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Infinity(53)

By:Layne Harper


“Okay, sweetie. Okay. We’re coming home. Get Ainsley packed. We’ll be there in twenty.” He instructs her.

I stand there on the razor edge of fear, staring at Brad. He pulls me into his arms, and begins rubbing my back. “Your dad has suffered a massive heart attack. They don’t know if he’s going to make it.”



****



I’ve made the drive from Dallas to Houston hundreds of times. It’s a long stretch of flat highway that passes through a few towns. There’s nothing particularly interesting to look at. Traffic flows well. Everyone goes about seventy miles per hour so I can set the cruise control and just drive. And think.

Today, however, we’re in Ainsley’s tank. I’m driving like a crazy person with my hazard-lights flashing. Brad is in the passenger seat on the phone with Methodist Hospital where they took my dad trying to get an update. Amy is in the backseat, giving Ainsley a pacifier, attempting to soothe her until we arrive in Houston, and I can feed her. None of us thought to grab the extra bags of breast milk or snacks before we raced out of the house.

I left security in Dallas because we all couldn’t fit in this car. Colin will be livid, but he’s just going to have to get over it.

Brad says into the phone. “Okay. Thanks for the update. I appreciate it, Leslie. Make sure you tell your brother hello for me.”

When he hangs up, he says, “Doctor Collins is still in surgery. That’s all that I’ve got. Sorry ladies.”

I let out a sigh, and grip the steering wheel, willing the eighteen-wheeler in front of me to move to the right lane so I can pass him. Finally, I get sick of waiting, and pull an action-movie worthy maneuver to scoot past.

The jerk of the car makes Ainsley cry… of course.

“Look, he’s in surgery. Let’s stop at the next exit so you can feed her. There’s nothing you can do at this point.” Brad tries reasoning with me.

As Ainsley’s screams pick up, I know that he’s right. We take the exit for Buffalo, Texas, and pull into an Exxon station. Amy volunteers to go inside and buy us drinks while I feed little Miss Angry Pants. I no longer cover myself in front of Brad. He knows to look away until Ainsley is settled.

“Have you told Colin yet?” Brad asks once I have Ainsley situated.

“No. I want to wait until after half-time. I’m afraid that if he finds out before he’ll leave, or not be focused on the game. He has so much pressure on him right now. As you said, there’s nothing any of us can do,” I reply as I reposition Ainsley. She’s getting too big for me to keep nursing her. She’s going to be tall, like her daddy.

Brad scrolls around on his phone, and says, “Looks like half-time is almost over. Want me to call Jenny, and ask her to get in touch with the team?”

Nodding my head, it does cross my mind that I didn’t even ask Brad what the score is.



****



You wouldn’t think that the Houston Medical Center would be crowded on a Sunday, but we sit in traffic for ten minutes just trying to turn into the hospital’s parking garage. As I impatiently tap my finger on the gear shift, my phone rings. Amy and I both take a huge gulp of air and wait while Brad speaks to whomever is on the other end.

“Thanks for telling me,” Brad says. “Yes, I’ll let them know.”

Brad hangs up as I’m taking the parking garage ticket from the machine. “That was my friend, Leslie.” He pauses, and swallows the lump in his throat.

I know instantly that my dad didn’t make it. A giant hand reaches into my chest and grips my heart, squeezing it so tightly I’m not sure it can pump blood any longer.

I gasp as Brad confirms my fear. “I’m sorry, but there was nothing they could do.”

Amy drops her head into her hands and sobs. It’s a gut-wrenching wail that further breaks my heart. My poor baby sister.

I stare ahead, focused on doing one thing at a time. Right now, I need a place to park this tank. Yes. That’s my focus. I’ll think about my father passing away in a moment.

By some miracle, I spot an open place on the second floor. Once we’re parked, Brad rushes to comfort me, but I wave him off and point at Amy. My next focus is to take care of my daughter. I walk to Ainsley’s car seat and carefully unlatch her, and cradle her against my chest. Her warm little body snuggles against me, calming me instantly. She’s got a large happy grin on her beautiful face, and reaches out to pull a piece of my hair that has escaped from my ponytail. How sad, baby girl, you’ll never get to know your grandfather. He didn’t even live long enough for you to say his name.

Grabbing a blanket out of her diaper bag, I throw it over her. It isn’t particularly cold outside, but I know from lots of experience that hospitals are always chilly. I don’t want my baby unhappy. My focus is to make sure that Ainsley is comfortable.