*Kevin's P.O.V.*
I watched Lucy run away from me and into the bathroom, knowing that she had heard me. Why was she ignoring me? I couldn't exactly go in after her, so I headed back to the waiting room where I found Robbie flipping through a magazine. "Where's Simon," I asked, sitting down on one of the chairs.
"He took a walk," Robbie muttered. "Where's Lucy?"
"Bathroom" I answered, then picked up another magazine to let him know I was done talking. I hadn't really thought about what would happen if Rev. Camden died. Of course I would be upset, but mostly because I knew Lucy would be. I didn't really know her father, and while I was grateful to him for giving me a place to live, I didn't care about him like a father. I tried to imagine what the house would be like without him, but I couldn't. It would be strange without him constantly giving advice and trying to find out what was going on in his kids' lives. Maybe, I thought, feeling guilty it will be easier if he's gone. We won't have to worry about being spied on or having him involved in our personal lives. I had only been living there for a few months, and the lack of privacy was already becoming annoying. It wasn't like I wanted him to die. I was just trying to see the good if he really did.
My thoughts were interrupted when the door swung open and Mrs. Camden appeared in the doorway. I could tell by her red, watery eyes that something was wrong, and I jumped up and walked toward her.
"Mom, what's wrong?", I asked worriedly.
"Where are Lucy and Simon?" she demanded without answering my question.
"Uh, Simon took a walk and Lucy's in the bathroom." I glanced at my watch and realized that they had been gone for nearly an hour.
"Please find them," she told us, wiping her eyes with a tissue.
"Ok, I'll get Lucy," I volunteered and ran out of the room without waiting for an answer. I hurried toward the bathroom and knocked on the door. "Luce, it's Kevin," I called. "Your mom wants to talk to us!" Before I could say anything else, she had rushed out of the bathroom, her face red and tear streaked, her clothes messy.
"Good news or bad?" She demanded anxiously.
"Um…," I began, not knowing how to tell her how upset her mother had looked.
"It's bad?" she asked, her face falling. "Oh, God please let him be ok"
"It'll be ok, Luce," I tried to comfort her as she fell into my arms, crying again.
"I don't want to hear it," she whispered "As long as I don't hear it, I can pretend that everything's ok."
"You know you're just going to drive yourself crazy until you hear what your mom has to say," I said gently, stroking her back. "I don't know for sure that it's bad."
"Ok," she agreed, giving me a small smile through her tears.
By the time we got back to the waiting room, Simon and Robbie were back, sitting on the couch facing Mrs. Camden. Lucy and I each took a seat and she began to talk.
"Th-there were s-some complications," she choked out, starting to cry again. "His h-heart was weaker th-than they thought. H-he's still in s-surgery. When h-he's done, they'll t-take him to r-recovery. I-if he's strong and h-he fights, he'll b-be ok. If n-not…" she trailed off even though everyone knew what she was going to say. If not, he'll die.
I glanced around the room to see how everyone else was taking the news. Lucy was sobbing, Robbie's face had turned white, and Simon was looking down, refusing to meet my eyes.
"I-I would like you to go get Ruthie and b-bring her here. I think she would want to b-be here," Mrs. Camden continued.
"Of course," I answered. "Will you be ok?"
"I-I'll be ok," she gave me a shaky smile. "Please get her before its too late."
*Lucy's P.O.V.*
I glanced up at the clock as we drove down the highway on the way to the house. Only 1:00 pm. It seemed like we had been in the hospital for years. I was in the back seat, leaning my head against Kevin's shoulder. Robbie and Simon were up front, neither of them talking. I couldn't believe my dad was so close to dying! Well, actually I could believe it. I had had a strange feeling in my stomach all day, like I knew what was going to happen.
Robbie pulled into our driveway and turned off the car, but no one made any effort to move. "The babysitter for Sam and David should be here soon. Robbie and Kevin, do you guys want to go get Ruthie?" I asked.
Robbie turned to me in surprise. "Us? Don't you think she should hear the news from a family member?"
"Robbie, she loves you. And Kevin, she respects you more than anyone else in the family. Trust me, she wants to hear it from you."
"Ok," Kevin said slowly, climbing out of the car. "We'll be back soon."
After they had left, I turned to look at Simon. He hadn't said anything since mom had given us the news. "What's wrong?" I asked, touching his arm.
"What do you mean 'What's wrong'" he snapped, jerking his arm away. "Dad's dying! What do you think is wrong?"
"First of all, we don't know he's dying," I said. Even though I wanted to cry every time someone said the word 'die', I tried to remain calm. "And secondly, I know that's not all that is bothering you."
He finally looked up at me and I could see tears in his eyes. "You wanna know what's wrong? Last week told him that if he weren't around, I would be happy! Now that he may not be around much longer, how do you think I feel? I was just tired of being the good little minister's kid, you know? Everyone expects me to be perfect, and dad doesn't understand. I didn't mean it! I swear I didn't mean it! I never even apologized. If he dies, he'll never know how sorry I am!" By now he was sobbing so hard his whole body was shaking. I moved to the front seat and hugged him like I used to when we were little.
"He knows, Simon," I tried to assure him. "He knows you were angry, and he doesn't blame you. Trust me. I know how you were feeling. We all went through it. Matt, Mary, Me, you, next Ruthie, then the twins. When you're in high school you resent being known as a goody goody. It's normal. And dad understands too."
He had stopped crying and turned to look at me. "Are you sure?"
"Yeah, he knows you're sorry."
"Thanks, Lucy," He said, giving me a hug. Then, we sat together in silence while we waited to go back to the hospital and see our father for possibly the last time.
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Next chapter: Ruthie hears the news about her father. Please review!