I can’t remember the last time I cried myself to sleep. In seconds, everything that has happened over the past months finally hit me all at once. Kade held me for a long time. In fact, I can barely remember when he took Kieran from my arms and set him in his crib. There’s still sadness lingering inside my heart, along with despair. I’m not sure if it’s a typical feeling or something that I should be concerned about.

When I wake up, instead of Kade, I find Dad sitting on the chair next to my bed. His silver hair looks slightly longer than the usual buzz cut he sports.

“Sadie,” he greets me.

“Dad,” I clear my throat. “You’re here.”

“I’ve been around,” he says, scratching his chin with the back of his index finger. “How are you feeling?”

“Would it make sense if I answer that I can’t decide yet?”

He chuckles, patting my hand. “That sounds like an answer only you’d give, sweetheart. I’m worried about you.”

“You don’t have to worry about me. I’ll work things out,” I offer. Is he already considering me an inconvenience?

“Of course, I worry about you. Though I’m aware that Kaden has a plan. But if either one of you needs anything, I hope you’ll let me know.”

I look around the room. Kade’s nowhere to be found. Nor Kieran. I open and close my eyes several times. This has to be a dream. Or I fell into an alternate universe where my father is actually a human being and not an asshole.

“Kaden has a plan?” I repeat slowly, not knowing what the heck he’s talking about. “Are you feeling okay, Dad?”

“I might feel better when Kaden gets here with my coffee.”

“Kade is bringing you coffee?” I can’t help but laugh at the idea.

Kaden Hades wouldn’t hand my father a glass of water even if he were dying. They hate each other.

“He was on his way out with Kieran when I arrived. They were going for their daily walk around the block, and he offered to bring coffee. He said that you might want some chai tea.”

“Wait. Are you telling me that you and Kade amicably exchanged words?” Is this the twilight zone?

The first time they met, Dad forbade me from seeing Kade. Not that he could stop me from anything, but he always tried. The second time they exchanged insults, and from that day forward I’ve wanted to keep them apart because they’re vicious with each other.

“We came to an agreement a couple of weeks ago.”

“A little too late, don’t you think, Dad?”

“That depends on what we’re talking about. The way I’ve treated him since we met, or the way I’ve treated you since you were little.”

Dad leans forward, taking my hand. “He made me see things from a different perspective. I haven’t been a great father.”

Understatement of the century.

“Is this one of those, ‘my daughter almost died, so you’ll try to be better, but then you’ll go right back to being your old self’ changes?” I gasp, regretting my harsh tone.

“I deserved that,” he agrees with me. “Sadly, I can’t say that it was when I learned about your condition that I changed.”

Dad drops his face.

“I was upset by what had happened to you and that I couldn’t fix it immediately. You were lying here unresponsive. No one told me what had happened to you. I was so busy working and traveling that I never checked in with you. And you know what I thought … it’d be easier if they just disconnect her so I can go on with my life.”

My eyes grew wide, and I can’t breathe. He wanted me to die. From everything he had done, this is the worst. Forgetting my birthday, choosing to spend Christmas with his girlfriend in turn, forcing me to work with him during the summer if I wanted him to pay for my college tuition.

A tear rolls down from the corner of my eye.

“I know our relationship has always been difficult, but …” I breathe a couple of times organizing my thoughts but coming out with just a simple question. “Why are you even here?”

“Because you’re my kid, and I love you,” he states, his eyes filled with regret.

“I’m sorry for the way I behaved for the past thirty years,” he says, something I had hoped he’d say years ago.

Is it too late? Should I stop him and kick him out? The little girl inside me begs me to listen to him. To give him a chance.

“I never stopped to think about my feelings—or yours for that matter. All my life I just stuck to the plan. Things had to be done in a certain way. I’m inflexible. That’s the way my father taught me to be. I had no patience for a child like you. You’re difficult to understand, and I’ll admit I never tried. It wasn’t because I didn’t love you, but because you showed me my flaws.”

He pauses, closing his eyes and taking several deep breaths. I’m in shock and speechless. He wanted to disconnect me. That part doesn’t surprise me. Andrew Bell has a schedule and rules for his life. If you interrupt any of them, he’ll cut you out of it. The apology shocked me.

“What made you change your way of thinking?”

“Kaden and Kieran. Mostly Kaden,” he says softly.

“I’m ashamed of my behavior,” he continues. “Kaden made me realize how poorly I’ve been treating you since you were a kid. I have no idea how to fix all my mistakes. But I want to have a real relationship with you, to become a more active part of your life.”

“This is too much for me to take.”

Can I go back to sleep?

“I understand, but we can take our time. Anything you need, I want you to know that you can come to me, and I’ll give it to you unconditionally.”

We stare at each other for a few seconds. Feeling bold, I dare to ask him, “If I need a loan, you’ll be okay just handing it to me.”

“Of course. Anything you need, sweetheart. Is there something you need right now?”

“Not now, but I might need it to cover medical expenses, and I have to find a bigger place, and maybe even hire a nurse to help me.”

“Isn’t Kaden going to help?”

“He shouldn’t. We’re not together,” I remind him.

“I’m assuming that he hasn’t talked to you about the house.”

“No, I haven’t,” Kade steps inside, pushing a stroller and carrying a cup-holder with three cups.

“I see.”

“You don’t, Andrew,” Kade growls. “She just woke up, and I didn’t want to overwhelm her. I was trying to avoid that face.”

“What face?” I arch an eyebrow.

“Confusion, terror, and stress,” Kade responds.

“Well, I’m already feeling all of those. You might as well tell me everything that’s going on, please.”

My mouth opens wide along with my eyes as they tell me that the house where my father has lived since Grandma died is now mine. Dad’s living in the pool house. They get along because they have something in common: me. I am confused on how to feel about Dad’s new attitude. It took a near-death experience for him to wake-up and decide to change our relationship.

“I’ll be more than happy to pay for nurses and any other medical expenses.”

“I’m covering those, Andrew,” Kade clears his throat.

“Dad and I can take care of this. You don’t have to worry about me.”

“That’s for you two to discuss,” Dad says, rising from his seat.

“This doesn’t fix our relationship,” I say carefully. “But I think it’s a good start, Dad.”

He smiles, bends over and kisses my forehead. “I’ll take whatever you can give me.”

Dad squats and talks to Kieran. I can’t hear what he says to him, but my heart flutters at the moment he’s having with my son. Maybe he changed, or he’s working on that. It’ll take me some time to acclimate to what he said and to trust him.

“Tea?” Kade walks over to hand me the cup.

“You went outside with Kieran?”

“We started this new routine a couple of days ago. He needs some fresh air.”

I sigh, chewing on my lip. Kieran isn’t a newborn. I missed his birth and four long weeks of his life. He’s mine, I know it, but I feel like we’re not as close as a mother and son should be.

“Thank you for the tea.”

“Why are you upset?”

“I was out for a little more than a month. But it feels like I missed an entire lifetime, and I’m lost and disoriented.”

“It must be hard to play catch up, Sade. But I swear not much happened.”

“You and my father are civil.”

“And to think I was beginning to plan his death.”

“Stop joking about it.”

He smirks and takes Kieran out of the stroller. Then he’s changing his diaper, dressing him in a new outfit, and pushing the nurse's button.

“You’re a pro with the baby,” I point out. “I thought you said you had zero experience.”

“Everything I said was true. The nurses here have been helpful. They taught me how to change diapers, feed him, carry him, and we just learned how to bathe him.”

One of the nurses arrives with a small bottle of formula. Kaden grabs it and walks toward me holding the baby with the other arm.

“Would you like to feed him?”

I nod, setting the cup on the nightstand next to me.

Kaden hands me the baby, the bottle, and then takes a seat right next to me. We don’t say much; just watch Kieran drink his milk until he sinks into a deep sleep. The bitter words that my father said, his confusing change of attitude, along with his apology are forgotten as my heart falls a little more in love with my baby boy.

Before her shift is over, Brynn stops by to check on me. It’s been a long day. Every hour has lasted longer than usual. My father stopped by, then the speech therapist, and later a nurse came to draw my blood.

“Everything seems to be normal.”

“Just like that, I’m doing great.”

“I didn’t mean to say that you’re in perfect health, and you can go home. More like you’re in better shape than I expected. Your memory seems to be working perfectly, and the speech evaluation came out above expectations. It’s safe to say that despite the swelling, there wasn’t any brain damage. We still have to keep an eye on you. The occupational and physical therapists will come by tomorrow morning to evaluate you.”

“Is that necessary?”

“Your left arm needs a lot of retraining. It probably doesn’t feel stiff because we had a physical therapist drop by daily to massage it. However, after being in bed for about a month, you’ll need help regaining the strength in your muscles.”

“Can they come to our home after she leaves the hospital?” Kaden asks.

I chew on my lip.

“Not sure if that’s something my insurance covers.” My coverage is crappy, to say the least.

“Whatever your insurance doesn’t cover, I will, Sadie.”

“You don’t have to. My father might be willing to loan me some money.”

“You guys can work that out later. I don’t think I’ll discharge you for another week. While you work your living arrangements out, remember that you need 24/7 support.”

“Aren’t you exaggerating a little? There are plenty of single moms who fend for themselves from the first day.”

“Moms who didn’t just wake up from a coma and need to recover their strength,” Brynn chides me. “You need someone to be with you. Think about Kieran.”

“That’s the plan. The house is set. We just need to add the gym.”

“I am not going with you.” I clench my jaw.

“If you need to reach me, just text me,” Brynn smiles awkwardly.

“Love, can we talk?”

“I’m too tired to talk.”

He pulls something from his pocket and marches toward me. I gasp when I see it. My engagement ring—again.