know,” she sighed.

“Please, mom? I don’t want to leave him alone?”

“And where will you sleep?” she questioned.

“In the spare bedroom,”

That was a complete lie. I hated lying, but this is one I need to tell to try to encourage her to let me stay over. Oh, only if she knew just how many sleepovers we have had. She fell silent. I knew she was thinking about it.

“OK, but do not make a habit of it, and do not tell your father. If he asks, you are staying with a friend,” she whispered.

“Thank you. I will see you tomorrow. Night, love you,”

“Goodnight, I love you too,” she replied, “And, please be safe,” she added before hanging up.

I made my way back through to join Asher. He was on the sofa, staring into space.

“My mom said I could stay, but according to my dad, I am staying with a friend,”

“That makes me feel a little better,”

He lifted his head and smiled at me. He patted the spot next to him on the sofa. I happily went over and joined him. I snuggled into him and rested my head on his shoulder.

“She will be OK, Asher, you know that, right?”

“I do, yes,” he replied and kissed the top of my head, “Pizza will be here soon,”

“How about we get into something more comfortable before the food gets here?” I suggested.

Asher nodded, and we went to his bedroom. I didn’t have anything with me, so I will need to borrow some of his clothes, which will not be for the first time.

“Tee and boxers or Tee and joggers?” he asked.

“Tee and boxers, please,”

He handed me them from his drawer and getting joggers for himself. We changed out of our clothes into them. Once we were ready, we went back downstairs to wait for the pizza to arrive. I hoped it would be here soon because I haven’t eaten since breakfast, and I was sure he was the same.

A quiet night in and a good night sleep will hopefully make him feel a little better.

***
I woke, and it was still dark outside, but the spot next to me on the bed was empty. I stood and went in search of Asher. I found him in the kitchen, with a cup of tea in his hands.

“Babe, why are you up?”

“Sorry, I woke and couldn’t get back to sleep,” he stated.

I made my way to him and stood behind him, and draped my arms over him, and nuzzled his neck.

“Worried?” I asked, and he nodded.

He took my hand, swirled his chair to face me, and brought me between his legs. He buried his face in my chest and held onto me.

“She will be home before you know it,”

I gently stroked his hair and soothed him the best I could. He wouldn’t relax until she was home. He looked up at me, managing a half-smile. I swiped the hair away from his face.

“Thank you for being here, Farrah.”

“Always,”
I pressed a soft kiss to his lips, and his half-smile managed to grow into a full one.

“Are you ready to come back to be?” I asked.

“I am,”

He poured the remainder of his tea down the sink. He snaked his arms around me from behind, and I led us back to the bedroom. We got settled down for the second time tonight.

“Goodnight, again,” he whispered, “I love you,”

“Goodnight, sweet dreams. I love you too,”

I turned my back, and Asher shifted into me. His front to my back, and his arms over my waist. I linked his fingers and kissed his knuckles.

I pray that is him for the night. He needs as much sleep as possible because the upcoming weeks are going to be busy for him. He will have a lot to do, and I will help in any way I can. He needed to be rested because he was going to be rushed off his feet.

And he will now allow anyone to come in and help look after her, even though she did suggest that. He would rather do it himself. I understand, though. I would be the same.

It only took a matter of minutes until I heard his breathing become shallow. He was already asleep, and with any luck, it will stay that way until our alarm goes off.