Sunshine sat in her parlor watching TV with Josephine and Howard. No one said anything, as Howard and Josephine looked at Sunshine. Sunshine was biting her nails and staring at the TV. She was still wearing sunglasses and a total mess. She and Nickolas went to the doctor gave her another prescription; which he really didn�t want to do, that Nickolas kept with him at all times. Sunshine just sat on the sofa not saying anything and not paying attention to the TV.
Josephine looked at Howard and then asked, �Sunn, how�s your shoulder?�
�Huh?� Sunshine said softly and looking at Josephine.
�I asked how your shoulder was.�
�Um�getting better.�
�So when can you stop wearing the sling?� Howard asked.
�The doctor said hopefully in a week or two.� She looked back at the TV and started biting her nails again.
�Sunn, why are you always wearing sunglasses?� Josephine asked and Sunshine didn�t answer. �Sunshine?�
�Where�s Nick?�
�He went to get lunch,� Howard answered a little confused and looking at her a bit worried. �You were begging him to let you go with him.�
�Oh.� Howard and Josephine looked at each other worried. They looked back at Sunshine, as she sat on the edge of the sofa and bite her nails some more. �When did he leave?�
�Thirty or forty minutes ago,� Josephine replied worried. �He should soon be back.�
�Good.� She started rocking back and forth.
�Sunn, are you all right?� Howard asked.
�I�m fine.�
�Are you sure?� Josephine wanted to know.
�Yeah.� She got up. �Excuse me.� She quickly walked away, as Josephine and Howard watched her.
�And nothing�s wrong with her,� Josephine said. �Do you see it now?�
�I believe ya now,� Howard said. �Something is wrong with her.�
�I know. She�s been acting like this the past week. Nick doesn�t leave her side. I try to listen when they�re in the bedroom, but it�s just whispers. I got a few words, but none of it made any sense.�
�I don�t know, Sweetie. Apparently they don�t want us to know right now. We should just respect their decisions for now until they�re ready to share.�
�I can�t wait. Sunn�s my best friend and I want to know how sick she is. It ain�t just the regular flu or whatever. It�s something more.�
�Perhaps, but you can�t go jumping to conclusions. It could also be nothing. Maybe she�s really nervous about the past repeating itself since she�s back with Nick. She�s probably afraid he�s going to walk out again. Or she�s really nervous about the wedding.�
�Maybe you�re right. I have to think positive.�
�Exactly.� They kissed, as the door opened.
�Food�s here,� Nickolas said closing the door and not seeing Sunshine. �Where�s Sunnie?�
�I think she went back to her room,� Josephine replied. �What�d you bring to eat?�
�Subway,� Nickolas said, as they walked to the kitchen.
�Sunn was asking for ya,� Howard stated and Nickolas just looked at him. �We had to remind her you went to get something to eat.�
�Excuse me,� Nickolas said leaving the kitchen.
�See what I mean,� Josephine said to Howard. �I think something is seriously wrong.�
�You don�t know that,� Howard said and Josephine gave him a disgusted look.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nickolas opened the bedroom door, but didn�t see Sunshine. He closed the door and heard water running. He walked to the bathroom and said, �Sunnie.� Sunshine came running out of the bathroom in a towel and threw her arms around Nickolas. �Sweets, what�s wrong?�
�I missed you,� Sunshine said. They looked at each other and she started kissing him. Nickolas kissed her in return and she got more aggressive.
�Sunnie, slow down.� He stopped the kiss and looked at her. �Calm down. I�m not going anywhere.�
�I just missed you.�
�I missed you too. Are you getting another bath?� She just looked at him. �You got one last night and again this morning. You don�t need another one.�
�It relaxes me.�
�Listen, Sunnie, you can�t keep getting baths like you do. You�re up to almost four a day since Vegas. I�m trying to help you. Now get dressed.� He walked to the bathroom and she followed him. He turned the water off saying, �I know this is hard for you, but you can�t get away from your problems by taking a bath every three hours. It�s not going to help you any.� He sat on the tub rim and pulled Sunshine over to him. He put his arms around her waist and looked into her eyes. �You have to face your problems to get rid of them. You need to be strong and look into their eyes and tell them who is in charge. And who�s in charge?� Sunshine only looked at him. �Who is it?�
�Me.�
�Exactly.� He kissed her. �You need to be strong and not weak and scared.�
�Strong; not weak and scared.�
�Good. I�ll be your personal cheerleader and cheer you on. Nothing�s going to stop you on your way to recovery.� Sunshine shook her head. �Everything�s going to be fine and there�ll be nothing to worry about.� Sunshine lowered her head, but Nickolas lifted it back up. �I love you.� He kissed her. �Now show me a smile.� She gave a little grin. �Bigger, because I want to see white. I want to see the smile I fell in love with.� She gave the best smile she could and Nickolas grinned. �I guess that�ll do.� He kissed her again. �Now get dressed so we can eat.�
�Ok.� Nickolas kept a hold of her and laid his head on her. Sunshine ran her fingers through his hair and said, �I�m going to get better with your help. Nicky.�
�I know. Our love�s going to beat this.�
�I love you.� He looked up at her and put her on his lap.
�I love you too.� He wiped away her tears and kissed her.
CHAPTER 16 CHAPTER 18
HOME