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All missed calls, finally messages from my dad himself.
I listen to his first one but stop myself short of being able to hear his second one before I feel it in my gut. The trembling of my voice not surprising Mark at all.
“I’m sorry, Mark. I have to-” I blurt.
“I know you do, I’d insist on it anyway,” he says, a matter of fact, swiping his own phone and moving out of the kitchen as he makes a series of calls I know mean we’ll be leaving this magical place as soon as humanly possible.
I love you, dad. I’m glad you’re okay… But dammit all to hell.
My instinct is to follow Mark, to try and explain something.
Anything.
But it’s useless.
I force down some coffee and try to eat, but it’s useless. It feels like everything between Mark and me is over before it’s even started.
Once dad realizes it was Mark who operated on him, once he finds out I have a medical scholarship waiting for me… Not to mention the hospital bills, I just know how he’ll be.
The food suddenly has no taste. It’s like a hard lump in my mouth I can’t swallow.
I finish my coffee though, reminding myself not to overdo that because I know what it does to me.
As if on cue, a low rumble of thunder shakes the windows of the whole house, and looking out to the ocean, I can see thick black clouds rolling in.
Like ink spilling over the perfect portrait I thought I’d made, the black sky is like everything I know I have to face sooner or later.
Mark reappears after a time and looking out over the seascape he creases a smile. “Great news. There’s an air ambulance leaving from the airport in an hour, we can ride shotgun and I can babysit a cardiac case until we get home. No first-class I’m afraid.”
I feel my heart sink lower, my whole body just wanting to climb back into bed with Mark, even back down on the beach in the rain I know is coming.
“We’ll beat that storm too if we hustle,” he adds enthusiastically, a look of excitement in his eyes that I know is part of his job and nothing to do with me anymore.
At least, that’s what it feels like.
“Hey,” he adds gently, moving over to me and hooking his arms around my waist.
“It’s a good thing you’re dad’s doing well. We can do this anytime,” he says, glancing again at the incoming storm.
“What could we possibly have spent the weekend doing otherwise?” I groan, trying to cheer up as he kisses me.
“That’s my girl,” he whispers in my ear, kissing that too.
“I know we’ll have plenty to do, no matter where we land in this life. If you’ll just say you’ll be with me. Always?” he asks, his voice breaking with emotion as I feel the hot tears in my eyes spilling over as they win out.
“Always,” I remind him.
His kiss is like medicine of its own. Drawing out all the pain and giving me healing in a single moment I wish really could last forever.
A moment I know can last forever if I just do what he suggests, and stay with him.
“I’ll get ready,” I murmur, and we both set about quickly showering and changing in separate rooms for the sake of the time constraints.
“Don’t worry about the house, the luggage, or the food,” he calls out to me. “The car will be here in a half hour and then we’re off.”
In a few moments, Mark makes everything turn from annoying and frustrating into a new adventure again, reminding me once we’re ready and waiting for the car that this is the perfect training for my medical studies.
“You can observe, first hand a cardiac patient in emergency transit,” he grins, as though I should be as excited as he is about it.
Truth is, I’m just as excited to be with him, no matter what’s happening.
And with Dr. Mark Love at the helm, I’m getting the feeling that life will never have a dull moment whenever he’s around.
Chapter Twenty
Mark
Damn you, Nick Partridge.
Damn you for having such a strong heart that couldn’t wait at least another day or two before waking up.
But, at the same time, I feel relief as well.
The surgery has been a complete success. His earlier episode on waking and seeing me, a blur.
I’d never stand between anyone and their family either, and as much as it pains us both I know the best thing for them both is for Evelyn to go to her dad again.
To see him in the hospital at least.
After that? I guess I’ll have to have that man-to-man I’ve been putting off in my mind.
The part where I tell him she’s mine now. That she’ll be with me, living with me from now on too.
