Saving Grapes - Madeline Kirby Page 0,53
he didn’t object to the endearment in front of his grandfather. “That’s where I was this morning – the insurance adjustor was there with the fire marshal to check it out.”
“What did they say?”
“The fire marshal confirmed lightning damage. I guess the adjustor needed an official report. He – the adjustor – has to run numbers. There were other losses in the area, so we may not hear anything right away. I think he’s pretty busy.”
“Thank God we got the harvest in.”
“That’s right. Focus on the positive,” Steve said, patting Thom’s leg. “Okay boys, I’m heading out. Chuck’s going to pick me up in a few minutes. Ben, I’ll see you back at the house tonight.”
Ben pulled a tall stool over to the bedside and sat where he could hold Thom’s hand and see his face.
“The doctor says you’ll be able to come home soon. Maybe even tomorrow. We’ve got everything set up for it.”
Thom didn’t say anything, just looked down at his hand, cradled in Ben’s. He felt small and weak. He was banged up and useless. Who knew how long he’d be out of commission – weeks, maybe even months. The doctor had said he was lucky, and maybe that was true, but how could he consider himself lucky when he was going to be such a burden on everyone else?
“I can’t do this,” he interrupted Ben.
“Can’t do what?”
“This. All of this.”
“Well… I don’t think we’ve got much choice. You’ll need to recover and there’ll be physical therapy and stuff. The family is ready to help. We just need to get through it one day at a time.”
“No, I mean, that. Family. Everyone. I can’t do that. Do us. Not now, while I’m… like this. I’m useless.”
“You’re not useless. Now more than ever is when having us here is important, so we can help you get well again.”
“But what if I’m never back to the way I was before?”
“So you may have a limp. So what?”
“So, I’ll be like an old man. Don’t you get it?”
“No, I really don’t.”
“I’m telling you, you should get out now, while you can. No hard feelings.”
“No hard feelings?” Ben stood and loomed over Thom, and Thom could tell he was pissed. “No. Hard. Feelings? Are you fucking kidding me? All I have are feelings! And you think you’re going to push me away now?”
Thom looked away.
“This isn’t over, not by a long shot, Thom. You want me to go? Fine, I’ll go. For now. Because if I stay I might say something I’ll regret. But I’ll be back, because I lo–”
“Don’t. Don’t say it.” Thom knew what Ben was going to say, but he couldn’t hear it and keep his resolve.
“Fine. But you know it. Deep down you know it. So I’ll go, and you can lie here and feel sorry for yourself for a while, and I’ll be back tomorrow to take you home.”
Ben stormed down the hall towards the exit, so focused on his thoughts that he almost didn’t hear Dr. Sterling call his name.
“Mr. Loomis?”
Ben pulled up short. “Oh, sorry Doctor. I didn’t hear you.”
“Is everything all right?”
“Oh, um. I was just visiting Thom. He’s…”
“Let me guess, he’s in a foul mood and feeling sorry for himself?”
“How did you know?”
“It’s a pretty common reaction, especially for patients who usually lead very active lifestyles. They can’t stand feeling confined or helpless, and they usually take it out on those closest to them. He was pretty grumpy when I saw him this morning. Try not to take it personally.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. It’s hard, though.”
Ben felt better after talking to the doctor. He was still angry at Thom for trying to push him away, but he didn’t feel the bone-deep hurt of rejection. He paced back and forth in the hallway for a minute, but finally decided he was still too angry for conversation, and he’d be better off leaving Thom to stew as promised. He’d come back tomorrow to take his man home.
As he drove through town he came to a snap decision and made the turn that would take him to Bent Brewing Supply.
“Hello? Al?” he called out as he entered the shop.
“Oh, hey Ben.” Al came in from the back. His long white-blond hair was pulled back in a low ponytail and his blue cardigan showed patches of dirt. “How’s it going?”
“Um, not so good at the moment, actually. I don’t know if you heard, but Thom’s in the hospital.”
“Oh my God! No I hadn’t