Francis walked into the room, more troubled than before he’d gone check up on Charles who was napping again, even though it was only early afternoon.
“How is he?” Mark patted the seat next to him and Francis came to sit down, leaning against him which showed exactly how he felt.
“Not good.” Francis ran fingers through his own hair and rubbed his neck. “He’s started to cough and that’s not a good sign, either.”
“What do you suggest?” Henrietta looked at Francis, her expression more neutral than Mark’s would’ve been in the same situation.
“He needs to be seen by a doctor. Today.” Francis leaned toward Mark even more, then got up and went to crouch by Henrietta’s chair. He took her hands into his and made direct eye contact. “I think he’s developing pneumonia.”
Mark felt his heart sink, and he knew that it might be the beginning of the end for Charles.
“All right.” Henrietta’s voice was calm, but her eyes filled with tears. “Okay. What do we do?”
“We have a chat with him once he wakes up. We call Moira, ask her what she wants.” Henrietta was about to cut Francis off, but he shook his head. “No. I want to ask if she would like you two somewhere closer, or whether she wants to come visit. We don’t know if this is it, Henrietta, but it might be, and time might be of the essence if she wants to spend time with him.”
“You’re talking about maybe putting him in a home somewhere nearby where she lives?” Henrietta was more upset now.
“Not like that. But if he is getting worse, he needs an around-the-clock doctor nearby. I know Moira said she’d prepared for a situation like this by checking out places in Ann Arbor. Just in case.”
Henrietta shook her head. “I don’t….”
“Think about it this way, too,” Francis said in a kind, patient tone. “If he gets worse and you then change your mind, he might be too ill to travel.”
“He’s right.” Mark tried to not show his discomfort over the whole deal, but he had to back Francis up. “He can’t fly with COPD, I know I discussed that with him some time ago. That means ten hours in a car.”
Francis nodded. “Honestly, it might already be too late, for that kind of a drive, but we need to get him to the hospital today.”
“All right. I’ll call Moira right now, we can figure out the rest once Charles wakes up.” Henrietta straightened her back and looked sad but determined.
“And I need to get ready for work,” Mark said, standing.
Francis got to his feet and came to give him a kiss. “I’ll keep you posted. If we end up going to Woodruff, then I’ll go with them.”
“Of course.” Mark pecked Francis on the lips as Henrietta busied herself with the cell phone Francis had made her get a few weeks earlier. “I love you.”
Francis beamed at him. “I love you too, darling. Be safe.”
Mark nodded, said bye to Henrietta and left the house.
* * * *
Not knowing what would happen to the Grahams was rough. Mark had come to think of them as substitute grandparents—he didn’t have any truly clear memories of his own, after all.
He knew Francis felt the same, but he also had his professional mode to hide behind, to keep himself safe in a way Mark didn’t. So he’d met the Grahams while on duty, but they’d become so much more ever since he started to stay at the house more often.
“Mark?” Erin popped up from behind the front desk just as he stepped out of the locker room to start his shift.
He frowned. “Am I late?”
“No, not at all, you’re early,” she said quickly, but she seemed troubled. “I think your mother tried to get you on the phone earlier today.”
Mark froze. He’d changed his number, taken them off anywhere they were listed as next of kin, yet… “W-what?”
“A woman called the station, she asked if you were working here still, and if I could pass you a message if you were.” Erin frowned. “I told her I couldn’t tell her who we employ, so she hung up on me.”
Mark swallowed, his heart beating a bit faster. “How did she sound?”
“A bit raspy. Like she’d been crying maybe, but more.”
