“Is there anything I can do?”I asked.
Salem examined the bottom of her foot while she whimpered.“I need more light… and a footstool.”
Not knowing where either was, I ran inside and caught Lucian in the kitchen.“Salem needs a footstool and a flashlight.”
With Tupperware in his hands, he gave me a perplexed look before setting them on the counter and heading to a supply room.By the time he found the footstool, Virgil was outside with Salem’s medical bag.
The crowd had resumed their festivities.
Salem put on a funny pair of glasses that looked like binoculars and reached for the shard of glass in her foot.“This will hurt.”
I couldn’t watch, so I went back inside as she screamed.A motion-activated light in the hall guided my path to the front porch.Once outside, I spotted two cars speeding down the long private drive.
With Marcus still on the loose, I didn’t feel comfortable leaving my father alone for too long.Lucian had installed an alarm system that would alert me if anyone got within ten feet of the house so long as the sensors were activated, but even though I hadn’t received any security alerts, it didn’t erase my worries.
I called my father on video chat.
“Hey there,” he answered, in good spirits.In the background, the television blared.
“How are you holding out?”
“Just fine.How’s that party?”
“Lotsof food, dancing, and alcohol.”
He gave a mirthless smile.“I’m glad you’re having a good time.You’re still young.Enjoy it while you can before you’re laid up in a bed like me.”
He wasn’t wearing his nasal cannula.
“Is your breathing okay tonight?”
“It’s not bad,” he said, the video moving when he switched the phone to his other hand.“You know how it goes.”
“Put that pulse oximeter back on.If the alarm beeps, you need to wear the oxygen whether you want to or not.”
My father balked about how the tubes annoyed him and got in the way.He didn’t always need oxygen when sleeping, but more so lately.
“I’ll be home soon, Dad.Don’t wait up for me.I’ll come down to check on you before I go to bed.If you’re still awake, I’ll tell you all about the party.I’m also bringing home food, so you’ll be all set for tomorrow.”
“I hope it’s something good.”
“Don’t you worry about that.I love you.”
After ending the call, I turned to greet Lucian, who noisily kicked open the front door.
He handed me a plastic sack.“These are extras we were keeping in the fridge for leftovers, so they haven’t been sitting out all night.I also added a few other things.”
“Like what?”
“Oranges.They boost the immune system.”
My heart clenched to know Lucian was thinking of my father.“He’ll love it.Thanks.”
“Walk you to the car?”
I glanced around.“Best not.”
As I drifted toward the steps, Lucian blurted, “I heard you’re going out with Deacon.”
