Page 102 of Deking
Tears prickle my eyes, but I try to hold them back. Whatever happened isn’t good. I could tell by the tightness in Will’s voice that he was holding back emotion as much as I am now.
“I have to go. I’ll go find a ride. I’m sorry,” I tell her.
She shakes her head as she grabs her bag. “No way. You rode with me. I’ll take you.”
She stands, following me. I should tell her to stay and watch the game, but my mind only has one focus: getting to my father.
She doesn’t say anything until we are in the car. “Where am I going?” she asks.
I look over at her. “Franklin Hospital.”
She nods before putting on the music low for background noise.
Neither of us speaks on the hour ride back to town. I stare out the window bargaining with God to not take my dad. I’m not ready to lose him yet.
I haven’t gotten enough time with him. He hasn’t walked me down the aisle. He needs to hold his grandchildren. To be the grandpa to them that I always imagined my own grandfather would have been had he not died from heart disease when I was a baby.
I don’t know how to live a life without the most important man to me in it. How will I survive?
After an agonizing hour, Cora pulls up to the hospital.
“You don’t have to wait,” I tell her.
“Nonsense. I’ll park and be in. You are part of our family now. That means you have all of us.”
“I’m serious. If you leave now, you might catch the tail end of the game.”
Cora rolls her eyes. “Girl, don’t make me punch you. Get out so I can go park. I’ll be in as soon as I can.”
I nod, not sure how to feel about that right now. There are too many conflicting emotions inside of me, but the only one I can focus on is the dread weighing me down.
Whatever happens, I know stepping through these emergency room doors will change everything.
I take a deep breath, walking through them like ripping a Band-Aid off.
I don’t see Will right away, so I walk up to the desk.
“Hello, I am here to see Jerry Wayne.”
The woman gives me a sympathetic look. “Let me take you back.”
“I have a friend coming in behind me. Her name is Cora James. Can you send her back when she gets here?” I ask her.
“Of course.”
She doesn’t lead me to a hospital room. Instead, she leads me to a small room with several chairs. Inside, Will sits with his head in his hands.
“Will?” My voice cracks.
Then he looks at me, and I know.
“He’s gone, Lyla. I’m so sorry.” He breaks down, sobbing.
I run over to him, dropping to my knees in front of him. My own tears fall freely as I hug his head.
My entire body grows weak as his words truly set in.
He’s gone.
