Page 53 of Linc
“Let me go and get you some pillows to prop your arm up with and some blankets,” Dad says, bringing me out of old memories.I nod and lean back after he’s made sure I’m secure on the lounge sectional.
“You’ve closed in the porch,” I state when he comes back with a handful of items.I nod to the screen that separates the deck and backyard.
He carefully lifts my bad arm and places a soft pillow under it for support.“Yeah, the smaller animals have gotten a lot braver coming up to the back door.One morning I was pouring coffee and a raccoon opened the door; shocked us both,” he chuckles and I do the same.“Also had a few run-ins with a mamma bear and her cubs.Thought it’d be safer to separate this portion and not worry who I’m going to run into having my morning coffee.”
“Probably a good idea,” I say as he places a thick blanket over my body and tucks it in for me.
“Take these pills and drink this,” he hands me my medication and a bottle of water, then sits down beside me, throwing an arm around my shoulder.I turn my head and rest it on his chest like I used to do when I was younger.We sit like that for a while, listening to the animals and bugs in the distance.
I’m not sure how long we were out there but at some point I fell asleep and was moved to my old bedroom.Waking up, I look around and see that Dad hasn’t changed a thing since I left for LA; everything is still the same from the paintings to my comforter.A light tap on my door shakes me out of old memories.
“Come in,” I call out.The door opens as Dad peeks in.
“I was afraid you’d still be asleep.I checked earlier and you were sawing logs.Thought some lumber company had moved in next door,” he jokes.
“Real funny, Dad,” I say as I roll my eyes.“I can’t believe I slept all night.”I say, noticing the time on the clock.
“I just made some breakfast since it’s time for your meds,” he says.“It helps to have some food in your stomach when taking them.”
“Okay.”
“Do you need some help to the bathroom?”
“I think I got it.I’ll yell if I need anything,” I say as I slowly stand from the bed and test out my balance.Once I’ve made sure not to fall over or stumble, Dad leaves as I close my bathroom door.
When I flip the light switch on, I gasp at my first look at myself.The lady looking at me in the mirror is not someone I recognize at all.My face is swollen and bruised with small cuts across it.I’ve got a bandage wrapped around my head where Linley hit me.I can’t help the tears as they fall down my cheeks.What did I ever do to her to deserve this?How could someone think that harming others was okay?A sob breaks from my throat and I use my good arm and hand to hold me up on the counter.My body is starting to shake and I’m not sure I’ll be able to hold myself up much longer, when the door opens and Dad is there.He never fails to show when I need him the most.
“Why did she do this to me?”I bawl, no longer holding in my pain.
Dad gently holds my weight against his, and moves me out of the bathroom and through the house, out to the back porch.He settles me down and drapes my blanket over me from yesterday.
“You’ll be okay, honey,” he rocks me as if I’m nine years old again, wondering why my mom left and never came back.“We’ll get through this together, we always do.You are so strong—”
“I- I don’t fe-feel strong,” I blubber into his flannel shirt.
“You will.”He rubs my back until the sobs start to dissipate and the tears stop falling.Dad leaves once I’ve settled back and am comfortable, to get some breakfast and my meds.“Take these and lay back for a bit.I brought out your reader that Saylor packed.”
“Thanks,” I say, then continue to stare out at the trees.
“Do you think you can tell your old man what happened fully, that led to you being attacked and requiring surgery?”
I cringe slightly, but know that it’s of no use to keep everything from him.I’ve learned from an early age that when he is determined to find something out he will, one way or another.It also doesn’t help that he has dozens of connections in the government to help him.
For the next twenty or so minutes, I tell him most of what really happened and why ‘Looney Linley’ attacked me.I told him about Blaire and what I think might come out in the media, if Linley decides to go to the press, so that he’s not blindsided.He stays quiet and lets me get everything out.
“Well,” Dad finally leans back in his chair, scrubbing his face with his hand.“What are you wanting to do about all of this?”
“I don’t know,” I answer, shrugging my good shoulder.I really don’t.
“The good thing is that you have some time to heal here before you have to make any decisions.Clear your head out here and just relax.”I nod, agreeing with him.“It sounds like you really like this guy,” Dad says, with a raised eyebrow waiting for an answer from me.
“I do.”
“I’m here for whatever you decide but I don’t want you to rush into a decision or feel pressured until you’ve had enough time to process everything that has happened the last few days, sweetheart.If you want him gone, then I’ll help make that happen and he’ll leave you alone.But if he is someone you want to keep around and see where this goes, then I’ll support that too.”
“You sure have changed your mind and attitude since the hospital.If I remember correctly, your overbearing side made its debut.”
With a shrug he says, “That’s what dads do when their baby girls are hurt and in a hospital bed.Protect first, ask questions later.”
