15. Rowen

"You four get on home. I told you all, your dad has overexaggerated. It's a slight fever. They're more worried about the fluid around my lung. This is all precautionary, and in fact, the doctor just left and said they have something new for me to try and I should be right as rain. Tell them, Rob." Bridger, Peyton, Aspen, and I are standing in her room with Dad in the chair beside her, Mom in a hospital bed, looking like she should be anywhere but here.

"Mom," I go to interject, but Bridger beats me to it. I'm so damned mad at him for being such a jerk. He didn't even acknowledge me or Braxton.

"We're all going to worry about you, and there's no way any of us will leave if Dad has to go anywhere." He's standing off to the side, legs planted, arms crossed over his chest, and his usually easy-going attitude isn't anywhere to be seen.

"I'll only be here for a few days, Mom. So, you'll have to deal with it." Aspen is next to Dad wearing something I know she carries at her Boho Chic Boutique she owns out in Texas. I miss her a lot, our phone calls aren't enough that's for sure. And her only being here for a few days causes me to suck in a lungful of air, knowing she won't be back unless it has something to do with mom. That thought alone makes me worry more than ever.

"That's fine, but I don't want you putting your life on hold. You know I love you, and for you to be here in a matter of a few hours lets me know your father told you right at the onset of these little ol' symptoms." She side-eyes our father.

"What were you saying, Ro?" Mom completely ignores Bridger, causing me to smile on the inside.

"Just that you know we'll all take shifts when needed. We just want to help out where we can, not be an added burden." I walk over to her, Peyton moving over so I can give my mother a kiss on the cheek.

"I know that, more than anyone." Mom gives me a kiss on my check before saying. "Bridger, come here."

He listens as she mumbles under her breath. "Move out of the way, Ro."

Peyton looks at Mom, then me, so do Aspen and Dad. They all know what's coming. Mom isn't one for letting shit slide when it comes to her kids.

"Hey, Ma," he says lightheartedly, not knowing what Mom is up to.

She pulls on his ear, like she did when he wasn't listening as a teenager or when he came in after curfew. Dad barely had to say or do anything. We all knew what they expected from all of us, and for the most part we listened. On the rare occurrence we didn't, Mom would never have to raise her voice. Neither would Dad. We saw the look of disappointment on their faces. Much like Dad and Mom have on their faces now.

"Ow, Christ, that shit still hurts," Bridger grumbles.

"You listen to me, Bridger Jennings, and you listen to me good. Your sister doesn't deserve the ration of shit you're doling out. I expected you to be the leader. You're the oldest, you've seen more. Hell, you saw the shit Travis put his own sister through, but the way you've been acting the past two weeks, I'm ashamed of my own son." She let's go of his ear. Tears are rimming my eyes. My father sits back proudly as he watches Mom take care of something that honestly could have been handled between Bridger and myself.

"Mom, don't worry about it, please. I just want you better. If he wants to be this way, it's his burden to bear. I'll always love him and be there for him, but it's not something he's ready to deal with, and it shows the level of respect he has for not only me but Braxton as well." I go to hug my dad. He engulfs me in his arms, already standing up and seeing what I'm about to do.

"I love you, baby girl. I'm so damn proud of you," he tells me.

"I love you, and thank you, Daddy." I turn to Mom, giving her my goodbyes while trying to keep the waterworks at bay.

"You go be with Braxton. You live your life the way you want to. As long as it isn't doing any harm to others, because let's be honest, Ro, you only have one life to live. I love you," she whispers into my ear, and I'm trying to be strong, but what she said, it leaves me reeling.

"Mom, please don't talk like this, okay? You're going to be fine. You have way too much to live for, and who else will keep Bridger in line besides Kellie?" I reply to her.

"Don't you worry. I'm too ornery to leave. Which is why your father should have kept his mouth shut." She pulls back from our hug.

"Now, I'm not having any more of this bullshit happening between my kids. Fix it, and fix it now." She points at Bridger. Aspen and Peyton are holding their laughter back.

"You heard your mother, Bridger Robert Jennings. Not when she should be resting and not worrying about you being a clown's ass." Dad doesn't usually interject with what Mom says, but when her word is law and Dad doesn't think we're listening, that's when he wades in.

Bridger nods his head, letting Dad know he heard them, loud and clear.

"This is gold. Solid freaking gold. I'm so glad I'm in town to watch this. Who thought it would be Rowen to get an apology out of Bridger?" Aspen clearly couldn't hold it together.

"For real. I figured I'd be the one to get it first." Peyton rolls her eyes, like she does when she's throwing her own form of attitude.

"Rowen, I fucked up," Bridger starts out.

"Language," Dad pipes up.

"Yeah. I'm sorry, Rowen. I'm screwing this up. Heck, I wasn't ready for you to be grown. Let alone with Braxton. I know he's a good man. It didn't make it any easier. I saw the way you two looked at each other before you left and how you were constantly looking for him the minute you came back. The icing on the cake was when you didn't come home on breaks. You'd work yourself to the bone to finish out college. That, I couldn't stand, so I built up a resentment towards Braxton, and it rubbed off the wrong way when you both stood your ground. I'm not easy to deal with. You all know that. Look how I was when Aspen left town. I had to check her place out from top to bottom. I'm not making an excuse. I know I screwed the pooch. I'm sorry, Ro." I walk around the hospital bed knowing full well I'll forgive him, but only after I give him hell.

"I forgive you, but you know there's someone else you need to apologize to." I pull back after he returns my hug.

"I freaking know. Kellie's been busting my balls too. Come on, let's get out of here and let Mom rest. You'll call if you need anything, right?" he asks Mom and Dad.

They nod their heads. We all walk out together. Braxton has his back leaned against the wall outside the hospital room, his head tipped up, feet crossed at the ankles, and his hands in his pocket. I've never been so grateful that we set our sights on one another. He's everything I could have ever asked for in my version of Prince Charming when I was a little girl.

"Come on, Ro. Let's let the men talk while we go see where Kellie is." The guys were in here with their wives when we came in, all of them camping out to see how Mom was doing and if we needed anything.

"One second." I walk to Braxton, his body instantly enveloping mine. The warm solace his comfort brings me in a time like this is all I want.

"You okay, siren?" he murmurs into my ear.

"I am. So is Mom. And I think Bridger is done being a bag of dicks." We chuckle together. Braxton kisses my head and then replies, "He's always that way. Go be with your sisters. We'll deal with this, okay?"

"Okay." I lift my head and stand up on my toes, giving him a small peck on his lips before I do what he said. We have lots of gossip to catch up on, and I know Aspen won't be here too much longer.