Chapter 34
Thirty-Four
“ S amuel Cooper, you are NOT allowed to die on us like that.” Daisy marched into Sam’s room and threw herself onto him for a hug. Abby couldn’t hold back her smile. She’d always loved Daisy’s fierce friendship with her brother.
It was the fourth day in his general hospital room after his week-long stay in the ICU. He was a miracle. That’s all there was to it. All the doctors were shocked when test after test kept coming back clear. Even so, the team of cardiologists looking after Sam had recommended he have an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator placed to monitor and automatically deliver a shock if another cardiac event happened. He’d been against it but finally agreed. That had been two days ago, and the small incision on his chest was healing. Abby finally felt like she could breathe, especially with his tests and scans continuing to come back clean and the doctors saying he could be discharged after a few more days of monitoring.
She’d been able to get a week off of work, using all her allowed sick time and vacation, but it was worth it. When she wasn’t able to be there, John had made sure he was by Sam’s side.
Sam groaned and Daisy’s face squished with fear. “Oh god, did I hurt you?”
“Nah. Just still a little sore from John breaking my ribs and getting my implant.”
“Y-you really died, didn’t you?”
“So they tell me.”
“Sam.” Daisy’s eyes filled with tears and Abby could tell she wasn’t going to hold them back. “Don’t you ever pull something like that again. Not until we’re all old and gray and sitting in a nursing home trying to stop Emma from drinking all the wine before bingo.”
“I’m sorry, Daisy. I promise I’ll try not to do it again.”
“Good,” she said, swiping at her eyes and giving a soggy laugh. “Because Sunny needs her godfather to be around for a long time. Who else is going to bail her out of trouble when she’s older and scared to death of her father and me?”
“Her godfather?” Sam’s voice hitched and Abby felt a lump form in her own throat. She knew how much Sam wanted to be a dad. And even though she teased him about it, she knew how it bothered him deep down that he hadn’t found his person yet.
“Yeah. Hank and I slacked on asking everyone, but now that you’ve been such a drama queen and almost died on me, I figured I better get to it.”
“I’d love to be there for her. I-I don’t really even know what to say other than thank you.”
“Well,” Daisy laughed. “You haven’t heard who her godmother is yet. Hold off on your answer until then.”
“Who?” Sam’s eyes went wide and Abby was already laughing, knowing without a doubt who Daisy would have picked.
“Emma.”
“Hell. You think that wild thing is going to be bailing your daughter out of jail in the middle of the night?”
“No. I think she’ll be sitting beside her on the bench in the cell, and you’ll be there to bail both of them out.”
Sam laughed, his hand moving over his heart.
“You okay?” Abby jumped up and moved to his side.
“I’m fine, Abs. I can’t believe my heart tried to take me out and I would have missed all this joy.” He turned back to Daisy. “I’d be honored to be Madison’s godfather, even when that means bailing her and Emma out of the slammer in twenty years.”
“Good. Now, there’s another matter we need to discuss.”
“Uh oh.” Sam’s eyes went wide as Daisy dropped her bag onto the chair beside him and pulled out her laptop.
“We need to post a job ad for your office manager.”
“I’m not sure?—”
“Don’t you dare. It’s not negotiable. If you’re worried about the cost, I’ve been talking to Emma and Seb, and they both agree investing in a local ranch would be great for the town. Sebastian wanted me to draw up the numbers for him to see, but he’s all in for paying the salary until you are back on your feet.”
“No. I can’t let him do that. I’ve been meaning to find a replacement for Mickey for over a year now. It’s time. It might have taken my heart stopping for me to figure it out, but I’ve got a second chance, and I’m not going to muck it up.”
Abby sniffled, wiping the tear away from her eye. God, she was just so happy he’d agreed to take on some help. There was only so much Zeke and Derrick could do. Having someone in the office with him was going to be such a relief.
“You okay?” Sam opened his hand and Abby slid hers on top and clasped down.
“Yeah, just happy you’re finally listening to reason.”
“Had to happen sometime. Didn’t really think I was that stubborn, but I guess my body did.”
“So, shall I type up a job listing and start posting it online? I think I’ve found at least four places where we could put it up.”
“Alright. Yeah. Thanks, Daisy.”
Abby stood. “I’ll leave you guys to it. I need to get back to Bell Ridge for Katy’s dance class tonight, but if you need anything, call me immediately.”
“I’m fine. I’ll be just fine. You’ll be back tomorrow?”
“Duh. I’ll be here every day until we get to break you out. Besides, someone needs to get you settled in at home, and I have a feeling Mom is going to be too busy cooking you heart healthy food and arranging her crystals in a certain healing pattern to really pay attention.”
“Ease up on her, yeah?”
“No promises.”