I need you

It was three words, from Rose, but definitely not the three words that scared me the most. Sitting in the basement after a guitar lesson, I caught myself working on the song structure of Hey, Rose as though I was going to change it up. Rewrite it. Try and sell the song. Maybe.

The dream of standing on a big stage was gone, but I still had the chance to work with other musicians and write music with them and for them. Sometimes the pay was good, sometimes it wasn’t. If I got lucky enough, a song would hit big and I’d get a nice check every now and again.

I read the text message a few times before I started to respond.

Texting? That’s what I’m going to do here?

I called Rose instead. She wasn’t text worthy. She was call worthy. Plus, any chance to hear her voice was a subtle reminder that while my ears could hear any and all music, her voice was the soundtrack to the greatest memories of my wild life.

She answered right away and I never wanted to hear the way her voice sounded ever again in my life.

She managed to say a few messy sentences of jumbled words.

“My father… his heart… the hospital…”

I threw my guitar to the table and grabbed my flannel. I ran through the basement and up the stairs. I was out the door and jumping into my truck, no idea what was about to happen. I had no clue if Frank was going to live or die. Not to mention the fact that Rose called me to tell me about her father.

She came to me for help. She needed me to be by her side during a dark time.

Which meant a lot to me.

But I knew where this road was going to end up…

* * *

I wrestled with another wrinkled dollar bill and finally said fuck it and took the elevators down to the cafeteria. I stocked up on everything I could find, most of it being coffee. At least there I could pay with a damn credit card.

Frank had come really close to calling it a last day when he collapsed. I didn’t understand the medical stuff, and I wasn’t exactly allowed to stand there with the doctor as she spoke to Rose and Vivian. To break it down into simple terms - Frank had a clog somewhere near his heart and he needed to get it taken care of right away. Meaning emergency surgery so that nothing happened again. Because this time was not a warning, but a lucky strike.

Hell, the entire thing had me bothered. Frank had been more of a father figure to me than my own father. Frank threatened me with a rifle. He offered me a beer. He cooked me food when he knew I hadn’t eaten. No matter what happened between me and Rose, he loved his daughter, but respected me. He and I had conversations that had been deep, honest, and forever forged the path that my life had taken.

I walked the long and lonely hallway. It was just getting dark. Amazing how fast time flew by when things were a disaster. That horrible feeling of just waiting for any kind of news.

I turned the hallway and saw Vivian and Rose standing together, hugging each other, crying.

I stopped and shut my eyes. My heart sank.

Fuck.

The door at the end of the hall was slowly shutting.

The doctor had just been there, talking to them.

And I hadn’t been there with Rose while she got whatever news that was shared.

I saw Molly standing there too, her hand on Rose’s back. Vivian stood there, a few inches away, staring at the floor, biting on the nails of her left hand.

Vivian stood a couple inches taller than Rose, super thin, done up in a fancy way. That was just always her style. It made sense that she made her living in a hair salon. It fit her perfectly. Funny thing though was that she and Rose really didn’t look much alike. Maybe their nose and ears, but that was it. Vivian looked like Frank, but in a pretty and womanly way. Rose looked like her mother. I had only seen one picture, one time of her mother, and it was pretty striking how much they looked alike.

Molly saw me and started to walk my way.

She grabbed the carrier with coffees and snacks. “Go to her, Foster. She wants you. Not me.”

“Is Frank…”

“Just go,” Molly said in a stern voice.

I charged down the hall and put a hand to Rose’s shoulder and a hand to Vivian’s. Vivian and I never really got close. She thought I was some dirty boy that wanted to steal her sister’s virginity. Which was true. Vivian had always been interested in the football players and the baseball players. Her demands were athletic and at least two years older than her. Which I’m sure gave Frank plenty to worry about.

That poor man.

He had to make sure Vivian wasn’t running around with college guys while worrying about whatever mess crept up in my life so that it didn’t hurt Rose.

No wonder his heart…

I shook my heart. “What's the word?”

Both sisters sucked in a breath at the same time.

“He’s out of surgery,” Rose said.

“Out? Meaning…”

“He made it,” Vivian said. She had black streaks of makeup on her cheeks. “He made it.”

“Shit,” I said with a sigh. “Good. Yes. Oh, Frank…”

I hung my head.

Rose put her hand to my side, her nails digging at me.

I blinked fast and caught my breath. “Hey. I got some coffees and food. Not real food, but better than nothing.”

“Thanks,” Vivian said. “I think I need to sit down.”

“Yeah, go ahead,” I said. “If I can get you anything…”

“Thanks, Foster,” Vivian said. “For being here.” She took a step and paused. “But why are you here? Are you two…” she looked between me and Rose. “… again?”

“No,” Rose said without hesitation.

Wow. Ouch.

“I mean, no,” Rose said. “I called him. We ran into each other last week. I…”

“I’m just here, Vivian,” I said. “Don’t look too much into it.”

“Right,” Vivian said. “I’ve heard that before.”

“Viv,” Rose said. “Go.”

Vivian rolled her bloodshot, teary eyes and she walked away.

I finally had a chance to face Rose, alone. Just me and her.

“He’s okay?” I asked.

“For now. But it’s not good, Foster. It’s not good at all. He came so close… the doctor…”

Rose lost her edge.

I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her close as she cried again. She had her face turned away from Vivian and Molly.

I sucked in a deep breath, not wanting myself to get worked up and stress her out even more.

My right hand crept up into her hair.

“Oh, Rose,” I whispered. “He’ll be okay. He’s tough. Jesus, he’s tough. He raised you and Vivian. He put up with me.”

“I know,” Rose said. “I just never thought… it never hit me that someday he’ll be gone.”

I broke the hug and slowly reached for her face. My hands cupped her soft cheeks. Her eyes were light brown in the light, glossy from the tears. She was the most beautiful person I had ever been near. Beautiful inside and out. A beauty that was so strong that it made my stomach sick.

“It’s going to be okay,” I whispered as my thumbs stroked her tears away.

She started to smile. “I hate that you say that to me. Every time you do, something bad happens. But I needed you to say that. That’s why I called you.”

“Well, if that’s all you needed, I could have been out of here hours ago,” I said.

“You’re such a jerk,” Rose said.

“I know,” I whispered. “But it’s going to be okay. What’s the plan now?”

“We get to see him soon, I hope,” she said. “I’m going to spend the night. I told Vivian to go to my place. She’ll want to stay too.”

I nodded. “I’ll stay with you as long as you need.”

“No. You should go home.”

“Rose, I’m not going anywhere.”

Rose opened her mouth, but didn’t say anything.

The doors next to me opened and out came two doctors.

They were looking for Rose and Vivian.

I stepped away and let them all talk.

They were going to get to see their father.

He had pulled through. But he still had a long way to go.

I slipped my hands into my pocket and watched Rose go through the open doors. They started to automatically shut and she looked back at me. I smiled and nodded.

I meant what I said to her.

I wasn’t going anywhere.

But even I knew that was probably a lie.