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"He's your life now," he said, his voice raspy, his words slow. "Not your old man."
"You're my father. You can bet if Liam was still alive and in your position, Drake wouldn't be going back to Nairobi."
My father didn't say anything at that.
"Score," I said and licked my finger, making a point in the air.
"Not good to sleep apart."
"I had no choice," I said, wiping away some drool that had accumulated in the corner of his mouth. "I want to be with Drake, but circumstances forced me to stay."
"No," he said. "Heath's back. He can give Elaine a break. You should go now."
"Heath's not back yet," I said, still angry at my brother for not returning from his trip to Haiti at the first news of our father's illness.
"Go to him," my father said, his voice insistent.
"Why is it you men think you should make all our decisions?" I said teasingly. "I can decide for myself what I'll do."
"Don’t kid yourself," my father said, his eyes closed, but the good side of his mouth turned up a bit. He spoke softly and very slow, struggling with each word. "When men like Drake and me love someone, we can't stand to be without them."
"Men like Drake and you?" I said, smiling, my voice mock confused. "And what are you and Drake like, if you don't mind me asking?"
"Alpha males. Old Silverbacks," he said, his voice filled with humor. "Drake's technically too young to qualify but still. We like to be in control, in charge." He took in a few deep breaths as if speaking even at a whisper was an effort. "Domineering sonsabitches. I'm surprised he let you stay."
"What was he going to do, kidnap me? Force me onto the plane?" I tucked the blanket in around him, smiling to myself. Was my father admitting that he was a Dom like Drake? Or a dominant man? "I have my own mind you know."
"Don’t I know it," he said. "Willful child. Could never control you so I gave up when you demanded that you ride Heath's bike instead of the small one we bought you with training wheels."
I laughed out loud at that. "I'm hardly willful."
He smiled, his eyes closed. "Whatever you say. I think Drake would have something to say about that assertion."
"I'm sure he would. But still, no matter what you or Drake say, I couldn't leave you. Not when you're like this."
He took my hand. "Let's you and me make a deal," he whispered and I had to lean down to hear him. "Let's have a really nice talk, reminisce about our lives, talk about your future and then, I want you to book the first flight to Nairobi."
When I started to protest, he squeezed my hand.
"Listen to me," he said. "I hate you two being apart because of me. Life's too short to be separated from the ones you love for even one night."
"You're someone I love."
"Drake's your life now, not me. Go to him." He pulled on my hand so I had to lean closer. "Promise me."
I sighed, exasperated. "You're still not well enough…"
"Promise me."
I exhaled heavily. "I'm not making any promise."
"Listen, I don't plan on dying anytime soon," he said, a gleam in his eye. "But if I do, I want to know you're with Drake when you get the news and not moping around hospital hallways alone. I saw you alone for too many years."
"That's why you didn't want Heath to come back immediately?"
My father nodded. "He's in Haiti working with the homeless. He's due back soon enough. But I'm glad you were here. Thanks for helping Elaine while I was out of commission. And it was good to talk to Drake."
"What did you two speak about?"
