“Mom?” Lance said, surprised to see her there. She looked up then with a weak smile.
“We came as soon as we could,” Jeff said, speaking for both of them, knowing she was uncertain of her welcome.
“And you are?” Louise asked, glancing between Lance and the new arrivals.
“Of course, where are my manners? I’m Jeff Delaney—Lance’s stepfather,” he said, extending his hand to Louise. “This is my wife, Harriette, Lance’s mother. We were looking for Tanner’s room, and Dave here, rescued us.” Jeff was as gracious and charismatic as ever. He was the kind of guy who always fit in, immediately charming everyone.
“You said stepfather,” Louise prompted after their handshake. “So not—” She looked to Lance for clarification.
“He’s not the same guy who tried to take a swing at me,” he confirmed.
“Okay—I’m sorry, but I’m super fucking confused, and I’d really like to hear the whole story before I have a conniption fit!” Cameron threw her hands in the air and glared at Tanner in a way that threatened bodily harm.
Tanner snickered and flipped her off.
“Long story short. I’m a dumbass. Took a wrong step and broke the leg—again,” Tanner summarized, and before Lancecould chime in, added, “It’s inoperable. They’re going to put my leg in a cast and send me home.”
“Send you home?” Cameron exclaimed anxiously. “And it’ll be fine? You’ll be able to walk on it and—”
“No,” Tanner replied, shaking his head. “They did all they could. I’m out of options. The bones will mend, and it’ll be what it’ll be,” Tanner informed them matter-of-factly. He braced himself for the inevitable onslaught of questions.
“Couldn’t they—amputate?” Harriette asked, looking guilty and confused at the same time. She didn’t approve of their relationship—nor of Tanner personally. But today she seemed at least somewhat conciliatory, probably because he’d kicked her ex-husband’s worthless ass out of her house and protected Lance in the process.
“No.”
“No, they can’t? Or no, you won’t let them?” Cameron asked, getting all wound up again.
“No, as in, it’s not an option that’s up for debate,” Lance said, interceding on Tanner’s behalf, frowning and giving her a “don’t fuck with me” look. As Cameron prepared herself to launch into attack mode, Jeff moved next to Tanner and began speaking.
“Pardon the interruption,” Jeff said, speaking directly to Tanner. “But, if you’re interested, an old buddy of mine is head of orthopedic surgery at St. John’s Hospital in Chicago. He was at my wife’s 4thof July party—” gesturing towards Harriette. “Maybe he could take a look at your medical records before you throw in the towel on what can be done about this recent injury?”
Tanner shook his head while smiling gratefully at Jeff for his generous offer. “The director of orthopedics, Dr. Pilsner, met with me earlier and said there’s nothing to be done to repair my leg.”
“I understand,” Jeff said, and for a second it looked like he might accept that explanation. Then he shared a meaningful look with Lance, who gave him a quick nod. “The thing is, my buddy has been working magic with these new surgical techniques, and he told me himself just how many people’s limbs he saved from the chopping block. It might be nothing, but I figure—what’s the harm in trying, right? He owes me a favour anyway.”
Tanner looked at Lance for guidance, uncertain about seeing another specialist only to be disappointed all over again. He didn’t want to get his hopes up. He’d mostly come to terms with his situation, and yet—
“I don’t see the harm in trying, right?” Lance shrugged and smiled at Tanner.
There was no mistaking the flicker of hope in Lance’s eyes, and it might be foolish hope, but Tanner wanted to trust it.
“Okay,” he said, with a nod. “Thank you. I guess—there’s no harm in trying.” Jeff clapped his hands together and gave Tanner a pleased smile.
“Lance, son, think you could track down one of his doctors? I’m pretty sure my buddy is going to want to see his files before he agrees to anything,” Jeff commented as he gripped Lance’s shoulder. Lance turned to Tanner, his expression clearly asking what he should do. Tanner gave a confident nod towards the curtain.
“Go—I’m not going anywhere,” he said with a smile and an encouraging wink.
With that, Lance took off, his stepfather in tow, leaving the room with two less people, but somehow it was no less crowded.
“You should have called,” Cameron complained, whirling around to face him, full of attitude, back to attack mode.
“You’re right,” he admitted, not enjoying Cameron’s chastising in front of both his mother and prospective mother-in-law. “But you shouldn’t track my phone, Cam. That’s over the top.” He was damned tired of being treated like a child. He met his sister’s angry stare with one of his own. “Besides, I would have called, but I wanted to make sure my leg was really broken before I got any of you stressed out about it,” he said, looking towards his mother to include her as well. It was a bit of a white lie, but they didn’t need to know that.
“I wasn’t even trying to track you. I just opened the app by accident, and bam—your ass was in the hospital!” Cameron replied, petulantly, sounding more like a bratty teenager than a grown woman.
“Oh, Sunshine,” his mother said, reaching for him. “I’m your mother. Everything stresses me out. It doesn’t mean I don’t want to know.” She leaned over and hugged him close. It jarred his leg a bit, and he winced, but didn’t dare complain and further upset her. When his mother pulled away, Tanner turned his attention to Harriette.
“Are Jeremy and Parker okay?” he inquired politely.
