“Doctors have to tell you the worst-case scenario, in case you sue them.”
“Maybe,” I said, unconvinced. Somehow, even through the haze of drugs, I couldn’t seem to find any optimism in my situation. “Hey, it seems like we’ve somehow body-swapped. You’re Mr. Positive, and I’m the dour cynic.”
Hugh laughed, handing me a sandwich from his bag. I took it readily; I hated hospital food. “It’s a lot easier to be positive when you’re not the one laid up, remember.”
“Exactly,” Muriel said. “And here’s something that’ll cheer you up. We’re engaged.”
“Er, what?” I said, looking between them both in surprise. “I don’t remember popping the question... are these drugs really that strong?”
“You’re fake engaged.” Hugh jumped in before Muriel could say anything more. “And so am I, apparently. But I’m also your brother. It’s the only way we could get in here to see you, because only relatives are allowed in.”
“Ahh,” That made sense, although I couldn’t help feeling a little deflated that I hadn’t really come around after surgery to find I had a wedding to plan with Muriel.
“Yes, but—” Muriel began, but Hugh made a clicking noise with his tongue that stopped her for a moment. A cloud of anger shrouded her face until she shook it away and continued, a little louder this time. “Yes, but I do want to say that I love you. I love you so much I can’t imagine my life without you. I’m so annoyed at the time we’ve lost between high school and now, and I don’t want to waste another second.”
I was speechless.
She’d been running so hot and cold with us that I’d considered it a huge success that I’d convinced her to have dinner at my place. Now she was declaring her love? It seemed that Hugh had been dabbling in magic of his own, the surly little charmer.
“I... I love you too.”
Muriel ran around the bed to hug me. Our lips met, and I took hers greedily, grateful to still be able to feel that, at least. She grabbed my face between her hands and held on with a drowning grip as our tongues explored each other, and I took in her comforting scent.
When we reluctantly pulled away, I turned to see Hugh looking completely unmoved.
“What’s wrong?” I asked. “Aren’t you happy?”
The long pause before he answered told me everything I needed to know. “Yeah, sure I’m happy,” he said finally, adjusting his face to a smile with obvious effort. “It’s taken Muriel a while, but I’m glad she’s settled on what she wants.”
Did I detect sarcasm in his voice? No, surely not. This was the best news I’d had since I got on the force, and I felt like I could float out of bed with Muriel in my arms.
“I have settled on what I want,” Muriel replied, again possibly with a little bite in her tone. “And I’m so sorry I wasn’t quick enough for some people. It wasn’t easy.”
“We know it wasn’t. And completely understand that.” I patted her hand reassuringly. “But you’re here now, and that’s all that matters.”
“Here for now,” Hugh muttered.
“All this sarcasm and muttering is too stressful. Has something happened today?”
Muriel and Hugh both tried to answer at the same time, but they were interrupted by a nurse poking her head around the door.
“Cameron, your dad’s here. If your current visitors can say their goodbyes, I’ll bring him through.”
“Okay, thanks,” I said, but Hugh asked the nurse whether he could stay for one more minute.
She agreed.
“I’ll see you outside,” Hugh said to Muriel, and she glared at him. I’d never felt so confused in my life.
With a large sigh and a promise to come back later, Muriel left. As soon as the door clicked shut, I turned to Hugh.
“Right, tell me what’s going on?” I demanded, having had enough of being out of the loop.
“She’s only saying those things because she’s been worrying about you. Understandable given this.” He waved his hand at me in the hospital bed.
“That’s what this is about? Look, buddy, I love you, but I’m not going to let your pessimism ruin things. You heard what she just said. This is too important.”
Hugh didn’t respond at first. He just sat back in his chair with his head in his hands. “She’s been offered a job.”
“What kind of job?”
“A big job. A good job. In LA.”
“Oh.” I thought about it for a moment. “But long distance isn’t so bad, is it? How long is the flight time, a few hours? We can make it work.”
“Nope, we can’t. She’s going to be on a TV show, high profile. If she’s going to be famous, she doesn’t want it getting out that she’s in an unconventional three-way relationship. So it’s over, Cameron, no matter what she just said.”
“Wow.” It was a lot to take in, and I couldn’t make sense of it all so quickly.