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"Of course I'm here," he said and frowned, as if he was perplexed by my words. "Do you really think I would have stayed in Nairobi?"
"But you have skills that are so specialized and in demand. You have students who expect you to be in class to teach them. And you have patients like my father, and families who rely on you to save their lives."
He chuckled for a moment, shaking his head as if he was surprised at my words. "I am pretty fabulous, if I say so myself."
"You are," I said, and punched his shoulder playfully. "You're amazing, Drake Morgan."
He touched my cheek. "How could I send you off by yourself, all the way from Nairobi to New York, in the state you were in, alone? How could I not come with you, find out for myself how your father was so I could help you deal with whatever happened? I couldn't stand to be back there not knowing anything. Not able to see for myself. Not able to be with you." He shook his head. "Nothing could have kept me from coming with you."
With that, he kissed me warmly, and soon the warmth became more passionate as if his emotions overcame him. He pulled me closer, his arms squeezing my body against his.
"I love you," he said to me, his eyes burning into mine. We stood there, forehead to forehead, arms around each other.
"Hey, you two lovebirds," Elaine said from the waiting room entry. "He's waking up."
I let go of Drake immediately and followed Elaine, a jolt of adrenaline flowing through me, making my heart pound.
"That's good, isn't it?" I said to Drake, who followed me. He reached out and took my hand.
"Yes," he said. "It's a good sign, but don't be upset if he has trouble speaking at first. There will probably be lingering effects from the stroke. It may take a while for his speech and other functions to come back fully."
I looked through the window into my father's room and saw the nurse was talking to him. His eyes were half-open, and she was checking a monitor, recording something on a small piece of paper.
"What's she doing?" I asked Drake.
He watched her for a moment. "Recording his vitals."
When the nurse came out, she smiled at us. "One of you can go in with him. Don't try to make him speak too much. He can only whisper." She walked away with a smile.
Elaine and I looked at each other. "You go," we
both said at the same time.
"I think we can break the rules this once," Drake said and shoved us both in. He stood in the doorway and watched as Elaine took one side of the bed and I took the other.
"Hi, Daddy," I said and leaned down to kiss his cheek. "I'm so glad you're waking up."
He turned his head slightly, but his eyes remained half-closed.
"Chatty Kathy," was all he said, referencing the talking doll he gave me as a child, which he inherited from his sister when I was born. His voice was like gravel, but I could swear one corner of his mouth, on the good side of his face, was turning up a bit in a smile.
"You heard what I said?"
"Every word," he replied in a raspy voice. His eyes were closed but he was smiling. I glanced over at Drake, who was grinning, his arms crossed.
I leaned down and pressed my forehead against my father's cheek, smiling, emotions threatening to overwhelm me. I held them in check because I didn’t want him to see me cry.
"Sorry I talked so much, but I wanted you to know how much I need you."
"Wasn't going anywhere," he managed, talking out of one side of his mouth. I glanced up at Elaine and she was covering her mouth, her eyes teary.
Then, the nurse returned and leaned in, giving Drake a mock-serious frown.
"Dr. Morgan…" Then she turned to us. "OK, you two. Only one at a time."
I kissed my father on the cheek. "I have to go now, Daddy, but I'll be back later. I love you."
"Love you," he managed. I squeezed his good hand and then left Elaine alone with him. Drake put his arm around me and led me over to the waiting area for family. He pulled me into his embrace and I didn’t care anymore about trying to stay strong. I cried into his shoulder, my tears of relief falling unrestrained.
