The Best Medicine

Kate's huge eyes mirrored my own.  We both knew only one person would be knocking at my door: Rob.

She mouthed Oh, my God in my direction as she got up to answer the door.  I crossed my fingers that he hadn't heard what I'd said.  Lord knows he'd definitely get the wrong impression.

Kate looked through the peephole then slowly opened the door.  Rob stood in the doorway, grocery bags dangling from one hand and a Panera hibiscus tea in the other.  His expression was a mixture of bewilderment and pride.

"Uhh, is this a bad time?" he asked, looking from me to Kate and back again.

Without warning, Kate burst into uncontrollable laughter, collapsing against the wall nearest my front door.  Rob raised an eyebrow at me, making the cuckoo motion with his index finger and nearly dropping my tea in the process.  Personally, I was too embarrassed and far too sore to laugh.  Kate was doing enough laughing for the both of us, anyway.  She took deep, gasping breaths, struggling to stop the laughter.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," she wheezed, "you just have great timing!" With that, she dissolved into another giggle fit.

Rob made his way across my small living room, handing me the tea. I greedily took a huge sip.  That tea is surely sent to Panera straight from heaven!

"I'll, uh, put this stuff in the kitchen, be right back," he flashed me his typical smirk.  Ugh, there was no way he hadn't heard my fake love proclamation.   

Kate made eye contact with me, still fighting to suppress her laughter.

"He totally heard you," she half-whispered.  I shushed her, hoping if I pretended nothing had been said, so would Rob.  I mean, what could I possibly say to him?  'Oh, hey, totally just kidding.  Definitely not in love with you!'? I knew Rob didn't see me that way, but I imagine it would still be a blow to the ego, right?

"I can still hear you, actually!" Rob called from the kitchen.

This time, Kate practically screamed with laughter.  I was starting to worry she would laugh herself to death.

"Oh, my god, Kate, stop!" I exclaimed.  I could feel my own urge to laugh rising, but knowing the pain my ribs and collar would feel, I shoved the urge down.

"Rob, will you just come in here for a second?" I called out to him.  He popped his head around the corner, grinning from ear to ear.  Kate's shoulders still shook lightly, but she was no longer audibly laughing.  She wiped at her eyes and took a deep, shaky breath.

"So, I dunno how much you heard, but I swear, it's not what it sounded like," I began and he nodded for me to continue, smirking all the while. "Kate has this thing, and by that I mean an obsession.  Her thing is to find reason in every little thing to accuse one of us of being in love with the other.  Oh, Rob went to the gas station today and so did you? Must be fate!  Oh, you and Rob both like macaroni and cheese, you should get married.  Oh, you guys are the opposite sex? Clearly, you love each other!   You only heard the tail end of it and I was just trying to shut her up.  Ugh, I feel so awkward!"

I felt so silly, yet relieved, when I got it all out in the open.  I cringed at how stupid I felt, though.

"Aw, don't be embarrassed.  I know I'm hard to resist, you don't have to make up lies about Kate.  I mean, I even made you puke at dinner one time!"

I covered my face with my free hand, shaking my head.  These two always knew how to cheer me up.  Thank goodness Rob understood!

Kate stood and stretched, finally over her ridiculous laughing fit.

"I've gotta head out if you're okay, Emma.  Rent is due soon and I gotta head to the club for the night.  I can come by after and stay the night if you want?"

I nodded, "Okay, just call me when you're done for the night.  Depending on how I'm feeling, I might need you to stay the night.  You can stop by either way if it gives you peace of mind."

She smiled, "I'll call you later on.  Seriously, if you need me, I want to be here.  I'll let you two lovebirds enjoy some alone time!" Kate couldn't resist one final joke at my expense.  One thing I really loved about her is she could take it just as well as she could dish it out.

The door clicked shut behind her and Rob locked it for me.  Despite Michael having been out of the picture for a few weeks now, having a locked door still gave me a sense of security.  He sat down on the couch beside me, suddenly looking very serious.

"Are you okay, Emma?  Can I get you anything or do anything for you?"

"No, I'm fine.  Really.  Just very sore and worn out.  It's been a long few days."

He nodded, "I'm just glad you weren't hurt any worse.  When Kate knocked on my door in a panic, I feared the worst.  I thought she was going to tell me that Michael hurt you or something.  I was so relieved when we found out you were relatively okay.  Being told we couldn't see you was heartbreaking, for Kate especially.  She's a true friend."

"She really is, and so are you.  I honestly don't know what I would do without you guys and my friends.  You all are seriously the backbone of my life right now.  I can't thank you enough for being here right now." I felt myself getting misty eyed.  I had so many wonderful friends, who cares about Michael or Manda or Eric or the shitty drama and stress they've brought upon me?  With people like Kate, Rob, Dale and Holly in my life, I could weather anything.

"I can stay with you until Kate comes back, if you'd like.  Unless Eric is coming by, I'm sure he's worried, too."

I sighed softly.  I hadn't had a chance to see or talk to Rob since I'd gotten out of the hospital.  I quickly filled him in on everything that had transpired.  He shook his head and made a small sound of disgust.

"You're better off, honestly.  A guy who acts like that before you guys even have a real commitment will be nothing but trouble.  I have an ex who loved going through my phone, just dying to find something bad.  I never gave her a reason not to trust me.  I would've gladly handed my phone over to her if she'd asked, but she had to be sneaky and paranoid.  I can't say I was too surprised when I found out shed cheated on me.  People love to project their wrong doings onto other people."

"You are absolutely right.  From here on, I'm going to be more careful about who I let into my life.  It's no longer just me that I need to worry about.  This little girl will be here soon and I need to be the strongest person I can be when that time comes.  She deserves it."

Rob squeezed my hand reassuringly.

"You'll be a wonderful mom, I just know it.  Why don't you get some rest?  I'll just hang out and watch tv or something quiet while you do.  Just call me if you need me."

Realizing just how exhausted I was, I let Rob help me to my room and into my bed.  I fell asleep almost immediately.