Page 156 of Playing By Ear

Her laugh was half hiccup. “I said it first.”

“I thought it first.”

“I thought it an hour ago.”

“I thought it a century ago. So hah.”

Her arms tightened around his neck, and she said nothing more.

Chapter 30

The hospital bed arrived Monday afternoon. While Martin slept in Jamie’s bed and Belinda took Layla to the office next door, Jamie helped the workers disassemble the queen-size bed his father had slept in for decades. The removal had a finality to it that made Jamie’s heart feel heavy and mashable, like it had been replaced by a wet sponge.

Then the two-man medical-supply team set up the profiling bed under the supervision of Gerry, who confirmed it was neither bugged nor booby-trapped.

Once the setup was finished and Gerry had stopped hovering, the older of the two medical-supply guys, Will, showed Jamie the buttons to adjust the height and position.

“The mattress has top-of-the-line pressure relief to prevent bedsores,” Will said, “but as your father’s nurse probably mentioned, it’s still important to turn the patient if he can’t turn himself.”

“That day’s not come yet, but soon.”

Will’s eyes softened in sympathy. “It’s a hard thing, looking after an ill parent. Your da’s lucky to have you.”

“Can I have that in writing?”

Will laughed. “He knows it, whether he admits it or not.”

After the men left, Jamie tried to make the room look as normal as possible. He put on the familiar bedclothes, though they were too large for this narrower mattress, shifted the side table within reach, and attached his dad’s reading lamp to the bed frame.

Curious, he took off his shoe and walking boot, then stretched out on the profiling bed.

Ah, it was heavenly, every inch a real bed, with the addition of railings and fancy controls.

Before he took an accidental nap, Jamie got up and went into his own room, where his father was dozing. “Ready for your posh new bed?”

Martin scowled. “Don’t patronize me, Jimmy. You know that’s the one thing I cannae tolerate.”

“Only one thing?” Jamie pushed the wheelchair next to the bed. Then, using the technique the occupational therapist had taught him, he lifted his father off the bed and onto the chair. The trick was making it seem effortless, to preserve his dad’s dignity.

Jamie brought Martin into the master bedroom. “Voila, your new throne. And before you jump down my neck, I’m not patronizing you, I’m mocking you.”

Martin grumbled, but the right corner of his mouth twitched, which Jamie took as a victory.

Once on the bed, his dad patted the mattress. “It’s so comfy, I may never get out of bed again. Heh.” When Jamie didn’t laugh, Martin gave his arm a clumsy punch. “It’s funny cos it’s true, right?”

“Comedy is like that.”

Downstairs, the front door opened. “It’s just the dog!” Belinda called up. “I’m back to work now.”

Layla galloped up the stairs, then stopped at the threshold, staring at the new bed. She approached it stiff-legged, neck outstretched and nose quivering.

“Layla, come.” Martin tapped the side of the bed. As the dog neared, his expression changed to horror. “She cannae fit up here with me.”

“I’ll fetch one of her dog beds so she can lie on the floor next to your bed.”

“Maybe I can get this to match hers.” Martin pushed the down button to lower the bed, but it stopped well above even Layla’s thickest bed. “Naw, this won’t work.” Instead of flying into a rage like Jamie expected him to, he simply sank back onto his pillow.

“I’ll phone and see if they can bring a wider bed.”