Spanish Bay (11 page)

“I think I’ll surprise you guys more often,” Neil’s mom joked.

Neil was unable to contain his curiosity any longer. “Enough already. Tell me, what’s this surprise?”

His dad was laughing and took his wife’s hand. “Son, you’ve done nothing but make us proud. You have excelled in school despite your illness. You’ve helped around the house, and recently, you’ve shown not only that you’ve matured and grown up, but you’ve brought home a wonderful young man and demonstrated that you can take responsibility above and beyond your own needs. We are so proud and happy, and we felt you deserved a little thank-you. Come on, let’s take a look.”

Neil shot a look at Chris, who shrugged. “What your dad said is true, babe, and you know it!” He kissed Neil, pulled his chair from the table and—without asking—pushed him toward the door, following his mom and dad outside.

Neil’s mom turned on the lights outside and opened the door. “I know that you’ve always dreamed of your own car, and I know you’ve often felt worse for not having a car than for being in a wheelchair. Well, son, we’ve saved up a bit, and we figured now that you’re off to college, you deserve your own set of wheels—the sort that come with their own engine!” She laughed at her own lame joke, and Neil saw the tears on her face. He just about lost it when he looked at the polished black truck sitting on their driveway.

“A
car
? For me? For real?”

He wheeled out to the driver’s door and opened it. The entire side of the cab had been altered, and there was a second door that opened backward, to open up the entire cab. There was no chair on the driver’s side, and there was a ramp, which slowly dropped down to the ground. He wheeled himself up into the cab, and his dad explained how he would have to strap himself in. As part of his rehab, Neil had taken a driver’s license at the clinic. They had hand-controlled cars for their paraplegic patients, and this model was no different, except it wasn’t a beat-up old wreck. It was a brand new, shiny black pickup, and it was his.

“Chris, get in, let’s take her for a spin.”

Chris jumped around to get in and noticed Phil watching them. “Join us!” he said, pulling Phil along.

“Now you boys be careful, okay?” Neil’s mom called. “It’s been a couple of years since you’ve been behind a wheel, Neil. Chris, promise me to look after him?”

Neil met her gaze and saw the conflict in it. Her happiness at finally being able to fulfill one of her son’s greatest wishes and the fear of letting him go was getting her all mixed up.

“Don’t worry, Mom. This is so beautiful. I promise I’ll take it slow. I’ll savor this. Thank you. I love you guys so much.”

Slowly, he pulled out from the driveway and drove away, leaving his parents behind. He was in seventh heaven. How had they known? Of course he missed not having his own car. He didn’t want to rely on Chris, his mom or dad having to drive him—even if it was only a few miles—and he didn’t want to be the “cripple” who needed to take a cab. The cost of renovating the house had been so expensive that his parents had been unable to afford a car for Neil. The modifications were significant, which was why he would never have asked his parents for it.

“This is amazing!” he said.

Chris laughed. “I can tell. Your smile goes clear around your head.”

Phil chuckled, too. “The one good thing about this is that I’ll get my own car, because I won’t be able to borrow yours, ever.”

“Yeah, and I’ll never have to worry about not having it around when I need it.”

The engine purred like a kitten, and the hand controls were super responsive. After twenty minutes, they returned to the Horner house and parked the car. Neil’s mom and dad were still outside.

“So, how does it feel?” his mom asked.

Neil turned the door knob and watched in amazement as the doors opened and the ramp descended. He unbuckled himself and rolled off the ramp and closed the doors again.

“It’s absolutely amazing. Thank you so much. But how could you afford this? I mean, a car like this costs at least eighty K?”

“That, my son, is none of your concern. Let’s just say we’ve been saving up, and the state of California has some interesting programs for people like you. Enjoy it, but enjoy it responsibly! So, dessert anyone?”

The rest of the evening went by in a haze. He couldn’t remember what his mom had made for dessert or what they’d talked about. He was so focused on the car in the driveway that nothing else mattered. When they parted that night, Neil was at a loss for words. He had no idea how to properly thank his parents. He was the happiest teen in California. Boyfriend, car, and the prospect of college around the corner. Life was bliss!

***

The phone rang in the middle of the night, and at first, Neil didn’t react. He wasn’t used to Chris’s new phone and its ring tone. He was still half asleep when he heard Chris answer the phone.

“Hey, sis, what’s up. Is everything all right?”

After that, silence. Neil immediately knew that something was wrong. He scooted over to Chris and tried to listen in on the conversation. It was his older sister Alexandra.

“…they were killed on the spot. You have to come out here now. I need you. I can’t deal with the kids and Frank. We need to get a hold of Junior…” Then she began to sob again.

Chris was shaking, and Neil could barely contain himself. He held Chris tightly. “What happened?”

“My parents…” he began, but was interrupted by sobs.

Neil took the phone from his hand. “Hi, Alexandra? This is Neil. I’m Chris’s boyfriend. Can you tell me what happened? What can we do?”

The voice on the other end seemed surprised. “Boyfriend? He never told me.”

“I’ll explain later. Please, what can we do?”

“Chris needs to come home. Our parents were killed in an accident a few hours ago. Frank is in the hospital. I don’t have all the details. The sheriff just left a little while ago. I need to get over to the house, look after the kids. They don’t know yet. I can’t handle my own as well as Jack and Jessica. I can’t, and I won’t. Chris needs to come home.”

She sounded quite adamant, and Neil understood. Given what Chris had told him, Frank required a lot of attention.

“We also need to inform the navy. Junior needs to come home. We need to bury our parents…” Those last words were enough to break her resolve, and Alexandra, too, broke into sobs.

“We’re coming out as soon as we can. We’ll let you know when you can expect our arrival.”

Neil hung up. There wasn’t much more to say, and he wanted—needed—to focus on Chris.

“Babe, come here…”

He pulled Chris toward him, allowing Chris to rest his head on his chest.

“I’m so sorry for your loss, babe, but we’ll get through this, you hear? You’re not alone.”

Chris cried and cried, unable to rein in his grief, but after what seemed an eternity, he calmed down enough for Neil to ask, “Did she tell you what happened?”

“Not much, just that they had been hit by a semi as they were leaving the homestead road onto the highway. But there’s not much traffic. I just don’t see how Dad could’ve missed that truck coming. And Frank was with them. He’s in the hospital. I need to get there.”

“Of course. Why don’t I call my parents so we can make arrangements here? I mean, there’s little point in us just hitting the road, right? And we’ll need to have a plan for the café and everything. I guess the best way would be to fly out there?”

Neil turned on the lights and grabbed his own cell phone. It was three thirty in the morning.
Wow, Mom’s not going to be happy.
He dialed their land line. His dad picked up after a couple of rings.

“This is Joe Horner speaking.”

“Hey, Dad. Sorry to call you in the middle of the night…” was as far as Neil got before he heard his dad literally jump up in bed.

“Are you okay? You didn’t wreck the car, did you?”

The thought made Neil chuckle, despite the seriousness behind his call. “No. It’s about Chris. His parents have been killed, in an accident in Lubbock. We need to fly out there. His sister needs help with the funeral arrangements and looking after the kids. Chris’s youngest brother, Frank, remember how I told you about his cerebral palsy? Alexandra has three little kids of her own and seems a bit overwhelmed.”

“I’m so sorry to hear that. Why don’t you get some coffee ready and your mom and I will come right over, okay?”

“Thanks, Dad.”

***

The Horners knocked on the door less than twenty minutes later, and more tears were shed as Chris fell apart in Sarah’s embrace. Seeing Neil’s parents alive and well was not only a reminder of the loss he’d just suffered but also how different his loved one’s relationship was with his parents. Apart from Neil, Sarah and Joe Horner were all he had left in the world.

“What happened?” Joe asked.

Chris tried to get himself together enough to explain. “Apparently, they were hit sideways by a semi truck. I don’t understand how that could happen. I mean, it’s all open highway, and it must’ve still been daytime. They were taken to the hospital, but only Frank survived. I don’t know how badly injured he is. My parents didn’t make it.

“The police visited the farm, but neither Jack nor Jessica was home. By the time they got a hold of Alexandra, she called me right away. I need to get there to help her. Jack will be fine. He’s grown up, and I guess so is Jessica, but Frank will need help.

“Alexandra’s got three little ones, and she’s not the type to look after kids anyway. She’s kind of a mess. Got pregnant young with the wrong guy and was more or less forced to marry him. He’s a total loser and spends most of his money on beer and horse racing, leaving her and the kids alone. I can’t even think what would happen if Frank ever ended up there.”

Joe nodded gravely. He looked to Sarah, who simply nodded.

“Okay, boys, here’s what we’re going to do. Neil, book us on the first flight. Phil can stay with Grandma for a couple of days, while we go and help you sort things out. Since you haven’t been trusted with any of the family dealings lately, I think it might be good to have someone older come along. Sarah can help you and your sister sort through the financial side, while Neil and I can help you with anything practical, like arranging the funeral or dealing with the hospital. What do you think?”

Chris flew into Joe’s arms and cried, “Thank you, Joe. You have no idea how much this means. You are the best parents anyone could ask for.”

Neil agreed, quietly squeezing his mom’s hand before moving over to the desk to check flights.

“We could fly out of Monterey in three hours, or San José at noon, and arrive at the same time. Oh, no, wait, here’s a morning flight from San José, at seven. Let me call the airline. We might just make that flight if we hurry…”

NINE HOURS LATER, they disembarked from their plane in Lubbock and proceeded to the car rental desk. They didn’t bring much luggage. Not only was there almost no time to pack, they didn’t know how long they’d have to stay. They drove straight to Alexandra’s house.

She lived in a small house on an unpaved street on the southeast side of town. She opened the door, and Neil almost gawked at the sight; Alexandra was positively huge. Not that he had a problem with people being overweight, he just hadn’t expected Chris’s sister to look so different from him. She was wearing sweatpants and a t-shirt; a cigarette hung from the corner of her mouth, and she was holding a toddler on her arm.

“I was wondering if you’d ever make it. You need to get over to UMC right away. That is, if you want to see your brother.”

She didn’t acknowledge the others in any way, nor did she greet Chris. Neil was about to say something, but Chris raised his hand.

“Why don’t you lead the way? We’ll follow you.”

“Can’t. Don’t have a babysitter. Once you’re done at the hospital, can you go get J&J some food? Skip ain’t coming home tonight, late shift, so I’m kinda stuck here.”

Chris simply nodded at her and got back in the car.

“Is she in shock?” Joe asked.

Chris shook his head and pulled out of her driveway. “She could be, but I don’t really think so. Alexandra’s just disillusioned. She’s your typical western gal—popular in school, cheerleader—then she got knocked up by some random guy, forced to marry him, and kind of let go. She used to be really pretty and happy, but ever since she married Skip, she’s been a mess. She takes it out on anyone who gets in her way, which is usually her kids. My parents and her husband avoid her for the most part. Or avoided.”

There was fresh sadness in his voice. He drove to UMC as quickly as he could, anxious to learn about his brother’s state. He also needed to get to the ranch, to check on Jack and Jessica.

“And you are?” The nurse at the children’s ward wasn’t impressed with Chris and his entourage showing up in her territory.

“I’m Chris Miller. I’m Frank Miller’s brother. How is he?”

The expression on the nurse’s face changed immediately as she tried to put two and two together. “Oh, honey, I’m so sorry about your folks. What a terrible loss, and what a burden on you and your siblings. You’re not the navy son, are you, judging from that hairdo of yours? You must be the California one, right?”

“Yes ma’am, I am. Tell me, how is Frank?”

“Frank is a really lucky kid. He was barely injured in the accident, just a few bruises to his face. He could theoretically be discharged, but your sister thought it wise to leave him here, as there was no one to look after him. Come on, I’ll take you to him. Your friends will have to stay here, though, we can’t have too much of a circus.”

The nurse’s voice was so icy that the Horners froze in place as she led Chris away.

When Chris walked into the room where Frank was, his heartbeat quickened, and he was close to tears. The fear his baby brother had been seriously hurt was gone, replaced by relief, and anger toward Alexandra for dumping him here, mixed up with his own remorse for having to leave him alone with his folks.

Frank was asleep, and his face looked so peaceful, but the scrapes and bruises reminded Chris of the accident that his brother had been in.