“Really? What’s she like? I spoke to her on the phone when we negotiated the cottage for her.” He adjusted the sheet on his lap and moved the magazine to the side table. “She had a nice voice, that much I remember.”
“Pretty wee thing. Doesn’t look a bit like her sister, or half-sister I should say. Petite bubbly personality, wavy blonde hair compared to Mari’s sleek dark head. Great presence and I’d say she’s a ball of energy the way she’s planning on getting involved with the town. I took her to see the Grange yesterday. She wants to help with fundraising and will be at the meeting tonight.”
His father breathed a sigh of relief. “Wonderful. I’m sorry I’m not there but I know everything is in good hands, Adam. You can’t know how much I appreciate you coming home and taking over for me.”
“It’s what family does, Dad. You rest up and don’t worry about a thing. Everyone wants to see you back on your feet the picture of health.”
“I appreciate that.”
“You and Mom were there for me when I was growing up, trying out for teams and for all the practice sessions. Besides, season is over for now. It won’t hurt me to stick around for a bit longer until you’re on your feet again. It’s nice being back home and running every morning with the snow on the hills behind me. Makes a great change from the track work. And the last thing we want is you rushing back to work and making yourself worse.”
“I doubt that will happen with your mother in charge. She’s already told me she wants me to retire. I can’t let the business go, Son. It means too much to me.”
“I know it does, Dad. You’ve put a lot of years into that place but I’m sure if you put the word out, there’d be someone who would love to take over for you. It’s a profitable business.” That comment gained a small smile of satisfaction from his father. “I don’t want you to worry about that now. I have everything under control. You need to focus on getting better and leave everything else to Mom and me, okay?”
“Don’t really have much choice now, do I?”
“No you don’t, Mr. Clement. Now it’s time for your meds.” Abbie stood at the door with a container of tablets in one hand, his chart in the other.
“I’ll leave you to it then. Take it easy, Dad, and do as the nurses tell you. I’ll pop back in tomorrow and let you know how the meeting goes tonight.” He leaned over his father and gave him a hug before leaving.
He followed directions to the doctor’s room, knocked, and sat down in the chair by the door. He waited, hoping this wasn’t going to be bad news. Surely if it was, his mother would have said something. Adam said a quick prayer for his father.
“Adam?” A bespectacled man in a white coat opened the door, peered down at him. “Come on in.”
Adam rose and followed him in and took a seat.
“Dr. John Hope. Nice to meet you.” He shook hands and then sat down, pulled a file in front of him. “Your father is going to be fine. Please don’t think there’s anything amiss there.” He smiled and opened the file, gave it a quick glance. “Let me get right to the point, Adam. I asked to speak to you because of your father’s condition, that’s true but probably not quite in the context you’re thinking right now. Have you ever heard of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?”
Adam thought for a moment, shrugged when nothing came to mind. “No. I don’t believe I have.” He focused on the doctor’s face. “You’re saying that’s what my father has?”
“Yes. Well, it’s a condition that can go undetected until something – as in your father’s case, a major heart attack – happens. More often than not, it’s fatal and usually it would happen much earlier in life.”
“I know from what the nurses told me, he’s very lucky. We could easily have lost him.”
“He is extremely lucky. In basic terms, the condition is a thickening of the muscles and it can also short circuit the electrical system of the heart to put it in layman’s terms.” Dr. Hope leaned back in his chair, clasped his fingers together and stared at Adam. “We see it a lot in elite sports players.”
A chill ran down Adam’s back. Surely he couldn’t mean…no, he wouldn’t entertain something like that.
“It happens more than people think. A fit young man, typically between the ages of eighteen and thirty will drop dead on the field for no apparent reason. Autopsy will show cardiomyopathy.”
Adam stared at him, the words stuck in his throat, unable to get out.
Understanding shone in the doctor’s eyes. “It’s hereditary, Adam. You have a 50 percent chance of inheriting the condition from your father.”
*
Dakota shut the door and ignored the whining coming from Tiny. Tonight was not an event her dog could attend even though Mari had offered to let her leave the dog upstairs in their apartment with her ever willing nephew, Noah. She had to learn to stay at home. Living in L.A. with her parents, there was usually someone there most days so Tiny had gotten used to having company.
Cars lined the street outside the Lake Hotel and excitement built in her chest as she parked out back near the courtyard. This was it, her chance to make a difference and get involved. The beginning of her new life in Cherry Lake.
Just today she had met new people, made new goals. She was even beginning to rethink her idea about getting involved with Adam Clement. He was available, even if only for a short time and last night had been amazing. He was certainly handsome and most of all, he was a nice guy. Nice
