Chapter 29: Bodyguard Please!

As Maryanne breathes in deeply, her arm still throbbing, the doctor leans back, adjusting his glasses. They are all within the main living room of the mansion, Max having forced her to sit down as soon as they arrived.
“It was a good choice in calling me. Even small cuts such as these can turn for the worse if untreated.” He closes his case of medical equipment.
Maryanne shifts her arm around, seeing if the slight throb will fall into agony. She winces as she proves her hypothesis right, and the gauze tightens. She lowers her arm once more and holds back the painful sigh caught in her throat.
Max is hovering over the side of the doctor, his arms folded and his brow hard. “But she’s okay doctor?” He only steps back in order to allow the man to stand up from his chair.
He nods, staring down at Maryanne’s wrapped arm, “Yes, perfectly healthy. I treated the wounds and wrapped them, but they should start closing up shortly.”
“Thank you very much.” Max releases one of his arms in order to shake the Doctor’s hand firmly.
The Doctor smiles softly, relaxing his shoulders, “Always a pleasure.”
“Thank you, Doctor.”
“Rest up,” the doctor advises Maryanne, giving her a reassuring nod.
Maryanne smiles up at the man, “I will.”
Jason from earlier is standing just within the doorway, waiting for the doctor. As the man nears Jason, he steps out of the room and leads the doctor out of the mansion.
Maryanne and Max sit in silence for a moment, neither one of them looking at the other.
Finally, Maryanne breathes in deeply, stating roughly, “You know, you don’t have to talk like I’m not here.”
Max’s brow softens, slowly rising as he registers what she has said. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to.”
She shakes her head and stands cautiously, “It’s fine, really.”
Rushing to her side, his arms on either side of her in case she falls, he questions, “Are you okay?”
“Just tired.” Maryanne’s body grows heavy with exhaustion as the adrenaline finally leaves her system.
“You should get some rest,” Max orders, gently touching her elbow to steady her wavering form.
Maryanne nods, her brow furrowing as her head begins to pound, “Yeah. Where’s Riley?” She looks up, glancing around the room. Her mind is finally clear enough to search out the child. What if she is still terrified? What they just went through is traumatic for a young child.
Max speaks softly, easing Maryanne toward the doorway of the living room, “Geneva is taking care of her. I wanted to focus on you.”
Choosing to ignore his last comment, Maryanne asks, “How is she?”
“I don’t think she really understood what was going on. She’s fine now,” Max tries to reassure her as he helps her to the bottom of the stairs.
She barely moves her head as she nods. The world spins as she stares at the next step. “Oh, okay, that’s good.”
“Come on, let’s get you to bed.”
Maryanne falls against Max’s shoulder and uses him as leverage to ascend the stairs. They don’t speak as they reach the first landing and continue on.
As they reach Maryanne’s room, she finally asks, “Do you believe that Caroline has been watching us?”
Max ponders the question for a second as he shuts the door behind them automatically. “It’s the only way she could’ve known where you’d be.”
Maryanne shivers at the thought. She knew it was a possibility, but she was hoping that it was just a coincidence. The idea of being stalked has fear gripping her once more.
She mumbles, “That’s terrifying.”
Max helps her to sit down on the bed and crouches down to take off her shoes. Maryanne reaches out to stop him but he waves her away. “Maryanne, I want to assign a bodyguard to both you and Riley. I don’t want Caroline sneaking up on us again.”
“No,” she says almost immediately.
Pausing in front of her, shock washes over his face. “Why?”
“Because I can protect Riley.” Maryanne falls back against her pillows and closes her eyes briefly before looking up at Max as he now hovers over her. His face is covered with a shadow and she is unable to read his expression. Her world spins with the pain from her pounding wound taking over her body. Had Caroline really injured her this badly?
Max bites out, “Maryanne, it’s not about your capability, but whether or not Caroline uses extreme force.”
“Max, I’ll be fine.” Her words are released almost on a groan as she inches closer to the center of her bed. Max sits down on the edge, watching her.
“What about today?”
Maryanne remains quiet, staring up at the ceiling.
“You heard the doctor, you’re lucky, that’s it. You could’ve been hurt a lot worse.”
She murmurs, “But I wasn’t.”
“Maryanne, stop being so stubborn and just accept some help.”
“I can’t. If I am to prove that I can protect her, I have to do it on my own.”
Max’s voice drips with frustration as he says, “But that’s just reckless. This is about your safety, not whether or not you’re capable of sole custody.” He wraps the blankets around Maryanne, tucking her in.
Although her eyes are closed and her words soft, she holds her stance, “I need to prove this to myself, Max.”
“Please, you won’t even know he’s there.” Max leans back, realizing that he is almost begging. He grits his teeth as he waits for her answer.
“No,” she counters.
Sitting completely still, Maryanne can sense the wheels stirring in Max’s mind. She knows him well enough by now that she can predict his thought process.
“And don’t give me one without telling me,” she orders quickly.
Taking a deep breath in, Max’s voice grows deeper, “I won’t; I couldn’t break your trust like that.”
Maryanne smiles softly, “Good.”
“Do you need anything else?”
She groggily shakes her head, “No, I’ll be fine, goodnight Max.”
Max whispers softly to her as Maryanne falls into a deep slumber, “Rest up and feel better Maryanne.”