Stolen HeART
Father's Day
By the time I got back to Charlie, his eyes were opened and his pillow propped him up. I found my best everything-is-ok smile and did my best to casually walk over to the chair I had occupied since I arrived. Dreadful coffee in hand, I placed it on his bedside table and turned to study his now awakened face.
My hands slowly smoothed his greying baby soft hair so that he didn't look like some crazy professor of science.
His breathing now sounded level; his oxygen mask was pulled away from his face and rested on his chin. I kissed his forehead and sighed.
"You're going to nag me aren't you?" Even though the croakiness of his voice surprised me slightly, I still frowned at his ability to deflect the situation away from himself.
"What'd you think?" I tried to keep the stern features of my face in place for a bit longer to prove the point of me meaning business.
"You've told Carlisle off haven't you?" He asked.
The sternness of my features that I had tried so hard to keep in place now disappeared and a genuine smile replaced it. "You bet I did. James is next on the list." I studied his face as he listened intently to the sounds coming from the corridor.
His face now showed him to be deep in thought and I lowered my eyes and stopped watching him. I busied myself as I smoothed out his blanket and straightened the area surrounding his bed.
"Are you going to stay mad at us for long?" He placed his hand over mine. I sighed and sat back down in my chair and slowly shook my head.
"Charlie, you know I can't be mad at you for long." I picked up his hand and studied his pale fingers. There were more age spots on the back of his hand than I remembered and his skin seemed slacker. As I twisted his wedding ring, which was loose, I smiled down at the shiny piece of gold.
"I just worry that's all." I felt the small trickle of sadness begin and I blinked several times to hold back the tears.
"You're a worrier, always have been. You get that from your mother." I looked up to see him smiling at me his eyes always seemed to sparkle when he mentioned her. I found it difficult to reply to his verbal thoughts sometimes and often felt embarrassed or uncomfortable.
I didn't know my mother so I was never sure how to react when Charlie made such comments. It was only my close knit family that could remind me of where I had come from. I never had the privilege of learning my mother's ways and mannerisms.
The soft sound of footsteps walking into the room interrupted my thoughts. I looked up to see Rose carrying a small tray of food, the checkered napkin draped over the side.
The steam of the small bowl of soup rose and lingered in the air.
"I've brought you something to eat Charlie." Her smile reached her bright sparkling eyes, and I looked back at Charlie to see his eyes also sparkling back at Rose. "It's your favourite, clam chowder." She said as she placed the tray on the table next to me. I pulled it closer to Charlie and moved aside.
"Bella, I'll tend to Charlie, you have a call at the front desk." Rose told me in a hushed voice. My smile left my face and a look of confusion took its place.
I turned to smile down at Charlie and patted his hand. "I'll be back in a minute Charlie, it's probably Alice," I told him as I made my way to the lobby.
Before I could enquire as to the phone call, Cynthia smiled and indicated with a nod at the phone that I could use.
"Hello," I smiled nervously back towards Cynthia as I turned my back on the reception desk.
