Page 100 of Attractive Forces

After a few minutes, Mum sticks her head in the door.

“I can’t come in because phones can interfere with the equipment, but I have your father on a video call now.”

I get to my feet. I glance back as I leave the room, but Annaliese has remained sitting by Aaron’s side.

Once I’m out in the corridor, Mum wordlessly hands me her phone.

“Jake.”

My father’s face fills the screen. He’s wearing a gray shirt, and behind him is a concrete wall.

His face is creased more than I remember, and he’s got a rough beard where I’ve never seen him anything but clean-shaven.

But it’s still Dad. And the tears that have been threatening all day suddenly come tumbling out.

“Dad,” I choke out.

My legs feel weak. I stumble to one of the chairs lining the corridor and sit.

“Jake.” Dad’s voice is choked as well, and his eyes are shiny. “Have you seen Aaron?”

“We’ve just been to see him now,” I manage. I take a deep breath, trying to get control of my voice. “He looks so small in the hospital bed.”

Dad rubs his face. “He’s in the best possible place. The doctors know what they’re doing.”

Suddenly I feel someone sliding into the seat next to me.

“Hey, Dad,” Annaliese says softly, leaning her head on my shoulder. I tilt the phone so the camera can fit more of her on the screen.

“Annie.” He uses her nickname from when she was a kid. A tear slides down Annaliese’s face.

“You guys do everything you can to support your mum, okay?” he says.

“Okay.”

“I’m sorry I can’t be there.” Dad’s voice thickens.

There’s a noise in the hallway, and when I twist around, Mum’s watching us, gnawing at her lip.

“When Aaron wakes up, we’ll call you again,” I say. “I’m sure Aaron would like to talk to you.”

“I’d like that.” Dad’s voice is soft.

Mum wordlessly takes her phone off me, lifting it up so Dad can see her. “We’ll be in touch,” she says.

“Thank you.”

Dad’s words linger even after Mum presses the button to end the call.

For a few seconds, we all just stare at each other.

“He’s still our father,” Annaliese says.

Mum takes a shaky breath. “I know,” she says finally.

I’m strugglingto keep a lid on my emotions as I walk back into the waiting room.

Logan takes one look at my face, then stands and pulls me through the doors and down a corridor into the service stairwell.