Chapter 5 #2
“Mostly. But I have my weaknesses too. The physical issues were not the entire story. Scars fade, but the impact on your life doesn’t. It was a shock and I feel like a little bit of my innocence about life died. I hate that it did that to me.”
I sit up a little straighter as we get deeper into who we are.
“I know how that works. I do. The best thing for me, as far as getting things off my mind, was my work. Swinging a hammer or framing a house was good therapy. I guess it still is. Although I do less of the grunt work now, it’s still a very physical business.”
“You’re a carpenter or a contractor?”
“I’m a contractor. Kind of like Jesus, but only in that regard. We picked the same profession.”
That one comment brings out something I’m loving about her. She’s playful. I see it coming when her eyes go darker.
“Well that’s enough to speak for it.” A smile appears. “I thought I noticed a holy vibe.”
“That’s me. Want to confess your sins? I can guarantee forgiveness.”
She grins. “I’d need more time than one dinner’s worth to give you the list.”
“I’ll wait,” I say.
When she doesn’t start counting down the top ten, I put my devil away.
“Lex said you are a widow. How long has it been?”
She keeps her eyes on mine, not looking away when the past relationship is mentioned.
“Ten years. Hunter was just a boy. And, to tell the truth, I think I was still a girl. You’re not really formed yet in your twenties. You know?”
“I’m barely formed at this age.” I chuckle.
“You look pretty together to me.”
Hey now.
“You too,” I answer. Then I go a step further. “I like everything I see. It is expertly assembled.”
I stop playing with the stem of the water glass and reach across the table for her hand. Our fingers braid together and she smiles. I want to do something I have never ever done. Bringing her hand to my lips, I kiss the soft skin.
She isn’t pulling back and disinfecting with Purell, so that is a good sign.
“I’m not really a romantic guy. But you look so pretty tonight, it called for a kiss.”
“Could be you’ve been misidentifying yourself,” she says.
Our hands stay together.
“I know it sounds like something a bullshit artist would say.” Hope she disagrees.
“I thought the kiss was the very description of romance.”
She tops it off by rubbing a thumb over my knuckles. Weird how a movement so seemingly innocent can feel so thoroughly impure. Down to my ballsack nasty. We are stuck in the stare. Neither needing to fill the silence with something as ridiculous as words.
My cell sounds. Decline.
“Here’s our wine,” I say, seeing the approaching server.
She presents the bottle for my approval and when I nod she works to uncork it.
“I think you’ll like this. It’s one of my favorites,” I say.
The phone again. Lex. Shit man! You’re cockblocking. Decline.
Kim’s glass is poured first, followed by mine.
I lift my glass. “Here’s to life’s best twists.”
“I will drink to that.”
The phone again. Decline.
“That’s just Lex. We’re riding tomorrow. He’ll leave a message.”
Again. It rings.
“Maybe you should answer,” she says. “Go ahead. I’m going to visit the ladies’ room.”
She rises and heads for the restrooms as I’m returning the call. He picks up on the first ring.
“Brother. Your dad’s been taken to Smyrna General. I don’t know much, but there was a fall.”
My entire body responds in alert mode.
“Where? Who found him? Is he alright?”
“He called 9-1-1 himself. I don’t know anything more. He called me from the ambulance but they made him stop talking. I think they were hooking up an IV or something.”
“An IV for a fall?”
“I don’t know what they were doing. I just know I heard the EMTs doing something.”
“Shit! Okay I’ll head there now. It’s going to take me about half an hour. We are at Pure Thai. Can you get to the hospital? Just in case he needs someone there?”
“Holly and I are on our way now. We got it. Stay calm. I have my phone and Holly or I will call if we get an update.”
“Okay. Good. God. I’m …I don’t know what I am. See you there. And tell him I am on the way, Lex.”
“I will, bro. Drive safe. No need to speed.”
Didn’t expect life’s next random twist to happen so soon.
It took forty minutes to get from table to emergency room parking lot.
Kim handled the news like the smart woman she is.
Quickly, she gathered her purse and I paid the bill while she called Hunter.
It cut fifteen minutes off the drive, when I didn’t have to bring her back to her place.
I would not have done it, if it wasn’t necessary, and she didn’t question the decision.
All thoughts of what the night could have led to, or how I would have liked kissing her, evaporated with news of my father.
Please protect him. Not sure who I am talking to, or who is listening, but the plea is made.
And now, walking up to the hospital’s glass doors, the partial story of what happened seems worse than knowing. Imagination can be a motherfucker.
My eyes sweep the room and find Holly and Lex sitting in a corner on their cells. Holly’s head lifts and she touches her husband’s arm. Lex rises and meets me halfway.
“So this is all we know. He had a heart attack. They are working on him now, but he is conscious.”
“Fuck me. A heart attack? That’s why he fell?”
“He was on the book ladder and apparently had the attack. He fell. He broke his hip and sprained an ankle.”
“Oh shit! I’m going in,” I say, touching his shoulder and heading for the check-in station behind the cubicle of glass. Thankfully, I don’t have to wait.
“Hello. I’m Landon Podesta. My father Ronnie was brought here. I’d like to see him.”
There is not a return greeting. The middle-aged nurse looks overworked and underappreciated. She hardly looks at me in fact.
“Let me see.” She scans her screen. “He’s in bed ten. But the doctors are with him right now. I’ll let you know when you can go back. Just take a seat.”
She meets my eyes and I see there is no reason to fight. She has the con and knows how to use it.
“Okay. Don’t forget me,” I say, turning. Then I turn back. “Is he okay? Can you tell me anything?”
“You’ll have to ask the doctor. But he was able to provide insurance information.”
“That’s good. Thank you. Thank you very much.”
Walking back to where Lex and now Holly sit waiting, I take my first real breath in an hour.
“They won’t let me back yet.”
“Okay. Want a Pepsi? There’s a machine in the hall,” Holly says with compassion on her face. “I’m so sorry, Landon.”
“Yeah, me too. Thanks. If there’s a water I’ll take one.”
She turns and heads for the hallway leading to the lobby of the hospital. I look to my friend for a comforting word.
“Ronnie is going to be so fucking pissed,” Lex says knowingly.