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“I’m thirsty,” he whispered, his voice raspy.
“Let’s get you some ice chips, okay?” She wrapped the stethoscope around her neck. “I’ll be right back.”
“Hi, Dad,” Hannah said softly. She stood at the side of his bed. “Can I get you anything?”
He shook his head, staring off into space.
“Do you want me to leave?”
He didn’t answer, but tears sprang to his eyes. He shook his head again.
She nodded and looked at his hand. She thought about taking it, but wasn’t sure if he’d yell at her to get away. She went back to the chair and sat. His eyes immediately closed.
“I forgive you,” she whispered.
His eyelids fluttered.
“I forgive you, because my life is full now. I will never understand, but I forgive you.”
Suddenly, like a kite filling with wind, Hannah felt lighter, freer. Joel Destin was a man with many regrets, yet she had very few. She had nothing to be ashamed of in the way she lived. She was an independent woman who had raised a child who was warm and caring. She was a good mother. She was a good friend. A hard worker.
She was enough, without him.
“Would you like to meet your granddaughter?”
His eyes opened, and he turned his head. “Yes.”
The door opened and another nurse came in with a cart. “We’re going to wash up and change the sheets, Mr. Destin.” She smiled at Hannah. “There’s a coffee machine down the hall, and someone brought muffins in.”
Hannah got up, giving him a reassuring nod.
“You coming back?” he asked.
“If you want.”
He nodded. Another tear fell from the corner of his eye.
“Okay.”
* * *
Jake went to the French Farm to give Olivia and Jesse the prognosis. Olivia went with him to Joel’s house and used the keyring Hannah had given him to get inside. They packed up some basics into a bag and headed to the hospital.
“How’s he doing?” Olivia asked, when Hannah came out into the hall.
Hannah shook her head. “He’s alive. But they’re going to put him on hospice care at the county nursing home.”
Jake could tell that Hannah had been crying. He reached out and pulled her into a hug. He wanted to wrap her in his arms and never let go.
Hannah’s arms stayed around him longer than he expected, and he felt a warm glow at the thought that she was finally opening up to him.
“I’ll figure out the next steps, so you don’t have to worry about a thing, okay?” Olivia took her hand. “You just worry about you.”
“How’s Emma?” she asked, dabbing the corner of her eye.
“She’s fine,” Olivia rubbed her arm. “She’s just worried about you.”
“All this worry.” Hannah’s eyes filled with tears. “I don’t know what I’d do without all of you.”
