 |
Chapter Thirty-Eight “Last night, at around 9:25, Taylor Hanson collapsed onstage during a performance here in Birmingham. After lifesaving procedures failed, he was pronounced dead at 9:48 by myself, and attending EMT’s who had responded to calls from various witnesses.” He paused a moment, and looked up from the paper he was reading from. “In early November, he had been diagnosed with a brain tumor. Mr. Hanson decided to finish this tour before beginning treatment.” He looked down again, seemingly trying to compose himself. Taking a deep breath, he began to speak again, “Cause of death appears to be a brain hemorrhage. Taylor’s family have arranged for his body to be sent back to Tulsa, Oklahoma where there will be a private interment and memorial service. A public service will be announced at a later date for fans to show their respect. Mr. Hanson was 17 years old. The family asks that memorial gifts be made in the form of donations to the Tulsa Food Bank, or the favorite charity of the giver in his name. Thank you.” Isaac stood in front of the television, watching the statement, given live, by “Dr. Jonas Smith”. There on the screen stood Mr. Jones, described as a “personal physician and friend of the family” by the stone faced news reporter. It was one a.m. and in a hotel room, on the 14th floor, Taylor’s family sat, all trying to accept in their own ways, that once again, their brother and son had been taken from them. The only one not present was Diana. She had accompanied her son’s body to the hospital to have the death certificate officially filed and then to arrange that his body be sent back to Tulsa. "This is bullshit!" Isaac spat. "They're the ones that killed him! And there's that asshole on TV acting like he's someone special to us!" "Isaac, calm down." Walker said. "The kids don't need to be hearing this." He sat on the couch, Zoë on his lap sleeping, and Mackenzie under his arm, also having fallen asleep. Avery lay there, her blanket in her arms and her thumb in her mouth. On the bed, Zac sat leaning back against the headboard. In his hand was Taylor's shirt, having been cut off him as the paramedics began the invasive procedures they'd used while trying to revive the boy. That sight had been more horrifying to Zac than the rest of it. Jessica leaned up against him, her red eyes a testament to the outpouring of grief she'd experienced as her mother told her what had happened. "I can't calm down Dad! He knew! He practically told Taylor goodbye right there in front of me and Zac! God! It just pisses me off! I swear, one of these days, I'm gonna find them and I'm gonna throw'em all out in the middle of the desert and laugh while the sun roasts them all alive." Isaac growled. Just then, the door opened and Mr. Jones walked in quietly. Before anyone could stop him, Isaac had leapt on the man, cursing and hitting him as hard as he could, letting out all his anger and his grief on the only target in front of him. Zac jumped up off the bed and grabbed his brother off him. "Ike! Man, cool it! This isn't gonna help!" He said, pulling him in close to him and holding him there. |
Mr. Jones pulled himself back up, wincing as he wiped a tiny drop of blood from the corner of his mouth and running his tongue along his teeth, making sure none of them were broken. "It's alright Zachary. I understand he's angry. He has to take it out on someone and I just happen to be the only one here." The man went and sat down on the other bed. Isaac's anger had turned to sadness again as he cried into his little brother's chest.
Walker stood up, lying both the children down next to Avery, who watched everything silently. "Mr. Jones,” he said coldly, "what in God's name is going on? Where's Diana?"
"Kirk is with her, don't worry. I didn't send her off alone. Red tape takes a while to get through, but I assure you, there are people there who are making sure things proceed as you want them to. The Lady has called in a favor or two." The man answered. "I just wanted to let you know that if there is anything I can do for you, please let me know. The statement I read was written by your wife so I assumed it would meet with your approval. The fans had been speculating for weeks now about the state of Taylor’s health, so she felt they would accept this readily."
"I'm sure it was fine." Walker said, turning away from the man, "I guess…I wasn't really listening." He said tiredly.
Mr. Jones stood up and walked over to him, looking around the room at all the sullen faces, "I know it's not any consolation to you, but I just want you to know how sorry I am. Taylor was a good boy. Your family amazes me, you've done a fine job raising your children, you should be proud."
Walker sighed, "I am proud. But, I'm also feeling broken right now. Our family has been through way too much at the hands of you people." He said, his dark eyes looking pointedly at him.
"Yes, they have. Again, I'm very sorry about it all. The Lady has asked me to stay with you until you leave Birmingham. Flight arrangements have been made, and we've hired drivers to get the busses and the rest of your crew back to their homes or wherever they need to be. Once the record company settles up with them, please let us know and the Lady will compensate them further." He handed Walker a card, "I'll be staying at the hotel still, but I won't be here with you any longer." He looked over at Isaac and Zac, "I don't want to intrude on your family's time of grief. I'll be in room 1203. Once you get home, I will be available to you and your family for any legal matters that may come up stemming from any of this." He put his hand out and he and Walker shook. "Well, good night Mr. Hanson."
"Good night." Walker said, stepping over to the door and opening it. Once the man was gone, he joined the boys, laying down on the bed and closing his eyes. Isaac and Zac watched solemnly as their father cried, tears rolling down his face and into his hair.
~~~~~
Kirk stood in the lobby of University Hospital Birmingham. At a desk, through a glass window, he could see Diana talking animatedly to the woman in front of her. Out the doors, crowded in the driveway and in the parking lot were reporters, cameras and notebooks and microphones all ready to pounce on her as soon as she left the building. He'd seen the news flash on the television as the local news broke that a rock star had died in their city. With a sigh, he stepped over closer to hear what was going on in the room. He just hoped that it didn't hit national news until the next morning. Perhaps he'd be able to whisk them away to the airport before it got too crazy, but he wasn't sure when the flights that Mr. Jones had booked would be leaving the next day. It had to be after dark, or he wouldn't be able to accompany them anyway. His ears perked up when he was able to discern that Diana was crying. Stepping into the room, he placed his hand on her shoulder. "What's going on?" He asked her.
"They're trying to tell me there has to be an autopsy and Mr. Jones told me there doesn't." Diana sobbed. Her last reserves of strength were about to give out on her.
Kirk stepped closer to the woman, his eyes boring into hers, "If Mr. Jones says there doesn't have to be an autopsy, then there doesn't have to be an autopsy. The doctors and the paramedics already said it was a hemorrhage or aneurysm or whatever."
"Sir, the state prefers-” she started.
"Prefers is not the same as requires. Now, Mrs. Hanson would like to finish up here. Mr. Jones has already arranged for the body to be flown out tonight." Kirk looked down at his watch, "That flight leaves in two hours and fifteen minutes. He will be on that plane if I have to go get him myself. Now finish up here, I need to get her back to her family. They are needing her right about now, as I'm sure you can imagine." He spat ominously. Suddenly, the woman began typing furiously and within moments, Diana had a death certificate and many other pieces of paper she assumed allowed her to take possession of her own son's body. "May I use your phone?" Kirk asked the woman, picking it up. She nodded. He dialed quickly, "Is the car ready?" He asked. He listened, still looking at the woman, "Alright, we'll be there in a few minutes." He hung up the phone, pulled Diana up by her arm and with one last glare at the woman, they began the walk out, avoiding the front at all costs. Soon, they found themselves going out the rear of the building, having passed through an “Authorized Personnel Only” door. There was a hearse; it’s rear door open, as well as a limousine, shiny and black. The sight of the ominous looking vehicles was enough to make Diana feel faint. Kirk felt her tense up and he placed his arm around her shoulder, “Here, you go sit in the car, ok?” He said, guiding her over to it.
As they approached, the door opened and Sonya stepped out, putting her arm around her. “It’s gonna be ok.” She said, tears in her eyes. Diana began to sob then as Sonya helped her into the backseat. When she looked up, Beatriz was looking back at her, a sympathetic look on her face.
“Was he in pain?” Diana asked, trying to regain her composure.
Beatriz looked at her for a moment before answering, “We do not feel pain in the same way that you do. But yes, some.”
Diana began to cry again, turning away and looking out the window as she watched two men bring out a casket and push it in the back of the hearse. She closed her eyes tightly as one of them slammed the door. Kirk’s face appeared in the driver’s window, “Dude, pop the trunk, alright?” Then he disappeared behind the car. When he returned, he looked in at Beatriz, “Alright, everything’s set.” He said quietly.
“Thank you, Kirk. I shall always remember your role in all this and the loyalty you’ve shown Taylor and myself.” She said, her eyes meeting his.
With a sigh, he looked at Diana a moment, then back at Beatriz, “I just hope you know what you’re doing.”
~~~~~
On the internet, pictures were being posted, eye witnesses and girls who’d been watching news programs were telling others what had happened. At first, they were chastised by others for starting rumors. But, as more and more of them saw the photos of Taylor, lying on the floor, surrounded by people in various scenes and levels of activity, the rumor was quickly becoming fact. Some pictures were blurry and easily discounted while others were crystal clear. Message boards were flooded as fans told each other the news. In no time, the Hanson fan community found themselves in a very familiar situation, only this time, there was no denying the fact that this rumor was true.
~~~~~
Camille and Melanie stood inside the lobby of the hotel, waiting for Beatriz’ car to come and pick them up. Their bags were packed and they’d said what goodbyes they’d wanted to Taylor’s family. Jessica and Avery had actually become a little fond of them, relishing the chance to travel with girls for once. Hanson was of course, surrounded by girls, but Melanie and Camille weren’t like those screaming banshees that followed their brothers everywhere. And there was something a little cool about Melanie and Taylor’s constant bickering. Camille’s love struck behavior any time they were around him was a source of great fun for them as well. Sonya had become almost motherly to all the children, prompting Diana to feel a twinge of jealousy now and then. In general though, the family was glad to be rid of them—never having trusted them much to begin with, especially with Taylor’s warnings and such. And so it was, the girls stood, watching for the car. They’d tried to go out the back doors unnoticed, but it was swarming with reporters as well, so they’d just decided to go out the front. Tucked safely in Melanie’s backpack was the video of the show and the debacle it had turned into. With a sigh, Camille looked down at her watch, “Jesus, it’s 2:40 already. What’s taking them so long?” She sniffed.
Melanie looked over at her and put her hand on the girl’s shoulder, “They’ll be here soon, don’t worry about it.” She said, knowing it wasn’t any time schedule that was making the girl upset. Camille nodded, looking at the fountain that dripped and trickled a soothing sound next to them. She’d never get the look on Taylor’s face out of her head, as he sunk to the floor with a resounding thud. The guilt pressing in on her was immense. It never would have happened if not for her and she knew it as well as everyone else, though they weren’t saying it. Isaac hadn’t had to say it, the look on his face was enough for her to know his thoughts.
~~~~~
Diana gazed out the window, watching as slushy raindrops began to splatter on the glass. As Sonya watched her, a smile slowly found it’s way to her lips. “Are you alright?” She asked her.
With a sigh, Diana turned to face her, “Not really. I was just thinking about Taylor though…” her voice trailed off. The smile didn’t go away though a tear fell from her eye and rolled down her cheek, “He was such a funny little boy. Those eyes have always been able to get him out of trouble.” She shook her head and turned back towards the window. “I don’t think we have any pictures of him under the age of four that he doesn’t have a bruise or a scratch or a lump on his forehead…”
Now Sonya felt herself tearing up again. “Hmmm…. somehow I can believe that.” She smiled.
Diana’s smile faded as she looked at Beatriz, “I had so many hopes for him. I wanted to be there when he got married and when he gave me a grandchild just as beautiful as he was…” She lowered her eyes, “I wanted to see if he really turned out to be the man I thought he was going to be, y’know? Because, he really was going to be something special.”
The car stopped in front of the hotel. As reporters clamored to be the first to reach her, the front door of the car opened and Kirk stepped out. Beatriz looked out at them all, her dark eyes roving over their faces. As they all backed up, he opened the door for Diana, “Hurry, she’s got them for now, but it won’t hold for long. They’ve been dying to get to someone all night.” He said, taking her hand in his.
As she stepped out of the car, Diana turned back to look at Beatriz before the door closed, “Three days, right? Will someone be there to meet me at the airport?” She asked tiredly.
“Of course. Kirk will be there, as always.” She answered, “And Diana, he is special.” Diana nodded, blinking back the tears and the rain as it fell. Then she turned and Kirk and she began the walk up the steps as the reporters all came to their senses and began to shout questions and to snap pictures of Taylor Hanson’s mother, coming home to her grieving family.