Two nurses tore down the hall at a dead run. Crystals last look at Skips hero, after one nurse thrust her aside, was of a man writhing in pain.
Shaken, Crystal felt partially. to blame, although shed done nothing to warrant his outburst. Hed obviously been confused, thinking she was a nurse. Hurrying back to the childrens ward, she caught a glimpse of herself in a window. He could have mistaken her summery white pants and loose-fitting blue tunic for a uniform.
Suddenly she smiled. So big tough Caleb Tanner was scared of a needle? Hed seen her white pants, thought nurse-with-a-needle and gone ballistic. It did make him more human, she decided, gazing at the football she still gripped.
The problem was, how did she tell the boys that shed come back empty-handed? At least Tanners fear of needles was safe with her. Shed never tarnish his image with boys whod already been let down by too many male role models.
Or maybe she would. Boys Skipper and Randys age ought to admire men who were sensitive and kind. Not ones spoiled by fame and fortune.
In the end, though, Crystal couldnt trample their rosy picture of Caleb Tanner. It was hard enough having to brave their crestfallen faces.
Look, guys, Im really, really sorry. You have my solemn word she placed a hand dramatically over her heart I will get Skips ball signed. Even if they ship Tanner to a private facility, Ill track him down through his agent.
Skipper, ever the optimist, accepted Crystals word. Itd be neat if you could get the other guys some signed pictures of Cale in his uniform. Before he got hurt, he handed out a bunch of em at a new brew pub in the Quarter. We saw it on TV.
Why, you little con artist. I failed my mission today, so I have to hit him up for photos, too? Cant you phone the Sinners PR department?
The boys exchanged worried looks. Pablos just back from therapy. He heard a tech say the Sinners wont renew Cales contract because his knee aint gonna heal. Would Nate Fraser know if thats true?
Crystal glanced up from opening her instrument case. Nate Fraser, WDIX-TVs sports director, could find out if he didnt know. Even though Crystal passionately disliked Tanners choice of career, she experienced an unexpected surge of compassion. She knew how shed feel if she had to give up her music.
Ill ask Nate tomorrow. If the storys true, maybe we should wait on that autograph. Tanner might be having a hard time dealing with the news.
Yeah, Skipper said, suddenly empathetic. But maybe hearing that some kids still think hes number one will cheer him up.
It might at that, Skip. Hey, not to change the subject, but would you like me to play some tunes?
Yeah! the boys exclaimed as one. Next to watching TV and talking endlessly about sports, they liked listening to Crystal belt out jazz.
She ran through a few warm-ups. Before long, nurses, residents and interns drifted in to listen. Patients on crutches and in wheelchairs lined the walls.
She didnt think any audience appreciated her more.
THE MUSIC, AS IT HAD on other nights, filtered into Cales private room and shaved the edge off his pain. Closing his eyes, he tried to imagine the talent it took to make an instrument sob and wail like that. A seductive sound. His blood pulsed as the beat possessed him. NAwlins blues certainly made a man feel... something. Any kind of feeling was preferable to the terrifying emptiness hed plunged into earlier.
Why had he let the docs words get to him? This wasnt his first injury. Hed always bounced back; he would this time, too. Yeah! He let those deep, shivery notes absorb his anger.
Ordinarily, when it came to music, Cale could take it or leave it. He knew when it was too loud at a party or too fast if he was trying to seduce a new lady with slow dancing. The music tonight lit a fire in his soul. But he couldnt put into words how it touched him, couldnt explain the way it made him feel. That was why hed never asked the phantom soloists name. Knowing the nurses, theyd parade the guy in here and expect Caleb to give him all kinds of flowery compliments.
Well, he couldnt. He could rattle off plays in a years worth of football games, but he got tongue-tied trying to express the stuff he felt inside.
When fans waylaid him to praise a great pass, he loved it. He frowned as it occurred to him that musicians probably liked praise, too.
The distant beat slid like silk into a bossa nova, and Caleb felt a sudden urgency to connect with the artist whose music pounded through his veins. He fumbled to locate his call bell, then pushed it repeatedly. Hed just give the dude a locker-room clap on the back and tell him man-to-man that his playing had balls. Yeah. He drummed his hands on the bed covers. Where in hell were all the nurses? He pressed the button again.
A timid aide opened his door. You rang, Mr. Tanner?
Caleb had discovered that if you didnt speak with authority in this place, requests got ignored. Tell that musician to stop by and see me. Tonight, he ordered.
Is that it? The aide sounded relieved and at his nod rushed out, leaving Cale to contemplate what an asshole hed been the past few days. That was the word, all right. Hed heard it muttered by one of the nurses. Tomorrow hed apologize. To the nurses, to Leland and maybe even to that pushy TV reporter.
The telephone beside his bed rang. Hiya! Hey, Patsy...Im doing great. Improving every day, he fibbed to his sister. One of the three girls called every night to check on his progress. No sense worrying them.
The bridesmaids dresses cost how much? Whatever you decide, kitten. Sure. If you want buckets of mums at the church, fine. Have em send me the bill.
Caleb tucked the phone into the hollow of his shoulder. Of course Ill walk you down the aisle. Who said I wouldnt? Gracie? She called Doc Forsythe? Caleb pinched the bridge of his nose. Quit crying, puddin. Listen to me. You know doctors are full of double-talk. Have I ever lied to you girls? Thats right. Never.
Easing back, Caleb listened to additional plans for the late-October wedding and injected appropriate responses. It was now September 5. His head spun. A few minutes later, the excited twenty-one-year-old rang off. Cale gripped the receiver for a long time, attempting to add in his head the costs shed listed. Patsy, his middle sister, a homebody whod practically been their mothers shadow, had been the most affected by her death. Patsy did poorly in school. Having a husband and a house of her own was all shed ever wanted. He wouldnt let his troubles affect her hearts desire.
It would be all right. By her wedding, hed be good as new. Better than new. His contract would be signed and money wouldnt be an issue. Replacing the receiver, he lay down and let the throaty notes of the saxophone transport him to a zone free of stress.
CHAPTER TWO
THE NEXT MORNING, Crystal hopped off the streetcar at the end of its route, near the heart of the business district. Juggling her purse and saxophone case, she waved goodbye to the regulars and prepared to walk the two blocks to Lyon Broadcasting. She could have driven to work. For that matter, she had access to a chauffeur-driven limo. She happened to believe that one less car on the congested roads kept at least a trace of hydrocarbons out of the environment. Besides, she loved the eclectic group of people who used public transportation.