She squeezes my hand, and I can almost feel her leaning on me for balance. My mother is petite and delicate looking, her sable hair shot through with silver strands, yet I know better than to think she’s anything but formidable.
Tonight, however, I am reminded that she is mortal. Just like my old man.
“How’s he doing?”
Ethan answers. “He’s been sleeping for the past few hours. They’ve got him on blood thinners and they’re running a bunch of tests, but it’s looking good. Thedoctors think he could be back home in about a week.”
I exhale a sigh, genuinely relieved. “That’s great news.”
Ethan nods in agreement. He slides a glance at Mom and runs a hand over the short waves of his chestnut-brown hair. “Dad’s almost out of the woods. Now, we need to keep this one in line.”
She scoffs lightly. “My heart is in that hospital room in there. I can count on one hand how many times your father and I have slept apart in our forty-three years together. I just hate leaving him here.”
Jake rests his hand on her back. “He’ll be home before you know it.”
“Jake’s right,” Ethan tells her, his deep voice grim. “And we all have you to thank for saving him, Mom. If you hadn’t called 911 right away, things would’ve turned out very different.”
She closes her eyes for a moment, nodding her head. “He didn’t want me to call. He was embarrassed. Stubborn man kept insisting he was fine.”
“What happened?” I ask. Until now, I haven’t wanted to press her for details.
“He woke up early this morning to go to the bathroom. I noticed he was a little off balance and he told me his leg had fallen asleep. Well, no sooner had he reached the toilet than I heard him fall. I ran in and found he’d collapsed on the floor. He was confused, and he was having trouble talking.”
“Classic warning signs,” Ethan interjects.
As a police officer also trained in basic emergency medical response, he should know. I’m personally aware of three instances where Ethan’s skills have saved lives.
And as a widower and father of an eight-year-oldson, he, of all of us, truly understands the fragility of life.
“I’ve never seen your dad so upset,” Mom continues. “He could hardly form a coherent sentence, but he made it crystal clear that he did not want me calling an ambulance to come and find him naked in front of the toilet.”
Jake gives her a reassuring smile. “Nothing the EMTs haven’t seen before, I’m sure. Better the old man gets a little embarrassed than the alternative.”
“I know that,” she admits quietly. “I only hope he’ll agree.”
“If he doesn’t,” Jake says, “he’ll have to contend with all four of his sons.”
I meet my brother’s glance and nod. I may not be on the best terms with the old man, but I’m damn glad he’s going to be okay. Mom would be lost without him, and I don’t doubt that my brothers would be too.
Ethan releases a heavy sigh. “I’m going to take Mom home to my house tonight. Liam’s over at a neighbor’s while I’ve been here. He’ll be asleep by now, but I want him to wake up in his own bed. Besides, I’m sure he’ll be thrilled to have breakfast with Grandma.”
Mom smiles. “I’d like that too, sweetheart.”
She turns to Jake and tells him goodbye, hugging him close and kissing his cheek. Then she does the same with me. She holds on to me for an extra moment. “You’ve been here in the waiting room all day. You should go in and see your father before you go.”
I shrug. “Dad needs rest. I’ll look in on him next time I’m here.”
“Promise?”
“Yeah, Mom. I promise.”
She pats my cheek the way she used to when I washer grandson’s age. “I’m sorry for all of this stress today. Especially for you, Gabriel. The last place you probably want to be is in a hospital. And I know how busy you must be with your new promotion.”
I shake my head. “It’s all right. Don’t ever hesitate to call me if something’s wrong with you or Dad.”
We say goodbye and Ethan escorts Mom to the elevator.
As they go, for what isn’t the first time, my thoughts return to where I was when Jake called this morning. Evelyn’s been on my mind more than I want to admit. The memory of her softness as she moved beneath me in her bed. Her exquisite, addictive sensuality. Her soothing, tender care after I’d withdrawn in self-directed anger for having let myself lose control with her.
