Someone touches my arm, and it’s Liz.
“Tamia, I’m sure everything will be all right. Is there anything we can do to help?”
“No,” I say, pulling away from Kellen and wiping my face. “You’ve all been great. I need to make plans to leave as soon as possible, though.”
“No need for the plans,” Gary chimes in. “I’ll call my pilot and have him fly you out to see your dad on our private plane.”
“No, I appreciate your help but—”
“But nothing. I’m not offering, I’m telling you. Plus it’s Thanksgiving and it’ll be impossible to get a ticket.”
I sigh. “Thank you so much, Gary. I appreciate that. I’m going upstairs and pack.”
“Need any help?” Kellen asks.
I stand on my tiptoes and kiss him. “No, I got it.” I smile weakly then walk toward the stairs, getting a group hug from Tasha, Katie, and Jay in the process. When they finally let me go, I trudge upstairs while mentally preparing myself for the worst.
Fourteen
Tamia
We leave the beach house at exactly four fifteen in the morning and head to the airport. Once we're in the air, I fall asleep in Kellen's arms and don't wake up until we land at Jackson-Hartfield. We rent a car and drive the distance to Alpharetta, GA.
Instead of going to my parent's house first, we head straight to the hospital to check on my dad. I'm standing at the nurses' station, trying to get information on my dad when my mom walks up to us.
“Tamia!” She gives me a huge hug.
“Mom!” I return the hug, holding her tight. “How's dad doing?”
“He's doing so much better.” She looks in Kellen's direction and smiles. “So, you found yourself a white boy, huh?” she whispers in my ear.
“Mom!” I screech, embarrassed.
“I'm just teasing, honey. He is very cute, by the way. You must be Kellen! I'm Mrs. Smith, but you can call me Gail.”
“Nice to meet you, Gail,” he replies, returning her smile.
“Have you been by the house yet?” Mom asks, looking at me again.
“No, I wanted to see dad first. Can he have visitors now?”
“Of course; he's the third door to the right. You can't stay too long because the doctor is on his way back to conduct more tests. There’s a possibility he will get to go home tomorrow!”
“That's great; I hope he can go home. I'll be right back, Kellen. And, Mom, be nice!” I laugh, walking down the hall to my dad's room.
“Knock, knock!” I announce, opening the door.
“There's my baby girl,” my dad greets me with a tired smile. “How's my Tamia been doing?”
“I'm doing so much better, Daddy, now that I know you're going to be fine.” I start to cry at the sight of my dad, my hero looking so pale and helpless in his hospital bed.
“Sweetheart, come here. I am fine.”
I take a seat beside my dad. “I know; I just don't like seeing my dad in the hospital.”
“Well, I'm sorry that I scared you and your mom. I just have to take better care of myself.” His eyes avert behind me. “So, who’s the white boy posted up outside my door that’s been staring at you since you entered my room?”
“Dad!”
“Don't ‘Dad’ me!” What's his name?”
“Kellen.”
“Kellen,” he repeats his name as if he’s trying to get used to the sound of it.
“You’ll meet him officially tomorrow when you come home,” I add, kissing his forehead.
“Why is it so important that I meet him?”
“Dad, be nice.”
“I’ll think about it. Let me meet the young man first, and that’ll determine if I’m nice or not.”
The door to my dad's room opens, and the doctor walks in.
“I guess I'll leave you with the doc. I'll get Mom, and we’ll see you tomorrow. Get some rest.”
“Ok, baby girl.”
Kellen walks back to the waiting room with me, and when my mom sees me, she meets me halfway. “The doctor is with Dad. He looks good, Mom.”
“I told you he would be fine. I guess I will see you two later. Kellen, it was nice to meet you.” She gives him a hug. “Be careful going home,” she says over her shoulder, walking to my dad's room.
“Ready?” I ask, grabbing Kellen's hand. He nods and we head for the hospital exit.
After we leave the hospital, Kellen and I grab a pizza and rent a couple of movies from the movie kiosk. When we finally pull up to my parent's house, we unload the car then eat. Afterward, I quickly send a group text to Tasha, Katie, and Jay, letting them know that my dad is doing fine, and then I give Kellen a tour of my childhood home before we settle down and watch a movie. We're cuddled up on the couch in the den, when my mom finally arrives home.
“Hey, you two. Have you guys eaten?” she asks, sounding exhausted.
“Hey, Mom. We actually grabbed a pizza when we left the hospital; there's some left if you want.”
“No, I'm good but thank you.”
“So, is Dad coming home tomorrow?”
“Yes, they will discharge him around noon,” she yawns. “Not trying to be rude, sweetie, but I'm exhausted, so I'm going to bed. See you in the morning.”
“Okay. Goodnight, Mom.”
“Goodnight.”
Two hours later, the movie finally ends. I turn and see that Kellen is fast asleep. I get up and cut the TV off then go upstairs to make sure the guest room is ready for him. After putting fresh towels in his bathroom, I head back downstairs and make sure everything is locked up and make my way back to the den to wake him up, only to find him already awake.
“I was wondering where you ran off to,” he says with a lazy smile.
“You fell asleep on me, so I went upstairs to make sure you have everything you need in your room. Come on; let's get you to bed,” I say, pulling him up from the couch leading him upstairs. We stop outside his door. I give him a kiss and whisper goodnight.
“Wait,” he says quietly and reaches for me. “You promised that you’d put me to bed.”
“I said no such thing. I said let’s get you to bed.”
“Same thing.” His eyes darken and a mischievous smile separates his lips.
“Kellen, my mom is downstairs.”
He pulls me inside the room. It feels like déjà vu when he closes the door behind us. “As much as I would love to stretch your limber ass out, eat your pussy, and digest your sweet juices, I know for a fact you won’t be able to be quiet. Your mom needs her rest, and I’m not trying to wake her up or get my ass killed tonight. All I want to do is sleep with you in my arms. Is that all right with you?”
“I–“
He palms my face, tilting my head back and placing a chaste kiss against my lips. “I’ll make sure that you’re up before your mom catches you in here.”
I let out a relieved breath.
“Baby, I’m exhausted.” His lips press once more to mine. “Let’s get some sleep.”