Page 66 of Personal Foul
I get a small nod from him, and it makes my heart squeeze tight. He looks so small in the bed, in a hospital gown, hooked up to all the monitors and machines. Even though he’s been getting frail in recent years he’s never seemed small to me. He was always the strong one in the family. He’d taken care of me and my mom when my dad left. Held my hand when my mom passed away from cancer. Taught me how to pour the perfect beer, make a killer Cajun pasta, handle drunkandgrumpy customers, the difference between offsides and neutral zone infractions, and every other aspect of running a sports bar. He’s always made me feel like I had a safety net to fall back on when times get hard and now I just hope that I can be that for him.
“Well, I’m gonna talk to the doctors soon and find out what we have to do to break you out of here. Might be a bit, but we’ll get you back on your feet in no time. I’ll ask the nurse if we can get some ESPN or something in here, so you have something decent to watch, okay?” I squeeze his hand, and I can tell he’s trying to smile, so I give him a bright one back. Even though it’s the opposite of everything I feel inside right now. Because he needs me, and I can do this for him.
* * *
The next dayLiv shows up at the hospital room door, her knocking wakes me up from the nap I was taking in the chair. I blink and try to stand to greet her, fumbling a little because my back is in knots from being curled up against the wooden arms of the chair. I glance over and my grandfather is still asleep, so I motion for her to go back into the hall, and I follow.
“Hey.” I give her a small smile. “Thanks for coming. Did you guys come back early?”
“Yeah. It’s only a day early. Liam had a doctor’s appointment he was worried about making anyway. And no problem. How’s Gramps doing?”
“He’s doing okay considering. They have a few more tests to run. Once they get him stabilized, they’re going to send him to a rehab facility.”
“Well that’s good news, right? That they think rehab could work?”
“Yeah. They’re hopeful he might be able to talk a bit more. He’s still having a lot of trouble swallowing though, and I’m worried for him.”
She wraps her arms around me and hugs me tight, and the small gesture makes my tears come again.
“Oh Wren, hon. I love you. It’s gonna be okay. I’ve got your back. And I know your Gramps. He’s a badass. He’s gonna kick rehab’s ass and be back to yelling at the refs on TV and drinking his afternoon beer in no time.”
I let out a little laugh, wiping my fingers at my tears. “I really hope so.”
“In the meantime though, I was thinking I could sit with him for a few hours. I have a paper to work on, but if he wakes up, I can talk football to him and keep him company. And you can get home and take a shower. Get a decent meal outside hospital cafeteria food.”
“Oh. I don’t know… I hate to leave him. And that’s a big ask for you to sit with him.”
“I don’t mind at all. I came prepared!” She pats her laptop bag.
“Oh okay. Well, yeah… a shower would be nice. I do feel gross. I wouldn’t be gone long though. I just have to find a ride home first. I think the bus route home runs through here—”
“East’s in the lobby downstairs. He said he’d drive you home and back whenever you were ready.”
“East is here?” My brow furrows.
Something flashes across her face, but whatever she’s thinking she doesn’t say it. I’m grateful for that. I don’t want to have to come up with a lie about why East would care enough to pick me up.
“Yep. He is.” She nods.
“Well, that’s nice of him. Okay. Are you really sure?” I give her one last look.
“Positive.”
“I appreciate it so much. Love you.” I give her another hug.
“Take your time. You need a breather. You gotta take care of you to take care of him, okay?”
I nod and grab my purse off the table as she takes my place in the chair. I glance over at Gramps who’s still sleeping soundly and blow him a little air kiss before I leave.
“Be back in a while.”
“I’ll be here.” She smiles at me.
When I get to the lobby, East is sitting there in one of the chairs. He looks up when I come off the elevator, his face unreadable, and gets up to meet me halfway.
TWENTY-EIGHT
Easton
