Page 19 of The Virgin's Baby
It had never occurred to me that I could hurt a guy by saying such a thing.
Am I really as nice as I think I am?
Chapter Nine
Ransom
Lubbock, Texas – May 18th
Grandad was able to step outside to sit with me on his favorite patio to watch the sunset. “I’m gonna miss these, boy.”
I hated when he said things like that—like it was a certainty that he was going to die. “Grandad, you’ll see plenty more of these. I don’t want you to worry about that. Or think about it.”
His wrinkled forehead creased even further as he frowned. “It’s hard not to think about it, Ransom. You’ve got no idea.”
And I don’t want any idea.
“So, the nurse told me today that your numbers are getting better. That’s some good news.” I picked up my beer and took a drink of it. He’d been so pessimistic; I wondered how he would spin this good news.
“Yeah, well, that’s happened before.” His eyes closed for a moment, then he opened them back up. “The sad part is that the numbers always seem to get better just before they get worse. It’s God’s cruel joke, I suppose.”
I couldn’t let him think that way. “Well, maybe this time the numbers will just keep getting better. Maybe you’ll be the one playing the jokes.”
“Sure. Maybe.” I was happy to get that much out of him.
His color was better, his eyes not quite as sunken as they had been, and he was able to get out of bed, which was great.
“I’m sure the medications are working and that you’ll be done with this damn thing in no time.” At least I prayed I was right.
Even on his best days, he still wasn’t the man I’d left a little over a month ago. I don’t know how I didn’t notice the change in him before I left. There had to have been signs that he was sick. But I never saw them.
Or more truthfully, I hadn’t paid enough attention to the man who’d done so much for me in order to see anything out of the ordinary. In my defense, I honestly thought the old cuss would outlive me.
A cool breeze blew, making him shiver. I got up and grabbed the blanket he always kept nearby and put it around his shoulders. Shoulders that had once been as broad as mine, but now were narrow and bony.
I tried not to notice that as I smoothed the fabric out over them. “Maybe we should head inside since the evening breeze has kicked up, Grandad.”
“No, I want to see the stars first. Even if it’s just a few of them, I want to see them. And not through a window either. I want to see them in all their glory.” He took in as deep a breath as he could, and it made him cough like crazy.
I didn’t know what to do. He hated it if I touched him when he had a fit like this. So, I could only stand there waiting for it to end and hoping it would end soon.
His eyes watered after the fit ended. He wiped them with the back of one hand. “Oh, hell. I hate this. I truly do.”
Patting him on the shoulder, I knew he did. “Well, hopefully, the medicine will soon make this all a thing of the past.”
He didn’t say a word to agree with me. “So, how’s the search for a surrogate mother coming along?”
“Poorly.” I took my seat again and picked up my beer to take another drink.
“You haven’t found anyone with good genes to do this for you? Are you offering enough money?” he asked. He seemed genuinely surprised that I hadn’t found anyone yet.
“I’m being tight-lipped about the exact amount I’m offering because it will depend on the woman and how badly I want her to be the one.” I had to take another drink to push Aspen’s face out of my mind.
She’d called me a playboy. She’d said I wasn’t the kind of man she’d leave a kid with. Who the hell was she to think anything about me?
“Not one of these women have caught your eye?” he asked.
“No.” I was lying. And he always knew that too.
