Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 88220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Mom nodded and rose from her seat. She gazed lovingly at Dash. The gentle way she touched me as if I was valued, was the way she touched Dash.
She spoke directly to Dash as she said, “Your family said we’re waiting on you to return. And Amelia wanted me to reaffirm her lesson that making people wait is rude. We love you, Dash.” She inhaled and exhaled slowly, her body shuddered, trying to fight the tears. “I brought everything you asked for, including clean clothes, his phone, and the portable speaker he uses. Playing his music was a brilliant idea. It’s in the bag by the door.”
“Thank you.” I did nothing to retrieve it or even stand for that matter. “I’ll set it up after I get some sleep…” The yawns were coming one right after another now. “You go. I’m gonna stretch out here so I don’t miss anything. I’ll set it up when there’s less traffic in here. He likes his music. The girls put together different playlists and talk to him through the songs, for his birthday or Father’s Day. He loves to listen to them explain the meaning of the songs that they’ve never heard before. I figured I’d start there.” Another yawn shot out. I suspected I had about five minutes before I crashed. The fatigue was getting the best of me.
“His physician said he hopes Dash will wake in about forty-eight hours. They’ll reevaluate after that time.” Only extreme appreciation made me rise to shake Carter’s hand. “Thank you for being here when I couldn’t. Thanks, Mom, for makin’ all this happen and takin’ care of our family. I’m gonna have a lifetime of guilt.” Stupid tears again built in my eyes but I managed to blink them away. My mom’s tears spilled silently down as she came to hug me. “Best mom ever. I always knew you were.”
She placed tissues in my hand and turned away, going for the door. Carter smiled the smallest smile ever and followed after my mother. I was barely back in my seat again when the nurse shook out the blanket and put it over me.
“I’ll keep an eye on him. Go to sleep.”
“I’m glad it went well today,” I said, lowering the seat into an almost flat surface. “Thank you.”
I let that be enough, and fell asleep thinking of Dash’s sweet lips on mine.
10: The Chaos
Beau
Houston Methodist Hospital
“Paw!” Livie said excitedly, seconds after they positioned the iPad to allow those in the living room to be viewed by the screen. I did the same with mine, leveling the tablet on the edge of the rolling table, sitting in the chair still next to Dash’s bed, within his earshot. I hope that my efforts in letting everyone see me, and chatting about nothing, helped in the matter of Amelia’s and the girls’ anxiety. Also in reminding Dash why he needed to wake his butt up.
“Paw!” Mia’s face appeared on the screen, blocking the others.
“Mia, sit down. We can’t see Paw,” Ava scolded from where she sat crisscross with Livie. They’d learned the new sitting position in school. Amelia and West sat beside them.
“We miss you and Daddy,” Mia said, taking a step back, her gaze still on me. She shared my uncertain emotions. My gaze went back to my little loves, missing them a ridiculous amount. My grin was probably the first genuine one I’d had since I left on my trip. “I miss all of you so much.”
Kailey relocated the tablet, the screen going every which way until it took in my mom and Kailey’s position on the sofa.
“Hi, Beau,” Kailey said. She lifted a hand in a wave as she settled next to our mom. She appeared forlorn, which meant she had to know what was going on more than my girls did.
“You’re telecommutin’ classes?” I asked Kailey. All three girls’ heads bent toward my younger sister. The three were fascinated with her. If she lifted an eyebrow, they did too.
“Yup,” she said, sounding like me. “It might be just as good as being in class, but it’s hard to ask questions.”
I nodded my understanding, West caught my attention, sitting on Amelia’s thigh. I wanted to believe his happy clapping was for me. I held all of his attention, and he held mine. He’d grown double in height and weight, I was sure of it. “Hey, little man.”
“Abuela says Daddy’s getting better,” Livie said. All three sets of blue eyes stared a hole through me, waiting for my answer.
“She’s right. He’s asleep right now. I’m stayin’ with him to help him get better. I helped him do his exercises this afternoon, like you all need to be doin’ by yourself until I get home. Are y’all doin’ good? Did you enjoy Halloween?”
“So much,” Ava said, the others echoed her feelings. “We have lots of candy, and Abuela’s giving us a piece a day.”