Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 93387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
“Dad!” Magnolia scolded, making me chuckle as Dan attempted a wink.
“I did. She said yes.” I winked back. “Once I convinced her. You were right. Stubborn as can be.”
He nodded, then winced. “What does a man have to do to get something to eat?”
Magnolia patted the blanket. “I’ll go check.”
She left, and Dan indicated for me to come closer. I approached his side, and he looked up at me, his eyes as clear as I’d ever seen them. “You’ll look after her, right?”
“Always.”
“You’ll make her happy?”
“She’ll be my priority.”
I wasn’t lying to him. She was going to be the focus of my world, and I would do everything I could to make her happy.
He sighed and nodded. “Good. That’s all I need to know.”
Magnolia came in, carrying a tray. “I got you a sandwich, some soup, and tea, Dad.”
“Sounds good.”
I sat to the side and let Magnolia and Dan talk. Well, she talked and he grunted, not really eating the sandwich, but staring at her, letting her spoon soup into his mouth. She helped him sip the tea, and she fed him bites of chocolate from a bar she had in her purse. He was in and out, his mind slowly tiring and the fog creeping back in. But as she stood to take away the tray, he gripped her hand. “I love you, Maggie Mae. You’re the best daughter a man could ask for.”
She leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Love you too, Daddy.”
He closed his eyes and slipped into sleep. Not long after, a nurse bustled in, checking his vitals and smiling at us. “His vitals are steady. He’ll be in and out all night,” she said. “We’ll wake him every few hours. You should go home and come back in the morning.”
Magnolia hesitated, staring down at her fingers entwined with her dad’s. Recalling what Dr. Wilson had said, I crouched beside her. “Your dad needs you strong, Maggie darling. And you need to look after yourself. We can go home, eat, and sleep. I’ll have you back first thing.”
She paused then nodded in agreement. “Okay.”
I pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Let’s go.”
Magnolia was asleep when my phone vibrated on my bedside table. Hedgy looked at me, blinking and sleepy, then padded to her pillow, curling back up as if he knew he needed to move. I slipped from bed, already knowing what I would be told when I answered. I had given my number to the head nurse, asking to be contacted in the night if need be.
A few moments later, I stared down at Magnolia, finally asleep, although not resting well. Her brow was furrowed, and her hand clutched the pillow tightly, as if warding off bad dreams. The worst of which was about to come true when I woke her up and told her that her father had passed a short while ago. Peacefully and in his sleep, the nurse assured me. I doubted that would be much comfort to the woman in my bed. I’d had the strangest feeling while we were at the hospital and he was so clear. It was as if he knew it and was saying a final goodbye to the girl he loved so deeply. I crouched beside the bed, reaching out to stroke Magnolia’s hair, surprised to see her dark eyes open and staring at me.
“Hey,” I whispered, pushing her hair from her face.
Tears filled her eyes. “He’s gone, isn’t he?”
“Yeah, Maggie darling. He is.”
She sat up, and I wrapped her in my arms.
“I knew it. He was saying goodbye earlier.”
“I think so.”
“He needed to be sure I was being looked after.” She shuddered. “He was tired.”
“I know, baby,” I murmured, having no idea how to comfort her or what to say. I had little experience with death and grieving. I had been a child when my dad died and had lost my grandmother much earlier. I recall missing them, but not the feeling of adult grief. The understanding that came with the knowledge of losing someone you loved.
“I have to make arrangements.”
“I’ll help you.”
She turned her head to my chest and began to cry. Quiet, subdued tears, unlike the ones earlier.
Somehow, these tears hurt me more.
I held her tight. “I have you, Magnolia. I won’t let go.”
And I meant it.
The following Monday, I faced her in the bedroom. “It’s too soon.”
Magnolia shook her head. “I want to come back to work. I’m going crazy sitting around.”
“Maggie darling—”
She cut me off. “You need me at the office. I need to be busy. I’m coming with you today.”
I stared at her in wonder. She’d been so strong. I’d helped her arrange a small celebration of life for her dad. There had been a good turnout. Many from the office came and paid their respects. Sam came, as did Rylee, and I noticed the friction between them, even though they were polite and stayed away from each other. I met her small group of friends. Many of Dan’s friends, who were still alive and able to, had come and shared stories. She laughed as much as she cried. Smiled and shared her own stories. It was touching to watch.