He pulled up in his Toyota and got out, walking toward me with his hands in his pockets. My heart did that famous drumroll when you knew you had something to say, that indeed the other party had no idea, and nothing would ever be the same because of it. I asked him to meet me soon after I returned from New York and sort of started officially dating Sam. I knew girls in high school who had very little problem dating a few guys at a time. I knew I didn’t want to be one of them.
“Hey, you just get a haircut?” I asked, as he approached the bench I was seated on.
“Yeah, I’m really sorry I didn’t have time to go home and shower. I got your text and didn’t want to wait to see you.”
Oh boy. Never a good segue to “I think we should just be friends.”
He sat down and beamed me a smile with the front row of his perfectly aligned teeth. “How did New York go? Did you have fun?”
“I did. The play was amazing, and Sophie got this gigantic stuffed Pokemon animal at Times Square. It barely fit in the cab, but whatever. She doesn’t even know who Pokemon is—she loved the ten-pound yellow thing that was bigger than her. It even sat on its own chair on the plane. Sam thought it was obnoxious, but I thought it was cute.”
His smile faded and he looked down at his feet. I quickly replayed what I’d just said. A little too weird, talking about a family I lived with? He never seemed to even mention the family he lived with. It was a complete surprise when the door opened and I witnessed the Waltons the other night at his place.
“So, that sounds fun.” His smile stayed hidden.
I swallowed hard, and touched his hand. “Andrew—”
He recoiled, taking his hand from out of my reach. “You don’t have to say it, Sarah.”
I froze.
“I sort of got the hint when it took like three hours to return my messages, and how my calls went to your voicemail. I thought I’d never see you again. But then you called, and I got sort of excited.” He rested his elbows on his knees and stared out at the people walking their dogs. “But I see you’re not here to discuss future dates with me, are you?”
“No.”
He stood. “All right then.” He bit his lip. “I set myself up really, if you think about it. I mean, that day at the house when I was dispatched. I saw how that guy came home and rushed to you. It wasn’t your typical employer type rushing.” He hit his head. “And yet I pushed for another chance to see you.”
I stood. “Don’t beat yourself up. I had no clue what was going to go down. I’m usually the one receiving this message, Andrew. Not the other way around.”
He turned to me. “Sarah, I think you’re special. I just wish our timing had been better.” He stepped away. “I was excited to tell you I finally signed a lease this weekend. I’m pretty sure I won’t miss the noise of my sister-in-law’s washer while I’m working nightshift and trying to get some sleep.” He smiled.
“That’s great. I hope you’re careful out there in this big city.”
“I will. Take care of yourself, Sarah.”
Andrew was a great guy, and he’ll make one heck of a great boyfriend. But as I stare out the window and see Sam coming up the porch stairs, I know I made the right decision. Life with Sam and Sophie was incredible.
“Hey, you.” He put his portfolio down on the counter before he came over for a kiss.
“Hey.” I set down the pepper shaker and walked into his embrace.
He kissed me and had his hand not been securely fastened to the narrow part of my back, I might’ve melted. He smelled amazing, looked even better, and now he was home. With me. Be still my heart.
“Where is my tiny person?” He stepped away from me and leaned on the counter.
“She’s in having tea.”
I pushed the salmon in the oven and walked to where he stood in the doorway. Like a mirage that I needed to touch and make sure it really existed. My mind had been playing tricks on me lately. I was accepted into the college program to get my certification for counseling, the weather was cool to my favorite temperature, and I got to spend every evening with my favorite guy and his amazing daughter.
“What was that for?” he asked, after I gave him another slow kiss. This one included hair tousling and a little body rubbing.
“I’ve just never been happier.”
“And you’re not going to follow that up with ‘but what if’?”
“Nope.” I smiled like a Cheshire cat.
“I’m going to go check on my princess, then. All is right in the kitchen.” He grinned.
I checked the rice and lunged for my ringing cell phone. The number was an area code from back home.
“Hello.”
“Sarah? Sarah, is that you?”
“Aunt Heidi?”
“Yes, darlin’.”
“Is everything all right?”
I only received calls from Heidi at holidays or when Dad was standing close to her at the time I called him. This was making my world spin a little. Like you know something is not good, but it is so good at this moment and within milliseconds it’d be unrecognizable.
“Your dad, honey. Pete found him passed out. They have him in the back now, working on him.” I could hear the worry in her voice.
“At the hospital? Did you say working on him?” Dad never even went to see the doctor when he was sick with a fever and couldn’t raise his head to get out of bed. The hospital?
My hand begin to shake. “Was he conscious? Did he tell Uncle Pete what was wrong? Did he fall? Was his chest hurting? What’s wrong with him?”
Sam’s hand rested on my shoulder. I guess I was getting loud. I looked at him and at the creases surrounding his eyes. My posture was going limp.
“Honey, we’re all waiting to find out. I just thought you should know.”
“I’m coming home to see him.”
“Now, I’m not sure he’d be too happy I called and got you all worked up.”
“What do you expect, Aunt Heidi? He’s my dad. The only parent I have in the world. Really the only person I have in the world who’s related.”
“Honey, be careful. Do you need money?”
“No, I’ve got it.”
I hung up the phone feeling as if someone gut punched all the joy that was seconds ago pumping through my veins. One fell swoop and my world was in need of a crash cart. Sirens blared in my brain…blue lights flashed. I needed to get home and see what was wrong with Dad.
Sam’s hand rested on mine as I stared out the window. Sophie was asleep in the back of the rental car. Everything was happening so fast. I shoved the salmon in the fridge, turned off the potatoes, and ran up and packed a bag while Sam called the airport and reserved a flight to Colorado. If there was any turbulence, it was no worse than the tossing thoughts in my head of Dad.
“Take a right,” I said to Sam.
I bit my nail and couldn’t stop the furrowing of my brow. The stress had given me a headache.
“Pull up to the front, if you don’t mind. I just need to run in and find him, Sam.”
He swerved under the canopy of the front entrance and I jumped out of the car and ran through the front door.
“Ma’am, visiting hours are over,” said the guy wearing a blue uniform at the tall desk. His ears stuck out from the hat he wore.
“My dad’s in there. I’ve just flown in, and I really need to see he’s okay.”
“What’s the name?”
I grabbed my neck. It was better than grabbing his neck. “Listen, I’ll find him. This place isn’t that large. Just let me go.”
“I can tell you where he’s at. Just give me his name.”
Sam walked in at that time. Sophie was sleeping on his shoulder. “Sam, talk to this man. I’ve got to find Dad.”
I took off running down the hall. My heart was banging. I looked left and right for anyone. Aunt Heidi, Uncle Pete, anyone? I was finally stopped by a nurse.
“Excuse me, I’m looking for Jeffrey Keller. He was brought in earlier.”
I turned around to see Cheryl Campbell. She led the church choir every Sunday, and she brought sugar cookies to every social the town had.
“I bet I know why you’re here.” She smiled at the lady trying to help me, and took me gently by the arm. “I’ve got this, Jolyn. She’s here to see her daddy.”
“Then he’s still here to be seen.” I wanted to burst out crying. I had no idea if he…well, thankfully he was.
“Follow me. Or should I say, follow the ranting.” She was much shorter than I remembered. I was used to looking at her eye-to-eye for so long. It must’ve been longer than I thought. “The man is keeping up everyone on the ward with his fits of wanting to be released.”
“That’s Dad.” I smiled. “What’s wrong with him? Why is he here? I heard he passed out.”
“I’m not sure, hon. He’s not one of my patients, but I’m sure he can tell you what happened.”
She pushed open the door and there lay Dad. Funny, I never saw Dad lying down. I used to try to sneak in his room to see if in fact he ever did lay down, but I could never catch him. He was always up by 4:30 and went to bed after I did. I wasn’t sure he knew how to lay down. To me, he was like one of those birds that rests sitting up, with one eye always open.
“Dad?” I whispered, moving closer to him.
His eyes slowly opened and he paused, maybe trying to focus. “Sarah?”
“Dad? I thought that was you. What the heck are you doing here?”
He cut his eyes. “Sarah Elizabeth, what on earth are you doing here?” He began to sit up.
I rushed to him and pushed his shoulder toward the pillow. “Dad, you better stay put or I’m pushing the nurse’s button.”
He looked up with pleading eyes. “Please don’t, Sarah. She’s a mean lady. I think she snacks on small children on her coffee breaks. If you hear kids are missing in town, check the spare rooms in her house.”
I snickered. “Dad.” I pushed on his arm. I noticed the IV and drew back. “What the heck happened? What are you doing here? Didn’t you go to the store this week? Were you out of meat and potatoes? This is a heck of a way to get a free meal. And the beverage?” I tugged on the hose dripping solution in his arm. “This stuff isn’t free, you know. And don’t get me started on the restrooms. Have they shoved one under you lately?”
“Sarah Keller, watch your mouth.”
I saw him look behind my shoulder. I turned to find Sam and Sophie. “Come here, Sam. Meet my dad.”
Dad attempted to sit up again. I gently pushed him back.
“Don’t let the bed fool you. This man is a pillar of strength. Milks cows at sunrise, plows fields at sunset. This is where we bring him for recharging. And this juice dripping in his veins is actually an experimental drug. It’s said to have exponential powers.”
Sam put out his hand for Dad to shake it. “I’m Sam Turner. It’s nice to meet you, sir.”
Dad looked at me while hand-in-hand with Sam. “Sarah, I like him already.”
I smiled. “This is Sophie. We knocked her out to keep her quiet. Which is good if we are to hide her from your nurse.”
I turned to Sam. “Seems his nurse snacks on little people.”
I heard someone clear their throat. Dad looked over my shoulder again. “She’s here, isn’t she?”
“Yes, she is.” Nurse Ratched wiped her hands on a towel by the sink. “I see sarcasm runs in the family.”
I pulled out a few dimples for her to see I was a good girl, despite my mouth.
“I have to get his vitals, if you don’t mind.” She pulled up a cart with a cuff and one of those electronic thermometers.
Sam backed up and I went to the foot of Dad’s bed. “So what’s wrong with him? Why are you keeping him against his will?”
“No one is keeping him against his will,” she snapped.
“I was only kidding. Seriously, what’s wrong?”
“She is keeping me against my will.”
“Take that up with Dr. May. You remember what he told you.” She put the stethoscope in her ears and pumped the thingymabob.
Dad shook his head at her and gave a scowl. “I’ll get with Dr. May. You just do your vital thing and get going.”
“Fine.” She unwrapped the loud Velcro, scribbled something on a chart, and darted out.
“Dad, you didn’t have to be so mean.”
“Me mean? She’s the busiest body, kid-snacking woman I’ve ever laid eyes on. You don’t know what she does when no one’s looking.”
I turned to Sam and rolled my eyes. He was swaying back and forth.
“What’s going on really, Dad?”
“Oh, I got a little too much sun today and didn’t eat breakfast. I guess my legs gave out.”
“They don’t put you up for the night for skipping a meal.” I tilted my head. “What’s the real story?”
“Okay, okay, okay. I might have diabetes. Happy? So now instead of cake, I’ll have to eat the cardboard box it comes in.”
“Hey, that box might be high in cholesterol, you watch out.” I pointed a finger at him.
“Okay, Mom.” He grinned. “It’s nothing, Sarah. I’m sorry you flew out here for it. I’m going to get a hold of Heidi. That loose-lipped female.”
“She was worried, Dad. And I’m glad I came. At least now you can meet Sam.” I turned and presented said boyfriend. You know, in case Dad thought I made this guy up. I only did that twice in high school. You’d think he’d forget already.
“So what are they going to do for you?”
“Nothing. You don’t do anything for high cholesterol.”
“I thought you said diabetes.”
“Yeah, right. Where did I get…never mind. They have you prick your finger every day, I suppose. And tell you to keep sugar on you, for whatever reasons.”
“Man, I’m glad that’s all it is. I was completely freaked out. But diabetes…that’s manageable. I’m sure you have to stay on a strict diet, but you could use a little less Debbie cakes and more fresh vegetables. I’ll do some research on it.”
He held my hand. “Okay, honey. Now take Sam back to the house and get some rest. I’ll need to be picked up in the morning. I’m breaking out. Pull up around back. I’ll be the guy in the backless gown, streaking through the back doors.”
“I’ll be in the car with the engine running.”
Sam laughed.
“Okay, Dad. I’ll see you in the morning.”
I kissed him on the forehead and took Sam’s hand to walk out.
“And don’t go snooping through my junk mail, Sarah. I want to be the one who opens the sweepstakes that wins the five million bucks. After all, I’ve subscribed to twenty magazines to earn it. Hell, I don’t even live in Alaska and they’re sending me quarterly reports on the fishing in Prince William Sound.”
“Get some rest, Dad.” I winked and held the door for Sam.
“So it’s a three-bedroom house, but only two rooms are operational.” I held out my arm, introducing Sam to the house.
“It’s charming. Sort of a bachelor’s pad theme going, yet I’m feeling like the tribute to your teenage years brings some sort of family quality to it.”
I threw my body against the wall of shame, hoping my year of the brace face didn’t stand out. “Look away. Just look away, Sam.”
“Too late. I already bore witness to the awkward age. Don’t worry, Sarah. Everyone has them. Mom used to keep a picture of me hung up when I got that perm. I swear, at the time it was in. My buddies and I all went and got one. I got so embarrassed when girls would come to the house and see it.”
“Ah, the perm fad. Somehow I just don’t see it.” I touched his thin hair and smiled.
“Just point me to where I can lay this little girl. Who, by the way, has gained five pounds since we left Charleston.”
“I still can’t believe you came with me. You’ve got wor
k tomorrow.” I hugged his arm.
“Of course I came with you. I wouldn’t let you come alone.”
Okay, so I did daily checkpoints to see whether Sam really liked me, or whether I was just imagining it. I was guilty of doing it so many other times with my other boyfriends. The proof always showed up when the guy would say, “I never said those things, Sarah.” Flying me home while toting a person in their arms was definitely a check in the right column.
“First door on the right. I’ll pull back the blankets. She can sleep in her clothes. I’ll wash her up in the morning. I don’t want to disturb her.”
I walked in my old room and looked around. I visited once a year. Usually Christmas. I always felt ten when I slept in my room. The posters of Prince, the photos of friends—some I didn’t know where they ended up—and my collection of pandas. I loved panda bears and Dad made sure to get me a new stuffed one each year on my birthday. I had to keep most of them in the closet.
Sam pulled the door shut and followed me to the kitchen. We fed Sophie on the plane, but I didn’t have an appetite. Sam didn’t eat as a show of loyalty to me, although I knew he must be starving. I pulled open a few cabinets and found nothing more than crackers, a jar of peanut butter, and a couple extra bottles of ketchup.
“How about a peanut butter cracker with a squirt of ketchup?” I held up a box and a bottle of each.
“Do you have pizza delivery?”
“Uh, you do know where you are, don’t you? The most that’s out there in the blackness of night are rocks, grass, and a few lost jackrabbits. Even they are on a pilgrimage, looking for a McDonalds.”
“I see.”
“Yeah. Let me see if he has anything in the fridge.”
I pulled it open and thought it was our lucky day to find eggs. I scrambled a few and toasted bread. We feasted as though it’d been days since our last meal.
“So I’m sure you’re relieved your dad is going to be all right?” He got up to rinse our plates.
“Kind of. I mean, I think I wouldn’t survive the demise of my dear old dad. He’s a fixture in this world. And he’s all I have left. I don’t come home often, but I know he’s rattling around here. You know?”
Searching For Sarah (The Sarah Series Book 1) Page 17
