Page 92 of Inevitable Inheritance

Frank took in a breath and let out a heavy sigh. “That is by far one of the hardest questions people can ask me. It is so dependent upon the person. But I can tell you he is ready and his body is worn out. If I had to guess, I would say probably not beyond twenty-four hours.”

Marty turned into her brother, sobbing. “Derrick, I can’t, we …”

“Marty, these are Dad’s wishes,” he reminded her gently. “He’s at the end. Let’s just be with him and help him be comfortable.”

Marty looked at Derrick. He was ready for her to fight him. But she just let more tears fall. Knowing their dad was in pain had bothered Marty, and she just wanted to make sure he was comfortable, even if that meant letting him die.

With her head down, Marty nodded, and Derrick pulled her into a hug. “Let’s do this,” Derrick said over her head to the doctor.

Dr. Frank nodded and patted Derrick on the shoulder, then he left them alone.

Derrick leaned down to Marty’s ear, “You need a break?”

Marty shook her head, and Derrick could feel wet through his shirt as she rubbed her tears all over his shoulder. “I don’t want to miss a second with him,” she choked out, and so Derrick walked her back to their father’s side.

Taylor and Simon were no longer in the deep discussion they had been while Derrick and Marty were talking to Dr. Frank. Now Simon was asleep, or at least he appeared to be; his eyes were closed, and his breathing was steady, rhythmic and fast. It was faster than Derrick had ever noticed, and Derrick wondered if he had hid that too. Taylor was still nearby with her phone clutched in her hand, staring across the room. She startled when Derrick and Marty got closer and moved quickly to allow them to get closer to their father.

Once Marty was seated, Taylor leaned into Derrick, putting her hand on his arm. “I’ll be right back,” she said. Derrick nodded, and Taylor leaned in and kissed his cheek before she left. Derrick was surprised and excited at the touch. But then Taylor kissed the top of Marty’s head, and it made more sense: she was just comforting them, it hadn’t meant what he wanted it to mean deep down.

Derrick directed his attention back to his dad, and he could see now how hard he was working to live. It was painful just watching him struggle to breathe, and Derrick could not even imagine how he felt. He was eager to see someone come in and help ease his struggle.

“Derrick,” said Simon hoarsely.

The nudge that Marty gave Derrick suggested that it hadn’t been the first time he called him.

“What’s up, Dad? You okay?”

Simon opened his eyes, “I love you.”

Derrick felt his throat close up. “I know, Dad,” he croaked out, “and I love you.”

“I haven’t always shown—”

“Yes you have, Dad,” Derrick assured him, “you have always shown me. I have always known that you loved me.” Derrick was being completely honest. It may not have always been hugs and kisses, but sometimes being stern and pushing your child to do their best showed just as much love as a hug; Derrick knew this.

Simon smiled at him weakly and let his eyes shut. “Okay,” he resolved, and Derrick hoped he had appeased any guilt his father might have.

The door opened, and a woman with a calm smile and a bag of fluids walked in. “Hey there, I’m Sara,” she said. “I met your sister earlier, Mr. Fletcher. I’m your dad’s nurse.”

Derrick nodded. “Call me Derrick,” was all he could say.

“No problem,” she said easily. Derrick was glad Sara didn’t seem enamored with his celebrity status and that she was comfortable in what she was doing. She went over to Simon and touched his arm gently. “Hey, Simon, I’m going to hook you up to a pain medicine drip. Is that okay?”

Simon nodded, and Sara got to work.

Taylor reentered the room, introduced herself to Sara, and thanked her. Derrick was completely captivated with Taylor. He was so glad she was there to take care of him and Marty while they were essentially falling apart. She was so strong. Derrick knew she had it in her, and here it was, just when he needed it.

Time ticked, and an hour was gone before Derrick knew it. In that time his dad’s breathing had settled down. It was slower, and his eyes had been closed for a while. The medication seemed to be doing its job. Every now and then, Taylor would squeeze Derrick’s shoulder just to let him know she was there.

The door opened again, but Derrick didn’t turn to look. Sara had been in and out, checking on Simon and checking in with Derrick and Marty. This time, however, when the door opened, Taylor got up. Derrick watched Taylor greet and speak softly to a man with a shiny bald head. He looked vaguely familiar to Derrick, but he figured he was a hospital rep of some sort. He would let Taylor deal with him.

Derrick had refocused his attention on his dad when Taylor came back over. “Derrick,” she said softly.

Derrick looked at her and the balding man who had accompanied her to the bedside. “What’s up?”

“This is Judge Thompson. He is going to marry us tonight.”

It seemed like even the clock stopped ticking because it was so shocked by what Taylor had just said. Derrick stared at her with his mouth hanging open, Marty whipped her head up and looked at Taylor, and Simon’s eyes opened the widest they had been since Derrick had arrived.

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