“I do talk to her,” Carson admitted. “From the moment I sit down in her room until the five minutes are up. In these last few days I’ve relived a lifetime of memories with her and it still ain’t enough. I want more time. I tell her that too.”
“Has she responded at all?”
“Like squeezed my hand or something?”
“Yeah.”
“Nope. The faceguard forces me to talk real loud, and I’m sure the nurses think I’m just an old fool. But I’m talkin’ to her as much for her as for me.”
“In some of the articles I read online while I was getting my WebMD,” Kimi said dryly, “it said patients who were in a coma remembered things that happened in the room that they shouldn’t have been aware of. So you talkin’ to her is the best thing you can do.”
“I hope so. It’s the only damn thing I can do.”
Kimi lifted her head and looked at him. The fear in her eyes matched his own. “I’m sorry for bein’ so difficult. Thank you for lookin’ out for Carolyn above all else.”
“Spent most of my life doin’ it, I sure ain’t gonna stop now.”
“Cal’s been extra attentive to me the past few days. It’s helped. So I hope you’re not pissy that he’s been there for me and not for you.”
“Nah. Only thing I’m pissy about is you didn’t bring me food. What the hell woman? I’m starvin’ here.”
“Carolyn would kick my ass if I didn’t feed you.” Kimi reached into her oversized purse and pulled out a paper bag. “There’s a PB and J sandwich and a baggie of carrots. Satisfied?”
“No cookies?”
She lightly punched his arm.
“Thanks, Kimi.”
“You’re welcome. Now that you and me ain’t on the outs, can I come back another time and sit with you?”
“You gonna get all offended and shit if I tell you I hope I don’t see you up here again? Because that’ll mean Carolyn’s awake and we’re outta here.”
“Fine. I hope I don’t have to sit up here with your whiny ass either.”
He laughed.
Neither spoke for a while. Then he said, “It’s been so quiet.”
“That’s because your kids ain’t been yappin’ in your ear. And they made that choice to stay away. For what it’s worth, they’re regretting their decision.”
Carson narrowed his eyes at her. “Been givin’ our kids what for, have you?”
“Between me’n Vi we’ve got ya covered.”
“I don’t know what to say to that.”
“You don’t have to say anything. Because it’s fun yelling at someone else’s kids. But I do have to ask if one of your stubborn kids swallows their pride and shows up here…?”
“Would I turn them away?” He shook his head. “But the parameters haven’t changed for seein’ their mother.”
“I’ll pass that along.” She stood. “Now get up here and give me a hug.”
Carson held onto her for several long moments. “Thanks.”
“You tell my sister I love her. You tell her not an hour goes by that she’s not in my thoughts. You tell her I got no one else to gossip with or share secrets with and I need her to get better soon. You tell her I’m passing on information to the West family so we don’t get accused of only caring about the McKays. You tell her—”
“Kimi, darlin’, I only get five minutes with her.”
Kimi laughed, stepped back and wiped her eyes. “Okay. I’m goin’. Take care of yourself.”
“I will.” He started to say something and then stopped.
“What?”
“You’ve been in my life longer than any woman besides Caro. We’ve been through some great times together. Through some real shit storms too.”
“This counts as one of them shit storm times. And I’ll admit that it wasn’t just me keepin’ Cal away from here. Caro’s been as much a part of his life as I’ve been of yours. The four of us are tied together on so many levels…” She blinked away more tears. “This is eating him alive, Carson. Knowin’ he can’t do nothin’ to help you through it. Or me through it.”
“What’s he been doin’?”
“He’s been over at Kade’s, wrenching on that damn hot rod pickup Kade’s been tinkering with for twenty years. Eliza, Shannie and Peyton have been helpin’ him, getting greasy and loving every minute of it, although I don’t think Skylar’s too happy about it.” She smirked. “I figured Eliza is buttering up Gramps to buy her first car sooner than Kade wants her drivin.”
“Can’t blame Kade. When Keely turned eighteen and bought that Corvette with the money her Grandpa West had left her? I thought about takin’ her car out and totaling it just so she couldn’t drive it.”
“You tellin’ me Liesl isn’t already scheming for a car?” Kimi demanded.
“Nope. She’s got Anton to drive her where she needs to go. She’s a bit gun shy on account of her peg leg. Hayden’s not helpin’ Cal?”
“He’s splitting his time between early morning chores with Kane and workin’ for Ginger at the law office in the afternoons. Maddie and Paul are at camp during the day for a week or so. Rumor has it that Hayden, Ky and Anton are out tearin’ it up at night. Hard to believe I was Hayden’s age when I met Cal.”