Her father had black coffee and sugar cookies. Plain and simple for him. They enjoyed their treat, talking quietly until a nurse tapped on the door. She seemed surprised to see Elam, but didn't make any comment. She was young, blonde and attractive. Her eyes lingered on Elam a moment before she handed a clipboard to Blythe.
"And here is the information about the sleep study. They will send someone over about ten o'clock tonight. You're very lucky. They can't usually push this through so fast."
"Special case," Elam said, forcing a smile.
"So I see." She almost snatched the clipboard back from Blythe. "Enjoy, honey. He's all yours." She turned on her heel and flounced out of the room.
Elam dropped his head. "That was embarrassing."
"An ex?" Don asked quietly, raising an eyebrow.
"Sort of. More like didn't really get off the ground."
"Did she think so, too?" Blythe asked, tight lipped. She was surprised to find herself siding with the woman.
"She broke up with me," Elam replied, tersely. "Before we had sex, in case that's your follow-up question."
"It's not my business. I'm sorry, I overreacted." Blythe blushed, dropping her eyes.
Elam took her hand, twining his fingers with hers. "Maybe not, but I wanted to tell you." He smiled, kissing her fingertips.
Paul arrived a few moments later. There was a flurry of activity as they loaded Blythe in her father's car.
"You can follow us over," Don said to Elam as he opened his car door.
"I can find it. Thanks, Don. I'll see you in a few."
"He's coming over?" Blythe asked when her father pulled into traffic.
"Yes. He's a nice boy. Very polite. He seems to like you a lot. He didn't have to tell you about that girl, you know." He cocked his head, smiling.
"I know. I didn't deserve an explanation, the way I acted. I have absolutely no claim on him."
"Maybe he'd like you to."
Her father drove home in silence. The sun was low in the sky. Blythe had no idea they had been at the hospital most of the day. Her stomach growled. She realized that other than the cookies, she hadn't eaten since breakfast.
"I hope Mom has a feast planned. I'm starving."
"Ham with all the trimmings," he assured her.
"Special occasion?"
"Our daughter is alive," he explained. "And she's found a young man—someone to get to know. No pressure," he added. "But you make an attractive couple. You'd make very pretty babies."
"Daddy!" Blythe was shocked at her father's comment. That was the closest they'd ever come to talking about sex.
"There is no greater joy than holding your newborn child in your arms," he said softly. "It's a joy I want for both my children. Mom and I want you happy, darling. You haven't been happy in so long. And this young man seems like he might be the fellow to do that."
Blythe blinked back tears. "I barely know him."
"True, but how many men would come to the hospital, on their day off, to make sure you were all right? I can tell you—one. And I don't mean Alec."
"Of course not, he's—gone."
"He's dead," he said firmly. "Dead and buried. I'm not trying to be harsh or cruel, sweetheart. I am being matter of fact. It's time for the ring to come off. Put it in a special place in Mom's jewelry armoire, or save it in your jewelry box, but it needs to come off your finger—tonight."
"I don't know...."
"You won't ever feel ready," her father stated simply. "So, I'm telling you. It's time."
"Maybe you're right, Daddy."
"I dated a girl before I met your mother." He stopped at a stop sign, waiting for Elam to catch up. "We were pretty serious. We were one another's first love. I didn't think there was anyone I could possibly love more than Sallie." He glanced in his rear view mirror, checked the intersection and continued. "But she died. Killed in a stupid accident, when she was sixteen."
"I'm so sorry."
"I was seventeen, and I just knew my life was over. I couldn't even look at, or think of, another girl for nearly a year. Finally, my old man told me I had to snap out of it. It wasn't normal for a kid my age to mope around like that. My grades were failing. I was flunking my senior year. Dad forced me to go to Homecoming—by myself, I might add."
"You met Mom at a Homecoming dance."
"I did. Her date dumped her, and left with another girl. I happened across her in the courtyard, bawling her eyes out. I drove her home and we sat outside her house until two o'clock in the morning—talking."
"Just talking, Daddy?"
"Mostly talking." He winked. "Your mom wasn't a pushover, but I was a pretty good looking guy."
"You're still a good looking guy. She was smart to hook up with you."
"There's something to be said for gallantry. What Elam did today, that was gallant. He's a good man."
"I think so too."
©2022 Dellani Oakes
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