All the Things I Didn't See by Cindy Sutherland

miss you too, Sam.”
The other man’s breath had already evened out.
    As he started to settle into a chair to wait for Sam’s parents, he discovered Sam had twisted his hand into the bottom of Josh’s shirt. He gently untangled it before sitting down.
Sam wasn’t the only one who was tired. Josh found himself slipping into a light doze while he waited.
    He awoke a few minutes later to the door opening, eyes flying open and tensing up until he saw that it was Mary and Kenneth entering the room.
Josh quietly rose from the chair and made his way over to the door.
    “Mornin’, Josh. How’s he doing?” Kenneth’s voice was soft, trying not to wake his son.
“He’s tired. We had a little excitement this morning, and I think it wore him out,” Josh whispered, still feeling guilty about his fight with Evan.
“Yeah, we heard. Nicole is looking to skin someone alive for Evan getting in here.” Kenneth looked down at his feet, obviously searching for words. “I guess you know now, huh?”
“About Evan cheating? Yeah. I don’t understand it, though. How he could do that to Sam?”
Mary smiled at the confusion and disappointment etched on Josh’s face. This young man was definitely a special one. She moved over to the bed, gently smoothing out the blanket covering Sam and pushing his hair back off his forehead.
Josh and Kenneth continued talking softly.
“We were all disappointed, Josh. But I don’t think Sam is too heartbroken.”
    Josh considered what Kenneth said and realized he was right. During Evan’s visit, Sam seemed more concerned about Josh than what Evan had done.
    Josh spoke again. “I still don’t understand something, though. Why did he stay with him? I never would have thought that Sam would put up with that kind of garbage from anyone.”
    Kenneth loved the way Josh jumped to the defense of his son. “I guess that’s one of those things that you’re going to have to talk to him about. But let it go for now, Josh. I have a feeling he needs to be a little stronger for that chat.”
Josh was puzzled but nodded in agreement. “Okay.” He looked at Sam sleeping for a moment before continuing.
    “Um, I have to take off for a while. There’s something I have to take care of at home.” Josh was a little bit hesitant to bring the next subject up. He wasn’t sure how what he had to say next would be taken, but he forged ahead, anyway.
    “When I get back, I’d like to talk to you and Mary about Sam’s recovery… where things go from here.”
Kenneth just nodded, not seeming surprised about Josh thinking he would be involved in that discussion. “Sure. It’s about time we started working on that.” He glanced at his sleeping son before looking back at Josh. “Are you going to talk to Stephanie?”
Josh sighed. “Yeah, I am. It’s about time. Things haven’t been good between us for a while, and this horrible incident has made me realize that she and I just aren’t what we should be for each other.”
“Well, good luck with that. Does Sam know you’re going?”
“I told him before he fell asleep. He was pretty out of it, though, so you might have to remind him.”
Kenneth laughed. “He tends to be muddle-headed when he’s sleepy even when he’s healthy.”
    “Don’t I know it! Try having 6:00 a.m. calls at the studio with him. I practically have to pour the coffee down his throat to get him going. Some days it takes that and a double chocolate muffin.” Josh chuckled, thinking of Sam on a sugar high. There was nothing more aggravating… or adorable.
    “Well, take your time, son, and we’ll be here when you get back.” Kenneth wasn’t foolish enough to suggest that Josh take some time away from the hospital. It would have been a useless effort, anyhow.
Josh ran his fingers through his hair and gave Kenneth a wry smile.
     
“Thanks. I don’t think this will take long.”
    Kenneth nodded sympathetically and patted him on the shoulder before turning and joining his wife at