The Good Husband

by Lucian Bane

  “About the operation?” she whispered. “I’ve seen my dad do them you know.”

  “No, I didn’t know.”

  “Did you know—”

  “Stop,” Charlie hurried. “I don’t want to know.”

  She was quiet and Charlie hoped she didn’t push it.

  “I’m not scared,” she whispered. “My dad is very good at it.”

  Charlie let go of a breath. “I’m praying so.”

  “You pray?” she gasped, like that was some magic trick.

  “Yes. I’m Christian. We pray a lot.”

  “Can you teach me? I’d like to know how.”

  “It’s not a trick or anything.”

  “I know that, silly,” she laughed. “I just want you to teach me.”

  “If you think your mom and dad are okay with it.”

  “And why on earth wouldn’t they be?”

  Charlie wasn’t sure why, but he was once again curious with her accent. She seemed to go from British to Irish, mixed with a Chinese style. “Are they religious?”

  She gave a sigh. “I think they are, even though they never talk about it.”

  Charlie wondered what kind of religion they were. He remembered a lot of Chinese were Buddhist, but then he didn’t recall seeing any statues of him.

  “Well?” she pressed.

  “Yes, I’d be happy to.”

  “Good,” she said, and he imagined her smiling. She had a dimple in her right cheek when she did. “I like you Charlie Brown.”

  Charlie smiled, glad that she did. “You’re pretty cool too Alice in Wonderland.”

  She sucked in a huge breath.

  “What?” Charlie worried.

  “You think I’m pretty?”

  “What?”

  “You said you think I’m pretty!”

  The joy in her voice had him good and stuck. He didn’t want to make her feel bad. “I do think you’re pretty, yes,” he said, shaking his head, amused with her.

  “And I think you are very cute Charlie Brown.”

  Yes, she’d told him that too. Several times. Bold as can be. “We should go to sleep Alice in Wonderland.”

  She didn’t answer right away then gave a big sigh. “I wish I could Charlie.”

  There was something in her voice that made it feel like it was a real problem. “Do you dream?” he wondered, hoping to inspire her with an idea.

  “I do, but I don’t remember them.”

  Charlie smiled. “Then how do you know you do?”

  “Because my dad says I do even if I don’t remember.”

  “Well…did you know you can learn to control your dreams?”

  “What?!” It sounded like she fell out of the bed. “Charlie.”

  She’d whispered his name and he whispered, “What?” back.

  “You can do this?”

  “Sometimes, yes.”

  “Can you teach me?” she begged. “I’ll teach you anything I know, in trade.”

  “I can try, sure.”

  “When?”

  He wasn’t really sure, now. “I’ll pray and ask.”

  She sucked in a breath. “You will? For me?”

  He was stuck again. She was always saying the wrong things even though technically they were exactly right. “Yes,” was all he could say since he wasn’t doing it for anybody else but her.

  “I can teach you…”

  “Origami,” he said, hoping she knew that.

  “You have yourself a deal, Charlie Brown.”

  “And how to use chopsticks,” he added.

  “That’s two things, Charlie,” she said, like he’d just put the universe out of balance.

  “Fine, just Origami.”

  “Or you can teach me two things too?” Like he was giving up a golden opportunity.

  “Well… I doubt I know many things you don’t.”

  “I’m sure there’s something,” she whispered, like they were discussing a top-secret mission now.

  “I know Pig Latin.”

  She was quiet then burst into giggles and the sound made Charlie laugh. She had a cute laugh that was hard not to return.

  “It’s a real language,” he assured, smiling more when her laughter grew.

  She suddenly gasped. “My dad’s coming! Night Charlie Brown.”

  She clicked off the walkie talkie before he could reply. “Night Alice in Wonderland.”

  The Expected Unexpected

  Cheryl carefully untangled herself from Ben’s dead-weight limbs. He was snoring and she’d never been so happy to hear it. It meant he was sleeping soundly and God, he needed that. She could work on her written journal, add more things.

  Wow, it was three in the morning. She found chamomile tea and made her some, leaning over the notebook on the island, tapping her pen. She turned to a clean sheet and began writing the names of all the doctors, wanting to learn them and keep them straight since they’d be practically living together for a while. Well, not all of them, but for sure Dr. David and a couple of the other doctors.

  She knew it was wrong to hope the lady doctor didn’t stay but that’s exactly what she did. The woman was miss America beautiful for crying out loud. Nobody had a right being that smart and beautiful and single all at once. She knew she could trust Ben, no doubt there, but after the surgery, she really didn’t know what to expect.

  Tomorrow she’d find a way to ask Dr. Wong who was staying after the surgery and for how long. That was a perfectly logical thing to want to know. Which doctors would be doing what and when? She’d need to know that for many reasons, obviously.

  The microwave dinged and she opened it, grabbing the cup of water and setting it on the island. She listed the names and details of the doctor’s she remembered, drawing blanks and question marks for the ones she wasn’t sure of. She realized she could Google Miss America’s name to find out what her majors were at least.

  Cheryl made her way to the bedroom, being quiet as she went into the closet for Ben’s laptop. “Ben?” She hurried to the bed where he sat up like he was about to stand. “What are you doing, do you need something?”

  He looked at her, blinking a lot.

  “Are you okay?” she asked, her heart racing at the way his eyes fluttered.

  “Wwwwwwwwww. Wwwwwwwww.”

  “Ben? Okay, hold on, I’ll get Dr. Wong.” She took off running, remembering the emergency procedure he’d told her. She stopped in her tracks and panted. “Call Dr. Wong,” she said loudly.

  “Calling Dr. Wong.”

  She hurried back to Ben, finding him on his hands and knees next to the bed. “Wwwww. Wwwwww.”

  “Shhhh, Dr. Wong is coming.” She glanced behind her, praying he was. “Are you hurting, try to sit down, right here.”

  She helped him sit and he swatted at her hand, waving his arm at her with more “Wwwwwwwuuuuuuuu, wuuuuuuuu.”

  “Try not to talk, please, just hold on.”

  “Mom?”

  Cheryl jerked around at Charlie’s voice.

  “WWWWWWWWWWWWWW,” Ben said, louder.

  “Come here Charlie,” Cheryl called. “Stay with me till the doctor gets here.” She knew Ben didn’t want her protecting him from anything, but this was a fine line!

  “I’m here,” Dr. Wong called from the living room.”

  “In the bedroom,” Cheryl yelled.

  He hurried in and knelt next to Ben. “Ben, it’s Dr. Wong, I need you to look at me.”

  The doctor fought to lift his head and squinted with grunting sounds when the light pen filled his eye.

  “I need to look at what’s happening. Computer, initiate the emergency protocol for Benjamin Rabinowski.”

  “Initiating emergency protocol for Benjamin Rabinowski.”

  “Computer, open the intercom,” he ordered. “Emergency protocol has been initiated. Please send the necessary equipment to Ben’s bedroom immediately.”

  He turned and took hold of her shoulders. “Don’t worry, we knew this could happen, and w
e’re prepared. I want you to do what you do when there is nothing you can do, understand?”

  She nodded and grabbed Charlie’s hand now next to her. “We’ll pray.” She looked at Ben, wiping tears. “Is he…is he okay?”

  “He’s showing signs that the pons is experiencing some kind of impact.”

  “What will you do?”

  “We’ll get him stable, run scans, and that will give us the answer.”

  She nodded, hurrying out of the way when several people entered with a gurney, followed by more people, helping get him onto it.”

  “Yyyyuuuueeeeeee weeeeeeeeemmmmmm.” Ben grunted.

  “Very careful,” Dr. Wong ordered as they struggled to get a suddenly uncooperative Ben onto the bed.”

  “Ben, I’m here!” Cheryl called, hoping to calm him. “I need you to lay down for them, please!”

  They got him secured and hurried out of the room with him. She covered her mouth when she caught sight of his mouth sagging on the right side. Oh God, was this a stroke?

  “Mom,” Charlie whispered, clutching her arm.

  “I know, I know,” she barely cried as they both followed them out of the room.

  “Get the operating room prepped. Immediately!” Dr. Wong ordered, sending Cheryl’s heart into her throat.”

  “Mom! Come on!” Charlie urged, tugging her toward the hall leading to the stairs.

  “Where is the operating room?” she gasped, following him blindly.

  “It’s on the third floor.”

  They raced up the stairs and the door at the landing burst open. “Charlie!”

  It was Alice. Alice wide eyed and worried, waving them to come. Cheryl fought to breathe as they hurried after her. “What’s happening?” she whispered, not feeling her legs any longer as they ran down a long corridor.

  “I know where they are taking him,” Alice said, turning left.

  “Please God,” Cheryl panted, racing past walls of dark glass.

  Alice finally stopped, pointing and nodding at the wall, this one clear.

  Cheryl came to a halt at seeing the room flooded with a frenzy of humans. She stifled a sob at seeing Ben thrashing, his right leg and arm fighting to bend in ways it couldn’t. “Oh God, oh God,” she cried, covering her mouth. “Charlie!” she gasped, seeing him stare in wide eyed horror. “Alice!” She grabbed her arm. “Take Charlie somewhere.”

  “I’m not leaving,” he whispered, shaking his head. “I’m not leaving him.

  Cheryl’s tears gushed as she watched Ben slowly go still. Dr. Wong barked orders, sending people into a dash and she realized she heard none of it. “Are they…”

  “My father is going to operate,” Alice whispered, watching.

  Cheryl looked at her, gasping, “How do you know?”

  Without turning, she said, “Because he has turned on Rob,” she pointed. “His robotic operating machine for these operations.”

  Charlie looked at Alice. “Do you know what happens?” he whispered.

  She gave him a small nod. “I have seen him perform it many times on animals.”

  Cheryl focused on her calm words and gaze. Alice gave a worried look, but it seemed more of a concern for Cheryl. “He is very good at his job,” she assured, nodding.

  Cheryl watched as the people hurried about the room and Dr. Wong continued to give orders.

  “What is that?” Charlie whispered.

  “That is the refrigerator that holds your father’s new…” she looked at Charlie, her words dying away.

  “Holy shit,” Charlie barely whispered, watching. “What did they do to my dad?”

  “My father has started the medicine that will put him into a coma.”

  “But why?” Cheryl barely wailed covering her mouth. “Why are they operating now, it’s not even time.”

  Charlie hurried over and embraced her. “It’s okay mom. Dr. Wong knows what he’s doing. Alice believes in him and I believe Alice, and we both believe God, right? And…I can’t watch,” Charlie whispered, his words shaking. “I’m sorry.”

  Cheryl’s mother instincts kicked in and she grabbed his hand, pulling him back the way they came, away from the horror, the trauma of watching your father have his entire head removed. “We’ll go back to the room and pray. We will pray without stopping!” she gasped, running with him now.

  Charlie suddenly stopped, tugging out of her hold, looking back to a wide-eyed Alice, watching them. “Come,” he called her, with his hand out. “You wanted to learn to pray. I’ll teach you now.”

  Relief and hope flooded her pretty face as she raced toward them then ahead, leading the way. Cheryl wondered what that meant and realized Charlie and Alice had more than a connection that she’d first realized. “I will learn Charlie,” Alice assured, glancing back as she went. “I am an extremely fast learner! I will pray with you and your mother, and God will hear us!”

  Back in the room, Cheryl caught her head and grabbed hold of the island to steady herself. “Okay,” she said, nodding slowly with her eyes closed. “Calm breaths. In slowly, out slowly.” She suddenly opened her eyes and turned to see Alice’s mom.

  “Yan!” she cried, going right into the woman’s quick embrace.

  “You mustn’t worry,” she ordered in her soft way.

  Cheryl was back to panicked and she nodded at the woman, holding tight to her small hands, tighter to her brave gaze. Sure gaze. Confident. In her husband.

  She went to breathing slowly in and out. “I’m fine. I’m fine,” she said softly. “I’m fine,” she added firmer, for good measure. “I’m fine,” she tried to say again, but the words caught in her throat. She covered her mouth to stop the sob, before fighting back, fighting her own terror. “I’m fine,” she tried again.

  “Mom!”

  Charlie’s strong voice snatched her from the flames, and she turned, blinking the tears away. At seeing him kneeling in the center of the living room, holding his hand out to her, another sob rose in her throat. Her baby… he was a man now. A seventeen-year-old man. She hurried to him, to his unwavering faith and strength. Kneeling next to him, she grabbed his hand. Cheryl couldn’t stop her sob when Yen and Alice knelt too and joined in with them.

  But it was Charlie that prayed.

  He looked at Yen then Alice. “All you have to do…is believe with me,” he instructed, his voice low but full of courage and power, Cheryl realized in awe.

  “I will believe, Charlie,” Alice assured with a smile and nod.

  Yen also gave her nod and closed her eyes with bowed head and the sight of both of them prepared to do such a kindness stirred Cheryl deeply. She was guessing they didn’t share their faith, but here they were, praying with them anyway. Cheryl would never forget this kindness. Ever. She would pray for them every day for as long as she had breath.”

  “Dear God…” Charlie began.

  Cheryl squeezed his hand when his words never came.

  “I’ve been planning this moment,” he finally said quietly. “I had this prayer all ready. The one that talked about… You holding the victory for the upright and… how You go before us and make crooked places straight. And all the scriptures about the path of the righteous getting brighter and no weapon formed against us will prosper. But…” Cheryl’s chest tightened as he shook his lowered head. “I realized…this fear that’s screaming for me to pray with all my might…it’s not right. It’s wrong. You don’t need to be told who You are or reminded of what You promised, and neither do we. We know You are mightier than all our enemies, all our fears, and our sadness. And You’re especially mightier than death. But about that,” he whispered, nodding as his tears fell. “We don’t fear death. You’ve given us eternal life, and nothing can take that away. What’s better than that?” he asked heatedly.

  “So tonight, we’re praying not our will, but Your will be done. Because there is no other prayer for us to pray, there’s no secret desires for me to ask when You’ve already given us everything. Our prayer is to thank You for that. And
to bless Your Holy name. In Jesus name we pray this. Amen.”

  Cheryl wiped her tears, staring at her son, but they refused to stop falling as she wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tight. “I’m sorry,” she said, knowing he didn’t like the public show of affection. “My God, that was perfect, Charlie. So perfect.”

  “Amen Charlie?” Alice asked softly, watchful.

  Charlie pulled out of her embrace and nodded at Alice with a smile.

  The Operation

  “Mrs. Rabinowski?”

  The soft whisper repeated in Cheryl’s foggy mind until she realized who it was. “Dr….” She fought to open her eyes, her body leaping into action before she could even see.

  “You’re fine, you’re fine. Stay there,” he urged.

  “Dr. Wong,” she gasped, feeling drugged. Had she been? Panic slammed her. “Dr. Wong!”

  “He’s fine, Ben is fine,” he hurried, kneeling next to her. She was on the couch. She’d fallen asleep. “The operation went beautifully,” he went on. “He’s stable, but we’re watching him. He’ll remain in the induced coma for six weeks now, and we’ll be monitoring all stages closely. As you know, this is just the beginning. Frankly, the operation is likely the easiest part of this procedure.” He gave her a genuine smile, taking her hand in his and patting it. “I will never tell you untruths, Cheryl, not about this. Ben is extraordinarily strong, and that’s good. But the next six weeks is where we all hold our breath and see if his body will accept the new head. So, keep praying.”

  She nodded, releasing a huge breath, then covering her mouth, shaking. “I’m…” she looked at him, unsure. “So, I…I shouldn’t be relieved yet is what you’re saying?” She just wanted to do what was right.

  “No, no,” he cooed, softly. “You have every reason to be relieved. I shouldn’t have implied this part of the operation wasn’t dangerous.” He gave a bigger smile, fatigue at the edge of his kind eyes. “I guess I was being arrogant. I meant that out of all phases of the procedure, the one I am least concerned about is the one I have complete control over. My wife says I’m too proud,” he whispered, a smile hinting. He stood and came to sit on the couch a few feet away. She realized he was changed and wondered how long she’d slept. “Ben is stable after a historic operation and that is fantastic, very much worth celebrating. I just want you to know all the risks at every stage.”