Chapter 4

"Can I have everyone's attention please?" Casey stood behind the bar at Molly's and raised his glass. "I'm sure you all know why we're here, but if you will give me a few minutes I'd like to say some words."

A Hush fell over the packed bar and everyone's attention was on Matt.

"It's the end of an era. Christopher Herman has been my right hand man on Truck 81 for as long as I've been Lieutenant there." Everybody turned to Herman, for once he was on the other side of the bar, Otis and Gabby had refused to let him work tonight. He smiled bashfully, but Casey carried on. "Sure, we had a few teething problems to begin with but all this time I've felt safer knowing he had my back. He's made me a better firefighter and I think I speak for everyone at 51 when I say we're going to miss him."

Herman nodded his appreciation but didn't say a word. He couldn't, her was too choked up. Cindy was by his side and he hugged her tighter. She lay her head on his shoulder.

"So" Casey turned to the group of firefighters standing at the end of the bar, "to the guys, and girl, on Truck 27 and to Chief Baxter, believe me when I tell you that there is no finer man to join your house. I know he'll do us all proud." Casey paused. "You better take care of him or you'll have us to deal with." He winked at them, then met Herman's eye. "Let me propose a toast" he said, raising his beer in the air. "To Lieutenant Christopher Herman."

"To Herman" the bar chorused. The juke box started back up and everyone went back to their conversations, Matt walked out from behind the bar and joined the members of Firehouse 51 who were crowded around Herman.

Gabby was clinging to Herman and Matt laughed at his wife. Cindy shared his amusement and caught his eye. "Can I have my husband back?" she asked Gabby with a smile.

"No" Gabby said, pouting. "He's leaving us, I'm holding on as long as I can."

Herman kissed her on the forehead. "Come on kid" he said, "don't be like that. You're gonna see me all the time in this place, we're still business partners. Besides, the next big apartment fire we get called to, I'll be there, racing Casey to be first Lieutenant on scene."

"It's not the same" Gabby said, but reluctantly let go. She held onto Matt instead.

"How so you think I feel?" said Mouch, putting his arm around Herman's shoulder. "This guy's like my brother."

"Guys, c'mon. Way to make me feel bad." Herman was only half joking. This outpouring of love from his firehouse family had almost brought him to tears.

"Alright" Mouch said, "we're proud of you, we're just going to miss having you around, that's all. Hey, let me get you another beer."

Herman nodded. He spotted Sylvie sitting at one of the tables with Stella and Erin Lindsay. "Excuse me for a minute" he said, giving Cindy a quick kiss. "I'll be right back."

Herman came up behind Sylvie and kissed her on the cheek. She turned around and smiled. "Hey, congratulations."

"Thanks so much for coming" he said, pulling up the free stool.

"I would have come over to join the group hug but I can't really move at the moment."

Herman grinned. "Not long now, eh?"

Sylvie shook her head and rubbed her ever expanding belly. "Nope. Only a month and a half. Even saying that out loud was scary.

"Listen, just because I won't be around all the time don't think you can't hit me up for babysitting duties. I've had five of these" he said with a wink. "I'm a pro."

"I'll hold you to that."

"You better" said Herman. He raised his beer to Erin and Stella and walked back to the group, leaving the girls to it.

"Where's Antonio tonight?" asked Stella, taking a sip of her drink.

"He'll be here" said Sylvie. "He's actually out for dinner with his daughter."

"That's so great" Erin said, "I'm happy they're sorting things out."

"Believe me, so am I."

The custody battle was finally over, and Antonio had won joint custody from Laura. But just because he could see Eva, didn't mean he had. It had taken his daughter a long time to agree to try and rebuild her relationship with her father. Sylvie was staying out of it, she hadn't seen Eva for a few months, she was leaving it to Antonio to judge when it was the right time. They saw Diego almost every weekend, he had helped them paint the nursery and pick out other things for the boys. She hoped eventually Eva would want to be involved too.

Things with Antonio were going better than she ever could have imagines. Although they still technically lived apart Antonio stayed at her apartment more nights than he didn't. He had kept his own place, to give Sylvie space whenever she felt she needed it or to sleep in when he finished work too late and didn't want to disturb her, but he stayed with Sylvie so often that it felt most days that they were living together.

Her spare bedroom was now a nursery, and apart from the cribs and a changing table, everyone had been so generous with donations that they hadn't had to buy that much stuff. Chief Boden and Donna had given her a bunch of Terrence's old clothes and toys and Herman and Cindy had been more than generous too. Sylvie felt lucky to have so many people around her who wanted to help.

The door to the bar opened an Antonio walked in. Sylvie seemed to have developed a sixth sense for him when he was in the room. She watched him greet his sister with a kiss and shake Herman's hand, then he spotted her and grinned widely.

"Hey beautiful" he said, approaching their table. He kissed Sylvie on the lips and sat down. "How are you doing?"

"Fine" she replied, touching her hand to his face. "How was dinner?"

"It went well" Antonio said. "Eva had to study, I would have liked to have spent longer with her, but I don't want to push her. It was nice." Antonio smiled sadly. He wanted nothing more than Sylvie and his kids to be all together and getting along but he knew it would take some time. Still, he had faith they would get there eventually, he just had to keep trying. He turned to Stella and Erin. "Can I get you ladies a drink?"

"If you insist" Erin said, smirking.

"Sure" Stella agreed.

"And for you?" Antonio placed his hand gently and tenderly on Sylvie's back.

"Lime and soda please."

"Coming right up." Antonio kissed Sylvie quickly and headed towards the bar. When he returned, Jay Halstead was with him, and he and Erin were busy telling them all about the case they had worked earlier that day. Sylvie was listening, but she was distracted. She let her mind wander as she looked around the room at all the people she had grown to love, the firefighters, paramedics, hospital staff and cops that she worked with daily and smiled to herself at how blessed she felt.

Her phone vibrated in her pocket and she took it out, looking at the display. Her brow furrowed when she saw who the message was from, but tried to read it subtly under the table without alarming anyone. It was from her Aunt Elizabeth. It read:

'Sylvie, please call me. It's urgent. Love Aunt Liz x'

"Hey, I'm going to get some fresh air" Sylvie said, smiling at the people sharing her table, trying her best to stay calm and not panic.

"Do you want me to come with you?" Antonio asked.

"No, you stay here, I'll be ok. You can help me down though" she added and he duly obliged.

Outside, she leaned against the wall of the bar and stared at her phone display. When she dialled her Aunt's number and brought the phone to her ear, her hands were shaking. It rang only once before the call was answered.

"Sylvie" her Aunt said, panic in her voice. "I don't want to worry you but I thought you should know. Something's happened to your Dad."

When fifteen minutes had passed and Sylvie hadn't returned, Antonio was concerned and went to look for her. He found her standing on the curb in tears. When he saw her, he rushed over, and Sylvie flung her arms around him and sobbed into his jacket before he had a chance to speak.

"Hey" he said, hugging her tight. "What's the matter? Are you ok?"

Sylvie couldn't answer right away, she was crying too hard to catch her breath. Eventually her muffled reply came. "My Dad had a heart attack. He's in critical condition."

Antonio cradled her head with one hand and rubbed her back with the other. "Baby, I'm sorry. When did this happen?"

"This afternoon. My aunt called me."

Antonio didn't say anything more, he just stood there holding her, letting her lean on him both physically and emotionally. It was all he could think of to do. After a minute, Sylvie pulled away, her face wet with tears. It broke Antonio's heart.

"I have to go to him" she said, wiping her face on her sleeve. "Now. I need to be with Mom, I have to see them."

Antonio still held her shoulders. "Sweetheart, it's 10 o'clock at night." He had to reason with Sylvie, but also tread carefully. The last thing he wanted to do was upset her more, but she was distraught, and not thinking straight. "How are you going to get there? You're too pregnant to fly."

"I'll drive" she said, not giving up.

"All the way to Indiana? No way."

"Antonio, he's my dad!" Sylvie began to cry again, and he hugged her tighter, trying to sooth her.

"Sylvie, I understand, but you need to take care of yourself."

"Antonio, my Dad's been there for me my whole life and he could die, I have to try."

Antonio took a deep breath. "I'll take you" he said, reluctantly. This late in her pregnancy Sylvie had been told to rest. Twins were often born pre-term and Dr Marks had warned Sylvie in no uncertain terms to avoid any situations that might lead to stress and this was just about the worst possibility. But if he didn't let her go to her parents, she might never forgive him, or herself.

"What about work?"

"Stone will understand. There's no way I'm leaving you to deal with this alone. I'm here for you."

After the longest day at work, driving three hours through the night was the last thing he wanted to do. But he would do it for Sylvie. That was what you did for the people you loved.

They took his car. It was almost 11 by the time they hit the highway. After saying a hasty goodbye to everyone at the bar and explaining to Gabby what had happened, they had driven to Sylvie's apartment to pack a bag. There was no time to do the same at his, he would have to make do with the one set of clothes he kept in his car. His comfort was the last thing on his mind.

As soon as she had climbed in the passenger seat, Sylvie had fallen asleep, too exhausted emotionally and physically to even try to stay awake. Antonio had draped a blanket over her and turned the heating up, anything to make her feel just a little bit better.

Left alone with a mostly empty stretch of road before him and his own thoughts, Antonio was still questioning the wisdom of his decision to go on this journey. It wasn't sensible. Sylvie's physical wellbeing and that of their sons had to be his priority. If anything happened to them because of this, he would feel responsible. But he also knew that Sylvie's concern for her father may also lead to complications through emotional stress, and in some ways, that was more dangerous. So he was driving into the night, across the state line, to Sylvie's home town that he had never been to and to her family whom he had only met once.

He looked across at Sylvie. Even in her sleep she looked anxious, and she slept fitfully, moaning in every now and then. Antonio wanted to wake her and save her from her bad dream, but the longer she slept, the sooner she would be with her family and the less time she would have to fret over what might happen.

Antonio was forced to pull into a rest stop about an hour into their drive. He was exhausted and the last thing he wanted was to fall asleep at the wheel and drive his car off the road. He set his alarm to go off in half an hour, closed his eyes and promptly fell asleep.

He woke with a start, and hurried to shut his alarm off before it woke Sylvie, but he found she was already awake, and staring out the window at the lights from the all night convenience store.

"Hey" he said. "Sorry, I needed to sleep, I didn't feel safe driving."

Sylvie turned to him. She looked spaced out, there was a far away look in her eyes and Antonio wasn't sure she heard what he said. "My Dad will be okay won't he?"

Sylvie's eyes pleaded with him to make everything okay, to give her the answer she wanted to hear, but Antonio couldn't lie to her. "I don't know" he replied. There was nothing more he could say. Instead her reached across he picked up her hand and kissed her fingers. A second later he turned the key in the ignition and the engine came to life. He pulled out of the parking lot and continued south.

When they walked through the Emergency Room doors of the hospital, the staff had understandably assumed Sylvie was the one that needed medical help. After all, why else would a heavily pregnant woman visit a hospital at 2am? But soon they were headed in the direction of the Cardio ward. Visitors were not allowed at this time of night strictly speaking, but the doctor who let them through took one look at Sylvie's distraught face and thought better of trying to bar their way. He was probably afraid she'd go into labour right then and there.

"You can do this. I'm with you every step." When Sylvie stopped a few feet away from the door of the ICU, Antonio sensed her trepidation. She turned to him.

"I'm scared Antonio. What if…"

"You can't think that way. Just see him. And then please will you lie somewhere and rest."

Sylvie smiled at his concern for her. "Thank you for bringing me, I know you think I'm crazy."

Antonio didn't reply. He just kissed Sylvie's forehead and ushered her towards the door. "I'll be right out here."

Through the window in the door, Sylvie saw her father, looking pale and helpless and surrounded by machines, and her mother sat beside him, her head tipped forward, asleep. She still had hold of his hand. Sylvie quietly opened the door, not wanting to disturb them, but her mother jerked awake at the slightest movement, her head snapping up to see who it was. When she saw it was Sylvie she stood up and ran to her daughter.

"Mom. " As they hugged both women dissolved into tears.

"What are you doing here? You shouldn't have come."

"I had to come, you need me."

"Sylvie, the babies…"

"We're fine Mom. Aren't you happy to see me?"

Her mother released their embrace and held Sylvie so she could see her face. "Of course I am, but you should be resting. How did you get here?"

"Antonio drove me. We left as soon as Auntie Liz called. How is he?"

Sylvie let go of her Mom and walked round to the other side of her father's bed. She didn't touch him right away, just stood there watching him and listening to the rhythmic sounds of the ventilator breathing for him.

"No change" her mother replied. "He had surgery, they're monitoring him to see if it worked. I don't know, I don't understand everything they told me, you probably would. You can talk to the doctor in the morning." Mrs Brett went to her handbag and took out her keys. "Now please, go to the house and rest. You have to take care of yourself."

Sylvie nodded, she knew her Mom was right, no matter how little she wanted to leave her parents so soon after getting here. She bent down and kissed her father's cheek.

In Antonio's arms in the pitch black of her parents' spare bedroom, Sylvie felt safe. He had offered to sleep on the couch if she wanted to be alone, but she shook her head furiously. "Please stay."

To prove that her words were a true reflection of what she wanted, Sylvie kissed him, her face lingering close to his even after their lips parted. Her eyes remained closed and for a moment they allowed their intimate kiss to linger in their memories.

"Thank you for being here with me" Sylvie said in a whisper.

"I love you" Antonio replied. "Where else would I be?"

Every day Antonio woke up he marvelled at how lucky he was to get a second chance at love. When his marriage ended, he thought that was it. Even when his relationship with Sylvie began he thought of it as no more than a fling, and their breakup he took as confirmation that he was right. And then she told him she was pregnant and suddenly he began to believe that maybe you didn't only get one chance. He didn't know what he had done to deserve her, but he thanked God every day and promised that no matter what he wasn't going to screw up this time.

As the babies grew, his love for Sylvie did too and he'd stopped thinking about himself and what he wanted and focussed instead on what she needed from him. Right now, she needed comfort and reassurance, and though he was worried for her safety and would have preferred if she had stayed in Chicago, the last thing she needed was for him to make her feel guilty about her decision to come to Indiana for her parents. Sylvie was headstrong and there wasn't a chance that he could have stopped her.

When they climbed into bed, Antonio gave Sylvie a last kiss good night, then kissed her belly twice, a habit that he had developed which usually made Sylvie giggle. But tonight, she only looked sad, her thoughts were still at the hospital with her father. She fell asleep almost immediately, and Antonio moved to be closer to her. He couldn't make her father well again, but he could make her feel safe and maybe that was enough.

He was just drifting to sleep when he felt Sylvie fidget. "Are you ok?" he whispered.

In reply, she grabbed his hand and places it on her stomach and he felt the unmistakable sensation of one of the babies kick. As far as Antonio was concerned, there was no greater feeling.

Even before the sun had fully risen Sylvie was dressed and anxious to get back to the hospital. There had been no change overnight but her father was still critical and she wanted to be with him. As Antonio ran about, collecting his car keys and putting on his boots, she waited by the door and fidgeted nervously.

"Ok" Antonio said, putting on his jacket. "Let's go."

Antonio held Sylvie's hand as they walked along the hospital corridor. Where it was quiet and deserted late last night, it was now bustling with nurses and orderlies, working diligently to keep the hospital running and the patients alive and comfortable. When they reached Sylvie's father's room, her Auntie Liz, her father's sister, was just leaving.

"Where's my Mom?" Sylvie asked, embracing her aunt warmly.

"She just stepped out for some air. Here" her aunt said, pulling over a chair. "You should sit down in your condition."

"Thanks, but I need to see the doctor."

"Sylvie, sit down." Antonio gently but firmly pushed her in the direction of the chair and felt her reluctance. "I'll go and find the doctor, please sit."

"He should be in his office" Liz told him. "His name is Dr Franklin. I'm going out for some breakfast, do you want anything?"

Sylvie shook her head. She was too worried to eat. Her aunt left with a promise that she would be back later, and Sylvie listened to the quiet clipping of her heels as she retreated down the corridor.

Antonio left Sylvie with her father and stepped back into the corridor. Locating the ward reception, he enquired after Dr Franks, and a tall middle aged man with dark skin and a bald head turned at the mention of his name.

"I'm Dr Franklin. How can I help you?"

"You're caring for George Brett?" The doctor nodded and Antonio continued. "I'm Antonio Dawson. I'm here with his daughter. She'd like an update."

Dr Franklin nodded his understanding and smiled in an affable and personable way. "Of course."

"She's in his room now" Antonio offered, then paused. "Listen, Sylvie's 7 and a half months pregnant. With twins. We drove from Chicago last night. I told her not to come, I she should be resting right now, but she wasn't taking no for an answer." Antonio stopped, realising the doctor didn't need the whole tale. "My point is, I don't want her to be put under any unnecessary stress."

They walked as they talked, and reached the door to Mr Brett's room as Antonio voiced his final request. Dr Marks placed a reassuring hand on Antonio's shoulder and he was struck by the man's presence and air of compassion. Antonio's thought was that if anything happened to someone he loved he wanted this man to be the one to help.

When she heard the door open, Sylvie stood up, and Antonio rushed over to help her. "I'm Sylvie. How is my Dad doing?"

"I'm Dr Franklin." He held out his hand and Sylvie shook it, but she was impatient for an answer to her question. "Your father suffered a major myocardial infarction. That means…"

"I know what it means." Sylvie didn't mean to snap, but her worry over her father was so close to the surface that her sharp words had left her mouth before she could stop them. She softened, and explained. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean…" she breathed in deeply, trying to keep her emotions in check. "I'm a paramedic. I know what it means."

Dr Franklin nodded and Sylvie looked away from him and back at her father lying helpless on the bed, machines and drips working to keep him alive. She sat back down and took his hand.

"Will he recover?"

"It's too soon to tell, honestly. But he's stable for now, he didn't deteriorate overnight, that's good. Often the first 12 hours are the most critical."

Sylvie's mother came back into the room at that point and tensed with fear when she saw Dr Franklin standing over her husband, but quickly realised that nothing was wrong when she saw that Sylvie and Antonio were there also.

"Mrs Brett" Antonio said, offering her his hand. "It's good to see you." He bent his head and kissed Sylvie's mother on the cheek.

"Call me Ruth" she said, kindly. "We're practically family."

Sylvie looked up, tears in her eyes. "Mom…"

Mrs Brett rushed to her daughter's side and embraced her tightly. "Sweetheart, I'm so glad you're here, but you're so silly" he pulled away so she could look into her daughter's face. "You should be at home, it's too much for you right now."

"Mom, please don't worry about me."

"You're my child" Ruth replied. "And you're carrying my grandsons. Of course I'm going to worry about you. When you're a parent you'll understand. You never stop worrying." She hugged Sylvie again and Sylvie smiled sadly.

"I'm fine, I promise. And if something does happen to me, we're in a hospital." She caught Dr Franklin's eye over her Mom's shoulder and the doctor looked on kindly at the mother daughter embrace.

"Your father would be happy to see you" she said, and laid her hand over Sylvie's, clutching her Dad's hand.

"I'll leave you to it" Dr Franklin said. "If you have any questions I'll be on the ward most of the day, you're welcome to find me."

Antonio left the room too and leant against the wall exhausted. Dr Franklin turned to walk back to his office but Antonio stopped him. "Did I do the right thing?" Antonio asked. He didn't know why, perhaps he just needed someone to allay his own anxieties. "Bringing her here? He family is important to her, but if anything happens…"

Dr Franklin regarded Antonio. "You heard her. She's in the best place."

They stayed for 4 days. On the third day, George Brett opened his eyes and Sylvie thought she might collapse with relief.

"I couldn't go before meeting my grandkids, could I?" he said, and managed a chuckle even though he was struggling to breathe.

Sylvie flung her arms around him and his wife just stood by crying.

On the fourth afternoon, exhausted but happy, Sylvie sat on a bench in the hospital courtyard with her head on Antonio's shoulder and her eyes closed. Antonio gently rubbed her back, happy to see Sylvie calm and no longer fearful over her father's health. While George wasn't quite out of the woods yet, the doctors wanted to keep him in for another week to monitor his recovery closely, every sign so far had been that he was on the mend.

He hadn't looked like her father, lying unconscious in a hospital bed, not really. From when she was a little girl, Sylvie always remembered her father being full of life and laughter, bringing energy into any room he entered, and when that spark of life had begun to return to his eyes, Sylvie had visibly relaxed.

Reluctantly, Antonio broached the subject that they had been avoiding. "I think we should go home."

Sylvie sighed. "Can we stay a little longer?" She looked up at Antonio with a pleading expression that made it very difficult for Antonio to stick to his guns. "I feel like I've only just a minute with my parents."

Antonio did feel guilty. He took it for granted sometimes that his parents and sister lived so close to him and he could see them any time he wanted. Especially now, when she was about to have children of her own, he understood why Sylvie wanted to be with her mother.

"There will be plenty of time for you to spend time together" he said. "When the boys are born, you won't be able to keep them away."

When they walked back to the ward a while later, Ruth met them in the corridor. She must have read the looks on Sylvie and Antonio's faces because she anticipated what they were going to tell her before they had begun to speak.

"You're leaving" she said, but without sadness.

"I'm sorry Mom. We still have so much to get ready."

Ruth dismissed her apology. "Your life is in Chicago, I know that. Me and your Dad miss you like crazy, but that's where you belong now." She took both her daughter's hands and grinned broadly. "You're starting a family of your own, in a home of your own It's exciting, you should go and enjoy it. Besides, stay any longer and you might have the babies here in Indiana and if that happens there's a high chance I'll never let you leave."

Sylvie laughed and hugged her Mom. "Thank you" she said, "but if you need anything just call."

"We should get going in the next hour or so, we don't want to get back too late."

Sylvie nodded. As much as she didn't want to leave her Dad while he was still recovering, she knew logically that the longer she stayed, the harder it would be to leave, emotionally as well as physically. Antonio had been so good these past couple of days at not nagging her to stay off her feet and rest but she knew deep down he was right. "I need to say goodbye to Dad."

"Take your time" Antonio said. "I'll go back to the house and pick up our stuff."

Sylvie's father was sleeping, but when she entered his room after Antonio had departed with a kiss and a promise not to be too long, he stirred and was awake.

"Hey Daddy. I'm sorry I woke you."

"Any time, Poppet" he replied with a smile. He was still in pain and weak, but he was doing his best to put a brave face on for his daughter.

"I'm leaving today" Sylvie told him. "It's not long until the babies get here and me an Antonio still have so much to sort out."

"I hope he's taking good care of you" George said, and took comfort from Sylvie's easy smile.

"He is, he's been amazing."

"Have you two stopped this nonsense about keeping separate apartments yet?"

Sylvie rolled her eyes. "Dad…"

"I'm just saying, caring for one baby as a couple is tough enough, you're going to need all hands on deck to deal with two."

"I know Dad. We'll work it out."

The truth was Sylvie didn't really know what to tell her father about that, she didn't know what she thought about it herself. They'd been drifting along easily and comfortably, almost forgetting that D-day was looming large. Living together made perfect sense, but were they ready for that?

As if reading her mind, her Dad spoke again. "I think it's a little late to be having commitment issues" he said, raising an eyebrow knowingly.

Sylvie turned away, embarrassed. She had been mortified at having to tell her parents she'd got pregnant outside of a serious relationship. They were far from prudish, it was Sylvie's own hang ups that caused her worry, she still wanted her parents to think she was responsible and sensible and this didn't fit the profile. But her parents had refused to react with anything but happiness. The birth of a baby was a cause for celebration no matter the circumstances, they said, and that was that.

When they visited Chicago and met Antonio, it was before they had got back together, but George and Ruth were impressed with Antonio and liked him instantly, they didn't even bat an eyelid when Sylvie later admitted he was going through a messy divorce and had two teenage children already. Ever since she could remember her parents had been nothing but supportive and encouraging of her, and she felt bolstered by the certainty that if she could be even half as good a parent as her Mum and Dad she would be ok, and it meant a lot that they approved of Antonio.

Sylvie sat at her Dad's bedside for so long talking about her life and her work and her impending motherhood that she lost track of time, so when Antonio poked his head round the door to let her know he was back she felt like no time had passed at all.

"Take care of yourself Dad" Sylvie said, bending down with difficulty for one last kiss. "I love you."

"I love you too kiddo. Be safe."

When Sylvie walked back into the hallway after saying goodbye, she got the distinct feeling that Antonio and her mother had been talking about her. She looked between them suspiciously.

"What's going on?"

Sylvie's Mom recovered her composure and put her arm around her shoulders. "Nothing darling. Come for a walk, I've been busy knitting, I've got the cutest little sweaters for the boys. You can never have too much knitwear in Chicago."

Sylvie looked at Antonio over her shoulder with a questioning look but he simply shrugged in response, hoping that he appeared genuinely confused by Ruth's desire to take Sylvie away.

When the ladies had gone, Antonio knocked on the hospital room door.

"Hi Mr Brett" Antonio greeted Sylvie's father respectfully. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I've had a heart attack."

Antonio smiled nervously and took a step into the room and hovered at the foot of the bed.

George sat up a little in the bed and waited patiently for whatever Antonio was about to say next. "I've come to ask…" Antonio began, but then stalled.

"Spit it out son" George prompted, not unkindly.

Antonio relaxed and walked to the side of the bed. He put his hand into his jacket pocket. "Sir, I've come to ask your permission to ask Sylvie to marry me."

He took out a navy velvet box and held it up for Mr Brett to see.

A huge smile spread across the older man's face and he nodded, reaching forward to shake Antonio's hand.

"About damn time."