Life Changes - 1. Chapter 1

Life Changes – Chapter 1

“I have to have a talk with your mother.”Neil stood in the doorway looking totally distraught.

“What’s up?” I set down my English homework and gave him my full attention.

He stood there biting his lower lip and slowly shifted his weight from one leg to the other. I immediately noticed the difference in Neil, my brother was usually the one who took action, not look for help. This whole change in him was beginning to get to me.

“Look, if it is really important talk to dad. You know my mom freaks at anything. What’s wrong anyway?”

Neil was my half brother, and usually he was the one I went to with problems because he was the strong one. My whole life he has always watched over me. His mom and our dad had been married first, but she had been hit by a drunk driver when he was five. It took dad four years before he was able to move forward with his life, meet and marry my mom. The accident changed both Dad and Neil. Dad stopped drinking completely. It made Neil aware of the dangers of drinking and driving, so now he never drank anything with alcohol. By the time I came into the world, it was just before Neil turned ten. As far back as I could remember, he had been a great big brother.

Neil walked in and closed the door. I watched as he came and sat on the bed, turned to me, then began to cry.

“Shit, Neil. What’s wrong?” I reached out and hugged him. I’ve never seen Neil break down. Hell, I had never seen such a bleak look in his dark eyes.

“Frank’s … Frank’s.” His voice was so choked with emotion that couldn’t figure out what he was trying to say. I simply held him and let him cry himself out.

“Frank’s dead.” His voice sounded hollow and he shuddered in my arms.

I knew who Frank was; I’d been around him my whole life. Frank lived across the street and was Neil’s best bud. They’d gone through school together, and then to college. When Frank got married last year, Neil was his best man. Now he was dead?

“Are you sure?” I felt rather stupid even asking, Neil wasn’t the type to breakdown over nothing.

Neil nodded and looked at his feet.

“There was a car accident.” He was barely speaking above a whisper. “The hospital called. A truck hit their car after it had been slammed into by a car. Flipped their car and rolled it. Frank died instantly. Maryann is in intensive care. They saved the baby, but they aren’t sure she is going to make it.” He was all cried out and curled up on the bed instead getting up to find mom.

Now I knew why he wanted mom. She might not have been any good at problems in our family, freaking out over someone not wearing matching socks, but give her a real emergency and she could make things happen.

I pulled my blanket over Neil and went downstairs.

“Ralph, where the hell is your brother?” Mom slammed down the package of meat she had been holding as she continued her tirade. “I swear that man comes home from Graduate School and doesn’t even stop to say hello. You would think by now he would have learned some manners!”

I waited for her to run out of breath. It was just easier with mom; once she got rolling you couldn’t get a word in edgewise.

“Neil is lying down on my bed.”

Mom’s eyes narrowed and I knew she was about to let go with another round of what was wrong with my brother, but I cut her off.

“Frank is dead, Mom. He was killed this afternoon, and evidently Maryann isn’t doing too well either. “

Mom’s whole demeanor immediately changed as she slipped into emergency mode. She seemed to freeze, but her eyes never left mine.

“Oh my god. How did that happen? How is the baby? Do you know?”

“There was a car accident. Neil said they saved the baby, but Maryann might not make it.”

Mom set down the onion she had been holding and went to the sink. She washed her hands and then grabbed her cell.

“Let your brother sleep. Call your father and tell him about Frank and Maryann.”

I nodded as she dialed her phone.

“Lisa, I’m so sorry. I just heard. Yes, we will be going to the hospital as soon as we can. What? No, I will get Neil there then. Yes, of course.”

I texted Dad while mom spoke. I knew he was driving and didn’t want to upset him by actually calling like mom wanted. I knew he wouldn’t read the text till he pulled up outside.

“Did you call your father?”

“Tried but went to voicemail, Mom.” I lied as slid my phone back into my pocket. “Texted him so he will know.”

She nodded her head.

“Lisa is a mess. I don’t know what I would do if that had been you or Neil.”

Lisa Weaton was Frank’s mom. She’d babysit me if Neil was out and the ‘rents were going out. Ashton Weaton was a pilot. I knew he would have to fly home and probably wouldn’t be here till either late tonight or early tomorrow. It was something I’d been hearing about ever since I could remember, and why Frank had been a constant visitor here.

“I’m going to have to get Neil up.”

Mom looked really worried.

“Why? He was literally crying his eyes out a few minutes ago. Once he was finished he curled up and fell asleep.”

“Lisa was telling me that after Maryann got pregnant, Lisa fought with them both to make a will out. Lisa wanted them to leave everything in Lisa and Ashton’s hands if something ever happened. Frank wouldn’t hear of it. He said his parents were barely there for him, and since Maryann’s parents were already in their seventies there was no way they could leave a child in their care either. They named Neil sole guardian and he was given power of attorney, and named as their right to life candidate as well. He needs to be there if a decision has to be made whether or not to take Maryann off of life support.”