“How much longer?” Jenna asks for the tenth time since Liam left. Charlie still hasn’t come out of his father’s room, but that doesn’t surprise me. I’m sure Charlie will sit vigil until the moment his dad opens his eyes and cracks the first smile towards his son.
“Damn it, Jenna, stop whining. Dad has had major surgery. This isn’t about you right now–”
“Hey now,” I scold Trevor. “You don’t need to be like that with your sister.” He rolls his eyes and sulks back into the chair. When I address Jenna, I can see that she’s upset. “I’m not sure, baby. Dad is resting because of the surgery. His body needs to heal and because of that–”
“Mom.” Charlie’s voice has me snapping my head to my son. His eyes are rimmed red with smudges of dark circles. I have no idea when my son last slept, but I need to make sure he gets some rest and soon. “He’s awake.”
A sudden weight is lifted from my shoulders. The room becomes a little brighter, and the pit of doom that I’ve been feeling since the moment Alice told me of the news loosens. I breathe for the first time in what feels like ages.
“I’m glad, honey. So, so glad.”
“I want to see him,” Jenna says.
I stand up, fixing Jenna hair. “Okay, sure, go ahead. Trevor, you too. Go with your sister and brother and go see your dad.”
Jenna walks about three feet then turn towards her brother. “Come on Trev,” she commands, but he doesn’t move. When I look at my son, the fear he’s been feeling is evident in his eyes.
“Baby.” Walking over, I kneel in front of him. “Go with Charlie and Jenna.”
His eyes find mine. “Aren’t you coming?”
My poor boy. I place my hand on his face and cup his cheek. “I’ll be in later. I think you guys need some Dad time, and I don’t want to spoil it, but I’ll be in there soon. I promise.”
He seems okay with my answer because he gets up and walks toward a waiting Jenna and Charlie. Jenna reaches for his hand, which he doesn’t seem to mind while Charlie throws his arm around Trevor’s shoulder. Once they’re out of earshot, I let the sobs wrack through my body, allowing the relief to wash over me.
“Hey, babe.”
Ruby’s voice pulls me from my daze as she and Steven enter the room. “Where are the kids?” she asks as she sits and hands me a coffee. Steve takes a seat across from me.
I lift the cup to my mouth, inhaling the caramel goodness and take a sip. “Heath’s awake. They’re with him. Thank you for this.” I tip the cup in her direction.
“When did that happen? Why didn’t you call or text?”
I blink at her, not really knowing how to answer that.
“Leave her alone, Ruby. I’m sure she has her reasons,” Steve defends.
“I’m the best friend. The go-to person. I should’ve been her first phone call.”
“I haven’t called anyone, Ruby. I’m giving this time to my kids to see their father. All three of them are in there right now.”
“Charlie made it?” she asks, sitting up a bit.
“Yeah.”
“That was a lot faster than I thought. I figured he wouldn’t be here for another day or so.”
“Yeah, I thought so too. He was in the states actually.” I pull out my phone and check the time. “I’d say he showed up about two hours ago. Heath’s been awake for maybe an hour.”
“That’s fantastic news, babe.” Ruby pulls me into a hug. “I know you were worried.”
“So worried, and so guilt-ridden.” I eye the two of them, both with looks of remorse on their faces. Sitting up, I lean towards Steve’s direction. “Did you know about Heath’s health issues?” His lips form a thin line, not looking me in the eye. He doesn’t need to verbally confirm my suspicions because his face tells me everything I need to know.
“Don’t bother Steve, I know my answer.”
“Hey, don’t get upset with Steve about this,” Ruby defends her husband. “He was doing what his friend asked him to do.”
I pull back in my seat, leaning away from her. “Did you know?”
“She didn’t know until we got the call, Whitney. I swear, I didn’t tell her or anyone else because Heath asked me not to.”
I throw myself back into the seat, looking up at the ceiling my eyes begin to well with tears, again. “If I’d have known,” I choke out.
“What would you have done, babe? Tell me that? Ridden his ass? Been the bird dog I know you to be and made sure he was doing everything he was supposed to do? Do you think that would’ve been good for your marriage when it was already in the shit can?”
“God… I don’t know. I really don’t know what I would have done.”
“He didn’t want to worry you, Whitney,” Steve states.
I let out an exasperated sigh. “Well, wanting to spare my feelings has landed him in a hospital. My kids could have lost their father for Christ’s sake.”
“He thought he could change his lifestyle and not have to worry any of you. Believe it or not, Whitney, you and those kids are everything to him. He’s a man. We’re dumb creatures most of the time. We think we’re doing everything we’re supposed to be doing, and most of the time we aren’t. Heath is a prime example of it.”
Crossing my arms over my chest, I close my eyes, trying to calm myself down. “I’m mostly mad at myself,” I confess. “I’ve been so quick to point fingers, place blame. I didn’t see what’s been going on right in front of my very own eyes, under my roof–to my husband.”
“You can’t blame yourself for this when you’ve been unhappy for years. Your relationship isn’t to blame for Heath’s clogged arteries.”
I know she’s right, but it doesn’t seem to help at the moment. Before we can continue with our conversation, the kids come back into the room. All three have red-blotched faces, but each of them is wearing a smile, and that makes me smile.
Now it’s my turn.