Page 5 of Salvaging My Heart
“Car accident? Megan didn’t say anything. What happened? Is Kim all right? Where is she? Shit, I wonder if Megan knows,” Todd asked rapidly, looking at the crowd for his wife and waving to her.
As the short blonde walked up to them zipping up her coat, she teased, “Shouldn’t you two be paying attention to the game?”
“We’re winning by twenty-four. I think we’re doing fine. Did you forget to tell me that Kim was in a car accident?” Todd corrected his wife. Aaron watched as her eyes narrowed as if she was trying to figure out what language her husband was speaking.
“What the hell are you talking about? Where’s Kim?” Megan asked and started looking around. “She never misses a game and neither does her mom. Where are they? What happened?” She started to sound panicky so Aaron waved Leif over.
“Everything okay?” Leif said as he got close.
“Leif Hansen, this is Todd and Megan Smalls. Their son Henry is on the team with Nick. Todd, Megan, this is Nick’s uncle. I’m sure he can tell you more about what happened to Kim and their mother while I finish coaching the game,” Aaron said as he turned back to the game. Before Aaron got two steps away, Leif grabbed his arm, stopping him.
“I appreciate you sticking up for Nick. I’m not sure I would’ve been as polite as you were,” he said, softly. “Maybe I could buy you a drink in thanks?”
Aaron stood there, blinking. Did he just ask me out? Thinking over Leif’s words for a minute, shock hit him. He did ask him out. “You don’t need to do that?” Yes, his first instinct was to give Leif an out. Why would he want to go out with a garbage man that coached Pee Wee football?
“There are a lot of things that Ihaveto do but this isn’t one of them. This is one thing that Iwantto do. So have a drink with me?” Leif looked sincere.
“I’d like that. My number should be on the football schedule that Kim has. Give me a call.” A cheer had them all turning to the field. “Shit. I should know what just happened. I’ve got to pay attention.”
“Not going to say I’m sorry I had your attention. Maybe for the timing of it but that’s about it. I will be finding that schedule which I’m sure is pinned on the corkboard,” Leif said before he stepped over to Todd and Megan. “Are you friends with Kim?” Aaron heard Leif ask as he walked back to the sideline. Guess he had a date.
CHAPTER FIVE
“Now remember, no hitting the bed or touching your mom’s leg, Squirrel,” Leif reminded Nick as they walked into the hospital on Sunday.
“You recorded my kick yesterday, right? When I hit the extra point?” Nick asked as he bounced next to Leif. Lord, this kid had energy.
Before he could answer Nick, he noticed an older couple coming out of the hospital. Leif stood to the side for an older gentleman pushing a woman in a wheelchair. As he watched, Nick stepped up to the couple and stopped them.
“Sir?” Nick said politely.
“Why hello young man,” the man replied. “What can I do for you?” Leif looked at the couple. They appeared to be in their seventies, and the man was wearing a Vietnam Veterans ball cap. He didn’t think he knew them, but he’d been away for years. Maybe it was someone that Kim knew.
“You’ve already done something for me. Thank you for your service,” Nick said, holding out his hand to the gentleman. Leif glanced at the sky as his eyes watered. Damn, his nephew was a boy to be proud of. After blinking a few times, he focused back in on the gentleman. Seems Nick had gotten to the man too.
The gentleman cleared his throat and grasped Nick’s hand. “You’re welcome. Your father seems to have raised you to be a polite young man. Taught you respect,” he said. Leif watched Nick shake his head.
“That’s not my dad. My mom and Mimi taught me. Uncle Leif is in the Navy. He showed me how much people do that are in the military. They miss a lot but still love their family,” Nick ended with a shrug.
“Well, they’ve done good. You take care,” the man said releasing Nick’s hand. He started to push the wheelchair again. “Gotta get my best girl home now.”
Leif turned to watch the older couple move down the sidewalk. He felt Nick slide his hand into his and squeezed it.
“Squirrel, you did a good thing,” he told his nephew. “Those that served back then didn’t get appreciated.”
“Mimi told me stories about when Papa came home. It was bad.” Leif wasn’t exactly sure what to say to that. He remembered watching his dad at the VFW; it was like he wanted to be there but also wasn’t comfortable. Damn, it had been a while since he’d thought about his dad. Leif closed his eyes for a second to catch his wayward thoughts. Those were for another time. Right now it was time to go let his sister celebrate her son’s victory.
“It wasn’t the best, Squirrel, but Mimi got Papa through it. Now, let’s go show your mom how good you did. Then we’ll visit with Mimi and let her see it. She’s probably chomping at the bit to get out of here too.” Leif wasn’t sure when they were going to let either of them out of here, but he was sure that it wasn’t going to be as fast as they wanted. Wasn’t that going to be a great conversation — not.
“Mimi isn’t going to be happy. She doesn’t like to sit still.” Nick sighed loudly.
Leif chuckled and walked them into the building. “No, she doesn’t. Is that who taught you to go, go, go?”
Nick laughed and ran toward the elevator, shouting over his shoulder, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Aaron winced as he climbed out of his truck at the football field. To say practice wasn’t going to be pleasant today was an understatement. Why people couldn’t pay attention when they were driving was a mystery to him. Let’s get behind the wheel of a three-thousand-pound vehicle and then send some texts or watch a TikTok. Let’s not think about those just going about their days, doing their jobs as we crash into the sixty-thousand-pound garbage truck.
Luckily, him and Ben had been in the cab of the truck and not behind it tossing in trash bags when the moron t-boned them. He’d refused the ER visit but maybe he’d been too hasty. He was pretty sure he had bruised if not cracked ribs now. Real Einstein with that move. He’d see how he was feeling after practice then decide if he needed to go to the Acute Care Clinic.
