Page 88 of Above ’N’ Beyond

Dad.

Jamie swallowed the lump in his throat. He hadn’t seen his father in over six months. The shock of seeing how much he’d deteriorated since then nearly took him to his knees.

His dad was frail, gaunt, and appeared to have lost significantly more weight. His pallor was gray, and the thick hair all Pataglio men were blessed with had thinned considerably.

The nurse courteously stepped aside, leaving them alone.

“Dad,” he managed to choke out. “It’s me. Jamie.”

His father squinted, the creases in his brow deepening a moment before recognition lit his face, and a hesitant smile turned up his lips. “Jamie, is that really you?”

“Yeah, Dad.” Being careful not to dislodge any of the tubes attached to his father’s IV, he sat on the bed and clasped his father’s trembling hand. That lump in his throat was now the size of a grapefruit, and he had to swallow repeatedly to keep from crying like a baby. His dad was in worse shape than he’d thought, and that had been pretty bad to begin with. “It’s me,” he whispered. “I don’t have much time, but I had to see you.” Before it’s too late.

Jamie pressed his lips together. His chest heaved from the effort not to lose it. It was a wasted effort. Tears spilled from his eyes, flowing unchecked down his cheeks.

“Oh, Jamie.” His father smiled wanly, then held out his arms.

Gently, Jamie leaned over, allowing his dad to hold him while he cried. More like bawled, and for how long, he lost track. It reminded him of when he was eight years old, and his pet turtle had died. His dad had held him, rocking him back and forth while he’d cried his eyes out.

When Jamie pulled away, he wiped the tears from his face. His dad’s eyes shimmered, and his temples were wet where a few tears had leaked out. Again, his father gave him a wan, knowing smile. One of acceptance. His father accepted his fate. Jamie didn’t.

He took a deep, shaky breath. “Dad, I can’t promise you anything for sure, but please hang in there. I’m trying to get you out of here.”

“To Butner?” His father’s gray brows rose. “Your mother said that wasn’t possible.”

“No.” Jamie shook his head. “Out of prison.”

Gray brows scrunched. “But how?”

Jamie reclasped his dad’s hand. The fingers were bony, the skin thin and bruised from all the IV needles. “I can’t say any more. I just need you to trust me. Don’t give up. I’m working on something.”

“Oh, Jamie.” His father shook his head, frowning and adding more lines to an already creased forehead. “What have you done?”

“I can’t tell you. I just…had to see you.” He gazed down into the eyes of the man who’d raised him for half his life. The same man who’d disappointed him by not being there for the other half.

His father patted Jamie’s hand. “You said you didn’t have much time, so let’s not waste it. Tell me what’s been going on with you.”

Jamie’s heart grew heavier than he thought possible. He wished he could tell his father everything. Someday, perhaps. “I met someone.”

“Ahh.” His father cracked a genuine smile. “Tell me about her.”

Somehow, Jamie found the courage to smile back. “You’d like her. She’s Italian. Blond, beautiful, kind. And she can cook. Mom would like her, too.”

If only he hadn’t blown it.

Something must have shown on his face, because his dad said, “But?”

It always amazed him how he could scam the hardest of criminals, completely convincing them he was someone he wasn’t, but his dad could still read him like an open book. “I did something stupid.”

“More stupid than what I did?” His dad chuckled, adding, “I seriously doubt that.”

The ironic humor of the moment elicited another smile from Jamie, albeit a reluctant one. “It’s complicated.” Much as he wanted to unload, there wasn’t time.

As if reading Jamie’s mind, his father said, “You’re in love, so make the time. Make her see the wonderful, amazing man that you are.”

If only that were possible. If only it were true.

Jamie blinked as more tears spilled from his eyes. “I’m sorry I haven’t been to see you in a while, but we’ll change that. Soon. We’ll go fishing, and…” He choked up, swallowing down the barely contained sobs about to rush from his throat.