Hannah bursts in the door and climbs on my bed. “Daddy? Is Daddy hurt? Can I talk to him?”
Of course she is awake. Of course she heard all of that. Hannah reaches around my head as I attempt to dodge her grip and finally pulls the phone from my hands.
“Daddy, are you hurt?”
I close my eyes in frustration. Hannah is near enough that I can hear Nick’s response. “Just a little, baby. Not badly. It’s my wrist.”
“You can stay with us, and I’ll take care of you.”
I freeze. “He’s very busy, Hannah,” I say.
“Please? Just for a little while?” Hannah is wheedling now. “I’ll take care of him. Please? Why can’t he stay with us?”
I recognize Hannah’s tactic for exactly what it is, but that doesn’t make it easier to say no.
“Your dad is very busy with his tour,” I say.
“Daddy,” Hannah says into the phone, “are you too busy with your tour?”
“I am busy with the tour,” Nick says flatly.
“Playing guitar?”
“Healing my wrist for a bit. I can’t play guitar right now.”
“You can’t play guitar?” Hannah looks horrified. “Then come visit! I miss you.”
“It’s…whatever your mother says,” Nick replies, which is both the best answer and the worst. He didn’t promise anything, but now if he doesn’t come and spend time with her, it will be my fault.
“Please?” Hannah says to me. “Please, please, please. I want him to stay with us so I can take care of him.”
There is a long moment of silence as I take back the phone. I sigh.
“I’ll be okay in Rochester,” Nick offers. “But if you think it would be good for me to spend time with her…”
“All right,” I say at last. “You can stay for a week or two on the sofa until you can use your wrist again.”
Hannah practically jumps up and down from enthusiasm.
“Thank you,” Nick says. “I’ll take the bus down. I’m having the tour hold onto my instruments, so I just have to wait this out until the cast comes off. I know this is a huge favor.”
“It’s okay,” I say, but I can’t feel it. I feel numb.
The next morning,Ollie texts me:Everything still ok?
I text back right away:nick is ok, injured wrist, has to take time off the tour
Ollie replies:glad it’s not more serious
I think about hiding the fact that Nick will be staying with me, but I can’t bring myself to do it. Ollie might as well know the worst of it.
I write,Hannah insisted Nick come stay with us since he can’t use his wrist. He’ll be here for a week or two on the sofa to spend time with her. It doesn’t mean…I take a breath, picking my words.…anything, I finally write.
It is a while before Ollie responds, probably a full five minutes.
Then my phone buzzes.Sounds like you’ll be busy the next week or two.
Unfortunately, I write back.
