away for work, but I have no doubt the break did him good.
My father is six foot, with honey blonde hair and eyes so blue they are mind blowing. He’s a well-built man and I have no doubt he gets plenty of offers from women. He’s gifted in that department. I’ve watched the man sweet talk his way out of so many things it’s crazy. He’s covered in tattoos and he has two piercings in his ears. I believe my father was quite the bad boy when he was younger. He met my mum and they were ying and yang, kind of like Whiskey and Jase. She couldn’t handle him, she just wanted an easy man and my father is certainly not an easy man. He loves me though, more than his own life and he was always a great dad.
“I thought you weren’t coming back yet?” I whisper.
“I wanted to surprise you.”
I smile and then roll my head on my shoulders, feeling achy. “Jase’s parents are coming to stay with me too, they want to be around Jase.”
“That’s a lot to put on you kid.”
“I know but I need him to be with me daddy, I need him…”
“I know baby. Well, I’m just a few blocks down, you call me you hear? If you need anything?”
“I will. Tell me, how was your trip?”
He shrugs and leans against the chair, I notice a new tattoo on his forearm. It’s yet another mark on my father’s art board.
“Work’s work you know?”
“What did you do aside from work?”
His lips curl and I roll my eyes.
“Don’t tell me, I don’t want to know. Seriously daddy, you’re a freaking Deviot, you’re meant to be the one chastising me.”
He turns to me and winks. “ I never said I did anything. You’re assuming.”
“Well, what did you do then?”
He shrugs. “Enjoyed friends, enjoyed dinners…”
“Enjoyed women? Seriously, when are you going to settle down daddy?”
“Soon baby.”
I roll my eyes. “I better go get Jase’s parents.”
My father stands, his powerful body looking awfully large from this angle. I stand quickly and he smiles, putting his hands on my shoulders.
“You go get them, I’ll start dinner. How about I crash on the couch tonight to make sure everything goes well?”
“You’d do that?” I whisper.
He cups my face. “I’d do anything for you baby, now, go get em’.”
I smile and grip my keys and phone, then I kiss my father’s cheek once more before rushing out. When I get to my cherry red car, I slide in and turn it on. The ride to the hospital seems extra slow today, maybe because of my emotions. When I arrive, I park and take the time to walk into the large hospital. When I reach my nurses’ station, I take a leave form. I’ve been thinking about it for the past day, but I know it’s something I have to do. I have weeks and weeks of leave up my sleeve, so I fill out the form to take four weeks.
“Hey girl.”
I turn to see Tanya walking towards me. I smile at her and wave my leave form around. “I’m going on leave.”
“I expected as much, I don’t blame you. Family and friends are more important than work. You should spend as much time with him as you can before…”
She trails off but I know what she was going to say. Before he dies. I clench my eyes shut. Keep it together Nevaeh, you can’t break down. He needs you.
“I’m sorry honey,” Tanya whispers, putting her hand on my shoulder.
I open my eyes and force a smile. “It’s ok.”
“Do you want to talk?”
I shake my head, swallowing. “I’m ok, thanks.”
“You call me if you need, ok?”
I nod and swallow again, that lump in my throat just won’t leave. “Thanks Tan, I better go.”
She hugs me quickly and then rushes off. I place the leave form on the desk in the correct tray, then I head up to oncology. When I get into Jase’s room, he’s sitting on the bed, his bags by his feet. Doctor Wilson is standing in front of him, chatting about something. His parents are sitting on the guest chairs, both looking a little pale. I’m guessing what they’re talking about is how