Page 90 of Stick By Me

We’d woken up early, had a quick breakfast of oatmeal, then we were picked up by Archer’s Uncle. I’d barely had time to marvel over any of the many pictures of him as a child, or his mother, scattered around the house. We’d get to that later.

I sat in the back seat of Tad’s truck in a cozy parka Archer had given me, gazing out the window at the snow hugging tree branches and buildings. There was probably six slushy inches of the stuff on the ground. I’d seen it before in Northern Arizona, but it was different here, heavier. There were more oak trees here than pine trees, and even maples, and the houses had siding and brick instead of stucco. Everything here was built to handle rain and the cold while back home, it was built to handle harsh sunlight and heat. All the houses had high pitched roofs and shingles instead of flat roofs.

Tad parked the truck in the lot outside the hospital and the structure loomed in front of us, a tall, sprawling building made of clay-colored brick. “Hey, Leo, Lake Superior is just a few blocks over. Maybe you and Archer can go have a look when it warms up later?” He stepped out of his truck.

“Sure, that would be cool.” It might take Archer’s mind offthings, too. I climbed out of the truck and grabbed Archer’s hand as we followed his uncle up the shoveled walkway to the building, little mounds of snow lining the side of it. Archer had been quiet all morning. It was probably hitting him that the whole thing was real.

We strolled inside a set of sliding doors and Tad waved at a woman sitting at the reception desk.

“He’s in the cardiac unit on the third floor,” Tad said, pushing a call button on an elevator.

Archer nodded and held my hand tighter.

I leaned over and in his ear, whispered, “You okay, babe?” If I could wrap him up and shield him from it all, I would.

Pursing his lips, he nodded.

The elevator doors slid open, and we walked down a cream-colored hallway. I peeked inside a room. They’d taken a cue from the building color and had painted the walls inside the rooms an orange-clay color. Sort of reminded me of home.

Tad glanced behind himself at us, then ticked his head at a room and ducked inside it.

“Fuck.” Archer hooked his arm around my waist.

“I’m right here. I’ve got you, baby.” I draped my arm over his shoulders, and we crept into the room.

Archer’s dad was lying in the hospital bed, his short, dark hair flecked with gray at the temples. A ventilator covered his face and tubes and wires wound from under the sheets and attached to the monitors at the wall.

“Hey, Sam, Archer is here.” Tad wiggled his arm.

“Dad?” Archer croaked out, leaving my side, and ambling to the rail on the side of the bed. “Hey, Dad.” Archer smoothed his dad’s hair back off his forehead and leaned over him.

Fuck, if I saw my dad like this, I’d totally lose my shit. I edged up behind Archer.

Sam’s blue eyes fluttered open, then slowly swung toward Archer.

“He can’t talk, but he sees you. They have him sedated. Thenurse told me it keeps him comfortable with all that shit they put on him.” Tad shook his head. “It’s got to suck.”

“Take his hand, babe.” I moved Archer’s hand over his father’s, resting on the bed.

Sam’s gaze crawled to mine.

“Hi, Mr. Carlson. I’m Leo, Archer’s boyfriend. I’m pleased to meet you, sir.” I winced. Okay, what was that? It sounded like we were at a formal dinner for fuck sakes.

Sam ticked his brow.

Did he understand me? I inhaled deeply. I was going to keep my mouth shut and let Archer do the talking. I hung my hand on Archer’s hip. “Talk to him, babe.”

“Dad, I’m sorry for our last conversation on the phone.” His breath hitched. “I love you, Dad, and I’ll be here when you wake up.”

Sam squeezed Archer’s hand and his eyes grew glossy.

“Oh shit, he heard me. He understands.” Archer sniffled and swiped at his eyes.

“Ssh, this is good, right? A good sign.” I hugged Archer into my front.

“Okay everyone, time to get him into surgery.” A woman with dark skin and a cheery smile entered the room in pink scrubs. “Hello, Tad. Who have we here?” She faced me and Archer.

“I’m Sam’s son, Archer.” He twisted in my hold. “And this is Leo, my boyfriend.”

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