Chapter 6
Here to Help
Lynn
Once I finally step intomy father’s room, my knees give. He looks so small in the hospital bed. Not like the big strong man I’ve known all my life.
I’ve watched my daddy work a five-hundred-acre horse and oil ranch day in and day out all my life. I can count on one hand the times he’s allowed something to keep him in bed. My daddy has always been the pillar of strength.
“You’re gonna cut those tears. Ain’t nothing wrong with me. I’ll be back to work in no time.”
I look up and find my daddy’s eyes on me. However, his voice comes out weak. I grab his hand in mine and give it a squeeze as I swipe at my tears.
“Daddy, you’re not going back to work no time soon. You’re going to do just what the doctors tell you, and I’m going to make sure things run on the ranch.”
“Girl, what do you know about running a ranch? You’re gonna take your butt back to New York and sing them songs like you’ve been doing.”
“I’m not about to argue with you about this, daddy. Don’t make me put you in a home.”
“You better get out of here with that bull junk. Put me in a home. I’ll put you in a headlock first. Come in here with that New York city-slicker attitude like you don’t know who I am,” he grumbles and rolls his eyes.
I almost laugh. He may look weak, but that attitude is just the same. I shake my head at him.
I stand and lean to kiss his cheek. “I love you, Daddy. You and Mama are all I have. I need you to get better. I’m here to help.”
“I’m not the one who needs your help. Have you seen Trevor yet?”
“No,” I snap.
He reaches to pat my hand. I cut my eyes to look at him. “You’re as stubborn as I am. I have so many regrets. One being how I handled the two of you.
“That man has been a mess for years. He’s?—”
“Daddy, I don’t want to hear it.”
“Why? What happened? How did you allow that demon to take your life from you?”
“What?”
“That woman he married is the devil’s spawn. In the last nineteen years, every time a curse has left my lips it’s been because of that woman. Trev didn’t deserve that.”
“And that’s my fault how?”
“You shut him out, Babycakes. He needed?—”
“Oh no, this isn’t on me, Daddy. Listen, I didn’t come here for this. Please let it go.”
“Old stubborn big head,” he mutters.
“I learned it by watching you,” I sing.
“Humph.” He looks me over and frowns. “You just missed him, didn’t you? Spent all morning getting dolled up to miss him.”
He chuckles at himself and starts to cough. Quickly, I reach to pour him some water. I hold the straw up to his lips.
He takes a sip, then pats my hand. I pull the straw away and place the cup down. He gives me a soft smile.
“You do look pretty though. He spent the entire visit watching the door for you.”
“Daddy,” I drag out.
“You’re here. I finally got you back here in Texas. Vernon and I have always said if we could get you back here, we’d make sure y’all would right things.
“Don’t leave here broken-hearted again, Babycakes. It ain’t how it should be. You listen to your old man. He might know something.”
“I’m going to head out. I need to figure out what needs doing. You rest up, okay?”
He sighs and purses his lips. He doesn’t know about the letter. I never told him or my mama about it.
This isn’t the time to tell him now either. So it’s best I leave and start getting things done. I’m not going to keep dancing around this subject.
“Babycakes, you need to let go of whatever it is you’ve been holding onto. He married for honor, not love. The Lord has told me a number of times that it was a mistake.
“One day the truth will come to light, and you need to free your heart to forgive. That’s all I’m trying to say.”
“Sounds like some lyrics I need to write,” I tease.
He winks at me. “You take ‘em. Just mail me my ten percent,” he chuckles.
“Only if you rest and don’t give me and Mama a hard time.”
“Mm-hm,” he murmurs.
I stand and gather my things. My mother walks in as I’m about to step out. She pulls me into a tight hug.
“I’m so glad you’re here. He needs you more than he’ll ever say,” she whispers into my ear.
“I’m here to help in any way I can. Just let me know what needs doing,” I say back.
She releases me, then she cups my cheek. The tears in her eyes tug at my heart.
“Come stay at the ranch, baby. Come home.”
“Mom. I don’t want to bring drama to the ranch. If the media gets wind I’m there, it will become a circus. Trust me, this is for the best.”
She looks down sadly and nods. I know this is hard. They’ve never had me here since I’ve become a celebrity. I don’t think I brought enough staff to prevent the media from crossing boundaries.
Not that anything ever stops them. I’m thinking about the staff and the animals as well. I want to keep them safe. The fact that the Monroe ranch bumps up against ours is just one more reason for me not to go there.
“I’ll call you when visiting hours are over and I head home,” she says.
“Love you, Mama,” I say and tug her into a hug.
“Love you too. Call your nanna.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
* * *
Trevor
I getthis feeling Jess isn’t telling me something. I drove her to school and dropped her off, but she was quiet and in her head most of the ride.
Not for the first time, it crosses my mind that I need to find a counselor for the kids to talk to. Scoot won’t talk to Donna, and Snacks gets annoyed when she has to. Bam is like Jess, wanting to spend time with a mother who could care less.
My phone rings, pulling me from my thoughts as I make my way to a job site. I need to show my face today. I figured some physical labor might allow me to blow off some steam.
“Hello,” I say as I pick up the call.
“Daddy.”
“Hey, darlin’. Everything all right?”
“No,” Snacks pouts.
“What’s going on, baby girl?”
“Nanna said I can come back. I called Mama and asked for a ride, but she said no. Daddy, I don’t want to ask Nanna. Her eyes and hands ain’t right. She doesn’t need to be out worried about me. Can you come take me? Please.”
My hold on the steering wheel becomes so tight my knuckles turn white. Donna ain’t doing a damn thing that should keep her from taking our baby over to Mrs. Galveston. Other than the fact that the two are like oil and water, and Agatha might just knock her upside her head one of these days.
“Did you call over to Gramme and Papa?”
“Yeah, nobody answered. I think they went to visit Pop-pop Moses. Nanna said she’s been for the day and won’t be going tomorrow,” she says. “Please, Daddy.”
“Aw darlin’. I’m on the way to a work site. I can’t come get you right now, but I’ll run by at lunchtime and get you over there.”
“Okay, thanks. I’ll be ready so I don’t hold you up.”
“I’ll give you a ring when I’m on the way, sugar.”