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Chapter Twenty-one
Abel
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Iwatch my dad makehis way out of post-op, his gaze going to his five sons all lined against the far wall of the waiting room.
“How is she?” Aaron is the first to ask the moment he enters the room.
“She’s doing okay. Surgery went well and she’s awake now.”
“When can we see her?” Adam asks, standing.
“In a little bit. She’s still pretty groggy from the anesthesia. They’re going to move her up to her own room and then you can visit her.”
I sit silently, bent over with my elbows on my knees and my head in my hands. I don’t think I’ve been so scared before in my entire life, and while I know it’s not over yet, the relief I feel is so overwhelming I’m not quite sure how to compartmentalize it.
I give my parents hell but at the end of the day they are two of the most important people in my life. I don’t know what I’d do if I lost either one of them, especially my mom.
“She’s going to be okay, son.” My dad’s hand settles on my shoulder and I look up to see him towering over me.
There’s so much emotion on his face it nearly breaks me. My dad has always been emotionally disconnected. We always knew he loved us, but he was never one to show any real feelings or emotion. Seeing it written so clearly on his face now is almost like I’m seeing him for the first time. And not just as my dad, but as a man. A man who is facing the very real possibility of losing the woman he’s loved over half his life.
I can’t imagine what he must be feeling. And yet here he is, comforting me. Reassuring me that she’s okay.
“I know,” I mutter, reaching up to pat the hand resting on my shoulder.
“It’s going to be a little while before she’s in her room. Why don’t you all run down to the cafeteria and grab a bite to eat or get some coffee. I’ll call as soon as she’s ready for visitors.”
“I could use a bite to eat.” Aaron nods, standing. “Abel?” He turns toward me.
“Yeah, that sounds good,” I agree, knowing I’d rather be anywhere than sitting in this tiny room for a second longer.
——
“We haven’t really hadthat much time to catch up since I’ve been home,” Adam says, sliding down into the chair next to me while my other brothers are still browsing the vending machines. “How is everything going?”
“Pretty good.” I nod, picking at the label of my water bottle. “What about you? Any closer to saving the world?”
“It’s times like this I wish I were.” He blows out a hard breath, popping off the lid of his coffee cup before emptying a couple sweetener packets into it.
“Yeah, no shit,” I agree.
“How’s the music biz treating you? Aaron said you’ve been playing a lot.”
“It’s been good. I’ve got a few regular weekly gigs lined up which is good.”
“You still go down to Plymouth and play?”
“Sometimes.” I smile, thinking about the many times they found me there when I was younger. If my parents couldn’t get a hold of me they’d send one of my brothers out looking for me. They always knew where to find me. Sitting on the corner of Plymouth Street with my guitar case open as I played for anyone who cared enough to stop and listen.
“God, I remember the first time I found you there. You couldn’t have been more than fourteen but the way you played made it sound like you’d been playing for twenty years. I’ve always envied your talent.”
I’m not sure what to say to that. I think it’s the first time any of my siblings has actually complemented me when it comes to my music.
“That means a lot, Adam.” It’s all I’m able to get out before Aaron, Alex, and Andrew join us. Andrew and Alex are loudly debating the difference between baked chips and regular.
“I’m only saying, just because it says baked does not mean it’s healthy.” Andrew rips the bag of chips out of Alex’s hand and starts to read the back.
