He grinned. “Exactly.”
“In my defense, you were too old.”
“And I would argue that with how well I’m p-progressing, I’m not.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
At that moment, my dad came strolling into the den with the coffee mug that Sammy and I gave him for Father’s Day last year. He froze at the sight of us. “Sarah, what are you doing here?”
“We stayed over last night, Dad.”
He frowned. “Why?”
I knew I couldn’t bring up Silas, so I had to think of another reason. Thankfully for me, Maksim was ready. “My battery was dead.”
To show my thanks, I squeezed his knee.
“Do you need my Triple A car?” Dad asked Maksim.
“It’s fine. I have a driver coming.”
“A driver?” Dad wagged his brows at me. “Better lock him down fast.”
While Maksim laughed, I shrieked in horror. “Seriously, Dad?”
He jerked his chin at us. “Go on to the kitchen and let me have my coffee in peace. Gracie’s making a big breakfast.”
“Okay, Dad.”
As we rose off the couch, Dad took his place in the chair. We’d started to go to the kitchen when Dad’s request froze me. “Tell your mother to make a plate for Silas.”
“Um, okay.”
“He’s supposed to come by today. I talked to him yesterday, and he sounded so good. I think the new meds are really working.”
My chest clenched, and I fought for breath. For a brief moment, it had been like old times. And then the disease had to swoop in and steal it all away.
Sensing I couldn’t speak, Maksim replied, “We’ll t-tell her, Mr. Whitfield
Dad chuckled. “Now you know to call me Hollis, son.”
A sob choked off in my throat as I felt myself free-falling emotionally. My hand flailed wildly at my side as I searched for Maksim’s. At the touch of his skin, I righted myself.
Squeezing my hand, Maksim replied, “Thanks, Hollis.”
When we got into the hallway, Maksim drew me into his arms. “Just let it out.”
I shook my head. “I don’t want Mom to see me so upset.”
“Maybe she needs t-to see it.”
I jerked my head back to stare at him. “What do you mean?”
“You keep everything together. It wouldn’t hurt for her to see some of the cracks.”
“He’s right, sweetheart,” Mom said softly.
Whirling around, she stood in the kitchen doorway with tears in her eyes. “I don’t want you to feel like you always have to be so strong,” she said.
