Cowboy Baby Daddy

by Claire Adams

  “I miss you,” she said, placing her hands over my cheeks.

  “I miss you too, Mom.” We would have a long road ahead of us if we kept things like they were, but it wasn't what either of us wanted. Granddad was right; we did need to talk more.

  I spent the rest of the day talking to Mom and Mimi and visiting more with Granddad when he was awake. Shortly before visiting hours were over, Mom insisted I stay with Mimi for the night. So, I made arrangements to meet her at the house. I grabbed my purse and started for the lobby, thinking about everything that had happened over the last couple months. My mind drifted to Luke. It wasn’t the first time today. Every time I had a break in thought, it always came back to him. Luke is exactly what I was thinking about as I coasted down the hall toward the elevator. I went to reach into my bag to find my keys as I walked, and I ran into someone as I rounded a corner. I started to fall back, but a hand reached out and grabbed me.

  “Shit.” I heard, and then I was pulled up and into someone’s chest.

  “I'm sorry,” I said and looked up into a pair of very intense eyes.

  “Emerson?” he said.

  When my mind caught up with what was happening, I noticed that it was Chris, someone who worked at my grandfather’s company.

  “Hey.” I smiled softly. “Sorry I tried to run you over.”

  “I’m not.” He gave me a crooked smile.

  My face fell a little but then a smile spread across my lips.

  “I really am sorry. What are you doing here?” I questioned as I pushed away and found my footing again.

  “I just came by to see the bossman. He scared us this morning.”

  “He scared everyone, but he seems to be good. He is hopeful he will be back in the next two weeks or so.”

  “That's good.” He nodded. “It's just really bad timing. I’m leaving tonight to head out and won't be back in the office until Monday.”

  I wanted to ask what was so important that he couldn't put it off, but realized that it wasn’t any of my business.

  “I’m heading there tomorrow to check on a few things for Granddad,” I stated.

  “That's great. I know you can handle it. When are you going to come and actually work full time?” he asked.

  “I hadn't really thought about it. I have to finish my grant first, and then we’ll see. Meantime, I need food and a good night’s sleep,” I said as I moved to the side so he could pass. “It was good to see you, though,” I added.

  “You too,” he said and took a few steps. He stopped and turned looking back at me.

  “It'll be good to work with you, Emmy. I always did enjoy having you around.” He winked and then walked away.

  Chris had been in my life for as long as I could remember. I think a few pictures of us together in preschool were even floating around somewhere. I had always considered him a friend, but when I went away to college, we lost touch. He had flirted with me all through high school, but I was always the girl that had my eyes on the sky and never looked toward anything that might change my goals. I remember he had tried several times to hold my hand and had even tried kissed me once. It wasn’t until my grandfather hired Chris that I saw him again. We had interned together the summer of my junior year in college. Since then, I’ve seen Chris on occasion when I’ve visited Granddad at the office during my trips home, but we still never kept in touch. In recent years, though, Granddad has talked about how good Chris has been for business. Something I supposed I’d need to know if Granddad expected me to take over sooner than I had anticipated, but that was something I would concern myself with later. Right now, I needed food.

  I pulled out my keys, climbed into the truck, then checked my phone. A few missed calls and several texts from Rachel. It was late on the East Coast, so I shot her a quick text to let her know Granddad was alright and I’d call her tomorrow with details. Then I cranked the truck. Part of me wanted to text Luke just to see how the competition went, but part of me didn't. He didn't know what was going on, and I didn't want to tell him at this point. So, I shoved the phone back into my purse and headed for Mimi’s house.

  ***

  “Good Morning, Emerson.” Samantha said as I walked into the office on Friday morning.

  “Hey, how are you?” I pulled her into a hug. Samantha had worked for the company for many years and had become a staple at our family outings. My grandfather was big into family support with cookouts, vacations, and other family-oriented business adventures, so I knew most of his long-time employees very well.

  I sat at his desk after saying hey to everyone and looked over the file of work that was due from the desk drawer. He had many upcoming jobs and several in progress. I called John in to get me up to speed.

  “Hey, Emmy.” He smiled as he walked into the room and pulled me into a hug. “How’s the big man doing?”

  “Same as always—ornery.” I smiled and then pulled back and sat down pushing the folder between us. “Catch me up.”

  He pointed to the first two listings. “I've got a crew on this one and another one out at this job. This one should start next Wednesday and be done by Saturday.” Then he ran his finger down the paper almost to the end. “All of these should be wrapped up by the end of the month.”

  “Do we have others set up for next month?” I asked.

  “We do.” He stood and walked over to the file cabinet behind me, pulled another folder out, and laid it in front of me. “These we start the first of next month and finish by the end of it.”

  I let out the breath I had been holding without realizing it. Looking at these, I could see that the business was doing well. I busied myself figuring everything out, not that I would be staying on indefinitely, but eventually I would need to know this information. My grandfather still kept hard copies of his paperwork, and he was organized, which made all of this incredibly easy. Everything was also in the computer system, but Granddad was old school. I pulled the file with the financials. He didn't plug all of this into a computer, but I was certain Samantha had. His system was solid, but having to scan everything in had to be a pain in the ass for Samantha. I grabbed the phone and called her into the office.

  “Yeeeees?” She said as she came in the room, a huge smile across her face.

  “Really?” I laughed.

  “Just getting used to you being here.”

  “Well, it's just for a few days.” I waved her over to the chair in front of the desk. “So, when he sends this stuff out, you have to scan it all in and then attach it to emails?”

  “Yeah. He is totes against everything being paperless. He thinks it will get lost in cyberspace.”

  I sighed audibly. “Hopefully that will change soon.”

  “I hope so,” she chuckled. “Meantime, John and me, and pretty much everyone else in the company, puts our stuff in the system. When the boss asks for anything, we just print him a copy and bring it in.”

  After we talked for a few more minutes, she left, and I found all the files I needed and made sure anything was addressed that needed to be followed up on. When I was done, I pulled my phone out to check to my emails since I was expecting one regarding my research. There was nothing—no email, phone call, or text. Even stranger, when I started messing with my phone, I couldn’t get it to do anything other than play Candy Crush. That explained why I hadn’t had any phone calls since Wednesday. I’d been so focused on what was going on at the hospital, I really hadn’t paid it any mind. Besides, the people who normally would have called me were there, aside from Rachel.

  Eventually, after several restarts and a few feeble attempts and pulling out the battery, I called my provider, and they walked me through forty-five minutes of tech support until we got to a point I had to hard reset my phone. The tech guy explained that any calls or messages sent while the phone wasn’t working may have been lost but I should still be able to get any emails that were missed. When I hung up with tech support, my phone dinged with dozens of emails coming in that I’d missed. I didn't want
to deal with them at that point, so I locked the screen and made my way back to the hospital to check on Granddad.

  ***

  That night, I fell into my childhood bed and closed my eyes. My phone dinged, and I reached over seeing a number I didn’t recognize on the screen.

  How are things at the office? Your mother gave me your number.

  Chris

  All is good, very organized.

  E

  He likes it that way.

  Chris

  I'm glad he does.

  E

  You want to grab coffee before you head back?

  Chris

  I thought you were out of town til Monday.

  E

  No, just out of the office. I get back into town tomorrow afternoon.

  Chris

  Sure. We can get coffee.

  E

  Great. Just give me a heads up when we can meet. It really was good to see you.

  Chris

  Will do. It was good to see you too. Talk soon.

  E

  I clicked out of the text messages and remembered I still hadn’t gone through the slew of emails that were waiting for my response. But I was so tired, I decided to put it off until the next day. Anyone who needed to hear from me would just have to understand my family situation. I laid there wondering about Luke’s family and realizing there was so much I wanted to know about him. I couldn’t help but think about the things Rachel had said, and I smiled as I laid the phone back down on the bed and closed my eyes thinking about Luke.

  ***

  Saturday afternoon, I worked at the office for several hours, making sure everything was set up for Monday like Granddad had requested. It was quiet. It kind of felt like when I was alone in the woods. I wasn't a loner, but I was okay being alone. I was just that kind of person who could be alone with her thoughts and not stress about it. Maybe that was why I was so good at my grant work. I spent hours and hours alone every week. Truth was, until I had moved in next to Luke, I really didn't have a lot of human interaction other than Rachel. Luke grated my last nerve most days, but what did I expect? He was the first person I’d had to actually relate to on a daily basis in quite a while. But no matter how I reacted, his kindness always smoothed things back out. Maybe I did like him, even when I didn't.

  I heard the bell chime for the elevator and looked up to see Chris walking out.

  “Hey,” he said when he looked up and saw me.

  “Hi.” I sat back in the oversized chair.

  “I didn't know you were here. I was just stopping by to grab some plans that I forgot so I could go over them before my meeting on Monday. If you’re not too busy, you wanna grab that coffee now?”

  “Sure.” Standing, I closed the folder I had opened and grabbed my jacket off the back of the chair.

  “Just give me a sec to grab what I need, and we’ll go. The rain has let up for the moment, so we can just walk over to the Coffee Bean if that's okay?”

  “Yeah, that's fine.” I smiled and waited until he returned, then we made our way out of the building and walked down the block. I looked up at the green awning and smiled to myself thinking about all the times my grandfather had taken me there for a hot chocolate and later coffee as I was growing up. He had always been more of a father to me than my own. With my dad’s work schedule, he had missed most of my childhood, something that hadn't really bothered me until I was older.

  “You okay?” Chris asked as he held the door for me.

  “I was just thinking about Granddad.”

  “He really is an extraordinary person.” Chris followed me to the counter. I ordered my coffee and then waited as he did the same. He pulled his wallet out of his jeans, and I couldn't help but notice his broad shoulders. He had filled out nicely in the last few years, and he was attractive in a pretty boy, “I'm better than everybody” kinda way.

  He smirked when he caught me looking. “See something you like?”

  “Just noticing that you’re not the scrawny teenager I remember from high school,” I said flippantly before redirecting his attention to the coffee order now sitting on the counter.

  I reached for my coffee when he held it out. Bringing the cup up to my nose, I let the rich smell engulf my senses. The warmth tickled my nose, and a small smile covered my face. I thought about Ryan and his ability to always think just a step ahead of me.

  “You love coffee, don’t you?” Chris said and walked past me toward a table.

  “I do, it is the best part of my day. The place I live has a large, wrap-around porch, and I like to sit out there, drink my coffee, and watch the morning spill across the fields.” It made me think of Luke and the noise that usually interrupted my daily ritual. I smiled at the thought.

  “So, your grandfather told me you were only about an hour or so away.” Chris said, licking the coffee that was left on his lips away.

  “Yeah, I lost my grant working on the forests in Maine, but I just secured another one, only it required I pack up and move, but such is the life of a researcher.”

  “Your whole family is rather environmentally-savvy.”

  “Well, if we don't save the environment, it can't save us,” I stated.

  “You’re gonna have to elaborate on that,” he stated, leaning forward on his elbows, and looked me straight in the eyes.

  “The trees and other green plants make all of our oxygen. Only about twenty percent actually gets made by trees, with most of that being from the rain forests. Plankton in the ocean actually account for most of the oxygen produced. I guess if you think about what plants do for us, oxygen is a very small part of it. They mold the land and give us food.”

  “Plankton? Like what whales eat?”

  “Yes,” I affirmed.

  “So, if we want more oxygen, we should kill all the whales since they are killing our oxygen source?”

  “No.” I laughed because I thought he was being serious. He was joking but at the same time, I could see the wheels turning in his head. He was thinking about what he said, and it was making more and more sense.

  “Everything has a purpose, even spiders and snakes.”

  “Umm, no,” he laughed, and I saw him shiver a little.

  “You afraid of snakes and spiders?”

  “Afraid is a strong word. I just don't like them. I don't go screaming like a girl if I see one, but I don't like them.”

  “What about bees?” I teased.

  “As far as bees are concerned, the only good bee is a dead bee. `Course, I’m biased since I’m allergic.”

  “Sure, sure. And just so you know, if you killed all the bees, we would all die.” I laughed. I lifted my cup to my mouth again and took a sip of the rich, dark brew.

  “Don't kill all the bees, noted.” He smiled and took another drink of his coffee. “Your grandfather has mentioned that you would be taking over for him eventually. How do you feel about that?”

  “I’ve always known it would be a part of my future. I guess I just didn't think it would be this soon. When I looked at him in that hospital yesterday, I could suddenly see his real age.”

  “I can see how a heart attack would do that to someone.” He reached for my hand and squeezed it under his. I wanted to pull back, but he didn't release it.

  “Truth?” I asked.

  “Yes.”

  “It isn't his first one. The doctor told him he’s had several miniscule attacks, but I guess he didn't know. Only about seventy percent of his heart is functioning at this point.” Tears burned my throat, and I willed myself not to cry.

  “I didn't realize it was that bad.”

  “I don't think any of us did. He’s always so worried about all of us that he never really thinks about himself. He never wants anyone worrying about him.”

  “What about you?”

  “What do you mean?” I cocked an eyebrow at him.

  “Well, you seem like you don't want people worrying about you either.”

  “I don't. I mean, I know my
family does, and Ryan does, but I just don't think it's necessary.”

  “Ryan?” his eyebrows rose.

  “He’s a neighbor.”

  “Only a neighbor?” Chris questioned.

  “I'm not sure I understand what you’re asking.”

  “Is he your boyfriend?”

  “Ryan?” I laughed so hard I almost shot coffee out of my nose. “Ryan is most definitely not my boyfriend.” I saw an odd look leave his expression, and I wasn't sure I liked it.

  “Just a friend then?”

  “You could say that. He is almost like an older brother. A very annoying, nosy, in your face older brother.” I laughed thinking about Ryan and his antics. He kind of was the older brother I never thought I wanted.

  I finished off my coffee and looked down at my phone, noticing the time.

  “Oh, I have to run. I promised Mom I’d meet her at the hospital. Good luck this weekend.” I said while leaning in to hug him.

  “Thanks. It's like a practice before the season. So we shall see.” He smiled and pulled me into his arms.

  ***

  When we separated, I walked quickly across the street and hopped into my truck, heading for the hospital. I drove the twenty minutes and found my way up to the third floor. When I arrived, my mother and grandmother were standing in the hallway.

  “Hey, honey.”

  “Hey Mom.” I kissed her on the cheek, “Mimi.” I leaned over and kissed her too.

  “They are moving him to a new room. We are just waiting for them to get him ready, and then we are just gonna follow them.”

  I smiled and hugged both of them before peeking into the room. He was fussing about being able to get up, but they wanted him to stay in bed, and I couldn't help but smile.

  “Stop standing there smiling, and help me explain to these nice ladies that I can walk to my next room.”

  “Granddad, just do what they ask, okay?” I stepped into the room, helped him lay back down, and helped the nurses secure him for transport.