Chapter 15 - The Night the Storm Came.The phone rang three times.
Cole did not move.
Ben held his hand.
Thunder shook the windows.
Maggie looked at Cole.
“You should check it.”
Ben immediately shook his head.
“No.”
Cole crouched beside him.
“I am going to answer the phone.”
Ben's eyes widened.
“Are you leaving?”
“I don't know yet.”
Ben's face tightened.
Cole continued.
“But I will tell you before I go anywhere.”
Ben stared at him.
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
Cole walked into the hallway but remained where Ben could see him.
He answered.
Leah spoke over alarms and voices.
“We lost power at the Franklin Medical renovation.”
Cole's heart accelerated.
“Backup generator?”
“Running.”
“Patients?”
“Different wing.”
“Anybody hurt?”
“No.”
Cole exhaled.
“What do you need?”
“The temporary roof membrane tore.”
“Water is coming into the new surgical floor.”
Cole's instincts activated.
He could picture the structure.
He knew the crews.
He knew exactly which emergency sequence to run.
“Call Miguel.”
“He's already on site.”
“Then Miguel leads.”
Leah paused.
“He asked for you.”
“Tell him I trust him.”
Cole surprised himself with the words.
Leah went quiet.
“What?”
“You heard me.”
Cole gave instructions.
Three minutes later, he ended the call.
Ben was watching.
“Are you going?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because Miguel can handle it.”
“Who's Miguel?”
“A very smart guy who works with me.”
Ben considered this.
“Smarter than you?”
Maggie laughed loudly.
Cole looked offended.
“Let's not get reckless.”
Another thunderclap hit.
Ben jumped.
Cole sat beside him.
The storm continued for two hours.
The house remained without power.
Maggie found candles.
Cole built a blanket fort in the living room.
Ben crawled inside.
“What if the roof breaks?”
“The roof is fine.”
“What if work breaks?”
“People are fixing it.”
“What if Miguel needs you?”
“He'll call.”
“What if you need to go?”
Cole paused.
“Then I tell you.”
Ben seemed calmer.
At nine, Cole's phone rang again.
Miguel.
Cole answered on speaker.
“Boss?”
“How bad?”
“Ugly.”
Cole tensed.
“But handled.”
Miguel laughed.
“Membrane is secured.”
“Pumps are running.”
“Damage is limited.”
Cole closed his eyes in relief.
“Good work.”
Miguel hesitated.
“You really weren't coming?”
Cole looked at Ben.
“No.”
“Wow.”
Cole frowned.
“What does that mean?”
“Nothing.”
Miguel laughed.
“It just means I owe Leah twenty bucks.”
“Why?”
“She said you'd actually stay home.”
Cole shook his head.
“Good night, Miguel.”
“Night, boss.”
Cole ended the call.
Ben smiled.
“Work didn't die.”
“No.”
Cole stared at the phone.
“Apparently not.”
Maggie sat opposite him.
“That may be the most important thing you've learned all month.”
Cole nodded.
Later, they carried Ben upstairs.
The power returned at ten thirty.
His night-light glowed.
Cole tucked him into the crib.
Ben looked at him.
“Daddy?”
“Yeah?”
“You stayed.”
“I did.”
“Because of me?”
Cole hesitated.
“Partly.”
Ben frowned.
“What's partly?”
Cole smiled.
“Because I wanted to be here.”
That answer seemed even better.
Ben reached through the crib.
Cole held his hand.
“Always?”
The familiar question.
Cole answered differently this time.
“I can't always stay in the room.”
Ben watched him.
“But you won't be alone.”
Cole continued.
“And I'll always come back when I say I will.”
Ben thought about that.
Then nodded.
“Okay.”
Cole sat beside the crib until he slept.
When he returned downstairs, Maggie was looking at an email.
“Boston?”
Cole asked.
“Yes.”
“What did they say?”
“They need an answer by Monday.”
Cole nodded.
“What are you going to do?”
“I don't know.”
“You want me to tell you what I think?”
Maggie looked wary.
“That would be new.”
Cole smiled.
“I think you should take it.”
Her face fell slightly.
Cole noticed.
“That's not because I want you gone.”
“I know.”
“I mean it.”
“I know.”
“You stayed for Natalie.”
“You stayed for Ben.”
“You covered for me.”
He swallowed.
“But maybe it's time you choose something because you want it.”
Maggie looked at him for a long moment.
“You really have changed.”
“Stop saying that.”
She smiled.
Cole's phone buzzed.
A message from Leah.
Franklin Medical is secure.
Second message.
Bank review tomorrow.
Third.
And Cole?
He typed.
What?
Leah responded.
Miguel handled tonight because you finally let him.
Maybe try that with the rest of us too.
Cole stared at the screen.
Maggie read over his shoulder.
“She's smart.”
“Everybody is becoming very opinionated.”
“That happens when the dictator discovers delegation.”
Cole laughed.
Then he looked toward the stairs.
For the first time, the sound of silence upstairs did not frighten him.
May you like
It meant Ben was sleeping.
And Cole was home.
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