Until Friday Night (The Field Party #1)(38)

Momma finally appeared from her visit with Dad, and her eyes widened at the waiting room full of people. Then she searched for me. I stood up and took Maggie with me. She didn’t question it, just went with me, her hand still in mine.

When I reached Momma, she gave me a teary smile that didn’t touch her eyes. “He’s okay right now, but he’s not awake yet. If you want to go back and sit with him a while, you can. It’s only two at a time, though, for a few more hours.”

I had to go see my dad. Maggie’s hand eased from mine, and she looked up at me. I could see the encouragement there. She wanted me to go with my momma. In case this was it, we both needed to be at his side.

“I’m here,” she said softly. “Go.”

I nodded then followed my mother down the hall. She stopped outside my dad’s door, and I could see him hooked up to machines, looking too frail in that hospital bed. The last time he’d been in one of those, he’d been bigger. Not so sick. Things had changed so much over the past couple of months.

“Talk to him. I think he can hear us. In case . . . in case this is it. Tell him everything you want him to know,” she said, the words catching in her throat as her eyes welled with tears.

I went inside first and made my way over to the side of the bed. His breathing was weak and raspy like he was struggling for each breath. Last weekend he’d been laughing with us. I knew we’d never get a weekend like that again. It had been our last.

“Hey, Dad,” I said as I stood there staring down at him. Memorizing this moment. I needed all my memories to keep with me. “I know you’re not a fan of this place, but you should see the crowd you have in the waiting room. They’re packing the joint,” I said, glancing over at my mother on the other side of the bed as she slipped her hand under my dad’s.

“Maggie’s out there too. She was here almost as soon as we arrived. If they’d let more people back, I know she’d want to come see you.”

I wasn’t convinced he could hear me even though Momma thought so. All we could do was hope he could. There was so much I wanted to say, but how was I supposed to say it?

Maggie hadn’t gotten a chance to say anything to her mother. I wouldn’t not take my chance.

“I love you. I’m proud to be your son.” I choked up as the words came out. “My whole life you’ve been our rock. You’ve been the strong shoulders we leaned on. A kid couldn’t have asked for a better father. I have the best d—” I stopped and swallowed hard as I watched his chest rise with each labored breath. “I have the best dad. But I want you to know, I can be the man now. I can take care of Momma, and I swear to you I will. She won’t ever be alone. I’ll make sure of that. I’ll make you proud of me. Don’t worry about us. We will miss you every day. Your memory will always be with us. But I won’t let you down. I’ll be the man you raised me to be.”

Momma let out a sob that sent the tears pooling in my eyes down my face. I loved this man so much. Life without him wasn’t something I’d ever imagined. Facing it now seemed impossible. Even as I promised him I would be the rock Momma needed.

I Won’t Have Regrets

CHAPTER 27

MAGGIE

After West went back to see his dad, I took a seat beside Aunt Coralee. She patted my leg and told me she was proud of me for being there for West. She didn’t add that I had my own share of pain when it came to losing a parent, but the way she spoke, I could tell she was thinking it.

Brady was over with Asa, Gunner, Ryker, and Nash, all talking quietly. As if they knew death was near and they weren’t sure how to handle it. When you hadn’t dealt with death, you didn’t understand. That had been me once. Before.

Over the next hour, Raleigh arrived, along with other people I recognized from school. I wasn’t sure Raleigh being here was a good thing. She glanced over at me when she first arrived, and the hatred on her face was obvious. Just like Serena, she was confused about what I actually was to West. They had both had him in ways I never would. But then, I knew a part of West that they never would. I understood the difference. They didn’t.

Uncle Boone stood with the coaches as they talked and drank coffee. Deep concern was written across all their faces. West was loved. And from the way the others spoke of his dad, so was Jude.

The hours passed, and we all waited. Every hour West was back there meant another hour he’d had with his dad. I hoped he said everything he wanted to say. That when his dad took his last breath, West had no regrets.

I watched as Raleigh walked over to talk to Brady. He was polite to her, but I could see he wasn’t thrilled she was here.

Suddenly Aunt Coralee spoke beside me. “We were there with you the day it happened. You probably don’t remember. You weren’t handling it well. Bless your heart, how could you? My heart broke as I watched you pull away from everyone. But you’re with us now, and we love you, Maggie. I want you to know that. I know you don’t want to talk about it, but sitting here, watching this, I want you to know we were there. Jorie was there. We made sure no one got near you or pushed you to do anything you didn’t want to do.”

I did remember them being there. I had been lost in my own grief, but I remembered seeing my aunt’s tear-streaked face as she’d kept guard over me. I hadn’t forgotten that. I hadn’t cared at the time, but looking back I’m glad she’d done it.