Crossing the Barrier (32 page)

Someone helped Malakai to his feet and down the aisle to the front of the bus. Malakai must have passed out again because the next thing he remembered, he was in an ambulance, and someone was saying he had to be taken to Methodist Hospital.

“Methodist?” Malakai asked.

“Yes,” the trainer said, leaning over him. “That’s where your father wants you to be taken, and he’s right; they have the best doctors in the nation who treat athletes just like you. We want to make sure you’re in good hands. We absolutely don’t want to jeopardize your college career. I also have a friend there, an orthopedic surgeon who deals with athletes. He’s a graduate from school actually, and I called him. He owes me big, and he agreed to meet us at the hospital.”

Malakai was tired and in too much pain to ask any more questions. He just closed his eyes and waited to arrive at the hospital. He had no idea how long it took, but eventually the ambulance turned and stopped, and the trainer roused him.

“My father?” Malakai asked.

“He was called away on business at the last minute. He was on his way to the airport when we caught up with him.”

“He shouldn’t have gone,” Malakai said, feeling more alone than ever.

His dad, gone again, even though he had said he would be home when Malakai got there. And now Malakai needed him, and he just wasn’t there.

"I know,” the trainer said with a frown. “It sounds strange to me. My father was in the military, and he wouldn’t have been called away like this. He would certainly not have gone, not if my siblings or I had been injured…” The trainer remained quiet for a moment. “In any case, he said to tell you he’s very sorry he can’t be here and will try to call when he lands. The coach has a delegation of authority in his office. He’s on his way to school right now. He’ll be joining us in a while.”

The paramedics got the stretcher out of the ambulance, and as soon as he was rolled into the hospital, a black man Malakai had never seen before walked over to them. He shook hands with the trainer.

“Terrance, I’m glad you could meet us,” the trainer said. “Malakai here could really use your help. South Texas wants him for next year. Think you can patch him up?”

“Well, I think I can manage that,” the man said with a grin. “So, this is Sergeant Major Thomas’s son,” the man said, turning to Malakai. “Hi, Malakai, I’m Dr. Terrance Alvin. I know your father very well.”

Malakai frowned. He hadn’t known his dad knew anyone in town; he was so often away.

“He actually called me just before he boarded his plane to make sure I would be here to see you. Let’s get you into an exam room, and I’ll take a look at that arm of yours before I send you for X-rays.”

The doctor had Malakai remove his undershirt and gave him a hospital gown to wear. The fabric was rough against Malakai’s skin, but he was too exhausted and in pain to complain. Once he was changed, the doctor took a cursory look at his arm and sent him for X-rays.

After the X-rays, painkillers, and examinations by two other doctors, Malakai lost track of time. He was lying on a bed, a blanket over him, his arm elevated with ice all around it. His head ached, and he wanted to call Lily to let her know where he was, but he didn’t have his phone. It was in his gym bag, and he had no idea where it was.

He was still thinking of Lily when someone new walked into the room, followed by the trainer and Coach.

“I have bad news and good news,” the man began without introducing himself. “The bad news is your arm is broken, in two places, and you need surgery. It will be done at nine o’clock tomorrow morning. A team will come and prep you starting at eight.

“Now the good news is you have a 98 percent chance to make a full recovery, and should be ready to play football again before the winter’s over…well, after a few months of physical therapy, of course.

“Any questions?” the newcomer asked.

“Who are you?”

“Oh! Yes, I should have begun by that now, shouldn’t I? I’m Dr. Trenton,” he said. “Dr. Alvin went home for the night as he will be part of your surgery team. So did Dr. Lawrence, for the same reason.”

Malakai didn’t remember which one Dr. Lawrence was, but he didn’t care at this point. He was tired, and he wanted to go home, but the last part wasn’t possible, at least not for tonight.

“Anything else?”

Malakai shook his head.

“I’ll leave you to it then.”

A moment later, the trainer, Coach, and the doctor walked out of the room, and Malakai closed his eyes, trying to sleep as best as he could despite the throbbing in his arm.

Chapter Sixty-One

LILY

By the time
Lily was on the bus on her way to the school, she was frantic. She had seen how swollen Malakai’s arm was, and she had felt his pain after the game, as much the pain in his arm as the pain in his heart. She had tried to call him numerous times.

But he hadn’t picked up.

Neither had David.

“Stop worrying, Lily,” Sandra said gently. “He’s going to be fine.”

Everybody on the bus was subdued. Few spoke, and Lily heard a lot of sniffles. This year, the band had bonded with the players more than in previous years, especially since some of the players had been at their band competition to cheer them on.

Every once in a while, someone would glance her way, and she felt pity pouring from them. Everybody had noticed Malakai’s arm. Everybody knew he was injured. And she wasn’t able to get through to anyone.

By the time the bus pulled into the school parking lot, Lily was all but ready to have a full-blown panic attack.

“His jeep’s still here,” someone from the front said.

“There’s someone next to it!”

As Lily struggled to get to the window, someone else announced it was David.

“David?” she asked.

Then, with her mind already full of worries, she assumed the worst and brought her hands to her mouth, tears welling in her eyes.

“Oh no! Oh no!”

“Lily! Stop! He’ll be all right,” Sandra said, grabbing her hands and shaking them. “It’s only his arm. He’ll be fine. They won’t cut it off.”

“What if he can’t play anymore? What if he loses his scholarship?”

“Stop it! He’s not the first one to have a broken arm and play in college. He’ll be fine.”

Tears were falling from Lily’s eyes. She didn’t want anything to happen to Malakai. She was so, so tired. With her home situation, she just wanted to be with him, at peace for a little while.

But now he was injured.

“Let’s go talk to David, okay?”

Lily hadn’t even realized the bus had stopped until it was time to get off.

“Grab your things,” Sandra said.

At this point, she was so panicked she couldn’t think straight. She was glad Sandra was taking over, telling her what to do. She picked up her bag and clarinet and followed Sandra off the bus. They immediately made their way to the jeep, and when David saw them, he came to meet them.

“What happened?” Sandra asked when they were close enough.

And they were not alone. At least twenty band members had followed them.

“They sent him to Methodist with the ambulance. The trainer made some calls, and they were supposed to be met by a surgeon who specializes in his type of injuries. I don’t have more news, but I’m about to go back there right now.

“Sandra, would you take Malakai’s jeep back to the house?” he said, giving his sister the keys.

She took them and nodded.

“I want to go with you,” Lily said.

“Lily,” David said, putting his hands on her shoulders. “You’re tired. You should go home.”

David wasn’t overly concerned, and Lily relaxed her shoulders some.

“Don’t worry your pretty head, okay? He’ll be fine.”

“He…he’s not picking up his phone.”

“He can’t. It’s right here with me. Don’t worry, okay? He’s in good hands.”

“What if he can’t play anymore?” she asked in a small voice.

“Don’t worry about that,” David said with a grin. “He’ll play again, next year, in college. He’ll be ready on time to start spring training, you’ll see.”

“Okay,” she said, looking at the ground between them.

“Hey, don’t worry, okay?” David repeated again, putting a finger under her chin and raising her head so he could look into her eyes. “He’ll be fine.”

Lily nodded.

“Now go home. The minute I have news, I’ll let you know.”

“Okay.”

David let her go and looked behind her. “Guys, he’ll be all right. The minute I know anything, I’ll post it on the football team social media accounts.”

Lily drove home on autopilot. She was glad she didn’t have a long drive because she didn’t think she would have made it. She was numb and tired, and all she wanted was a shower, her bed, Malakai, and some peace and quiet.

The minute Lily got out of her car, she began to shiver uncontrollably. She retrieved her bag and clarinet from the backseat, closed the door, and made her way toward the house. The lights were off, and she could barely see. With shaking hands, she retrieved her key and put it in the lock.

It wouldn’t fit in.

Lily looked at her keys. Yes, it was the right one. She tried to put it in the lock again, but it simply wouldn’t fit. Then she heard footsteps running toward her, and felt anger and frustration.

“Lily!” Nicole called as she ran up the driveway.

At the same moment, the light beside the door was turned on, blinding Lily. The door flew open, and Beatrice looked down at her, her arms crossed over her chest, a feeling of victory exuding from her.

“Lily, come,” Nicole said, reaching her and putting her arms around Lily’s shaking shoulders.

“Yes, go with the trash,” Beatrice said, a smug smile on her face.

Lily couldn’t make sense of what was going on. On one side, she had an angry bear and on the other, a preening peacock. Her head spun with the confusion, and she would have fallen if Nicole hadn’t had her arm around her shoulders.

“You, nasty, foul woman,” Nicole said. “You’re the worst person I’ve ever known to walk the face of this Earth. I should have called social services on you the minute Marcus died.”

“Well, they can’t do anything for her now, can they? She’s eighteen.”

“She’s a child!”

“What’s going on?” Lily asked in a small voice.

“Oh, you’re out of the house, that’s what,” Beatrice said with a sickly sweet tone. “You can find your things in that truck over there,” she added, pointing to the street.

Lily looked behind her. A small moving truck was parked at the curb.

Lily turned back to her mother again, too tired and numb to say anything.

“You thought you could keep me out with your lock, didn’t you? I called a locksmith. The movers will be back tomorrow to drive the truck where you need it to go. We certainly don’t want it sitting in the street for any longer, do we? I mean, what would the neighbors think?” she said, turning her smile on Nicole.

“You–” Nicole began, but Beatrice interrupted her.

“I suggest you get your act together and find yourself a place to live. After all, your things can’t stay in this truck forever. Oh, and don’t worry, I’ve paid for it for the next two days.”

Without adding a word, Beatrice closed the door, locked it, and turned off the lights.

“But it’s my house,” Lily said quietly to the closed door.

“I know. Come, Lily,” Nicole said, turning her around.

Lily was numb. She didn’t feel her legs give under her and only realized she was on the ground when Nicole called her name in panic. Then she heard footsteps running toward her again.

“Mom, she was gone when I got your message.”

Sandra.

“I know, honey. It’s okay. Help me, will you? We’ll take her to the house and try to figure out what to do in the morning.”

Lily felt hands under her armpits, and in the next moment, she was up on her feet, being dragged across the street.

“It’s my house,” she said again, trying to look behind them.

But she was being taken farther away. She had never realized how small the house looked from across the street.

“I tried to call Charlie, but he’s not picking up,” Nicole explained as they walked into the Joneses’. “Lily, I’m so sorry.”

“Malakai,” she said, then the tears came to her eyes again.

She was really alone now.

“He’ll be fine,” Sandra said. “Mom, Malakai injured his arm in the game.”

“I heard something had happened.”

“Yeah. David’s gone to the hospital.”

“Oh, good! Someone should be there with him.”

“Malakai,” Lily said again.

She couldn’t hear the conversations anymore. She only heard the blood pounding in her ears.

Then she was lying on a soft surface, and blankets were pulled over her.

Finally warm, she closed her eyes and fell asleep.