Page 67 of Highway To Destiny

Connor didn’t say anything but kept on reading, using crazy voices for some of the characters. I wanted to hold up both hands in a ‘timeout’ gesture but couldn’t because of the sling. “Time out!” I exclaimed louder than I’d expected. Connor stopped and just looked at me with a straight face.

“Seriously? You’re reading meThe Princess Bride?” I said, still smiling and holding back my laughter.

“Well, you did say it was one of your favorite movies, if I’m not mistaken,” he replied casually. “When you were in the coma, the doctor said we were supposed to talk to you. I ran out of small talk, so I figured reading would be the best way to fill that void.”

The funny thing was, I vaguely remembered a distant voice telling me the story. It seemed like a dream at the time, but it was quite vivid. Not unlike the conversation I’d had with Claudia that I planned to reveal to everyone tonight.

“My God, Connor. I fucking love you!” I replied. That was just another thoughtful and caring thing the man had done for me, and I thought it was brilliant that he remembered, especially when my fingers were up his ass when I quoted that specific line from it.

That thought suddenly made my dick awaken, and I was a little shocked by it.Not now, I told my brain, thinking sex wouldn’t be the best idea, especially in a hospital room and in my condition. But I wanted nothing more than to cover his body with mine as soon as I was able. My dick was half hard at the thought.

I remembered when I originally said that movie line to Connor—I’d thought of Claudia. We’d watched that movie repeatedly while she battled the later stages of cancer, and quoting the lines helped us forget what she’d been going through. It was our go-to comfort flick, but I hadn’t seen it since she died. Hearing the book read aloud was different, though, a fresh, new perspective, so I asked Connor to continue.

“I love you too, Daddy,” he replied and gave me a wink. He noticed the bulge under the sheet and reached over to grasp it gently. I was embarrassed and rolled my eyes, but he took delight in the sight and licked his lips in response.

I looked at him and said, “Not now,” in a cautionary whisper. He smiled, resumed his storytelling, and I relaxed back into bed to enjoy his reading.

I listened to Connor for a couple of hours. It was early evening, and my dinner arrived on a covered tray. Eli soon strode in, holding fast food bags and a cardboard tray containing large paper cups with lids. The smell of French fries permeated the room within seconds.

Connor stopped reading and took one of the bags from Eli. “Aren’t you going to eat your dinner?” Eli asked as I watched him pull out a paper-wrapped hamburger and bag of fries. Connor didn’t even look at me but giggled as he took a cup and straw from the cardboard tray.

“If you think for one God-damned minute I’m going to eat what’s on this tray with both of you chowing down on those fucking burgers, you’re sorely mistaken,” I said with a huff. “Give me a fucking French fry!” Once I blurted it out, the pain in my head started up again.

Eli stared at me with a stony expression before shifting his attention to Connor. “I think he’s feeling better,” he said as he pushed his chin up, his hands still holding one of the bags of fast food.

“We can give him a break, I think,” Connor said with a mouthful of burger.

Eli walked to where my tray sat, picked it up, and placed it on the small table across the room. He sauntered back with a bag of food. “We figured you might be tired of the stuff they serve you here, so tonight you get a treat,” he said, opening the bag. “Cheeseburger, no onion, extra mayo, fries, and a vanilla shake,” he proclaimed as he laid each item out on my rolling table and unwrapped them for me. He knew me so well.

I shook my head and smiled as he opened packets of ketchup for my fries.

“Thank you,” I said happily. “I see a green Jell-O cup on the tray over there, so make sure I get to keep that.” Eli rolled his eyes, sighed, and handed it to me. Connor giggled again as I clutched it tightly to my chest.

We ate in companionable silence, just enjoying each other’s company. It was a treat, and I hoped I wouldn’t get into too much trouble for enjoying the splurge from my man and my best friend. The burger and a few fries satiated my appetite, but I couldn’t finish the shake, which Connor greedily took care of.

When dinner was over, I asked where my truck was and how they’d worked it out with the contacts in Ellensburg they’d retrieved from my phone. In all honesty, I hadn’t thought about it much. Maybe it was time to give my career a rest and move on to other options. A new beginning, perhaps.

Connor, Eli, and I chatted for some time about how the next few weeks and months would play out according to the doctors. I hadn’t thought about my aftercare, and it concerned me. I didn’t want to interrupt Connor’s final year at EOU any more than he’d already sacrificed, and I didn’t have the proper care facilities in Crescent City for my rehab. I didn’t want to panic, but the dinner in my gut was beginning to make me feel slightly sick.

There was a soft rap at the door that broke our conversation as Jack and Sylvia stepped into the room. Connor and Eli stood to greet them. Eli introduced himself first, and then Connor. As soon as they saw Connor, Sylvia placed her hand over her mouth and looked at Jack. It was either going to be a disaster, as truths were revealed, or things would fall into place while fate played its hand.

Connor seemed confused by her reaction but didn’t question it. Sylvia took his offered hand with both of hers, and I saw her blink back the moisture in her eyes. She then placed her hand against his cheek briefly and told him how handsome he was. Jack shook Connor’s hand and beamed at him. Eli looked at me, confused at how they preened over Connor. That now made complete sense, from the questions at Jack and Sylvia’s last Christmas to Claudia’s declaration to me. They could see her in his eyes.

They drew their attention from him and walked to the bed. Eli helped me sit up so I could swing my legs over the edge. I wasn’t about to try to stand but preferred not to talk lying down.

Sylvia gave me a brief but loving hug and tried her best not to bump my bandaged arm. I then shook Jack’s hand as they asked how I was feeling. I asked the guys to find some extra chairs for them, which they did quickly. When the general questions were answered and pleasantries were exchanged, I made everyone sit so we could talk. I saw Jack and Sylvia watching Connor and exchanging glances.

I wasn’t sure how I was going to explain the visitation from Claudia, so I turned to my in-laws and asked, “Do you remember last Christmas when I visited you and you asked questions about Connor?”

“Yes, of course, dear,” Sylvia replied, glancing at Connor again. His eyes met hers.

“And then you told me about destiny and meeting people along the way?” She nodded in agreement. “I need to tell you something that happened to me when I was in the coma. I was told my heart stopped, and they had to revive me. I think, during that time…I left my body briefly and saw Claudia.”

The room was silent other than some muffled noise from the hallway. I looked directly at Sylvia when I spoke. “It was more than a dream—it felt real. I was pain-free and elated to see her again. She was beautiful, and those emerald eyes captivated me all over again.” I looked at Connor, and his brow was furrowed. He leaned forward and put his elbows on his knees.

“What did she say to you, Mason?” Jack asked before Sylvia could respond. She had a look of shock that seemed to turn to one of wonder.

“She…she said there was something she needed to tell me that had been kept secret from me,” I replied as I looked at Jack. He then gave me a crooked smile before looking down at the tiled floor.

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