After a week in the hospital, I’m finally well enough to be discharged.
Well, maybe not completely well enough, but I couldn’t stand to be in that place for another minute. My knees are sore as Liam guides me across the hospital parking lot, but I ignore the pain. I am just so excited to be up and about, and getting some fresh air again. I can’t wait to put this hospital far behind me, and I am eager to never visit its miserable halls again. I think I feel more strongly about this hospital than people who were bullied feel about their high schools. My memories simply weren’t returning as soon as the doctors expected, and their therapy and rehabilitation was leaving me frustrated.
“Are you ready to see your new house?” Liam asks me with a smile.
“I’m ready to see any house,” I answer earnestly. I thought it was very considerate of Liam to suggest taking me to a private cabin in the woods to allow me to recover. He’s also taking a lot of time off work to stay with me. I wouldn’t mind going home and being with Carmen and Dad, but the idea of a rustic, romantic retreat is nearly irresistible. I’ve never had someone to take me on a romantic retreat before.
As Liam helps me climb into his car, I wince at the pain. Once I am properly seated in the passenger seat, I look up at him slyly. “Before we check out the cabin, I have an important errand to run first.”
“Oh? What’s that?” he asks.
“I need wine,” I explain with a grin. “Lots and lots of wine. Can you help me with that craving, Boyfriend?”
“Sure thing,” he says chivalrously, bowing forward from the waist. “I am not the kind of man who would ever deny his woman her wine. However, are you sure that’s what your body needs when it’s healing? Maybe we should grab some milk and orange juice, too.”
I roll my eyes a little. “Wow, Boyfriend. I didn’t realize I was dating an old man!”
“Hey,” he says with a bit of hurt in his voice as he fastens my seatbelt. “I’m not an old man. I’m just a doctor who puts your health above all else.”
“My mood is very important to my health, and getting some wine in me ASAP will improve my mood,” I assure him. “I am hankering for a good Pinot Noir—there’s this really great Australian one from 2006. Innocent Bystander? That name always makes me giggle.”
“There’s another you like even more than that one,” Liam tells me as he begins driving. “The 2012 Beaux Freres Pinot Noir is pretty amazing.”
The date makes me a little uncomfortable and I find myself stiffening. I can’t believe I’ve forgotten three years of wine production and keeping up with the popular trends. I will have no idea what’s on the market, and when we walk into that liquor store, I will be virtually useless.
“Maybe a Malbec,” I say softly. “I really like the Achaval-Ferrer 2007.”
Liam nods. “You were also excited about this new winery that released its first wines in 2013—I think it was the Hand of God from 2010?”
I’ve never heard of this winery, and I clamp my lips shut tightly. I am really annoyed at myself for forgetting all this potentially amazing information.
“Why are you thinking about Pinot Noirs and Malbecs anyway?” Liam asks me with concern. “Those are the wines you usually drink when you’re in serious work-mode. You can’t be writing up a storm right now, with all your injuries. We should get some of your relaxing wines, such as a Merlot and Shiraz.”
I’m more than a little surprised that he knows this about me. I don’t even know if I know this about myself. Is it even true? Are those tastes and habits I have developed over the years? Or did I always feel that way? I am suddenly a little worried that I won’t know my own palate, and I won’t be able to properly select any food or drink until I figure myself out all over again.
I try to force a smile at him. “I’m not sure what wines we should get,” I admit with a bit of embarrassment. It’s a little frightening to be so oblivious in an area where I used to be the boss. “Maybe I’ll just let you choose.”
“We can both choose a few,” he suggests. “If we get a large enough selection, we will always be sure to have the perfect wine.”
“Okay,” I say softly. “And I guess we can get some milk and orange juice too. You’ll need it for when you get hangovers, old man.”