Taco-Truck Tryst (Quinn Valley Ranch Book 1) Read online

  Riley nodded. “All right. We can probably grab some fast food and eat in the car then. Or we can wait ’til we get to the hospital and eat at the cafeteria.”

  “Let’s eat at the cafeteria. Mom and Renae sound like they’re going to need breaks.”

  “Sounds good.” Riley took a deep breath. “I hope he’s all right.”

  Roxane squeezed her sister’s hand. “He will be. I just know it.” She quickly texted Ciran. “Tomorrow is off. My dad is in the hospital in Lewiston.”

  It wasn’t even a minute before she got a response. “I understand. Let me know what’s going on. Prayers.”

  Receiving the message from Ciran was what she’d needed to let go. The tears started to fall, and she knew it was a good thing her sister was driving. It was all going to be okay. It had to be. She wasn’t ready to lose her father. And she knew her mother wasn’t.

  *****

  When they reached the hospital, Roxane jumped out. “Why didn’t I ask what room number he was in?”

  Riley laughed. “Why didn’t I tell you to ask?”

  Roxane dug in her purse for her phone, immediately dialing their mother. “Mom?”

  “Yes, I’m here.” Their mother’s voice was as soft and calm as usual, which made Roxane calm a little more.

  “What room number? We’re in the parking lot.”

  “Three twenty-two. He’s got some wires hooked up to him, so don’t freak out.”

  “I don’t freak out.” But Roxane knew she might want to. She couldn’t imagine her father ill, and he was in the hospital with wires attached. Not good.

  “See you in a minute.” Mom ended the call. Roxane hadn’t realized until that day how her family never said goodbye. They just hung up when they were done. Why had she never noticed that before?

  When they got off the elevator on the third floor, they looked around for the right place. He was in the cardiac ward, she could see by the signs, and that scared her. “He’s in the cardiac ward,” Roxane whispered to her sister.

  “I know. He’s going to be okay, though. I promise.” Riley looked confident, and Roxane had no idea how. They both had the same amount of information, and Roxane was feeling anything but confident.

  When they reached the room, Roxane went in first and saw that her father had an IV in his arm and an oxygen mask on his face. She did her best to look brave as she walked over to him and squeezed his hand. “If you wanted to see all of us, you could have just called and said we were having a family dinner.”

  Her father made a face at her, making it clear he wasn’t amused by her joking. “Glad you’re here,” he said, the face mask muzzling his voice a bit.

  Roxane looked at her mother, who had positioned herself in a comfortable chair at her husband’s bedside. “What do we know?”

  Her mother had no more information than Renae had. “Angiogram in the morning?” Roxane asked.

  “Yes. He’s had an echocardiogram, and the results let them know there’s something wrong with his heart. They said it’s not terrible, but they need to get in and see what’s going on.”

  “In? Inside his heart?”

  Mom shook her head. “No, the way they explained it, they’re going to take a catheter and feed it up through the veins on his wrist. They’ll be able to see if there are any blockages, which is what they’re worried about. Hopefully if there are, they can just put in a stent while they’re in there, and he’ll be in recovery and better fast.”

  “Doesn’t sound horrific.”

  “It shouldn’t be. We’ll have some answers soon.”

  “Stop talking about me like I’m not here,” her dad said, removing the mask so he could be heard.

  Roxane grinned and leaned down to kiss his cheek. “We’re all going to be waiting.”

  “I wish Bobling was here,” her mother said, sounding sad.

  “Do you have a way to get in touch with him?”

  Her mom shook her head. “He’s on a secret mission still. I’ll email, but it could be weeks or even months before he receives it.”

  “Well, email now.” Roxane looked over at her three sisters and saw that Renae had been right. Raina looked like she was going to crumple to the floor at any minute. “Raina, let’s go get some food in the cafeteria.”

  Raina nodded and followed her. As soon as they were down the hall, Raina said, “Thank you. I was feeling the walls closing in on me in there. I can’t believe Dad is sick!”

  “I can’t either, but it doesn’t sound like it’s anything life threatening. Not at the moment, anyway. We’ll be here for him as he gets better, and it will all be fine.” Roxane wished she could believe everything she said.

  “I hope so. Are you spending the night here?”

  Roxane’s eyes widened. “I didn’t bring a change of clothes or even a toothbrush. I’m going to either have to go shopping here, or I’m going to have to go home and get stuff.” She frowned. “I have an idea.” Grabbing her phone, she dialed a number. “Hannah?”

  “No, this is Rachel. Roxane?”

  “Yes! How did you know it was me?”

  “You’re the only person who consistently calls me Hannah. How’s your dad?”

  Roxane sighed. “They’re going to run a test in the morning that will answer that question better for us. I wonder if I could ask a favor of you?”

  “What’s that?”

  “Would you go to my house and pack me a bag? Like enough clothes for two nights. Pajamas and everything I’d need for tomorrow and Sunday plus a toothbrush and all that good stuff. Do you mind?”

  “Not at all! Casual, I’m assuming?”

  “Yeah, definitely casual. Leave it by my front door if you would.”

  “House is unlocked?” Rachel asked.

  “I’m not even sure I have a key!” Roxane heard laughter as she hung up. She immediately called Ciran. “I have a favor to ask.”

  “What’s that?”

  “I have Rachel, who took my job from me, getting a suitcase ready for me. Would you bring it here either tonight or tomorrow? I’m staying in Lewiston until we know something more about my dad.”

  “I will do it tonight. Do you think I can pick it up in an hour?”

  “Absolutely. She’s leaving it next to my front door. Thank you, Ciran.” Roxane hung up and looked at her sister, who was gaping at her.

  “Ciran? Are you sure you’re being smart getting involved with him again? I remember all the tears,” Raina said softly.

  “I do, too. I’ll be fine. Let’s find food.”

  They got into the line, and each of them found some questionable food to eat. It made Roxane feel better that the doctors and nurses seemed to trust the food there enough to eat it.

  Roxane sat with her bowl of soup across from her sister, and she saw Renae and Riley come in. “It seems like we’re all here. Time to make a game plan.”

  Raina looked to see what her sister was looking at and nodded. “Now’s the time.”

  Chapter Eight

  Once the four sisters were gathered, Roxane proposed a plan. “Do you want to all share a room? That way Mom can stay with Dad, and the four of us can be in a nearby hotel room. We’ll visit as often as we can and help out.”

  Raina nodded. “I can’t imagine going back with Dad being so sick.”

  Roxane looked over at Riley. “What about you? Are you going to cancel your clients for tomorrow? Or go back and work.”

  Riley thought about it for a moment. “As much as I want to stay here, I know Dad would be disappointed in me if I didn’t work. I’ll call for updates between clients.”

  Roxane nodded. “I think you’re right about how Dad would feel.” She looked at Renae. “Staying or going?”

  “I’ll stay. Riley, can you bring clothes for Raina and me when you come back?” Renae asked.

  “Absolutely. Now we have a plan, and I can eat.” Riley took a huge bite of her sandwich. “Not bad.”

  Roxane looked down at her soup and wondered if she’d be
able to say the same. She knew there was only one way to find out.

  Twenty minutes later, they were back in their father’s room, a bowl full of soup for their mother. “You need to eat, too, Mom.” Roxane handed her the soup. “We can’t have both parents in this hospital.”

  Mom looked a little sad as she accepted the bowl. “Thank you.”

  “Did you want something else?” Roxane asked, surprised.

  “I was hoping for some of those sopapillas that Ciran makes.”

  Hearing her dad make a sound at Ciran’s name, she sighed. “I’ll get him to bring some.” She picked up her phone and texted. “Sopapillas for five, please!”

  She didn’t wait a full minute before she got the response. “I made a fresh batch. In the car, and I’m on my way with your bag.”

  “Room three twenty-two. Don’t text and drive!”

  “I’m using voice recognition.”

  “Okay, pay attention.” She almost added, “Love you” to the end of the message, but she deleted it at the last minute. What was she thinking?

  Her mom was watching her, and Roxane knew that she’d have to take charge of everything but her father’s care. Mom couldn’t handle more than that. The man she loved was ill, and that meant the world stopped around her. “Ciran is bringing me clothes and sopapillas. Renae, Raina, and I are going to share a hotel room here in town tonight, so we can be close by for the test. Riley has to go back so she can work tomorrow, but she’s going to call between clients.”

  Her mother seemed to visibly relax as she picked up her spoon and finally started eating. “Thank you for handling things, Roxane.”

  “It’s my job.” It always had been as the oldest daughter. Even when Bobling was still at home, she was the one who was babysitting the younger sisters and doing everything around the house. Bobling’s responsibilities had included mowing the lawn and taking out the trash. It had never felt quite fair to Roxane, but she didn’t complain. She never had.

  They visited while their dad drifted in and out of sleep for a while before Ciran arrived. He had a pack of sopapillas for each of them. Her mother grabbed them with a smile. “Thank you, Ciran.”

  “You’re welcome, Mrs. Quinn.” His eyes told Roxane he was uncomfortable being there with her father being so sick, so she got to her feet.

  “Let’s go talk in the waiting room,” Roxane suggested softly.

  “You just want to make out,” Riley said, a grin on her face.

  Roxane sighed. “There’s something about all of us sisters getting together that turns every one of us into twelve-year-olds.” She left the room and walked around the corner to the waiting room. “Thank you so much for bringing us the sopapillas and the clothes. I need to stay. Mom looks like she’s about to fall apart.”

  “She does. I feel really bad for her.”

  “I do, too. They’ve been married over thirty years, and I know she has no idea what she’d do if she lost him at this point. You can see the pain in her eyes.”

  Ciran nodded. “I wish I could say something or do something that would make it all better again.” He nodded to a sign in the waiting room. “I guess it’s his heart?”

  “They think so. They’ve done a couple of little tests that weren’t terrible, but there will be a big, important test tomorrow. We should have an action plan as soon as we get the results.”

  “At least they’re not making you wait long.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Should I go?”

  Roxane bit her lip. She knew he was uncomfortable, but she wanted him there. At least for a little while. “Do you mind staying for an hour or so? I’m sorry to ask but . . . I need someone to lean on.” Her father was leaning on her mother. Her mother was leaning on her. All her sisters were leaning on her. She was going to topple over if there wasn’t someone for her to lean on soon!

  “I’m happy to stay as long as you need me.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and kissed her head. “I’m sorry that he’s so sick.”

  “Me too. It’s scary. I have never seen him look weak. He doesn’t get sick!”

  “Apparently he does. Maybe he’s been saving up years and years of illness so he could shock and scare everyone today.”

  “Maybe. I hate to think that’s what he could have been doing, but you’re absolutely right. It’s possible.” She rested her head against Ciran’s shoulder. “I’m glad to have your strength beside me.” She couldn’t imagine how she’d be feeling if that was him in the hospital bed. It would break her heart into a million tiny little pieces.

  “You don’t need to be strong right now, because I’m here to be strong for you.”

  When they wandered back to the room a few minutes later, Roxane knew her eyes were puffy and showed signs of the tears she’d shed. It was no one’s business but hers and Ciran’s, though.

  Her dad was awake, and he glared at Ciran. “Do not make her unhappy again. You hear me?”

  “I do hear you. I didn’t mean to make her unhappy last time. I meant to take her with me and marry her as soon as she’d agree.”

  “Well, that didn’t work out for you, now did it?”

  Ciran smiled. “I guess it didn’t, sir.”

  Her dad sighed. “Thanks for being here for her. I may not think much of you, but it’s always been obvious that my daughter does. She usually has good taste.”

  Ciran couldn’t help but laugh. “Thank you, I think.”

  Her dad cracked a slight smile as he pushed his mask back in place. No one could tell what he said through it, so he would adjust it just a little so people could hear him talk.

  “I’m going to get your bag and bring it to you, and then I’m going to head back to Quinn Valley,” Ciran said. “You’ll be okay?”

  Roxane nodded. “I’ll be fine. You might want to follow Riley back, though. She looks awfully tired. She’s an early bird usually.”

  Riley nodded. “I was up at five to watch the sunrise and go for a run before work. I am struggling to stay awake.”

  Ciran frowned. “Ride back with me then, and I’ll bring you back to your car tomorrow. I’ll even drive you to work in the morning if you need me to.”

  “I need to get clothes for my sisters, too. It would be a pain for you to have to drive me everywhere.”

  “I was planning to spend the whole day with your sister, so I’m free. I’m not going to let her have a sister in the hospital or worse because she’s stubborn.”

  Riley smiled. “Fine. You can drive me.”

  While Ciran ran down to his car to get Roxane’s bag, Riley said a tearful goodbye to her father. “I’m sorry I can’t be here for the test, but I’ll be calling Roxie between clients. And I’ll say a little prayer for you and see if I can do a little bit of healing from home.”

  “Don’t you do your voodoo on me,” Dad said gruffly as he moved the mask a little. “I’ll be fine.”

  Riley smiled. “I know you will, Daddy.” None of them had called him Daddy for a lot of years, but Roxane thought about how right it sounded at that moment.

  Ciran walked back into the room with her bag, handed it to her, and kissed her cheek. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Text me when you have news.”

  “I will. Thank you.”

  “I’d do anything for you. Haven’t you figured that out yet?” His words were soft, and they were spoken against her ear. She shivered as she thought about his sweet words and watched him walk away. This time she’d follow him anywhere, and she knew it. Being without Ciran was a life that wasn’t really worth much to her.

  Shortly after, Roxane and her two sisters climbed into Renae’s mid-sized SUV, and they found a hotel near the hospital. They all piled out, and Roxane went in and registered them. Three to a room wouldn’t be terribly comfortable, but they were all sisters, and it wouldn’t hurt them one little bit.

  They were silent in the elevator on the way to the fifth floor, and when they got out, they took turns in the bathroom. None of them had much to say, because they were all lost in thoug
hts, worried about their father. All Roxane could think was as hard as it was on them, it had to be a million times harder on her mother.

  *****

  The three sisters took turns sitting beside their mother and holding her hand during the test the next morning. She looked as if she hadn’t slept at all. “Are you sure you don’t want to go to the hotel and sleep? We would call you as soon as we knew something.” Roxane hated that her mother looked so tired. The chair in her dad’s room had turned into a bed, but she couldn’t imagine that being comfortable for anyone.

  “I’m sure. I can’t leave. What if I wasn’t here, and his heart stopped?”

  “Mom, you know they don’t think he’s that sick. They’d have put him in ICU if they thought he was.” Roxane slipped her arm around her mother’s shoulders. “It’s going to be all right.”

  Renae glared at Roxane for making their mother cry and switched places with her. Raina was across the room, pacing. “Mom, do you want a zone?” Raina called. “I could help you release some of those emotions.”

  “Not in a hospital waiting room!” her mother answered, looking at her as if she’d lost her mind.

  “Fine.” Raina was certain that she could fix anything with a foot zone, but no one else was quite as sure as she was.

  The four of them waited together for another hour before the doctor came into the room. “I found one blockage, and I was able to place a stent. He’ll be able to go home tomorrow afternoon probably. He did well, and he’ll be back in his room in about an hour. What does he do for a living, Mrs. Quinn?”

  “He’s the owner manager of a hotel in Quinn Valley.”

  “Does he have an assistant manager? Someone who can shoulder the burden?”

  When her mother shook her head, Roxane said, “I know someone who can do the job while he’s out, and then can help him when he gets back to work. I’ll call her in a minute. I know she won’t mind a promotion.”

  The doctor nodded and left them to sort out the details. They were all just happy the news hadn’t been worse.

  “Who?” her mother asked, looking surprised.

  “Hannah. The girl who took my place.”

  “You mean Rachel?” Raina asked, looking at her like she’d lost her mind.