Changing Lanes (The Lone Stars Book 3) (11 page)

“I’m a mother, we know everything.” She folded the dishtowel and laid it on the counter. “I also know you drove to Austin almost every weekend in college looking for—”

“Would you like a glass of wine or something to drink?” Devon cut off his mother as he came around the bar, pulled out the stool next to hers, and sat down.

“I guess I’m supposed to be on my best behavior and not tell you all about the reckless stuff he’s done.” Sweet Louise glared at her son.

“I love you, mom.” He shot her a super–sweet smile.

“Fine, I’ll be good.” She returned his smile.

“Water please.” She pulled her phone out of her back pocket and set it on the bar. She needed to keep it close incase the hospital called. “I’m on call tonight so no alcohol for me.”

“What kind of medicine do you practice?” Sweet Louise turned around, grabbed a large blue bowl full of peaches from the counter behind her, and set it down in front of her.

“I’m a pediatric oncologist.” Laney watched as the older woman pulled out a small knife, and started peeling the peaches.

“Oh hon, bless your heart.” Sweet Louise kept on peeling. One peach and then two and three.

“Tell her about your patient … Lara?” Devon covered Laney’s hand with his big one. It was surprisingly gentle. In fact, for such a big man, he was always gentle.

“Why?” She didn’t like to talk about her patients. Keeping work separate from home was how she dealt with things.

“Because if there was ever a mother who needed to coddle a child, there she is.” Devon swept his free hand toward his mother. “Lara needs a family, and my mother could use a child.”

“I have a child.” Sweet Louise shot her son a look. “And he’s a pain in the ass.”

“Tell her.” Devon nodded at Laney.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea.” She bit her top lip thinking. Lara did need someone, but she needed someone to love her for as long as she lived. Not only was it a big commitment, more than likely, it wasn’t going to turn out well. As much as she wanted a happy ending for Lara, she needed to face reality. Lara wasn’t going to get any better and watching a child die wasn’t something she would wish on even her worst enemy, much less a woman that she liked.

“Will someone please tell me about Lara?” Sweet Louise moved onto the next peach. “I’m making my famous peach cobbler, but I’m not giving either of you a bite until someone tells me about her.”

“That’s mean.” Devon’s tone was bland. “Her peach cobbler has won blue ribbons in five states. Just wanted you understand the gravity of the threat.”

Laney took a deep breath and told Sweet Louise all about Lara. The older woman listened as she peeled her peaches and when Laney was finished, the sheen of tears glistened in Sweet Louise’s eyes.

“That baby just got herself a grandmother.” Sweet Louise glanced at the clock on the microwave. “What time does she go to bed?”

“Nine or so, I think.” Laney didn’t know how she felt about this, but Lara needed someone … besides Laney.

“It’s almost seven. We could pack up all this food and have dinner with Lara.” Sweet Louise had already fallen in love with a child that she’d never met, it glowed in her eyes. A tiny bit of the fear at losing Lara eased—there was now someone else to watch over her.

Devon had done this, he’d seen how upset she’d been, and he’d done his best to take the burden. She’d never had anyone take her burden. It was nice for someone else to lighten her load, if just a bit.

Without thinking, she leaned over and kissed him lightly on the mouth. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” He looked overly pleased with himself.

In such a short amount of time, he’d come to matter to her. It had been a long time since someone had mattered in more than a professional way. She looked him over. This big man with gentle ways and kind eyes was special. Did he feel the same way about her?

Chapter 8

Dell Children’s Hospital wasn’t what Devon had expected. Yes, it was a hospital and had doctors and medical equipment, but it was focused completely on the children. The walls were brightly colored and several patients paddled down the hall on Big Wheels and tricycles. What medical paraphernalia he could make out was also brightly colored and more often than not tucked away in a cabinet or draped with stuffed animals. It still smelled like a hospital—antiseptic, Lysol, and apple juice.

His mother had insisted on stopping by the gift shop and buying the largest stuffed animal they had. Which explained why he was now walking down the hall carrying a giant stuffed pig wearing a purple tutu and rhinestone tiara. It didn’t matter. Laney’s face was no longer creased with worry, and his mother now had an outlet for all the love she needed to give. For that kind of payoff he’d gladly have worn a pink tutu and rhinestone tiara himself—thank God, he didn’t have to.

He glanced back at his mother. She was nervous, wringing her hands in anticipation.

“Hey Dr. Nixon.” A nurse called from a desk in an alcove by the double doors they’d just walked in from. “Did someone call you?”

“No, Joanna. I’m here to see Lara.” Laney gestured to him and his mother. “I’ve brought some friends who can’t wait to meet her.”

“Lara’s had a good afternoon. No nausea, but she didn’t eat much dinner.” Joanna smiled. She was short with huge front teeth and a ready smile. Her eyes locked onto Devon and her mouth fell open. “You’re Devon Harding.”

He shifted the pig and offered his hand. “Yes ma’am, I sure am.”

“My husband is your biggest fan. He’s always talking about your yards or downs or blocking or whatever it is that you do.” She shifted from foot to foot. “We have your Fathead on our game room wall.” She looked down embarrassed. “Can I have your autograph?”

“Absolutely.” He balanced the pig on the bar top of the nurses’ station and picked up a sharpie that was lying on top of a clipboard. “You know, we’re going to be here for a while. Why don’t you give him a call and see if he’d like to come by? I’d love to meet him in person.”

Joanna’s face brightened. “Really? Oh my gosh! This will make his day … no his year. He’s been down since he lost his job at Barney’s. After it burned down, they never rebuilt it. He was the pit master.”

Devon glanced at his mother, and her eyes locked onto his. She was thinking the same thing he was. This was an amazing stroke of luck.

“He was the pit master at Barney’s?” Devon would have gotten down on his knees and thanked God right here, but he was trying to keep an enormous pig from falling to its death. In his opinion, Barney’s had the best brisket in the state of Texas. He’d mourned the day it had burned down. “I’m opening my own barbecue place and would love to talk to him about a job.”

“I’ll text him right now.” Excitement radiated off Joanna. “Thank you.”

If her husband really had been the pit master at Barney’s, Devon was hiring him immediately.

Joanna pulled out her phone and stepped back in the alcove. He guessed she didn’t need his autograph right now.

He picked up the pig. Laney leaned into him. “That was nice. Thank you. Joanna has four kids and has been working double shifts just to make ends meet.”

There was a loud sniffle behind them. Devon turned around. His mother was wiping her eyes.

She shook her head. “I’m already a mess. I’m going to walk in to meet Lara and she’s going to be scared because I’m balling like a baby. She won’t like me, and then I won’t get to be a grandmother.”

Devon handed Laney the pig and put his arm around his mother. “She’s going to love you. Just think, Halloween is just around the corner. You get to make her a costume.”

His mother perked up. “I didn’t think of that. And she’ll need clothes—pajamas and such. I need to make those too. And probably she’ll need a special quilt. When I get home, I’m getting my sewing machine out.”

His mother loved to sew, but hadn’t in years.

“You might need a new machine.” Devon hugged her tightly and then let her go.

“I think you’re right.” Head held high, she fluffed her hair and walked straight ahead. “Which room?”

“At the end of the hall, last door on the left.” Laney pointed. “What’s a Fathead?”

“It’s a life sized wall transfer of me.” Devon took the pig from Laney and they followed his mother.

When they reached Lara’s door, Laney stepped ahead of them, grabbed three–paper facemasks from the box by the door, and passed them out. “Lara’s immune system is low because of all of the treatment, so anyone who comes in contact with her must wear a mask.”

His mother took hers and looped it around her ears. “I can rock this mask like nobody’s business.”

Devon smiled to himself. By morning, his mother would have bedazzled her mask into something sparkly and bright. Laney slid her mask on and he followed. Lara must be sick if she couldn’t breathe the same air as a healthy person. He knew Laney was a pediatric oncologist, but he hadn’t fully understood what that meant until now.

She pushed the door open, and walked in. “How are you feeling?”

Devon girded himself for what would probably be a pitiful sight, but what he found was a cheerful little girl with curly red hair and freckles on her nose. She smiled and her two front teeth were missing.

His heart melted right there.

“I’m good today, Dr. Laney. I’m not very hungry though.” She looked questioningly at the strangers. “Who are they?”

“This is my friend Devon and his mother Sweet Louise.” Laney sat on the edge of the bed. “You’re not hungry. How about a picnic?”

Lara sat up. “A picnic? I’ve never had one. You mean like outside and everything.”

“I brought a blanket so we can sit on the ground.” Sweet Louise grabbed the pig from Devon and set it in the chair next to Lara. “We found this pig roaming the halls looking for a kid to love it. Think you could help us out?”

Lara’s whole face lit up. “You mean I can keep it … like forever?”

Her eyes turned world–weary. “No take backs.”

Devon wanted to buy her every stuffed animal in Austin. Cute little girls with missing front teeth should never have to wonder if they get to keep their stuffed animals.

“No take backs.” Sweet Louise crossed her heart. “Cross my heart.”

“Wow.” She reached over and picked up the stuffed animal that was twice her size and set it in front of her. “I get to keep it. Forever. My very own stuffed animal. I’m going to name her Princess.”

She didn’t have other stuffed animals? Devon looked around. Her room had no personal touches. It was brightly decorated, but nothing from home. His heart twisted in his chest. She didn’t have a home from which to bring things. No special blanket or pillow or fuzzy bunny slippers. She was alone and had nothing to call her own. If she died, the only people who would mourn her were in this room. He glanced at his mother. From the look on her face, she too had just come to that conclusion.

He could do something about that.

He pulled out his phone and sent a broadcast text message to the team—tailgating at Dell Children’s Hospital. Everyone bring something … either toys for the kids or food.

In less than thirty minutes the parking lot would be crawling with Lone Stars players.

“I was thinking.” His mother took the chair formerly occupied by Princess. “I need a granddaughter. Since my good–for–nothing son over there hasn’t produced any grandbabies, I was hoping you’d agree to be my honorary granddaughter.”

Lara rolled huge brown eyes up to meet his mother’s green ones. “What does that mean, honorary granddaughter?”

“Well, it means that I visit you every single day, we hang out, play games, do silly stuff, and have a good time. Think you can handle that?” His mother smiled.

Lara thought about it for a second. “I guess.”

“You need to give me a cool grandmother name like Nana or MeeMah or NeeNaw. The first grandchild gets to name the grandmother, it’s a tradition.” His mother took Lara’s little hand in hers.

Lara’s brow scrunched up as she looked his mother up and down. “I’m going to call you Honey.”

His mother’s smile turned up a notch. “That’s what my husband used to call me.”

“It’s because your hair looks like honey.” Lara reached out and touched his mother’s hair. “Doesn’t feel like honey.” She yawned. “When’s the picnic start?”

“Right now baby doll.” Laney grabbed the wheelchair next to the door over to the bed. Laney attached the IV bag to the pole and then helped Lara climb into the chair. The little girl was wearing a tiny hospital gown with teddy bears on it. For a split second, it gapped open in the back and Devon caught sight of delicate vertebrae painfully close to the skin. The child was skin and bones, disease having ravaged her small body. She’d been through more in her five years than Devon had in thirty and yet Lara was upbeat and spunky. From now on, every time he hurt from a hit or his shoulder ached, he would cut out his own tongue before complaining. Lara was the bravest person he’d ever met, and he would move heaven and earth to make her life wonderful. She deserved the very best and he aimed to give it to her.

Laney fixed the gaping gown, made sure Lara was comfortable, looped a paper mask over the girls small ears, and wheeled her to the door. It struck him that Laney was a warrior battling life–threatening diseases every single day. He nodded to himself. Now that he thought about it, he could see it. Her in armor with a sword, Joan of Arc style standing guard over sick children and fighting with all she had to keep them safe.

Laney had chosen to help those who could not help themselves. He saw her in a new light. He must have been staring at her because she turned to him.

“What?” One corner of her mouth quirked up in a half smile.

“You’re amazing.” He could hear the slightly shocked quality in his voice and hadn’t meant it like that.

“Thanks. You’re not so bad yourself.” She blew him a kiss as she wheeled Lara into the hallway.

“Would y’all stop eye–flirting with each other in front of my granddaughter?” His mother rolled her eyes. “It’s getting embarrassing.”

In his mother’s face, he saw heartbreak and love. He put on arm around each of his women. They were going to make his life interesting.