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Authors: Fiona McCallum
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her forehead pucker into a frown as she concentrated on trying to remember the last number.
Chapter Six
Jessica fought against the weight on her shoulders pinning her down. She tried to get up, but something was stopping her. Someone was calling her name and the sound was fuzzy, muffled. Her eyes flew open of their own accord. She blinked, trying to take in the scene. Steve was practically on top of her. He had a hand on each of her shoulders. She looked up at him, fear and confusion furrowing her brow.
âYou had a nightmare. You were thrashing all over the place. For a moment I thought you were having some kind of seizure,â he said, letting go of her, moving back to his side of the bed and sitting up. âYou scared the shit out of me.â He rubbed his face. In the glow from the nightlight and clock radio she could see the creases of worry.
She took a few deep breaths in an effort to ease her racing heart. Remnants of the dream started seeping into her consciousness. Sheâd been drowning, pinned underneath Prince in the water jump. She was wet with sweat and sitting up now with the covers away from her chest she felt a chill sweep through her. She shuddered.
âAre you okay?â
âYeah,â she said, nodding. âLike you said, just a bit of a nightmare. Probably the painkillers messing with me.â
âDo you want to talk about it?â
âNot much to tell; I donât even remember what it was about,â she lied. She didnât want Steve to worry. No point causing him extra worry for no reason. Her whole world had been shaken up, there was bound to be a few sleepless nights and weird dreams. Though she felt a niggle inside her that suggested this was a lot more serious than a weird dream brought on by medication. She forced it down, telling herself firmly that she would stop the painkillers and then worry about it if that didnât work. She looked around the room to try to fully shake the dream and the panic still coursing through her in the hope she might go back to sleep, and noticed the dogs sitting to attention beside the bed, looking up at her full of concern.
âItâs okay guys, Iâm fine, but thanks for caring,â she said, leaning down and ruffling their ears. âBack to sleep now,â she said and pointed at the end of the bed.
They seemed to understand and disappeared, soon to be heard giving deep harrumphs and making settling-down noises. Within seconds their breathing was deep and even. Lucky things . She couldnât believe how quickly theyâd adapted to being inside dogs, and how well behaved they were being. Jessica couldnât imagine getting back to sleep now. Actually, she didnât even want to try; that feeling of panic, helplessness, of drowning, had been horrific. She didnât want to ever experience that again. Sheâd have to try to stop the painkillers.
âWould you like a hot chocolate to help you get back to sleep?â Steve asked, rubbing her arm.
âThat would be lovely, thanks,â she said, smiling over at him and covering his hand with hers.
As she watched him get up she stole a glance at the clock radio on Steveâs side table. Two a.m. At least she could sleep all day tomorrow. But poor Steve couldnât. He was meant to be marking the calves in less than five hours.
Jessica lay back down, fully aware her heart was still racing, and ran her hands through hair that she discovered was damp and sticky with sweat. God, she needed another shower. But with all the rigmarole that entailed, sheâd stay put and be stinky. Sheâd have to hope Steve didnât notice.
âHere you are,â he said, handing her one of the mugs he held.
âThank you.â She smiled up at him and took the mug in both hands. She felt herself relaxing ever so slightly as the warmth of the mug began seeping through her hands. She took a sip and savoured it before saying, âAh, that is
Chapter Six
Jessica fought against the weight on her shoulders pinning her down. She tried to get up, but something was stopping her. Someone was calling her name and the sound was fuzzy, muffled. Her eyes flew open of their own accord. She blinked, trying to take in the scene. Steve was practically on top of her. He had a hand on each of her shoulders. She looked up at him, fear and confusion furrowing her brow.
âYou had a nightmare. You were thrashing all over the place. For a moment I thought you were having some kind of seizure,â he said, letting go of her, moving back to his side of the bed and sitting up. âYou scared the shit out of me.â He rubbed his face. In the glow from the nightlight and clock radio she could see the creases of worry.
She took a few deep breaths in an effort to ease her racing heart. Remnants of the dream started seeping into her consciousness. Sheâd been drowning, pinned underneath Prince in the water jump. She was wet with sweat and sitting up now with the covers away from her chest she felt a chill sweep through her. She shuddered.
âAre you okay?â
âYeah,â she said, nodding. âLike you said, just a bit of a nightmare. Probably the painkillers messing with me.â
âDo you want to talk about it?â
âNot much to tell; I donât even remember what it was about,â she lied. She didnât want Steve to worry. No point causing him extra worry for no reason. Her whole world had been shaken up, there was bound to be a few sleepless nights and weird dreams. Though she felt a niggle inside her that suggested this was a lot more serious than a weird dream brought on by medication. She forced it down, telling herself firmly that she would stop the painkillers and then worry about it if that didnât work. She looked around the room to try to fully shake the dream and the panic still coursing through her in the hope she might go back to sleep, and noticed the dogs sitting to attention beside the bed, looking up at her full of concern.
âItâs okay guys, Iâm fine, but thanks for caring,â she said, leaning down and ruffling their ears. âBack to sleep now,â she said and pointed at the end of the bed.
They seemed to understand and disappeared, soon to be heard giving deep harrumphs and making settling-down noises. Within seconds their breathing was deep and even. Lucky things . She couldnât believe how quickly theyâd adapted to being inside dogs, and how well behaved they were being. Jessica couldnât imagine getting back to sleep now. Actually, she didnât even want to try; that feeling of panic, helplessness, of drowning, had been horrific. She didnât want to ever experience that again. Sheâd have to try to stop the painkillers.
âWould you like a hot chocolate to help you get back to sleep?â Steve asked, rubbing her arm.
âThat would be lovely, thanks,â she said, smiling over at him and covering his hand with hers.
As she watched him get up she stole a glance at the clock radio on Steveâs side table. Two a.m. At least she could sleep all day tomorrow. But poor Steve couldnât. He was meant to be marking the calves in less than five hours.
Jessica lay back down, fully aware her heart was still racing, and ran her hands through hair that she discovered was damp and sticky with sweat. God, she needed another shower. But with all the rigmarole that entailed, sheâd stay put and be stinky. Sheâd have to hope Steve didnât notice.
âHere you are,â he said, handing her one of the mugs he held.
âThank you.â She smiled up at him and took the mug in both hands. She felt herself relaxing ever so slightly as the warmth of the mug began seeping through her hands. She took a sip and savoured it before saying, âAh, that is
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