| |
“I don’t understand,” Katherine’s mother said after the doctor spoke for a few minutes. “He has a brain tumor?”
“Yes,” the doctor replied. “It is what we call a primary brain tumor, and it can involve mood swings, distorted reality, balance concerns, and other severe symptoms. Of which, I know you told the nurses he had been experiencing for the last few weeks.”
“How do you treat him?” Katherine asked, as her mother gripped her hand until her knuckles turned white.
“We have to operate tonight. It is cutting off circulation and causing significant impairment. We intend to operate within the hour, but I wanted you both to have a chance to see him first. Just to warn you ahead of time, he is not awake,” he hung his head.
Katherine understood what they were being told and nodded. “Where can we see him?”
“Follow me,” he said.
“Do you wish me to stay?” Maxwell asked. “I need to get chores done, but if you think you need me.”
“No, it will to be a while,” she said. “Why don’t you take care of what needs to be done and I will call as soon as we know anything.”
He nodded and stood as they walked away, following the doctor.
Her father was so still, lying in the hospital bed with a gown on without his boots. She could count on a single hand the times she had seen him without boots. His face was pale, and lines ran onto his chest, monitoring his breathing and heart rate. There was a finger device measuring his oxygen and a cuff on his arm for his blood pressure. Overall, it was a lot, and so out of left-field from where this day was headed just some fleeting hours ago.
She reached over and dutifully kissed his forehead, “I’m sorry, daddy,” she whispered. All the ill thoughts she had over the last few weeks came to mind. He had been sick, and no one knew it. They should have suspected based on the drastic behavior changes. Rather, she had mused about things no daughter should have thought about, including finding her way free of him. She needed him to live so she might have the chance to seek his forgiveness.
It was a brief visit, and then they were shown a room where friends and family could gather during the lengthy procedure. It was just she and her mother for the longest time, but soon ladies from the sewing circle showed up. Then Margaret arrived and let them know she had sent some hands over to the farm to help with milking and anything else that was needed. Katherine was amazed that despite their adversarial relationship of late, Margaret would not hesitate to help.
Noah, Jake, Stormi, Marissa, Belle, Scout, Grayson, and so many others filed-in during the long hours, which stretched into the night. Finally, around ten o’clock Troy slipped into the room. She gravitated to him in short order.
“How is he?” Troy asked as he glanced at her sleeping mother. She had just convinced her to shut her eyes, as dad would need them when he was out of surgery.
“We have had two updates, and in the last one, they indicated they had gotten the tumor. It would have to be biopsied,” she finished and ran her hands through her hair as the tiredness sapped her strength. She rubbed her eyes and tried to move slightly.
“I’m sorry about what happened,” she said after a long moment.
Troy looked confused, “there is absolutely nothing for you to apologize about,” he said. “Your father had a brain tumor, I’m confident that he and I would have found some common ground without that little factor.”
“He keeps trying to marry me off to Maxwell, and today was convinced he succeeded,” she sighed.
“What’s wrong with Maxwell? He seems like a great guy, and is devoted to your family,” Troy said, gently.
“Agreed. He and my father had helped each other a lot over the years, and truly there is not a thing wrong with him,” she thought over that for a minute. “I might just be broken because I always go after the guys my dad doesn’t think I should. First, there was Noah.”
“Were Margaret and he getting together a complete shock? How did you hang on to that hope for ten years,” he asked?
She slugged his arm, “tell me you haven’t been convinced that some girl would find you the most handsome, perfect man in the world.”
“Nope, most think my curly hair and pre-disposition for Birkenstocks a bit too hippy to take home to mom and dad.”
“I like them. Although, I will say the first time I saw you try walking in the snow with socks and those sandals was funny,” she laughed, remembering the day shortly after Troy had come to Living River Ranch when she was out working with Stormi. They both had a chuckle at Troy’s expense that day.
“Okay, I learned pretty quickly the benefit of a lined pair of boots in this neck of the woods,” he said with a roll of his eyes.
“No, in all seriousness. Noah and Margaret were made for each other, and there were always signs they would be together. My stupid heart just wasn’t listening. With Maxwell, it just,” she sighed. “I hate it, but it’s just not there either.”
“Hopefully, you meet the man where that road runs both ways, and you can get your happy ending,” Troy volunteered.
“If my dad doesn’t run him off the farm first,” she said, turning to check on her mom, realizing what she had uttered. She turned back as she could feel her face heat from the blush.
“Hmmm, maybe he isn’t scared and will keep coming back until he wins your father over,” he returned.
They sat staring into each other's eyes for a few moments, until her mother suddenly sat up, “any news?” she asked, as Troy and Katherine startled breaking eye contact.
“No, mom,” Katherine responded. Her heart was aflutter, knowing that maybe her growing interest in Troy wasn’t as one-sided as some of her previous infatuations. That was good because this was hitting her at an entirely different level, she craved his being around even if it was just to tease him about his choice in footwear.
