Except for the fact that she planned on heading back to Florida as soon as her father left the hospital Their time was limited, and they both knew it. Tony kissed her forehead as he wrapped his arms around her. "I just like being with you." He leaned over and looked into her eyes. "Hey," he whispered in her ear. "Why do you look so sad?"
She sighed. "I don't know. The holidays always get me down, and with all that's happened in the past few weeks..."
"This Christmas will be better," he said, hugging her close. "I just have a feeling."
Kim was practically humming as she walked down the hospital corridor. She felt like a teenager in love. She glanced at the Christmas tree some of the hospital staff were decorating in the waiting room. Maybe her mother had been right. Maybe this was a magical season.
It had certainly been a magical night. She and Tony had talked for hours before finally drifting off to sleep in each other's arms. She had woken at four, found her shoes and socks, given Geena a pat good- bye, and slipped out without waking Tony.
After knocking on her father's door, she quietly walked into his room. He was sitting in bed and smiled when he saw her. "Kim," he said.
"Hi, Dad." She went over and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "You seem like you're feeling better."
He nodded. "They're moving me out of critical care today."
"That's wonderful," Kim said.
He smiled. "Kim," he began. "I've been thinking. I... well, I feel like I've been given another chance. Another chance to make things right again."
Kim nodded.
"I'm sorry for never writing you back. Those letters that you sent me... they meant a lot to me," he said, struggling with every word. "I just couldn't bring myself to write back to you. If I did, our separation would become real. Instead, I made myself believe that it was just like when you wrote me from camp. That I'd see you again before I even got a chance to write you..."
"Oh, Dad," Kim said sadly, keeping an eye on the EKG machine. The last thing she wanted was to upset him. "We both made mistakes. I never really understood before what stress you were under... all the pressures from your job. I know it wasn't easy for you. I just... well, I was a child. All I knew was that my father wasn't around. I didn't--I couldn't understand why. But I do now," she said, thinking about the little girl who had died. The little girl he had tried to save.
"I want you to know... I'm sorry that I wasn't there for you. But I never stopped caring about you."
She nodded, touched by the sincerity in his eyes. She blinked back tears as she said, "I know that, Dad."
He nodded, blinking back tears himself. "I was sorry to hear about your mother."
Kim nodded.
"I loved her. I know she didn't think so, but I did. I just... I had a hard time showing it."
Kim glanced at the floor. She wasn't ready to discuss her mother with him. "When you and your mother left, a part of me died. I... I couldn't deal with it..." He looked at her and wiped away a tear.
She smiled weakly and gave his hand a squeeze.
Harold swallowed. As if embarrassed by his display of emotion, he shook his head slightly as he glanced at the dock. Suddenly he barked out, "Oh, for Pete's sake."
"What?" Kim asked, taken aback.
"Oh, Tony Hoffman was supposed to come here this morning at eight," he said, as if disgusted.
Kim checked the clock. It was already eight-thirty. Kim felt slightly guilty, realizing that there had not been an alarm clock in the living room. She wondered if he was still asleep on the couch.
"There's no excuse for this behavior. As usual, he's testing me. He's trying to annoy me."
"Calm down, dad," she said, disturbed by his vehement reaction. "I'm sure he's not trying to annoy you. He just saved your life. Why would he want to upset you?"
"It's a power play. These young, cocky surgeons are all alike. Tony is a decent surgeon, but he knows it. He's a wild card, and that's going to cost him some advancements around here." Her father glanced at her. "Have you met him yet?"
She nodded. "Ah, yes," she said quickly. She had done more than just meet him, but for some reason, she didn't feel like this was an appropriate time to discuss her budding romance.
Tony knocked on the door and peeked his head in. "Good morning, Harold," he said. "Kim," he said quickly.
"Doctor," Kim said, acknowledging him as she avoided his eyes. Talk about timing.
"You were supposed to be here a half an hour ago," her father said sternly.
"I'm sorry," Tony said, picking up her father's chart and looking at it. "I... well, I was delayed."
"I bet," her father said, irritated.
Kim stood up. "I... urn, I'm going to go get some coffee. Dad, do you want something?"
Her question seemed to soften him. He smiled at her warmly. "No thanks, dear."
She nodded. ''I'll be in the cafeteria," she said, glancing at Tony as she headed for the door.
Kim was on her way out of the cafeteria when she saw Tony. He was scanning the room and smiled when he anally saw her. "Ms. Risson," he said, hurrying to catch up with her. "Why didn't you wake me up when you left?" he whispered in her ear as he walked alongside her.
"Because you were sleeping," she said casually. "Besides, I didn't know you had an early morning appointment with my father."
"That's all right," he joked. "When I explained that I was late because you forgot to wake me, your father understood completely."