“Logan,” her dad says in greeting. His eyes meet mine, and he sticks out his hand to shake. I take it, and his grip is firm and strong. “How are you feeling?”
“Ready to go home, Mr. Madison.”
“Please, call me Ralph,” he says. My gut clenches, and I look toward Emily but she’s stowing my belongings in the trunk. I stand up tentatively, holding onto the edge of the door. I get into the front seat because there’s more room. I hop on one foot until I’m in position and then drop down into the car.
After the door is shut, the nurse who pushed me turns to me and signs, Hope you feel better soon. Shit. She can sign. I scrub a hand down my face in embarrassment, but she’s laughing. Take it easy, and don’t overdo it, she instructs.
I nod as heat creeps up my face. Emily just smiles and shakes her head. Busted. This is why you don’t sign in front of hearing people. Aside from the fact that it’s just rude.
Her dad is quiet the whole way to her house. He doesn’t say a word and neither does she.
When the car stops outside Emily’s apartment, he gets out and opens the door for me. I stick my hand out again. “Thank you for the ride, sir,” I say.
He brushes my hand away and helps me get settled on my crutches. “I’d like to come upstairs so we can talk.”
I look for Emily again, but she is in the driver’s seat of the car, and she waves to me as she pulls away.
“Where is she going?” I ask.
“To run some errands and to pick up your medicine,” he says.
“One of my brothers could have done that.”
He waves a hand at me. “No need.”
Henry, the doorman, rushes forward and helps me turn to get through the door. “So glad you’re back, Logan,” he says.
“Me, too,” I say with a laugh.
Emily’s dad smiles, and I still don’t know what to do with his unexpected friendship. He’s quiet in the elevator, and he doesn’t speak when I take out a key and let myself into Emily’s apartment. I should probably explain why I have a key, but I really don’t want to.
I drop onto the couch. I’m exhausted, and I really didn’t walk very far.
“Are you hurting?” he asks.
“No.” I look around the room. “Where’s Trip?” I expected to find him in his boxers on Emily’s couch.
“He has gone back to LA,” Mr. Madison admits.
He sits down opposite me on the couch and looks uncomfortable. But it’s not the I-don’t-know-what-to-say-to-you uncomfortable. It’s more like the I’m-emotional kind of uncomfortable, which makes me not know what to do for him.
“For good?” I ask.
“Yes.”
“Oh, wow.” I didn’t see that one coming.
“Logan, I need to apologize to you,” he says. His cheeks are rosy, and he’s obviously anxious.
“It’s really not necessary, Mr. Madison,” I begin.
He cuts me off by holding up a hand. “Ralph,” he corrects. “I need to thank you,” he says again. “What you did took amazing courage.”
“Really,” I say, trying to cut him off.
“Let me f**king finish, will you?” he asks, still smiling.
Did he just drop the f-bomb? “Have you been hanging out with my brothers?” I ask.
He chuckles. “No, but I’m from the same f**king area as you. I just forgot somewhere along the way where I came from.”
I don’t know what to say. I had no idea Mr. Madison had poor roots.
“I grew up dirt-poor. In a worse neighborhood than yours.” He blows out a breath. “Somewhere along the way, I lost sight of what’s important,” he says. “My family means the world to me. Without them, I am nothing.”
He grimaces as though he doesn’t know what to say next.
“I’m proud that you’re in my daughter’s life. I couldn’t be more pleased with her choice in someone to love.”
“Thank you, sir,” I say. I’ve been blindsided, and I feel like someone has flipped my world around. I didn’t see this coming at all.
“I know you have plans to be with my daughter forever.” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small jewelry box. He presses it into my hands. I open it up, and there’s a small diamond engagement ring inside. You would probably need a microscope to see the diamond, but that’s okay. The ring is beautiful, with a lot of detailed etching around the band. It looks like an antique. “If you decide to ask her to marry you at some point, I’d like you to know you have my blessing. And you can use her grandmother’s ring.” He suddenly looks uncomfortable again. “Or you can use your own. I don’t particularly care.”
I remember what he said to me once, about buying my wife a tiny diamond and living with her in a shitty apartment. He shrugs. He remembers it, too.
“Thank you, sir.” I feel like someone has stolen all my wits. “I don’t know what to say.”
“I’m not implying that you have to ask her anytime soon.”
“I plan to ask her as soon as possible,” I admit. I’ve been planning it since I woke up in the hospital. I don’t want to be away from her for a single second. Ever.
“When you do, you have my blessing, and her mother’s.” He points a finger at me in warning. “I feel like you’re a good man. But if you do anything that will ever break her heart, I’ll have to do terrible things to you.” He glares down his nose at me. “I know people.” He smiles, though.