Page 75 of Hidden Vows
JUDE
“Mo leanbh.”Dad sighs in exasperation. “It’s all right to leave. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Two months, Dad. That’s how long you were in a coma.”
“I know, clearly I’ve missed a lot.” His eyes shoot to my left where Abbey’s curled up in the seat next to me, her knees tucked up to her chest and her head resting on top of them.
I don’t know how she does it, sleeping like that, but she refused to go home without me, and I haven’t been able to pull myself away since Dr. Winters let us back into his room.
Aside from natural muscle atrophy due to lack of use, all of his tests came back normal. Dr. Winters, for having a typically cold demeanor, couldn’t stop the smile from forming on her lips when she gave us the news.
He’ll have to stay in the ICU for observation for another twenty-four hours, but then he’ll be transferred across the floor for inpatient physical therapy. They aren’t positive how long he’ll need to be inpatient, but it’s looking like he’ll be here at least another month.
I don’t really care how long he’s here. All I care about is the fact that he’s awake and able to hold a cohesive conversation withme. I never would’ve forgiven myself if he didn’t wake up from this.
“It’s still pretty new,” I tell him quietly, not wanting to disrupt Abbey’s sleep.
“Hmm,” he hums, a twinkle lighting his eyes. “You two have been in love with each other since you were six years old and you never stopped loving each other.”
“Dad—”
“No, mo leanbh,” he interrupts, reaching for me. I don’t fight him and place my hand in his, my grip instantly tight against his. “I never doubted you two would find your way back to each other. I just wish I’d known it would be me landing in the hospital to get you back here. I would’ve done this ages ago.”
“That’s not even a little funny.” His normally contagious laugh doesn’t pull me in. I don’t care that everything’s okay now, the last two months were terrifying.
“Oh, son. One day you’ll be able to laugh about it, but I understand why that day isn’t today.”
It’s been over twelve hours since Abbey called me in hysterical tears, unable to get any words out other than I needed to get to the hospital. And even with all that panic coursing through my body, I kept my emotions in check. My biggest display was when Abbey said those two words I’d been begging to hear for months, “He’s awake.” The relief and joy that coursed through almost got me, but I kept it together.
When Dr. Winters came out and told us the good news, I kept it together.
When I walked into my father’s room and saw him sitting up in bed, alert with a smile on his face, I kept it together.
But now, seeing him radiating that spirit I’d come to expect from him, I lose it.
I bury my face in the blanket draped over his legs and breathe deep, trying to keep the tears at bay just a little longer. But the second I feel his hand on the back of my head, offering that comfort I haven’t felt in far too long, they break. My shoulders shake and my body trembles with the force of my tears. I don’t know how I’m able to stay silent with the force of the emotion moving through me, but somehow I manage it.
“I know, mo leanbh. I know,” he whispers in the silence.
I don’t lift my head from where it rests until I’m positive the tears have dried up, but when I do, my dad’s eyes are just as wet as mine.
“I love you, Dad. And I’m so sorry I let anything keep me away. I swear, no matter what happens with Abbey, I’ll never stay away again.”
“Oh, Jude. You don’t have anything to be sorry for. I love you with everything that I am. I understand why you stayed away, and I never needed an apology for it.” He swallows, his Adam’s apple bobbing in his throat. “I’m sorry I held on so tightly to that bar. If I’d been willing to step away from it, I could have gone to you. I should have done that more.”
“No, Dad. You don’t have to apologize. I know how important Murphy’s is to you.”
“It’s not more important than you.”
I chuckle softly, the sound a little watery from the tears. “We’re just as bad as Abbey and I were.” His brows pinch and I don’t let him voice the question before I answer. “We’ll keep apologizing to each other for the rest of our lives if we let ourselves.”
“You’re right.” He laughs. “How about we both agree to forgive and forget. All that matters now is what we do moving forward.”
“Yeah, that sounds good.”
“Abbey,”I whisper in her ear late the next morning, her back pressed against my front.
I want to let her sleep, but considering she missed a whole day of working in the store yesterday, I don’t think she’ll forgive me if I let her sleep the day away.
