Chapter Twenty-Two
SAWYER BURST THROUGH the emergency room entrance, making a beeline for the registration desk. They’d used the motor and powered through the harbor to get there as fast as they could, and even though his mother had assured him that his father was okay, he feared the worst. The idea of his father falling on the way to the bathroom slayed him.
After what felt like an hour, but in reality was only a few minutes, he and Sky were allowed into the room with his parents. His mother rose from a chair beside his father’s bed and embraced Sawyer.
“He’s okay, Sawyer. They did X-rays and he’s okay. Nothing’s broken.”
“Mom, are you okay?” His eyes locked on his father even as he embraced his mother again, to reassure her as much as to reassure himself.
“Yes. I’m shaken up, but fine.”
Sawyer glanced at Sky, and she motioned for him to go to his father and not worry about her. Even so, he was thankful she was with him. His father lay on the stark white sheets, looking frail and nonplussed. Wretched Parkinson’s. What Sawyer wouldn’t give to see his father’s smirk and hear him grumble about how a little fall wasn’t going to keep him down. His father’s facial expression didn’t change when Sawyer went to his bedside. Sawyer touched his arm and felt the underlying tremor, saw the purplish bruise on the side of his cheek, and nearly crumpled to his knees.
“Dad.” He couldn’t ask if he was okay—of course he wasn’t okay. He’d never be okay again. He was vaguely aware of his mother greeting Sky, but he was too focused on his father to take it in.
“Son.” His father held his gaze.
Sawyer wanted to climb inside his father’s head and find his voice. He wanted to know exactly what his father was thinking, what he was feeling. He missed that part of him so much that it burned in his gut.
“What can I do? What did the doctors say? Are they keeping you overnight?” Sawyer looked at his mother, who was talking quietly with Sky. Only then did he notice the look of sorrow on Sky’s face and realize that she and his mother were holding hands, comforting each other.
“They’re waiting for the doctor to sign off on the discharge papers,” his mother said.
Sky went to his side and placed a hand on his back as his mother reached for his father’s hand. His father’s stoic gaze shifted to Sky. Sawyer didn’t know if his father would be upset by having someone he didn’t know in the room with them. He kicked himself for not thinking about that sooner, but Sky was part of him now, and it wouldn’t have felt right not to have her by his side.
When Sky smiled kindly at his father, he felt the fissure in his heart heal up.
“Hi, Mr. Bass. I’m Sky, and I’m so sorry that you got hurt and that it took us so long to get here.” She reached for his father’s hand as if it were the most natural thing in the world and held it gently. She didn’t look away from him, and she didn’t seem bothered by his stoic gaze. “I’m glad they’re releasing you soon.”
His eyes shifted to Sawyer, then back to Sky. “Thank…you…for…” He paused, and Sawyer held his breath, hoping Sky would understand that he had more to say. Sky waited patiently. She didn’t rush his father or seem irritated by having to wait for him to speak, and that meant more to him than anything ever could.
When his father spoke again, Sawyer heard a crack in his voice, despite the slowness with which he spoke. “Showing my son there’s more to life than fighting.”
Sky smiled at Sawyer. “I think we’ve both learned a lot about life.”
He kissed Sky’s cheek and whispered, “Are you okay for a second while I talk to my mom?”
She nodded, and he led his mother to the other side of the room.
“Honey, she’s lovely,” his mother said.
“I know. I’m a lucky guy.” He glanced at Sky and saw that she was talking with his father again. “Mom, there’s still a month before I fight, and then it takes time to get the money. I have some savings. I want to hire a nurse to help you out.”
“Sawyer, you need money to live on. We’ll be fine.” She glanced at his father, and worry filled her eyes. “I won’t leave him alone again. You know how stubborn he is. I heard him get up while I was doing dishes and told him I was just going to dry my hands and I’d be right out. Seconds later I heard him fall.” Tears filled her eyes.
Sawyer folded her into his arms. “It’s okay, Mom. Dad’s okay. It’s not your fault, but he needs full-time care. It’s time.” And I’m going to train twice as hard to make sure I win.
“I’m going to ask Mrs. Petzhold and a few of the neighbors to help me out until we figure things out. We can also draw more from our retirement funds. We’ll be okay. I’ll keep a closer eye on him.” She drew in a breath and touched his cheek. “Honey, I’m sorry to call you away from your romantic weekend with Sky.”
“Don’t worry about that,” he assured her. “I’m sorry it took us so long to get here.”
He glanced across the room, Sky was sitting on the edge of the bed, holding his father’s hand and reciting one of his father’s poems. Her gaze was soft, her voice laden with emotion, and in that moment, his love for his family and his love for Sky coalesced.
Before crossing the room to be by Sky’s side, he stood with his mother by the door and said quietly, “I’m going to marry her one day, Mom.”
His mother reached for his hand. “Don’t wait, Sawyer. Life’s too short for one days.”