Is she going to be alright? she seems to be in a lot of pain." Nicholas asked the Doctor with deep concern.
"She is doing very well, surprising us all, I must admit. The pain is normal considering the injuries she sustained and the surgery."
"Thanks. When can she start eating?"
"For now, we can't risk giving her food, she had severe international injuries affecting her organs. Once we're certain everything is in good shape, she can eat whatever she wants."
"understood."
Discussions like these became normal until two weeks later.
"It's time to go home."
"Finally! I've been cooked up in here." She got down from the bed with caution.
"Easy, you shouldn't be moving like that without assistance."
"I feel much better, I'm healing. Besides, I'm leaving the hospital today, I plan to do a lot of moving."
"Not if I can help it."
"You can't stop me."
"Actually, I can." She looked at him wondering if he'd gone back to being a jerk. He smiled at her.
"You would be doing a lot of moving just not the way you want or have in mind."
"What do you mean?"
He pointed at the wheel chair he'd gotten ready for her. "Easy and safe movement."
"You can't be serious."
"You know I am. I never joke, especially not with stuff like this."
Aurora really wanted to argue but thought better of it. Besides, sitting in a wheelchair was way better than laying down all day in the hospital bed.
"Fine, just get me out here already. Where are Kiesha and Natalie? They were here moments ago."
"I sent them home."
"Why?"
"You'll see why." He smiled suspiciously.
Why was he acting so weird?
They were home in no time. "Aurora, I forgot something in the car. I'll go get it right now." He opened the entrance door and stepped aside.
"Surprise!!! Welcome home Aurora." She couldn't believe it, he'd planned a surprise for her.
"Aurora, I was hoping to welcome you back home in a way you'd like. If you want something else I could have it arranged."
"Are you kidding me? This is perfect. The flowers, decoration, the smile on everyone's faces, it's more than enough."
"There's more."
"Really what could it be?"
"Here, open this box."
"A car key... You got a car for me?"
"There's more…"
"This is too much."
"You deserve it all."
Aurora had nothing to say, rendered speechless in a good way, she felt happy about all that was going on. Everyone had a good wish, a smile and a gift for her. It seemed Julia and Natalie had become friends… a good thing after being on each other's neck for a while.
A knock on the door distracted everyone for a while. "Natalie, did you invite anyone else?"
"No, I was going to ask you the exact same question."
Signaling the Butler, he ordered "Get the door."
Once the door was opened, a lady probably in her fifties barged inside, stopped to stare at the decorations,
"What the hell is going on here, son?"
Stunned, Aurora turned to Nicholas and mouthed, "she's your mom?" She grew nervous. Nick gave her hand a little squeeze.
"We're welcoming my wife home."
"Wife? When did you get married?"
Ignoring her question, he introduced his wife, Aurora, to his mom. "Mother, meet my wife, Aurora. Aurora, meet my mother."
For some reason, Nick's mom was stunned to see Aurora. "You, who's daughter are you? I mean what family were you born in?"
"I am a Kingston, ma'am." The woman seemed uncomfortable with who her family was.
She quickly covered it up. "So why is your wife in a wheelchair, Nicholas?"
"It's a long story."
"Then shorten it for me."
Natalie did the narrating.
"How come no one told me? I didn't know about the marriage to begin with. Even you Nat? you didn't think it was important for me to know?"
She held Aurora's gaze with difficulty. "Poor child, you have been through a lot." She returned her stare to both her children demanding an answer.
"I'm sorry mom, we were worried we didn't think to tell anyone when it happened and I figured Nick wanted you to find out about the marriage when you got back from your trip."
She turned to look at her son, avoiding Aurora's gaze. "Is this true?"
Nicholas nodded dismissively. He hated being questioned by anyone, he made no exception for anyone.
"I'll take my wife up to her room to rest."
He'd sensed his mother's reaction. He didn't want the awkwardness to last any longer, especially for Aurora.
"Your mom is really beautiful." She said once he had gotten her into her room. She couldn't deny how happy she was when Nick mentioned taking her to her room. She wanted out of the awkwardness downstairs.
"you should get some rest, I'll be back to check on you. Call me if you need anything."
"Thank you."
She had planned to do more than she was allowed to at the hospital but surprisingly, she continued the same routine: Sleep and sleep.
She was up a few hours later. Nick wasn't here to make her seat on the damn wheelchair so she could walk on her own.
"Now that no one else is here, tell me why you decided to marry that Kingston girl in a hurry. Did she claim to be carrying your child or something?" Aurora heard Mrs. Hale ask Nicholas.
"I married her because I wanted to."
"There has to be more to this. You don't stand to gain anything from this union so why."
"You of all people know very well how much I hate repeating myself, mom."
"Do not speak to me like that, Nick. Don't forget I'm your mother."
"Really?"
"I do not like your tone. I'm just trying to protect you, who knows what her mission is."
"I do not like yours either. Where was this protection when I needed it the most?"
"You still haven't forgiven me?"
"You know I do not forgive, ever. For your information, I insisted on marrying Aurora against her will. She has no plots or missions against me."
Surprised by this encounter, she smiled at how he'd defended even though she didn't like how he spoke to his mom.
"There's good in him after all." But she couldn't help but wonder, what had happened to Nicholas that made him resent even his own mother?