What Happens on the Cruise

74. 10,000 Hours

"What are we doing here?" Tim asked as the Uber pulled into a strip mall.

"Getting you a new phone," Betsy replied.

"Oh, good idea," Tim said as he eyed the florists next to the mobile store.

"Wait here. We won't be long," Betsy told the Uber driver.

***

Austin looked up from the clear liquids the hospital was mocking him by calling breakfast and smiled as Tim walked in. "Did you buy me flowers?"

"I did." Tim set a bouquet on Austin's bedside table, leaned down and kissed him. "I'm so happy to see you awake."

"I'm happy to be awake," Austin answered, then nodded toward the second bouquet Tim was still holding. "Are those for Ericha?"

"They are. I'll be right back."

"Okay. I love you."

"Love you, too."

Tim nodded to Austin's mom as he headed out the door and she walked in, carrying a small teddy bear.

***

"Hey!" Chris greeted Tim. "I was just going to stop by and see Austin."

Tim gave him a one-armed hug and nodded to Adam. "I bought some flowers for Ericha. I know she's not awake yet, but I thought it would be good for her to have something nice to look at when she does."

"Thanks," Adam said. "I hadn't really thought about that."

Tim shrugged. "I got a new phone this morning and there was a florists next door."

"Have you looked at the Facebook page?" Chris asked.

Tim shook his head.

"A fan posted a link to a newspaper article about the crash. All our social media accounts have exploded."

"So many thoughts and prayers," Adam commented.

"Well, maybe they helped," Tim said thoughtfully.

"Yeah?" Chris asked, smiling cheerfully.

"Yeah." Tim set down the flowers and regarded the two brothers. "Austin... Austin died on the operating table last night."

"What?!" both brothers cried in unison.

"Oh, my God, Tim, are you--"

"It's okay, it's okay. He came back," Tim interrupted Chris. "But he was dead. The doctor had called it and everything."

"Fucking hell," Adam swore. "Is he okay?"

"No brain damage or anything?" Chris asked.

"He's fine." Tim spread his hands wide. "He had a whole-ass conversation with his dead grandmother, but he's fine."

"I can't even..." Adam shook his head.

"You read about miracles," Chris said, "but just..."

"I know. I know. I'm just glad I still have him."

Adam reached out and took Ericha's hand. "I guess that can give us all some hope."

Tim nodded. "I guess so."

***

"I love you, too, Dad. I'll talk to you later," Austin was saying as Tim walked back into his room. "Okay. Bye." Austin ended the call and gave Tim a smile. "There's my man now."

"Where's your mom?"

"She left to give me some privacy." Austin set Betsy's phone on the bedside table. "We're going to need to replace my phone, too."