Chapter 22 - Daniel’s Heart
Daniel collapsed in a hardware store.
A stranger used his phone to call me.
I was in New York.
“Your brother is conscious,” the man said. “Paramedics are here.”
The room tilted.
“What happened?”
“He got dizzy. He went down.”
I was already grabbing my bag.
My next flight was ninety minutes away.
Vincent answered before the first ring finished.
“What’s wrong?”
“Daniel collapsed.”
“Where?”
I told him.
“I’m going.”
“Vincent—”
“I’m going.”
By the time my plane landed in Chicago, Daniel had been admitted for observation.
Not a heart attack.
An abnormal rhythm combined with dehydration and medication he had not told me he was taking.
I stormed into his hospital room.
“You idiot.”
Daniel looked offended.
“Nice to see you too.”
Vincent sat beside the window.
Emma was at Margaret’s.
“You didn’t tell me you were having problems.”
Daniel shrugged.
“I wasn’t.”
“You collapsed.”
“Temporary disagreement with gravity.”
I wanted to hug him and strangle him.
The cardiologist expected a good recovery.
They wanted additional tests.
Vincent stood.
“I’ll get coffee.”
Daniel watched him leave.
Then looked at me.
“He got here in twenty minutes.”
“I know.”
“He argued with a nurse.”
“That sounds less impressive.”
“He thought they weren’t updating me fast enough.”
“Definitely less impressive.”
Daniel smiled.
Then became serious.
“He loves you.”
I sighed.
“Not now.”
“I almost died.”
“You did not almost die.”
“Potentially.”
“The doctor said you were stable.”
“Don’t ruin my moment.”
I sat beside him.
Daniel lowered his voice.
“You know I hated him.”
“I noticed.”
“I still reserve the right.”
“Generous.”
“But he’s not the same.”
“No.”
“Neither are you.”
That silenced me.
Daniel looked toward the door.
“The first time you called me, you asked if I could pick you up.”
“I remember.”
“You sounded like you needed permission to leave your own house.”
My throat tightened.
“And now?”
“Now you tell everybody where you’re going and make us keep up.”
I laughed through tears.
“That’s supposed to be a compliment?”
“Yes.”
Vincent returned with coffee.
Daniel immediately said, “If I die, don’t hurt my sister again.”
Vincent stopped.
“Daniel.”
“What?”
“You are not dying.”
“People always say that right before someone dies.”
Vincent set down the cups.
“I won’t promise something I can’t guarantee.”
Daniel studied him.
Vincent continued.
“I can promise I won’t lie to her about who I am.”
My brother’s expression changed.
“Better answer.”
The tests were reassuring.
Daniel went home two days later under strict instructions to hydrate, reduce stress, and stop pretending he was thirty.
Emma created a medication chart.
Margaret delivered enough food for a small wedding.
I canceled my New York trip that week.
Rebecca understood.
On Sunday, I found Vincent repairing Daniel’s porch railing.
My brother sat in a chair supervising with unnecessary enthusiasm.
“You missed a spot,” Daniel said.
“There is no spot.”
“Then create one.”
Vincent looked ready to throw the hammer.
I stood in the yard and laughed.
Later, Daniel walked me to the car.
“Claire.”
“What?”
“If he proposes, don’t say yes because we like him now.”
“I know.”
“Say yes only if you can survive saying no.”
I stared at him.
That was exactly the kind of thing Daniel said when he wanted to sound ridiculous and accidentally became wise.
I hugged him carefully.
“Take your medication.”
“Bossy.”
“Alive.”
He smiled.
Driving home, I kept thinking about his words.
Say yes only if you can survive saying no.
May you like
For the first time, I understood why I might eventually be ready.
Because I no longer needed marriage to make me safe.
