“I know. Let’s agree that no one else we love is going to go into the hospital for at least two years,” I said, putting my elbow on the windowsill and resting my head on my hand. I needed more coffee ASAP.
“I like that plan, but I don’t know how it’s going to work in practice,” he said. “You can’t really predict when something like this is going to happen and to whom.” I knew he was right, but still. If I didn’t see the inside of Mass Gen for another few years, it would be too soon. Unless someone was having a baby. That was more than okay.
I fell asleep, even though I tried not to. Lucah had to rouse me when he parked the car.
“Sorry,” I said, but he just stroked my head and didn’t say anything. He didn’t have to.
He carried the bags up to the room for me. Dad was awake and his color looked much better. It was a huge relief and I felt some of the panic that was still housed in my chest subside a bit. It was still going to be there. Maybe it would always be there, lurking. I’d been worried about Dad for a long time and it turned out my worry had been justified.
“We brought you some of your clothes,” I said as Lucah set the bags down and gave my mother a hug. She looked more worn out than I’d ever seen her, but she was still so beautiful. Even exhausted, she was stunning. If only genetics had passed that on to me.
“Oh, thank you. I don’t think they’ll let me wear them, but we can try,” he said with a wink as I kissed his forehead.
“How are you feeling?” I asked.
“Just fine, Rory. Fit as a fiddle. Whatever that means.” I laughed a little and smoothed his hair back. He did look better, but still not back to his normal self.
“Here’s everything we brought for you, Eva,” Lucah said and Mom gratefully took the bag to the bathroom to change and freshen up. While she was busy, I sat on the end of Dad’s bed and asked about everything that had happened while we were gone.
“I’m going to be fine, Rory. It’s not your job to worry about me like this. It’s mine to worry about you.” I rolled my eyes. That was completely ridiculous. He was my father, the only one I had. We were probably closer than a lot of fathers and daughters due to our work situation.
“Sorry, Dad. You don’t get to choose how much I worry. I can worry as much as I want.” He laughed a little and looked at Lucah.
“Back me up here?” Lucah looked at me and then Dad and back.
“I’m sorry, sir. You might be my boss, but she’s my fiancé and she automatically gets to win any argument for the foreseeable future.” He said it with a smirk and I wanted to smack him. Not for agreeing with me, but the reasoning he’d given.
“I’m not some controlling wife that’s going to force you to agree with everything I say,” I said.
“I know, I was just joking,” Lucah said, coming forward and putting a patronizing kiss on the top of my head. Oh, he was going to get it later.
“I think you’re well on your way to being an excellent husband,” Dad said with a chuckle and reached for the plastic cup of water that was on the table next to his bed.
“I’ve got it, Dad,” I said, leaning forward and handing it to him.
“Thank you, Rory,” he said, taking it from me. He drained what was left and I poured him some more from the matching pitcher.
“Is there anything else I can get you? They’re always bringing ice chips. Do you want some ice chips?” I could feel myself starting to get a little wound up again, and Dad put his hand on my arm.
“I’m just fine.” Mom emerged from the bathroom, looking like she’d had about twelve hours of sleep and spent a week at the spa.
“Much better,” she said, smoothing her hands over the lapels of the blazer she’d put on. Her hair was coiffed, her jewelry was on and her lipstick was precise.
“You look beautiful, Eva,” Dad said and she came over to give him a kiss.
“Thank you, Walter. Fresh clothing can do wonders.” She resumed her seat next to him and sighed. Her perfume filled the room and the familiar scent made me feel more at peace.
“So, I’m guessing that you’ve contacted everyone,” Dad said and Mom shushed him.
“You’re breaking the rules, Walter. We said no work talk for at least 48 hours,” Mom said, glaring at him and admonishing him with her finger. He just gave her an innocent look and shrugged.
“I can’t just ignore my company, Eva. It’s who I am.” He turned his attention back to me and I filled him in on the emergency meeting and who was attending.
“I wish Hal was still with us,” he said with a tinge of sadness. It was true, Hal would have been all over this situation. Not that I didn’t think I could handle it, but sometimes I still felt like a little girl playing grownup and that I really didn’t know what the hell I was doing and that I’d do something to destroy the company and my dad’s legacy.
Granted, Dad was set to retire in a few years (if Mom had any say) and this would have happened anyway, but I always put that inevitability off and figured I would cross that bridge when I got there.
“Well, he’s not,” Mom said. She didn’t snap, but there was an edge to her tone. The tension was thick.