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Even considering what it would be like if his stepfather was dying
made Rob shudder.
Dustin frowned, thoughtful. Maybe his dad wants to fix
things while he still can. Why else would he want Dr. N there?
Rob shrugged again and stood. He grabbed a piece of
pizza and took a bite. Hefting his bag, he headed down the
hallway to his and Dustin s room.
He d just opened his book when he heard a soft knock on
the door. He sighed. Come in.
The door opened, and Cody stepped inside. I want to
apologize for how I acted earlier. I was being a total jerk.
He closed the book. You ve been acting that way ever
since Vince and I got together. What is your deal with him?
His roommate sighed. I don t know. I mean, I don t really
know him that well. I m afraid you re going to get hurt.
What? Why would I get hurt?
Cody leaned against the door frame. Look, I know you.
You really like this guy. When you care about something, you
put your whole heart into it. Eventually the age gap is going to
tear the two of you apart.
He couldn t decide whether to be touched by Cody s
concern or annoyed. He settled on a little of both. What makes
you think that s going to happen? I m not a kid. Neither is Vince.
We both know what we want.
We both know what we want.
Yeah, and you re at two different stages in life. What if
he s having a midlife crisis or something? Dating a younger guy
might be his way of getting his groove back or whatever before
he jumps back into the dating pool. Or what if he s on the
rebound from his last relationship?
He looked Cody straight in the eye. I don t think he s
having a midlife crisis, and after three years, I doubt he s on the
rebound. I thought about those things, and I decided he was
worth taking a chance for. If I get hurt, I get hurt. I hope that
doesn t happen, but if it does, that s life. He s the one I want,
Cody. And he s a great guy. Maybe you could try being happy
for me?
Cody gave him a tentative smile. Okay, you re right.
You re a big boy now, so I ll try to trust your judgment. Even
though you did tell me to date that crazy girl sophomore year.
Rob laughed. That s what you get for asking my advice
about women.
Chapter Sixteen
Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is
unhappy in its own way.
Leo Tolstoy
After a mostly sleepless night, Vince stood, bleary-eyed
and anxious, in front of the hospital. He knew he should go in,
and anxious, in front of the hospital. He knew he should go in,
but something held him back. If he were honest with himself, he
would admit it was a mixture of fear and anger. Not knowing
why his father had summoned him, or what his reception would
be, scared him. Although he and his father had been estranged
for a long time, his father s disapproval still hurt.
Part of him wanted to walk away, to just go home without
seeing his father. That hurt, angry part of him couldn t forget the
slights of the past. Caleb Norton had hurt him many times,
whether on purpose or through a lack of interest in his only
child s life. And there was the last time he d tried to call&
He wouldn t even talk to me after Dean died, when I
was alone and angry and scared. Why should I talk to him
now?
In the end he walked through the door rather than walking
away. His father may have been cruel to him when he needed
him the most, but he refused to do the same. He would do what
he felt was right, regardless of what his father said or did.
He approached the admission desk. I m here to see Caleb
Norton. Can you tell me where I can find his room?
The nurse typed a few commands into her computer. It
looks like Mr. Norton is in the oncology ward. That s on the
third floor. He s in room 318.
Thank you.
Vince chose to take the stairs instead of taking the elevator.
He didn t particularly like elevators, and the stairs gave him a bit
He didn t particularly like elevators, and the stairs gave him a bit
more time to gather his thoughts before seeing his father.
Despite his stalling tactic, he reached the third floor within a
few minutes. He found the nurses station for the oncology ward
easily, since it was right by the stairs.
The nurse behind the desk gave him a professional smile.
Can I help you, sir?
Yes. I m here to see Caleb Norton.
She glanced at some paperwork sitting on the desk. Are
you his son?
I m Vince Norton, yes.
She nodded crisply. The doctor wanted to speak with you
when you arrived. I ll page him now, if that s all right.
Thank you.
He stood awkwardly for a few minutes until the doctor
arrived. The doctor wore a white coat and looked to be in his
midthirties. He held out a hand for Vince to shake.
Hello, I m Dr. Cohen, your father s oncologist. I
understand you re a doctor as well?
Vince gave Dr. Cohen a wry look. I m a doctor, but not
of medicine. My doctorate is in literature.
Dr. Cohen smiled at that, but he quickly sobered. As I
told you on the phone, your father has an inoperable brain tumor.
His wish is to go home. Right now that s not possible. He can t
be alone, and twenty-four-hour nurses would not be an option
for him due to the high cost. Another possibility would be for him
for him due to the high cost. Another possibility would be for him
to go to a hospice. I know of a good one not far from here that
has an opening.
The thought of his father dying surrounded by strangers
didn t sit well. He frowned. Have you discussed the options
with him?
The doctor sighed. I have. He refused to even consider
them until he spoke with you.
Astonished, Vince stared at the other man. He felt as if
he d stepped into an alternate reality. What was going on? Let
me speak to him, and I ll see what he wants to do.
Let me show you to his room. If you need to speak with
me again, have one of the nurses page me.
Thank you. He followed Dr. Cohen down the hall to
room 318. The doctor knocked and opened the door, stepping
inside. Hello, Mr. Norton. You have a visitor.
Vince s first glimpse of his father in years shocked him. The
man he remembered as tall and stern, with dark hair and piercing
eyes, light like his own, was almost unrecognizable. In his place
was a thin, tired old man whose thick white hair stuck up in odd
spines. The once-piercing eyes were dull and pain-filled.
Caleb Norton smiled wanly when he saw the doctor.
Visitor?
Vince stepped into his father s line of vision. Hello, Dad.
Those dull eyes widened, seeming to hold both hope and
trepidation. Vincent? You came.
trepidation. Vincent? You came.
Dr. Cohen nodded to them both and slipped out of the
room quietly.
The moment the doctor was gone, Vince turned back to
the old man on the bed. He kept his voice neutral. You asked
me to.
Even the cold, stern voice he remembered had changed,
become weak and thready. Yes, but you didn t have to come.
True enough. In the past, he would have used this
opportunity to strike back at the person who d hurt him more
than any other. Now, however, he didn t need to. He moved
closer to the bed. You re still my father, no matter what s
happened between us.
His father held out a thin, shaking hand, his eyes hopeful.
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