39. Callaway
39
CALLAWAY
“Got a sec, Hayes?”
The team just finished a four-hour practice before the weekend, and my body is spent. Most of the practice was spent on fielding drills, which means nonstop pitching sequences and balance drills for the pitchers.
AKA, hell.
I haven’t had a chance to catch up with Leggins in a while, so him calling me over is the perfect chance to follow up with my friend.
“What’s up, Coach?”
Today is the first day I’ve seen him since our away game in Cleveland. Once we returned, Coach Myer told us Leggins would be out for the next week of practices and games due to a family emergency.
He encouraged us to hold off on reaching out and give him some time to communicate when he’s ready.
So that’s what I’ve done.
But the more significant part of me, who cares about my friend and coach, wants to see if there is anything I can do to help him .
I’m the last one in the locker room, sitting on the wooden bench, lacing up my sneakers. Coach Leggins sits beside me with his hands locked out before him and exhales heavily. “Tay’s got cancer. Stage four breast cancer.”
Holy shit. That was unexpected.
What can you even say to someone with this kind of news?
Nothing. Nothing will make it better.
“Jack. I’m sorry, man. How is she?”
He doesn’t seem angry, just exhausted. I can imagine this is a weight he’s been battling alone for some time now. I don’t know much about his marriage to Taylor, but it’s evident he cares about her.
I’m not convinced it's love, but she is his wife, which requires some amount of care.
“About as good as she can be. We knew something was going on, but not this. The past week only validated it.”
I hate that I had no idea.
“What happened, Coach? How does one wake up and have breast cancer? Make it make sense.”
He rubs his scruffy beard between his fingers, a mannerism I’ve learned he does when he’s stressed.
“Hell, if I know. She had been complaining of pain in her left breast, and her lymph nodes on the same side were swollen. It's not the kind of inflammation where it comes and goes—it only stays and gets worse over time. It started with that. Then the rash showed up, and then the pain. It happened so fucking fast, Hayes. I don’t know how to help her. The doctor confirmed Monday that she needs chemo, which thankfully she agreed to, but there’s no guarantee it’ll work. This bitch of a disease has spread like a wildfire in her body. It’s in her stomach and everywhere, man. ”
Jesus.
There’s always someone who has it worse than us.
It puts life into perspective.
Losing your child and then possibly your wife. The pain sounds unbearable.
“I don’t know what to say. I know my words mean shit when you’re the one going through it, but know I’m here. The team too. If you or Tay need anything, we’ve got your back.”
He leans back, exhaling calmly, and pats me on the shoulder, “Thanks, man. Let’s keep this between us until I find time to tell the team.”
I nod in understanding.
Satisfied with my answer, he stalks back towards his office without another word.
I know he hides in there to avoid reality. Now that I know the severity of it, it all makes sense.
It’s the first weekend the team has off in what feels like ages.
There are so many things to do with so little time.
My conversation with Leggins is sitting heavy. I know there isn’t much I can do to help him and his wife, but fuck if it doesn’t make me feel bad for the guy.
I need to chat with our captain, Mack, and look into organizing a fundraiser for Taylor. Whatever we can raise might not be much in the grand scheme of things, but at least it’s a move in the right direction—nothing like battling cancer on top of financial struggles.
Shit ain’t cheap.
Exiting the Makers team clubhouse, I hit the corner and head toward my Jeep. I’ve got a hot date with my heating pad tonight, and she’s at home, warm and ready for me.
As I’m about to load my things up in the backseat, a soft whimper filters through my ears, sounding a lot like feminine crying.
Hold up.
I don’t do well with women crying, but there’s no way I’m going to let one sit around and cry on my account.
Setting my things down, I round the side of my Jeep in search of the sound. I decide to head towards the elevators, where the echoing of her sniffles is resounding quietly. My tall frame comes to a sudden halt, my shock throwing me off kilter at the sight of Bodhi consoling a hysterical Navy— my sister.
I have to tell myself this is my best friend and my sister before I react on impulse.
I know them both. I trust them both.
If something were going on between them, surely, they would tell me, just like I told Navy about Dakota and me.
Despite my confusion, the fact that Bodhi is with her becomes the last thought to cross my mind aside from her being upset. She’s fucking crying, and I need to know why.
Not wanting to interrupt what feels like an intimate moment, I hang back and give them a chance to close things up before I intervene.
Snoop. I hang back to snoop.
“I don’t think I can do it, Bodhi. I’m not strong enough for this.”
What aren’t you telling me, sister?
“Shhh, it’s okay, Navy. You can do it. I know you can.”
Is Bodhi actually consoling my sister? I’m so confused.
“He called me a whore. I’m not a whore, B. I’m not. If I stand up to him, he’ll kick me out. ”
Luke.
Son of a bitch. I’ll kill him.
Tell her, Bodhi. Tell her to leave him.
“Then let him.” Good man . “He doesn’t deserve you anyway. I still think you should talk with Cal. Does Dakota know?”
“She knows I’m not happy with him. I don’t want to burden her with my problems. She has enough to worry about right now.”
Her tears are paralyzing me.
Navy is standing with her back against the wall while her head leans forward onto Bodhi’s shoulder, resting as he soothes her. He looks like he’s in agony; his prominent stance makes his gesture look out of place, but he’s comforting her the best way he can, and that’s all I can ask for.
My sister has always put on a face of happiness, even to the ones closest to her. She gives and gives and gives until she’s left with an empty cup. It kills me. We’ve always told each other we would respect the other's choices. We’re both adults, and being coddled like a child isn’t how us Hayes kids handle our problems.
She can talk to Dakota if she doesn’t want to talk to me. Maybe I should ask Dakota to check on her. I know I won't even have to ask—she’ll be there in a heartbeat.
“Okay, it’s okay. You don’t need to explain. You can stay at the house with us tonight and figure it out tomorrow.”
Homeboy say what?
This has got to be some type of joke. Bodhi doesn’t help anyone. He stays to himself and plays ball. That’s it.
His unwavering attention to her makes my defenses rise.
I could get angry, but I can’t help feeling grateful that she has a safe place in Bodhi. He’s one of the best guys I know. I trust he’ll keep her safe and respect the boundaries he will put in place for himself.
After all, it’s only for a night, right?
Until Navy gets the courage to leave Luke.
Until then.
At least, that’s what I keep telling myself.