A Family of Their Own(53)
Hope with an addendum. He wanted to burst with joy, but that didn’t happen. “How long will it take to get a response?”
“I’ll get the information ready today, and then it’s up to them. I hope within a couple of weeks.” He gave Peyton a hopeful look. “But don’t be disappointed if they refuse. They sometimes do that, and we’ll appeal the case.”
Ross’s shoulders slumped as he rose. “Thank you.” He extended his hand, and Timmons grasped it.
“We’ll let you know as soon as we hear anything.”
Ross nodded, wrapped his arm around Peyton’s shoulders and left the room. As they headed outside, he realized how much Peyton had grown in the past few months. Once she’d reached the top of his elbow, and today her head was close to his shoulder. Twelve. A young woman soon. The thought made him cringe. He needed to talk with her, and he dreaded it—the talk her mother should give, not her father. He pressed his lips together, wishing he could find the courage today.
“What do you think, Peyton? You’re quiet.”
“I want to get better, and I keep praying that this will work. Now I have to pray for the insurance to cover it.” She shook her head. “Dad, does anything ever happen in life that is problem-free?”
“Some things do.” He drew her closer to his side. “But count on problems sometimes. They happen to good people.”
“Like us?”
He nodded. “Yes, people like us.” Kelsey’s face flashed before him. She’d hurt him the other night, and he didn’t know how to resolve that problem, either.
“But maybe it will work out, and I’ll get better. Then our lives will be good.” She tilted her head toward him, her eyes asking. “Right?”
“Right. We’ll keep praying that God has good things in store for us.”
Her step seemed lighter as they headed into the parking lot, but Ross’s didn’t. Normally he’d call Kelsey to tell her the results of this visit, but now he wondered where they stood. He hadn’t called her since Easter, trying to get his head on straight. He still prickled from her comments. She seemed to think he coddled Peyton. That was the word she’d used. Coddled. How do you not focus on a sick child? How do you not try to ease her suffering and fear with special treatment? Kelsey wasn’t hard-hearted. He knew that. So what was going on with her? That’s what he wanted to know.
Kelsey folded her notes from the MOSK meeting and tucked them into her notebook while Lexie waited beside the door. When she turned, Lexie opened her arms.
“I’m really sorry about the news, Kelsey.”
Her chest tightened. “So am I, but I’m trying to stay positive.”
“You should, because the doctor said he didn’t know for sure, and it could be nothing.” She slipped her arm around her shoulders. “No Ross today, either. I’m surprised. He seems to get a lot out of the meetings. He sometimes talks to Ethan about it.”
She nodded, trying to hold back the remorse she felt. She knew she shouldn’t have said a word about the bedroom. Not only what she said to Ross, but how she said it came across so wrong.
“I’m sure he hated to tell you his good news when you’d just gotten something new to worry about.”
Good news. Her head jerked upward. “What good news?”
Lexie’s arm slipped from her back. “What? Are you telling me you haven’t talked with him?”
“Not in a couple of days.” More than a couple. Her depression deepened.
Lexie’s eyes narrowed and a frown slid to her face. “An argument?”
She shrugged. “Not an argument really. Just words, but words I shouldn’t have said.”
“I’m sorry, Kelsey.” She shook her head. “Want to talk about it?”
She bit her lip. She hated to talk about it because it showed her nasty side, and it shamed her. But Lexie had a good head, so she decided to tell her what had happened.
Lexie stood a moment, digesting her explanation. “What happened to the woman who can soothe a raging lion?”
“I guess I’m better at soothing lions than at taking care of my own conduct. I’m really sorry about what I said, but that’s how I felt that day. Lucy kept bringing it up and making me feel as if I’m not a good mother, because I didn’t give her my bedroom. I—”
“You said what’s important. You’re sorry.”