“Dad. Em was worried–we all are–that’s why we asked Dr. Littlefoot–Blair–to come and check on you,” Derrick implores, his growing frustration evident.
“There’re things I need to take care of. Especially if nobodyelsewill,” he snarks in his son’s direction.
“You’re all bark and no bite, Old Man,” Derrick shoots back.
“Well soon you won’t have to worry about it, will ya? I’ll be gone.”
I bite back my gasp, swallowing it down and schooling my features so that my professional mask stays in place.
“I don’t want that, Dad. None of us do. We’d rather have you here being a stubborn old fool than have to bury you before your time,” Derrick says sadly.
“Can’t help fate, my boy. Why do you think I’m tryin’ to get back what is rightfully ours?”
“No prophesy will ever mean more than you, Dad.”Prophesy?
Sully’s resigned gaze shifts to mine as I sigh and shake my head at him.
“What are we going to do with you, Mr. Wilson?” I say softly, clasping his hand and giving it a squeeze.
His features gentle andthat–right there–is the confirmation I need. He knows what’s coming and he’s ready to face it. When his time comes, he won’t fight it. What he hasn’t done is accept that life will go on once he’s gone. Then again, I don’t think I’d like to face that reality either.
I take some blood to check for changes from George’s results a month ago and then pack away my stuff, snapping my gloves off once I’m finished.
“So, doc. What’s the prognosis? Am I gonna see out the Summer?” His smile is forced, and I can tell he’s trying to distract all of us from the tense mood choking the room.
“You know what you’ve got to do, Mr. Wilson. I have to trust that ifanythingchanges, you’ll get someone to call me or you’ll do it yourself, yeah? As I said to Derrick before, I can be here quickly if need be.”
Derrick steps forward. “Thank you, Blair. It was real nice of you to take time out of your day to come check on him.”
I lock eyes with Sully one last time. “Take care of yourself, Mr. Wilson. I’ll come back in two weeks if I don’t hear from you sooner or if these bloods come back with anything concerning.”I tell him with my stare what I know he doesn’t want me to say out loud.
“I will, darlin’. Just for you,” he rasps, his eyes glazing over as his exhaustion takes hold.
“Charmer,” I mutter with a grin before following Derrick back outside onto the porch.
“Man could’ve been a salesman if he wasn’t tied to this mountain,” he says once we’re out of hearing range. “He refused to leave because that would mean ‘givin’ in’–his words, not mine.”
“He’s definitely got a way about him, that’s for sure,” I reply.
“It’s not good, is it?”
I shake my head. “Unfortunately not. It’s been too long now, and from what I read in my uncle’s notes to your father’s condition today, heisdeteriorating. It’s slow for now, but it won’t always stay that way.”
“Yeah,” he says, rubbing the back of his neck again.
“I’ve got to get back to the hospital, but I meant what I said. Please call. If you need anything.”
“Thanks, Blair.”
“Anytime. And I hope I don’t need to tell you, but anything I heard in there, anything about me being here at all, that’s confidential. I’m not going to share it. It’sliterallyone of the biggest rules I have to abide by after do no harm.”
He huffs out a breath. “That’s his wishes, not mine. I’ve been in touch with the Coopers and have said I’d align myself with them to help put this stupid family fight to bed. Life’s too short to worry about what should’ve happened or didn’t happen years and years ago, let alone doin’ it because of some made-up story about a mountain and fate and soulmates.”What is he talking about?“Anyway, don’t let me keep you. I have to go check on my brothers and make sure they haven’t torn down another buildin’ like they did the last time they were left unsupervised.”
“Do I even want to know?”
He chuckles and shakes his head. “Nope. You really don’t. Let’s just say that they’re always darin’ each other to do things and sometimes that means demolishin’ an old structure with their bare hands just to prove they can.”
“Wow,” I say.
