Chapter 7
The thunder rolls
Joshua
Leave it to my mom to do something that would require stitches. I’d promised my kids that we’d take them to the new fun zone in town, but instead I’m driving her to the hospital with a knife wound.
Apparently she’d been trying to cut a zucchini and the knife somehow got lodged into the center of the palm of her hand. By the time I arrived at the house, the kitchen was covered in blood, my nephew was in the corner crying with snot all the way down his chin, and my mom was frantically trying to reach my dad. Since I know he and Wes had plans to pick up a new pony, there’s a good chance they left their phones in the truck.
That being said, I’m always the one she calls when there’s an emergency. In this case, not even Aunt Miranda and Uncle Ty are available to help since they’ve gone to the cabin for the weekend.
Mom has her hand wrapped in a kitchen towel, and it’s saturated as we pull down the dirt and gravel driveway. “Keep pressure on it.”
“Who’s the parent here, Josh? I know what to do. It’s just deep.”
In the back of the truck, strapped into one of my kid’s chairs, my nephew continues to scream. He’s bouncing his body back and forth and trying to somehow escape, for what reason I have no clue. “Calm down, buddy. I’m going to drop you off with Aunt Tamsyn. You’ll be fine.”
Mom and I share a look. She’s going to need stitches, so this kid won’t be staying the night at her house. She’ll probably have to take it easy and will be prescribed something for the pain she’ll have to endure until it heals. I’ve been cut plenty times working on the ranch. I’ve had my fair share of tetanus boosters. “I always told you eating vegetables were bad for my health,” I tease.
She growls something under her breath and scrunches her face up in pain.
Rolling into my driveway at full speed, I come to a stop near the front porch. I realize I’ve driven in the grass, but this is an emergency. Tamsyn comes flying out of the house wondering what’s going on. All I’d told her was that my mom needed something.
Hopping out, I head to the back and pull our nephew from the seat. “I need you to watch him until I can get back.”
“What’s going on?”
“Mom cut herself. We’re heading to the hospital.”
“How bad it is?”
I hand her the child. “Seems like it’s deep. It’s her hand. She’ll be fine if they need to amputate.”
Tamsyn rolls her eyes. “Stop playing. That’s not even funny.”
“Fine.” I give her a quick kiss. “I’ll text you.”
“Love ya, babe.”
“Love you too.”
Back in the truck, mom’s head leans against the window. She’s been crying, and I feel bad for joking around with her. “Once we get you situated I’ll track Dad down. Don’t worry.”
“He wanted to see a movie tonight.”
“You can still go. First you need your hand taken care of. Calm down, Mom. You always worry.”
What went from a kitchen accident quickly escalated to possible nerve damage of her hand. After initially stitching her up, they sent her for tests and came back with bad news. Mom would have to see another doctor and go to therapy, all over a zucchini. I wanted to laugh because it seemed so ridiculous, but she was out of sorts.
It didn’t help that Dad hadn’t answered a single message, nor Wes. After speaking to my sister, she claimed she hadn’t spoken to either since earlier in the day, and that Wes had left his cell phone on the dresser in their bedroom.
If Mom wasn’t worried before, now she’s freaking out. “Something has to be wrong.”
“It’s not. I’m sure everything is fine.”
“Quit panicking. Dad will call.”
Mom, looking completely depressed over the whole situation, tries to reach out to the rest of our family while we rush home. Once we’ve arrived, I notice the kitchen is in the same disarray as when we left earlier. No sign of Dad anywhere.
“I’ll take care of the mess. Go on and sit in the living room.”
As much as she wants to help, she knows she can’t.
The cleaner is located in the laundry room in a high cabinet away from small hands reach. I gather what I need and start on the counter. I can hear my mother on the phone with one of my sisters. She’s upset about my dad. She thinks something has happened to him. For the life of me I can’t figure out what’s going on with her. She’s been overprotective of the children, and everything Dad does and says seems to rub her the wrong way. I think they’re so used to one another that they take each other for granted. Maybe they don’t even notice.
Before getting down on the floor to scrub the corner, I pull out my phone and go on the porch. I hate bothering Uncle Ty, but he knows exactly where Wes and Dad have gone.
He answers the phone on the third ring. “Tyler Mitchell, the Man of Steel, can’t come to the phone right now. He’s busy relaxing in the hot tub with his wife. Leave a message and he’ll return your call on Monday.” I already know it’s not a recording, but smile anyway because he thinks he’s slick. “Excuse me, Man of Steel. I was looking for my uncle. Mom cut herself and had to get stitches and we haven’t heard from Dad or Wes since they left to pick up the pony.”
He clears his voice. “What do you mean? It was in the next county. He should have been two hours at most.”
“That’s why I’m calling you. She’s freaking out.”
I can hear him shuffling around and either my Aunt Miranda or Van saying something in the background. Whatever is going on there is loud. Uncle Colt’s voice fills the receiver even though I know he’s not holding the phone. “Hang on. Let me walk outside. You’re breaking up.”
“Everything okay there?”
“Yeah, yeah. Uncle Colt and Aunt Van are having a disagreement over something. They’re fine. How’s your mom? How bad was the injury?”
“Sixteen stitches and nerve damage. She’s pretty broken up about it.”
“I’m walking to the truck. I’ve got the address of that guy in my glove compartment.”
While I wait, I hear someone asking if he’s told me about Colt. I can tell it’s Aunt Miranda by the way she questions him. “No. I told you I wouldn’t say anything.”
She’s still on him. “If other people find out Colt will flip.”
“So what’s going on with Uncle Colt?” I’m curious now.
“It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it. He’s fine. It’s just his pride that’s let down.”
“His pride? Like his dick?”
My uncle laughs. “Why does everyone in this family read minds?”
“What, did it stop working?”
“I’m not at liberty to say. I’m getting the death stare from the porch. I’m sure it’s temporary.”
“Let’s hope. I’d hate to be in his shoes.”
“I told your aunt she’d have to lock me up. If they ask, you don’t know shit. You ready for the number?”
I take the information down and end the call with Uncle Ty. My main concern can’t be the problems of a middle aged man. Right now I’m beginning to wonder what’s keeping my father.
According to the farmer, Dad and Wes left hours ago. It makes no sense at all, but because Mom is a mess with worry, I take it upon myself to exhaust all possibilities, including calling local hospitals.
I no sooner pick up the phone to start dialing when I hear a vehicle come up the driveway. Sure enough, after looking out the window I spot dad’s farm truck pulling a trailer. He and Wes climb out as I head from the back door. They’re laughing and carrying on as if nothing has happened. “Hey. Where you been all day?”
“Went to pick up a pony. I told you that this morning.”
“Mom’s been trying to call. She cut herself in the kitchen. I had to take her to get stitches. They said she has nerve damage.”
Dad stops what he’s doing and starts heading for the front of the house. When I turn around I see Mom standing on the porch. Dad grabs her wrapped hand and looks to her for an explanation, while I saunter over to Wes to figure out what the hell took them so long.”
“We’ve tried to reach you all day.”
“I left my phone at the house. Conner dropped his in a ditch when we stopped to change the trailer tire. Then we got hungry and decided to eat at that new Steak house outside of town. What’s up with Mom?”
“She cut her hand pretty bad. You need to call your wife. I’m sure she’s worried sick.”
“Man, the one time we don’t have phones and the shit hits the fan.”
I pat my best friend on the shoulder. “It’s all good. Give Cam a call. I need to head home.”
“Hey hold up,” Wes calls out. “I need to ask you something.”
“What?”
Out of the corner of my eye I spot Dad comforting Mom. I can tell from her body language that’s she’s relieved he’s okay. I don’t know what she’d do if something ever happened to him. They’re like the old couple that can’t live without the other. God help us when the time comes to say goodbye, because I fear they’ll be lost and inconsolable. Dad especially. All I can hope is that Tamsyn and I will have that same connection when we’re their age.
“Your Dad wants to surprise your mom with a new addition.”
“Like a kid?”
Wes shakes his head. “Hell no. We’ve got that covered. He wanted to adopt this dog we saw today.”
“Why are you telling me? What’s one more pet going to do? Mom won’t even notice.”
“This dog is sick. He’s got cancer. He’s like six or seven years old, but your Dad insisted on us taking him off this man’s hands. The guy wants to put him down, but your Dad said he’s not ready to go. I’m not saying it’s wrong, but he thinks he’s a dog whisperer or some shit. I mean, you should have seen the dog. He was spunky and full of life, but the old man can’t afford to treat him. He said it was cheaper to shoot him and stop the suffering.”
“Damn. You know Dad is a sucker when it comes to animals in general. This one time we went to kill one of the cows for meat, he tried to talk us out of it.”
“So, I kind of might have told him to turn around. That’s another reason we were late. We were with Rusty.”
“So how’s the dog?”
“Rusty had to euthanize him. We saw the images. He was riddled with cancer. It has spread throughout his body. He said he had to have been suffering for a while.”
“That sucks. Poor guy is better off now. It’s the humane way.”
“Anyway, I’m telling you this because I don’t think the cancer benefit should just go to human research. I think we should put some of the money aside for our pets. Rusty said there’s a good foundation, and your dad already wants to have a petting zoo. Will you help us? I think your dad has his mind made up.”
“Yeah. I don’t really have a choice. Once Tamsyn finds out there will be animals, she’ll want to help too.”
“Awesome. I figured as much. Maybe the kids could help, at the least the older ones. It will give them all something to do.”
He’s right. It’s a family affair and now we have more incentive than ever to make a real difference. “Count us in.”