“Do you mind if I listen to your chest now?”
He gives me a ‘have at it’ expression which I take as permission. Moving the earpieces of my stethoscope into place, I warm the chest piece against my palm before slipping it under the open neck of his well-worn green shirt.
“It shouldn’t betoocold now, but let me know,” I say, schooling my features with what I pick up on straight away.
“How’s it sound, doc? Is there even a heartinthere?”
A small smile curves my lips as I arch my brow Sully’s way. “That sounds like someone who’s been told they don’t have one before.”
“More times than I can count, darlin’,” he says with a rattling chuckle following shortly after.
Shifting back, I hook the stethoscope around my neck. “How have the palpitations been? More often or the same as when you last saw my uncle?”
Sully shrugs. “About the same, I think. I’m just tired. Like all the damn time.” He winces. “Pardon my French.”
My brow slowly lifts up. “That didn’t sound like any French wordI’veheard before. Must beAlaskanFrench.”
Derrick snorts a laugh, earning a twitched smirk from his father. “Look, I saw that. The old mancanstill crack a smile.”
“Shut it, boy. Why’re you still here, anyway? You were supposed to have a video call with that lawyer from Anchorage,” he says breathlessly. I can tell trying to pretend he’s better thanwe all know he is as well as not resting is taking its toll now. Getting angry won’t help either.
“I’m stayin’ right here and listenin’ to what the doctor has to say.Youare the priority, Dad, not some old grudge that nobody cares about except you.”
“It’s important,” Sully spits out, his voice cracking as he spears his son with a cutting look. “It’s your future–your brothers and sister’s too. I’m doin’ this for you and your children…theirchildren….”
“Dad, you are what’s important to all of us right now. End of story. Trust me to take care of everythin’ else. You’ve been wantin’ me to do it for years, so now that I’m doin’ it, you’ve got to take care of you and trust that I’ve got everythin’ else. Yeah?”
The man may be stubborn, ornery, and stuck in his ways but the way he’s looking at his eldest son right now, and the way he’s been with me since I arrived–a complete stranger that he doesn’t know from Adam–I know these things to be true.
Sully Wilson is a family man to the depth of his bones. He’s the kind who has lived, breathed, and bled for his kin and this ranch his whole life just like his ancestors before him. What I can tell from the short time I’ve been here is that he’s fightin’ treatment and life-lengthening care forthem.What I don’t know is why?
Then I remember what Derrick said outside.
“That whole rivalry business is generations old, and my father is holdin’ on to it with every last ounce of strength he’s got left. It ain’t got nothin’ to do with me, and I’m not goin’ to let it cloud my judgment movin’ forward.”
I think there’s some things I need to ask Uncle George about next time he calls.
“OK, just a few more questions then I’ll leave you to rest.” I give him a pointed stare. “Because that’s what you need to do more than anything right now.”
“Ask your questions, darlin’. Time’s a wastin’ don’t ya know.”
I narrow my eyes and click my tongue. “Enough of that kind of talk, Mr. Wilson. Positive thoughts, positive outlook. Yeah?”
The corner of his mouth twists up as a dry laugh bubbles out of him. “Sounds like you know a bit about the future I’m facin’.”
“Iama cardiologist.” He nods, urging me to get on with it.
“OK. So fluid intake?”
“I’m spendin’ more time in the can than I have in my whole life. That answer your question?” he replies a little snarkily. I find I like the little bite in his words, because it means there’s still some fight left in him.
My lips twitch. “Yep. All I can suggest is that you drink more. If you find yourself struggling with that, we might have to look at IV supplementation. But that means–”
“Nope. IknowGeorge will’ve told you that I’m not interested in goin’ into hospital. No way, no how. I ain’t havin’ everyone knowin’ my business. Next question.”
I nod, not surprised at all by his answer. “OK. How about your eating habits? Has there been any change lately?”
“It’s fine. Everythin’sfine. Not even sure why they called you here. I’m no different from last month before George left. And I’ll be no different by the time he gets back. The mountain’s gonna look after me and tell me when it’s time. Until then, there’s too much to do to do somethin’ stupid.”
