“I thought we’d see Kendall this morning,” his mom said as he was wheeled down the hospital corridor.
“She had to go back to San Francisco,” he said.
“Maybe you could talk with her later, or she can fly back for the weekend.” His mom sounded so hopeful. He knew he was about to break her heart.
Drew had dated a lot of women over the years. His parents had been friendly toward them. His mom even hinted around about a couple of them. In other words, she would have been happy to have a daughter-in-law. Kendall had evidently joined that shortlist. His mom knew what his schedule was like during football season. She didn’t understand Kendall wasn’t going to be able to get out of going to the Miners’ game on Sunday in Atlanta unless she was bleeding from every pore, and even then it was not a certainty.
“Mom, I think we broke up this morning,” he said.
His normally calm, quiet, sweet mom grabbed the arm of the wheelchair he was currently riding in and shrieked, “WHAT?”
The small group of people surrounding Drew came to a screeching halt. His dad reached out to slide his arm around his mom’s shoulders.
“Bonnie, we can talk about it later.”
Drew reached over to take his mom’s hand in his good one. “Mom. It’ll be okay.” His mom pulled away from him.
“You broke up with her? That poor girl got on a plane to spend twenty-four hours with you. Why would you do such a thing? I really like her. Are you nuts?”
“Why would you think I broke up with her? Maybe she dumped me,” he said.
“I saw the way she looked at you yesterday. She’s in love with you, or my name isn’t Bonnie McCoy. I’m ashamed of you, Andrew David McCoy. Ashamed.”
His mom dropped his arm and walked away from him. He stared after her in astonishment. Maybe the pain meds were making him hallucinate or something. She wasn’t that mad when he dented the fender on his dad’s month-old truck as a newly-licensed driver.
If (and when) she found out he hung up on Kendall’s attempt to apologize, there would be additional hell to pay: His mom would not tolerate rudeness.
After a pause, Cheryl got his wheelchair going again. “It looks like you’re in trouble, Mister. Are you sure you want to go home right now?”
“Yeah, I’m sure. Maybe the neighbor can come over and help me take a shower,” Drew joked. “I also have a guest room, Cheryl.”
“Mr. Cheryl might have a problem with that.”
“Tell him it’s a business thing.”
“God, you’re a flirt,” she said. He had to laugh.
He was rolled onto the sidewalk in front of the hospital a few minutes later. A small knot of jersey-clad Sharks fans held up “Get Well Soon” signs for him, and they chanted “Go Sharks! Go Sharks!” There were a few members of the media filming his exit from the hospital. It must have been a slow news day.
He glanced up at Cheryl.
“Will you take me over there?”
“I suppose.” She grinned at him.
“Have they been out here all day?”
“They’ve been out here on and off since you were admitted.”
He didn’t have a pen, but he was willing to bet someone in the crowd might let him use one. The fans burst into applause when he was wheeled over to them. He tried to stand up, but he felt Cheryl’s hand on his good shoulder.
“You can’t be out of the wheelchair until you’re in a vehicle and off hospital property, Buster.”
“Crap,” he said good-naturedly. A little boy with no front teeth wearing a reproduction McCoy jersey bounced up to him.
“Will you sign my shirt?”
“Of course I will,” he said. “I think I need a pen, though.”
Someone from the crowd handed him a Sharpie.
“Thank you so much,” he said to the woman with the pen.
He saw color rising in her face, and she gave him a shy smile. In other words, she wanted to talk with him, but she was too shy. He’d make sure she got an autograph. He could sign a few more in the meantime. He’d have to use his non-dominant hand. Hopefully, nobody would mind.
He felt his dad’s hand on his good shoulder. “Son, I’m taking your mother back to your house. I think she needs to lie down for a little while.”
“Is she okay?”
“She’s fine. She’s a little overwrought. I think she’s tired.”
Drew’s stomach clenched in concern. He wondered if she was getting sick. He couldn’t remember the last time she’d freaked out like she had a few minutes ago. Maybe she was stressed out from taking care of him and the ongoing fights with his dad over her job. He was going to find out what was wrong as soon as he could get out of here.