Two Weeks: A Novel (The Baxter Family)

by Karen Kingsbury

  Yes, that had to be it.

  The wave passed and Elise looked at herself in the mirror again. She wasn’t really on speaking terms with God. But if she was, this would be a good time to pray. Not just that she would avoid getting sicker. But that whatever she was feeling wasn’t something worse.

  Something a person couldn’t catch.

  For a long moment she did the math. This was late January, and the last time she and Randy had been together was about two months ago. Just before Thanksgiving. He had taken her to his house that day, because his parents were never home. And after, when she was still in bed wondering what had happened to her life, she had caught a glimpse of her reflection in his bedroom window. Just the shadowy outline of her face. And a thought had occurred to her.

  She no longer recognized herself.

  Randy came back in the room, his shirt off. And he sneered at her. “Don’t just lay there, Elise. Get up and get dressed. I’m hanging with the guys tonight.”

  And she could remember how his words made her feel. Like she was trash and he couldn’t wait to get rid of her. And in that moment, she wanted just one thing—to be as far from Randy Collins as she could possibly get. She wrapped the sheet around herself and gathered her clothes from the floor.

  “What are you doing?” He laughed at her. His voice sounded meaner than usual. “Like I haven’t seen everything.”

  He was right, of course.

  He’d seen her body too many times to count. But he had never seen her soul. And Elise made a decision that afternoon that he never would. She held the sheet tight around her as she brushed by him.

  “Oh. One more thing.” He looked disgusted with her. “If you ever get pregnant, you’re on your own. I don’t want a kid.” He had said things like that before. But that time Elise knew she’d remember his words forever. He raised his voice. “You hear me, Elise?”

  She didn’t answer him. Just stepped into the bathroom and slammed the door behind her.

  Only then had it hit her what she’d been doing. How in her determination to rebel against her mother, to punish her mother for not believing in her dreams of being an artist, she had fallen victim to Randy’s twisted pleasures.

  Even now she couldn’t bear to think about the months that had led to that single moment. But she had known one thing that afternoon. She was finished. His abusive words and actions, the way he used her whenever he wanted, all of it was over.

  Ten minutes later, when she was dressed, she walked out of his house without saying a word. Just walked out and kept going.

  “Elise!” She could still hear him yelling at her from his front porch. “Get back here. I told you I’d take you home.”

  “No.” It was the last word she had ever said to him. No she wasn’t going back to him. She was going to go home and tell her mother everything. Every awful detail. Well, maybe not every detail. And then she was going to start over.

  A life without Randy Collins.

  Her mother had tried to be strong later that evening when Elise came clean about what had been going on with Randy. But before she fell asleep, Elise heard her mama crying against her pillow. Muffled sounds of heartbreak and regret. But at least the truth was out in the open.

  Or most of it, anyway. She couldn’t tell her mom the whole story. Her mama would call the police for sure. Because what Randy did to her wasn’t legal. She understood that now.

  Anyway, Elise had expected her mom to be upset. What she hadn’t expected was how Randy wouldn’t let her go. It made no sense. Randy had other girls. What did it matter if she walked away? But it mattered to Randy. And for weeks he threatened to find her and take her back. No matter how he had to make it happen. “You’re mine, Elise.” He cornered her near her locker one day at school. “Watch your back.”

  Threats like that were what had led her mama to make the decision—the only one that made sense. Elise would move to Bloomington to live with her aunt and uncle and she’d finish school there. Randy wouldn’t know where she’d gone, and he could move on. Forget about her.

  But as far away as all that felt, the reality was this: The last time she’d been with Randy was the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Elise turned to the sink and ran the water. She dipped her fingers in the cool stream and pressed them to her forehead. I don’t know if You’re there or not, God. But please, no. Please.

  Randy didn’t always use protection, and even still she’d never gotten pregnant. Elise figured she probably couldn’t have a baby. Not when she’d never been a willing party to their afternoons at his house.

  Still, what was this nausea? How long could she blame it on the school cafeteria?

  The cold water helped and as Elise dried her forehead a sense of normalcy came over her. It was impossible. She was already getting straight A’s in her new classes and her NYU paperwork and dorm application were filled out. She’d send it in next week with a letter from Dr. Baxter about her volunteer work. NYU was a sure thing. She could feel it.

  She filled her lungs and stood straight. The patients were waiting. With her work sheet in one hand, she left the bathroom and walked toward the patient hallway.

  The first room she passed, a woman called out to her. “Dear, right here! Please!”

  Elise stopped and looked in. The name on the door was Evelyn. A glance at her notes told her this was the woman she’d planned to save for last. The woman whose hours were numbered. Elise stepped inside and smiled. “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Dear, if you could please hold my hand.” The woman’s voice trembled. She was very old. In her nineties, probably. She reached out shaking fingers. “I’m waiting for my son to get here. But . . .” Her voice broke. “I feel so alone, dear.”

  There was no way Elise could leave her. She grabbed a spot of hand sanitizer and rubbed her fingers together. “I’m here. Everything’s fine.”

  “Okay.” Evelyn visibly exhaled. “That’s good.”

  Elise pulled up a chair near the woman’s bed and took hold of her hand. “Would you like to tell me your story? What life was like when you were a little girl?”

  For a long moment the woman thought about that. Like maybe she might start at the beginning. But then she shook her head. “No, dear. That’ll take too long.”

  A smile pulled on Elise’s lips. Sweet woman. What lucky kids and grandkids to have a caring soul like Evelyn. Whoever they were, wherever they were, Elise hoped they’d get here soon.

  “You know what I’d like?” The woman wasn’t shaking as bad now. “Could you sing to me? The nurse said you’re a singer.”

  “Well.” Elise looked into Evelyn’s eyes. “I wouldn’t say that. I used to sing in my school choir. That’s all.”

  “How nice.” Again the woman seemed to relax a little. “There was a song my mother used to sing to me. Whenever I was sick.” Her eyes filled with tears, the papery skin on her face trembling at the memory.

  “Tell me.” Elise doubted she would know it. But she could sing something, at least. If that’s what the woman wanted.

  “ ‘Jesus Loves Me.’ That’s what she would sing and it always . . . always made me feel better.” Evelyn shook her head. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me today. But I don’t seem right and I thought . . . that song . . .”

  Elise knew it, of course. Her own mother used to sing it to her whenever she was sick or scared. Or when she couldn’t sleep. All the way through her sophomore year in high school. Only after things changed between them did her mama stop. Elise blinked back tears of her own. “Yes. I . . . I can sing that one.”

  The woman nodded. “Thank you. I just need to picture my mom right now.”

  This was a part of the job Elise hadn’t expected, the idea that even very old people still wanted their parents. Still called out for their moms and dads when things felt out of control. When they needed comfort.

  It made her hate herself for how she’d treated her mom.

  Elise looked deep into the woman’s frightened eyes. “Jesus loves
me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so . . .” Gradually, she felt her voice getting stronger. If this was what the dear woman needed, then this was what she was going to do. She would deal with her feelings about her own mother later.

  As the song grew and filled the room, Evelyn’s fears seemed to fall away. Elise watched it happen. And by the time she was on the last line of the last chorus, the woman was asleep. Elise looked at the monitors by her bed. She didn’t know how to read them, but this much was obvious. Evelyn was more peaceful now than she’d been before Elise got here.

  Not only that, but Elise was feeling better. The nausea was gone. Probably just the salad dressing, like she’d thought earlier.

  As Elise left the room, she checked her work sheet. The woman in the next room needed a visit, too. But before Elise was done today, she would do what she had promised herself. She would end the day back here with Evelyn. Because if anyone needed extra love this afternoon, it was her. And as Elise stepped into the next room and cleaned her hands, she told herself something else. When she got home she would do what she hadn’t done all week.

  She would call her mama.

  6

  Baseball practice was canceled because of the rain, and though there were a dozen things Cole could’ve done with his afternoon, there was only one place he wanted to be.

  Bloomington Hospital.

  Far too much time had passed without him stopping in to say hello to his aunt Brooke and uncle Peter—both doctors who did rounds at the hospital. And today happened to be a day when his papa would be there.

  So it only made sense that he’d stop by on the way home from school.

  True to his word, Cole went to the pediatric floor first and found his aunt and uncle in one of the offices. They talked for a minute about how excited Cole was to finish school and attend Liberty, and how sure he was that he wanted to become a doctor. Like them.

  They shared how Maddie was enjoying her sophomore year in college and how Hayley was going to stay home after high school graduation next year and take classes online. She was working at a center for kids with disabilities—a job she loved.

  After a while, Cole bid them goodbye and took the elevator to the emergency room. When his papa worked at the hospital it was usually in the ER. That’s where he did his best training. It was also where Cole hoped to work once he finished school.

  Sure enough his grandpa was busy with two interns when Cole checked in at the desk. Ten minutes, he was told. Then Dr. Baxter could be with him. Cole’s heart raced. All he really wanted to do was get to the fourth floor. The place where Elise was volunteering today. But he had come to say hello to his papa and he wouldn’t leave without doing so.

  He sat in the waiting room and pulled his phone from his jeans pocket. No text messages, so he shot a quick one to his mom.

  What’s for dinner? Could I bring Elise?

  As soon as he sent the message his heart beat even harder. He still hadn’t brought her home. Hadn’t met her parents or taken her on a real date. Like where he paid and it was more than friends. But every time he was with her he felt himself fall a little deeper. Cole had once watched a movie with his mom, a sappy film about some Christmas love story.

  But one of the lines had stayed with him. The guy was talking to his friend, trying to describe how he felt about this girl. And all he could say was “She captivates me. Completely. When I’m with her I don’t know anything else except her. Right there beside me. Only her.”

  Cole could’ve written the words himself. It was exactly how he felt about Elise.

  The question was how to tell her. In the times he’d been out alone with her, the topic never naturally came up. He’d never had a girlfriend, so he wasn’t sure what to say. Was he supposed to bring it up between talking about her classes or her love of painting? “Hey, Elise. Wanna go on a real date?”

  Was that what he was supposed to say?

  Or maybe first he should tell her how he felt. “Elise, here’s the crazy thing. I can’t think of anything but you lately. And I wondered if you felt the same way?”

  Just running the phrases through his head made him sick to his stomach. There was nothing the least bit natural about any of that. So how should he do it? How was he supposed to move things from friends to . . . more than friends?

  God, do you hear my crazy thoughts? He ran his fingers through his hair. Of course God heard him. God knew all things. So, then, what should I do? This girl has my heart in her hands.

  My son, a different voice shook Cole’s soul, honor your father.

  The whispered words made Cole jump in his seat. He looked over one shoulder and then the other. Who had said that? After a few seconds he settled into the chair again and tried to catch his breath. God. That was the only possible answer.

  The Lord had actually spoken to him. Cole wiped the back of his hand across his damp forehead. His mom and dad had talked about hearing from the Lord. But Cole had only experienced something like this a couple times before.

  So what was it God wanted him to hear? What did He want him to know?

  Honor your father.

  Cole stared at the floor and slowly nodded his head. He was supposed to talk to his dad about Elise. That’s how he could honor his dad. Yes, that was it. He hoped his mom would let her come over for dinner. Elise only had volunteer work till six o’clock. Then she could come home with him and meet his parents.

  And after that, after he took her back to her house, Cole could talk to his dad about his feelings. That had to be what God was telling him. By talking to his dad, he would bring honor to him. Because that was a father’s role—to give wisdom and instruction to his children. Lots of guys at school wouldn’t dream of talking to their parents about anything—least of all the girls they liked.

  But there was no one else on earth Cole would rather talk to about Elise.

  The emergency room doors swung open and Cole looked up. His papa stepped into the lobby. “Cole!”

  Since he was a little boy, Cole had loved this man. In his earliest years, Papa Baxter and his grandma Elizabeth used to watch him while his mom worked. Then as Cole got older, he would fish with Papa in the old pond on the Baxter house property.

  The place where Cole and his family lived now.

  Cole stood to meet him. There was no warmer place than his grandfather’s arms, especially after Grandma Elizabeth died of cancer when Cole was still a little guy. Now he and his papa hugged, and the two of them pulled back to look at each other. His papa grinned. “You’re healthy, no injuries this season.”

  “No. Thankfully.” Last spring Cole had pulled a muscle in his calf and had to sit out most of the season. This year, though, he was in perfect shape. He grinned. “Coach has me starting at second base.”

  “I knew it!” His papa put his hand on Cole’s shoulder. “I told Elaine a hundred times that’s where you belong. You’re a born second baseman, Cole. I can’t wait to come see you play.”

  Cole loved that his papa cared about his games. His grandma Elaine, too. She and Papa had been married for many years now and Cole loved her very much. They talked awhile longer about Cole’s classes and the premed courses he’d be taking at Liberty next year. “The school of osteopathic medicine has built up quite a buzz.” His grandfather’s eyes shone, the way they always did. Like hope was part of his makeup.

  “That’s good!”

  “Definitely.” His papa nodded. Ever since Cole had decided he wanted to be a doctor, they had conversations like this. “In the future, medicine will treat the person, not the illness. Your school is on the cutting edge of that understanding.”

  Cole was glad, but he was also anxious to get going. He wanted to surprise Elise. She had no idea he was coming today. After another few minutes, Cole hugged his papa again. “Thanks for taking time.”

  “Are you kidding?” Papa rubbed his head. “I love when you stop by. Makes my day.”

  It was nearly five o’clock by the time Cole stepped off the elevato
r on the floor where Elise volunteered. He knew the nurse at the desk—a friend of their family’s from church. “I’m here to see Elise.” He smiled at the woman.

  “That’s fine.” The nurse waved him on. “She’s in one of the rooms down the hallway.”

  Cole knew his way around the hospital. Over the years he’d been here a number of times with his papa. In some ways medicine was an obvious calling. Long before his dad entered his life, Cole had loved and admired Papa. Cole would look up to the man as long as he lived.

  He walked with quiet steps down the hall. That’s when he felt the buzz of his phone. He checked his messages and saw one from his mom.

  Definitely! Bring Elise to dinner. We’d love to meet her.

  Cole shot back a reply.

  She gets done at the hospital at 6. So sometime after that, okay?

  His mom’s response was quick.

  That’s great. We’ll be ready!

  Cole smiled. Perfect. This day was going exactly like he’d planned. After he’d walked past three rooms, he heard someone singing. It took only seconds for Cole to realize the voice belonged to Elise.

  He peeked into the room and there she was, standing beside an old woman in a hospital bed, holding her hand. She had her back to Cole, so he stopped in the doorway.

  “Are you afraid, Evelyn?” Elise’s voice was warm with compassion.

  “No.” The woman shook her head. “Jesus knows me. And I know Him.”

  Elise nodded. “That’s good. He’s gonna throw a party when you get there.”

  Cole felt his heart soar. She was a Christian. They hadn’t exactly talked about it in depth, but he could picture her, the good girl, sitting in church by her parents. Of course she was that girl. It was why she hadn’t made friends with the party crowd. The reason she stayed home on Friday and Saturday nights.

  He couldn’t imagine anyone with more compassion than Elise. The way she looked and sounded right here, right now.

  “Thank you for coming back, dear. Can you sing to me again?” The woman’s voice was shaky. Cole wondered if she had long to live. “That same song. The one my mother used to sing to me?”