living_history (living_history) wrote in the_colony, @ 2011-03-11 16:46:00 |
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Entry tags: | ^ week 34, bridget mackenzie, jamie walker, | bridget and walker |
Week 34: Tuesday
Characters: Bridget Mackenzie and Walker
Location: Bridget’s Room
Summary: Walker goes to see if Bridget is feeling any better.
Rating: PG
With Leo gone all hours of the morning, and with the support of the entire household, Walker was becoming quite an independent little guy. He had brushed his teeth, dressed himself, and even helped a little in the kitchen. The only thing he’d forgotten to do was comb his wild hair, distracted in his room with the important task of making Bridget a card with what was left of his nubby old crayons. With her being sick, he’d only missed out on a handful of lessons, but he was starting to miss his teacher and the routine they’d developed.
The two layers of socks he’d pulled over his feet muffled the sound of his impending arrival as he ran through the hallway, pausing only when he’d reached the door to Bridget’s room where he knocked as quietly as he could; a colorful piece of paper folded against his chest.
Bridget was feeling somewhat better the last day or so, but Louisa May wanted her to get plenty of rest to help her recover faster and the expectant mother was (on this particular occasion) happy to comply. She’d been spending most of her time in a light doze curled up on her side in bed, snug in her nest of blankets and pillows. Every so often she’d get up and use the facilities and replenish her food supply, but otherwise staying put in bed. The illness had badly rattled her, with the memories of her sister dying from the combined stresses of the swine flu and childbirth vivid in her mind. As a result of that Bridget would do whatever was necessary to have a healthy pregnancy and delivery, especially now that she was so far along.
The quiet knock brought her out of her doze and she looked over toward the door. Getting out of bed would be a time consuming and tiring production, so the expectant mother didn’t bother. “Come in,” she called, curious as to who was on the other side. Walker turned the knob and opened the door just enough to peek inside.
The boy couldn’t help but smile at Bridget, having been ordered by Leo to leave her alone for the past few days. Once he was sure it was okay, he came in, forgetting to close the door behind him as he climbed up on the side of Bridget’s bed.
Bridget’s own face broke out into a smile at the sight of the little boy. Alice may have had prior claim on being the mother figure in Walker’s life, but that didn’t mean Bridget hadn’t grown to care for him as if he were a cherished nephew. She shifted some pillows around to prop herself up a bit so she could look at him better without actually having to sit straight up.
“I made you somethin’,” he said with a concerned little grin on his face, handing the card over. The front depicted a colorful image of a round-bellied woman laying down with a thermometer sticking out of her mouth. Inside, the card read: Get Better Soon.
Bridget couldn’t help the tender smile that crossed her face, or the fact that her vision got blurry from tears for a moment. She brushed a hand over her eyes and smiled broadly over at Walker. “Thank you Walker, that’s really sweet of you.” The boy beamed and sat perched on the side of her bed, his toes curling at the edge of the mattress.
“Do you feel good, yet?”
“I’m feeling better,” she assured him. “Louisa May wanted me to rest for a few days before I start doing anything again.” A conspiratorial grin formed on her face. “That doesn’t mean I can’t visit with my favorite guy around here.”
Walker grinned and grabbed at his toes, but then all at once his expression grew very serious; more somber than any usual six year old could probably muster. “I remember when my mom was sick,” he said quietly. “When you were sick, I got scared.” Even though Leo had explained to him that this wasn’t the same, the boy was worrying all this time in secret. Now that he was seeing for himself that Bridget was really getting better, relief brought tears to his eyes, which he wiped away on the sleeve of his sweatshirt. Still, his little face was twisted with emotion when he looked to Bridget again.
“Oh, honey,” Bridget gathered the little boy into a hug against her swollen middle as she felt her own tears start up again. “I was scared, too. I remember when my sister got sick, she was as big as I am now so it really frightened me when I didn’t feel well. But I’m all better now, see?” She forced a smile at him. “It was just a nasty cold, kind of like you could get in the first week of school when you met new kids and got their germs. My body is stressed from carrying the babies that so that made it easier for the cold to get me. You don’t need to worry.”
With a sniffle, the boy nodded and curled against Bridget, his arms wrapped loosely around her as he rested his cheek against her chest. When he sat up a little, he wiped at his eyes again and looked up into Bridget’s. “Did she die, too? Your sister?” he asked sadly, but with the innocent inquisition of any child.
Bridget nodded, her eyes very sad as she remembered her sister. “Yes, she did.” Poor Calleigh. Walker made a quiet, sympathetic little sound, his head settling again, this time on her shoulder. Bridget’s words had somehow comforted him, even as she spoke of her sister’s death; their mutual loss a connection that not everybody could understand. He’d felt the same way about Alice, when he learned she’d lost her family, too. Leo didn’t seem to understand the way Alice and Bridget did.
“We have a new family now, right?” The little boy sat up, and though he still sounded a bit sad there was an optimism about him now.
Bridget thought about the boy’s question for a moment, then nodded in agreement. “I guess you could say that, Walker.” It was a messy, somewhat dysfunctional family maybe, but a family nonetheless. Walker was probably the luckiest of all of them, as most of his memories of the time before the plague and his family would gradually fade away into fragments as he grew up. “We’re all one family now.”
Mirroring Bridget’s nod, Walker seemed satisfied with the turn of their conversation. His sorrow was ebbing and the pregnant woman managed to dash his worries all together, for now. He slid out of Bridget’s arms and out of her bed, his socked feet hitting the floor with a soft little thud.
“Do you need any help with anything?” he asked, his eyes wildly hopeful.
“Well, you could help me up.” Bridget decided after a few seconds, fighting back a smile. “It takes forever for me to get out of bed these days.” She pushed herself upright with some effort from where she’d been laying on her side and pushed the covers away before swinging her feet onto the floor. Walker was at her side in an instant, his little hands holding tightly to both of Bridget’s.
It was hard to get traction on the floor in those socks, but the boy tried with every effort to pull the soon-to-be mother to her feet, which was practically impossible given her bulk and his small size, and Bridget waved him off.
“Here Walker, why don’t you pull one of my hands and I’ll push with the other?” She didn’t want to risk falling and hurting herself, the babies or Walker. He giggled and grabbed her hand with both of his, tugging whenever she seemed ready.
With their combined efforts she eventually got to her feet, and Bridget ruffled the little boy’s hair affectionately. “Thanks Walker, what do you say we go downstairs and get something to eat? I’m hungry, how about you?” The duo made their way out of her room and started down to the kitchen for food.