tournament any day of the week.”
Van rarely heard Kai cuss, but the vehemence behind the words surprised Van even more. It felt good to know he was considered part of the family and with that honour came a certain amount of responsibility. “Okay,” he said. “Go withdraw from the competition, and I’ll see if I can get us on the next flight out.”
Kai wrapped his arms around Van. “Love you.”
Van returned Kai’s embrace. “Love you, too, brat.”
* * * *
After thirty-five straight hours of flying and layovers, Van stepped off the plane in Sheridan, Wyoming. Despite flying first class, he’d barely slept and was certain there was a weird travel odour clinging to him.
“Rio should be waiting for us at baggage claim,” Quade announced.
“You guys go ahead. I need to use the restroom.” Without waiting for confirmation, Van ducked into the nearest men’s room. He tore a handful of paper towels out of the dispenser and set to work giving himself a sponge bath. He knew he wouldn’t smell like a rose once he was finished, but at least he wouldn’t draw flies.
At each stop along the way, Quade had checked in with Ryan. The sheriff had done his best to relay the information provided by the medical staff, but his badge only got him so far. According to Ryan, Bill was still alive, but the prognosis wasn’t favourable. He, Nate and Rio had taken turns sitting at the hospital in case Jon needed them, but thus far Jon had refused to leave his grandpa’s bedside for anything but the occasional bathroom break. When Van had questioned Ryan as to whether or not Jon was eating, Ryan confirmed that Jon had refused all offered food.
Van tossed the last of the wet towels into the trash before freshening his ponytail. As he stared at himself in the mirror, he realised he was stalling. He’d flown night and day to be by Jon’s side yet there was a part of him that was afraid to make that last leg of the trip. On more than one occasion, he’d asked Ryan to get a message to Jon to please call him, but each time Van had checked his phone it was to find messages from everyone but Jon.
What if Jon doesn’t want me there? Too bad, he decided as he turned away from the mirror and strode out of the restroom.
By the time Van reached the baggage area, Rio had already taken charge of Van’s suitcase and was talking quietly to Quade and Kai.
“Thanks,” Van said, reaching for the handle of his bag. “Any news?”
When Kai moved towards him, Van took a step back. It was obvious by the expression on Kai’s face that the news wasn’t good. “Is he gone?”
“No, but Ryan was told Bill has an advanced directive in place, preventing the hospital from hooking him up to a ventilator or administering needed nutrition through a feeding tube.” Kai shook his head. “He’s not going to make it.”
Van swallowed around the lump in his throat. “And Jon?”
“He’s still refusing to leave Bill’s bedside,” Kai replied.
With a sharp nod, Van headed towards the parking lot, hoping the others would catch up. Although he was hurt beyond measure at Jon’s refusal to speak to him, he kept telling himself that Jon needed to feel him, not speak to him. He remembered how he’d reacted to his father’s death. His need to pull away from reality to absorb the pain had been overwhelming. Van also recalled what had finally snapped him out of the dark place. Sometimes, comforting words did more harm than good, but a hug could speak volumes without uttering a sound.
* * * *
“Five minutes, please,” Van begged the nurse. It was after ten at night, and the hospital had strict rules against non-immediate family members in a patient’s room after hours. “I just need him to know I’m here for him.”
Bill had been moved out of the ICU and into a regular room after the advanced directive had come to light. Cathy, the charge nurse, studied Van for several moments. “Five minutes,” she agreed. “Don’t
Van rarely heard Kai cuss, but the vehemence behind the words surprised Van even more. It felt good to know he was considered part of the family and with that honour came a certain amount of responsibility. “Okay,” he said. “Go withdraw from the competition, and I’ll see if I can get us on the next flight out.”
Kai wrapped his arms around Van. “Love you.”
Van returned Kai’s embrace. “Love you, too, brat.”
* * * *
After thirty-five straight hours of flying and layovers, Van stepped off the plane in Sheridan, Wyoming. Despite flying first class, he’d barely slept and was certain there was a weird travel odour clinging to him.
“Rio should be waiting for us at baggage claim,” Quade announced.
“You guys go ahead. I need to use the restroom.” Without waiting for confirmation, Van ducked into the nearest men’s room. He tore a handful of paper towels out of the dispenser and set to work giving himself a sponge bath. He knew he wouldn’t smell like a rose once he was finished, but at least he wouldn’t draw flies.
At each stop along the way, Quade had checked in with Ryan. The sheriff had done his best to relay the information provided by the medical staff, but his badge only got him so far. According to Ryan, Bill was still alive, but the prognosis wasn’t favourable. He, Nate and Rio had taken turns sitting at the hospital in case Jon needed them, but thus far Jon had refused to leave his grandpa’s bedside for anything but the occasional bathroom break. When Van had questioned Ryan as to whether or not Jon was eating, Ryan confirmed that Jon had refused all offered food.
Van tossed the last of the wet towels into the trash before freshening his ponytail. As he stared at himself in the mirror, he realised he was stalling. He’d flown night and day to be by Jon’s side yet there was a part of him that was afraid to make that last leg of the trip. On more than one occasion, he’d asked Ryan to get a message to Jon to please call him, but each time Van had checked his phone it was to find messages from everyone but Jon.
What if Jon doesn’t want me there? Too bad, he decided as he turned away from the mirror and strode out of the restroom.
By the time Van reached the baggage area, Rio had already taken charge of Van’s suitcase and was talking quietly to Quade and Kai.
“Thanks,” Van said, reaching for the handle of his bag. “Any news?”
When Kai moved towards him, Van took a step back. It was obvious by the expression on Kai’s face that the news wasn’t good. “Is he gone?”
“No, but Ryan was told Bill has an advanced directive in place, preventing the hospital from hooking him up to a ventilator or administering needed nutrition through a feeding tube.” Kai shook his head. “He’s not going to make it.”
Van swallowed around the lump in his throat. “And Jon?”
“He’s still refusing to leave Bill’s bedside,” Kai replied.
With a sharp nod, Van headed towards the parking lot, hoping the others would catch up. Although he was hurt beyond measure at Jon’s refusal to speak to him, he kept telling himself that Jon needed to feel him, not speak to him. He remembered how he’d reacted to his father’s death. His need to pull away from reality to absorb the pain had been overwhelming. Van also recalled what had finally snapped him out of the dark place. Sometimes, comforting words did more harm than good, but a hug could speak volumes without uttering a sound.
* * * *
“Five minutes, please,” Van begged the nurse. It was after ten at night, and the hospital had strict rules against non-immediate family members in a patient’s room after hours. “I just need him to know I’m here for him.”
Bill had been moved out of the ICU and into a regular room after the advanced directive had come to light. Cathy, the charge nurse, studied Van for several moments. “Five minutes,” she agreed. “Don’t
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