Isaac sat at the kitchen table trying to shield himself from the firm glares that his parents were casting his way.
"Isaac," his exasperated mother started again,"we have been reminding you for three days how important it is for all of you boys to be here for this meeting. You all wanted to kick off this tour and yet you leave your brother at the hospital. What were you thinking?"
"Mom, Taylor has been there for the past three days at every free moment and I'm not going to stop him." he said defiantley.
"Watch your tone, Isaac." his father warned.
Isaac sunk lower in his chair. It was Taylor's choice not to be present for the meeting today, yet he was being attacked for his lack of judgement? As far as Isaac could see, it was Taylor's lack of judgement. What was he supposed to do? Drag Taylor, kicking and screaming back home? No way. He could relate to Taylor's position. If it was Stacie in that coma...
"Look, if you boys don't want to do this right now, then you don't have to." his mother broke into his thoughts,"We've never forced you to do this, we just want you to think about the reprocutions of your actions." his mother explained.
"I have!" Isaac insisted in a frustrated voice,"And I want to tour!"
"But you can't tour without Taylor." his father reminded him.
Isaac sunk lower into his chair as he began to feel defeated. He wanted to tour and his parents, of all people, should now that. But, what could he do about Taylor's situation? Nothing. He would just have to hope that Erica would pull through and all would be well again.
Taylor sat quietly at Erica's bedside, his head bowed down and his hand holding onto Erica's lifeless one.
The room she was kept in seemed to be blossoming in the middle of spring. There were flowers everywhere, most brought by Taylor himself. There had been a few Get Well Soon balloons, but the majority of them had deflated and fallen to the floor. But Erica stayed the same. No better and no worse than before. She was the only thing in the room not blooming or changing.
Taylor picked up his head and sniffed. He briefly let go of Erica's hand and wiped the tears from his cheeks. He sat back in his chair, sighed heavily, and glanced around the room. He studied the breathing machines and heart rate monitors. His eyes ran over the tubing and needles sticking out of her body like she was an oversized pin cushion. He shook his head.
"I'm so sorry, Erica." he apologized to her limp body.
He waited silently. He waited for her to open her eyes and her emotions and forgive him. He waited for her brown eyes to bore into his and dry up tears and take away pain. He waited, as he often did, for to take a breath on her own.
He let go of her hand and stood up. He turned away from her bed and ran his shaky hands through his blonde locks,"This is crazy." he murmmurred to himself.
He approached a nearby wall and let his head rest upon the cool cement. He wanted to leave. His body ached to run out of the hospital and leave this portion of his life behind. To leave Erica and all of their memories holed up in this room and throw away the key to the door. Skeletons in the closet. he thought.
Startled by that thought, he turned around to once again look at Erica. His heart, mind and soul yearned to stay with her. They yearned to be a part of her life, to be within her at all times. They longed to trade placed with her. She belonged in life and he belonged with her. She was the key he had wished to throw away. She held all of his happiness within her, within that empty, black hole that she now resided in. He needed her in his life. He needed it more than air.
He trudged back over to her bedside. He then touched her hand. Once again, waiting for movement. Waiting for recognition.
The meeting for the Albertane Tour wasn't even remotely through. And the hot topic of conversation seemed to be Taylor's absence and his importance to the band.
"I understand the values of friendship and Taylor's loyalty to Erica," Christopher Sabec, Hanson's manager spoke,"however I have doubts about his loyalty to Hanson and his musical career."
"He is very loyal to the band and his career." Mrs. Hanson piped up on her son's behalf.
"Well, I have told you in previous meetings that we have to leave within this week. We can't hold off any longer, I'm sorry. Mercury says it's either tour now or start the next album and tour later." Chris replied.
"He won't leave now." Isaac spoke up,"Not if he believes she'll recover, which he does."
Zac nodded in silent agreement. He was sure of that if he was sure of anything.
Chris sat back in his chair and knawed on the end of his pen for a minute. Everyone in the room could almost see the gears in his head turning,"Well," he finally broke the silence,"what if he believed she wouldn't?" he asked.
"What?" Mrs. Hanson asked cautiously.
Chris leaned forward on his knees and studied all of their faces before continuing,"Out of everyone in this room, who does Taylor trust the most?"
They all paused and looked thoughtful. Their eyes running over each other, trying to determine who Taylor would listen to, no matter what they told him. It was Zac who volunteered a name first.
"He trusts Isaac the most." he said.
Mr. and Mrs. Hanson nodded in agreement. Isaac glanced around nervously. He suddenley had the feeling that he was going to be volunteered for something that he didn't want to do.
Chris nodded,"I had a feeling it was him." he told the others before turning his attention over to Isaac,"Well, if you want to tour, Isaac, then I suggest that you convince your brother that everything would be better off if he toured now and left Erica."
Isaac held up his hands,"No way. I'm having absolutely no part in this twisted scheme."
Chris rubbed his eyes and sighed heavily,"All I'm asking is..."
Isaac leapt up,"All you're asking? You are asking me to betray my brother. You're asking deception! You want me to tell my brother that giving up on someone he cares about is okay! That is what you are asking! And I am telling you that I will have no part of it!" he yelled.
Mr. Hanson stood up and placed a comforting hand on his son's shoulder,"Calm down, Isaac. Perhaps Mr. Sabec is right. Tay has been very depressed and you could help pull him out of it. You could save him from his inevitable heart break."
Mrs. Hanson stood up next to her husband,"Of course, this is completely up to you Isaac." she added.
"But, you guys..." Isaac started to protest of his parents decision.
"There is no more time, Ike." Chris jumped in,"You have to tour now or not all. It's your choice now that will make or break the band. Can you do this for the band? For your brother? He needs you to make this choice for him, Isaac. He's too emotional right now to know it, but he will thank you a few years from now."
Isaac glanced over to Zac. His face had gone pale and he didn't seem too keen on this idea either, but he gave Isaac a forced smile,"Maybe they're all right, Ike."
Isaac stared blankly at the faces that he had once completely trusted with his life and his career. The people who now wanted him to lie to his brother so that they could achieve what everyone had worked so long for. This was what it came down to? Deception or failure?
Isaac stared at his feet and mustered up strength,"I'll do it." he whispered. He had to lie to his brother.
Back
Back Home
Go To Chapter 48