hell happened?”
My father chuckled softly and patted the space beside him on the single mattress. I ignored the request but moved closer to examine the large bandage covering his entire forehead. The gauze wrapped around his head, sending a shock of white hair sticking straight up. I couldn’t tell if it was the banal hospital gown or the horrible lighting, but Benny was right about Dad’s pallor. He looked… gray. And considerably older than his age.
“I’m fine, I’m fine. I bumped my noggin and wound up here. It’s precautionary only, but they want to do some tests. No big deal. How are you, son?”
“Really?” I swiped my hand over my jaw in frustration. It was rather astounding how fast my blood pressure spiked through the roof when I was with my father. The man drove me crazy. “You ask how I am when you’re the guy who looks like an extra in The Mummy Returns ? I’m just dandy,” I snarked.
Dad shrugged and closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them, he smiled, but it was faded and weak. Benny indicated Dad had fallen after losing consciousness. That couldn’t be good. I’d selfishly hoped there would be some silly story attached to this hospital visit. A simple “I tripped, hit my head, and here I am” followed up with a few compulsory tests to be sure that was the case. Now I didn’t think this was going to be so cut and dry. I was worried. My short, plump, jovial father with twinkling eyes and a smile for everyone looked drawn and worn-out.
I hoped Abe showed up soon. He had a better bedside manner than me. And even in the best of times, Pops and I were like oil and water. I took a deep breath and sat in the lone blue plastic chair next to the bed.
“I’m sorry they bothered you at work. We won’t be long. Two or three tests, then you can take me home. I would have had them call one of your brothers, but apparently I passed out,” he said with a chuckle.
“How is that funny?” I sighed and shifted in the uncomfortable chair.
“It’s not, but your name is first for emergencies because—”
“I’m not married and I don’t have kids. Got it.” I glanced at my watch. Less than five minutes in his company and I was already itching for a cigarette and lamenting the fact I’d quit smoking a year ago. “Abe’s on his way.”
“But Abraham has to help take the kids to school and….”
I tuned him out. I had to. It was a question of maintaining sanity.
George loved to state the obvious. My brothers were all married. Abe and Jonah were fathers, and Dave surely would be one day. I was the token gay family member. The cool uncle, the pain-in-the-ass brother, and the lone kid who was closer to Mom than any of my siblings were. I was the black sheep in every way possible. Sure, we all looked somewhat alike with dark hair and brown eyes. But where I was tall, lean, and fit with short hair and a beard I kept closely trimmed, my brothers were an inch or two shorter and at least ten pounds heavier than me. They were jovial, easygoing guys, while I was infinitely more serious and driven to succeed in a world that had absolutely nothing to do with bagels.
“Don’t worry, Pops. Between Abe and I, you’ll be taken care of.”
He smiled kindly. “All right, then, tell me about your weekend. I was hoping you’d stop by for dinner last night but….”
I sighed and patted his hand companionably. I wasn’t going anywhere now. It was up to me to swim above the familiar pull of frustration and simply be in the moment.
“It was fine. She had a good day.”
He looked away and stared at that blue curtain, unseeing. The well of unshed tears made his eyes shine in the fluorescent light. I swallowed and bit my lip so hard I could taste blood. I didn’t know what to say now. So I let the static background noise of the emergency room take over. The setting seemed suddenly poetic somehow.
I desperately searched for a safe topic change. One that wouldn’t upset him. Or me, for that