The Country Duet(75)

“So.”

“Did you know about this and never told me?”

“Knew something was going on, but wasn’t sure.”

“You can’t do this shit. Your body can’t take it any longer.” I plop down in the chair and bury my face in my hands.

“I’m old and dying. It’s not a shock.”

I stare up at him, holding his gaze for a long beat before I speak. “Is that what you want?”

“I’m in pain, Hunter. My body hurts, and I’m tired.”

I scrub my hands down my face, having nothing else to offer. I’m torn in so many different directions, with tough questions that have no answers. Am I the reason Dave has been holding on fighting through the pain? Have I hindered his life? How much more time do I have left with the man who gifted me a new outlook on life? Do miracles even exist?

I hope like hell the answer to the last question is a resounding yes. I drop my head again, close my eyes, and pray to the good Lord above to keep Dave safe through this surgery and to ease the pain he’s been suffering with on a daily basis.

The operation team is in the room in a matter of minutes, ready to wheel Dave out. They have the rails popped up on the sides of the bed and are moving him before I have a chance to stand up.

“Wait. I need my son.” He holds up a frail hand in my direction.

Three long strides and I’m gripping onto it, walking beside him until we meet the operation room swinging doors where only authorized personnel are allowed behind. The team is kind enough to stop briefly.

“I’ll have a bag of black licorice for you when you’re done.” The tears threaten, and the words barely flow through the thick emotion clogging my throat.

He winks at me. “Thanks, son.”

I lay his hand on his chest, then watch them wheel him away. He’s told me about all the different surgeries he’s had through the years. Dave is no stranger to the OR. He’s had both ACLs fixed from a fall off a ladder, a stent in his heart, and his gallbladder removed. He told me the story about when they opened him to remove his gallbladder and he told them to just take his spleen while they were in there.

Even knowing all of this, it doesn’t soothe away the ache that the end is coming. His body is dying from the inside out, attacking itself. I find a chair in the waiting room and settle in for a long day ahead. I relay all the information to Teale, not needing to go into great detail. She realizes the severity of it from her nursing education. She sends me several selfies of her and Baker. They went out for a girls’ day of shopping and manicures. The pictures are the only things getting me through, and they’re just the right amount of distraction I need.

My cell phone goes off in my pocket. It’s my mom. I know exactly what she’ll be calling about. I’m not in the mood to go rounds with her about it, but I also would never ignore her. I have to remind myself she has my best intentions in my mind.

“Hey, Mom.”

“Hunter,” she coos in relief.

“What’s up?”

“Just calling to check in on my favorite son.”

“Your only son,” I correct her.

“Same difference.” I hear a loud ruckus in the background and know it’s Quinn and Abby without having to ask. “How’s everything going?”

Bless her heart. I know she’s digging for information on the study abroad program.

“It’s going.”

“Was your application approved?”

In true Blair Yates character, she goes straight for the kill. No skirting around the topic on her mind.

“The deadline has come and gone, Mom. I didn’t even fill it out.”

“Hunter!”

I interrupt her before she goes off on her rampage. I do get where she’s coming from. It’s not that she doesn’t feel for Dave, or even care for him, she just wants the best opportunities for her son.

“Mom, don’t even start, please. I made a decision, and there’s no way in hell I can leave Dave right now. In fact, I’m sitting in the hospital at the moment.”

She’s silent for a long time before she clears her throat and speaks. “I’m sorry, Hunter. What’s going on?”

I fill her in on Dave’s condition and all about my frustration with the communication process with the doctors. She’s my rock like she always has been and listens to me.

“I know that I’m hard on you, Hunter, and have been busting your balls about the study abroad opportunity, but just know that I’m so proud of the man you are.”

“Thanks, Mom.” The words come out downtrodden, reflecting my mood right now.

“How are things with you and Teale?”

I finally fill her in on the turn of events, and to say she’s excited would be an understatement.

“Excellent. I’m still in shock that I have her in my life again.”

“From the day you brought her home, I knew she was going to be your wife one day.”

“Planning the wedding already, Mom?” I joke.

“Maybe? Teale and I may have joint access to a secret board on Pinterest.” She giggles. “Her blog is doing so well.”

There’s so much going on in our lives that I haven’t even told her that I know about Teale’s blog. I have no idea how she does it all, keeping up with her full-time job and Baker. The woman is amazing. A hand lands on the top of my shoulder and I look up. It’s like my thinking of her summoned her to me. Teale leans down and kisses my forehead before taking a seat next to me.