Page 41 of Painting Together a Family
It took a few minutes, but then the nurse held back the curtain again and let Bryan in. “Dev. Oh, man, you’re awake. Are you okay?”
“Headache. I want to go home. Did you bring the kids?” He needed to know his girls were okay.
“No, I left them at the apartment with Jennie. My friend from the community center. She brought tacos for them to eat. They’re safe. Did they say you could go home?”
“Not yet. Can you talk to them?”
“The doctors? And tell them what? I give you permission?” Bryan pulled the chair over next to his bed. “Seriously, are you okay?”
“They think my arm is broken. They did X-rays.” He wanted to cry.
“Oh my god!” Bryan put a hand on his side. “Does it hurt bad?”
“Only when I move or breathe.”
“You’re not going anywhere until they get you fixed up. I can’t believe he showed up and did that!” Bryan took a deep breath and stroked his side. “It’s going to be okay.”
“What happened? Did he get away?”
“He did not. Your security guard showed up in time to watch me bash him over the head with one of your chairs. It didn’t survive—I’m sorry about that. Anyway, the cops were close behind him and they arrested him. And he threatened to come back and kill the two of us, so they sure as hell had better keep him. The kids are good. They’re freaking a little bit. I think if you could give your girls a call, they’d really appreciate it.”
“Did you bring my phone?”Could you dial it?
“Shit, I didn’t see it so I thought you had it with you. We’ll call on my phone then.” Bryan pulled it out of his back pocket and dialed the newly entered number for Marley’s phone. “Hey, Marley. I have your dad here. He wants to talk to you.” Bryan handed him the phone.
“Daddy! Daddy, are you okay? Are you hurt? Everyone’s watching a movie. Are you okay?”
“Hey. Hey, I’m fine. Seriously. I’m going to come home with a cast, and I have a bump on the head.”
“You’re hurt, Daddy!” Marley sounded like she was only just holding it together.
“Just a little. I’ll be home tonight, no question.”
“Promise?”
“I do.”
Marley sniffed, and he heard her take a deep breath. “O-okay.”
“There you go. You breathe, and tomorrow, we’ll have a pajama day.” He thought a day off school was probably more than reasonable.
“Pajama day tomorrow!” Marley called out, and he heard Juni cheering in the background. “Thanks, Daddy. See you soon?”
“Soon. Be good for—” He glanced at Bryan, who mouthed ‘Jennie’. “—Jennie, okay?”
“Yes, Daddy. She seems nice so far. Love you, bye!”
“I guess I’d better get them in here to get you a cast if you’re going to go home tonight,” Bryan said, pocketing his phone.
“I’m going to. Dammit. They just need to get on the ball.”
“Let me go see if I can’t rustle someone up to get this happening. No leaving without me.” Bryan looked him in the eye. “I mean it. The kids are okay, and a trustworthy adult is with them. You can wait until they get your broken bones set. I’ve heard stories about bad things happening because people’s bones didn’t set properly, and I don’t want that happening to you.”
“No. I have to have my arm to work.” He suddenly felt intensely queasy. “Water?”
Bryan looked around. “Back in a sec.” And good as his word, he wasn’t gone long at all, coming back with a plastic glass with a straw in it. “Here you go.” Bryan held the straw to his lips.
“Thank you.” Dev could hear the water hitting his belly.
