"It was the serious face. The one that meant she'd been sitting on something for days. " "My father went to the doctor Tuesday," she said. "Something went cold in Marcus' chest and his heart. " She said, "They found something. They're calling it a significant arrhythmia. He needs a procedure. " She stopped.
He waited 4 days to tell me. He was going to wait longer. I found a voicemail from the cardiology office on his phone by accident on Thursday. Olivia, he's fine, she said quickly. The procedure has a high success rate.
It's not. She pressed her hand flat on the counter. It's not catastrophic, but it's real. And he wasn't going to tell me. Marcus, he was just going to handle it alone.
Like he handles everything like he's still alone. Marcus was quiet for a moment. Does he know you found out? Yes. Her jaw was tight.
We had a conversation about it. A significant one. What did he say? He said he didn't want to worry me. She looked at Marcus and her eyes were bright in the way eyes get when crying is nearby, but hasn't arrived yet.
He said he'd been taking care of himself for 30 years and one heart procedure wasn't enough reason to make everyone rearrange their lives. He's wrong about that. Marcus said, "Yes," she said. "He is. " Marcus was already moving toward the kitchen door. "Where are you going? " she said.
"To talk to him," Marcus said. Marcus, I I know, he said. "I'm going anyway. " He went into the living room. Robert was in his armchair with the TV on low watching the girls watch their movie. He looked entirely at peace.
That was the thing about Robert. He could be carrying something enormous and look exactly like a man who had nothing on his mind. Marcus sat on the edge of the coffee table directly in front of him. Robert looked at him. His didn't.
You're going to let us take you to the procedure. Marcus said flat. No negotiation in the tone. Olivia told you Robert said yes. I asked her not to and she made her own decision.
Marcus said which was the right one. He leaned forward, elbows on his knees. Robert, listen to me. You are not alone anymore. That is done.