Impatient tapping on my shoulder caused me to jump and my head to shoot up. At first I was confused until I noticed Rome’s parents had arrived.
His mom instantly started talking but I had to put my hands up to halt her. I was good at reading lips, but hers were moving a mile a minute and I couldn’t catch everything. I reached for my ears to turn my aids on.
“Okay, what were you saying?”
His mom’s eyes seared into me with a raging fire brewing within. “You!” she shrieked pointing her finger at me. “How did you sign off on anything concerning my son without running it by me and his father first?!”
My eyes widened and I opened my mouth to speak but she continued. “You had no right to okay that operation!”
Furrowing my brows, I closed the case flap over my tablet and set it, along with my stylus, down and stood up. I didn’t like the fact that she was towering over me.
“The doctors couldn’t get in contact with you and the operation was gonna get done regardless. I just signed?—”
“I don’t care! It’s not your place to make any decisions concerning his health.”
My mouth turned upside down. “I’m his fiancée.”
Deacon spoke up. “And we’re his parents. If he wanted you to have a say in his health when he isn’t able to, then he would have made sure you were properly in the position to do so.”
My eyes bounced between the two, both stared at me in disdain.
I pushed a deep breath out and balled my hands at my sides. Keeping my cool around Rome’s parents was becoming harder each day, but I tried. I grew up in a household with difficult parents, so this wasn’t anything new for me, but I’d long grown from that mental punching bag I used to be as a kid. Growing up how I did and with my disability forced me to learn to defend and speak up for myself, even when my voice didn’t work.
“I understand the two of you are in charge of his medical decisions,” I signed and spoke at the same time. It often happened when I found myself growing upset. The two stared at me like I was crazy but I continued. My hands and speech moving faster as I went along. “But it is not fair for me to not be included in those decisions either. Rome is going to be my husband in a few months and that means we will be partners. I should have a say in what goes on while he is in this condition.”
My body heated as my heart pounded wildly in my chest. I was tired of them trying to take my voice away. They were used to their word being bond and no one challenging them, but it was time for some things to change around here.
The couple didn’t speak right away. They made eye contact, as if they were having a silent conversation with one another, and Marisol gave a nod before they faced me.
“Since you feel that way, it’s going to make this easier…” Deacon started.
My face twisted in confusion. A dreadful feeling passed through me and my stomach twisted. “Make what easier?”
Deacon stepped forward so he was now side by side with his wife. His hands went into his slacks. Right now he just looked like a perfect mix of both of his sons. Although Rome favored his mom more than his dad, the seriousness on his face right now made them look more similar.
“Me and my wife were talking and we think it’s best if you don’t come up here for a while.”
My eyes bucked and my heart dropped. “Wh-what?”
“Rome is in a delicate state right now. With his spleen being removed he’s going to be more vulnerable to illnesses. We want to limit the amount of company and germs coming in and out while he recovers; so for now it’s best if you stay away,” Marisol continued.
I was left speechless. My mouth opened but I couldn’t seem to find the right words to speak. It felt as if I had been punched in the gut.
“You can’t do that!” My hands moved rapidly, barely able to keep up with my words. “Rome would not want that!”
“Right nowweare our son’s voice and we believe this is what’s best for him. When we feel he’s healed enough to have visitors again, or he wakes up, we will get in contact with you, but until then we need you to collect your things and leave.”
“You are not even going to let me see him once he gets out of surgery?”
“We’ll keep you updated.”
Bouncing my eyes between the two I could tell by the looks on their faces there was no changing their minds, but the last thing I wanted to do was leave. I had as much right as anyoneelse to be here. Rome needed to know I was waiting for him to wake up and didn’t leave his side.
“I do not think this is fair.”
“We don’t want to have you escorted out, Nakyra. Please have some dignity and leave on your own.” Marisol turned her nose up while Deacon stared at me with hard eyes.
My shoulder sank forward in defeat. I sucked my bottom lip into my mouth, not sure how to deal with this. Confrontation and me didn’t get along well, but I also didn’t like being pushed around either. Unfortunately, I had no say in things here.
