Chapter Fourteen
After reuniting with Jack, I cleared my driveway, then Jack and I left in my truck with the plow to help the neighbors dig out before going down to the distillery and clearing the parking lot. The plow had been the best investment I ever made. Before the distillery opened, I used to take paid jobs, and I could make a month's salary in a night. But with the distillery turning a profit, I preferred to volunteer my equipment and time.
Chardonnay’s scent lingered in my nose, the feel of her skin fresh in my mind. I thought maybe sleeping with her would get her out of my system, but all it did was make me want her even more.
I’d stop by the winery later, see if they needed any help clearing the snow. In the meantime, I took a turn down Gazzola Street and headed toward the one place I had no desire to go. The place that held nothing but memories I’d rather not remember. But Ron was losing his damn mind, and I doubted anyone had checked on him.
I’d stop by, clear the driveway if needed, then see if I’d bump into Chardonnay at the winery.
I pulled up to the house that I spent much of my twenties wishing would get hit by fucking lightning or spontaneously combust and noticed not even a single footprint in the snow. The driveway had at least a foot and a half, so I dropped the plow and cleared a path.
I should finish with the drive and get the fuck out of here, but what if he was dead inside? Or what if he fell and was hurt? With a sigh, I slammed the truck into park. “I’ll be right back,” I told Jack.
My feet sunk into the snowdrift that had pushed against the door. Even if Ron wanted to, he wouldn’t have been able to get out. Returning to my truck, I grabbed a shovel from the bed and dug my way toward the door. Fifteen minutes later and still no sign of Ron, I worried he might actually be dead in there.
I pounded on the door. “Ron, you here?”
He answered the door, his hair sticking up, creases of a pillow on his face. He squinted against the bright sun reflecting off the white snow. “What are you doing here?”
The scent of sulfur hit me in the face. “What is tha—?” I pushed into the house and went right to the kitchen, where the scent punched me in the face. My eyes landed on the stove dial, turned up with no flame. I flipped it off and ran to the window, opening it as high as it went before moving to the next.
His cat pressed against my leg, and I bent down and grabbed the thing. “Let’s go.”
“What? No.” Ron shook his head. “You’re crazy.”
“You had the gas turned on. The house is filled with propane. You’re lucky you didn’t kill yourself. Now grab your coat and shoes and let’s go.”
Once Ron and the damn cat were in my truck with Jack—who was not exactly thrilled about the cat—I slipped out my phone and called the fire station. Stef in dispatch answered.
“Stef, it’s Brady Noah. I’m at my old man’s house. He left the stove on with no flame. The house reeks of propane.”
“You turned the gas off?”
“From the stove, yes. I opened windows, and Ron is sitting in my truck.”
“It should be fine, but we’ll get someone there to check. They’re on a call right now. Accident on the highway, so sit tight. They’ll be there as soon as they can.”
It probably wasn’t necessary to wait, but he’d been home all day by himself. I had no idea how long that gas had been spilling into his house or how long he had been fucking sleeping.
“How long was Ron in the house?”
“I have no idea.”
“It wouldn’t hurt to bring him to the ER.”
“What are the signs of high exposure?”
“Confusion.”
Well, that didn’t help. The man was confused most days.
“Loss of coordination. Dizziness. Nausea. Headache. Again, better safe than sorry. Overexposure can cause cardiac arrest, oxygen deprivation to the brain.”
“You’re not making me feel good, Stef.”
“Sorry… But you—”
“I should take him to the ER. Got it. Let the guys know the door’s unlocked. They can just go in.”
I put the truck in reverse.
“Where are we going?” Ron asked.
“Hospital.”
“I’m not going to the hospital. Bring me home.”
“You were inhaling propane for who knows how long. You need to get checked out.”
“No, I need to go back to my house.”
“I am not arguing with you.” There may have been times in my youth when I wished him dead, but I wasn’t going to let him die on my watch.
Jack nudged the back of my neck, and I glanced at him in the rearview. His head turned toward the cat, and I realized there was no way I could leave Jack and the damn cat in my truck.
I slipped my phone from my pocket and called Franc. He answered on the second ring.
“What’s up?” he said, Gio laughing in the background.
“Can you do me a favor?”
“Shh,” he said to most likely Gio. “Hang on. Go help Quinn with the popcorn.” There was rustling on the other end, then Franc was back. “Sorry. Getting ready for a movie marathon. What’s up?”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“Brady, you never ask for favors. What’s going on?”
“I have to take Ron to the ER.”
“Is he okay?”
“I think so, but I have Jack and Ron’s cat. I can’t leave them in the truck, and I don’t know how long we’re going to be in there.”
“I can take Jack, but Gio’s friend is here, and he’s allergic to cats.”
Just my shit luck. “No worries,” I said. “I’ll figure something out.”
“I can come with you, sit in the truck with the animals.”
“I don’t know how long I’ll be.”
“You never ask for anything, and when you finally do, I’m useless.”
“Don’t worry about it, brother. I appreciate it. Go be with your family. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
“Keep me posted.”
“Will do.”
I ended the call. I hated to be a burden to anyone. Franc was my best friend, so I didn’t mind asking him. I could easily call another Grasso. One of them was bound to help. I glanced at Ron, who had fallen asleep. The cat was curled in his arms.
Before I could make a decision about who to call next, my phone rang. I glanced down and saw Chardonnay’s name on the screen. I could ask her, but we had just slept together. I didn’t want her to think I was using her now. With a grumble, I answered.
“Franc said you needed someone to watch Jack and your dad’s cat,” she said, taking me aback. I literally just hung up with him.
“I didn’t—”
“He sent a group text. Don’t even get me started on why you didn’t think you could call me.”
“I didn’t want to take advantage.”
“Stop being an idiot and bring the damn animals to me. Is Ron okay?”
“I… don’t know.”
“I’ll meet you outside. How far are you?”
I didn’t want her to meet me outside. I didn’t want her anywhere near Ron. “There’s too much snow. I don’t want you to slip. I’ll come to the door.”
“I’m pretty limber. I proved that last night.” A smile tugged at my mouth. I couldn’t believe that less than twenty-four hours ago, I had been wrapped around her naked body. Now I was in a truck with a dog, a cat, and a man I never wanted to be near, let alone helping. It was like the start of a bad joke.
“I don’t want you to feel obligated because of—”
“Drop the damn animals off, Brady.”
“I’ll be there in five minutes. Don’t come out. I’ll come to you.”
“Fine.”
Five minutes later, I pulled into Chardonnay’s driveway and opened the door. Ron woke up, his hand slamming on the seat. “Where am I?”
“You’re in my truck. We’re heading to the ER.”
“Are you hurt?”
“No, you inhaled propane.”
“No, I didn’t.”
“Okay.” I held my hands out. “Give me the cat.”
“No.” He hugged the cat to his chest as if he needed to protect it from me. “The cat can’t come to the hospital with us. I’m leaving it with a friend who will take good care of it.”
“I don’t know that.”
“I do, and I’d trust her with my life. More than I’d ever trust you with mine. Now give me the cat, so we can get this over with.”
He held onto the cat for a few seconds longer before placing a kiss on its head and handing it over. I exhaled, taking the cat in my grasp. “Jack, let’s go. You, stay here,” I said to Ron, not wanting him anywhere near Chardonnay. “I’ll be right back.”
Chardonnay had a cleared path right to her steps. I went to knock on the dark wood when the door opened. Chardonnay stood there with her hair pulled tightly in a bun. Her face was bare of makeup and she never looked more beautiful. She was in a navy-blue matching sweatsuit set and a pair of brown suede slippers with a fur lining. Jack immediately walked into her house and sat, waiting for attention, which Chardonnay didn’t hesitate to give. She dropped to her knees and took his face in her hands, kissing his snout. It was almost odd to see her not so prim and proper. To see her so relaxed, but then she grabbed a towel from the coat rack and wiped his feet, and the Chardonnay I knew was back.
“I almost didn’t recognize you out of your pantsuit,” I said with a smile.
She ran a hand over her hair. “I wasn’t expecting to see anyone today.”
“You look good.”
Her hand stilled, and she caught my gaze. “Thanks.”
Fanny twisted in my arms, and I almost dropped the blasted thing. “I don’t know how long I’m going to be.”
She took the cat from my hands and held it close to her chest. The damn cat nuzzled Chardonnay and purred.
“The winery is closed today. I got through as much as I could on my to-do list.” Chardonnay nuzzled the cat back. “The roads will be slick once the sun goes down, so please be careful.”
I laughed. “I may have lived here my whole life.”
“I know, but it makes me feel better to say it.”
She motioned for me to leave and held the cat up. “Does it have a name?” she asked.
“Fanny. Don’t ask. I don’t know.”
“Hi, sweet Fanny. Aren’t you just precious?”
“Oh yeah, she’s a fucking delight.”
“She’s a black cat. Kind of like kindred spirits.”
Normally I’d make a quip, but Chardonnay was saving my ass right now.
“You sure this is okay?” I motioned to Jack and the cat.
“Yes, now go.” She all but pushed me out the door. “Oh, wait!” She turned to the entry table and grabbed a bag, thrusting it at me.
“What’s this?”
“Some snacks, a bottle of water, a phone charger, hand sanitizer, and some singles, in case there’s a vending machine.”
“I’m going to the emergency room, not an overnight hike.”
“By hour two of sitting there, you’ll thank me. Now go.”
“Call me if—”
“I run an entire vineyard. I think I can handle a dog and a cat. Just text me and let me know how Ron is.”
“I will. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“Take your time.” She hurried me out and shut the door. I headed to the truck, jealous of a cat.
***
Chardonnay’s bag of tricks came in handy by hour three. They had taken Ron in almost immediately, but they left me in a hallway while they took him for a million tests. My stomach growled, and I shoved a Kind bar in my face, followed by strawberry yogurt bites that were surprisingly good.
I sent Char a text, asking how everyone was. She quickly responded, and I laughed at the screen.
Chardonnay: We’re all cuddled on the couch .
I texted back.
Me: Are you reading?
Chardonnay: Maybe.
Me: Want to share with the class?
Chardonnay: No. Though, I’d like to remind you, you owe me a pair of underwear.
Me: I looked them up. I refuse to spend two hundred dollars on a pair of drawers.
Chardonnay: They are not drawers!
Me: I prefer you bare.
Chardonnay: *eyeroll emoji*
“Mr. Noah?” a doctor likely in his mid-forties asked.
I shoved my phone in my pocket. “That would be me. How’s he doing?”
“His vitals are okay, but we don’t know how long he was exposed to the gas, so that makes me hesitant to send him home. Does he live with you?”
“No, he lives alone.”
“Then I think we should keep him overnight to be on the safe side. I also wanted to talk to you about his cognitive decline.”
“How do you know about that?”
“I had to call his doctor to see what medications he’s on. After today’s incident, he doesn’t recommend Ron be on his own anymore.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
“It means that his mental state isn’t going to get better. If anything, it’ll get worse. There are meds and trials he can apply for to slow the progression, but the truth is, this is just the beginning of a very long road. You’re better off preparing for it now.”
“I own a business. I’m barely home as it is.”
“You can hire a nurse. His insurance might cover a percentage, but there will be out-of-pocket costs associated with it. You need to determine if you can be his sole provider or if you’ll need to bring someone else, like a nurse, on.”
I could barely process what this doctor was saying. A few weeks ago, I rarely thought about Ron. We lived in the same world, the same town, but he did his thing, and I did mine. Now I had to determine if I’d be his sole provider.
“He seems fine, according to the people who are around him. Most of the time, at least. He has episodes.”
“Yes, but his episodes are putting him in unsafe situations. For instance, today’s incident. He also has high blood pressure and is on medication for it, but I don’t believe he’s taking the meds. He needs someone to monitor his medication intake to make sure he’s taking everything.”
The doctor became the teacher in the old Peanuts cartoons, his words blurring together in a cacophony.
I nodded when I thought appropriate, still not able to process. Eventually, the doctor stopped talking. I shook his hand and thanked him. Ron was asleep, so I didn’t stick around. I left the hospital and hopped in my truck, sitting there for a few moments in the parking lot.
What the fuck was I going to do?
I put the car in reverse and pulled out of the space. I guess I could get a nurse, but I didn’t even know the first thing about it. The doctor said there’d be paperwork to complete for all the insurance bullshit. I hated fucking paperwork.
My head wandered, and the next thing I knew, I was in Chardonnay’s driveway. I had little recollection of actually getting there.
It was way past sunset. She stood beneath the porch light, puffs of breath vanishing into the cold air while Jack sniffed the perimeter. Franc and Laurent had talked about how great it was to come home to their person after a long shitty day, and I never understood it, preferring the quiet of my own home, but now, watching Char patiently waiting for my pup, her cheeks pink from the frigid night, I got it. Just seeing her eased the tension in my shoulders.
When I parked, Jack came running over. I bent down, giving him a proper hello. Last night I left him to fend for himself, and today, I left him again. I’d have to buy him some of those treats he liked to make up for it.
“You okay?” Char asked as I made my way toward her.
“Sorry it’s so late.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“I’ll get the animals and get out of your way.”
“Or you can stay.”
“You want me to stay?” Right now, she was the only thing keeping me sane. I never wanted to need anyone, but I needed her. I needed to sink inside of her and forget about my day. Forget about my life as it currently was.
“You look like you need to talk.”
I didn’t need to talk. I needed to forget. “I look like I’ve been sitting in a hospital for five hours.”
“What’d the doctors say?”
Chardonnay wasn’t going to let me off that easily, so even though I had no desire to talk, I opened up. “They’re holding him for evaluation, since we don’t know how long he was in the house with the fumes.”
“Understandable. Better safe than sorry.”
“I need to get Ron a nurse. He’s not capable of being by himself. He left the fucking gas stove on today. No flame. His house was filling with propane. If I didn’t stop by. If I didn’t smell it...”
She grabbed my bicep, eyes meeting mine. “He’s lucky you showed up.”
“Exactly, but what if I didn’t? He could have died from the fumes. The house could have fucking exploded.” I ran my hands over my face, wanting this nightmare to go away.
I glanced at Char, who looked too beautiful in her red winter peacoat and black scarf wrapped too perfectly around her slim neck. “Why do I care? He never gave two shits about me when he kicked me out my senior year. Yet I’m supposed to forget all that shit and take him in? Give him a life better than he ever gave me? I want to say fuck it. But I can’t.
“Why can’t I fucking say no?”
Her lips twitched in the corners, and she settled a hand on my shoulder—a touch that immediately took some of the tension away. “You’d have every right to say no, Brady. No one would blame you or think badly of you.”
My chest contracted, wishing I could believe those words myself. “I would. I would think badly of me.”
Her hand ran over my shoulder and scratched the back of my neck, teasing my too-long hair. “You’re a good person. And you did that despite your upbringing.”
“Talk about fucking irony.”
“I can help you with the paperwork.”
“I can’t ask that of you.”
“Good thing you’re not asking.”
“But why? Why help me at all?”
“I like paperwork.” She placed her hand on mine. “And I don’t like seeing you like this.”
“Since when?”
“Since always.”
I wrapped my hand around her waist and pulled her to me, burying my head in the crook of her neck. I inhaled her lemon scent, allowing it to calm my frazzled nerves. “Thank you.”
Her fingers raked across my hair, curving down my ear and jaw. “When’s the last time you ate?”
“About three hours ago.”
Chardonnay led me into her house, Jack right on our heels. “Let’s get you some food.”