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“ETA four minutes!”
“How’s his leg looking?”
My wife…what about Melody?
MINA
11:57 AM
“Talk to me, please,” I whispered, reaching out for his hand, but he pulled away from me, turning his head. Since he had woken up, he hadn’t said a word or even opened his eyes. He just sat there in silent, agonizing rage, and I wasn’t sure what to say to him. I didn’t know how to fix this.
“Neal…” Again I reached out to touch his thigh, but he grabbed my arm, gripping tightly.
“Just go.” His voice was stern and stiff, nothing at all like the man I had married. “Take the kids and go.”
“No.” I pulled my arm away.
“Goddamn it, Mina! GO! LEAVE!” He screamed, his chest puffing up and down like a bull. “I can barely look at myself and I can’t stand for you to look at me too.”
“Why wouldn’t I look at you, Neal? You’re my husband, aren’t you?”
He didn’t answer, just turned his head from me. “Mina…please.”
I wanted to argue. I wanted to beg him…but instead I got up, kissed the side of his head, and walked out. Shutting the door behind me, I took a breath and leaned against the door. Just as I was about to slide down, I felt Sedric’s tiny little hand tug on my shirt.
“Mommy?”
“Hey, buddy.” I bent down in front of him, cupping his cheeks.
“Can we see Dad now?” he asked. I glanced over at Nari, who kept staring at the door. Reaching over, I pulled them both into a hug.
“Not yet, buddy. He’s very…tired.”
“But he said I could talk to him whenever.” He tried to push away.
“Sedric!”
We all jumped when we saw Helen grinning widely and running toward us. Behind her was Cora with baby Darcy.
“Sedric, I missed you!” Helen wrapped her arms around him, but Sedric tried to pull away.
“Why? Are you going to put makeup on me again?” He frowned.
“No, we are going to paint your nails. Come on, Nari!” She linked arms with both of them and pulled them away.
Nari dragged her feet “But my dad—”
“Nana says a girl should always have her nails done, it says she takes care of herself. You don’t want Uncle Neal to think you aren’t taking care yourself do you?” she replied, totally defeating Nari.
“Your daughter is smart,” I said tiredly to Cora, who smiled proudly.
“I know, and I take all the credit.”
We both laughed, but it was short-lived. She looked over my shoulder. “How is he?”
“In shock.” As anyone who loses a limb would be.
“Give it time…he might lash out and push you away, but it’s honestly the last thing he wants. Take it from me. The more we say ‘leave me alone’, the more we mean ‘don’t let go.’” The image of her undergoing cancer treatments flooded my mind. I hadn’t been part of the family then, but I had seen how much she and Declan had suffered.
