***
Blake caught the phone before it hit the floor and grabbed Lucy by the shoulder to keep her upright.
He slammed the phone to his ear as ice filled his chest. “Mac? It's Blake, what happened?”
“Triny's had a heart attack. He's in the hospital in Tulsa but we don't know much. Lucy needs to get home right now.”
Blake stared at Lucy's ashen face and felt his pulse begin thundering in his ears. “I'll get her there.” He hung up the phone, tossed it on the couch, and tried to get Lucy to look him in the eyes, but she was listless and unfocused. “Lucy? C'mon, talk to me, darlin'.”
“It's almost time for my set,” she mumbled and tried to stand up.
“Shit.” Blake growled and pulled out his own phone as he pushed Lucy back into a seated position. She didn't fight him as she slumped against the cushions.
He opened the door of the bus and shouted, “Kendra!”
She appeared immediately, rushing into the bus. Luke and Taylor were standing nearby and, seeing the obvious agitation on Blake's face, they came with her.
“She needs a flight to Tulsa now. She can't go alone, you have to go with her,” Blake commanded, keeping his voice even as he scrolled through his contacts and hit Send.
Kendra looked at Lucy's pale face and back to Blake, and then took action. She rushed out of the bus, speaking quickly into her phone.
Luke and Taylor knelt in front of Lucy, trying to get her to answer them. They looked up to Blake for an explanation just as the call he was making was answered.
“Hello?” Shane's confused voice came through crystal-clear.
“Brookings, it's Blake. I'm sticking Lucy on a plane headed to Tulsa. Her daddy is in the hospital. You have to meet her there.”
The line was silent as Shane processed the information. Taylor's eyebrows raised and he tried again to get Lucy to talk, but she remained motionless.
“Is she okay?” Shane finally asked.
Blake looked at Lucy's vacant expression. “No,” he answered honestly. Blake hesitated with his next words, not knowing how they'd be received. “Shane... she can't be alone through this.”
“Are you coming with her?” Shane asked, sounding like he was walking quickly.
“I'm sending Kendra, I'll fill in for her set and then I'll fly down. I'll give her phone to Kendra so you can be in contact.” He spoke the words at Luke and Taylor as well, three birds with one phone call.
“Can I talk to her?” Shane asked uneasily.
“She's not speaking right now. I'm looking right at her. She's in shock or something.”
“Blake,” Shane said, his voice tight, “maybe you should come with her.”
How he wished that were possible. Especially after their recent argument and everything they'd just dumped on each other.
“Just be there when she lands,” Blake barked, covering the fear that threatened to take over. He hung up the phone and Luke stood up, putting his hands on his hips.
“We've got to snap her out of it,” he stated the obvious. “They won't let her fly if she's unresponsive.”
“Turn the shower on cold,” Blake instructed as he removed his shirt and boots. Luke did as he was told and Blake scooped Lucy up in his arms. She seemed lighter than ever before. Smaller.
Taylor removed her shoes for him on the way by and Blake stepped into the tiny shower stall, holding her tightly.
When the cold water touched her skin, she inhaled sharply. She struggled against him and he set her on her feet, but kept both arms around her in a vise grip.
“No!” she shouted, pushing her hands against his bare chest. “No! Let me out!”
Blake felt hot tears start to run down his face as she fought against him.
“You have to wake up , Lucy!” he yelled above the sound of the running water. He turned her around, holding her by her upper arms so the water ran over her face. She sputtered and gasped and tried to pull away from him, but he held tight.
After several seconds, her body relaxed backwards against him and started to shake with sobs. He wrapped his arms around her and they sank to the cramped floor of the shower as she choked out helpless sobs. He cradled her in between his legs and smoothed her hair back with his hands, pressing his lips to her forehead and temple repeatedly.
“I can't do it, Blake! I can't lose him, too!” she cried out, more scared than he had ever heard her. She twisted her body into his and clutched him desperately.
He smoothed back her wet hair again and pressed his cheek to the top of her head. “You won't. Triny's a tough SOB, you won't lose him.”
Lenny had appeared next to Luke and was holding a fresh change of clothes and a towel. Blake was more thankful than ever for the friends that had become his family. He couldn't imagine life without them. His whole world was falling apart in his arms and she needed him to be strong for her now. Looking up at Luke and Lenny's faces, he knew they were going to be strong for him.
“We have to get you to him, he needs his sunshine to help get him through this.” Blake swallowed the lump in his throat. He knew he was only feeling a fraction of the terror that she was, and it killed him that he couldn't carry this burden for her.
“Shane's gonna meet you there,” he continued. “You'll see, I bet by the time you get there, Triny will be back out at the house making sweet tea and cussing at all the worry that Mac has caused.”
Lucy nodded against his chest but didn't release her grip. He motioned for Lenny to get ready as he stood, pulling Lucy with him.
“Lenny's gonna help you get changed, babe. Kendra's not going to leave your side, and I'll join you when I can.”
Her eyes went wild and she looked at him in terror. “No, you have to come with me!”
His heart was breaking for her. “I can't.” He held her face in his hands and made sure he had her attention. She gripped his hands with her own. “Shane is going to be there when you land. I promise to be right behind you.”
“What if—?” A fresh wave of tears poured down her face and he stopped her.
“Nope, Triny owes me money, and he's never squelched on a bet before. He'll wait 'til I get there.” He tried to smile, but he had no idea if his face made the movement.
Then he handed her over to Lenny's capable arms, despite every instinct in him telling him that he shouldn't leave her side. She didn't break eye contact with him as he watched her go into the back lounge, then Lenny shut the door behind them.
Grief. It's the thing they knew best about each other. The bond that had connected them forever. It went deep, so deep that Blake knew in his heart, Shane wouldn't have a clue how to help her. How to reach her if she shut down again. Blake would have to teach him. That thought hurt like a punch to the throat.
“This sucks,” Taylor said, breaking the awkward silence.
“Yup.” Blake sighed and reached for a towel and shut the shower off. “I'll get changed and then I'll see you on stage.” He nodded at the bald musician and trudged barefoot back to his own bus, grabbing Lucy's phone off the couch.
His brain was scattered but he kept focused with the mission at hand. Triny was the closest thing he had to a father figure, and the thought of losing him at this point in his life was overwhelming. Getting Lucy to him was priority one. He had to focus on that.
After changing into fresh clothes he stopped Kendra as she hustled past him, pressing Lucy's phone into her hand. “Did you get it all arranged?” He wanted to ask more, but couldn't find the words.
Her nervous face was filled with compassion and she impulsively hugged him. “I'm going to take care of her, Blake. She won't leave my sight and I'll text you updates as I have them.”
“Thanks.” He frowned against the fear settling in his belly. “She's... she's everything to me.” He clenched his jaw tightly.
“I know,” Kendra responded quietly, her eyes round with worry. “I have to go now.” She gave him one final look of empathy and hurried away.
Blake went through t
he set without a hitch. He played all Lucy's parts with precision, and Taylor shortened the set so he didn't have to sing. All he could think about was how she should be in the air by now. During the DBS set he figured she should be close to landing. He prayed her dad would pull through. That he would at least wait until she could see him.
When he left the stage, Carl directed him to a waiting cab. Blake frowned in confusion.
“Your flight leaves in an hour,” Carl said with less gruffness than usual. “We're postponing the next few dates until we have more information.”
Blake tried to think of something to say to express his thanks, but he couldn't. He cleared his throat and looked at his tour manager.
“We do what we have to for family,” Carl said, his voice thick and raspy. He suddenly grabbed Blake in a hug, clapping him hard on the back. “Now, get out of here.”
Blake checked his phone in the cab. Kendra was indeed keeping him updated. They had landed a half hour before, and Shane had been waiting in the terminal. He had driven them straight to the hospital, but they hadn't spoken to any doctors yet.
As he waited for the call to board his flight, he called Mama. She didn't answer, and he left a short message telling her where he was going to be. Lucy was going to need all the people who loved her nearby.
***
Shane brought Lucy another cup of coffee from the hospital coffee maker. She hadn't moved from her post in the waiting room of the ER. They still didn't have a lot of information and she wasn't speaking, but Kendra said it wasn't as bad as when she had first gotten the news. She used the word 'catatonic,' and Shane couldn't imagine his Lucy like that. She was always so full of color and life.
He handed her the cup of hot liquid and she gave him a small smile, but it was distant and detached. He felt utterly useless. He'd gotten more out of Kendra than Lucy over the past few hours, and he really couldn't explain away the feeling that he was simply a prop, waiting to be needed.
The ER doors opened and a man in scrubs approached them. “The Triny Newton family?” he asked, and Lucy stood up quickly.
“I'm his daughter,” she responded, her brown eyes wide but dull. Shane rubbed her back softly, letting her know he was still here.
The doctor motioned for her to sit again and he sat in a chair across from her, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. “Your father has suffered a myocardial infarction. It wasn't that severe, and he should recover from it quite easily.” The doctor paused. “It was the fall from the horse during the heart attack that has me worried. We've done what we can, but there's quite a bit of swelling and head trauma which has pushed him into a coma.”
Lucy's hands started to tremble and Shane took the coffee away from her, setting it down. Trying to be useful.
“We won't know the extent of the brain injury until he wakes up.” The doctor sighed. “Your father is in remarkable condition, he's very healthy overall and the heart attack itself makes very little sense. But like I said, we'll know more when he wakes up.”
“When can I see him?” Lucy asked, gripping Shane's hand tightly. He squeezed back, as if to say, “I'm right here, you don't have to do this alone.”
“We're moving him into the ICU for now, so only one person at a time. I'll have one of the nurses come and tell you when he's settled.” The doctor hesitated and looked at Shane more when he spoke. “You should probably try to get some rest, there's no telling how long he'll be like this. If something changes, we'll call you.”
“I'm not leaving,” Lucy whispered resolutely, ready to fight anyone who tried to make her go.
Shane nodded in understanding at the doctor who left them alone then. Lucy crumpled against Shane's side and he rubbed her arm. He was at a loss. It seemed like whatever he tried to say or do, she didn't really respond. But he kept on trying.
“The doctor said your dad is really healthy, I'm sure he'll pull through this.” Shane ached for her. He wanted badly to take this pain and fear from her, return her to the happy, carefree girl he loved so much. He didn't know what Lucy needed, and for someone as put together as Shane, that lack of knowledge was frustrating.
He noticed Kendra in his peripheral vision as she sat in the corner, silently texting. Shane couldn't help but feel like they were out of place. Like he and Kendra were intruding on something they couldn't understand or explain. It was gnawing at him; they weren't the ones who should be here.
When the nurse came to get Lucy so she could see her dad, he hugged her tightly and then staggered over to the near-empty coffee maker for his own refill. It had been a long night so far.
He saw Blake coming down the hall and gave him a short wave. He'd made good time, and Shane was relieved. Maybe he'd have some insight into what he could do.
“She just went to see him,” Shane said, handing the other man a cup of coffee.
“Yeah, Kendra has been keeping me updated.” Blake nodded at the assistant who yawned and curled into a ball in the chair, resting her head on her purse.
“How's she doing?” Blake asked as they sat down next to each other.
“She's quiet,” Shane answered, sipping at his coffee.
“Thanks for making it here so quickly.” Blake's voice was pinched. His anxiety and weariness were evident in the pronounced dark circles under his eyes.
Shane looked around the almost-empty waiting room and at Kendra's now sleeping figure. “Yeah,” was all he said. But there was so much more happening internally.
Kendra had been tight-lipped but cordial throughout the whole ordeal, and Shane didn't feel quite like she hated him as much as she apparently had the first time they had met. She really cared about Lucy, that was obvious. So it was nice having her around when Shane was at a loss for what to do. Kendra didn't push Lucy to talk, and she would give Shane these little head-shakes if he was asking too many questions. Now that Blake had arrived, it seemed she was off duty. Damn, his only ally was taking a nap. Who was going to help him navigate these waters with Blake now?
“Lucy hates hospitals.” Blake broke the silence, as if sensing Shane's desire to help out. “Her mom was in and out of them for weeks before she finally passed away.”
Okay, all new information. Well, not totally. Shane knew the facts of Lucy's family thanks to Google, but they'd never actually discussed it. He sighed as he realized that all those little things from someone's past usually came back to play a part in the future. He should have been on top of that one.
“And then my dad died in an accident at work a month later, so we became very well-acquainted with this place in a short period of time. The results were less than ideal,” Blake continued grimly.
“I had no idea,” Shane responded, not sure what else to say.
“Just give her time.” Blake looked at him, and Shane saw the lines around his eyes were deeper, like his worry was taking a physical toll on his body. “She needs you here.”
Shane swallowed hard and nodded. Blake looked back to the floor.
“Triny's the one who taught me how to play guitar,” Blake spoke softly again.
“I didn't know that.” Shane began picking at the side of his Styrofoam cup.
“I was ten. It was the first birthday after my dad had died. Triny picked me up early that morning and took me fishing. That night he gave me my guitar. It wasn't anything fancy, but it was exactly what I needed.” His pinched face melted into a smile and Shane was struck by the unexpected softness on Blake's face. He wasn't used to seeing him like that.
“I was mad that I didn't get to come with you guys.”
They both looked up to see Lucy standing in front of them. Her eyes were trained on Blake, and Shane saw a significant change in her demeanor with the rocker's simple presence. Blake's energy changed as well. For all his posturing and hard-ass behavior, he was immediately tender and warm when looking at Lucy. It was suddenly like Shane wasn't even there.
Blake stood and gathered her in his arms as she crumbled against him. Shane had always admired the w
ay Lucy wore her heart on her sleeve, out in the open, bravely putting it on display. How he'd never noticed that a piece of it was missing was beyond him. Until he saw the way she fit in Blake's arms, how she clung to him like a second skin. Blake was the owner of that missing piece. And he always would be. He held her like she was treasured, beloved.
They held one another for several minutes, the world not existing to them, then Blake opened his eyes over her shoulder and looked at Shane. They stared at each other for a few minutes as Blake obviously wrestled with his desire to never let her go or relinquish her to Shane's capable hands. Just when Shane thought he was going to be asked to leave, Blake pulled away, leaving an opening for him to fill.
“How is he?” Blake asked, turning his eyes down to the floor and reclaiming his seat. Shane took his cue and reached out to her. She sank onto his lap and he wrapped both arms around her, noticing Blake's hand ball into a fist at his side and then relax again.
“He's in a coma,” she shrugged and tried to wipe away the tear that had escaped. “They said we should talk to him,” she continued, sniffling. Blake reached to the table nearby and handed her a tissue. “So I did. I told him I was here and that I loved him.” She wiped her eyes again and Shane rubbed her back in silent consolation. “You can go see him if you want.”
Blake stood immediately and looked to Shane as if to ask, “You got this?” Shane nodded and held Lucy close as Blake walked down the hall.
“You okay?” Shane asked as he rested his cheek against the top of her head, unsure where his mind was with what he'd just witnessed.
“Just don't leave me,” she whispered.
***
Blake hated hospitals. The last time he'd been in one was when Mike had nearly died in Cologne. He tried to avoid them if at all possible.
He took a seat near Triny's bed and stared at the rise and fall of the chest of the man he had helped cut cattle with just a couple weeks ago. That man had been energetic and bold, larger than life. He looked so out of place among the beeping machines and sterile surroundings.
“Look at you, old man. You've got everyone worried half to death,” he joked lightly. “Nice set up you have here: private room, TV, pretty women checking your vitals.”
In Your Honor Page 30
