Page 51 of The Hard Hitter
“Sounds like you really like her.”
“I do. Zander is so good with her.”
“And where is the child’s mother?”
“Not in the picture, sadly.”
“Sad indeed.”
I lean back again, and think about how hard it must have been for Zander to have his mother walk out without so much as a backward glance. He’s been through a lot, which makes me want to take care of him all the more.
He comes back with three cups of coffee and hands them out. He sets a bag with sugar, creamers and stir sticks on the table. “All they could tell me was that he was still in surgery.”
I nod, and he takes a seat beside me. Mom continues to knit, making small talk about hockey. Since I don’t follow the game, I’m unable to join the conversation, but Zander seems quite impressed with her knowledge.
One hour turns to two, and as the third hour approaches, a man dressed in scrubs pokes his head in. We all jump to our feet.
“I’m Dr. McNeill, and George did just fine. We had to put a rod and a few screws in, so I hope he’s not planning to go through airport security anytime soon.” We laugh at that, but all feel a measure of relief. “He’ll be in recovery for a couple hours, and then he’ll be moved to his own room for
overnight observations. Tomorrow, he’ll likely be able to go home.”
“Thank you,” Mom says, and for the first time since I’ve arrived, I notice how tired and drained she seems. The doctor leaves and we all sit again. “Why don’t you two go home. No sense in all of us sitting here.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” I say.
“I’m staying too.”
She points a finger at Zander. “You, young man, are not meeting George tonight. We’ll save this surprise for the BBQ.”
He gives mom a strange look, and I explain the heart attack comment from earlier. Zander laughs, and Mom excuses herself to go find the restrooms.
Zander cups my chin. “You okay?”
“I am now. You didn’t have to come here, Zander.”
“Yeah, I did. You went white, Sam. I was worried about you.”
My heart pinches. “It’s just…Dad, you know?”
“I do know,” he says, and I rest my head on his shoulder.
“I’d be lost without him.”
“A girl needs her dad,” he says, and I put my arms around him and hold on tight.
“Thanks for coming to my rescue when Mom brought up grandkids.”
“She’s not very subtle, is she?”
I laugh at that. “Not a bit.”
“You have a tendency to blurt things out, too.”
“I am my mother’s daughter,” I say. I breathe in his scent and absorbs his strength as he continues to hold me. “The accident was kind of a wakeup call though.”
“How so?”
“When I thought it was worse, that I could have actually lost dad, it made me think about my life…where I’m at and where I want to be. I’m not sure I’m ready for kids right now, but maybe I should visit the clinic, see what I might have to do down the road to give Dad the grandkids he wants.” He stiffens slightly beside me, and I lift my head. “What?” I ask. “You don’t think it’s a good idea?”