“Hey.” He walks across the room and leans over to touch his lips to the top of my head.

“Hey, big guy.” I tip my head back and smile up at him. “Were you able to get some work done?”

“A little.” His fingers skim along my jaw.

“Dayton, I need a favo—” Dad starts, and I spin my head around and hold up my hand.

“Don’t even think about asking him.”

“Ask me what?” Dayton questions, his fingers still at my jaw.

“I brought you lunch,” Mom says, walking in, and Dad groans quietly.

“Better luck next time.” I laugh.

“What’s going on?” Mom asks, and I start to open my mouth to tell her that her husband is attempting to talk people into bringing him food, but Dad cuts in before I can.

“I was just telling Francisca how grateful I am that you’ve been taking such good care of me and looking out for my diet since we got home.”

“You do know that after thirty-six years of marriage, I can tell when you’re lying, right?” Mom places the tray she’s holding on his bedside table. “And I hope you’re not trying to bribe everyone who comes to visit into bringing you food. Jacob already told me that you said you’d give him a thousand dollars if he brought you a burger and fries.”

“Why does Jacob get offered a thousand dollars, but I don’t?” I get up and take Dayton’s hand, urging him to take my seat, then plant myself on his lap. His hand instantly covers the bump that seems to be growing by the day.

“Because I know you can’t be bought.” Dad carefully sits up as Mom adjusts the back of his bed using the remote.

“I might have been more inclined to sneak you food if you did offer me money. Now, I guess you’ll never know if you could have had a cheeseburger.”

“No one is sneaking you anything.” Mom glares at him as she moves the tray around so that it’s over Dad’s lap. “And you’re never having a cheeseburger again. The doctors made it abundantly clear that you need a complete lifestyle change, so this is it. Suck it up and enjoy.”

“Okay, honey,” Dad agrees, picking up his sandwich and taking a bite.