Chapter 20
I move slightly and open my eyes. They landed on the chair, but there was no one there. I moved slowly and glanced around the room, wondering where Carson had gone. Where did he go? I leaned back into the bed and sighed. I don’t know what came over me. Carson’s eyes were soft, but something about him made me feel safe, and I could trust him. I have never opened up to anyone like that, not even my father. I stayed still for a while until I heard voices outside my room. I felt anxious as I didn’t want to deal with any more crap from anyone, not even my mother. I waited, and the door slowly opened, and a nurse looked into the room and landed on me. She smiled. “You’re awake,” she said, pushing the door open wider to come in. I gave her a slight nod. “I need to check your blood pressure and take some blood,” she said, moving away from the door and walking toward me. I nodded. The nurse came closer and did whatever she needed to do. “The doctor will be around this evening,” she said, glancing toward me. “He will probably send you home.” I watched as she placed a needle into my arm and drew blood. I looked up at her but said nothing. I wasn’t too fond of the going home part at least. The word home felt foreign to me. After a few other quick tests, the nurse left the room and left me alone. I leaned back into the bed, but another showed up shortly after the first nurse had gone with some food. I ate quietly. I knew Mum would come here but didn’t know when. I hoped it was just her and none of the others, but something told me her lover might be with her. I finished the food the nurse gave me. It was only porridge, but it tasted good. I leaned back in the bed. I was bored. I had nothing to do. I could feel my eyes close, and I let sleep take over me once again. I don’t know how long I was asleep, but another nurse woke me up. I rubbed my eyes as the nurse came in. I stared at her. Her eyes went to me, and smiled. “Sorry,” she said. “I bet you are fed up with being in here.” I gave her a slight nod. The nurse took my vitals again, but she spoke again as she placed the things back. “How about I place you in the chair?” she said, smiling at me. “You can have a look outside.” That might be a good start. I didn’t really know much about the place I was staying. “Please,” I said. The nurse smiled. She moved the chair that was close to my bed over to the window. Once the chair was in place, she returned and helped me out of the bed. She placed her arms around me and guided me to the window. I sat down. As I got myself comfortable, the nurse placed a blanket over my legs. “Your mum will be in here soon,” she said. “She rang to see if you were awake.” I said nothing as I looked out the window. Where ever I was, it was surrounded by loads of trees. It looked huge. I noticed a few people walking over to an area. My mouth dropped open. The people that walked past looked hot. I couldn’t help but gawk at them. I heard the door open and close, which I assumed was the nurse leaving the room. I kept my eyes on the window. I watched a few people outside, but I looked around and noticed an enormous building. I watched as a few people entered. I wonder what’s in there. I watched for a few more minutes until the door opened again, and someone walked out. My heart rate went up when I saw who it was. Carson. I watched as he spoke to another man who looked around the same age. He didn’t look up at me, but the other guy did. He smiled and walked away, leaving Carson. I couldn’t look away. Did the other guy see me? Can Carson see me? I stared as Carson turned around and headed back through the door. I heard voices outside my room. I looked away from the window and looked toward the door when it slowly opened, and in walked my mum. I stared at her but said nothing. My mum looked at me and gave me a small smile. “Hey,” she said. I watched as she came in and walked over to the bed. She placed something on the ground, which looked like a bag, and sat on the bed. She looked at me. “It’s nice to see you up and sitting around,” she said. “The doctor will be here soon, the nurse just told me. You may leave this evening.” I gave her a slight nod but looked toward the window, even though I didn’t look at anything in particular. I didn’t want to talk to her. “Leah,” my mum murmured. “I know you don’t want to stay with me, but we can try to make it work if you let me.” I stared out the window for a few seconds. I would leave this place either way, but I was bidding my time. As much as Carson looked good, I wouldn’t stay around here, not even for him, even if he was hot as hell. I sighed as I turned to look at her. “You’re right. I don’t want to stay,” I said, making her look at me. “But I haven’t got a choice. I want to ring Lucy and Dani.” My mum stared at me. “I haven’t spoken to them since I got here,” I said. I might ask Lucy for help in getting out of here. My mum nodded. “You can do that when we get you home,” she said. “Maybe tomorrow.” I stared at her before I continued. “Whose going to be there?” I asked. My mum looked at me for a few moments before she talked. “Well, just you, me, and Josh,” she said. “Our sons will be with their grandparents until you are ready to meet them.” I stared at her. “What about my grandparents?” I said. “Do I have to have the option of seeing them again?” I didn’t feel right being around them, especially my grandfather. Something about him was off. My mum nodded. “I told them they could only come to the house when you are ready,” she said. That is a start, but I didn’t know how I felt about being with my mum and her lover. I looked at her and was about to ask her something else, but the door to my room opened, and in walked the lover. His eyes went around the room and landed on me. “Leah,” he said. “You look better and not in bed. That is a good sign.” I said nothing as I watched him walk over to my mum and sit beside her on my bed. “So,” he said, “Has your mum told you it will be just us three in the house?” I gave him a nod. I watched as he placed his hand on my mothers, squeezing her hand. I looked up at them as their eyes stared back. My mum smiled. “You have your own room,” she said. “I didn’t exactly decorate it with any paint, but when you are feeling up to it, we can get some paint and do it.” I stared at her. I guess she was trying, but I found all this too weird. I cleared my throat. “Do you know when the doctor is coming?” I asked. “Soon,” my mum said. Josh cleared his throat, which made me look at him. “I guess we should go over some rules for the house,” he said. Great! Josh looked at my mum and then back at me to continue. “Don’t worry,” he said with a smile. “There are only three rules to go by.” “First, eat with us every mealtime at the family dinner room,” he said. “I know when you get there, you may not want to, not until you are okay with being there, but it will be a must when you feel comfortable.” That wouldn’t be happening anytime soon. “Second, if you want to go anywhere, you will have to have one of us with you at all times,” he said. My eyes widened. “What does that mean?” I asked. “I can’t look around on my own.” Josh looked at my mum, who spoke next. “Yeah, you can,” she said, looking at me. “But not straight away. This town hates strangers. We must wait until they get to know you, that’s all.” Where the hell have they got me living? Prison? I looked at them, but neither one spoke. “What is the third one?” I asked. “The third is like the second,” Josh said, “but it is for the night. You will not leave the house after eight unless you are with us. It’s not safe.” I stared at them. It was definitely a prison. I frowned. “So, let me get this straight,” I said, looking between them. “I have to eat food with you every meal when I am ready. I can’t leave without either of you for my safety during the day or night. Is there anything I can do?” Josh stayed quiet. “Leah, around these parts, are some very dangerous animals,” my mum said, widening my eyes. “We have lived here for years and know how to deal with them. We want to make sure you are safe. That’s all.” Now I was worried. What the hell was out there in the forest that could hurt me? I glanced out the window and looked toward the trees. “I will stick to your rules,” I said, not looking back at them. “But the first one, you can wait until I am ready. Like you said about having my grandparents over, not until I am ready.” I looked back at them, and they both nodded. I glanced at the door when I noticed a shadow on the outside. Whoever it was, better be the doctor, or I will die of boredom.