Now that my father is awake and in good hands, I feel better about leaving. So I nod and take off down the hall, toward the cafeteria. I’m halfway to the main door when the waiting room comes into view. I have to do a double take when I see a woman with a bright-green sweater, dark jeans, and lightened brown hair swooped up in a ponytail. I almost laugh when I think the woman could be Maggie. That just goes to show how much I miss her, especially at a time like this while I’m bored and scared out of my mind.
My steps slow until they halt completely at the same time the woman looks up from her phone. Her eyes lock on mine.
Holy shit. “Maggie?”
She jumps up from her seat and walks over to me. Just the confirmation that she’s really here, that she’s not just a mirage, gives my heart a hard jolt.
“Hey,” she says. “I-I just wanted to be here in case you needed… anything.”
The way she’s staring back at me, like she fears she’s imposing, packs my throat with emotion. I reach for her, pull her close, and engulf her in a giant hug. “I can’t believe you’re here.”
She relaxes into me and tightens her hold. “Of course I’m here. I would have come sooner, but I wasn’t sure if you’d want me here.” She peers up at me with bloodshot eyes. “Is everything okay with your dad?”
I nod and give her a small smile to let her know everything is going to be okay. For the first time since coming to Dallas, I truly believe it. “He’ll be fine. Just a little scare, but he’s up and talking about food, just like normal.” I drop a kiss on her forehead then bite down on my lip. “Do you want to meet him?”
Her eyes light up. “Yes. Are you sure that’s okay?”
I nod. “He’s about to eat. Just…” I hesitate, not knowing how much I should explain about my father. “Don’t get offended if he doesn’t talk much. He’s not a talker. And he doesn’t really express much emotion, so it’s not you. It’s just how he is.”
She nods, her gaze still locked on mine. “That’s okay. I’d love to meet him.”
I take her hand and walk her into my father’s room, where Kari is pulling away her equipment after checking his vitals.
“How was everything?”
“His blood pressure is a little high, which could be because of the environment. I’ll have to check again in an hour, but for now, I gave him something to relax him.” She darts a glance at my dad, who is currently engrossed in viewing the photos I left him with. “Although he seems pretty relaxed to me. Keep him that way, okay?” She winks and claps me on the shoulder before walking out.
I pull Maggie around to the other side of my father’s bed, where I positioned the lounge chair last night, and step in front of it. “Hey, Dad.”
It takes him a second before my voice registers, but then he looks up, his bushy gray brows bunching together. “Huh?”
“I want to introduce you to someone.” I nod to my left and smile. “This is Maggie. She helps me at the kitchen.”
He slides his gaze to her and stares at her for a full few seconds before saying anything. “You cook?”
She smiles and darts a bashful look at me. “I try. But I’m not as good as your son.”
“She’s amazing, Dad. Better than when she first stepped foot in the kitchen, that’s for sure. She’s been a big help.”
My dad holds up the tablet and points at the photo he’s looking at now. “This you?”
Maggie’s eyes bulge when she sees the photo of her eating her breakfast two mornings ago. I still remember how sexy she looked wearing my button-down shirt, and how desperately I wanted to capture all the bits she’d cleverly hidden from the frame. I’d only chosen the photos of her where all her bits were covered, but there’s definitely no mistaking that it’s her in that picture.
“That’s me,” she says as she smacks me in the chest with the back of her hand.
My pop doesn’t seem phased in the least. “Did you make that?”
Maggie shakes her head. “No. That was all Desmond. But…” She leans down and taps through the tablet a couple slides back to find the broccoli salad she made for the wedding reception. “I did