Chapter 15
Chapter
Fifteen
CATALINA
Ihesitate at the door of Gran’s hospital room, throat tightening with fear. Although I know this is nothing like what happened to Grandpa a year ago, traumatic memories slam into me once more, gripping my chest and making the backs of my eyes sting.
Ambrose takes my hand, sliding his thick fingers between my much smaller ones. His presence is comforting, reassuring, and he says gently, “You don’t have to do this alone anymore, Catalina. We go in together.”
I nod, smiling and relaxing into his presence. Is this what it feels like to have someone to rely on … and to love? I don’t know how I ever lived without Ambrose. Or why I resisted so hard after meeting him.
But everything happens for a reason and in God’s timing. That’s what Gran has always told me. And Ambrose feels like proof of that wisdom.
A big bouquet of jeweled-toned flowers sits by Grandma’s bed as we enter the room. I glance over my shoulder at Ambrose.
He nods. “Thought she’d enjoy waking up to a little pick-me-up.”
“The florist must love you,” I tease.
“That and the bookstore owner in Ophir City. They’re already scrambling to get me more of your reads.”
I arch an eyebrow. “Seriously?”
“With the kind of education they’re providing, absolutely,” he murmurs against the shell of my ear as we draw closer to Gran’s bed.
After a few moments of her soft breathing and our flirtatious whispering, the stately white-haired lady startles, rousing in bed. Her eyes settle on Ambrose, and she says, still half dreaming, “I knew you never left.”
The cowboy swallows hard, removing his Stetson and setting it at the foot of the bed. “Never, sweetheart.”
I squeeze his hand tightly, watching the way her face softens, relaxing back into sleep for a few moments. When she awakens again, more lucid, her eyes snap from our faces to our entwined hands. A knowing smile illuminates her face as she exclaims, clapping her hands together, “I knew it!”
“Oh, Gran,” I laugh, shaking my head and stepping closer. Ambrose follows, tangling his fingers possessively with mine.
“How did you sleep?” I ask.
“On and off. There was a big ruckus here last night. An emergency. All of the hustle and bustle kept startling me awake.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” I say.
Ambrose adds, “Hospitals are busy places, day and night.”
“It’s okay, though, because I woke up to the most beautiful flowers. Thank you, Ambrose,” she says, reaching out a hand for him to grab.
“Of course, ma’am.”
“Or should I say future son-in-law?” she adds with a mischievous grin.
“Gran!” I scold.
Ambrose smiles broadly, all big, white, straight teeth. “I like the sound of that,” he admits unabashedly, pulling me closer and wrapping his arm around me.
Gran covers her cheeks with her hands, countenance radiating joy. “See, what I told you, Catalina? All of those silly naysayers in the newspaper. They have no clue what they’re talking about. Ambrose only has eyes for you. ”
The big fireman kisses the top of my head. “Guilty as charged and planning on staying that way, so I hope you and your granddaughter get used to me.”
“Well, you’ve already won over, by far, the toughest sell in the family,” Gran teases, swinging Ambrose’s hand playfully.
“And who’s that?” I ask.
“Why, Dumpling, of course!”
Ambrose and I chuckle. She reaches out her other hand, and I grasp it, making a family circle. It feels good like this, the three of us together.
I ask, “Have you seen the doctor yet today?”
Gran shakes her head, letting our hands go to fuss with her curls. She whispers, “Between you and me, I’m starting to think they’ve forgotten about me.”
Ambrose clears his throat. “That’s a good sign. If they’re not rushing in, they’re not too worried about you.”
“I certainly hope so because I’m ready to get out of this place for good.”
Ambrose nods toward the door. “Catalina and I have already talked to your nurses a couple of times this morning. Sounds like they’d like you to transition to a rehab center first. Just for a few weeks to build back some of your strength.”
She knits her brows. “Well, I suppose I could use that. Can’t remember the last time I exercised or anything.
And that fall did knock a little sense into me.
But who will take care of Cat and Dumpling while I’m away?
You know how prone that girl is to getting into trouble.
She goes out looking for it. Scaling trees without ladders, charming cowboy firemen …
I’m not sure what she’d do without my gentle reminders. ”
“Gentle reminders?” I chuckle. “You mean like bidding ten thousand dollars on the Hollywood hunk?”
She shrugs, eyeing me evasively … moments away from an “I told you,” and searching for the classiest way to deliver it.
“I’ll take care of Dumpling and Catalina,” Ambrose says confidently. “Your granddaughter and I did some talking about it yesterday, and the truth is, we’re family now. At least, I’d like us to be.”
Gran’s eyes flicker between Ambrose’s and mine, her face glowing.
“That means, you’ll have access to nothing but the best rehab centers and nursing staff twenty-four-seven. And you’re always welcome at our cabin … along with Dumpling.”
Our cabin. My heart sputters.
“Welcome as in to live with you?” she asks, scrunching her brows.
“Yes, ma’am. You’ll always have a home with me and Catalina. Though I don’t expect you to make any big decisions today.”
“It sounds like Cat has, though,” she says, eyeing me curiously.
“I have,” I confirm, savoring the way my handsome cowboy’s face lights up. His big hand caresses my shoulder firmly, so much need throbbing beneath the surface of his chaste gesture.
“Oh, my goodness,” Gran exclaims. “I hear wedding bells in your future, mon couchon.”
My cheeks heat as I sidelong glance at Ambrose.
Leaning closer to Grandma, he mock whispers, “Don’t tell her yet. I don’t want to scare her off.”
Gran laughs until tears roll down her cheeks. “Do you understand now why I bid on the fireman?” she asks, raising her eyebrows and looking at me. “He’s perfect for you, and he couldn’t have come at a better time.”
“Yes, he is perfect,” I agree, looking up at my gorgeous lover. “But what do you mean by a ‘better time’?”
“Cat, darling, you need someone in your life. Someone to care for you, like Grandpa always did for me. I know you want to be independent and do for yourself like your mom. But she only did those things because she had to. You don’t have to spend your life struggling alone.”
Her words hit me square in the chest. I’ve told myself for years that independence was strength, but suddenly it feels like loneliness in disguise.
“I know,” I admit softly as Ambrose draws me closer, supporting me through touch. “But I honestly thought for the longest time that you and I were enough.”
She squeezes my hand, eyes pooling. “I won’t be with you forever.”
“Please don’t say that, Gran.”
“I don’t want to, but it’s true, mon couchon.”
My eyes moisten, the thought twisting through me like an icy knife. I know she’s right. It’s the way of nature, and yet I can’t think about it without wanting to curl up in a ball and cry. Like the little girl when she learned her dad had vanished for good.
“Oh, Cat, don’t cry. You know I don’t want to ever leave you. But I also want so badly to see my Ferdinand again. You having someone who cherishes you is the best possible gift God could send me. A peace I’ve been needing.”
Ambrose brings his hand up, gently wiping tears from my cheeks. “Guess Grandma made the winning bid of a lifetime.”
“Yes,” I sigh wistfully, taking in his handsome face. “And I’m keeping my prize.”
Unable to hold back her excitement any longer, the sage lady declares, “See, I told you so.”
“Yes, you did, Gran.”
“I just wish I could come home with you today. This hospital is so loud and busy. Hard to sleep, and the food? It’s nothing like your cooking, Cat,” Gran says.
“Wait until you try Ambrose’s cooking. I don’t know about lunch and dinner, but his breakfasts are first-rate.”
Grandma beams. “Avery Ross was a terrible cook. Couldn’t throw two things together that were edible as I recall.”
Ambrose chuckles. “Yes, he was. But he’s not me, and I’m done playing roles. What I plan on building with you and your granddaughter is real and enduring. The family I’ve always longed for.”
“Tell me about your family,” Gran urges, motioning for us to grab the seats positioned on the other side of her bed.
Ambrose brings them around to me, and we sit next to the bed.
“They’re good people, the Dutches. Can’t wait to introduce you to them.
They own a big ranch on the outskirts of L.A.
, though recent droughts and wildfires have made things tougher for them.
I’ve got three younger brothers, all cowboys.
Two are in Texas and one in Montana. All married with children. ”
His eyes tenderly graze over me as he says the last part, and my heart fills to bursting. The thought of children never tempted me before. But with this man? It would be a dream come true.
“They really kept me grounded when all that Hollywood hubbub was going on. So did moving in with my great-grandpa and helping care for him. He lived on the southern part of the ranch, refusing to move to the main house where my parents lived. So, I volunteered to help, learning plenty about caring for others, family loyalty, and cowboy grit along the way.”
He looks down, a sudden sadness shadowing his face.
When his eyes find mine again, sorrow shines in them.
“When I lost him, just after finishing my Master’s Degree in Fire Management, I was a wreck.
Wasn’t sure how to go on without him. But then,” he says, patting the place over his heart.
“I learned that he would always be here with me.”
“Why did I even put mascara on this morning?” I ask, dabbing at my eyes.
It all makes sense now. How this man could be so patient and caring, such a support in helping Gran.
Tears roll down Gran’s cheeks. Letting go of Ambrose, she settles her hand over her heart, adding, “Yes, and this is where I feel Ferdinand, too. He’s still watching over us, Cat. Loving and caring for us from a distance, where he can never, ever be taken from us.”
I bite my bottom lip, leaning forward to half-hug her. “That’s right, Gran. The people we love most, we’ll never lose. Because we’re family … always.”
“Sounds like whatever kind of date you two went on last night was quite remarkable,” Gran says with a soft grin.
“The best night of my life,” I confess, eyeing Ambrose.
Clearing his throat, the big firefighter says, “Get ready for plenty more of those, Sparky.”
“Sparky?” Gran scrunches her nose.
“That’s my new nickname,” I giggle.
“Suits you perfectly,” she says with a nod of approval. “All fire and sass. Though I’ll let my future son-in-law keep that one all to himself.”
Gran’s eyes droop the longer we talk, and the pauses between her answers grow as her head dips a couple of times.
“Let’s let her sleep for now. She could use the rest,” Ambrose urges gently.
I follow him out into the bright, white hallway, watching him close her door gently. He turns, pulling me into his arms as one of Gran’s nurses passes, jealousy and disappointment clearly etched in her face. But the big man never notices.
Instead, his eyes focus intensely on me as he asks, “How are you holding up?”
“Alright. It’s tough seeing Gran in the hospital. But we’ve got a plan for her recovery, and she looks good. Very, very happy about us.”
He nods, eyes fixed on me beneath the shadow of his cowboy hat brim. Bringing his hand up, he traces my jawline slowly. “I want you to remember something. I’ll always be here for you two, and I’ll always carry you both.”
The vow lands heavier than any bouquet or tender kiss. It feels like a cornerstone. Something we can build a life on.