BOMAW 12-14

by Mercedes Keyes

  She stood, unable to just sit and wait, she needed to know the extent of his injuries, she needed to see him. She walked down the hall towards the emergency stalls, not sure which one he occupied. She didn't dare peak inside - anyone could be behind the curtain. She turned walking to the nurses station, looking towards the back room there to see if she could spot one. She stood drumming into the counter top with her finger tips, her nails making rapid tapping noise. It was a busy night and they were all over the place. A moment later, a nurse finally showed up behind the desk.

  "Excuse me, please - Victor Prescott? He was brought in by an ambulance just a moment ago? I'm his wife - can I see him please?"

  "There's a doctor in with him now, it'll be a few more moments, have a seat and she'll let you know what's happening with him."

  Wasn't exactly what Crystal wanted to hear; under the circumstances, she had no other choice. She turned back to find his father standing behind her in hearing shot, so he knew without her having to relay it. "Here's your coffee, looks like we'll be waiting." He spoke up resolved.

  Crystal took the paper cup of steaming coffee and followed her father-in-law back to the seats she'd been. They were quiet a moment, Crystal's legs back to bouncing and shaking, she glanced at Percival and asked, "Natalie stay home with the kids?"

  He glanced at her, sighed and informed her, "We're no longer together, no idea where she is - I've filed for divorce."

  "Huh? Wh-why? You? Wow."

  "Yeah, think about it, it was long overdue."

  "I - I can't believe it. Does Victor know?"

  "Yeah, he knows."

  "But, why now?"

  "That day - when our son burned our home down in a rage over losing you due to his mother's interference and lies - that was the wake up call for me. I should have never let things go so far. Still today, I'm not sure how things got so out of hand, how I - lost my own identity and sense of worth. Becoming this man, that brought my son so much shame. I have one left, I have to restore my integrity before it's too late for him as well." He confessed, surprising Crystal once more. He sipped his coffee, glancing at her he gave a sad smile. While he was not a tall man, at 5'7 he stood a bit taller than her. For the first time, she could see the looks in him that once were, before his life with Natalie twisted what he had been. There were things about him that he'd changed since she last saw him, his hair, the way he dressed, he was more comfortable, casual now, add the smile and more at ease features; she could spot what there was of Victor in his features. While the majority of Victor's looks and height came from his mother; there was a bit along with the coloring that came from Percival. Feeling more relaxed with hearing what he was going through, she decided to ask a few questions, disclose their circumstances.

  "Did you know, that I'd filed for divorce?"

  "No - not until Victor came home, going completely crazy, I had not a clue."

  "I - I couldn't take it anymore."

  "Of course not - you two never stood a chance with her standing constantly between you, and me, allowing it. I'm glad you came for him tonight, who has the boys?"

  "My mom, Shawn."

  "Good. Crystal, as hard as we made your marriage to our son, I'm asking you - on his behalf, to try and make it work, please. He loves you - he's just bogged down by all my failures as a proper role model. I wasn't a man for him, first - and then a proper father, example of a husband. I was neither. I am all he has to draw on. Instead of being an active member setting the example, I drew back and secretly wandered off to my own place of escape, leaving him, his brother and sisters to fend for themselves." He confessed, not really expecting consolation from her to ease him. They were quiet a spell, until Crystal admitted, "I went back - to him - a couple of nights ago. He - he refuses to accept the divorce, saying he never knew that I'd filed."

  "It's the truth Crystal - it's the God honest truth. She'd planned for it to be done and over with; his reaction was something she never expected."

  Again Crystal was silent, contemplating. "I - I'd planned on leaving him again, tonight in fact."

  "Why?"

  "Because so much has happened, I didn't think it would work - my, my feelings aren't what they used to be, he - he cheated you know. With that Jeanine."

  Percival turned beet red, his face burning in shame, knowing that too, was something he'd inadvertently taught his son. He looked into Crystal's eyes, "She was brought in by Natalie as well. Don't let her win. She sat out to destroy you two, do not let her get what she schemed so hard to do. She had no right interfering - you leave him again - she wins - she will get what she set out to get. And, he..." Percival swallowed the lump in his throat, "... my son will never forgive me, he'll never forgive me. Besides, you owe it to your marriage to try and make it work when it's obvious someone has set out to destroy it. That's all over now, if you give it a try, really work at it, you two can make a decent go of it. Think about the boys. It kills me to know what's happened with you, what I let happen." He was back to shaking his head, clear in every line on his face, that he regretted. He turned back once more, "I'd like to see the boys, by the way; please? If you would let me."

  "I would never stand in the way of that, you're their grandfather."

  "Thank you Crystal, thank you. I - I apologize to you, for taking part, for standing by and letting her treat you, as she did. I'm not proud of it, I'm not. I'm not prejudice either, never have been, I believe - one should be with that special person that makes you happy. Color has nothing to do with it."

  Ben - Ben - Ben shot forward with his words, not the man laying in the emergency room. Blinking, shaking him off again, "Thank you for that."

  "I mean it, I really do. Uh, when will you be picking the boys up?"

  "Shawn took the boys home with him the day after I went back. He wanted to give Victor and I time alone to - work things out. So, they're staying with them for now. Where are you staying?" She asked.

  "I have a place - where I'm staying, with Tegan and the girls."

  Once again, surprise registered with Crystal, "You have them?"

  "I couldn't leave them with her could I? They've been through enough. Anyway, they'll love seeing the boys again, they always looked forward to Victor bringing them."

  Again they stopped to think; Percival, about how when he, Victor came with the boys, he'd often left her behind. And Crystal with the very same thought, again - she shook it off, now was not the time to dwell on the negatives.

  "I suppose them being with your mom, Shawn, means I'll have to face him, when I get them." He was thinking out loud again.

  "Tell me when you wish to see them, I'll pick them up, bring them-..."

  "No..." Percival shook his head, "...I'll go there, speak with your mom, with - Shawn. No more hiding behind."

  "Well if you change your mind-..."

  "I'm not going to, long as I have your permission to get them."

  "You do." She confirmed.

  A lady doctor stepped into the door of the waiting room calling out, "Victor Prescott?"

  Crystal and Percival rose with their hands up at the same time. The physician smiled making her way towards them, "Hi, I'm Dr. Jill McMahon." She held her hand out to shake theirs, "Have a seat and I will explain what's going on."

  "Is he going to be all right?" Crystal asked right away.

  "He has serious injuries from the accident, he's going to need surgery to clean him up a bit. I would say, considering what happened, he's a pretty lucky young man. He had a momentary heart stop from shock, and good thing for him, there was someone on hand who'd had emergency training to get things going again. We're going to check him over, clean up his hand and forearm, his side, which is where the exit happened. Because of the way he was laying when it happened, that actually saved his life-..."

  "Oh my god, he could have died?" Crystal gasped.

  "I have every reason to believe, he'll pull through this in flying colors. He'll have permanent scaring to his hand, forearm and side, but lucky for
him, he won't be losing anything, we're pretty certain we can repair the damage done. He's just going to need therapy, patience, some TLC - and time."

  "Okay." Crystal nodded, "How long are we talking, him being in the hospital?"

  "Depends on him. I've had persons leave the hospital days after this kind of thing, and actually return to work by the second week, we'll have to see how he does."

  They both nodded, Percival asking, "How long will surgery be?"

  "I'm heading up now to scrub, I don't like to give times, however in being thorough, should be no longer than an hour, give or take a few moments. I'll be straight back here to you once I'm done."

  "Thank you." Crystal murmured softly.

  They finally sat back once the doctor was done speaking with them, ready to wait it out.

  * * *

  'I'm ready to gooo!' Vivian wanted to shout at him. If his performance on stage wasn't enough, the moment he'd come down, beaming, hyped, excited and on top of the world from the response of the audience, he'd been overcome by those eager to pat him on the back, sing their praises and surprise; in the midst of them, he had also been approached by three guys - three guys putting together a band. They needed a lead singer, and were certain they'd found their guy. At first, they considered the woman, Lana, but once Jake was up there, they'd dismissed her within moments of him opening his mouth. Seeing the reaction of the women in the audience, and for that matter, the men. He had it all, stage presence, charm, a dazzling smile, tall golden good looks and one helluva voice that gripped anyone hearing it right from the start.

  Tony and Cara were staying with Vivian to keep her company because Jade, Craig, Cecil and Kate had left already. In fact, quite a few people had already gone, leaving few behind, which Vivian was part of. The club owner, Hwa-soo, was hovering around the table where Jake sat speaking with the three guys that asked to speak with him. Jake had come to her quickly, grinning, kissed her cheek, saying, "I'll be back in a bit babe, what'a'ya know, they're putting a band together, wanna talk to me about lead singing, what are the chances of that?!" He double sucked the back of his teeth, winking at her and returned to them before she could make her wishes known.

  That had been, half an hour ago!

  Hwa-soo was trying to get them to stay with her club, play every weekend, they were hemming and hawing with her, because that wasn't exactly their plans, which Jake happened to agree with. He remembered to glance at Vivian, smiling, and had it melt right off of his face once he saw the look on hers.

  "Hang on a minute guys, be right back." He paused the discussion. Going back to Vivian, he took his keys out, "Here babe, you look tired, why don't you go on home, I'll get a ride from one of these guys."

  Vivian gasped, her mouth fell open, "You just gonna send me home by myself? This time of the morning?"

  He looked stumped a moment and then turned to Tony smiling, "Mind following her home, see that she gets there all right?"

  "Sure Jake, no problem, we can do that, right Cara?"

  "Yep, sure can."

  Vivian was hot! This was not exactly how she figured her night would end, driving home alone, with his friends playing escort to her to make sure she made it there all right.

  Jake turned back to Vivian, "I won't be long babe, I swear."

  "Jake! It's almost three in the morning, thought you were getting up early to work on the house? The marathon, remember?"

  "I know I know, I will, promise. Give me a kiss..." Which he basically took from her brow, a slight caress of her cheek and he was off back to the guys, "...be careful, see you in a bit." And that was that.

  Vivian sighed, looked at Tony and Cara, "Come on, let's go." They made it outside into the parking lot, which was just about empty except for a few stragglers.

  "I bet you're as proud as you can be?" Cara asked Vivian, trying to make polite conversation even though she could read that she wasn't all that pleased to be leaving alone.

  "Oh yeah, can't wait to see what's next." She returned, unable to disguise her sarcasm.

  "Aaaw, I think it's exciting, can you just imagine what your life could be like if he becomes a big country western star? With his voice, man, he could make it big! You'd have it made! I would just love that kind of life, never have no money worries anymore, traveling all over the place, eatin' in all kinds of fancy restaurants, able to shop and buy what you want, not worry about how much it costs, people treatin' you extra respectful, that's a dream come true!"

  Vivian smiled to placate her, but the way she saw it; was not the same way that Vivian saw it. "I guess..." She answered simply, "... I know you two must be tired, I sure am, we bes' get going."

  "We'll follow you all the way!" Tony called as they walked to their car.

  Vivian smiled and climbed in the truck, starting it up. She was exhausted and just wanted to climb into bed. Pulling out of the lot, sure enough, they stayed with her all the way home until she pulled into Shanna's, and then out and into the house, waving at them from the door. They waved back and pulled off. Closing and locking the door, she left the chain off for him and quietly tipped to their room. Moving slow to match the overwhelming feeling of heaviness, she stripped down, put on a light sheer night shirt and climbed into bed... alone.

  Everything seemed surreal, as if she were viewing events from someone else's life, but certainly not her own. While she had always wanted the best things in life, never had she imagined anything other than a peaceful, private existence to get on with her life, sharing it with that person she'd chosen. That person had been a blue collar worker. A man barely earning $20,000.00 a year, and if that, just barely over. A man simple, of a simple life, rough hands, gruff exterior, the perfect specimen to father her would be child or children. Someone out the door at the break of dawn and back again before signs of dusk drew close around them. She imagined hard times in making ends meet, budgeting this or that, possibly taking on a part-time job to help through the roughs spots, and certainly around the holidays. She imagined times spent with friends, barbecues, an occasional get together, and vacations that they'd have to save up for. It was those things she'd prepared herself for in her mind.

  Tonight ... there had been nothing in her that made her feel she would have to prepare for - what had taken place. Vivian's eyes drifted, growing heavy with sleep. Her head movement was slight to glance at the clock radio by their bed, it's glowing read out had the numbers 03:45 am. Her eyes closed, and what seemed to be a moment later, she felt the bed shift, a strong arm going around her waist, pulling her close, her eyes drifted open to see the blurred read out of 04:40 am. As her eyes drifted back to closing, she had a most haunting horrible feeling, that this was only the beginning. A soft kiss landed at her ear, and the distinct smell of cigarette smoke and beer. "I love you baby, I love you." was mumbled amidst a heavy sigh from a drink induced pass out.

  Crazy and fleeting, a thought came and went, one that once more said to her, run Vivian... run. Instead, she went to sleep.

  Saturday morning ...

  She simply couldn't get her eyes to open. She could hear, there was all kinds of activity going on. Shanna was up, Royce was there, they were talking. She couldn't believe that Jake was already back up again. After all, hadn't he just crawled into bed? She forced her eyes to crack open to see what time it was, it was close to 10:00am and there was no way she could get herself to move. She could hear Jake in the other room, talking to someone, not to Shanna and Royce, she figured he might be on the phone. She had to pee, but she would have to stand from the bed, put her robe on; walk down the hall a few feet; maybe have to speak to someone; go into the bathroom and actually use it, do all the things that followed that and make it back to their bed. She lay until she had no other choice, her bladder was on the verge of bursting. She sat up, eyes still closed, groped around the bed for her robe, putting it on, and stood. Dizziness swept her so quickly she fell back to the bed, sitting up, stunned by it. This was not at all like her. She stood again, swaying, but stayed on
her feet, and made her way to the closed door, stumbling along as it were. Opening it, she went through leaning against the wall, making her way to the toilet.

  Jake was standing at the counter on the phone with Shawn, saw the way she clung to the wall, eyes closed fumbling for the bathroom door.

  "Vivian? Hang on Shawn..." He covered the phone, watching her, "Vivian? What's wrong?"

  She only mumbled something incoherently and made her way into the bathroom, closing the door behind her. He turned looking at Shanna and Royce, a big question mark on his face. Shanna decided to answer for him, "She's just tired Jake, look what time she got in last night?"

  "Look what time I got in, I'm not holding the walls up, and I was drinking, she didn't drink." That he was a bit concerned was clear in his expression, remembering that he had his brother on the line, he resumed his conversation, watching the bathroom door. "Shawn? Sorry about that, look, as I was saying - we need to move ahead with getting my songs copyright protected, published. I've completed all that will be on my first album. Last night, Shawn - was amazing. I put myself out there, and I'm still buzzing from it now. Those guys I met forming that band, seem promising - I didn't obligate myself to anything - because this album that I wrote, I plan on it being the one. I stated as much to them last night, that if I considered them, this album would have to be the first out and if they wish to add to it, sobeit - if not, well - nice meeting you."

  "Sounds good, like you laid out what you expect right off the bat, how'd they take it?"

  "We talked, I told them where I was going, regardless if that included them or not. They explained to me where they'd like to go. They have some music they've written, no lyrics yet - we agreed to make plans to get together to hear what each of us have to bring to the table. I explained my plans for this weekend and that I'm working a full week so we would have to get together on one of the evenings, they're willing to meet me at the house."