The Sandstone Affair (An Erotic Romance Novel) by Priscilla West Page B

Tell him you love him,”
she says softly. “The best thing you can do with people is tell them you love
them.” Even with her counsel, it’s hard walking into
the room and seeing my dad this way. He looks so much smaller than I ever
remember him being, withered and pale. The lights are dim and the machines
hooked up to him glow eerily with patterns and numbers I will never understand. “Dad,” I say loudly as I take his hand in
mine. It seems smaller than I recall. His eyes open about halfway and he gets a
slight smile. “Dad, it’s Julia. I’m here, Dad. I’m here.” He squeezes my hand. He knows. After a few
minutes his eyes close and his breathing shallows to a steady even puff. I keep
talking to him, remember old times, good times, how much he loved Mom, and how
much he means to me. The numbers don’t change, and I figure he’s out for a
while. “There’s something I need you to know,” I say.
“I started seeing Mark. I know you always liked him. To be honest, I wanted to
like him too, but I guess I was still hurt from Greg. I see now that Mark is
totally different. He’s smart and strong. He isn’t really intimidated by me, at
all. He challenges me. I guess that’s why I was so afraid of getting too close
to him.” I stop for a moment, and check the machine
again. No change. Finally I’ve found the one person I can share this with who
won’t be able to judge me or talk me out of what I’m doing. “I’ve given him parts of myself. First it was
just my body, but I think my heart may not be far behind. For the first time in
a long time, I feel like I might actually be changing. Somehow, I think he
might be healing me. I fight him, of course. But less and less. And I’m feeling
more and more solid.” I check the machine again, no change. His eyes
still closed, his breathing even. Then a shadow crosses his bed. It’s Mark. I jump up. “How long have you been there?” Oh
my god! Did he just hear that? “I just got here.” He shrugs. “I was worried
about you, and your father.” Despite what I said to my father, Mark’s surprise
appearance instantly makes me put my defenses up. “Well, you need to go,” I hiss at him. “How
dare you show up here? I told you I didn’t need you! Do you think my dad needs
to find out right now about our profane agreement? Aren’t patient files
confidential? How did you even know to come here?”
    “I’m a rich man,” he says, rolling his eyes,
“in a city that runs on money. It’s not hard for me to learn things. This isn’t
the first time I’ve visited your dad, as you’re well aware. I doubt he’ll find
anything profane in my being here.” He’s right. Dad always did like him, and Mark
was the one that helped to transfer Dad to Glenvale after all. He had as much a
right to visit Dad as I had. “I’m sorry, Mark,” I’m acting like a harpy
when the truth is I just don’t want him to know how deeply he’s affecting me.
I’m just not ready to give him that yet. “I’m just overwhelmed, you know.” “I understand. I’ll be in the waiting room.
Take as long as you want.” “You don’t have to wait, I don’t need you,” I
say without much conviction. “Says you.” Mark walks away leaving me alone
with Dad. I feel Dad’s hand squeezing mine and look down
to see him smiling again. “Julia,” he whispers. I lean to hear him. “I’m
so glad.” “What, Dad?” “I’m glad you finally found a man worthy of you.” “I love you, Daddy.”   “I love you,” my father says. His head leans back and eyes close once more. I
wait for a while but he doesn’t stir again. Mark’s in the waiting room fussing with his
cell phone when I walk out. I want him to hold me and tell me that everything
is going to be okay. My vision blurs at the thought of sharing my pain with
him, but I turn away and wipe my eyes. I quickly dart across the hall and take the
side elevator out. Hopefully by the time he realizes I’ve left, I’ll be home