Cold-Blooded Waters by Theodore F. Lee

Author:Theodore F. Lee
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
Published: 2022-07-05T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

Reluctant Delays

In the green glow of Luke’s dash lights, Charlie turned the AM radio off, and said, “I wouldn’t have survived in the ‘house’ if you weren’t there to watch over me, Luke…”

Luke pulled the wheel hard over, to avoid a pothole in the gravel road, and answered, “That’s what us Newhook’s do… We keep an eye out, for each other…” They finally reached the pavement and Luke hit the peddle, leaving the dirt road and the Waterman family quickly behind. Luke shoved the stick in third gear and continued, “It was good to know you took my advice and straightened out yer life…” He placed the stick in fourth gear, and confessed, “I have changed my life too, Charlie…” With the heavy sound of the humming tires, Charlie looked straight ahead through the high beam lights, and said, “I guess we finally saw the light, Luke…”

Luke reached over, turned the radio back on, and with his crusty voice he responded, “And it’s a good fook’n thing too…” Both men cracked a smile and said no more, as they drove on through the dark night with their sobering thoughts.

Charlie and Luke arrived at the Hospital and found everyone in the waiting area except one family member. He slowly went to Martin’s side and whispered, “Some things never change…”

Martin gave Charlie a strange look and replied, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Charlie shrugged his shoulders, shook his head, and said, “I knew the old man wouldn’t be here for his brother…”

Martin slowly turned his head toward the door, and in a low voice he said, “The old man is in the next room getting prepped…”

Charlie stood back and sharply asked, “Prepped for what?”

Martin explained, “He was a liver match for Uncle Larry, and he offered it without blinking his eyes.” Charlie’s face went lily-white, as Martin continued, “If I was you, I’d speak to him… Before they put him under…”

Charlie walked in the room and noticed Levi was sitting up in bed with a peaceful look upon his face, waiting to be prepared for his liver removal. Charlie scanned the hospital bed and said, “I didn’t expect to see you in here…”

Levi shrugged his shoulders and replied, “Well, ya never know where ya can end up son…”

Charlie walked closer to the bed and noticed Levi wasn’t as peaceful as he seemed. He looked at his pale face and said, “But… you haven’t spoken to Uncle Larry for years… And you fellers had plenty of rough water under the bridge…” Charlie noticed Levi had the blanket clutched in his hand, then he continued, “You worked like a dog in the fishery, while Larry did nothing but play and drink…” He was in his father’s face, when he finally got it off his chest, “It’s not fair that you’re risking your life…”

Levi relaxed his hands and the color in his face came back when he began to explain. “Who knows what’s fair… And who knows why we’re put here in the first place…”

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