Kiss Me : A Modern Sleeping Beauty Retold (A Modern Fairy Tale Series Book 2)

by Zoey A. Black

  “It smells amazing,” she tried to lift the fork, but it was an effort to even curl her gnarled fingers around it. I had to help feed her.

  “I can tell you put your own spin on this dish. I want you to feel free to experiment with my recipes. Don’t give up on your dream.” She really did think I could be a productive member of society.

  “I did dabble with some different spices to give it a bit of a kick. I even found this local butcher who makes the best sausages in the business.”

  “You should really find an investor and open up your restaurant. I know it would be a great success.” Mom was always optimistic one in the family. Her hair was pure white and her face had sunken from the ravages of time.

  “But you also know that 60 to 80% of restaurants fail in the first year.”

  “I believe in you son.”

  “I can’t live on the fairy tale of my dream coming true. A man needs to take care of his family. You are the last standing. I won’t have anybody when you’re gone. I will be truly alone for the first time in my life.” My love life consisted of sitting with a comatose patient.

  “I need you to promise me to get out of this town while you still can. I wouldn’t forgive myself for holding you back. There’s not much you can do for me.” I had been a constant source of company for her.

  “My life is nothing without you in it. I might be a mama’s boy, but I’m damn proud of it.” She gave me a great big smile, I had tattooed that image in my memory.

  I continued, “We’ve only gotten closer in the last three years. I’ve seen you at your best and I’ve seen you at your worst. You’re still the strongest woman I’ve ever known. Nothing is ever going to change that.” She was there with her arms wide open when I came home.

  I was living in my childhood home with the memories of my youth hitting me in the face every time I walked through the door. The markings on the wall to indicate how tall I had grown were soon covered up with a fresh coat of paint. It wasn’t like she was going to come home to find things had changed.

  “I don’t feel very strong these days. This is your chance to cut ties with this town once and for all. I have never wanted to be a burden. We both know there’s another reason why you come here every day.” I had told her a little bit about Aurora.

  “There’s no reason for us to discuss her. You have made your feelings abundantly clear. Aurora is the only one in this town who has never judged me. Besides you, of course. It’s refreshing to talk to her about anything and not receive a scowl of disapproval in response.”

  “You are a handsome man with all of your hair and your teeth. Any woman would be lucky to have you in their lives sleeping or not. Have you seriously looked at yourself in the mirror? A tall, dark, and handsome man is waiting for the love of the right woman.” I was once a scrawny kid in highschool, but since then I had worked my body into the kind of specimen to give me the confidence to walk up to any woman out of my league.

  “You’re my mother and you have to say that.” I lifted the plastic cup and held her head to help her drink the little bit of water she got in your mouth.

  “I’m not blind by how the girls have looked at you out of the corner of their eyes. I had to beat them off with a stick when you were younger. I was always worried you were going to come home before you were out of high school and tell me you got somebody knocked up.” I had never had any children and had dodged a bullet with a woman who was a little loose with her affections.

  “I can’t justify bringing a child into this chaotic environment. I might only be 31 years old, but I can barely take care of myself.” I couldn't imagine being responsible for the welfare of an innocent child.

  “Ironically, the one thing I feared when you were younger is the one thing I wanted the most for you before I die. It would’ve been nice to have grandchildren to dote on.” The only reason why I would want children was to make her happy.

  Time had gotten away from the both of us. The years went by in the blink of an eye. It sometimes felt like I had been standing still. The phone beeped. I got an infuriating text message from Owen. He was bugging me to make a decision.

  “Don’t tell me you have gotten back in touch with Owen. He’s the reason why you had to go to jail the last time. Do you really want him to determine your fate? Listen to an old woman who has been around the block a few times to know what she’s talking about.” Owen was easily the only person who could rub her the wrong way. He had this sly little smile with an underlying meaning behind it.

  “I should go. You need to get some rest to keep your strength up.” Her heart was giving out.

  Surgery would’ve been like putting a gun to the back of her head with one bullet in the chamber. I would have had my hand on the trigger. I would’ve taken the risk, but she was vehemently against prolonging her life by unnatural means. She was ready to go. It would’ve been wrong to make her go underneath the knife for my own selfish needs.

  “I want you to listen to your heart. It will never steer you wrong. Don’t let Owen and that Jezebel convince you otherwise.” The Jezebel she was talking about was Harper, Owen’s sister. She was the only woman who knew how to play me like a fiddle. I almost married her.

  “I do want you to know that I will be careful. I love you Mom.” I couldn’t make her any promises. It wasn’t like money grows on trees. I gave her a hug careful not to put any pressure on her delicate ribs.

  “Don’t waste your time on the girl down the hall. She’s never going to return your affections. I heard from some of the nurses there has been a constant court battle on whether or not to pull the plug. She’s living on borrowed time. Then again, I could probably say the same thing for myself.”

  “Don’t talk like that. This place is the best money can buy. Their experimental treatments have lengthened your life by a few days. I will do everything in my power to make sure you stay where you are comfortable.” I wasn’t telling her everything and what she didn’t know didn’t hurt her.

  “I feel like I’m slowly slipping away. Modern medicine can only do so much. I can’t expect to rely on you forever. You have your own life to live. The doctors don’t have to tell me. I know I have very little time left. I can already feel it.” It pained me to hear her say that.

  “You’ve been saying that since the moment you were brought in here. I will see you soon, and I will surprise you with another twist to your recipe.” That was my attempt to cheer her up and give her something to look forward to. I was outside the room looking at the staff going about their business. I knew life didn’t stop.

  I was soon outside looking at the manicured lawn. It was a beautiful place. She deserved to live her last days surrounded by more than an antiseptic smell.

  I had already made up my mind, but I was going to let Harper and Owen make their pitch. They would no doubt think they had me where they wanted me. I was the architect of my own destiny.

  CHAPTER 3

  Aurora

  “I don’t know what to tell you. Her eyes were open and then they were closed.” The nurse was understandably startled when I blinked into focus the room that had been shrouded in darkness behind my eyelids for too long.

  “I don’t want to make any snap judgments until I make an evaluation. It is encouraging, but we need to take things in baby steps.” I couldn’t speak, but I could see everything around me including the concerned face of Dr. Benton flashing a light in my eyes.

  “We both know this is a significant change, it’s a miracle!” Nurse Augustine was looking at me with expectation in her eyes.

  “I’m optimistic. This development does make it necessary to inform her family.” He was reaching for the phone.

  I had been thinking about the kiss obsessively when suddenly my eyes opened. I was blinded temporarily by the lights overhead.

  “No…not yet.” Those were the few words that I could force out with all my might. He was staring and wasn’t quite sure what to say to a woman who hadn’t spoken in months.

 
; “Aurora, did you just say something or was that wishful thinking?” Dr. Benton was confused and looking for me to clarify what had turned into a medical marvel.

  I cleared my throat and managed to croak the very same words over again.

  “No… not yet… I still have… a lot of work to do. I need to walk…out of here on my own power. Don’t say anything to anyone.” I had a coughing fit trying to spit out the words to convey my feelings.

  “I want you to drink this. It’s going to take some time to get your vocal cords working again. You are an adult and as my patient, I have to abide by your wishes. I want to go on the record to say it’s a mistake to keep the fact you woke up away from your family.” His starched white jacket and the fluorescent yellow lights over the bed made me realize how important it was for Travis to be there.

  He made me feel less like a number. The staff couldn’t be expected to bond emotionally with a patient. Bringing their work home would only make their personal lives suffer. It wasn’t fair to make them responsible for keeping my hopes up.

  “I don’t… have a family.” I was angry and was looking to lash out at anybody. My caustic tone and attitude had this icy chill behind every word.

  “I’m sure you have questions for them. That’s another reason why they should be informed. Give me the word and I’ll be happy to make the phone call on your behalf.” He was going to get no confirmation from me.

  “I won’t… give them… the satisfaction. It might seem spiteful… I don’t care.” I tried to get up, but my muscles were in a state of atrophy.

  “I will arrange for you to start rehabilitation immediately. The sooner you start the faster you will get out of here. This is a huge step, but you still have several more to go. I have no doubt in your conviction to do so. I will be there with you every step of the way.” He wasn’t who I wanted.

  “Where is…Travis? I want to…see him.” I looked around the room hoping to catch a glimpse of him standing in the corner watching from afar.

  “He’s my friend and I could give him a call for you. If he stays to his routine then he should be walking through that door in about an hour.” Dr. Benton was kind and professional, but he wasn’t the first face I wanted to see when I woke up.

  “No offense, but I would rather…rather reveal this miracle in my own way. I don’t want… one word of this to anyone. I’m depending on your… discretion. I also…would like some real food.” His smile creased his features and he was mildly amused by my request.

  “I would say it’s a good sign you are hungry. I’m sure I can rustle up something more than what the cafeteria can offer. Would you like anything special?” I had a craving for something spicy.

  “Jambalaya.” The smell of it hidden in the tupperware Travis was holding was an intoxicating aroma.

  “I will see what I can do. Nina will be up shortly to start working those muscles back into action. I promise any news of you waking up will not come from me. The only other person that knows is Nurse Augustine. Her lips will be sealed. We take the privacy of our patients very seriously.” He was sporting a comb-over. It was obvious he fighting the aging process with every medical procedure known to man.

  “Thank you. We’re going to do this my way.” I was finding my voice. My body was starting to realize the brain had been ignited with electrical impulses.

  “I wouldn’t have it any other way. I admire the fight you have in yourself to make an amazing recovery. It’s a testament to the human spirit to overcome impossible odds. I’ve never witnessed a true miracle until now.” He was building my confidence with strong words of encouragement.

  “Can I please get a mirror?” Nurse Augustine in her pink uniform fumbled around in her pocket until she found a compact.

  I looked at myself without makeup and my hair cut shorter than the length I had when I first came in. Nurse Augustine held the mirror in place. I got a look at a woman who had aged remarkably well in two years.

  “I will go and see what I can find for your first meal coming out of a coma. I can’t promise you the Jambalaya you want, but I will find something similar. I will also find you some magazines in the lobby so that you can catch up on current events.” He walked away whistling a happy tune. Waking up had certainly made for an interesting morale boost.

  The one thing driving me was how I felt betrayed by the one person I thought had my heart. We were high school sweethearts. He was my first boyfriend, first kiss, first dance, and the rest. My one and only. We dated for twelve years before we married. He was supposed to be ‘The One’.

  How he could justify walking away from his vows and all the years we shared together.

  I tried to walk a mile in his shoes, while it’s true that I couldn’t expect him to show up every day. Once or twice a week would have at least made me feel like he cared. How could I possibly look him in the eyes and feel the same love I did standing at the altar?

  And of course there was my sister, Jemma. My parents were the glue to keep us from each other’s throat. Jemma hated competing for their attention. She was the baby of the family. Jemma was always getting into trouble and I was the one always bailing her out. The last time was the final straw. I didn’t lift a finger to get her out of jail after she ran her car into a telephone pole while under the influence. She had to spend the weekend behind bars and she never forgave me. She assumed I was always going to come running when she did something monumentally insane.

  It was worse after our parents perished during a storm at sea. They were supposed to sail around the world after their 30th wedding anniversary. The trip was our parents’ dream. Everything was planned to the very last detail, my father was one of those meticulous people that loved planning for everything. They had been in touch with me at every port where they docked and got provision. So when they didn’t message me three days after the day that they were supposed to dock in the most Southern port in Argentina. I went looking. The local police helped the best they could but there were no signs of them. Then three weeks later, their wreckage was found, floated ashore. It was the worst day of my life. They were too young to die. I wished I had given them grandchildren for them to spoil. Oh God. Every time their memory came to me, my eyes just welled up. Perhaps there was no way to ever heal from the loss of a parent.

  “Hey Aurora, I hope you don’t think that lying in bed is a good idea. I have some questions before we begin a rehabilitation schedule designed for you. I hope you don’t find them obtrusive.” Nina was not exactly what I was expecting. She went to the window and opened up the blinds to let in the sun. I was blinded for the bright sun momentarily.

  She was an Amazon at 6 feet tall and had the kind of muscles reserved for fitness competitions. She had stunning cheekbones and whatever scent she was wearing was addictive. She wasn’t wearing a lab coat and she didn’t give me the impression of a medical professional. I couldn’t see her staff identification badge that all staff would wear.

  “Who are you? And what are your credentials?” I saw a tattoo of a red dragon head on her shoulder with a green tongue curled around her neck. Her black hair had an interesting tinge of red mixed with the pigment to complement her bright red lips.

  “Hi, let’s start again. I’m Nina, I’m your physical therapist. Got all my degrees hanging on my office wall.” She extended her hand out for a handshake.

  “Sorry, I just…” I shook her hand with a firm grip, so what I thought was a firm grip. My muscles had clearly degraded, even my hands.

  “It’s ok. I know I look different from all the staff here. I take my job seriously. My techniques might be a little unorthodox. I will get you results, and that’s my number one priority.”

  “Are you going to come down on me like a drill sergeant? Because I don’t respond to that.”

  “Not exactly like that, that’s not my style. I am not going to coddle you either, I will push you until you are at you’re breaking point. You will probably hate me, but it will be a healthy hate.”

  “You
have to admit, someone who didn’t know you would have concerns about your experience. You don’t look like you are anything more than 20 years old unless looks are deceiving.” I was ready for the hard work and my dedication to a full recovery was like a flame burning in my heart.

  “I’m actually 30, but I appreciate the compliment. In order for us to achieve results, we need to build the trust between us and we need to communicate well with each other. Tell me more about you.” Her appearance was nothing more than window dressing. I had to remember it wasn’t fair to judge a book by its cover.

  “I don’t see how talking is going to help me walk out of here. I would rather just start the therapy.” I was apprehensive and anxious about the day I was going to confront my husband. I did regret taking that tone with Nina. I just wanted to get walking again.

  “I see you mean business, and we will get there real soon. I have a method that begins with a bit of conversation.” She was wearing a red leather skirt and a white blouse. I could see how transparent it was with the straps of her bra peeking out from her shoulders.

  Her soft-soled shoes barely made a noise walking across the floor. That crooked grin was hard not to recognize the gears moving with the darting of her eyes.

  “I’m an open book. Ask me anything you want.” I thought I was ready for the inquisition, but I wasn’t.

  “Since you mean business, let me give a few questions. Do you consider yourself a strong and confident woman? What is your main motivation for getting out of here? Are you stubborn to a fault? Is there any drama in your life holding you back? I think we will start with those. I want to get a baseline for your psychological evaluation.” She was acting like my therapist and I could see how my mindset would hinder my progress.

  “I am a strong and confident woman. My main motivation is to take my life back. I suppose I can be stubborn when it’s warranted. I do have drama, but I have a feeling the file in front of you tells you more than I want you to know.” She hadn’t even opened the folder and I was curious to know how much she knew of my situation.