Layers of Us (Second Generation Book 2)

Chapter 26

EMBER

Stef: How is everything going?

Me: Good, just waiting in the waiting room. Did you take a look at the request sheet that I left out?

Stef: Yes, boss lady, already working on the red velvet and have the raspberries thawing for the other cake.

Me: Thank you so much for taking this on by yourself.

Stef: Least I could do after being gone myself.

Me: Speaking of, how is your mom doing?

Stef: Same stuff, different day. She was awake for some of my visits and I at least got to talk to somebody with open eyes, even if she didn’t know what was going on.

Me: I’m so sorry, Stef, I cannot imagine. We’ll talk more when I get back. Oh, PS since when do you text with Carson?

Stef: Here and there, who else am I going to talk Rangers and Texans with? I love you and I’ll see you soon. Tell your fam that I love them.

Me: Love you too. Will do!

I tuck my phone back into my purse and reach over to the table for the latest cup of coffee that I’m working on. My dad has been in surgery for almost two hours now, I’ve been sitting in this little room for almost three. My mom, Carson, and Hayden have all been in and out all morning. My mom was with me up until just a few moments ago when she decided to get from fresh air. Hayden went to go run some errands and Carson was going to check in on the office and then come back with something to eat. Dr. West gave us the rundown of the surgery once again this morning when Dad was in pre-op, everything seemed very standard, but that doesn’t make it less nerve-wracking.

“Hey pumpkin,” Mom walked back into the room and handed me a package of donuts from the vending machine. They weren’t much, but at least a little something to keep my stomach from growling. I was too nervous to eat most of the morning.

“Thanks, Mom. So, how much coffee intake do you think it takes for you to just become coffee?”

My mom smiled and looked down at the new cup that she’s sporting. “You know, in all my years I haven’t had so much coffee as now that your dad and I are semi-retired. I used to have a cup in the day and maybe share a pot with your dad on the weekends. Now, I’m finding myself picking coffee instead of lemonade or tea in the middle of the day, what are the odds of that?”

“Stef and I bought a coffee maker for the kitchen, one of the good kind that makes espresso and stuff too. Don’t get me wrong, the reason we did it is that coffee-flavored stuff is kind of in right now, but I’d be lying if I said that machine didn’t get so much use.”

“Not surprised, you two are hard workers and always can use an afternoon pick me up.”

“It isn’t just us either, the guys that work on the ranch will stop by mid-morning for a coffee too. It has gotten so bad that around ten in the morning, Stef starts brewing because she knows Deacon and Jace are probably going to be stopping by.”

My mom gives me a warm smile and reaches over to grab my hand. “I love hearing all your stories about the ranch, sweetheart. Everything is good, right? You’re not just making up stories or anything?”

“Nothing to make up. I love it there. It was obviously my dream to work at a place so well known, but there is so much more about the place than just the events that I am part of. They’ve pulled Stef and me into their world and treat us like family also.”