Chapter 37 Melanie
MELANIE
My eyes go wide at the sight of the woman who is apparently my father’s girlfriend.
Joan has a brunette, cropped pixie cut with chunky caramel highlights.
Large hoop earrings and an abundance of daytime makeup let me know she does not want to be mistaken for a man.
She’s wearing white capri pants and a tropical-patterned floral blouse.
She looks as if they were out on a day-date when this happened. Maybe they were.
“Joan, this is my daughter, Melanie, and her partner, Josh.” My dad’s gravelly voice startles me. He’s clearly trying to break the ice.
I shake my daze away. “Hi,” I say, offering Joan a smile. “Thank you so much for taking care of my dad. We’ve got it from here.”
Josh makes a throaty noise from his place by the edge of the room, his jaw slack with surprise at my candor.
“Oh, no, Melly, Joan isn’t going anywhere,” my dad corrects me. “We are an item.”
“An…item?” My brows raise. I look to Josh, with his arms folded over his chest. He’s looking at his feet and he may be stifling a smile.
“I was going to tell you on Sunday, but you were so upset,” my dad says softly, looking between Josh and me. “Which by the way, I’m happy to see you two here together.”
“We’re not.” The words are out of my mouth before I realize. “I mean, we haven’t—”
My dad holds up his hand. “That’s not a conversation for here.
” He rests his head back and closes his eyes for a moment.
Joan moves to the other side of his bed and takes his other hand.
A mix of envy and gratefulness surges through me.
On the one hand, my dad has been alone for so long.
It’s nice to see he found someone. On the other hand, this is my dad. Go away, Joan.
Josh breaks the silence. “So, how did you two meet?”
I start to shoot him a glare but when I see the twinkling of amusement in his eyes, I soften. He’s actually here with me, despite how badly I hurt him. That’s something.
“Oh, we met on Silver Singles dot com.” Joan grins and her eyes crinkle. “Frank just swept me right off my old feet.”
We laugh and I catch Josh’s eye. Our gazes hold for a split second before my dad turns our attention back to him.
“So, we should probably talk about how to navigate this.” He looks between the three of us.
Josh moves from his place by the exit and pulls up a spare chair.
“Melanie and I will grab a hotel by the hospital. I’ve already found a couple that look decent.
Mel, you ride in the ambulance with your dad if they’ll let you.
I’ll go home and pack us some clothes. Joan, you’re welcome to drive up to Cooper with me.
” Josh takes charge, and my heart swells.
I never said I needed him to, but God, I wanted him to. It’s like he knows just what I need.
Before I realize it, tears have brimmed in my eyes, and a sniffle escapes. All eyes turn to me as I swipe a loose tear away.
“Melly, don’t cry.” My dad reaches for my hand. “This is going to be fine.” He looks at Josh, a fondness in his eyes. “Thank you for taking care of that.”
Josh gives him a tight-lipped smile and a nod.
“Well, I have to get home to take care of the pups tonight,” Joan says apologetically. “But I’ll be up to see you first thing tomorrow.”
My dad smiles tenderly at Joan. “I know you do, babe. I’ll be okay here with Melly and Josh.” He kisses her hand.
“You two seem pretty serious,” I say, my voice soft. I cough to clear it.
“We are.” My dad doesn’t beat around the bush, and I appreciate that. I’m a grown woman and he’s my senior citizen father. He does not need my permission, no matter how much it surprises me.
“We were both seeking companionship, and we fell in love along the way,” Joan says, smiling at me. “I know I’m not your mom, Melanie, but I hope we can be friends.”
A laugh bubbles out of me. “I don’t know what he’s told you but it’s a damn good thing you aren’t my mom. Those two couldn’t have been worse for each other.”
This time everyone laughs softly.
“I’m happy for you,” I add, looking directly at my dad.
“Thank you, sweetheart.”
A knock sounds from just outside the curtain and Dr. Ramos appears with a nurse at his side.
“Okay, Mr. Glick, we’ve got an ambulance transfer en route. Is there someone you’d like to ride with you?” Dr. Ramos asks.
“My daughter, Melanie, please.” Dad coughs.
I stand and move toward Josh at the curtain. He puts his hand on my shoulder and gives it a comforting squeeze. I don’t turn to look at him because if I do, I’ll break.
“Okay, Melanie, you’ll need to ride in the front seat and stay buckled. Since this is a medical transport, they will need space to work in case your father’s condition changes,” Dr. Ramos says.
I nod. “Okay.”
“Don’t worry, kid. If we hit a pothole, I’ll bounce—I’m tougher than I look,” Dad says from his bed while the nurse, Maria, gets him ready to be moved.
Maria flushes Dad’s IV and tapes it off. She checks the monitor for changes in blood pressure before removing the cuff. “They will put this back on in the ambulance,” she says, just as three paramedics enter the room.
“Hey, Frank. I’m Mike, this is Jimmy, and Nick. We’re going to get you moved onto the gurney, okay? Just let us do the work. If anything feels off, let us know.” The two other paramedics stand on either side of Dad, while Mike takes a position near the head of the gurney.
He lowers the bedrail and raises the gurney to match the height of the bed and locks the wheels. Josh, Joan, and I watch while they check the heart monitor lines, IV, and oxygen tubing.
Then, before I realize, the two on either side of Dad roll the edges of his bed sheet and Mike gives the command.
“Okay, on three—one, two, three, slide.”
Then Dad is moved, and Mike busies himself propping his pillow up and adjusting the wires. Maria brings over a couple of blankets and layers them on Dad, tucking his feet in.
“Are you comfortable, Mr. Frank?” Maria asks, grinning.
Dad gives a thumbs up as they pull the curtain open and prepare to move.
Joan moves to Dad’s side. “Call me when you get settled in a room, okay? Or have Melanie call me.” She plants a kiss on his cheek, and I look away.
My gaze catches Josh’s for the first time. He’s been quiet for the past couple of minutes, looking at his phone.
Josh licks his lips and steps toward me, raking a hand through his hair. “So, uh, if you’re okay with it, I’ll stop by your place and grab some clothes for us. I left some things there.” Josh’s voice is thick, raspy with emotion.
“I noticed.” My eyes move from his to his lips and then back again. I fight the urge to caress his cheek. “Josh,” I whisper, unable to hold back the emotions flooding me.
“I got the hotel room. I’ll drive up, check in, and then come to the hospital.” He looks like he wants to reach for me but puts his hand in his pocket instead.
Oh, how I want to reach for him. Hold him, and kiss him, apologize to him for all the words left unspoken.
“Melanie, we’re going.” My dad’s voice carries from the hall.
“I’ll see you.” I back away slowly and turn.
“Call me if you think of anything,” Josh calls after me.
But I don’t reply. I have to jog to catch up to my dad.
I climb into the passenger seat in the front of the ambulance and buckle my seatbelt, turning around to watch as they get Dad settled.
“You okay, Daddy?” I ask, trying desperately to steady my wavering voice.
“I’m as okay as I can be, sweetheart,” he croaks. “Mike, we get the sirens? Or are we taking the scenic route?”
Mike chuckles as he slides in next to me. “Scenic route, big guy. You’re stable, and we want to keep it that way.”
“Got it.” Dad’s voice sounds far away now.
“Just try to relax,” one of the other men says.
“Listen to them, Daddy. Close your eyes,” I murmur.
“Melly?”
“Yeah, Dad?”
“I told you he would be back.”