CHAPTER THIRTEEN #2
Seeing tears stream down Dad’s face shocks the hell out of me.
I’ve never seen him actually cry like that in my entire life.
“Kinsley, tell me you’re listening.” I look at Dad.
“I hear you. I wasn’t meaning I want or think I’m going to die.
I want to be here when Hope graduates, when she gets married, when she does all the things.
I just have had time to think about it, that’s all.
” I reach up and wipe one of Dad’s tears away.
“I plan to ring that bell after my last treatment. I plan to be there when Saxon and Samson finally figure out if they both want Shandy or what. Hell, I plan to be there on the day you finally make an honest man out of Erik.” That gets a chuckle out of Dad as he wipes his eyes.
“If it helps, I am feeling better than I did when Emmett brought me in here. I would like to think I’m on the mend.
I promise this is going to have a happy ending, just like all the romance books I read.
It has to because I won’t accept anything less.
” He leans forward and kisses my forehead.
“Besides, you promised me a ride after I had Hope, and I haven’t gotten to take it yet.
I ain’t going anywhere before I get you to keep that promise. ”
“Is everything okay?” I look over and see my nurse, Margarita.
Turns out she’s a floater, and I got lucky enough to have her again.
I nod. “Yeah, my dad and I were just talking.” She walks in, looks over my chart, and checks my IVs.
She gives me a smile. “Nice to see you don’t have a fever, and you were able to say that to me without coughing.
Just what I like to see. We need to get you back to your baby as soon as we can.
” Dad pipes in, “I couldn’t agree more.”
Margarita just left to go update the doctor when I look at the door and see the most handsome man in the world standing there looking at me like I’m the only one in the room.
He takes three steps over to my bed, leans down, and gives me a kiss.
“I’m happy to see you’re awake and not coughing, sweetheart.
” He moves back to look at me. “What were you thinking when you were standing in the doorway? You looked deep in thought.” He gives me the special smile that is just mine.
“I was looking at my wife, who is the most stunning woman in the world. Seeing your beautiful eyes and smile is just what I needed.” He leans in and kisses my forehead before he stands up straight.
“Mom, Erik, and your brothers are in the waiting room. Mom wants to know if you want any of that tea she gets for you. She also brought some new hair wraps if you want. Your brothers know they can’t come back but want you to know they’re gonna stop by and take Hope in the morning for a couple of hours.
Booker’s got school, or they’d take him too.
Said they are taking her to the aquarium.
Saxon said it would’ve been the zoo, but they don’t want to face the wrath of Booker if they go there without him.
” I can’t help but roll my eyes. “I would be too. I’m surprised they are taking a chance with the aquarium.
” Emmett smiles. “Guess Booker told them that would be okay ‘cause the gators are at the zoo and not the aquarium. He said it’s just fish, and they can take him some other time.”
Before I can ask anything else, there’s a commotion outside the room.
Seconds later, the last person I expected to see walks into the room.
Emmett, being the protective man that he is, turns around, standing between me and the door, and crosses his arms. “Who the hell are you?” I hear a growl at the same time Emmett’s talking, and I realize Dad just stepped out of the bathroom.
I swear the testosterone in this room just skyrocketed right along with my annoyance.
“Mom, what are you doing here?” Emmett’s head turns back to me instantly.
“This is your mom?” I nod and look at her.
I haven’t talked to her since our last text exchange when she told me she was done being a parent.
Even my text telling her I was getting married went unanswered.
She looks oblivious to the tension in the room.
“My cruise has a stop in Astoria today. I figured the excursions were a waste, so I thought I would stop and see you. I figured your baby had been born, and I’d come see them and spend an afternoon with you.
I went to your place and your neighbor said no one was home because you were in the hospital.
Since this is such a Podunk town there’s only one hospital so I knew where to find you.
Why are you in the hospital? Why are your brothers in the waiting room? ”
I push myself to sit up because I want to make sure I’m perfectly clear and she can’t possibly claim to misunderstand me.
“Mom, or should I say Rebeka, why would I let you know I was in here since the last time we communicated you said very clearly you were not going to be a parent anymore. That I was an adult and I was to live my life on my own. You didn’t even respond when I messaged you that I was getting married.
Why in the hell would I make sure you knew I was in the hospital?
Why would I make sure someone told you I was here because I have fucking cancer and am going through chemotherapy?
Tell me why, because all I was doing was respecting the stand you took when I told you I was pregnant.
You wanted to go off and live your life and not be a parent or grandparent, so go, go live it. ”
Mom sighs and rolls her eyes at me. “Kinsley. Just because I don’t want to be an active parent now that you’re an adult doesn’t mean I won’t stop by to see you when I make it back to town.
I didn’t get your text about getting married.
I’ve been on the boat in the South Pacific till about a week ago, and cell service was spotty.
No one told me you had cancer, including yourself.
Though since I’m not a nurse, I’m not sure what I could have done if I were here.
” I think the growls are in stereo, and if we were a cartoon, both Dad and Emmett would have smoke coming out of their ears in anger.
An angry voice comes from the doorway. “Get out.” Ada is standing in the doorway. She looks like she’s ready to throw down with Mom. “Get out now.” Mom has the audacity to look confused. “Who are you to tell me to get out? I’m here to visit my daughter for a little bit.”
Ada moves into the room and approaches Mom.
I feel like I should say something, but then again, Ada seems to have things under control.
She glares at Mom. “Who I am is Ada Wood. Kinsley is my daughter-in-love. Who I am is the one who gives a shit. A whole hell of a lot more than you. You couldn’t be bothered to come watch your daughter marry the love of her life.
You couldn’t be bothered to check with your daughter at all, so you didn’t know that she’s been going through multiple rounds of chemotherapy to beat cancer’s ass.
She’s also been an amazing mom to my granddaughter.
You’d know all that if you had bothered to check in with your daughter.
I don’t know who the fuck told you that once your child becomes an adult, that you’re no longer a parent or don’t still have a responsibility to be there for them, but that’s about the most fucking ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.
However, since you made that decision, she’s got plenty of people who do love her and who will be there for her no matter what.
If you’re going to choose to stick by that, then I’m gonna tell you that you’re not welcome here and kindly get the hell out. ”
I never realized how much Mom looked down on our family, but she looks like she just sucked on a lemon.
She turns her attention to me. “I’m not sure why you would willingly spend time with the people in your dad’s club.
I raised you to have higher standards. This is what I get for letting you spend all those summers with him. ”
Enough is enough. “Mom, just stop. I don’t know where in your mind something switched when I was away at college, but it did.
If you really have no plans to be in my or my children’s lives at all, why did you come to visit?
” Mom crosses her arms, clearly annoyed with my question.
That’s her signature move when she’s awkward or not in control.
If she felt in control, her hands would be on her hips.
“Like I said, the boat was stopping over in Astoria, and I didn’t want to go on the tour today.
What else was I gonna do? I never planned to be a mom.
When I found out I was pregnant with you, I was too far along for…
for some options, so I decided I would raise you.
I gave you so much of myself for those years, putting anything I wanted to do on the back burner.
I made sure we lived in the same area as your dad and you went to good schools.
I made sure you got into college. You’re an adult now.
Like I said, I did the job I needed to do.
I’m not getting any younger, so I’m going to live my life for me now.
I won’t be an active part of your life, but that doesn’t mean I won’t check in sometimes. ”
“You didn’t even come to my wedding or call to see when my baby was born.
I haven’t heard from you in almost a year.
I’ve lived a lifetime in that year. I’m not the same person I was, and I’m gonna focus on my health and the people who choose to be an active part of my family. I’m going to need you to leave.”
Mom starts to speak, and she stomps her foot like Booker does when he’s not getting his way.
“I—” Dad interrupts her, and by the look in his eyes and the calmness of his voice, I can tell he’s pissed off, like raging.
“Rebeka, you need to leave. You need to leave before I escort your ass out of here. I—” Mom has the guts to interrupt him.
“You can’t make me leave. You don’t have any say in my life anymore, and you’re not in charge of who can visit people at this hospital. ”
“He’s not, but you bet your ass I am.” Margarita stands in the doorway, arms crossed, holding her clipboard.
I knew I liked her. She’s staring at Mom like she’s ready to chew her up and spit her out like that piece of celery that gets stuck in your teeth.
“You see, it is my job to make sure my patients have the best environment conducive to their healing. I have liberties that I can take to ensure that, including escorting unwanted visitors out of their room. From what I just overheard, you currently fall into that category, so you only really have one decision to make.” Mom takes the bait.
“What’s that?” Margarita smiles and steps right up to Mom.
“You can either choose to leave on your own and walk out of this room right now, or I can escort you out with security, who should be here any moment. It’s been a while since I scrapped with someone, so I’m good either way.
Your choice.” Mom huffs and storms out without saying another word.
I guess time will tell if I hear from her again, but right now I think everyone in this room would be fine if I didn’t.
I can’t help but smile at Margarita when she turns back to the room after watching to make sure Mom left.
“I knew you were awesome, but that was freaking amazing.” Margarita gives me a smile.
“Darlin’, that ain’t nothing. I was kinda hoping she would’ve fought me a bit more.
It’s been too long since I’ve had to do that, and I might be getting rusty.
Besides, I wasn’t lying. I’m here to make sure you get better as quickly as possible so we can get you home to your sweet baby.
The doctor should be in shortly to check on you.
She just got here.” She leaves the room, mentioning she is going to confirm with security that Mom is really gone.
Ada comes up to my bed, shaking her head.
She glances over at Dad as she speaks. “No offense intended, but I don’t know anyone who thinks like that.
Being a parent ain’t got an eighteen-year expiration on it.
I was finding myself wanting to help that nurse throw her out.
Not sure I will have that restraint again should she decide to pop back up like that.
” Dad chuckles and shakes his head. “Won’t offend me none, but that right there tells me why you and Anna are friends.
” Dad gives Emmett a look. “Son, you don’t really have to be scared of me and pissing me off.
It’s the women in our lives that you have to worry about.
They’re fucking diabolical and your wife has plenty of role models to learn from.
” Emmett, being the smart man that he is, nods but keeps his mouth shut.