“Oh,Molly.” Connie clapped her hands to her chest. “So sorry if we woke you. But …”Her eyes flooded, pulling me into her arms. “We’re justsohappy you’rehere with him, sweetie.”
Settlingagainst her with a ragged sigh, I nodded. “I’m glady’allare finally here.”
Shereleased me so I could hurry over to Mark and wrap my arms around him as hekissed the top of my head. “You’re a good friend, Molly,” he mumbled into myhair, and guilt threaded into my veins. Because Lord knows I didn’t want to bethat good friend anymore. I wanted so much more than that. But they didn’t needto know. Not now.
“Havethey said what’sgoin’ on? We haven’t gotten anyupdates just yet,” Connie said quietly as we conferred in the corner of theroom, allowing Chad to sleep.
Iwrapped my arms around myself and shrugged. “They have theories. They’re takin’him in for some more tests today, and hopefully that’ll help to get adiagnosis.”
“Butthey’ve ruled out some of the big, scary stuff?” Mark asked.
“Afew of ‘em, yeah.”
“Mark,”Connie hissed. “It’sallscary. Thisis our baby boy, and he’s …” Her words choked in her throat as an arm swept outbehind her, toward the bed.
Chad’sfather nodded solemnly and pulled her into his arms. “I know, darlin’. You knowwhat I meant.”
Asshe composed herself, I wrapped my arms around my middle and wished my own mamahad come out with them. I missed her,neededher, and I made a mentalnote to call her later.
Westood in silence for a few moments, watching the monitors. Watching the nurseattach a new bag of fluids. Watching Chad sleep. It was strange, lingering inthis weird, limbo-like fog. Nobody knew what we were dealing with here, didn’tknow the severity yet, didn’t know what we’d be facing in the next few days.Nobody knew how to react appropriately.
Ipaced the room to the window and looked out to the horizon. The world wasnearly pretty, despite the ugly sadness and worry in my heart.
“Molly,if youwannahead back to the bus, we can take thingsfrom here,” Mark offered.
Ishook my head and glanced over my shoulder. “I told Chad I’d stay with him.”
Then,Connie asked, “What’rey’alldoin’about the tour?”
“Ihaven’t talked to Devin yet,” I admitted. Truth was, I hadn’t even thoughtabout it. I wasn’t sure any of us had. It’d been such a long, stressful, andworrisome night. Nobody had thought yet about the way life would continue to goon, while Chad was laying in the hospital. “I’ll ask later.”
Latercame after Chad had woke up and the doctors took him away to run some moretests. Devin and Sebastian came down to the hospital to visit and with Chad’sparents, we headed down to the cafeteria for some lunch and to chat.
“So,I know this is probably the last thing youwannathink about,” Devin began reluctantly, lifting one half of his turkey sandwich,“but we were discussing what we’regonnado about thetour.”
AsI opened my salad, I nodded and urged him to go on, while I poked at somethingthat might’ve been a tomato in another life.
“Well,”he continued, “obviously, Chad’s out of commission for the time being. We’renot replacing him, so we thought we could change things up a little andcontinue the tour with an acoustic set.”
“I’vebeendyingto bust out my bongos,”Sebastian mused with a wistful sigh. He pointed at the questionable tomato.“Yougonnaeat that?”
Ishook my head. “Help yourself.”
“Thanks,gorgeous.” He popped the whole thing in his mouth and wrinkled his noseimmediately. “I don’t know what the hell I just ate, but it sure as fuck wasn’torganic.”
Devinsighed exhaustedly. “Anyway… So,with that settled, it just leaves us with the question of whatyou’regonnado.”
“Oh.”I bit my lip as I drizzled dressing over the salad.
Connieshook her head. “Thereisno question. Molly has no reason to notcontinue with the tour.Chad’llcome home until he’sdoin’ better, then he’ll join the rest of you back on theroad. And that’s that.” Mark nodded with affirmation, picking at a bag ofpotato chips.
Conniewas in the unique position of being my ‘second mother,’ and therefore felt shehad this type of power over my life if my own mama wasn’t present. It didn’tmatter how old I got, if Mama or Connie said so, I instantly felt shut down andas though I didn’t have a say in the matter.
ButDevin wasn’t taking her word for an answer. “I’m not sure that’s what Mollywants though, Mrs. Wilcox. That’s why I’m asking.” His eyes shifted toward me,the side of his mouth lifting. God, he could charm the habit off a nun. “So,what are you thinking?”
Ipushed a hand into my hair. I realized I needed a shower, as the curled strandsseparated and frizzed in whatever direction I pushed them. “I don’t know. Ifeel sofreakin’ conflicted about the whole thing,” Iadmitted weakly.
“Don’tsay that because you think that’s what Iwannahear,”Devin said, pointing the other half of his sandwich at me. “I want you to behonest. If youwannakeep going, then you keep going.But if what youwannado is wait a little while andstay with Chad, we can do that, too. Both of you will be paid for the wholetour, so don’t worry about that.”
