“The best,” she agreed smugly. “I’m letting you get the bill.”
Chapter 3
Sophie
The next two weeks passed in a frenzied blur. Now I found myself rolling down the window of my cramped Honda, turning up the radio, and holding my drooping right eye open with my thumb and index finger. Maybe it’s time for a break, I thought as I looked for the next freeway exit.
I pulled into a parking space on the outskirts of a Walmart parking lot and turned off the car. I thought about calling Adri and making her guess where I was, but instead laughed at the beach memory, silenced Google Maps on my phone, and made sure the doors were locked. I reclined my seat back and closed my tired eyes. Just about halfway through this little journey, I smiled as I drifted off.
Water surrounds me and I know instinctively that I’m swimming in the Pacific looking for a certain species of fish. I’m plucking fish from the water one by one and shaking my head then flinging them back. Jeran is sitting upright in the water next to me, repeatedly beating me over the head with a toy hammer and yelling, “Lady. Hey lady, wake up!”
What? I tried to push his hand away and started when my hand touched something cold. My eyes flew open and swung from left to right in a panic as I tried to make my dream mesh with reality. I stifled a scream and put my hand to my rapidly beating heart when a knock sounded on the car window next to my ear. I tugged on the lever to return my seat to the upright position and fumbled for the keys in the ignition and then the button to roll down my window. A hard hat, orange reflective vest wearing construction guy was peering down at me through my now open window, a scowl on his face.
“Sorry to wake you,” he told me, not sounding very sorry at all. “We are closing off this section of the parking lot for repaving. I need you to move your car to that section over there,” he informed me, pointing toward the store behind me.
“Oh, okay. Sorry,” I apologized around a yawn as I watched him walk away shaking his head. I sat for a minute zoning, staring at nothing out the windshield. I shook my head to clear the remaining fuzziness and talked to myself as I started my car. “The Pacific, fish, and hammers to the head, huh?” I muttered. “That better not have been a vision of things to come.”
As the scenery changed from sagebrush and partially planted, spring green open fields and farms to lush green trees, waterfalls flowing from rocky outcroppings, and thick vegetation, I knew I had crossed into Oregon. Excitement bubbled in me at seeing my brother and his family, kissing Jeran’s chubby little cheeks, and making a trip to the ocean. Lighthouses perched on rocky outcroppings, stretching for the sky and tide pools full of sea anemones, crabs, and sea stars were just waiting to be discovered. My favorite place on earth. This was going to be a refreshing adventure.
The view driving into Portland was breathtaking. Bridges spanned the Willamette River that housed watercraft from fishing boats to luxury houseboats and sternwheelers to massive barges. This looked like a place where things got done.
I pushed the ‘get directions’ button on my phone. “Speak to me Google,” I instructed as I wound around streets and up and down hills to get a feel for the city. I pulled into Trevor and Stacy’s driveway around dinner time, exhausted and filled with nervous anticipation. How would my life change in the next few months?
I had called ahead to let them know my expected time of arrival, so I wasn’t surprised when the front door flew open and Trevor came bouncing down the steps with Jeran toddling behind as fast as his little legs would let him go.
Trevor held out his arms for a hug as I hurried up the walk. “It’s so good to see you. Glad you finally made it.”
“I hope dinner’s on the table ‘cause I’m starving,” I teased, hugging him back. “And you,” I turned to Jeran and smiled down at him, “are such a big boy now. When I saw you last, you were a teeny baby.” I held my hands up in front of myself about a foot apart from each other to show him how small.
“Your house is really nice, Trev.” I admired his cute Victorian home with a tree and flowers in the landscaped front yard. I noticed the house sat high enough to view the Willamette River in the distance. “I bet you couldn’t believe all the green when you moved here. For a Texas girl like me, this is the Garden of Eden.” Trevor laughed as he lifted one of my suitcases from the back seat of my car. I grabbed the other suitcase and Jeran’s hand.
Jeran started talking a mile a minute about showing me his toys. I couldn’t believe how well he spoke, and to a stranger. If we could communicate, we could get along. I wouldn’t get too excited yet, however. This was the angel side I was seeing right now. Trevor assured me there is a devil in there somewhere.
Stacy called to us from the living room as soon as the door opened. Trevor set the suitcases down in the hall and led me into the living room. “I’ll give you the grand tour later. Come see my glowingly pregnant wife.”
I rushed past Trevor and bent over the couch to give Stacy a one armed hug. “Look at you!” I gushed. “If I ever have kids, I want to look like you. You make such a cute pregnant lady. How are you feeling? What do you hear about the baby?”
Stacy laughed at my rapid fire comments and questions. “I’m sorry.” I apologized. “I’ve been talking to myself for the past few days. You know how I am. I’m not very good company for myself, I’ve realized.”
“You and Jeran should get along well if you don’t care that you will talk over each other and never get any answers with so much to say.” Trevor grinned.
I scowled at him. “Rude,” I said. To which he laughed.
I took a seat next to Stacy on the couch and pushed her forward a little to rub her back. She let out a bliss-filled sigh and closed her eyes. “Where have you been the past seven plus months?” She murmured. “This was a good decision, getting you up here. I could get used to this.”
“So tell me what you know about the baby’s condition,” I cued while continuing the massage.
“Well, first of all let me say that we feel we were led to Portland when we were looking to settle in Oregon,” Trevor said and reached for Stacy’s hand. “The OHSU Hospital has an excellent pediatric cardiologist named Dr. David Harmon. While the hospital doesn’t rank as high as hospitals in Boston or Texas, we feel good about this hospital. We’ve spoken with Dr. Harmon a few times already and he’s confident and competent in what he does.”
“We liked him from the first visit and know he will be a blessing to the baby. He’s had many successes and we are grateful to have him in our corner.” Stacy finished with a hesitant smile. A trusted doctor was one less thing to worry about, but I could tell they weren’t completely at peace with the whole situation yet. I couldn’t blame them. The unknown is a scary place to be.
“Dr. Harmon did more tests and says the baby has a ventricular septal defect. It’s a common congenital defect where there is a hole in the wall separating the two lower chambers in the heart.”
“What does that do?” I asked.
“The hole allows blood to travel across the hole from the left pumping chamber to the right pumping chamber and out into the lung arteries. The good, oxygenated blood mixes with the oxygen-poor blood. That means the heart and lungs have to work harder and the lungs can become congested. It’s difficult to diagnose in utero and sometimes isn’t even diagnosed until adulthood because if the hole is small, it will usually close on its own.”
“How did they even diagnose it then?” I wanted to know.
“The hole in our baby’s heart appears to be so large-– that’s how it was caught on the ultrasound-- that it may get smaller on its own, but it will never fully close. If he can’t gain enough weight or shows other signs of heart failure, he will have to have it repaired soon after he is born.”
“What does that involve?”
“There are three types of repairs and we are still deciding which one to go with. He will stay in the hospital for about a week for monitoring and testing, and if surgery is necessary, he will be in the hospit
al for at least a week more. If there is inflammation around the heart or infection, the stay will be longer. After he is born, it’s a waiting game for a while, unfortunately.”
“So, it’s a C-section for sure then?” I asked.
“Yes. The doctor is worried that the stress of labor will be too much for the baby,” Trevor explained.
“And they want him out quickly to monitor his condition,” Stacy added. “Just one more month and I’ll be able to touch my feet again, she sighed in relief, rubbing her distended stomach.
“Say ‘four weeks,’” Trevor told her. “That sounds like less time to wait than one month. Then he sighed like he carried the heavy burden instead of his wife. “And I’ll be able to sleep again.”
Stacy smacked his arm. “Nice, Trev. When have you missed a night’s sleep in the last eight months?” She raised her brows at him, challenging him to come up with an answer. “That’s what I thought,” she grinned.
“I was only trying to be a part of this important conversation.”
Stacy and I rolled our eyes. Please...
“How are you feeling today?” I asked Stacy as we strolled through their neighborhood a week later. Jeran was talking excitedly from his stroller about the toys he would play on at the park and the stray dog we had just steered around. The day was going to be another partly cloudy yet beautiful one. I could get used to these milder Oregon temps. I’d already have the AC cranked up high if I was still in Texas and it was only nine-thirty in the morning.
“I’m okay. A little crampy today,” Stacy sighed, rubbing her giant belly. “Only three weeks to go. I’m to the point where I’m so uncomfortable that I’m ready for this to be over, but then I’m afraid of the heart stuff, so I’d like to keep him in indefinitely.”
I laughed at the image my mind conjured of her still pregnant years from now. “Just be glad you aren’t an elephant. They are pregnant for almost two years. Imagine trying to get the baby out after that amount of time…”
“I feel like an elephant,” she complained.
“Mommy’s a elphant. Mommy’s a elphant,” Jeran chanted.
“Good one,” I whispered to Stacy, smothering a chuckle. “Nothing like the constant reminder you are going to get now. That ought to make you feel real good.”
In an attempt to turn the conversation from Stacy’s size, I spoke to Jeran over the stroller visor, “Jeran, when shall we go to the zoo and see the mommy elephant?” That’s all it took to hijack his current thought process and he was off telling stories of giraffes, lions, and monkeys.
“How do you want to work a schedule while I’m here?” I asked as we turned up another street. I still couldn’t believe how alive and fresh everything was here. I looked around at the yards in wonder. Roses the size of my palm bloomed everywhere leaving a delicious floral scent hanging in the air. I breathed in deeply and smiled. “I was thinking I could go to the hospital early in the mornings and then again in the evening when Trevor gets home from work for the first six weeks or until you feel up to going yourself. I’ll get most of the meals and Jeran and I will entertain each other during the day while you rest.”
“Maybe Trevor could go in the mornings before work when the doctors make their rounds so he can discuss any issues and so you’d only have to go once a day,” Stacy suggested. “I don’t want to wear you out. I’m hoping he can be bottle fed breast milk and not need a feeding tube. It’s just so hard to plan when we don’t know exactly what we are planning for. There are so many variables. I would like to read some stories with Jeran every day at naptime. That way, he will have his mommy time,” she said as she ruffled his hair. He squealed and struggled to get away. Luckily he was belted in.
“The schedule will change after my six week ban, I’m sure. And then again when the baby comes home from the hospital. Thank you for doing this, Sophie.” She put her hand on my arm and gave it a light squeeze. I smiled at her and announced to Jeran that the park was up ahead. His excited laughter and bouncing in the stroller broadened my smile. There was nowhere else I’d rather be.
James
“Hey, bro,” Kaley said into the phone. “You coming to church with us again this week?”
“Of course.”
“Good. You can stay for dinner afterward.”
I pushed an aggravated sigh through the phone. Would she ever quit? “I smell you from a mile away. Who is she this time? And have you been talking to Mom and Dad again?”
“Please. That’s not the only reason I ever call you.”
“Oh yeah? Name one time in the last three months that you have called just to shoot the breeze." A pause. "I didn't think so. Come on, spill.”
“Fine. Mom was giving me a hard time about not coming to visit, about how it’s time for another baby, about any other thing you can think of that isn’t going according to her timeline. If you would just hurry up and do something with your life, it would really take the pressure off,” she whined.
I rolled my eyes. “Right, Kaley. Let me get right on that.”
“Seriously, though. Bring Andy this time so you won’t feel trapped or backed into a corner or however you feel when you see someone of the opposite sex and simply meet this girl. You don’t have to marry her. Just meet her. That’s all I ask. That way I can report to Mom that you met someone and she will leave me alone for a few days.”
I glanced at Andy who was holding up the basketball and motioning impatiently to his watch and rolled my eyes in a silent apology. “You make me sound like I have a phobia of women. I was married once, remember? I do still like women. I’m just too busy to get involved right now.”
“That’s the point-”
“Oh, Kaley,” I interrupted, urgency in my voice. “That’s my pager. Sorry. I’ve got to go.”
“You are a liar. I heard the basketball. Tell Andy to get a life and I’ll see you two this weekend.”
“Phew,” I breathed out as I hung up. “Sorry about that,” I told Andy, tossing my phone onto my gym bag. “She invited you to dinner this time, too.”
“Awww, man,” Andy whined.
“She invited someone she wants you to meet,” I told him and laughed inwardly as he perked up. “I’m just there to help the conversation flow.”
“Food and women- two of my favorite things. Okay. Enough talk.” Andy inbounded the ball. “Prepare to get smoked.”
“Maybe,” I shrugged smugly. Who cares if I won the game or not? I just won a major battle off the court.
Chapter 4
Sophie
We moved around the house the morning of Stacy’s C-section like we were performing a slightly nerve wracking dance. Stacy hummed softly while packing a bag and wrapping a gift she got for Jeran to welcome his new brother. Trevor paced and switched on the television. Then, restless, he’d switch it off and pace again. Occasionally, he’d ask Stacy if she needed anything.
Finally, when I thought I’d go crazy with anticipation, Stacy sat down on the couch and pulled Jeran on her lap as far as he could fit with her basketball shaped stomach between them.
“Daddy and I need to go to the hospital so the doctor can get your brother out of my belly. I’ll be gone for a few days, but Aunt Sophie will be with you. You be a good boy for her, okay?”
Jeran patted her tummy. “Yup,” he said.
Stacy kissed the side of his head. “I love you, buddy.”
He lay his head on her belly. “Love you, Mommy.” Then he scooted off her lap and took my hand. “Mommy is going to get my baby,” he said matter-of-factly. “Let’s go to the pahk.”
I choked on a laugh. “Tell your daddy goodbye.”
He briefly raised his hand, not even looking in Trevor’s direction. “Bye, Daddy.”
“Hey,” Trevor laughed at Jeran’s disinterest and picked him up. “You give me loves.” Trevor covered Jeran’s small face with kisses and tickled his stomach.
Jeran struggled and squirmed in his arms. “Okay. Okay,” he cried, putting a hand on Trevor’s fac
e to pull it down to his lips. When his lips and Trevor’s cheek met, Jeran blew a zerbert on Trevor;s cheek and burst into giggles.
Trevor cried out in mock outrage and lowered Jeran to the floor. Jeran ran from his father, still giggling. “You get back here, you little stinker,” Trevor called. He grinned at Stacy and took her hand, helping her up from the couch.
“Thanks again, Sophie,” Stacy said as they made their way to the door.
“Don’t worry about us. Go have a baby. We’ll be praying for you.” I slung an arm around Trevor’s waist and gave it a light squeeze. “Call or text to let us know.”
I closed the door softly behind them and turned. “Little stinker,” I called, “come out, come out wherever you are.” I heard a faint giggle, grinned, and moved stealthily toward the happy sound.
“Jeran, guess what?” I asked excitedly, pushing end on my phone and pointing to an empty space on a wooden puzzle board.
“What?” he answered distracted, attempting to shove the puzzle piece into the spot I indicated.
“Daddy called and your new brother is at the hospital. We need to get you super clean so we can go see him.”
“I don’t wanna get clean,” he protested and held up his hands and inspected them then turned them over and showed them to me. “I clean awedy.”
“Wait. I see a dirty spot,” I said as I kissed his chubby cheek. “And there’s one here.” I kissed the other cheek. “And I think there’s another one here.” I moved to nibble at his very ticklish neck and he shrieked and wriggled to get away. “How about we use bubbles?”
“Yay fo bubbles!” he yelled racing ahead of me to the bathroom.
Yay for bubbles, I thought as I quickly retrieved the dish soap from the kitchen and followed him into the bathroom. I leaned over and started the water filling the tub. “What do you want to name your brother?” I asked as he held up his arms for me to lift his shirt over his head.
Matters of the Heart Page 2