transplant is going to be pretty rough on her. I need to be here a while longer. See she gets through it.”
“What do you mean? How much longer? You said this would only take a few days.”
And let the whining begin, he thought. “Look, I said don’t start. Okay? It’s more serious than I’d thought. She doesn’t instantly get all better.”
“What about me?”
“What about you?” Cole snapped back. Her selfishness had come to the surface not long after they’d gotten married. It was really starting to turn his stomach.
“I want you home.”
“I don’t give a shit what you want,” he growled.
“You did your part. I don’t know why you have to stay now.”
“It’s important I be here. She’s my fucking daughter.” Cole was loosing patience with her. Things had been rocky between them for a long time, and this just pointed out her neediness. He couldn’t stand clinging women. He just hadn’t realized how bad she could get. She was one of the most self-centered and controlling women he’d ever met. How he’d married her without seeing it, was beyond him.
“Okay. Fine. So, another week, then?”
“I can’t say. It may take longer. I just don’t know.”
“Longer? Cole!”
“Mandy, I’ll be back when I can. Look, I’ll call you later. The meds they gave me are starting to make me sleepy,” he lied.
“You’d better call me. And I’m sick of getting your voicemail every time I try to call you. You better start picking up your Goddamn phone.”
Cole disconnected.
He couldn’t even bear to finish the call. It was always about her. Her needs. Her problems. Couldn’t she ever once think of someone else’s needs? My God, he hated to think what kind of a mother she’d make. If Melissa had been hers? She couldn’t hold a candle to the job Angel was doing dealing with a sick child.
Cole knew he wasn’t being fair, but to hell with fair. Was life fair to Melissa? Had it been fair to Angel?
He tossed the phone on the bedside table. He’d have to call Mack back later. He was in no mood to deal with him now. He was sure Mack wouldn’t be thrilled with him staying out here longer, either. Well, tough shit. He was just going to have to fucking deal with it. Besides, Mack owed him, and he knew it. For all the lies and bull shit he’d put him and Angel though. Maybe she wouldn’t be living seven hundred Goddamn miles away if it hadn’t been for the shit Mack had pulled. Mack was just going to have to make some amends. And if that meant cutting Cole loose for a couple of months, then he’d better get used to it.
Cole lay back on the bed, and closed his eyes. He was weaker than he wanted to admit. It didn’t’ take long for sleep to claim him.
*****
Over the next couple of weeks, they fell into a rhythm with either Natalie or Cole staying with TJ while the other went with Angel to the hospital. Cole recovered fully, and was able to pitch in, and help more.
One day, while Cole stayed with TJ, Natalie went up to the hospital with Angel. It was going to be a long time before it was safe for TJ to be around his sister. The risk of infection was just too great to take any chances.
Cole enjoyed the time he got to spend with his son. It gave them time to get to know each other, and to bond. But even so, Cole realized that no matter how much time they had together, for as long as Cole could manage to stay, it was never going to make up for the time he’d already missed out on. Or the time in the future that they would be apart.
Cole sat on the front porch step, and watched TJ, who was riding a tricycle around the driveway. Cole thought about what kind of relationship he wanted with his children. Coming out for visits, how was that going to work? Did that mean he would only get to see them for a few days every couple of months, if that much? He knew what would happen. No matter how diligent he was, every few months would soon become twice a year. He’d end up being a stranger to his own children. That wasn’t what he wanted.
So, what did he want?
He wanted Angel. He wanted them to be together, like a real family. Who was he kidding? They’d never be a