Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, Australia
Nineteen-year-old Troy Barrett paused and glanced over his shoulder at the dude on the ground. A chill ran down his spine. The dude wasn’t moving.
People began pointing in Troy’s direction. His hands grew clammy. He had to get out of there, and fast. He wasn’t going to get done for murder. He darted down a dark alleyway and fled for his life, dodging trash cans overflowing with putrid garbage, stray dogs that barked and snarled as he raced past, and the occasional drunk lying curled up with a bottle held close to his chest.
Troy ran until he could run no longer. He stopped and leaned against a graffiti covered wall and caught his breath. Ahead, hordes of young people spilled out of one of the many night clubs in the Valley. Troy turned his baseball cap around, shoved his hands into his pockets and disappeared into the crowd.
Ben Williams fumbled for the telephone and flicked on the bedside lamp. He glanced at the clock and groaned. Two a.m… Who’d be calling at this time of night? He positioned the phone against his ear and answered groggily.
“Mr. Williams?”
“Yes, who’s this?” Ben rubbed his eyes as Tessa, his wife, stirred and threw an arm over his chest.
“Senior Sergeant Thompson from the Fortitude Valley Police.”
Ben jerked up, fully awake and alert. “What’s happened?”
“You have a son? Jayden?”
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Williams, your son is in intensive care in Royal Brisbane. He’s in a coma after receiving a punch to the head.”
Ben blinked. “I… I don’t understand.”
“He was assaulted, Mr. Williams. Your son was knocked cold.”
Ben ran his hand through his hair. “You must be mistaken. Jayden doesn’t go to the Valley.”
“He did last night.”
Ben blew out a breath. “How did it happen?”
Tessa lifted her head, her eyes wide with concern. He squeezed her hand as his throat thickened. How could this be happening?
“We’re looking into that, but I’d suggest you come straight away. Your son may not make it.”
“No!” Ben struggled for breath. They must have the wrong boy. “Are you sure it’s Jayden?”
“We are.”
“We’ll… we’ll be there as soon as we can.”
“Good. Don’t tarry.”
After hanging up, Ben leaned against the bed-head and closed his eyes as his chest did a free-fall, taking his stomach with it.
“What’s happened?” Tessa asked, her voice barely a whisper.
As he opened his eyes and held her gaze, a bagful of images spilled across his mind. Images of Jayden lying comatose in the hospital. Of being covered with a sheet. Of being buried. A wave of nausea flowed through him. No, it wasn’t Jayden. It couldn’t be.
“Ben?”
He blinked and took a breath, forcing the nausea away as words formed in his mouth. “Jayden’s in a coma. He was attacked in the Valley.” He could barely speak.
Tessa’s eyes popped. “He doesn’t go to there.”
“That’s what I said, but the sergeant was positive it was him. We need to leave straight away. He also said Jayden might not make it.”
“Oh Ben.” Tessa threw her arms around his neck and began to sob. “We can’t lose him.”
He pulled her close, his heart clenching as her body shook in his arms. No, they couldn’t lose Jayden now. Not after all they’d been through. He stroked her hair. “We have to trust God to pull him through.”
Tessa lifted her head and brushed her damp face with her hands. “Let’s pray. God can do a lot more than we can.”
“You’re right. You’re absolutely right.” Taking a steadying breath, he took her hand and bowed his head. “Lord God, we ask You to be with Jayden. Help him to pull through. Give the doctors wisdom to know what to do, and please keep him alive, dear Lord.” His voice faltered.
Tessa squeezed his hand. “Dear Lord, please help us to trust You. You’re the almighty, powerful God, and we ask You to place Your healing hands on Jayden. After everything we’ve been through, I can’t believe it’s going to end this way, but Lord, Your will, not ours, be done. In Jesus’ precious name. Amen.”
Ben pulled her close again. They hugged, both brushing tears from their eyes before they climbed out of bed, dressed quickly and began packing overnight bags. Living three hours from Brisbane had its benefits, but it also had its negatives, like now.
Tessa looked up from the bag she was packing. “I’ll call Mum and see if she can go to the hospital straight away. She can stay with Jayden until we get there, and then maybe she can take the girls. I don’t want them seeing him lying in a hospital bed, especially if he’s as bad as they say.”
“Will she leave your dad on his own?”
Tessa blew out a breath as she snapped the bag shut. Her father had dementia, and these days her mum rarely left him alone. “No, but she can ask their neighbour to stay with him.”
“Good. Let’s get the girls in the car and make the call when we’re on our way. We don’t have a minute to waste.”
Tessa scurried down the hallway as quietly as she could to the bedroom shared by five-year-old Naomi and two-year-old Bella. Slowing, she pushed the door open and tip-toed inside. The night light illuminated the room just enough for her to see the sleeping shapes of her precious daughters.
She grabbed some clothes from the chest of drawers and shoved them into Naomi’s backpack. Ben appeared in the doorway moments later. He slung the bag over his shoulder and lifted Naomi carefully out of bed. Tessa bent over and picked Bella up from her bed, praying she wouldn’t wake. The little girl squirmed and stretched but then settled as Tessa followed Ben to the car.
They strapped the girls into their car-seats and then jumped in.
As Ben reversed the car out of the garage, the crunch of gravel under the tyres broke the silence of the night. Tessa glanced down the slope at the line of soft lights leading to the cabins she and Ben had built several years ago. God was faithful. Despite facing many obstacles, the cabins they’d dreamed of building on their country farm, ‘Misty Morn’, had become a reality, and many weary souls had found rest and comfort while staying there over the past few years. God didn’t always do things the way they wanted or in the time frame they wanted, but they could trust Him because He loved them and knew what was best for them. Now they had to trust Him with Jayden’s life.
Although few words were spoken, Tessa offered silent prayers for Jayden’s life the whole way. She knew Ben did the same.
A soft orange glow filled the horizon as they approached the outskirts of the sub-tropical city several hours later. From the back seat, Naomi stirred when Ben slammed on the brakes at the first red traffic light they’d encountered since leaving home.
“Where are we, Mummy?” She rubbed her eyes and stared out the window.
Tessa smiled at her sweet little daughter, so cute in her half-awake, half-asleep state, her shoulder length, wavy blonde hair hanging across her cheeks. “In Brisbane, sweetheart. You slept the whole way.”
“What are we doing here?”
“Jayden’s been hurt, and we’re going to see him.”
“How did he get hurt?”
“We’re not sure. We’ll find out soon.”
“Okay. I hope he’s all right.” Her head flopped against the side of the car-seat and her eyes drifted closed again.
As Ben made a bee-line for the hospital, Tessa faced the front, her thoughts once again turning to Jayden and what they would find when they arrived. It seemed so unfair that this would happen to him when he’d overcome so much. He was just thirteen when she and Ben met and fell in love. At the time, he was struggling to understand how and why his mother had walked out on him and his dad. When they discovered she was living with Luke Emerson, the high-profile professional golfer Jayden had idolised, it only made it worse. But they’d survived, and Jayden had grown so much through it all, even though he’d been lured by his mother to live with her in the States. Praise God, he’d come back. But now? Tessa could barely think of him lying in a hospital bed, comatose, fighting for his life.
How had this happened? How had God allowed it to happen? No, she couldn’t think like that. God wasn’t to blame. If anyone was to blame, it was the person who’d hit him. But as neither she nor Ben really knew what had happened, they needed to hold their judgment. But it was horrible. There was no way around it.
Before she knew it, Ben was pulling into the Emergency Department car park. As soon as the car stopped, they climbed out, unclipped the girls from their car-seats and hurried along the crossing to the entrance.
A row of familiar faces, ashen and subdued, sat inside. Through the large glass windows and doors, Tessa made out Pastor Fraser Stanthorpe from the Fellowship Bible Church, Jayden’s best friend Neil, and Harrison, whom Jayden now boarded with. Zoe, Harrison’s wife, was a doctor at this very hospital. It was possible she was with Jayden right now.
Tessa paused and steadied herself before following Ben inside.
All three men stood and walked towards them.
Fraser Stanthorpe extended his hand, but before either of them could take it, he wrapped his arms around them both.
Tessa struggled to hold back her tears as Harrison placed his hands on both their shoulders. She closed her eyes and tried to compose herself.
After several moments, Fraser released his hold and stepped back.
Ben cleared his throat. “How… how is he?” His voice, normally deep and steady, faltered.
Fraser shook his head. “No change, I’m afraid.”
“We’d like to see him.”
“I’ll grab the nurse,” Harrison said, turning as he spoke.
Within moments, a slender, attractive dark-haired nurse approached, offering a smile as she extended her hand. “Mr. and Mrs. Williams, I’m Nurse Miller.”
They nodded their greeting as Ben shook her hand. Tessa didn’t trust herself to speak.
“I’ll let Dr. Jones know you’re here—he’ll fill you in on your son’s condition.” She turned and spoke to Tessa. “Your mother’s been sitting with him for the past two hours. She’ll be relieved to see you.”
Tessa bit her lip as she nodded again.
The nurse left, promising to return with the doctor.
As they stood waiting, Harrison offered to take Naomi to find something to eat.
Naomi eyed him suspiciously over Ben’s shoulder.
“It’s okay, sweetheart,” Tessa said. “You know Uncle Harry. You can go with him.”
Ben kissed her cheek and placed her on the floor. “Be a good girl, sweetheart. We won’t be long.”
“But I want to see Jayden.” She looked up at him with pleading eyes.
“I know, and you can. But a little later. Okay?”
She held his gaze for a moment. Tessa thought she was about to argue, but instead she replied, “Okay. Tell him I love him.”
Ben crouched down and gave her a hug and a kiss. “I will.”
Tessa’s eyes moistened as Naomi took Harrison’s hand and waved to her and Ben as they walked away together. How much Harrison had changed since the first day she’d met him! She’d just taken over as manager at the Vet Clinic in New Farm, and he was the clinic’s new surgeon, a young know-it-all. It was an understatement to say they hadn’t hit it off to start with, but over the years they’d formed a wonderful friendship. And now, she was convinced Harrison would make a great dad, but Tessa doubted Zoe would give up her career to have children, although lately Tessa had the impression she might be thinking a little more seriously about it. Time would tell.
Tessa shifted Bella into her other arm, jigging to keep her quiet.
Nurse Miller reappeared. Smiling, she held her hands out to Bella as she spoke to Tessa. “Would you like me to take her?”
Tessa sighed with relief. “That would be great, thank you. She’s getting really fidgety and she needs changing and feeding. Sorry.” Tessa grimaced.
“Don’t you worry about her. She’ll be fine.”
“Thank you so much.” Tessa gladly handed Bella over along with a bag of nappies and some food she’d thrown in for her. Bella went to the nurse without a fuss and immediately began chatting. Tessa shook her head and let out a small chuckle.
With both girls cared for, she noticed Neil standing behind Ben and Fraser, rocking back and forth, clenching and unclenching his fists. She stepped towards him and drew him into a hug. “It’s shaken you, hasn’t it?”
Neil nodded, his long dark hair flicking her cheek.
She rubbed his bony back. “Were you with him when it happened?”
He nodded again. “It was horrible.” His words were heavy with grief.
“I can only imagine. We’re all praying he’ll pull through.”
“He has to.”
Before she could ask him anything further, a fresh-faced, well-groomed doctor approached. Tessa gave Neil a final hug and then stepped away.
The doctor held out his hand. “Mr. and Mrs. Williams, I’m Dr. Mansfield. You made good time.”
“Yes,” Ben replied as he shook the doctor’s hand. “We came straight here.”
“I expect you’re eager to find out about your son?”
They both nodded.
“Come this way.” He gestured towards a room off to the side of the waiting area.
Tessa was relieved when she glanced back at Neil. Fraser had moved and now stood next to him. The poor boy was in shock and needed support. She tucked her hand into the crook of Ben’s arm as they followed the doctor into a small interview room.
He motioned for them to sit and then crossed his arms. “I won’t tip-toe around the bushes. Your son is in dire straits. He’s comatose, and the CT scan results aren’t great. If he does wake up, he might have significant brain damage, but it’s too early to tell. He’s on life support at the moment, and the next few hours will be critical.”
Tessa blinked hard. Did he have to be so blunt? She’d hate to see what his bedside manner was like.
“How did it happen?” Ben asked, his voice quiet, detached.
“You’ll need to speak to the police about that. All I can tell you is that he received a punch to the front of his head and he then fell backwards, fracturing his skull. The police will be here soon, so you can talk to them about what happened.”
“Can we see him?”
“Of course, I’ll take you in. He’s unresponsive, though. Be prepared.”
Tessa clung to Ben’s hand as they followed Dr. Mansfield along the brightly lit ward. Half-way along he stopped in front of a cubicle and drew the curtain back. Her mother, Eleanor Scott, looked up, and standing, held her arms out. Tears stung Tessa’s eyes as she stepped towards her.
“Oh sweetheart, I’m so sorry.” Her mother embraced her, holding her tight.
Tessa gasped as her gaze settled on the figure in the bed. If it wasn’t for the tubes and the machines and the bandage around his head, Jayden could have just been asleep. But he wasn’t just asleep…
Ben headed straight for the chair beside the bed and took Jayden’s hand, the muscles in his neck tight and corded.
“Thanks for coming, Mum,” Tessa whispered.
“It was no problem, darling. Where are the girls?”
Tessa took a steadying breath. “Naomi’s with Harrison and Bella’s with the nurse.”
“They must be tired. I’ll take them home shortly.”
“Thank you. How’s Jayden doing?” Tessa glanced down at him again and swallowed hard.
Tears filled Mum’s eyes as she shook her head and bit her lower lip.
Tessa rubbed her back. “It’s okay. Take your time.”
Mum sucked in a breath and dabbed her eyes. “I’m sorry. I was all right until you got here.”
“It’s horrible, isn’t it?”
Mum nodded, her lip trembling. “He hasn’t moved.”
“How did it happen?”
Her shoulders sagged. “He was out with the youth group, handing out free coffee. Seems he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Tessa hoped Jayden wouldn’t have been in the Valley drinking and partying, but she hadn’t been sure. To hear that he was there handing out coffee was a huge relief, but it didn’t change the fact that he was lying here in this hospital bed, fighting for his life.