"Your blood pressure is high," she said. "They're concerned you suffered a small stroke."
"They're just trying to make it serious, so they can charge me more money," her father said. "It's a racket."
"This isn't about money; it's about your health. Have you been taking your blood pressure medication?" The guilt that passed through her dad's eyes told her the truth. "You haven't, have you?"
"I need to get my refill," he muttered, his expression changing to wariness and relief when the doctor entered the room.
Wallace Baker had the look of a seasoned doctor, with gray hair and black glasses sliding off his nose. After introducing himself, he explained what would happen next, which included neurological tests and medication to lower her father's blood pressure. After she told the doctor about the missing medication, he seemed to believe that could have played a part of today's event. Her father's face turned sour, but he didn't give the doctor the same grief he'd given them.
The doctor explained that if everything was stable in the morning, her dad would be released with any new medication that might improve his condition.
"Can't you just give me the medicine now and I'll take it at home?" her dad asked. "I don't need to stay here overnight."
"You do," Dr. Baker said firmly. "Your health is the most important thing."
"He's right," she told her dad. "They need to make sure they know what's going on."
"I heard him. You don't have to tell me again. I'm not deaf."
"Anyway," the doctor said. "We'll talk in the morning. Will someone be available to take him home and perhaps stay with him for another day?"
"I can do that," Ben said quickly. "I have a few days off."
"I don't need a babysitter," her father interjected.
"We'll figure it out tomorrow," Ben said. "Once we know more about what happened today."
As the doctor left, her father fixed her with a hard look. "You can go, too, Kaia. I don't need you here."
She stiffened at his sharp words. No, Thanks for coming. I appreciate you being concerned about me. But had she really expected anything more? "I want to make sure you're getting the appropriate tests, so I'm going to stick around a while."
"You think you know more than the doctor?"
"I know some things that you don't know," she said, unable to resist her own dig. "And if my medical experience can be of value, then I'm going to use it."
"Don't you have work to do?"
"I'm off today."
"Well, lucky me, both my kids have the day off," he said sarcastically.
"Let's give Dad a chance to rest," Ben said. "It's been a long morning. We'll be back."
"Do what you want," her father said. "I don't need babysitters. And you better not have called Aiden, because I do not need him flying here like I'm dying. I just stumbled; that's it. It was nothing. I've been hurt worse than this."
Ben tipped his head toward the door. She nodded, then glanced at her father. "I'm glad you're doing better. And I really hope this is an event that can be avoided in the future with proper use of your medication." She could see the anger come into his eyes, but she didn't really give a damn. "This could have been a lot worse, Dad. Hopefully, it's just a wake-up call."
Her father had nothing to say to that, so she left. Ben joined her and Jax, and they walked to the waiting room at the end of the hall to talk.
"That was rough," Ben said, sending her a sympathetic look.
She shrugged, not willing to admit how hurt and angry she felt.
"He lashes out more when he's scared," Ben reminded her. "I think he did get that wake-up call you were talking about. He realized he screwed up, but he doesn't want to own that mistake."
"I don't care if he owns it or not; he just needs to do better. Do you think he's going to be able to live alone?"
"Let's take it one step at a time. I'll stay at his place tonight. I'll pick him up tomorrow and see how he's doing and what the prognosis is. I don't think there's an immediate danger, do you?"
