Page 45 of Splintered
William sighed. He looked to his wife. “The right choice is what is best for Evan. And the only one who knows that is the person who knows him best.” William smiled sadly. “We are not the people who know him best. Not anymore. That person,” he said, gripping Ben’s hand, “is you.”
“Evan wants the exorcism.”
William nodded. Donna prayed another Hail Mary.
“What would you do if you were me?”
“If it were happening to the people I loved the most in the world? My family? I’d do everything, absolutely everything, no matter what it took. No matter what it was. Anything that would help.”
“He is who I love most in the world. I love him like that. I do.”
“I can tell.” William’s gaze was measured, assessing. “You chose to come here and tell us this even thinking that we’d hate you, and him, for it. But you knew we needed to know what was happening. Thank you. Thank you for coming here.”
“Evan is released from the hospital tomorrow?” Donna asked.
“He might be, yes. I’m waiting on a call from Dr. Kao.”
“And if he does, he’s going home to your house.”
It was a statement, not a question. Ben swallowed. Last night he’d packed up all of Evan’s belongings and was ready to move him out. Move him back here, in fact.
There was still a question of Evan’s violence.
“Can we come see him? Can we come to your house tomorrow if he’s released?”
“He will be very shocked that you both know about him. I think he was prepared to never tell you about us.” Scowls on both of their faces. He was in the middle of an argument, but not the argument he feared. “Let me break the ice to him. Let me tell him I came here and talked to you.”
She nodded but looked crestfallen. “Just tell him we love him and we always will. And we’re here for him, and you. For you both, with anything you need.”
He started crying then, hiccuping sobs that came from nowhere. William pulled him close and wrapped one arm around his shoulder as he let it out. William held on to him, a silent wall he could lean into as the tears flowed and his body shook. Donna brought him a glass of water, and he drank it shakily while she packed the cards and photos for Evan, and then leftovers for him to take for dinner.
They both walked him out to his car. “We’ll get through this,” William said like he was issuing a command. Like there was no other option. “We’ll get through this together. We’re all on the same team. Evan’s team.”
“We will be praying for him and for you.” Donna kissed his cheek.
He hugged them both and they waved as he drove away. He kept the radio silent on the drive, listening instead to the slap of his tires on the pavement, the click clack of the Dumbarton Bridge, the hum of traffic passing him.
As he rounded the curve on the 680 freeway, his phone rang. Dr. Kao.
“Ben, we’ve had success today with a new medication for Evan. It’s a heavy tranquilizer, but it’s kept his outbursts subdued. We’re going to see how he does overnight. If he doesn’t have an episode overnight or through tomorrow, he’ll be released at five o’clock.”She hesitated.“If he is released, is he going home with you?”
“Yeah. Yeah, I can come pick him up.”
“Thank you. I know things are challenging right now. But the one thing he consistently says is how much he loves you and how much he regrets that what is happening is hurting you.”
“Me too.”
“Father Mathew has offered to drive Evan home if he’s released. Would that be helpful to you?”
“That would. I’d appreciate it.” He needed to meet with Principal Chen tomorrow, arrange for time off. Take that long leave she’d been pushing him toward. He chewed on his lip, rolling it between his teeth.
“Have you given any thought to the treatment options we discussed?”
“I have.” The 680 stretched in front of him, red brake lights like demon’s eyes that stared him down. “I can’t stop thinking about everything you’ve said. I can’t say for a fact that this is a demonic possession. I can’t say that this isnota demonic possession either. But, Icansay that I love Evan, and I’ll always love Evan, and I’ll do anything and everything it takes to heal him. No matter what. So… please tell Father Mathew to come to our house Tuesday. If this exorcism is what you both recommend as his first treatment option, then—"
“I’m proud of you, Ben,” Dr. Kao said. “This is a big step, and I know it goes against a lot of your instincts and your philosophies.”
Yeah. It does.“It’s what Evan wants, though.”
