Chapter 5 Part 5

He left his horse with one of the ranch hands and headed back to the house. He stepped onto the porch and took a deep breath. His heart was hammering in his chest, knowing that his father was waiting for him beyond that front door. The disappointment he’d seen earlier was eating him up on the inside. He’d never seen that look on his father’s face before, not even when they’d almost burned down the church two years earlier.

He pulled the screen door open and stepped into the foyer. The living room was empty, so he headed to his father’s office. It made sense that his father would be in there. The rest of the house was still quiet, but he knew it wouldn’t be long before Eden was up and starting breakfast in the kitchen.

He knocked on the open door of the office and stepped in, closing the door behind him. His father was standing with his back to him, his hands on his hips. He lowered his gaze to the carpeted floor, feeling like a little boy about to be scolded.

“Dad–”

“You’re on the brink of manhood, Blair. You have a big role on this ranch and spending the night out in some field with a girl… what kind of example is that for your brothers? I’m so disappointed in you, I don’t even have the words. You’re acting like an irresponsible boy with no responsibilities!”

“Nothing happened, Dad. We just fell asleep,” Blair said. The lie tasted bitter on his lips, but he couldn't disappoint his father more than he already had.

“It doesn’t matter if something happened or not! It’s the fact that you thought it was okay to sneak out, get her to sneak out, because I know for a fact that Mr. Lansing will have a coronary if he knows where she spends her nights!”

“I’m 18, Dad! She’s almost 18 too! I’m not some young kid you get to control anymore!”

Thomas’ eyes widened and he took a step back. “Control you?”

“The moment I graduate, I’m leaving with her, whether you like it or not! I don’t want this ranch. I never wanted it! Consider me gone, just like Asher!”

Thomas made a strange coughing sound and Blair’s hand froze on the doorknob. He turned back to look at his father just as he clutched at his chest. Thomas sank down to his knees, his face paling as sweat appeared on his forehead.

“Dad!” Blair rushed forward and caught his father in his arms. He heard the screen door and started yelling his brothers’ names. The door slammed open and Colt froze in his steps.

“Shit,” he murmured as he rushed forward.

“Call an ambulance!”

Dylan moved quickly, already dialing a number as Blair leaned down and felt for a pulse. It was faint but he could feel it. Time felt frozen, but the next thing he registered were paramedics rushing inside, ripping Thomas’s shirt open and starting to work on him.

“His pulse is weak,” one paramedic said, stethoscope in hand. “Let’s get some oxygen on him.”

Blair couldn’t concentrate on what they were doing or saying. Dylan and Colt watched with wide eyes and Blair glanced at them. Colt had Eden in his arms, and he couldn’t remember when she got there.

There were tears on her cheeks, but she wasn’t sobbing, no loud wails or screams. It felt like he was underwater, barely hearing anything. Dylan squeezed his shoulder and he realized that the paramedics were wheeling his father out to the ambulance.

He grabbed the keys and rushed out after them. Four of the ranch hands stood near the porch, their hats in their hands.

Billy stepped forward when he saw Blair. “Anything we can do?”

“I’ll call when I know more, just do what you do every day.”

Billy nodded his head and started barking orders at the other men gathered there. Blair slid into the driver’s side of the truck. He started it the moment his brothers and sister were buckled in and sped away, following the ambulance.

“What the hell happened?” Colt asked.

“I don’t know,” Blair said, guilt eating him alive. It was his fault. The things he’d said to his father. He was hurt and angry and he hadn’t meant any of it.

At the hospital, they all rushed inside, only to be told to take a seat in the waiting room. The worry wouldn’t go away, especially since nobody was talking to them. It felt like hours had passed before a doctor walked into the waiting room.

“Family of Thomas Fitzgerald?”

Blair got to his feet instantly. “I’m his son.”

“I’m Dr. Webber,” he said. He seemed too calm, like a tragedy wasn’t unfolding and stopping their entire world. “Your father is stable for now.”

“For now? What does that mean?” Dylan stood slightly to his left with Colt and Eden to his right.

“It means we were able to manage the immediate effects of the heart attack,” Dr. Webber explained. “But it was a significant one.”

“Is he— is he going to be okay?”

The doctor didn’t answer right away, and it had Blair’s heart beating faster and harder.

“We’ve run initial tests, and your father has severe blockages in his coronary arteries. One in particular is critically restricted.”

Blair could only stare at him. He didn’t really know what the doctor’s words meant. “Okay… so what do you do?”

“We operate,” he said simply. “We need to perform open heart surgery. A bypass procedure to restore proper blood flow to his heart.”

“Open heart surgery?”

“Yes, we’ll open his chest and reroute the blood around the blocked artery. It’s a serious procedure, but also a common one. Given his condition, it’s the best option.”

“When?” Blair asked. Neither of his brothers had said a word, but he knew they were listening to every word, soaking it in, turning it over in their minds.

“As soon as possible,” Dr. Webber replied. “We don’t want to wait. The risk of another cardiac event is high if we delay.”

“How high?”

Dr. Webber glanced at his brothers. “High enough that I wouldn’t recommend taking that chance.”

“What are the risks?” He knew there were always risks, but the thought of his father dying… it was inconceivable.

“With any major surgery, there are always risks. Bleeding, infection, complications from anesthesia… and in rare cases—”

“Don’t say it,” Blair spat out.

Dr. Webber nodded his head. “Without the surgery, those risks increase significantly.”

Blair took a deep breath. “Do whatever you need to do to save my father.”

“Thank you, the nurse will have some paperwork for you to sign. I’ll make sure someone updates you regularly.”

“Thank you.”