Gun Games - Faye Kellerman [135]
“I would have done it all over again in a heartbeat.”
“Then you’re an idiot.” A pause. “On the other hand, it’s good that you can handle sticky situations. No father wants a pussy for a son.” Donatti gave Gabe the cranberry juice. “Drink. If you have to piss to get out of this place, do it sooner than later.”
“I could probably piss now.”
“Go ahead. You’ve got to save it in a cup.”
“What? Why?”
“I don’t know why, Gabe. That’s what the nurse told me. When he gets up to piss, have him save it in a cup. Maybe there is all sorts of important stuff in your piss that they need to look at. Maybe the doctor is a pervert. Just save it in a fucking cup, and I’ll ring up the nurse.”
“Oh God!” Disgusted didn’t even begin to describe how he felt. Slowly he got up on his feet. His head was dizzy, and it took a few moments before he was sure he could walk without passing out. His bandaged chest limited his mobility, but he could move his arms well enough. He wheeled his IV with him into the bathroom, his hospital robe flapping open in the back, exposing his butt in the breeze. His dad just watched, not even bothering to offer any help. He came back several minutes later with a full cup of urine. “This is really demeaning.”
The nurse walked into the room and relieved him of his cup. “Good boy.”
“So where’s my friggin’ lollipop?” Gabe grumbled.
The nurse stared at him. Donatti smiled and said, “Thank you very much.”
“You’re welcome.” The nurse took Gabe’s arm and helped ease him into bed. “How bad are you feeling?”
Gabe felt contrite. “It hurts.”
“I’ll see what the doctor wants to give you.” She looked at the empty dinner tray. “You ate. That’s very good. Would you like something else?”
How about a shot of lead through my temples? “I’m fine for the moment, thanks.” After the nurse left, Gabe said, “Chris, get me out of here.”
“You did your piss. Take a shit.”
“This is so degrading.”
“Yeah, hospitals suck the big one. What’d you do to your arm?”
Gabe rolled up the sleeve on his hospital robe. “I got a couple of tats.” When Donatti smiled and shook his head, he said, “I know. I’m an idiot.”
“It’s just so wannabe.”
“I wanted to do something for her.” Gabe blew out air. “Now she’s gone.”
“And you’re stuck with her name inked on your arm,” Donatti said.
“Well, I still like it.” He sighed. “It’s all I have left of her.”
“Roll up your sleeve again. What are the notes on the clef below the name?”
“ ‘Der Hölle Rache.’ ”
“You tatted opera on your arm?” Donatti stared at him. “Who are you?”
“I’m you if you were a nerd.”
Donatti laughed spontaneously. “You’re growing on me, you know that?”
Gabe said, “If I take a shit, do you promise I can leave?”
“I’ll do my best, but I’m not in charge.”
“You have a winning way with people.”
“It’s called a blinding smile and a firearm,” Donatti answered. “They probably won’t let you leave until tomorrow so why don’t you just relax.”
“Easy for you to say,” Gabe told him. “You’re not hooked up to an IV, bandaged like a mummy, and wearing a gown that shows your butt.”
Donatti just shrugged. “You just got shot, dude. Live with a bare ass.”
“Do you have anything else in the bag?”
“I have grapes, an apple, and an egg salad sandwich. Take whatever you want.”
“I’ll have some grapes.”
Donatti pulled out a clamshell of green seedless. The nurse came back and took Gabe’s vitals. Then she injected something in Gabe’s IV. “This will help you sleep.”
“Thanks.” Gabe popped a grape in his mouth. “Sorry if I snapped at you before.”
The nurse smiled and turned to Donatti. “You raised him right.”
“Thank you,” Donatti said. As soon as she left, father and son broke into laughter.
“God, that hurts!” Gabe was holding his side.
“When’s my nomination as Father of the Year?” Donatti was still smiling. “So tell me what you were working on before you got plugged.”
Gabe started talking music: the default topic between his father and him. He spoke of his lessons, his composing, his upcoming gigs, the pieces he was working on. Before he knew it, he had not only