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I shake my head. This is just like him; even in a hospital bed, with tubes and monitors, he’s still trying to tell us he’s fine. “You just need to rest.”
“I guess this is one way to slow me down.”
Me and mom smile as she wraps an arm around my shoulders.
It’s late so I’m grateful that the nurses even let me in.
I know I can’t be in here long, so I sit with dad for a few minutes. Just being near him and knowing that he’s in the best capable hands here makes me feel somewhat better.
He falls asleep shortly after, so he must be exhausted.
“I’m going to spend the night here,” Mom says.
“Are you sure, Mom? I can bring you back first thing in the morning?”
She shakes her head. “I’d like to be here if he wakes up. The nurse has okayed me to stay the night.”
We walk back out to the hallway where Maddie is still sitting, drinking her Coke.
“How is he?” She jumps up out of her seat.
“He fell asleep, but he seems to be in good spirits,” I whisper. My voice seems to have disappeared with all the commotion. Forming the words seems like the most difficult thing to do.
“That’s good.” Maddie sighs relief that we’re all feeling.
“You girls should get some rest. There’s nothing more you can do here tonight.”
I sit back down for a moment to try to clear my head, then take another few sips of my soda.
“Maddie and I will go home together in your car,” I tell mom.
“I’ll just go to the bathroom,” Maddie says.
Mom turns back to me and smiles warmly, but worry is still behind her eyes.
“What a night.” I sigh.
“You’ll have to tell me about dinner in the morning, honey.”
I nod. I couldn’t recap all of that anyway, even if I wanted to.
I’m way too weary. “Go back to Dad, I’ll be fine waiting for Maddie,” I tell her.
She nods as I stand up so I can embrace her. We hug each other tight.
“I’m so glad you were here, Em.”
“Me too.” I sniff into her shoulder. I am trying my best to put on a brave face, but what I really want to do is curl up into a ball and cry my eyes out. “I’m just glad he’s stable.”
“I don’t think anything can keep him down, and that’s the problem sometimes. He doesn’t know when to stop.”
“I totally agree.” We both know that major changes are now going to have to be made, and not before time either. To see my dad at least semi-retire I think would be a good thing. He needs to focus on himself now and get back to good health.
“I love you, Mom.”
“Oh, sweetheart, I love you too. So much.”
We hug again as mom dabs her eyes and walks back into the room to sit with dad.
