Chapter 59

Chapter Fifty-Nine

Will

M aya gave a disgruntled huff as she tried to get comfy on the sofa. I'd heard the sound a lot already, since the minute she woke up, in fact. When she needed help in the shower, help drying herself, getting dressed, and as she was currently trying to do, get comfy.

"Would a pillow or cushion help?" I asked, aware that I was hovering and had been all day. I wanted to tell myself to stop being like fucking clinging ivy, so I could put money on Maya feeling the same way.

"No." She put her good hand to her side. "I'm due a painkiller soon."

Forcing myself to sit down, I gripped the arms of the chair to stop myself from getting back up to help her.

"Do you want it now?"

I heard an almost imperceptible sigh of frustration so, not waiting for a response, pointed the remote at the TV.

"Anything you want to watch?"

"No."

Short, sharp and snappy.

We were only on day one and things were already feeling tense. Well, Maya was. I was more Mother Hen with a case of serious unease.

"Just say when you want anything, you know pain killers, a drink or?—"

"Yes, Will, I know."

She let out another deep sigh, so turning off the TV, I turned in my seat to look at her. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

She chewed on her pouty bottom lip, shaking her head with a look that said, ‘disagree with me if you dare'. I felt for her, but if she started to take it out on me, things were going to get even more tense between us. We were still basking in the glow of new love, and I didn't want anything to spoil that. I also didn't want us to bottle up how we were feeling to the point where one or both of us boiled over.

I wasn't experienced in relationships, but I knew enough that I couldn't leave it to fester.

"I know you're in pain, Maya. I know you're frustrated, so instead of trying to act like everything is okay, tell me what you need to help make things feel a little better." I raised an eyebrow. "If you want me to shut the fuck up, tell me. If you want me to stop asking what you want, tell me. If you want something, ask me, but don't sit there bottling it up and getting more and more pissed off with me."

"I'm not," she protested.

"Maya, you are. You're being snappy, and I fully understand why, but give me some indication about what it is. If it's your pain, then I can get you pain killers. If you're uncomfortable, I can get you a pillow. Just give me a clue."

Then she burst into tears, and I felt like the biggest shit on the planet. I hadn't even raised my voice. I'd kept my tone soft and light, yet big fat tears were rolling down her pale cheeks.

Moving to her side, I used my thumbs to wipe the wetness from her cheeks. "Hey, hey, what's wrong? I didn't mean to upset you."

"You haven't," she snivelled. "I'm just so fed up and miserable."

"Staying here?" I asked wryly.

Maya's tears splashed my skin as she shook her head before dropping it against my shoulder. Gripping onto my jumper, she gave great big gulping sobs, making her body—and mine—shake as she held on tight.

"It's j-j-j-just painful and I f-f-feel so useless."

Gently wrapping her in my arms, I kissed the top of her head and made soothing noises to try and calm her down. I knew she was uncomfortable, but I was also aware of what the doctor had said about suffering from post-accident trauma.

"I hate that I can't even get dressed." She hiccupped.

"I like that you can't," I joked. "It means I get to help you put your bra on."

She snorted, a cross between a laugh and a sob, then wiped her nose with the back of her hand. "Trust you."

"I must admit I had a sneaky look at them while I helped you. And, when I help you take it off, I might even cop a feel."

I got a smile from her, even though she continued crying quietly, wrapping both arms around me.

"I'm being stupid," she said with a sniff.

"No, you're not. You've had a shit experience that scared you, and it's all just got a bit too much." I kissed her hair and inhaled a relieved breath. "It could have been so much worse."

After a few minutes, Maya's cries subsided, and her grip on me loosened.

"Bit better now?" I asked.

She nodded. "Yep. Thank you."

"Anything for you." And I meant it. I would do anything for her. I'd do whatever it took to make her happy. From the minute I'd met her, it was if I'd been ordained to. "So, tell me what you need."

"Painkillers and a pillow or cushion, please." Her bottom lip was pouty, like a small child's who was being forced to do something they really didn't want to, in her case, admit that she needed help.

"Okay, sit back and I'll get everything you need." I helped her ease back against the sofa, then slowly stood up, my eyes pinned to her the whole time, until I was sure that she was okay. "Want some chocolate or ice cream?"

She considered it for a second, and then shook her head. "No thanks."

"Okay." I dropped another kiss to her head. "I'll be back in two minutes."

After getting her some pain killers, I ran up the stairs to get another pillow. My phone started to ring. Just as I reached the bedroom door. I gave it a cursory glance, ready to ignore it, but saw that it was Marcus. He'd been good enough to take on my shifts so I could take care of Maya, so didn't want to ignore him if it was urgent.

"Marcus, what's up mate?"

"Will, that guy who reckons he's your dad, was here again. I told him you weren't working today, and he said it was fine, he'd come to the house. Sorry, bud, I'd have lied and said you'd slipped out for a bit if I'd known he had your address."

"For fuck's sake," I groaned, running a hand over my head. "Can he not take a bloody hint? How long since he left the bar?"

"Two minutes ago."

That gave me ten or so to figure out how I was going to tell him to fuck off and actually be heard this time. I was just glad I'd told Marcus everything, otherwise he might have turned up and I wouldn't have been prepared.

"Okay," I sighed. "Cheers for that. Everything else okay? No problems?"

"No. Except the bread order was short."

"Great, that's all we need seeing as Robbie's sandwiches are so popular." I hung my head wondering what else could go wrong.

"It's fine; Robbie came up with an open sandwich that takes less bread. It's been a big hit so far." Marcus chuckled. "You really need to send that kid on some courses so we can increase our menu."

"Yeah, I send him on the courses and then a big pub in Manchester knicks him from us. No, we're fine with sandwiches and burgers for now." I glanced at the bedroom door, conscious that Maya was still waiting for her pillow. "Anyway, thanks for letting me know, mate. Call me if you need anything."

"Will do. Speak later."

As he ended the call, all I could think about was how to get rid of the man who donated sperm to my mum, because I knew there was nothing he could say that would make me welcome him into my life. Scrubbing a hand through my hair, I went back downstairs to take Maya her pillow.

"What's wrong?" she immediately asked. She rubbed a finger between her eyes. "You've got that little crease that you get when something is bothering you."

I had decided to try and keep it from her, but clearly wasn't very good at it. "It's nothing I can't sort out." Going over to her, I gently pushed her forward, putting the pillow behind her. "Is that better?"

She shuffled a little, then nodded. "Yeah, but don't think you're getting away with not telling me what's going on."

Dropping to my haunches, I took both her hands in mine. "It's Steven Brownlow."

"The man who says he's your dad?"

"Yeah, he's on his way round here. Marcus just called to let me know he'd been in the bar looking for me, and when I wasn't there, he said he was coming here."

"For what?" She reached up and smoothed her finger along the crease that she said I had. "Stop it, or it'll stick, and you'll look permanently puzzled."

Chuckling, I turned my head and kissed the inside of her wrist. "Don't worry, I'll make sure I don't let it spoil my good looks."

"Good because I really can't have a boyfriend I can barely look at." She started to giggle, then winced. "Ooh that hurts."

"Well, I'd better make sure that I don't make you laugh then."

"No." She sighed heavily. "I need you to keep doing that because if I don't I might cry." Her bottom lip trembled. "And I don't want to, not again."

"If you want to cry, then cry. It's fine." Kissing her forehead, I wished that she wasn't having to go through everything.

She took a deep breath. "No, I don't want to cry."

"But do you need to?" I cocked my head on one side and raised an eyebrow, waiting for her response.

She thought about it for a few seconds, wiped her nose with her hand, then shook her head. "Nope. As long as you're here, I don't need to cry."

"Just remember that if you do feel like crying, then do it and I'll still be here."

Brushing Maya's hair from her face, I thought about kissing her, but when the doorbell rang, I knew my window of opportunity was gone.

"Shit," I groaned, resting my forehead against hers. "He's here."

Her hand smoothed down my cheek, and instantly the anger that had been building started to subside, just a little.

"Go and see what he wants and don't lose your temper."

"Okay." I stretched to my feet. "I'll try not to lose it with him."

With a last kiss to Maya's head, I slowly made my way to the door shouting that I was on my way when the doorbell rang again.

When I swung the door open, Steven's hand was reaching out, as though he was going to knock or ring the bell again.

"I said I was coming, now what do you want?"

"Seems like you knew I was on my way here." He looked me up and down and I didn't fail to notice the slight smirk on lips. He certainly didn't come across as a man who was desperate to reconcile with his long-lost son.

"Marcus called me, so what do you want?"

"Can I come in?" He placed a foot on the doorstep, but I pulled the door to me, closing the gap.

"No." I jutted out my chin in defiance. "So?"

There was a resigned sag to his shoulders, and for a moment, he looked like an old man. Defeated and old. If I'd been a better person, I might have felt a glimmer of sympathy, but I didn't. Not one little bit.

"This would be much better if I could come inside."

I cleared my throat, using the pause to consider how I kicked a sixty-odd-year-old bloke from my property without causing him any harm.

"I really need to speak to you, William." I shot him a glance. "Sorry, Will."

He was persistent, I'd give him that. "Just say what you've got to say and then leave."

It was obvious he was about to argue again, but something in my expression must have warned him not to.

"I didn't want to ask you…" He rubbed a hand over his face. "Tell you like this."

"What?" I asked impatiently, almost ready to just shove him off my doorstep.

"Your brother needs a kidney, and I was wondering if you'd be willing to donate one of yours."