When Lang returned with the coffee, Rose had gone to the observation theater, and Beth was there with her parents. Leonora went to sit with Martha and Beth sat beside Lang, holding his hand. Sometimes one dozed and rested a head on the other’s shoulder.
While his wife and Martha dozed in chairs by the bed, Ben Senior slept in a recliner just inside Jaybo’s room. Thus, he was the most rested one when Rose appeared shortly after six a.m., her face grim, even though she gave them a thumbs-up. “Dr. Matthias will be down shortly,” she said softly, coming to sit beside her brother. Ben Senior, Martha, and Leonora woke simultaneously and came out to the hall to join them.
With dark circles under his piercing gray eyes, Dr. Matthias soon appeared and pulled up a chair in front of them. “Well, he made it. He’s weak, but he came through it okay. We’ve got him heavily sedated right now so he can rest. He’ll be in recovery for at least four hours. Then we’ll bring him back here. You might want to go home and get some rest. Come back midafternoon when he should be awake.”
Martha Dillon burst into tears and buried her head in her hands as Leonora patted her shoulder.
“This is good news, Mom” Rose said, but her tone was neither confident nor optimistic.
Dr. Matthias answered their questions, then departed, assuring them that he would be checking in every few hours and that “Mr. Dillon is getting the best of care.”
Yeah, right, Lang thought. What remotely competent doctor practices medicine at this rinky dink hospital?”His sister was clearly worried, and he wondered if he should suggest their father be moved to Phoenix or Tucson. Later, he thought, squeezing his mother’s hand. Not that he didn’t appreciate the Morgans’ presence, especially Beth’s, but what ICU allowed anyone off the street to waltz right in? Were there any protocols or procedures at all?
After a short conversation, Beth stood up. “Why don’t we take Dr. Matthias’s advice and go home and rest? We have Mom’s car, and I have the truck. Between us, we can get everyone home.”
Rose stood up. “I’ll take a ride, at least to get a change of clothes. Thanks, Beth.”
“I’ll stay,” Lang said quietly.
Surprised, his sister stared at him.
“It’s fine,” he said. “I think you and Mom should go home. I’ll hang around until one or both of you get back. Then I’ll take a break.”
As the day went on, Jaybo Dillon’s condition improved, and he was moved back to his room. They each took turns sitting with him, even though he barely acknowledged their presence. Lang had been there when they wheeled Jaybo up. All his father said was, “You’re here,” then lapsed into unconsciousness again. Lang went home and showered, returning in the early evening to relieve his mother and sister. By then, the father had woken and was able to manage talk, albeit briefly, as he moved between sleep and wakefulness.
At ten p.m., Lang looked over at his mother and sister. “You two go home. I had a rest. I’ll stay. That recliner looks pretty good right about now.”
Rose watched, trying to read his mood. “There’s really no need. The nurses say he’ll probably sleep all night, and they’ll call us if there’s any change.”
“I’ll be fine. Go.”
He hugged them both before walking them to the car. When he returned, he grabbed a bottle of water, chips, and a turkey sandwich from the cooler Neecy had sent and came to sit by his father. He had just taken a bite when she walked into the room.