“Well, St. Jacob of Graphic Design, I have brought an offering for you from Tamarind. If I recall, you martyred yourself with lobster when we were there but you were eyeing my meat like a true carnivore.”
“You’ve brought steak?”
“A steak sandwich and fries.”
“Perceptive as well as beautiful,” he said, slinging his arm around her shoulder. “It’s one of my favorite meals. Thank you so much.”
Britt peered up into his tired face and smiled. She loved him so deeply and they had grown so close in a short time. She wished she could make everything easier for him and give him strength while his father was recovering. He sank into a plastic cafeteria chair and even his posture sagged as though it were a great relief just to sit. He ate the sandwich but it was pretty clear that he was making a huge effort just to be engaged in the present moment.
“How is he doing?” she asked.
“He’s just going into surgery now. There was a delay. He was scheduled at ten this morning and you should’ve seen how grouchy he was. They have to be NPO, which means he can’t have anything to eat or drink. So he was a grump by nine-fifteen. Imagine how much hungrier, weaker, and more pissed off he is by six-thirty.”
“That’s awful! I guess they must’ve had an emergency or something that got prioritized ahead of him.”
“Yeah, they have to triage and the thoracic surgeon who was scheduled to treat him was also the doctor on call when a major car accident came in.”
“I hate that for your dad, though.”
“Me, too.”
“Bread?”
“Yes, thanks,” he said.
Britt took a slice of crusty bread from the container and impulsively spread butter on it for him before passing it to him. It was just a small thing she could do to take care of him, to nurture and spoil
him a little. He managed a smile, which felt like a victory to her.
“Thank you for doing this. You even brought flowers!” he said, indicating the plastic floral arrangement.
“Yes, I picked them from the garden outside,” she said.
“I didn’t know there was a plastic garden outside.”
“There isn’t.”
She grinned as he smiled.
“I needed that,” he said. “I needed you to make me laugh and I needed to see your face. Also, this sandwich is sublime. Seriously. Best steak sandwich ever. I’m grateful, truly.”
“So, it’s okay that I’m here?”
“Yes. It’s better than okay, Britt. I need you here.”
“Then let me stay with you. Please. It’s the only place I want to be. I swear I’ll sit quietly and play on my phone. I won’t bug you. I’ll just hold your hand...unless I’m trying to advance a level on Candy Crush in which case I’ll need both hands, so forget you and your anxieties during that.”
“I’d love to have you stay here with me and I’d be happy to sabotage your progress on any app of your choice by rubbing your knee or refusing to give up possession of your hand.”
“You so wouldn’t.”
“I so would.”
“That’s diabolical. There’s the Jack I know and love. I think the meat has revived you, brought you back to life.”
“Despite the fact that it’s a truly excellent steak sandwich, I think the real credit belongs to you.”
“Thank you.”