Greg stared out the window, his forehead creasing. Hes…fragile, Harley. Not just his body, but his mind. Hearing youre here to see him… He shook his head. Theres no telling how he might react.

Im starting to feel like youre the only one happy I came. If he doesnt want to see me, whats the point?

Greg reached across the table and took her hand. Its not that. Hes just differentbalanced on the edge of a knife, you might say. I think its better if you just show up.

And what do I do when he acts like Im not there? Harley thought. She hadnt traveled over two thousand miles just to be ignored. Still…she had to give it a shot.

Okay, she said, trying not to imagine the worst. If thats how you think we should do this.

Greg smiled, stroking her knuckles with his thumb. Its really great to see you. Makes me feel like a kid again.

She smiled, but her fathers words, spoken so long ago, still rang in her head: I wish it had been you.

* * *

Her fathers room was on the second floor, at the end of a long hall decorated with uninspiring paintings of sailboats, sunsets, and desert panoramas. Greg entered first, then motioned for Harley to follow. Swallowing the lump in her throat, Harley stepped into the room.

Her father lay propped against several pillows, the TV remote in one hand and a Styrofoam cup with a straw in the other. Most of his hair was gone, revealing a scalp spotted with angiomas. Harley hardly recognized the tall, strong man of her childhood.

I didnt know you had a girlfriend, Greg, her father said when he saw Harley. After a few seconds, however, his smile fell. Is that my little girl? My Harley? He tried to sit up, which immediately brought on a coughing fit. He grimaced, placing one hand against his ribs.

Harley and Greg exchanged a glance. Greg pursed his lips as if to say, I told you hes in bad shape.

Its good to see you, Dad, Harley said, trying to inject the words with a sincerity she did not feel. She had been so long away, she hardly remembered what it meant to be a daughter. Should she hold his hand, kiss his forehead? Should she confide in him all her troubles?

Lies, Dad answered. Im a sad excuse for a human. You look like you turned out alright, though.

A week ago, I would have agreed, Harley thought. Im doing okay, she answered.

Hows Rob doing?

Harley tried not to wince. For years, her dad had stayed in contact with Rob as a means of keeping tabs on Harley. She had confronted Rob about this more than once, but Rob had insisted her father had a right to know about her life.

Apparently they hadnt spoken recentlyotherwise Dad would have had a lot more to say on the topic.