Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 91176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
“Will he let me in, do you think?”
Both of them nodded from the front seat of the truck. “West talked to him calmly and explained how important you are to Annie. He said you were headed back to town to see her one last time.”
I scoffed. “And he gave West the time of day?”
“West passes as a dude bro,” Grandpa said, surprising a laugh out of me.
“I didn’t even know you knew what ‘pass’ meant,” I admitted. “Much less the term ‘dude bro.’”
“I’ll have you know, your grandfather has been passing as straight for over eighty years,” Doc said proudly, as if it was something to brag about. “He’s masc for masc.”
I laughed again. “I don’t think that means what you think it means.”
Grandpa chuckled. “I’m masc for Doc. How about that?”
“Better,” I admitted. “Although if you were a masc dude bro, you might not have called me your precious baby. Just sayin’.”
By the time we pulled into the hospital lot, I’d at least stopped crying and felt a little steadier. Doc and Grandpa pointed me in the direction of her room while they went to find West in a different part of the hospital where he was checking on a patient of his.
Sharon was just coming out of Annie’s room when I arrived. “Hi,” I said softly. “How’s she doing?”
She shook her head. “Hi, Cal. Not good. She had a severe hemorrhagic stroke and fell which increased the severity of the brain bleed. At least, that’s their best guess. She’s not going to make it. The doctors told us a few minutes ago that they’ve done all the tests and she’s gone. They’re keeping her alive with machines until Brian can get our pastor here.”
It was too surreal to be true. Annie wasn’t even seventy years old yet. “I’m so sorry,” I said, wishing I could hug her. I knew she wouldn’t appreciate it though, since we didn’t know each other very well and she didn’t seem the hugging type.
“Me too. Poor Brian is beside himself, especially knowing she hadn’t been to church in so long.”
I blinked at her. “She wasn’t religious. She said Sunday morning sunrises over the water were her church. She used to sit out on the edge of the dock and meditate.”
Sharon sighed. “Yes, well, we’re going to fix that, don’t you worry. Pastor James should be here in the next hour or so, and he’ll bring the comfort of the Lord’s mercy.”
I guessed at this point having anyone say nice things about eternal life wasn’t the worst thing that could happen. The worst thing that could happen to Annie had already happened.
“Can I sit with her for a few minutes?”
“Let’s wait and see when Brian comes out. He’s very upset, as you can imagine.”
I nodded and moved over to a nearby alcove that had a few chairs and magazines. My hands were shaking with nerves that they wouldn’t let me in to see her. I remembered something my brother Hudson had told me once about how important it was to stay calm and focus on your goal when dealing with difficult people.
What will it take to get them to say yes?
I squeezed my eyes closed. Playing the game. Acting like a contrite, meek nobody who simply wants to mourn their aunt. I can do this.
My phone buzzed with a message, and my heart leapt with hope it was Worth. We’d ended things very awkwardly since everyone on the ship was there when I disembarked in St. Mitz.
Grandpa: Do you want a coffee or soda from the cafeteria?
I blew out a breath, trying not to feel disappointment surround me like a wet blanket. Even though it was nice of Grandpa to ask, I definitely didn’t need coffee. If I had a stimulant right now, I might shoot off into outer space.
Cal: Just water or juice please.
After a few minutes, I saw my brother West approaching from the nurse’s station. He was eleven years older than I was and practically radiated competence. Just seeing him there made me feel like everything would be okay.
I stood to give him a hug. “Hey,” I said into the shoulder of his doctor’s coat.
“Fuck, you look good,” he said, pulling back to take a look at me. His blond scruff surrounded a teasing smile. “Maybe I should take Nico and the kids on a sailing trip, after all.”
“I can’t picture Nico on a boat,” I admitted. “Especially when we tried taking him out that one time and he kept screeching every time we heeled.”
My brother laughed and gestured me back to where I’d been sitting. “Kind of like the time Hudson tried getting him on a horse and he ended up arguing with Thunder during the entire trail ride.”
“He’s more indoorsy,” I said with a soft laugh. “How is he? How are the girls?”