Page 22 of Choosing My Happiness
Midwife picked me up from Janie and Bull’s house on the morning of the Party. I climbed into his big 5-seater pickup, wondering how we were going to get Dad in here.
“Hi, Daiz. How are you feeling?” Midwife’s voice matched his truck engine. Almost a deep purr.
“Wishing I didn’t have to go to this damn party,” I told him honestly, but still smiling at him. For some reason, this just suddenly felt easier with him around. He hadn’t even done anything except turn up. He smiled back and nodded, then put his hand on the back of my seat to reverse out of the driveway. I felt small and fragile sitting there watching his bicep flex next to my face as he braced himself.
“Family is important…but not always easy to deal with,” he agreed, competently handling the stick shift. I was feeling a little nervous being in the truck with him. The longer I sat here, themore intimate it felt and the more I was attracted to him. Each moment was a second closer to the line of no return.
“Thank you for helping me,” I spoke to break the silence. He cast me a frowning glance.
“You keep saying that. Don’t people help you out much?”
“Not really. I’ve been let down a bit in my life. It’s hard to trust people sometimes.”
“You trust Bull and Janie,” he pointed out.
“They’ve never let me down,” I pointed out. “They also helped me massively four years ago, when I needed space. They gave me everything I needed to become independent. I won’t ever be able to repay them.”
He pressed his lips together in consideration then tilted his head with a wry smile and spoke. “You probably don’t have to. You may have noticed that their definition of family is pretty much everyone.”
“Yeah, they’re amazing people.” I smiled fondly. “So talking about family, how are we going to get my Dad into here with his wheelchair?”
He gave me a side glance and a half smile.
“I thought we’d strap him onto the back, wheelchair and all, and just drive there. He’ll enjoy the breeze in what’s left of his hair,” he casually explained. My mouth dropped open in horror, and he burst out laughing.
“No, it’s all good. I can carry Matchstick and oxygen tanks in and out of the cab if you’re able to connect and disconnect them. The wheelchair will go on the tray bed.” He assured me.
I sighed in relief.
“We did try and find one of those wheelchair accessible vans to rent, but couldn’t get one this quickly,” he apologized.
“It’s fine, I don’t think he would’ve been happy to arrive in one of those anyway,” I assured him
He snorted and smiled as we pulled up to the hospital.
I sorted out the paperwork for the day release, while Midwife helped the nurses get Dad ready. I came over and the nurse fixed me with a look.
“You should not be doing this. If anything happens, you may not forgive yourself. He’s not really well enough for this.”
“I know,” I told her. “But I know what I’m doing…he needs this more than living at this stage.”
Dad was sitting in the wheelchair already hooked up to the oxygen tank behind his seat. Midwife came over to me and put a hand on my shoulder.
“She can do this. We can trust her,” he whispered to the nurse, and then a bit louder he said, “We’ll look after him.”
She nodded her acceptance and stepped out of the way so we could move Dad.
Dad glared at Midwife as we approached him. He shook a finger at him when we got closer. “You shouldn’t be touching her. She’s Blaze’s ol’lady”
I walked around and flicked off the brakes.
“Am I really, Dad? He had a kid with someone else. That kinda says he doesn’t see me as his,” I pointed out to him as we started walking. Not that it would make a difference in his perception of the golden son-in-law.
“Now Daisy, that don’t mean a thing. Them townies is just a bit of fun. You’re the one he came home to.” Dad tried to soothe me. I looked over at Midwife. His face was the angriest I’d ever seen on a man.
“Jim?” I got his attention.
“A man shouldn’t need anyone else once he’s claimed his ol’lady,” he growled. “She’s either hiseverything,or he doesn’t claim her.”
