Read Online Shiver by Deborah Bladon - Free Book Online Page B

across the room quickly, not sure if I should stop him from walking into the room or not. Opal is decent. She's covered in layers of blankets and a hospital gown but she's just been through a hellish experience. I doubt she wants a room full of strangers watching her as she's trying to rest.
    "We're both fine. We can talk out in the hallway."
    "Who is this?" My dad ignores my words and brushes right past me. "Someone tell me what's going on. I got a text from Ben saying you two had an emergency and he was in an ambulance on his way here."
    Ben turns to our dad. "I was riding along, dad. Noah's friend fell in a park. She hurt herself."
    My dad stops as he reaches the foot of Opal's bed. His eyes graze over her face.
    "Are you okay? Did my sons rescue you?" It's a lighthearted joke that actually brings a smile to Opal's face.
    She smooths her hand over her short blonde hair. "They saved my life. You should be proud of your sons."
    "I am." He looks at me, then Ben. "My boys both make me very proud."
    "We should go." Ben reaches for my dad's elbow. "We've already been here too long."
    My dad doesn't move. He just stares. He fucking stares at Opal's face and I realize that it's still my mom's birthday and this woman has to be the same age as her. He's thinking about that. He has to be thinking about mom.
    He pushes Ben's hand away as he rounds the bed until he's standing right next to Opal.
    She looks up at him, the corners of her lips pulling up into a smile.
    "Dad, let's go." Ben's voice is more insistent but my dad ignores it.
    "You're sure you're okay? Do you need anything?"
    Opal reaches out towards my father with her right hand and he doesn't hesitate as he pulls it into his.
    "It's you. It's you, Ronnie, isn't it?"
    "Opal?" He brings her hand to his lips. "I can't believe it's you."
    "You remember me?"
    "I told you I'd never forget you, didn't I?" He leans down and brushes his lips over her forehead.
    I look at Ben. He looks at me.
    "Is someone going to tell me what's going on?" The nurse effectively breaks the moment when she walks back into the room. "Patients are only allowed two visitors at a time."
    "I'm not leaving." My dad sits on the edge of the bed next to Opal. "This here is Opal. She was my very first kiss. My very first love."
    "What?" That's all I manage to get out.
    "You and Opal know each other?" Ben asks. "You two actually know each other?"
    "Opal sat next to me in first grade." He wipes a tear from her cheek. "I passed her notes. I told her I loved her. I gave her a Valentine's Day card I made myself. The very first one I ever gave to anyone."
    "I have it." Her voice is soft. "I kept it, Ronnie."
    "You don't have that still." He leans forward to look into her eyes. "That was more than fifty years ago now."
    "My bag, Noah. I saw it here." Opal's voice is calm. "Can you get it for me?"
    I've stepped into some dream. There is no fucking way this is real.
    I hand the knapsack to my father and he hands it to Opal.
    "Open it, Ronnie. It's in there somewhere."
    He does. He pulls out a few pieces of clothing, some folded papers, dozens of photographs and greeting cards, a worn passport and then as his hand dives back into the bag one last time, he stops. He stops because he knows.
    Ben knows.
    I fucking know too.
    "You kept it, Opal." He pulls out a faded red piece of paper. "You kept this for all those years."
    I step closer to get a better look. I have to. I should actually be recording this with my phone because there's no fucking way Alexa is ever going to believe this.
    "Roses are red," my dad starts reading the handwritten words he wrote when he was a child on the card. "Violets are blue. You like me and you know I like you."
    Opal nods. "Read the signature."
    "Love," my dad's voice cracks. "Love, Ronnie Foster."

CHAPTER 17
    ––––––––
    "Y our dad is the most romantic man in the world, Noah," Alexa whispers those words into my neck.
    "I just fucked you. I don't want to hear about how romantic my