Byron was silent for too long. Maeve cracked one eye open and snuck a look at him. He was facing her direction, but his face was hidden in shadow, his expression unreadable.
Maeve grew anxious. She’d only come to see if Alexis had been right about him. But once she saw that Byron couldn’t even see and still refused help from the caregiver, she couldn’t just leave. His attitude might be cold, but he hadn’t actually pushed her away.
It was clear he tolerated her presence more than anyone else’s. And with that small allowance, Maeve felt like she could push her luck. Seeing him as vulnerable as this, she couldn’t just leave. Maeve inched closer and wrapped her arms around his thin waist. When Byron stiffened, Maeve felt her heart soften.
“I’m not mad anymore about the cold war you started,” Maeve said. “But if you keep being so harsh, I will leave.”
Byron let out a low laugh, as if she’d amused him. “I started this? How can you say that?”
“What did I do?” Maeve asked.
“Don’t you know?”
Maeve blinked, thrown off. She started to ask, but Byron gently moved her hand aside, lying back on his side of the bed. “Stay over there. Or go back to your room and sleep.”
“Oh.” Maeve scooted away, feeling rejected.
The room fell silent, with only the soft glow of moonlight streaming in, barely illuminating the figures on each side of the bed.
After a while, Byron sat up suddenly. Though he couldn’t see, he still knew exactly where Maeve was, for he’d memorized her scent.
“Shouldn’t you be taking your medicine by now?” Byron asked.
Maeve, lost in thought, took a moment to realize what he’d said. She had mentioned taking her medicine earlier but had completely forgotten. “Right. I’ll go take it and be back!”
With that, Maeve turned her wheelchair and rushed out like she was on a mission. Meanwhile, Byron picked up his phone from the table. When Maeve returned, she discovered the door to Byron’s room was locked.
Maeve thought in disbelief, ‘Is he serious? Who does that?’ Gazing at the closed door, Maeve felt a little let down. It wasn’t just her imagination. He really was pushing her away, but also indulging her at times. She didn’t understand what was going on.
Back in her room, Maeve was greeted by her two little ones, already snuggled under the blanket with space for her in the middle. “Mommy, come on! We warmed it up for you.”
Maeve’s heart lightened as she got out of the wheelchair and lay down between her kids, holding one in each arm.
“Mom, you went to see Dad just now, right? Is he doing okay?” Will asked, his voice soft. “Dad doesn’t want to get me sick so he won’t let me see him.”
Maeve thought of Byron’s bandaged eyes and felt a twinge in her heart, knowing Byron didn’t want Will to see him like that and worry.
Theo furrowed his brow, thoughtful. Jaylen refused to tell Theo anything about Byron’s recovery, so Theo figured it must be serious because Jaylen used to tell Theo everything.
Sensing her kids’ concern, Maeve patted their heads reassuringly. She said, “The doctor said he just needs time to heal.”
Will and Theo exchanged a glance. They were both aware of Byron testing medicine for Maeve, so they didn’t believe Maeve saying Byron would get better. But they knew their father was trying to hide it from their mom, so she wouldn’t worry. They, too, would keep up the pretense, not wanting her to feel guilty or sad. They wanted to protect her.
Maeve had no idea of her children’s thoughts. Thinking about Byron and their recent exchange, she finally drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, the kids were already off to kindergarten. After breakfast and her medication, Maeve did her usual laps around the ward to regain strength in her legs. Even after thirty minutes, her knees were weak, her movements still strained from the viral infection’s impact on her joints.
Finished with her exercises, Maeve wheeled herself towards Byron’s room. A nurse, seeing her struggle, kindly informed her that the wheelchair was automatic and didn’t need manual turning. Having never used a wheelchair before, Maeve was shocked. Remembering how she’d been struggling all day yesterday, Maeve felt a little foolish.
Outside Byron’s ward, however, bodyguards stopped her. “The doctor is changing Mr. McDaniel’s dressing. No one is allowed in,” they informed her.
Maeve felt a pang of relief. ‘At least he’d come up with a reasonable excuse this time,’ Maeve thought. But her relief was short-lived.
Just then, Serena strolled up, looking right past her as she addressed the bodyguards. “Please let Mr. McDaniel know I’m here.”
The bodyguards nodded and soon returned. “Mr. McDaniel will see you,” they said, motioning for Serena to enter.
Maeve asked, “Didn’t you say no one was allowed in?”
The guard’s face remained neutral. “These are Mr. McDaniel’s instructions.”
Serena turned, feigning surprise at seeing Maeve. “Oh, Ms. Reese, you’re here too? What happened to your leg? Are you okay?”
For Will, Maeve forced a polite nod. “Nothing serious. Just a minor injury. What brings you here?”
“Oh, I have private business with Mr. McDaniel. Sorry, can’t share!” Serena replied with a touch of pride. “Would you like to join me?”
“No thanks, I still need to take my medicine,” Maeve replied, seething. The ban on visitors was meant only for her. Frustrated, Maeve returned to her ward, angrily turning circles in her wheelchair until she was almost dizzy.