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I test the water to make sure it’s not too hot or cold, then step in. The white noise of the spray against the shower floor and the soothing beat of water on my skin clear my thoughts. I’m glad for the blissful few minutes of inner peace.
There’s a disgustingly sweet-smelling watermelon shampoo on the shower shelf, no doubt left here by one of Tripp’s ‘buckle bunnies’ as Heston calls them. I laugh as I pour it into my hands and lather it up. Surely, she won’t mind me using it.
By the time I’m finished and in my comfiest sweats and hoodie, Warren is waiting on the couch. I bring my brush with me, sit next to him, and start running it through the tangles in my hair.
“What did you want to talk to me about?”
“It’s about Mom.”
I pause my brushing and widen my eyes. “I just stopped by yesterday and she was doing great. Is she okay?”
“She’s fine. Nothing like that.”
I blow out a breath of relief. I could not handle more bad news about her right now. I want so badly for her to be comfortable and healthy. She told me just this morning over the phone that she slept wonderfully last night, and I can’t even begin to explain how incredible it is to know that the surgery is already helping her.
“I dropped off some cheese to her this morning. Said she needed it for her homemade potato soup or something. I stayed and talked with her in the kitchen for a little bit, and noticed some mail from the hospital on the counter.”
“Bills?” I ask quietly. The thought of having to pay off the cost of her procedure triggers me in the most painful way. It’s going to take a lot of saving to make those payments on top of getting them out of their trailer house as soon as possible.
Warren shakes his head and forms a tight line with his lips. He leans forward to put his elbows on his knees. “It wasn’t a bill. It was a receipt. When she was fumbling through the pantry, I picked it up and scanned the whole page as fast as I could. At the bottom, it said there was a zero balance. How’d you pay it so fast?”
“I—I didn’t.” Shocked doesn’t even begin to cover it. I know for a fact there’s no way Mom and Dad had over ten grand just laying around to cover the entirety of the bill. Mom said herself before I told her to make the appointment for the surgery that she was waiting because they were having to save up to be able to afford it.
“I’ve dumped every dime that I’ve earned into my business, so it sure as hell wasn’t me.”
“What business?” My head jerks back and I try not to look too surprised. But I am because this is the first I’ve heard about it.
“I’ve already got the land to build on. I had an investor reach out recently, and he’s helped me get things going. It won’t be until summer that it’ll be ready, but I’m opening my own farm and ranch equipment dealership. Sales and full services,” he smiles.
“Warren,” I put my hand on his knee and genuine contentment sweeps over me. He sounds so confident in this. And excited. “That’s amazing! Is this something that you really want to do?”
“It is,” he admits. “I’m always fixing equipment around here. Pretty much daily, so I know that side of things like the back of my hand. And I’ve always wanted to own my own business. Don’t get me wrong, I love working on the ranch. But it’s never what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.”
“You are going to be a great business owner,” I assure him, and I mean it. “I’m proud of you.” Tears well in my eyes. This is all I’ve ever wanted for him—to do what he loves and to be happy.
“Thanks, sis. I appreciate the vote of confidence,” he chuckles. “We’ll see how it goes.”
“So the paid hospital bill… it’s got to be some sort of mistake,” I suggest. “Right? I mean, I just can’t think of how that’s possible.”
“We should ask Mom and Dad about it I guess. But I’m betting they assumed you took care of it and then didn’t think twice about getting the paid-in-full notice.”
“Yeah.” I twist a strand of wet hair through my fingers to help me think. “We can have Mom call the hospital. They should be able to clear it up.” I bring my thumb up to my mouth and chew on the side of my thumbnail.
“You seem a little off tonight. You feeling alright?”
“I’ve been thinking a lot is all.”
“You think way too much, that’s your problem,” he says.
I shake my head and smile, knowing that he’s right.
“I know. I’ve just realized a few things while being here is all,” I confess.
He perks up at that statement. “Oh yeah? Like what?”
“You really want to know?”
“Of course, I really want to know, B.”
