Page 54 of Irresistible Second Chance

“I’m ok, cupcake,” he said again. “Come on now. Stop that crying. I’m ok. It was a minor one.”

I sat up and wiped my tears. I tried to take a calming breath but failed. “A minor stroke is still a stroke.”

“You have a point. I’ve never been one to argue with logic,” he said trying to lighten the mood.

“Dad, are you taking your blood pressure pills?”

“Of course, I am...when I remember.”

“Dad!” I placed my hands on my hips.

He sighed, “Don’t you start yelling at me too. Your sister already did her share of yelling, that’s why I pretended to be asleep. I thought maybe then she would leave me alone and stop all that darn fussing and hovering.”

“I’m glad she hovered.”

He shrugged, “Me too. I was playing tea party with the girls when I don’t know. I just felt funny. Next thing I knew...well, “ he said shrugging again, “I found myself here. They’re going to keep me for observation and then I”ll be ready to go home. Good as new. Nothing to worry about.”

“Nothing to worry about?” I shook my head. “Why are you so stubborn? You don’t even listen to reason.”

“Well, that makes two of us. Your sister told me that you ditched Chris. I was wondering why his car wasn’t around anymore.”

“You two found time to gossip about me?”

“We had to talk about something in the back of the ambulance,” he joked.

I wanted to strangle him. “That’s not funny. Go back to pretending to be asleep...maybe then you’ll actually get some rest. I’m going to find your doctor.”

“Alright,” he said with a yawn. I turned to walk away, and he said, “Oh, cupcake?”

I wiped away at a tear and tried to force a smile.

“Yes, Dad?”

“I know your mom’s here. Try to cut her some slack, ok?”

My shoulders stiffened at the mention of her. “Sure, Dad. Anything you say.”

I walked away, pretending to me ok, but I wasn’t. I was scared.

When I walked out, Starr was standing there. We didn’t say a word, we just reached for each other, and I held her for a long time.

Finally, I pulled away and said, “I’m sorry for the other night. I didn’t mean it. I feel so stupid for saying anything. You have raised two wonderful little girls practically on your own and I had no right---”

“You were just trying to protect them. I get it. I just wish you would trust me. I’m not your floundering little sister anymore. I just wish you would see me as the capable adult I am instead of just your mini-me.”

I laughed, “You’re not my mini-me. I’m version 1.0 and you’re version 2.0, the better, more reliable model.”

“And don’t forget smarter” she joked, coming in to hug me tightly again. “Is he going to be ok, Syd?” she asked me sounding like the little girl I remembered from all those years ago seeking reassurance from her big sister.

I squeezed her tight and said, “Of course, he will. He just needs to eat less tacos.”

She laughed, startled at my joke and I hugged her again. I pulled away slowly and said, “I need to get some air.”

She nodded and let me go, making her way back to my dad’s room, summoning the girls with a finger to join her.

They hugged me again as they passed by, and I rubbed their heads. They loved their grandpa. I understood that love. My father was the best.

Like I told my sister, I made my way outside and leaned agains the hospital wall. I was upset, and just trying to breath to stop my brain from going a mile a minute to the worst possible scenario. I became very anxious in situations I couldn’t control. And what had happened to dad shook me to my core. There was nothing I could do to help him. I felt powerless. I wrapped my arms around myself and then heard someone say my name.

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