Anything For Daddy

by B. B. Hamel

  “That’s not the Cade I remember.”

  “That was a long time ago.”

  “Ah, maybe, but people don’t change all that much.”

  I sigh and sit down at the drum kit. “Why do you think she’ll break my heart?” I ask him. “She seems so…”

  “Virginal?” he offers.

  I grin a little. Not anymore.

  “I guess so.”

  “That’s exactly why. Girl like that could never love a broken man like you.”

  I glare at him. “I’m not broken.”

  Jan shrugs a little bit. “Sorry. Not trying to fight. It’s just, you’ve always been a broken specimen. Even back then.”

  I clench my jaw. “I can’t tell if you’re trying to be nice or trying to start a fight.”

  He sighs and rubs his eyes with his palms. “I’m sorry. I am trying to be nice. It’s just… been a while since I wanted to.”

  “Yeah,” I say softly. “I hear that.”

  We sit in silence for a second. I watch as Lucy gets up and disappears from the control room, headed upstairs for something.

  “You never did say you were sorry.”

  I look back at Jan. “What?”

  “When it happened. You never said you were sorry.”

  “I think I did.”

  “No, you didn’t. Trust me, I remember.”

  I think back to those days, which were some of the worst days of my life… and maybe he’s right. I remember fighting with him, trying to defend myself, but…

  “I am sorry. You know that, right?”

  “I don’t know,” he says. “You got what you wanted.”

  “And what’s that?”

  “All this.”

  I shake my head. “I didn’t get any of this. My father took it away from me.”

  “But you are your father.”

  I glare at him. “I’m not my fucking father.”

  He shakes his head. “Sorry. I just mean, you and him, you’re family. So…”

  “You know that’s not how it works. Why the fuck do you think I’m here right now?”

  He cocks his head. “Honestly? Didn’t think much about it. Just kept wishing you’d leave.”

  I laugh softly. “Of course you didn’t. Too busy staring straight ahead to look around.”

  “So tell me then.”

  “My father died and decided to send me on some wild goose chase. He’s sending me to a bunch of different companies to prove my worth… so I can take over the whole thing.”

  Jan whistles. “And this is part of that, ah, goose chase?”

  “Yep. Pretty much. I think he’s trying to torture me one last time, actually.”

  “Sounds like him.”

  “So don’t tell me I’m anything like that sick fuck. I just want to get control of his shitty company so I can do something halfway decent with it.”

  “And what’s that?”

  “Give this place back to you, for starters.”

  Jan laughs and waves his hands. “Oh, god, no, please don’t.”

  “Why not?”

  “I don’t want the responsibility.”

  I smirk. “Of course not. Complain all you want, but in the end, being bought out was good for you. Let you just focus on your recordings.”

  “Pretty much.”

  “Still, you’re getting it back. That’s the only way this place survives long-term. If it stays in my father’s conglomerate, even if I’m in charge, sooner or later it’ll get swallowed up completely.”

  Jan’s quiet for a few minutes, just plucking away at the keys. Finally, he stops and looks up. “Okay. Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” I wait a beat. “And for what it’s worth, I am sorry. And I was sorry back then. I hated my dad for what he did.”

  “I know,” he says softly. “I was just so mad…”

  “I know.”

  We’re quiet for a few minutes. He starts playing again and I pick up the drumsticks. I lay down an easy beat and he plays along. We jam like that for a little while. Eventually I spot Lucy watching us from the control room with a little smile on her face.

  I grin back at her. I can’t explain how good this feels, to be playing music with my old friend again like we used to back in the day.

  Finally though, the next band shows up and we have to stop playing. Jan nods at me once like nothing ever happened and then we’re back in the control room, doing our jobs once more.

  “You two made up,” Lucy whispers to me later, when Jan’s in the other room.

  “Sort of,” I say. “Starting to, anyway.”

  She grins at me. “Look at you. It’s almost like you’re a grownup.”

  “Almost,” I shoot at her. “Don’t get used to it.”

  “Seriously. It’s okay if you want to be vulnerable sometimes.”

  “Easy for you to say.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  I run my hands through my hair, staring down at the carpet. I never liked this stupid carpet. Jan chose it.

  “I’m the heir to a multi-billion dollar conglomerate,” I say softly. “I don’t have the luxury to look weak. Even if I’m fucking around, acting out, whatever. I can’t look weak.”

  “But why? Your dad’s dead.”

  I finally look at her. “Men like my dad run the world,” I say softly. “And if I want any say in how it goes, I’d better remember that.”

  She frowns for a long moment. “What do you want with all this, anyway?” she asks.

  I grin a little bit. “It always comes back to that, doesn’t it?”

  “Well—”

  Jan comes back into the room, ending our conversation.

  I don’t want to go down that path right now anyway. I’ve just finally started making headway with my old friend, I don’t want to think about how I’m going to try and do good for the world. I just want to be happy that he doesn’t actively hate me in this moment. I want that to be enough.

  When the day ends, I shake hands with Jan. It’s better than nothing. He even gives me a little smile.

  “Feel free to stop by again,” he says. “I could use help with that stupid microphone.”

  “I know,” I say. “And I will. When this is all yours again.”

  He sighs and nods. “Thanks, Cade.”

  “Yeah.”

  We linger for a second before Jan turns and heads back inside. I watch him go.

  “You should’ve hugged,” Lucy says.

  I glare at her. “Shut up.”

  “Seriously. Should’ve hugged. A big, long hug. Maybe a kiss.”

  “You’re the worst.”

  “Long, deep, passionate kiss.”

  I grin at her. “Like the one you want from me right now?”

  She blushes. “I didn’t—”

  “You embarrass too easily,” I say, patting her on the back. “Don’t start fights you can’t win.”

  She glares at me and I just laugh as we get into the taxi.

  Two industries down. Two more to go.

  14

  Lucy

  Another plane ride. This one’s a lot shorter, mercifully. We fly out to a hospital in a relatively rural part of northern California.

  The hotel is gorgeous, of course. I can’t help but wonder if these places were chosen simply because of their proximity to really expensive hotels. But no, of course not, his father wouldn’t have given him that luxury. Just good luck, I guess.

  We spend Saturday traveling then Sunday recuperating. “Try the spa,” Cade says to me as he stands outside of my door in nothing but a towel.

  I roll my eyes. “Of course there’s a spa here. Why wouldn’t there be?”

  “Seriously, go try it. You’ll love it. Charge it to the room.”

  I close the door before he can show me what’s under the towel….

  Monday comes and we’re up early again. He hands me a coffee as we ride the elevator downstairs into the lobby.

  “What do you know about th
is place?” I ask him.

  “We’ll see,” he says.

  I glare at him. “Come on. You’ve had history at the other two places, I assume you have it here, too.”

  “Want me to ruin the surprise?”

  I roll my eyes. “I guess not.”

  “Good! It’s more fun this way.”

  We take a taxi out to the hospital and are met by an administrator right in the lobby. She’s an older woman with short, natural hair and dark skin.

  “Jolena,” Cade says, shaking the woman’s hand.

  “Cade,” she answers, frowning. “I’d say it’s a pleasure to see you again, but…”

  “But you hate my ever-loving guts.” He beams at her.

  She sighs. “Not exactly.” She turns to me. “Hello, I’m sorry we’re being rude. My name is Jolena Johnson, I’m the head administrator here at Northern Mercy.”

  “Hi, I’m Lucy, it’s nice to meet you.”

  She smiles at me warmly. “How’d you get mixed up with a guy like Cade?”

  “Happenstance,” I say. “And work.”

  “Of course.” She turns back to him. “So, the same as last time?”

  “Oh, no,” he says. “I’d rather just take a look around, if that’s okay?”

  She purses her lips. “You know we don’t want people just randomly wandering around.”

  “I know that. But I’m not just anyone.”

  “No, you’re not.” She sighs. “Okay. I’ll get an escort.”

  “Thanks kindly. Make it one of the pretty nurses, will you?”

  Jolena glares at him before giving me a wry smile. She walks off and disappears down a side hallway.

  “Okay,” I say to him. “Now I want to know what you did here.”

  He grins at me. “It’s actually not what you think.”

  “What do I think?”

  “Something awful, I’m sure.”

  “This is why everyone hates you, you know.”

  “Not true.” He beams at me. “I’m actually very well liked here.”

  “But she clearly—”

  “Oh, not by her. Everyone else, though…” He trails off as a young nurse comes walking over. She’s smiling huge and clearly she recognizes Cade.

  “There you are!” she says and gives him a big hug.

  He hugs her back. “Hiya, Nic. I can’t believe you’re still here.”

  “Oh, man, I’ll be here ‘til I’m dead.” She looks over at me. “Hi, I’m Nicole, one of the nurses here. You can call me Nic, everyone else does.”

  “Nic, this is Lucy,” he says.

  “Nice to meet you.”

  I shake the girl’s hand and she instantly looks back at Cade. I have to admit, I feel a little pang of jealousy.

  “So what are you doing back? I thought you’d never come back after what you pulled last time.”

  “Well, I’m not here for a surgery if that’s what you’re wondering.”

  She grins. “The doctors still love you, don’t worry. And the admins care more about the bottom line than they do about revenge.”

  “Oh, I wouldn’t assume that.” He laughs a little and shrugs. “We’re just here to hang out for a week, do some observing, that sort of thing.”

  “Okay, well, Jolena said you have free rein, so what’s first?”

  “I don’t know. How about we go check on the regulars?”

  Nic grins. “I was hoping you’d say that. Come on.”

  Regulars? I mouth to Cade and he just grins at me.

  We follow Nic to a bank of elevators and ride them up to the third floor. She chats the whole time.

  “People still talk about that day,” she says to Cade. “Remember Jolena’s face?”

  “I thought she might murder me.”

  “Doctors will laugh about that.” She grins fondly. “Not that we dislike Jolena or anything, it’s just…”

  “I know. And it’s hard to fault her and the other admin people for being pissed about it.”

  I clear my throat. “What, exactly, did he do?”

  Nic laughs. “He didn’t tell you?”

  “Keeping her in suspense,” Cade says.

  “Of course you are.” Nic laughs to herself. “Should I tell her?”

  “Later,” he says. “I want to see my people.”

  “Well, let’s do it then.” We head down a few hallways and end up in an isolated wing of the hospital. The nurses all recognize Cade and greet him warmly, some even hug him. The doctor on duty looks young and one of the nurses has to whisper something to him before he grins.

  “So you’re the one,” the doctor says, shaking his hand. “Well, I’m sure they’re looking forward to seeing you.”

  Cade thanks him then proceeds to knock on the first door he comes to.

  What follows is the most surprising thing I’ve ever seen in my life. We stop at room after room, each one occupied by a single elderly person, all ailing from something different. But each person recognizes Cade and greets him warmly.

  “This man saved my life,” an old woman with a shock of white hair on the top of her head says. “He did, he saved me.”

  “Not true,” Cade grumbles, but clearly he’s pleased with himself.

  “If he hadn’t done what he did, we’d all be out of here,” she says. “He saved us all.”

  Cade smiles and thanks her before we head to the next room.

  One after the other, everyone thanks him, some effusively. He loves it, but by the end, he’s looking exhausted.

  “What happened to Malik?” he asks Nic.

  “Passed on a couple weeks back,” she says with a sigh.

  “Damn. I liked him. There are a few others missing, too.”

  She shrugs sadly. “It’s a hospital.”

  “Yeah, true. What happened to their beds?”

  “New folks moved in. Want to meet them?”

  He shakes his head and glances at me. “I think Lucy here is going to have a heart attack if we hold out any longer.”

  “What did he do?” I say, breathless.

  “He saved these people,” Nic says. We head over toward the elevators again, but this time we drift over toward the large windows overlooking the courtyard.

  “I know, they keep saying that. But forgive me for being skeptical. Cade isn’t exactly…”

  “A doctor?” he asks.

  “No.” I glare at him. “Kind.”

  He cackles with delight. “Tell her, Nic.”

  “Well, I don’t know the whole story, but it goes like this. Cade was put in charge of making cuts at the hospital. The administration wanted to cut out this wing of patients, the old ones that can’t pay but were being cared for anyway, you know, to save money.” She frowns and shakes her head. “Cade made a different decision.”

  “I cut their pay,” he says, grinning.

  “You did what?”

  “I cut the admin pay across the board. Twenty percent, wiped out. They were pissed.”

  “People quit, some people protested. I think there was a lawsuit.”

  “Yep, there was. I had to go to court for it. We won.”

  Nic grins. “And the money you saved went to keeping the long-term wing open, right?”

  “Among other things, yeah. I took the admin money we saved and put it to better use. We fired a few folks too, but people don’t like talking about that part.”

  Nic shrugs a little. “People love him for it.”

  I shake my head. “Did your father know about this?”

  “He found out after the fact. Wasn’t happy.”

  I frown a little bit. “So you’re, like, a hero here,” I say.

  “Pretty much.”

  “Why would your father send us to this place then?”

  He frowns at me. “What?”

  I glance at Nic. “Can we have a second?”

  “Sure, hon.” She smiles at Cade then walks off.

  I clear my throat, looking out the window. “Your father has been sending us to different p
laces… but the first two weren’t good memories for you. Why would he send us here?”

  Cade joins me, frowning outside. “I don’t know,” he admits.

  “There has to be a catch somewhere. There’s no way he’d send us here if everyone just thought you were some kind of hero.”

  “That doesn’t sound like my father, you’re right.” Concern is etched all over his expression.

  “Don’t worry. We’ll figure it out. And who knows, maybe it’s fine.”

  “Maybe he just wants to see the admins try to string me up.”

  “Could be, but I don’t know. Anyway, let’s be careful, okay?”

  He nods once and gives me a long look. “You know, I have to admit, I’m happy that you’re here.”

  I feel a strange brightening in my chest when he says that. “Really?”

  “Sure. At first, I resented you, but now…” He trails off. “Anyway, I’m glad you’re here.”

  “Yeah,” I say softly, looking away from him.

  That brightening starts to sour a bit when I think about what I might do to him.

  He walks off to find Nic and I stay by the elevators. I haven’t decided that he deserves this job… not yet at least. That story about cutting the admin pay to help save people is definitely a win in his favor, but still.

  I’m confused and torn and none of this is helping. I wish someone could tell me what to do, but I know this is all up to me.

  15

  Cade

  We stay at the hospital late that first day. It’s easy to lose track of time in a hospital. It never closes, there’s always something happening. It’s like there’s no real time.

  I find myself alone with Lucy in an empty hall of the long-term wing.

  We’re sitting on a gurney, our backs against the wall. She looks up at me with a little smile.

  “Long day,” she says.

  “Yeah. You did good.”

  She snorts. “Please. I just hung around and tried not to get in the way.”

  “That’s all we can do, really.”

  “Yeah. True.”

  We’re quiet for a second.

  “I hate hospitals,” I say.

  “Everyone does.”

  I put an arm around her without thinking. She leans her head against my shoulder. “Maybe that’s why my father sent us here.”