Dramatic, Mushy, Complicated Love

by Leah Sharelle

  “Brecken, watch out!” My scream coincided with four huge kangaroos leaping their way across the road. I saw them in my peripheral jumping through the trees off to the side, never thinking for a second all four of them would try to pass over.

  “Fuck me!” Wrenching on the wheel, Brecken swerved the truck over to the other lane, the brakes squealing at a horrible high pitch as Brecken did everything in his power to bring the heavy vehicle to a stop.

  “Hold on, sissy!” Brecken shouted as he yanked on the steering wheel, narrowly missing the largest of the marsupials as it hopped over the front of the bonnet and away from the truck. “Brace!” Breck roared before a huge thick-trunked tree filled my vision. Grabbing hold of the door rest with one hand, the other one wrapping around the shoulder strap of my seatbelt, holding it firm just as the truck impacted with the trunk of the tree, the sound of crashing metal like a thunderous steel crunching thump and a strange noise that sounded like smashing glass.

  “Meadow! Meadow, are you okay?” I heard Brecken yelling at me, felt his hands on my face turning to look at him, but my ears were ringing so loudly I couldn’t comprehend what he was asking me enough to answer him. All I could see was the wild, frantic look in his eyes and a line of dripping blood oozing from under his hairline on his forehead.

  “You’re hurt!” I rasped, dazed.

  “Are you? Sissy, are you hurt?”

  “Um, I don’t think so,” I told him, taking a few deep breaths and feeling no pain in my chest. The belt was tight over my shoulder, digging in like a vice on my skin, which hurt.

  “Can you release my belt for me? The pressure is digging in pretty bad.” Breck rushed to disengage the belt, and it was then I realised that tiny pieces of glass were strewn all over me.

  “What? Where did that come from?” Bewildered as to why the glass was on me.

  Brecken simply quirked a brow and pointed to my left, then his expression changed to one of horror.

  “Oh fuck me! Meadow!” Alarmed at his sudden swap in mood, I twisted in my seat but stopped when a shooting pain radiated at my arm.

  “Ouch, that hurts.” Reaching out, I traced my hand down my arm, then abruptly stopped when I felt something that was not supposed to be there.

  Gaping at my brother, I asked the question I already knew the answer to, though.

  “Is that a tree branch sticking out of my arm?” Once again, my fingers sought out the area, complete disbelief and shock overwhelming me.

  “It’s more like a twig at the end of a branch, which is good. What isn’t good is we’ve gotta get it out.”

  “You are not pulling it out, Brecken Wolf, so you can forget that right now,” I ordered, the adrenaline pumping through my body during the accident now seeping out and pain replacing it.

  “Damn, this is not good, not good at all,” I mumbled, sitting as still as possible.

  “Ya reckon? The truck’s front end has a tree embedded in it and you are impaled to a tree twig. How can anything be worse than that?” Pulling out his phone from his pocket, Breck held it up for me to see.

  “Cops, ambos or SES?”

  “Whoever can get here the fastest and get this so-called twig out of my arm.”

  “SES and ambos it is,” Brecken nodded, looking down at his phone.

  “Good, then please find my phone for me so I can ring Luca. I promised him that I would always tell him when I am hurt.”

  “Why?” Breck held his phone mid-air, his expression confused. “You two have a deal or something, and why?”

  “Never mind,” I muttered. There was no way I was telling my brother about Luca’s meltdown about my knees, no way in hell.

  “Well, whatever the reason, your boyfriend is going to kick my arse if anything is left of it after Lennie gets done with me,” he muttered worriedly.

  “Hey, none of this was your fault, Wolfie,” I stressed, using the childhood nickname Spring and I bestowed on him to annoy him and stuck well into our teen years.

  “I know, but that doesn’t stop the guilt. You have a stick in your arm, sissy, and it is going to take a while to get over that.” Brecken turned away from me, putting the phone to his ear, and gave his attention to calling for help.

  Timidly, I twisted my head down and took a tentative glance down, and my stomach rolled at the sight. The branch, which was indeed more of a twig, penetrated through the wing of my upper arm and underneath, I knew for sure they were going to hurt coming out.

  “Oh, that is so gross.”

  Luca is going to lose his shit.

  By the time I reached the hospital’s car park, my heart was in my throat, precisely two hours after I received a call from Meadow. Her first words, ‘don’t freak out’, not the best way for her to start because that was what I did. As Meadow relayed what had happened, my freak out turned into a full-blown panic attack. She and Brecken had been to a stock buy and were driving back home when they hit a tree after swerving to avoid a small mob of kangaroos. As a consequence, one of the tree branches smashed through the passenger side window, and a small branch, or as Meadow described, a twig punctured her arm and became lodged in it.

  She called me from the cab of the truck, still trapped at the arm, still bleeding, and from the hitch in her voice, she was scared. The call played in my mind the entire trip from Warrnambool, fucking with my mind and increasing my level of worry.

  “What do you mean, don’t freak out? If you say that to me, then I am going to freak out, baby.”

  “Luca, calm down, really it’s nothing. It’s just that you told me if I ever worried about something or got hurt, you wanted to know from me.”

  The work site was clearing slowly, the workers clocking off for the day early as it was Friday. Last night I’d stayed here to get an early start so I could drive back home to Meadow so I could help her unload her purchases from the market she attended today. Unfortunately, a few problems came up pushing back my arrival home. Now, all I wanted was to click my fingers and get back to my girlfriend.

  “Hurt? Did something happen? Did you lift heavy furniture, fuck Meadow, did something fall on your foot?” All kinds of scenarios flew out of my mouth, firing them at her down the phone.

  “Luca, don’t be silly. Brecken does all the heavy lifting, and you know that,” Meadow laughed, but it sounded more like a painful hiss than her sweet and adorable giggle.

  “Meadow, don’t fuck with me, please. Tell me what is going on?” Now I was starting to panic, I could tell she was trying not to cry by the sound of her voice, and her stalling had me ready to explode.

  “The truck crashed into a tree and I got a little tiny bit impaled by a tree branch.”

  The words were delivered in a rush, but I heard and understood every single one. That one sentence made me drive like a maniac, getting pulled over for speeding, and it just about killed me; what happened to Meadow, not the speeding, that just pissed me off and cost me four hundred bucks and four demerit points.

  “Thank God,” I muttered, relieved to see a parking space right off the bat. The last thing I needed was one or more trips around the lot finding a park. Slamming the car into gear, I jumped out and bolted for the emergency entrance. The last call from Meadow said that she was being seen by the doctors and should be done by the time I arrive. Doctors, as in plural, more than one. Why did she need more than one doctor, did the branch puncture a vein or an artery? My phone suddenly rang in my pocket just as I reached the automatic doors, a sign stating strictly no mobile phone use emblazoned over in red.

  “Shit a brick.” Fishing my phone out, I took a glance at it and saw it was my mother calling. “Not a good time, Mum,” I muttered, then pressed ignore and shoved it back in my jeans. I was going to cop a mouthful for sending her to voicemail, but right at that moment, I didn’t care.

  I just wanted my eyes on Meadow and my arms around her.

  Racing inside, it took me not more than five minutes of explaining who I was and why I was there for a nurse to let me through the
doors that lead to the emergency area. The receptionist at the front desk said Meadow was waiting for me in cubicle nine, and the closer I got, I swore I could smell her amazing scent. Then at the end of the ridiculously long corridor, I saw Ace standing outside of a curtained-off room with Spring. From here, I could hear Spring giggling, Ace too looked relaxed and at ease. Taking this as a good sign, I allowed myself to calm down. The last thing I wanted was for Meadow to feed off my fear. Or, more to the point, lecture me on it. Her independent streak was still a bone of contention with me, one I decided to keep silent on. Ninety-nine percent of our issues were based on the fact that Meadow wouldn’t let me look after her the way I wanted to.

  I knew one thing that was going to change; her trips were now going to be driven by me. If she has a problem with it, then that was her deal, not mine. Brecken was a good kid, but his days of driving Meadow around the countryside were officially over. If I have to employ him to stop him, then that’s what I will do. Five days a week, a seven-hour shift would give him no time to pick up antiques or hit trees with trucks.

  “Ace!” I shouted as loud as allowed in a hospital.

  “Yo, Stallion.”

  Fucking arsehole.

  “Where is she?” Ignoring the need to hit my best mate in the face now, for a later date.

  “That curtain behind you, Lennie and Trish are in there with her,” Spring spoke up, “Brecken is just getting a few stitches in his forehead, Tash is with him.”

  My blood boiled at the mention of Brecken, and while I knew that wasn’t fair, I couldn’t help direct my anger at the driver of the truck. The fact that he was my girlfriend’s brother meant I could kick his arse just to maim him a little.

  “It wasn’t his fault, Luca, Lennie even said so after hearing the whole story from Meadow. He really did everything to avoid an even worse impact.”

  Logic told me Spring was correct, but logic was not fuelling me right then, my fear was. Spinning on my heels, I flicked the curtain back to see my girl sitting on the side of a hospital gurney, a large white bandage on her arm, which was held to her chest with the help of a sling. The second she looked up and saw me, tears welled in her eyes, gutting me right to the core.

  “Baby.” Rushing to her, I dropped a knee to the bed and leaned in on her uninjured side, and cupped her face in my hands. “Your call scared the life out of me. Are you sure you’re alright? Shouldn’t you be in bed?”

  Meadow shook her head the best she could with my hands holding her. “No, they said I could go home. I have ten stitches altogether, six where the stick entered and four underneath my arm. They gave me a tetanus shot and said I was free to go home as soon as the nurse brings in some papers for me to sign.” Meadow’s voice shook and I didn’t know if it was from shock or the medication they must have given her. One thing I did know she wasn’t as tough as she liked to show people. I loved how she could look after herself most of the time, but at the end of the day, even Meadow couldn’t act nonchalant about a tree branch going through your flesh after the front of the vehicle you are travelling in impacts with a tree.

  “Jesus Meadow, my heart is never going to go back to its normal rate. I pushed my car to its limit getting back here to you.” Leaning my head forward, I rested my forehead to hers and breathed in her scent staring deeply into her watery greens.

  “I love you, love you so much. So fucking much,” I blurted out in a hushed whisper. This wasn’t the way I wanted to tell Meadow I loved her for the first time, but fear and worry made you do crazy things sometimes. Now that my truth was out, I relaxed just a bit. Meadow didn’t have to stay overnight, she was cleared to leave. We trusted that the doctors were right, that Meadow was okay.

  “Got something to tell me back, baby?” I smirked, knowing that she loved what she called my sexy smirk. Meadow’s face lit up, her eyes still watered, but her smile blinded me like it always did.

  “You do?” she breathed, her good hand going to her chest. “You really love me?”

  “Baby, how do you not know it already?”

  “I did, I mean I do, it’s just that … we haven’t said it yet, and we have been seeing each other for a while and … I’m babbling, aren’t I?”

  “Just a little,” I laughed, then turned serious, “I love you, Meadow Lavender, how could I not? You are perfect for me, my balance, my warmth, my fucking everything.”

  Her smile dropped momentarily, then it was back before I could figure out if I just saw a problem that wasn’t there.

  “I love you too, Luca, I really, really, really love you.”

  “Really?” I teased, but inside I was doing an internal fist pump. I knew she did, but hearing the words was a whole lot better than knowing or secretly hoping.

  “Oh, shut up, Spunk and kiss me,” Meadow sassed, biting me gently on the chin.

  Doing as I was told because my dad always said, a happy woman meant you were doing the job you were put on this earth for, I pressed my lips to hers and kissed her gently, mindful that our kisses always turned heated and this was not the time or the place to unleash my passion.

  “Thank you for ringing me straight away, baby,” I whispered into her mouth, “I want you to be able to tell me everything, even if what you have to say will make my heart stop.”

  “Don’t be so dramatic. What felt like a big branch actually turned out to be a little twig no thicker than a cigarette.”

  “Woman, don’t start with me,” I growled, semi annoyed at the way she played down her injury and the accident. Meadow was raised so differently from me; her parents were blasé, but not in an uncaring way, whereas mine made a big deal out of every scratch.

  “I’m fine, honey, I promise,” Meadow whispered. I could tell she was sensing where I was going in my head when she laid her cheek against my chest, whispering again that she was fine. Tucking her head under my chin, I closed my eyes tightly, soaking up the feel of her breathing.

  “You love me,” Meadow’s hushed and reverent tone barely audible.

  “More than I can ever tell you.” My reply was just as hushed and equally reverent. Meadow was my future, but I was yet to introduce her to my mother and two younger sisters. Kayla was at me every day about Mum not knowing about Meadow, and I found it interesting that she had not done it herself, telling Mum about Meadow’s visits to the office. Me locking the door and not coming out for an hour or more. Kayla had to be relaying details, and knowing Kayla, those details would be way off the mark. She still had high hopes for her best friend to be part of the Donatella family, always pushing Naomi at me more than ever.

  More, since Meadow came into my life.

  Confused and still coming down from my panic, I stood there holding Meadow until a soft chuckle came from the back of the cubicle. Opening my eyes, I quickly shut them again, not believing what I just saw. While I should not have been shocked, after over a month of being with Meadow … I was.

  “Baby?”

  “Hmmm.”

  “Why is Lennie holding onto your mother’s breasts?” Peering through one squinted eye to confirm that I was seeing exactly that.

  Meadow giggled, “Lennie is holding a protest over her desire for a boob job. He refuses to let them go until she agrees to not have the surgery.”

  “Why? No, don’t tell me,” I said quickly, “I really don’t want to know.”

  “No, you definitely don’t.” Meadow agreed, then snuggled into me. And we sat there in comfortable silence with our love finally proclaimed to one another and Lennie cupping Trish’s tits.

  ***

  “Can I get you anything, baby? Pain meds, a cup of tea?” Fussing with the sheets and blankets, I busied myself with getting Meadow sorted and comfy in bed. I brought her home to my place for two reasons. The first, because if I took Meadow to hers, she would find something to do, fix or clean. The second and just as terrifying, tomorrow I had invited my mum and sisters over to brunch for a get-together and to get to know Meadow. I texted Kayla when the nurse came in to give
Meadow her discharge papers and a more waterproof dressing on her wound.

  It was time that all my favourite people meet.

  “Nope, I am good Spunk, other than you not being in here with me,” Meadow sassed, patting the mattress.

  Her sling sat on the bedside table, Meadow took it off as soon as we got inside. She complained that it made her arm numb to stay in one position all the time, I argued that it had to so she wouldn’t rip the stitches. After some heated back and forth, we compromised. She doesn’t have to wear it when in bed or sitting down, but as soon as she gets to her feet, it goes back on. We were like oil and water one minute and the next a perfect combination of Vegemite and butter on toast.

  I fucking love her.

  And she loves me back.

  I really needed a shower after a day on-site and the long drive home, plus the hour at the hospital, but I couldn’t find it in me to leave Meadow. Pulling off my shirt and tossing it in the corner of the room, my jeans and socks followed, then slowly I slid under the blankets. I wasn’t one for doonas preferring sheets and blankets. At Meadow’s, I had to endure an eight blanket doona, no top sheet, and a million different sized and shaped pillows. Her bed was bigger than mine; a king compared to my queen, which I also hated. I spent all night chasing her around the bed, dragging her back against me.

  “Turn over, baby, put your sore arm on top of the blankets,” I suggested, nuzzling her neck then gently shifted her into the position that would be more comfortable for her arm. Meadow was a messy sleeper, moving all about the place and generally keeping me awake with her kicking and strange noises. The funny thing was when we stayed at our own places for a night, I missed those kicks and grunts.

  “Why do you still have your boxers on?” she asked, letting me move her.

  “Because we aren’t having sex tonight,” I answered firmly. Meadow got naked at some stage between me leaving her to get ready for bed and to go check I locked everything up securely for the night. Her slim, toned sexiness always a temptation no matter the situation, but this time I was going to resist.