Page 32 of Midnight

“I’m just an emotional wreck. I’ll be fine.”

Moments later, they heard footsteps in the hall, and then people were walking past the waiting room.

“Visiting time is over,” Asher said, and kissed her hands before letting her go. “Hold that thought. Brothers approaching. I can hear them arguing from here.”

* * *

Dylan was standing on one side of their dad’s bed, holding his hand and talking to him about Angie, and when they were planning on getting married, and Gunner was speaking quietly to a nurse when Dylan felt movement in Jacob’sfingers. At first, he thought it was just a muscle twitch, but then he leaned down and whispered in Jacob’s ear.

“Dad… Daddy… It’s Dylan. Can you hear me?”

Seconds later, Jacob’s fingers tightened just enough that Dylan felt the grip. He gasped, then called out to the nurse, who hurried over with Gunner beside her.

“I think he’s trying to wake up. I was talking to him and holding his hand and felt his fingers twitch. Then I leaned down and asked him if he could hear me, and he actually gripped my hand.”

The nurse began checking the blood pressure readings and the heart monitor, and then quickly took his pulse and checked the pupils in his eyes. “I’m going to contact Dr. Reading,” she said, and headed for the nurses’ station to deliver the message as Gunner moved closer.

“Dad, it’s me, Gunner. Asher is here, too. Keep fighting. We love you.”

“He squeezed my hand again,” Dylan said.

Gunner looked up at his brother with tears in his eyes. “Thank the Lord.”

On the heels of their revelation, visiting hours ended.

“Dad, we have to leave now. Visiting hours are over. But we’ll be back. Just keep getting better,” Dylan said.

They walked away, eager to tell Asher the news, and then walked into the waiting room and saw their visitor. They paused, then started grinning and headed toward her with a single intent.

“Brace yourself,” Ash said as she stood to greet them, and then once again, she was engulfed in a group hug.

“How wonderful to see you,” Dylan said. “Thanks for coming. It means a lot to all of us.”

“Really great to see you,” Gunner said. “And very sorry to hear about your parents. Life has dealt you quite a hand.”

She forced a smile as she was blinking back tears.“Adulting is not as much fun as we thought it would be, is it?” she said, and then changed the subject by opening the bag she’d brought with her. “Three giant pieces of Pearl’s cherry pie. Forks included,” she said.

“Oh man, thank you!” Dylan said, and began doling out the containers. “Wait. You didn’t bring one for yourself. Now how do we eat this in front of you without feeling like pigs?”

“I’ll share my piece with her,” Ash said. “She ate off my plate for years.”

“Oh, look, there are four forks in the sack,” Gunner said, and handed one to her, as they all moved to one of the tables in the canteen to eat.

A man entered the waiting room, and a few moments later, other visitors began trickling in.

Nora was eyeing the people’s faces, empathizing with their worry and sorrow, understanding that tragedy had brought them here.

“It’s like this all day long,” Ash said as he opened the box holding his piece of pie. “You get first bite for bringing the treat.”

“Nora, honey, do you want coffee or a soft drink?” Dylan asked.

“Coffee, please. I can’t seem to stay warm,” she said.

He got up to get the drinks as they began to eat. Nora didn’t take more than a couple of bites before she put her fork down.

“You can’t quit this soon,” Asher said.

She shrugged. “I don’t have much of an appetite these days.”