“How is Gran-gran?”
“The same. I keep tellin’ myself that’s a good thing. Might be bad if she woke up before the doctors wanted her to.”
Ky sat heavily in the chair next to him.
Didn’t seem like the kid wanted to be here—not that Carson blamed him. Chances were he’d been roped into keeping Grandpa company.
Ky locked his gaze on Carson’s. “Are you and Dad in some kinda fight? He wouldn’t come here himself and tell you about us takin’ care of the horse and we’ve been doin’ it for four days. Then I heard him complaining to Mom about you.”
“Not gonna repeat what names he called me?” Carson said with amusement.
“Nope.”
“Probably wise. Your dad—and the rest of my kids—ain’t happy about the ‘no visitors’ rule. They think I’m bein’ controlling and paranoid. They believe the rules oughta be different for them since Carolyn is their mother. But she’s my wife, my responsibility. My sole purpose is to do everything in my power to get her outta that hospital bed and home where she belongs.”
Kyler didn’t even blink at Carson’s snappish response. “I don’t understand why everyone is so bent outta shape about it. I know if it was Mom in there my Dad would be the same way. ’Cept probably worse.”
Silence stretched.
Finally Carson said, “You don’t need to stick around if your dad guilted you into comin’ here.”
“He didn’t. I’m here because I wanted to ask you something.”
“Ask me what?”
“What happened between you and Dad that made him move to Seattle?”
Not what he’d expected and he didn’t know if he should answer. “Son, does your dad know you’re askin’ me about that? ’Cause that wasn’t a happy time for either of us.”
“He refused to talk to me about it, so I figured I could ask you since you don’t pull punches.”
Maybe this would be the one time he would.
“I wouldn’t be asking if I didn’t need to know so I can make a decision.”
“You and your dad still goin’ round and round about post-high school options?”
“We’re still going round and round about everything.”
Poor kid. Carson remembered what it was like to be at loggerheads with his dad and all the times he’s been a stubborn jackass of the first order with his sons. “Tell ya what. Get us both a soda and we’ll see where we end up.” Carson dug in his pocket and pulled out five crumpled one dollar bills. “Damn soda here is higher priced than whiskey.”
Kyler grinned. “Maybe we oughta be drinkin’ whiskey. I’ve got some in my truck.”
Carson gave him a level stare.
“Kidding. Dr. Pepper it is.”
He returned with two bottles of soda, two candy bars…and three bucks. Carson raised an eyebrow when Ky passed the money back. “The candy is my treat.”
“Thanks. You oughta be savin’ your money to take out all them pretty girls swarming around you. Gas ain’t cheap these days.”
“Dad pays for my gas, so it’s all good.” Kyler cracked open his soda. Then he wolfed the candy bar before Carson opened his wrapper.