Samira got dressed almost in a daze. Since most of the clothes were brought for Einar's cousin, they were a bit small for her, thus, looked very inappropriate on her. Finally, she found an oversized t-shirt, but none of the pants fit her, so she wore the only mini-skirt there was. It was still short for her liking, but she reminded herself, 'Beggers can't be choosers' as that was all she had right now.
Samira quickly walked out of the room and saw Einar sitting in an armchair near the stairs. He looked up from the file he was reading when her heard Samira's footsteps. Einar's eyes briefly grazed over Samira, from her still-damp, dark, long hair to the fitted t-shirt, mini-skirt, and then at her bare feet. Samira felt self-conscious all of a sudden; she thought she didn't look that inappropriate, but maybe she did. Because Einar didn't look like he liked what he saw, but then again, his expression barely changed at all, so maybe she imagined it.
Getting up from the chair, Einar briskly walked towards a cupboard behind the staircase and brought out a pair of pink fluffy slippers with a big pink bow on top. He put down the slippers in front of Samira, and it took Samira a while to realize what was happening.
"Mr. Huang, you don't need to – I'm fine, really," Samira scrambled to stop him.
"You saved my daughter's life, Miss Sahani," Einar said, straightening up. "This is the basic courtesy. Please."
Einar gestured towards the slippers, and Samira hesitantly slipped her feet into them.
"Thank you," Samira muttered, looking down at the slippers. The feeling that came over her felt so foreign that she almost couldn't understand what it was. But before she could ponder over it, Einar spoke again.
"The doctor is waiting for you."
"For me?" Samira's eyes snapped back to him in surprise.
"Yes, you almost drowned as well, didn't you?" Einar asked, and without waiting for an answer, he started walking. "She is in Flower's room. She – Flower is also asking for you. Follow me."
"But that isn't really necessary, Mr. Huang. I'm fine, actually. You really don't need to trouble yourself for this," Samira kept explaining while trying to keep up with Einar.
"As I said, Miss Sahani. This is basic courtesy," Einar said without slowing down. "You saved my daughter, and I can't let you be sick for it. Simple as that."
"But –" Samira tried argue but Einar cut off her attempt.
"Please, I insist," Einar said but it sounded more like an order than a request.
So Samira didn't argue anymore and followed Einar as he led her upstairs to little Evelyn's room. As they got closer, Samira heard noises coming from the room.
"No! No! NO! You are lying!" The little girl was yelling while the doctor's panicked voice tried to calm her down.
"Calm down, Evelyn. Listen, darling –"
Einar's facial expression didn't change, but his pace quickened until he reached the door to his daughter's room.
"What's going on?" Einar asked as he stepped into the room and Samira slowly followed him, taking in the scene in front of her.
The little girl, Evelyn, was squirming in the Doctor's grip, trying to run away while the doctor held her as gently as possible without letting her run. But Einar's voice startled the doctor and she let go of Evelyn, and that little thing just shot straight towards Samira.
"She said you left!" Little Evelyn yelled in her baby voice and clung to Samira's legs.
She was so cute that Samira couldn't help but smile.
"I didn't say that," the doctor looked shocked by little Evie's accusation. "I just said she might have to leave because your friend would need to go home and rest, just like you are resting in your home right now."
"She is not my friend! She is my Mama!" Evie said, hugging Samira's legs harder. Samira's chest tightened at Evie's words.
Einar looked at the doctor from Evie, his face turning into a frown.
"Flower. . ." Einar's voice was a bit sharp and Samira immediately knew he was probably going to scold Evie, so she quickly crouched down and picked Evie up in her arms.
"Evie, was that what the doctor said?" Samira asks sweetly, looking at Evie's little crying face.
Evie nodded after a moment.
"Then she didn't mean I left," Samira said, wiping Evie's face gently.
"She didn't?" Evie mumbled.
"No," Samira smiled, shaking her head. "And you already knew I was changing out of my clothes just like you, because we both looked like soggy pickles in those, didn't we?"
"Eww, I hate pickles," Evie scrunched her face, then giggled. "Daddy looked like a soggy pickle too."
A startled chuckle left Samira's throat, and, embarrassed, she turned to glance at Einar. His eyes were focused on little Evie, but as Samira looked at him, he met her gaze. His eyes looked unsure, and Samira thought it felt like invading a private moment of Einar, so she looked away quickly.
"Now that you know I am here, would you let the doctor check you out?" Samira said to Evie.
"Actually, she is already done," the doctor said. "She is fine now. I have written down the medicines she would need in case she gets a fever. Now you, ma'am."
The doctor turned to Samira, who looked at Evie in her arms, to Einar standing a little farther away from them. Seeing that Einar reached for Evie with his arms outstretched but Evie just turned away from him and hung on Samira's neck like a Koala.
"Flower . . ." Einar sighed.
"It's alright," Samira said as Evie was in no mood to let her go.
Samira walked up and sat down on Evie's bed with little Evie in her arms.
"You will have difficulty getting checked with Flower in your arms like that," Einar said, watching everything with a critical eye.
"It's alright," Samira repeated with a smile.
It was indeed difficult for the doctor to check Samira when Evie stayed literally wrapped around her, but Samira didn't mind. On the contrary, a soothing warmth spread through Samira's heart. Nobody knew she needed that hug more than little Evie. She thought to herself, if a child loved her like that, maybe she wasn't all bad.
However, throughout the medical check-up, Samira felt Einar's eyes on her. Not in a creepy way, but he looked at her like she was a puzzle piece he was trying to figure out, or something he was trying to dissect to know her thoughts. Samira didn't find it weird because anyone would be wary of strangers in their house, let alone a stranger your daughter decided to call mom. Samira understood what kind of difficult situation Einar was in.
After a while, the doctor left after suggesting some ointments for the places where little Evie had scratched her under water, scratches Samira hadn't even noticed that much. The doctor also noticed the bruises on Samira's cheek and arms, but Samira was grateful that she didn't comment on them. However, Samira had a feeling those bruises didn't escape Einar's gaze, regardless.
"Flower?" Einar approached them again and spoke very quietly, but Evie didn't answer. "You can't stay like this forever. You need to eat dinner and then take medicines and –"
"No!" Evie shouted.
Einar sighed and he looked extremely tired. Samira felt bad for him.
"Evie, darling, do you want to lie down?" Samira gently asked.
"No." Evie shook her head.
"But darling, your arms would get tired," Samira said softly rubbing Evie's little arms. "Your arms are so strong, but they need rest too, right?"
"No! You would disappear!" Evie clutched the back of Samira's t-shirt tighter and her voice felt on verge of tears again.
"No, of course not, darling. Why would I disappear?" Samira drew soothing circles on Evie's back while looking at Einar, who looked as lost as her. Evie didn't answer, so Samira thought of an idea. "How about this, Evie? You eat dinner, take your medicines and lie down and in return I tell you a bedtimestory. How does that sound? Would you like to hear a story?"
[To be continued]