Page 101 of Hard Rock Heat

For the first time, that lump of anxiety and dread that I felt in my chest whenever I thought of Dad began to fade. "Yeah.Okay."

"Ms. Briars?" A nurse with a kind smile poked her head around the hallway corner. "Your father is awake now if you and your sister would like to seehim."

That lump threatened to solidify again. Hope laid a hand on myshoulder.

"Let's go see him," she urged. "We need to talk this out." She squeezed my shoulder. "Youneed to talk this out. You've been the one taking care of him this wholetime."

I inhaled a shaky breath. Inodded.

"Yeah. Let's go talk toDad."

Chapter Thirty-Two

Our father was recliningin bed with a pillow propping him up. His legs were in traction, both with pure white casts. His face was pale, washedout.

Hope walked through the doorway first. His face registered surprise. He hadn't seen my sister in a year ormore.

At least he could still tell usapart.

"Hi Dad. How are you feeling?" sheasked.

He stared at her, then flicked his gaze to me as I shuffled in awkwardly behind her. He lowered his eyes, avoiding mine. He didn'treply.

"Has the doctor talked to you yet?" Hope continued, as if the room wasn't rife withtension.

Dad noddedshortly.

"You're going to need a lot of care," she said matter of factly. "And it's not fair to make Faith take care of you the way she's been doing. We're going to hire someone to look afteryou."

He noddedagain.

Hope looked to me. I shrugged helplessly. I'd never known how to act around Dad, other than to pretend everything was fine. She leaned in to whisper tome.

"You need to talk to him," shemurmured.

My hands shook, anxiety rising back up in mychest.

This had gone on too long. Hope was right. I had to saysomething.

I turned toDad.

"Why won't you look at us?" Iasked.

Dad froze, looking alarmed, no doubt at how forthright I'dbeen.

"I know it was hard for you, right after Mom died, but it's been years," I said, not unkindly. "You need to see someone. A therapist, a doctor, someone who canhelp."

Our father's face twisted withdistaste.

"Faith is right," Hope jumped in. "I had no idea things had gotten this bad. If I had, I would have insisted on your going into therapy sooner. It was one thing when you threw yourself into your work, but this is different. You needhelp."

"I know I've been taking care of you all this time, but I just…" My voice turned choked. "I just can't do it anymore. I'm sorry, but I can't—" I had to stop, blinking backtears.

Dad looked up. He met my eyes. He was silent for long moments.Then…

"You were always the strong one," he saidmurmured.

I flinched. "What?"