“She’s at the hospital with Dirk’s mom,” she said.
We rushed out of the house and to my car while Timberlynn called her father. “Dad, Tanner just called me. It happened three hours ago!”
I exchanged a worried look with Timberlynn.
“Okay. Right, I know he is. I’m on my way with Merit right now. What about Dirk?”
A wave a nausea hit me, and I slammed on the brakes. Once the car came to a stop, I jumped out and threw up.
Timberlynn came rushing around the car and started to rub my back. “Shhh, it’s okay, Merit. It’s okay. Take a few deep breaths, it’ll pass.”
I nodded as I dry heaved on the side of the road.
“She’s fine, Daddy. We’ll be there soon.”
Timberlynn must have ended the call, because now I felt both of her hands—one on my back, the other holding back the hair that had fallen out of my ponytail.
“Come on, stand up straight and walk around a little.”
I nodded and did as she said. “I’m so sorry. I’m okay now.”
Timberlynn gave me a firm look. “I’m driving, get in the passenger seat and don’t argue with me.”
Doing as she said, I headed to the passenger side of my car. My phone buzzed in the console, and I picked it up. It was a text from my mother.
Mom: Sweetheart, call me as soon as you can. I love you, Mom.
Me: I’m on the way to the hospital with Timberlynn…be there soon.
The overwhelming urge to call Dirk hit me in the middle of my chest, but I pushed it aside. I’d go and see how his dad was, and then I would leave before Dirk got to the hospital. The last thing he needed was me around.
Chapter Eleven
DIRK
Later that evening, when I finally got to the hospital, the entire Shaw family was there. Lori, Merit’s mother, was there, as well. She was the one who’d found my father when she was out riding and saw the tractor turned over in the open pasture.
After speaking with the doctor, I was told I could go see my father. I walked down the hallway, not knowing what I was going to see when I walked into his room. I felt like a shell of a man. Nothing but fear and worry lay heavy on my heart. I was consumed by guilt for not being there for him. That I had been off chasing after a stupid dream and hiding from my own fucking feelings.
I glanced up and saw her standing at the nurses’ station.
Merit.
She was here. Of course she was here. My folks loved Merit like their own daughter, and I knew how much she cared for both my mother and father.
I stopped walking and stared at her. She looked so scared and worried as she nodded her head at something the nurse was saying. When she turned and started to walk down the hallway, she was staring at the floor and didn’t notice me yet. Then, as if she could feel me, she lifted her head and our eyes met. Tears filled her eyes, and she pressed her lips tightly together. For a moment, I thought she was going to run to me, but she stopped walking instead.
“Merit,” I whispered as I walked right toward her, damn near in a sprint. I needed her. Needed to feel her in my arms, to hold her close to me. I needed the warmth of her body to chase away the coldness I felt.
She stood still, not moving an inch, obviously unsure what my intentions were. I walked up and pulled her into my arms. Merit instantly wrapped her arms around me and held on tightly.
A sob slipped free from her lips as I held her tighter. “Dirk,” she said softly. “I was just about to leave.”
A sudden sense of fear hit me, and I damn near begged her to stay. “Don’t leave! Please don’t leave me yet, Bugs.”
She tightened her hold on me and whispered, “I’ll stay as long as you need me. I’m not going anywhere.”
I wasn’t even sure how long I held Merit in my arms before she withdrew some and looked up at me. “He’s in surgery right now.”
“Surgery?” I asked, confused. I glanced over Merit’s shoulder and saw Timberlynn standing there. My pulse started to race at the somber expression on her face.
“Timber, did you see him?”
She nodded. “My father’s been in to see him, as well, and he’s called a friend of his who’s one of the top specialists in the country on brain injuries. But, Dirk, they had to take your dad into surgery; he has internal bleeding and swelling on the brain. And there’s still the issue of the heart attack he had.”
My knees felt like they might buckle out from under me. Merit clearly noticed, because she wrapped her arm around my waist. “Why don’t we go back to the waiting room, Dirk?” she said as she motioned for me to turn around and head to where my mother was waiting with Brock and Lori.