Page 24 of What the Cowboy Wants (The Westons of Montana #3)
T wo hours later, they were all in the waiting room in the hospital. Hayden and Becket were pacing, Willow and Cooper were standing right in front of the swinging doors through which their mother had disappeared.
Rose was sitting next Vivian, Riley, and Annie. Their husbands and brother had gone in search of coffee for everyone. The children, seemingly unaware of the drama, were fast asleep.
“I had such a fright when we returned from the bathroom and I saw Cooper carrying Arlene,” Annie whispered in the silence. “I just never think of her or Janice as getting old, they’re both so full of life.”
“She’s going to be all right,” Riley said. “I just wish someone would tell us what they’re doing and if she’s fine.”
Just then the doors opened and Vivian walked out, looking tired, but she was smiling. “She’s going to be okay.”
A collective sigh went up.
“She’s had what we call a ministroke,” Vivian continued. “A transient ischemic attack or TIA. It’s a brief blockage of blood that may cause stroke-like symptoms. The good news is, nothing was damaged, but, and you kids should listen, it is a warning.”
“She couldn’t speak!” Hayden called out. “Are you sure she’s fine?”
The doors to the waiting room opened and Hunter strode in. “I’ve heard about Mrs. Weston, how is she?”
“She’s had ministroke,” Vivian repeated.
“The symptoms are similar to those of a stroke and may include trouble speaking. It usually lasts only a few minutes but may persist for up to twenty-four hours. Your mother is back to normal, though but they want to keep her overnight for tests so that they can determine what caused the TIA.”
As Vivian discussed the kind of tests they were going to do, Rose moved toward Cooper. He was pale, his eyes on Vivian, but when she reached him, he grabbed her hand without looking at her, gripping it tightly in his.
“You can all take turns to see her briefly,” Vivian was saying. “Cooper, she asked for you first.”
He turned to Rose. “I’m going to stay with her. I… I want to see you. I’m not sure how long I’ll be…”
“I’ll wait for you.”
He pulled her close for a hug and for a moment, she closed her eyes and hugged him back. His whole body was shuddering. It didn’t matter when he wanted to see her, she’d be waiting for him. Always.
*
His mom opened her eyes as he entered the hospital room. The wan smile she tried nearly broke Cooper’s heart.
“I’m here, Mom.” Moving quickly to her side, he picked up her hand.
“Before those doctors come again, will you do whatever it is you do? Heal me?”
“I don’t know, Mom. I’d rather we wait for the doctors. Besides, there is only so much I can do…”
“I know you, son. We don’t have much time before that sister with the small eyes is back,” she whispered.
“Good to know you haven’t lost your sense of humor,” he smiled as put his hands on her. “Close your eyes. Take a deep breath in…” Talking softly to his mother, he moved his hands over her, doing what he could to make her more comfortable.
“What’s going on here?” a sharp voice behind him said just as he finished.
“Meet one of my sons,” his mother smiled innocently.
“Well, at least your color has improved,” the nurse frowned before she left again.
“How do you feel?”
“Better. Sit down for a minute.” She patted the bed beside her.
As he sat down, she took his hand. “Coop, I don’t have your and Willow’s and heaven help him, Luke’s, ability, but I can see when one of my sons is having a hard time because of his own stubbornness. You love Rose, don’t you?”
“Mom…”
“It’s a yes or no question, Coop.”
He chuckled. “You should’ve been a lawyer.”
“That was the plan before Hayden came along,” she smiled. “Come on, talk to me.”
“It’s complicated.”
“No, it’s not. Love is very simple, sweetheart. We tend to make it difficult. You rely on your gut, your feelings, to do what you do. What does it tell you?”
“That she can do so much better than a cowboy who talks to animals.”
“Do you love her?”
Sighing, he rubbed his face. “Yeah, Mom. I do. I’ve only figured it out this morning.”
“I could have told you that months ago.” She grinned. “What are you going to do about it?”
“She’s a city girl, used to being among people, she may not like living on a ranch. Besides, living with someone like me? Is it fair to ask that of anyone?”
“So, you’re looking for reasons not to be with her? Sweetie, if she loves you, which by the way, I’m sure she does, nothing else is a problem.”
“I don’t know, Mom…”
“It’s very simple, son. Do you want to wake up next to her for the rest of your life, or do you want to spend your future wishing she was next to you?
Life is so very short as I discovered when your dad passed away.
You never know when it’s your last day, your last concert, your last kiss.
Don’t waste time you two can be together because you’re afraid. ”
There was a knock on the door and Hayden entered the room. “Mom, how are you feeling?”
Cooper got up. “She’s interfering in my life again, I think she’s going to be okay.”
Sighing with relief, Hayden stepped closer and kissed their mom. “I’m taking Laura and Luke home and I’ll be back to take over from you early tomorrow morning, if that’s okay, Coop?”
“You don’t have to do that…” their mom said.
“Of course we’re here for you,” Cooper said. “Don’t worry, I’ll be here.”
Hayden kissed their mom and left.
“Don’t you have somewhere else to be?” his mom asked. “What about Rose?”
“Why don’t you close your eyes and see if you can fall asleep.” He dragged a chair closer. “I’m where I want to be right now. Nothing is more important than you, Mom.”
“You’ll think about what I’ve said?”
“I’ll think about what you’ve said.”
Finally, she closed her eyes.
Do you want to wake up next to her for the rest of your life or do you want to spend your future wishing she was next you? His mom’s words replayed in his mind.
There wasn’t really anything to think about. Of course he wanted to, but the reasons he’d mentioned to his mom were still there.
As he watched his mother, his heart settled. Although he knew she’d be fine, he had a fright when he’d realized she was unwell. She was always on the go, always there, he couldn’t think about not having her around.
What he also didn’t want to think about was losing Rose.
*
After Willow had dropped her off at home, Rose put on a pair of tracksuit pants and a loose top and got into bed with a book. She wasn’t going to sleep, not after everything that had happened tonight.
Minutes later, she dropped the book and closed her eyes.
She wasn’t sure what Cooper meant when he’d said he wasn’t sure how long he’d be, but whether he was coming tonight or whether she’d see him tomorrow, it didn’t matter, she was excited and scared and happy and whaaa !
Pulling the blankets over her head, she chuckled.
Giddy like a schoolgirl, that was what she was.
Her phone rang. It was her mother. She quickly answered. “Mom, it’s so nice to hear from you.”
“Hi, sweetie, I’m about to book our tickets to come and visit you. When will be good time?”
“Any time, really. I’ve started my interior design business again, and I’m taking new clients, but I work from home so I’m here. I’m so glad you’re coming, I have so much to tell you, to apologize for, to…”
“Nothing to apologize for, Rose. We’re so proud of you for the way you took your life back—that’s quite the achievement. I can’t wait to see you again. And I want to talk. I’d like to know what or who has put the laugh back in your voice.”
Rose inhaled shakily. “Mom… how did you know Dad was the one for you?”
Her mother inhaled sharply. “So, you’re in love? Will we meet him?”
Rose laughed. Her mother had always been quick on the uptake. “I don’t know, Mom, we haven’t really talked. He’s… different.”
“Sweetie, if he makes your heart sing, different doesn’t matter. That was when I knew. Your dad wasn’t like most of the smooth-talking, suit-wearing, sleek men I knew back then, but his eyes lit up every time he looked at me. That was how I knew. I can’t wait to see you again and meet your guy!”
They talked for another few minutes before they said goodbye. Her mom would let her know when they’d arrive.
Rose shook her head. She still felt so guilty about the way she’d treated her parents who had always loved and accepted her for who she was even when she’d been desperately trying to impress other people who didn’t know her, who didn’t care about her.
His eyes lit up every time he looked at me . Her mother’s words replayed in her mind. Up until now, Cooper’s eyes had either been angry or wary when he looked at her, but there had been a different light in his eyes earlier in the hospital when he looked at her.
Putting hand on her tummy where a host of butterflies were quivering, she inhaled deeply. She shouldn’t read too much into what had happened tonight. They were all very emotional and upset.
Maybe Cooper would visit her, maybe not. She’d have to wait. And she’d be watching his eyes.
Maybe she should start the Aran sweater. Trying to figure out the intricate stitches would hopefully keep her mind from straying to Cooper. Before she started, she studied at the different stitches and looked up their meaning.
Deep in thought, trying to figure out which of these she could use, she cast on enough stiches for the back and knitted the ribbing.
And then it was so easy to know exactly which stitch she wanted to use.
The zigzag stich was based on the designs of the coastal paths which led to the sea and represented the ups and downs of married life.
She would never be married to Cooper, she knew that, but a girl could dream, couldn’t she?