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Fifteen

Saint

“Fuck, I could have lost her, and I only just found her.” I’m talking to my dad on the other end of the line. I sent Cruz a text letting him know what was going on, but there’s only one man in the world who can understand an inkling of what I’m feeling.

“I know, son, I know. Once you find that woman, your gut will be twisted in knots forever, your heart is with her every single time you leave, and the minute you have kids, well, that only amplifies. Focus on Emerson and that she’s alive and healthy. You’re just like your old man. If you can’t control the situation, it just makes shit worse,” my dad tries to reason with me.

“I should have known something was wrong. I’m a trained medic,” I tell him.

“Pull your head out of your ass. You had other stuff on your mind. You’re not in her life at that capacity. And another thing, don’t let your mother hear you say you’re only a medic. You’re a goddamn doctor, and you darn well know it.” Seems like Mom won’t have to say much, Dad’s saying it all. I don’t like to throw titles around, especially when Uncle Sam footed the majority of the bill.

“You’re right. Still doesn’t make it an easy pill to swallow.” I need to quit talking about it. Shit isn’t going to go away, but now, for the next few weeks, my eyes won’t leave her.

“Nope, not at all. Now, get on back inside, check on my future daughter-in-law, and when things settle down, your mother and I will come down.” He’s wise. Of course, that could be because he’s getting up in the higher fifties in age now. That doesn’t mean he can’t run circles around the cowhands.

“Sounds good. Give my love to Mom.” I press the end button, and my ass meets the edge of the concrete stoop.

“Not sure who you were talking to, but they’re not wrong. We thought it was just an inherited trait from Mom. Imagine how bad we all feel. Shit, I think Dad is pacing the hospital hallways and calling every doctor he can to get her in as soon as possible. The truth is, Mom and Em, they’ve always bumped into things. Sometimes they’d trip, but nothing too serious. It fucking sucks that this is how we found out. I hate like hell Josey was the one there, but I’m thankful too. There’s always a silver lining with stuff like this.” Jace sits beside me, arms braced on top of his knees.

“All I could think about is that if it weren’t for Josey wanting to spend time with her and me being so far away, what would have happened?” I admit.

“Can’t live your life on what-ifs. Happy to have you be a part of our family and thankful as fuck that Em has you, plus Josey. I hate to say it, but you better get a room started for her. She’ll probably want to be with you guys for a bit. Josey and Em, that bond of theirs, it reminds me a lot of when we were little. The two of us ganging up on Mom when Dad was out of town. We were thick as thieves.” Jace is lost down memory lane, whereas me, I’m still trying to figure out how fast I can get Emerson to agree to marry me. I’ll take her, family and all.

“Nothing to thank me for. She’s a good kid. Hell, both of your kids are. The way they look after Emerson, you and Misty have done a hell of a job.” Misty was the first person Josey called even though she knew her mom was out of town for a work conference. When she didn’t answer, Josey went down the line until she got ahold of me. Now, everyone is here, minus Misty, but she’s on a plane now and is hoping to get here in the next few hours.

“Yeah, I think that’s more Misty than me. A mom is definitely the glue of the family,” Jace responds as we walk back into the hospital. It has me thinking if Emerson would want a few children of her own.

“There’s no doubt about that,” I reply, thinking back to my childhood days when Dad would be out on the farm, working cattle, and Mom would hold down the fort. I’m one lucky son of a bitch. Most farming families expect you to stay on the homestead and work it, carrying it down from generation to generation. My parents knew that it wasn’t my dream and didn’t begrudge me my choice either. Hell, they were the ones who stood by my side every step of the way, and still do now. I close down my thoughts on the past. It’s time I start thinking about my future with Emerson.


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