Page 57 of Cowboy of Convenience
Yes. It probably was.
"How is she doing?" Charlene eased a little more to the side, resting one elbow against the arm of her chair. "Are we going to be able to go see her soon?"
Grady nodded, shoving aside the frustration he felt at discovering he wasn’t as skilled at reading people as he thought. “The surgeon said I should be able to go back soon."
And he was right. In under five minutes the nurse was back, leading him and Evelyn to where his mother was waiting. He hesitated before stepping in, bracing himself for whatever was waiting for him.
The surgeon obviously believed he wanted his mother to be exactly as she was before when she woke up, but as much as he hated to admit it, that wasn't true. The way his mother was before the surgery left him unable to see her on a regular basis. He spent limited time with her, worried his presence would leave her confused, agitated, and irate.
Like it had the day before.
But once he saw her in the hospital bed, he realized maybe the way she was would have been better.
The nurse went to her side, grasping one limp hand. "Darla? Your son and his wife are here to see you."
Grady didn't correct her. All he could do was stare at the blank look on his mother's face. Her eyes were hollow and empty, mouth hanging open as she stared at a point on the wall across from her hospital bed.
Evelyn's hand squeezed his, holding tight. "Why don’t we sit down." She gently directed him to the set of chairs at his mother's bedside, urging him into the one closest before scooting in beside him.
"Sometimes it takes a while for the anesthesia to really wear off." The nurse adjusted his mother's blankets before checking her IV and slipping out of the room, letting them know she would be close by if they needed her.
Grady couldn't take his eyes off his mother. Seeing a woman who was once so full of life reduced to a shell of her former self lodged a heavy pain in his gut.
"Could you tell me something about your mom?" Evelyn rested her hand on his back, rubbing slow circles. "Did she cook?"
Grady nodded, swallowing hard. "All the time. She made the best hush puppies and dumplings I've ever had."
"I don't know what a hush puppy is, but I'll take your word for it." Evelyn's head gently rested on his shoulder. "Was she born in Moss Creek?"
"No." He rested one hand against the bed. "Her family owned a ranch a few hours from here. She and my dad met when he went to pick up some cattle." He smiled. "She always said he came home with one more heifer than he planned to."
Evelyn made a choked sound. "You're kidding."
Grady shook his head. "Not even a little bit. She was funny like that."
"That is fantastic." Evelyn smiled. "Was your dad funny too?"
"No. Not at all." His hand slid across the blanket, slowly moving to cover his mother's. "He was always fine letting her run the show and be the center of attention."
"I wish I could have seen them together." Evelyn's soft voice continued easing the squeeze in his chest. "I've never seen a couple who can stand each other, let alone a pair who would be okay letting the other person shine like that."
"Sure you have. You've seen Amelie and Troy. Griffin and Dianna. Those men are happy to take a backseat and let their wives get all the glory."
"That's true." Evelyn sighed. "Maybe I just never paid that much attention because I assumed it was irrelevant."
Grady peeked down at her. "And now it's not?"
Evelyn gave him a soft smile. "Now I'm wishing I had a better example when I was younger so I wouldn't feel so clueless about how to—" she paused, pressing her lips together "—how to be with someone."
Evelyn seemed to be caught in a spot of self-awareness that threatened to leave her uncertain and afraid. Worried she would fail at something she'd only just finally allowed herself to believe could be hers. And it frustrated the hell out of him. Especially since she was offering him exactly what he needed.
Grady rested his forehead against hers. “You’re doing a pretty damn good job for someone who claims to be clueless.”
Evelyn smiled up at him. “Good.”
The nurse peeked into the room, stealing the quiet moment. "How's it going?"
Grady turned to look over his mother's expressionless face one more time. "I suppose we should let everybody else have a chance to see her. I’m sure they’re chomping at the bit out there." He stood. "Will she be in a room soon?"
