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He stood and leaned over me. He knew what I wanted. His lips to be pressed to mine. I sighed when he pulled away. Then I raised my hand so I could see the ring that he had placed there.
White gold with a pink tourmaline gemstone. My October birthstone or one of them. “It’s beautiful,” I told him. “I heard you.” He kissed me again and again grateful that I was okay. “How’s Aiden?” I asked.
“He’s not important.”
I frowned at him. “He is Cal. You just have to find balance between me and him.”
“I was ready to lose it when you were lying on the floor of Johnny’s garage. You looked broken Abby. I wasn’t sure you were going to be all right.”
I touched his cheek. “I’m fine,” I promised him. “How is Aiden.”
“His dad pled out, assault. Five years’ probation. Court mandated counseling. Drug and Alcohol testing every month.”
“Why do I think this isn’t good?”
“He moved back home,” Cal replied.
“Is Aiden okay?”
He nodded at me. “He’s at our house a lot but that’s okay. Mom is like what’s one more kid.”
“Abby,” Mrs. Gardener swung forward so her chair’s footrest would close. Then Mom came to my bedside. “Baby, I’m so glad you’re okay.”
“Where’s Dad?”
“He’s been at work a lot, honey.”
I knew that something was wrong. I looked at Cal. He shrugged. Then I looked at Mom. “Where is he?” The monitor on my heartbeat kicked up.
“He’s staying at a hotel near the plant for a while, Abby. I wanted to see how I felt without him around for a bit. I needed space.”
A tear rolled down my cheek. “Mom no. This is my fault.”
“No, it isn’t. Baby, I promise you.”
They had a tough time convincing me that it wasn’t my fault. The nurses wanted me to calm down or they were going to make them leave. I didn’t want them to go so I calmed down.
“Will you ask Daddy to come to the hospital?”
Mom nodded and walked to the window. With her back to me, I couldn’t tell what she was saying to Dad. Her voice was that soft. When she pocketed her phone, Mom turned back to me. “He’ll be here soon,” she promised but she didn’t look happy at the prospect of seeing my dad.
Mom stepped out of ICU so Dad could come in. Cal offered. He whispered, “I’m sorry.”
I don’t know if they passed in the hallway or not. My dad didn’t look like himself when he sat down beside my bed. Cal leaned over and kissed my cheek. “I’ll be back before visiting hours are over,” he promised.
I appreciated that he was giving me time with Dad who took my hand and pressed a soft kiss to the top. “What are you doing?” I asked.
He glanced at me with a blank look on his face.
“You can’t let her go,” I said, and sob rose in my throat.
“Abby, Mom and I will work this out. You just focus on getting better.”
I knew my dad. He and Tyson were a lot alike. “No, you’ll pretend everything is okay and not work on it. She needs something from you.”
“She wants another baby.”
“What?” I would have laughed but that would have been too painful.
