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Part
71
Roy stepped quietly off the elevator, his eyes never leaving the forlorn figure in front of him. Jack stood before a window, silhouetted by the setting sun, his shoulders slumped, his head held in his hands. Roy hesitated, not sure he should intrude on his father's grief, but not wanting him to be alone at a time like this. "Dad?" he finally called out quietly, taking a few unsure steps away from the elevator.
"Roy." A brief, sad, smile lit Jack's face as he turned to watch his son's approach, "I'm glad you found me. I'm sorry I ran off that way. It was just such a shock."
"Yeah, I know. For both of you." Roy closed his eyes briefly, remembering the devastated expression on Johnny's face.
"Is Johnny all right?" Jack felt a stab of guilt, "I should go back and check on him. Say . . . something."
"He's sleeping right now. The nurse came in and gave him a sedative a little while ago." Roy looked down, shuffling his feet aimlessly, "So, how're you doing?"
"To tell you the truth, I don't know." Jack turned back to the window, "Just numb at this point I guess. I can't believe that the little boy I loved and raised isn't mine. And I can't . . . Mary was unfaithful? It just . . . it doesn't make sense. Mary was the most kind, wonderful loyal woman I've ever known. Nothing like Harriet. She would never have cheated on me. This has to be some kind of mistake. It just has to be."
"For your sake, and Johnny's, I hope your right." Roy reached up and placed a hand on Jack's shoulder, squeezing gently.
"I'm sorry, son," Jack turned quickly, pulling Roy into an embrace, "This should be a happy time for you, for both of us. It's not fair of me to just shove you aside at a time like this." Taking a deep breath, he pulled back and looked Roy in the eye, "In case I didn't say it earlier, son, I'm very proud to be your father. And I love you, very much."
*****
Chet twisted his spoon slowly in his tapioca, his eyes never leaving the cafeteria entrance. "She's gotta eat sometime."
*****
Carol reached down to the end of the bed and grabbed her robe, slipping into it on her way to the bathroom. Damn it, she cursed herself silently, I promised myself I wouldn't let this happen again. Chet's a sweet guy, why can't I just be happy with him. Why do I keep throwing myself into these meaningless flings when I've got a good man who wants to be with me?
*****
"Kel?" Dixie's eyes fluttered open, her hand going immediately to her abdomen, "The babies?"
"It's okay, Dix," Kelly captured her hand in his and brought it to his lips, "They managed to get the labor stopped."
"Oh god. Oh, thank god," tears of joy began streaming down Dixie's face, "So the babies are all right?"
"Yes. So far." He squeezed her hand tighter, "But they ran some tests on you while you were unconcious, Dix. You have toxemia."
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