He told her to take tomorrow off as well and he would keep in touch as they got updates. She sent her well wishes to him and with that Jack hung up the phone. He decided to head back to the hospital now. There wasn’t anything left for him to do except be with his family now.
Jack arrived at the hospital. It was quiet in the halls due to the holidays. He went to the third floor and walked down the hallway to his father’s room. Something was wrong as people were flying up and down the hallway. Some patient must be critical for that kind of commotion. Then he noticed that they were running in and out of his father’s room. As he got closer he saw his mother standing outside of the room looking in. Tears were falling down her face but she wasn’t making a scene.
“Mom?” Jack’s voice was filled will concern as he looked at his mother and pulled her into his arms. He turned his head and looked into the room. The fluttering around slowed down and machines were being turned off.
“He’s gone,” was all his mother could manage.
Jack held her tight. This was not how he envisioned his father going out. A tear formed in his eye. He couldn’t believe his father passed.
“What happened?” Jack turned his attention to the doctor that just walked out of the room.
“His heart gave out on him. There was too much damage to the heart muscle. It was something we couldn’t see in the operating room. Due to the weakened muscle, his heart ruptured.”
Jack didn’t know how that was possible. His father was not weak. Jack had just started getting into a good place with this father and now that he’s gone, he didn’t know how he felt about it. He used to hate his father and everything he stood for but now that he felt guilty for hating him all those years.
“I’m sorry for your loss. Let me know if you have any other questions.” His doctor turned and walked away.
Jack consoled his mother still pondering over how he felt that his father was gone. He needed to call Kenleigh. Jack needed her right now because they would need to start notifying people.
ELEVEN
Duke awoke and found that Paxton was not in bed. He had stayed over last night after they had a small Christmas celebration with Ryan. He was glad that Paxton didn’t have to spend Christmas alone. She had cooked a wonderful ham dinner that she fussed over. It was delicious. She and Ryan also declared a no-gift rule, which he abided by. Duke felt guilty as they celebrated knowing that Jack’s father was in the hospital. He wanted so badly to tell Paxton but he granted Jack’s wishes. He wondered how Jacob was doing as he hadn’t heard anything from Jack since their brief phone call yesterday.
Duke’s phone buzzed on the night stand. It was a reminder for a voicemail that he received. He listened as Jack’s voice filled his ear. Jack had called last night around midnight stating his father passed earlier that day. Duke called him back quickly.
“Hey man, I just got your message. What happened?”
“His heart gave out and ruptured.” Jack’s voice was horse and Duke knew he wasn’t doing well.
“I’m so sorry. I just wanted to call you although I don’t have much time right now. I don’t know where Paxton is. Should I let her know?”
“No, she doesn’t need a reason to run to me.”
“I think we should tell her Jack. She would want to be there for you.”
“No. Please don’t.”
“I don’t like this. I should come up there at least. It’s hard enough to keep this from her.”
Duke heard a creak outside the door. He wasn’t sure what it was but he decided to wrap up the call.
“No, Duke. Do not tell her. I can handle this without her.”
“Listen I got to go. Keep me updated and I will see when I can visit.” Duke hung up and set his phone down.
“Oh, you’re up,” Paxton said.
Duke turned to face her trying to
Jack arrived at the hospital. It was quiet in the halls due to the holidays. He went to the third floor and walked down the hallway to his father’s room. Something was wrong as people were flying up and down the hallway. Some patient must be critical for that kind of commotion. Then he noticed that they were running in and out of his father’s room. As he got closer he saw his mother standing outside of the room looking in. Tears were falling down her face but she wasn’t making a scene.
“Mom?” Jack’s voice was filled will concern as he looked at his mother and pulled her into his arms. He turned his head and looked into the room. The fluttering around slowed down and machines were being turned off.
“He’s gone,” was all his mother could manage.
Jack held her tight. This was not how he envisioned his father going out. A tear formed in his eye. He couldn’t believe his father passed.
“What happened?” Jack turned his attention to the doctor that just walked out of the room.
“His heart gave out on him. There was too much damage to the heart muscle. It was something we couldn’t see in the operating room. Due to the weakened muscle, his heart ruptured.”
Jack didn’t know how that was possible. His father was not weak. Jack had just started getting into a good place with this father and now that he’s gone, he didn’t know how he felt about it. He used to hate his father and everything he stood for but now that he felt guilty for hating him all those years.
“I’m sorry for your loss. Let me know if you have any other questions.” His doctor turned and walked away.
Jack consoled his mother still pondering over how he felt that his father was gone. He needed to call Kenleigh. Jack needed her right now because they would need to start notifying people.
ELEVEN
Duke awoke and found that Paxton was not in bed. He had stayed over last night after they had a small Christmas celebration with Ryan. He was glad that Paxton didn’t have to spend Christmas alone. She had cooked a wonderful ham dinner that she fussed over. It was delicious. She and Ryan also declared a no-gift rule, which he abided by. Duke felt guilty as they celebrated knowing that Jack’s father was in the hospital. He wanted so badly to tell Paxton but he granted Jack’s wishes. He wondered how Jacob was doing as he hadn’t heard anything from Jack since their brief phone call yesterday.
Duke’s phone buzzed on the night stand. It was a reminder for a voicemail that he received. He listened as Jack’s voice filled his ear. Jack had called last night around midnight stating his father passed earlier that day. Duke called him back quickly.
“Hey man, I just got your message. What happened?”
“His heart gave out and ruptured.” Jack’s voice was horse and Duke knew he wasn’t doing well.
“I’m so sorry. I just wanted to call you although I don’t have much time right now. I don’t know where Paxton is. Should I let her know?”
“No, she doesn’t need a reason to run to me.”
“I think we should tell her Jack. She would want to be there for you.”
“No. Please don’t.”
“I don’t like this. I should come up there at least. It’s hard enough to keep this from her.”
Duke heard a creak outside the door. He wasn’t sure what it was but he decided to wrap up the call.
“No, Duke. Do not tell her. I can handle this without her.”
“Listen I got to go. Keep me updated and I will see when I can visit.” Duke hung up and set his phone down.
“Oh, you’re up,” Paxton said.
Duke turned to face her trying to
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