Knitted Hearts by Amber Kelly
Foster
When I arrive at the ranch, Marvin meets me in the driveway.
“Good morning,” I greet.
“Hi, Foster. Did you hear the news about Kathy?” he asks.
“What news?”
“Sonia found her collapsed at her shop last night, and the ambulance rushed her to county hospital. Apparently, she had a heart attack. Beverly and Bellamy and the rest of the gals have been at the hospital with Don and Sonia all night.”
“Is she going to be okay?” I ask.
“I believe so. The doctor told them it’s a fairly common surgery and that she should be out of the hospital in a few days. Recovery might take a minute though.”
Shit, I bet my girl is a wreck.
“Do you mind if I head that way after we get all the feeding done? I’ll come back and finish up this evening.”
“Not at all, son. I thought you’d want to be there.”
“Thanks.”
I head to the barn, and Myer already has the trailer on the ATV loaded down with feed.
“I’ll meet you out in the back pasture,” I say as I grab my saddle from the rack.
When we make it back to the barn about two hours later, Truett is laying fresh hay in the stalls.
“You guys want me to go into town and grab sandwiches for lunch? Dottie isn’t home, so we’re on our own,” he asks as I dismount, and Myer parks the four-wheeler.
“I’m going to head to the hospital to check on Kathy,” I tell him when Marvin comes rushing down to meet us.
“Bellamy just called the house. Kathy didn’t make it through the surgery,” he tells us.
No.
Shock hits me like a bolt of lightning, temporarily rendering me speechless.
“Fuck,” Myer says as he lowers his head.
“I’ve got to go. I have to get to Sonia,” I say as I hand my horse’s lead off to Truett.
“I’ll drive you,” Myer offers, and we race to his truck.
He calls Dallas and learns that they are all still at the hospital and that Don and Sonia are in the room, saying good-bye to Kathy.
“I’ve got Foster with me. We’re in the truck, heading in that direction, and we should be there in ten minutes,” he tells her before ending the call.
“What happened?” I ask.
“She had a heart attack last night and they took her straight into surgery. She went into cardiac arrest on the operating table as they were closing her chest, and the doctors just weren’t able to resuscitate her.”
I remove my cap and run my hands through my hair. “I just spoke to her yesterday evening. Less than twenty-four hours ago. She left me a message, asking me to come by her shop on my way home.”
My heart aches as I recount the memory.
“I didn’t mean to hurt her. If I could change things, I would, but no matter what, a baby is coming in four months, and I’m responsible for it,” I tell her.
She lays a hand on my cheek. “I know you didn’t, and given time, she’ll see it too. I know my baby girl; she just needs space to process the situation. She loves you, Foster. That’s the important thing. If you love each other enough, there is nothing that the two of you can’t overcome together. She’s lost and adrift right now, but love is powerful, and it can anchor her. So, you be patient and don’t give up. You are the one,” she says.
“I won’t. I promise.”
She smiles, slides her hand to mine, and squeezes. “Good.”
“And Sonia and I spent the entire evening with her and Don recently. She was fine. She was cooking, laughing, and being her usual happy self. How can she be gone?”
“Do you want me to tell Dallas to let Sonia know you’re coming?” he asks.
I shake my head. “Doesn’t matter. Even if she says she doesn’t want me there, she needs me, and I’m going to her.”
Myer nods his approval.
When the elevator doors open to the third floor and we step out, I catch sight of Sonia as she walks out of the door to a patient room.
She’s white as a ghost, her eyes are swollen, and her legs are shaking.
“Sonia,” I call as I head her way with Myer behind me.
She looks up, and when her eyes lock with mine, she starts to buckle at the knees, and I take off running.
I catch her before she hits the floor. I gently pick her up and cradle her in my arms.
“I got you,” I whisper into her hair.
“My momma’s gone,” she cries into my neck.
“I know, baby.”
“Momma’s gone,” she repeats.
I hold her as close as I can as her heart shatters. I can feel every sob rocket through her body as she clings to me.
“Please tell me it’s not real, Foster,” she begs.
“I wish I could.”
“She’s my best friend. She can’t leave me.”
As much as I want to shield her from this pain, I can’t fix this for her. All I can do is hold her.
Don walks out of the room next, a picture of brokenness. He looks as if he is about to fall as well.
I walk us to him by the girls’ concerned, tear-streaked, red faces peering from the waiting room window. Myer walks past us and joins them, embracing Bellamy and Dallas as he enters.
Don reaches a shaky hand and places it on top of Sonia’s head as she continues to sob into my neck.
“You got her, son?” he asks.
“Yes, sir. I’m taking her home with me,” I tell him.
He nods.
“Good. She shouldn’t be alone tonight.”
“Neither should you.”
He looks over his shoulder at the crowd.
“Jefferson invited me to stay at Rustic Peak tonight and Doreen and Ria insisted I accept.”
“You should be with friends,” I say.
Elle joins us.
“Bellamy, Brandt, Walker, and I are coming with you,” she tells me.
“You guys don’t have to,” I start.
“We’re going wherever Sonia goes tonight,” she says and I know that nothing is keeping them from her.
I nod.
“Okay. We’ll need a ride. Myer brought me,” I tell her.
“I’ll tell Walker to pull his truck around. Brandt and Bells are going to stop in town and get food,” she says, and then she leans in and whispers in Sonia’s ear.
“Do you want them to stop by your apartment and get anything?”
Sonia shakes her head.
“Are you sure?”
She lifts her eyes to Elle’s.
“I want the blanket off my bed. The ivory one Momma made me,” she answers as both of them try to hold it together.
“We’ll get it for you,” Elle promises, through her tears.
She walks off and Sonia looks at Don.
“This isn’t real, is it?”
“I’m afraid so, baby girl.”
“She was fine this afternoon. She was happy and healthy and she can’t be gone.”
She whimpers and her body starts quaking again and I tighten my grip on her.
Don wraps his arms around the both of us and they weep together.
I’ve never felt so helpless.
“I don’t know how to exist in a world without her in it,” she whispers.
“We’ll do it together,” I murmur.
I’ve never felt so helpless in my damn life.
“We’ll all do it together,” I repeat.