Chapter 3
Grace had called twice.
"Call Grace back," Dad said. "Ask if the hospital there can take me in."
I stood by the bed and dialed Grace's number.
Edward walked in with the thermos, thinking I was finally willing to talk. He set it down and took Emily out with him.
After I finished explaining, Grace first asked about Dad's test results and then told me to snap a photo of his medical records.
"I'll check with the hospital. Don't move your father just yet; we need to make sure the hospital can take him and the transfer is all set up," Grace said.
I hung up and tucked the blanket around Dad.
He stared at the red marks left on my wrist from moving boxes, staying silent for a long moment before finally speaking.
"If there's anything else you need to grab, go get it. I'll wait here for you; just don't leave anything behind this time."
After I unfolded the folding chair, the hallway was barely wide enough to squeeze through.
I sat on the edge of the chair and reached out to the property manager for the entrance security cam footage.
The staff sent me the video, and I put on my headphones and hit play.
When Dad got out of the car, he held onto the door for a while before finally steadying himself with his cane.
Edward hurried over to help him, and Dad immediately asked how I was doing.
"She's out, but she's still acting up," Edward said, pointing upstairs. "You should go talk to her."
Emily circled around to Dad's other side and snatched his cane.
"Sir, this cane's way overdue for a replacement. Why not join us in the 30-Day Let Go Challenge?" Emily teased.
Dad reached out for it, but Emily backed up onto the steps, playfully hiding the cane behind her.
"Come on, just walk up here and I'll hand it over," Emily teased.
Edward chuckled, "Don't mess with him."
He said it, but didn't even try to grab the cane.
Dad grabbed the railing and took a step, but Emily just backed up another step.
His foot slipped right off the edge of the step, and he lost his balance, falling to the side.
Edward lunged forward, but missed him.
I rewound the video, watched it one more time, and then saved the file.
I heard Dad shifting on the bed; he wanted some water.
I took off my headphones and helped him sit up.
When Edward came back to the hospital room, he brought two bags of fruit and a box of calcium supplements.
He set the calcium on the bedside table, said Emily picked them up, and told me to remember to give them to Dad.
"Check with the doctor first; don't just give them to him," I said.
Edward nodded, moved the folding chair aside, and sat down.
"I cleaned up the house, didn't touch any of your things. Emily even said she wanted to keep watch over you tonight, but I told her no; she wouldn't know the first thing about taking care of someone," Edward said.
He pulled an orange out of the bag, started peeling it, and when he saw me sorting through the medical records, he tried to grab them from me.
"What did the doctor say? Want me to ask someone for you?" Edward asked.
I put the medical records back into the folder.
"It's all taken care of," I said.
The hospital Grace found agreed to admit Dad. The doctors on both sides reviewed his condition and explained what needs to be done for the transfer.
The transfer vehicle is scheduled for 9 AM tomorrow.
The paperwork was buried at the very bottom of the medical records.
Edward pulled the orange apart and set the slices on a napkin.
"See? This is how it should be, just talk things through. A couple days ago you were dead set on leaving, causing all that drama, but in the end, it's always the family that has to clean up the mess," Edward said.
Dad didn't touch the orange.
"Hand over Sophia's keys," Dad said.
Edward wiped his hands, flashed a playful grin, and fished around in his pocket.
"Did she rat me out to you? Come on, I was joking that day, like I'd ever really keep her from coming home," Edward said.
The keys landed on the bedside table, and a piece of cardstock came out with them.
It read: [Failed Escape Award.]
Edward quickly snatched it up and stuffed it into his pocket.
"Emily made that. Don't mind it," Edward said.
Dad handed me the keys.
Edward's phone buzzed. Emily was freaking out on the other end, asking how to turn off the oven because the cookies were starting to smell burnt.
He was still guiding Emily on the phone as he walked out, pausing at the door to turn back.
"I'm bringing dinner over tonight. Let me know what you're craving," Edward said.
Before I could even say anything, Edward was already back on the phone, telling Emily, "Don't touch it; it's hot. Just hang on. I'll take care of it when I get back."
After the door closed, Dad pushed the orange slices Edward had peeled, along with the napkin, over to the edge of the bag.
"Go ahead, the caregiver will be here any minute," Dad said.
I waited for the caregiver to arrive, made sure everything was set, and then headed home to grab my things.
The mover showed up with a hand truck this time.
I packed up six boxes of clothes and books, and sealed Mom's things in a separate box.
Emily was sprawled out on the couch, watching a variety show. When she saw me, she asked if I was here to grab my overnight clothes for the hospital.
The movers lifted the workbench, and Emily finally turned down the TV.
"You're moving this too? What, are you running a business at the hospital now?" she teased.
I taped up the loose drawer and didn't say anything.
She called Edward, her phone camera tracking the movers.
Edward had people waiting for a meeting and just took a quick look at the screen.
"Let her move if she wants. Don't stop her, or she'll say you messed with her stuff again," he said.
Emily held the phone out to me.
"You heard him, right? He said it's up to you," she said.
I walked over and placed the document on the dining table.
She flipped open the first page, read out "Divorce Agreement," and then held it up for Edward to see.
"Looks like the drama's getting an upgrade. Your wife's sending you a return request," she joked.
Edward took off one earbud. "Just leave it for now. We'll talk about it when I get home tonight."
"Still trying to smooth things over?" Emily teased.
"Alright, stop teasing her," Edward said.
The video call ended, and Emily tossed the agreement onto the table.
I pressed the keys down on top of it and went to the door to check the number of boxes with the movers.
She followed me, watching as the elevator doors opened.
"You're really moving? If you end up wanting your stuff back later, Edward won't help you move it again," she said.
The movers steadied the cart and asked her to step aside.
I pressed the close button.
When the nurse came in to check the transfer paperwork, my dad already had his coat on.
I helped him onto the transfer bed with the medical staff and handed his cane to the attendant who was riding with us.
There was still a bunch of fruit left by the window.
Dad noticed and told me to give it to the person in the next bed.
I took the fruit over and came back, just as Edward called. "The caregiver will be here at ten. Come home and get some rest."
"No need for the caregiver," I replied.
"So who's going to look after Dad? You can't keep running yourself ragged," he said.
The nurse called me over to check my meds. I told Edward I had stuff to do and hung up.
Edward was about to say something else, but I hung up on him.
The transfer van pulled up outside the inpatient department. After Dad was settled in, he tugged at my sleeve.
"Did you get everything?" he asked.
I patted the duffel bag next to me. "It's all here."
Only then did he let go, letting the medical staff secure the seatbelt.
The van door closed, and another video popped up on my phone.
Emily was standing in front of the closet, hanging her clothes in the empty space.
"Sophia, if you don't come back soon, this spot's gonna be mine," she teased.
I ignored her.
When the caregiver called, Edward was packing up lunch into an insulated bag.
"Mr. Bennett, did you maybe give me the wrong room number? The nurse said your dad's already been moved," the caregiver said.
Edward stopped what he was doing.
"I just talked to my wife this morning," he said.
"The family left together, and all the paperwork was done ahead of time. You might want to check with her. Should I stick around, or just head home?" the caregiver asked.