“I know. I’m sure it was the stress of being in public with Clara, the reporters surrounding them…”
“Finding out about Gabrielle’s pregnancy, Amber leaving, you going after her because she was in trouble,” Derek continued. “Your father’s had a lot to deal with today in the one area of his life he doesn’t cope with well.”
Mike nodded. “I’m just glad he’d okay. I’ve made an appointment for him with Dr. Shelby.”
“You might not need to go. Dr. Shelby was called in to consult. She’s going to evaluate him before they let him go home, assuming the rest of the tests come back negative, too.”
Mike exhaled a long breath. “I need to see him.”
Derek pointed to the closed curtain. “They gave him something to calm him down and he’s sleeping. Gabrielle’s standing watch outside as you can see, and Clara’s sitting beside him inside.”
“I take it there was no telling her ‘family only’?” Mike asked, laughing. The other woman had reinvaded his father’s life and obviously decided she was staying.
Mike was grateful. His father needed someone to love him. After all his years alone, he deserved that. Mike just hoped Edward would be able to enjoy it someday.
“I hate to bring this up, but what happened with Amber?” Derek asked.
Mike shook his head, still in shock himself. “When it rains, it pours, my cousin.” He filled Derek in on the events of the last hour, including how Amber had taken off before they could connect.
“In other words, she bolted before you had the guts to face her.”
He laughed at Derek’s uncanny accuracy. “That’s right. Now shut the hell up and let me think.”
“About?”
“About the fact that I can’t get out there until I get Edward settled. Which means Amber’s going to have a three-day bus ride to build up her walls and begin to hate my guts.” His stomach tightened at the unavoidable thought.
Derek hung his arm around Mike’s shoulder in a how of support. “Look, she’s smarter than you are. Maybe she won’t hold it against you.”
“Funny. She’s female, isn’t she?”
Derek grinned. “Last time I looked.”
“Then she’ll hold it against me,” Mike said. He’d earned any grudge Amber chose to hold on to.
She’d offered him everything and he’d turned her away. Why would she believe in him now?
THREE DAYS AFTER Edward was admitted and evaluated, Dr. Shelby discharged him. Mike was relieved and met the doctor in his father’s room when she told him the good news.
“Mr. Corwin, we’ll be releasing you today,” Dr. Shelby said to Edward, who was sitting up in his hospital bed. “I’m sorry it took this episode for us to meet. But as I explained to your son earlier, I’d like to start you on a medication for mild anxiety. We’ll meet at my office next week and see how you’re doing on it, if that’s okay. I’m hopeful that with weekly visits and the proper medication, we can improve how you’ve been feeling,” she said.
Edward, normally blustery and talkative, remained sullen and quiet.
“Dad?” Mike sat down on the chair close to the side of the bed.
For the last few days, Edward had refused to even look at Mike. Yet despite his behavior, Mike held out hope that his father was finally getting the treatment he needed and that things would finally improve for the older man.
“Did you hear that? Your heart’s fine and you’re going home,” Mike clarified.
Silence.
“Edward, your son’s talking to you,” Clara said, no edge in her tone.
Because she wasn’t immediate family, she hadn’t been permitted to spend the nights at the hospital. But she’d been by his side every waking minute since Edward had been admitted.
Edward shrugged. “I got nothing to say to him. He thinks I’m crazy.”
“No, I think you’re sick and you need help,” Mike said with much less patience than Clara exhibited.