Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
The Hospital
“He looks better,” Hadley said. “I’m convinced of it.”
“You’re right,” I agreed.
Dad’s pallor had a bit more pink to it beneath the sprouting of a beard. I reached out and grasped his hand. I couldn’t feel his skin because my hand was encased in a glove.
“Hey, old man,” I murmured. “I came home. Aren’t you going to wake up and yell at me?”
“Starting a fight in the ICU. That’s so like you,” Hadley said, smiling behind her mask. Her eyes crinkled at the corners. “Oh, I need to get out of here.”
She rushed from the room, no doubt to find a nearby trashcan.
“Just you and me,” I said to my father as I took a seat next to the bed. “I don’t have a long time. The nurse could be back any minute to kick me out.”
I found it easier to talk to him today than yesterday. It was still a shock—seeing a tube in his throat. The monitors beeped with stats I didn’t understand.
“So, you’ve got a girlfriend,” I stated. “Muddy’s with her in the cafeteria. She said something about resource guarding, but I have no idea what she means by that.”
The door to his room opened and a nurse stepped inside. “I’m sorry, Salem. Time’s up.”
Nodding, I squeezed his hand one last time before letting go.
It was pure imagination that he squeezed it back, but I held onto the feeling anyway.
Hadley wasn’t in the waiting room when I returned, but Muddy was and she was talking to Declan and Bowman.
Declan nodded and Bowman was listening intently.
“Hey, sugar,” Muddy greeted as I came toward her. She wrapped her arm around my waist and pulled me into a side hug. Then she took a drink of her vanilla latte we’d brought her. “You okay?”
I nodded. “Where’s Jane?”
“Hiding from you,” Muddy stated.
Bowman rubbed his mouth, but couldn’t stop the smile from appearing.
I decided to ignore her statement. “What are you guys talking about?”
“Ridge stuff. Nothing that would interest you.”
It was another reminder that I’d purposefully chosen to separate myself and I tried not to feel the hurt, but it permeated every bit of my chest.
“Hadley wants to stay here for a bit,” Declan said. “But I’ve got to get back.”
“Salem will go with you,” Muddy said. “Hadley’ll keep me company.”
“I can stay,” I said, my voice weak.
“And drive us all insane.” She released me, and then cradled my cheek. “Too much energy in there. Go. With my blessing.”
“If you’re sure,” I murmured.
“Positive,” Muddy said.
Declan reached into his pocket and handed Muddy his keys. “In case Hadley wants to leave separately from you. Are you staying the night again?”
“I’m not leaving this place until my son does,” Muddy said, a glint of determination in her hazel eyes. “Cafeteria food might send me over the edge, though. It’s vile.”
“We should’ve brought the food from Mr. Bixby,” I said. “We’ll bring some when we come back.”
“Don’t make an extra trip, but yeah, I’d love some of his mac and cheese. And after the pastries, I’m sure the nurses won’t mind sharing space in the fridge in the nurses’ lounge.”
Hadley returned to the waiting room and joined us, looking a bit wan.
“Can we bring you anything else?” Bowman asked. “Anything to make you more comfortable?”
Muddy smiled at him. “You’re a sweet boy. I need more yarn from my crochet basket.”
“Consider it done, ma’am,” Bowman said.
“Muddy,” she said.
“Excuse me?” Bowman asked.
“Call me Muddy, everyone else does.” She patted his cheek, and then linked her arm with Hadley and the two of them moved toward the corner of the room.
Bowman looked shell-shocked at my grandmother’s declaration, but that was Muddy.
Declan went to Hadley and bent down to kiss her head. He said something to her and she nodded.
“Ready?” Declan asked as he returned to me and Bowman.
“Yeah, let’s go,” I said.
Before I run into Jane and make another scene.
The shock of the news of my father’s girlfriend was slowly fading, but I still wasn’t happy about it. And even more so, I had no desire to get to know her.
She would be around for his recovery, but would I be? After Hadley’s wedding, wasn’t I going back to New York?
The idea of staying hurt me, in more ways than one. But my family needed me. Especially when Dad got out of the hospital.
“Fuck,” I muttered.
“You okay?” Bowman asked, glancing at me as we got into the elevator.
“Fine,” I lied.
His gaze pinned me with a stare, as if he knew I was lying.
And that was something else that was bothering me.
It seemed Bowman and I were constantly being thrown together. And I wasn’t sure how to feel about that either.
I sat in the back of the truck and gave Bowman the front since he had longer legs. Declan and Bowman carried on a conversation while I stared out the window, lost in my own thoughts. My phone buzzed with a text from my boss.
Jack
Just checking in and seeing how you’re doing.
Me
thanks. I’m doing okay. I’ll call later.
“Salem?” Declan asked.
“Hmm?”
“I’ve got to meet the crew out at the build site. You want to go with me?”
“Sure,” I said.
When we got back to the Ridge, Declan parked the truck in front of the house and we climbed out.
“You good for a bit?” Declan asked Bowman.
“He’s not coming with us?” I asked in surprise.
“He saw the site yesterday,” Declan explained. “On our ride.”
“Oh. Right.” I nodded.
“Check on Tempest for me, yeah?” Declan asked his friend.
“She in the barn?” Bowman asked.
“Probably.”
Bowman looked at me for a second, and then he trekked in the direction of the barn and my sister’s pet goat.
“It was a mistake, letting a goat sleep in your bed,” I said with a laugh.
“Don’t I know it.” Declan grinned as we headed toward the side-by-side. “But I can’t say no to Hadley.”
“I love that for her,” I said. “I like how you treat her.”
“Thanks,” he said.
We got into the vehicle. He started the engine and it roared to life. It was loud and rendered conversation difficult.
It was a five-minute drive to the building site, and there was already a double wide and several RVs parked in an area nearby.
“When did those get here?” I asked in surprise.
“A few days before you came,” he explained. “It’s a family crew that will oversee everything, and crews of workers will rotate in and out.”
“You mean they’re going to live here for the next few months while they build?” I asked.
“Yeah.”
“Wow,” I said. I looked around. “I don’t see any people.”
“We’re early,” he said.
He cut the side-by-side engine and my ears hummed from the noise.
“I wanted to talk to you. Out here and away from everyone else,” he said.
“What about?” I asked, turning to face him.
His expression was stoic. “Hadley is the most important thing to me. You know that, right?”
“I do.”
“Then, what I’m about to say—it’s coming from that place, okay?”
I frowned and nodded.
“I want her to be happy. And in order for her to be happy, she has to have an easy pregnancy and a healthy baby. I won’t have her needlessly worried or stressed in any way.” He pinned me with a stare. “It’s hard enough with Connor in the hospital. Do you get what I’m saying, Salem?”
“Me,” I said flatly. “You mean I shouldn’t worry her, or stress her out.”
“You’re her twin. She loves you so much. But I’m asking—no, I’m fucking begging you—please don’t be something else she has to worry about.”
I swallowed and nodded.
“One more thing,” he said.
“What?” I croaked.
“Stay away from Bowman.”