This is a work of fiction. It is straight out of my imagination, except for most of the pagan practices mentioned. This is written for adults and if you are not supposed to read this where you live, then please don't.
Part 15
Ryan told me he would pack, and that I should go downstairs and check us out. I pulled myself together and took the elevator to the lobby. I walked to the desk and found the same clerk on duty. I must have looked bad because he rushed from behind the desk to my side. He pulled a chair and had me sit down. He moved through a door behind the desk and returned with a glass of water.
"What can I do for you sir," he asked crouching down beside me.
"We have to leave. My father was in an accident and I have to go to him." The clerk stood up and turned to the desk and rang the bell. An assistant rushed from the back room.
"Upstairs, room 403. Help Mr. Summerbreaze pack and bring down their things." The assistant ran for the elevator and the clerk went behind the desk. He rung up the receipt and brought it back to me.
"I never got your name," I said as I took the paperwork from him.
"Ward Anderson," he said, "call me Ward." I looked up at him when he said `Ward.'
"Thanks, Ward," I said and looked down at the bill. He had given me the room at half price, which was a considerable loss. I started to protest, but he just shook his head and walked back to the desk. The elevator bell rang and Ryan and the assistant came barreling out into the lobby. Ryan rushed to my side and dropped the bag he was carrying on the floor. The assistant grabbed the bag and then asked for the keys to my car as Ryan held me.
"It is the dark blue PT Cruiser in the parking lot." I handed him the keys and put the receipt in my wallet. I stood up and turned back to the clerk and held out my hand. "Thank you very much, Ward," I said as he took my hand. We shook and I left a folded fifty dollar bill in his palm and walked away. Ryan held my arm as we walked out onto the sidewalk. The assistant arrived in the car and Ryan had me sit in the passenger seat. He thought I saw Ryan hand the guy a twenty and climb behind the wheel. We took off towards 95 and were on our way north.
We hardly spoke the whole way to Orlando. I stared out at the passing scenery and thought of the harsh words that were exchanged the day before. The thought that those could have been the last words I ever heard from my father, pained me more than almost anything could.
We didn't stop until we were at the hospital. I ran in as Ryan parked the car. I found the nearest desk and asked for my father's room. He was still in recovery, so I asked for the waiting room. I told them that a young man was coming soon and for them to send him after me.
I found my way through the maze of corridors until I emerged in a room full of uncomfortable looking chairs. I saw Mom in the snack area, pouring a cup of coffee. I rushed to her side.
"Mom, is Dad still okay," I asked. She turned and put the coffee down. She pulled me into a tight embrace.
"He's ok," I could hear her say against my chest. She held me for a long time, and I felt so much better being in her arms. Ryan stood behind me with his hand on my back. I pulled back from Mom and turned to look at Ryan. He gave me a comforting smile. When Mom saw him she surprised me and Ryan by hugging him. She pulled back and smiled up into his face. "Thank you for being here for Caison," she said and then looked up at me.
"Can I see him," I asked.
"As soon as he wakes up, he will want to see you. He called for you until he fell asleep...," she trailed off after she realized what she said.
"I should have been here. I shouldn't have run off like I did," I said and walked across the room.
"You had no way of knowing this was going to happen. You could say just as well that he shouldn't have taken off in the car angry. No one knew he would get in an accident. I am just glad no one else was hurt, and he wasn't drinking. He was on his way to the bar and the traffic was light. They think he missed a curve and went into the ditch."
"What are his injuries," I asked, trying to keep control of myself.
"His airbag deployed, and it hurt his face, but they think he hit his head on the window or something in the car. He had a bit of a concussion." She turned and poured cream into her coffee.
"Is there a Caison Blackwatch here," asked a nurse at the door. I turned and told her that I was Caison. "Mr. Smithwick wants to see you. He insists on seeing you now, but you should only stay for a moment." I nodded at the nurse and turned to Mom.
"Ryan will stay here with you," I said and then followed the nurse to his room. I walked in and found Dad hooked up to the various IVs and monitors that you would expect. I was not surprised, but the view was still quite disturbing. He looked up when he saw me come in the door. He tried for a smile, but I knew he was in pain and under the influence of some powerful drugs.
"Caison, come here son," he said and tried to pat the bed, but was too week. I walked closer to the bed, worried about what was going to transpire.
"I'm here Dad. They said you had a bit of an accident." He closed his eyes and I was worried he had fallen asleep. He looked up at me after a moment. I could see a tear forming in his right eye.
"I was angry. I was angry at you, I was angry at your mother, I was angry at God, and I was angry at myself. I only had one son, and it wasn't fair. I was going to go to the bar and climb into a bottle and shut out the world. I hardly ever drank before, but I have noticed that it is slowly taking over my life." I reached out and took his hand. He looked up at me for a moment and then smiled. He squeezed my hand the best he could.
"We can get you some help, Dad," I said.
"I came to a realization tonight. I was driving along, pissing and moaning about your lifestyle and your religion, and then there is the boy." I looked down at the floor. I couldn't truthfully defend myself by saying that Ryan and I weren't lovers.
"I wasn't paying attention and hit the guardrail. I pulled back too hard and went across the street and hit a tree." He just laid there for a moment, reliving the frightening moments. "I laid in the car, bleeding and dizzy. My head hurt worse than you can imagine... and I thought I was going to die." He sniffed a bit trying to hold in the tears. I squeezed his hand tighter.
"I thought that I was never going to see you or your mother again. I thought of the horrible things I had said to you. I realized that nothing matters except that we have each other. How you live is your business and if I want to be in your life, I have to accept you as you are. I wish I had gotten to know Ward. He was a good man. I hope you can just accept me, and forgive me."
I fell to my knees beside his bed and held tight onto his hand as I quietly wept. I could hear him crying also, and he squeezed my hand. I composed myself the best I could and then stood up slowly. I looked down and saw that he had fallen asleep. I let go of his hand and moved to the door. I stopped and looked back at him, so frail looking in the hospital bed.
"I forgive you, and I love you."
(To be continued)
The next chapter will be submitted soon.
I welcome comments, twinkchaser@excite.com