Page 9 of Rounds
“Okay. Thank you, Doctor Israel, for being patient with me.”
I nodded and got out of the way, since the room was so small. I heard Mr. Wilkes in there already cutting up. “You get one stick, Dalonna. After that, you gon’ have to get somebody else to do it.”
I chuckled as I heard her say, “First of all, I’m the best. All I need is one stick. Secondly, my name is Delaney. Now, when I get this on the first stick, you gon’ have to give me my props just as loudly as you tried to call me an amateur.”
He laughed. “You feisty! Okay. We gon’ see, Delaney.”
I leaned against the wall as I continued to listen to their interaction. They were quiet for a moment, then Delaney said loudly, “Put some respeck on my name!”
I laughed as Mr. Wilkes did so as well. “I see you! You got that, baby. Whenever I come here, you the only one I want sticking me. I’m gon’ be a damn thorn in your flesh. Ask Doctor Israel.”
She chuckled. “Well, hopefully, you won’t be spending much time up here. Being here ain’t a good thing.”
“Yeah, you right. Thank you.”
“Of course. Stop being stubborn and do what your doctors are telling you to do. I hope you feel better soon.”
“Thank you, Miss Delaney. I’m gon’ do better.”
When she emerged from his room, she nearly jumped out of her skin when she saw me leaned against the wall. “You already being clingy.”
“Naw. I wanted to see if he would give you as hard a time as he gives me. He didn’t disappoint.”
She smiled slightly. “He’s fun. How’s your dad?”
“He seems to be doing better. I’m about to go back up and check on him.”
“Well, the fourth floor needs my assistance, so I’m about to head up there now.”
I nodded as I watched her leave the computer at the nurses’ desk. When she rejoined me, I began walking toward the elevator. I remained silent until we got on. Once the doors closed, I asked, “You always work weekends?”
“No. I rarely ever work weekends. I needed to be busy. I needed to be distracted from my personal life.”
I only nodded. If she wanted to tell me more, she would. She didn’t know me, and I could see that she was extremely guarded. We were quiet again until the elevator doors opened. I extended my hand allowing her to go first, then followed behind her to enjoy the view. This woman had me losing it. I wanted her so bad. She didn’t even really want to give me conversation today. I was trying to be considerate, because I knew she had some shit going on, but at the same time, like I said to her earlier, that shit had nothing to do with me.
I was truly trying to adhere to my dad’s words and not rub her the wrong way, but I had to let my intentions be known . . . repeatedly, if need be. She went to the desk, and I turned off to go to my dad’s room. They were getting him situated. He had probably just gotten back from getting his X-rays done. When he saw me, he smiled. Well, at least I thought he was smiling at me until I heard tapping on a computer behind me.
I slightly rolled my eyes. He was smiling, because Delaney was in here. She already knew she was coming here to get blood from my dad when we talked in the E.R. I went to the recliner and sat as the nurse left out and gave me a head nod.
“Hello, Mister Israel! I’m here to get blood from you. How are you feeling today?”
“Hi, Delaney. I’m feeling okay today. My son has been on it, making sure they’re on top of dispensing my meds. I don’t have a choice but to feel better.”
She glanced at me and smiled. “It must feel great to have a son that takes your health and well-being seriously.”
“It does, but I want him to live his life too. He’s constantly seeing after me and working. For the past three years or more, he’s been handling things, sacrificing the things he wants and needs to make sure I’m taken care of.”
I swallowed hard and huffed, then stood and walked out of his room. One thing my dad was going to be was transparent. The man didn’t have a filter, and the older he got, the looser his lips got. I went to the waiting area and had a seat. I didn’t regret anything I did for him, but it wasn’t everyone’s business what I did or sacrificed for him either. Delaney was the last person I wanted to be that open with. She was guarding herself, and I refused to offer parts of myself that she refused to offer of herself.
I slid my hands down my face, realizing how at thirty-eight years old, my life was at a standstill. It would remain that way if it meant my dad was good. I knew he was trying to get Delaney to see that I was truly a good man, despite the other shit, because he knew of my attraction to her. I wasn’t angry at him, but I couldn’t take hearing him say those things to her in my presence. And again, I didn’t want her to know all that.
When I saw her exiting his room, I turned my gaze elsewhere, hoping she didn’t see me. Glancing back, I saw her enteringsomeone else’s room. I stood and went back to my dad’s room. When I walked in, he said, “I’m sorry. I just know how much you’re into her. She needs to know what she would be getting if she gave you a chance.”
I slid my hand down my face again as I sat in the recliner. “It’s okay.”
I didn’t even want to talk about it anymore. There was a knock on the door, then it opened. His breakfast was here. Once she put it in front of him, I checked it to make sure they didn’t slip him anything extra on the tray that he wasn’t supposed to have. He chuckled as I sat back in the recliner. I closed my eyes to try to get in a quick nap. If I could silence my mind, that would be ideal.
When I left Mr. Israel’s room, I saw Glover sitting in the lounging area, but I could tell he didn’t want to be bothered. I admired the way he took care of his dad before Mr. Israel revealed his many sacrifices. Knowing that he sold his home to make sure he had the finances to assure his dad received the best care nearly brought me to tears. It broke my heart to know his parents didn’t have health insurance simply because they couldn’t afford it and wouldn’t allow him to pay the premium. Mr. Israel felt so bad about not allowing him to do so, seeing how much money he was having to spend to take care of him. Glover had exhausted his savings.
