AllFreeNovel
Share Us
And being with my son’s ex-girlfriend would be a sure way to lose merit to one of those mugs that says “#1 Dad” on it.
However, every time my mind settles on the fact that I’m going to have to give Sonia up to appease Nate, my stomach sours. Can I really give Sonia up when she’s melted the ice around my heart? Made me feel things I thought I was incapable of feeling.
This is an impossible choice.
As I contemplate going back to head home, my phone rings.
Abigail. Perfect timing. My daughter always makes me feel like I’m not a total shithead of a father.
As I answer, before I can even say “Hello”, I know something’s wrong.
“Daddy.” Abigail’s voice warbles.
I brace my hand on the nearest tree, ready to run in any direction she tells me to. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s Nate. There’s been an accident.”
“He’s lucky to be alive.”
I let my eyes linger over my son’s body.
He’s breathing through some sort of ventilator, one of his arms in a cast, and a plastic brace encircles his neck.
The doctor clicks his pen off and puts it in his pocket. “He’s had significant damage to his spinal cord.”
“How did that happen?” From what I gathered from Abigail through her heaving sobs, Nate was thrown from his board while surfing, which isn’t unusual in and of itself, until he didn’t come up for air and several of his mates had to go retrieve him from the sea spray.
“Until he wakes up and tells us, we can’t know for sure. Surfing at the Rockaways is definitely not something I’d recommend to someone who doesn’t want to risk some danger.”
I swallow.
Nate must have gone straight there from my office.
I can’t imagine surfing under the influence of anger is a smart thing to do.
“So, his spinal cord. What’s that mean?” I know the meaning of the words and I know them in that order. But what that means for my son…
The doctor clears his throat. “Well, for now, it means we wait. I think his prognosis is good. He’ll walk again. But it will take a lot of time and work.”
I sigh. “Well, good, that’s…good.” As good as it can be, I suppose.
Although, I don’t just want my son to be able to walk. I want him to be able to surf too. Do all the things his heart wishes. I might not be familiar with his passion for surfing quite yet, but I can just imagine the look on his face if he’s told he can’t do it.
That might kill me.
I look back at Abigail who is sitting in a chair beside the bed with Nate’s hand in hers. Her face is sticky from trails of tears.
“For now, he just needs to rest. We have nurses on rotation, and they’ll be checking in on him from time to time.”
“Good, alright, well…good.” I have no idea what else I can say.
We bid the doctor goodbye. I shuffle over to Nate’s bedside and again let my eyes cross over him.
“You know, the only time your brother’s been in a hospital was when he was born?” I manage a small smile.
I remember the day with a very strange fondness.
Clarissa had wanted me there and, though at first I resisted, my father pushed me. It was my duty as the child’s father. And so, I was with her throughout her labor.
