A Fragile Hope by Cynthia Ruchti

Author:Cynthia Ruchti
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Abingdon Press
Published: 2017-03-15T16:00:00+00:00

Stan took the next watch while Josiah cleaned up. He left his hair damp after shampooing with hand soap from the dispenser in the men’s room. He wore out the button on the blow dryer trying to dry his sock and the lining of his shoe. Stan was back in the waiting room before Josiah got there.

“You look and smell a sight better, my boy.”

Josiah affected a princely bow. “You should see me after I’ve showered in the drinking fountain.”

Stan’s smile left quickly. “Karin isn’t breathing on her own yet. Thought for sure she would by now.”

Josiah searched Stan’s face for signs he was losing it. Understandable, considering his grief. “She’s been breathing on her own for a while. I thought I told you that. I’m sorry if I didn’t. It’s a small step, but progress.”

“They have her hooked up to that breathing machine.”

The man wasn’t as practiced at recognizing the equipment. Also understandable. “No, just oxygen.”

“Josiah, it was that machine that wheezes. I saw it. Heard it. I thought it would be gone by now. Hoped.”

He’d left the ever-present pager in his locker when he saw Karin. Ran into Janelle right after. Josiah snatched his phone from his pocket and checked recent messages. “Excuse me a minute, Stan.”

It was true. Moments after Josiah left the hospital with Janelle, Karin’s respirations dropped dangerously low. After several noninvasive attempts to correct the downturn, they’d had no choice but to reintroduce the breathing machine. The nurse left a number he could call for more details.

Josiah knew words to recite, medical words meant to explain it all. He’d explored some on the Internet until the confusion factor imploded. He knew a few of the phrases the doctors used. He’d overheard the nurses. Everything was a guess. All that medical training and it was still anyone’s guess how her DBT would progress and how deeply it had penetrated her ability to survive long-term.

“In the scheme of things, it’s early yet,” Josiah told him. “Patience is our greatest asset.”

Straight out of the “How to manage your loved one’s hospital stay” brochure.

“And my grandchild?”

“Resilient.” A good word.

“He learned that from his daddy,” Stan said, patting Josiah on the upper arm.

“Stan, I—”

His father-in-law held him by both shoulders. “Don’t sell yourself short, son. You’re stronger than you know.”

Dare he? “It’s the daddy part. I’m not—”

“Nonsense. No man feels ready to be a father. And in your case, with the little thing so fragile, it’s only natural you’d feel it all the more. It’ll come to you. Being a dad will come to you when you need it.” Stan ducked his head. “Sorry. I snooped a little. Are these for him?” He picked up the moccasins from the bag on the end table and held them in one palm. They had room to spare.

Josiah had winced when Stan removed his grip, as if the scaffolding bracing him had fallen away. “It’s a girl. So says the ultrasound.” Josiah watched Stan’s chin quiver. “Karin and I tried for so long.

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