“I think Kane has been in an accident. I got a call from Nashville General.”
“Oh, baby! I’ll call Ruby and meet you there. Oakley, is there someone that can drive you?”
I hear shuffling on the other end of the line. “My friend.”
“Okay, baby, I’m on my way.”
“Oakley, we’re here.”
I look up and Keith’s parking in the emergency room parking lot. I unbuckle my seatbelt, swing open the door, and run.
“Oakley, wait up,” Keith calls after me. “Let me go with you.”
“You better hurry up then, I’m not waiting around on anything.”
I burst through the door and look around. I’m not sure what I’m looking for, but I don’t know what else to do. I hear footsteps behind me.
“Go to the receptionist,” Keith says.
We both race over to the receptionist’s desk.
“Kane Treadway, I mean Luther Treadway. Someone called me.”
The lady clicks away on a keyboard. “They just moved him up to the Trauma Unit. Take the elevators to the fourth floor, take a right, and you’ll find a nurses’ desk about half way down on your left.”
I don’t waste any time and take off again. Keith is matching me step for step. When we make it to the nurses’ desk in the Trauma Unit, I blurt, “Luther Treadway, someone called me about Luther Treadway.”
“Have a seat in the waiting room. Someone will be with you soon.”
“No, you have to tell me now!” I yell at her.
“Oakley, screaming isn’t going to help.” Keith pulls me by my arm. “Let me try.”
“Please, Keith, I have to know something.”
Keith walks back over to the station. “Ma’am, my friend didn’t get any information on the call she received. She was only told to come to the hospital. Is there anything, anything at all you can tell us?”
The red headed nurse groans audibly, clearly annoyed with us. “It looks like Midflight brought him in about an hour ago. He was in a five car pileup on Interstate 40.”
“What is his condition?” Keith asks.
“He’s in surgery now to relieve swelling on his brain. I’ll call and let them know you’re here now.”
“Oakley, I got here as quick as possible.” GG says, rushing up to me and wrapping her arm around me. “Ruby’s on her way and I called Clay for you. They’re all coming up here.”
“Okay, he’s in surgery. They said he was in a pile up on the Interstate,” I say, holding onto her. I pull away and go sit, facing the trauma operating room doors.
Keith and GG have followed me over to the waiting area.
“I’m Keith, one of Oakley’s friends from school. I was with her when she got the call. Since then, she’s been pretty much out of it.”
“Hi, Keith, I’m GG, a friend of the family’s.”
They talk for a while about a bunch of nothing while all I can do is stare at those double doors. He’s going to be okay, he has to be. I’m strong. I have to be. Kane’s always been my person that keeps me sane, keeps me together. Now I have to keep myself together for him. I wipe the tears in the corner of my eyes.
You never know how important a set of doors can be until you stare at them non-stop. You see people pass back and forth in front of the small square windows, some are smiling and others are talking. They all have one thing in common. One thing that I don’t have, their life is still going on and mine has completely stopped.
When I thought I was all alone, Kane was there. I smile, while tears run down my face. I’m trying so hard to be the kind of person he’d want me to be right now, but I’m not sure I can. He’s more than my boyfriend, he’s my best friend, and he’s the best that’s inside of me.
I get a text.
Clay:We’re on our way, Baby Girl, hold tight.
Oakley:Hurry, Clay.
Clay:I will, love you.
Oakley:Love you, too.
I just pull my knees up to my chest and wrap my arms around tight. I hope this keeps me together, that my insides doesn’t get ripped out like my heart has. All I want right now is for those doors to open.
Open.
“Oakley!” Sandy comes running in and envelopes me. “Oh girl, I came as soon as I heard. Piper and Noelle are both on their way. Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” I can’t find any more words. I want them all to leave me alone so I can stare at those doors. Those doors hold all the answers, the answers to my life.
It seems to take forever, but Clay and our whole gang finally show up. That’s when I look around and notice several other people who have showed up. I didn’t even know people were arriving.
“Piper, Noelle, when did you guys get here?” I ask.
“Honey, we’ve been here for a couple of hours. We came over and said hello. Oakley, you even stood up and hugged us,” Noelle says.
I’m sorry is all I can manage.
“Clay, I’m so glad you guys finally made it.” I nearly collapse into my brother’s arms.
“Shh, I’m here, Baby Girl. I’m right here for you,” Clay says.
I feel a tap on my shoulder. Turning around, I see Deb and Ruby holding out their arms for a group hug. It looks like Kane’s finally getting that support.
33
Kane
Someone needs to turn off that fucking bright light. And that noise—make it stop! Where the hell am I? Shit, it’s cold here. Can someone get me a freaking blanket already? This can’t be hell, is it Alaska? All I see is white, white everywhere. It has to be snow, that’s why I’m freezing my nuts off. Hey, wait a minute, where the crap is my clothes?
I hear mumbling. What are they saying?
“Hang in there, you’ve got a waiting room full of people out there that are rooting for you.”
Waiting room? What the heck?
“Scalpel.”
Hello, is someone there?
“Suction.”
I’m talking to you. I look down. There I am, or there is my body on an operating table. Doctors and nurses are all around me—it. What happened to me? What is happening to me? This is some messed up shit, right here.
There’s a pretty little nurse by my right side. She leans down and whispers to me. “Luther, it’s up to you, sweetheart. I know you don’t want to leave all of those people out there. Stay with me.”
I’m already here, but I want to be in the brighter light. It’s beckoning me.
Then they’re gone.
“Where are we going, Mommy? Is Daddy coming soon?” I ask her. My mommy is the best. She always has yummy snacks and plays the best games.
“We’re going to see Ruby and Pop. You and I are going to stay with them, because it’s almost time for you to start school, baby,” Mommy tells me.
“We’ve been in this car forever and I’m bored. I want to go back to McDonalds and play. Didn’t you like all those balls, Mommy?”
“I sure did, baby. We’ll go back soon, I promise.” Mommy winks at me in the rearview mirror.
I wink back at her. I love her. She has the prettiest hair. I like to wrap it around my fingers and hold it up to my mouth like it’s my mustache. “Mommy, I have to pee. When will we be there?”
“It won’t be much longer, but we can stop again if we need to. You’re being such a good boy. Mommy’s very proud of you.”
“I can wait. Turn on Daddy’s music.” I love to hear my daddy play his music, even if I have to be on that old bus all the time. That’s my home. I will keep all my stuff neat so mommy doesn’t get in trouble anymore.
“This is going to be a new adventure for us, Luther Kane, we’re going to have so much fun,” Mommy says, wiping her eyes.
“Are you crying? I don’t like for you to cry. We don’t have to listen to the music. I’m sorry, Mommy.” I forgot we can’t listen to those songs anymore; they make her sad.
“Wake up, baby, we’re here!” Mommy unbuckles my seat and picks me up.
“Ruby and Pop are going to be so excited
to see us.”
“I’m a big boy, I can walk.” She’s always wanting to baby me.
“Okay, okay.” She lets out a little laugh. She rings the doorbell and looks down at me with a big smile on her face.
Ruby comes to the door, “Ruby! I’ve missed you. I’m big now and I get to go to school.”
Ruby bends down so we are face to face, “I’ve missed you, too, Luther Kane.”
I put my arms around her neck. “Where’s Pop?”
Ruby looks up at my Mommy, “Um,” Ruby stands up and shuts the door behind her. She whispers, “Look, Honey, your dad is a little upset with this whole situation.”
“What do you mean, Mom? I told you guys we were coming back. Luther Kane will start school in the fall.”
“I know, it’s just…” Ruby looks away, smoothing down her hair.
Pop comes to the door, “Ruby, take the boy inside. I need to talk with my daughter.”
“No! He stays with me.” Mommy reaches for my hand.
“I’m going with Ruby. I wanna go play.” I take Ruby’s hand.
“You’ll respect us in this house, young man. You’ll call her Mimi.”
I look up at Pop and he looks so mad. “Yes, sir.”
Ruby and I go in the house, but I can hear Pop yelling at my mommy.
“We’ll raise that bastard son of yours, but you’re not welcome here.”
“I’m not leaving my son, asshole!” Mommy yells back.
“What’s a bastard, Ruby?” I ask her.
“Come on, let’s go see what kind of cookies there is in the kitchen.” Ruby picks me up and carries me to the kitchen.
“Why does everyone want to carry me around? I’m big, can’t you see that?”
“You sure are big.”
Mommy rushes into the kitchen, “Baby, remember Mommy loves you, okay? I’m so sorry, baby, so, so sorry. I’ll be back soon, be good for Rub…Mimi.” Mommy has tears running down her face.
“Don’t cry, Mommy.” I wipe away her tears. “I’ll be a good boy and keep all of my toys neat and put in their place.”
“Bye, baby.” Mommy squeezes me too tight and kisses my head.
“Wait, Mommy, let me finish my cookies. I want to go with you,” I tell her.
“Boy, you’ll set there at the table while you eat,” Pop barks.
“If you lay one hand on my son, I’ll kill you myself. Do you understand me?” Mommy whispers but I still hear her.
“There you go with the accusations, that’s why you will not be staying in my house.” Pop takes Mommy by her arm, pulling her away from me.
The door slams shut.
34
Oakley
It’s been three days. Three long days. Kane has only flinched a few times and fluttered his lashes. They tell me, according to the brain scans, he has brain activity, and he will wake up as soon as the meds they’ve had him on wear off. But, I can’t help worrying.
“Kane, you’re my anchor.” I take a hold of his hand. “You’ve always held me steady through the storms of my life.” I wish I could get through to him somehow.
“That’s good. Tell him how you feel.” Deb’s leaning against the doorjamb. “I’ve always heard people can hear what’s being said around them when they are in comas.”
I don’t bother wiping away my tears. Deb has tears flowing down her face, too. “Kane is where I take my personal refuge,” I tell her.
“He’s a good man. I hate to say I didn’t have anything to do with it though.” Deb looks away. “I worry that this is karma’s way of paying me back for waiting so long to try to make things right between us.”
“I don’t really believe in karma, but if this is some cruel way of testing our love, I’m not drifting away and I refuse to sink. I’ll swim us both to shore.” I pat the chair that is beside mine. “Come sit down; we can talk to him together.”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course, he needs you right now more than he’s ever needed you in his life.”
“I don’t want to intrude on your time with him.” Deb walks over and takes the seat. “You’re really good for him, ya know?”
“Ya think so?”
“Yeah, he really needed someone in his life to ground him.” Deb reaches over and puts her hand on top of mine and Kane’s.
“He’s the one that’s good for me. I’m the lucky one.”
“That right there is why you’re good for him. You’re good for each other.” Deb smiles over at me. “You know that he’ll probably have a hell of a time in rehab. He’ll be cranky, but I’ll be here with you to whip him into shape.”
“Good, I’m sure I’ll need all the help I can get.”
“Luther, are you listening to me? I promise to call you Kane from now on if you’ll just wake up.”
“Kane, I promise to call you Luther every once in a while to just aggravate you if you’ll just wake up,” I say
“Hey, we make a pretty good team.” She touches my arm. “I’ve been meaning to thank you, Oakley,” Deb says.
“Thank me?” I lift an eyebrow.
“Yes, for getting him to meet with Dr. Fowler. I don’t know how you did it, but I’m so thankful you did.”
“Deb, there’s no need to thank me. It was what was best for Kane, but it could have gone the other way, too. If you hadn’t been truly wanting to make amends with him, I would have fought you tooth and nail for him.”
“I know you would have, that’s why I’m grateful that you’re in his life.”
I look over at Kane and I can see his eyes moving rapidly under his lids. “Kane, I love you with my whole heart. Please, please wake up!”
Kane’s finger twitches under my hand.
“He moved his finger!” I look at Deb. “He moved! Maybe, he’s coming out of this.”
We hear a knock on the door.
“Baby Girl, you need to come with me and eat,” Clay says, peeking around the door. “I’m not taking no for an answer either. Deb’s here and if she needs you she’ll call.”
“I’m not leaving him, Clay.” I give him a hard look. “I’m not hungry anyway.”
Lizzie sticks her head around the door, “Oak, you need to keep your strength up. He’ll need you a lot more when he wakes up than he does right now.”
“I’m not leaving him! Bring me a bag of chips and a coke if you want me to eat.”
“Oakley, honey…” Bailey comes inside the room. “At least, let me get you a sandwich and maybe a pickle. Oh and carrot sticks, yes, that sounds really good right now. I’ll be right back with it.”
“Craving much, Bailey?” I say, but it’s too late, she’s already gone.
“How’s he doing?” Clay comes over, hand in hand with Lizzie.
“Well, they are slowly bringing him out of the induced coma, but he’s being his stubborn self and won’t wake up.” I lean over and give Kane a kiss. “He’ll wake up any minute now, you just wait and see.”
“Talk to him. Deb and I think he can hear us. He moved his finger a few minutes ago.”
They look at each other, “Well, let me go first,” Lizzie says.
“I’ll step out and give you kids some time,” Deb says, getting up. “Oakley, you have my number if anything changes. I’ll just be in the lobby.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I say.
Lizzie takes Deb’s vacant seat, “Kane, I owe you an apology. I may have over reacted when you tried to kiss me. It was kinda my fault by coming on so strong before Clay and I started dating.” She looks over at me. “Oakley, I’m sorry that I was such a bitch about the two of you dating. You’re like my little sister, and I love you. I just didn’t want to see you hurt.” Lizzie puts her arms around my neck and gives me a squeeze.
“I know that, Lizzie. I love you, too! Thank you for saying all of that. I’m sure it would mean a lot to Kane, too.”
“Now, it’s my turn I guess.” Clay comes over and stands beside our chairs. “Hey, dude, I’m sorry for going off on you. Lizzie and I tal
ked, and we’re all okay now. You need to wake up and forgive me for being an ass. Megan called me, looking for your old man. I told her you didn’t even know him.” Clay gives the guardrail a little tap.
“Oh crap, I forgot all about her calling me. She said she was looking for Luther Vandiver, I didn’t even know who she was talking about.” I say, touching Clay’s arm.
“She said that Luther had to be her baby daddy since the genetic testing said it looked like Kane was his brother.” Lizzie smirks.
“That’s some messed up shit, isn’t it, Baby Girl?” Clay puts arm around my neck and pulls me over, planting a kiss on the top of my head.
“Yeah that’s effed up, but I pray Gunner will be okay. Kane thinks the world of him. Thank you, guys, for reminding me of that, I need to tell Deb.”
Clay looks over and gives me a wink. “Take care of him, Oakley. He’s really a good guy, whether I want to admit it or not.”
“Oakley, I’ll send Bailey in with your food when she gets back. We’ll go back to Kane’s for now then we’ll be back to bring you some dinner. If you need us before then, call us, okay?” Lizzie asks.
“Get some rest, and that’s an order. I’ll come up here and throw you over my shoulder if I have to,” Clay says.
“He’ll do it, too. I should know.” Lizzie pokes Clay in his ribs.
“You guys worry too much.” I try to give them a smile.
They leave me alone with Kane.
“Hey, you,” I pick up his hand. “Did you hear all that groveling?” I let out a long sigh then I get up to get a washcloth. I run it under the faucet then wipe his forehead. I pull my peppermint chap stick out of my pocket and put some on his lips. I hope he can feel them tingling.
35
Kane
I can feel her, I can hear her, but I can’t see her. Why won’t my damn eyes open? I’ve tried so hard, many times, but I get exhausted and fall asleep. Oakley’s mere presence almost influences my body into a serene state. When she talks to me and touches me, I’m convinced that I feel her compassion radiating through me.
Clay should have made her go home and rest, but I can’t lie, I’m so thankful she’s here. She hasn’t left me. That doesn’t surprise me in the least. What does amaze the hell out of me is my mom. She’s been here for my girl. With my dream and now all of the love she is showing Oakley, I have faith in being able to bond with mom. If I can just wake up.
Love Me ~ Through the Storm Page 18