Shelley Galloway - My True Cowboy

“I feel the same way,” she said with a commiserating look. “Just so you know, I called Jarred in Mexico.”

“I’m glad you did. What did he say?”

“Nothing, because he didn’t pick up. I must have called four times, too. He didn’t pick up that phone once.”

“You’d think the boy could manage to check messages every once in a while. No one can be in bed that much.”

Gwen winced. “Honestly, Junior. Watch your tongue.”

Ginny scrambled out of his arms. “How come Jarred’s in bed? Is he sick, too?”

“Just lovesick.” When his sister’s eyes widened, Cal rushed to give her another answer. “I mean, he’s fine. Now, don’t you be worrying about Jarred. I was only joking, sweetheart.”

Her lips trembled. “Okay.”

When he spied a tear slide down her face, mixing in with her chocolate mess, he reached out for her again. “Ginny, I just told you the God’s honest truth. How come you’re crying again?”

“I want everyone to come on home and be like it used to be.”

“That would be nice.” He’d like that, too. But even in a month of Sundays, it sure as hell wasn’t going to happen. Things had happened. Their dad got old and he and his brothers grew up.

“When’s Daddy coming home?”

“Now, that’s something I’m not sure about.” Leading Ginny into the kitchen, he pulled out her white step stool. “Hop up,” he ordered. Then returning to the conversation about their dad, he said, “Here’s the thing. Dad’s going to need a lot of special help.”

“How much?”

“A lot. He’s not going to be able to do a lot of things by himself, and he’s going to need round-the-clock care, too.” Looking Gwen’s way, he said, “That’s going to mean lots of driving and sitting around. And sitting and watching. Any chance you could help out with that?”

Gwen frowned. “Junior, I like you enough to even sit by your father’s side and get chewed on regularly. But I just don’t think I can.”

“You don’t?” His heart sank.

Tilting her head in Ginny’s direction, she said, “I could help out some, of course, but really I don’t think I’ll have that kind of time. Someone’s got to get this little thing where she needs to go….” Her voice drifted off. Obviously Gwen was uncomfortable telling him no.

But she had a valid point. Ginny needed her regular routine. Disruptions meant outbursts and fights in school and tears at home … and that wasn’t going to be good for anyone.

“You’re right. I know. We’ve got a lot going on….” He turned on the faucet, picked up the hand soap and held it up. “Hands.”

Dutifully, Ginny stuck them out. He squirted. “Rub. Now rinse.”

As she did as he requested, he pulled over a couple of paper towels and dampened them, then did a cursory scrub over her cheeks. That was what life was all about with a six-year-old girl, he supposed.

Drama and dirt.

As soon as she was clean and dry, he sat with her and Gwen at the kitchen table. “I just don’t know how we’re going to give him the care he needs.”

“What are you thinking?”

“I was thinking we’d just care for him here … but now with Trent in the hospital, too, I don’t think that’s going to fly.”

“Maybe a rehabilitation place?” She snapped her fingers. “There’s the Electra Lodge.”

Reluctantly he nodded. “The hospital recommended that, as a matter of fact. I guess Dad could stay there for a month and get the round-the-clock attention he deserves.”

Gwen perked up. “What’s it like? Have you heard?”

“It’s probably pretty nice. We could check it out….” But all Cal could think about was the fact that Susan Young worked there. It would sure be his just deserts if his dad ended up being cared for by Susan. Every visit there was sure to be filled with irritation and arguments.

If they were even that lucky.

“Daddy’s gonna want to be home with me,” Ginny interjected.

“I know he’s going to want to be home with you, sugar. But we don’t have too much of a choice. Dad has health issues,” he said vaguely. “And other issues, too.”

“When he gets better, he’ll be able to ride all the time.”

“I hope so.”

Looking at him directly, Gwen asked, “So do we have a plan?”

“I’m afraid so. I’ll try to contact Jarred and Trent, but unless they want to play nursemaid, it’s the best solution. He’s going to need more care than we can give him. Plus, he’s gonna be as cranky as all get-out, too. You know he’s going to take exception to anything I say. He always does. We don’t have time for that.”

“Good luck with that conversation.”

“Thanks. I’m going to need it.”

Ginny tugged on his shirt. “Cal? Are you mad now?”

“Not at all, sugar.” Forcing a grin, he bent down to her. “What do you say we go check on the horses? Maybe they’d like a little snack.”

As he’d expected, she hopped from her stool and grinned. “I bet Casper wants an apple.”

“I’m sure that horse does. Pick one out and I’ll cut it up, sugar.”

“DO YOU THINK WE’LL EVER get a better TV?” Hank asked as Susan tried once again to get the salt-and-pepper mess off the nineteen-inch screen in their tiny living room.

“I do,” she replied. She was absolutely positive they would get a better television. One day.

Hank narrowed his eyes. “Soon?”

“No.”

Hank sighed. “Jeremy has a television in his room that’s bigger than this. You wouldn’t believe how good it looks.”

“Oh, I would. This TV isn’t too big at all. But we’ve got other things to pay for, Hank. It can’t be helped.”

“Maybe we could do without some things. Then we’d have more money for the good stuff.”

“What are you thinking we could do without?” She, for one, didn’t have a plan. Already her car was limping along and her clothes were mainly purchased from resale shops.

“I don’t know. Broccoli?”

“Broccoli’s not making as much of a dent in our budget as you might think, buddy.”

He slumped. “I guess you’re right.” He looked down at his shoes. “Guess I can’t buy new sneakers, huh?”

Little by little, her heart broke. She hated not being able to get him the things he wanted. “Maybe we can get new shoes after I get paid.”

He flashed a smile. “’Kay.” Walking away, he opened up the fridge. “So, can I have an apple?”

Once upon a time, the answer to that question would have been automatic. But now she hesitated. There were sugar levels and dietary concerns she couldn’t afford to ignore. “What else have you eaten today?”

After he told her, she mentally reviewed the dietary guidelines that the nurses had given her. “I suppose so. But let me know if you start to feel funny.”

Hank rolled his eyes as he bit into an apple, then scooted toward the tiny TV and watched his regular series of shows on the Cartoon Network.

Usually, this would be the time that Susan would lean back and stretch and relax. But all she could do was watch Hank watch TV and worry.

She’d gotten the lab results. They were going to need to up Hank’s insulin dose. And though the nurse probably didn’t mean to sound like it, Susan had the uncomfortable feeling that the nurse thought she wasn’t monitoring his levels closely enough.

After scheduling yet another appointment with the pediatrician, Susan had hung up … and had wondered how in the world she would manage to get off even more time from work. Kay was going to be put out, that was for sure.

And how was she going to be able to start monitoring things better with Hank? When they weren’t going to all these doctor’s appointments, she’d be spending even less time with him, not more.