Read Online The Effects of Falling (The Weight of Rain Duet Book 2) by Mariah Dietz - Free Book Online
Authors: Mariah Dietz
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days.”
“Surgery?” I ask, knowing the answer. I’ve been around so few people who are older than me that this is far outside of my comfort zone. I don’t know what this means or what to expect.
“Let’s go find something to drink. This heat is brutal.” Lo says, standing from her seat beside Mercedes. “We’ll be right back.” She grabs Mercedes’ hand and pulls her to her feet.
“You’re so weird,” Mercedes declares before the door shuts behind them.
“You’re looking at me like I’m a ghost,” Robert says, bringing my attention back to his crystal-blue eyes.
I clear my throat and shake out my hair, attempting to regain my confidence and composure. “You kind of scared the shit out of all of us. We’ve warned you, we’ll get a new model if you start breaking down on us.”
His smile becomes broader, drawing a road map of creases across his face, ones much deeper than those I noticed on Kash’s face just yesterday. “This is only a hiccup. Nothing to be afraid of.”
“Especially after facing Disney World alone with an eleven-year-old, right?”
The smile slips from his face faster than it appeared. “We didn’t make it to see Harry Potter at Universal Studios though. She’s acting like she doesn’t care, but you know she does. Mercedes is like her mother, she’s loved the possibility of magic. I think a small part of Arianna’s heart forever wondered if there really was truth in some of the old myths and legends that she liked to watch and read about.”
It’s not as painful to hear Robert reminisce about his daughter as it is when I know Kash is silently doing so, and I’m grateful for that fact. The only guilt that pangs me is wondering if my own father would have felt the same if I had grown up with him.
“We can take her.” The words fall from my mouth before the reality hits.
I hate crowds. I hate crowds more than I hate the idea of going through a fake wizarding world.
Robert’s brow furrows, before an awkward and tight expression covers his face. “You’re … going to take her to see … Harry Potter…?”
I purse my lips and drop a leveling gaze to express my lack of amusement. “Don’t look at me like that. It hurts that you’re shocked. Give me a little credit.”
“I don’t mean to be so surprised. I know you’d give her your kidney if it were ever needed, but…” his stare moves to the wall beyond me, “…this might be bigger than a kidney. It’s Universal Studios.”
I huff, losing any patience that was left from traveling and the stresses of seeing him in this situation and what has been going on between Kash and me. “I’ll bring you lots of photographic evidence of how great of a time we have, while you’re here sipping your Jell-O cups down, old man.”
“I don’t know. This might be better than a theme park.” His grin widens. “Have you seen my nurse, yet?”
“Want me to tell her you’re having chest pains again? See if she’ll spend extra time in here, monitoring you?”
His eyes light up with laughter as they dance over my face. “You would make me sound like a decrepit old man, wouldn’t you?”
“Better than making you sound like a perv.”
He laughs his agreement and then turns nearly somber once again. “I’m real sorry you had to cut your trip short to come out here. I’m glad they were able to catch this so quickly, but I still can’t believe my ol’ ticker gave up on me, especially here.”
“Your heart didn’t give up on you, Robert. You can’t say stupid stuff like that. And stop apologizing for having a heart attack. No one cares about anything, except that you’re well. A hiccup, remember?”
“I am. I’m going to be just fine.”
“You’d better be,” I warn, bringing the faint outline of a smile to cross his lips again.
“You have my word.”
“So, three days, huh?” I ask, finally acknowledging the numerous machines in his room that are attached to him in one way or
“Surgery?” I ask, knowing the answer. I’ve been around so few people who are older than me that this is far outside of my comfort zone. I don’t know what this means or what to expect.
“Let’s go find something to drink. This heat is brutal.” Lo says, standing from her seat beside Mercedes. “We’ll be right back.” She grabs Mercedes’ hand and pulls her to her feet.
“You’re so weird,” Mercedes declares before the door shuts behind them.
“You’re looking at me like I’m a ghost,” Robert says, bringing my attention back to his crystal-blue eyes.
I clear my throat and shake out my hair, attempting to regain my confidence and composure. “You kind of scared the shit out of all of us. We’ve warned you, we’ll get a new model if you start breaking down on us.”
His smile becomes broader, drawing a road map of creases across his face, ones much deeper than those I noticed on Kash’s face just yesterday. “This is only a hiccup. Nothing to be afraid of.”
“Especially after facing Disney World alone with an eleven-year-old, right?”
The smile slips from his face faster than it appeared. “We didn’t make it to see Harry Potter at Universal Studios though. She’s acting like she doesn’t care, but you know she does. Mercedes is like her mother, she’s loved the possibility of magic. I think a small part of Arianna’s heart forever wondered if there really was truth in some of the old myths and legends that she liked to watch and read about.”
It’s not as painful to hear Robert reminisce about his daughter as it is when I know Kash is silently doing so, and I’m grateful for that fact. The only guilt that pangs me is wondering if my own father would have felt the same if I had grown up with him.
“We can take her.” The words fall from my mouth before the reality hits.
I hate crowds. I hate crowds more than I hate the idea of going through a fake wizarding world.
Robert’s brow furrows, before an awkward and tight expression covers his face. “You’re … going to take her to see … Harry Potter…?”
I purse my lips and drop a leveling gaze to express my lack of amusement. “Don’t look at me like that. It hurts that you’re shocked. Give me a little credit.”
“I don’t mean to be so surprised. I know you’d give her your kidney if it were ever needed, but…” his stare moves to the wall beyond me, “…this might be bigger than a kidney. It’s Universal Studios.”
I huff, losing any patience that was left from traveling and the stresses of seeing him in this situation and what has been going on between Kash and me. “I’ll bring you lots of photographic evidence of how great of a time we have, while you’re here sipping your Jell-O cups down, old man.”
“I don’t know. This might be better than a theme park.” His grin widens. “Have you seen my nurse, yet?”
“Want me to tell her you’re having chest pains again? See if she’ll spend extra time in here, monitoring you?”
His eyes light up with laughter as they dance over my face. “You would make me sound like a decrepit old man, wouldn’t you?”
“Better than making you sound like a perv.”
He laughs his agreement and then turns nearly somber once again. “I’m real sorry you had to cut your trip short to come out here. I’m glad they were able to catch this so quickly, but I still can’t believe my ol’ ticker gave up on me, especially here.”
“Your heart didn’t give up on you, Robert. You can’t say stupid stuff like that. And stop apologizing for having a heart attack. No one cares about anything, except that you’re well. A hiccup, remember?”
“I am. I’m going to be just fine.”
“You’d better be,” I warn, bringing the faint outline of a smile to cross his lips again.
“You have my word.”
“So, three days, huh?” I ask, finally acknowledging the numerous machines in his room that are attached to him in one way or
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