A tear slides down Grandpa Michael’s cheek and he quickly swipes evidence of it away. “You two met here?”
I answer, “No, just a coincidence that Diana works here. She’s the activities director.”
Grandma Nance distractedly says, “Oh how nice,” her Southern manners never-failing.
Behind us we hear shouting, and turn to find Uncle Jake, Uncle Justin and Jason, and my dad all running to us. I bet they nearly strangled Denny to get our location and ran the whole way.
“How is she?” Uncle Jake asks, as he pants to a stop. He still owns his construction company, is in good shape because he’s not a sit-behind-the-desk type of owner, but emotion winded him.
Justin and Jason, the twins, slow down, their ice-green eyes tortured.
My father gives me a hug, “Wyatt, have you seen her?”
“Not yet, Dad. Where’s Mom?”
“Parking. I called Nicholas. Your mother called Nathan and Zoe. Nathan must have gotten to you quickly for you to be here so fast? Were you nearby?”
“Diana called me first. This is my girlfriend, Dad.”
Leading the way and knowing now is not the time to pause for introductions, Diana politely says, “Nice to meet you, Mr. Cocker. I work here at Silver Linings.”
He frowns, “Oh. Right. Okay.”
Uncle Justin, former Senator, is all business. “What happened? What are they doing? Can I help?”
His identical twin is a music producer, an artist. He’s unable to talk as the eight of us rush into the hospital.
“Mary Beth!” Diana waves.
“Over here!” The nurse waves back, motioning to a room, door closed.
A female doctor walks up from the other direction, head down, reading, until she hears the distinct sound of urgent arrivals. Taking stock of our group, she addresses the greyest members. “You’re here for May Cocker, I presume?”
Grandpa Michael answers, “She’s my mother,” his hands shoved into his pockets and jaw ticking from the pain he’s holding back. “What exactly happened?”
“She went into a coma this afternoon.”
Grandma steps closer and grabs his arm as Grandpa says, “I see.” He swallows and takes a breath. “What’s being done?”
Uncle Justin demands, “Yes, what’s being done about it?”
Dad’s face is grim and I hear Mom calling us, “Jeremy! Wyatt!”
With her are the wives of my twin uncles. Justin’s wife, tall and elegant Jaime with long dark hair sprinkled with silver. And Jason’s short, curly-haired Sarah, louder by nature than the rest. “Have you seen her?!”
“Not yet Sarah,” Grandma Nance frowns, asking the doctor, “Can we?”
“Of course.” She walks to where Mary Beth opens the door.
Diana takes my hand, wiping her eyes as we let my elders go in first. “Oh Wyatt,” she whispers.
I squeeze her fingers, give them a kiss, my chest tight.
We all step inside the room. The lump forming in my throat sharpens at the sight of my Grams lying in bed with her translucent hands resting quietly over her middle, the blanket neatly folded by a caring staff. She looks peaceful, like she’s having the best dream. While we’re in a nightmare.
Aunt Drew walks in, and Uncle Jake reaches for her. She hurries to him, clasping his hand and burying her face in his chest, shoulders shaking. “Oh Grams!”
He takes a hoarse breath, stroking her salt-and-peppered brown hair.
Grandpa Michael ruins us all by kneeling by his mother’s bed, laying his hands on her arms and his head on the blanket. “Mom,” he whispers. “Mom!”
Grandma Nance rests her hand on his shoulder blades, standing by him, silently strong as tears stream down her face unchecked.
It doesn’t take long before the room is overflowing with most of the adult members of our Cocker Family, news having spread fast and cars getting here faster. I step out to give my cousins space, and to talk to Nicholas, his wife Madison, Nathan, and our red-nosed, green-eyed sister Zoe who whispers, “I brought flowers.”
Nathan wraps his arm around her, “Of course you did,” and kisses her head.
“Guys, this is Diana, my girlfriend.”
Nicholas and Zoe nod to her, their surprise evident, as Madison smiles, “Nice to meet you.”
“Hi,” she whispers, wiping her eyes.
Nicholas asks, “You uh, been together long? How come I didn’t know about this?”
“You’ve been a little busy,” I remind him. “And we’re taking things slow.”
They’re wondering why my new girl is so emotional about our great-grandmother this soon. Diana spots the questions in their eyes and offers, “I work here. I’ve been friends with May for a year before I met Wyatt.”
“Oh!” Zoe says, eyes widening as she pictures it. “You’re so lucky!”
Diana smiles, sniffling, “Your great-grandmother is an absolute sweetheart. We’ve gotten pretty close. Those are amazing.”
Zoe’s green eyes drop to the colorful bouquet. “These are called ranunculus.” Our sister is a florist and has been for years, plants and flowers her only passion. “To me they’re like Grams. They look delicate but they last much longer than most flowers. Not as much as carnations, but those aren’t nearly as special as Grams is.”
“I hope she gets to see them.”
Zoe sniffles, “Me too!”
Mom approaches us, “Kids, I’m going to have some food delivered. We have a large group that’s not going anywhere anytime soon.” Her frown focuses on me. “I hear you have a girlfriend, Wyatt.”
“Mom, this is Diana.”
“Hi Mrs. Cocker.”
“Meagan, call me Meagan,” she smiles with pain behind her eyes. We quickly fill her in about Diana knowing Grams and she listens, watchful. “I see. Well, it’s nice to meet you. I’m sorry it’s under these circumstances.” Turning to Nicholas she lowers her volume, “Your father is being strong but he’s torn up. Go to him while I make some calls and find something we can all eat?”
“Sure.”
“I’ll be here,” Maddie nods, releasing his fingers and watching him go.
Diana leans into me, lost in thought. “I have to call my parents, tell them I can’t come.”
“You want to go and come back?”
Her eyelashes drop to the tile. “I could do that. It’s their thirtieth and—”
“—It’s a big deal, I know. It’s okay. You should be there. I’m going to stay here.”
She touches my face. “Okay. Call me when May wakes up.”
My eyes burn, because I don’t think she’s going to. “Sure, yeah. Tell them I’m sorry I couldn’t make it.”
We kiss goodbye and she smiles to my family, before walking to the bridge and disappearing. Mom heads away, but her eyes are on my girl.
Chapter 33
Wyatt
Zoe’s expression is soft. “I like her, Wyatt.”
“She’s pretty good.”
Nathan’s watching Mom tuck herself into the nearest corner, finger plugging her ear so she can hear what the restaurant is saying. “You never told Mom or Dad?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Hadn’t thought about it.”
“Or Nicholas.”
Eyeing him I take a beat, wondering what his problem is. “No.”
“You didn’t tell me about her, either.”
“So, Zoe? Do I know who you’re dating?”
“I haven’t met anyone yet.”
“Would you call me?”
“No.”
“There ya go.”
“But if I actually had a boyfriend, I’d definitely tell you by that time. Just dating, no, I would keep that to myself. You’d make me stop.”
Madison only recently joined our family. But together the three of them stare at me, unblinking.
Shoving my hands in my pockets I shrug, “What? What’s the problem?”
“You’re on the fence,” Nate says as
if it’s obvious.
I lower my voice and step a little closer so we can’t be overheard. “For your information, I’m not even sleeping with her yet. We are taking our time, getting to know each other. I’ve never done this before, so excuse me if I don’t bring you all with me. This is my personal life.”
They’re quiet for a second before Zoe says, “Nothing more personal than family.”
“Would you like me to text you when—”
She waves her hand to cut me off. “Have you visited Grams here? Without us?”
“You could have visited Grams if you wanted.”
“I have!”
Nathan pulls Zoe to him as her eyes fill up with tears. “Hey, it’s okay. He’s being defensive. You know how he gets.”
“Yeah,” she whispers. Our sister is older than us, but a younger soul. Zoe always sees the good in everything, and she’s sensitive when it comes to harsh words, or conflict. Rose petals never argue.
Our cousin, Caden, walks up, a heart surgeon who became one so we’d have someone on the inside when things like this went down. He raises his voice to announce, “I spoke to the doctor.”
Our family hushes, shifting around to better see his face.
Grandpa Michael appears in the doorframe of Gram’s room to hear the news, Grandma Nance behind him, holding his arm. To steady him or herself, I don’t know. Both, probably.
“This isn’t because of any failing on their part, or hers. Her body is just fine, organs healthy. Tests good. We’re not sure why she’s hasn’t woken up. I hate to say it, guys, because you know I wish there was something I could do, but it might be her time.” He sighs, voice heavy. “She’s slipping away. If you have anything you want to say, this is your chance.”
Shocked reactions spread throughout, denial fading away with every passing second.
Samantha and Lexi, Caden’s sisters and Uncle Jason’s and Aunt Sarah’s only two daughters, standing with an arm around each other, Lexi’s head resting on Sam’s shoulder since Sam is taller.
Their eldest brother, Max and his wife Natalie, stare grimly at the floor. Max wipes his eyes and whispers something to her, and she nods and kisses him.
I haven’t seen Hunter, the youngest brother of the five.
Wren is gently staring at Eric as our star quarterback grits his teeth and looks into a future where Grams is no longer with us. Their new baby is home, babysat by her friend Eleanor. The same for all of the cousins who have kids now.
Baby sitters were called so the little ones didn’t have to see, feel and touch sadness they couldn’t yet process or understand, and shouldn’t yet need to.
Eric’s older brother Ethan, the computer genius worth financially more than all of us put together, walks into her room to be with Grandpa and Grandma, their frequent lunches bringing them closer these past years. His wife, Charlie, stays close to him, their hands clasped as they disappear inside, two kids at home.
Eric and Ethan’s sister, Emma, is wrapped in her husband Tanner’s arms. He’s stroking her chestnut hair, whispering in her ear.
Our cousin Hannah is next to them, holding her MMA fighter, Tobias, staring off. She’s almost as strong as he is.
Gabriel, her brother, is a musician. No, that’s underselling it. He’s a full blown rockstar who’s not afraid of grief and not good at it, either. His two-toned eyes are dead, lips parted as he leans against a wall. His wife, Paige, is burrowed into him, one of his arms around her slender yoga-body.
His twin Elijah is in DC. Probably on a plane right now, if Senator duties aren’t holding him.
We all look to the sound of Uncle Jaxson’s voice as he arrives, having an hour long drive to get into the city whereas the rest of us who are already present live near. “Justin! Jason! Jake! Jeremy! Where’s Grams? Where’s Dad? Mom?”
Aunt Rachel is holding his hand, hurrying in with him, her brown hair short now. Their only son, Ben, must have ridden in their truck, too, because he’s right behind them, green eyes the same as his fathers. Matching frowns, too.
Ben walks up to our group, all six-foot-six of him, since we’re closest to the door. “Anyone seen Sofia Sol?”
I have to look up to ask, “She coming out from Louisiana?”
“I would think so.” Ben drags worried fingers through sandy-brown hair. “Dad called Uncle Jett. He must’ve passed on the news.”
“Why don’t you call her? You two are closest.”
Ben doesn’t respond as he scans the faces and nods to more of his cousins.
Zoe asks, “Where’s Shelby?”
“Jonny is fussy today. She thought it was better if she stayed at the farm with him.”
Nicholas returns to us, eager to say hi to Ben, Mom having rejoined Dad. Hearing the reason for Shelby’s absence, Nicholas exchanges a look with the rest of us. “Just fussy, Ben? No fever or anything?”
Nathan asks, “Couldn’t get a sitter?”
When we were growing up, Zoe often stepped into the thankless role of referee since she was the only sister of three stubborn and often arrogant brothers. She raises her voice to ease the tension, smiling to Ben, “I can understand how Shelby was worried. You guys don’t live close by like everyone does, who has kids. She probably doesn’t know that babies get fussy, and it’s no big deal, this being her first.”
Ben nods once as he cuts a glance to Gram’s door. “She in there?” He doesn’t wait for a yes, and leaves us to find out what’s happening. We all watch him nod to Ethan and Eric before joining Uncle Jaxson who’s standing with his brothers, arms crossed and body bent slightly as he listens to what he missed.
Not wanting this to travel, Nate keeps his voice low, “Shelby didn’t want to be here because she never wants to be here, around us.”
Zoe whispers, “Nate, that’s maybe not true.”
We all smile at the ‘maybe.’
Everyone knows it’s true.
Actions speak louder than words and Shelby rarely shows up. What stronger action than absence? Ben’s been absent more times than present since they got together and it was never like that before. An hour distance away or not, he was at all the functions and he and Ethan hung out all the time.
Nathan seems to have a big mouth today, because he adds, “Diana had no problem being here with our family. In fact, pretty sure Grams already gave her the okay.”
I lock eyes with him. “You done?”
“No.”
Madison has been quiet and she glances to our sister as Zoe agrees, “It’s true in a way, isn’t it though? Grams is always our final say on romance. We joke about it, but we all look to her for the thumbs up. Who will give it to my guy when I meet him, if she isn’t here? How will I know if he’s the right one?”
Nicholas takes Maddie’s hand as she confesses, “She gave me the thumbs up. Remember how nervous I was?”
“I do, Slugger,” Nicholas gives her a peck and adds, “You’re never nervous.”
“The day I met your whole family I was!”
“Our family now.”
Zoe locks eyes with me. “But Wyatt, if Diana is real-life friends with Grams, then what more approval can you ask for?”
Nate says, “Doesn’t matter Zo, Wy is still on the fence.”
I glare at him, turn on my heel and head for Grams’s room.
Chapter 34
Caden stops me, grabbing my arm, brown eyes darker than usual. “Hey Wyatt. How you guys doin’ over there?”
“Good. Elizabeth working?”
“She’s in surgery right now. Doesn’t know I’m here or what’s happened yet. I left her a message. She’ll come as soon as she can.”
“How long do surgeries last?”
“Depends. My longest was twelve hours.”
“Twelve hours?!!! How do you do that?”
He shrugs, “Born to, I guess. It’s not easy but it’s also not hard for me.”
“Yeah,” I frown, thinking of my job. “Listen, can I talk to you?” I motion for him to step aside fr
om the pack and we form our own two-person huddle. “I’ve got a girlfriend.”
Caden’s eyebrows twitch in a way I’m not happy about. “Yeah? You mean after trying to pick up my girl, you found your own?”
“Forget about that. I wanted to talk to you because you’re the most like me. I was telling Washington you might be cockier than I am, but then I realized I beat you out. That’s how similar we are.”
“I don’t know about that. I win.”
“No, you don’t.”
“Yeah, I do.”
“No, you really don’t.”
“I’m the best heart surgeon in the city. You think I got that way by being insecure?”
I stare at him. “Maybe it’s a tie.”
We both say at the same time, “With Elijah,” which makes us grin.
“Is this what you wanted to talk about?” he asks.
“No, loser, I wanted to talk about my girlfriend. Did you get as much shit as they’re giving me?”
“No.”
We stare at each other for a beat before I remind him, “You don’t know what they’re saying.”
“I have an idea.”
Irritated, I walk further away from the crowd, and he follows me. “Caden, what is up?”
“What?”
“With everyone? But you first. Explain what’s this idea you have about me.”
He takes a deep breath, arms crossing on the exhale. “Do you remember what you told me when we were kids? You said all you wanted was freedom. I see you comparing me and Meyers now, wondering how I settled down, but I wasn’t as much of a slut as you.”
I wasn’t wondering how he settled down. I asked about the family’s reactions. But at the bizarre statement of his supposed purity I balk, “Come on!”
“I was too focused on my career to really dig my teeth into that world. Do you know how many hours it takes to become a surgeon? Who has time for parties?”
“I’ve seen you at Billy’s parties!”
“I dashed in and dashed out a couple times. Maybe picked up a girl on the random. You though? Remember when you helped us get Lexi and Hunter out of jail? That police officer you’d banged was there, rubbing up on you, and it wasn’t even your precinct.”
Cocky Cop: Cocker Brothers - Book 23 Page 16