9. Chapter 9
Chapter nine
Ivy
I’m sitting next to the hospital bed, staring at the steady rise and fall of my father’s chest. Dakota was able to take me by the town market to grab a few things for mom. She hadn’t showered in two days, so I volunteered to sit with him while she got cleaned up. There were so many words scrambling around in my brain. So many unsaid things. So many resentments.
With a heavy sigh, I reach for his hand, holding the callused palm against mine.
“I’m sorry I left daddy.” I brush my fingers over his knuckles. “But you broke my heart.”
The tears threaten to come, but I don’t let them. I cried enough four years ago. I feel a light squeeze against my hand, and my eyes flicker up to his face. His eyes are still closed. His face void, but then I see it. The tiny tear that trickles down his tan skin, sliding over his temple.
The door to the bathroom opens, and my mom glides into the room with a smile. I retrieve my hand, pushing to my feet.
“Feel better?” I ask.
“So much better.” She places her bag down next to the end of the bed.
“The doctor came in an hour ago. CT scan was clear. No bleeding or swelling, so that’s a good sign. He will still be kept until his oxygen levels are stable and also for the burns.”
“Ok.” I tuck my hair behind my ear. “Anything I can do?”
“Update your brothers.” Her hands move to tie her hair in a low bun. “And I would really like if you could do a walk through at the house. I know most of everything is gone, but…” she clears her throat. “There may have been something that didn’t get destroyed. I would like to get those things.”
“Of course.” I lean in to hug her, smelling the fresh coconut from her body wash.
“We’ll get through this,” she whispers.
“I know.”
She releases me and continues. “The fire chief will be doing inspections, and we should know more soon.”
She takes a seat in the chair I had just vacated, and after a few seconds, I give one last look at my father before I leave the room.
I stand in what used to be the living room. The room that held the majority of my childhood memories. The days when we laughed. Watched movies. Made bets for who would win the round at the NFR that night. Now all that remains are ashes. I step across a broken beam, and tiptoe along the disintegrated original hardwood floors. So far, I’ve seen nothing salvageable. Nothing that could be returned to it's original state or even be remotely recognizable.
“Anything?” Cooper calls from across the rubble.
“No.” I kick at a half burnt dining chair and brace my hands on my hips. “It’s all ruined.”
“Great," he mutters. “I can’t believe this actually happened.”
The only thing still standing is the brick fireplace in the middle of the house. The red bricks are coated in a thick black layer, most of them still securely in place. But what’s a fireplace without a house to warm?
“They have insurance, right?” I ask, my mind going to the business side of this tragedy.
I majored in it. Might as well put that degree to good use.
“Yeah. We have farm insurance. I’m not sure the coverage. Dad has had it for years. He’s the only one who knows all the details.”
I nod, my mind already trying to articulate expenses and payouts. Without it, the ranch would practically be finished. Especially with the pastures that burned. The hay was wiped out. A big part of our income from what I remember, and it ignites a slew of financial questions in the back of my mind.
Maneuvering around the fireplace, I ease forward, skirting around more scattered pieces of charred wood. I dread telling my mom that we couldn’t find anything. She’s already suffered enough.
I’m two steps down the partially standing stairs of the front porch, when I hear the slam of a car door. My eyes glance up and my heart slams to a screeching halt when a smile stretches across Brady Sheppard’s face.
My feet falter, my brows furrowing as he takes three strides to me.
“I heard my girl was back in town.”
Before I can throw my arms out to stop him, he sweeps me up in a tight hug, spinning a full circle before planting me back on the dirt. On instinct, my arms reach up to steady myself around his shoulders. He doesn’t let go immediately, and just as I’m about to untangle from the unwanted affection, my eyes lock on the man over his shoulder. Maddox meets my eyes before he pauses, then he turns, and gives me his back as he heads to the running ATV.
Seems like that’s the only view he’s ever going to give me. His back while he walks away.