With my siblings and some of their spouses seated on either side of me in the long row of chairs outside the surgical doors, and the rest of our family gathered around the room, I watch my mom pace back and forth while chewing on her bottom lip. My hands ball into fists on the arms of my chair, and I close my eyes. My dad is the strongest man I know, but he’s not invincible.
Today, he decided to ride his bike to work, a gift my siblings and I got him when he turned fifty. The black Harley was his dream ride, and our mom loathed it but never deterred him from riding when he felt the urge. From what we were told, a car hit him as he got off to exit the highway. The driver of the car never checked before they changed lanes and side-swiped him. In his truck, he would have been fine, but on his bike, he didn’t stand a chance—broken bones and internal injuries. Gritting my teeth, I open my eyes, refusing to think about what could have been. Right now, I just need to trust the doctors who are currently working on him.
Feeling restless, I get up and go to my mom, and when she sees me get close, she stops and tips her head back. The pain I see in her eyes makes my chest ache. If she loses my dad, I don’t know if she will survive, and I know Dad would feel the same if the situation were reversed. They can’t live without each other; they are two halves of a whole. The love they have for each other goes beyond just to have, to hold, and to keep; it’s everlasting and something that can never be replaced.
I wrap my arms around her and pull her against me like she would do when I was a kid whenever I needed comfort. Her tears start to wet my shirt, and I fight through the pain in my chest. I know she’s worried, but I also have faith that everything will be okay, and right now, I need to be strong for her and Dad.
“Sophie Mayson.” I turn at my mother’s name and watch a short, older man who looks exhausted step farther into the room.
“I’m Sophie,” Mom says, wiping the tears from her cheeks.
“Can we talk?” he asks, glancing around before looking at her once more.
“These people are Nico’s family. You can talk here,” Mom replies, and he nods once.
“Your husband is doing great, and he’s being taken to recovery as we speak.” At his statement, Mom sags against me, and the knot in the center of my chest eases. “We thought his liver sustained more damaged than it did, which would have made things more complicated. He’s very lucky.” He glances around at everyone. “Not to say it’s going to be an easy road, but with time and some physical therapy, he should make a full recovery.”
“Thank you,” Mom chokes out, burying her face against my chest.
“When can we see him?” I ask, knowing Mom would ask if she weren’t sobbing.
“A nurse will come down once they have him settled.”
“Thank you,” I say, listening to that sentiment echoed behind me from everyone else in the room.
“You’re welcome.” He pulls a card from his pocket and hands it over to Mom, whose hands are shaking. “That has my cell number on it. If you have any questions or concerns, don’t be afraid to call.”
“Thank you,” Mom responds, and he gives her a reassuring smile then turns and leaves. Once he’s gone, the energy in the room lightens and everyone gets up to gather around Mom to share in her relief. A few minutes later, a nurse comes in to let us know that only two people at a time will be allowed in the recovery room, but once Dad is moved to a private room, he can have a few more visitors. My uncles, their wives, and my cousins decide to head home then, saying they will be back in the morning. So that with Mom understandably sticking to Dad’s side, my siblings and I can take turns visiting him in recovery.
Time seems to drag as the night wears on, and by the time Dad is situated in his room, it’s after seven at night, and I feel like I’ve spent the day on a roller coaster. Exhausted, I put my feet up on the window ledge next to where Bax and Sage are sitting and scrub my hands down my face.
“You guys need to go home.” Dad’s gruff voice breaks through the silence in the room, and I turn to find him focused on Mom, Willow, and Nalia, who are all curled up together on the bed one of the nurses made up next to his.
I get up and walk toward him as he attempts to sit up. “We want to be here.” I hold out my hand so he can use it for leverage, and he pulls himself up in the bed.
“I know.” He flinches, I have no doubt he’s in pain, even with the drugs he’s been given. A broken leg, three broken ribs, plus being cut open would be too much for even the strongest person to handle. “You can all come back tomorrow. You don’t need to stay the night.” He looks at my brothers Bax and Sage, then my sisters Nalia, who just flew in this afternoon, and Willow. The only one of us not here is Harmony, and that’s only because she’s pregnant and Mom kicked her out after her husband brought sandwiches earlier.
“Your dad is right.” Mom sits up, brushing her hair out of her face. “It’s getting late. Visiting hours are going to be ending soon. You can all come back tomorrow.”
“Babe, you should go home too,” Dad says, and Mom looks at him, narrowing her eyes.
“I’m not going home.”
His jaw clenches. “I don’t want you sleeping on that thing all night. You should go home.”
“This is not even up for discussion, Mr. Mayson. I’m not leaving your side,” she hisses then looks at her kids. “You guys do need to go home.”
“Dad,” Nalia calls, and his eyes soften on her.
“Go get some rest. You can come back tomorrow, sweetheart,” Dad repeats, and she looks at him with tears in her eyes. “I’m happy you’re home.”
When my sister starts to sob, Mom pulls her against her chest, and I look at Sage, noticing his jaw clenching and unclenching. Unlike the rest of us, he doesn’t understand why she moved away or why she’s been so adamant about having a relationship with their birth mother, a woman who neglected them as children. I can’t say I truly understand her reasoning, but I do know how it feels to search for something, never really sure what that something is. I also know my sister feels guilty for being so torn, and I feel it’s my duty as her brother to make sure she knows that no matter what, we will be here when she figures things out.
Once her tears die down, Mom lets her go, and she stands, going to the bed and carefully giving Dad a hug before looking at Sage when he calls her name.
“Your nephew will be happy you’re in town. You’re welcome to stay with me and Kim while you’re here.”
“Aww, can I come sleep over too?” Willow asks.
Sage rolls his eyes. “Are you going to keep my kid up all night like you did the last time you stayed over?”
“It wasn’t all night, and we were watching Trolls, not playing beer pong. You make it seem like I’m a bad influence.”
“You are a bad influence. You spoil him.”
“He’s my nephew. It’s my job to spoil him.” She sighs, getting up off the bed before leaning over to hug Mom then going to Dad to kiss his cheek.
“Whatever.” Sage shakes his head then goes to Mom, mimicking my sister, before going to Dad and resting his forehead to his. After that, the three of them leave, and I wait until Bax says goodnight to do the same.