Fuck.

More shit to deal with.

“You need to eat something,” Ashley says again.

“Not hungry,” I grumble.

“Doesn’t matter.” She tugs on my hand. “Let’s go.”

I sigh. Why not let her take charge? I sure as hell don’t know what to do at this point. My father abandoned me. If he hadn’t, maybe Donny and I wouldn’t have been sitting ducks that horrible day.

Now the asshole may have given me a heart deformity.

What next?

Yeah, pity party for me. It’s not my style, but what the hell? The man lying with his chest cut open fathered me.

I should feel something.

But I feel nothing. Absolutely nothing.

If he dies on the table, I won’t shed a tear.

If he doesn’t, I’ll probably never see him again.

“Come on.” Ashley tugs once more.

I relent and allow her to lead me out of the waiting area.

Chapter Forty-Three

Ashley

After dragging Dale out of the hospital and to a nearby sandwich shop, I stood over him while he ate his roast beef on sourdough and drained a full glass of iced tea.

He fought me at every step.

We’re back in the waiting room now. After four hours of excruciating silence—Dale didn’t ask me any more about my father, and he didn’t volunteer any information about his own past—we just got word that the doctor will be out soon to talk to us.

“Dale.”

I jump at the voice.

It’s Talon.

Dale stands. “Hey, Dad. You didn’t have to come down here.”

“I’d’ve been here sooner, but I had meetings that couldn’t wait. I see you haven’t been alone. Thank you, Ashley.”

“It’s no problem,” I say. “This is where I want to be.”

Talon smiles at me. Does he know? Did Jade tell him I didn’t spend the night at home?

Get over yourself, Ash. None of that even remotely matters.

“We all appreciate it,” Talon says. “Any news?”

“Actually, yeah,” Dale says. “The doc should be out soon to talk to us.”

Dr. Larson steps through the double doors.

“Here she comes now,” I say.

“Mr. Steel,” she says to Dale.

“How is he?”

“He’s doing pretty well at the moment.” She eyes me and then Talon.

“Sorry,” Dale says. “This is my father, Talon Steel, and you met my friend Ashley. It’s okay to speak in front of them.”

“Certainly,” the doctor says. “As you know, your father—er, Mr. Jolly—has an abnormal aortic valve that we had to replace while we were in there. That’s part of what took so long. He’s recovering in the ICU, where he’ll be for the next few days. He’s still unconscious, which is normal. We keep heart patients intubated for several hours after surgery, and we keep them pretty sedated as well.”

Dale’s lips move slightly, but nothing comes out, almost like he doesn’t know what to say.

Talon steps up then. “Can we see him?”

“I can let one of you in if you’d like,” Dr. Larson says, “but he won’t know you’re there.”

Dale shakes his head. “It’s okay. Let him rest.”

Dr. Larson nods as she hands Dale a card. “Here’s my information if you have any other questions.”

“How long will he be here?” Talon asks.

“At least four days, possibly longer. Then no driving or heavy lifting for two months. He’ll get all of that information in his discharge instructions. Will one of you be staying with him?”

Dale lifts his eyebrows. More like makes them nearly fly off his forehead.

“We’ll see that he has adequate care,” Talon says.

That seems to satisfy the doctor. She nods and then turns back toward the double doors, disappearing through them.

Suddenly I feel like a very visible third wheel here. The air is thick, and I’m almost suffocating. “Since you’re here now,” I say to Talon, “I think I’ll find my way back to the ranch. I don’t want to miss another day of work tomorrow.”

“Nonsense,” Talon says. “I’ll book all of us into the Carlton for as long as necessary.”

“Dad, I don’t think—”

“No argument,” Talon says to Dale. “This man is responsible for bringing you into the world. The least we can do is let him know he’s not alone.”

Now I feel really weird. “I came here to work,” I say.

“She’s right, Dad,” Dale agrees. “It’s harvest time. Not just for me but for you too. We can’t stay here.”

I don’t want to stay here.

Those are the words Dale really wants to say. I hear them floating on the velvety burgundy of his voice.

Talon stays quiet for a moment, his head cocked as if he’s in thought. Finally, “All right, Dale. Take Ashley home. See to the harvest. I know how much it means to you.”

“You’re not saying…” Dale begins.

“Yes. I’ll stay here with your father.”

“You’re my father, and the ranch needs you now.”

“We’ve got the best staff in the business,” Talon says. “The orchard will get along fine without me for a couple days.”

“Dad…”

“Did I not just say no argument? Go. Both of you. Someone should be here when the man wakes up.”

“The nurse will be here,” Dale says without feeling.

Talon’s jawline tenses. “You’ve made your feelings clear. Go. I understand. But do not attempt to sway me. I will stay here so Floyd is not alone when he wakes up. The man is responsible for bringing two of the people I love most into this world.”

“Neither one of us owes him a damned thing,” Dale says.

“You do. You owe him your life. Literally. And I owe him for giving me you and your brother.”

Dale says nothing.

The words hang in the air, and though I haven’t seen colors in other voices since I met Dale and his voice had such an impact, a new shade cloaks me now.

Talon’s voice is dark blue—a calming dark blue, like the night sky. It’s the voice of authority, and also the voice of a father’s love. This man loves his child so much that he also loves the man who’s responsible for his existence.