Forever (Always & Forever 2)

“How do you know with such certainty how their end would be?” Dr. Adams held his hand as tightly as if Landon was a life-preserver in a deep dark turbulent ocean.

That was a harder question. Landon searched for some answer he thought Dr. Adams could accept. “Because it was in Vice President Adams’s words. It’s all there. He loved and was proud of you and your sister—very proud. He loved his family, but he saw his husband as his soul mate, and he didn’t mince words in making that clear to the world. Your father was his reason to live. They weren’t going to live without each other. I wouldn’t hesitate to bet my money on Vice President Adams being proud of how well you took care of your father to the very end, until they could be together again.”

Dr. Adams just shook his head, instantly denying his explanation. With his free hand, he wiped at the tears sliding down his cheek. “I can’t get there.”

“You’ve got to. I promise you they’re together. That should be enough. To hang on to the idea that you could have saved your father, that your actions could have stopped the inevitable, means everything Vice President Adams said in his books wasn’t true. It means they weren’t connected souls,” Landon said, his head and his heart vehemently holding on to that truth.

“What if it’s not true?”

Landon’s brow dropped and his eyes narrowed. Dr. Adams was a hardheaded thing. “You can’t think that way, Doc, because you’re wrong. I know it. I keep telling you I saw the truth that night.” A strong breeze blew across them in the otherwise still night, sending a small smattering of leaves stirring between them. Dr. Adams let go of his hand, reaching for the napkins on the table, stopping them before they blew away. He used one to wipe his eyes. Those vibrant blue orbs still brimmed with tears as he spoke.

“I chose cardiology to help make a difference in my family’s legacy. Now I can’t see myself ever performing surgery again. Something’s turned off inside me.” Dr. Adams let out a sigh and reached for his water bottle, draining the last little bit. “I’m sorry I dumped all this out on you. I know there’s no way for you to know, but I don’t do this. I think I’ve talked to you more this week than I’ve talked to anyone in my life.”

“I’m honored,” Landon said simply, making Dr. Adams smile.

“I doubt that. Before I came here, I was stalling on finalizing my parents’ estate. I didn’t want to deal with any of it. I was remembering Dad’s last words to me. He said, ‘It’s not enough to have the feathers. You must dare to fly.’ Within seconds of the thought, a fluffy white feather blew across my desk and landed on a brochure for this hospital. There was no reason for any sort of feather to be in my house. I know it sounds crazy, but that’s how I got here. I even had to pull strings to get approval to come. I’m trying as hard as I can to see life from a different perspective.” Dr. Adams took a deep, cleansing shuddering breath while Landon held his tongue, hoping to hear more. “We should get you inside.”

Landon surely didn’t qualify as any sort of a counselor, so he reluctantly let the doctor change the subject only because he didn’t know how to keep him talking. “I’m still volunteering to be left out here for the night.”

“We’re late for your medication. They’ll be looking for you soon.”

“Buzz kill,” he teased, watching Dr. Adams quickly grab their things before taking them to the closest trash bin. When he came back to Landon, Dr. Adams took the seat again, silently staring at him for a good long second before speaking.

“Thank you for this tonight. Thank you for everything you’ve done. I don’t know how to ever repay you, but you’ve helped me.” Dr. Adams placed his hand on Landon’s arm, giving a gentle squeeze then lingered there. He liked this doctor touching him far too much, but more importantly, he wanted the doctor eased from the heavy burden he carried. Humor seemed the best possible way.

“Doc, I’ve told you how. Leave me out here.” Landon got the smile he wanted, that sexy grin was back as Dr. Adams placed the book in Landon’s lap and shoved to his feet, going around to the back of his chair. He started pushing Landon toward the door.

“Then let’s just leave it at a verbal thank-you for now so I can keep my job.” The intimacy of the moment passed as an aide met them at the back door, helping him inside.

Chapter 5

Robert did what he had done almost every morning for the past month: opened his eyes wide and listened to the noises around him. The energy felt odd. It was lighter in the room than normal, and he lifted his left arm to look at the time. Seven-oh-three in the morning. He had slept in by about four hours, and he felt good. The much-needed calm held, and he dropped his arm back to the bed, closing his eyes again. He inhaled deeply and stretched his long body in the soft sheets. A smile ghosted his lips. That was new too.