The Country Duet(42)

“Life would be so much easier on you if you could figure out how to get along in a nursing home.”

“Ain’t giving those bastards my money, nor am I about to be told when I can and cannot eat.”

I pull a pack of black licorice from my pocket. It was the last package left in the vending machine in the waiting room where I sat for what felt like forever. The damn pack of candy taunted me the whole time. Something inside me told me that if I just bought it for Dave, he’d pull through this.

I rip open the package and hand it to him. His smile is all the reassurance I need. Then walks in a nurse on cue. I’ve never seen this one before. Dave perks up, popping a piece of candy in his mouth while perusing her from head to toe. I know what’s coming next and duck my head.

“Damn, you’re a looker.” Dave grins with black drool running down his chin. “My boy here is single and looking.”

The nurse rolls her eyes like she’s been warned about all of this before.

“You want to marry him? Taught him a few dance moves.” Dave winks at her.

The nurse is polite, putting up with his shit better than the rest. She leans down to check all of his vitals and then plucks the bag of candy from his hand while waving her wedding ring in his face.

“No candy and before you even ask, I’m not bringing you ice cream no matter how big of a fit you throw. I have three little boys at home. Fear and intimidation are not in my vocabulary.” She waltzes right out of the room.

Dave blinks once, then twice, but doesn’t dare push the call button.

“So, what’s going on this time?” I ask him.

“Same bullshit a different day.”

“Have the doctors talked to you?”

“Yeah, some shit about an infection and a couple days stay before going to a nursing home facility until I can get up out of bed on my own. And I ain’t going back to that same nursing home. They were shit.”

I wait until Dave falls asleep before creeping out of his room. Luck’s on my side when I run into a familiar face.

“Doctor Lewis.” I stride up to him. “How’s it looking for Dave?”

“Infection.”

“What are the next steps?” I ask.

“Depends,” he responds.

It goes like this for several comments until it’s clear the doctor is being a dick. He doesn’t provide one answer, leaving me frustrated and pissed off. I still feel twinges of the anger when I walk into my apartment forty-five minutes later, well past midnight.

A dim light streams from my bedroom. Teale’s curled up in the middle of my bed. A tall stack of laundry is folded in a neat pile on my dresser. Just the vision wipes away all of the worries and stress of the day.

The floor creaks and cracks as I move to the end of the bed. Reaching back, I pull my shirt off and wipe my face. A hot shower would do me good, but I’m fucking bone tired after working like a dog for Dad the past few days, entertaining Teale well past sunset, and now dealing with Dave. When my body molds against hers, not even a freight train could interrupt the slumber that takes over.





***


Dave wanted a few new magazines. He only spent three days in the hospital and is now in a new nursing home. He’s making friends with the nurses just like he always does. He’s tried marrying me off to at least five of them even though he knows I’m with Teale.

The staff at this nursing home caught onto the candy exchange the first night. I’m sucked right back into everyone being pissed off. It's no surprise that Dave tends to win every match.

Walking out of the grocery store, I notice a jewelry story and then find myself smack dab in the middle of it without another thought.

“Can I help you?” a blonde woman who’s busting out of her blouse asks.

I adjust the bill of my hat. “Just looking.”

Fuck, I have no clue what I’m doing here. It’s only been six months with Teale, but I know deep down she’s the woman I’m going to marry. It’s rash and fast, but it’s there. I browse the glass counters a couple of times until the perfect ring comes into view. It’s simple. One large princess diamond in the middle with several around it, all nestled in a white gold setting.

“That one.” I point.

The saleswoman is more than eager to bend over, getting it out for me. She’s shameless using her body to make a sale. I guarantee it’s a sure-fire hit with most guys, but pathetic in my eyes. She was probably on team bimbo back in the day. The woman this ring is for is much more than she could ever be. At least in my eyes, Teale is. Call it owneridis or love blind, but that’s where I am.

I put the ring on one of my emergency credit cards. Damn straight, it’s an emergency in my life. I have to have this girl.

“No bag.” I wave the woman off, then scoop up the black ring box and paperwork.

How in the hell do men carry these things around in their pockets? Jesus, I’ve been watching too many cheesy romance movies with Teale. Popping open the glove box, I place the ring and paperwork safely in there and then lock it.

I have no damn clue when I’ll pop the question, but just knowing it’s there puts a huge smile on my face. I imagine Teale’s reaction the rest of the afternoon when I get down on one knee. Her vivid blue eyes lighting up, her red hair reflecting the sun, her squeal of surprise, and then happy tears rolling down her face.