Chapter 42
Hayes
After the incident with Bella, my worry for Tanner has amped up. His headaches aren’t getting better, and it worries me.
It left me with only one choice.
“Hayes, are you in here?” A voice calls from out in the locker rooms.
“Back here,” I call.
I’m sitting at my desk when the door to my office opens. Dr. Harrison is standing in the doorway, looking uncomfortable.
I know being here is hard for him, but I didn’t have any other choice. I can’t force Tanner’s parents to get his headaches checked out, and even if they did, I’m not sure I would trust them. So, I’m bringing Dr. Harrison in to do a physical for all the boys. It’s the only solution I can think of. I sent home a permission slip to all the parents with the caveat that the physicals were required to be able to play on the team.
Surprisingly, there was very little fuss. I was expecting Eric to throw a fit, but I haven’t heard a word out of him.
I haven’t told MJ, though. Her relationship with her mom is healing, but things are still strained with her dad. I figured it would be better if she doesn’t know until after it’s over—that way she doesn’t have to chance running into him.
“Dr. Harrison,” I say, standing to greet him. “Thank you for coming.”
He walks to my desk, shaking my hand and getting right to the point. “Where can I set up?”
“We’ll set you up in the locker room, and I’ll send the boys in one by one. Does that work?”
“Works fine,” he says, voice gruff.
I made sure he knew about Tanner before coming here, so I don’t have to tell him now.
Without anything left to say, I walk him to the locker room so he can set up. His eyes dart around, taking it in. There’s heartbreak in his stare.
I wish there weren’t.
I wish his son were still here, but I also wish he had a healthy relationship with his daughter.
They both need it.
“Sir,” I say, turning my ball cap in my hand. “Before you get started. I want to say something, and I hope you don’t take offense when I say this.”
“What is it, Hayes?”
“Your daughter needs you, sir. And I think you need her too. I’m not trying to tell you what to do—but I think you are both very stubborn—her more than anyone. Don’t write her off. She can be prickly sometimes, but it’s part of her charm.”
He doesn’t look at me, but I can see the tears in his eyes. “She doesn’t want anything to do with me—and she has every right not to. I won’t try to control her life any more than I already have.”
“Love isn’t controlling. Show her your love. She wants it, even if she pretends she doesn’t. That’s all I have to say. Thank you for listening.”
He nods, turning his head and unpacking the supplies he brought with him.
Patting the side of the locker, I say, “I’ll let you get to it. Thanks again for coming.”
Then I walk out, finding the boys to send them in.
______________________
Three hours later, all the physicals are over, and we are sitting in my office, waiting for Tanner’s parents to arrive—all of them.
There’s concern in the set of Dr. Harrison’s face as we wait, but I don’t ask. I want him to explain to everyone what he found.
I sent Tanner home. I didn’t want to pressure him to sit in a room with all three of his parents. The situation is stressful enough for him already. I didn’t want to make it worse.
My pen taps against my desk, and Dr. Harrison’s eyes zero in on it.
I stop, feeling chastised like a child.
The door to my office bursts open, and Lily rushes in. I also invited her to the meeting as a school official.
We haven’t talked a lot lately. She offers me an awkward smile and sits beside MJ’s dad, offering him her hand. “I’m Lily Carson. The principal.”
“Dr. Matthew Harrison.”
“It’s good to meet you, sir.”
He offers her a stiff smile. “Likewise.”
“Lily,” I say, bringing her attention to me, “Tanner’s parents will be here soon. I need to know you’re on my side for helping this kid–that you’ll have my back with whatever Dr. Harrison discloses. I know all the parents signed the permission slips, but you’ve seen Eric and Josephine. They have a mind of their own.”
Lily’s face doesn’t reveal anything, a testament to how far our friendship has fallen.
“I’ll do what I can, but, as the principal, there are some lines I can’t cross.”
Irritation burns in my chest. “And I think some lines are worth crossing for the betterment of a kid.”
She purses her lips but doesn’t comment.
A knock at my door has me standing and walking over to open it. Josephine, Eric, and Theo all stand on the other side of the door, throwing glares at each other.
At least they aren’t directed at me.
“Come in and have a seat. There are enough chairs for everyone.”
When everyone is settled in, I start the meeting. “I think everyone should be well acquainted here, but I’ll make the rounds anyway. This is Dr. Matthew Harrison, the head of the hospital. Dr. Harrison, these are Tanner’s parents. Josephine, his mom. Eric, his stepdad. And Theo, his dad. And you all know Ms. Carson, well Theo, you might not. This is Tanner’s principal.”
Theo’s eyes dart to where I’m pointing at Lily. There’s appreciation in his gaze as he takes her in.
“Nice to meet you, Ma’am.”
She dips her head, and I continue the meeting. “As you know, Dr. Harrison conducted physicals for all our players today.”
“And Tanner was fine, right?” Eric interrupts. “Just like I’ve been saying.”
Theo’s glare is murderous as he looks at Eric. There’s obviously no love loss there.
“Actually, I’m going to let Dr. Harrison speak on that. He would be able to answer that question best.”
All eyes turn to the man, who has sat stiffly in his chair since he’s been in my office. He clears his throat. “Prior to coming today, I reviewed Tanner’s medical records that were provided with the permission slip, and after careful examination today, I think that Tanner has what’s called post-concussive headache syndrome.”
“What is that exactly?” Lily asks.
“Well, it is often dependent upon the injury, but in essence, it’s when a concussion takes longer to heal than expected. Sometimes, it can be hard to detect because symptoms can include emotional and behavioral changes, which in teenage years can be blamed on a lot of things.”
“But can he still play football?” Eric interrupts, and I won’t be surprised if I have to break up a fight before we leave here.
Eric is pushing Theo’s buttons, stepping all over his place as a dad, and I wouldn’t blame the guy if he punched him.
“That will be up to parent discretion. Tanner’s brain itself has healed. I viewed the imaging from a prior appointment. The headaches are just lingering. I suspect they will go away, but the problem with this type of thing is that the next time will almost certainly be worse. And in a sport like football, you can guarantee there will be a next time.”
Josephine speaks up, “We’ll get him the best helmet. Safety, after all, is our number one priority.”
Theo’s face turns red. “If that were true, Jo, you wouldn’t want him playing in the first place. He’s not playing. It’s not worth it.”
Josephine ignores him and turns back to Dr. Harrison. “What are the consequences for him receiving another injury of this sort?”
“Besides the fact that it’s a brain injury?” Dr. Harrison asks, sarcasm thick in his voice. “Next time, the effects could be permanent and debilitating.”
“But you can’t guarantee that?”
He sighs, “No, ma’am, I can’t guarantee that.”
“Well, it seems to me,” she says, wiping her hand over her skirt, “that we are all just basing this on what-if situations. I don’t see the harm in letting the boy play.”
Theo stands up, knocking his chair back. His hands are in fists, and he’s barely containing his anger. “I said he’s not playing, Josephine.”
She turns her head toward him with such cool indifference it sends a chill through my bones. “And as the parent with sole custody, I say you don’t have a choice in the matter. In fact, I don’t even know why you are here.”
“Throwing money around to gain custody doesn’t make you a parent, Jo. Think about what’s best for our kid. Do the right thing for him for once in his life.”
Her answer is merely a sneer. Theo sits back down, defeat written in the set of his shoulders.
“Now that that’s over, I suspect the harassment of our kid will stop,” Eric says, throwing a conniving look at Theo.
I meet Eric’s gaze. “You are delusional. We are trying to help Tanner, and you’re willing to put him at risk for a game.”
Dr. Harrison flinches, looking out the window to escape.
I didn’t mean it as a dig toward him, but I know he can’t help but relive the past with this conversation.
“As the doc said, it’s our choice. My wife and I will be going now.”
They stand to leave, and I turn toward Lily. “Isn’t there anything you can do?”
She shakes her head, “I’m sorry, Hayes, but there’s not. My hands are tied.”
I don’t miss the look of disappointment that shutters Theo’s gaze.
Eric and Josephine reach the door, and Eric turns around. “I expect my boy to be playing on Friday, Coach.”
And with that, they take their leave, not bothering to hide their smug looks as they go.
Dr. Harrison stands, extending his hand to me. “I’d best be going to, Hayes. Let me know if there’s anything else I can do.”
“I’ll walk you out,” Lily says, and I’m glad. I don’t know if I can take sitting in a room with her right now. I know she has procedures to follow as the principal, but I’m frustrated that this kid will get hurt because of them.
Theo and I are the only two left in my office when the door closes behind them.
He clears his throat. “Thank you for trying to take care of my kid.”
I nod, lips pinched together because the sad reality is I failed.
He stands to leave, and even though there was sincerity in his voice, I can’t help getting in a parting shot.
“Theo,” I say, and he stops, turning to face me. “Next time you need access to people in high places, you come to me, not my girl. I’m not saying those people can make a difference—as can be seen from today—but MJ deserves better than to be used for her family name—even if it was for your kid.”
His eyes are dark as he stares at me and gives a sharp nod.
Then he’s gone, and I’m left with more worries than I had before.