It was hard to look at, to feel his love in such an undeniable way, to earn the respect of the man I respected most.
Mom moved into me and hugged me tight. “Baby…”
I held her as I watched my father, who continued to look at me in a way every son wanted to be looked at by his father.
When she pulled away, she wiped her eyes with her balled-up tissue.
Dad didn’t have any tears. He was just happy, smiling, his eyes staring into my face with the kind of unconditional love you only received from your parents. He moved closer to me then grabbed me by the shoulder, squeezing me tightly as if he were about to impart his greatest life lesson. “I’m so…” He took a deep breath like he couldn’t get the words out, like he hadn’t already said them a hundred times, like he didn’t already make me feel loved every moment of every day. He raised his finger and pointed at me. “Goddamn…” His eyes watered as he looked at me. “Proud of you…” He inhaled a deep breath and dropped his hand. “Son.”
I was about to lose it. I had to drop my gaze because his look was too intense.
He pulled me into his chest and hugged me hard, his hand cupping the back of my head.
My mom moved in too, giving me a group hug that I would always treasure.
Dad held both of us in his arms, holding us in the waiting room, giving me a memory I would always carry with me as long as I lived—especially when they were gone.
The hug lasted awhile before they stepped back to give me some air. Dad clapped me on the shoulder, and Mom tried to wipe off her makeup on my scrubs.
“Let’s get the family together and celebrate,” Dad said. “We’ll go out to dinner.”
“And you can pick,” Mom said.
I smiled. “That sounds nice. Just let me go home and shower, and I’ll meet you.”
“Sure.” Dad turned to look at Sicily, who stayed a respectable distance away so we could have our moment.
I looked at her, seeing her wet eyes that suggested she’d blubbered her eyes out the entire time. “Is it cool if I bring Sicily along?”
Dad smiled. “Whatever you want, son.”
“I think that sounds like a great idea, baby.” Mom kissed me on the cheek before she walked away with my dad, leaving the hospital.
I turned to Sicily and walked toward her.
She came to me, her eyes glossy from the tears but her smile wider than ever before.
I would never forget what she’d said to me, the courage she gave me to go in there and fix Marc’s heart. She reminded me why I was doing this, why my work mattered, how it could change a life forever.
I shouldn’t have forgotten in the first place.
The first thing she did when she got to me was hug me. Her face moved into my chest, and she held on to me tightly, her arms around my waist, her breathing deep and heavy. She said nothing, as if there were no words to express the emotions running rampant in her heart.
My arms wrapped around her, and I rested my chin on her head, smelling the sweet scent of her shampoo, feeling her emotions wind around me like an invisible string. My heart slowed with her in my grasp, my soul found peace, and I just held her.
After a couple minutes, she pulled away and looked at me head on.
“Thank you. For putting up with me…and for what you said before.”
Her hands moved to my arms, and she squeezed me, like she still couldn’t find the right words to speak. “I hope that means you won’t be mad at me that I booked you solid for the next three months…”
A gentle chuckle came from my lips, not the least bit surprised she’d pulled that stunt. “No.” If anything, it was a compliment because it showed she had absolutely no doubt that I would take care of Marc.
“Good.” She dropped her hands from my arms. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow…”
“My family is going out to dinner. You want to come along?”
Her face immediately fell in shock. “Really?”
“Of course.” I loved how genuine she was, how she wore her heart on her sleeve, how she cared about things as much as I did. Her features were so expressive, conveying everything she felt so well that it didn’t need to be said. “We wouldn’t be standing here if it weren’t for you.”
“If I didn’t force your hand and get fired?” she teased. Her makeup streaked down her face because she’d been shedding tears for a while now. Her hair was a little messy in front because she’d obviously fingered it as she watched my interactions with Angelica and my parents. But that somehow made her hotter than she’d ever been before.
I smiled in response. “Yeah…exactly.”
Also by Victoria Quinn
I've been living in the past for so long, and it's time that I move on.
Forget Catherine. I'm done with her.
I'm done with her memory. I'm done playing "what if." I have this beautiful woman right in front of me that I want.
And I'm just going to go for it.
Finally.
Order Now
The Doctor Who Has No Ambition (Soulless Book 9) Page 23