Tony slowly withdrew his hand. "I know that you're going through a tough time right now..." he began.
"I'm sorry," she said definitively. "My mind is made up."
Tony looked into her eyes. It was obvious that there was no reasoning with her. At least not tonight.
He stood up. "All right, Kim. I... well..." He shrugged. "You know where to reach me if you change your mind," he said, still shell-shocked by the sudden turn of events.
She glanced away, not bothering to answer.
Her father opened his bloodshot eyes. "Kim?" he murmured.
"Hi, Dad," Kim said, smiling.
"I'm sorry... so sorry..."
She squeezed his hand. "I am, too. It was silly."
"I thought... I thought you were going to go back to Florida." His voice was thick and slow, but Kim could still detect the fear in his words.
"No, Dad. No. I was just angry. I'm sorry. I'm going to stay here and help you. We're going to spend Christmas together. Just you and me."
"Tony..." he began weakly.
She raised her hand as if to brush away his comment "It's over. It was never any big deal, anyway. My focus is getting you well enough to come home for Christmas."
Her father closed his eyes as a mixture of sadness and guilt washed over him. His daughter had been kind enough to rush to his side when he needed her, and he had repaid that kindness by criticizing her choice in men as though she were a mere child. When he awakened after his surgery and saw her by his side, he had promised himself that he would try to make up for years of bad parenting. He would attempt to be the father he knew she always wished she had. Instead he had disappointed her--once again. "I'm sorry for what I said about Tony. I wasn't being fair," he mumbled weakly.
"Dad," she said patiently. "It's over. Tony wasn't right for me. It didn't have anything to do with you."
He looked at her, not believing her words.
"Really," she said, although she wasn't convinced herself. "I need someone who's more settled. More... well, someone who doesn't work as much. Anyway," she said, smiling at him. "I don't want to discuss it anymore. I just want you to get better, so that we can go home. In time for Christmas."
"I want you to be happy, Kim," her father said.
She smiled. "I know you do, Dad."
He nodded, watching her.
"By the way," she said. "I was thinking about taking the pool cover off, turning it into an ice rink."
Her father nodded. "Does this mean that you're thinking about staying?"
"Yes. For a while. Maybe even... well, permanently. I mean, you're going to need some help, and I want to spend some time with you."
His eyes welled with tears. "So what do you want for Christmas this year, Kim?"
"I'd like to have my father home."
A voice from behind her said, "I think we can arrange that."
Kim turned to see Tony standing in the doorway. He gave her a weak smile as he focused his attention on Harold. "Good morning, Harold. How are you feeling today?"
"Better," Harold managed, looking at his daughter. She had turned a shade of pink and was glancing around uncomfortably for her purse.
"Kim, I'm glad you're here," Tony said. "Harold, I know you don't want to hear it, but you're going to need some assistance for a while after you return home. Just for a month or so. Maybe a nursing assistant. Someone to help you grocery shop, cook dinner..."
"That won't be necessary," Kim said quickly.
Tony shrugged. "Maybe not necessary, but it would be helpful. He's going to have to take it easy for a while..."
"I understand. But a nurse won't be necessary," Kim said, speaking to Tony across her father's bed. "I'm staying."
Tony was silent for a split second. "For how long?" he asked. It was clear to everyone in the room that he was not asking for professional reasons.
Kim met his eyes directly. She was not staying because she had changed her mind about dating him, she was staying because she was trying to rebuild her relationship with her father. "I don't know. Maybe permanently." She shot her father a quick smile as she grabbed her purse. "I'll see you later, Dad."
As Kim walked out of the room, Tony looked down at the chart, though he was too upset to focus. He had received Kim's message--loud and dear.
Harold stared at Tony, aware of the pain the young man was suffering. "You care about her, don't you?"' he asked quietly.
Tony shrugged as his eyes focused on his patient "Yes. Yes, I care about her. Very much." He sighed. "Anyway," he said, forcing himself to concentrate on the matter at hand, "I'm glad to see that you're stabilized."
"It helps to have Kim here," Harold said, watching Tony carefully. Tony smiled sadly. "Yes, I'm sure it does."
Harold paused, pushing himself up slightly. "I hear you've been running the department in my absence."
Tony shifted his feet uncomfortably as he glanced toward the door. "Yes, well, not officially. Just filling in for you until you get back."
"I've been hearing good things about you," Harold said.
Tony glanced at him, surprised. "Well, that's nice to know."
Harold nodded, signaling to Tony that he was dismissed. "Keep up the good work," he said.
Tony just looked at him. It sounded like Harold Risson was giving him his blessing. But his blessing for what? "Thank you," Tony said quietly. He hung the chart back up on the wall and left the room, shutting the door behind him.