Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 87913 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87913 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
“I didn’t give him much of a choice, and I told him that you were coming, so I wouldn’t be alone for long.”
“I like him.”
“Me too,” I say quietly. Getting up, I fold up the blanket I was using and toss it over the back of the chair, then start to stretch out my back.
“How did you sleep?”
“Surprisingly okay.” And I do mean, surprisingly, since Dayton and I both slept in the single recliner last night. I doubt he feels the same as me since I was using him as a bed and a pillow, but he didn’t complain. Then again, he never complains unless it’s about me not eating or sleeping.
“You should go home and shower sweetheart, maybe take a nap.”
“I think I’m going to; I also need to check on PJ.” Clay went and got him the day Dad had his surgery, and he’s been staying with him and Willow when Dayton and I have been at the hospital. I know from the pictures and videos that Willow sends me that he’s had the best time with Skye and Rowen, who keep him busy, but I miss him like crazy. “I’ll come back this afternoon. The nurse mentioned that the doctor wanted to talk to you about Dad’s release plan.”
“Release plan?”
“I guess that they are planning on sending him home soon.”
“He just had major surgery. He’s barely sitting up and hardly awake for more than a few minutes.”
“I doubt it’s going to be something that happens today, but I think they want you to be prepared for when it does.”
“I guess.” She agrees, looking unsure.
“It will be okay; we can set up the downstairs bedroom so that you and he can stay in there and hire a nurse to come in and help out so that you don’t feel overwhelmed.”
“You’re so smart.” She says quietly.
Stepping up to the side of Dad’s bed, I bend over to kiss his cheek before I walk around and hug Mom.
“I’ll be back, and if the doctor comes in before I get here, just call me.”
“Thanks, honey.”
“You’re welcome.” I give her another tight hug, then let her go.
“Do you have your car?” she asks as I grab my purse.
“No, but I can just get an Uber.”
“Take my car.” She picks up her bag and starts digging through it.
“Are you sure?”
“Of course. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Thanks, Mom.” I take the set of car keys she hands me and listen to her tell me where she parked before I leave the room.
When I get to the parking garage, it doesn’t take me very long to find Mom’s bright-red convertible. She bought it as a gift to herself when Jacob graduated high school, and she no longer needed a large SUV to haul him and all his sports equipment around in. Getting behind the wheel, I type Dayton a message letting him know that I’m going home. Almost immediately, he responds with a message telling me to check in when I get there and that he should be done with his meetings by three, so he will meet me back at the hospital. I almost message him back that he should just go home after work, but I know he’d ignore me and show up anyway.
If there’s one thing this situation has taught me, it’s that Dayton doesn’t put work before the people in his life that he considers important. It’s a quality that I appreciate more than he could possibly understand. We’ve never really talked about how Matthew’s job consumed our life or how I felt like an afterthought most days. I know for certain that Matthew would not have taken time off from work to just sit with me in the hospital. He would have said the doctors and nurses could handle it, leaving me feeling crazy for even wanting him to be there.
After messaging Willow to let her know that I’m on the way, I place my cell in the cup holder and leave the parking garage. As usual, traffic is heavy, so it takes forever to get across town. Then it takes me even longer to find a place to park when I reach my block.
Grabbing my purse from the passenger seat, I push open the door and start to get out but stop when I feel an ache begin in my lower abdomen. It’s similar to when I have my period, and the feeling catches me by surprise. I haven’t had any cramping since I got pregnant, and I’m not sure if it’s normal.
“You okay?”
Looking up, I find Tucker just a few feet away, and get out with my purse, closing the door. “I think so.”
“You think so?” he asks, studying me through the dark sunglasses he has on.
“Yeah, it’s just some light cramping.” I laugh, but he doesn’t laugh along with me. Instead, his expression becomes one of concern, which freaks me out—especially since he has a wife who recently had a baby, so he likely knows what’s normal and what’s not.