Chapter 48

"Come to the hospital. Now. I think Gerald had a heart attack."

I think he hears me gasping.

"Are you with him?" I get up and zip up my pants.

"Yes Hades is with you on the speaker."

He hangs up immediately and honestly I'm a little confused. What? I put my phone in my pocket and grab my laptop. That's it. I rush out and unlock the car. By the time Hades reaches me I'm already buckled up, the keys in the ignition and ready to go. It seems like he wants to tell me something. Not now. I don't have time for him and honestly, Hades and the moments with him, the emotions he awakens in me are nothing compared to the horror I feel right now. I start the car and put the hospital address in the GPS. 28 minutes, he tells me. I approve. I'm sure I can do better and I speed up. I'm not exaggerating though. I arrive in 21 minutes. I take out my phone, park the car, get the keys. I put my wallet in the back pocket of my pants. A receptionist guides me and suggests I take the Oana elevator to the second floor. I listen to her exactly only to find Travis in the hallway. Ted and Apollo are next to him. Apollo? Okay. I walk closer and Ted is the one who notices me. Travis stands up.

"He…Ahhh… They're stabilizing him, he's stuttering. Or so they said. I don't know. Sit down, he's asking me. Get him some coffee, dad. He's shaking all over. Calm down Kassie."

"You let her drive when you know she reacts like this?" Apollo scolded him.

I don't ask him what he's doing here.

"Yeah. He drives well under pressure. I know from the Eddie incident. When he was after your boy. I was in the car behind you, he was looking at me. I wanted to go back and make sure you were okay."

His words pass me by and I cling to him tighter until I see my mother there. I stare at her like an idiot.

"What are they doing here?"

"She was talking to Gerald when it happened, Apollo answers me. I brought her by car. I know that lately Lucille hasn't exactly been the mother you remember, but she's still your mother. And Gerald cares a lot about her and I..."

"It's okay, I whisper quickly. Were they arguing? And all of you?"

"I was visiting my dad," Travis explained. "Apollo was in the ward with a case. We all came here. I called you as soon as I got to the hospital."

"Ah. Thank you, I place my hand over his. Really. You came here and… Ahh… You don't have to stay if you don't want to. None of you are obligated to stay. I'm staying."

"You're cute when you think you have a choice," Travis laughs softly.

"You're part of the family, Apollo reminds me. And so is Gerald. We're staying. At least until further notice. Lucy?"

Honestly, I don't feel ready to see her next to me so I get up as soon as she approaches. I feel like I'm being childish. Then I feel like my behavior is justified. That I don't owe her anything. Nothing? She's my mother and I crave any sign of affection. She doesn't look at me. I force myself not to look at her either when I feel Travis' hand on my back. It's too cold. Too hard. Travis is ice. I need fire. More than that. With Travis it's about the power struggle and I can't do it right now. Hades, Mina, Delilah… I reach them one by one, like I need them. The doctor. He's the only one I cling to when I see him.

"So?" I ask with Mina next to me, her hand in mine.

The doctor measures me from top to bottom. Hesitates. Bad news? That's the first thing I think about when her hand tightens in mine.

"You are the daughter, understand. How old are you?"

"21, I answer quickly. What does it have to do with it? News about my father? I insist."

"You don't look 21," he explained. "Your father will be kept under observation, in intensive care. I can't tell you more at the moment. It all depends on him and the will of the lord."

Did she have to ask me my age to tell me that? I feel Mina's arm around me and her lips on my forehead. Her hair, I think white, long, swirls around both of us. Lord's will? I want to open my mouth when my mother takes it first.

"What do you mean, the will of the lord? Do you wash your hands of him?"

Mina is not a vocal person. The fact that she's speaking now is definitely a first.

"I've done everything humanly possible. It's up to him now."

"It's okay, I hear Ted. I have a friend, a former college classmate. I can ask him to recommend someone. The best doctors."

I cling to Mina better and I feel like it's not enough.

"Can we see him? Mom asks. Kassie. You should go in first, she asks."

I swallow hard and nod. Dad has tubes and wires coming out of strange places. Screens monitor his condition and I can see his heartbeat there. I hesitate. I hold his hand and pray for a sign. I want him to do like in the movies. To hold onto my hand and wake up. I wait. I wait. Nothing happens. I squeeze and I feel his cold fingers. Is he cold? He has hair on his chest and his beard has been long for a few days. I went to see him the day before yesterday. He was fine. Everything was fine. And I burst into tears because tonight we were supposed to meet and have dinner together. I had to tell him about a novel, an idea I've had in my mind for a few days. To see what he thinks. To let him read the first few paragraphs. I tell myself he'll read them as soon as he feels better. I promise myself I'll move back home and stay by his side. That I'll be more careful with his diet and exercise and I'm ready to call the police and demand that they do whatever it takes to retire him. Although I think they'll know how to do that. And I think about the house. I think about what's next. I'm an idiot and I think about money. Dad needs to get better no matter what, so when I get out the first thing I do is ask Ted how much it costs to get Dad seen by these specialists and then I call Rory. Rory, of all people, can get money fast and in large amounts. And I know that technically I have money now. My husband does. Or Mina and Athena. And Dad probably has something in his account even if my savings don't exist. But I can't access Dad's money and I'm not going to ask.

"How much do you need?" Rory asks me promptly.

"I don't know. A lot. I need to do some calculations. Talk to the doctors… It'll take a while. It's not urgent. I just want to know if you can help me."

""Yes. Yes, of course. You tell me the amount and I'll help you. I have friends who owe me and... Please. I can get you a large sum of money in a short time. Do you want me to come to the hospital while you decide?

"No, there's no need. Thanks anyway. There are a lot of people here anyway."

"But it's not me. I miss you, Kassie," he whispers.

I swallow hard. I know.

"Not now, please. Not now. I have a lot of… Things. I can't."

"Yes, I understand. Aah… The money… It will come with interest and a deadline."

They're blackmailing me. Even now they're playing me like they're in prison.

"I can pay you. If you give me this money I can pay you. Otherwise maybe. You know me too… You and Artemis… I'm buzzing more than I should, I massage my temples and look down the hall at Travis, Mina and the rest of the family."

I hear her laughing. That chameleon laugh. Soft and sharp. Sharp. Her laugh touches me to the marrow of my bones.

"I'll give you the money," he assured me. "But you'll get it yourself."

"What do you mean?"

"There's someone who owes me half a million. I happen to know from a reliable source that he'll have the amount in cash next week at a hotel. I want you to come in and get the money. I'll give it to you. If you want it, it's all yours."

I look at the family. I approve. Mina. The only one crazy enough to help me with this and understand me is Mina.