“Can I go see him?”
Dr. Verner smiled. “Of course. He's sleeping right now, but you're welcome to go in.”
“Thank you, doctor,” I replied, shaking his hand. I grinned at Charlotte and then took off for the door at the quietest sprint I could manage.
I paused for a moment with my hand on the doorknob. My whole body was shaking. I was afraid that I would see him hooked up to a bajillion machines like Mom had been. Slowly, I held my breath and opened the door.
Inside, Dad was fast asleep in a massive four-poster bed. For the first time in my life, he looked small. Human. The man who was always my super hero suddenly looked like an ordinary person. I stifled a sob and took a step further inside. There were some monitors and wires, but I was glad that he looked like he was sleeping normally. He was even wearing the pajamas I had gotten him for Christmas two years ago.
“Hi, Daddy,” I whispered, kneeling at his side.
I took his hand in mine, glad to feel it warm and full of life. He looked so peaceful, that if I hadn't just experienced the day, I never would have guessed that anything was wrong. His cheeks were pink again and his chest moved in a comfortable, easy rise and fall.
I kissed his hand, holding it to my cheek. I could feel the steady pulse of his heart through his wrist. “Don't leave me, Daddy. I don't know what I'd do if I lost you, too.”
He just kept sleeping, and I finally let the tears I had been holding back all day stream silently down my face.
Chapter 9
I sat at the kitchen table with my computer, tablet, and several maps of the house scattered around me as I worked. A glass of lemonade sat half-full beside me, but I had mostly forgotten about it. I had to come up with a new plan on how to appraise everything in the house on the same timescale, but with my father laid up in bed. It was going to take some doing, but I think I had figured out a way to get it all done.
The kitchen light flickered on overhead, making me blink as the light blinded me. The sun must have set at least an hour ago without me noticing the change.
“Thank you,” I said, trying to focus on the person joining me in the kitchen. “I didn't realize how dark it had gotten.”
Mr. Belrose stood at the light switch. He was wearing a dark blue dress shirt and black dress pants that seemed like they might be a bit much for the tropical heat¸ even with the air conditioner on in the house. I was almost too warm in my linen pants and a tank top. I had abandoned the light, conservative sweater I wore to cover my arms hours ago.
“How are you doing?” he asked, taking a step further into the kitchen and then pausing as if he didn't want to scare me. His eyes were tired and the scar across his cheek and eyebrow looked deeper and darker than they had this morning. I thought of his smile and just how long ago that sunrise had been. It felt like weeks instead of just a day.
I opened my mouth, ready to say the platitudes that everyone says, but then I looked at the table. He had been there today. I didn't have to lie and say “good.”
“I'm not sure, to be honest,” I answered truthfully. “ I'm working on it, but I'm not sure. It's been kind of a crazy day.”
He nodded, his gray eyes full of understanding and shadows.
“I want you to know, though, that we'll still complete the appraisal on time,” I informed him. I picked up a piece of paper and frowned at it. “Well, pretty close to on time. It might take me a day or two extra, but I'll have it done by the time of the auction even if I have to work twenty-four hours a day to do it.”
“Good.”
A polite, but awkward silence hung in the air between us as he hovered in the doorway. He looked at me, his gray eyes taking in every detail. I knew I must look like a mess. I could see the tangles of my red hair from the corners of my eyes and I certainly felt like a disaster.
“Have you eaten anything today?” He finally asked, taking another step into the kitchen.
“Um...” I tried to remember, but I honestly couldn't recall the last bite of food I had put in my mouth. I wasn't about to tell him that though. “I'm sure I have...”
My stomach grumbled loudly, betraying me.
“I'll make you something then,” he said, the corner of his mouth twitching up as he went to the fridge.
“You really don't have to go to any trouble, Mr. Belrose.” I watched in horror as the billionaire opened the fridge and began piling ingredients onto the counter. I was sure he had much better things to do than make some random employee dinner.
“It's no trouble. I was going to make some for myself anyway,” he replied, pulling out a pan.
“Thank you.” I bit my lip for a second. “And thank you for all your help today with my dad. I really appreciate it, Mr. Belrose.”
“It was no trouble at all. I'm just glad I was there.” He stopped and looked at me, his blue eyes going to mine and holding me captive. “Please, call me Bastian. If you're going to have me save family members and then sit in my kitchen in the dark, we might as well be on a first name basis.”
“Okay... Bastian.” I smiled. Saying his first name felt strange, but wonderful. I knew I would probably end up calling him Mr. Belrose out of habit, since he was still my employer, but I liked it. It felt right in my mouth.