“Very mysterious,” Lucy continues. “Almost like someone is sneaking around. But I'm sure it's just the house settling. Old houses do that, right?”
Natalie's face is bright red. I glare at Lucy.
“It's so nice to meet you, Natalie.” Bella shakes Natalie's hand with a warm smile. “Ethan has told us absolutely nothing about you, which means you're important. He only hides the things that matter.”
“I don't hide things.”
“You hid your teddy bear in the closet,” Natalie says.
Lucy gasps with delight. “You found Mr. Pucks? I thought Mom threw him out years ago.”
“Mr. Pucks?” Natalie turns to me with a grin. “The teddy bear has a name?”
“I was six.”
“Mr. Pucks,” she repeats, savoring every syllable. “That's adorable.”
“I hate all of you.”
My mother appears in the doorway with her purse over her shoulder. “Good news, everyone. The hospital called. Your father is being discharged. We need to go pick him up.”
The mood shifts instantly. Lucy claps her hands together, and Ted offers to drive since his truck has more room. Within minutes, we're all piling into vehicles and heading to the hospital.
The discharge process is predictably slow. There are forms to sign, instructions to review, and prescriptions to collect. My mother handles most of it while Bella and Lucy talk to the nurses about home care.
“Go talk to him,” Natalie says to him. “I'll be fine with your sisters.”
I squeeze her hand in thanks and slip into my father's room.
He's sitting on the edge of the bed, dressed in the clothes my mother brought from home. He looks a lot better. The hospital gown made him look like a patient. The flannel shirt and khakis make him look like my dad.
“Mom's handling the paperwork. Should be ready soon,” I say.
“Your mother could organize a military invasion if she put her mind to it,” he says with a chuckle.
I lower myself onto the bed, careful not to jostle him. For a moment, neither of us speaks.
“I know you're angry with me,” Dad finally says.
“I'm not angry.”
He sighs. “I don't blame you if you are. It was stupid. I knew I should have waited for your mother, but I was tired of waiting. I’m so tired of needing help for every little thing.”
“No one minds helping,” I say.
“I've spent twelve years watching my body fail me. Twelve years of losing things I used to take for granted. I can’t walk without a cane, and I can’t drive to the store. Hell, I can’t even get out of bed without assistance.
“A man's got his pride, Ethan. Even when he shouldn't.”
“I understand that.”
“I know you do. You've got the same stubborn streak I do. The same need to prove you can handle everything yourself and the same stubbornness to let anyone see you struggle.”
“I'm fine.”
“You're injured and scared and trying to take care of everyone else instead of letting anyone take care of you. I see how you look at that girl out there. She's special. Don't push her away because you're too proud to admit you need her.”
“I'm not pushing her away.”
