.39VioletI look around the small hospital waiting room and I wonder what Rooster will think when he finds out. We’ve been here for almost five hours now. Rooster just got out of surgery. His appendix had burst—apparently a few days ago, maybe longer. He had become septic. I hate that I missed this. I feel like the world’s worst failure. I should have seen something. He felt bad, he wasn’t breathing well, but I thought he was getting sick. I snuck him some antibiotics the doctor gave me, but he wouldn’t take them. I should have insisted he see a doctor. I begged him to move into my apartment…. He wouldn’t. Now, guilt is eating at me.
“You okay, Angel?” Mike asks, holding me close. I’m leaning on him. I don’t know what I would do if he wasn’t here.
“I should have noticed something was wrong. This is all my fault.”
“Bullshit, you did your best to take care of Rooster, Violet. You can only do what he will let you.”
“But, I could have…”
“Did what, Angel? What could you have done? You did everything and you found him. If it wasn’t for you he would have died,” Mike says, and I let out a ragged breath.
My gaze moves around the waiting room and I smile. Parker arrived with Green Lucas. I didn’t know him, but even before Parker introduced him, I could tell he was Ida Sue’s son just by looking at him. Apparently, he knew Rooster a long time ago. That seems crazy to me, but he’s truly worried about Rooster and I figure that means good things for Rooster’s future.
If he can just pull through.
“How do you know Rooster, again?” Mike asks Green. I know he’s doing it to try and distract me and getting me to concentrate on something else. It won’t work, but—”
“Violet Raines?”
My entire body jerks as my name is called. I practically jump up out of my chair. I feel Mike rise up behind me, putting his hand on the small of my back.
“Yes?” I question, walking towards the doctor.
“Are you Mr. Cox’s daughter?”
“I’m sorry?” I ask, blinking. I’m confused thinking that maybe he came out to talk to someone else.
“Mr. Cox is asking to speak with his daughter, Violet. Is that you?”
I feel this warm flutter in my stomach and Mike moves from behind me to stand beside me instead. His arm wraps around my waist and he takes over.
“Violet’s had a rough night. How is her father?” he says, and I lean into him. Logically I know that if I said I wasn’t Rooster’s daughter that they wouldn’t tell me anything. Worse, they would probably report him as being homeless. I don’t know if it was Rooster himself, or the doctor who is looking at me with a kindness and understanding that’s clearly read, that invented the fact that I was a daughter, but I’m not about to question it.
“We had to take out a couple inches of his colon. We drained infection and have him under an IV Drip of several antibiotics. He’s alert, having pain, but he’s doing good. He’s very lucky you got him to the hospital now instead of waiting even longer. We’re going to be sending him to a room upstairs in intensive care, but that’s merely a precaution. We’ll move him to a regular room after a couple of days as long as improvement continues,” the doctor explains.
“Can I see him?” I ask, as relief begins to fill me. Maybe other people would find it silly, but Rooster and his pet, Gladys, along with Mike are my family. I’ve never had one before, but it doesn’t make it any less true.
“For a few minutes,” he says with a nod. “He’s wanting to see you, just make sure you don’t tire him out. He’s still somewhat groggy from the anesthesia.”
“Okay,” I answer and then follow him into the room.
Mike and I walk in together. As soon as the doctor leaves us alone, I make a beeline for Rooster’s bedside.
“My angel,” he says, his voice feeble, and I gently take his hand in mine.
“You’re moving in with me and Mike,” I order him. “You’re my family and I can’t live through this anymore.
I feel Mike’s hand go to my shoulder and squeeze. It’s a sign of support and I remember all over again how much better life is since I allowed Mike into my heart.
I love him more than I could ever tell him… but I’ll make sure to try later. For now, I sit here and watch as Rooster goes back to sleep, reassured by the steady beat of his heart that is echoing in the monitors.40MikeThree Weeks Later“You should have called me or some of the guys, Rooster. You know we would have rushed to your side,” Green grumbles, rubbing the back of his neck.