Chapter Twenty Six
The team and their spouses sat in the waiting room while Jameson paced the floor, waiting for Caroline. Nancy went back, and, due to hospital rules, only two people went back at a time. He swiped his hair back, stressing about the woman he loved and her father.
“Why won’t they tell us anything?” He said, fighting the frustration.
“I’m sure they’re doing everything they can,” Rebecca replied, handing him a cup of coffee.
“Thanks. I haven’t seen Caroline since the ambulance arrived. I’m worried about her,” he confessed. “She’s already endured enough. It’s not fair.”
“She’ll get through this with you at her side and her friends at her six,” Riley comforted him.
“Delaney sends her love. Mac went to stay with her. She’s experiencing Braxton Hicks, and we didn’t want her stressed,” Rachel told Jameson. “Caroline’s strong, like Rebecca. She’ll be all right.”
The minutes ticked by, and Nancy’s son joined the group, waiting for his mother.
Jameson walked to the ER reception desk.
“Do you have any word on Thomas Bates?” he asked.
“I’m sorry, I’m not allowed to give out information on patients unless you’re family,” the woman told him.
Jameson returned to the waiting room and plopped into a chair.
“Breathe, Jameson,” Garrett ordered. “Caroline will come out here most likely in a hot mess, and you need to stay strong for her. You can’t show your frustration.”
“Damn it,” he swore. “They didn’t get enough time together.”
“We never know when we’ll depart this earth,” Garrett said. “It’s why we cherish every moment.”
Finally, the doors opened. Caroline and Nancy exited the ER, clinging to one another. The older woman held tissues to her nose as she sobbed. Caroline rubbed her back, whispering soothing words. When they approached the group, Nancy’s son rushed to her side.
“Dad’s gone,” Caroline announced. “Thank you all for coming.”
The women surrounded her, giving her hugs and comfort. Jameson broke through their circle, putting a protective arm around her.
“I’m sorry, Caroline,” he whispered close to her ear. “Do we need to do anything?”
“No. Nancy told me where Dad kept all the documents and his final wishes. She’s returning to the house with her son to pick up a few things and will stay with him,” she informed the group.
Jameson felt a chill go down his spine as he watched the woman he loved, speak to the group. Her eyes held no tears, and she seemed calm, way too calm.
Garrett shot him a glance, conveying the message, he noticed it, too.
Rebecca touched his elbow.
“Take her home. Caroline has experienced a shock. We’ll go to the store and stock up on paper plates, toilet paper, and such. Give her time to grieve privately,” she said, before turning to the others and giving commands.
Jameson hugged Nancy before she left and then retrieved Caroline from Riley and Rachel’s embrace.
“Let’s get you home,” he said gently.
Nodding, she glanced back at the ER doors before leaving. He helped her inside his truck and held her hand all the way back to the house. Caroline remained quiet, worrying him even more.
They entered the house as Nancy’s son took her things to the car.
“You’ll call me if you need anything?” Nancy asked, hugging her. “I put the papers in the living room and you’ll find the rest in the safe.”
“Thank you for everything,” Caroline replied mechanically.
Jameson led her into the living room, where she picked up the coffee cup on the floor and took it into the kitchen. She returned with a bowl and a cloth.
“I’ll take care of it,” he said, realizing she planned to clean the stain on the carpet. Jameson moved Thomas’ wheelchair to the corner.
“No. I want to keep busy,” she said, kneeling and dabbing the wet floor. She dipped a piece of cloth into the bowl and scrubbed vigorously.
He knelt beside her. “Do you want to talk about it?” he asked gently. “I know it doesn’t seem fair.”
Caroline continued scrubbing.
Jameson reached out, taking the dirty rag from her.
“Hey, I’ll finish this later,” he insisted. “Let’s sit on the couch for a minute and breathe.”
“The stain will set. We can’t let it sit,” she explained. “I must find Dad’s navy-blue suit, and Nancy said he still wore the tie I gave him on Father’s Day.”
“Why don’t you go find his suit while I finish this?” he suggested. “Then, we’ll go through his papers and see about his final wishes. Do you have a funeral home in mind?”
“Yes. I called them back in the ER. I have an appointment with them tomorrow morning to make the arrangements,” she informed him.
Alarm bells blared in his ears while he watched her scrub and rinse. Caroline must feel crushed, yet she seemed composed and level-headed.
“Do you want me to contact one of the counselors? It might help if you spoke to one of them,” he asked, watching her closely.
“I don’t want to discuss it, Jameson. My father died. We can’t bring him back. He wanted me to go on with my life. I’m doing as he asked,” she said, concentrating on a tough area.
The doorbell rang, prompting Jameson to stand and answer it. Rebecca and Julio entered, carrying grocery bags.
“Leave the door open,” Rebecca instructed. “Riley and Garrett picked up dinner. Rachel and Matthew went to pick out a couple of dresses appropriate for a funeral. I doubt Caroline has anything in her wardrobe.”
“Thanks for pitching in,” he said, taking the groceries from her. “Caroline’s in the living room, attempting to remove the coffee stain. She won’t stop,” he whispered quietly. “I offered to call one of the counselors.”
“Give her time,” Rebecca advised sadly.
Jameson sorted out the items from the bags while Rebecca went into the living room.
From what he saw, she didn’t have much success with Caroline either.
He put the extra toilet paper in the bathrooms and took out some snacks.
Placing most of it in the fridge, he collected all the bags and emptied the earlier trash.
His mind drifted to when he first met Thomas, and he wondered what Caroline’s father thought of his questioning the first time he met.
Did he consider Jameson intrusive, or did Thomas see something inside of him? It felt like he referred to him as his son, making Jameson’s chest hitch. The endearment meant more to him than he knew.
Garrett and Riley showed up next, bringing in dinner for the team.
“Sorry, we ran later than expected,” Riley apologized. “Tara’s watching Megan, and we went over the last-minute instructions. What do you want us to do?”
“Can you help Rebecca with Caroline? She won’t stop cleaning the damn carpet,” he said, frustrated.
Riley patted his arm as she walked past him.
“What’s wrong?” Garrett asked as soon as Riley walked out of hearing range.
“She hasn’t shed a tear. Caroline’s extremely calm for someone who lost her father. It feels…eerie. We’ll have a ton of unknowns coming to give their condolences. We need men at all points of the house and covering the street.”
“We have your six,” Garrett assured him. “It’s getting covered as we speak. Matthew’s making calls while Rachel picks up a few outfits. Spider volunteered to help.”
“Yeah, I bet he did. Did you see how the asshole stares at her?” Jameson bit out.
“Calm down. He has a picture of his wife on his phone. She carries an uncanny resemblance to Caroline. You can’t fault the man for feeling weird about it,” Garrett reasoned.
“I can when he follows her around with his eyes, like he’s waiting to strike,” he grumbled.
“Do I see a little green-eyed monster on your shoulder?” Garrett chuckled. “Calm the F down. He’s one of us. We don’t encroach on each other’s women. He knows the bro code. I don’t think you’re upset with Spider. Thomas accepted you. He treated you like his son. You must be hurting, too.”
“It’s not fucking fair. He waited years for her to walk through the door. He listened to me and didn’t judge. He asked me to watch over her as if he knew…” he mumbled, making a pot of coffee. “Maybe if I can get something hot in her, she’ll feel better.”
“Riley brought soup and comfort food. I’ll answer the door, take care of the rest of the items, and bring out the coffee in a minute. Go take care of your woman.”
Jameson glanced inside the living room, where the ladies surrounded her. She finally sat on the couch, talking quietly with them.
“What if she doesn’t want me there?” he murmured.
“Your past has reared its ugly head,” Garrett spoke low. “You can let it whisper in your ear, telling you you’re not enough. Or you can go in there and show her you’re not like your father.”
Jameson hesitated another moment before walking into the room. He refused to let his insecurities about his father win. He stole Caroline’s life, robbed Jameson’s, and he refused to let James Stanton take his future.
“You need to eat,” Rebecca said gently, but firmly. “It’s important you keep your strength.”
“I’m not hungry,” she said, refusing the bowl of soup Riley brought.
“Eat it,” Riley growled, handing it back to her. “Your body needs nourishment. Thomas wouldn’t want you to starve yourself.”
“No,” Caroline agreed. “He’d want me to continue on with my life.”
“Exactly,” Riley encouraged as Jameson entered. She scooted down, making room for him to sit by Caroline.
“Rachel’s bringing you some dresses for the funeral. Do you need anything else?” he asked, gently, caressing her hand.
“I need a lawyer. Nancy told me she inherited all of Dad’s estate because he never thought I’d be found.
He called his lawyer to change it. Nancy wants me to have it.
It’s not right. She took care of him all these years, and I’ve only stayed with him for mere weeks.
I want it divided. She’s older, and I’m still young and can work. ”
“It’s not your fault,” Rebecca reminded her. “I’m sure Nancy’s honoring what your father wanted.”
Nodding stiffly, she reached for the soup. Jameson felt she did it to avoid discussing anything further.
“Does something seem off to you?” Jameson whispered to Rebecca. “She hasn’t shed a tear.”