“He’s a very sick man. We were able give him an IV and he is lucid and comfortable. Unfortunately, all tests indicate the cancer has permeated his entire body.”
“Are there any trial treatments we can try for him?” He realized he was grasping at straws, but he wasn’t ready to lose his father.
“The time for those has passed, but they were discussed upon his initial prognosis. Even then, he wasn’t a viable candidate for those trials.” Doctor Vincent placed a hand on Trey’s shoulder. “Go in and see him. He’s been asking for you.”
Trey shifted his gaze to Alexis. “Will you wait here for me? Don’t leave, please.”
“I’ll be here.”
“There’s a waiting area two doors down,” Norris let them know, and turned to Alexis. “If you’d like, I’ll take you there, and I’ll see about getting coffee or tea.”
“Thank you.” She smiled sadly. Her hand let go of Trey’s, and he felt the loss of contact. “I’m praying for you.”
He squeezed his eyes shut, took a steadying, and braced himself. Dad would need him to be strong. One foot in front of the other, he walked into the hospital room.
Thomas Kaplan did not look like the daunting man he’d been only last week. He lay in the bed, gaunt and pale. The rapid deterioration scared Trey. If his father’s condition had worsened that quickly, how much time did he really have left? Weeks didn’t seem realistic.
They weren’t men typically given to affectionate displays toward the other, but Trey didn’t care. He headed straight for the bed and gave his father a hug, fighting back a mournful tear. To his shock, his dad returned the embrace. When Trey went to pull away, his dad held on, not releasing him for another minute.
Trey pulled up a chair, so they could talk without feeling as though he towered over his father. It was a change in dynamic he didn’t care for.
“This isn’t how I wanted you to find out,” his father said. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. You had your reasons.”
“I didn’t want you to worry.” Thomas stretched out a fragile arm and laid a hand on Trey’s wrist. A tenderness swept over his expression. “You’ve always taken more after your mother in ways of the heart. You care for people, deeply, even when they’ve wronged you. God knows I was a terrible husband, and not that good of a father, but your mother loved me to the end.”
“You weren’t a bad father. You taught me work ethic and business acumen.”
His father laughed weakly. “Those are qualities of a good boss, not a father. I should have done more, but I can’t change the past.”
“It doesn’t matter now, Dad. I love you.”
“I love you, too, Son. I wish I would have told you more often.” Thomas paused to catch his breath. “All these years wasted. Don’t make my mistakes.”
Trey covered his father’s hand with his own. “I won’t.”
“Dying has a way of making a man take inventory of his life. I’ve been speaking with a preacher since I received the diagnosis. All those Bible stories you told me over the years, and all the times you spoke to me about Jesus—they weren’t in vain. They finally clicked.” Thomas blinked. “My time on earth is coming to an end. I’m at peace with that, because now I have assurance of where I’ll go, but it’s leaving you alone that scares me.”
“I’ll be okay, Dad.”
“You need a wife to help you through your life, like your sweet mother did for me. But treat her better than I did your mom and don’t take her for granted.” Thomas stopped again, the talking too much exertion for him. “There’s something I need to confess.”
“Whatever it is, it doesn’t matter. You’re forgiven.” He meant it. All the anger he’d stored for years, all the pain his father had caused, it didn’t matter anymore. No, his actions weren’t excused, but in light of eternity, what purpose did the anger hold?
“Thank you. I don’t deserve that, but I appreciate it. However, I still need to tell you this. Can you help me sit up, please?”
Trey used the bed’s attached remote and raised one side until his dad was partially upright. He took a pillow and propped it behind his father’s back.
“One of my biggest regrets was tearing you away from Alexis Simmons. Of all the girls you dated or were interested in, she’s the only one I could see you have a future with.”
“But…why?” His question had layers to it. Why had his dad seen a future? Why had his dad broke them apart? Why such extremes?
“You came alive every time her name left your mouth. There’s a passion between you and her, that I had no business extinguishing.”
“Then why did you?” The time for anger had passed, and he only wanted to understand.
“Because you loved her, and she had the power to take you away from me. I was a foolish man, afraid of losing his son.”
