Clay nodded, watching Mia fold their father’s hand in hers as she lowered herself to sit on the bed near him. She handed her cell phone to Davis to hold.
Was it Clay’s imagination, or did the kid stare at it like she’d just handed him a grenade?
Clay shook his head to ward off the odd image. He was just emotionally wasted and that was why he was seeing trouble wherever he looked.
The nurse stopped a few feet from the bedside, her voice low and her back turned to Mia as she spoke to Clay. “Your father has told all of his nurses that he plans to sign a DNR—an order for Do Not Resuscitate—just as soon as he speaks to you. I had no legal choice but to call for the cardiac code just now because he hasn’t signed that order yet. But he’s been very vocal about it and I wanted you to be aware of his plans.” She bit her lip and peered back over her shoulder where Mia leaned down, resting her dark head on their father’s thin shoulder. “Mia has called to check on him hourly over the last two days.”
“She has?” Clay’s gaze went back to the phone inDavis’s hand. Mia’s phone. “Did you tell her the hospital will notify her if there’s any change?”
“She told the day nurse yesterday that she has to keep her phone off.” The woman—Marianne, according to the plastic name tag—shrugged. “I just wanted you to know about the DNR in case your father hasn’t mentioned it.”
“Thank you.” Clay couldn’t identify the strange mix of feelings in his gut right now. Worry for his father. Worry for Mia. And the deep sense something was wrong in that girl’s life. Why in the hell was she keeping her phone off when her father was in critical health?
He would contact Gabriella. Right after he made peace with his father.
As the nurse left the room, Clay strode back to his father’s bedside. Carefully he picked up his dad’s hand, the skin weathered and yellowed before its time. Clay didn’t worry about what Mia might overhear. He needed to make peace now. Before it was too late.
Leaning over the face that had haunted too many of his childhood dreams, he took a deep breath and let it all go. All the fear. All the resentment. All the burning anger that hid the hurt.
Pete hadn’t been capable of being a father to him.
“I forgive you, Dad,” he told the limp form. “You and I, we’re okay.”
He watched his father’s face for any sign of recognition. Any hint that he’d heard. Clay could feel Mia’s curious gaze on him from across the bed, but he kept his focus on Pete’s sunken face.
And felt a soft squeeze of his hand.
His father’s fingers flexed around his. The subtle pressure wasn’t much of a response, but it told Clay all he needed to know. His father heard.
The weight of a lifetime seemed to slide from Clay’s shoulders. Gabriella had urged him to do this, and this moment was because of her. He felt at peace for the first time in a long time. Fully at peace. Except now that he’d accepted his father’s shortcomings and forgiven him for all the ways their relationship had burned holes inside him, Clay knew Pete had no more reason to cling to life.
Next time he came to with enough energy to speak, he’d be asking to sign the Do Not Resuscitate order. He would give up on life and Mia would be left alone.
Straightening at the bedside, he watched his youngest sibling and knew something was wrong. Something besides her father dying.
“Mia? Can I use your phone to call Gabriella?” He studied her face, but out of his peripheral vision, he could see Davis straighten in his chair.
Interesting. Whatever Mia was hiding, Clay would guess her boyfriend knew about it.
“My battery is dead.” Mia’s answer came out in a rush even as Davis handed her the phone he’d been holding. Flustered, she took it, but slid it into her hoodie pocket.
Clay needed Gabriella here, damn it. She understood the girl better than him. She could interpret the byplay more accurately than he could. At the very least, she could help make Mia understand that Pete didn’t have much time left. Their lives were all going to change soon.
Lowering his voice, he shuttled her a few steps from the bed to be sure they didn’t risk upsetting their father. “I thought you were keeping it turned off on purpose.” He tried the direct approach.
She sucked in a breath. Stayed silent.
Davis leaned forward. “Tell him,” he urged Mia quietly.
Out of his depth, Clay needed a different kind of strength from Gabriella. Patience. Perspective.
“Tell me what?” He kept his gaze on Mia, trying not to push too hard but needing answers.
Her dark eyes shimmered with unshed tears. “I was going to tell Pete.” She took a deep breath and shoved her hair off her face. “He has changed my phone number in the past to keep a stalker dude away from me. And I need the number changed again because this guy found me.”
Confirming all the fears Gabriella had been having this week. The air rushed out of Clay’s lungs. Damn it.
Why hadn’t he listened? Pushed for answers sooner? “Found you?” He pulled his phone out of his pocket and hit Gabriella’s number because he couldn’t wait anymore. He needed her now. “How do you know?”
