“There are already spots on it!” the nurse says from the kitchen.
“Oh, you can just shush it!” Wyatt’s dad yells at her.
“Of course my liver has spots. Look at my arms; they’re everywhere. The inside matches the outside,” he laughs out.
“Next time you come, son, sneak me in a bottle of something, would you?”
“I don’t think so, Dad,” Wyatt says.
“Don’t make me pat your guests down before they come into the house,” the nurse warns.
Mr. Slade shoots daggers at her with his eyes as he grumbles quietly to himself. “Wyatt, I need you to look into getting me a new nurse. This one’s abusing me.”
I manage to hold back my laugh, but I can’t hold off the smile.
Wyatt laughs. “Dad, I don’t think keeping you away from the liquor cabinet is abuse. Why don’t you just focus on getting better so you no longer need a nurse?”
He points at Wyatt knowingly. “That sounds like a good idea.”
We sit and talk with his dad for an hour or so. When we load back up in the truck, Wyatt has a wide smile.
“See, that wasn’t so bad, right?”
“I guess not. I sure did miss that old man. He’s so full of piss and vinegar. You know, that’s going to be me one of these days.”
I laugh. “By that point, I’ll probably be pouring the whiskey down your throat just to get you to shut up,” I joke.
He picks up my hand that’s sitting between us and presses a kiss to the back. “Will you stay with me tonight?”
My mom’s words echo in my head. I don’t want to waste another minute of not being with him. “Of course I will,” I answer. He gives a smile and starts the truck, driving us back to his house for the night.
I wake in the middle of the night with my cell phone ringing from the bedside table. I groan as I roll over to grab it, seeing my mom’s name on the screen. I take a deep breath, realizing I never told her I wasn’t coming home tonight.
I answer the call. “I’m sorry I didn’t call, Mama . . .” I start, but she cuts me off.
“Destiny, it’s about your father. I had to call 9-1-1. I’m on my way to the hospital. Please, come quickly!”
“Okay, I’ll be right there,” I say, hanging up the phone and throwing off the blankets in a hurry.
“What’s wrong?” Wyatt asks, waking up.
“Something is going on with my dad. Mama just called and said they were taking him to the hospital. I have to go.”
He sits up. “Wait, let me drive you.”
I pull my jeans on. “Are you sure? Don’t you have work in the morning?”
He waves his hand through the air as he climbs out of bed and heads for the closet. “This is more important.”
We both quickly pull on our clothes and jump into his car, then he drives us through the darkness. The night air is cold, so Wyatt blasts the heat. I thought it was the temperature that was causing me to shake, but now I know it’s just my nerves. I pray over and over that my dad will be fine—that he doesn’t lose his ability to talk or walk again. Mama didn’t say what was going on, so maybe it’s nothing serious. Maybe he just had a little fall and needed to be checked out. I pray that it’s not another stroke. I don’t know how much more he can take. He already seems so frail and weak.
Wyatt must pick up on my fear. He reaches over and takes my hand in his, his thumb gently sweeping back and forth across the skin as he drives us toward the hospital.
“He’ll be okay, Des,” Wyatt says, nearly making me jump. I was so focused on my own thoughts that I didn’t realize how quiet the car was.
“How do you know?” I ask, biting down on my lower lip.
“I just know. He’s a strong man. This is just a rough patch. That’s what he told me.”
“When? When did he tell you that?” I ask, remembering that Wyatt and my dad haven’t spoken since we’ve been back home.
He takes a deep breath. “Back in high school. It was the day before our graduation and I came out to your house because you’d been avoiding me. I was going to make you hear me out. When I pulled into the drive, your dad stepped out of the barn. He knew something was going on with us. He’d figured it out given how you’d been acting, coupled with the fact that I hadn’t been around in a while. I basically cried on his shoulder. But he patted me on the back and said, ‘Son, this is just a rough patch. If you’re meant to be together, you’ll be together. The world always finds a way.’”
I smile from hearing his words. “That does sound like my dad.”
He nods. “He’s a smart man. And he’s strong. Whatever’s going on right now, he’ll overcome it. It’s just a rough patch.”
I rest my head back against the seat and stare out the windshield as we get closer and closer. But Wyatt’s story has helped to calm the fear and worry that were raging inside me. He’s right. My dad is strong. He’s the strongest man I know. I’ve watched the man overcome the drought—he kept our farm going on little to nothing. I’ve seen him battle any illness he’s had and come out stronger on the other side. And now, there’s this. His stroke could’ve killed him, but it didn’t. It only slowed him down some. He’s not giving up and neither am I. We’ll get past this. Wyatt and I will end up together. And my dad will walk me down the aisle when the time is right. Everything will work out.
15
Wyatt
I’m driving as fast as I can, but it doesn’t feel like we’re getting any closer. I told Destiny a story I hold close to my heart and that seems to have calmed her some. She’s no longer shaking, worrying her lip, or shifting in her seat. Now she seems content, like she knows this is just another storm we have to wait out.
It takes us almost an hour to get to the hospital, and we rush inside the moment I turn off the car. We stop at the front desk and get the information we need to find her dad’s room, then race up to the third floor: the stroke center.
Mrs. Parker is waiting in the hallway as we approach.
“Mama!” Destiny yells, running to her. She immediately pulls her in for a hug. “What’s going on?” she asks.
“I thought it was another stroke, but the doctor thinks it was a TIA.”
“And what is that, exactly?” she asks.
The doctor exits the room and we all turn to face him.
“TIA is short for Transient Ischemic Attack. It’s a stroke-like attack. Sometimes this is a warning sign for a future stroke. However, we’re going to adjust his blood thinner to try to keep his blood from clotting. We’re also going to keep him here just for observation. If he’s preparing to have another stroke, right here is where he needs to be. Time is of the essence when it comes to a stroke. He’s resting right now, but you can go in to see him if you’d like.”
“Thank you,” Mrs. Parker says, turning to Destiny. “Do you want to come in?”
She waves her off. “Go ahead. I’ll give you a little alone time with him.”
Her mother nods before running into the room.
I reach out and pull Destiny against me for a hug. “You okay?”
She nods but I hear her sniffle. “He can’t take another stroke.”
I rub my hand up and down her back. “The doctor said it may be a warning sign. Hopefully they can catch it in time. Everything will be okay. You just need to try to stay calm. Come on, let’s have a seat.” I lead her over to a bench resting against the wall.
We take our seats and I wrap my arm around her shoulders, pulling her to my side. Before I know it, she’s sound asleep, resting her head on my shoulder. I sit and watch the hospital staff moving around us until I finally lean my head back against the wall, my eyes drifting closed.
I wake when Destiny sits up, finding her mother standing before us.
“Why don’t you two head home? There’s nothing here for you to do,” Mrs. Parker says.
“No, Mama, I’m staying with you. Do you need anything? You want us to run home and get you each a fresh set of clothes? Do you want us to gra
b you some food?”
“Well, your father will need some clean clothes for when he’s discharged. And depending on how long we’re here, I may need some too.”
“Okay, we’ll run home and get some things and bring them back with some food. Hospital food always sucks,” Destiny says.
I stand up and stretch, my back stiff and sore from sleeping in a seated position for the last few hours. When we leave the hospital, I find that it’s daylight. I check my watch to see it’s going on 7 a.m.
“Want to grab some breakfast? It’s a long drive home.”
“Yeah, okay,” she agrees.
We stop at an IHOP and I order an omelet while she gets a stack of pancakes that she tops with strawberry-flavored syrup. She’s quiet while she eats, but not getting much sleep and the stress of her father’s health are probably playing a role in all of that. I try to keep the conversation light and fun, but she’s too exhausted to contribute much. After we eat, we drive straight to her parents’ house, where she gets busy preparing an overnight kit for them. While she’s packing, I make myself useful by letting out the dog and filling his food and water bowls. I sweep and mop the floor where the EMTs must have made a mess. There are muddy footprints cutting straight through the kitchen, along with muddy tire tracks from the gurney. Once all of that is done, I look around the spotless kitchen trying to find another job.
“I think I got everything,” she says, setting a duffel bag down on the kitchen table.
“Do you think we should pack your mom some snacks in case they’re in the hospital a while?”
“That’s a good idea. Oh, and I’m going to grab her knitting bag too. That way she’ll have something to do while she waits.”
While she goes in search of the knitting bag, I rummage through the cabinets looking for snacks to pack. I toss in a box of Pop-Tarts, a couple little bags of chips, a few cereal bars, and some nuts. She comes back and places the knitting bag into the duffel and we’re ready to go.
We load back into my car and I stop at a gas station before leaving town. She insists on paying while I pump, saying she’s also going to go in to stock us up on drinks and snacks for the drive. I’m standing at the car pumping gas when I hear a woman’s voice.
“Wyatt, I didn’t expect to see you!”
I turn around to find Ashely. “Hey, how are you?”
She offers up her best flirty smile. “Better now that you’re back in town.”
My eyes flash to the doors of the gas station, wondering if Destiny is seeing this exchange. God knows I don’t want her feeling jealous or worrying about it. “Listen, Ash, I know we had a thing back in the day . . .” I start, but she cuts me off.
She steps toward me and places her hands on the side of my neck. “We sure did, didn’t we?” She looks me up and down before wetting her lips. “I’m newly single if you want to pick up where we left off.” She steps closer, her breasts almost touching my chest.
I remove her hands from my neck and step back. “Actually, no. Destiny and I are back together, so . . .”
“Oh, well, I don’t care. It can be our little secret,” she says, just as Destiny is approaching the car.
Ashely looks from me, to Destiny, and back. “Well, call me!” she says, turning to walk away. She flashes Destiny a smile to add insult to injury.
Destiny rolls her eyes and climbs into the car. I remove the gas hose and hang it up before replacing the cap and climbing into the car.
“So I got us candy, chips, and jerky. Sound good?” she asks.
I nod and start the car. “Aren’t you going to ask me what that was about?”
She shrugs. “I don’t know if I want to know.”
“She was offering to pick up where we left off,” I tell her, wanting everything out in the open.
“And what did you say?”
“I said I was with you.”
She smiles at me. “That’s good enough for me.” She leans in and kisses me softly. “Now, let’s get back to the hospital.”
I shift into drive and hit the gas. On the ride, Destiny seems more relaxed and carefree. She talks, laughs, and sings along with the radio, but I wonder what’s really going on in that head of hers. She reacted to the run-in with Ashely better than I thought she would.
I reach forward and turn down the music. “Are you sure you’re okay about Ashely?”
“What do you mean?” she asks, drawing her brows together.
“I just expected more of a response out of you. Especially after I told you about our hookups back in the day.
She shrugs. “I just decided to take my mom’s advice—now more than ever.”
“And what advice was that?” I ask.
“She said she would give anything to get one more day with Daddy before his stroke, and that I shouldn’t waste today by worrying about tomorrow or yesterday. So, that’s exactly what I’m doing.”
I pick up her hand and press a kiss to the back.
We stop at a drive-thru and get her mom a burger, fries, and a soda, and take everything back to the hospital. We walk into her dad’s room and he’s hooked up to all kinds of hoses and IVs. He seems thin, pale, and weak. He looks nothing like the man I used to know.
“Wyyy-atttt?” he asks when I step into the room.
I give him a smile. “Hi, Mr. Parker. How you doing?”
He nods. “Ffffff-ine,” he slurs.
I do my best to control my facial expression. I don’t want him to think I’m looking at him with pity. “I bet a strong man like you will be out of here in no time.”
He smiles a crooked smile. Due to the stroke, the left side of his face doesn’t move much.
“Do you need anything, Daddy?” Destiny asks.
“Hooome,” he jokes.
She laughs. “As soon as we can take you home, we will,” she promises.
“Why don’t I go get you a paper or something to do with all your time?” I ask.
He nods and I leave the room, needing a moment to myself. Seeing a strong man like Mr. Parker being taken down like that is life-altering. I mean, you go through life working and taking care of your family, and the next thing you know, everything is being taken away from you and changing. I know it’s killing him to be stuck in that bed after living the way he did for so many years. He was always active—working, laughing, going for a few beers with the boys. He was on the bowling team and he helped coach the local T-ball team in the summers. He was always up and moving, and now he’s confined to a damn bed.
I walk down to the gift shop and buy him a few papers, crossword puzzles, and magazines. I select a bouquet of flowers for his room, and grab myself a Red Bull. My lack of sleep is catching up with me, and I’m afraid if I don’t keep moving, I’ll easily fall asleep. When I walk back into his room with my arms full, Destiny rushes to help me. She takes the flowers and places them by the window.
“I know you’re not much of a flower man, but I figured Mrs. Parker could use the color in the room,” I tell him with a wink.
He laughs and nods.
I place the papers, magazines, and books onto the table that gets wheeled around the room.
“Oh, Mama, I brought your knitting bag. Figured you needed something to keep your hands busy.”
“Thank you, sweetie,” Mrs. Parker says.
Destiny stands up and allows me to sit in the chair. I place my hands on her hips and pull her into my lap, not wanting her to stand since we’ve run out of chairs. She wiggles until she gets comfortable, then leans her side against my chest, tilting her head to rest against my shoulder.
Her mom looks over at us with a small smile. I know she’s always rooted for us to be together, so I smile back, happy for her love and support.
My eyes glance down at Destiny’s hands in her lap. She’s spinning a ring that’s on her ring finger. I take her hand in mine and examine it. It’s the promise ring I gave her so many years ago.
“You still have this?” I whisper low enough so only she hears.
I can’t help the smile that stretches across my face from those words. “Of course it does,” I whisper, pressing my lips to the top of her head.
The two of us sit with her mom and dad until visiting hours are over and we’re kicked out. The hospital has a strict “one overnight visitor in the patient’s room” policy. She gives her mom and dad a kiss. I hug her mom and shake her dad’s hand. Before walking away, I lean down and whisper, “This is just a rough patch.”
He looks up at me with knowing eyes as he smiles, giving a slight nod as Destiny and I leave the room.
We walk hand in hand to the elevator. When the doors open, we’re the only two inside. She tackles me from the side, knocking me into the wall as her lips find mine. She spins us around so my back is to the wall as she kisses me passionately. When the elevator dings, she quickly pulls away, moving back to the center like nothing happened. I, however, am left in shock against the wall.
She steps out and I stand upright just in time for an elderly couple to step in. They give me a confused look and I feel my face heat up. Destiny grabs my hand.
“Mr. Slade, I do believe you are blushing,” she says around a smile.
I laugh. “You threw me off guard. What did you expect?”
She laughs harder as she leads me out of the hospital for the night. The moment we’re outside in the setting sun, I reach out and smack her ass, causing a little yelp to leave her lips. I laugh and take off running as she chases after me like we’re kids.
16
Destiny
Given how late it is when we get back from the hospital, Wyatt decides to stay at my parents’ house with me. He says it’s always been a fantasy of his to sleep in my childhood bed since Mama and Daddy wouldn’t allow it while we were in high school. Wyatt takes care of the dog while I get busy in the kitchen, cooking us some dinner.
Loves Me NOT: A Small Town, Second-Chance Romance (Slade Brothers Book 4) Page 10
