March 7.
I stepped into the busy hospital waiting room, my eyes scanning around for Dad. I soon spotted him, casually chatting to the nurse at the counter, still in his white coat, one hand gesturing as he talked.
As I approached him, my presence was felt and Dad looked up, my face shifting to an expression of delighted surprise, then concern. "Are things alright? Is Jamie alright?" I smiled and reassured him all was right, and a smile reappeared back on his face. "Just here to chat, then? Let's grab a quick bite together - I'm starving and haven't had the chance to eat since my morning's appointments."
Dad herded me into the hospital mess room, and we unwrapped sandwiches while making small talk. He enthused about how his patients were going, and I shared a funny anecdote about my biology teacher that made him throw back his head and roar with laughter. The more I work hard towards my goal of medical school, the more I've begun to appreciate the hard work and dedication Dad puts into his profession.
Dad then casually asked, "so, what did you come find me for?"
here goes nothing. I uttered the words before I became too scared to say them. "Mom said..I should talk to you about birth control. For me. For Jamie. For our wedding night."
Unfortunately, Dad had taken a rather large bite of his sandwich at that moment and choked, and I patted him on the back several times before he could clear his throat. He looked up at me, a faint tint of red dusting his cheeks. "Woah son. Steady."
"I-I didn't come here all on my own volition! Mom brought it up in conversation a-and suggested we talk!" I hadn't meant to throw Mom under the bus, but if it helped ease the awkward atmosphere diffusing through the room at present...I would do anything.
We sat silently for a few moments. Then Dad cleared his throat and faced me seriously.
"I'm proud of you, son." he gruffly said. "It's not easy broaching a topic like this. Thank you for trusting me, not just as a doctor, but as your father, to talk about this with you."
Showing up at his house at 2am, frantically pleading with him to do something for Jamie. Doors slamming when either of us left in a fury. The news when he brought Jamie home for in-patient care. The bear hug we shared when I cried hysterically in his arms.
Sudden stupid tears stung my eyes and I hastily blinked them away as we both tried not to notice. There were some glistening in Dad's eyes as well, but he went on as if nothing had happened.
"Well...your mother is right. Contraceptives isn't really the best for Jamie to use at present because of her current condition. A new medicine introduced to her weak immune system could have rather unpleasant side effects and even worsen things for her. So... I guess external protection, such as condoms, would be best. There are other options though..." and he outlined different measures, some of which turned my ears red and I don't dare write down, but I nodded and listened seriously all the way through.
The words, however, that will always stay with me, were the ones Dad said before we parted ways. Not as a doctor, but as a fellow man to man.
He had clapped me on the back as we rose to make our way out of the mess room.
"The onus is on you son. You're the one to make that night special. Make sure you make it count."
Well, that was...embarrassing. But I'm grateful Mom pushed me for this conversation. If not to help me know how to approach Jamie, but also share a good moment with Dad.
Another conversation to remember.
