CHAPTER 18
Thanksgiving was a time for reflection and of course, thanks, especially for this group. They had a rough fall, thus far, but all in all, things could have always been worse, as they say. Lou wasn’t with them, but she was improving each day. Each prayed for a full recovery so their world could return to normal, or what was their normal anyway.
In Lou’s absence, however, the group of family-like friends was happy to have additional guests to celebrate with them exactly as Lou would have wanted. Carigan’s brothers were there, of course, as well as BJ who was also cooking the meal. Carly was new to the area and without family but quickly fit in with this crowd and was excited to be there.
It seemed there may have been something romantic brewing with Carly and another of McKenzie’s newest citizens, Logan Traynor. Match making tended to be Lou’s job in town, but it seemed Stone had a knack for it too and was greatly invested in seeing that connection turn into something. Having Stone there was comforting to Everly. After extensive thought, she surmised that it had something to do with seeing her father in him. Both in looks and demeanor, for two people who didn’t spend any time together, or even know each other, they were a lot alike. Stone was something special, Everly counted on it.
Taking a break from football, while BJ ran inside to check the turkey, the men gathered around the sidelines, joining in the conversation the women were having. Stone had played sideline ref from a chair with one of the handful of kiddos on each knee at any given time, marking him as family already.
“So when is this wedding, Ev? I swear if you make me wear some fluffy shit like fancy pants did when she married Colton, I’ll teach your kid to spit before it can walk.” Jessie didn’t tell half-truths or bullshit, she just made promises and kept them so Everly took notes. Fancy Pants was her nickname for Meg, when she wasn’t calling her Princess. It was actually an endearing term – if Jessie called you something other than your name, it meant she liked you.
“Hey,” Meg chided, “those dresses were gorgeous and couture. You looked amazing
, you’re welcome.”
“Yeah, well, I cut off the sleeves and over half the length…it’s better now.” Jessie would say anything to get a rise, but again…if she said it, she meant it.
Doc sat in a chair and pulled Everly to his lap, kissing her shoulder. “ I’ve been waiting long enough. If I had it my way, I would have married Ev forever ago. I’d do it today, if someone could make that happen.”
Placing her arm around his neck, Everly leaned down for a sweet kiss. “I agree…soon. I really want to do it before the baby is born, but I also want Gran there. I’m thinking simple, but elegant. It may be a last-minute gig and that would make it hard to plan anything extravagant anyway.”
Meg clapped her hands in delight, as the self-appointed party planner, and town florist who still had elite socialite tendencies running through her. “Oh, my God...I can make magic happen on any timeline honey. Anything you want, big, small…”
“Are we still talking about the wedding here, or what happens after
the wedding?” Wylie laughed at Jessie’s quick wit, something he had and few could match.
“Little ears, cool it.” A warning from the moms in the group seemed to happen more often than not…when Jessie was around.
“I agree…Lou should be there. I can wait for her. She’s off the meds now and can wake up. She’s been stirring and showing signs according to the team so…”
“So we could be getting married any day now? That feels so weird. How do we even plan for that though? We need a license and someone to marry us…”
Stone chimed in, happy to have something to offer, “Well kid, you get that license, it’s good for a time. When you’re ready, if you would like, I can marry ya. I’m ordained and performed more cowboy weddings on the road than I can count. But my feelin’s won’t be hurt if you’d rather not since we are all still gettin’ acquainted.”
“No, I would love that, Stone. It would be perfect.”
“Then it’s a done deal, little one. You just let me know when and where. I’m stayin’ on here while my ranch in Texas sells, I won’t be goin’ back. I can be ready at a moment’s notice, ya hear?”
“You know we’ve had two weddings at the ranch now, why not a third? It can be our family tradition. Meg could turn the big barn into something amazing I’m sure,” Morgan offered.
Meg gasped in excitement when Morgan started speaking her language. “I can already see it. Winter country chic, it could be beautiful.”
“One wedding was up North, Deception Pass,” Beck reminded the group then turned to Stone to clarify. “Colton and Meg got married at my place in the San Juan Islands.”
“Oh, that sounds real nice too. Sounds like you have some good options, kid.”
“Same offer stands as before. You want to go to the islands, we can use the jet, get everyone there, make Lou real comfortable while we’re at it. I just need a day’s notice for my pilot,” Beck added.
“Fancy Pants will pull a wedding out of her aaa…purse and have it ready in fifteen minutes. Sounds like you’re all set Ev. We just need Gran.” Remembering the reminder of little ears, Jessie quickly cleaned up her language, even if ass
made a better point.
Overwhelming emotions consumed Everly, evidence streaming down her face. Her life had transformed so much in such little time, it was hard to process. Just a short time ago she was locked in a hotel room having a steamy weekend with someone who was nothing more than a long-term fling. Now she sat with that same man, the man who she would spend her life with, while surrounded by the people who loved her…and who she loved.
A lonely life was what she had subscribed to in an effort to preserve what was left of her heart. Love with boundaries and from afar was all she allowed herself. Now she stood among the people who meant the most to her, without boundaries, planning a happily ever after with the man of her dreams...her new
dream. That was the beauty of dreams, they could change, without limits or timelines and the sacrifice was worth it.
BJ had called out from the rear door, letting everyone know dinner was served, changing the sentimental moment to one of mouthwatering excitement. It didn’t require any nudging, they were all headed up to the house, ready to celebrate all that they had to be thankful for which was a lot, despite the missing piece to their puzzle.
“You okay, baby?” Doc asked of Everly, wiping her tears.
“As much as I hate using the excuse so much…hormones. I don’t cry, yet I’ve done more in these past weeks than my entire life combined.”
A beautiful table was set, a golden turkey as the centerpiece, they all filled their seats quickly. Ready for their traditional rounding of the table saying what each was thankful for, followed by a prayer, another life changing moment brought it all to a grinding halt. A phone call was about to concrete the day as one they would never forget.
Dawson took to his feet, “All of the usual suspects are already here. Must be important if whoever that is, is calling on a holiday.”
Quiet conversations stalled at Dawson’s reaction to what was on the other end of the line. They took to silence, sitting at the edges of their seats and listened in.
“Oh my God…finally. Really? Yes, she’s here… He’s here too… Okay… I will…” he looked up, eye’s full of emotion scanning the group with a satisfied grin on his face. “Yes …we’re all coming.”
Everly stood to her feet holding a hand over her mouth, waiting for him to hang up the phone. “Dawson…is she?”
“Your phone…they tried to call you. Looks like you’re getting married – she’s awake!”
It was just like Louise Shaw to wait for something substantial, like a holiday, to come back to her family. Rushing around to pack up the meal they had yet to eat, everyone agreed that dinner would be served at McKenzie General with the one they were missing.
“I can only imagine what she’s doing to the poor nurses right now. I bet she’s trying to get out of her bed and pissing and moaning about green jello.” Breaking the thick silence full of anticipation and anxieties, Jessie did what she did well and made the group laugh as they finished packing up.
“Exactly! We better pack the extra pie for the nurses!” Everly teased.
Jessie grabbed one of the canvas totes used to carry the various dishes full of turkey dinner and unloaded it, earning her several sideways stares. She rushed to the refrigerator, going for the freezer, and began loading her bag, earning her an outburst of laughter. “And the vodka!”
She didn’t find the humor in it, tossing them a threatening look before Everly chimed in, “The nurses are on duty! They can’t have that
! They’re likely to stick one of us with a needle full of someone else’s meds!”
“This isn’t for the nurses
, it’s for Gran! What do you think she’s trying to get out of that bed for anyway? Booze and her dog… Blake, grab Moonshine, she’s going to want him.” And out the door she went with a pie in one hand, bag full of booze in the other.
“Let’s go…” Blake said, “we need to get there before Jess gets Lou drunk.”
Something that had been missing was flooding back in, bringing them all a sense of relief with matched joy and laughter.
Louise Shaw was as cantankerous as ever, not to be stopped by a heart attack or stroke, much less the meds that were supposed to keep her drowsy and calm. Her fitful behavior over being stuck in a damn bed
was a welcome sight. Preliminary results showed that she was suffering weakness on her left side, causing a slight slur both of which would require therapy, but the prognosis was good. Unbelievable really.
“You all need’ta stop worryin’ so much about me and just let me outta this here bed. Whoever thought it was a good idea to keep me sleepin’ in this wreck,” her hands spanned out, indicating the wreck was the bed, “owes me one of them massages and the man
doin’ it better be a looker.”
“And she’s back, folks!” Jessie joked.
Doc gave her a rundown of her condition and expressed why it was important they didn’t rush things and just let healing happen organically, but that went over as easy as a snake in a boot.
“Oh, Doc…I feel fine. Just a little tired and my words are funny, but I can just blame that on whiskey if it don’t go away.”
Tears were brewing again, frustrating Everly. “Gran, you had us all scared half to death. Not once, but twice. We need you around so no more talk of whiskey, and you better listen to the doctors. You can’t do this to us again unless you really plan on leavin’ us, old woman!”
Lou reached for Everly’s hand and held it in hers. “Oh, Evie, honey. I ain’t goin’ nowhere for a while yet. Still too much ta’do. Besides, heaven ain’t ready for me yet and hell’s afraid of me, so lack of options leaves me to all of you.”
“Well, Moonshine missed you. He’ll be happy to have you home soon,” Blake said, pulling the dog from the sling he wore across his body and resting on his hip.
“What the hell did ya do to my dog?! Oh, my heavens, Moonshine, you alright?” Lou gasped, doing her best to lift the dog and look him over.
Blake looked around the room, taking in the shrugging shoulders. He was suddenly concerned that she didn’t recognize her beloved pet. “Uh…he’s right there, Lou. That’s Moonshine.”
“Well, I can see that, it was my heart that gone bad, not my eyes! Where’s the rest of him? I can actually see his legs!”
“Oh! Uh, well I took care of him while you were…well, here
. So I did some training and exercised him. Put him through some of the K-9 program so he would be helpful when we get you home.”
“Well, why’d you go do a thing like that? He’s damn near skinny!” Moonshine climbed from her lap, up the pillows around her and began licking her face. “Well, I suppose you being able to walk does make it a tad easier since I won’t be able to carry you in the sling for a spell. And you look a bit younger, so there’s that. I suppose knowing a few words and being able to fend for yourself a bit may come in handy for now.”
Blake let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding when Lou hugged her pet with her right arm and relaxed into him. His intentions had been good and not geared toward upsetting Lou. Now he could see that was just Lou being Lou, affections sometimes came out in a scolding manner, especially when she was the center of this kind of attention and there was a crowd.
After a good hour, and a plate of food together, the gang started to say their goodbyes when Lou started yawning more and more. She was still more tired and worn than she had let on, but they had expected that. Everly and Doc walked them out, helping with the left over meal, making promises to get together the next day for round two – leftovers.
Blake was the last to leave, leaning in to leave a kiss on her forehead, she held on to his arm and whispered, “Something’s wrong, ain’t it. I can’t put my finger on it, but I have an awful feeling, like I know something and I just don’t know what.”
“You know I won’t let anything happen, right? I don’t want you to worry,” he replied.
“I sure do. You’re a good boy, Blake Cooper.” She patted his cheek and gave him a weak smile.
“If you think of anything or something happens, you let me know, Lou.”
She nodded her head and he offered a rare smile before turning to leave the room as Stone found his way in, followed by Everly and Doc. Blake paused where he stood, turned to Lou, taking in her relaxed expression, and left.
“Willy. The music in my head. That was
you. I thought it was just a dream.”
“Willy?” Everly asked.
“William Stone is my given name,” Stone replied. “Stone Williams was a rodeo name…sounded tougher, marketable, they said.”
“You’ll always be Willy Stone to me, dear friend.” Lou held out her right hand to him as a gesture to come closer and sit with her.
“I suppose I will, babycakes.”
“Babycakes…it’s been a long time since I heard that.” She laughed at the nickname he had given her so many years ago, letting it wash over her and bring her a sense of something she couldn’t quite define.
It quickly dawned on Lou that Everly was standing there and likely hadn’t a clue what or who Stone was to her. But she watched the two of them, saw that they were anything but strangers, and the fondness they seemed to share matched their likeness to the eye. Everly knew and Lou didn’t know how she felt about that.
“Oh, Evie…you must think something awful of me. I’m sorry child, I… When Willy left, and Hank and I married, everything just sort of fell into place, like it was meant to be or something. Willy had been gone for so long, I didn’t think he was coming back. At that point, I didn’t see no sense in bringing up things we couldn’t change.”
Stone let out a pained groan. “I did things the wrong way, Lou, but I was always around, watching from afar. As selfish as I wanted to be, I couldn’t. You had a good life, a family, and I just couldn’t bring myself to interrupt that, not when I was still on the road and had nothing to offer, and I’d already taken so much from you.”
“It was me…I should have tried to find you first, given you a chance to…” Stone shook his head, cutting her off, with a silent exchange that only the two of them understood and ended with locked stares and sweet smiles.
“I’ll admit, I was surprised, still
surprised, but it doesn’t change anything I knew growing up and I kind of like how quickly my family is growing now.”
“The baby…” Not a question or guess, Gran knew. “When I woke up, it felt like a lot was different, like I had memories of things I didn’t remember happening. Strangest thing. Willy and that harmonica, then you walkin’ in a few pounds bigger in the middle. I think I knew before though. Something was in the air.”
“You and I had a lot of long talks while you were…sleeping. I guess you did
hear them all.”
Lou’s brow furrowed, and she nodded slowly while her eyes wandered, looking for answers to something still unclear, “I did. I heard a lot of things I suppose, some things I didn’t want to hear, but I can’t quite tell what they are…or who…”
“It’s okay, Gran. Everything is fine. You’re awake…let’s just focus on that and you getting well enough to leave this place!”
“Yes!” Ready to bring the solemn mood back to a high, Doc took the conversation in a different direction. “We need to get you well enough to attend a wedding!”
“A wedding? Ohhh, I knew those two would come around. I saw them today, watching each other. Did Blake go all formal like, or did he piss her off first and go heat of the moment?”
“No.” They all laughed, wondering if she knew something from those nights when Blake and Jessie were staying at the hospital with her. “Me and Ev. As soon as you’re ready, it’s happening.”
“Yeah, and Stone offered to marry us, he’s staying in town. Isn’t that great?” Everly said, more anxious to see Gran’s reaction to Stone staying in McKenzie than anything else.
Emotion overcame Lou, something that didn’t happen often. She turned her attention to Moonshine, petting him slowly. “Well, isn’t that a nice sentiment, thank you, Willy. You’ll get to be a part of our girl’s special day.
“We should probably let you get some sleep, Gran. You’re looking a little tired. I can stay tonight.”
Stone turned to Everly with a sharp look. “Nonsense, kid. You get home with your beau and start planning that weddin’. I’ll stay the night, Lou and I have some catchin’ up to do anyway. Just let me grab a coffee from somewhere around here and Nurse Carly told me about that extra pie.”
Everly laughed, and linked arms with Stone. “C’mon, I’ll show you the way.”
“I’ll meet you out there, Ev. I’m just going to make a quick note in the chart for Doctors Sterling and Reynolds in case we miss them on rounds in the morning.”
“Sounds good, meet you at the elevator then.”
Doc logged into the computer that sat on the mobile cart in Lou’s room, searching for her medical chart. He wanted to update it with his observations for the two specialists who were hired specifically for Lou as well as make concessions that typically weren’t granted unless you knew someone. They knew a couple someones.
“There, all set. Moonshine gets to stay the night. If anyone asks, he’s your therapy dog – I noted it in your chart too – those are allowed in the hospital. Technically, with all of the training Blake did, Moonshine qualifies as one, but no one has to know he isn’t certified yet. It also helps that two of McKenzie General’s biggest donors belong to you. No one will question McCain Charities or The Tayler Family Trust.”
“I suppose not. Those boys, they really came through for me. Now…you get on out of here. I’ll be fine until Willy gets back. Go have a wild night with my granddaughter.”
Doc choked on the water he was sipping when Lou kicked him out and told him to go have sex. “Sorry?”
“You should be sorry, Mason Charles. Honestly, hurt the baby? You’re a doctor for heaven’s sake – guess I should be grateful Beck and Dawson saw fit to bring in a couple of doctors that knew better…hurt the baby
. Most absurd thing I ever heard.”
Heat began to rise, turning Doc’s face a nice shade of rosy abashed pink. “I uh…holy shit
…that’s…no longer a problem.
”
“Well then…good. Seems that wasn’t a dream either…or nightmare, rather.”