Diesel's Choice

by Lauren Firminger

  “Shhh, it’s okay. I’ll come in. I just thought you might want to have some time alone with him.” I heard a muffled no against my chest. I pressed my lips to her head. “Come on then.” I put my hands on her shoulders as she turned around and walked into the room. Her dad had been put into a private room and looked asleep when we walked in. Her mom, at least that was who I assumed she was, was lying in bed beside him, her eyes closed as well. Ruby gave my hand a squeeze before stepping forward and resting her hand against her dads. He opened his eyes slowly and had to blink a couple of times to make sure that he was really seeing her.

  “Princess? What are you doing here?”

  “Oscar called me last night and told me that they were rushing you to the hospital. He said he would call me with updates, but I couldn’t just sit around and wait for him to call.”

  “Aww honey! He shouldn’t have worried you like that. I’m fine, really.”

  “Fine and what you are, are two completely different things.” Her mom interrupted.

  “Can someone please tell me what happened?!” Ruby’s Mom turned to look at her.

  “It started around dinner time. While we were waiting for the boys to come over, you father started complaining about chest pains. He told me he didn’t want to eat because he wasn’t feeling well either. It wasn’t like him so I knew it wasn’t just normal aches and pains that he gets. I called the paramedics and told them what was happening. They feared a heart attack so they got me to give him some aspirin to chew on.” While her mom was recounting the story, Ruby let out a small gasp. I rubbed her back as she began to curl into my side. Her dad was watching me. I could feel his eyes on me but I refused to meet his gaze just yet. Her mom had my full attention. “The doctor checked him out and confirmed what the paramedics suspected. He had a mild heart attack so he’s ordered more tests and wants to keep him in for observation. He will need to go on a strict diet and stop drinking with the boys.”

  “I’m right here you know. You don’t need to talk about me like I’m not.” I could tell by the tone in his voice that he was just trying to lighten the mood but neither of them found it funny. “Come here, Princess.” Ruby moved away from me and into his outstretched arms. Her mom moved from the bed making space for him to move over so Ruby could lay down next to him. Her mom stepped over to me and held out her hand.

  “We haven’t been introduced. My name is Emma and this is Robert.” I shook her hand.

  “Freddie. It’s nice to see you, ma’am. I’m sorry it had to be under these circumstances.” Before Emma could say anything, Robert interrupted.

  “How do you know my daughter?” All lightness had gone from his voice. I met Ruby’s gaze and she gave me a sheepish smile. She had warned me I would get the third degree and I didn’t expect anything less. I just didn’t think it would be this soon and expected it from her brothers. Ruby had asked me not to mention the club because her mom and brothers didn’t know about that part of her life. Raven had already given me the heads up that her dad knew about it so I was going to respect that and not lie to them but leave parts out. He would be able to connect the dots.

  “I took my truck to her to be fixed not long after she set up shop. I’d been having trouble finding someone good enough and reliable enough. Gave her a chance and have never looked back.”

  “What is your relationship with her?” I went to open my mouth to answer him but couldn’t. We hadn’t determined that yet. Thankfully Ruby came to my rescue.

  “He’s my better half.”

  “Why is this the first we are hearing on him, Ruby?” Emma asked. The look on Robert’s face though told me different. If looks could kill, I was glad I was in a hospital.

  “It’s not. I talked to Dad about him when I was here four months ago. We were having problems and I ran away from them. Dad sent me back to go and sort them out.” Her dad’s face softened and he continued to stay quiet while Emma and Ruby talked.

  “Your brothers aren’t going to like this.”

  “I really don’t care what anyone thinks. My feelings are the only ones that matter. I spent a lot of time fighting how I feel about him. He doesn’t have to be standing in this room right now but he is because I asked him to be. He’s here when I need him the most. Freddie booked our flights and drove me to the airport. He hired the car here and drove me to your place because I couldn’t come straight here. He’s tried to make sure I ate and unsuccessfully tried to get me to sleep. He’s been my strength this whole time when I have been a wreck. The boys can kiss my ass for all I care.”

  “Well isn’t that just a lovely speech to walk in on.” I turned to the doorway and saw three guys walk into the room, eyeing me as they entered.

  “Be lucky you didn’t have me on your doorstep at midnight to kill you Oscar. You would have missed that speech asshole.”

  “What stopped you?” She motioned her hand toward me.

  “Thanks... I guess.”

  “I did it for her and only because she might regret it later.” He narrowed his eyes at me.

  “Okay enough. Ruby, you can’t kill your brother. Your mother is kind of fond of all of you kids. Oscar, next time you call your sister with news like that, can you wait until you have all the information before your worry her or I’m not sure even Freddie can help you when she kicks your ass.” I could feel the tension easing up a little bit from the room, but until he was home with an all clear, I didn’t think anyone would be relaxing.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Diesel

  A couple of hours later, the boys had all left and the doctor had been by to check on Dad. The results for the tests they had run when he’d come in were back and while everything looked okay, they were keeping him under observation a little longer. The doctor was a little worried about his blood pressure so he wanted to get it down before he released him. Mom and Doctor Hicks had talked about the new diet Dad was being put on which cut out cholesterol and all the bad shit that Dad liked so much. Freddie had ratted me out to Dad about not eating breakfast so he made him take me to get something to eat. When we came back, my lack of sleep caught up with me because I started to doze off. Freddie had tried to take me home but I wasn’t having it. I don’t know how long I had been asleep for though when I heard Mom, Dad and Freddie talking.

  “Don’t your family wonder where you have disappeared to?”

  “Ruby and the guys we work with are the only family I have.”

  “So no brothers or sisters then?”

  “No, just me. My parents were killed in a car accident when I was really little. A drunk driver crossed over on to the wrong side of the road and my dad swerved to miss him. Because of the snow, he didn’t realize he was close to an embankment and their car went over.”

  “Oh dear, I am so sorry! That must have been so horrible!”

  “It wasn’t easy. After a while I shut myself off and withdrew from everyone. I was shipped off to live with my aunt but left when I was sixteen. Her husband was an alcoholic who turned verbally abusive if something didn’t go his way. I did my best to stay out of his way but he always found something. The day he turned physical though was the day I left.”

  “Yet you ended up in rehab for drug and alcohol addiction.” Up until now, the questions had been from my mom. I thought my dad had been strangely quiet and I tried not to react when he hit with this low blow.

  “Yes, sir, I did and I’m not proud of it. I could turn around, blame it all on my past and say it shaped me into that but the truth was I should have seen I needed help a long time before I was made to. I couldn’t see that what I was doing was wrong. I craved the high that I couldn’t get anywhere else. I have a lot of good things in my life though that I am using to remind me daily of what I don’t want to turn back into.” I felt his lips press against my head before he spoke again. “I have too much to lose.”

  “Why should we trust that you won’t do it again?”

  “You shouldn’t. I have hurt one person who means the world to
you and nothing I do or say could ever erase that. You should however trust in your daughter and her judgment. She knows what she is doing. I love her more than I have ever loved anyone and plan on spending the rest of my life showing her that and making up for all the wrongs that I have done. I never want to see the hurt in her eyes again.” I opened my eyes and just looked over at my dad. He of all people needed to know that I was awake to hear this conversation and he needed to let this go. Freddie was right. They needed to trust I was making the right decision and knew what I was doing. I was not about to hold the past against him any longer. I was letting it go and they needed to as well. I respected where they were coming from and that they were just looking out for me. I was lucky to have a family who loved me and had my back. I let the silence fill the room and left it a little while longer before I was shifting to ‘wake up’. I felt Freddie’s arms tighten around me as I lifted my head off his shoulder.

  “Ruby, did you not sleep last night?” I dropped my head at my dad’s question.

  “How did you know?”

  “You don’t nap, Ruby, you never have. Not even when you were a baby. The only other time I have seen you do it was when Oscar was in hospital after his accident. Only instead of falling asleep on Freddie, it was my shoulder you were drooling on.” I gasp.

  “I don’t drool!” I turned to look at Freddie who was trying not to laugh. “I don’t do I?” He held up his hands. With a huff, I crossed my arms over my chest and laid back against him. I could feel him shaking with silent laughter. My dad on the other hand, was not as quiet. “Laugh it up, chuckles. I’ll get you back for that.” Closing my eyes, I felt myself relax.

  “Freddie, why don’t you take Ruby, get some food and take her home to hang out and watch movies. There is nothing going on here so there is no point hanging around. She needs an early night.”

  “That sounds like a good idea. Her favorite Italian place is just around the corner.” I opened my eyes.

  “She can hear you, you know.” I opened my eyes and sat up. It wasn’t actually a bad idea. I knew it was only a matter of time before I fell asleep again. At least if I did it back at Mom and Dad’s, Freddie would carry me into bed like he used to do. Plus I did love the Italian place they were talking about. They made the best pasta and was owned by this little Italian couple. Turning to look at Freddie. “We can have the date we didn’t get to have at home.”

  “If that’s what you want to do, we can.” I nodded and stood up.

  “Freddie, Emma can you please give us a minute?” I looked over at my dad and raised a brow at him. What was he about to say that he couldn’t say in front of Mom? Freddie squeezed my hand.

  “I’ll go grab the car and meet you downstairs.” He kissed my cheek on the way past and I watched Mom follow him and close the door behind her. Turning to face my dad, I waited for him to speak.

  “I’m sorry if you thought we were out of line for talking to Freddie. I know you are grown now and can handle your own business, but that doesn’t mean I won’t look out for you. Momma and I love you and while we may never think a guy is good enough for our only daughter, we promise to give Freddie a chance. I can see the way you he looks at you. He loves you and I believe he wants to fix the mess he made last time.”

  “I believe him too. You know me, Dad. I don’t give second chances easily and it did take him a while to get me to see that, but I do believe that he never meant to hurt me and that he wants to make it right. He loves me and we have always had that closeness between us. When he wasn’t around, I felt like something was missing. Slowly, it’s been coming back. I know we still have a lot of work to do but it’s worth it. He’s worth it.”

  “Princess, I love you and I mean this in the nicest possible way, filled with love... You need to go home. I know you came because of your bonehead brother and you have heard the doctors, but now it’s time to go back and get on with your life. You don’t need to be sitting around a hospital waiting for me to go home. I will have your mom call with updates and promise that only SHE calls you if something happens.”

  “I don’t want to leave you while you are in here.”

  “I know you don’t, but there is nothing happening here. I have told your brothers the same thing. The four of you have lives and you need to live them. I’m gonna be okay, Ruby. You know that right?” I nodded slowly. “Then go home. Sort out you and Freddie. Come home and visit if you need to. We aren’t going anywhere.” I let out a breath and moved to hug him tightly.

  “Fine, I will give in this time but please, promise me you will take care of yourself or I will be back here to help Momma make your life hell.” He chuckled and hugged me back.

  “I promise. I love you.”

  “I love you too, Daddy.” He kissed the top of my head and held me for a little bit longer before letting me go.

  “Go get some sleep.”

  “I’ll come say goodbye before we leave.” I kissed his cheek before letting go. Leaving the room, I was met by Mama who was waiting outside. I gave her a hug and kiss on the cheek goodbye. She promised to call me if anything changed but to go home and relax. I went downstairs and just as I stepped out, Freddie was there with the rental car and was out and opening the door for me.

  “Everything okay, beautiful?” I nodded as I got in the car and he closed the door after me. He rounded the front of the car and got in. Pulling out of the parking lot, he drove toward the restaurant that I loved.

  “Dad wants me to go home. Says there is no point us hanging around waiting for him to come out of hospital then sit around while he and Mama sort out his new diet and stuff. He is apparently fine and has told the boys they need to go about their daily routines as well.”

  “That’s fair enough. What is holding you back?”

  “The boys are nearby. If something happens then they are right here and can get to him. Me, I am all the way over in Vegas and have to get on a plane to get to him. I’m worried that he is downplaying this and it’s more serious that he is letting on. I am worried that the next time this happens then I won’t get to see him alive.”

  “Baby, you can’t think like that. You heard the doctor. It was a mild heart attack which they will be watching closely now. They didn’t know he had heart problems before. They do now.”

  “I guess...”

  “What did you tell him?”

  “That I would go home.” I shrugged and looked out the window.

  “Okay, so why don’t we compromise. We’ll stay here ‘til he gets out of hospital but won’t wait around there. We can go do other things, make a weekend out of our trip. That way we are close if something happens. When he gets home then we can head home. If you are still feeling uneasy about it... we can talk to Raven about relocating. Rent a place out here for a couple of months and you can set up a shop here so you aren’t sitting idly by.”

  “What about you? I notice you said we in all of that.”

  “I can find something to do. Help you out in the shop. I have only just come back to Fernando so I don’t really have anything going on at the moment.”

  “You would do that for me?”

  “Baby, I would move mountains if you asked me to. I would take the sun from the sky if you said it was too bright. My home is wherever you are. If that’s here or Fernando then either is fine with me. We just have to clear it with the boss first.” I reached over and took his hand, giving it a soft squeeze.

  “I’ll think about it.”

  “No rush, beautiful.” He lifted my hand and pressed it to his lips. I pulled his hand closer to me and rest my cheek against it, closing my eyes. My heart full of love for this man who was willing to give up everything just to make me happy. I knew he loved me before but this right here just solidified it. Not long later, he was pulling into the restaurant parking lot and turned the car off. I wasn’t sure what the future held but I knew it would be by his side.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Freddie

  Lying in bed, sleep was impos
sible with Ruby tossing and turning again. She would sigh before shifting to lay on her back. When she didn’t find comfort there, she would go back to her side. I let it go hoping she would find the comfy spot soon enough but at two in the morning, I finally caved.

  “Babe, what is wrong?” She huffed again.

  “Nothing.”

  “Mmhm and a stupider man might believe you.” I should have been prepared for this. Ruby was a night owl. If she was asleep before midnight, she would be wide awake a few hours later. I guess I thought she was so tired from the night before, she might sleep through but it wasn’t the case. When she didn’t answer me, I took my arm from around her and rolled to turn on the bedside lamp. Pushing myself up, I looked down at her as I leant back against the bed head. “Want to try that again and look me in eye or did you forget I know you?” She just turned away from me and pulled the covers over her head. Rubbing my hands over my face, I shook my head. Stubborn ass. Turning the light off again, I got out of bed and walked out of the room. Giving her a minute or five, I went to get a drink of water from the kitchen. Hearing a noise behind me, I turned to see her standing there. I kept my eyes on her while I drank my glass of water, waiting for her to talk. When she still didn’t say anything, I let out a sigh.

  “Ruby, I’m not doing this. Tell me what’s on your mind or don’t but I’m not fighting with you and right now, you are baiting one.”

  “If I tell you what is wrong then you will try and fix it.” My brows creased in a frown of confusion.

  “What?”

  “You always try to fix things and make them better.”

  “I’m sorry, did you hit your head or something? You are not making any sense right now.” Her hands went to rest on her hips and I braced myself for the one thing I didn’t want. Something was bugging her so she was going to pick a fight with me to focus on something else.