Sophia must have fallen asleep in the hard plastic chair she’d pulled up next to Carlo’s bed. She awoke with her head near his feet, her back bent and sore, to the swish of the door across the linoleum floor. She blinked away the sleep from her eyes and watched as a nurse entered the room. The wipe board on the wall read: Gabby.
Sophia remained silent as Gabby made her rounds, checking fluids in the hanging bags and making notes, reading monitors and making notes, and lifting Carlo’s hand, feeling his pulse and making notes.
When it appeared she was done, Sophia spoke, “Hello, I’m his daughter. Can you please tell me how he’s doing?”
Gabby checked her notes. “Can you tell me your name; I need to verify you’re on the list.” (Her R sounded like a W... a reassuring inflection to someone raised near the Borough)
“Sophia Rossi Burke.”
Gabby double checked her notes. “Yes, Sophia. Is your mother near?”
“Yes, she’s with my husband in the cafeteria.”
“Do you expect her to return soon?”
“I do... what time is it?”
Gabby checked her watch, “It’s almost eight thirty. The doctor is doing her final rounds. I’ll tell her you’re here, and she’ll inform you of your father’s progress.”
His voice sounded groggy, but Sophia would recognize that deep gargle anywhere. “If your talk’n bout me, you might as well talk to me.”
Sophia’s smile filled her face while the pent-up tears slid over her raised cheeks. Both women turned toward the bed. Carlo continued, “And what in Sam Hill are all these damn tubes. I don’t need damn tubes. I want them out!”
Sophia hurried to his side and threw her arms around his neck. “Pop, you’re awake?!”
“Damn right I’m awake. Where’s your mother? And why aren’t you with that husband of yours?”
“Mom’s with Derek in the cafeteria. She’s been by your side the whole time. We finally convinced her to get something to eat.”
Carlo nodded approvingly at his baby girl.
Gabby interrupted long enough to lift Carlo’s bed so he sat up, asked a few questions, and promised to send the doctor. Once they were alone Sophia held her father’s hand and looked him square in the eye. “Pop, what happened? How did you crash your car?”
Carlo returned her gaze, “My car? I don’t remember.”
She tried to reassure him, “It’s fine, just rest.”
“It’s not fine, Sophie. You’re saying I crashed my car? Is Silvia all right?”
“Yes, Pop. She wasn’t with you. You were alone... out by Sourland Mountain Reserve.”
Sophia watched as Carlo eyes closed. Finally he spoke, “I... I’m... I just don’t remember. Sophie... don’t tell your momma. I don’t want her thinking I can’t remember. Baby, I need you to help me with this. Tell me what happened so I can get it straight.”
“Pop, I don’t know. They just found your car. You ran off the road and hit a tree. Your right leg is broke, but not your hip. The doctor made a big deal out of that. Momma’s been real worried. You also punctured a lung. But the doctor said everything should heal just fine.”
“What about the other people, in the other car?”
“Pop, what other car?”
“That one that started to pass and pushed me off the road.”
Sophia stared at her father. “Pop, do you remember another car?”
Carlo looked at his hand. He followed the IV line up to the dangling bag. “What’s this shit they’re pumping into me? I can’t think straight!”
“I think it’s pain medicine.”
“Sophie, get your momma.”
She kissed his forehead. “If you promise not to go anywhere,” she smiled, as big as she could, her eyes twinkling.
“Now tell me how in Sam Hill I’m supposed to do that, with all this bloody crap hooked to me.” Beneath the pale complexion and gruff exterior, Sophia saw her father’s loving sense of humor.
“Pop, I’ll get Momma. But, I think you should know I’m not leaving until you’re better!”
As Sophia turned toward the door, she once again heard swoosh against the linoleum. The large barrier opened and the sound of her mother’s voice filled the room.
“Caa-ar-lo-oo!” Silva cried, creating a four syllable word where there’d only been two. Within seconds she was kissing his graying hair and fussing over his blankets.
Sophia looked up to see Derek’s tired quizzical expression. She took his hand and they walked into the hall. The sound of her mother fretting and her father minimizing elated Sophia. However, Derek’s sad eyes grounded her emotion.
“Derek, what is it? Did you speak to the doctor? Is there something I don’t know?”
Derek shook his head. “No. It isn’t your pop. It’s what you just said to him. Are you planning to stay here, in Princeton?”
Sophia collapsed against the wall. “I don’t know. I just can’t leave them.”
“What about finding a place to live in Santa Clara?”
“We have a month. We don’t need to fly out tomorrow.” She watched her husband’s neck and shoulders stiffen. This was a new version of their one main disagreement. He liked plans and details. Sophia lived in the moment. This morning she would have willingly flown across the country. However, things changed. Now she didn’t know when she’d be ready. “Can I please not make a decision right now? It’s been a very long day.”