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Jude rolled her eyes playfully and stood up. “You’re doing a hell of a lot for me too.”

“How is she doing?”

Dad glanced back into the ward where Mom was having yet another check up.

“The doctors are keeping her under close supervision,” he said, his shoulders rounded with exhaustion. His cheeks hollowed, probably worse than the last time I’d seen him. And his eyes had lost that warm sparkle I’d grown up with.

“That doesn’t tell me anything about her situation.” The anxiety coiled around my gut had become a familiar weight inside me, but it didn’t make it any easier to see Mom stuck in the hospital.

“I know, poppet,” he said sadly. His hand rubbed comforting circles on my back and the guilt smothered me.

I was supposed to be looking after them. I didn’t want Dad to worry about me when it was all he could do to remember to eat. I grabbed his hand and led him back to the plastic-covered chairs. They squawked as we sat down, the plastic dragging along our clothes.

“I know you and Mom always tried to shield me from stuff like this, but…” I paused, wondering if it was the best time to bring it up. But if I didn’t, how would I be able to help? “What is her hospital bill looking like?”

His eyes shuttered and he leaned back in his seat with a tired sigh.

“Dad, please let me help,” I pleaded, squeezing his forearm with both my hands. “I can help now and I wish you’d let me.”

“Frankie,” he said, his face drawn. He dragged out a sigh, rubbing his hand over his face. “As much as I want to keep you out of it, I know you’ve already been funneling money into your mother’s account.”

I ducked my head, guilt heating the back of my neck like I’d been caught with my hands in the cookie jar.

“Yeah, you didn’t think you could fool your old man, did you?” He chuckled drily. “I may not have eyes in the back of my head, but dads can sniff these things out, you know. It’s why we’re always sneezing.”

“Right, and that’s why they’re loud enough to wake the dead.” I snorted, happy that he was smiling at least. I could never imagine how difficult all of this was for him. Helping out with the bill was all I could do just then.

“Don’t sass me, kiddo.”

“Sorry.”

“Anyway,” he said, getting back to business, as he called it, “I also heard from June that you’re working at her store. Is that right?”

“That little tattle tale,” I muttered under my breath. I sighed. “Yes, it’s true. I wanted to do whatever I could to help. I hate seeing you guys struggle. You were talking about going back into the workforce and I just… I couldn’t bear it.”

Dad smiled at me, his grin somber.

“You’ve always been such a good kid, you know,” he murmured, more to himself than me. “I wish it didn’t have to come to this. We’re your parents; we should be taking care of you.”

“But youhave,” I insisted. “You always have, and it’s okay to be taken care of for once. I promise you’ll still be the coolest dad in town.”

He patted my knee without a word, and the doctor finally came out, giving Dad a smile as he walked over.

He fell into conversation with him but I slipped into the ward, eager to see Mom.

I froze at the door, my eyes widening a little.

“You’re standing!” I gasped, rushing over to help the nurse.

Mom’s laugh was a wheeze, her breathing shallow. “You’re here almost as much as your father,” she scolded, accepting my hand nonetheless. “Don’t you want to hang out with friends instead of coming to see me in this boring place?”

“My friends are all promising me to come visit you,” I countered, helping her take small steps around her bed. “Soon, we’ll end up having drinks here. Maybe the nurses will come and dance with us.”

Mom’s nurse, Delilah, smirked. “We’d put y’all to shame,” she teased.

“It’s a competition, then.” I laughed.

We helped Mom back on the bed, and the nurse disappeared.