Chapter 8
Empathy is contagious
Wes
I’ve had hours to think about how the day unfolded. When we woke we were celebrating a new life. By lunch time, Amy, my mother-in-law, was being rushed to the hospital. During those hours, Conner, my father-in-law decided to stop the suffering of a sick animal.
Life is short. It's a real shame that we're battling time. Every day we're alive is a blessing. None of us know when our last days will be, and those who are sick know it's inevitable.
As my family continues to grow the reality of it all hits home. My mom remarried and moved to California. My sister put this town and the people in it behind her. She made mistakes that cost her years of freedom. The first thing she did when she got out of the facility was hightail it out of North Carolina. All I have left of my blood relatives is my grandfather and every night I pray I don't get the call that he's gone.
Insisting on living alone, it's only a matter of time before he has an accident of some sorts. Cam and I have begged him to move in with us. We've even offered to move the kids into the mansion. God knows there's enough room. He refuses to give up his freedom. I get it. I really do, but I also feel like he's my responsibility.
The drive home makes me think about a lot of things. After making sure my mother-in-law didn't need anything, I said my goodbyes and called my wife to let her know we were fine and I'd be home soon.
The moment I walked through the door I was greeted with the normal chaos I’m used to.
First I heard the youngest screaming at the top of his lungs. Upon walking through the living room, following the smell of food, I stepped into a disaster in the kitchen. A naked two year old was red-faced and inconsolable. My oldest son, age six, was on a chair, it tilted like it was about to fall, while his hands were covered in bubbling dishes.
Cam dashed into the room behind me dressed like she was about to run out the door. I knew she was on call, but didn't expect it to be immediate. "Do you have them? I need to get going. Apparently the ER is slammed."
I should be used to this by now, but as I glanced from person to person, I felt overwhelmed. I'd gotten up early when our youngest peed the bed. Not even an hour after that, the dog threw up and shit all down the hall. I actually woke to the sounds of it. As I got up to help Cam clean it, she threw up from the smell. By the time I got back in bed the sun was starting to come up. Cam let me sleep a little while longer, but we'd promised to go to her parents for breakfast.
With the long tiring day getting the best of me, I put a smile on my face and pulled her into my arms. "I've got this, babe. I'll clean the mess and do a load of laundry before going to bed. Everything will be in order when you get home."
“Don’t forget Madison is spending the night with friends. Little girls from her soccer team.” She put her hand on my cheek. "What would I do without you?"
"Eat off soapy dishes and wear week old underwear for starters," I tease.
“Seriously, I appreciate you so much. You had me worried today. I should have known it would be something stupid, but after the things I’ve seen, I can’t help but worry.”
“I’m not going anywhere. We’re going to grow old together. We’ll be wrinkly and feeble and our kids will have to wipe our asses.”
“Sounds amazing when you put it that way.”
Since she’s in such a good mood, I explain our plans to raise money for the animals during the big event. With her instant approval I know I’m all in. It’s the start of something special. When our family works together nothing can stop us from achieving greatness.
We kiss. It’s not like a kiss goodbye. It’s more involved. It’s filled with meaning and hope. She’ll never be able to understand the magnitude of my devotion to her. I waited, she was the prize. I have everything I’ve ever wanted, but I’m not too proud to know life is precious. It’s up to me to cherish every moment. I don’t want to be the next patient my wife has to treat, or the last. It can’t ever be that way for us.
“I have to get going. I’ll leave the animal saving to you and Dad, while I focus on the human race.”
We’re walking toward the foyer, leaving the kids in the other room for just a couple stolen moments of quiet. “My wife the superhero.”
She grabs her bags and starts to walk out the door. “I’ll wake you when I’m back.”
Grabbing her by the arm, I pull her back into my embrace. “Don’t go yet. I missed you today. We never finished what we started in the shower.”
“I know. The kids have radar. They get some itch as soon as we touch each other.”
“Well, we need to lock the door so we aren’t interrupted next time.” My hand travels down into the starchy fabric of her scrub pants. I don’t stop until I’m cupping her pussy, drawing my finger up the slit until her mouth opens for me to kiss. She lets out a desperate cry as I flick her clit, knowing we’re running out of time. We may live a couple miles from the hospital, but she can’t exactly take her time. “Five more minutes. That’s all I need. Just come for me.”
“Wes,” my name is said with a heavy breath.
“That’s it, babe. Just let it happen.” I’m rubbing harder now, determined to get my wife off before she walks out the door. I want her panting, constantly reminded of what she gets to come home to. “Come for me. Tell me how good your pussy feels.”
“It does,” she manages. “Don’t stop.”
She’s leaning against the door, her legs weakening with every one of my strokes. Her pussy tightens and relaxes as one finger does all of the work. Then I watch her face scrunch as she crumbles. Covering her mouth with my own, we kiss with heated passion. I’m rock hard, but know it will have to wait until later. “Wake me when you get home.”
“You know I will.”
She’s trembling, and it makes me feel accomplished.
I remove my hand and suck on my finger. “Love the way you taste.”
I can tell I’m making her want to stick around. It’s difficult watching her leave, but she manages with a simple wave and a steady pace.
With a heavy sigh I walk back into the kitchen and glance around the room. My son has most of his body hunched over this sink now. In fact, he’s not even putting weight on the chair. Lifting him, I sit the child down on the floor and toss him a dish towel. “Dry off your hands and take your brother in the living room.”
“But Daddy, Mommy said I could help.”
“You are helping. I’m going to finish the big stuff and then we’ll make a snack.”
“I want peanut butter crackers,” he announces.
“Ok. Go do what I said. I’ll be in to fold the clothes on the couch in a minute.”
“Mommy already folded my stuff. She put it away earlier. Then she threw up.”
“She threw up because she’s having another baby, remember?”
“Yeah.”
“You’ll always be the oldest boy.”
“What if she loves the new baby more than us?”
“That’s not possible. Mommies love all of their children the same.”
“Will the baby be her favorite? Will I have to share my room?”
“No silly. We have extra rooms in this house. The baby will have their own room.”
“I’ll give the baby my old stuff. I don’t play with those kinds of toys anymore.”
I snicker. “That’s sweet.”
“Love you, Daddy.”
“Love you kiddo,” I call out as he runs from the room leaving his little brother standing there staring at me. I reach down and squeeze his chubby cheeks. “Love you, buddy. Go help your brother, okay?”
And just like that he disappears.
A knock at the door catches my attention. With soaked hands, I make my way to the foyer to see who could be visiting. My sister-in-law Callie stands in the entryway with her arms crossed over her chest. “Let me in, Wes.”
Opening the door will be a mistake. I know it, but I can’t just walk away. It’s another thing I’m used to by now. Her uninvited visits.
She no sooner gets inside when she starts going off about her husband Cob. “I can’t believe it. He swore to me it wouldn’t happen again. He promised. Now what am I supposed to do? I’m not ready to make a decision like this. It’s too much. Now I hear Mom had an accident today. Where’s Cam? I need to talk to her.” She starts looking around calling her. “Cammie!”
“She’s on call. She left a bit ago.”
She gives me a once over and raises her upper lip like I’m not good enough to discuss her problems with her. It wasn’t so long ago that Callie hated both me and her sister. Apparently she thought the two of us should be together and it really caused problems. Now we seem to be her best friends. I get it. I just can’t sympathize with the way she handles things. Like whatever her current issue is. Most likely it’s something stupid that she’s blown out of proportion. She always overreacts. If I were Cob, I probably would have left her by now.
“Damn. When will she be back?”
“I have no idea. We sort of crosses paths today. When she gets home it’ll be late. I’m trying to get the house straight and the kids bathed before she gets back so she doesn’t have to do it.”
“I’ll just come back tomorrow.”
“Callie, do you need to talk?”
“Not to you, Wes. You’re just another guy. Men suck.”
I watch Callie kiss the kids before leaving. To be honest, I’m not sad she didn’t stick around. I love my wife’s family, but she still makes me a little uncomfortable. It’s like she questions every little thing I do to find faults. I’m no where near perfect, but enough is enough. She’s a bitch.
Just to be a dick, I give Cob a call once I have the kids tucked into bed. Sitting on the couch with stacks of folded clothes around me, I wait for him to pick up.
“Hey man, have you seen Callie?”
“You know I have. What’s up her ass this time?”
“I got a call today. A headhunter contacted me about a job. It’s a dream job, man. I thought she’d be happy for me. I mean, I enjoy working alongside the family, but this is what I went to school for. I’d be a fool to pass on it.”
“Where is it located?” Cob has worked all over the place. He used to have a position where he acquired land for the government to build highways. He was hated, and in turn disliked the job so much he was eager to quit. With his skills and qualifications, there’s no telling where this job could be located.
“That’s the problem. It’s in Costa Rica. It’s a contractual position that will last three years. I’d get a million per year.”
Owning a bank, I’m familiar with how much money that is, and the difference it is from working on the ranch. It doesn’t compare. He’d be a fool not to take it. “Man, I can only guess how the conversation went over.”
“It didn’t. She stormed out of here crying and throwing shit. I don’t know what to do. She says if I take the job I’m abandoning her and my kid.”
“She’s just freaked out. Let Cam talk some sense into her. It’s three years. It’s pretty freaking awesome if you ask me.”
“You know what it’s like, Wes. Callie doesn’t want to leave North Carolina. She’s gotten even worse since becoming a mother. I feel like I’m being torn apart. If I don’t take this position I’ll regret it forever, but I also don’t want to lose my family.”
“I’m here if you need to talk, but I don’t know how much I can do. Callie wouldn’t even speak to me about it.”
“Because she knows you’ll side with me.”
“She’s not really giving it a chance.”
“I’m going to talk to Conner tomorrow. Maybe he can help. Worst case, he’ll hate me too.”
“No one is going to hate you, Cob. You’re family. Cam is working late, but we’ll give you a call in the morning.”
“Thanks, bro. I’m thinking Cam is going to stay at her parents. I’m on kid duty, so we’re going to call it a night early. I hate fighting in front of him.”
“You’ll get it worked out.”
“I hope you’re right. Thanks for calling. I figured she was making her rounds.”
“You may want to warn Josh. He’ll be the next one she hits up.”
When the call ends I shake my head and laugh to myself. Some things never change. I don’t doubt they’ll work it out, but I am thankful my wife is nothing like that.