Two more months of Ashley before I fade into the cold cloak of winter.
She takes the last bite of bacon, rises, and takes her empty plate to the sink. “I have to stop eating like this. I’m going to gain a ton while I’m here.”
Her body is perfect, and honestly, if she gained weight? She’d still be perfect to me. I fell in love with her, not with her body. With her vibrancy. Her exuberance. Her light. A few pounds won’t change those fundamental things about her.
I think about how to respond to her, when my phone buzzes. Hmm. I don’t recognize the number. I excuse myself and take the phone into my office.
“Dale Steel.”
“Mr. Steel, this is Dr. Montgomery from Woodrow Rehab Center in Grand Junction.”
Is that where Floyd is? I never asked Dad. “Yes, good morning.”
“I’m your father’s physician.”
Not my father, but whatever. “Yes, what can I help you with?”
“I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but he’s had a myocardial infarction.”
“A heart attack?” Why doctors can’t just speak English is beyond me.
“Yes.”
“How is he?”
“He was transported by ambulance to St. Mary’s. I’m sorry, but that’s all I know right now.”
On the first day of Syrah harvest? Really, Floyd? “I’ll contact the hospital,” I say to the doctor. “Thank you for letting me know.”
“You’re welcome. We’ll hope for the best.”
“Thank you. Goodbye.” I end the call.
Now what? I have to deal with the dumbass who fathered me after I just told Ashley we have a big day. Only one person can help me. Dad.
I return to the kitchen, where Ashley is loading the dishwasher. Her ass looks delectable in those jeans…
But no.
So much else is going on now.
I owe Floyd Jolly nothing. Not a damned thing. But his doctor called me, which means Floyd put me down as an emergency contact. Not my father. Not my brother. Not anyone else.
Me.
His firstborn.
He may be dead already, for all I know. But if he isn’t? Can I let him die alone?
“Ashley…”
She turns to face me. “Yeah?”
What am I supposed to say to her? She knows nothing of my birth father, that he showed up a few weeks ago. A big part of me doesn’t want to pour out the story now.
But another part of me does want to.
I’m already hiding so much from her—so much that I’ll never be able to reveal.
Can I reveal this tiny bit?
It’s not a secret, really. Mom and Dad know. All the aunts and uncles know. Probably all the cousins. Dee may have already told Ashley, for all I know.
“Have you talked to Diana lately?” I ask.
“Just yesterday, actually,” Ashley says. “She loves her boss and all her coworkers. They’re letting her take the lead on one of the committees.”
“Good. That’s good.” I clear my throat. “Did she tell you anything else? I mean…about me?”
“No. Why would she?”
“You want some more juice?” I ask, heading to the coffeemaker for a fresh cup.
“I’m fine. I need to get back to the house to shower and change.”
I nod, taking a sip of my coffee and pulling out a chair for her. “Sit.”
Her eyes widen, and not in a good way.
She thinks I’m going to end things. I can see it in her face. But she doesn’t know me well yet. I promised her two months, and I don’t break promises.
She inhales and then exhales slowly. “Give it to me straight.”
Yup, that’s what she thinks. “I’m not breaking up with you.”
She drops her mouth open, a squeak escaping. “You’re not?”
“No, Ashley, I’m not.”
She sighs, visibly relieved. “What’s up, then?”
“I have to go to Grand Junction today.”
“So you won’t be going to the harvest?”
“No. Not today, anyway. I’ll be there tomorrow.” God willing.
“Okay. What do you want me to do, then?”
“You can work the harvest if you’d like, or I can have you shadow Uncle Ry or one of his associates. Uncle Ry stopped working the harvest last year when he decided to retire after this season. He might be tasting the barrels. He does that once a week. You’d like that.”
“I would,” she says, “but I’d rather be with you. What’s going on in Grand Junction?”
“I’m not going there on business.”
“Oh.” She looks down at the table.
“So you can’t go along,” I say, “but…I want to tell you why I’m going.”
She looks up and meets my gaze. “Okay. I appreciate that.”
“My…uh…birth father showed up a little while ago.”
Her eyebrows rise, but only a touch.
“That’s why I went to Grand Junction. To meet him, and to have a DNA test.”
“And…?”
“He’s legit. Well, he’s my father.” Legit is another question altogether. “Anyway, he had a heart attack early this morning.”
Her hand flies to her mouth. “I’m so sorry, Dale.”
“I’m okay. I don’t have any feelings for him. He’s blood, but he’s not family.”
She nods.
“But I’m his emergency contact, obviously, so I need to go see to his affairs, if there are any.”