Chapter Eight
When I woke up my body was stiff. Water was still spurting out of the shower, only this time it was cold. I tried to sit up but my body hurt everywhere. I used my arm to push myself on my side and when my eyes focused I could see blood running in streams with the water on the floor. I managed to get on my hands and knees and started crawling to the door. I wasn't sure where I was going I just wanted to escape the bathroom.
Right as I was crawling in the hall I heard the front door close and my name called. Blood was starting to run in my left eye so I couldn't really focus. And my head was pounding so hard I couldn't think straight. Then I heard a scream. Ashley ran to me and almost knocked me over. She was frantically asking what happened. I couldn't form words. When I tried to look up at her I rolled on my back and blacked out again.
When I woke up there was bright lights all around me. I tried to focus my eyes. A blurry object move into my vision. My eyes started to focus then I realized it was Ashley.
"Hey. You're okay. We're at the hospital. You hit your head on the tub. Remember?"
I didn't remember, but she said I shook my head. She called the nurse to the room and she did a series of test on me. I don't remember my reactions to that either, but apparently I was going to survive. I don't think I was awake long. Next thing I remember, it was dark in the room and Ashley was balled up on the couch next to my bed. I tried to wake her but my voice wouldn't work. I watched her sleep a few minutes before I drifted back asleep.
The next day I felt a whole lot better. I was sore as hell but I could move my limbs and speak. Ashley told me about how scared she was when I didn't reply to her text. She tried calling me several times and couldn't get a hold of me so she decided to take a cab home from the airport. I thanked her for saving me and apologized for sending her away. She didn't want to speak of her leaving. She was just happy I was doing better.
They released me from the hospital and Ashley drove us home. She set me up on the couch and told me not to worry she'd take care of me. We were watching TV when she brought up what we were both thinking about.
"Isabelle did this you know." She looked at me for a reaction. I didn't have one. "Gale said they get aggressive. And I think she was afraid for you, which is why she told me to check on you." I didn't have a reply.
We watched TV for a few more hours then Ashley helped me adjust on the couch so I could sleep. I woke up the next morning and could tell my soreness was going away. My head was sensitive to the touch, but wasn't aching anymore. I woke Ashley and asked if she wanted breakfast. We needed a new plan. I told her we should both leave, but I couldn't go back to Sacramento, I had a job to worry about. I didn't think I could swing my mortgage and an apartment too. Plus, now I realize why my house was on the market so long and was a really good price. It had a permanent live-in.
"We could always just find out what Isabelle wants." Ashley suggested. I knew she wanted to help, but she didn't know what was actually happening; or what I had done to her. Our future was already at stake if she ever found out and I didn't want to risk more. But we were stuck.
"Ash. I don't think you understand. Isabelle has feelings for Mr. Du Bois, so she don't want to talk to me like a friend." I was trying to find a way to ease around the reality of what was happening between Isabelle and Du Bois. "She even tried to kiss me once. That's why she got upset, cause I told her no."
"Oh." Ashley blushed, finally realising what I was talking about.
We sat for a long time without speaking. My mind was racing, trying to figure out our next move when her next comment came out of nowhere.
"Well, you can kiss her if you want to. I mean, you can kiss me. Maybe if she feels close to you she will open up."
I was dumbfounded. I couldn't tell her I had already kissed her because she may wonder what else I did.
"Are you sure. I mean. Do you think that's okay to do?" I asked.
"Like Gale said, some of it may be uncomfortable, but we'll be the only people that know what happens."
"I don't know, it just seems - strange I guess." I added
"Yeah, but its just a kiss." She walked over and grabbed both sides of my face and kissed me right on the mouth. It wasn't full french or anything but it was more than we would have shared any other day before Isabelle came along.
"See. Now you don't have to worry about it." She sat back down and started eating her food.
I didn't say a word.
Later when we were sitting on the couch, Ashley was reading the diary. She told me several pages had been torn out. We discussed the possibility that those pages might hold clues to what happened. Ashley went upstairs to search for them. When I went up to check on her, I wasn't surprised to see Isabelle waiting for me. When she wrapped her arms around me I winced in pain and she acted concerned for me. I wanted to curse at her and tell her it was her fault - stupid bitch.