Melting the Ice(131)

            “Is he in any pain?”

            “No, honey. They’ve got him medicated. He sleeps a lot, smiles at me a lot, and he and Haven and I are just sittin’ around laughin’ about all the good times we had with all you boys.”

            Drew swallowed past the lump in his throat. “I’m going to head down there tomorrow.”

            “You do that. I know he’d love to see you before . . . well, he’d love to see you.”

            “I’ll talk to you soon, Miss Ginger.”

            Drew hung up and got online, booked a flight to Houston, then called his coach, letting him know he’d miss practice tomorrow for family business. He explained the situation, which his coach said was fine with him. Drew promised he’d be back the next day.

            It was important to see Bill, to be able to say good-bye while Bill was still around.

            The next morning he hopped a flight to Houston and rented a car, then drove to MD Anderson. He sat in the parking lot for fifteen minutes before he gathered up the courage to get out of the damn car.

            He needed to see Bill. He wanted to see him, but he didn’t know if he could handle this.

            He loved his parents, loved his dad, but Bill had always been like a second father to him. He’d told all his deepest, darkest fears to Bill Briscoe. Bill had seen him at his absolute worst, and had pushed him along when he thought he couldn’t become the man—the athlete—that he needed to be.

            And as he stood in the lobby in front of the elevators, Drew needed to be that man right now.

            He sucked in a breath and pushed the elevator button, taking it up to the floor where Bill’s room was. He walked down the long hallway, the smell of medicine, illness, and utter hopelessness surrounding him like a dark cloud. By the time he got to Bill’s room, he knew if he didn’t shake this off, he was going to crumble when he walked in.

            Fortunately, Haven opened the door, her gorgeous face a sweet balm to his tortured senses. Her eyes widened and she threw her arms around him.

            “Drew. I’m so glad to see you.”

            He put his arms around her and hugged her tight. “Haven. I’m glad to see you, too.”

            She shut the door behind her. “Dad will be really happy you came. Gray came by last week. So did Garrett. Trevor was here the other day. I swear a day doesn’t go by that one of the college boys doesn’t show up. So many of you stopping by has meant so much to him.”

            “He means everything to all of us. I hope he knows that.”

            She squeezed his hand. “He knows.”

            “Is he awake or is this a bad time?”

            “He’s in and out a lot because he’s heavily medicated. But come on in.” She pushed the door open and led him inside.

            “Look who I found loitering outside in the hall.”

            Ginger was sitting in a chair next to the bed, reading a book. “Drew.” With a wide smile on her face, she got up and gave him a tight hug.

            He hugged her back, closing his eyes as he held on to her. “Miss Ginger.”

            “Thank you for coming,” she whispered before letting go of him. “Bill, are you awake? Drew’s here.”

            Drew turned his attention to Bill, who had lost even more weight since the last time Drew had seen him. He looked frail lying there on the bed, his skin sallow and seemingly hanging over his bones. Bill had always been so vital, so robust and full of life. To see him lying there like that was like a knife in his stomach. Drew had to force a smile on his face as Ginger moved aside so he could get closer to Bill.