WendyPan's Wonderland

 

Just One Kiss

 

 

Chapter 5

 

 

I tried not to watch him dress in the back seat. But I was so curious to see him in modern clothes. I watched him from the rear view mirror. He was studying the clothes Charlie had brought him, probably trying to figure out how to wear such things.

 

 

But it didn’t take long for him to understand how those garments were to be worn. He pulled the t-shirt over his head and his muscular arms through the sleeves. The t-shirt was tight and highlighted his well-built frame. Charlie had also brought a pair of khaki shorts for Liam to wear. These he seemed to understand what they were rather quickly and soon was moving awkwardly around in the back seat, pulling the shorts over his legs. I was pretty sure Charlie caught me watching Liam all though Liam himself was far too focused to pay attention to my voyeurism. We were soon at the hospital.

Charlie put the car in park and opened his door. He turned to me before he got out and said, “I’ll go get a wheelchair. I’ll be right back.” And without one of his regular smiles, he left me alone with Liam in the car.

 

 

“He is rather uncomfortable with me, is he not?” Liam said.

“Yeah, but he’ll get over it. You’re going to have to help me out of the car when he gets back. Are you all dressed back there?” I already knew the answer but I pretended I hadn’t watched him and still was through the mirror.

“I do believe so.” He stared at the door. “How does the door open?”

“See that silver handle?”

“Yes.” He nodded.

“Pull it out and push on the door at the same time.” He did as I instructed and was free from the car in no time. I opened my own door, clutched my purse, and turned myself out towards him. He was standing away from the car and seemed to be marveling over it.

“It really is an impressive devise.” He mused. I couldn’t help but think how good he looked in Charlie’s clothes. Did they look this good on Charlie, I wondered. And then my eyes stumbled upon something he had missed in his dressing. His fly was down.

 

 

“Uh, Liam, your shorts.” I pointed at his wardrobe mistake. “They’re not done up right. You left the zipper open.” He looked down with confusion to the front of the shorts.

“Oh yes, that. I could not understand how it worked. I tugged and it did not move all though it looks as though it should.” That’s right, I thought, they didn’t have zippers back then. I still don’t think I believed what he claimed about himself, not completely. I sighed and knew that I would have to help him. I would have to be very gentle, very careful, and just barely touch the shorts and zipper. I could see the ripped white cloth he had around his waist through the open fly of the shorts. I had no choice.

“Come here please.” I motioned with my hand to which he followed. He stopped at about arm’s length from me. “Closer please so I can fix your shorts.”

 

 

“Oh.” He took a few more steps forward. I swore I detected a playful grin hinting at the corners of his mouth. I thought I would have just let him be if he did crack that smile.

“Stand still and I will be very careful, I promise.” He nodded and watched me intently. His open shorts were directly in front of me, my face ever so close to somewhere that it didn’t belong. At least he figured out the button part I could see. I cautiously took a hold of the extra cloth at the bottom of the zipper and with my other hand, I found the zipper pull. I slowly drug up the pull until the zipper was closed. “There. All better.”
He had watched me the whole while. “I thank you Lady Kate.” This time, he did smile but I felt it was more out of gratitude and possible embarrassment than anything else, well, I hoped anyway. But before I could give a response, Charlie had returned with his prized wheelchair.

“And there we have it.” Charlie announced. Liam had taken several steps back from me before Charlie had seen how close he had stood before me. “One grade A wheelchair, just for you Katie. I already told them about your ankle so they’re waiting for you.” He patted the back of the chair.

I reached out my hand towards Liam. “Liam, would you help me into it?”

 

 

“Yes, of course.” He took my hand waist and practically spun me wound into the wheelchair.

“Thanks.” I said as I looked up at him with a mildly amused smile to my face.

“Ok. I’ll wheel you in and take care of your paperwork. Liam, you wouldn’t mind waiting with her while she sees the doctor, would you?”

“No, no at all. The least I could do.”

“Thanks man.” Charlie patted Liam’s shoulder.

 

 

I knew Charlie really appreciated there being someone else to wait by my side while I got poked and prodded by the doctor. Sure, he’d come check on me but he’d gladly hide out in the waiting room for me to come back. I hoped the x-rays wouldn’t take too long. Liam had to sit in the exam room while they x-rayed my leg.

The results came back from the x-ray quickly and the doctor looked over them.

 

 

I’d fractured my calcaneus in two places; in normal people’s terms, my heel bone got cracked badly. And I tore some of the ligaments in my ankle as well which is why it hurt so freakin’ much whenever it was moved. Yes, a cast would have to be done, one that covered pretty much my whole lower leg, leaving my toes free. They also gave me some aspirin and put some Neosporin on my hands but all that was minor. The doctor even told me that my passing out was a combination the blow to my head and shock which he chalked up to the pain of me hurting my ankle.

 

 

I hadn’t really hit my head that hard, he told me, so here was no danger of concussions or contusions. I was in the clear and I’d have a knot on the back of my head for a few days. The headache would go away soon, the doctor promised. I just had to agree to be more careful and watch where I am walking at all times. He said a nurse would be in soon and I could go to the pharmacy to pick up some crutches. After the examination was over, the doctor left Liam and me alone in the room.

“See, I’m still in one piece. They didn’t even touch my blood.” He smiled in defeat.

“You were right.” He paused. “Now, what were those small, round white things that you put in your mouth?”

“Aspirin to make my head stop hurting. They’ve already started working, thank God.”

“Modern medicine.” He shook his head. “If only such things were available in my time.” He looked over at my x-rays on the far wall. “That really be your foot?”

“Yes, my bones. See the crack on my heel. I did a good job.”

“I do. It is quite the damage caused.”

“Well, if someone hadn’t scared me half to death.” I said playfully. He looked back at me.

“I shall be gone soon enough and you will be rid of me.”

“Liam-“ A knock on the door interrupted me. A pretty young nurse poked her head through the door.

 

 

“And how are we doin’ now?” He accent was like the gentle notes from a piano, sweet and musical. “Startin’ to feel better?”

“Yes, my head doesn’t feel like it’s going to explode anymore.”

 

 

“Good. I just have these papers for you to sign Ms. Harlow and you’re free to go.” Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Liam’s head whip around to glare at me. I tried to ignore him while the nurse was there.

 

 

“Thanks.” I scribbled my signature and handed the pen back to the nurse.

“Enjoy the rest of your stay in Ireland.” She said with a wave and exited the room. Liam had my full attention now.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” I demanded of him.

“She called you Harlow.”

 

 

“Yes. That is my last name, what else would you expect for her to call me?”

“You are the answer to mine puzzle.”

“Me? How?” Oh crap, I thought, he’s back to the not making any sense again.

“Yes, you. I’ve not looked past your resemblance to my betrothed, Lady Juliet. The relation cannot be denied. And now Harlow.” He paused to shake his head. “Harlow be my uncle’s family name.”

“He’s not a McCloy?”

 

 

“No. He is of no blood to me. He is only my uncle by my Aunt Grace, God rest her soul.” He made the sign of the cross and continued. “He’s English and feels my land and title should be his. He has been trying to remove me from mine holdings but by the protection of the crown, there be nothing for him to gain, lest I should be dead of natural causes. I’ve known of his plot but could do nothing to convict him as I lack the proof.”

“So, you decided to fake your death to get some proof?”

“Aye. But now I see the failure because you live and breathe before mine eyes.”

“What, you think Lady Juliet and your uncle were with each other?” He raked his hand though his hair and began to pace as he had back in the castle.

“I do not know what to think. Mine only thought is to return and stop what has happened. I clearly need… help.” He stopped his pacing to turn and look at me. “Would you consider it?”

“Consider what?” What was he asking, my mind raced.

“Would you return with me to be of mine assistance?”

 

 

“Whoa, what? You want me to go to the past with you to help you?”

“Yes. My words or yours, ‘tis the same.” I searched for words, I mean seriously, he was actually talking about time travel and involving me. I’d let this go on, let my mind wander to other thoughts of this man, but now what was I to do? “Let me prove myself to you. I know that you do not wholly believe me but should you choose to aid me, you will not be disappointed. And I swear to your safety and protection. I will lay my life upon that oath I give you.”

“But what about Charlie, my friends?” Were these my words, I thought, was I considering this?

“They will not know you have gone. You will return before this time, before you tripped, before me.” I looked away from him, lost in thought, my brain divided between logic and curiosity, along with the faith in his sincerity.

“It won’t hurt?”

“It will not hurt.”

“I don’t know.” He held up his little vial that he’d gotten from the crypt.

“You’d only need but drink half and I the other half while we touched. ‘Tis simple.”

“How’d I know what was half?”

“Hmmm…” He looked around the room, searching for a possible solution. My eye caught small cups for pills on the counter by the other examination instruments.

“Those little cups.” I pointed them out to Liam. I had lost my mind, I was sure of it. “They’re clear enough.”

 

 

“Ah, yes.” He reached over and took two from the stack. “What are these made from? They are not glass.”

“No. They’re plastic. Never mind it though.” The longer he waited to pour my half, the faster my insanity began to fade. As if in a response to my dissolving adventurous spirit, he handed me the cup with my half the greenish liquid in it.

“You must take my hand.” He held out his large manly hand to me. It was soft despite its hardworking appearance. I let my hand rest lightly in his own. “Now, we drink on the count of three. Be you ready?” I quickly nodded. “Good. Now, one…two…three.” Together, we slammed the liquid down our throats as if they were tequila shots. The room instantly began looking fuzzy.

 

 

I think the last thing I said was, “I’ve changed my mind….” A deep sense of sleep took over.