“Sorry. You’ve got a very spankable ass.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment, shall I?” She smiled sweetly.
“Oh you should. It’s a very shapely, sexy butt, and if we keep talking about it, you’re going to have to come back here and bend over for me.”
She tilted her pretty head and went off to the kitchen.
A few hours later, I’d dropped Miranda and Ava off, and Sherry had returned to care for Manuel, so I made my way to the hospital to visit my dad.
It took a few minutes before he opened his eyes, and as he attempted to sit up, I held his frail body and placed a pillow behind his shoulders.
“How’s that?” I asked.
“Okay. How long have you been there?” he croaked.
“Not long.”
“Why didn’t you wake me? I hate people watching me sleep.”
“You looked very peaceful.”
“Mm…” He adjusted his body and grimaced.
“Are you in pain?”
“Yeah. Where’s that nurse?” He pushed a button.
Within a minute, a young nurse walked in. “And how are we today?” She wore a bright smile.
His face warmed a little. Even in that condition, my dad still had a weakness for young, pretty blondes. “I need another dose.”
She looked at her chart then at me and said, “Okay. You’ve had a fair bit already, I see.”
“I don’t give a fuck. I’m in pain.”
She looked at me, as though seeking my approval, and I shrugged, unsure what to say. The situation was just sad.
The nurse left us for a moment then returned.
After the medicine had been administered, his face relaxed.
“Is that better?” I asked.
He nodded.
“Mom met Manuel,” I said.
“The bitch met the bastard.”
“Hey. They’re family. And that’s my mother. So get over it.”
“Oh… you’ve grown balls at last.”
“And fuck you too.” I shifted in my seat. The comment about my mother reminded me of what an asshole he was. As much as I tried, I couldn’t think of any redeeming feature that I could look up to. My mother, on the other hand, made me seriously proud, given her unshifting commitment to dance and drive to nurture talent.
“So why did you go and do that?” he asked.
“The nanny was sick. And I needed to babysit my nephew.” I studied his face for a reaction.