What Can You Not Buy With Money?

I was shivering in my hospital bed, yet my body was pouring out sweat as though I was on fire. I felt light headed, thirsty, and every inch of me throbbed in agony. I never was a sickly person, so I hardly came down with the flu or the cold. But I was human. And food poisoning takes down the strongest of humans.

“I’m sorry,” Walker repeated, this being the hundredth time he apologized. “I don’t know what happened, the fish was freshly imported yesterday morning.” He pulled his hair back, as though trying to brush the shame and guilt away. “Damn it.”

“Hey,” My throat was dry, so my voice was scratchy and hoarse. “It’s not your fault. I didn’t taste anything weird either. It happens. At least I’m alive, right?”

“Yeah,” Walker’s eyes were still full of sadness. “I keep hurting you.”

“No, no.” I shook my head to deny it. “Bad stuff happens all the time. You didn’t do anything but make me a delicious meal. Grocery stores sell bad ingredients all the time.”

I never checked into a hospital before. Other than being born in one, I mean.

“Ben’s on his way,” Walker took my hand and squeezed it. He was shaking. I could feel the fluttery movements of his hand as it tried to support mine. “He was already running out the door as soon as I told him.”

I forced a smile, worried that Burgess would worry too much. Worry was a contagious thing, something that was like yawning. Once someone did it, you couldn’t help but follow their lead.

I looked at Walker, who was fidgeting here and there, his green eyes were bloodshot and his skin lost all its color. I wanted him to feel better, so I decided to wipe his troubles away.

“You know, you’re a better friend than I am?”

Walker blinked at me. “How?”

“You’re right here. I wasn’t there when you were in my position.” Though my nausea may have been making me look off, I still smiled at him despite of it all. “So thank you.”

Walker smiled back, a face of relief and serenity was illuminating his skin. He opened his mouth to say something, but the door knob being turned quickly had both of us wait for our visitor.

“Mary,” Burgess strode in, his eyes dilated and his face slackened at seeing me bedridden. “How are you?” He quickly knelt over me, kissing my forehead. I noticed he wasn’t even looking at Walker, treating him as though he was just the air around us.

“I’m okay, you didn’t have to come all the way over here.”

“Of course I did,” Burgess checked my forehead with the back of his hand, his eyebrows knit with care. “What did the doctors have to say?”

“Just food poisoning.” I shivered a little, and felt a slimey drop of sweat slide down my neck. “They say I need to be monitored but they believe I’ll get better in about a week or two.” Speaking that much in one breath caused me to pant lightly, and I felt as though the world was spinning backwards. I shut my eyes and leaned back in my pillow until I got used to the nauseous motion.

“What did she eat?” Burgess demanded. “I’ll have the place shut down and the cook spending the rest of his days in a ditch.”

Walker’s at ease beam had dimmed to a solemn frown. “She ate a salmon rabbit I made her.”

Burgess’s face was so dark with violent anger that I had to grab his shoulder as tightly as I could to have him look away. “It wasn’t his fault,” I defended, adding, “maybe it was sabotage?”

Walker’s eyes darkened. “It was those bastards, I know it.”

“What are you talking about?” Burgess demanded, his patience thinning. He took a seat in a chair across from Walker, me being the only barrier between them.

“My restaurant's been in a war with some thugs. Maybe it was broken into, but I can’t be sure.”

“Don’t you have any cameras?”

“We only use them whenever the place is opened,” Walker replied and he took my hand again and kissed it. Burgess’ face turned even darker, becoming a black hole. I could feel myself become sucked into it.

“Then you’re an idiot. You should have your cameras on at all times, checked daily.”

“It’s not my call, it’s my boss’.” Walker shook his head and pulled away from us, folding his arms like a stubborn goat.

“You poisoned her,” Burgess’ voice was full of loathing, searing out of his mouth like smoke.

“Yeah,” Walker’s eyes were filled with hurt, standing up to defend himself. “Don’t you think I feel bad enough as it is?”

“Get out,” Burgess snapped, his voice ringing in my ears. I winced and shook my head, trying to keep Walker by my side.

“Okay,” Walker backed away slowly, his head cocked to the side as he crinkled his eyes in cold regret. “Mary, again, I’m so sorry.” And he turned to leave the room.

The slam of the door caused me to flinch, and my eyes started to sting. “It wasn’t his fault,” I murmured, looking at Burgess. Suddenly, I lurched to the side of the bed to dry heave, feeling sick all over.

>

I dreamed peacefully, floating in what felt like the most serene moment of my life. Ever feel those moments when you wake up, probably on a Saturday morning, when you know you have no worries or obligations. When the air feels clean, crisp, and refreshing and not a single sound brings discomfort to your ears.

My eyes rolled under my closed eye lids as I slowly took a deep breath and sighed, feeling a great deal better that next day. When I gradually opened my eyes, I was greeted by a pair of icy blues looking at me, causing my face to go red and I couldn’t help but grimace at the surprise in front of me.

“What’s with that face?” Burgess scowled, clearly unhappy with my reaction.

I made a disgusted expression, purely out to tease him. “Where you watching me sleep the whole night? That’s creepy.”

“I just came when visiting hours started. An hour ago. And It’s not like there’s normally anything worth looking at,” Burgess snapped back—in on the joke but a hint of his wounded pride shined through his words. “It’s just that you drool when you sleep. Amazing.”

“I do not,” I ran my tongue over the inside of my mouth, disgusted by the foul dry taste. Clearing my throat, I wiped my forehead to feel the after-clamminess of my skin.

“Do you need water?” Burgess sat up from his stool to get a paper cup, providing me with the liquid life in a flash like lightning.

“Thanks,” I smiled weakly. My eyes quickly looked away, forever intimidated by how he would watch me. Honestly, he could be creepy—if he wasn’t so good looking. It was unnerving to keep yourself looking at him directly. My eyes fell upon a single orchid, growing from a small plant on the table by the window. It hadn’t been there the day before, the flower pastel lavender. “Did you get that?” I pointed a finger to it as I took another sip of water.

“Yeah,” Burgess took my hand. “Do you like it?”

“I do, it’s just,” I coughed as I swallowed some water wrong. “You didn’t… need to…”

“I wanted to—”

There was a polite knock on the door, and Walker entered with a cute little teddy bear, a t-shirt clothing it with a ‘Get Well Soon’ message printed upon the fabric. “Hey.” When he saw Burgess, he narrowed his eyes and swallowed. “Just came to see how you were.”

“Better,” I forced a smile, watching at the corner of my eye as Burgess began to throw mental daggers at Walker. “Ben, please…”

Burgess turned to me, disappointment shadowing his face but he did a quick nod. “I’ll take a ten minute walk.” He stood up and passed Walker, asserting his dominance by bumping his shoulder against his enemy. “Watch yourself, Charles,” He calmly threatened as he left the room by closing the door powerfully, not as a slam but as a solid order that he was in charge.

The moment Burgess had left, Walker’s face had relaxed from being full of malice and discord into a carefree spirit, full of ease and joy. “Watch what happens when you squeeze him.”

I took the bear, a small label on its ear named it, “Lord Fluffington”, and I tightly gripped the stomach and gave it a healthy choke. Lord Fluffington began to sing in a whispery child’s voice.

“As I sing this tune
Please get well soon
I miss you when you’re far.

It breaks my heart
To see you fall apart
My pretty twinkling star.

So do your best
To get some rest
‘Cause this you can’t ignore

I’ll tuck you in
From toes to chin
And rub you when you’re sore.”

That last line cracked me up. I couldn’t help it, especially when I thought how cute the little song was. And how my perverted mind just desecrated the poem.

Walker broke into a wide smile as I chuckled while holding the stuffed animal close to my chest. But his posture was hung over, as though he was too weak to sit up straight. His hands were heavy and his saddened eyes were glimmering with tragedy.

“Walker,” I murmured, “What’s going to happen… with your restaurant?”

Surprise, permeated from the man as he let out a deep sigh that seemed to show all the stress he had suffered in his life. “…We’ve hit the end of the road.” Looking away, but watching me at the corner of his eye, he stifled a frown. “I was going to tell you, but you were really supportive. I didn’t have the heart to lay it all out on the table just yet.”

“But—” I felt my pulse quicken as I desperately tried to cling to any frail traces of hope. “Isn’t there anything you can do?”

Walker stood up suddenly, rubbing the back of his neck at the dismay of it all. “I’m out of ideas.” He took the television remote and turned on the small screen to distract himself. The news was our escape, the anchorwoman in front of the San Diego Carnival that early February. It was operated by entertainers from Brazil; the area glimmered with orbs of angelic light and radiant streams that challenged the rainbow in its variety.

Inspiration struck me like a sledge hammer, my mind searing with an idea. “Why don’t you hold a stand at the carnival to promote the Club?”

Walker’s eyes lit up, but he cynically yet politely commented, “I don’t think they’ll have any room available. We didn’t set up reservations… And I think it’s a little too late to save it.”

“Try. What have you got to lose?” I smiled shortly but my hands went up to his and shook them to assure him that there was a chance. “The carnival won’t start for a week. Go for it. You should go right now and ask to set a stand up. You could entertain the masses with your knife tricks.”

“Yeah,” Walker lost all depression, a gentle grin printed on his lips. “Thanks, I’ll get right to it.” Walker kissed my forehead, a feeling of kind love flowing from his contact. “I needed that.” He quickly waved as he backed out of the room. “I’ll be back to visit tomorrow, okay?”

“Okay.”