Bachelor Father

“She’s not used to having a father and you’re not used to having a daughter. It’s going to take time for the two of you to adjust to your relationship.” It was the same argument Lori had used repeatedly for the past few weeks.

Time was the one thing he hadn’t been given. Most men had nine months to prepare for a fatherhood that began with an infant. He’d had to take a crash course that had ended with him being delivered a kindergartner. He’d expected there to be a period of adjustment while the two of them got to know one another. What he hadn’t expected was that after so many weeks he would feel as if he’d failed the first test of fatherhood.

“I’m not sure what else I can do,” he said, feeling frustrated by his efforts. “I’ve given her everything I can think of to make her feel at home with me.”

“Things will get better,” she predicted. “You just have to patient.” She arched her back, again placing a hand at the base of her spine. “I wonder how much longer it’ll be before we can go in? I could use a chair about now.”

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

She smiled weakly and nodded. “I’m just tired.” She put a hand on her stomach. “And it doesn’t help that your nephew has decided today is the day to practice his soccer kicks.”

“Why don’t you go home?”

She shook her head. “Can’t. I promised Megan I’d be here when she woke up.”

“She’s probably not going to know who is and who isn’t here tonight,” he noted.

Lori glanced apprehensively at the closed door. “I am tired,” she admitted.

“Then do me a favor and leave. On top of all of this I don’t need the wrath of my brother on me. He’s not happy that I made him go to the boat show in the first place, and if he comes home and finds you’ve run yourself ragged while he’s been gone, he’s going to be all over me.”

“It’s a good thing he is there,” she remarked. “Your grandfather can’t really handle a show on his own anymore.”

“I called Bill Grainger and he’s going to fly out first thing in the morning to help in any way he can,” Adam told her.

“That’ll be good.” She placed a hand on his arm. “I’m sorry you had to leave in the middle of the show. I know how excited you were about the Seababy.”

He shrugged. “Things happen.”

Although Adam often oversaw construction at Novak Boats, his first love was design. It was why he was the company’s best spokesperson. He knew every inch on each custom-designed yacht that came out of the factory. Boat shows were the perfect place for him to showcase the cutting-edge technology that had earned him numerous industry awards. This year it was the Seababy, a midsize motor yacht, that was his pride and joy and already the buzz in the boating world.

But then Novak Boats often was at the center of attention in the industry. What his grandfather had founded as a small family business to build pontoons for local lakes had evolved into an internationally known yacht manufacturer creating pleasure cruise boats easily handled at sea. From a single employee to nearly one hundred and fifty, the company had earned its place in the boating world with a reputation envied by many.

Building boats was a passion Adam had discovered at an early age. While some kids went to nursery school, Adam had tagged along with his father to the factory where his grandfather had put him to work fetching tools. He’d learned the art of boat building at the knee of a master, and by the time he went off to college to earn his engineering degree, he knew every aspect of the business, including how to represent Novak Boats at the various shows across the country.

When the door to Megan’s room opened and a lab technician came out carrying a tray of medical supplies, Adam asked, “Is everything okay?”

The woman nodded. “You’ll be able to go in in a few minutes. Her nurse is just finishing up in there.”

“Is she asking for me?” Lori wanted to know.

“Oh, yes. I think she must have said ‘I want my mommy’ at least five times.”

Lori’s startled glance caught Adam’s before she said to the tech, “I’m her aunt. Her mother died last fall.”

The tech grimaced. “Oooh. I’m sorry. I thought…”

Lori shook her head. “It’s okay.”

“It’s probably the medication confusing her,” the tech said with an apologetic shrug, then disappeared down the hall.

The door opened again and this time a nurse stepped out. “You can come in now.”

Adam introduced himself and asked, “How is she?”

“She’s resting comfortably. She was having quite a bit of pain so I gave her something to help her sleep,” the nurse explained. “Mr. Novak, if you’d like to spend the night, we can put a cot for you in her room.”

Lori looked at Adam. “One of us should probably stay in case she wakes up.”

He nodded. “I’ll stay. You go home and get a good night’s sleep.”

“What if she asks for Christie again?”

“I doubt she will.” He dismissed her concern with a shake of his head. “But if she does, I’ll clear things up.” As he watched his sister-in-law walk away, he realized it was a heck of a time for him to hope to improve communications with his daughter. But he would. Somehow. Someway.

CHAPTER TWO

WHAT THE NURSE CALLED a bed was actually a padded vinyl chair that collapsed in the middle so that it resembled a cot. There were times when being six foot three had its advantages. This was not one of them. As Adam tried to stretch out on the makeshift bed, his feet dangled over one end. After a period of tossing and turning in search of a comfortable position, he put the chair back into its original position. It wouldn’t be the first time he would have to sleep sitting upright.

Not that he expected to sleep. He needed darkness and silence. Megan’s hospital room had neither. If there wasn’t some piece of equipment blinking, there was an electronic machine beeping. Then there were the frequent visits by various medical staff.

And, of course, there was Megan herself. She was not a quiet sleeper. Although she wasn’t tossing and turning, she made little sounds that were a cross between a groan and a hiccup. The first time he heard one he thought that she was in distress. He’d jumped up from the chair and called for the nurse who had assured him Megan was not in any danger.

To his surprise he finally was able to get a couple of hours of sleep. When he awoke he discovered someone had pulled the drape around Megan’s bed, separating him from his daughter. Although he couldn’t see the two people on the other side, he could hear them.

“It hurts,” Megan cried.

“I know it does, dear. I’m going to give you some medicine to help make you feel better.”

When the only sound to be heard was Megan’s whimpering, Adam called out, “Is everything all right?”

“Everything’s fine, Mr. Novak,” a woman’s voice answered from the other side of the curtain. “We’re just taking care of some business.”

Then he heard Megan say in a voice that was slightly hoarse, “Is Adam here?”

Adam. Being in the hospital hadn’t suddenly made his daughter want to call him Dad. He wondered if she would ever regard him as her father.

“If you’re referring to your dad, yes, he is here,” Adam heard the nurse say. “He’s been here all night actually, and as soon as I’m finished we’ll open the curtain and you can see him.”

“I’d rather see my mommy. Can you get her for me?”

Adam frowned. It had been almost six months since Christie had drowned. Megan knew her mother had died and gone to heaven, so why was she asking for her now?

The nurse didn’t answer her question about her mother but went on to advise Megan to be very careful and lie still because it was important that she not disturb the bandages on her tummy.

Adam could see nothing but darkness through the sliver of an opening in the window blind. He glanced at his watch. It was five-fifteen. He had a crick in his neck, his clothes were wrinkled and he was in desperate need of a cup of coffee. Thinking he might take a break and find a coffee machine, he was about to ask the nurse how long she’d be with Megan when the drape swung open.

“How is she?” he asked in a low voice.