Page 107 of Obsession

“We’ll be in the waiting room.” The two women stepped outside the room.

When they were alone, his dad said, “I want to thank you for taking care of your mother when I let her down.”

Sam wasn’t expecting that. “I didn’t have much choice.” He cringed at the bitterness in his voice—exactly what he’d been afraid of. He tried again. “I hear you have a brokerage firm now.”

“Yeah. I know you didn’t have a choice.” The monitor over his head beeped faster as his heart rate increased. “I was a miserable failure as a husband and a father. I want you to know I don’t blame you for not forgiving me.”

He stared at the man in the bed.Sometimes we do the right thingeven when we don’t feel like it.“How about we talk about this after your surgery? Who knows, maybe we can work something out.”

His dad’s eyes widened, then he blinked them furiously. “Thank you,” he said, his voice cracking. “That’s more than I ever hoped for.”

It took all Sam had in him to not look away. “Why don’t I get Mom and Jenny back in here before they come after you.”

His dad gave him a thumbs-up.

Maybe he shouldn’t have led his dad to believe they would talk later, but his conscience wouldn’t let him do anything else. Anyone going into the cath lab and possibly surgery needed every advantage, and Sam wasn’t going to be responsible for taking one away, especially since he might be the reason his dad was here. He pushed the button that opened the ICU doors, and his mother and sister stood waiting on the other side. “I told him I’d come get you.”

“Thanks, son.” His mother squeezed his arm. “And thank you for what you did.”

“Don’t,” Sam said. “I—”

“No, don’t say you didn’t do anything. It took a big man to offer him hope.”

A lump formed in his throat. “You better hurry if you want to see him before they come get him.”

He turned to where Emma stood waiting. “How did it go?”

Sam blew out a breath. “I feel like a hypocrite.” He scanned the room. “Do you see any place to get a cup of coffee?”

“Over in the corner.”

He followed her to a small eating area and waited while an older woman poured her coffee. When she turned around, Emma’s eyes widened.

“Ms. Carter, I hope nothing is seriously wrong with your family,” she said. Then she turned to Sam. “This is Trey’s aunt.”

Her hands were full, so he simply nodded. “I’m Sam Ryker.”

She returned his nod and then moved so they could pour theircoffee. “TJ’s here,” the older woman said. “He fell at the assisted living place, and the nurse insisted that he get checked out.”

“I hope he’ll be okay,” Emma said.

Sam shot her a curious look. He knew for a fact she couldn’t stand the former sheriff. Maybe it was another one of those do-the-right-thing instances.

“He had a CAT scan and was transferred to ICU. They haven’t told me anything other than he’s dehydrated. I’m afraid they’ll find a brain bleed.” Her voice wavered. “But the assisted living center didn’t send anyone to help me with him, and he’s throwing one fit after another. I can’t reach Trey at his cabin—there’s absolutely no cell service out there. He’s the only one who can handle his father other than the male nurses at the facility.”

“I’m sorry,” Emma said.

Tears filled the older woman’s eyes. “My brother doesn’t want to be here, and he’s difficult on the best of days. Tonight he’s ordering me to get him out of here, and then he tried to pull out his IV. They’ve tied his arms to the bed, and that’s made him even worse.”

Emma patted her shoulder. “Do you think it would help if Sam talked to him?”

She turned and stared at Sam. “Would you? He seems to respond better to men, plus you have on a uniform. He may respect that.”

Sam took a step back. “I-I’m not sure what I can do...”

“Just tell him you know Trey, and that he sent word for him to behave.”

How did he get himself into things like this ... Emma. She was the one who volunteered him. He turned to her, and she was encouraging him with her eyes.

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