Page 90

Marty pulled herself up and looked at her father, but the reluctance in her body was visible.
“I can feel my body failing, and the treatments have ceased working. There is nothing else—”
“There must be something, Daddy. You can’t—”
“Marty!” Simon called, bringing her back to silence. “I need you both to listen to me,” he said, looking to her and then to Derrick. “There is nothing more that can be done, and I am tired. I am just so very tired.” Simon looked at Derrick and then down at Marty. “And I am in pain,” he said, his voice wavering slightly. “I wish to just enjoy what I have left with you both, see you happy and enjoying life,” he paused to take a breath, seemingly to give himself strength, “and when it is my time, I just want to be with you both and to go in peace.”
And now it seemed the time had come.
“Derrick.”
It was Taylor, and Derrick looked to see they were approaching the hospital. It glowed eerily ahead of them.
“We’re here,” she said to him, and Derrick could only stare at her. Deacon, one of the security staff for the Fletcher family, stood waiting in the hospital entrance and came over as soon as they were in sight.
“Mr. Fletcher, Ms. Preston, I will take you up.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Derrick saw Taylor nod and then start to move forward; she grabbed Derrick’s hand and pulled him with her. And thank God she had because Derrick had wanted to stay right where he was and not face any of this.
Deacon led them through a hallway and then to a service elevator, which they took up to the seventh floor. Security guards were in the hallway, and there was a person in a suit who came forward as they made their way down the corridor.
“Mr. Fletcher, I am Ryan Campbell, VP of hospital services. I had wished to meet you downstairs. I am sorry.”
Derrick didn’t say anything. He wasn’t sure what to say.Nice to meet you? No problem?
“Mr. Campbell, we appreciate your assistance, but we really need to get to Mr. Fletcher’s room please,” Taylor said.
“Oh yes, of course,” Campbell mumbled his reply and led them down the hall.
There was more security hanging at the entrance to the hallway and at the end of it. The room they were led to was right smack in the middle.
Henry opened the door, and Derrick walked in with Taylor.
His dad was almost unrecognizable to him lying in the hospital bed and wearing the generic hospital gown. He was still, very still, and his coloring was blanched. He blended in with the white bedding too well. Derrick had just seen him that day, had he looked that pale earlier? Had he really been missing how worn out he looked? Or was the hospital setting making it look worse than it was?
“Derrick,” Marty said through a hiccupped sob as they walked in. She made her way to him, and Taylor released his hand so he could go to her.
Derrick moved forward on his own for the first time since he had gotten her phone call.
“Marty,” was all Derrick could say as he embraced his sister.
“I’m not ready, Derrick. I can’t do this. I’m not ready—I need him,” she said hoarsely into his chest.
“What happened?”
“He collapsed,” she said softly. “He got up from dinner, and he just collapsed …” Marty was cut off as she started sobbing into his shoulder again.
Derrick stroked his sister’s hair and looked over her head at his father. “He is so pale. When did he get so pale?” he whispered.
“I’ve been putting makeup on him,” Marty said.
Derrick pulled back from her and looked at her face to see if she was kidding.
She laughed when she saw his face. “Just a little bronzer, he said if not—”
“If she hadn’t, I’d look like I was starting the much-feared zombie apocalypse,” Simon interrupted weakly. His eyes were still shut, and he lay motionless. If Derrick hadn’t seen his lips move, he would not have believed he had even spoken.
Derrick wanted to go over to his father, but he knew Marty needed him too. But suddenly Taylor was there, and Marty went easily into her open arms. God, what would he do if she weren’t there?