“I was not. I heard you on the phone and I was worried it might be about Dad.” I fold my arms across my chest.
“So, you stormed out in your…towel…to get to the bottom of it?” Josh swallows, raking his gaze up the length of my body. A shiver runs through me.
My jaw falls slack. How could just his gaze turn me on like this? “Y-yes.”
“Okay.” Josh grins.
He stands, letting his eyes linger a moment longer before moving toward the bathroom.
“Are you done in here?” he calls, but he’s already inside.
“Sure. Yes.” I face palm myself. “You’re good.”
Josh pokes his head outside the door once more. “I’ll hurry.”
* * *
It turnsoutthat by the time we get to the hospital, they’re already preparing Dad for his cardiac catheterization. I only get to see him for a moment before they take him back. Just before they do, I lean down, squeezing his hand. “You’ve carried me my whole life, Dad. Now it’s my turn. So, you fight, okay? Because I still need you. More than I ever say. I’ll be right here waiting to carry you when you get back.”
His lips twitch into the faintest smile, and he gives my hand a weak squeeze back. “Then I guess I’d better stick around, huh? Can’t have my girl needing me and not show up.”
I sniffle as they wheel him away. I’m grateful that they’re moving quickly, but now anxiety has hit me like a tidal wave. I sit in the same chair I was in last night, twiddling my thumbs.
“Come on, Mel. They said it could be four hours before he’s finished. Let’s go get some coffee.” Josh says, putting his hand on my shoulder.
I startle. “What?”
“Let’s go get some coffee. It’s going to be a while.” Josh repeats himself. He tucks his hand under my arm and gently pulls me out of the chair. His patience with me is astounding, and I know I owe him more than a thank you and an apology. I owe him an explanation. I should be begging him for forgiveness.
Yet I marvel at him. Despite how much he’s hurting, despite what I’ve put him through, he is here. He is acting as if he’s my partner and supporting me through this. I don’t know what I did to deserve this—him. Certainly not keep a decades-old secret from him.
The concert is in four days. We have to clear the air.
Josh leads me to the hospital cafeteria, through a breakfast buffet line and the coffee station. I’m quiet, letting him fix two identical plates, giving simple yes or no answers when he asks if I’d like something.
We find a small two-person table near a window overlooking the city. Across the Delaware River, we can see the Philadelphia skyline, the tops of the skyscrapers still covered in dense fog from summer’s haze. I stare at them, worrying the corner of my lip.
“Mel,” Josh says carefully.
I shake my head, clearing the daze. “Sorry.”
“What’s on your mind?”
“Truthfully?” I roll my lips together. “The concert being four days away. Not knowing how Dad will be.”
Josh pushes his lips together and nods. “Your Dad will be okay. He’d want you to do the concert.”
Melanie nods. “I know. I know that. I just feel guilty.”
“He can hang out with Joan for a few hours.” Josh cracks a smile and nudges me with his foot.
“Gross.” I crinkle my nose, but I can’t stop the smile from spreading across my face. “Truthfully, I’m happy he has someone.”
“They seem happy.”
“Yeah, well I’m sure at their ages, relationships are a lot easier…less complicated. You have fun together? Great. No pressure about the future or whatever.” I shrug, not bothering to hide the frustration in my voice.
“Relationships don’t have to be complicated.” Josh’s words sting, even though I’m sure he doesn’t mean for them to.
