Page 67 of Mafia Kings & Wedding Rings
Following her instructions, the sterile aroma invaded my nostrils as I arrived outside my daddy’s room just moments later. There was a janitor at the end of the hall mopping, so there was this pine scent also lingering in the air. I tapped on the door and poked my head inside. There was a doctor and nurse present, both staring down at my father and speaking low among one another while going over his chart. A single exam table sat in the middle of the room, and counters lined the walls on either side. Different instruments and jars of cotton swabs and Q-tips were arranged on top, and right next to him there was a fluid bag hanging and a blood pressure monitor.
“Where is she? Where is my wife? I need to see Christine,” Daddy pleaded weakly.
“Daddy.” I rushed to his side, and the doctor and her nurse straightened up. “I’m here. It’s Cambrie.”
“Cambrie?” he repeated, slowly rolling his head across the pillow and facing me.
His dark eyes were glossy, and I hated that far-off gaze when he reached out his hand to me. I grabbed it in my own and stopped beside him.
“What’s wrong? What’s going on?”
“Your mother. I just want to see her. Where is she?”
Immediately, my heart felt like someone had slit it open with a fresh wound. It was one thing to lose my mama, but it was another when he forgot and had to be reminded. Reliving his agony and pain took its toll on me. Sniffling and wiping away a tear that had slipped through, I smiled and leaned in to embrace him and kiss his cheek.
“She’s parking the car right now, Daddy. How are you feeling? Did you eat today? Is there something I can do for you?”
“I want to see Christine.” His words drifted, and he started to slip off.
“What’s wrong with him?” I asked as his hand relaxed in mine, and I peered up at the doctor.
“He had to be sedated. I’m Dr. Adkins.” The older black gentleman extended his hand to me.
“Well, what’s going on? Is he going to be okay? What do we need to do to prevent these things from happening?”
“I’d like to do a workup on him. Run a few tests so we can see where we are with his prognosis. I know that he is new to the facility, but I like to have all my data in real time so I can assist my patients the best way I can.”
“That makes sense.” I nodded and reached out to stroke some of his thick salt and pepper curls. “Do whatever you need to do. I just want him to be okay.”
“You’re welcome to sit with him for a while. I’ll have the nurse here draw his blood and we’ll go from there.”
“Thank you, Dr. Adkins.” I offered a tight smile and sighed.
He was now sleeping like a baby without a care in the world. If only. I hadn’t meant to doze off, but hearing my father yell in his sleep forced me out of my slumber. I’d been in this big leather armchair in the corner watching him when I drifted off myself.
“Daddy.” I inched closer to him in alarm.
“Brie?” His bushy brows knitted together, and that calm, confident glint in his eyes that I remembered was there.
Most of the time when we were together, he barely even acknowledged me. I spent most of it with him watching him read or watch old movies and TV shows. When we had conversations before it was like he was talking to me like I was still nine years old or something.
“Yeah, it’s me. How are you feeling?” Taking a seat on the edge of the bed, I leaned forward to kiss his cheek, and he relaxed his head against his pillow.
“So damn tired,” he complained. “Where am I?” Confusion marred his features as his eyes took in the small procedural room.
“I had to move you to a new place. The last one was having trouble treating you and keeping track of you. This place has more security.”
“Sounds like it costs more too. How can you afford this?”
“Don’t worry about it,” I assured him. “What matters is you’re good.” I grabbed his hand, and he placed his other one on top.
“I told you a while ago I didn’t want you putting your life on hold or making sacrifices for me, Cambrie.”
“You’re my father. You have taken care of me my whole life. How am I not supposed to do the same thing for you?” I croaked, fighting the urge to fall apart right here.
“Come here.” He grabbed me and pulled me to his chest.
Listening to his heartbeat and smelling the familiar scent of his go-to soap, I cracked. All the frustrations and years’ worth of pain and heartache came pouring out of me while he stroked my back and let me cleanse in his arms. I didn’t think the stream of tears would ever stop. The hug he wrapped me in brought me back to a simpler time. Immediately, the memories of him tucking me in at night, or us sitting up late to eat snacks and watch horror movies, flooded me.
