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“You okay?”
That’s Zach.
He asks me the same question in that same low voice of his. It’s concern.
“Yeah.”
He puts away the glass and drags a chair to the bed, taking a seat. “Where’s Dad?”
And just like that, his concern is gone and is replaced by hardness.
“Meeting,” his mom replies.
“Of course.” He picks up the TV remote from the nightstand and begins to fiddle with it. “A movie, okay?”
His mom nods.
“Was he here when the doctor came?” he continues but his eyes are on the TV. He’s staring hard at it but I have a feeling that he knows nothing of what’s happening on the screen.
“Don’t start, Zach.”
“He wasn’t here, was he?” Running his teeth over his lower lip, he shakes his head. “Fucking typical.”
“Zach.”
Somehow, her voice gets stronger and she looks stronger too. Like a trick of the light. But maybe that’s how she’s fooling everyone. She’s the kind of woman who can put on a face when the occasion calls for it.
“What?”
“Let it go. Your father has other duties. He has a company to run.”
“Yeah, his fucking company. It will all fall apart without him, won’t it? He can’t even stay home to find out how long does his wife have left to live.”
His mom glares at him. “Stop being so ungrateful. And stop using bad language in front of me. Where are your manners?”
He scoffs.
“Your dad’s done everything for this family. He did everything for you. He’s always wanted what’s best for you.”
“Only I threw it away.”
A curt nod. “Exactly. Do you know how much it hurts him? The kind of son you are. Ungrateful and a troublemaker. But let’s not dwell on such things.” She lifts her chin and pats his arm. “I like this movie. Reminds me of how your father was when I first married him.”
There’s a slight smile on her face as she watches whatever the hell movie’s playing. Zach’s jaw is ticking though.
“Your father was such a handsome man back in the day. You take after him, you know,” she says to Zach lovingly. “When you were born, your dad was so happy. So happy. He looked at me like I was his queen. I can never forget that look.”
A few seconds of silence.
Then, “And neither can I forget the look in his eyes the day he found out that you’re defective. I thought he hated me. You brought on such bad memories for him, you know. Of his own childhood.”
Zach’s grip on the remote is so tight, I can see his white knuckles from here. I’m afraid that they’re going to bust out of his skin.
A few moments pass and she suffers from another coughing fit that Zach helps her through. He gives her the water again. And again, he holds it for her.
When she’s done, he asks, “How’s the wrist?”
“It’s fine. Nothing but a scrape.”
