“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.”
“Doesn’t seem possible. If Keely would’ve showed up at age eighteen and announced she was getting married like Caro did to Eli at that same age? I’da…” Lost my mind and threatened to cut her off like my dad did to me.
“It’s a different world now. Carolyn was young, but you both knew what you felt was real. Fifty years later you’re still goin’ strong.”
“Cal said something like that to me the day I decided to propose.” He studied her. “So if in a couple of years Eliza shows up wearing some guy’s ring, you’d be okay with it?”
“Hell no. And if she got knocked up? I’d shoot the guy if Kade didn’t get to him first.”
Carson laughed.
“I know that makes me a hypocrite and I’m good with that.” Kimi stopped before she turned the corner. “Is your truck unlocked?”
“Yep.”
“I might bum a smoke or two.”
“Go ahead. It’ll be our secret.”
For some reason that released a fresh flood of her tears before she disappeared.
He didn’t have time to eat his sandwich before his hourly visitation. He washed up, suited up and scooted the rolling stool beside her bed.
“Hey sugar. I’m sittin’ here beside you. I know you can hear me. I need you to hear me. Come back to me. I need you to know that I’m right here, I ain’t goin’ anywhere.”
He paused and feathered his thumb over her knuckles.
“Your pesky little sister just visited. Kimi is missin’ you like a limb. She didn’t carry on as much as I expected, but I suspect she recognized how close I am to the edge and she didn’t want to be the one to tip me over. Guess Cal’s havin’ a rough go of it too. The man is always on an even keel. But do you remember the time she and Cal had that epic fight right after Kade found out he was a daddy…?”
By the time Carolyn surfaced after hearing Kimi’s name, she no longer heard Carson’s voice.
Had Kimi been in here?
No.
She definitely would’ve made her presence known. Because her crazy little sister knew how to make an entrance…