“That’s a lot to deal with,” Randy said.
“It is,” I murmured. And I hadn’t told him anything about Declan, my superhero boss, or my recent undercover shenanigans.
“But that’s a good thing, right?” Randy asked. “That he’s awake.”
I nodded, swallowing hard. “I think so—I hope so. I mean, the nurse said he was doing well. I have to talk to the doctor and…”
Randy slowed when the hospital came into view. “I get it. Max has been in the hospital more times than I can count. Even when it isn’t something serious, I worry like there’s no tomorrow.” His eyes squinted with a smile as they met mine in the rearview mirror. “That’s life, right?”
I had to laugh. “I guess.”
“Probably would have been nice to get that hike in today, huh? Get some time out of the office and just breathe.”
He slowed to a stop at the same place he’d dropped me off last time.
I leaned forward in the seat and touched Randy’s arm briefly. “If I believed in soulmates, I think I might have found mine,” I told him with a laugh. “Your wife is a lucky woman.”
He pointed to his cell phone. “You want to call her and tell her that? I think she forgets sometimes—you know, like when I forget to take out the trash.”
With another laugh that eased some of my tension, I reached for the door handle.
“I can wait here until you’re done so you can have a ride back,” he said.
“No, I can’t ask you to do that.”
“Pfft, yes you can. I still need to eat breakfast—wife’s orders,” he said, pointing to a thermos on the passenger seat. “Oatmeal. Also wife’s orders. And I need to finish up this podcast that Max and I are apparently in dire need of discussing.”
God, could his family be more perfect? Sure, I knew nothing was perfect, but they seemed pretty darn close.
“Thanks, Randy. And if you need to go for any reason, you have my number. Just shoot me a text.”
I reached the nurse’s station in record time, and one of the more familiar nurses, Becky, greeted me.
“Is he okay? Can I go in to—”
“Okay, take a breath,” Becky suggested. “The doctor’s just about finished.”
“But…” I peered toward the door, trying to see what was going on. “Did he say anything? Does he…” The look the nurse was giving me made my stomach drop. “Does he even remember anything? Me?”
She smiled gently. “He remembers some. But he’s been asleep for a while. He’s disoriented. This is totally normal.”
I spotted the doctor leaving my dad’s room and rushed over.
“Miss Patterson,” he said, nodding his head in greeting. “They told me you were coming.”
“Is he okay?”
The doctor stepped to the side and gestured to the door. “He’s awake now, so it would be a good time to see him. He’s still sorting through what happened so just be patient. We’re off to a good start.”
A good start. I wasn’t sure why those words didn’t reassure me like they should have, but I took a deep breath and walked inside anyway.
To my surprise, my dad smiled. Damn, it was good to see him smile. To see him do anything besides sleep.
“Royal,” he said, voice rough. He coughed slightly, and the nurse walked around to the side of his bed to help him get water.
I took a spot on the other side and held his hand gently. “Dad,” I murmured, my voice choked.
He squeezed my hand softly. “It’s…okay.”
I studied his face. He looked older than he had before and so, so tired. His head rested on a pile of propped up pillows and he looked like he might fall asleep again at any moment.
“Dad,” I said again, torn between interrogation and laying my head in his lap and crying.
His free hand moved to my cheek, brushing it just slightly before dropping to his side again. “I’m here, Royal.”
My eyes stung with unshed tears. I gave him a wobbly smile. It was like it hit me all of the sudden—what I’d almost lost. My mom had been gone long enough I was able to remember her without such an intense ache in my heart. But now I realized how close I’d been to losing my dad too, how close I’d been to having no parents, and it shredded my heart.
“How do you feel?” I asked him.
He gave a wan smile. “Like I got in an accident.”
Of course. For such an analytical person, he sure liked corny jokes. But that was good, right? He remembered me and he remembered the accident. Or at least something involving an accident.
“But otherwise,” I said, “do you feel okay?”
“I’m tired.”
“I know.” I glanced at the nurse. “It’s fine. I just wanted to see you.”
He closed his eyes with a little noise of agreement. “They said I’ve been asleep for a long time.”
I looked up at the nurse, my eyes filling with tears again.
“It’s okay,” the nurse said. “It’s normal for him to be tired. When you talk to the doctor, he’ll tell you what to expect, but he’s right. This is a good start.”
“What now?” I asked, feeling lost.
“I’m…still here,” my dad grumbled, keeping his eyes closed. But I knew he was on the verge of falling asleep again.
“We’ll watch him closely,” the nurse said, “and he’ll need some tests. Right now, the plan is to take things hour by hour. We’ll know more later.” She walked around to my side of the bed and set her hand on my shoulder. “I’ll give you a minute.”
I nodded and turned my attention back to my dad.
It was going to
