Page 57 of The Baxters
The last thing Landon remembered was hitting the floor. His head smacked against the cold tile and in the recesses of his mind it registered that he’d been hurt. That he might even be bleeding.
But he couldn’t make his hands and arms move. And then there was nothing but the darkest black night.
When he woke up, he was in the hospital, hooked to an IV and pain medication. Jalen was sitting in the chairat the end of his bed. “Thank God.” His friend clearly meant the words. He stood and came to Landon’s side. His face was pale. “Blake… you almost died.”
Nausea welled up in him and his head felt like it had been hit with a baseball bat. “Where… what happened?”
The story made him sick still today. As the shots hit his bloodstream, Landon fell to the floor and his head split open. But worse than that, the alcohol had nearly killed him. Jalen had rushed him to the hospital, where doctors pumped his stomach and stitched up his head, a gash just into his hairline near his right ear.
Later that morning, the doctor came to see him. “You were barely breathing when your friend brought you in.” He frowned at Landon. “Son, you can’t drink like that.” He grabbed hold of the railing that ran alongside Landon’s bed. “Kids like you don’t get it. It takes half an hour for alcohol to make it from your stomach to your bloodstream. That’s why you keep drinking, long past when it’s safe.” He sighed. “I’m going to refer you for counseling. I think you need it.”
Landon was embarrassed, disgusted with himself. “Yes, sir.” He looked up at the doctor. “I won’t drink again.”
“I hope not.” The doctor jotted something down on his chart. “We’re keeping you another day to make sure your head’s okay. You suffered a minor concussion in the fall.”
Jalen had waited in the hall while the doctor talkedto Landon. Now as the man left, Landon’s friend returned. “Bad, huh?”
“How could I be so stupid?” Landon stared at Jalen. The gravity of the situation was still hitting him. “Jalen, man. You saved my life.”
“I never should’ve told you to drink.” He didn’t laugh. There was nothing funny about the situation.
After that, Landon kept his word. He told his parents what had happened, attended the counseling sessions, and most of all he hadn’t touched alcohol since. Not a sip. No interest. Landon was positive he would never drink again. Sure, his heart was broken from the news about Ashley. But that wasn’t license to nearly kill himself. Even if he hadn’t almost died, Landon had turned to the wrong source to comfort his pain. Alcohol could never help him navigate the loss of Ashley Baxter.
Only God could do that.
Landon bid the terrible memory good riddance. Again. Then he grabbed the gift for Cole, slipped the card inside, and climbed out of his car. Maybe he shouldn’t be here. Maybe the magic of the wedding was all the two of them would ever have. Or maybe tonight he would find the answer to the question that had haunted him since the accident.
Why had she stopped loving him?
He started on the pathway leading to the door and hesitated. He had no way of knowing what was about to happen or how things would go with Ashley. Just that heloved her and he had to talk to her. Maybe this was their chance. A gust of wind blew against his back, as if God were pushing him toward the house. He needed to get inside. There was a reason he was here tonight.
Now he could only beg God to show him why.
18
So far the after-party was nothing but awkward bits of conversation and strange moments of silence. Exactly the way Ashley had pictured it. Brooke and Peter and little Maddie sat at one end of the table.
Their parents anchored the other end, and in between were Erin and Luke on one side and Ashley and Landon on the other. Before Landon got there, Brooke had asked their mom why he was invited. “It’s just family tonight.”
Her mom had been adamant. “We haven’t spent time with Landon in forever.” Her tone was slightly defensive. “He’s like family to all of us. Or at least to me and your father.”
Brooke shot Ashley a look, as if to say she had tried. Ashley nodded her thanks and rolled her eyes. It felt good to have her oldest sister on her side. They weren’t always this close when they were growing up.
Now Ashley looked around the table. No telling which storm was worse—the one brewing outside or the one here in the dining room. Luke seemed extra grumpy, as if the charm of the wedding reception had completely worn off.
Cole was hungry, off his sleep schedule and wanting to eat. Elizabeth set him in his high chair and was feeding him carrots and turkey from a couple baby food jars. Ashley watched her mom open a small bottle of juice, pour it into his sippy cup and hand it to him. “I loved seeing you all dance tonight.” She glanced at Landon and then Ashley. “You two looked as good as you did back in high school.”
A quiet cough came from Brooke, as if she was not so subtly cautioning their mother against doing this. Reminding her not to push Ashley toward Landon. Not to say things that would only add to the tension.
Ashley would thank Brooke later.
The meal was more of a snack, or maybe with the dark cloud hanging over the table everyone had lost their appetite. After a painful half hour, Ashley stood and grabbed a glass of water from the kitchen. Landon took her lead and helped clear the table.
After that everyone got up, and Ashley found Brooke at the sink rinsing her plate. “Hey… thanks for that, earlier.” She shook her head. “Sometimes I don’t think Mom knows how she sounds.”
“Whatever happens or doesn’t happen between you and Landon, it’s your choice.” Brooke seemed as frustrated as Ashley felt. “This whole thing is ridiculous. Him being here.”
Ashley was about to agree when Luke walked up and stood a little too close to her. “Look over there.” His voice was quiet and angry. He pointed to their mom still feeding Cole. Luke glared at Ashley. “How do you expectyour son to know who his mother is? When you do none of the work?”
