Chapter 13 #2
He gives me a ‘have at it’ expression which I take as permission. Moving the earpieces of my stethoscope into place, I warm the chest piece against my palm before slipping it under the open neck of his well-worn green shirt.
“It shouldn’t be too cold now, but let me know,” I say, schooling my features with what I pick up on straight away.
“How’s it sound, doc? Is there even a heart in there?”
A small smile curves my lips as I arch my brow Sully’s way. “That sounds like someone who’s been told they don’t have one before.”
“More times than I can count, darlin’,” he says with a rattling chuckle following shortly after.
Shifting back, I hook the stethoscope around my neck. “How have the palpitations been? More often or the same as when you last saw my uncle?”
Sully shrugs. “About the same, I think. I’m just tired. Like all the damn time.” He winces. “Pardon my French.”
My brow slowly lifts up. “That didn’t sound like any French word I’ve heard before. Must be Alaskan French.”
Derrick snorts a laugh, earning a twitched smirk from his father. “Look, I saw that. The old man can still crack a smile.”
“Shut it, boy. Why’re you still here, anyway? You were supposed to have a video call with that lawyer from Anchorage,” he says breathlessly. I can tell trying to pretend he’s better than we all know he is as well as not resting is taking its toll now. Getting angry won’t help either.
“I’m stayin’ right here and listenin’ to what the doctor has to say. You are the priority, Dad, not some old grudge that nobody cares about except you.”
“It’s important,” Sully spits out, his voice cracking as he spears his son with a cutting look. “It’s your future–your brothers and sister’s too. I’m doin’ this for you and your children… their children….”
“Dad, you are what’s important to all of us right now. End of story. Trust me to take care of everythin’ else. You’ve been wantin’ me to do it for years, so now that I’m doin’ it, you’ve got to take care of you and trust that I’ve got everythin’ else. Yeah?”
The man may be stubborn, ornery, and stuck in his ways but the way he’s looking at his eldest son right now, and the way he’s been with me since I arrived–a complete stranger that he doesn’t know from Adam–I know these things to be true.
Sully Wilson is a family man to the depth of his bones.
He’s the kind who has lived, breathed, and bled for his kin and this ranch his whole life just like his ancestors before him.
What I can tell from the short time I’ve been here is that he’s fightin’ treatment and life-lengthening care for them. What I don’t know is why?
Then I remember what Derrick said outside.
“That whole rivalry business is generations old, and my father is holdin’ on to it with every last ounce of strength he’s got left. It ain’t got nothin’ to do with me, and I’m not goin’ to let it cloud my judgment movin’ forward.”
I think there’s some things I need to ask Uncle George about next time he calls.
“OK, just a few more questions then I’ll leave you to rest.” I give him a pointed stare. “Because that’s what you need to do more than anything right now.”
“Ask your questions, darlin’. Time’s a wastin’ don’t ya know.”
I narrow my eyes and click my tongue. “Enough of that kind of talk, Mr. Wilson. Positive thoughts, positive outlook. Yeah?”
The corner of his mouth twists up as a dry laugh bubbles out of him. “Sounds like you know a bit about the future I’m facin’.”
“I am a cardiologist.” He nods, urging me to get on with it.
“OK. So fluid intake?”
“I’m spendin’ more time in the can than I have in my whole life. That answer your question?” he replies a little snarkily. I find I like the little bite in his words, because it means there’s still some fight left in him.
My lips twitch. “Yep. All I can suggest is that you drink more. If you find yourself struggling with that, we might have to look at IV supplementation. But that means–”
“Nope. I know George will’ve told you that I’m not interested in goin’ into hospital. No way, no how. I ain’t havin’ everyone knowin’ my business. Next question.”
I nod, not surprised at all by his answer. “OK. How about your eating habits? Has there been any change lately?”
“It’s fine. Everythin’s fine. Not even sure why they called you here. I’m no different from last month before George left. And I’ll be no different by the time he gets back. The mountain’s gonna look after me and tell me when it’s time. Until then, there’s too much to do to do somethin’ stupid.”
“Dad. Em was worried–we all are–that’s why we asked Dr. Littlefoot–Blair–to come and check on you,” Derrick implores, his growing frustration evident.
“There’re things I need to take care of. Especially if nobody else will,” he snarks in his son’s direction.
“You’re all bark and no bite, Old Man,” Derrick shoots back.
“Well soon you won’t have to worry about it, will ya? I’ll be gone.”
I bite back my gasp, swallowing it down and schooling my features so that my professional mask stays in place.
“I don’t want that, Dad. None of us do. We’d rather have you here being a stubborn old fool than have to bury you before your time,” Derrick says sadly.
“Can’t help fate, my boy. Why do you think I’m tryin’ to get back what is rightfully ours?”
“No prophesy will ever mean more than you, Dad.” Prophesy?
Sully’s resigned gaze shifts to mine as I sigh and shake my head at him.
“What are we going to do with you, Mr. Wilson?” I say softly, clasping his hand and giving it a squeeze.
His features gentle and that–right there–is the confirmation I need. He knows what’s coming and he’s ready to face it. When his time comes, he won’t fight it. What he hasn’t done is accept that life will go on once he’s gone. Then again, I don’t think I’d like to face that reality either.
I take some blood to check for changes from George’s results a month ago and then pack away my stuff, snapping my gloves off once I’m finished.
“So, doc. What’s the prognosis? Am I gonna see out the Summer?” His smile is forced, and I can tell he’s trying to distract all of us from the tense mood choking the room.
“You know what you’ve got to do, Mr. Wilson. I have to trust that if anything changes, you’ll get someone to call me or you’ll do it yourself, yeah? As I said to Derrick before, I can be here quickly if need be.”
Derrick steps forward. “Thank you, Blair. It was real nice of you to take time out of your day to come check on him.”
I lock eyes with Sully one last time. “Take care of yourself, Mr. Wilson. I’ll come back in two weeks if I don’t hear from you sooner or if these bloods come back with anything concerning.” I tell him with my stare what I know he doesn’t want me to say out loud.
“I will, darlin’. Just for you,” he rasps, his eyes glazing over as his exhaustion takes hold.
“Charmer,” I mutter with a grin before following Derrick back outside onto the porch.
“Man could’ve been a salesman if he wasn’t tied to this mountain,” he says once we’re out of hearing range. “He refused to leave because that would mean ‘givin’ in’–his words, not mine.”
“He’s definitely got a way about him, that’s for sure,” I reply.
“It’s not good, is it?”
I shake my head. “Unfortunately not. It’s been too long now, and from what I read in my uncle’s notes to your father’s condition today, he is deteriorating. It’s slow for now, but it won’t always stay that way.”
“Yeah,” he says, rubbing the back of his neck again.
“I’ve got to get back to the hospital, but I meant what I said. Please call. If you need anything.”
“Thanks, Blair.”
“Anytime. And I hope I don’t need to tell you, but anything I heard in there, anything about me being here at all, that’s confidential. I’m not going to share it. It’s literally one of the biggest rules I have to abide by after do no harm.”
He huffs out a breath. “That’s his wishes, not mine.
I’ve been in touch with the Coopers and have said I’d align myself with them to help put this stupid family fight to bed.
Life’s too short to worry about what should’ve happened or didn’t happen years and years ago, let alone doin’ it because of some made-up story about a mountain and fate and soulmates.
” What is he talking about? “Anyway, don’t let me keep you.
I have to go check on my brothers and make sure they haven’t torn down another buildin’ like they did the last time they were left unsupervised. ”
“Do I even want to know?”
He chuckles and shakes his head. “Nope. You really don’t. Let’s just say that they’re always darin’ each other to do things and sometimes that means demolishin’ an old structure with their bare hands just to prove they can.”
“Wow,” I say.
“Yeah. That’s what I said. See ya next time, doc.” Then, with a tip of his hat, he turns and walks away.
Driving back down the mountain to the hospital, I think about everything I saw and learned at the Wilson Ranch.
Most of it meant nothing to me. I am intrigued by whatever they were talking about with the family rivalry. That’s something I might try to ask Birdie and Isla about.
And as for the made-up story Derrick was talking about? I’m wondering what kind of folklore stories they might have in these parts. Could it be the same one Isla mentioned?
Then there’s the books by Aster that Alex and Cate have been bugging me to read for years and the one that Isla gave me last week that still sits untouched on my nightstand.
“Life’s too short to worry about what should’ve happened or didn’t happen, let alone doin’ it because of some made-up story about a mountain and fate and soulmates.”
If that’s true, then why does it keep coming up? And how can I find out about it without breaking my Hippocratic oath in the process.
I’ve just arrived back at the hospital when my phone chimes with a message. As soon as I see Sutton’s name on screen, the tension I've been holding on to as I drove down the mountain vanishes into thin air.
Sutton: Hey, gorgeous. I was thinking we could grab some takeout from the diner and have a quiet night at home. I still have my best man's speech to write too. Have any experience with that?
Blair: I’ve been a best woman before. Does that count? A quiet night in with good food and even better company is just what this doctor ordered. But I’ll cook.
Sutton: If you’re cooking, then I’m cooking with you. And I’m getting the groceries. Send me a list and I’ll go there on the way home.
Blair: Now THAT'S a deal I’m not gonna say no to.
Sutton: Everything OK? Was it a bad house call? Do you want me to come down and see you?
This man, I think to myself with a smile. How is it possible to go through life for so long and not find anyone and then move to the middle of nowhere and meet someone you just know was meant to be a part of your life?
Made up stories. Mountains. Fate and soulmates.
Blair: I’m OK but thank you for offering. I’ll just count down the hours till tonight.
Sutton: If you say stuff like that, I WILL come downstairs and see you. But it won’t be to make sure you’re OK.
Blair: Oh really? And what—pray tell—would be the purpose of this inter-department visit?
Sutton: That’s for me to know and you to find out, gorgeous.
A delicious shiver courses through me and there’s no wiping the smile off my face after that text exchange. That earns me curious looks as I make my way inside the hospital, including Isla who cocks her head and shoots me a knowing grin of her own. “I know that look.”
“What look?”
“That one. You’re swoonin’. I know just how potent those Cooper pheromones are,” she says, her eyes dancing as she waves her engagement ring finger in the air.
I laugh. “I’m not sure I can blame pheromones from a phone call.”
“Don’t discount the power of the mountain, Blair. Believe me, she never gets it wrong…” Her singsong voice and twinkling giggle wrap around me before she waves and walks away.
She never gets it wrong? What does that mean?