The Country Duet(83)

“Remember, Hun…” Teale pauses and corrects herself. “Daddy will be gone four days.”

Baker stands up with a worried expression covering her delicate features. “Promise you’ll come back.”

“Not even the wildest Indians could keep me away from my girls.” I grab her and hug her tight, then begin my tickle attack.

I drop her off like I do every Thursday morning at preschool. I’ve scoped out the boy named Carl and make sure to give him an, ‘I’ll kick your ass,’ glare every single time. A bit childish, but the little ass better leave my girl alone.

I decide to race down to the nursing home to visit Dave before classes. I’ll be pulling a long shift at the university feedlot today to make sure everything is taken care of while I’m gone on my field trip.

The nursing home buzzes with workers racing in every direction. A few of the nurses give me a wave and a warm smile. I’m sure they’re happy I’m here to occupy Dave for an hour or so.

“Dave,” I holler louder than expected when I walk into his room.

His hands are planted on the floor, and his whole body is trembling with his ass and legs still in the bed. I race over to him, helping him sit back up.

“What’s going on?”

“I keep leaning that way. I can’t sit up straight.” His body trembles as he fights to talk.

I’m thrown straight into panic mode, pushing him to the other side of his bed and then rushing out into the hall hollering for help. A set of nurses rush into the room. Chaos ensues as one of them calls for an ambulance to transport him to the hospital.

“What’s going on?” I grip the back of my neck with the question going ignored again.

I glimpse the manager of the nursing home walking by and snag her by the arm, determined to get answers.

“What’s going on with Dave?” I do my best to tamp down the hysteria threatening to erupt inside of me.

“His potassium levels have been through the roof, and we’ve been monitoring him.”

“He was hanging out of his goddamn bed when I got here!”

She, too, rushes past me. Everyone has blown into a full out tizzy with Dave’s condition. I stay by his side until he’s loaded into the ambulance, then tail it to the hospital.

I blow through a few red stoplights, fighting to keep up with the whaling vehicle in front of me.

“Shit.” I pound the steering wheel with so much force my hand aches. “C’mon, Dave, pull through this.”

By the time I sprint into the ER waiting room, I’ve lost track of the ambulance and Dave for that matter. I go through the same shit show I do every time at the front desk. There’s a new receptionist asking for identification to prove I’m Dave’s son. I don’t give a shit the last names don’t match.

“Sorry, Sir, I’m going to have to get clearance from Mr. Hendricks first.”

“I’m all he has.” I slap my ball cap on the counter. “He’s not in good shape, and I need to get back to him now.”

“Sir, I’ll be forced to call security if you don’t calm down.”

“Go ahead and call damn security. It might help me get back there to see him.”

“Hunter?” A familiar voice joins our conversation. “He’s back this way.”

I’m relieved when I see the nurse Dave and I both drooled over a while back. She grabs my arm, leading me to him.

“Do you have any idea what’s going on?”

She peers over to me with a sad look in her eyes. “It’s kidney failure. His potassium is sky high. He’s on so many medications his kidneys can’t filter what they need.”

I drop my head, keeping up pace. “That’s bad.”

It doesn’t even come out as a question, but rather a statement. She also doesn’t have to acknowledge the fact it’s a terrible predicament.

“Once the kidneys begin to fail, the other main organs come next.” She grips my arm tighter. “Hunter, you need to prepare yourself. I’m not a doctor, and I’m sure there are options, but just know.”

I nod, then freeze outside the door to his room. Dave’s voice floats out into the hallway, calling for his boy. The desperation in his voice cracks me. Tears flow, and I don’t even have the will to hold them back any longer. The harsh time of reality is staring me right in the face, and I hate it.

“Explains his irregular heartbeat,” I say more to myself.

The nurse nods. “Go. He needs you, Hunter. My nursing degree is based on the science of medicine, but I also know for a fact that man is living for you.”

The sound of her clogs echoing down the hallway soothe my soul for a tick, until I hear Dave holler out for his boy again. There’s no doubt of the fear in his voice. I wipe away the remaining tears, take a deep gulp of oxygen, and then step into his room.

He’s still leaning, unable to remain upright with trembles wracking his whole body. I go to him without thinking and wrap my arms around him until he’s sitting upright. My biceps do their best to contain his shivering body.

“I’m here, Dave. I’m here.”

“Hunter.” His trembling hand reaches up, grabbing my arm. “I just want to die. Take it all away.”

“No.” I shake my head then rest it on top of his. “I have so much more to learn from you.”