Blown Away (Next Generation 8)

by Cheryl Douglas

  The fear in Brent’s stomach swelled. He knew things could go from bad to worse quickly with pneumonia, and once the lungs started filling up, doctors couldn’t do much if the medication wasn’t effective. “It has to work,” Brent said quietly. He couldn’t consider the possibility it wouldn’t.

  When Brent stood up and reached for his cell phone, Keith asked, “Where are you going?”

  “To see him. I don’t care what he says, he’s going to the goddamn hospital.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Brent sat in the driveway taking a few deep breaths and trying to tamp down his fear and frustration. He didn’t want to argue with his dad, but he would be damned if he’d allow the old man’s stubborn streak to cost him his life. Just thinking about losing the man who’d always been his source of strength made Brent feel weak.

  Brent got out of the car, rehearsing what he intended to say. Insisting that his father go to the hospital for his own good was a sure-fire way to make Jerry dig his heels in. Dealing with his father was often like dealing with an obstinate child. He had to make Jerry believe going to the hospital for observation was his idea. If he felt he was being forced, he would fight Brent to the bitter end.

  The caregiver, Elsie, was straightening a stack of newspapers on the living room coffee table when Brent walked on. “Hi, Els.”

  “Oh, you scared me,” she said, flattening her hand against her chest. “I didn’t hear you come in.” Elsie worked part-time at the senior center his father frequented. She told Brent during the initial interview she was used to ornery old people, which made Brent chuckle since Elsie was a grandmother of four and well into her sixties.

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.” Brent glanced at the open bathroom door. “Is he around?”

  “He’s lying down.”

  “At this time of day?” His father was a creature of habit, and afternoon naps were not part of his regular routine.

  “I guess you know.” Elsie removed her checkered apron and folded it over her arm. She prepared meals, did light housekeeping and laundry, and drove Jerry wherever he needed to go. “Did he call you?”

  “No, his nurse called Keith. Why the hell didn’t he tell us?”

  “You know how he is, honey. He doesn’t want to bother you and your brother. He knows how busy y’all are.”

  “He comes first, Els. He knows that.” It hurt Brent that his father felt he was burdening them with his health problems.

  “He does, but you know the way he is. Stubborn as a mule.” She patted Brent’s arm as she walked past him. “Come into the kitchen, and I’ll make you some tea. You can see your father when he wakes up. It shouldn’t be too much longer.”

  Elsie knew damn well Brent hated tea, but she claimed he drank too much coffee… and alcohol. Not to mention the stress he was routinely under at work. He knew her heart was in the right place, so he allowed her to preach about taking better care of himself.

  “I got this from the health food store yesterday,” she said, holding up a box of green tea. “You’ll love it.”

  “I’ll hate it.” Brent sat on one of the iron chairs with torn vinyl his father bought when Brent was just a boy. His father insisted on living like a pauper when he could be living like a king, but Brent had decided a long time ago that furniture was a battle that wasn’t worth fighting.

  “Oh stop,” Elsie said, shaking her head. “You’re as wilful as your father.”

  The similarities between him and his father were uncanny. Jerry Armstrong had to quit school at fourteen to help support his family when his father died of a stroke. Without a decent education, he’d felt his opportunities were limited, and with a young family to support, he said he couldn’t afford to take stupid risks. Brent often wondered how different his father’s life would have been if he, like Brent, had the benefit of a good education.

  “Tell me about his condition. I want the whole story.” Brent could count on Elsie to be honest. She wasn’t just their employee, she was their friend, and she only wanted the best for Jerry.

  Elsie sighed as she set the teapot and cups on the table. “He didn’t even know he was sick. He went to the doctor for a routine examination.”

  “I was just here to see him the other day. He didn’t seem sick.”

  “Walking pneumonia, the doctor called it.” Elsie poured two cups of the tea and offered one to Brent, who just frowned. She went to the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water for him instead before setting a plate of homemade cookies on the table.

  Brent covered his face with his hands and propped his elbows on the table. He was exhausted. Between the lack of sleep and his stress over his father’s condition, he felt as though he could sleep for a week. He couldn’t make that trip. He wouldn’t be able to concentrate until he knew his father was going to be okay.

  Brent texted his brother asking him to cancel the trip. He told Keith he’d fill him in on their father’s condition as soon as he spoke to the doctor. Brent had put in a call to their long-time family physician on the drive to the house, but he was still waiting for a call back.

  “You look tired,” Elsie said, patting his arm. “You can’t help your father if you get sick too.”

  Brent could take care of himself. He thought of calling Ava, but he wanted more information before he spoke to her. “I’m okay. What did the doctor say? Did he get the results of this morning’s X-ray yet?”

  “Not yet. They said they’d call to set up an appointment as soon as they know more.”

  “Does he seem better or worse since he started taking the medication?”

  Elsie offered a sympathetic smile. “It’s difficult to say. The medication makes him so tired.”

  Brent prayed that was the only thing making him tired. He hated to think his father’s condition was deteriorating, even with medication.

  “What’re you doin’ here?” Jerry asked, rubbing his balding head as he staggered into the kitchen.

  He seemed shaky, and that made Brent uneasy. Coordination had never been one of his father’s problems. “I came to see you.” Brent watched him take an orange juice box out of the fridge and stick a straw in the opening. “What’s this I hear about you not feeling well?” He didn’t want to overwhelm his dad by coming on too strong. Slow and easy was usually the best approach.

  “It’s this damn medication,” he said, scratching his chest. “Makes me tired and weak.”

  “Why didn’t you tell us you weren’t feeling well? Keith had to hear it from Ruth instead.”

  “Ah hell, she shouldn’t even have said anything to you boys. I told her I’m fine.”

  “Isn’t that up to the doctor to decide? What did he say about your condition?”

  Jerry grunted and sat down at the opposite end of the table. “Damn doctors. What do they know? I felt fine before he put me on that medication. I tell ya, all that stuff they pump into our bodies is pure poison.”

  Brent and Elsie shared a look. They’d heard his father’s conspiracy theories before. He believed doctors manufactured problems because they got kickbacks from pharmaceutical companies. No matter how many times Brent told him that was ridiculous, Jerry was steadfast in his opinions.

  “You didn’t answer my question, Dad. What did Doc Roberts say about your condition?”

  “He doesn’t know a damn thing yet. Typical. He thinks he knows it all. If he knows so much, why does he always need a second opinion before he can tell ya what the hell’s wrong with ya?”

  Brent didn’t like where the conversation was going. With his father’s impaired hearing, Brent was concerned he may have missed something important during one of his appointments. “Did he suggest you see a specialist?”

  “He said we’ll wait and see.” He threw his hands up. “That’s all he ever says. ‘Wait and see, Jerry. Just wait and see.’ The old fool. If you ask me, he should have retired years ago. He’s too damn old to be practicin’ medicine anyway. Retire already and make room for some new blood. Kids who haven’t had
time to forget what they learned in medical school.”

  Brent knew his father hated being sick almost as much as he hated going to doctor’s, so he didn’t try to halt the tirade. If venting made his dad feel better, Brent would listen.

  Brent’s cell phone rang. It was Ava. “I have to get this. Excuse me.” He stepped out on the back porch, eager to hear her voice. “Hey, baby. What’s up?”

  “I was about to ask you the same question. Are you on your way to the airport?”

  “Uh, there’s been a change of plans. My father’s not doing too well.” Brent sat down at the old picnic table, surprised the dilapidated furniture was still strong enough to support his weight.

  “Oh no, what’s wrong?”

  He heard the concern in her voice and it made him love her all the more. She’d never met his father, but she cared because she knew how much the old man meant to him. “Pneumonia.” He sighed, wishing the word didn’t scare him so much. He’d heard of too many older people dying of complications from pneumonia. With his father’s lung condition, the situation was even more serious.

  “I’m sorry to hear that. Is it serious?”

  “It could be.” Brent looked out over the backyard. Fence boards were loose and the lawn should have been cut a week ago, but the man Brent hired had fallen ill. The way his father was living made him angry, even more so when he felt so helpless. “We don’t know his status yet. I’m waiting to hear from the doctor. I want to convince him to go to the hospital so they can monitor him.”

  “That’s sounds like a good idea.”

  “To you and me because we’re rational people, but I doubt I can convince my father.” He closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. “I’m sorry to dump all this on you, babe. It’s just been a hell of a day.” He would have suffered in silence, trying to handle everything himself, but having someone to talk to lessened the burden.

  “You know you can talk to me about anything,” she said quietly. “Is there anything I can do? Maybe I can bring some chicken soup over or stop at the pharmacy?”

  He smiled. “I love you.”

  “I love you too.”

  “We’re doing okay. He has a caregiver and a nurse. I’m just gonna hang around and see what the doctor has to say, and we’ll go from there. If the doc thinks he should be in the hospital, I’ll get him there one way or another.”

  “If not?”

  “I’ll spend the night with him, make sure he’s okay, and go to the doctor with him in the morning.”

  “You’re such a good son.”

  Brent didn’t need praise for taking care of his father. It was the least he could do. “You go to your father’s party and have a good time. Call me when you get back to your place to let me know you got home safely, okay?”

  “Sure.”

  “Do you want me to send my driver? I don’t want you drinking and driving.” Just the thought of something happening to her turned Brent’s stomach.

  “I’m fine. If I need to, I’ll take a taxi home, but I don’t expect to have more than a drink or two. Are you sure you don’t need me tonight? My dad would understand.”

  Her offer meant the world to him, but he couldn’t tear her away from her family celebration just to hold his hand. “I’ll be fine. Wish your dad a happy birthday for me, okay?”

  “I will. Love you.”

  “Love you too, sweetheart.”

  ***

  By the time Ava arrived at Jimmy’s and circulated among her family and friends, she was feeling better. She’d been worried about Brent and his father, but he’d texted her to tell her the doctor didn’t think Jerry needed to be admitted to the hospital yet.

  Ava spotted Eli talking to Aiden at the bar. “Hey, you two,” she said, slipping her arm around her uncle’s waist. “You’re not talking shop, are you?”

  Eli leaned in to kiss her cheek before admiring her little black dress. “Look at you! You look gorgeous.”

  “Thanks.” She smiled at Aiden. “You guys look pretty good yourselves. Where’s Sela?”

  “Down with the flu, I’m afraid. She hated like hell to miss the party, but she didn’t want to risk infecting y’all.”

  “Aww,” Ava said, “I’m sorry to hear she’s not feeling well. Give her my love.”

  “Will do.” Aiden checked his watch. “I guess your daddy’s gonna be here soon. I’m gonna call my beautiful wife to make sure she’s doin’ okay before he gets here. Excuse me.”

  Ava waited for Aiden to leave before ordering a glass of white wine. “So, what were y’all talking about?” She nodded her thanks when the bartender placed the drink in front of her.

  “You know Aiden’s retiring at the end of the season. We’re all hoping he’ll get the nod as head coach. He’s been here a long time, knows exactly what it would take to turn things around and make us real contenders for the Cup.” Eli grinned as he brought his beer bottle to his lips. “But something tells me you’re not all that interested in hockey.”

  Ava laughed. “What makes you say that? Did I get that dazed look in my eye again?”

  “Hey, it’s not for everybody,” he said, smiling. “I get that.”

  Ava spotted Tara and beckoned her over. “There’s my best friend Tara. She works with me. I’d love for you to meet her.” She watched carefully as Eli’s eyes drifted over her friend. He was definitely interested. Ava reached for Tara’s hand. “There you are. I was worried you were gonna be late.”

  “Sorry, I had to stop and get gas.” She flashed a quick grin at Eli. “Hi.”

  He set his bottle down and discreetly wiped his hand on his black jeans. “Hi.”

  Ava was thrilled to see those two definitely had chemistry. “Tara, I’d like you to meet Eli Rea.”

  “It’s a pleasure,” Eli said. “Ava tells me y’all work together. Does that mean she’s helped you find your Mr. Right?”

  “No, I’m still looking.” She winked at Ava. “Not that she hasn’t tried. She can’t help herself; she thinks everyone has a soul mate.”

  “I happen to agree with her.” Eli shot a side-long glance at Ava. He lifted a shoulder. “What can I say? I guess I’m just a romantic.”

  Tara laughed. “Don’t let the boys in the locker room hear you say that.”

  Eli quirked an eyebrow. “You’re a hockey fan?”

  “Am I a hockey fan?” She laughed. “My dad and I used to plant ourselves in front of the TV every Saturday night with a big bowl of popcorn and watch the game. That lasted until I was about fourteen.”

  Looking amused, Eli asked, “What happened when you turned fourteen?”

  “I discovered boys, of course!”

  Eli chuckled and cast an appreciate glance at Tara’s obvious assets. “Don’t you mean they discovered you?”

  Men were usually drawn to Tara’s curvaceous figure and beauty first. When they realized she was also sweet and funny, they often wanted to pursue her, but Tara didn’t believe in wasting time with men who wouldn’t be around for the duration. “Flattery will get you nowhere, Mr. Rea,” Tara said. She smiled at Ava. “Excuse me, I’m going to powder my nose before your father gets here.”

  “Did I say something to offend her?” Eli asked.

  “It’s not you, Eli. She’s had a rough year.”

  “I can relate.”

  “Tell me something,” Ava said, taking a sip of her wine, “are you really interested in a serious relationship, or are you doing this for the wrong reasons?”

  “The wrong reasons?” He frowned. “I don’t follow.”

  Ava turned away from the crowd and leaned her elbows on the bar. “Some people join Lasting Connections because of pressure from their families, others feel they’ve reached a point in their lives when they should think about settling down… I get the feeling you may be doing it because you’re trying to forget someone else.”

  Eli winced. “I’m that easy to read, huh?”

  “I’ve been at this a while,” Ava said, smiling to soften th
e criticism. “I’ve gotten pretty good at reading people.”

  “I’m not gonna pretend I don’t wish things could be different, but Jamie’s made it clear she’s not interested in me that way anymore.” He signalled to the bartender for a refill. “I loved that girl. I always thought we’d find our way back to each other, but she’s been back in town almost a year, and she’s pretty obviously still hung up on her ex. She even has a Google alert on her computer so she won’t miss any news about him.” He rolled his eyes. “How sad is that?”

  “Does he still have feelings for her?” Ava said, twirling the stem of her wine glass between her fingers.

  Eli regarded her closely before he said, “I don’t think so. It seems he’s moved on with someone else.”

  “That must have been hard for Jamie to accept.”

  “I don’t know that she has,” Eli sighed. He watched the guests mingling as he propped his elbows on the bar behind him. “But she’ll have to accept it eventually. He doesn’t love her anymore. Hell, I’m not sure he ever really did.”

  “But you do…? Love her, I mean.” Eli was so obviously still in love with his ex. She felt sorry for him. She couldn’t imagine what loving someone who was in love with someone else felt like.

  “I probably always will.” He watched Nick and Megan slow dancing, but he turned his attention away when Nick kissed her. “But you can’t make someone love you, Ava. No matter how much you might wish you could.”

  His comment made Ava appreciate her relationship with Brent even more. She was so glad they were finally on the same page: in love and looking forward to a future together.

  Chapter Fourteen

  The last thing Brent wanted was to leave his father alone, but when Elsie returned so she and Jerry could watch their favorite evening drama together, the old man told Brent to get the hell out for a while. He said he appreciated Brent’s concern, but his hovering was driving him crazy.

  Brent took the opportunity to check on Ava and wish her father a happy birthday. Brent stood in the entrance of Jimmy’s, his eyes adjusting to the dim lighting, until he spotted her. She was dancing in the arms of… No, it couldn’t be. Brent moved in closer. It was him. He watched for a few minutes, too stunned to move until Eli’s hand slid lower to splay across the swell of Ava’s bottom. That’s when he saw red.