Page 137 of Family Bonds: Carson & Laine

“You don’t all need to stay here and keep me company,” her father said. “I’m sure it’s going to be a while before I get the results.”

“I doubt that, Caleb,” her mother said. “Not with your parting words. Thirty minutes tops.”

“Twenty,” Laine said.

It was twenty-five minutes when Dr. Zion came back. “The radiologist hasn’t gotten to them yet, but they did send them over. Nothing you see or say is official as you’ve got no rights at this hospital.”

“Understood,” Carson said and moved in front of the computer. She let him do his thing when she wanted to ask questions. “Right here,” he said to Dr. Zion. “Do you see it?”

“Yes,” Dr. Zion said. “I won’t give the results until they are signed off by our staff.”

She waited until Dr. Zion left and then turned to Carson. “Well?”

“It looks as if your father has a bulging disk in his back pinching a nerve. It’s possible he’s had it and not felt it until now as it’s only gotten worse.”

“He wouldn’t feel it in his back,” Laine said, the words coming out without thought.

“Or my legs,” her father said. “Easy fix, right?”

“I’ll let your doctors tell you what needs to be done.”

“What would you recommend?” her mother asked.

“It’s not my specialty. I read the results. I don’t want to make assumptions without having your full medical chart.”

“What is the treatment for let’s say you or me in this situation?” Laine asked.

“Usually rest and anti-inflammatory meds. Maybe physical therapy. Again, that isn’t my call.”

“But it’s not life or death,” Caleb said. “So with any luck the radiologist will sign off and I can get the hell out of here and this bed can be left for someone that is sicker than me. I’m sorry you rushed all this way. Madelyn, I thought we talked about this before.”

“No, Dad,” Laine said. “Don’t do that to Mom. I’d be ticked if I didn’t find out. Maybe you need to stop shielding people from things in life. You can’t control it all no matter how much you want to try.”

“Laine,” her mother said. “It’s not the time.”

“Maybe it is,” she said. “I don’t know. I’ve watched this for years and stood back and never said a word. You pushed Mom away and she’s never left your side. Don’t you ever look back and wish you never did it?”

“Laine,” Carson said. “Not now.”

She was sick of everyone telling her not now and just snapped when she never had before. “Oh fuck that,” she said.

Her hand went to her mouth. She wasn’t sure she’d ever said that word before. She’d blame it on the hormones. Not that her parents understood.

“Wow,” her father said. “Maybe we should continue this conversation in private. At home when I’m released. You can go there now.”

Her father’s voice left no room for argument, even as an adult, and she knew enough to let it drop. He wouldn’t want to have any dirty laundry aired out.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “You’re right. We’ll bring you home.”

“Your mother can do it,” her father said. She wanted to argue but looked at Carson and saw him shake his head at her.

42

MADE MY MOVE

“Idon’t know what came over me,” Laine said when they were in the car and she was giving him directions to her father’s house forty minutes later. It was only about twenty minutes away if that, she’d said.

“I didn’t think you had it in you,” he said.

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