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“I checked with your doctors, and everything is great. You’re still on track to having the last surgery in just over two weeks. And Robby was given a clean bill of health as well.”
“I meant with you.”
She wasn’t about to get into her situation. She liked and respected Russell Walker but wasn’t ready for him to know what happened. As ridiculous as she knew it to be, she felt ashamed.
And that was something she’d deal with later. “I got a clean bill as well. But back to you. Have you discussed what you want to do with your father?”
Riggs looked from her to his father. “Not yet, but I reckon now’s as good a time as any.”
“Do I need to be standing or seated for this?” Russell asked.
Georgie looked from one man to the other, wondering what would happen in the next few minutes. Would Riggs be disappointed and hurt, unable to make things go the way he hoped, or would his father be the hero Riggs believed him to be and step in to make sure things went the way Riggs wanted?
Chapter Fifteen
"Could everyone sit?" Riggs asked.
Because there were always visitors in Riggs' room, even if those visitors were other patients in this wing, extra seating had been provided. It was well known that he was the President's nephew, which scored many points. President Walker was very popular here.
Naomie pulled a chair up close to Russell, and Georgie sat on a stool beside the nightstand. It was her customary seat in the mornings when she went over Riggs' chart with him.
"Okay," Riggs looked around. "First. Like you heard Georgie say, I'm fine. I didn't damage anything when I jumped into the water."
"Off a bridge," Russell remarked in a less than pleased tone.
"Don't even go there, Dad. It's what I do, what I'm trained for. More importantly, it's the result of your raising. I became who I am because I wanted to be like you. And you're not a man who would stand by and let an innocent child die. No matter the risk to yourself."
Russell pursed his lips for a fraction of a second, then nodded. "I stand corrected and honored, son. Please continue."
"Thanks. It's pretty simple. I want to have the next surgery, but I want it done close to home. As close as possible. And I want my rehab to be at Sanctuary in Cotton Creek. It's owned by an ex-CIA operative and a fellow SEAL, Grady Judd. I've asked Georgie to go with me and oversee my rehab. If she agrees, I'll pay all her expenses and salary. I'll also pay for the doctors and their surgical teams to come to the closest hospital to home."
When he paused, Russell spoke up. "Can I ask why? You've received excellent care here and have the top professionals in the world looking out for you. Why leave?"
Riggs looked at Robby, who now slept in Russell's arms. "Him. I can't keep him here with me, and I'm not letting anyone take him."
"How will you better care for him in a hospital room in Texas? Tell me the difference. Will you be able to keep him with you there?"
"No, but I'll be able to see him a lot."
"Oh? So, you've already found someone to care for this child?"
That made Georgie cut a look at Riggs. Just as he opened his mouth, Naomie interrupted. "I said I'd care for him if we can work it out legally."
"You did?" Russell asked.
"Yes, of course I did. Robby's his son. Why wouldn't I volunteer?" She glanced at Riggs. "Can you imagine how crazy happy your grandmother will be to have a baby around the place? Oh, my goodness, I bet she'll have a store of baby stuff in your cottage before you get home and volunteer to keep that child every day."
The soft smile on Russell's face told Georgie that Naomie knew just what to say to defuse a possible conflict. "It's good you put his welfare high on the list. I hope you'll be as successful with working things out with your doctors."
Riggs smiled. "So do I."
"Is that all?"
"No. I want to see if I can get assigned to the training facility in Cotton Creek. I talked with Grady, and he said it's being run by Deacon Johns, who is nothing short of a SEAL legend with a lot of contacts. I want to get in the best shape possible, and after that, I might try for an instructor position part-time to help train the recruits who might end up doing what I have for the last twenty years.
"And I want to relearn how to be a cowboy and, even more, a rancher. I want to raise my son on Heritage land, Dad. I want him to grow up like I did. Safe and loved."
Russell smiled and stood with the baby in his arms. He walked over to Riggs, kissed Robby on the head, and then placed him in Riggs' arms. "Well, son, I can't argue with a bit of that. But you never answered my question."
