Olivia and I sat and ate dinner before taking her into the bathroom for bath time. Once we returned to the nursery for a bed time story I realized there were a few boxes from our apartment that had been set aside. I pulled out some pj's for Olivia and a nightgown for myself. I sat holding Olivia in my arms, rocking her in the chair till she fell asleep. I laid her in the bed and tucked her in before going to the bathroom to take a shower myself. I returned to check on Daniel who was now awake and sitting up in his bed smiling at me. He had watched me again on the TV as I rocked Olivia: I keep forgetting that you can see me. I pointed to the TV and shook my head: At least this time I didn't do anything embarrassing.
"Minus pulling that wedgie out" His face was deadpan and I felt the color leave my face as I tried to pinpoint the moment but to no avail, I looked at him for a moment before my eyes narrowed at him and I smiled knowing he was messing with me: So you're also a jerk then, good to know. His laugh was contagious and I couldn't help but laugh with him till his laughing turned to coughing and he doubled over in pain. I went to his side rubbing his back until he could sit back up.
"I wanted to talk to you about Julia" Not expecting that to be the first thing he said, I took my hand away and leaned back.
"I know that she wants you to get pregnant but we barely know each other, I certainly don't expect you to want to have sex with a stranger let alone a dying man, if you like we can call the whole thing off, or if you would like we can do IVF and just use my sperm" He gave me a moment to think it over but I didn't know what to say so he continued: Tell you what, I will set up an appointment with a Dr at the IVF clinic and if we move past friendship than great and if not then we will just be friends and I can hire a surrogate before I die. My fathers legacy will live on I wont have to die alone, win win.
I just nodded, it wasn't that I wasn't attracted to him, even sick he was handsome but I just couldn't imagine jumping into bed with someone I just met.
"Um where should I sleep?" He looked at me with his devilish smirk and lifted the blankets next to him as he raised one brow and smiled: We are man and wife after all! I smiled back and jumped on the bed as if we were about to have a sleep over. I might not want to have sex with a man I just met but I wouldn't say no to his arms around me. I laid down next to him as his arms wrapped around me and his warmth enveloped my body, we laid there silently before he started to hum and then sing: Around the earth a hundred times. "NO! STOP!" I laughed as he continued: and to the stars up in the sky, tie a bow around the moon and that's how much that I love you.
"Jesus" I shook my head, my lips pursed together into an embarrassed smile and he pulled me closer as best his weak arms could. We fell asleep and I woke a few times checking on Olivia, she had always been right in the next room and now she was so far away I wouldn't be able to hear her cry accept on the monitor. I came back to bed and checked on Daniel, I had noticed his breathing was shallow and it worried me. My heart ached as I watched him sleeping, not because I loved him, I barely knew him but rather to see someone so full light, kindness and joy be ravaged by a disease hurt my heart. For the first time since my parents past, I found myself thankful that it was quick, they didn't have to suffer like Daniel was.
I pulled the covers back and slid into bed my back against Daniels, I could feel his body roll toward me, his face snuggled in behind my ear and his arm snaked around my wait, I could feel him trying to pull me closer in his sleep but he didnt have the strength, making him comfortable was the least I could do for him so I scooted closer and felt his body melt into mine. I also felt something else against my tail bone Well I guess that answers that question I laughed softly through my nose and relaxed into him falling asleep for the rest of the night.
The next few days went by quickly, the money had finally hit my bank and I quit my job as Julia had requested and I paid for Olivia's treatment in full and scheduled for the start of her treatment, I didn't like the idea of her having to stay in the hospital but I would do anything for her to get better I also went to the bank and pulled out half of what was left for safe keeping in a secure location. After Olivia was taken from me I was broke until my parents insurance policies had come through. Had my parents set aside some money I may have been able to keep her or at least leave with her. I refuse to ever be in that position again.
Daniel, Olivia and I spent the next few days together, mainly in his room. Julia came over a few times asking questions and poking around to see if we had had sex yet. We both just avoided her as much as possible. The IVF clinic came by to take a few samples from Daniel, he said he didn't want to pressure me into a lifelong commitment that he couldn't be there for. If I am being honest with myself, I found myself really caring for him, enough so that I was starting to consider having his baby, but I was holding off as long as I could.