The Man From Her Past by Anna Adams Page B

have worked the miracle of stealing energy from Hope. He quizzed Cassie on her life in Washington and warned her she was putting herself in danger, working at the shelter.
    They went for a walk down the hall, with Cassie pushing his IV stand. With permission from his nurse, she treated him to soup and lime sherbet in the cafeteria. With touching excitement, he considered the break from eating in bed a treat.
    Again, in the late afternoon, he tired. Instead of falling asleep, he suggested she might be missing her daughter.
    “I would like to see her, and Beth probably has business to look after at the lodge.”
    “I’ve had a nice day with you,” Leo said.
    She kissed his forehead. “You need to come home soon, Dad.”
    “If I do, you won’t leave?”
    Her heart softened like the sherbet that had melted before he could finish it, with his conversation going at light speed. “How would you feel about coming home with me?”
    His frown reminded her of Hope. “All the way to Washington?”
    “It’s not that far by plane. We’d take all your favorite stuff.”
    “I can’t do that. I have responsibilities here. Obligations only I can take care of.”
    His voice broke at the end, and his anxiety filled the room. Cassie squeezed his hand. “You don’t have to be afraid of anything. We’ll work this out.”
    “Do you wonder how much time we have left together? I think I was really sick.”
    “Don’t. You scare me.” She hugged him again. “I’ll bring your razor tomorrow, and maybe we could slip Hope in for a quick visit.”
    He grinned, looking reassuringly younger. “Cassie?”
    She smiled back.
    “I’m sorry about before. You know, when I couldn’t look you in the eye.”
    “You see things pretty simply now.”
    “It’s all through a haze, but I remember when I was cruel to you.”
    She leaned on her elbows on the bed rail. “It doesn’t matter now. You’re sorry. I’m sorry I didn’t know you were sick. Let’s call it even and be glad we both remembered in time that we love each other.”
    “Okay.” He touched her shoulder. “Do me a favor.”
    “You’re almost your old self, Dad.”
    “Listen to me while I’m feeling clear.”
    “I’m anxious about what you’re going to ask.”
    “Because you already know what I want and you know I’m right.”
    “You’re about to bring up Van.”
    He nodded. “You two split up. I told him to stay away from me. Our family fell apart, and none of us knew why.”
    “I knew.”
    “About me, but I think you were wrong about Van. He was angry all right, but he kept trying to tell you he was angry at the man who…” His voice drifted a little. “The man who hurt you.”
    “I’ve heard all this from him.”
    “Try listening, only once, and then I’ll leave you alone.” He leaned back and exhaled, weariness settling on him like the haze he’d spoken about. “I’m sleepy.”
    “Good night, Dad.”
    “Uh-huh.”
    Whether he was asleep or not, he wasn’t with her any longer. She backed out of the room and looked for Lang to tell him about her father’s few moments of clarity.
    “He’s on rounds. He’ll stop by Mr. Warne’s room later, but I’ll tell him for you. Try not to assume too much. His body is fighting back, but this could be a phase in his condition, too. Early on, you’d expect him to be clearer than he has been.”
    Nodding, Cassie stumbled toward the elevator. The nurse already assumed a more dire prognosis than she’d considered. She still hoped her father would get better. She hoped it enough to do him that favor.
     
    V AN CAME OUT of the bank to a light snow muffling children’s laughter from the Christmas tree lot on the square.
    A balloon arose to the sound of a shout, sheer joy only a child could feel. Over the trees, the red balloon floated, trailing a leash of dark green tinsel.
    He hadn’t thought about a tree for his own house. He tucked the receipt for his latest loan payment into his pocket. Having worked at