The Unexpected Wedding(55)
“This is probably my father’s doing. I told you I’d put nothing past him. He’s trying to up his odds of getting custody. I’ll call John Black and get this sorted out.”
“But this isn’t right.”
Cal put his hand on her arm. “It’ll be okay.”
Becky Lee didn’t feel so sure. She knew that Cal’s father had managed to get his brother thrown in jail for something he hadn’t done.
Scotty came up behind them. “Uncle Cal?”
Cal knelt beside the boy. “I have to go with the sheriff for a bit.”
“But you were taking me to see my mom today.” Scotty’s lips trembled.
Cal looked up at Becky Lee. “Can you go ahead and take him?”
“But I should stay and help you get this sorted out.”
“There isn’t anything you can do. I’ll talk to the lawyer.”
Becky Lee nodded. “Okay, Scotty and I will go see Theresa Jean. Then we’ll come right back here.”
“I should have it sorted out before you get back.”
Becky Lee hoped so but didn’t trust Cal’s father. He was a powerful and ruthless man, that much she’d come to believe.
Cal leaned close and brushed a kiss against her forehead. “I’ll be back soon.”
He walked out to the sheriff’s car. To her surprise, Mark started to put handcuffs on Cal. She quickly turned Scotty away from the sight.
“Aunt Becky? Is everything okay with Uncle Cal?”
“He just has a few things to deal with. How about you finish your breakfast, and we’ll go see your mother?”
“What about Penny?”
“She can’t go to the hospital. I’ll call Jenny and see if she can stop by and check on Penny while we’re gone.”
“Is she good with dogs?” Scotty’s face was etched with concern.
Becky Lee had to keep from smiling. “She is. She has a dog of her own, Choo Choo.”
“Okay then, I guess that will work.” Scotty headed back toward the kitchen.
Unease settled over Becky Lee. She had a sense that she couldn’t shake that things were starting to unravel. An instinct or a premonition or just a gut feeling. She always listened when her intuition spoke to her. She was going to have to be very careful and alert. Something was headed her way. She could feel it.
~ * ~
Later that morning, Becky Lee held Scotty’s hand as they walked into Theresa Jean’s room. The boy clung tightly to her, walking with short, tentative steps.
He glanced at the machines beside his mother’s bed, then walked up to stand beside her. “Mom, it’s me. Scotty.”
He turned to Becky Lee. “Can she hear me?”
“Probably. I think so anyway.”
“Mom, can you wake up? I miss you.” Scotty’s eyes filled with tears. He took his mother’s hand. “I really wish you’d get better and wake up. You know what? I got a dog. Penny. You’ll let me keep her, won’t you? You always said I could have a dog when I got older. I’m a lot older now, Mom. You’ve been asleep forever.”
Becky Lee stood behind Scotty, watching her sister carefully for any sign she was hearing her son.
“Hey, I think she squeezed my hand.” Scotty looked at his mom. “Did you squeeze my hand?”
Becky Lee stared at Theresa Jean’s hand in Scotty’s but saw no sign of any motion.
“She did, Aunt Becky. Really.”
They stayed and talked to Theresa Jean for over an hour. Scotty told her all about what he’d been up to and all about Penny.
“We probably should go now and let your mom rest.” Becky Lee could see that the visit was tiring Scotty. He’d been so hopeful he could get his mother to wake up.
“Can we come back soon?”
“Yes, we’ll bring you back soon, I promise.” Becky Lee wanted to get back to Comfort Crossing and see what was going on with Cal and see if she could help.
Scotty kissed his mother’s cheek. “Bye, Mom. I’ll be back soon, okay? Or you could wake up and come home. That would be the best thing.”
She kissed her sister and whispered in her ear, “Take care, sis. It’s time for you to wake up. I need you.”
Becky Lee took Scotty’s hand in hers and they walked out of the room, out of the hospital, and into the fresh air outside. She took a deep breath. They headed across the parking lot when two men came out of nowhere and flanked them on each side. One man leaned close to her ear and grabbed her arm. “Come with us. Don’t scream and no one gets hurt.”
Becky Lee clutched Scotty’s hand in hers looking around wildly for help. There was no one in the parking lot. How did that happen in a busy hospital?