Deciding he better take the call, he made his way over and lifted the receiver to Marge’s authentic rotary style phone, calmly stating, “Hello,” into it.
On the other end, the voice of Terral Huffman came in an excited eruption, “Mike? Where’s Tori? I need to talk to her, it’s urgent!”
Surprised, Michael spoke in an even tone, “Hey, Terry; calm down, sir. Tori’s down at the shop, but I can let her know you called.”
“Naw, man; you gotta get her, right now!” Terry demanded hurriedly, “We got an emergency here. There was a big pile up out on the highway, and Indelible’s car was involved.”
Michael felt the air sucked from his chest, “Holy shit!”
“Yeah, no kidding. Go get her. I’ll get some plane tickets set up for you guys to claim in San Antonio. You have a cell number I can reach you at?” His irritation at the couple’s shunning of technology became glaringly obvious.
“No, but we’ll pick up a go-phone or something and call you from it as soon as we’re able. Are you sure it’s that serious? I mean, they were actually hurt? I hate to scare the hell out of her and drag her out there…”
“Look. I’m not family and they won’t tell me anything. I even tried to pull strings and couldn’t get anything concrete. But I do know for a fact that all four of the guys were taken to the hospital by ambulance.” He paused, unsure how to break the rest, “And I heard that one of them didn’t make it.”
“Oh my God,” Michael’s hand shook as he gripped the ancient device. No way. No way life could be that cruel to her. Not when she’s... “Get the tickets. We’ll be in touch as quick as we can. Give us three hours at least to get there, four if you’re able.”
Terry agreed to the task, and they hung up the phone. Michael knew he needed to get Tori to LA without delay. Feeling as if he’d been stomped, he dashed upstairs and threw two changes of clothes into their packs for each of them.
Locking the front door as he left, he hopped on his bike and pulled up at the shop in short order. Walking up behind his beloved, Tori heard his heavy steps, still preparing herself to share her news. She stood to face him as she had done on the day she had married him, but seeing his face today startled her, as he looked far more than haggard.
“What’s wrong?” she queried as he grabbed her arms and leaned his forehead against hers. She could hear his ragged breathing and it gave her chills of fear, knowing he wasn’t the kind of person to panic without a reason. And I haven’t even said anything yet!
Raising a hand to caress the side of her face, he steadied his voice and replied, “There’s been an accident.”
Searching his eyes as he pulled away from her slightly, there were too many people she cared about to even begin to guess who he meant. An instant later, she didn’t have to guess. She knew it was Brian. “In LA?” she asked in a timid voice, to which he simply nodded.
“I packed our bags, and Terry is setting up a flight for us. We need to lock up and move out right now.”
She quickly agreed, then faltered, “But I need to run home. I have to be sure I have everything I’ll need.” He wouldn’t have known to pack my pills, she realized anxiously. He doesn’t know that I’m taking them.
Giving her a questioning glare, he reluctantly agreed, “All right, go, and I’ll lock up here.”
Driving over to her home in the old brown truck, Tori hurried inside while clutching her freshly packed bag. Finding the package where she had hidden it, she stuffed it eagerly inside. Even under the stress of the situation, she felt a small smile on her lips as she thought about the success they had already had with the return of her periods.
Relocking the house, she made her way back to her truck to find Michael already in the driver’s seat, waiting for her. His face drawn by deep lines, she could see his flat calm. Taking the passenger side, Tori dropped her bag beside his, on the seat between them.
“We need to let Trish know we’re leaving,” he pointed out as they pulled into the diner. “She’ll need to make arrangements for the boys until further notice.” Making the stop short and sweet, they were immediately back on the road, each with news to share during the long drive.
Tearing down the narrow highway as fast as he dared, Michael dove in first, “Terry didn’t have any real information. There was a pile-up of cars, and all four band members were transported. They know that one of them didn’t make it, but they haven’t announced who.” His voice dropped as he gave her a sideways glance, “Presumably they want to notify next of kin.”
Tori felt sick, her heart pounding out of control. “Next of kin. They can’t notify them until they arrive. They’re waiting for me to get there.”
“We don’t know that!” he snapped. Hands patting the steering wheel, he spoke more calmly, “Let’s not jump to conclusions. It could be they haven’t reached…” his voice trailed away. “Besides, I think they would have done it by phone if it were you.”
Tori stared at his profile, clenching her jaw in thought. “Maybe so. And if he’s hurt, he’ll need me.”
“Yeah,” her mate picked up on the thread of hope. “He needs you. That’s why we’re going.”
They rode for nearly an hour in mutual quiet, each turning thoughts about the mysterious phone call and what lay ahead. Tori stared out the window as the grass covered terrain zoomed by. I should tell him. This is my chance. But somehow sharing the news felt wrong, dirty in light of what had happened, and what loomed before them.
“You know, you’ve been acting pretty strange lately. Ever since your brother left the first time. I thought it was the whole thing with Marge, but maybe not. Anything you’re ready to talk about?” Breaking the silence, he really wanted to ask about the special trip back to the house, but couldn’t bring himself to be that specific; that demanding.
Tori only blinked as she peered through the glass, “I have a lot on my mind.” She gripped her hands firmly, petrified.
“Uhuh. Well, we got at least another hour of road ahead of us. Maybe it would help to talk it out.” Tori heaved a deep sigh, swinging her gaze to look at him.
“You know me too well, you know that?” she half smiled. He really does love me.
Nodding in an exaggerated fashion, he agreed, “Yeah, we’re quite a pair.” He turned quickly flickering a grin, “And you’re safe with me in every way, remember?”
Tori smiled, feeling her spirits lifted by his strength. Well, I have an opening. Unzipping her bag, she calmly produced the pack of small colored tablets and held it so that he could see it.
Shifting his eyes over and grasping what the shiny plastic contained, he struggled to keep the vehicle in line, “Are those… What I think they are?” He wanted to look her in the eye as she explained herself to him, almost enough to stop the truck on the side of the road, but he knew they didn’t have time for that.
Shifting their bags into the passenger floorboard, she slid over into the middle seat next to him and buckled the lap belt to look straight ahead. Breathing deeply, she clarified in a shaky voice, “I went to see a doctor. Before Brian left. He examined me, ran some tests, and gave me the pills.” She paused, still conflicted by her feelings of excitement during their current set of circumstances. “I go back to see him next year, and we’ll know more then.”
Michael gripped the wheel tensely as she spoke. He wished she had mentioned all of that sooner, but realized it must have been difficult for her to reconcile with her past. His right hand releasing its grasp, he laid his arm behind her shoulders and pulled her against him, grazing the top of her head with a quick kiss.
They rode the rest of the way in silence, each of them lost in their own thoughts. Stopping at a chain store, they purchased a go-phone, and Tori activated it nervously. Pulling into the long term parking, they grabbed their bags and pushed through the terminal. A quick call from the device and they had the information to pick up their tickets. There weren’t any new details to be had, so Michael hung up the phone and they made their way to catch th
eir plane, which departed a short time later.
Being her third time in the air, Tori wasn’t so nervous about the flight, but she felt far from relaxed as the aircraft taxied out and lifted off the runway. Michael held her hand, stroking it lovingly to reassure her. Leaning over, he decided to distract her with a quiet conversation, and began with, “So, you think you’ll really be able to have a baby?”
His question startled her in her anxious state, but a smile teased her lips. “The doctor gave me the birth control to prevent it from happening before he’s able to treat my scarring, and I’ve already had two real periods since being on them, right on schedule.”
Michael nodded, “Yeah, I noticed them, but I didn’t realize it was such a big deal. I mean, girls do that sort of thing.” He found himself smiling at this small glimmer of hope despite the dark times around them.
“You’re not upset?” she asked in a meek voice.
“Upset? Hell no, I’m not upset! My God, love, can you imagine? And here I go suggesting we should adopt a few, all the while you were sitting on this bit of news. I don’t think I could have kept that secret!” He laughed at her, understanding her well-practiced talents in deception.
“It wasn’t that easy,” she admitted as she shook her head. “If it hadn’t been for your surprise, and then all that needed to be done after that, I would’ve let you in on it weeks ago.” He looked a bit hurt, so she continued, “I’m not unhappy about it. Marge needed us, and I’m glad we were able to be there for her. It only meant some things had to wait.”
Leaning over, he kissed his wife, “Yeah, we do make a good team, you and I.”
Tori grinned, and he allowed her to gush about her feelings and plans now that she could freely do so. Before they knew it, the fasten seatbelt light lit up, and they were landing at LAX. Exiting the tunnel, Terry greeted them briefly, and they walked quickly, able to bypass the baggage claim and head straight out to his awaiting vehicle.
Tori took the back seat, content to allow the two men to share the front. Looking anxiously out the windshield and then side windows, she asked, “Is there any more news?” Gravely, Terry shook his head, and she could see that he was distraught, so they rode mutely the rest of the way.
They arrived at the hospital forty-five minutes later and made their way inside. The waiting room appeared packed with people, as there were many others brought in from the pile up, and other families were there as well.
Searching for the studio executive that they had expected to meet them, they finally located him standing against a wall, drinking from a Styrofoam cup. The group made their way over to announce their arrival and catch up on whatever there was to be heard. Reaching to grasp her husband’s hand, Tori braced herself, knowing the odds were with her, but in a situation like that, even those odds weren’t good.
Faith
Terry studied the tall, dark haired woman, trying to appear nonchalant about it. She’s as beautiful as ever, he noted her dark curls shimmering in the florescent glare of the hospital lighting. Sighing deeply, he wished he knew more about her present life, but she had not contacted him since abruptly leaving LA the previous year.
He had spoken to her husband a few times, when Brian had been targeted and identified, as well as when they moved into their current home. A good man to keep us updated that way. He had also learned a few details from her brother in the last few days, prior to the accident. Other than that, what had become of her was a mystery to him.
She glanced over at him, catching him staring at her, and smiled. Surprising him, she stepped over and slid her arms around his neck in a tight embrace, and he raised his own to pull her against him snugly in return.
I wondered if Mike’ll be upset about me hugging on his wife, but shooting him a quick glance, he saw that the other man grinned. Relieved, he relaxed as his hands moved up her spine in a caring motion.
Pulling away slightly, Tori picked up their Russian, like old times, “I met your friend. I’ve been visiting with him on occasion since I moved away.”
Terry only stared at her for a moment, not sure what she meant. Then, he remembered their trip to his small white church the day he shared his faith. The news made him smile, “Oh yeah? That’s good to hear.”
That’ll help her find peace in her life, peace that she deserves. Nodding, he released her, not wanting to cling to her too long. Michael reached over to guide her closer to him, circling her lightly in a possessive loop about her waist.
They knew they might have a long wait, and it disconcerted them that they had not been told for sure which band member had been killed. However, I’m more or less certain it wasn’t Brian, Tori consoled herself. If it had been, I would’ve been informed as soon as I arrived. Continuing to shift her weight anxiously and leaning slightly against her mate, she felt relieved that he was at least alive.
Eventually, Mark Holt, the band’s manager, came out. Reaching out to Michael, he shook his hand vigorously, “Good to see you, Mike.” Giving the girl a nod, he waited for the introduction, although he had already been informed that she was Brian’s sister.
Wow, sniveling little guy this is. Is that outfit a throwback from the 70’s? Tori looked him up and down, disgusted with the puny little man who tried too hard to look like a bad boy, gold chains and all. She felt a surge of guilt at her belittling thoughts, not normally the one to judge people so harshly, and blaming the stress of the occasion.
“Glad to meet you,” he shook her hand as well. “Your brother has been stabilized and you’ll be able to see him shortly.”
Upon hearing the news, Tori forgot everything else and burst into tears, the first she had allowed herself to cry. Gripping her tightly, Michael tried to calm her, he himself relieved that his brother-in-law still breathed, for her sake.
“How’re the rest of the guys doing?” he asked in a hushed tone.
Mark heaved a large sigh. “Collin and Cody are also doing better, and it was Chuck who had been killed. Died on impact.” Seeing Tori grip her husband more tightly, he pushed aside the urge to elaborate on the guys, opting for the big picture.
“Twenty-two cars and trucks had been involved by the end. I’m really glad you two were able to make it out here so quickly, you know… just in case.” Something in his final words gave Michael a chill, but he refused to inquire further.
A short time later, they made their way to the cafeteria for a meal, where they grazed in an edgy thought-filled quiet. When they were finished, they were taken upstairs, where a smaller waiting room, less crowded, afforded them cushioned seats to rest on.
Late evening had arrived, and Tori grew anxious to see her brother. Only having to wait a bit longer, Mark finally came and escorted the couple to the room where their family member lay awake and waiting for them.
Walking down the hall, the sights and sounds reminded Tori of her own hospital experience, and she clasped Michael’s hand bravely as they entered the wide door to his room.
Brian relaxed in a half elevated position, not fully sitting, but not lying flat, either. Seeing her, he gave a weak smile and she began to cry all over again.
Darting over to the side of the bed, she reached with trembling fingers to touch him. His face had been cut in small places in an odd checkered pattern, probably by flying glass, and bruises easily seen on his flesh and around both eyes. “Hi,” he breathed and raised his hand to catch hers, lacing their fingers.
Using a hushed voice, “How’re you feeling?” she inquired.
He gave a small chuckle, “Like shit.” His bluntness caused a tiny laugh to escape her, and the tension level dropped slightly after their brief levity.
“He has a concussion,” Mark spoke up, “But other than that, he escaped with rather minor injuries. They had been waiting for him to regain consciousness before drawing any conclusions about his condition, and I think we’re in the clear.”
Brian, managing a larger grin, “Thanks for being here, Mark. I’ll see you later,” effectively dismi
ssing the outsider so they could be alone.
Grasping at his hand, she smiled through her tears, “You know; I’m not leaving this room until you do.”
“Yeah, I get it. Stubborn as ever.” His lips still curled slightly, not the least bit upset about it. He swallowed hard, and she could see his Adam’s apple move in his neck. “You know about Chuck, huh?”
A tear ran down her cheek as she stared into the crystal blue eyes that matched hers, “Yeah, they told us. I’m so sorry, Danny. I know he meant a great deal to you.”
He squeezed her hand at the use of his old name, loving the way she obviously cared for him. She came to me. If I had known it would be that easy, I’d have had an accident on purpose.
It had grown very late by that time, and Michael quietly interjected, “Hey love, I think it’s time we let him get some rest.”
“That’s fine,” she quickly replied, “But I’m not leaving this room. I’ll sleep on the floor in the corner if I have to.”
Her husband relented with a tired grimace, “Nahah, no corners, love. Take the couch instead.”
Brian reached over, punching the red button on his emergency nurse control, and waited. When the reply came over the speaker, he called out in gravely exhaustion, “Yeah, we need a couple o’ extra blankets in here, and a pillow if you can swing it. Thanks babe!” He gave his sister a wink, and a few minutes later the items were produced.
Taking her place on the cushions and breathing deeply, Tori waited for sleep to find her. She thought about how close she had come to losing the only family she had, blood family, anyways. Listening to the beep and hum of the machines in the darkness, she knew she would not be going back to Texas anytime soon, whether Michael likes it or not.
Holding On
Brian eagerly ate breakfast the next morning while they watched, talking quietly around him. The doctor would be in shortly and he would more than likely be released; good news, as Tori had no fondness for such places, and had been ill at ease since their arrival.
A New Life Series - Finisher Set Page 26