Small Town King: A Single Dad Romance (Carlisle Cellars Book 3)

by Fabiola Francisco

  “Everything will be okay. Keep me updated, please. I need to make sure you’re okay.” I nod, although he can’t see me, feeling lost. Whatever I packed will have to do.

  “Okay, I’ll talk to you later. Bye.” My voice is monotone and emotionless.

  “Bye,” Brett says, defeated, and lets me go.

  I wish he’d hold on a bit longer. I’m afraid of what I’ll find when I face the reality of all of this.

  Chapter 30

  Magnolia

  I rush through the doors of the hospital like a messy hurricane; tears barely kept at bay as I fly through the hallway in search of my mom’s room. My dad told me her room number, but I don’t even know if I entered the right part of the hospital building.

  “Can I help you?” A young woman stops me from my craziness.

  I blink up at her and nod, but no words come out.

  “Where do you need to go?” she asks softly.

  “Room 350B.”

  She nods with a kind smile and guides me. “I’ll take you.”

  “Thank you,” I whisper, brushing my hands through the top of my head to control the mess there. I catch myself in the reflection of the metal elevator wall and cringe. Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath. Then, I remove the hair tie from my ponytail and comb my fingers through my hair before bunching it in my hands again and tying the band around it.

  The ride up to the floor is eerily silent, as if preparing me for what I’ll find when I walk into my mom’s room. The doors open, and the nurse leads the way.

  “Here you go,” she says, motioning to a closed door after walking down a long hall and entering a separate section. I never would’ve found this myself.

  “Thank you so much.” My face twitches with tears, and I take a deep breath to hold it together before walking into the room.

  “You’re welcome.” She nods once and smiles, leaving me to it.

  I lift my hand, pausing in midair and shutting my eyes. I say a quick prayer before knocking on the door.

  “Come in.”

  I take my time entering the room. My heart pounds with fear, but I know I need to face this and be there for my parents. As soon as I step in, my dad looks my way and smiles. My throat tightens, but I continue moving forward until my mom appears. She’s lying on the bed, smiling my way with an IV connected to her and monitors beeping.

  “Hi, sweetheart.”

  “Mama…” I break down, my body trembling. Immediately, my dad stands and hugs me. I hold on, fighting to stay in control. After a few beats, I lift my head and smile weakly.

  “How are you?”

  “I’m okay. It’s not as serious as we thought when I arrived. My blood sugar is struggling to stay lower, so they’re giving me intravenous insulin and monitoring me. I’m okay,” she repeats for emphasis.

  I walk to the side of the bed and grab her hand. “Are you just saying that to ease my mind?”

  “No, Magnolia. The doctor will be by later this afternoon, and you can ask him. You can also talk to my nurses. Their theory at the moment is that the new medicine that the doctor prescribed isn’t working as they expected. Chances are I’ll get switched to something else.”

  “But…what about the insulin pump? Wasn’t the whole point of that to control it better?”

  “Yes, they’re checking that it’s working properly.” She smiles despite being hooked up and lying in a hospital bed.

  “Are you sure that’s all?” I look from her to my dad. He wouldn’t lie to me.

  “Yes,” he nods. “Thankfully.”

  I don’t mention the stress about paying for all this later on; that’s not important right now. What matters is that my mom is healthy, and we can get her levels under control and steady. I don’t understand how this could happen with all the precautions she’s taken, the medicine, and insulin. Granted, the doctor did mention since the medicine is new to my mom that it may not serve the purpose they hoped for.

  “Daddy, go grab a coffee or take a break. I’ll stay here.” He shakes his head.

  “Go.” I tilt my head and give him a pointed look. “Here.” I fish money out of my wallet. “Get us both some coffee.” I smile, hopeful he’ll listen.

  After a sigh and mumbled, “Fine,” my dad grabs the money and walks out of the room. I sit on the chair next to the bed and look at my mom. My lips press together, and eyebrows pull down over my eyes, worry all over me.

  “Magnolia, sweetie, don’t stress. It will all be okay. We know these things happen. It’s been a rough patch, but soon we’ll look back at this and know it was just a bump in the road.”

  “Mama,” I pause, unsure of what to say. I can’t exactly tell her I’m scared she’s going to die or that this won’t get any better.

  My mom squeezes my hand. She looks small on the bed, lines around her eyes and forehead. She can tell me she’s okay all she wants, but her face tells me she’s also worried.

  “How’s that young man?” She smiles.

  I shake my head, unable to conceal my own smile. “He’s good.”

  “That’s all you’re gonna tell your mama?” Her eyebrows lift, and she gives me her I mean business look.

  I giggle. “Things are good. He told his daughters about us yesterday. They were happy with the news and came to visit me at the bookstore. Afterward, we had dinner together at the diner in town.” I smile as I remember the day yesterday, how perfect it was.

  “I can’t wait to meet them,” my mom says quietly.

  I nod. “Once you’re better, you will.” I give her hand a gentle squeeze.

  “Of course,” she nods. “How about the rest? Have you found a job yet?”

  I frown and shake my head. “I’m going to create a website and offer my services in nearby towns. I’ve been doing some research, and some therapists do video sessions, but I don’t think that will work with children. Maybe with teens, though, so it can expand my area.”

  “That’s a great idea.”

  “Yeah, I figured I could offer in-home therapy and go to them,” I explain the process and how Lucy will help me create a website.

  “You see, everything will work out. You’re meant to help people, and you will,” she says with a confidence I wish I possessed.

  “Thanks, Mama.” I kiss the top of her hand.

  My dad returns with two coffee cups, and I thank him. Then, we sit in silence, small chit-chat here and there as we wait for the doctor to arrive. It’s slow torture waiting for him. When my mom tells us to go eat lunch, we both shake our heads. I don’t want to miss the doctor if he comes by. Besides, my stomach is in knots, and I can’t even think about eating anything.

  My phone vibrates in my purse, and I dig for it through the mess in there. I smile when I see Brett’s name.

  Brett: Hey babe… How’s your mom? I hope you made it safe. How are you?

  Magnolia: Hey, she’s okay. Waiting for the doc to come by…seems it’s her blood sugar level that skyrocketed. They’re monitoring her for a few days and trying a new medicine.

  Brett: I’m glad she’s okay. How are you? You didn’t tell me

  I sigh, staring at the screen, unsure of how to respond. I could say I’m okay, but I’d be lying. I don’t want to worry him with the truth, though.

  Magnolia: I’ve been better. Worried but she looks good so that helps ease my nerves

  Brett: If you need anything, call me. I mean it Magnolia. You’re not too far, I’ll go if I need to. If you need me to.

  Magnolia: Thank you

  I blink away tears at his words. How’d I get so lucky? Brett has proven to be more than I thought or imagined. I’ve questioned a lot of things about moving to Willow Creek and losing my job, but he’s proved time and again since we started dating—maybe even before that—that there is more to the reason I had to move to Willow Creek. I look at my parents and wonder when or if I’ll be able to return. They need me, and I can’t just leave them like this.

  I drop onto a chair the nurse brought in after I arr
ived, exhausted and stressed. The day was full of an overload of emotions, from waking up to my dad’s phone call to arriving at the hospital and hearing what the doctor had to say.

  Apparently, my mom isn’t responding to the insulin pump, so they’re doing intravenous insulin to lower her numbers. Once she’s discharged, she’ll get a new pump because the one they gave her wasn’t working properly. Go figure. Thankfully, she came and got the care she needed right away.

  “Sweetie, go sleep at home. I’ll be okay,” my mom says.

  “I’m staying. Dad, you should go home,” I look at him.

  “I ain’t movin’ from here.” He shakes his head adamantly.

  “Well, then, I guess we’re havin’ a sleepover,” I say.

  “You’ll be more comfortable at home. Like that, you can bring me a few things tomorrow,” my mom tries to reason with me.

  “I’ll go to the house in the morning and grab them.”

  “Goodness, you’re stubborn like your daddy,” my mom mumbles.

  “He ain’t the only one I inherited my stubbornness from,” I give her a pointed look.

  She laughs softly. “Fair point. At least go have some dinner,” she asks.

  I nod. “Okay. I’ll be back.” I look at my dad. “Do you want to come?”

  “Go ahead. I’ll stay here.”

  “I’ll bring you something to eat then, okay?” He nods, clear that food isn’t his top priority, as he leans into the side of my mom’s bed and grips her hand. I watch them a moment before walking out of the room.

  I scrub my face as I head down the hall and to the elevator. The walk to the cafeteria is long and slow. I’m exhausted. I’m not really hungry, but I know my mom won’t give up until I eat something. As I get in line to see how bad the hospital food is, my phone buzzes in my back pocket.

  “Hello?” I cradle the phone between my ear and shoulder as I scan the options. Nothing looks appealing.

  “Hey,” Brett’s deep voice moves through me.

  “Hi,” I whisper, swallowing back even more tears. Who knew I’d still have tears to cry?

  “How are you?” he asks quietly.

  “I’m…” I pause before I say the generic response. “I’m holdin’ on,” I admit.

  “How’s your mom?”

  “She seems okay. Her spirits are good, which is a great sign. They have her on intravenous insulin to control her hyperglycemia. They’ll have her on that at least twenty-four hours, so I hope we have better news tomorrow afternoon.” I move away from the line so the few others can grab what they want, and I can talk to Brett without interruptions. I tell him all the details about the failed insulin pump and what else the doctor told us.

  “Shouldn’t they have checked the pump?” he asks, agitated. “That’s a rookie mistake.”

  “I know, but it happened. I’m just glad she came when she started to feel sick instead of waiting,” I exhale.

  “Yeah,” Brett murmurs.

  “How are you? How are the girls?” I switch topics and get back to choosing dinner. I settle on a sandwich and a bag of chips. Safe choice. Brett tells me about his day as I pay for my food and find a secluded seat that will allow me to have a private conversation.

  “They say hi and miss you,” he tells me about Charlie and Chloe.

  I smile. “I saw them yesterday.”

  “I know, that’s what I told them, but Charlie’s response was, and I quote, ‘Yeah, Daddy, but that was like sixteen hours ago, and now we won’t see her today,’” Brett chuckles.

  “She’s somethin’ else.”

  “She sure is.” He pauses, silence falling between us. “I miss you, too,” he finally whispers.

  Warmth coats me, bringing about a fresh wave of tears for a different reason now. I’m not sure when I’ll be back in Willow Creek.

  “I miss you, too,” I whisper back. It’s the truth. I was looking forward to seeing him today, maybe going out this week, feeling his touch and kisses.

  “You’ll be back in no time.” I hear a touch of sadness in his voice, and I wish I knew what he was thinking. Brett wouldn’t tell me. He’d hold it in, bottle it up, to not hurt my feelings or cause any more pressure.

  The reality is that this moment hangs in uncertainty. Depending on my mom’s recovery, I’ll be heading back to Willow Creek to continue finding my place there and exploring where my relationship with Brett will take us, or I’ll stay here and help my mom without knowing when I’ll see the man who’s taken claim of my heart again. The idea of walking away from him and the girls shatters me, but I can’t turn my back on my family.

  Brett and I talk for a little longer before hanging up. I throw away my half-eaten sandwich and buy one for my dad, taking it up to my mom’s room. When I return, my mom’s asleep, and my dad’s soft snores come from his chair. I look at them with worry.

  As I settle in my own chair, crossing my arms and lifting my shoulders to my ears, finding a comfortable position, my phone vibrates. Opening, I read the words with emotion lodge in my throat.

  Brett: I’m here for you Magnolia. Don’t hesitate to ask me for help. Take your time, I’ll be here when you return. After finding you, I’m not gonna let you go that easily.

  I can’t give him up. Clutching my phone, I bring my feet up on the chair and hug my knees, softly crying into myself.

  Chapter 31

  Magnolia

  The last few days have passed in a blur. My mom is recovering, her levels staying pretty steady for the last few hours, which is a blessing. Grace came by yesterday when she heard what happened and chastised me for not calling her right away. She brought my dad and me peach turnovers from her shop made with peaches from her orchard and promised to have a diabetes-approved recipe for my mom once she was discharged. It was nice to take a break and have coffee with her down in the cafeteria.

  The doctor was also optimistic this morning when he came by. They ran more tests on her to make sure her heart is okay, her vision hasn’t been damaged, and they all came back positive. I was so thankful; I almost hugged the doctor.

  The bad news is that the new insulin pump isn’t covered by the insurance and her new medication is even more expensive than the one she was taking. The stress about how we’re going to pay this all, including another hospital stay, has me a nervous wreck.

  I look up from researching on my phone when a nurse walks in. She smiles and checks on my mom. My dad went home for a bit to check on the ranch, which I’m glad he did. I’ve been looking up financial help since I remember my mom telling me they were looking at some information.

  As the nurse turns to leave, I stand and follow her.

  “Excuse me.” I step out of the room, and she smiles at me. “Maybe you can help me… My parents told me some time ago that they were looking into financial help for people with diabetes to pay for medical bills. Another nurse had mentioned it to them.”

  The nurse nods. “There are a few options. I can get you some information and bring it by later. That way, you can look at all of the options, decide which would work best for your mom, and which one she qualifies for.”

  “Thank you,” I sigh in relief. “Are they difficult to get approved?” My eyebrows furrow as I look at her.

  “It takes a lot into consideration like salary, where you live, the progression of the disease, and a few other things. Each one is different. I’ll bring info on the ones that are the best.”

  “I appreciate it,” I smile at her.

  I stay in the hall a moment before walking back in. When I do, my mom’s smiling at me. “Everything okay?”

  “Yeah,” I nod.

  Sitting beside her, we’re quiet for a moment before she begins speaking.

  “When are you heading back home?”

  I lean back in surprise, my eyebrows lifting. “What do you mean? I am home.”

  “You know what I mean. To Willow Creek.” She gives me a pointed look.

  “Mama…” I sigh. “I don’t know. Right now, I need to
be here with you. Until I’m one-hundred-and-fifty-percent sure that you’re healthy, I’m not leaving.” I hold her hand.

  “I don’t want you giving up your life.”

  “I’m not giving up my life,” I scoff. “Besides, Daddy is gonna need my help on the ranch while you fully recover.”

  It’s her turn to scoff. “Magnolia Leigh,” I cringe at her use of my fake middle name and then laugh. My mom rolls her eyes and continues, “He doesn’t need your help. He’s got Greg to help him,” she says about their ranch hand.

  “One person isn’t enough, especially when Daddy is gonna feel like he needs to take care of you. If I’m there, it’ll be an extra person to help around the house and ranch.”

  When she opens her mouth to argue, I stop her. “Mama, I’ve made up my mind. I’m staying until you’re strong enough to manage on your own, and I’m positive this new pump is working properly.”

  She nods, taking a deep breath. By the way her lips press together, I bet she’s thinking how stubborn I am.

  “Now, I asked the nurse about those organizations that offer financial help. She’s going to bring some information for me to look into. I thought we could apply to the ones we qualify for and pray they approve us. I don’t see how they won’t,” I tell her, clutching her hand.

  My mom nods silently. I have to hope it will all work out. I have to believe that. When my dad returns, I take a break and head out of the hospital for some fresh air. I stay close enough in case they need me, but a break is necessary every once in a while. I’ll have to go to my parents’ house and shower at some point today, but I rather wait until the nurse hands me the information she promised.

  I respond to Brett’s unanswered text message, letting him know things are steady and I’m taking a breather. Right away, my phone rings. I smile and answer, needing to hear his voice.

  “Hi,” I sigh.

  “Hey, how are you?”

  I sit on a ledge, staring out at an abstract statue in the courtyard. “I’m good. Tired, but good.”