Page 78 of Your Two Lips
“Finn.” Holding the bags of food and clothes, I lunged into his arms. He squeezed hard as I inhaled him, my nose pressed against the cotton of his T-shirt.
“I brought the things you asked for. How is he?”
He took the bags as we walked back to the surgical waiting room. His eyes were red, and his shoulders sagged. “He’s stable. He came through the surgery. The doctors said it was close. They cleared the blockage and put in a couple of stents. It’s a bit of a wait now. The next twenty-four hours are important. They haven’t yet moved him from recovery to a room. Once they do, Mom can join him, and that will make all of us feel better.” He let out a sigh, and his shoulders fell even more. “She is an untethered buoy right now. She’s all over the place.”
“It’s the shock and adrenalin wearing off. We’ll sit with her.”
“Thank you. Can you stay, or do you need to get to work?”
“I can stay, Finn.” Instead of taking my hand, he rubbed his over his face as he shouldered open the door.
Donna sat between Tess and Lucas, and they all rose to hug me. “Thanks for coming, dear,” Donna said.
I hugged her. “I wouldn’t be anywhere else. I brought you a change of clothes, and Mrs. Temple sends her love along with these sandwiches.” Finn’s stomach audibly growled.
Donna smiled, and it was a beautiful sight. “Thank you.”
She left to change, then Finn, and he seemed a little brighter when he returned with a coffee. Thickly cushioned chairs sat in a mismatched grouping. Nearby end tables held a few empty cups and food wrappers. I shared the small bench with Finn. The quiet stretched out. Even Lucas was quiet.
I was no stranger to the quiet of hospital waiting rooms. The memories of those uncertain and fearful days while Mom fought to spend one more day with us had my heart aching for Finn and his family. I wrapped my arms around my middle because I wasn’t sure Finn wanted them around him right now, but I wanted to hold him, to help somehow.
A nurse walked in, and Donna sat up. Bob was still in recovery but doing well. It would be another couple of hours before his room would be ready. She encouraged Donna to go home now, get a healthy meal, and pick up a few things. There would be a support bed in his room so she could stay the night. Donna smiled at the nurse and clasped her hand before turning back to the door.
“Mom, I’ll take you home.” Lucas stood.
“Someone needs to stay with him. We can’t all leave.”
“I’ll stay, Mom,” said Tess.
“Finn, you and Emily stay too,” Lucas said. “I’ll get Mom squared away and be back ASAP. Then you all can head home for a full night’s sleep. Sound good?”
Finn nodded. “Thanks, Luc.”
48
EMILY
I sat close to Finn,but he didn’t reach for my hand. I stroked his back for a while with no response. He stayed quiet and still. I sensed his mind going over every worry. The farm. His dad’s health and faith in Finn to run it. The resort.
Tess occasionally flipped through her phone, made notes, and sent updates to Luis, who was keeping things under control at the farm.
Lucas and Donna returned a couple of hours later, the late summer sky already pink. Donna brought fresh coffee and was passing them out as the nurse told us Bob was going up to his room and she could go up to see him there.
“Finn, you should go home. You look wrecked,” Lucas said. “You can barely hold your head up.”
It was true. I stepped closer and took Finn’s hand, wrapping my other arm around his and holding it to my middle. “Finn, let me give you a ride. You shouldn’t drive.”
He spoke in a monotone. “I’m okay. My truck is here.”
“I’ll bring your truck back a little later,” said Tess. “Go with Emily.”
He nodded his acquiescence, and I gathered our things.
We enteredthrough the mudroom on the side since Finn left all his keys with Tess and the truck. The house was quiet and almost dark, the last of the light outside painting the room gray. I turned on a lamp by the sofa. “How can I help?”
“I’m fine. I’m going to shower and go to bed.”
“I can stay with you if you want.”
