Chapter 29
We’re going to the chapel and…
Heston
The waiting was killing me.
I paced and checked the clock on the wall.
There must have been something wrong with it because the hands hardly moved.
Staring at the phone didn’t help. Digital versus analog?
Nope, time wasn’t going any faster. My watch, which I’d had for years, had a second hand and I stared as it made the journey round and round.
In movies, the coffee people drank while in a hospital waiting room was always terrible. Nothing had changed. I got us two coffees from a vending machine and Devyn made a face. Weirdly, I couldn’t taste it. It could have been tea or soda.
At least the view from the window changed as people left the building, some carrying flower arrangements. I hoped their loved ones were going home and would be surrounded by an enticing floral scent.
Others departed with their arms around one another, wiping away tears as they hunched over, as if creating a barrier against the grief that buffeted them.
I kept my gaze on the traffic in the busy street running past the hospital. Horns blared and pedestrians strolled across the walkways, while food delivery people maneuvered their way between the cars.
“Heston.” Devyn was at my shoulder, his arms wrapped around my waist. “Would you like something to eat? Or some good coffee?” He pointed across the street. “I can get something from there.”
I almost said no but Devyn probably needed to do something to fill the time, something that would help me, so I agreed and he raced off.
My gaze flicked to his father and Roy having a heated discussion.
I was beyond thankful that his dad had saved my dad’s life—not that I wanted to think of what was going on in the OR ‘cause no news was good news—but I didn’t give a shit if they shifted into their wolves and fought it out in the waiting room.
And as for Sebastian, again, I was trying to let go of my anger. It wouldn’t help anyone, least of all me and Dad. As long as Dad got through the operation, everything else would fall into place.
I watched Dean’s car make its way along the street and into the parking garage.
He’d come in the ambulance with Dad but had had to get back to the motel as there was no one to cover for him.
But his night clerk must have arrived or he got the guy to come in early.
Despite being fixated on the time, I wasn’t aware if it was morning, afternoon or evening.
Dean and Devyn walked in together holding bags of food. Roy must have been hungry or just wanting to get away from his father haranguing him. He looked at the food and licked his lips.
“I got something for you, don’t worry.” Devyn handed his father and brother a bag each. Roy headed for the door but his father barked that he hadn’t finished with him so the guy sat at the furthest end of the room and munched on a wrap.
Could I eat or would I throw up? Devyn sat me down and pulled off bits of quiche and fed them to me like I was a baby bird or a toddler.
Not a bird. Didn’t they throw up their food for their little ones?
Or was that just some birds? I couldn’t process real life events so concentrating on bird feeding behavior was a welcome distraction.
The five of us were the only ones in the room and no one spoke as we devoured our food.
After one bite and a second, I discovered I was starving and finished the quiche and salad.
Devyn gave me half of his and as I munched I thought of Dad and how much he loved quiche.
I gulped, almost choking, wondering if he’d ever get to eat quiche again.
Needing something to do, I grabbed the garbage and threw it in the trash can. I could count the spots on the floor or marks on the wall where people had slammed their chairs against it.
But needing to get close to Devyn, I sat beside him and he hugged me.
The double doors opened and a figure in scrubs and surgical cap strode toward me as he removed a surgical mask.
“Heston.” We’d known one another a while, but not under the best circumstances. “Your dad did very well. Better than I expected.” He launched into an explanation but my brain couldn’t absorb those words. All I knew was that I was getting my dad back.
I sagged against Devyn who propped me up. “Can I see him?” I couldn’t see through a veil of tears.
“Not yet. He’s in recovery but the nurses will let you know when you can.”
I shook his hand and hugged him. “Thank you.”
I fell into Devyn’s arms as his father approached. “I’m happy for you and your dad,” he told me.
I didn’t care if the guy was an ass. He saved Dad and I flung myself against him. The guy mustn’t be used to hugging because his body was rigid. Finally, he placed his arms around me as I mumbled, ”Thank you, thank you,” over and over again.
When I pulled away, Devyn took my hand and got down on one knee.
“What are you doing?” I wiped my wet cheeks with the back of my hand. Was he sick? No matter how often they mopped the floor, it had to be dirty.
“Marry me.”
Maybe I misheard. I thought he asked me to marry him. We were supposed to get married but was that still happening?
“I love you. Let’s do it here when your dad wakes up.”
“Yes. Yes. I love you, too.” I went in for a kiss and missed and we bumped noses. “Can we do that? Don’t we have to register at city hall or something?” I’d never been married so what did I know?
“Father?” Devyn looked at his father “I know you did us a huge favor by paying for the surgery but don’t you know enough people who can pull some strings so we can get married…” He checked his watch. “In the next few hours?”
“What about—” Roy charged toward us and Rein stopped him with an outstretched arm.
“Forget that.” Rein took hold of Roy’s sleeve. “I need more details from you regarding Sebastian.” He tapped a number on his phone and turned away. “Mr. Mayor,” he said into the phone. “Charlie. I have a favor to ask.”
“Is this really happening?” I leaned in close because Dean was nearby, even though he was asleep, his head lolling forward. “What about mating?”
“When my father asks for a favor, it’s usually given.” Devyn lowered his voice. “There’s plenty of time for mating.”
Roy curled up in the corner, his face twisted into a snarl. The nurse called my name, telling me I could see my dad. They said only family could go into intensive care but Devyn butted in, holding my hand up high and telling them, “We are getting married today.”
They shrugged and another nurse took us to put on masks and gowns.
We both crept in to see dad as machines beeped and wiggly lines on monitors made me nervous.
My poor dad was covered in wires and his eyes were closed.
I didn’t want to wake him if he was sleeping.
The operation would have taken a huge toll on his body.
But his eyes snapped open and he managed a wan smile. “My son.” I took his hand and squeezed. He looked so frail and I couldn’t wait to get him home and feed him lots of yummy food.
“The doctor said you did great.” I kissed his brow, his skin feeling papery thin.
“Feels like I’ve run ten marathons.”
“This is highly unusual. The patient is not dying,” someone hissed outside the door.
“I will die eventually, but not today,” Dad quipped.
The nurse came in along with a man, clad like us in a mask and gown. “I’m the hospital chaplain and I’m told you want to get married.”
He held up two rings. “A gentleman outside insisted you might need these.”
Dad looked up at me. “Tell me the truth, son. Am I dying because you getting married beside my hospital bed doesn’t sound like I’ll be around for much longer?”
I leaned closer to him. “No. This is a celebration of your life and our love.”
“All right. Bring on the vows.”
Vows? I hadn’t prepared anything. But if I said what was in my heart, that would be enough.
The chaplain murmured a few words, stumbling over our names before it was my turn to speak.
“Devyn, I love you with my heart, my soul and other parts of me I can’t mention.”
“Heston!” Dad facepalmed.
The nurse sniggered and even the chaplain managed a smile.
Now it was Devyn’s turn.
“My darling, Heston, you light up my world and I look forward to walking through life’s journey with you.”
We placed rings on each other’s fingers, the chaplain pronounced us married and we kissed.
I had my husband—and mate, though we’d have to discuss that later—dad had come through the surgery and it was paid. I still had some debts but they were nothing compared to the hospital fees.
Now if only the Sebastian problem was solved.