11
Victor looked like an ostrich in his gold blazer, white short-sleeved dress shirt, tie of many colors, and black slacks as he high-tailed it back to his office. Sheila, his secretary, was busy on the telephone upon his return, but she looked up when she heard the door slam.
As soon as Victor sat down, he immediately unlocked his computer, entered his password, and began to search for Afrika’s profile in the student records. Finding her history, he examined several different pages, entered some information, clicked save, sat back, and smiled. The smug look became a nasty laugh and he jumped up from his chair for a premature celebration. He kissed his index and middle finger and tapped the computer screen. “Ms. Afrika Bailey, your tail is out of here. And I’ve got something for you, Mimi. I’ve got something for you.”
ASIA WENT TO THE LIBRARY, FOUND A STUDY ROOM, PLOPPED HER books and cell phone on the table, and sat down. Only one other person inhabited the room, and she was lost in the pages of her American History textbook. Asia had an hour before her critical thinking class—enough time to brush over some notes. This was the class she enjoyed the most; it pushed her to think in ways that were well beyond the norm. She hadn’t declared her major yet, but Political Science was definitely an option.
Her cell phone began to vibrate and do a slow tango on the table. Asia recognized her mother’s number and immediately answered it, whispering into the phone.
“Hey, Mom. What…Who’s this?” Asia asked, a crease forming across her face, her voice raised. Jerking her head, Asia jumped up from her chair. “My mother…what? Accident? Oh my God. What hospital? Thank you, thank you.”
Asia hung up the phone and began to pant, pulling at her ponytail. “Oh my God, my mother.”
The other occupant in the room pulled her head from the pages of the textbook she was reading and looked at Asia in alarm. She threw the book down and got up and went to a tearful Asia, who paced the floor while punching numbers in her cell phone.
“Are you all right?” the girl asked. “Can I help you?”
For the first time, Asia noticed the other person in the room. She was tall with even brown skin, and her braided hair was pulled back from her face and pinned into some type of ball. She was very attractive but much older than the average student.
“Thanks, but no thanks. I just found out that my mother was in an accident, and I need to call my dad.”
“Why don’t you let me do that for you? You’re shaking like a leaf. By the way, my name is Leslie.”
“I’m all right. Thanks anyway, Leslie.” Asia placed the phone to her ear, but after a minute pressed the END button. She looked up at Leslie. “My dad works on campus; I’ll walk over to his office.”
“Who’s your dad?”
“Mr. Victor Christianson. He’s the director of the Admissions Office.”
“Oh,” Leslie said, her voice trailing. “Dog.”
“Thank you for your help.”
Leslie stared after Asia as she left the room.
Asia ran toward her father’s office, unable to keep her composure. She needed him in the worst way. The man on the phone said that her mother was in an accident and was being taken to the hospital.
With the back of her hand, Asia wiped her face and walked into the lobby of her father’s office. Sheila, his secretary, was on the phone when she entered, but raised her hand and waved for Asia to hold on; she’d be with her in a moment. After a minute passed, Asia ignored Sheila and barged into her father’s office. Sheila was up in a second, running behind Asia.
Sheila put on the brakes when she saw Mr. Christianson staring at her like she didn’t belong. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to recognize that the look meant get the hell out of here.
“What is it, Asia? Are you all right?”
“No, Daddy, I’m not all right. Mom was in an accident and we need to get to the hospital.”
“An accident? Are you sure?”
“Yes,” Asia said, somewhat annoyed. “I received a call from someone who was at the scene of the accident and had her cell phone. They’re taking Mom to Duke.”
Victor got up from his seat. “Let’s go.”
VICTOR SAT STONE FACED IN HIS SEAT, HIS KNUCKLES WRAPPED tightly around the steering wheel, navigating his way to the hospital as if the car was on autopilot. Small beads of perspiration glistened on his face…a small droplet settling on his lower lip.
Asia sat and stared straight ahead with earplugs plunged deep into her ears, her iPod offering a temporary distraction. Every now and then she’d steal a glance at her father who had yet to ask for details of her mother’s accident.
“We’re here,” Victor finally said with a strange, confused look on his face.
Without another word, Victor and Asia hopped from the car and walked into the Emergency Room. The waiting room was full and screamed of sickness. People of all ethnicities, sizes, and colors were there for one reason or another. Young kids whined for their mothers to hold them and the drab-colored walls made Asia want to puke.
Victor marched to the information window with Asia right behind him. “I’m looking for my wife, Brenda Christianson. She was in a car accident, and I was told she was brought here.”
“Just a minute; let me check,” the plump lady with the rosy cheeks said.
The rosy-cheeked lady got up from her chair and shuffled to a triage nurse and said something to her, pointing in Victor and Asia’s direction. In the next minute, she shuffled back to the chair.
“Your wife is being seen by the doctor. I believe she’s going to be released. Go to window number three, and they’ll give you access to where she is being treated.”
“You say she’s going to be released?” Victor asked, relief in his voice.
“That’s what I was told, but the doctor can tell you more. Next.”
“Thank you, Lord,” Asia said out loud. “I was so worried.”
Victor and Asia followed an orderly through the maze in the Emergency Room until he stopped in front of a closed curtain.
The orderly pointed. “Mrs. Christianson is in here.”
Victor pulled back the curtain and walked into the area, followed by Asia, and found Brenda sitting up and receiving instructions from the doctor who was attending her. Purple bruises were visible on her face and arms, but there were no other severe lacerations as far as they could tell. Although her face ached, Brenda looked up and offered a faint smile, relaxing the moment the pain became too intense.
“Hi, Mom,” Asia said, reaching for Brenda’s hand when she extended it. “How do you feel?”
Brenda’s eyes searched Victor’s and then settled on Asia’s. “With a little rest, I’ll be like new again. I’m ready to go home.”
“You aren’t rushing too fast?” were the first words out of Victor’s mouth.
“My husband and daughter,” Brenda said to the doctor.
Before Brenda said another word, the attending doctor turned around. “Hello, I’m Dr. Thorn. Brenda has sustained a few bumps and bruises, but she’ll be all right, considering the banging her car received from all account of things. She needs to take it easy and get plenty of rest—something she could do from home. If she complains of severe headaches or backaches, especially in the first forty-eight hours, she should come back and be reevaluated as soon as possible. She’s free to go now.”
“Thank you, Dr. Thorn,” Brenda said, scooting off the table with Asia’s assistance. “Pass me my jacket, Asia, and we can be on our way.”
“Thank you, Dr. Thorn, for taking care of my wife. I’ll make sure she follows your instructions.”
“Good deal, Mr. Christianson.” Dr. Thorn took a last look at Brenda and left the room.
“I’ll need a rental car,” Brenda said to Victor as soon as the doctor’s white coat disappeared beyond the curtains that cordoned off her makeshift room.
“You won’t need one for awhile. You heard Dr. Thorn; you need rest so you can get better. If you hadn’t gone behind my back and tried to see Mimi, this wouldn’t have happened,” Victor whispered.
“Did you miss your lunch with Nikki’s mom today?” Asia asked.
“I was on my way to meet Mimi when I had the accident. It was weird. A car came out of nowhere and hit me in front of the restaurant. It was a hit and run. Mimi doesn’t know, and I’m sure she’s wondering why I didn’t show up. I’ll have to give her a call.”
“Your mother is hard-headed…running after her past. I bet she thinks I had something to do with her accident.”
Anger replaced the placid look on Brenda’s face.
“You need to concentrate on getting well,” Victor continued, not missing a beat. “You aren’t going to be running anywhere anytime soon.”
“What’s up with you, Dad?” Curiosity clouded Asia’s face.
Brenda said, “I’d also like to know, Asia.”
“Nothing, nothing. Your mother wants to rekindle a friendship that will do more harm than good. What kind of friend walks out on you without a word, never to be heard of again?”
“Isn’t it up to Mom to decide who she does or doesn’t want to see?” Asia said, her head cocked like she was the grownup in charge. Victor scowled at her.
“Victor, I don’t know what’s gotten into you,” Brenda butted in. “I’m a bit shaken up, but I walked away from that accident without one broken bone. Thank you, Lord. Now take me home.”
“Mom, I’m coming home with you,” Asia insisted.
“No, sweetie. You go on back to school. Momma can take care of herself.”