I straighten, frowning.
“I heard she dumped your ass so she can focus on her health situation by herself.”
CHAPTER 49
Declan
“Where did you hear that?”
“Wheredidn’tI hear it, son?”He looks over his shoulder at me.“Yosemite Ranch is like a henhouse.Nonstop clucking.Moreclucking gossiparound here than a man should have to live with.”He laughs at his play on words and turns back to stirring the milk.“Anyway, I thought about it, and I have to say that I agree with Summer.”
“What the hell?”It comes out a little too loudly.“That’s a ridiculous thing to say.”
“Ridiculous, huh?”He spins around with the wooden spoon in his hand.“It’s her business how she wants to deal with this, Declan.She doesn’t want your sad-sack, sourpuss, ass-dragging self always moping around.She doesn’t want your pity, and I can’t blame her.”
“What the—?”
“Summer Stevens is a proud woman.Proud.And she should be.She’s the best damn horsewoman to set foot on this ranch since your mother.I think it’s best if you just let her face this cancer thing on her own, like she’s asked.”
“What theever-loving fuck!”I leap up so fast that I knock over the swivel chair.
“Get ahold of yourself, Declan.”
“What an insane thing to say!It’s not justherbusiness!It’sourbusiness!”
“Calm down, son.You know I’m right.”
“Right?No!You’re wrong.I don’t pity her.I’m in awe of her.She’s the toughest woman I know.But also, the sweetest and… warmest… and… funniest…”
Oh, shit.I can’t breathe.
I straighten my arms and rest my palms on the island, then drop my head between my forearms.I’m seeing spots.
In four, hold four, out four, hold four…
When I look up, I see my father leaning casually against the sink like he hasn’t just spewed the most hurtful words possible to his son.
“How dare you.”It comes out like a hiss.I straighten and walk toward him, my fists balled up against my thighs, my arms shaking with indignation.“I wouldneverwant Summer to be anything but proud.I just want to be there tolove her!I’m her husband, for fuck’s sake.I’m.Her.Husband!”
Dad calmly turns off the stove, sets the pan aside, and gets right in my face.He pokes my chest, marking time as he speaks.“There’s my boy.”
Poke.Poke.Poke.
“I wondered where you’d got to.”
Poke.Poke.
“Staying in your house, feeling sorry for yourself, muttering and stumbling around and mourning a woman whostill draws breath.”
Poke.
“She is still alive, Declan.And so are you.”
I suck in air.The room spins.My heart shatters.
“Come here, kid.”Dad opens his arms, and I fall against him, bawling like a baby.But he just holds on to me, squeezing tight, letting me cry so loudly that the dishes rattle.
I don’t know how long this goes on, but when my body stops shuddering and my breath settles, Dad sets me in front of him.
