being ready to let go. “He said there was fluid in my chest, constricting my lungs and putting pressure on my heart.”
Leah jolted from the chair and jammed her fists on her hips. “Merlin! Congestive heart failure?”
Of course she’d guess. What a wise woman he’d married. He rose and rounded the table. “Now, honey, don’t get yourself all worked up.”
“Don’t get myself—” She glowered at him. “You knew this three months ago and didn’t tell me?”
“There wasn’t any reason to worry you. The doctor said I wasn’t in imminent danger, that he’d put me on medication to reduce the fluid and things would improve.”
Her breath whooshed out and she seemed to wilt. But the angry glint in her eyes didn’t fade. “You should’ve told me.”
“I’m telling you now.”
“You should’ve told me then.”
Maybe he should have. But it was too late now. He gently massaged her shoulders, and although she stood rigid beneath his touch, she didn’t pull away. “I didn’t want to say anything until I knew for sure what was going on with my heart. Why have two of us stressed and worrying?”
Tears swam in her eyes. “What does Galatians 6:2 say? ‘Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.’ ”
Ouch. The scripture stuck with so much force she might have stomped on his toes.
“You denied me the chance to carry your burden. We’re supposed to be a team, Merlin. I’m very upset with you.”
He nodded. “I know. You have every right to be upset, and I’m sorry I didn’t say anything before. At the time, I thought it was better to wait.”
“Well, it wasn’t.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry.”
She glared at him for several silent seconds. Then she lunged and flung her arms around his middle. Given his girth, her arms couldn’t quite reach all the way around, and her fingers dug into his back. She burrowed her face into the curve of his neck. “What did the doctor say this morning?”
He doubled his arms around her shoulder blades and rested his cheek against her warm hair. He loved holding her this way. Like being home. “He said the diuretic is helping some, but I need to do more. He’s starting me on medication to lower my blood pressure, and he wants me to make some changes in my diet.”
She lifted her head and gave him a squinty-eyed look. “What kind of changes?”
Oh, how this woman loved to cook. She loved on people with food. This would be more painful for her than it would be for him. “Things like cutting way back on sodium, no more fried foods, less red meat and more chicken.” He grimaced. Not even Leah would be able to make chicken taste like meatloaf. He’d sure miss her meatloaf. “He sent me home with a packet of information. There’s more details in there.”
“Then I guess I better look at it.” But she didn’t move. Kept her hands on his waist and gazed into his face as if she were memorizing him.
He cupped her jaw with his palms and smiled. “Honey, I’ll be all right.”
“You better be.”
Her tart tone made him chuckle. He leaned forward, intending to give her a peck on the forehead, but she grabbed him around the neck and pulled him into a kiss that spoke of both intense love and intense worry. He rubbed his hands up and down her spine and tilted his head, deepening their contact. He wouldn’t have minded this kiss lasting forever, but a knock on the back door interrupted.
She pulled free and turned her back, running her hands through her snow-white bob. “Would you get that, please? I need to check my lipstick.”
Lipstick. He grabbed a napkin from the holder in the middle of the table and cleaned his mouth as he crossed to the door. Through the uncovered window he spotted Jase waiting on the porch. Merlin opened the door.
Jase had his hands in his pockets and a sheepish look on his face. “I’m sorry. I knocked before I realized— Before I saw what—” He angled his gaze to the side. “I didn’t want to just disappear after knocking, but I’m sorry I interrupted. Especially on your off day.”
“Even on my off day, I’m available for emergencies.” Merlin tried not to sound impatient. But the day’s stress colored his tone anyway. “What’s up?”
The younger man hung his head. “I think I have a problem. And his name is Cullen.”