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WHEN NICHOLAS FINALLY wakes up, Hannah's face is the first thing he sees. I've been waiting for this moment for the last two hours, ever since his daughter stepped into the room. She was his emergency contact, and she hurried to the hospital much faster than I thought she would.
Seeing her father's open eyes, Hannah scoots her chair closer to his bed. I see Nicholas' eyes too—more specifically, I can see the tears he's attempting to hold back. I've been with him long enough to spot the telltale signs of impending tears.
Johnny's still with me, but he hasn't said anything for awhile. At the moment, I see nothing but Hannah and Nicholas, and I'm anxiously awaiting the interaction between them.
Nicholas speaks first. He says, “So... I guess you know what I done.”
“Yeah, I do.” Hannah studies his bandaged arms, and with a slow shake of her head, she asks, “Why'd you do it? Why'd you hurt yourself?”
“I don't know.” He raises an arm and rotates it, as if to model the puffy bandage on his wrist. “I guess... well... I got lonely, I guess.”
Hannah's head hangs between her shoulders. For a minute—maybe two—they're both silent.
Finally, Hannah says, “I'd never want you to hurt yourself, Dad.”
“Well, I guess Dad made a mistake,” he admits. “He's, uh... well, I guess you could say... he's made a lot of mistakes.”
Hannah dabs her eyes with a tissue, clutched tightly in her hand. She's been crying intermittently since the moment she arrived. The tension between them is palpable. There's a lot that needs to be said.
Hannah reaches for Nicholas' hand and loosely grabs his fingers. Sniffling, she says, “I still miss Mom a lot.”
“Yeah,” her father agrees. “I miss the heck out of her too, Hannah... believe me, I do.”
Hannah's lips are trembling, so she purses them and waits. I can't believe they're finally speaking to each other—and I can't believe it took a tragedy to get them here.
Suddenly, Hannah says, “I miss you too, Dad.”
Nicholas drags a hand across his face, rubbing away the threat of tears. He cracks a smile, a slight one, and whispers, “I miss you too, Dollface.”
Hannah's face drops to Nicholas' hand. I think she's using his fingers to dry her eyes. She stays on his hand for a minute or two, silent and still.
Hannah straightens up when a nurse enters the room, to check Nicholas' vital signs and give him a cup of pills. I think they're for high blood pressure and alcohol withdrawal, but I'm not sure.
As soon as the nurse leaves, Hannah whispers, “Are you still mad about my boyfriend, because Damian is... black?”
Nicholas answers quickly, “No, honey, I don't care about that. I don't care about that no more. I just want you to be with a man who makes you happy, that's all.”
My hands clasp together when I hear his reply. I couldn't have hoped for a better answer from him.
“We're pregnant,” Hannah says. “I mean... I'm pregnant. But it's Damian's.”
“You married?” Nicholas asks.
“No, but we're going to be... eventually. Maybe some time after the baby is born. I'm not sure.” Grimacing, she asks, “You're not mad about that, are you?”
“Hon, I couldn't be mad at you if I tried,” her father replies. “I'm just glad you're here right now. I'm just glad I get to... see your face. I've missed this face a lot.”
Nicholas' voice cracks in the middle of his reply, forcing a short pause. Hannah reaches for his hand and brings it to her lips.
In the corner of my eye, I can see Johnny watching me. I really hope I don't cry, but I won't be surprised if I do. For the last three years, I've been wishing, hoping, praying for this reunion. It's hard to believe this moment is real.
“Well, congratulations on that baby,” Nicholas says. “Is it a boy or a girl? Do you know?”
“A girl.”
“Will I get to meet her?”
Hannah sobs at her father's question, and through sniffles, she says, “If you want to... of course.”
“You think I might be invited to that wedding of yours?” Nicholas asks.
“I think so.” Hannah's answer is a bit weak, but understandably so. I didn't expect the distance between them to close in a day.
“I'm sorry, you know,” Nicholas says. “I'm sorry for all those things I said about you, and that man of yours.”
“It's okay.” Hannah's voice is reduced to a whisper, and with a shake of her head, she adds, “W-Well, it's not okay, but I can forgive you.”
“You forgive me?”
“I forgive you.” Tapping the bandage on his arm, she says, “But you better not do this again.”
“Nah, I won't do that again.”
My eyes fill with tears as I listen to their exchange. I'm going to cry, aren't I? If I wasn't so invested in Nicholas, I don't think this would get to me. But I am invested. Like Nicholas, I've always wished for Hannah's return. Johnny slides an arm around my shoulders, so I sidle closer to him. It's only a half-hug, but I feel comforted by him.
A single tear sneaks from the corner of Nicholas' eye, dissolving before it reaches his pillow. He closes his eyes, takes a deep breath, and says, “I hope you know, Hannah... your daddy's always loved you.”
Her answer comes quickly, but with more tears. She says, “I've always loved you too, Daddy.”
I always knew he was suffering without her. Today, I finally realize she's been suffering without him. It's been a revelation.
“Let's start over,” Hannah suggests. “Let's make today our fresh start.”
“I'd like that.” His eyes are closed again, possibly to hide the gloss in them. “Yeah, I'd really like that a lot.”
I smile at Johnny, but I don't say anything. I don't think words are needed. We both know what's happening.
My mission, at long last, is finally complete.