Then a mile of warm sea-scented beach;
Three fields to cross till a farm appears;
A tap at the pane, the quick sharp scratch
And blue spurt of a lighted match,
And a voice less loud, thro' its joys and fears,
Than the two hearts beating each to each!
~Robert Browning
***
The cityscapes was a blur the entire time Evie was driving to the hospital.
She was not even able to wear a proper attire what with all the haste and worry that she felt when her phone rang that morning. She was still sleeping soundly when someone from the hospital called to inform her that her Uncle was delivered to the hospital a few minutes ago after his car crashed to a lamppost.
Blood left her face and everything that the caller said afterwards became blurry noises.
Evie hated accidents.
She had dealt enough accidents in a single lifetime.
And now that her Uncle was somewhere in the hospital and possibly hanging on to his dear life, Evie was at lost.
She sped up the car until she arrived at the parking lot. While looking for an empty space, she spotted some media people waiting outside the entrance of the hospital. There were more or less five journalists holding some recorder and a video-cam. The others were even drinking coffee.
After locking her borrowed car from one of the many cars her Uncle owned, she walked to the entrance while her bunny slippers made a sound every time she stepped on the tiled floor.
After inquiring and introducing herself as the niece of Paul Zachary Wilner to the nurse that was stationed at the front desk, she was assisted towards the emergency wing.
She felt her heart thumped rapidly.
'At least I'm not walking towards the operating room or the Intensive Care Unit area, right?'
Her steps were becoming heavier by the moment. Evie wasn't prepared to lose another loved one. She can't take it. God knows how many more strafe to her heart she could only handle before bursting into misery.
She silently prayed when they reached the wing where her Uncle was being catered.
The room was the opposite of what Evie imagined. She expected it to be full of busy nurses and bloody patients but instead, a quiet room welcomed her. The only sound she heard was an unintermittent beeping sound from a machine.
The nurse led her to a spot that was enclosed with a blue curtain. When the curtain was swept to the side, it revealed a white cot bed where her Uncle was sleeping. Despite his peaceful sleeping face, the tad of purplish bruises that were branded on the right side of his face clearly screamed I just had an accident. His hair was in disarray and he reeked of alcohol. From where Evie was standing, she could smell the tequila coming from her Uncle's being.
"Is he okay? Can I take him home now?" Evie asked the nurse.
"Yes. The doctor said he can be discharged right away since it's just minor bruises and there's no internal bleeding. Just apply hot and cold compress alternately to get rid of the bruises faster." The nurse said while writing something on her folder.
Evie felt the weight on her shoulders being lifted. She silently thanked God.
Withstanding the noxious smell, she stepped closer and tapped her Uncle's right shoulder causing him to stir from his sleep.
In a hush toned, she said, "Uncle, hey."
Paul slowly opened his eyes. His face contorted with pain as he tried to blink his right eye. "What?! I'm still sleepy!" He drawled.
"It's time to go home. The nurse said you can be discharged."
Paul groaned and ignored her. He went back to sleep as if he was on some kind of a hotel room, having his luxurious vacation.
She breathed a lungful of air and tried again while chanting on her mind 'He just had an accident, I should not slap him awake.'
This time, her Uncle responded. He narrowed his eyes; trying to adjust to the brightly lit room. "Can't a man go to sleep here people?" He grunted.
Evie scoffed. Eyeing her own unkempt attire and remembering the strange stares she got from other people the moment they saw her.
"Can't a niece sleep peacefully without a hospital calling her that her Uncle just had his car crashed somewhere?"
Paul's face changed. Evie thought he was gonna apologize but who was she kidding?
"Excuse me!" He changed into a sitting position. "It wasn't me who crashed the car to a lamppost. It was Cheyenne and his stupid driving!" Paul raised his eyebrow and crossed his arms.
"Why did you even crash to a lamppost?"
Paul rolled his eyes. "We had a few drinks after the shoot." This time, it was Evie who raised her brow, not satisfied with his falsified answer. "Okay, we had more than a few drinks."
Evie's face returned to a straight-face, urging Paul to continue narrating what happened.
"We were all drunk but among everyone, Cheyenne was the lesser wasted so of course, he drove my car. I was asleep the moment I went inside the car and I woke up all of a sudden because of the impact and I found the car mangled beyond recognition just beside Central Park." Paul explained, stopping every once in a while to remember some details.
"You don't know why you guys crashed?"
Her Uncle grunted again. "I was wasted and asleep the entire time, how else would I know? Plus they don't let us chitchat here while getting our bones fixed."
Evie just shrugged her Uncle's sarcastic reply.
The nurse butted in, "You didn't break any bones Sir. It was your other companion, Ethan Jones."
Evie was surprised at what the nurse said but she stymied a reaction, knowing her Uncle was still perfectly capable of telling sarcastic things even in his condition.
Paul nodded. "Ah I see, I thought the doctor was referring to me earlier. I was still not sober when it happened. In fact, I think I'm still a lil' drunk. I'm never drinking tequila without chasers again."
The nurse laughed and slightly blushed.
Having seen the nurse's reaction, Evie chortled. "Yeah right, don't be deceived. He's gay as the day."
The nurse's laugh died down when she realized what Evie said. Based on the look on her face, she was quite embarrassed. "Oh, umh... I'll just leave you for a while." She hurried off towards the other cot-bed, leaving Evie and Paul alone.
Paul shot her a look.
"You didn't have to be upfront. I can handle some admiration especially coming from those who treated my darn bruises." Paul guffawed after at his remark which Evie joined in afterwards.
Several moments passed when the doctor finally came to check on Paul and gave the go signal that he can go home at last. Being the flirt that he was, he tried to make a move on the oblivious doctor. It was a good thing that the doctor left immediately to check on the other patients.
"Your charms don't work anymore, Uncle." She teased him, disappointment was all over his face.
"You wait until these damn bruises go away. I'll show you how it's done." Paul fired back but Evie just laughed.
Aside from the bruises on his face, Paul was luckily unscathed on all his other body parts.
Both of them started to go to the cashier to sign some papers. While Paul settled the documents, Evie sat on the bench near the lobby. She let out a big yawn and stretched her legs.
'When can I ever get a proper sleep? Yesterday it was Morgan, now it's my Uncle.' She groaned inwardly.
Now that she knew her Uncle was safe, sleep slowly crawled back to her system. She busied herself through reading the signs of Why Is Smoking Bad For Your Health and How To Properly Breastfeed Your Baby when she noticed, from her peripheral view, a figure walking towards where she was seated.
It was Ethan. A limping Ethan.
His left arm had an arm cast. A bandage was plastered on his lip as well as on his forehead. His hair was extra tousled and the eyebags under his eyes were very visible.
He was a walking disaster. Very opposite from his kept look yesterday.
'Now that would make up for my disastrous attire yesterday. We're a tie.'
It somehow helped Evie remained calm in his presence now that he was less... imposing.
When he got close enough, Evie said, "Someone had a rough night."
Ethan shot her a piercing glare but a smile was tugged on his lips.
Evie scooched a bit to make room on the bench when Ethan sat beside her.
"Thanks," said Ethan.
"As much as I don't want you to sit right next to me, unfortunately, I don't own this bench." Evie uttered nonchalantly, her eyes pointed to her Uncle's back.
Ethan laughed at her remark. "You really know how to kill the mood. That there my lady, is a talent."
She snorted. "I'm a natural."
After signing the papers, Paul turned to Evie's direction. "I'm just gonna entertain the reporters outside. Wait here until I get you." Evie nodded and Paul walked to the entrance.
The reporters started hurling questions to Paul and activated their recorders and cameras. Very eager to get the latest scoop of how the infamous photographer in New York ended up in a car crash.
Ethan stood and walked towards the cashier since it was his turn to settle some things before getting discharged. With nothing else to do, Evie slouched on the bench and continued reading the huge posters that were lined on the walls.
More people passed her and every single time they looked at her bunny slippers, she badly wanted to melt and disappear.
She was halfway through the How To Properly Breastfeed Your Baby poster when Ethan called her attention. "Evie, I could use a little help here."
Evie looked at him and walked to where Ethan was. "What is it?"
Ethan eyed the papers and the ballpen that was on his hand. "I write with my left hand and as you can see, I am currently incapable of using it. Would you mind?"
Evie peered through the circular window. "Where's the cashier? She could've just written it for you."
Ethan shrugged his shoulder. "I don't know. Maybe she used the toilet or something." He laughed. "So are you gonna help this poor incapacitated handsome man?"
Rolling her eyes, she answered, "Fine."
She took the ballpen and papers and started scribbling the information needed.
"Name?"
"Ethan Parker Jones."
"Age?"
"Twenty-nine." Evie maintained a calm demeanor while jutting down Ethan's information but she was a bit excited to know these kinds of things about him. She actually felt like a wife helping his husband.
'Cut it out brain.' She thought. 'Now is not the time.'
She continued asking his basic information. "Birthday?"
"November 26, 1991."
Evie stopped a bit before saying the next question. "Sex?" She knew it was stupid to ask but she did it to taunt him.
Ethan looked at her with annoyance. "Really?"
She shot him an innocent look. "I'm just asking you the questions. God knows what you're hiding there. You might be a hermaphrodite." She let out a chuckle.
Ethan grinned at her which was, by the way, the opposite reaction she was expecting.
"Oh yeah? I can show it to you anytime. Or better yet, I'll let you touch it and tast—"
"Stop! Stop. Male. You're clearly a horny male." Evie hastily wrote it on the paper. Her alabaster cheeks flushed with warmth while Ethan broke into laughter.
"A-Address?" She stuttered. It wasn't also helping that he was so close to her and she can feel his warmth from where she was situated.
"Mintville."
'Oh! So that was his house I saw when we were jogging the other day.'
"Status?"
"Am I supposed to answer that with 'It's Complicated'?" He laughed again. For someone who just had an accident and with a broken arm, Ethan was sure a jolly one.
When he noticed that Evie wasn't laughing at his joke, he answered, "Single. Jeez, why so serious?"
"Can't you see what I'm wearing? I need to go home already." She was getting uncomfortable with the funny looks she'd been receiving. "Occupation? Photographer." Not waiting for him to answer.
After filling the other basic information. She handed him the pen. "Your signature."
"You do it. I grant you my permission." Evie rolled her eyes once more.
"There. All done." She put the pen on top of the paper and slid it towards the innermost counter just on time as the cashier entered. She double checked the paper and finally told Ethan that he was cleared.
"So are you going home?" Ethan asked her while exiting the double doors. Paul was still being interviewed by another reporter but they seemed chummy.
Evie shot him an incredulous look.
"Oh right, you just said earlier that you were. You're also meaner in the morning. I should take note of that. My bad." He raised his right hand as if surrendering to a cop since he can't possibly raise both of his hands.
When Paul noticed them, he waved goodbye to his friend and walked to them.
Ethan and Paul chatted a bit as they neared the parking lot. There were many boisterous laughing as if they didn't just survive an accident. They talked about how Cheyenne would not get laid for weeks with his bloody face and all.
Boys...
"How are you gonna get home?" Paul asked as they stopped in front of his car which Evie unlocked.
Ethan scratched his head. "Shoot. I haven't thought about that."
"Hop in. We'll you give you a ride." Paul said which caused Evie to drop the keys she's holding.
"Really? Appreciate it man." Ethan entered the back seat while Paul settled on the passenger seat.
"Let's drop Ethan off at his house." Paul instructed Evie.
After a couple minutes of driving and talking, they arrived at the exclusive village and dropped Ethan at his house which was smaller compared to her Uncle's house but it was on the same level of bougie.
Ethan already explained what happened during the accident since her Uncle was too wasted to witness it transpiring.
Basically, a stray dog crossed the street and Cheyenne swerved the car to avoid hitting the dog and ended up hitting the lamppost instead. Cheyenne who was the driver, hit his head on the window even with the airbag since the impact was quite strong. Ethan, being the closest to the impact, broke his arm when it got stuck. The other one who was beside Paul at the backseat, Jeremy, got some bruises and a wounded lip. But it was her Uncle's lexus that received the biggest damage.
Stray canines and booze? Definitely not a good combo.
Evie immediately went to her room when they got home and took a quick nap. After an hour or so, she took a bath. She donned a pair of sweatpants and a shirt and went to the kitchen to eat her late breakfast.
At the dining room, she found her Uncle sipping his morning coffee. He was freshly showered and the alcohol smell was gone. She sat on her seat and began eating the prepared maple bacon, eggs and pancakes. She also poured herself some coffee.
She thought they're gonna have a silent breakfast but her Uncle started a conversation. "You gotta help me later."
Evie slowed down at devouring her food and looked at Paul, urging him to spill more details.
"I have a meeting with an important client and I can't look like this." He said, pointing at his bruised face.
With that said, after their breakfast, Evie started going through Paul's makeup collection. She held the fullest coverage foundation and concealer she could find and dabbed it on her Uncle's face using a brush.
"Ouch! Be careful." Paul exclaimed when she pressed the brush a little too firm on his bruised forehead.
"Sorry." Evie continued applying makeup on Paul's face until it was barely visible from a close distance.
"Voila! Makeup transformation by yours truly." She smiled after finishing her creation.
Paul looked at his face on the mirror and gave her a thumbs up.
"Wow! You do know your way around brushes. This is amazing." Paul said, completely amazed that his face was totally normal-looking after Evie's dab of magic. No one would know that he just literally came from an accident.
"I guess watching all those youtube videos while I was unemployed paid off." She said while cleaning the vanity desk where the brushes were scattered.
Paul stared at her for a while as if contemplating something. "You can work for me for extra cash."
Evie halted cleaning and looked at him, bewildered. "Really?! Yeah sure, Uncle. I can use some extra cash. Not that I don't owe you enough with you feeding me and letting me stay here."
Paul looked at his reflection in the mirror and further examined his face.
"You can stay here as long as you want. We're family after all." Evie felt her heart swell. She was touched with her Uncle's words. He can be very sweet when he wants to. "Plus, Rosalinda is such a bore to talk to. She doesn't even laugh at my jokes. She doesn't laugh at all! Can you believe that?"
Evie bellowed in laughter.
She was beyond happy and thankful that nothing serious happened to her Uncle Paul. He was the only remaining family that can still understand her and truly cared for her.
Paul sneered. "I tell you, that woman is not human at all." She can imagine her Uncle joking around Rosalinda but the lady would just stare at him with a stoic expression. Awkwaaard. On the other hand, Morgan made her laughed without even lifting a finger.
Evie grinned at Paul, who was still busy looking at his face, and kept her mouth sealed. She would hate to be the one to break her Uncle's heart if he'd knew that he was wrong about the cook.