by Nella Tyler
“Well, don’t. Dad swears it was someone passing through town, with no clue how to drive.”
“Is there anything I can do?”
“Nah, he’ll be all right. I’m happy I ran into you, though.” I paused for a moment before I added, “So, what are you up to?”
“Running this place,” he replied, as though he knew how I felt about the genealogical cycle of imprisonment that ensnared most the people living in this town. “I took it over when my dad died.”
“Oh, dude…I’m sorry for not coming to the funeral. My dad, with all his tact, called and left me a message, followed by an explanation of why he was telling me via message. I wanted to go, but I couldn’t get away from work.”
“Dude, it’s fine. I get it. You live across the country, and you’re busy. I might not understand any of what you do, but I am sure that it takes a whole lot of time.”
“Yeah, but I should’ve been there,” I answered, feeling a genuine pang of guilt. His father had always been nice to me, sometimes nicer than my own father was, and because of that, I knew I had a responsibility and I’d failed.
Thankfully, my old buddy didn’t take it too hard. Instead, he grinned and answered in a fashion that only he knew how. “That’s all right! If you want to make it up to me and my old man, come fishing with me tomorrow. Afterward, we can throw a few back at the old watering hole. We can catch up on the last...what? Decade or so?”
Hearing the words “throw a few back” and “old watering hole” made me want to give an immediate excuse to escape having to endure what Hayden considered the simple joys of country life – a concept I found tedious and torturous.
Though, the idea of spending time with Hayden and catching up was appealing, so I reconsidered my knee-jerk reaction.
“Sure,” I answered, resisting the urge to make some smartass comment about there not being anything else to do in this town.
“Sweet!” he exclaimed, his eyes lighting up with the same, genuine, down-home country charm that always made him popular with the girls around here.
I had been too busy planning my escape route to care all that much about the women of this town, but seeing the same look he always had made me realize how much I had missed my friend.
“So, what do I need for this ancient piece of shit?” I asked, turning back to the wall of O-rings and toilet parts.
Hayden chuckled, but I got the feeling he was bridling another reaction, or at least a comment. Without thinking twice, he grabbed for one of the O-rings nearest to him, insisting that this was exactly what I needed. I trusted his word, since he had built his life around handy work, insisting on paying and returned to the house to fix the toilet.
It was a shitty job, in more ways than one, dealing with the old plumbing and working around my father’s patch jobs, but eventually, it was fixed. After I washed my hands, I stood back from the toilet and admired my work.
Not half bad! I thought, feeling a sense of accomplishment that probably wasn’t all that warranted. At least one thing in my life is fixed.
With that thought, I grumbled and my heart sank, thinking of all the work I was missing and what I needed to catch up on. I huffed and decided that I should probably try to get to work on a couple things, while I was there.
I had a client I personally took care of who needed my assistance and I figured if I could work on that project, at least I wouldn’t feel so disconnected to the outside world.
So, with a slightly renewed spark, I dug my laptop out of its case, powered it on and… You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me. I tried my best not to hit something.
“What do you mean, there’s no Wi-Fi?” I yelled at my screen as though I expected it to give me an answer.
I growled, low and simmering in my throat as I narrowed my eyes at my basically useless two-thousand-dollars’ worth of hardware. After fuming for a few moments, I reigned in my anger, huffed with annoyance, and easily closed the laptop. Shoving myself away from the kitchen table, I left the house and headed for the hospital, taking the setback as an indication that it was time to visit my father.
I knew I should’ve felt guilty, since it was already dark by the time I arrived, but I didn’t. I had done a lot today. Fixing the toilet and not hiring a plumber to fix it was a big deal for me; not that my father would even care to notice.
When I arrived in the doorway of my father’s room, I suddenly felt like a teenager again, coming in late, past my curfew, with alcohol on my breath.
Instead of looking pleased to see that I hadn’t skipped town and left him there after I became fairly certain he wasn’t going to keel over, my father simply narrowed his eyes at me. He stared at me in a manner I knew I didn’t deserve, causing my spine to prickle with annoyance. Still, I tried to be pleasant, since I was well aware that I had nothing to be ashamed of.
“I did what you asked. I went down to the hardware store, bought the piece for the toilet, and fixed it myself.”
I wasn’t sure if I expected praise, since I was sure I should know better by now, but I was expecting more than the nod of the head I received. I narrowed my eyes. “That’s what took me so long. Then, I tried to work a little bit, but you still don’t have Wi-Fi.” I tried not to sound as annoyed as I felt, but I knew it wasn’t working.
In response, my father simply nodded again, causing me to grow even angrier. Well, fuck you too then, I thought, but decided it wasn’t worth the fight.
Instead, I turned around in search of the doctor who oversaw my father’s care. I held out the hope that she would give me a timetable that would allow me to get the hell out of this town without looking like a total asshole.
When I found her, she was having a word with one of the nurses. As I walked up, she finished the conversation, grinned with a Southern sincerity, and turned with grace.
“Excuse me?” I called, reaching out for her.
The woman turned again and flashed a beam that was telling. For some reason, it seemed she was happy I had returned, as though she was sure I wouldn’t.
Great! She already thinks I’m an asshole, I couldn’t help but think as I tried my best to keep from rolling my eyes at the thought.
Unfortunately, I knew Southern hospitality better than most. Dealing with everyone from CEOs to the preacher of this hole in the ground throughout different parts of my life, I had gotten fairly good at deciding what people were actually saying.
This woman, behind her painted lips and perfect teeth, was raking me over the coals for being what she probably considered a terrible son. After all, my father had a tendency to be a nice man, sometimes even warm and caring when it came to anyone but me.
“Mr. Meck!” she exclaimed. “It’s a pleasure to see you again.”
“Hello, Dr. Barnes,” I answered, knowing I shouldn’t be surprised that she remembered who I was immediately, but still couldn’t help but be taken slightly. “I was wondering how my father was doing…” I tried to grin at her, but it probably came out as aggravated as I was at being here. “You know, the man doesn’t tell me anything. To him, he’s fine and ready to go home.”
“Well, while your father is doing extremely well, especially for the extent of his injuries, he isn’t quite ready to leave. It should only be a few days, though.” As she paused, I started to relax, but the moment she spoke again, I knew I hadn’t waited for the closer – and I was certain I wasn’t going to like it.
“However, he will need to have someone with him to help him get around until his bones heal. Your father was extremely lucky, and unlike a lot of men his age, his body seems to be healing remarkably well, but he did sustain some serious injuries.”
“Oh?” I replied, trying not to sound as devastated as I was. The way she’d made it sound, he would be back running fucking marathons by the end of next week.
How did such a positive prognosis turn into me babysitting my father until his broken bones heal? I wondered, knowing I couldn’t stay in town that long.
“Your father seems
like a strong man, but if he falls, even just once, he could permanently damage any one of his already weakened bones, which could lead to long-term care,” Dr. Barnes replied, seeing the obvious sense of disappointment on my face.
I clenched my teeth as she continued. “Fortunately, a month of having to help him minimally now will safe you both from the threat of chronic pain and immobilization.”
Was she doing this on purpose? I wondered. Is my father sick enough that he would get the doctor to make me feel guilty?
Eventually, I decided my father didn’t care that much about our relationship to do anything so underhanded for the sole purpose of spending more time with me. So, I let the thought slip away.
“Well, what do you think, Doc? Is there some in-home healthcare option I can sign him up for?” I didn’t want to sound like a dick, but I had a life to get back to.
I’m sure she couldn’t take a month off work to take care of someone, I thought, but didn’t want to say. Still, her face scrunched up and her light green eyes narrowed, darkening extensively.
“Mr. Meck,” she breathed, as though she was losing patience with me. “I’m sure you will agree that your father will not go for something like that. I am sure that the only person he would want taking care of him at this time is you.”
“He doesn’t want me,” I hissed, feeling the cold glower hardening my gaze.
“I don’t know,” she replied, her insistence remained, while her voice softened. “He seemed happy that you were here. I think your presence played a major role in him recovering as quickly as he has. Sometimes, all patients need to know is that their family still believes in them.”
I wanted to say something about my father never caring about me or what I did, so long as I wasn’t a good ol’ boy like his friends’ kids, but I bit my tongue.
“Besides,” she added, “it might be nice to go back to your roots a little. From what I hear, you lead a busy life up there in the city.”
“You know what they say: you can’t go home again,” I grumbled, trying and failing to hide my contempt for her prying into my personal life. However, before I got too offended, I felt a wicked grin cross my lips. “Have you been checking up on me, Dr. Barnes?”
Unfortunately for me, the expression she returned was genuine disinterest, which was something I couldn’t understand.
“Well, Mr. Meck, it is a small town and since you are one of the only people in this town to hit the ground running and never look back, you’re quite unique. Some people ‘round here want to be you, some people around here can’t for the life of them understand you, so sure. People talk. But my interest lies entirely with your father’s welfare, and I think that you staying with your father will be the best thing – for both of you.”
This response was strange. Her educated, honest answer sounded slightly strange, mixed with the down-home Southern belle accent that I noticed came far more pronounced when she was aggravated. Mine did, too, but there was something lyrical about the way she spoke.
Though her expression was calm and her voice remained conversational, I watched rouge flare against her alabaster skin as her eyes gleamed meaningfully. I had to admit, there was something attractive about her honesty and feisty, blatant retort.
“Well, Doctor, seeing as how I am not your patient, I don’t see how you could possibly have the nerve to try and tell me what is and what is not best for me,” I responded, my words slicing through the air, matching the course of my anger. “You don’t know what my life is like. You might enjoy your life here, but I don’t, and as long as we are being forthright, I want to get the hell out of here as soon as possible.”
“Fair enough,” Dr. Barnes answered, backing away slightly, as though my honesty had satisfied her, somehow. She huffed, and I watched the crimson anger spreading up her cheeks, across the bridge of her nose, start to recede.
“You are not my patient and therefore, I don’t have any right to tell you what would be in your best interest. However, I am telling you what I genuinely believe would be in your father’s best interest. I cannot stop you from leaving, and I won’t try to. You could spend money on home care that your father doesn’t need and go back to the life you love so much in the city, but that is not what I think is best for my patient.”
Well, then you take care of him, was what I wanted to say, but instead, I felt my own anger retreat and my business mind start to set in. I was done being honest with this woman. Now, it was time to utilize my charm in order to salvage any hope I had of not being thought of as an ass.
“Listen, Dr. Barnes. I’m sorry. It’s just that…being here…in this town, with my father, is weird. You’re right. I did leave here the day after graduation, and I never looked back. The last time I was here was for my mother’s funeral and having that resounding, terrible memory has only made me more uninterested in being here.”
“Yes, but your childhood couldn’t have been all bad. You must have some good memories…and the fact that you came here at all, given your obvious opposition to it proves that you care about your father.”
“I never said I didn’t love him. We have just…never seen eye to eye.”
“A lot of people don’t see eye to eye with their parents. That doesn’t mean that running away is the answer.”
With a pang of annoyance rocketing through me, I felt my eyes narrow and my true feelings override my act. This woman really goes for the jugular.
“Dr. Barnes, simply because I don’t prefer the way I was brought up does not mean that I am running away. I pursued a passion.” Reigning my composure, I shot her a glower. “I’m sure that if there were no hospitals in this one-horse town, you’d pack up and move, too.” My shoulders rose and fell as I closed my argument. “I simply found my hospital in the city.”
“Fine,” she countered immediately. “Prove it. Stay and help your father. Once he’s secure, you can do whatever you want.”
I turned my head to look sideways at her, ticking the corner of my mouth up in a sly manner.
“Fine,” I insisted, “but one condition.”
“What?”
“You help me stave off boredom in this town by coming to have a drink with me. Just one and we can talk about my father the whole time.”
She grinned and I thought I was golden, at least for a nice fling with an attractive doctor, but once again, I found that I had severely misinterpreted her.
“Thank you, Mr. Meck. That’s so sweet of you, but honestly, things have been hectic lately and I don’t think it’s a good idea…” Her shoulders rose and fell quickly before she added. “I mean, I’ll be sure to keep your offer in mind, but right now, I think it would be best for us both to focus on getting your father’s health restored.” With a slight nod of her head, she turned and headed down the opposite hallway.
I stood there, wheeling around and watching her leave.
Her white lab coat swayed back and forth as her hips moved with every step of her small frame, promising a tight buttocks underneath. Her long legs strode away from me with confidence while her deep-red hair glistened every time she passed under one of the hospital lights. I was stunned.
She turned me down, I thought, when I could finally start to comprehend what had happened. What the hell? I turned to walk out of the hospital. No one ever turns me down! Why would she say no to me?
Overcome with bewilderment at the obvious rejection, I returned to my father’s house in complete wonderment.
Chapter 10
Jenna
I walked into Phil Meck’s room after leaving his son, still slightly steaming from the conversation with Tim.
I couldn’t believe the audacity of that man. I knew that different people dealt with situations like this in different ways, and perhaps I was being a little harsh with him. However, something told me this was the way Tim Meck always was: a difficult, conniving pain in the ass!
“What’s eating you, Doc?” Phil asked as soon as he saw me, a lighthearted grin spread across his face
and kind eyes urging me to be truthful with him. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you had a conversation with my son. He seems to bring the worst out in people sometimes.” He chuckled.
Trying to ignore the obvious aggravation I felt, I returned the pleasant expression as I checked his chart. “Thanks, Phil, but I’m all right.” I raised my eyes, suddenly concerned and asked, “Did your son get your blood-pressure up?”
“No more than normal…” he teased. “I mean, on one hand, I’m glad he showed up, but every time I see him, I want him to leave. He ain’t happy here, and I’m the one keeping him here. I’ve always been the one, trying to get him to stay,” Phil grumbled. “For a smart kid, he sure is stupid.”
Although I agreed, considering the conversation I had with him a few minutes before, I didn’t want to tell Phil that. It wasn’t my place.
However, I was interested in trying to help him, if indeed the elder man was trying to confide in me. So, I listened patiently.
“Do you have kids, Dr. Barnes?”
“No, Mr. Meck, I don’t,” I answered easily, thankful to be able to respond with something without having to be leery of how I told him.
“Good for you!” he said in a teasing manner. “They’re cute when they’re little, but then they grow up to be too much like you and therefore, you can’t get along to save your lives!”
Now, he laughed. “When my son was little, I thought we couldn’t be more different, but in my old age, I’m starting to think that fundamentally, we’re cut from the same, stubborn, pain-in-the-ass cloth.” He shook his head. “I might be a little more leathery than Tim is, but if the look on your face is any indication, he’s worn well…”
Phil sighed and shook his head. Instead of humored, he now looked serious. “I hope it ain’t too late.”
“I’m sure your son will come around,” I told him kindly, trying to sound oblivious while secretly hoping the doubt I felt was wrong.
I looked at Phil and tried to imagine why his son would be so hard on this man. I hadn’t known him personally until now, but from everyone who had ever dealt with him, he was supposed to be a nice guy.