Promise Me

I stepped through the doors with a smile on my face. Shay, Bobby and Rhett were the only people there. “Where is everyone?” I asked glancing around the nearly empty waiting room.

Rhett rose from the chair where she was sitting. “Your dad collapsed honey. They rushed him down to the ER. Everyone went with him but us. We stayed here to be with you. Tegan told me he would text me as soon as they know something.”

**

I was sitting in a chair by Skylar’s bed holding my son. The room was empty except for us. She would have to stay in the hospital for three days. The doctor was pretty certain that Luke could come home with us too. Skylar was sleeping right now. I just wanted to hang onto Luke and Skylar right now. So many things were going through my head. I was grateful that Dad and I made up before this happened. I raised Luke and kissed his forehead.

The aortic valve in my dad’s heart failed; had been failing for some time. He ignored the symptoms until he had a heart attack and probably would have died had he not been here at the hospital waiting for his grandson to be born. He was in surgery right now, getting it replaced.

Mom, Tegan and Rhett, Shawn and Bronagh Martin, Ian and Delany Black, Coach and my Aunt Codi Gatlin, Scarlett and Ben Murdoch and my Uncle Noah and Aunt Lexi were with her. Shay was tired. She and Bobby went home. Rhett promised to call them as soon as Dad was out of surgery. My brothers were there as well with their wives. My Aunt Codi’s girls were watching their kids. Sophia and Seth were out of town right now but we called her to let her know about Dad.

Gramps walked through the door. “Any word?” I asked.

“No, I just needed to stretch my legs. I wanted to know if you would let me hold Luke.”

I chuckled at him. “Of course, I will.”

I got out of the chair and let him sit in my place. I laid Luke in his arms. “Damn boy, you look like my baby pictures,” he whispered.

“I laughed. You think he’ll be as big as you and Fionn?” I asked.

Gramps looked up at me. “You never know Ronan. If he decides to play sports I hope he’s fast like his uncle not a slowpoke like me.”

“Are you worried?” I asked him sitting on the bed at Skylar’s feet.

“No son, I’m not.” He looked at peace. “I was worried when you were in ICU. I thought we might lose you. For some reason I’m not worried about your dad. He’ll be fine.”

He glanced across the bed and I realized that Skylar was awake. “Can I get you anything?” I asked her.

“Just a picture of Gramps holding Luke.”

I took my phone out of my pocket and held it up. He was in his eighties. His hair was white and slicked back in a ponytail that hung to the middle of his back. His jaw was covered in white whiskers like he forgot to shave a day or two. His face was weathered and dark from working out in the sun all these years. His dark eyes were tired but he never looked more content than holding Luke in his arms. His smile spread across his face and he turned him so that I could see my son’s face cradled against his broad chest.

I snapped the photo and showed it to Skylar. “It’s beautiful. When we all get home we’ll need one of you, with your dad and Gramps, one of them holding Luke. Four generations of Moore men.”

Gramps chuckled. “I’d like that Skylar.” He gazed down at Luke then up at me. “I wonder if Pa had the same weakness in his valve that Declan has? He died younger than Delcan is. Pa was only in his early forties. I went to the feed store. He hadn’t been feeling good for a few days. He also chose to ignore it. Joy arrived at the farm and found him dead in the barn.” He sounded so sad.

“I didn’t know Gramps.”

Noah stuck his head in the door. “Pop, he’s out of surgery. He’ll be in recovery for an hour or so. Then in ICU for several days. In the hospital for a week at least.” My uncle walked further into the room. He went straight to the chair where Gramps sat holding Luke.

“Looks kind of like my baby picture,” he said.

Gramps laughed. “Only because you look like me, Noah.”

Noah’s eyebrow. “So…” he dragged the word out. “Luke looks just like you?”

“He does and so do you,” Gramps said.

My uncle laughed. “All right.” He shook his head. “Want me to walk with you back to the recovery area?” He asked.

Gramps looked at me then at Skylar. She smiled at him. “I think I’ll stay here for a while. When he’s moved to ICU let me know. I’ll go see him there.”

“Okay Pop. I’ll come get you.”

“Thanks Noah.” My uncle patted Gramps on the shoulder.

“Hey Noah,” Gramps said. My uncle turned at the doorway to Skylar’s room and waited for Gramps to say something. “Four generations of Moore men.”