Page 27 of In All My Dreams

Almost like he’s getting ready to join my mother in the afterlife.

The white walls are decorated with various photos of outdoor scenes, acting like photos of cute bunnies will distract from thefact that you’re in a hospital. The television mounted to the wall flashes brightly in the corner as Dad clicks the channel button on repeat until he finally settles on baseball. I walk across the small room and pull the hideous orange chair over to his bedside.

It takes Dad a moment to realize that I’m even here. His meds clearly make him groggy as his eyes struggle to focus on me. “Hey there, kid.” His voice is garbled, like his tongue is too big for his mouth.

I reach out, putting my hand gently over his. “Hey, Daddy. How are you feeling?”

His eyes close slowly, then open again. “I’ve had better days. But I’m okay now that you’re here.” He coughs loudly into his free hand. “I didn’t think you’d come. I know I haven’t been the best father to you, especially after Caroline left us.”

I grip his hand harder. “Oh, Dad, of course I’m here. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be right now,” I say truthfully. “I’m sorry it took you getting sick for me to brave coming back here. But I’m happy to be home. Happy to be here with you.”

“You’ve always been brave, Bug. Just like your mother. She loved you so much.”

I reach over to the bedside table and grab a tissue from the box sitting there, dabbing gently at my eyes. An angry laugh escapes as I roll my eyes. “Clearly not enough.” I laugh out loud. “She did try to kill me after all.”

Dad coughs again, his whole body shaking the bed with the force of each exhale. He shakes his head while he struggles to catch his breath. “No,” he gasps. “No, she didn’t, Georgia. I’ve never believed she was capable of it. She loved you more than life itself. I just haven’t been able to put the pieces together yet.” Another body-racking cough wrestles its way through his frail body.

The door behind me is thrown open. I turn expecting to see nurses rushing in like they do in the movies when the maincharacter is coughing their lungs up like my father is. Instead, I’m greeted by Ian’s father, Gabe Foster, who’s wearing a fancy tan suit, much like the ones my dad wears to work. He’s taking this whole interim boss thing a little too seriously.

“Link! I heard you found your way back into this joint!” Mr. Foster boasts loudly like he isn’t in the middle of the ICU with other sick patients across the hall. He crosses the room and steps right up to the foot of the bed, his eyes landing directly on me. “And is this my little Georgia peach? My, have you grown! No wonder my boy is still waiting for you outside. Still got him wrapped around that dainty finger of yours, I see.” He winks at me, flashing me a cocky, knowing smile. It leaves me feeling like I just bathed in dirty dishwater.

I get to my feet, reaching out to shake his hand when he throws his arms around me and pulls me close to him. He smells of sweat and something sickly sweet. I pull away politely, giving him a small smile while secretly wondering how Ian came out so humble compared to this man.

Mr. Foster has always been a boisterous man. His voice is always a touch louder than everyone else's in the room. His smile just a little too wide, too insincere. I always wondered how a meek and gentle woman like Mrs. Foster could fall for a man like him. But if life has taught me anything, you never know what people are truly hiding. Maybe she just hides her demons a little bit better than her husband does.

“Hey, Dad. I’m going to head back to the house and check on Auden. I’ll grab some things of yours from home and come back later tonight, okay?”

My dad smiles at me, nodding his head before turning his attention back to Mr. Foster.

“Hey, Georgia,” Mr. Foster says as I reach the door to leave. “I met that girl of yours. Cute kid.” His gaze bores a hole into mysoul, something wicked gleaming behind his green eyes. “Looks like a carbon copy of my sweet Irene. Don’t you think so?”

“Yeah, a little—a little bit,” I stutter. My father’s eyes land on me, looking more confused than ever. “I’ll stop by later. Love you, Dad,” I say in a rush. “Bye, Mr. Foster.”

During my emotional crisis, debating whether I want to keep Auden here so she can get to know her grandfather...I forgot that she has two of them.

If I tell Ian about who Auden truly is to him, I’m inviting his parents into her life as more than just acquaintances.

My stomach curdles with dread at the thought.

“You look like you had a fun run-in with my dad,” Ian says jokingly as I hop into his car. I’m sure my cheeks are red from being flustered, and my hair probably looks like a rat's nest after the forced hug from Mr. Foster. I shoot him a death glare in response, tugging the seatbelt over my body as I let out a groan of frustration. “That bad, hey?”

I blow a stray strand of hair out of my eyes. “No, it wasn’t that bad. I just forgot how creepy he is in a suit,” I answer back, a smirk settling on my lips.

Ian puts the car into drive, laughing loudly at my comment, navigating his way out of this hospital parking lot. Déjà vu hits me hard as we drive back toward Crane Manor.

“Ahh, always the creepster in the suit. But really, I hope he didn’t say anything too out-of-pocket to you. We both know how he can be.” Ian flashes a horrified look my way, making melaugh. After a day filled with stress and unknowns, laughing with him makes me feel like everything will be okay.

“He said he met Auden.”

“Oh,” Ian says, his face giving nothing away as he focuses on the road. “And what did he say about her?”

I gnaw at my lower lip, watching the fields of wildflowers pass us by in a colorful rush. I feel like I have this timebomb inside of me, just waiting to explode all over Ian. It’s only a matter of time before I slip up and all my lies unravel around us.

“He said she looks like your sister.” I sigh. I hate bringing her up with him because I know how her death destroyed him. Destroyed both of us, in different ways. My soul is stained forever, while his soul is missing its other half.

Ian’s fingers drum loudly against the steering wheel as we pull up to a red light. I wonder what secrets he has burrowing in that brilliant brain of his, waiting to explode all over me, too.

“Want to go grab a cup of coffee before we head home? We can grab Auden a kids’ meal for dinner if she’d like that?” Ian suggests, looking over at me with a hopeful smile. Not the reaction I was expecting after bringing Irene up, but I’m happy to switch the subject.

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