"What the fuck is she doing here?" Adam jumped up and headed towards her.
Mia was prepared for the verbal beating she knew was coming her way, Adam was clearly pissed off.
"Adam, calm down." Kim tugged on his wrist, his hand curled into a fist at his side, "Don't make a scene."
Adam stopped on a dime, "Excuse me?" He was flabbergasted, "What the fuck Kim?" He was livid and it didn't help that his wife had told him to calm down, "She's not supposed to be here, she knows that.
"Yes. I know." Kim was just as miffed as he was but she knew blowing up at her wouldn't help anyone least of all Deacon. "She's here and we need to let her be and we will deal with it later. You need to calm down, Adam. You can't go off on her not here and not now. Go back and sit down. I will handle Mia."
Adam's shoulders sagged and Kim knew she had gotten through to him, she stood on her toes and kissed his cheek. "Go sit down. I will be right back."
Mia was relieved when Adam spun on his heels and went back and sat down on the bleachers, "Hello Kim."
Kim smiled tightly, "Hello. You know you're not supposed to be here, correct?" Kim watched as Mia nodded her head, "yet you're here." She had her hands on her hips, "As is Deacon and he's already spotted you. I'm not going to hurt that boy by sending you home, but know that I'm furious as is Adam. Your visitations are limited and mandated by the court, this isn't an approved visit. I will be contacting our case worker, this is unacceptable."
"I know..it's just..." Mia started to explain herself.
"No. I don't want to hear it. Steer clear of Adam. You can watch the game, you can see Deacon when it's over but then you're gone."
"Fine." Mia replied, "He's still my son, don't you forget that. I know I did horrible things, that I was a horrible mother. I've changed. I just want to watch my son play soccer..is that so bad?"
"No its not" Kim countered, "There was a right way to do it though, just showing up here was not it."
"It was impulsive. I saw the schedule last night when I picked Deacon up, and he talked about it all night and this morning at breakfast. Kim, he was so excited, so proud to be the captain. I was wrong to just show up, but I knew if I called and asked Adam would've said no."
Kim couldn't argue with her, Adam would've said no and it would have been well within his rights. "Probably. This wasn't the answer though. You can stay and watch the game, talk to Deacon once it's over and then you'll need to go. Adam will leave you alone for today."
"Thank you." Mia said softly, "I just want to see my son play."
Fuck.
Kim hated the entire situation, she was firmly planted in Adam's corner but she sympathized with Mia, not that she'd ever tell her that. She chalked it up to her own motherly instinct, sure she wasn't a mother but she had certainly felt like one for the last few years.
She had cared for Deacon as if he was her own flesh and blood and she loved him as such. She was the one to care for him when he was ill, the one who would read countless books to him as he tried to avoid going to sleep. She wiped his tears after Adam had scolded him, she explained why he had gotten in trouble and she had assured him that no matter what he did both she and Adam loved him, and would love him forever.
She couldn't imagine being kept from her child, like Mia was but she also couldn't wrap her head around the fact that Mia failed her son. Mia's troubles were of her own making and that was hard to ignore, it was also why the sympathy she felt for Mia never lasted long.
Adam watched as Mia sat down at the far end of the bleachers, Deacon had already spotted her and the smile on his face was hard to miss. He was pissed that she had shown up unannounced and most definitely uninvited but Deacon was thrilled and that lessened his anger just a bit.
"What did she say?" He asked Kim the minute she returned.
Kim rolled her eyes a bit, "That she just wanted to see her son play the sport he loves, she saw the schedule at the house. She couldn't resist." Kim rested her arm on Adam's thigh, "On one hand I don't blame her..I mean I understand why she wanted to be here. She handled it wrong though, that's what bothers me."
"Story of her life, isn't it? She's here now. Nothing we can do about it. Though the last place she needs to be is with these crazy ass soccer moms, I swear Braden's mom has wine in that cup she never puts down. Tommy's mom too. They're all hot messes. I guess she'd fit right in"
"Be nice" Kim slapped his leg playfully, "They're not that bad."
Mia scanned the assembled crowd, she clearly was an outsider and the other moms had already looked her up and down and she was surprised when one approached her.
"You must be Deacon's mom, right? I'm Kate. Braden is my son, he's number 13." Kate pointed to the field, "You're Adam's sister, yes?"
Mia nodded, "Half sister. Don't forget that, Adam likes people to know that. We're only half siblings."
Kate waved her hand around dismissively, "Adam's a bit of jerk sometimes. He's a stick in the mud if you ask me. Your boy is good. He's one of the best players, Braden absolutely adores him. We should get the boys together one day."
"Maybe. It's a bit complicated at the moment though but soon." Mia felt her discomfort begin to fade away, the more she spoke with Kate the better she felt. She felt like a mom again, "Deacon loves this sport and this team. It's all he talks about when he visits with me."
"You're getting him back soon, right? I know Coach is worried we will lose Deacon from the team if he moves back in with you" Kate informed her. They didn't know the details of why Deacon lived with Adam, they certainly did their fair share of gossiping about it. Kate knew that was probably why Adam was a jerk when he was at a game or practice he had to know how much they whispered about Deacon and why he lived with Adam and Kim and not his mother.
Soccer moms and gossip were never a good combination and the coach had read them all the riot act after practice just a few weeks ago.
"I'm hoping to have him home soon, you won't lose him though. I'm local and I won't uproot him from school or this team. He's had enough change in his life already I won't add to it. He loves his aunt and uncle and I won't take him away from them."
The game was winding down, Deacon had played a helluva game he scored two goals and was all over the field. They trailed by a goal and it was clear to all in attendance that Deacon was desperate to get the game tied.
Adam watched as Deacon stole the ball and charged down the field, "Go Deacon go! You got this buddy! Go up the line!" He roared.
Kim stood behind him, she was on her toes as she peered over Adam's shoulder, "Go baby! Kick it!" She yelled.
Suddenly Kim felt sick and it was as if it was happening in slow motion, an opposing player managed to sideswipe Deacon with his hip and Deacon fell ass over tea kettle and landed on his out stretched arms.
Kim gasped, "Adam..." she gripped his arm, hiding her eyes in Adam's back. This was the part she hated, Deacon always played hard and he took more than a few tumbles and always bounced right back up, until now. "he's not getting up..."
"Shh.." Adam grabbed her hand, "He's okay. He probably had the wind knocked out of him." He watched as the coach jogged out onto the field and squatted beside Deacon.
"Hey Deacon..." Coach John placed his hand on Deacon's back, "you alright?"
Deacon groaned, "No" he laid on his stomach, his left arm cradled close to his chest and supported with his right hand, "my arm..it hurts. Bad." His face was sweaty and covered in dirt. "I heard a snap...it looks gross now."
"Okay. Just breathe for me okay?" John looked over his shoulder and whistled, "Adam!"
Kim pushed Adam towards the field, "Adam, go. He's hurt." She quickly glanced over at Mia who was white as a sheet, "Hurry Adam."
John helped Deacon to roll over on to his back and it took all the man had to not vomit at the sight of the kid's arm. He knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that the arm was broken. His left arm had snapped just before his wrist, it was a gruesome injury and the last thing he wanted was for Deacon to see it. He grabbed a towel from the referee and draped it over his arm.
"Don't look at it man." Coach told Deacon, "Just try and relax and stay as still as possible your uncle is coming."
Adam ran over, "Deacon, buds."
John held him up, "Adam..it's broken. It's bad. Really bad." He signaled for the paramedics on the sideline, "He needs to go the hospital."
"Fuck.." Adam grumbled, "Yeah?"
"Yeah."
Adam hung his head and took a deep breath before kneeling beside his nephew. "I'm sorry buddy. You need to go the hospital, get your arm taken care of. I will carry you to the car"
John stopped him, "Adam, go in the ambulance. They can start pushing meds and he won't have to wait around."
Adan shook his head, "Yeah. Alright." He looked down at his nephew's arm and tried not to puke. He had seen a lot in his years on the force, some really horrific shit but none of it held a candle to this. To seeing this kid, the kid he loved beyond words in such pain.
Kim stood just off the field, watching intently as Adam leaned over Deacon. The referee had pulled all of the players off the field, Kim knew in that instant that it was a significant injury. Typically the kids would all 'take a knee' on the field for the injured player and within a few minutes the kid would jump up and brush himself off and play would resume.
Deacon wasn't jumping up.
"Kim!" Mia touched her back, "Is he okay?"
Kim shook her head, "I don't know. It's not good though, they've called over the paramedics. I'm hoping they'll say he's fine." She knew it wasn't unusual for the paramedics to assess an injury, the league provided them for every game and they rarely transported a player. Most of the time the player had the wind knocked out of them or they were just a bit stunned, nothing serious and nothing that required transport.
Adam locked eyes with Kim, "Come here!" He stepped back as the paramedics worked on Deacon, "Darlin', his arm is broken. It's a bad break, they're going to transport him. You should ride with him."
"What?" Kim felt her heart drop, "My goodness..Adam.."
"I know. I'm sick. I hate it. Deacon's in shock I think. The adrenaline is definitely flowing through his veins right now." He slipped his hand in Kim's and led her over to Deacon.
"Oh, Baby." Kim cried as she kissed his head, he had been placed on the stretcher and his arm immobilized, "You're such a brave boy."
Deacon pulled the oxygen mask off his face, "I want mommy."
It was a knife to her heart, "She's here. Mia!" Kim hollered, she tried to ignore the ache in her stomach as she stepped aside allowing Mia to comfort Deacon.
"Hey mister man" Mia grabbed his right hand, "That was a big fall, huh? You're going to be okay though. I promise. The doctors will have your arm fixed soon."
"We need to go" the paramedic moved to load the stretcher into the back of the ambulance, "Who is coming with?"
Kim stepped up, "I am."
Deacon protested, "No! I want my mom. Please mommy."
"Yes. I'm coming honey." Mia pushed past Kim and climbed in the back of the bus.
"We're headed to Med, you can follow us."
"Mommy it hurts so bad.." Deacon cried, the adrenaline that had been running through his veins had waned and left him feeling the excruciating pain.
His arm was splinted making it impossible to see the break, but his entire arm and had swelled leaving his fingers incredibly puffy.
"I know baby." She looked out the window at the city flying by, "We are almost there. I promise."
The medic finished inserting the IV, "You'll feel a bit better soon. This medicine here is the good stuff. Just give it a few seconds. Mom's right though, we are almost there."
"You okay? I know that had to hurt. It killed me" Adam was a bit blindsided by Deacon's request. The kid always wanted Kim when he was sick or upset, Adam was used to losing out to Kim, but having Mia be the one Deacon wanted was a hard pill to swallow.
"I'm worried about Deacon, my heart hurts for him. I hate that he's in pain" Kim explained.
"Kim..he wanted her.."
"Adam, she's his mother. Of course he wanted her. I don't like it but that's because I'm selfish, I want to be by his side. He needs her though, he will always needs her."
Mia paced the length of the corridor, Deacon had been taken for X-rays of his arm and they refused to allow her to go with and it had her on edge. Seeing her little boy in such pain was almost more than she could bare. She had let him down more times than she could count and it felt as if she was letting him down once more.
Kim spotted her first, "Mia! Where's Deacon? How is he?" She asked, they sailed out of her in one breath, "What'd they say?"
Mia folded her arms, "It's broken, we already knew that though. They think he may be admitted and have a surgical repair first thing in the morning. It all depends on how the X-rays look."
She would never get the image of her son's broken arm from her memory the injury was grotesque. As awful as it looked the doctors were hopeful that he wouldn't a surgical repair, that all it would take was some brute force and some pain medicine. They'd be able to realign the bones and then immobilize for foreseeable future. That was best case scenario, Worst case? They'd have to use a few screws and plates to get the arm repaired.
"Well, let's hope for good news then." Kim smiled, "Have they given him something for the pain yet?"
"They did in the ambulance. So he was feeling a little better a bit loopy as well. You know how that goes.."
"You can go now." Adam finally spoke up, "We will call you with an update." He made his way towards Deacon's room, grabbing her purse off the counter, "We will say goodbye to him for you."
Adam could feel Kim's eyes on him, he knew she was shooting him an icy glare, he turned to her "What?"
"Are you serious right now?" Kim was livid, "Mia can stay."
"Really?" Adam cocked his head to the side, "Are you serious?" He tossed her own words back at her.
"I am." Kim stood her ground, "Deacon wants her here, he needs her here. Here is where she will be."
"Thank you" Mia turned to Kim.
"Don't thank me. I didn't do it for you, I did it for Deacon." Kim watched as Adam turned his back on them, his body language told her all she needed to know. She had pissed him off, and she knew once they left the hospital there was a good chance things were going to get ugly between them. She knew in her gut allowing Mia to stay was the right move, it was what was best for Deacon.
"You're mad at me?" Kim asked Adam, "It's not about her and it's certainly not about you, Adam. It's about Deacon. That's it."
"You blindsided me..you defied me!" Adam seethed.
"Excuse me? Defied you?" Kim was aghast. "Today has been stressful, so I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that just come out of your mouth. That you didn't just speak to me as if you were my father."
"That's not what I meant and you know it" Adam whispered, "She shouldn't be here!" He was no longer whispering and he froze when Deacon returned, they both got up and followed the doctor into the room.
"How's my baby?" Mia peppered his head with kisses, "You okay honey?"
"Uh-huh. The X-rays didn't hurt too bad." Deacon was still a bit loopy and he was struggling to keep his eyes open.
"Unfortunately our boy here will need surgery. Both bones are broken, he will need to have it pinned. We've got him on the books for first thing in the morning. Our goal for tonight it to keep his pain under control and let him rest."
"Can I stay?" Mia asked.
"Of course." The doctor replied.
"Thank you."
"You bet. Rest up big guy, we will get that arm good as new in no time." He tugged lightly on Deacon's foot. "The staff is getting your room together on the peds floor."
"Let's go Adam." She tugged on his shirt, "Deacon needs to sleep." She kissed his cheek, "We love you buddy and will be here first thing this morning."
Adam followed suit, "Sleep tight man. I love you. You're tough as nails, I'm so proud of you." He kissed his cheek he ignored Mia as he left the room.
Kim sighed, "Please call us if things change."
"Absolutely." Mia tucked the blankets around him, "drive safe."
Kim found Adam just outside the doors to the hospital, she could almost see the steam coming from his ears he was furious.
"Adam..."
He held his hand up, "I don't want to hear it. I should be there with him, I've spent the last four years at his side and now I need to back off? Fuck no! It's bad enough she expects me to just step aside. The fact that you expect the same? That hurts." He jammed his index finger against his chest to accentuate his point, "Fucking hurts. You sided with her!"
"That's not what I did!" Kim roared, "I did what was best for Deacon, she's his mother. He loves her. He needs her, you need to accept that Adam. She's not going away, she will be getting him back." She wasn't going to fight with him in the hospital parking lot, "We can talk about this at home. Let's go. I'm exhausted."
"I need air." Adam told her. He grabbed his keys from his pocket, "I'll walk."
Kim grabbed him, "Don't be stupid, Adam."
"Just go Kim." Adam told her.
