Chapter 7 #2
Tomorrow, he would be in surgery. Tomorrow, they would be cutting into him, removing a part of him to save his mother. Tomorrow, he might face complications, go into shock, or experience other serious issues.
She breathed deep. “Beck’s bag is ready. So is mine.”
He nodded, his attention returning to the cooler he was packing with snacks and drinks. “Thanks. Mom’s already got most of what we’ll need, but I figured Beck would want some of his usual snacks.”
His hands moved efficiently, but she could see the tension in his shoulders and the way his face was set too tightly. He was also worried about his mother, the surgery, and what would happen next.
She moved closer, stopping herself from reaching out at the last second. “How are you feeling? About tomorrow, I mean.”
His hands paused on a box of crackers. “I’m fine. It’s a routine procedure. People donate kidneys all the time.”
“That doesn’t mean you’re not allowed to be scared.”
He looked at her then, really looked at her, and she saw the fear he was trying so hard to hide.
“I’m not as scared of the surgery as I am of what happens if something goes wrong.
If Mom doesn’t make it through, or if the kidney doesn’t work, or if—” He stopped himself, shaking his head.
“It doesn’t matter. We’ll deal with whatever happens. ”
The silence between them was uncomfortable and heavy with unspoken words. The bracelet. Robert. The kiss they’d shared that felt like it had happened in another lifetime. The once-fragile trust that now appeared shattered beyond repair.
“We need to talk about Scout.” She may as well just get it over with.
His expression closed off. “What about him?”
“Beckett’s going to want to bring him to your mom’s.”
“No.” The word was quick and flat. “Absolutely not. She’s got enough to handle without adding a dog to the mix.”
“He’s calm and well-behaved. You know that. Della likes him, too, and he won’t be a problem. Besides, leaving him here alone for three or four days would confuse him.”
“He’s a stray. He’ll be fine. Dogs know how to take care of themselves.”
She crossed her arms, feeling her stubbornness rise to meet his. “He’s not a stray anymore. Whether you want to admit it or not, he’s now part of this family. And Beck will be upset if we leave him behind, especially with everything else going on.”
“Then Beckett will have to handle being upset. He’s almost four. He’ll get over it.”
Her frustration was growing. “That’s not fair, and you know it. Scout helps him feel safe. Especially now, with your mom’s surgery and all the stress going on.”
“My answer is no. The dog stays here.” His voice was hard, final.
She looked at him. He could be so caring with his son, so gentle when it mattered, and yet so stubborn about the silliest things. “Why? Give me one good reason why Scout can’t come.”
“Because I said so.”
“That’s not a reason. That’s you being controlling.”
The word hung in the air between them, sharp and condemning. She saw him flinch, saw the hurt flash across his face before his expression grew cold. “Is that what you think? That I’m controlling?”
“I think you’re being unreasonable about a dog who’s done nothing but be good for your son. I think you’re making this harder than it needs to be because you can’t admit that Scout belongs here now.”
His shoulders tensed, and she saw him struggling with himself, balancing his pride against what was right. At last, he exhaled a long breath. “Fine. The dog can come, but he’s your responsibility. And he’d better not cause any problems.”
“He won’t.” She kept her voice level, refusing to gloat about winning this small battle.
He shut the cooler with more force than needed. “When are you heading out?”
“Soon. I need to pick up a few things in town first. Personal items I’ll need for the next few days.” The lie slipped out easily enough. “Why don’t you take Beck and Scout and head to your mom’s? I’ll meet you there in a couple of hours.”
He looked at her for a long moment, and she wondered if he could tell she wasn’t being completely truthful. But finally, he just nodded. “Okay. Drive safe.”
“You too.” She followed him outside, where Beckett was still playing with Scout.
The storm clouds were closer now, dark and heavy over the mountains.
“Beck! Time to pack up, buddy!” Cole called.
Beckett’s face fell. “Already? But we just started playing!”
“We’re going to Grandma’s house, remember? You and Jewel are staying there for a few days while she has her surgery.”
“Can Scout come?” The question was immediate, hopeful.
His jaw tightened, and she saw him struggling to resist saying no again. Eventually, he said, “Yeah. Scout can come.”
Beckett’s joyful whoop was so pure and simple that it made Jewel’s heart ache. He wrapped his arms around the dog’s neck, and Scout’s tail wagged so fiercely that his whole rear end wiggled.
She helped load their bags into Cole’s truck while Beck collected Scout’s food bowl, his favorite toys, and the worn blanket he liked to sleep on.
The boy chattered nonstop about how excited Scout would be to see Grandma’s house, how Della would love playing with him, and all the adventures they’d have.
Cole carefully lifted Beckett into his car seat and fastened the straps. Scout jumped into the back seat on his own, settling next to Beckett as if he’d been riding in trucks his whole life.
“You’re sure you’re okay driving separately?” His hand was on the truck door.
“I’m sure. I won’t be long. I just need to grab a few things.”