“We don’t have time for that. Don’t worry about your shirt. Just keep the gown on and sit down.”
After he took a seat in a small chair with metal arms, I played a game calledHow Fast Can I Put My Father’s Socks and Boots On?
He got up and put his wallet in his pants along with his phone. “Dammit. I think my keys are still at the shop. I bet the door’s wide open.”
“Call Red when we get in the truck. Tell him to lock up the garage and you’ll be on vacation.”
“I can’t get in my damn house.”
“How hard did you hit your head?” I helped him to his feet. “Youdoremember I have a spare set of keys?”
“I just don’t like leaving my shit behind. Are you sure that’s all they gave us?”
I walked him down the hall, past the nurse’s station.
“Ma’am. Where do you think you’re taking him? Ma’am!” A nurse rounded the desk and then jumped ahead of us.
“He wants to go for a walk,” I fired back. “Isn’t that his right?”
“The doctor hasn’t seen him. He’s still under observation.”
Irritated by all the red tape, I stepped in front of Crush. “Look, my father is refusing care. It’s his right. The doctor said he didn’t even have to stay overnight; it was optional and precautionary. I spent all night in the room with him and—”
“I’m aware of his condition, but I can’t let you walk him out of here. We have to discharge him.”
“He hasn’t had any symptoms. You can look at the notes left by the last nurse on duty. We’re going home, and I’ll look after him. If I don’t walk him out of here now, he’s going to leave by himself. And I don’t want my father wandering around the city in all that snow. So give me whatever papers you want us to sign. You have his insurance information.”
She looked like she’d heard this song and dance before. “We have a form, but it has to be signed by his doctor.”
“Then get any doctor. You’re not allowed to hold him against his will, and we’re not waiting any longer. I’m trying to get home before the roads get worse. He left his shop wide open for people to steal his customer’s cars. Do you have any idea how that would financially ruin him? My father is a combat veteran, and he deserves a little respect. Get me the papers right now, and if you have any issues with this whole process, you can contact me. You have my number.”
Rolling her eyes, the nurse shook her head and walked sluggishly back to the nurse’s station. I shifted from one foot to the other, my eyes locked on the elevator hall up ahead. After I’d signed the forms and collected his aftercare printout, a young woman rolled a wheelchair around. “You have to be wheeled out. Hospital policy.”
Crush looked at it as if it were a snake. “The only way I’m sitting in that is over my dead body.”
I glared. “Don’t tempt me. Sit down.”
Crush angrily ripped his gown off and flung it on the floor. There were round stickers on his chest from the heart monitors, and he was ripping them off, hair and all.
I took the handlebars. “I’ll wheel him out.”
“Ma’am, we have someone that’ll escort you out.”
“Either I take him out or he’s gonna walk out and probably fall. I know this man. He won’t let anyone push him but me. Don’t worry—I won’t let him get up.”
They were loudly arguing with each other as I rolled my father down the hall.
“Combat veteran?” he grumbled. “Don’t pull that shit again. I don’t throw that title around to get a free ride in life.”
“Yell at me later. I need to get us out of here.” When we reached the elevators, my stomach clenched. “Oh, fuck me.”
Christian was gone. And so was his wheelchair.
“Christian!” I whispered loudly. “If you can hear me, get over here. Now.”
The elevator doors opened, and a large man rolled a food cart out.
Crush clamped his hand down on the lid covering the plate. “Eggs and sausage? That’s me.”
