“I’m sorry. The end of a great ride for you all, but I’m sure God has wonderful and new things in store.”
“Yeah. I hope so.”
“Come on, Tia. You know so. God doesn’t let something die without something new to grow in its place.”
Tia smiled. “Yeah. Guess I needed someone to give me a pep talk. So what’s up with you guys? I can’t make our relationship all about me.”
Stephanie giggled. “Well, I’m still working at De Luca’s Cucina once a week and helping with the scheduling. I like the opportunity to get out of the house, and it gives Robbie quality time with Levi.”
“I’m grateful for Robbie’s help on the legal stuff.”
“You’re paying him. He’s happy to do it.”
“Any other news? How are you doing?”
“I’m well. Levi is toddling all over and getting into trouble. Oh, and looks like we might be putting in an offer on a house soon. I think it’s not far from the one you were looking at, so we might be neighbors.”
“That’d be cool.”
“It is. Oh, remember Renata? She’s expecting again. Only one, though. She’s as nervous as can be, which you would think after twins, she’d be an old hat at this motherhood thing. She’s just too cute, and Tony’s all puffed up with pride.”
“Funny how they get when we announce we’re pregnant.”
“Yup. Chest puffs out and they strut around as if they were king of the hill.”
“Gotta love ’em.”
“Yeah. I don’t know where I’d be without Roberto.”
“I still can’t believe I’m Niko’s wife. It’s going to be a weird transition setting up a house together and living alone without a crowd of musicians everywhere.”
“Right, like your home won’t be a revolving door of artists, and you will love every minute.”
“I hope so. It’s something I never dared to dream about.”
“God has been good to both of us.”
“He has, and I’m grateful.”
“I should go. I need to feed Levi, and you, my dear, should rest. Incubating a baby is hard work.”
“Thanks, Steph. Love you.”
“Love you too, Tia. Talk to you soon.”
Tia ended the call and closed her laptop. She rose to leave when the bus took a frightening tip to the right. Tia reached for the wall and hunched down on the floor. She heard a yell. The bus righted itself, but something was wrong. It tilted the opposite way, and she braced herself as best she could while hugging her laptop to her chest. The ride became bumpy, almost as if she were on an airplane experiencing turbulence.
The wheels stopped, and the bus tilted again to the right and stayed. Tia rose and gingerly made her way past the empty berths to the living area. Cups and plates were broken on the floor, and the guys were picking themselves up slowly.
Niko called out. “Everyone okay?” He picked himself up off the floor, and she saw blood oozing out of his forehead.
“Niko? You’re bleeding.”
“Tia, are you hurt?” He came to her and held her close. She set the laptop on the table, and it slid to the wall. She wrapped her arms around Niko.
“I’m fine. What happened?”
“Not sure.”
They looked out the window into snow, trees, and dirt.
“I need to go check on Rocco. Can you see to these guys?”
Tia nodded. The men were groaning and starting to stand. Sam was bruised but seemed fine. Johnny’s arm hurt. That wasn’t good. Wayne was rubbing his behind. Probably no damage done there, except as a drummer he had to sit on it to play. Marc’s ankle ached.
Niko came back, biting his lip, and shaking his head.
“What happened?” Johnny asked.
“A driver coming the other way down the hill lost control, and Rocco tried to avoid him. He hit us anyway. Rocco tried to correct, and we ended up off the road. We’re on an incline, and we’re going to need to get off the bus until a tow truck can pull us back to the road. We may have a flat too.”
“Great.” Johnny moaned. Tia grabbed winter coats and started tossing them to the men and put on her own. She grabbed her bag and shoved her laptop into it.
“Niko. Will they be sending an ambulance?”
“Yeah, the other car doesn’t look too good. I’m going to go see if I can help. Why?”
“Your head, Johnny’s arm, and Marc’s ankle need to be checked out.”
Niko nodded, and they gingerly made their way to the exit. “Get away from the bus in case it decides to tilt further. Go up by the road.”
Tia led the guys while giving assistance to Johnny by holding onto his good wing. Sam assisted Marc.
They climbed up to the road and saw the other car further away. The people had scrambled free, and the engine was on fire. Travelers had slowed to gawk.
Niko helped Roger and Rocco up to the road. They were both unhurt with the exception of pain from the shoulder belts they wore. They were more shook up than anything else. Rocco looked at Tia. “Looks like we’ll be making use of the spare day you built into our schedule.”
Tia could only nod and shiver.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Without music, life would be blank to me.
Jane Austen
Niko ran over to the other vehicle. He saw two people. “Is everyone out?”
The young couple nodded. A bruise was forming on the woman’s forehead, and she held her arm as tears streamed down her face. The young man shook. “My dad’s gonna kill me.”
Niko urged them further away from the car as emergency vehicles pulled up. An explosion knocked them to the ground, with Niko’s body partially shielding the couple. He rolled off them and tried to rise. Dizziness and pain made it hard to stand. He fell back to his hands and knees. Warmth from the blaze was melting the snow under his fingers. He pushed himself up to sit next to the two young people clinging to each other.
That could have been us. Our bus. With us inside. He looked up the road to the band. Where was Tia?
A paramedic came to help him up and escort him further from the flames. A few more took the other couple.
Niko sat on the back of the ambulance and let the paramedic check him over. All he wanted was to sleep. Did the man say something? His vision blurred and he saw the man’s lips move, but all he got was a roaring sound. “I can’t hear you.”
The man nodded. He led him further into the ambulance, had him sit down on the stretcher, and wrapped him with a blanket. Niko leaned back and closed his eyes.
* * *
Niko woke up in bed. Had it been a nightmare? He scanned the room. Nothing was familiar. A nurse bustled in and noticed his open eyes.
“Well, a strapping young man like you wasn’t going to take this lying down for too long, were you? Let’s check some reflexes.”
The words sounded as if he was wearing his headphones. He reached up to his ears. There was nothing there.
A light shone in his eyes, and he blinked as pain shot through his skull.
“Rest. The doctor will be in soon.” He heard it as if she was a mile away in a tunnel.
He wished she would take the cotton out of her mouth so he didn’t have to focus so hard to understand her words. He knew he was forgetting something. Something important. He closed his eyes to try to think.
Tia.
Where was his wife?
* * *
When he opened his eyes again, he was in a room with four walls instead of curtains on three sides. It was too quiet. He had something taped onto his hand and was connected to a tube. Someone appeared out of the fog. He smiled. Tia. She was here.
“Niko?”
“Tia. Cotton…”
She shook her head. “No cotton.” He could tell she was being careful to enunciate her words.
“Why can’t I hear you better?”
“It’s from the explosion and the bang your head took. It’ll return. It could have been much worse. You saved that young couple by getting
them away from the burning car.”
“Everyone else?”
She frowned. “Johnny has a hairline fracture on his upper arm.” She touched her arm to illustrate the spot. “They want to put a temporary cast on it for the trip home, but he’s having a fit. Hard to play guitar without his left elbow not bending the way he wants. They assure him that they will bend it to the degree he needs, but he’s fighting them. Not sure who will win. Sam and Wayne are fine. Just bruised. Marc’s left ankle is sprained. They gave him a boot. It shouldn’t impact his playing at all. Roger and Rocco have whiplash.
He reached out to touch her hand. “You?”
“I’m fine. A little bruised. Nikolette is healthy.”
“Bus?” Weariness was taking him under. Focusing was difficult.
“They towed us out of the ditch and fixed the tire. Rocco and the guys are there in the parking lot waiting to find out what will happen to you and Johnny. Marc is already there relaxing and enjoying some pain meds.”
“Concert?”
Tia frowned. “I don’t know, Niko. If you can’t hear, it doesn’t matter what anyone else can do.”
“When will it return?”
“It could be any moment, hours, or days.”
Niko groaned and closed his eyes. Her lips found his, and he savored the soft texture and comfort she offered. She pulled back, and he smiled.
“I’m glad you’re okay.” He drifted into welcoming darkness.
* * *
A loud crash startled him. He jerked and groaned in pain. His head throbbed as if Wayne had decided to use him as the entire drum set. Was that a cymbal crash? He opened his eyes and was alone. Was he imaging things now? Someone in a bright lime top walked in.
“Hello, Niko. I’m Debbie, your nurse. I hope I didn’t disturb you when I dropped the tray in the hallway.”
“It’s okay.”
“Can you hear me?”
He nodded.
“How well?”
“You talk soft, but the cotton is gone from my ears.”
“Good. That’s a start. You have a concussion and some damage to your eardrums, but they will heal. You had some stiches on your head. Your curls will hide those.”
“When can I go home?”
“Home is precisely where you’ll be going. If you promise the doctor to rest and be nice to your wife, he might let you out in a few hours.”
“Concert?”
The nurse shook her head. “Sorry, big boy. No concert. It was cancelled because of the accident.”
Niko groaned. “It was the last one.”
Debbie nodded as she wrote his vitals. “I know. I love your music and had tickets. Johnny can’t play well with a cast, though, and you, my dear handsome lead singer, would have a hard time when you can’t hear everything going on around you.”
A man walked in. “So, Mr. Acton. Do you think you can stand on your own without getting dizzy?”
“I don’t know.”
The doctor and nurse helped him up and out of the bed and had him walk to the door and back. Niko wondered if he was drunk. The floor moved like he remembered his uncle’s boat did on the choppy waters of Lake Michigan.
The doctor smiled. “Sit, Niko.” He ran some tests on him and asked more questions, and Niko wasn’t sure he liked the frown.
“Your wife seems anxious to get you home, and the rest of the gang is eager to go too. If you promise to ask for help when you need it, I’m willing to discharge you. No loud music, earbuds, or headphones for at least the next week. I want you to follow up with your own doctor when you get back to Milwaukee.”
Niko nodded. Why did his minor injuries leave him as helpless as a toddler?
Soon he was dressed and helped into a wheelchair. Strangely silent, Tia walked beside him. Had he disappointed her? This was the first time they had to cancel. It was his fault.
As he stepped up into the bus, he noticed Johnny’s bright green cast from his armpit to wrist. Ouch. Marc had to shove his boot out of the way so as not to trip him. Tia shepherded him to their berth and removed his shoes. She helped him get comfortable and left him in peace. The rumble of the bus and a small movement indicated they were in motion. Niko imagined the tires spinning, and he closed his eyes against the resulting nausea.
* * *
Tia became a nurse to the band, keeping track of administering pain meds and soothing tempers. The emotional part of it was the hardest, though. Disappointment and anger flowed through every interaction.
Johnny finally put it into words. “I’m angry it ended this way. Some silly punk kid out for a joy ride in his dad’s new car. Niko took the brunt of that blast, protecting him, and the young man walks away with a few cuts and bruises while we lose income and have weeks of healing ahead of us. And you—” He pointed to Tia. “You cancelled our last gig. How could you do that to us? I can’t believe you would do that to Niko.”
Sam jumped in. “Like you can play, Johnny?”
“They could have done the show without my guitar. I can still sing.”
Marc piped in. “But Niko couldn’t sing if he can’t hear.”
Roger had been in the back instead of up front with Rocco. “Guys. Give Tia a break. She’s done a lot for you all, and it wasn’t an easy call to make. I know because I was there.”
“Roger, you don’t have to defend me,” Tia started.
“Someone needs to. You bend over backwards for these men. You helped make their success possible, and the one time you act to protect your husband, they jump on you? It’s wrong, and it doesn’t model Christ-like love I’ve been accustomed to seeing. Instead of pointing fingers and venting your anger, you should be praying for the young man. Did you know he was a fan of yours? He was heartbroken when he found out who he’d hurt. He had planned to attend your concert too. His name was in the paper. All his friends who wanted to see you perform will be blaming him.
“The fact is this—it was an accident. Accidents happen. You can’t plan or prevent them. Thank God no one was hurt worse. Thank God Tia and the baby were unharmed and she’s remained a steady rock for all of you.”
Tia dropped her eyes to her hands. “Excuse me.” She walked down the hall to the berth, opened the door, and slid inside. She kicked off her shoes and stretched out next to her dozing husband. He wasn’t awake, but snuggling into his chest and putting her arm around him comforted her. She let the tears flow.
* * *
Niko woke to find his wife in his arms. He glanced out the window. It was still daylight. He placed a kiss on her hair. His shirt was suspiciously damp. Had she been crying?
“Tia?”
She shifted and looked up at him with red-rimmed eyes.
“What’s the matter, sweetheart?”
She shook her head.
“Try me. Maybe my hearing is back.”
She leaned up toward his ear. “The guys are angry with me for canceling the concert.”
“You’re the bad guy?”
She nodded.
“Aw, honey. They’re sore, and so am I, that we didn’t get to end this tour on a high note.”
“Well, you did.”
“What?”
“Well, you hit every major news channel and were covered on national news as well. You could say you ended it on a Rocky Mountain high note.”
Niko chuckled. “That’s one way to look at it.”
“It’s just—nothing is going as planned.”
“Life is like that, though, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, but I didn’t get to tell you. My father wrote me. He wants to visit when he gets released from prison.”
“Isn’t that a good thing? After ten plus years?”
“I don’t know. It brings up tons of hurt from the past.”
“We’ll pray. Listen. I’m hearing better. Still as tired and weak as a kitten, though. Can you get me something to drink and maybe a snack?”
“Yeah, I guess.”
“You can’t hide from them till we arrive h
ome. In their hearts, they love you to bits and would do anything to protect you.”
Tia nodded and left.
Niko texted Johnny. Apologize.
Tia returned after a short time and gave him water and jello. “I’m not sure if it will hurt for you to chew.”
He nodded. “Jello is fine for now. Thanks.” He nodded to the door. “Was it any better out there?”
“Yeah. Johnny apologized as did the other men. Roger had raked them over the coals for the way they talked to me.”
“See?
“You were right. Niko, I was terrified when that blast threw you to the ground. The guys wouldn’t let me go to you.”
He set aside his food and pulled her close. “I’ve been there when it was you. It’s hard, isn’t it?”
She fell asleep in his arms, and he thanked God for having brought them this far. She was still his.
* * *
They were finally back home in their cozy apartment. Tia sat at the kitchen table, answering phone call after phone call. Local stations vying for a feature on the group. National news wanting an exclusive. She had made notes and set the phone down when Niko shuffled into the room to grab a cup of coffee.
“How do you feel today?”
“Better. Almost human. I heard the ambulance go by a while ago. It didn’t hurt.”
“Good. You see the doctor today. I can take you in a little bit.”
Niko frowned. “I can drive myself. I’ll be all right.”
“Humor me?” Tia pleaded.
“Fine. But I won’t be an invalid forever.”
“I sure hope not.” She smiled as he sat down and pointed at the paper.
“What’s this?”
“The price of fame. Everyone wants a piece of you. You and the rest of Specific Gravity. So take a pick. Who should I say yes to for an interview?”
“Maybe the band should decide?”
“Too many choices. I could put the names all in a hat and draw one out?”
“No. Let’s do that one.” He pointed to a local station. “Do it at the national level but do the taping locally. I don’t want to travel right now.”
“Okay. I’ll call them.” She picked up the phone, but he took it out of her hand and set it back down.
“Wait till I take a shower. I want to be with you and not work for a few minutes.”
Feta and Freeways Page 21
