Carson adjusted his stance so he backed her against the wall, blocking her from everyone at the table and anyone in the vicinity. “How much have you had to drink tonight, sugar?”
“A beer, your whiskey, Charlie’s whiskey and Beverly bought me a shot. Why? I’m not drunk.”
“You are actin’ more belligerent than usual.”
“Says the man who punched a guy four times,” she retorted.
“I wanted to hit him more than that, so he oughta consider himself lucky.” He rubbed his cheek along hers. “I put the off-limits sign on you the second you started wearin’ my ring and when you took my name. He—and all the other assholes eyein’ you—needed a reminder that no one, and I mean no one, touches what’s mine.”
“Then maybe you should take me home and prove that I’m yours.”
“In a bit. Let’s stick around and celebrate your birthday. We’ve got years to act like an old married couple.”
As it turned out, Carson celebrated her birthday harder than she did; she had to pour him into his truck, but not until after last call.
Then once she dragged him home, he passed out as soon as his head hit the pillow.
That night set the tone for their first year of marriage.
Carson worked hard and played harder. They spent Friday and Saturday nights out. She’d insisted since he dragged her to the bar and the dancehall that he better not complain that she expected him to accompany her to church.
After they’d been married three months, Clara West’s health took a turn for the worse.
Carolyn had just finished sewing the lace on a christening gown, when she heard a loud thump in her mother’s bedroom. She raced in to find her mother lying on the floor, hacking so violently blood spilled from her lips.
Trying to remain calm, she picked her mother up and settled her back in bed. “Do I need to call an ambulance?” Or Father Dorian?
Her mother shook her head.
“Don’t tell me you’re fine, Mom. I know you’re not.” She paused. “Thomas told me what’s going on.”
Her mother lay in her bed and wheezed for several long minutes before answering. “He shouldn’t have told you.”
“You’re right. You should’ve told me.”
“Why? There’s nothing you can do. Nothing anyone can do.”
Frustrated, she said, “You can’t be left alone every day. You need daily medical care.” Why didn’t her father see that?
“I sleep a lot, Liebchen.” She closed her eyes. “I’m tired now. We’ll talk later.”
Her mother didn’t wake up for the remainder of the day. But Carolyn waited around to speak to her father, which would be awkward since they hadn’t seen each other or spoken to each other since before the wedding.
She waited on the front porch so he couldn’t avoid her.
Late afternoon, Eli West hauled his bulk out of his truck and stopped at the edge of the stairs; his eyes held an accusatory gleam. “You already leave that McKay bastard?”
It took every bit of patience not to rise to his taunt. “No. How long are you going to let Mom suffer alone? She fell out of bed today. What if I hadn’t been here? And don’t lie to me, Dad. I know the arthritis is in her lungs.”
“Why do you care? You left here—left her. Her problems ain’t your concern.”
“They don’t seem to be your concern either.”
“Don’t you take that smart tone with me.”
“Do you want her to die? Because that’s how it’s coming across to me.”
He raised his hand and it would’ve connected with her face if she hadn’t ducked. “As usual you don’t know nothin’.”
“Put her in a nursing home where she can get the care she needs.”
“She refuses.”
The way her father looked away guiltily…something else was going on. “Or are you refusing?”
His angry gaze snapped back to her. “I can’t afford long term care for her, okay? Unless I abandon her as a ward of the state and then they make all the medical decisions for her. I’ll lose everything I’ve worked for my entire life. And you know what? I’d gladly give it all up, but she won’t let me. She says she’ll die in her home with dignity, not among strangers who only want to prolong her life to eke more money outta me.”
Tears rolled down her face. Once again Thomas had gotten everything wrong. Their dad wasn’t the villain; he was a victim of his wife’s stubbornness and circumstance too. “What can I do?”
She noticed his eyes were moist. His voice was so scratchy when he finally spoke. “Be here with her during the day until I get home from work. I can’t quit and lose my job and pension this close to retirement. But my boss said I can knock off two hours early until…”