Chapter 14 #2
“Poor sweetie. We were up here for a few hours yesterday, and she was so groggy, that she couldn’t keep her eyes open.”
“Amethyst said she’s doing great, though. She’s gonna keep her for a few days and will be monitoring her blood every day to check her levels. As soon as she’s ready, I’ll take her home.”
“We’re working on getting everything you need when she gets there.”
“She’s old enough that I won’t need much besides some clothes.”
“Do you not remember what it’s like to have a toddler around, son?” Papa Smokey asked.
“Vaguely?” It wasn’t an answer so much as a question, and I could tell by his expression that he felt my skepticism.
“We’ve still got an entire shelf in the pantry for the little ones. I don’t know why they need that much shit, but they do.”
Gamma smiled before she said, “I’m going shopping with Shannon, Willow, and Summer. We’ll get all of that taken care of.”
“And then some,” Papa teased.
“I brought snacks for anybody coming over today, and I followed Amy’s instructions about Rev’s diet and made her some treats of her own. Oh, and we picked up some books and toys. I’d hate for her to be bored once she starts feeling better.”
I didn’t mention that I’d already made three trips down to the truck, carrying as much as I could, because everyone that came to visit Rev brought her something.
We were at the point of being able to open a library, a toy store, and a clothing boutique.
I would never complain, though, because I knew it all came from love and their feelings of helplessness, knowing there was really nothing they could do to help her.
“She looked so comfortable snuggled up with Darcy,” Gamma said with a sweet smile. “I really like that girl.”
“So do I.”
“Are you going to get off your ass and tell her how you feel?”
“She told me the other night, and I reciprocated,” I told my grandfather with a grin.
Gamma stuck her hand out and winked at Papa Smokey, who sighed dramatically as he pulled his wallet out. He sifted through his cash before he slapped a hundred on Gamma’s palm. She slipped it into a pocket of her purse before she said, “You’d think he’d know better than to bet against me by now.”
“What was the bet exactly?” I asked.
“I bet your Papa that she’d soon come to realize what a wonderful man you are and wouldn’t be able to resist the urge to tell you so.”
“And I argued that she was a woman, which meant she would be too stubborn to cave first.”
“In any other instance, he would probably be right, but I know my sweet Crow,” Gamma said as she reached up and cupped my cheek. “You’ve always been my good boy. I knew Darcy wouldn’t be able to resist you for long. Rev is so lucky to have you in her corner.”
I put my hand on top of Gamma’s and then held it in mine before I kissed her knuckles and said, “We’re all lucky to have you.”
“Suck-up,” I heard Papa Smokey mumble. “You owe me a hundred bucks, but I’ll call it even if you let me hold that sweet little girl when she wakes up. I promised your grandma that I’d get her to eat something.”
“Of course. You’re gonna be her favorite guy anyway, so you might as well get started on that now.”
“All my granddaughters love me,” Smokey said with a grin. “Your Gamma can have the wild boys, but I’ll hang out with the darlin’ girls. They’re a lot calmer and get into less trouble.”
I looked at Gamma and asked, “Does he have another family somewhere I don’t know about, because I know he’s not describing the girls in our family.”
Through the closed door, I heard Rev start crying and Darcy trying to soothe her, so I said, “Looks like our newest darlin’ girl is awake.”
Papa Smokey walked around me and opened the door as he said, “I can hear her calling for me now.”
I started to follow him into the room, but Gamma grabbed my arm and waited for me to turn toward her before she asked, “Are you doing okay, Crow?”
“I’m alright, at least for now. That may change once we get her home.”
“No, I mean are you okay.”
“I have to admit that it’s been a lot to take in, but I think I’m handling it okay. I wish there was more I could have done to help Rebecca, but it’s really out of my control now.”
“Sweet boy, you can’t save everyone just like you can’t live everyday of your life shirtless.
” I burst out laughing because Gamma was right.
In a perfect world, I could run around in my underwear, and the people I knew wouldn’t have any problem with it at all.
But she was right. I tried my hardest to help Rebecca, even when I knew she wasn’t able, or even trying, to help herself.
“Someday, she might get her life together. I wonder what that will mean for the little girl in that hospital room.”
“I don’t know. I’ve got her covered for the time being, and since Rebecca doesn’t have any family, it seems like I’m her only option.”
“The best option as far as I’m concerned.”
I smiled, but it fell as I thought out loud, “I don’t know what I’m going to do if Rebecca gets out of this predicament she’s gotten herself into and swoops in to take her away, especially if it’s years from now after I’ve fallen in love with the kid.”
“I guess we’ll just have to cross that bridge when we come to it, huh?”