“I’m guessing Uncle Wally had insurance, and I can rebuild.”
“You have the year to get it done before you sell, so why not?”
“I never said I was selling.”
His eyes widened. “You’re not? I just assumed you wouldn’t want to stay here, that you would leave as soon as possible.”
“Once my year is up, I don’t have to live on the property to own it.”
“Oh, right. Of course. I’m sure Ryan will want to continue his lease for Wilderness Ways and that will pay for your taxes and expenses of maintaining the place.”
She hadn’t really thought that far in advance, but she nodded. “I appreciate your concern. Especially as I’m certain you think David should’ve inherited the place, not me. Which is why you sent the threat.”
His face creased in that look of utter disappointment in her that she’d seen so many times, and he stood wooden and silent for a long moment.
“The nurse will be in to discharge you shortly.” He spun and exited as quickly as he’d entered.
What? He left. Just like that. He couldn’t even respond to her comment. But why was she surprised? This was exactly what she’d expected from him but not what she’d hoped for.
Was she all wrong about him? Did he leave because he was innocent and she seemed too stubborn to listen? But if he didn’t send the threat, why not outright deny it? Defend himself? Maybe he just couldn’t be bothered. Didn’t care enough to be bothered. Or maybe her defensive attitude had put him off. She didn’t want to act this way around him. She wanted to reconcile, but the old wounds just had her saying the first thing that came to mind instead of thinking.
Had she just messed things up even more between them? How would she act if he were accusing her of the same thing? Not well.
Her lips quivered. Tears surfaced and trickled down her cheeks.
Even after years of his rejection, she’d hoped he’d deny the charges and declare he’d never hurt the daughter he loved and welcome her back. After all, that’s what Wally had wanted when he structured his will to force her to live here for a year. She’d bought into his hope. Figured he had a reason for his plan and it had foolishly given her hope of reconciliation too. Her father didn’t seem to have the same goal in mind.
No. It was time to face facts. Wally had died. His hopes died with him. She was alone.
All alone.
The finality of her loss swept through her like never before, and she curled into a tight ball of mourning.
* * *
Shaking his head, Ryan walked down the hospital hallway. Why in the world had Mia agreed to let him drive her home today? He shouldn’t read anything into it. The lack of public transportation in their small town was likely her reason, and he was her only way out of the place. On the bright side, he’d asked her last night to fill in as a Wilderness Ways counselor, and she’d agreed to consider his request.
With the students arriving tomorrow, he hoped for a firm commitment from her today. The last thing she needed with everything going on in her life was pressure from him, but he wasn’t opposed to encouraging her to accept. Turning her attention to the students could be the very thing she needed to take her mind off her own problems. Helping others had a way of doing that.
He rounded the corner and spotted Dr. Blackburn exiting Mia’s room. Lips puckered, he slammed his hands into the pockets of his white coat and rushed down the hall. He didn’t appear so much angry as dejected.
Was this a good sign? Conversations between Mia and her father had always escalated into fights so boisterous it was a wonder they didn’t end in violence. If the same thing had happened today, he’d have been fuming and storming away.
At the open door, sniffling surprised Ryan and drew him into the room. Mia lay curled up, her moist eyes as vulnerable as little Jessie’s had been when he’d left her with the EMT yesterday. The large sutured gash on Mia’s cheek kicked him in the gut again. He’d thought she’d look better this morning but her appearance was as delicate as the spider webs he often trekked through.
What could have happened to upset her to such a degree, yet not affect her father the same way?
Ryan hated to bring up the visit, but if she needed to talk about it, he was more than willing to listen. He sat next to her. Careful not to tangle the IV and oxygen tubes, he drew her into his arms. She didn’t resist but snuggled close and her sniffling turned to sobs.
“Shh.” He rocked her and inhaled her scent, a combination of tart hospital soap and caustic barn smoke with a slight hint of her sweet perfume. Her body shook, and she clutched the back of his shirt.
If Ryan could get a hold of her father right now, the man would pay. Something Ryan had wanted to do in high school, but had been too young. Her father had broken her heart more times than Ryan could count. Ryan had done his best to pick up the pieces, restore her confidence and prove she was lovable. All while her father seemed to go untouched by his behavior.
If Ryan lived the faith he professed, he would forgive the man for the way he treated his daughter, and should also be thinking about how to help repair the rift between them. So why did he just want to pummel the guy instead?
Mia snuffled, winding down her crying.
He gently released her and offered a box of tissues from the bedside table. “What did he say this time?”
