Page 91 of The One for Me
“Oh, how can this happen?” She flutters around the room, nervous energy rolling off her in waves. “Why? Why is this happening?”
I get to my feet and pull her tight. I can’t imagine what she must be feeling. No matter the issues we have, I don’t want her to suffer. “I’m sorry, Mom. We just have to be strong.”
She wipes at her eyes. “I know, sweetheart. I’m sorry. I just . . . he never should have gone to that stupid tournament. Baseball!” Her hands fly in the air. “All because of baseball. I swear, I could scream. He’s my son. He’s . . . they’re my . . . I can’t lose them over a game!”
Me too, but the need to defend Jasper rises in me. “Jasper and everyone else felt the roads were okay.”
She sinks down into the chair. “If that were true, we wouldn’t be here.”
“I know.”
Sean gives me a soft smile and then looks to my mother. “Mrs. Maxwell, what can I get you? Are you thirsty?”
“You sweet man, nothing. I just need my son, daughter, and grandson to be okay. That’s all.”
“I’ll get you some tea, and you both can sit.” His voice is placating, but it does the trick. “This has to be incredibly hard for you.”
Mom moves beside me and takes my hand in hers. “They’ll be okay, won’t they?”
I look up, tears blurring her face. “They have to be.”
A moment of understanding passes between us, and the fights, barbs, and anger disappear. She’s my mother again. The woman who held me when I was scared, read me stories each night, and helped me learn to love. “Mom . . .”
She pulls me to her chest. “Shh, it’ll be okay, Devney. It’ll be okay. We’re strong, and we will get through this. They’ll need help, but we can handle it.”
My mother rocks me as I fall apart. I cry for my brother, his wife, and Austin. I think about the long road ahead of them and how much I need them. They are my family and they saved me when I was breaking.
Throughout everything that happened, Hazel and Jasper were who held me together. Their love, understanding, and friendship is why I stay in Sugarloaf. I owe them more than I can ever repay.
Sean returns with a cup of coffee for me and tea for my mom. Another few minutes pass and my father comes in.
“Any news?”
We all shake our heads. “Nothing yet.”
Dad comes to me, kisses the top of my head, sits so he can hold my mother’s hand, and we talk about the accident.
Sean relays the information clearly and with far more authority than I ever could. I would be on the ground in tears if it weren’t for Sean’s arm that’s tight around me.
“It’ll be okay,” he tells me again.
“You don’t know that.”
He lifts my chin so his eyes pierce mine. “No matter what, it’ll be okay. I’ll be right here and I will love you through it.”
My lips part to tell him the secret I’ve been keeping. He needs to know, now more than ever.
Just as I’m about to tell him, my mother grips my leg as she stands. I turn to look at what captured her attention and then we are all on our feet as a surgeon enters the room.
The four of us wait, holding our collective breaths as he walks over. “Are you the Maxwell family?”
“We are,” my dad says, stepping forward.
“I’m Dr. Eacker,” the surgeon says. “I operated on Austin. First, I want to say the surgery went well. His injuries were not critical, but we needed to set the fracture in his leg immediately. It required pins, which he’ll need to have removed, but it could have been a lot worse. He’ll need rehab, but I am expecting a full recovery. His other injuries were minor. There are some cuts and contusions, but he was very lucky. You’ll be able to see him once he’s awake.”
I could fall on my knees in gratitude. “Thank God.”
“Any news on my son or daughter-in-law?” Mom asks.
