Page 34 of The One I Left Behind

“Clayton wants one when he turns sixteen.” Gillian wraps her arm around her son. “Don’t you?”

“I don’t know anymore.” He shrugs off her touch and, like his mom moments ago, stares out the window. I guess that’s the end of our conversation.

For the rest of the ride to the hospital, it’s only the warm breeze through the windows and a country station as background noise.

There are so many cars and trucks in the hospital parking lot that people have had to find spots on the street. It shows how much Coach Marks is loved in this community. How he’s a staple, and if something bad happens, how much they’ll mourn. I’m not sure what that would mean for the football season that Willowbrook lives and dies by. Or at least they used to.

I drop off Gillian and Clayton at the emergency door and park the truck.

When I walk in, my dad and Jude are waiting for me as if they knew I’d dropped Gillian off to be a nice guy but also to keep our names out of people’s mouths.

“What’s the word?” I ask.

Jude shrugs. “They might be transporting him for surgery. Right now, he’s stable.”

“That’s good.”

“Maggie is pretty distraught. She’s in the waiting room,” my dad says.

I peek into the large room, and sure enough, Gillian has her arm around Maggie Marks. Clayton is with a few other kids from the football team, each of them staring at their phones.

A nurse comes out, and everyone stands, thinking we’re getting an update. She looks at a small piece of paper in her hand. “Is Ben Noughton here?” She scans the room and locks eyes on me. “Mr. Marks would like to see you.”

“Me?”

Maggie wipes the tissue she’s holding under her eyes and nods at me, forcing a smile.

“Is there another Ben Noughton here?” Jude shakes his head. “That college degree didn’t really do much, huh?”

“Go to hell,” I snipe.

I’ve grown used to Jude’s digs, and I usually let them slide off my back. He was left with a lot of responsibility when I jetted off to pursue a dream. Even now, when I offer money, he and my dad act insulted. It’s my way of paying them back for allowing me to have the life I’ve had, but all Jude sees is me showing off.

“This isn’t the time, boys.” Dad grips my shoulder and stares into my eyes, silently telling me to get my ass over to the nurse.

The nurse scans her pass, and the doors open. Following her, I know what Coach is about to ask me. And I have no idea what my answer will be. I have no idea how to coach or even how to be around teenagers.

I walk into the room, and Coach Marks is sitting up in the hospital bed, a million wires hooked up to him. It’s hard to see a man you idolize looking so weak.

“Benny boy!” He eyes the chair next to him.

“Shouldn’t you be resting?”

“I’ll rest when I’m dead. Sit.”

I fold myself into the chair next to his bed, my eyes veering to the monitor with his blood pressure and other numbers.

“I’m going to be hung up for a while. Surgery and then rehab.”

“But you’ll be fine.”

He does the cross over his chest thing and kisses the Saint Christopher medallion around his neck, glancing at the ceiling. “So they say.”

“Good.” I relax into the chair.

“I can’t coach this year. The doc says the stress of it while I’m recovering from bypass and rehab won’t allow for it.”

“Surely Coach Greer can take over the team.”

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