Damaged Souls (Broken Man)

chapter Ten


“I’m so sorry I lost your heels,” Delaney apologized for losing Amanda’s shoes.

“I don’t care about my heels, honey,” she replied as she sat down and stroked Delaney’s hair. “I’m just glad you are okay.”

“Thank God Greg was close by,” Delaney looked up at Amanda, calm enough to speak after taking a couple sleeping pills. “Where is he.”

“He’s just outside talking to Jack,” Amanda had to lie as she hoped the sleeping pills would take effect quickly. “I’m glad he was there, too.”

“He really took care of me,” Delaney started to cry again. “I was so scared. I don’t know what I would have done if he hadn’t gotten there so fast.”

“You’re safe now, Delaney,” Amanda reassured her as she worried about Jack and Greg. “Let’s get you ready for bed, you can stay here with me tonight, okay.”

“Okay, Amanda, thanks,” she responded as she sat up and Amanda unzipped her dress.

“Let’s get this off of you,” Amanda helped Delaney to her feet to undress.

“I’m so tired,” Delaney said as her gown dropped to the floor and Amanda worried she had given her one too many pills. “Where are Jack and Greg,” she forgot what Amanda had told her as she stepped out of her dress.

“They are outside, we needed some privacy,” Amanda made up a story as she helped Delaney into one of her nighties. “Why don’t we get back into bed.”

“Okay,” Delaney didn’t resist in her exhausted state.

I hope they are safe, Amanda remembered the concerned look on Jack’s face when he realized Greg was gone. Please God, let them be okay, she prayed as she got under the covers with Delaney.

“Honey, can I get you anything,” she asked Delaney as she felt her head move to her chest and she put her arms around her.

“No, I’m okay,” she yawned sleepily and repeated herself one last time. “I’m sorry about your heels.”

“Go to sleep honey,” she responded simply as Delaney obeyed her wish and Amanda quietly started to cry.

* * *

I’m not on time, Jack quickly realized as he turned onto Mitch’s road and avoided the cavalcade of cars speeding in the other direction.

“What has he done,” Jack asked himself as he parked behind Greg’s truck and quickly surveyed the landscape as he ran up the stairs, hoping to see Greg amongst a few stragglers fleeing the scene. This can’t be good, Jack thought to himself as he ran through the wide open front door and entered the house

The apparently bombed out living room was eerily quiet as Jack searched for signs of life and was thankful to hear the sounds of sirens approaching in the distance. No one here. Nothing like the crowded parties Mitch’s father had hosted in the past.

Maybe Greg ran like all the other kids, Jack found hope and tried to calm down as he entered the kitchen. Maybe he is safe. But why would his truck still be out front, Jack again realized why he was there.

“Greg,” Jack exclaimed as he entered the game room and saw his lifeless body splayed on the floor. “Greg,” he yelled again as he tried to wake him, kneeling down and listening for his breathing as the sirens grew louder. Don’t touch him, Jack’s first aid training kicked in as he realized the paramedics would be there in a minute and he worried about the gaping wound oozing blood from his head.

Oh my god, he’s not going to make it, Jack finally understood the extent of the tragedy as he touched his neck to check for a pulse.

* * *

“Jack, where are you,” Amanda was relieved after seeing his name flash up on her phone. “Is Greg okay.”

“Try to calm down, Amanda,” Jack replied slowly and she immediately knew something was wrong.

“Tell me what happened,” she whispered as she snuck out of bed without disturbing Delaney.

“It’s going to be okay,” he reassured her. “I’m not quite sure what happened yet, but when I got to the house, everyone was gone.”

“Where was Greg, what did he say,” Amanda panicked as she stepped into the hallway and quietly closed the door.

“Amanda, I need you to stay calm. I am going to tell you what I know.”

“Okay, Jack,” she did her best to follow his instructions.

“Greg is going to be okay, but he is headed to the hospital.”

“Oh my God, what happened.”

“I’m not sure yet. I got there too late and when I found him he was unconscious and it looked like there had been a fight. Thank God the ambulance arrived right after me, and I think he is going to be okay.”

“What do you mean you think he is going to be okay, did you talk to him,” Amanda again started crying.

“I haven’t been able to yet, but he has regained consciousness and that is a good sign. The doctors are going to do some tests, but I need you to do me a favor and send me his mother’s number. Can you do that, Amanda.”

“I’ll send it to you in a second,” Amanda regained control as she realized he needed her. “Jack, are you okay.”

“I’m okay, don’t worry about me,” he reassured her. “I’m following the ambulance to the hospital, but I want to call and prepare Susan before I arrive. How is Delaney.”

“She’s doing better. I gave her a couple of sleeping pills and she is sleeping,” Amanda decided she should get back to Delaney. “I’m going to go check on her, but I’ll text you that number in a second. Jack, promise me you will be careful.”

“Don’t worry, Amanda. Just take care of Delaney and I will call you when I know something more. I love you.”

“I love you too,” Amanda replied as she realized he was gone.

* * *

“He has a concussion and a serious laceration that is going to require multiple stitches,” the doctor told Jack what he already knew as he again experienced the sickening feeling he had felt after finding Greg unconscious and bleeding on the floor. “But the good news is that he is conscious and talking.”

“Can I see him,” Jack asked, realizing his need to see Greg awake and alive.

“Not yet,” the doctor denied his request. “He is heavily medicated and about to go into x-ray. We also need to check for a possible skull fracture.”

“When will I be able to see him,” Jack altered his question, concerned about the possibility of a skull fracture.

“It will be about an hour,” the doctor replied as he looked at his watch and followed procedures. “Sir, are you family.”

“Not quite,” Jack said, unsure of how to reply.

“I understand,” he responded, oddly compassionate for a doctor. “It would probably be best for everyone if you contacted his family.”

“I’ll take care of it right away,” Jack replied as he realized he had forgotten about Greg’s mother. “But, do me a favor. I don’t care what it costs or what you have to do. You just take care of him, okay.”

“We are doing everything we can. Try not to worry, I will let you know when you can see him.”

“Thanks,” Jack replied and shook his hand before quickly heading to the exit.

* * *

Jack checked his dashboard clock as he turned into Greg’s neighborhood and saw it was 2:30. I wished she had answered the phone, he thought to himself and hoped Susan was sober enough to be of help.

I’ll carry her to the hospital if I have to, he decided as he pulled into the driveway and got out of his car. What am I going to tell her, he asked himself as he prepared to knock on the door.

No answer. She has to be home, Jack decided as he banged the door harder. Still no answer. “Wake the hell up,” he yelled to no one in particular as he practically knocked the door down with his fist and anticipated the problem he was facing.

“Who’s there,” Jack was relieved to hear a voice behind the door.

“Susan, it’s Jack Anderson. I need to talk to you.”

“What do you want.”

“I just need to talk to you. I tried to call.”

“What about.”

“Open the goddamn door,” Jack finally lost his patience.

Jack heard the door unlock and watched as it opened a crack and she poked her head into the opening. “What do you want.”

“Susan, let me in, I need to discuss something with you,” he repeated his request as calmly as possible.

“Fine,” she opened the door in time for Jack to see her stumble away.

Oh my god, Jack thought to himself as he entered the house and was shocked at what he saw. A half empty bottle of vodka sitting on the end table next to the couch where apparently she had passed out. An ashtray full of cigarette butts dangling precariously next to the remote. A once beautiful woman now unable to even stand up slumped on the couch.

“What do you want, and where is that son of mine,” she finally seemed to realize why he might be there.

“There’s been an accident,” Jack tried to be delicate. “Greg’s going to be okay, but he is in the hospital.”

Susan was slow in her reaction, seemingly unable to process this information in her state. “What kind of an accident.”

“He’s going to be okay,” Jack avoided the details. “But I need you to go to the hospital with me.”

“What kind of an accident,” she finally registered what was happening and started to cry. “Is Greg okay.”

“He’s going to be fine,” Jack reassured her as he sat down and took her hand. “But look at me Susan, I need you to focus. We need to get to the hospital, and I need you to come with me. Do you understand.”

“Lets go,” Susan replied as she stood up and Jack realized his message had finally gotten through to her.

* * *

“I think he is going to be okay,” Jack provided Amanda relief when she finally heard back from him at four AM.

“What did the doctor say.”

“He has a concussion and a pretty serious laceration, but thank God, no skull fracture.”

“Have you talked to him.”

“Just for a minute. He is a little foggy and they have him on medication, but I think he knew I was there.”

Amanda became emotional as she thought of what could have happened. “Thank God, Jack. I don’t know what I would have done if anything had happened to him.”

“He’s very lucky. The doctors said it could have been much worse. They are going to keep him over night for observation.”

“I’m glad, let’s not take any chances,” Amanda replied as she started to plan Greg’s recovery. “How is his mother.”

“She’s okay, we can talk about her later. Is Delaney still sleeping.”

“Yes she is. She doesn’t know anything yet.”

“Delaney doesn’t need to know yet, we will talk to her in the morning.”

“When will you be home,” Amanda asked and hoped it would be soon.

“I’m going to stay here for a couple more hours, but I’ll be home before Delaney wakes up. Thanks for keeping your eye on her.”

“Of course,” she answered but suddenly felt insecure. “Jack, are we going to be okay.”

“We are all going to be fine,” he replied but for once Amanda didn’t believe him. “Please don’t worry, we will get through this.”

“I know we will Jack,” she started to feel a little better. “Look after him for me. Everything is under control here, do what you need to do. I love you.”

“I love you too, Amanda. I’ve got to go.”

* * *

Jack hung up his phone and breathed a heavy sigh of relief as he turned to walk back to Greg’s room. “Have I forgotten anything,” he whispered to himself as he went over his mental checklist and thought back over the night.

I’ve done all I can do for now, Jack realized as he entered Greg’s room. Too bad I didn’t do more earlier, he again blamed himself for what had happened. I failed Delaney. I failed Greg. I failed my entire family.

How did I let this happen, Jack asked himself as he looked at Greg sleeping. At least he was there for her, there to do what I failed to do.

He paid a heavy price, Jack felt himself getting choked up as he surveyed the damage.

Jack barely recognized him. They had shaved his head in order to stitch up his wound, and his face was swollen almost beyond recognition. Thank God he’s still breathing, he was thankful as he watched Greg breathe peacefully.

I let him down, Jack realized as he caught a glance of Greg’s mother passed out in the chair next to the bed. Because of some kind of stupid man code they had always maintained between then, never able to show any weakness, never able to show any vulnerability, never able to say what they were feeling. I’ve set a poor example, Jack kicked himself for not allowing Greg to talk about his problems at home and for letting him live in that terrible environment. I should have listened more closely, I should have helped.

I knew exactly what he was going through, growing up without a father and a mother who had basically checked out. I could have at least been there to talk to him about it, to let him know that he wasn’t alone in what he was feeling, in what he was going through. But, I chose to ignore the problem and hope that somehow it would magically disappear.

And I’ve done the same thing with Delaney. I thought I was helping her with my laissez faire father routine, but that’s not what she needed. She needed me to watch over her, she needed me to protect her, but I didn’t do any of those things. No, I failed her. I allowed her to leave the house with that animal. I sent her out with those wolves.

I knew what Mitch was, the acorn doesn’t fall far from the tree. Why would I suddenly think it might, why would I ever give him the benefit the doubt? Why would I put Delaney in danger?

I’m no better than my own father, Jack punished himself as he tried to understand his incompetence. The acorn really doesn’t fall far from the tree, he realized he had mirrored his father’s indifference, replicated his neglect of his parental duties. Never again, Jack vowed to change as he softly placed his hand on Greg’s and whispered a thank you as he started to cry.

“I don’t think you can hear me, but I want to apologize for letting you down. Thank you so much for being there, Greg. You will never know how much you mean to me, how much you mean to my family,” Jack paused as he tried to gather himself. “I promise to be better, and I promise to never let you and Delaney down ever again.”