Sandy had Cole help her take the luggage upstairs while Sydney and her dad went to the kitchen. They hadn't said much beyond pleasantries. Sydney was thinking of how to broach the subject of his cancer when he cracked open a beer and offered it to her. She wrinkled her nose.
"You know better. Beer's awful," she said, unable to suppress a smile.
He kept the beer and sat across the kitchen island from her.
"I figured college might've changed you," he said, winking. She was glad to see him smile.
"Should you be drinking that?"
"Not like it's going to kill me, is it?"
He actually laughed. She didn't know if she felt more shocked or hurt.
"I don't know what to say. Or if I should say anything. I just can't wrap my head around it. I'm so sorry."
The smile left his face.
"Don't be. You didn't cause it. We don't have to talk about it. Genetics though, so make sure you have regular screenings. Even after... Sandy will chew you a new hide if you don't. And that's all we gotta say about it," he paused to take another swallow of beer, "I've missed you, girl."
"I've missed you too, Daddy."
He furrowed his brows for a moment, his eyes creasing at the corners. Then his face relaxed and he scratched his chin. She knew what it meant. Something was on his mind, and he'd just made a decision on what to do about it.
"There's something we need to talk about, and it isn't the cancer. But I don't want to do it right now. Not being rude, but when's Cole leaving?"
"We just got here, Daddy. After an almost nineteen hour drive. I'm sure he'll appreciate getting some sleep. He's got a test this Friday, so he'll probably leave tomorrow some time. I thought you liked him?"
He made a hmph sound and finished his beer just as Sandy and Cole came back downstairs and into the kitchen. Sydney made a mental note to return to this particular conversation later.
***
The rest of the night was uneventful. Everyone made a point of keeping conversation light; surface level. Dinner was light, too, cold cuts on French bread. Sandy spent some time on the phone with Jordan and let them know he had a layover, so he wouldn't be joining them until the following day. Sydney and Cole went up to bed around ten.
She had been dreaming a good dream, but something woke her. She looked to the clock. It was just after three in the morning. A shiver tore down her spine. She could swear there was someone other than her and Cole in the room. It was easy to imagine eyes peering out from the recessed shadows of the closet. Cole lay beside her, lightly snoring. She cuddled against him and pulled the covers up over here face, feeling silly even as she did it.
When next she woke, it was after noon and she had the bed to herself. She uttered a profanity as she realized she couldn't go back to sleep. Cole would probably be leaving soon. She threw on some sweatpants and a tank top, smoothed her hair in front of the dresser mirror, then trudged downstairs to the kitchen. It was odd to see her father and Cole sat drinking beers and watching a game on the small tv.
"Good morning," Cole said, standing to make her a coffee, "or, afternoon?"
"It's one of them," she answered, motioning for him to sit.
She put a pod in the coffee machine and pressed the button before realizing Sandy was standing at the end of the counter, motioning Sydney over with a slight movement of her head. Sydney gave her what she hoped was an inquisitive look. In response, Sandy looked to Cole and Sydney's dad, then back at Sydney. Then she lifted her left hand as if inspecting her nails. It was too soon in the day for charades so she gave a small shrug to show she hadn't caught on. Sandy cleared her throat and looked at Cole.
