Eli left to shower and dress, Lara told him to let her know when he and Hunter were ready to leave for the Jackson’s.
Before hopping in the shower, he shot off a quick text to Hunter. “Going to see Darren with Mom. Coming?”
CHAPTER 14
Darren & Shasta
D arren’s world had come crashing down in a matter of minutes. The euphoric high that he had been on after performing so well in the game, followed by the exciting meetings with the recruiters, had turned into a devastating feeling of loss and bewilderment. Sitting in the police car and hearing the news from Sheriff Buchanon was dreamlike. He remembered looking for his dad’s face in the crowd outside of the stadium. He was so pumped to tell him all the recruiters had said. He basically was offered a place on both teams, it was up to him to decide which scholarship he would take. He couldn’t wait to give his folks the news.
Instead, he had caught the sheriff’s eye and somehow he had known. He had pushed to the back of his brain the thought that something had gone terribly wrong for his father not to be sitting in the stands with his mom and Shasta. When he saw Sheriff Buchanon’s face, he knew. He didn’t remember walking with the sheriff to get into the cruiser. He didn’t remember sitting in the car with his mom and Shasta in the back. His first memory of that time was of Sheriff Buchanon hugging him and telling him to be proud of his father because his father had been damn proud of Darren.
They had gotten home soon after, and Shasta stayed with them. Then people started to come, even though it was late. It was okay, though. It wasn’t like he and his mom were going to sleep any time soon. They were reeling. First a few neighbors came, then family started to arrive. Most of his mom’s side of the family lived in Shale, the next town over. There were very few left on his dad’s side, though. They would be coming the next day.
The house was a flurry of activity – people bringing food, making calls and arrangements. Darren had staked out a corner of the living room, and Shasta hadn’t left his side. She sat with him that night and throughout most of the last two days, only going home to change clothes or sleep a little bit. Otherwise, she was beside him just holding his hand. She spoke to people when he couldn’t, and she brought him food and drinks. Mostly, she was there. No conversation had been needed. They were just Darren and Shasta again without skipping a beat.
More people had come throughout the past two days. Most of them wanted to give Darren a hug, but halfway through the first day he was done with hugging. He just stopped standing up when someone came over. That took care of that. A few people were crying but most were talking about what a surprise it was, and saying things like, “How could this have happened?” Some people were telling stories about a younger Claymont or something funny that he had done in the past at one the neighborhood parties. Darren knew that his dad was a great dad, but he was only now learning how much Claymont had been loved by everyone else.
Darren was thankful for all of the visitors. Not for himself, Shasta was all he needed. His mother had been so strong, and he was glad that she had so much love and support. He was worried what would happen when things started to die down, and not as many people were coming around anymore.
The first day Eli and Hunter and their moms had come over. That was kind of weird since they were the ones who had discovered Claymont in the Caterpillar. Darren was afraid that it would upset Agnes to see them, but quite the opposite happened. She saw them come in and immediately went to them and hugged each boy tightly.
“I want to tell you boys, Thank you. Thank you for finding my husband and calling for help. I know it was hard on you and I’m sorry for that. But I’m so grateful Hunter. Eli. So grateful.”
Darren could tell that they were uneasy and didn’t know how to
Before hopping in the shower, he shot off a quick text to Hunter. “Going to see Darren with Mom. Coming?”
CHAPTER 14
Darren & Shasta
D arren’s world had come crashing down in a matter of minutes. The euphoric high that he had been on after performing so well in the game, followed by the exciting meetings with the recruiters, had turned into a devastating feeling of loss and bewilderment. Sitting in the police car and hearing the news from Sheriff Buchanon was dreamlike. He remembered looking for his dad’s face in the crowd outside of the stadium. He was so pumped to tell him all the recruiters had said. He basically was offered a place on both teams, it was up to him to decide which scholarship he would take. He couldn’t wait to give his folks the news.
Instead, he had caught the sheriff’s eye and somehow he had known. He had pushed to the back of his brain the thought that something had gone terribly wrong for his father not to be sitting in the stands with his mom and Shasta. When he saw Sheriff Buchanon’s face, he knew. He didn’t remember walking with the sheriff to get into the cruiser. He didn’t remember sitting in the car with his mom and Shasta in the back. His first memory of that time was of Sheriff Buchanon hugging him and telling him to be proud of his father because his father had been damn proud of Darren.
They had gotten home soon after, and Shasta stayed with them. Then people started to come, even though it was late. It was okay, though. It wasn’t like he and his mom were going to sleep any time soon. They were reeling. First a few neighbors came, then family started to arrive. Most of his mom’s side of the family lived in Shale, the next town over. There were very few left on his dad’s side, though. They would be coming the next day.
The house was a flurry of activity – people bringing food, making calls and arrangements. Darren had staked out a corner of the living room, and Shasta hadn’t left his side. She sat with him that night and throughout most of the last two days, only going home to change clothes or sleep a little bit. Otherwise, she was beside him just holding his hand. She spoke to people when he couldn’t, and she brought him food and drinks. Mostly, she was there. No conversation had been needed. They were just Darren and Shasta again without skipping a beat.
More people had come throughout the past two days. Most of them wanted to give Darren a hug, but halfway through the first day he was done with hugging. He just stopped standing up when someone came over. That took care of that. A few people were crying but most were talking about what a surprise it was, and saying things like, “How could this have happened?” Some people were telling stories about a younger Claymont or something funny that he had done in the past at one the neighborhood parties. Darren knew that his dad was a great dad, but he was only now learning how much Claymont had been loved by everyone else.
Darren was thankful for all of the visitors. Not for himself, Shasta was all he needed. His mother had been so strong, and he was glad that she had so much love and support. He was worried what would happen when things started to die down, and not as many people were coming around anymore.
The first day Eli and Hunter and their moms had come over. That was kind of weird since they were the ones who had discovered Claymont in the Caterpillar. Darren was afraid that it would upset Agnes to see them, but quite the opposite happened. She saw them come in and immediately went to them and hugged each boy tightly.
“I want to tell you boys, Thank you. Thank you for finding my husband and calling for help. I know it was hard on you and I’m sorry for that. But I’m so grateful Hunter. Eli. So grateful.”
Darren could tell that they were uneasy and didn’t know how to
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