Page 66 of My Heart to Keep
I sent a quick text to Carter with Maiken and Trevor’s numbers as I walked out with him. “What are we going to do? Daddy won’t be able to do anything for a long time.”
The doctor had informed Momma that it would be a good six months before Daddy fully recovered, barring any complications. I couldn’t handle the farm by myself. I would certainly try, but Carter just might get his wish and have to take a break from college.
He gave me a glum grin. “I’m not returning to college anytime soon. No worries.”
“I’m sorry, Carter.”
He hugged me. “Don’t be. It’s not the reason I wanted to ditch college, but you know how I felt about it. Let me get home. I’ll be back as soon as I can. I’ll check where Liam is too.” He started to leave.
“Carter, we need to make sure Liam doesn’t drop out.” Liam had a scholarship and was just starting basketball season. We had to support him while Carter and I picked up the slack.
“I know. We’ll talk.” Then he ambled down toward the elevators as though he didn’t want to leave either.
Combing my hand through my knotted and dirty hair, I inched back into the room. I felt horrible that I wasn’t going with Carter. But my brother and the farm instantly vanished from my thoughts when Daddy’s eyes fluttered open.
Momma flew out of her chair. “Jeff.”
I ran to the other side of his bed. “Daddy?” My pulse sped up. My heart was beating so fast I knew it would push out of my chest. “Daddy?”
Momma grasped his hand, and I took his other one.
“Water.” His voice was low, cracked, and sounded as though he had been a smoker all his life.
Momma obliged.
I rubbed Daddy’s arm. Too many emotions were hitting me at once. He was alive. He was breathing. He was so lucky.
I recited the Our Father prayer in my head as I gave him a warm, teary-eyed smile.
Momma set the cup down on the table beside his bed. “You gave us quite the scare.” A river of tears spilled down her cheeks. “I’m so mad at you.”
Momma had informed Carter and me earlier that she’d been pushing Daddy to make an appointment for a physical. He’d been light-headed recently, and she’d suspected it was his high blood pressure. He wasn’t religious about taking his daily medication. However, it turned out his cholesterol was quite high, hence the blockages in his arteries.
His eyes fluttered shut briefly. “Hazel, darling. I love you, woman.”
I couldn’t hold back any longer. I cried and laughed while so many emotions clawed their way out.
Momma buried her face in the crook of Daddy’s neck, sobbing.
“I promise I will listen to you from now on,” Daddy said. Then he turned his head toward me. “Pumpkin, are the animals okay?”
I laughed harder as tears flowed freely. “Don’t worry about the animals. Carter is home. He’s taking care of them.”
Relief washed over Daddy. The man was worried about his animals instead of himself. But that was Daddy. He’d grown up on a farm, and even though our animals put food on our table and paid the bills, he adored every cow, pig, horse, and chicken we had.
Regardless, I was ready to scream at him. But that wouldn’t accomplish anything. He needed love and support.
Momma straightened and blew her nose into a tissue.
“I’m sorry, Daddy.” A tiny part of me felt like I’d been the cause of his heart attack. He hadn’t been the same since I’d gotten drunk. He’d been quieter and in some ways colder toward me. I knew I had to regain his trust. I knew he’d been disappointed at what I’d done. It also hadn’t helped that someone had taken the pigs for the senior prank. I blamed myself for that too. If I hadn’t had the party, then maybe some kid wouldn’t have conjured a stupid idea of bringing pigs to school.
Momma’s eyebrows drew down as Daddy squeezed my hand. “This isn’t your fault.”
“You’ve been upset since I threw that party,” I said. “Stressed to the max.”
“Quinn,” Momma said.
I swished saliva around in my mouth. “I know.” My shoulder twitched. “Daddy’s health isn’t great. But I can’t help but feel guilty for what I did.” I lifted Daddy’s hand up to my mouth and pecked the back. “I can’t lose you, Daddy.”
