Chapter 11
CHAPTER 11
W hitney crossed the street toward Coop’s Home Cookin’. Her Wellness Night had wrapped up, and she was feeling excited, literally buzzing from the success of the evening, but her heart was still heavy with the tension between her and her father. She stopped for a moment on the sidewalk in front of the diner, the familiar sight of the neon sign glowing faintly in the window. This place had been her father’s pride and joy for as long as she could remember. It almost felt like her sibling, but today it felt like the diner had become a wall between them.
She took a deep breath and pushed open the door. It was very quiet in the diner. Even when they were closed or between shifts, it was never this quiet. Normally, she would hear the clanging of pots and pans or her father watching his TV in his little office in the back. At this time of night, he should have been cleaning up, stacking chairs, or counting the till. Instead, it was fairly silent.
“Daddy?” she called out, her voice echoing through the stillness.
No response.
The diner felt eerily empty. The soft hum of the fluorescent lights that she wished he would replace was the only sound she could hear. She stepped further inside, looking around the room. All the booths were clean, the tables wiped down, but the smell of today’s fried chicken still lingered in the air. She looked over at the counter where Wanda’s purse sat next to a stack of syrup dispensers. She relaxed a little, assuming Wanda was still here somewhere finishing up.
“Wanda?” she called out again, but there was still no answer.
Whitney stepped behind the counter and moved toward the kitchen. The lights were still on, which wasn’t unusual for her father, but the silence bothered her.
“Daddy?” she called again, her voice more urgent now.
As she rounded the corner to the back hallway near his office, her heart dropped.
“Daddy?” she screamed, rushing toward him.
Coop lay on the floor, his legs sprawled out, and one hand clutched his chest. His face was pale, and beads of sweat glistened on his forehead.
“No, no, no,” Whitney whispered, dropping onto her knees beside him. She grabbed his hand and tried to rouse him. “Daddy, wake up. Please wake up.”
Behind her, she heard the sound of footsteps rushing toward her. Wanda appeared, her face alarmed.
“Oh my Lord, Coop,” Wanda gasped, her hand covering her mouth.
“Call 911!” Whitney yelled. “Hurry!”
Wanda scrambled for her phone, dialing as fast as her fingers could move. Whitney turned back to her father. His breathing was shallow, but his eyes fluttered open for a brief moment.
“Whitney,” he said softly, his voice raspy.
“Daddy, I’m here,” she said. “It’s gonna be okay. Help is on the way.” She checked his vitals quickly. His pulse was more faint than she liked and definitely a lot slower than normal.
Wanda’s voice echoed in the background as she spoke to the 911 operator, giving them their location and Coop’s symptoms. Whitney fought to keep her composure.
“Daddy, you’re gonna be okay. Just hang on. Please hang on.”
His lips moved, but no sound came out. His grip on her hand tightened for a moment before his eyes closed again.
“Daddy!” Whitney cried, panic flooding her body.
The sound of sirens in the distance brought a wave of relief. Help was coming. It was the perk of a small town to be able to get help so quickly. Wanda knelt beside her, putting a hand on her shoulder.
“He’s a tough old bird, honey. He’s going to pull through.”
Whitney nodded, but her heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might burst straight out of her chest. She reached for her phone, fumbling as she quickly texted Tate.
Daddy collapsed. Ambulance is coming. I’m so scared.
She hit send just as the paramedics burst through the front door. Every one of these guys knew her father. They ate there for breakfast almost every morning.
“Back here!” Wanda called out, waving them toward Coop.
The two EMTs rushed to Coop’s side, their movements swift and efficient, and Whitney scrambled out of the way, her hands covering her mouth as she watched them in shock.
“Coop, can you hear me?” one of them asked.
“Blood pressure’s low,” the other said, pulling an oxygen mask out and placing it over Coop’s face.
Whitney held on to Wanda’s arm as if her legs might give out at any moment.
“Is he going to be okay?” she asked, to no one in particular. Even being in the medical field herself, she found that her training about staying calm went right out the window when it came to her dad.
“We’re stabilizing him,” the EMT said. “We need to get him to the hospital.”
“Can I ride with him?” Whitney asked through tears.
“Only one person can come.”
“Go, honey,” Wanda urged, squeezing her shoulder. “I’ll lock up here and follow in my car.”
Whitney didn’t hesitate. She grabbed her coat and purse, following the paramedics out to the ambulance. The sight of her father being loaded into it made her chest tighten. The ride to the hospital was a blur of flashing lights and the steady beeping of a heart monitor. Whitney held Coop’s hand the entire time, whispering words of encouragement. She wasn’t sure he could hear her.
“You’re gonna be okay, Daddy,” she said. “You have to be. I need you. I’m sorry we’ve been arguing. Please be okay.”
As the ambulance pulled into the emergency bay, Whitney’s phone buzzed. She pulled it out and saw a message from Tate.
I’m on my way. He’ll be okay. Stay strong.
Her tears fell freely as she tucked the phone back into her pocket. For once in her life, she had someone to support her. Her dad had done that for so many years, but she’d never been blessed to have a partner. And even though she and Tate weren’t dating, she could feel his support even from afar.
The paramedics wheeled Coop into the emergency room, and Whitney followed closely behind, her heart pounding with every step.
“Are you family?” a nurse asked as they pushed through the double doors.
“I’m his daughter.”
“We’ll update you as soon as we can. Please wait here,” she said, motioning to the waiting area.
Whitney nodded numbly, her legs feeling like jelly as she sank into one of the chairs. She buried her face in her hands. Her father, the one constant in her whole life, was fighting for his life, and all she could do was wait and hope.
* * *
W hitney sat in one of the uncomfortable chairs in the ER waiting room, her leg bouncing with nervous energy. She hated the sterile white walls and the hum of the fluorescent lights, although she was used to them, working in the medical field herself. But right now, it just felt suffocating. She could smell the antiseptic that hung in the air, and the occasional sound of somebody being paged over the intercom only added to her anxiety. Every time she heard one of those pages, she assumed the worst about her father.
Her mind raced with every worst-case scenario she could think of. And again, being in the medical field didn’t help in this situation. She knew too much.
She stared at the untouched cup of water in her hands, her fingers gripping it a little too tightly, bending the plastic. This couldn’t be happening. Her father was indestructible, larger than life—until tonight.
She squeezed her eyes shut, but the image of her father lying on the floor of the diner just wouldn’t leave.
“Whitney?”
She looked up to see Madeline standing a few feet away, her face just as pale and her eyes red. Whitney straightened immediately.
“Madeline,” she said, standing to hug her. “What are you doing here? Did you hear about my father?”
Madeline hugged her tightly and then pulled back.
“It’s Brady,” she said, her voice trembling. “He got hurt fighting a fire. They called me and said he was being brought here.” She looked around the room, searching for any sign of him. “I don’t know anything yet. They haven’t told me if he’s okay.”
“You said something about your dad?”
“Oh, Madeline, I’m so sorry about Brady. I thought maybe that’s why you were here.” Whitney hesitated before continuing. “My dad collapsed.”
Madeline slowly sat down in the chair, and Whitney followed.
“Oh my gosh,” Madeline said softly. “I’m so sorry. Did you find him?”
“Yeah,” Whitney said, her voice cracking. “I went over to talk to him, and he was barely conscious. I did everything I could do. I just hope it was enough.”
“I’m so sorry,” Madeline said, her own voice breaking. “I hate that we’re both in this situation right now. The two men we love the most are somewhere in this hospital. I feel like I’m going to crawl out of my skin.”
“Not knowing is the worst part,” Whitney agreed.
For a moment, they sat in silence, the weight of their worries too heavy between them.
Madeline spoke first, her voice soft and shaky. “You know, he’s my soulmate, Whitney. I know how it sounds, but it’s true. I have never in my life loved anyone like I love Brady. I’ve had this whole second chance at life because of him, and now I don’t even know…” Her voice suddenly cracked.
Whitney reached over and put her hand on Madeline’s knee. “Don’t think like that. Brady is the strongest guy I think I know. He’ll pull through. You’ll see.”
Madeline let out a shaky breath. “I know he’s strong, but this is fire. Fire’s unpredictable, and I think this one was different. They said it spread so quickly because of the dryness and the wind. He was trying to save a kid. Of course, he was trying to save someone else because that’s just who he is, and that’s why I love him so much. But it’s also why I’m sitting here right now, terrified.”
Whitney nodded. “It’s going to be okay. He’s in good hands now, and he’s not the kind of guy that’s going to give up without a fight, just like my dad.”
Madeline smiled weakly. “Listen to me over here talking about my problems when you’ve got your own. I’m so sorry that you had to see that happen to your dad. It must have been horrible.”
“It was terrible. It was the worst thing I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen a lot over the years. When I saw him on the floor, I almost threw up. They think it could be his heart, I think, or…” Whitney trailed off. “I don’t know exactly what’s going on.”
“Oh, Whitney, it’s going to be okay. Your dad’s a tough old bird.”
Whitney swallowed hard. “Wanda was going to come over here, but I told her not to come until we find out what’s going on. She was there for me, but honestly, I didn’t want her panicking while she was sitting right beside me, and I was panicking,” she said, smiling slightly. “Me and my dad have been fighting so much lately. I feel like this is all my fault. He’s been so stressed, and it’s all because of me.”
Madeline shook her head. “No, don’t you do that to yourself. Coop is as stubborn as a mule, and you know it. This isn’t your fault.”
Whitney looked down at her hands. “He’s always been my rock, you know? My mom passed when I was so young, and it was just the two of us taking on the world. He was everything. My mom, my dad, my best friend, and now I don’t know if he’s going to be here.”
Madeline reached over and took her hand. “He’s going to be okay, just like Brady’s going to be okay. We’re both going to get through this together.”
Whitney nodded, although her chest still felt unbearably tight. She opened her mouth to say something else when suddenly the waiting room door opened. Tate walked in with a cup of coffee in his hand and a look of determination on his face as he strode over to Whitney.
“I brought this for you,” he said. “Figured you could use it.”
Whitney took the cup gratefully. “Thanks, Tate. You didn’t have to come all the way here.”
“Of course I did,” he said, sitting down in the chair beside her. “I’m not leaving until we know how he’s doing.”
Whitney turned toward Madeline. “Tate, this is Madeline. She’s here for Brady.”
Tate extended his hand. “Yeah, I’ve met Brady a couple of times, and I think I saw you at wellness night. He’s a good guy. What’s going on?”
“He’s a volunteer firefighter, and he was hurt. I don’t know exactly how severely,” Madeline said, obviously trying not to cry.
“Well, if there’s anything I can do, please let me know,” Tate said.
“Thank you.”
The three of them fell into a silence, the weight of their worries filling the air. Whitney took a sip of her coffee.
Tate leaned forward slightly. “How are you holding up?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. I feel like a zombie. I’m just trying to hold it together, I guess.”
“Well, you’re doing great.”
She looked at him, his steady presence calming her a bit. “Thank you for being here.”
“Always,” he said.
Always. What did that mean? She didn’t have time to think about it. Her mind was focused firmly on her father.
“I just wish someone would tell me something, anything,” Madeline said, standing up and pacing.
“They’ll come out soon. No news is good news, right?” Tate said.
Madeline nodded. “I suppose so.”
She sat back down, and they sat together in the quiet hum of the waiting room, the sounds of laughter, coughing, and quiet sobs from other families surrounding them.
Despite the fear and uncertainty, Whitney felt a small glimmer of hope. She wasn’t alone, at least. She had Madeline and Tate, and together they would face whatever came next.
* * *
M adeline paced the small waiting room, unable to sit still, even though Tate and Whitney had gently reassured her that everything was going to be okay. Every muscle in her body was tight, and every thought in her mind was filled with worry. Her chest ached from not knowing exactly how Brady was doing. The nurse had briefly told her he was stable, which made her feel a little better, but what exactly did that mean? She really didn’t know.
Whitney reached over and squeezed her arm. “Hey, he’s going to be okay, Madeline. I just know it. Why don’t you sit down and take it easy?”
Madeline forced a tight smile. “Thank you. I’ll keep praying for your dad too, but right now, I just need to keep moving. I’m going to walk over here and look out the window for a minute, so can you keep me updated if you hear anything?”
Whitney nodded. “Of course, and if you need anything, just text me.”
Before Madeline could reply, a nurse appeared in the doorway with a clipboard in hand. “Madeline?”
She nearly tripped over her own feet as she rushed to talk to the nurse. “That’s me. Is he okay?”
The nurse smiled. “He’s stable, and we’re ready for you to come back and see him. He’s actually asking for you.”
Madeline let out a shaky breath as her heart pounded in her chest. Relief washed over her like a wave. She turned to Whitney and smiled.
Whitney waved her hand. “Go.”
Madeline followed the nurse down the long, brightly lit hallway, her heart hammering in her chest as the nurse updated her on Brady’s condition. She hated the hospital’s overwhelming antiseptic smell. The nurse finally stopped outside a room and gestured for her to go in. “Take your time,” she said gently before stepping away.
Madeline walked through the door, her breath catching in her throat when she saw Brady lying there. His leg was elevated, wrapped in layers of bandages, and an IV line was hooked to his muscular arm. Despite everything, he smiled when he saw her, his face lighting up just as if he hadn’t just been through hell.
“Hey, sweetie,” he said, his voice warm but obviously tired.
She could see remnants of black soot on him from the fire. Tears immediately sprang to her eyes, and she hurried to his side, grabbing his hand and holding it tightly.
“Brady, oh my gosh. They just said you were injured, and I’ve been losing my mind out there, worried about you.”
He squeezed her hand weakly. “I’m sorry I worried you. I’m okay, promise. Just a little banged up. These things happen.”
She let out a small laugh and brushed her hand over his hair. “A little banged up? Half your leg’s wrapped up in the air, and I heard you might need physical therapy. That doesn’t sound like a little banged up to me.”
He sighed, looking down at his bandaged leg. “Yeah, I’ve got some second-degree burns on my calf. They’re keeping an eye on it to make sure it doesn’t get infected. I twisted my ankle pretty good, too, when I tripped over a tree root while carrying the little girl out of the fire.”
Madeline’s eyes widened. “You realize that sounds like something out of a movie. You saved a child.”
He nodded. “Her house was right on the edge of the brush fire. The flames were spreading fast, and she was trapped inside. I couldn’t leave her there. She was only five years old.”
Tears spilled down Madeline’s cheeks as she leaned down to kiss his forehead. “Of course, you couldn’t leave her there because that’s who you are, Brady. You would put yourself in danger for others over and over again. This has scared me to death. I don’t ever want to go through this again. I don’t ever want you to go through this again.”
His expression softened, and he reached up to cup her face with his hand. “I’m sorry I worried you, Madeline. I hate that I scared you. I never wanted to do that, but I couldn’t let that little girl stay in danger. It’s just not who I am.”
She nodded. “I know, and I’m so proud of you. I can’t lose you, Brady. You mean everything to me.”
“I’m not going anywhere, sweetie. I promise.”
She leaned down and kissed him again, this time on the lips, pouring all her relief and love into the kiss. When she pulled back, she sniffled. “They said you’d need wound care and physical therapy,” she said.
“Yeah, I’ll be off duty for a while. The doctor said I’ll need to keep the leg elevated and come in for checkups regularly. I may even need to use some crutches for a bit until my ankle heals. You’re gonna have to help me feed Gilbert.”
She nodded, laughing. “Well, you’re gonna have to let me take care of you. No arguments.”
“I wouldn’t dream of arguing with you. Besides, I kind of like the idea of you fussing over me a little bit.”
She laughed through her tears, then leaned down and rested her head gently on his chest. His heartbeat was steady beneath her ear, and it was the most comforting thing she’d ever heard in her life.
“I love you so much, Brady,” she whispered.
“I love you too, Madeline,” he said, “more than I can ever put into any words.”
They stayed like that for a while, with the chaos of the hospital fading into the background as they held on to each other. Despite all the uncertainty and fear, Madeline felt such a sense of gratitude. Brady was alive, and he was hers, and that was all that mattered.
After a while, she sat up and brushed a stray hair from his forehead. “I should probably let Jasmine know what’s going on, but I didn’t want to scare her until I knew you were okay.”
He nodded. “She’ll probably want to come back and help, but you don’t have to tell her everything right now. Just let her know I’m okay.”
Madeline nodded. “I will, but first I’m gonna sit right here and make sure you don’t try to pull any other hero stunts from this bed.”
“You’ve got it, boss,” he said, saluting her.
As the night wore on, and Madeline laid next to him in the hospital bed, she held his hand and thanked every star in the sky that he was still with her.