Page 94 of The Legend
Alley, herface fixed on a blank stare at the wall, dropped her cell from her ear,speechless.
Arie was stillsleeping so I reached for her phone. I had no idea where mine was all of asudden.
There weresome fifty some text messages, all asking the same thing.
What happened in Knoxville?
I just heard on the news. I’m so sorry.
Are you okay?
“What’sgoing on?” I looked between Nancy, Alley and Lexi, all staring back at me inhorror.
“Jimi andJameson wrecked in Knoxville.” Alley choked out. Tears streamed down her face.“They were airlifted to University of Iowa.” She swallowed, “They’re not sureif they made it.”
Emma wason the phone with Aiden by then. “There’s a jet waiting for us!”
You wouldhave thought a herd of bull was let loose at the way all of us, wearingpajamas, scrambled.
I didn’thave time to think, to pray, to react. I just knew I needed to get to him.That’s all that mattered. I don’t know why but I called his cell phone and itimmediately went to voicemail. The message that played brought the only smile Iwould see tonight: “Do me a favor, don’t leave me a message. If I wanted totalk to you, I would have answered.”
My mindwandered once we were in the air, back twenty years when Jameson was injured inPocono. Only this time, the news painted a very different scene from Knoxville.
During theflight, they showed the wreck and though it didn’t look horrible, the aftermathwas.
Jimi hadcome down on Jameson quickly, as though something broke on his car. Clipped hisright rear tire and then hit the wall head on, flipped through the turn andthen was hit on the side by another driver.
Jameson’scar went air-born, flipped seven times, clipped the wing of another car in theair, and went air-born again eventually landing on the outside retaining wall.
My heartliterally stopped at the sight, that’s when I knew it was bad.
The newsreports simply said: “Our thoughts and prays are with these two legendarydrivers...father and son.”
They neverwent into detail to say what the injuries were, if they were all right,nothing. I knew that tactic over the years and understood it. Someone had diedand they hadn’t told the families yet.
Theycouldn’t die, right? That was my next thought.
It justcouldn’t happen. Not to a family that had endured so much over the years.Enough was enough, right?
Axels’voice brought me around. I seemed to be numb to everything. I didn’t evenremember exiting the plane or Van driving us to the hospital.
“Mom.”Axel askedslipping inside the SUV we were in. He had been waiting with Aiden in theparking lot for us, his hands fumbling with his phone in his hand.
I knewimmediately something was wrong, very wrong. Axels’ voice was timid butcontrolled. His eyes cautious but guarded. “They...uh...I don’t knowwhat’s happening yet.” He admitted closing his eyes, “I’m sorry.”
There wasno sense in asking what happened, I saw the wreck on television. What I wantedto know was if they were okay.
I knew myson well enough to know that he felt it, something. I wasn’t sure what but it’sthe same bone chilling sensation all of us were feeling in that moment. We knewsomething tragic happened. Something none of us were prepared for.
When wereached the intensive care unit where everyone was gathered outside, twodoctors took us back to a private conference room that we could wait inprivacy. The family gathering area was so crowded with fans and media, therewas no room.
So wewaited, as time passed unbearably slow. They wouldn’t allow us inside the ICUand wouldn’t offer anything other than they are listed in critical condition.
I couldn’tthink or feel. My mind was numbly unaware of everything going on. Voices seemeddistant and muddled. Motions seemed uncontrolled.
My bodyjerked at the sound of the door opening. A tall doctor dressed in dark bluescrubs stood near the door. At first glance, his manner was professional and confident.One look into his eyes and I could tell he was exhausted. Not only that, hedidn’t want to be the one to give the news.
Nancyreached for my hand. Emma reached for Nancy and Aiden standing next to her.
