by A. L. Jambor
“Please, Antonio, I can't get in to see the doctor for two months. What if something happens before then?” Teresa was on the verge of tears.
“When I offered it to you the first time, you said you didn't want a purple baby.”
“Better a purple baby than no baby at all. Antonio, I trust you. Look at Ricky. He’s so healthy. Please help me.”
She was pleading with Antonio and he could see how important this was to her. He sat for a minute thinking of the consequences should something go wrong. The placenta would be purple. How could that be hidden from the doctor who delivered her baby? How would he explain a baby with a light purple sheen to its skin?
“It would work. I know it would. But how do we hide the purple placenta?” he asked.
“We could get a midwife to deliver me at home.”
“No, not after what happened before. You have to be in a hospital,” said Antonio.
They sat together for a long time thinking about what to do. In the end, all Antonio cared about was saving his wife and baby. So that evening, he brought a plant into the house from the garage and cut one of the leaves off it.
He scraped the spores into a paper bowl and pounded it into a paste. He added a little more water, and when he thought it was ready presented it to Teresa in a paper cup.
“God, that looks nasty. It doesn't smell good either.”
“Chloe liked it.” Antonio was smiling at her.
“Well, here goes,” Teresa said as she sipped the drink.
She raised her eyebrows signifying it did not taste that bad. They she drank the rest down quickly. She put the cup down on the table. Very shortly thereafter, her face glowed in a light purple sheen for a few seconds and then returned to normal. That always amazed Antonio, and it let him know the spores were going to work.
“Do you feel anything?” he asked Teresa.
“I feel good, like I could run a marathon.” Teresa was smiling a big smile. “I think I need to put some of this stuff away.”
There were still boxes to unpack and Teresa attacked them with a fervor seldom seen in womankind. She cleaned the house once over and then started to clean it again. When she slept, she entered into a deep sleep. When she woke up, she jumped out of bed ready to conquer the world. She felt she could do almost anything.
When she went to see Dr. Tomlinson, she noted that he looked like Santa Clause. He had long white hair and a short white beard. He wore small round metal rimmed glasses. He also had a big belly.
“Yes, I know,” he remarked, “I’m a jolly old elf.”
Teresa laughed with him because it really was true. Dr. Tomlinson was a genial soul. He examined her and told her that she was fine, that her cervix was doing nicely and there was no sign of dilation.
Dr. Tomlinson told her that she was four months along and if she remained this well he could see no reason for concern. She left his office feeling as though Santa had come early, which of course he had.
Antonio was thrilled with his wife's progress. She glowed, thankfully not purple, and she said she hadn’t felt this good, pregnant or not, since she was a teenager. With each passing month, she and Antonio relaxed. They knew this baby would be fine and that she would carry it full term.
When she began to approach her final weeks, Dr. Tomlinson suggested she stay in St. Petersburg until the baby was born. He didn’t want her going into labor so far away. Antonio worked with a man whose parents owned a waterfront home on St. Pete Beach that they used only in the winter. Antonio asked if Teresa and her dogs could live there for a month until she delivered. The man's parents agreed and Teresa moved in with Chloe and Ricky. Antonio would come down on weekends.
Lorraine said she could fly down the last week to stay with Teresa when Teresa told her it was time. Teresa’s parents would come a week later to give Teresa time to settle in.
Lorraine was reading a book she’d bought at the airport. She and Teresa were sitting on the beach in lounge chairs. Teresa felt a pang. She wasn’t sure what it was until it happened again and her eyes bugged out of her head. Lorraine, who had never given birth, got up and ran to phone the doctor, leaving Teresa splayed out on the beach in her chair.
When she came back, Lorraine helped Teresa up as best she could. Teresa first had to roll over with Lorraine watching helplessly by her side. Finally, she was able to get herself up on her knees and Lorraine was able to help her balance so she could get up.
By the time they got off the beach, the ambulance was there to take Teresa to the hospital. Lorraine called Antonio, who said he’d meet her at the hospital as soon as he could get there.
Lorraine was in the room with Teresa when Antonio arrived. She took Antonio aside.
“She was in bed when her water broke.” Lorraine was looking rather grim. “Antonio, she asked me what color it was. I didn't want to look, but she kept insisting. I wanted to get the nurse. But I did look. Antonio, it was purple. The most beautiful shade of purple I've ever seen. Is that normal? I mean, is that the color of the stuff around the baby?”
Antonio suppressed a smile. Lorraine was so earnest he dare not laugh.
“Umm, well, sometimes. It depends on what the mother eats. I know that Teresa was very fond of eggplant during this pregnancy. She also ate a lot of grapes and plums. So maybe it affected her amniotic fluids.”
“I can see that,” Lorraine said. “It's all over the sheets.”
Antonio peeked under Teresa's covers. Indeed the sheets were damp and purple. Antonio asked Lorraine to ask the nurse for a new sheet and padding. When Lorraine brought them back, Teresa got out of the bed and Antonio changed the sheets before anyone could see them.
“Shouldn't the nurses do that?” Lorraine said.
“Ah, they are very busy tonight, full moon and all. I try to help when I can.”
“Damn Antonio.” Lorraine was smiling at him. “No wonder she puts up with you.”
Antonio asked Lorraine to get him some coffee because he wanted to be alone with Teresa. Lorraine took the hint and left the room. When they were alone, Antonio closed the door and sat next to Teresa on the bed.
“How are you feeling, Cara?” He put his arm around her.
“I’m not in hard labor yet, so it's not too bad. But it's bad enough. I can't believe the color of those sheets. How are we going to hide the placenta?”
“We may have to bring Dr. Tomlinson into our confidence. I don't know what else to do,” Antonio said.
“I think we can trust him. How can he argue with the results of us using that drug? I am nine months pregnant without a hitch.”
Teresa grabbed Antonio's arm and her monitor went off the charts. The pain ripped through her like a hot poker on her back. Antonio called the nurse, who came in to check her vitals. She also checked Teresa's dilation.
“It should be pretty soon, now. I'm going to get the doctor,” the nurse said.
The nurse didn't mention anything unusual about Teresa's nether regions. When Dr. Tomlinson came in, he examined Teresa and told the nurse to move her to the OR. Teresa was wheeled into the OR while Antonio dressed in scrubs and a mask. The actual birth took very little time.
“It's a boy!” cried Dr. Tomlinson with a big grin.
Then all noise in the OR stopped. They were all looking at the baby. He was a very pretty shade of purple, not too light, not too dark. Dr. Tomlinson was taken aback. He had never seen this before.
Teresa and Antonio just looked at each other and back at the baby. The doctor handed the baby to the nurse so she could clean him. Soon after, Teresa pushed out the placenta. Dr. Tomlinson looked at the placenta and then at Teresa.
“This is the damnedest thing I've ever seen.” He called Antonio over to look at it. Antonio saw a perfect placenta marbled with red, pink, and purple. “It's beautiful,” was all he could say.
When they laid the little boy on Teresa's chest, she looked at the little purple face. She could see he had his Daddy's chin. She prayed he would lose his purple hue sooner
than later. But she loved him with all her heart.
“What's his name?” the doctor asked.
“Jason. Jason Antonio Russo.”
Chapter 34
2001 St. Pete Beach, Florida
“Jason. JASON!” Teresa was yelling for her son to come in from outside. It was getting dark. Jason and Ricky were out on the beach in front of their house.
“Okay Ma. Come on, Ricky.”
Jason was seven years old. He would be eight in a couple of weeks. This year he’d asked to go to one of the giant theme parks in Orlando. Teresa and Antonio agreed it was an appropriate request for an 8-year-old, and made arrangements to stay there for a week before school started. Jason and Ricky were full of sand and dragged it into the kitchen.
“Ugh – gritty floor. Go back outside and take your shoes off, Jason.”
Jason turned around and went back outside to take his shoes off. Ricky whined for food and Teresa put his plate on the floor. When Jason came back in, she told him to get ready for his bath.
Jason ran into his room and took off his clothes. He heard his mom running his bath. He ran into the bathroom where Teresa waited for him. He shook his butt and made her laugh. Then he climbed into the tub.
Teresa sat on the toilet watching Jason play in the tub, making sure he cleaned himself at the same time. When the water got cold, she said it was time to get out and she held up a towel. She wrapped the towel around him and dried him.
Teresa helped Jason to put on his PJ's, and then followed him into his room to tuck him into bed. Jason's eyes were heavy as she kissed him goodnight. Ricky had his own bed, but he preferred Jason’s. He was snuggled up next to Jason. She patted his head before turning off the light.
“Will Daddy be here in the morning?” Jason asked Teresa.
“Yes, he will. It's Saturday. Goodnight fellas.”
Teresa left the door open and walked into the kitchen, where she had a small computer. Chloe was sitting in Antonio’s chair at the table. She smiled and stroked the dog’s head. Chloe’s snout was covered with gray hair.
Teresa had learned how to trade stocks online and she was very good at it. She was so good, in fact, that she didn’t have another job. She worked online for four to six hours each day when Jason was at school.
Teresa shut down the computer and put Antonio's dinner in the microwave until he came home. She shooed Chloe off the chair when she heard the garage door opening.
Antonio had been promoted to Senior Research Analyst six months before. He worked longer hours, but he was able to negotiate his Fridays off. This was the last Friday he would have to work before his new contract took effect.
Antonio came home and he was exhausted. He kissed Teresa on the cheek and looked in on Jason, who was fast asleep. Antonio hadn’t been looking good lately, and Teresa had resolved to ask him what was going on. She warmed his dinner and put it on the table. Then she sat down in her chair to keep him company while he ate his food.
Teresa kept the conversation light until he was done eating. Then she put his dish in the dishwasher and poured some wine. She suggested they go out on the deck and Antonio agreed.
Antonio sat quietly contemplating whether to tell Teresa all that was weighing on his heart. He had something he’d kept from her, and he didn’t think he was ready to tell her. Antonio had made a pact with the devil, and now he was afraid he wouldn’t be able to shake the devil loose.
*****
When Jason was born eight years earlier, Dr. Tomlinson had bided his time. He saw Teresa on and off for several years. He never mentioned Jason's unusual color. He was the same kind, genial soul he’d always been.
Then one day, about a year ago, he called Antonio at his office and asked him if he would come in to see him. Antonio agreed thinking there might be something wrong with Teresa. They set an appointment for the following Tuesday.
Antonio arrived at the doctor’s office at the appointed time. He walked in and noticed that there was no receptionist at the desk. He was the only one in the waiting room. Dr. Tomlinson came out to greet him with his coat on and suggested they go to lunch. Now Antonio was really concerned. Just what was going on?
Dr. Tomlinson took him to the yacht club and was greeted by name by the maître’d. They were shown to a secluded table by the window, and the waiter took their drink orders. When the waiter left, Dr. Tomlinson turned his attention to Antonio.
“Well, Dr. Russo, I hear you’re doing very well at Wilmer and March.”
Antonio thought, Ah, he wants to form a relationship with the company and thinks I can give him some kind of discount.
“Yes, I am doing very well. My research team is the best in the country and we have several new drugs that are due to be introduced in the next year.” Antonio began to feel uncomfortable.
“That's fine, just fine. Dr. Russo, I’ve been meaning to ask you something for a long time.” Dr. Tomlinson paused for effect.
“Yes?” Antonio was trying to read the jolly old elf's face, but the glasses and beard made it difficult.
“I’ve never forgotten the color of your son's placenta, not to mention your son himself. Unusual that your wife was able to carry him so well wasn’t it, considering her medical history. I’ve never seen a woman with cervical insufficiency turn around like that.”
Antonio was trying to remain casual. “Yes, it was a miracle.”
“I don't think it was a miracle, Dr. Russo. I think your wife had help, very specific help, perhaps in the form of some kind of experimental drug?”
Antonio began to squirm. Even though he’d received a patent on his Dono di Russo plant four years ago, he had been unable to fund the research of the purple spores that was necessary just to submit an application to the FDA.
He’d consulted lawyers who were willing to help him, but money was always an issue. He didn’t have the deep pockets of a Wilmer and March.
Antonio had thought about bringing his findings to Wilmer and March, but the fear that they would remember George Ranier had permanently blocked that option. He was also afraid that any other big drug company would question why he hadn’t taken it to Wilmer and March and do their own investigation.
With that in mind, Antonio had decided he would have to do it on his own. Now, six years after his successful use of the Dono di Russo on his own wife, he was still waiting to give his Dono di Russo to the world.
“I don't know what you mean, Doctor. Her placenta was an unusual color, of course, but her pregnancy was completely normal in every way.”
“Every way, Russo? You had a purple baby!” Tomlinson was struggling to keep his voice down. Old St. Nick was beginning to show his true colors. “Listen, we both know her delivery was anything but normal. She had an extremely short labor. When she did deliver, her placenta and her baby were purple. I want you to tell me why.” Dr. Tomlinson paused and looked at Antonio, waiting for him to say something. Antonio remained silent, so the good doctor continued.
“I believe we can help each other. I have dozens of women who are desperate to have a baby and the only thing keeping them from having one is a worthless cervix. Whatever you gave your wife, and I am convinced it was you, it worked. I want to use it on my patients.”
Antonio shifted in his seat. Dr. Tomlinson had played the right card.
“I do have something that would help,” Antonio said. Dr. Tomlinson’s eyes lit up. “But I don’t have enough money to fund the application to the FDA. How could we do this without that approval?”
Antonio was eager to hear what Tomlinson had in mind.
“In the United States, supplements don’t need FDA approval. As long as you list that it hasn’t been approved by the FDA, anything goes. We both know this stuff is safe. Why not manufacture it as a supplement and distribute it through my office? We would be heroes! We’d save thousands of women from losing their babies.” Tomlinson was leaning forward as he spoke. Antonio could see the excitement in the doctor's eyes.
“I must think about th
is. We’d have to make a plan.”
“Of course, Russo, whatever you want, but please remember one thing.” Tomlinson’s eyes narrowed, “I know you haven’t applied for citizenship. When you gave that drug to your wife, you endangered her and your unborn son. The authorities frown on that kind of thing in this country. It could interfere with your visa. You think about what we discussed, but I expect to hear from you in the next 48 hours. Now, what would you like to have for lunch?”
Dr. Tomlinson picked up his menu. Antonio finished his drink and excused himself. He left the restaurant and got into his car.
Antonio sat a long time watching Tomlinson through the restaurant window. The more he thought about Tomlinson’s threat, the more he came to hate the man. Antonio knew that the doctor had him. He couldn’t refuse to share his Dono di Russo with Tomlinson.
Antonio had thought about becoming a citizen, but he loved his country, and his marriage to Teresa enabled him to stay in this country on a special visa. Tomlinson was right. He had to keep his nose clean, and using an untested drug on a pregnant woman, even with her consent, would be frowned upon by the government. Several minutes passed while he thought about the consequences of not doing business with Dr. Tomlinson.
Finally, he decided he would agree to go into business with Tomlinson, but he’d never give Tomlinson the formula. He would never give him access to the plants themselves either, or show him how to extract the spores. If Tomlinson found out just how easy it was, he could cut Antonio out by paying him a fee for use of the Dono di Russo, thereby allowing Tomlinson to make the drug himself. Antonio would lose all control of his beloved Dono di Russo.
He would tell Tomlinson that he’d manufacture the supplement and bring it to Tomlinson for distribution. The doctor would pay Antonio a fee for his drug and the doctor could then charge anything he wanted for “treatment” with the supplement. Desperate woman seldom asked what they were being given. If it cost a lot, it must be good. Tomlinson stood to make a fortune, even with Antonio's cut.