14. Sam Palmer meets Stella.
1431 Words
Stella was sleeping when Drake found her room.
He told the nurse he was engaged to her, technically still true.
Stella had swelling around her eyes, her mouth was bruised and her lips were swollen.
He saw her leg up in a cast.
He sat next to her.
Teddy came back into the room.
He gasped seeing Drake.
" Leave, now." He said sternly.
" She don't remember being with you, so go on...get out." He told him.
Stella heard the men talking.
She smiled at Drake," Oh, hey there. I heard we got engaged." She giggled, then frowned. Her head hurt.
She shook her head and swallowed, then closed her eyes again." No... can't do this just yet." She said.
Drake held her hand.
Teddy removed her hand from his.
" Don't...you will get her hopes up. If you can't be a real man to her, then go home. I will take care of her." He said, eyes full of tears.
Drake knew he was right, but he couldn't seem to be able to leave her.
Stella called out," Cupcake, oh sweet sweet girl!" She cried now.
Drake told her it was okay, she would be okay.
Teddy frowned. "I already told her she died."
Drake said," What did you do that for?"
"Cause, I am not a lying scum bag like you are. That's why." said Teddy.
" You are fired." yelled Drake.
Stella took Drake's hand," No, please....he's all I have. I need Teddy."
Drake frowned." Okay, until I can get your parents down here."
She shook her head, keeping her eyes closed,"No use, they don't care, no one does really, except my Teddy."
Drake got a call. It was Olivia.
" I know what I told you, I am coming home, it's just something has come up. Let's not fight now. Yes Olivia. Okay, yes you'll get paid." He grimaced.
Stella's eyes were wide open.
" You have a girlfriend and we are still engaged, s**t that hurts?" She said holding her heart.
He said,"No, its not like that Stella, shes an ex-girlfriend."
" Why would you do that to me?" she asked incredulous.
" Oh, I hired Olivia to be your companion, I admit it was wrong." He told her.
Teddy walked away, he couldn't listen to this, it made him ill.
" But, that's ridiculous, you are my companion, we are engaged right?" She frowned, then closed her eyes.
He held her hand. " We are lovers, but I have a business to run too." He said.
She nodded. " I remember some of that, it hurts. Did you break my leg or something?" She asked confused.
He said," Hell no, I don't break women's legs."
She said softly," Just hearts."
He saw she was hurt, so hurt.
" I loved you, you didn't know did you...since I was like 6 or 7. I don't know, never mind...I'm crazy. Sorry...forget all that, I can't...I...well...shit...I'm sorry Drake." She was frowning, trying to remember.
She did recall something then.
" That woman, the one with the t**s, you know?" She said.
" Oh, Olivia?" He asked.
" She's mean, she didn't want to take my hand...oh...Just go away Drake...leave me now. I'm rambling. I'm confused."
He said," I know, just to be clear...I never cheated, just so you understand that."
" Then you never slept with her?" She looked at him squinting.
" I did, but no not after we were together." He smiled.
" You are being real?" She touched his face.
Drake knew Teddy was right.
He was getting sucked back into her innocent charm.
He had to let her go somehow, he was a known womanizer, he was ashamed of that now.
He got up to leave, leave her. She should find someone that was better for her.
"I'm leaving, just forget about me Stella, I'm not who you need me to be."
" Drake, one last thing."
" What is it Stella?" He asked.
" One last kiss goodbye, then I will let you be free to screw your life away. Please honey?" she asked.
He leaned down and kissed her.
He felt that kiss to his toes. There was a sweet promise of something that could be, he wanted more.
He felt those butterflies. She covered her face with her hands when he stopped.
" Are you sure you want to leave me?" She said sadly.
He lied to her now." I do, its for the best, you deserve better than a workaholic like me. "
He turned to leave. She let out a guttural cry. A deep loneliness like the howling of a lone wolf.
Drake covered his ears and hurried off....
A week later...
Stella was being sent home.
Drake had paid for her hospital stay and was hiring her a caregiver.
She was going back to his family's summer home, she had no where else to go.
Teddy took over. He moved her in with him, in the caretaker's house.
It cost a small fortune for Drake to hire physical therapists for her.
Teddy waited on her hand and foot.
He took very good care of her.
The physical therapist had tried to get Stella walking, but the leg was too painful. They would do bed exercises for the first week.
After about a 2 weeks, Stella could sit in a wheel chair.
Teddy took her out to the stables. She loved the horses.
Her favorite one was Hercules. He seemed to take a shine to her.
She didn't remember getting kicked by that brute a few months ago.
He remembered those sweet oats she gave him.
Later that night...
Stella was having fevers and chills. She wasn't able to get out of bed.
Teddy called the ambulance. They said it was a bad infection in her leg.
She lay there trembling from the fever.
A few hours later...
A tall confident looking man dressed in a pair of white jeans and a blue button down shirt walked into her room.
She covered her eyes as if from the sun's glare. Her teeth were chattering.
" Hello, Stella right?" the man said.
" Do you feel okay?" He asked her.
" No. I'm dying." She said weakly.
He shook his head, his black feathered hair stayed perfectly in place. "I just found out about you. I didn't know, well no one knew about your little engagement to my cousin." He grinned at her.
" Well sir, I wish I was up to having company, but no offense...go away please." She said as her teeth chattered.
He stopped talking. He sat next to her bed and put his feet up on the end of her bed, reading a magazine.
Stella moaned. She said," So cold."
He covered her with another blanket.
" My cousin thought he could set you aside after he just had his way and ruined you. I'm always cleaning up after that guy." He said outloud.
Her teeth chattered.
" I went to the summer house to have a few days to myself before my 3 brothers came, they tend to get rowdy.
I see an ambulance roll up. To my surprise, a nice fellow...you know him, Johnathon. He does your physical therapy....
He sees me and says, Drake's ex is very sick, might not make it this time. Hmm... imagine my shock."
Stella said," I know you...Sam right?"
He nodded. "Samuel Palmer Ceo Palmer insurance group. We specialize in industrial insurance and corporate needs." He took her cold hand.
Stella said,"Sam lay on top of me, I'm so cold."
He moved into the bed and held her close. " Better?" He smelled her perfume.
She nodded. "What was it like with a cousin like Drake the rake?"
He said,"Well we always had a rivalry, but mostly he is a big... to be less blunt, mess up."
Stella said," More on top of me please."
He rolled on her. "Too heavy Stella?"
" No, very good. Thank you Sam." She said and closed her eyes. He pulled her close. He liked her very much.
He kept talking. " I'm moving you into the big house. Teddy has been fired by Drake."
Stella said. "I will hire him then, as my personal assistant."
He smiled," Too late, I already did. He will be in the big house."
She said," I love that man."
He said,"We always had a special bond, he and I."
Sam said," Stella, you have three brothers don't you?" He asked.
" I do." She said.
" Where the hell are they?" He was angry.
- Writer
