Chapter 13
Danny
“I’m fine. Stop fussing.” I glared at James.
Who glared right back. “You just fucking donated, like, half your liver.”
I winced. I did not need to be reminded of that fact, lying here in a hospital bed a couple of hours after major surgery.
Even though my brother wore a mask, his displeasure was clear. The mask was more for Colin’s sake than mine. With his weakened immune system, he was way more in danger than me. “Look?—”
“Are you seriously going to try to justify your actions? Lying to Mama, to us?”
“You wanted Colin to die?”
James eyes widened, and he pressed a hand to his chest.
In return, I pressed my advantage. “Yeah, some other donor might’ve died, and he might’ve gotten an organ that way. But I was healthy. Another guy needed a donation I could provide. His buddy had part of one to spare for Colin. Pretty decent fellow, I’d say?—”
“Danny—”
“—and I had half to spare as well. Look, we both know I was happy to do this. As long as I take it easy, I’ll be fine. I have Whitney to look after me.”
“Jesus Fucking Christ, Danny, she’s had three fish die.”
“Well…” I’d known this would be an uphill battle. “I’m not incompetent myself, James. Darling brother. I’ll take my pills and rest. She can feed me. If not, I can do takeout. There are healthy options?—”
He waved his hands in the air. “No way. No fucking way.”
I squinted. “You realize that you don’t swear, right? That you’re always afraid Mama will wash your mouth out with?—”
“Mama’s not fucking here.” He pointed to the phone on the bedside table. “But she will be in just over an hour. Make the call, Danny, or I will.”
“Aren’t they coming tomorrow to see Colin?” I was certain they’d wanted to come today, but Colin needed more time to recuperate. Just like I did before I faced the wrath of the two people I pretty much loved most in the world. I carried on about Mama, but Daddy was just as important. And as capable to flare to anger. We were…a passionate family. “And anyway, there’s a big rainstorm. They shouldn’t be driving in this weather. I promise I’ll call in the morning.” I yawned. “Or you can.”
James scratched my scalp—something he’d been doing practically since I was born. Much the way Gracie did. Less as I grew older, and not when I’d gone through my afro phase. But clearly he needed the contact.
And apparently so did I.
He left, and I drifted off.
Several times I woke in the night. Usually when a nurse was checking on me.
In the morning, Whitney flitted in, gave me the once-over, then pronounced she had some video she had to watch and she’d do it in the cafeteria so as not to disturb me. Then she vanished.
Great. No nagging about calling Mama and Daddy.
At least I’d been granted a reprieve.
I was eyeing the gelatin the hospital had given me for breakfast when Gracie breezed in. I dropped my spoon back on the tray.
She glared.
Feeling like self-preservation was important, I shrugged. “Where’s Widget?” She was babysitting the dog while Colin was in the hospital.
“With my neighbor. Don’t change the subject.”
“Uh…okay.”
She advanced toward me. Aside from James, she was the sister I was closest to. And probably the one I should’ve approached to take care of me. But Whitney said she’d do it, and…that had just felt simpler. Better than having to deal with Gracie’s ire.
“I’m fine.”
She pressed the back of her hand to my forehead—as Mama had done a million times before when she thought I was coming down with something.
I swatted her hand away.
“You call Mama yet?” She glared.
“No.” I nabbed the spoon and poked the orange gelatinous substance. At least they’d picked my favorite flavor. Because lime was just gross.
“Daniel.”
My gaze shot to hers. No one in the family called me Daniel. That just wasn’t a thing. Which was why it’d been weird for me to tell Rob that was my name. On my birth certificate, certainly, but nowhere else in the family lexicon.
Thinking of Rob gave me a pang.
And reminded me that I hadn’t texted him yet. I’d been out of it last night and dealing with sisters this morning.
“Grace Ann.”
She glared.
Yeah, another name never mentioned. She loathed her full name.
Wearily, I pressed a hand to my forehead. I couldn’t tell if I was getting a headache because I needed more painkillers or if the stress of dealing with her was pushing me over the edge. “I’ll call them.”
Her eyes flashed triumph.
“Can you go see how Colin’s doing? I don’t know where he is.”
She waved her hand. “He’s in the room next door. They told James and me that when we arrived. He had a good night.” She placed her hand on her hip. “You’ll call.”
“Only if you leave.”
After harrumphing, she left.
I breathed. Then, instead of calling, texted Mama.
While I waited for the explosion, I texted Rob.
Who shot back a request to call me.
Since Mama hadn’t yet, I said sure. Seconds later, my phone rang. “Hello.”
“Oh, Danny, I was so worried. And then I told myself you’d just had major surgery, and you didn’t need to think about calling me.” His voice quavered.
“I’m sorry.” I winced. “James figured it out last night, and I had to deal with him. Then I fell asleep. I meant to text you first thing, but then Whitney arrived. Gracie just left and I texted Mama and then you?—”
“How’d your mother take it? Because you didn’t tell her, right?”
He’d suggested, in a text two days ago, that I should really reconsider that stance.
I hadn’t listened.
And I didn’t regret my decision, but I was also keenly aware my parents were going to be hurt.
My phone buzzed with an incoming call. Along with that, my heart sank. “I have to go.”
“Of course. Call me later. If you’re not too tired. Or text or…”
“I will. Bye.” I’d almost said I loved him. Which would’ve made no sense to anyone except a Reynolds. We always told each other that we loved each other. Because that’s what families did. And, somehow, I felt Rob was connected to our family. Through living in James’s house. Through Mama sending him a care package for Christmas. Through me?—
The phone buzzed again. I swiped to answer. “Hey Mama.”
And so, the interrogation began.
A few minutes later, totally exhausted, I offered a smile to the nurse who precipitously arrived.
She eyed my food.
I shrugged. Then I tried to swing my legs out of bed.
“Whoa. Hold up. Where do you think you’re going?”
“To see Colin. I need to know he’s okay.”
“He’s fine. My co-worker is caring for him. Just like I’m caring for you.”
I met her gaze. “Please. I just…my family’s going to be here soon, and I won’t have time with him. I need to know he’s okay. I mean, I can just walk?—”
She bit her lower lip. “All right. In a wheelchair. But only because Dr. Milson said you’re doing well.”
Dr. Milson was Colin’s hepatologist. Since Dr. Patton, my surgeon, had been called into an urgent surgery, Colin’s doctor had checked me out this morning. She was pleased with my progress.
The nurse offered a smile. “I’ll get a wheelchair. Don’t move.”
I didn’t…but I did shoot off a quick text to James. If Colin wasn’t up for company, he’d let me know.
Two minutes later, as the nurse helped me into the wheelchair, James stepped into the room. “Oh, no. No way. He had major surgery yesterday. This is completely?—”
“Oh, shut the fuck up, James.”
His jaw snapped shut as he met the nurse’s gaze. She broke the silence stare-off. “He said he’d walk by himself. I don’t want to tie him to the bed, so this is the safest alternative.”
“I’m fine. Honest to God, I’m fine.” I watched as my nurse fussed with my IV.
“You might be fine…” James started to speak.
I held up my finger. “Do not make me regret doing this.”
His eyes went wide, likely with hurt.
I grunted. “Sorry. That was uncalled for. I just…had a bad phone call with Mama and Daddy.”
He snickered. “You think that was bad? Wait until they show up.”
“Which is why I want to see Colin first. Then…I’ll deal with the fallout.”
James offered a smile to the nurse. “I can take him.”
She nodded back. “Ten minutes. No stress. I’m counting on you.” She gave him a stare.
He nodded vigorously.
Yeah, he’d care for me. He might also kill me for putting him through this—but we’d come out the other end. We always did.
He rolled me into Colin’s room, and my resolve to be strong broke. He was sitting up in bed and…looking good. So much better than I’d ever seen him.
I did that. I helped save his life. I couldn’t find the words. So when James pushed me close enough, I took Colin’s hand.
Our gazes held for a long, long time. He was, as far as I’d ever seen, a stoic guy. He didn’t express feelings easily. At Christmas, when my family’d given him a scrapbook with photos from our past, he’d nearly broken. His resolve crumbling in that moment had been clear to me. Because he’d understood we saw him as an honorary Reynolds. One of us. No matter what happened between him and James, we’d claimed him.
I blinked back tears.
Then, to ruin the moment, James smacked me on the arm—our family thing. Although lightly, given my health status. “Taking a semester off school?”
I managed a watery laugh. “If you saw last semester’s grades, you wouldn’t be surprised. Things aren’t going well for me right now.”
James perched on Colin’s bed, holding my gaze. “What are you saying? That pre-med isn’t for you?”
I winced and shook my head. “Even this—” I pointed between Colin and myself. “—isn’t enough to motivate me. It’s the science classes. They’re destroying my soul. Biochem is the worst. I got, like, sixty-six or something. That’s not going to get me into any med school in the country. Or, at least in California.”
“If you want to go to an out-of-state school,” Colin said, “just let me know where to send the check. And living expenses and money to travel home for holidays, of course.”
I balked. “That’s…beyond generous. And not why I donated.” He needed to know that. Judging by the SUV he drove and the area he lived in down in Gaynor Beach, I’d suspected he had some money. But that wasn’t why I’d given him the chance to live. If he’d been poor, I still would’ve done it. I was doing this as much for James as I was for him.
“Of course not.” Colin grinned. “Because I doubt James told you how rich I am.”
James stuck his fingers in his ears. “La la la la la. I don’t want to know.”
I laughed. Then winced as a pang shot through my stitched-up middle. Fucking ouch.
“Okay, and on that note, I’m taking you back to your room.” James started to rise.
“Can’t I just have one more minute?” I might’ve whined that.
James shook his head. “Hey, at least you’ll be out of the hospital for your birthday.”
“Yeah, but no alcohol.” I didn’t grouse the words, though, I grinned. I didn’t care that I couldn’t drink again. Well, a sip now and then would be okay, but serious booze would endanger me in a way I wasn’t willing to do—I had too much to live for.
“You’re going to be legal.”
I laughed at his expression. Then put on a somber expression. “I have to take care of my liver, so no alcohol.”
“I’m sorry for that.” Colin winced.
“I’m not.” I grinned. “I always wanted a legit excuse not to overindulge.” I squeezed Colin’s hand. “You’ve given me one.”
“Thank you.” Colin blinked several times. “I can’t?—”
I blinked. Then waved him off. “Do good in the world. Make an honest man out of my brother. Then we’re even.”
Colin’s gaze shot to James.
Have I overstepped?
After a moment, though, he smiled. “I can promise to do that.”
“Good.” I glared at James. “Take me back to bed so I can look weak and done in when Mama and Daddy arrive.”
James groaned. “Do that, and I’ll be in even more trouble.”
I cocked my head and blinked.
“I’m sure they’ll think I knew about this.” James’s mouth drooped dejectedly.
I released Colin’s hand to grasp his. “They won’t. I’ll set them straight. Dr. Milson will set them straight. I did this of my own accord and on my own terms.”
“Speaking of Dr. Milson…” James grabbed the handles of my wheelchair and pushed me toward the door. “Have I got a story to tell you.”
As he pushed me out of Colin’s room, I glanced up at him. “What?”
“You know Dr. Milson?”
“Yeah.” I scratched the back of my hand, near the tape holding my IV in place.
He smacked my hand. “Don’t.”
“Right.” I glared. “Dr. Milson…”
As he pushed me back into my room, he chuckled. “I think…”
“Oh my God, bro, just spit it out.”
He locked the wheels in place and held a hand out for me. I appreciated he wasn’t bothering a nurse for this. I could certainly be careful and they were always so busy.
“Yesterday Daddy showed Dr. Milson a photo of Gracie and Widget.” James helped me slip onto the bed and then pulled the covers up to settle on top of me.
“So Dr. Milson got to see Widget. She is, truly, the cutest dog ever.”
James grabbed a jug of water and poured me a glass. “I don’t think Dr. Milson even noticed Widget.”
I took the glass from him and was about to sip, then the meaning of what he said sunk in. “You’re saying…?”
“Well…” He grinned. “If the looks Dr. Milson and Gracie were giving each other this morning in Colin’s room were any indication, I’d say there was definite interest.”
“Is that…” I sipped, considered, and then continued. “Like a patient code violation or something?”
“Colin pointed out that Gracie’s not his sister.” James fluffed my pillow even though it didn’t really need fluffing. “If it is, I know Gracie will back off. Colin’s health comes first.”
Naturally. But our sister also liked to push up against, or even break, rules. “You might want to just make certain.” I met James’s gaze. “This is too important. Gracie’s a flirt. She’s never taken anything seriously. Well, except her acting career.” Our sister enjoyed dalliances—much like I did. James was the opposite of that. I’d once told him I thought he was demi. I still did…and, to me, his intense relationship with Colin was proof of that. He’d just needed to meet the right guy.
Would Gracie settle down if she met the right woman?
Would I settle down if I met the right person?
And why did that question not scare me as much as it used to?
“You little shit.” Mama’s voice carried from the door as she bustled in, Daddy hot on her heels. She advanced toward me with anger in her eyes. Anger I rarely saw. Flames shot out of her ears.
“I can?—”
“Explain? Oh, I bet you can. You’re always good with all your explanations. Dropping out of school. Major surgery…” She blinked several times. “Are they taking care of you? Who’s your doctor?” She gazed around as if she could magically make someone appear.
And someone did. My nurse strode in. “What’s all that noise?” She put her hands on her hips and looked at me. “I told you to take it easy.”
Mama moved to my side and placed her hand on my head. At least she didn’t scratch my scalp—although undoubtedly that would come later. “I apologize.”
She didn’t look the least bit contrite.
Daddy slowly advanced toward the nurse. “We’re Danny’s parents. You might or might not know that he didn’t tell us he’d…chosen to…” He sniffed.
“Be a hero?” The nurse gazed back and forth between my parents. “He said his sister Whitney would take care of him. Although I haven’t seen her lately, and?—”
“What nonsense.” Mama waved the woman off. “He’s coming home with us.”
“Yeah,” Daddy gave me the side-eye. “Because his mother would never forgive herself if something happened because he wasn’t getting the best care.”
Well, shit. As much as I loved my sister, Mama and Daddy were probably better choices.
By the end of the discussion, I’d agreed to come home and let her spoil me while I recovered. Hey, the cat was out of the bag, so it came down to Whitney’s not-so-tender care, or Mama’s love and cooking. Not a hard choice at all. Even if I’d have to listen to her praise my self-sacrifice and complain about my stubborn ridiculousness together in one breath for weeks.