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Cash nodded, but couldn’t seem to speak. He took Savannah’s hand in his and clutched it tightly, and Jackson wasn’t sure what he was supposed to say or do. Silently, he went and sat in the chair beside the bed.
“She is beautiful, isn’t she, Savi?” Cash asked quietly.
“Definitely. All that dark hair and sweet face, you know Mia’s going to love dressing her up and putting bows in her hair,” she replied. She was sitting on the bed with him, resting her head on his shoulder. “It’s a good way to start the day, huh, Grandpa?”
Chuckling, Cash nodded. “The best way. I’ve got a granddaughter.” His smile was slow and serene. “The next generation of Colemans is here.”
“Lord help us,” Jackson teased. “I think it’s a good thing she’s a girl. I don’t think Magnolia Sound is ready for the next generation of male Colemans.”
Laughing again, Cash rested his eyes. “You all weren’t so bad. Some of the townspeople were just too uptight.”
“That was my theory, but I was definitely in the minority.”
“People should lighten up. You were just three boys having fun. No one got hurt.”
“Well…I think the Willis’ cat lost a few lives because of us…”
“I’ll bet that cat is still alive,” Cash reasoned, before yawning. He got quiet and his eyes were closed and Savannah kissed his cheek before carefully sliding off the bed.
Jackson was instantly on his feet and let her have the chair. “Thank you.”
Kneeling down beside her, he held her hand. “I’m exhausted, what about you?”
“Absolutely. I think I slept a little in the waiting room, but not nearly enough.”
“I can’t remember who’s on the schedule to be up here this morning. I’d love to go home and get some sleep, but I want to make sure someone’s going to be here.”
Reaching up, Savannah cupped his jaw. “You’re a wonderful son, Jackson, and an amazing man. I don’t know how you do it.”
“Do what?”
“All of it. You’ve been so good about being here for Cash and also being there for your brothers and your mom and me. I’m in awe of you.”
Smiling, he kissed her hand. “It’s easy to be there for the people that mean the most to you. The people you love.” Pausing, he kissed her hand again before meeting her gaze. “And I do love you, Savannah. I’ve tried not to keep saying it because I don’t want you to be uncomfortable, but it’s how I feel. I love you and I want to be able to say it to you. I want you to know it and maybe, someday, you’ll be able to tell me that you love me too.”
She leaned forward and rested her forehead against his. “I need you to be patient with me,” she whispered. “Please.”
“Always,” he promised.
“I may never…I mean…I don’t know how to feel the way that you do,” she admitted slowly.
He silenced her with a kiss and it seemed to relax them both.
His knee started to ache in this position, so he stood and stretched.
One of Cash’s nurses came in to check on him and after getting his vitals, her expression changed—fell. She said nothing and quietly left the room, but Jackson didn’t take it as a good sign. Savannah hadn’t noticed, and when she stood and stretched a few minutes later, he contemplated mentioning it to her.
“Do you want to text Georgia about the schedule? Or should I go down to the cafeteria and grab us some coffee?”
“Um…” Moving to the foot of his father’s bed, Jackson studied him. Because they’d spent so much time together lately, he knew what to look for.
Cash’s breathing was different.
His skin was paler.
He’d lived to see everything he wanted to see.
As if he knew what his son was thinking, Cash opened his eyes and the two of them held that gaze for several long moments. Then, with a hint of a nod, he closed his eyes again.
