Chapter 35 — Is This Love?

Jude’s POV:

We got out of the car and walked towards the door. I unlocked the apartment and we entered together. As soon as we got in I turned to Natasha and she turned to me at the same time. I was about to pull her to me when I realized something was amiss and at the same time Natasha frowned as if she had just realized it too.

“Surprise!” yelled my parents as they walked towards us.

“Mom! Dad!”

“Hi honey, we wanted to surprise you.”

Natasha rushed forward and hugged my mom and kissed my father on his cheeks. Finally the shock wore off and I went forward to meet my parents.

“Mom” said Natasha, “this is such a pleasant surprise!”  

“Well we decided to drop in and see how you both are doing and when have you set the date for! We need to start the preparations!”

I shrugged while Natasha stared at her feet.

“Well mom I was planning to enroll and do a crash course in interior designing.”

“That is great news!” replied dad, “then if you want you can help Jude in the business!” 

“Well I already asked her to” I said.

We all were sitting in the living room.

“I’ll be right back” said Natasha and went in our room. She changed her clothes and came out.

“Mom, dad you can sleep in our room, we’ll take the spare”

“Oh no dear we have a room booked at the hotel”

“No way! You have a home right here why would you book a room at the hotel?”

I looked at her in pride and my dad discreetly gave me a thumbs up. Natasha took mom to help her settle in our room.

“Son you did something good in your life”

I rolled my eyes at him and said, “Dad I did a lot of good things in my life”

“Breaking up with Stephanie would definitely count!”

“Dad!”

“What? I am just saying…”

“Right”

“So where had you guys gone?”

“Er I haven’t been spending much time with her lately so I took her out on a date”

Dad smiled at me, “Damn did we disturb something good?” he said wiggling his eyebrows at me.

“Dad!”

“Come on tell me”

“Yes dad because this isn’t awkward at all”

“Now I feel really bad about dropping in like this”

“Dad its ok!”

“Well now nothing can be done. Anyhow I guess I will turn in for the night I am tired.”

“Goodnight dad”

“Goodnight son”

Natasha fussed a little more about sleeping arrangements for my parents then we both took our night clothes and went to the spare room. We took turns to use the washroom and change our clothes and finally settled down.

As we lay in the dark I listened to Natasha’s breathing. She seemed very restless and kept tossing and turning.

“Nats what’s wrong?”

“Nothing it just takes me time to adjust to a new bed.”

“Oh”

“Yep” she said sighing.

I wondered whether she was miffed with the interruption. I myself was not sure what I was about to do. Was I going to kiss her? Would she have responded? I was going crazy trying to analyze all the what ifs. 

Natasha was still restless so I couldn’t sleep either. I tried sleeping but couldn’t, finally I sat up abruptly and so did Natasha.

“I am so sorry Jude am I disturbing you?”

“No, I can’t sleep either”

“Oh, you can’t sleep in a different bed either?”

“Something like that” 

“I am sorry I should’ve asked you before offering our- your room to your parents but I couldn’t let them sleep in the guest room!”

“Of course not! You did the right thing, you have nothing to apologize for!”

Suddenly she leaned into me and kept her head on my shoulder, I hesitated only a little and then put my arm around her and held her close. She smelled of strawberries. I inhaled deeply and rested my cheek on her head.

We sat there in silence when I realized that Natasha had fallen asleep. I felt idiotically happy as I thought how easily she fell asleep in my arms. I sat there afraid to move and break the spell.

I watched as a little beam of moonlight streamed through the window through a tiny gap between the curtains. It was almost magical with Natasha dozing off on my shoulder in the dark with just a tiny beam of moonlight streaming in. 

I don’t know for how long I sat there smelling Natasha’s hair but after a while my shoulder felt numb. I winced as I felt tiny pinpricks shoot up my arm and shoulder. I lay back on the bed pulling Natasha with me on the bed and held her close. Soon I was asleep.

I woke up early next morning and to my surprise Natasha was sleeping the same way as last night. She hadn’t moved at all! Which explained the cramps in my shoulder. I lay there staring at her. I looked at her perfect mouth. The set of pink lips adorning her face, so delectable looking.

I smiled at the way her brow furrowed when she frowned in her sleep. I used my free hand to play with her red hair. Soft and sweet smelling. I couldn’t help it and I bent down and gave her quick peck on her lips. I waited with bated breath and when she didn’t stir I breathed again.

Then slowly I kissed her forehead, her nose, her cheeks, her eyelids and her throat. I stopped myself before it got out of hand and rested my forehead against hers. Gently I took out the hand she was sleeping on from underneath her and made my way to the washroom. I freshened up quickly and came out to see that Natasha was still sleeping. She had curled into a ball and was fast asleep.

I frowned, normally Natasha would be up before me, I guess she was tired. I went back to bed and touched her forehead and frowned. She had temperature and I was only just realizing it. What a douche I was! I tried to stir her awake but she just protested in her sleep.

I went out to see if mom was there she would know what to do. As luck would have it mom was up and was talking to Mrs. Bowers.

“Mercy Mr. Jude! Today you’re up before Ms. Natasha!”

I rolled my eyes at her and turned to mom, “Mom Natasha has a temperature, could you just check what’s wrong with her?”

“Sure!” mom hopped off the kitchen stool and walked towards the guest room and I followed. She went inside and called out softly to Natasha. Natasha stirred a little and opened her eyes. She squinted against the bright sunlight so I immediately pulled the curtains.

“I don’t feel too good” she said in a hoarse voice.

“What wrong honey?” mom asked.

“My head aches, my body is aching too, I feel feverish” she said and looked exhausted.

“Jude, call the doctor”

“What? No! I just need to sleep a little, I will be alright.”

“Nonsense! Jude call the doctor up now!”

I hurried and called the doctor who said that he would be there as soon as possible. I sat next to Natasha s mom went to tell dad that Natasha wasn’t well.

“Jude sweetheart your dad and I had a meeting scheduled in the next town but we can stay back if you want.”

“No mom” Natasha spoke up, “I am sue its nothing serious please don’t cancel because of me”

“Natasha, it's no trouble at all.”

“Mom if we need you we can always call you.”

I nodded in agreement and mom left halfheartedly to get dressed. 

“What happened to you?” I whispered.

“I don’t know, just don’t feel too good.”

“Well the doctor will be here soon and we will find out what is wrong with you”

Natasha nodded weakly, mom and dad came to say goodbye. “We will be back later in the evening or tomorrow” Dad said kissing Natasha’s forehead.

“Get well soon dear and call us if you need us”

“We will” said Natasha and smiled at them. They left, and Natasha and I were alone. Mrs. Bowers had left as well. I sat there next to her and held her hand. It was really hot I just wished the doctor would get her soon. Suddenly Natasha sneezed thrice in a row.

“Oh God can you get me some tissue paper Jude?” she asked, her eyes were watering. I got up to oblige and came back with a tissue box. Natasha picked a tissue up and blew her nose into it.

She lay there with her eyes closed and I sat there just watching her. The doctor came soon and said she seemed to have a viral infection. He gave her a shot and a few tablets and advised her bed rest for a day or two and left.

“I’ll get you something to eat” I said and walked to the kitchen. I decided to make coffee and toast for her and started on my mission of making breakfast for Natasha.

Natasha’s POV:

Stupid, stupid flu! I thought, it couldn’t have had a worst timing. I was pretty sure Jude was about to kiss me in the morning. I wonder if he was restless thinking about our almost kiss too?

I lay there wallowing in self-pity, the moment was gone! Couldn’t I have got the flu a day or two later? Damn it I thought kicking my legs in the air then winced as I felt my body ache.

I tossed around restless but stopped immediately as Jude entered with a tray of breakfast. I sat up and rested against the headboard. Jude set the tray on the bed and I smiled at him. 

“I need to brush my teeth”

Jude nodded and I got out of the bed only to fall back on it immediately as a wave of dizziness came over me.

“Whoa!” said Jude holding me.

“I can’t even stand up,” I whispered miserably.

Jude picked me up and carried me to the washroom and sat me on the counter. He then put toothpaste on my rush as I rested against a wall and brushed my teeth for me. I tried to tell him I could do it but he wasn’t listening! He asked me to keep the door unlocked while I had to go pee so that incase I fainted he could get to me easily. 

Luckily I did not faint and walked out of the washroom. As soon as I stepped out Jude lifted me in his arms once more and carried me to the bed. I sat there as he fed me coffee and toast. Once I had eaten and taken my medicines I started feeling a little better and I lay back on the bed and closed my eyes.

I could feel the fever and it made my eyes water. Jude got up and disappeared somewhere for a few minutes. When he returned he had a glass bowl filled with water in his hand along with a few strips of cloth.

“I am going to try and bring down your body temperature” he said and dipped the cloth in the water and then placed it on my forehead. He had put his cologne in the water, it smelled like him. The cloth felt cool and pleasant. I didn’t realized when I drifted off to sleep but when I woke up Jude was there still putting cool strips of cloth to my forehead.

“Hey sleeping beauty”

I smiled at him and tried to speak but my throat was really sore so I just shrugged. Jude stared at me for a moment and then bent down and kissed me. Fever forgotten I put my arms around his neck and held him tight as he kissed me hard. I returned the kiss with equal enthusiasm and pulled him over me. He was now lying over me and his hands roamed freely on my body.

I did a little exploring of my own and smiled as Jude gasped when I squeezed his butt. He bit my bottom lip and I moaned. I wanted more but my body protested, I felt too weak. Jud got off me and said, “I am so sorry Natasha! I knew you were not well and yet I- I am sorry please forgive me!”

“Jude! You have nothing to apologize for! I wanted it as much as you—’ I broke off blushing furiously and buried my head in my pillow. Jude turned me around gently to face him.

“You want it as much as me?”

I nodded and shyly and Jude chuckled and kissed my hair.

“Not now though you are too weak, we need you to gain your strength quickly. Mom wants to start the wedding preparations in full swing!”

I laughed at the look on his face. Jude then took my tray and kept it in the kitchen. He got back into the bed with me when he came back and held me.

“Jude you shouldn’t be near me you’ll catch the infection too!”

“I don’t care! I want to be near you”

I smiled and felt giddy though I wasn’t sure whether it was with happiness or weakness. I lay there as Jude massaged my throbbing head and I soon dozed off again. When I woke up Jude was still next to me massaging my head. I glanced at the watch and gasped. It had been over an hour since I had fallen asleep and Jude had been massaging my head.

“Jude!” I said my voice hoarse with sleep and flu, “you can stop now. You should have when I fell asleep”

“Well I wanted you to wake without a headache. I hate to see you in pain Nats” he said sadly and I pulled him closer and hugged him tight. Tears formed in my eyes but I blinked them back. I was so not going to cry! That is the sweetest thing anyone had ever done for me.

“I need to use the bathroom”

“Do you want me to take you?”

“No I feel well rested I think I can make it”

“Ok but leave the door unlocked just in case”

I walked to the washroom and washed my face. I looked at myself in the mirror and gasped. I looked hideous! My hair was unkempt, I was really pale and had dark shadows under my eyes. He kissed me while I was looking like this? 

I went out to see Jude had brought in a bowl of soup and toast. I smiled at him and he grinned.

“Someone once told me that the quickest way to recover is by drinking chicken soup”

“Well that someone was really smart”

“Ha-ha, very funny, now eat your soup!”

I sat down and quickly finished my lunch. “that was delicious!”

“Thank you!”

“So what are we going to do now?”

“I don’t know, what do you want to do?”

“I don’t want to lie in the bed anymore!”

“But the doctor said that you have to take bed rest today”

I pouted and said, “Ok, then you’re gonna have to read me a story”

“wh-what?” he spluttered.

“Yep, that’s the only way I will recover faster” I said smiling at him sweetly.

“What do you mean?”

“When I was little and I used to fall ill my mom used to read me stories to keep me in bed”

“Well I could think of other ways of keeping you in bed”

“Jude!” I said going red in the face.

“hahahahahahahahha! You should see the expression on your face, it's cute.”

I threw a pillow at his face and when he made a move to throw it back at me I yelled, “hey I am the patient remember?”

He sighed and put the pillow down, “Ok what do you want me to read to you?”

“You really will?” I asked widening my eyes.

“Of course I will!”

“Ok in my suitcase there is a copy of Disney’s Little Mermaid, get that please”

“Seriously?”

“Yep”

“Oh come on! I thought you would ask me to read you a nice romantic book with some hot scenes in them!”

“Jude!”

“Ok, ok, I am going.”

I smiled as he left to get my book he returned a few seconds later and plopped down on the bed next to me. He was about to begin reading when is phone buzzed. We both glanced at the display and he groaned. It was Stephanie.

“Damn she just does not get a hint does she?”

“No Jude she doesn’t” I giggled and shut up when he glared at me. He tossed his phone aside and took up the book and started reading. I moved up and lay my head on his lap and smiled as his whole face lit up.

I listened to his smooth and soothing voice. It was funny how he lowered his voice pitch whenever a dialogue by Ariel came up and how he spoke in a baritone when he the king’s dialogues came up and he used his own voice when Eric’s dialogues came up. He was a great storyteller.

I smiled when he said, “And they lived happily ever after”

“Boy! I can’t believe I just read that and actually enjoyed it!”

“See! I told you that would like it!”

“Yeah, yeah.”

“Well, you’re a great storyteller. At least one thing is decided, you will put the children to bed.” I blushed as I realized what I had just said and bit my lip. Great I had just ruined a perfectly good moment.

“You know what? I would love to do that. We will have one boy and one girl. The girl will look gorgeous just like you and the boy will be as handsome as me”

I broke into laughter, “Well at least no one can accuse you of modesty” I said between laughter, grateful to him that he had save me from embarrassment. It was almost dinner time and Jude asked me what I wanted to eat.

“I am not very hungry”

He shook his head is disapproval. “You have to eat something you know that.”

“I know it but I don’t want to!”

“Stop being a brat that’s my job”

I stuck my tongue out at him, “Well if you’re so insistent I will have coffee and toast, I don’t feel like eating something too heavy”

“Well ok”

Jude’s phone buzzed once more. I yelled out, “Jude! Your phone is ringing”

“Who is it?”

“It’s a text”

“Well check it”

I opened his inbox and saw it was from Stephanie, I opened the message and read it.

‘Jude I am really sorry. Please talk to me baby! Please answer my calls or return them. I am waiting for your call’

“Tell her to go to hell!”

“Er you really want me to write that?”

“No, silly,” he said walking into the room, “it's best to ignore.”

“Yep”

“So I think mom and dad will come tomorrow. Tonight it's just you and me, honey,” he said leering at me and making me laugh.

“What are you eating for dinner?”

“I am eating beef and potatoes”

“I hate you!”

“Oh you know you love me”

“I do not”

“Yes you do”

We ate our dinner quietly, and Jude cleared the plates once more. He went to the washroom changed and got into the bed beside me. I turned to him and kissed him on his cheek.

“What was that for?”

“For taking care of me”

“You don’t have to thank me. In sickness and in health right?”

“Right” I said smiling in the dark.

“Goodnight Jude”

“Goodnight Natasha”

And we fell asleep.