Chapter 50
"Nonsence!" Gerald sputtered. "You couldn't have known that I would have this little flutter! You are not to blame in the least! And I am glad that I got to talk to Herbert before he died, my dear. I just wish I hand't been such a pansy when I wanted to be strong for you!"
Akaliiani now had a better understanding of what had happened, but she was still appaled that he had taken the car out of the garage and driven to the hospital! That was something he hadn't been allowed to do for many years. She simply couldn't believe he had done it! "Dad, why didn't you call me? I would have brought you to the hospital and maybe this could all have been avoided?"
"I didn't call you because you were on a date, Akaliiani. I didn't want to interupt and it looks like it was a good call since you have that ring on your finger," he grinned unrepentingly.
"That happened on the way here after we got Mrs. Jeffries' call," she protested.
"Oh, so I wouldn't have been intrupting anything then?"
Before Akaliiani could answer AJ had quickly calculated how long Gerald had been at the hospital as well as the length of time the drive there had been and answered, "If you had called her for a ride Gerald all you would have interupted was dinner. We both would have been glad to skip a meal to have you healthy."
Akaliiani looked at AJ and flashed him a grateful smile before agreeing to his statement.
It seemed that everyone had forgotten the presence of the young doctor in their midst until he cleared his throat and said, "Well if you do want to leave before morning Mr. Benent you need to calm down enough to get you blood pressure under control."
"I bet it's already fine! Go ahead and check it now so I can get out of here!" Gerald insisted.
"Now Po…" quickly thinking better than to call him Pops at that time she changed it to, "Dad, you really haven't had time to settle down enough. Why don't all of us just leave you alone for a little while and then have them take your blood pressure?"
"Oh no you don't! Once out of my sight you will head for home leaving me here!" Gerald stated emphatacilly.
"No we won't dad," Akaliini assured him gently. "We just want to give you some peace and quiet to calm down."
The three of them turned to leave his bedside when Gerald reached out and grabbed Pearl's hand, "Pearl, I need to tell you how sorry I am that instead of giving you the support you needed now I inadvertantly made this all about me."
She'd turned back to face him when he'd taken her hand and before answering him, she brought her other hand up to grasp his, then said, "Gerald, it may seem an odd thing to say, but first I am so glad that your angina attack was not any worse, but in all honesty I think that was actually a blessing. Taking care of you has taken my mind off my grief if even for a short time and I am grateful for that." She leaned over and kissed his forehead then turned to follow AJ and Akaliiani from the area, leaving Gerald with a flumixed look on his face.
When Pearl joined Akaliiani in the waiting room Akaliiani told her that AJ had gone to get them all some coffee while they waited for Gerald's blood pressure to calm down a bit.
"Oh that is sweet of you dearie, but I really must go and make arrangements for Herbie. Plus, the two of you just got engaged, you don't want a third wheel hanging around. I hope the two of you will be as happy as my Herbie and I were for all those years. Good night dear, and you look after that father of yours, he's pretty special."
"I will Mrs. Jeffries, and thank you for staying with him until AJ and I arrived. Please accept our condolences on the loss of your husband."
"Thank you dear. Good night."
"Good night."
To be continued…..
