“Any news?” he asked, and I shook my head.
I knew what he meant; Jimmy had been checked as a donor.
“You’re not compatible. The doc told me this morning.”
“Well, shit,” he muttered, pulling off his baseball cap and wiping his sweaty brow.
Running his hand across his gray stubble jaw, he leaned closer to Lee.
“Now, don’t you worry about a damn thing, darling. Daddy’s here, and he’s gonna get you all fixed up.”
He pulled her hand to his mouth and kissed it, before glaring at me. “I see you still aint put a ring on my daughter’s finger, boy.”
“Her choice, not mine,” I said through gritted teeth.
I’d asked Lee to marry me more times than I could count. She was the one with the reservations.
Jimmy let out a whistle.
“Well, damn, that girl’s smarter than I gave her credit,” he said, looking straight at me. “If she aint gonna marry you, there aint no reason for her to stay here.”
Turning to face Lee, he smiled.
“You’re gonna come with your daddy, aint ya darling, you and that grandbaby of mine?”
I shoved my chair back, and stood up quickly.
“Over my dead body, is my daughter going anywhere with you. Lee might have forgiven you, but I sure as hell haven’t forgotten what you did to her. Lee and Hope are staying with me.”
The chair I was sitting on crashed against the wall behind me, but I didn’t move to pick it up.
I remained stock still, glaring at the gray headed, child beater holding my girl’s hand.
Lee was going to get better, and then we would go and collect Hope together…
“That’s real fucking hypocritical, kid,” Jimmy snarled. “Considering, you’re the reason that crazy redhead bitch put two fucking holes in my daughter’s body.”
Those words took the air right out of my lungs, and I staggered back.
“Don’t like hearing the truth, do ya, boy?” Jimmy continued. “I never claimed to be a good father. I sure as hell know I screwed things up in the past. But I’m better now, and I’ll be damned if I sit back and watch you destroy my baby girl’s life.”
He leaned his elbows on the side of Lee’s bed; his bicep’s flexed as he focused on me.
“This is what’s gonna go down, son. My baby girl’s gonna get better, and when she does I’m gonna be taking her and the baby home to Louisiana with me, where I can keep her safe, where I can protect them both, because god knows, you’ve done a real, fucking stellar job at it so far.”
“I didn’t know…”
“I don’t give a rat’s ass what you didn’t know, Carter. I don’t like you, not one fucking bit, and I aint taking no more risks when it comes to Delia. God knows how many more skeletons you got, waiting to jump out of the closet.
“She’s nineteen years old, for Christ’s sake. She’s just a child herself; she’s my child. My teenage daughter, who you went and got pregnant, and now you’ve got yourself a baby girl of your own as a result. Put yourself in my shoes kid. Think of what’s best for them.”
“You’re not taking them.”
Jimmy shrugged his shoulders.
“We’ll see,” is all he replied.
I had to get away from that man or they were going to need another bed in that room, real fucking soon.
“I’ll be outside,” I growled, as I stormed out. I had to get away from him or I would lose it.
*****
Running my hands through my hair, I rushed from Lee’s room, needing to get a little space and breathe for moment.
I was not prepared for the welcoming party that awaited me.
“There you are, kiddo. I was wondering when you were going to come up for air again,” Linda said. “You know…With all that self-pity you seem to be bathing in.”
I closed my eyes, and made to go back inside Lee’s room, but she grabbed my arm, yanking me back.
“Look at her, Kyle,” Linda demanded.
I shook my head.
“I can’t.”
The sounds of her babbling, were slitting through me. “Please, Linda, just take her, get her out of here.”
“I’m afraid I can’t do that, Kyle,” she replied firmly. “This little girl needs her parents. And since her momma can’t take care of her, then her daddy sure as hell will.
“Look at her, Kyle; she is your flesh and blood. Open your eyes. Don’t let your fear of the future be the cause of you making the biggest mistake of your life. Take your child, now.”
Shuddering, I opened my tear filled eyes as Linda placed Hope into my arms.
The feel of her, the smell of her in my arms…It was too much.