Even Through the Storm

20. Cherry Punch

The next day, Ash and I go to the hospital, to visit his mom. When we are ready to leave, we hear yelling in the hall. "I want to see her!"

"Sir, you don't have clearance."

"What do you mean, I don't have clearance?" I hear a boom; like something dropped to the floor. Asher's dad comes running into the room. "You!" He yells, pointing to Asher.

"Nick! Get away from my son!" Ms. Reynolds yells. He walks over and slaps her across the face.

"Your son? Your son? This is my son!" Two security guards come running into the room.

"Sir, you can't be in here."

"Why not?"

"Sir, you need to leave."

"I'm not leaving unless he comes with me!" He points to Asher again.

"Sir, let's go. Now."

"No!" The security guards drag Asher's dad out of the room. Ash runs over to his mom.

"Mom, are you okay?" They both are crying.

"Yeah, hun. I'm fine. Are you alright?"

"Yeah. But I'm more worried about you."

"Ash, how do you think he even got in here?" I ask. "How did they let him past the waiting room?"

"I, I don't know. And I don't want to." Another security guard comes into the room.

"Sir, that man is requesting to see you. We called the police."

"Ash," I say.

"No, Lola. I want to."

"Ash,"

"Lo, it's fine."

"I'm coming with." Ash kisses his mom on the forehead, then we follow the guard into a small room attached to the surveillance room.

"Can you leave us alone for a minute?" Ash asks the guard.

"Yeah. I'll just be out here if you need me." The guard leaves, but watches us through the window in the door.

"What do you want?" Asher asks his dad.

"To see my son."

"I'm not your son."

"Really, 'cause I'm your dad."

"You're not my dad."

"Really? I helped give birth to you."

"That doesn't make you a dad. You want sons? Jake, Lucas. They're your sons. Not me." He slaps Asher on the side of his head.

"Don't you talk to me like that. You have no idea what I've been through. Okay?"

"You're right. I don't know what leaving your wife and one-month-old son feels like. But apparently, it can't be that hard, dealing that you did it." He punches Asher in the nose. Asher starts to bleed. The guard rushes in. Asher and I run out, the guard following us a few seconds later.

"Sir, are you okay?" He asks. Asher gets a tissue and wipes his nose.

"Yeah. I'm fine. Just said something brutally honest. He just couldn't take it."

"I understand. Would you like to go back to your mother's room?"

"No thanks, I think I'm just gonna' go home. Thanks."

"No problem."

***

Ash and I are in the basement when my dad comes home, He comes downstairs the second he takes off his shoes. "I heard you had some trouble at the hospital today."

"Yeah," I say. "How..."

"Phone call. Ash, are you okay? I heard you got hurt."

"I'm fine, Mr. Stevens. Thanks. It was just a little bloody nose. Not much."

"Okay, good."

"Um, Ash, how old do you think your brothers are?"

"Well, Nicky's sixteen, so I would say that the twins are around six or seven. I know that my other sister, Lia, is four. Why?"

"What if he hits them, too? I mean really? They're just kids!"

"You're right, Lo," Dad says. "They are just kids. Ash, have you ever met them?"

"No, just Nicole. And that was a year ago."

"Okay, Would you mind calling her? I think it's time to meet them."