Lucas jumped when his phone rang. He looked at the Caller ID absolutely stunned before answering it.
"Hello?"
"How is he?"
Sure enough it was her.
"You heard?"
"Who hasn't? Luke, what the hell is going on down there?"
Lucas sighed.
"Nathan is out of control. He's losing it."
"I know. His game was on the other week and he was drunk."
"I know."
"I can't believe he would do that."
"Believe it, Hales."
"But what about Megan? Their baby?"
"He's happy about being a dad and he and Meg are working out their differences and stuff."
She cringed when she heard him talk about Nathan being a father. Little did he know, they all know, that she was about to double his pleasure, so to speak.
"Is…is he going to be in trouble for any of this?"
"Legally, probably not. Dad and Megan's father are in cahoots so they bought his way out of that one."
Haley closed her eyes. The image of Dan interfering made her sick to her stomach. Some things would never change.
"What about basketball?"
"Nothing is official yet and it won't be until the press conference later this week but the NBA isn't happy. They are suspending him indefinitely and I'm sure he's gonna lose a lot of endorsements."
"And the other guy? The man on the bicycle…"
"Michael Sanchez is his name. He's improving, thank God, but he's not out of the woods yet. He has a long, painful recovery ahead of him.
Haley's hands twirled around the phone cord.
"Poor Nathan. He must be a wreck."
"He is. He's literally stunned walking around like a zombie. I haven't seen him this bad since you…"
Lucas stopped mid sentence.
"Luke…"
"Sorry, Hales."
"No. It's okay."
"I'm on my way back there later today. We're sort of camped out in Charlotte waiting to see what happens. Brooke is there, too."
Haley sighed sadly.
"This is killing me, Lucas. Maybe it shouldn't because it isn't my business or my place but it does. Even before the accident and even now, every time I see his face on TV or in pictures, he looks dead. It's so sad. What happened to him?"
"Life", Lucas breathed.
"Or maybe me?"
"I don't know", Lucas answered uncomfortably.
"I wish I could see him or talk to him."
"I know but that's not…"
"A good idea. I know. Trust me, I've thought about it."
"He's so fragile and everything is so complicated and so many people are involved. It just might make things worse."
"I know."
"And the media is all over him like white on rice. They're brutal. You coming here would light one hell of a fire."
"Don't I know?" she almost laughed. "The paparazzi just loves me."
"Yeah, about that…"
"So I guess you know my little secret, too."
"Yeah, I do. Um, I…"
"It's okay."
"You sure? I mean, are you okay? Is the baby okay?"
"Yeah. Um, everything is fine."
Lucas rubbed his aching head.
"How did we get like this, Buddy", he let out a tired sigh into the phone. "Sometimes, I wonder how things got so messed up."
"Yeah…me, too."
"Hales…"
"Luke, can you just do me a huge favor? Please?"
"What?"
"I know I can't, so will you look after him for me? Take care of him."
"I always do."
"I know but he needs you now more than ever."
"I know."
"And you have to be there for him. It won't be easy, Luke. And he won't make it easy on you but whatever you do, don't turn your back on him."
He could hear the desperation in her voice and it touched him. She still loved him and obviously he still loved her. God, where had things gone wrong to the point of no return? Nathan needed someone but it wasn't his brother. The one person he had always needed couldn't come to him. It was just too hard.
"Okay, Haley."
She wiped away at tears and tried to control the growing emotion in her voice.
"I'm sorry…"
"About what?"
"Everything. Everything…"
"Haley…"
"No. This is all my fault."
"Hales!"
"I have to go", she hung up.
She barely got the receiver in its holder before she broke down in a sea of misery. With her head in her hands, she sobbed harder and louder than ever before. Wiping her face, she stood and walked down to the lobby of her building. A pay phone was adjoined to the wall. Fishing in her pocket for change, she found some quarters and loaded them into the slot. NO INCOMING CALLS said the phone, which in all likeliness meant it couldn't be traced. She tried desperately to remember the number and called it as her baby began kicking furiously against her inner walls.
"Yeah?" came the gruff answer.
Haley's heart melted as she felt her knees grow weak.
"Who is this?"
She put her hand over the speaker and turned her mouth away from it.
"It's so good to hear your voice", she said.
"Hello? Is anybody there?"
"I know it's hard and I know you messed up but you're only human and people make mistakes. It's going to be okay."
"Who the fuck is this?"
"I wish I were there to hold you, protect you…make the pain go away like I vowed I would forever. Oh baby, I am so sorry."
"Look asshole, I don't know how you got this number but don't call back again! What part of 'no fucking comment' don't you jerk offs understand?"
She heard the distinct click and knew he had hung up. Her heart sank again as her hands found her vibrating tummy.
"I love you, Nathan", she whispered. "Forever…"