Prevailing Love

Chapter 19

My dad and I went a little ways down the street from the hospital and found a small diner to grab some food. It was semi busy, but we were soon able to find a booth in the back of the restaurant.

"Coffee, please," I say to the waitress. "and a bagel with cream cheese."

My dad looks at me, "That's not lunch or even dinner. When's the last time you actually had a real meal? You barely picked at the food when we got room service." He takes the menu from my hands and gives both menus to the waitress. "We both will have the filet of sole, medium, not to dry, butter, a baked potato and a side salad."

"What kind of vegetables would you like?"

"Broccoli," my dad replies. "Thank you."

The waitress walks away before my dad leans on the table and looks over at me. "Don't give me that look. A bagel with cream cheese doesn't cut it. You need to eat, real food. You need to still take care of yourself no matter what happens to Steffy."

"I know, but eating is the last thing on my mind." I take a sip of the glass of water that is in front of me. "And obviously drinking," I add.

"You need to make it a priority. If you need help here, just say so. When Steffy gets home if you need help, say so. You need to take care of yourself if you want to also take care of Steffy."

"I know, I know."

"On another subject, Steffy seems to be warming up to you a little more than she was earlier. At least, it doesn't seem like she is shooting daggers at you like she was earlier. Maybe she's starting to reconcile everything that has happened. It can't be easy as you know and I said as much earlier to Steffy."

"No, it's not. It's just another hurdle, but like you've said to me, I need to focus on now and not later."

"That's right," my dad agrees. "See things are so much lighter and easier when you decide to listen to your old man," he smirks.

I roll my eyes at his obvious sarcasm. I exhale before continuing. "What do you think I should do about the kids? I mean, I just told them yesterday that Steffy was probably not going to wake up any time soon and now here she is awake the very next day? It's going to be so confusing for them."

"I'm sure it will be a little confusing, but they will be okay. Both kids are resilient. You just have a little patience with them. I think bringing them to the hospital is a good idea. They still are going to have to get used to this new normal."

"Again, you are right," I smile. "You've been right a lot lately."

"Of course I am. I am also not as emotionally involved in this as you are."

"Maybe we should wait to bring the kids back to the hospital until we get more news from Steffy's doctor about what is next. This way we can give them as much information as we know."

My dad nods, "Yeah, I think that's a better idea."

"Let me just check in with Amelia and the kids and then we can head back to the hospital."

****

Ridge is coming out of Steffy's room when we arrive back at the hospital. "What's going on?" I ask walking over to Ridge. "Is Steffy okay? Why are you out here?" I ask with concern evident in my voice.