Race With a Heart
Chapter 237: Family

Chapter 237: Family

Jack stood in the threshold unable to make a move. What he had before his eyes was so unreal that he felt as if he had been dropped into some movie. He could smell the hospital, hear nervous voices, see all the commotion, but....

How?

How could this have happened?

Why were these people in white smocks surrounding Michael’s bed? Why was one of these people performing a heart massager on him and another forcing air into his lungs? After all, everything was supposed to be different, everything was supposed to be fine....

The machine emitted a steady, monotonous screech....

No, Michael can’t just....

Jack had the feeling that in a moment his own heart would stop. No, Michael, you can’t give up, not now that Kevin is whole and is on his way to see you. For God’s sake Michael!

Moore must have heard his thoughts because the machine began to sound differently and the white coats watching the monitors moved away. The doctor performing cardiac massage breathed a sigh of relief.

"He’s back," he said.

"What... What happened?" muttered Lambert. "I thought the operation was successful..."

Among the assembled doctors was not the one he had spoken to at the door of the operating ward.

"It was successful," announced the one doing the heart massage. "But any operation, putting a patient under total anesthesia, involves certain risks. That’s why patients remain under close medical supervision after surgery. Chairman Moore underwent a cardiac arrest, but his heart is now beating normally. Of course, we will continue to monitor him in detail, but there is no reason to believe that a similar situation will recur. Please rest assured."

There was a kind of warmth in the voice of this doctor, not much older than himself, that made Jack’s heart actually take on a bit of calm. Michael was in good hands. This was the best hospital in town, with great cardiologists. If they said everything would be fine now, that meant everything would be fine.

"Thank you, doctor. Can I stay with him?"

"Of course. The presence of loved ones will certainly be a positive factor for him to speed up his recovery."

"Thank you," Jack repeated, and looked at Michael lying in the white bedding, who, strapped to all those cables and monitors, looked a little scary.

The doctors left his room, which suddenly became empty and quiet. Only the beeping coming from the machines made mechanical sounds.

Lambert squatted on a stool and sat down next to the bed. He took the older man’s hand.

"I have good news, Michael, but I don’t know if I should tell you. I’m afraid you’ll get too excited, but... I talked to Kevin. He is all right, he is free and he is on his way to see you. Your son is safe, do you hear? When I talked to him, his voice was strong. You also need to be strong for him and not cause him worry. You yourself must tell him that you finally accepted us. You know, Michael, I grew up in an orphanage, but I remember my parents. They were not good, responsible people. They didn’t love their children. Maybe they didn’t love anyone in this world, not even themselves. That’s why... in a way... I looked up to you as a father."

Jack laughed quietly, a little bitterly. He rubbed his eyes, which were baked with salty moisture.

"When I started dating Kevin and you were against our relationship, you didn’t completely condemn me. You were no longer as friendly as before, but you didn’t start treating me like an enemy, or... like trash. I really appreciate that, Michael. I know you wanted a different relationship for Kevin, a different future, but you didn’t treat me, who spoiled your plans, like a dog. Thank you, Michael. Thank you for not spurning me as a human being, and thank you for accepting me as a family member."

The machines to which Michael was hooked up beeped. The air, although it was a VVIP room smelled of disinfectants. The interior, though decorated more like a hotel room than a hospital room, was cold and alien. Jack squeezed Michael’s hand even tighter to send him the warmth of another person.

"You know, I wanted to leave the stable, retire and start taking care of the house. Kevin’s work is hard and I wanted to be there for him whenever he needed me. But... I changed my plans," he sighed. "Fergus’ Stable practically raised me and now it needs me. I don’t know if I made the right decision by staying, because I feel that Kevin will need me even more now... I don’t want to be like a flag in the wind, but I can’t be sure of my decision. How can people balance their professional and private lives? How did you manage to raise such a good son without neglecting work? Do you know that Kevin cherishes very much the memories of your camping trips together? I’m a little envious of those memories..."

"Then let’s make new ones together."

Jack stood up surprised as if caught stealing apples from the orchard. He didn’t have time to look at the man standing in front of him, only noticing a few small bandages before he was completely swallowed up by his embrace. Lambert’s heart hit hard full of relief and happiness and his arms embraced Kevin so tightly that they threatened to break his ribs. For Jack, however, this was not enough. He wanted to hug his love even tighter.

"Thank you," Kevin said quietly, and after a few seconds gently released himself from his embrace. He sat down in the seat Lambert had just occupied and, leaning over the sleeping Michael, announced in a quiet but confident voice: "Dad, I’m back."

Jack noticed that Kevin was holding his father’s hand as Lambert had held it earlier. He still couldn’t see his love’s face clearly, now standing behind his back, but at times he could see the white of the bandage or the purple of the bruise. Kevin, his beautiful, gentle Kevin had been kidnapped and beaten for money. It was unforgivable! How does he feel now? Is he traumatized? Will he have nightmares at night?

"Kevin..."

Professor Moore turned his face toward him. He had a cut, a swollen lower lip and a bandage on his left eyebrow arch and cheek. This is where he was beaten, but was it only in the face, or elsewhere too? What about his abdomen and chest? Shouldn’t Kevin undergo a more thorough examination...?

But Kevin was smiling from the bottom of his heart. His eyes shone with tenderness, gratitude and life. They were brave and strong. Well yes, thought Jack to himself, after all, Kevin is Michael’s son. His sensitivity inherited from his mother allows him to better understand the victim and the torturer, but the Moors’ blood is just as thick and strong in him.

"I’m fine," he assured. "I’ll go through some more tests just in case, but I wanted to see both of you first. I’m sorry you had to worry about me."

"Are you kidding! It’s not your fault, it’s them...!"

"It’s okay now, Jack," Kevin held out his hand to him with a smile. "It wasn’t so terrible. Maybe if I were an ordinary college professor or an ordinary millionaire’s son I’d be terrified, but I’m Kevin Moore."

Such an explanation shouldn’t explain anything, but it explained everything to Jack. Kevin not only had the courage of the Moors in him, but he was also a police consultant and had dealt with serious crimes and unbalanced criminals many times, so he knew how to behave and what to expect from his attackers. Yes, but...

Kevin’s hand was not trembling from shock or stress. It was as strong as his eyes and smile.

"They hit me a few times to show my father that they weren’t kidding, but other than that they treated me even well," Kevin explained. "They knew that if they did something really bad to me, my father has enough resources to tear them apart, so they couldn’t be too cruel. But because of me, you didn’t go to the competition..."

"Are you crazy? What’s your fault in this? It was my decision because..."

"But I really wanted to see you in this race and how you personally receive the cup. I’m proud that my guy is such a good racing driver."

Yes, he was proud, Jack didn’t need to be a psychiatrist or psychologist to know that Kevin wasn’t lying. Kevin loved him for who Jack was, and he was first and foremost a driver in the Fergus Stable.

"There are important things and more important things," he replied, "And right now, for me, the most important thing is you and your father."

"Your new family?"

"Yes, my new family," Jack admitted feeling a blush flood over him. Kevin’s warm gaze, however, told him that he shouldn’t feel the least bit embarrassed.

"I’m glad I had someone to come back to," announced Professor Moore and Jack felt that probably in a moment his vision would completely obscure the salty drops of water. He loved this man so much that he sometimes ran out of breath....