In some ways, it was a relief when the day to take the dose of radiation arrived. It would be over. For the past three days, Robert had been injected with a solution for one more scan to determine what dose was needed. The scan itself wasn't bad, merely laying still in a tube. And it was the last test he would have to endure. In eight days, he would be able to resume a normal life. Yet even knowing that, waiting to take the pill felt like waiting to be sent to prison.
He had held Abigail every possible moment before returning to New York. Belle and Bae had spent as much time as possible with him, and it seemed he touched them and was touched in return more often. Belle held his hand even more than usual. Unlike some fathers and sons who never hugged each other, that had never been the case with him and Bae. In the days before they went back to New York, it had felt as if they were making up for the time when Robert would have to be in isolation.
Everything else was as ready as possible. Jefferson had a friend in New York who could put Robert up in a guest house for his isolation. He'd had other patients from Kettering before, and knew how to clean the room after Robert left. The others would take a cab from the hospital to the airport and go home, then come back for him. The room was already stocked with all he would need so he wouldn't have to leave it.
After a short consultation to remind him he couldn't be within six feet of anyone for eight days (did anyone think he was going to forget that?) he was told what the dose would be. Apparently it would be a low dose, but either way he was told he would feel nothing. Then he was led to a separate waiting room. Belle and Bae sat on either side of him. For the most part, they sat in silence. There was only one thing on any of their minds, and none of them wanted to talk about it.
"Robert Gold?" A nurse called his name, and motioned for him to follow. They were led to yet another separate room. The nurse picked up a vial with a tongs. They all knew what the pill in that vial was. Robert hugged Bae and kissed Belle one more time. The kiss was a long one, deep and filled with all the love he felt for her. When they pulled part he sighed.
"No point in putting it off any longer," he said. There was a bottle of water on the table. He opened it, and the pill was dumped into his hand.
He swallowed the pill, and waited to feel- something. He'd been promised he wouldn't feel ill or lose his hair or have any other effects radiation was known for, but he'd still expected to feel different somehow. Of course he knew he wouldn't have felt anything this soon after taking it, but the idea that something radioactive was inside him was strange. He looked at his family, knowing being too close to them now would be dangerous for them. That was the strangest concept of all.
"We'll call you as soon as we get home," Belle told him.
"And we'll see you soon," Bae reminded him. "We'll call so often you'll get tired of talking to us."
"I very much doubt I'd ever get tired of either of you," he told them, and managed a smile.
"Well we'll test that theory," Belle said.
They couldn't stay any longer. Robert had to go to the guest house, and they had to go home. He watched them until the elevator door closed to take them to the parking lot. He wouldn't even risk being in the same elevator as them. He waited as far as possible from anyone else until he could take an elevator alone. In the parking lot, he met up with Jefferson's friend. He climbed into the back seat on the passenger side. There was no way to avoid being at least that close to someone. He couldn't have walked to the guest house. Thankfully, it was a short ride.
He already had the key to his room. He went inside, sat down, and stared ahead. He supposed he should do something to occupy himself. There were books to read and a television to watch. There was a radio to listen to. For the moment though, he preferred to just let his thoughts run through his mind until they played themselves out. Then maybe it would be easier to redirect them.
"Eight days alone," he quietly said to himself. "In a trade for guaranteeing years to come. I can't say it isn't a fair trade."
He opened a book, trying to make the best of things. He gave up after realizing he'd tried reading the same page about twenty times.
"This is ridiculous," he told himself. "You've gone longer than eight days without seeing Bae when he was in college. You can talk to them on the phone any time. You're already acting as if you'll never see them again. You know they're fine. You haven't even made it through the whole first day yet."
He went back to reading, and this time he managed to make it halfway through the book before his phone went off. Only it wasn't his usual ringtone. The sound told him it was a video call. He answered it, and saw Belle, Bae, and Abigail in his screen. They were all smiling at him.
"Someone can't wait to see you," Belle said cheerfully. "Abigail, look. Can you see? Who is that?"
The baby focused on the phone, and seeing Robert's image she reached out for it. She laid her hand against the screen, and Robert felt a lump in his throat that had nothing to do with his illness.
"I'll see you soon, Abigail. You and your mother and brother. This is the only way I can be with you for now, but I love you."
Abigail kept her hand on the phone, grinning at the sound of Robert's voice. She knew he was talking to her. She patted the phone, trying to touch his face. Belle pulled the phone away before Abigail could accidentally disconnect them.
"I have a feeling she'll be talking earlier than other children," Belle said.
"She already is," Robert answered. She'd said "I love you, Daddy" loud and clear. No words were needed for that.