He narrowed his eyes, as if trying to remember the boy. “He played basketball?”
“Football,” she corrected.
“Right.” He sighed and looked out over the park. “I can’t believe my dad only has days left. Maybe a couple weeks.”
She held her breath, knowing the sorrow he must be feeling, and then took his hand in hers, unsure how to help him through the pain.
He looked down at their hands. “I should get back…” he said but didn’t move.
“Nick, you don’t need to spread yourself thin. I can run my ranch fine while my folks are gone,” she said, unsure of why she thought it was important to say.
His eyes moved up to hers. “I like helping out. It keeps my mind off…” He closed his eyes, and she was afraid that she would see a tear slip down his cheek. Instead, he looked at their joined hands again. “I like helping.”
She didn’t want to take something away from him that was helping him through a dark time, so she nodded.
“Okay.” She shifted a little when the wind kicked up.
“You’re cold.” He stood up and pulled her with him. “Let’s head back.”
She wanted to tell him she was fine, but the truth was, the warm sunlight had been blocked by clouds and the temperature had dropped several degrees.
“We’re supposed to get snow later this week,” he said as they walked.
“When are they going to release your dad?” she asked.
“In a few hours. After the doctor…” He dropped off. “My dad signed a DNR this morning.”
She frowned. “DNR?”
“Do not resuscitate. It’s a legal form that tells everyone that he’s ready to go,” he said, his voice low.
She felt her heart break a little more. “I’m so sorry,” she said, remembering her own mother’s death. She’d been so young that most of what her mother had gone through had been kept from her. Even now, she didn’t understand exactly what her parents had gone through during that difficult time.
“After my mother went, Dad made all the arrangements for himself.” He stopped just outside the hospital doors. “I can’t imagine making plans like that.”
She wanted to say something to him. To comfort him further, but just then the doors opened, and a young couple came out, walking past them into the parking lot.
“I’ll let you get home. Thanks again for stopping by.” He dropped her hand finally.
“Nick?” she said when he turned to walk inside. He stopped and looked over his shoulder at her. “If you need anything, I’m here.” He nodded and disappeared inside.
Since she’d made the trip into town, she figured she’d head over and visit Liz at work. Her best friend owned one of the three beauty salons in town. Liz had gone through a yearlong course to get her cosmetology license after graduating from high school. Since her parents owned most of the buildings in town, she’d taken over a vacant building that faced the town square. Get Buzzed was by far the most popular salon in town and the result of her best friend’s hard work.
Over the last year, Liz had added several tanning beds, nail stations, and even two private rooms in the back for waxing and massages.
When Kara walked in the door, Liz smiled at her and motioned to the wine bar.
“Grab a mimosa,” her friend said as she continued putting foils in Mrs. Sabastian’s hair. The old woman was sipping her own mimosa.
Kara grabbed an already mixed drink from the chilled container and then sat down in the empty salon chair next to the one Liz was working at.
“Why the long face?” Liz asked after glancing at her.
“Nick’s dad is in the hospital,” she answered, taking a sip of the drink.
Mrs. Sabastian and Liz both stopped and glanced at her.
“The cancer’s back?” Mrs. Sabastian asked.
“It never went away,” Liz answered. “Nick says the doctors have given him days. Weeks if he’s lucky.”
“Oh no,” Mrs. Sabastian said with a slight shake of her head. “I’ll have to spread the word.”
Mrs. Sabastian and Nick’s mother had been friends. Hell, most everyone in town knew one another and was friendly with the exception of a handful of outliers who lived on the outskirts of the town and kept to themselves.
“How’s Nick taking it?” Liz asked, getting back to work on Mrs. Sabastian’s hair.
“Not so good. I mean, it’s obvious he knew this day was coming, but…” She sighed and took another drink. “He’ll be all alone.” She thought of losing her dad. Her stepmother. She’d always have her half-brother, Beau. But he lived in Hawaii with his new wife, Nicky.
What would happen to the ranch? Had her parents accounted for her desire to take it over? Maybe this time was the test to see if she was capable or worthy.
“Wilbert Howe mentioned the last time Nicholas was in the hospital that he’d come up with a scheme to ensure that Nick wouldn’t be alone after his death,” Mrs. Sabastian said, gaining their attention.
Liz’s hand hung in the air, and a glop of bleach fell to the floor unnoticed. “Well?” Liz said when Mrs. Sabastian didn’t continue. “What plan?”
Mrs. Sabastian smiled, enjoying the attention. “Wilbert and Marge have been trying for years to get their hands on the ranch. Everyone knows they believe they should have inherited it after Nicholas the first, Nicholas and Wilbert’s father, passed. Well, Wilbert let it drop at the Fourth of July celebration that their son, Willy, should be the rightful heir. So, Wilbert put in motion his plan.”
“Which is?” Kara asked, leaning forward slightly.
Willy Howe was Nick’s cousin, she thought. Willy’s dad, Wilbert, was Nick’s dad’s younger brother by at least twenty years. The story went that after Nicholas the first’s wife had died, Nicholas the first married Wilbert’s mother, Carolynn. When Nicholas the first died a few years later, the ranch was left to Nicholas the second, leaving Carolynn and her son, Wilbert, out in the cold. Well, not literally. They ended up moving back into town with Carolynn’s brother.
For as long as the town could remember, Wilbert Howe and his family had been up in arms about getting their hands on the ranch.
“Well,” Mrs. Sabastian continued, “it seems Nicholas isn’t too pleased that his son hasn’t found himself a wife and started a family of his own yet.”
Hearing this, Kara’s stomach dropped. “And?” she said, not liking the sound of her own low tone.
Mrs. Sabastian leaned closer to her. “And Wilbert let it slip that he’d convinced his brother Nicholas the second to push his boy into marriage by writing it into his will that if the boy wasn’t married before the end of the year after his death, the ranch would default to Wilbert and his son, Willy.” Mrs. Sabastian smirked. “Like those two would ever deserve what Nicholas and Nicky have worked hard all their lives for.” She made a tsking sound as she shook her head.
Kara swallowed and glanced out the windows. “Does Nick know about this?”
“I would think not,” Mrs. Sabastian said. “I’m not even sure Nicholas really did change his will. Not for sure. You know how Wilbert and Willy can be.”