days he was in normal garb, and she still felt a bit shocked every time she saw him in his ratty but fitted jeans, dark t-shirt, Steel Talons jacket, and motorcycle boots. Today, he even had a bandana tied around his head, his hair falling over it in thick locks, and his eyes were dancing. “It’s on me, Doc.”
Susan’s love poured from her and filled her, as her father reached out weakly for Jim’s hand, bringing his and Susan’s together in his lap. “Suzy, you chose well. I told you to think it over.”
“Great, Dad. It’s a perfect time for ‘I told you so,’” she quipped, sarcastically. “But yes, I chose well, and I’m not going to give up this time.”
Her father turned to Jim. “I want to call you my son.”
Jim put on his most charming smile. “Well, I have to do a little more work here to earn it, but I would be honored if you thought of me that way.” He stared across at Susan, and her heart melted. She didn’t need her mother or her sister. These two men—and perhaps Eric—were her family, and that was enough for her. There was more love filling this room than had ever existed in that whole museum of a house she’d grown up in.
She backed up, seeing the orderlies coming to wheel her father out. “I’ll meet you by the ambulance, Dad. I’m going to ride with you.” She watched him go, leaning against Jim for support. She couldn’t wrap her mind around how much better her life was with him. Two months ago, she thought she was as happy as could be. Sure, she had issues with a few people spreading rumors, but other than that she’d existed without problems in her solitary world.
But now, she saw how miserable she’d been, and aside from that, she couldn’t have done this for her father without his help. She barely managed her own finances as it was.
“Hey, Ms. MacGregor, why don’t you ride with Mr. Wade? I’d be more than happy to ride with your father and make sure he’s as comfortable as possible on the way,” Bridgette offered.
Susan started to shake her head, but Jim squeezed her hand. “You should step back. I know you have the experience and credentials to do this, but it’s your father. You should take a step back before your emotions outweigh your reasoning.”
Reluctantly, she agreed and thanked Bridgette, as they all headed to the elevator and rode to the ground floor. Jim carried the file folder with all the signed paperwork, and Bridgette had a huge packet of instructions and information regarding her father’s conditions, expected treatments, and medication regimen. Susan’s heart pounded in her chest, and she found herself incredibly anxious, as if she suddenly couldn’t believe this was real. However, the heat rolling off Jim’s hand as he threaded his fingers in hers was not a dream, and she took a deep breath to try to relieve her misgivings.
Once they arrived at Jim’s house, Susan stood out front, waiting for the ambulance, which was apparently a few minutes behind them. She imagined all manner of things going wrong; but, after it arrived, they had her father stashed in the new bed with the new sheets and hooked up to monitors, machines, and the IV in less than half an hour.
The medics left, and she thanked them, making a mental note to send them some homemade brownies or something. Then, she stood in the doorway to her father’s new room, leaning against the doorframe and watching him as his pain began to ease again and he rested peacefully.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Jim could see the happiness shining from Susan’s eyes, and for the first time since he had lost Trina, he actually thought he felt whole. Bridgette fussed around, making sure everything was set up to her liking, and she asked Susan about clothes for the older man. Susan squirmed, and Jim knew she wasn’t going to go back to her mother and pack a bag.
He stepped forward and said, “I’ll take care of it. Are flannel pajamas
Susan’s love poured from her and filled her, as her father reached out weakly for Jim’s hand, bringing his and Susan’s together in his lap. “Suzy, you chose well. I told you to think it over.”
“Great, Dad. It’s a perfect time for ‘I told you so,’” she quipped, sarcastically. “But yes, I chose well, and I’m not going to give up this time.”
Her father turned to Jim. “I want to call you my son.”
Jim put on his most charming smile. “Well, I have to do a little more work here to earn it, but I would be honored if you thought of me that way.” He stared across at Susan, and her heart melted. She didn’t need her mother or her sister. These two men—and perhaps Eric—were her family, and that was enough for her. There was more love filling this room than had ever existed in that whole museum of a house she’d grown up in.
She backed up, seeing the orderlies coming to wheel her father out. “I’ll meet you by the ambulance, Dad. I’m going to ride with you.” She watched him go, leaning against Jim for support. She couldn’t wrap her mind around how much better her life was with him. Two months ago, she thought she was as happy as could be. Sure, she had issues with a few people spreading rumors, but other than that she’d existed without problems in her solitary world.
But now, she saw how miserable she’d been, and aside from that, she couldn’t have done this for her father without his help. She barely managed her own finances as it was.
“Hey, Ms. MacGregor, why don’t you ride with Mr. Wade? I’d be more than happy to ride with your father and make sure he’s as comfortable as possible on the way,” Bridgette offered.
Susan started to shake her head, but Jim squeezed her hand. “You should step back. I know you have the experience and credentials to do this, but it’s your father. You should take a step back before your emotions outweigh your reasoning.”
Reluctantly, she agreed and thanked Bridgette, as they all headed to the elevator and rode to the ground floor. Jim carried the file folder with all the signed paperwork, and Bridgette had a huge packet of instructions and information regarding her father’s conditions, expected treatments, and medication regimen. Susan’s heart pounded in her chest, and she found herself incredibly anxious, as if she suddenly couldn’t believe this was real. However, the heat rolling off Jim’s hand as he threaded his fingers in hers was not a dream, and she took a deep breath to try to relieve her misgivings.
Once they arrived at Jim’s house, Susan stood out front, waiting for the ambulance, which was apparently a few minutes behind them. She imagined all manner of things going wrong; but, after it arrived, they had her father stashed in the new bed with the new sheets and hooked up to monitors, machines, and the IV in less than half an hour.
The medics left, and she thanked them, making a mental note to send them some homemade brownies or something. Then, she stood in the doorway to her father’s new room, leaning against the doorframe and watching him as his pain began to ease again and he rested peacefully.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Jim could see the happiness shining from Susan’s eyes, and for the first time since he had lost Trina, he actually thought he felt whole. Bridgette fussed around, making sure everything was set up to her liking, and she asked Susan about clothes for the older man. Susan squirmed, and Jim knew she wasn’t going to go back to her mother and pack a bag.
He stepped forward and said, “I’ll take care of it. Are flannel pajamas
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