My Wife My Baby...And Him

by Shelia E. Bell

  “Rena, when are you going to move forward? I mean, I feel terrible that your ex,” he emphasized, “lost his little girl. My God, that’s awful. I don’t know what I would do if we lost one of our children, but baby, going to Memphis? The man is no longer a part of your life. I’m your life,” he pointed at his chest. “I’m your man. I’m your husband. And you are my wife, the mother of our children. I wish you could just let go of your past.”

  Rena listened but it was difficult for her to push her frustration under the rug and pretend like she wasn’t bothered about what Robert was saying.

  “I know that, Robert, but this man has lost his little girl.”

  “Okay, but what can you do if you go to Memphis, Rena? What?” Robert raised his hands like he was catching the ‘spirit’.

  Rena’s eyes loomed open like suddenly she’d been enlightened, when actually she was slowly becoming angrier and angrier. “I know, he has a wife, so what are you saying? Are you jealous?”

  “Jealous? Why would I be jealous? Would it be because every time my wife hears something unpleasant about her EX, she wants to run off to Memphis? Do you think that’s what it could be?”

  “I can’t believe you could be so condescending. You know darn well it’s not like that.”

  “Okay, then tell me what it is then, because obviously I’m missing something. I mean, what are you going to accomplish by going to Memphis?”

  “Pay my respect. That’s what,” she yelled at Robert, then like a raging tornado, she whipped around and took two steps before she turned back around. She was poised to say something else, but he beat her to it.

  “In case you forgot, let me remind you. He has a wife, Rena, and it’s not you anymore!” Robert stood in the hallway, biting down on his lip and shaking his head.

  Rena lashed out at him, the palm of her right hand, inches short of landing on his cheek. Robert intersected the blow by grabbing hold of her wrist.

  “So this is what it’s come down to? Huh? You ready to fight me over the next dude?” Robert roughly released her arm as a deep lined wrinkle appeared on his forehead. This time he was the one to walk off. He was getting tired of competing with her past. Something was going to have to change, and change fast, or he didn’t know how bright their future would continue to glow.

  Chapter 43

  “Sometimes you have to start over to have a happy ending.” Sonya Parker

  Hezekiah reveled in the favor God was showing over his life. Having another chance to make things right was something he’d wanted for a very long time. He had made far more than their share of illegal choices. They sat across from their son at the restaurant. Xavier wolfed down, chomp by chomp, a gourmet double bacon, double turkey patty burger like he hadn’t eaten in ages.

  “Slow down, Xavier,” his mother told him. “That food is not going anywhere.” She put a forkful of her garden salad in her mouth then eyed her husband who had his phone in hand and was texting.

  “Hezekiah, this is supposed to be family time. Will you get off that phone?”

  “Okay, I’m sorry, babe. Deacon Jones just texted me. He wanted to know if I’ve heard from Pastor Graham today. I was just texting him back telling him that I hadn’t.”

  “Humph, you need to tell Deacon Jones that you’re not Pastor Graham’s babysitter.”

  Xavier stopped eating long enough to look up at his parents and then he started laughing. “Yeah, tell him, Mom. That’s what I’m talking about.”

  “Boy, you better shut yo’ mouth or you won’t be able to do nothing but gum your food after I put my fist through it.” Hezekiah glared at his son, who with the quickness, stopped laughing and then picked up a steak fry and popped it in his mouth.

  One thing Hezekiah detested was a disrespectful child. His son, though he hated to admit it, reminded Hezekiah of how he was when he was growing up. He used to have a smart mouth that kept him in trouble most of his young life. And still, today, Hezekiah had to tame his tongue so he wouldn’t say something he would regret later. It had been two weeks since he had officially taken the helm as interim senior pastor of Holy Rock. He wasn’t about to do anything to mess that up. Keeping his tongue and his past in check was something he was determined to do. He couldn’t blow this once in a lifetime opportunity. Finally, no more financial woes for him and Fancy. No more dodging creditors and no more being tempted to rob Peter to pay Paul. Those days were over and done with.

  “We need to get home so you can finish working on your sermon for Sunday.”

  “I think I just about have it together. I’ve been doing a lot of studying and practicing at church.” Hezekiah poked the grilled tilapia with his fork, dipped it into the side of hot sauce, and then popped the flavorful fish into his mouth.

  “I’m so proud of you.” Fancy leaned over and kissed her husband on his cheek.

  “When can I go back home? Memphis sucks.” Xavier frowned, poked out his lips, and leaned back in his chair. “I miss Chicago. I miss my friends, and I miss Grandma and Grandpa. Memphis is so boring. There’s nothing to do.”

  Fancy and Hezekiah looked at Xavier like they had no idea he was displeased.

  “Things are not going to change, Son, so you might as well get used to them. You’re going to stay in Memphis with us, and we’re working on getting your brother transferred to a youth facility as close to Memphis as possible.”

  “What? Why do I have to stay? I hate this city. Anyway, why should I have to move here just because you and Ma have to hide from your past? You’re making what you did my fault. Changing your names, all that stuff is stupid.” Xavier stuck out his lip and rolled his eyes.

  Hezekiah shook his head, bit on his bottom lip, and almost jumped up from his seat.

  Fancy pulled on his suit coat, holding him down.

  “First of all, I don’t have to explain a thing to you. I am your father. You are my son. You do as I say.” Hezekiah’s fury was becoming evident as his voice raised and his hand curled into a fist. “As far as me and your mother’s past, don’t you ever in life say another word about me or your mother, or so help me—”

  Fancy broke up the mounting tension between the two. “Calm down, Hezekiah. Xavier, settle your behind down too. Your smart mouth is one of the reasons you need to be here with us because you will not talk to us the way you talk to your grandparents. We are not going to tolerate it. Until you’re out of high school and on your own, you will abide by our rules.” Fancy was usually low key, and soft spoken but when it came to anyone, including her children, showing disrespect toward Hezekiah, she became a fierce ‘stand by your man’ woman.

  Xavier rolled his eyes, then took a swallow of his soda.

  “Do you understand me, young man?”

  “Yes, ma’am.” His baritone voice was almost inaudible.

  The remainder of their family time at the restaurant was spent primarily in silence until Hezekiah’s phone started ringing.

  Fancy upturned her polished lips. She was happy for her husband and beside herself since she was now the first lady of Holy Rock, albeit was temporary. What she wasn’t pleased with was the barrage of phone calls coming from the deacons, the trustees, and members without regard to the time of day or night. Her new role was going to take some getting used to, but as she sat at the table finishing her meal, she smiled. Hezekiah McCoy, Senior Pastor of Holy Rock Church and none other than First Lady Fancy McCoy. She was ready for the task at hand. Holy Rock was about to see what a real first lady was all about.

  “Give me about an hour,” Hezekiah said to whoever was on the other end of the phone. He placed the phone on the table and then called the server over and asked for the check. “You about ready?” he asked Fancy.

  “Yeah. I’m finished. Who was that on the phone?”

  “Sister Gloria.”

  “What did she want?”

  “One of our senior members had a heart attack and is in intensive care. I’m going to drop you and Xavier off at home, then I’m going to the hospital t
o pray for him.”

  Fancy smiled.

  “Why are you smiling?” questioned Hezekiah.

  “Because I’m so happy for you, for us, Hezekiah.” She looked over at Xavier who had his ear buds in his ear, like he was totally unaware of his parents and what they were talking about. “God has really given us a second chance,” she whispered. “And we can’t blow it, Hezekiah. Not this time. We have to keep our noses clean.”

  “We will, sweetheart. Don’t you worry about a thing.”

  Chapter 44

  “For some moments in life there are no words.” David Seltzer

  Detria sat in front of the picture window in the family room. Time seemed to have stopped for her, yet it had been three and a half months since the accident, since she last walked, since she last smiled, since she brought one child into the world only to lose the other. The grief and feeling of loss was overpowering. A year before she became pregnant with Audrey, Detria had a miscarriage. After she had the miscarriage, the emotional pain was intense, but her loss back then was nothing compared to the loss she felt over Audrey’s death. Each day she felt like she lost a little bit more of life.

  Silent tears indented her cheeks, running down like a lake, drops landing on her melon green blouse. Elijah was sleeping soundly in the room in his pack and play. He had been home for just a few days.

  “Mrs. Graham, your lunch is ready,” Priscilla, the live in caregiver, told her, entering the room with a tray of food. She sat the tray on the TV stand in front of Detria.

  Detria remained focused on the light rain cascading down from the sky. Tiny slices kissed the picture window.

  “I’m not hungry.”

  “You have to eat,” Priscilla insisted in a heavy New England accent. “I made one of your favorites; freshly made cream of broccoli soup and garlic toast.”

  “Thank you, but I don’t have an appetite.”

  “Mrs. Graham, you have to eat if you want to get stronger. You want to be able to walk again one day, and take care of little Elijah, don’t you?” Priscilla looked over her shoulder in the pack and play, at the sleeping baby. “He is such a beautiful little boy.”

  The little boy was nothing short of a miracle. After struggling for his life since he entered the world, he had beaten the odds. His doctors released him with a clean bill of health, and told Detria he should grow up without having any significant medical problems.

  Priscilla prayed every day for Detria to get better. She was the same woman who had helped take care of Detria’s mother last year when she had a bad lupus flare up. She did such a good job that she was the first person the Mackey’s thought about when Detria was discharged from the hospital. The first month following the accident, Detria lived with her parents. After that, she was determined to go home, and she did, but the doctor told her that it was not good for her to live alone. Plus, if she planned on having Elijah with her, she had no choice but to have a live-in caregiver.

  Priscilla was patient and showed love and compassion toward Detria. She took time to encourage her and to love on Elijah. She tried her best to convince Detria that she could care for her little boy regardless of being unable to walk, and having the use of only one arm.

  The truth was, Detria couldn’t think about taking care of Elijah. If she couldn’t be a good mother to Audrey, what made people think she could be a good mother to Elijah? And how could she be his mother when she was bound to a freaking wheelchair and burdened with feelings of guilt over her daughter’s death? Perhaps, if she had been a more patient, a more loving mother, maybe Audrey would still be alive. The last words her daughter heard from her were angry words, chastising her for crying so much. Now she would give anything to hear her daughter’s cry. She felt hopeless and lost. Other than going to her scheduled doctors’ appointments, Detria refused to go outside the house.

  Her legs remained lifeless despite the intense physical therapy she received five days a week, followed by two days of at-home occupational therapy. Her arm was nothing more than a noodle. There were times Detria felt like it was all useless to live.

  The occupational therapist was supposed to train her how to use assistive equipment to increase her independence. How many ways did they actually think she could maneuver a power chair? She found it quite humiliating instead of helpful. It was tough learning how to use her left arm and she easily became frustrated and angry.

  “I’m going to leave your food here. Please try to eat. I will be back shortly to check on you and the baby.”

  Detria hugged herself as a shiver of cold ran up and down her spine. She continued staring outside. When she saw the familiar car pulling into the driveway, her heartbeat quickened.

  “Priscilla,” she called out. “Priscilla, hurry.”

  “What is it?” Priscilla ran into the family room. “What’s wrong?”

  “I don’t want to see him,” Detria cried.

  Before Priscilla replied, the doorbell chimed. She looked toward the foyer. “Who is it?”

  “Elijah’s father.”

  Priscilla knew exactly who Skip was. She had heard the rumors about Detria’s infidelity. But Priscilla wasn’t one to judge. She’d done enough dirt in her life to last two life times, so she did her best to remain neutral rather than condemning when it came to people and the choices they made in life.

  The doorbell chimed again, followed by a hard knock.

  “What do you want me to tell him?” Priscilla wiped her hands on her apron.

  “I don’t know. I tell you what, don’t answer the door.”

  “Don’t answer it? Are you sure?”

  “Yes,” Detria said, her face distorted with anger. “Take Elijah upstairs. I’m going to the Study. He’ll probably leave in a minute, just be quiet and do not go near that door.”

  Skip stood outside the door in his black trench coat, knocking on the door and ringing the doorbell. He had been calling and texting Detria ever since her little girl died, but Detria refused to answer him. He wanted to see his son, and not only that, he had an over the counter DNA test kit with him. It was time he found out once and for all if Elijah was his or not.

  The one opportunity that he did have to talk to Detria was when she was still in the hospital. He went to see her and told her he wanted to have a paternity test done on the boy; she went ballistic. Skip had to admit to himself that it hadn’t been exactly a good time to hit her with something like that, seeing that Elijah wasn’t doing too well at the time and her daughter was on life support.

  The day it all went down, Skip had gone to NICU to see Elijah, but was told by the nurse in charge that only the parents of the baby were allowed to see him. That infuriated him. He went straight to Detria’s hospital room and insisted that she have a paternity test done.

  “I’m not going to do it. I don’t want you in my son’s life. I want to be left alone, and I want you to forget that you ever met me.”

  “Are you crazy? Do you actually think I’m just going to walk out of this hospital when I know I have a son? If you’re so sure that he isn’t mine, then you shouldn’t have a problem giving me a paternity test.”

  “I told you, no. As far as the court is concerned, he is not your child,” she screamed. “Now leave me alone, Skip.”

  “What are you talking about?” This broad was out of her freaking mind. What did she mean by as far as the court was concerned?

  “Stiles and I are still married.”

  “What does that have to do with me and the fact that I’m that boy’s father?”

  “It means that legally, Stiles is his father. His name is on Elijah’s birth certificate, and that’s how it’s going to stay.”

  Skip laughed at her. “Do you honestly think that man is going to let his name stay on that birth certificate after learning that it’s not his baby? Look, I’m sorry for everything that’s happened to you. I really am, but I’m telling you, if the kid is mine, I will not let you deprive me of being a father to him.”

  “I need you
to leave, Skip. I can’t talk about this right now.” Detria turned her head away from him. The sound of her crying bounced off the walls. She began weeping so loudly that a nurse came into the hospital room. Seeing that Detria was visibly upset, the nurse insisted that Skip leave.

  “I’m leaving, but you can’t run from this, Detria. I won’t let you. One way or another, I’m going to find out for sure if he’s my son, and I’m going to be in his life, like it or not.”

  “Get ouuut!” Detria screamed again.

  Meaghan was right; he was going to get Elijah tested by any means necessary, and there was going to be nothing Detria could do about it.

  Chapter 45

  “Her absence is like the sky, spread over everything.” C.S. Lewis

  Stiles laid sprawled out on his cheap used sofa. The townhome looked like transients had been living in it. Half-empty cups once filled with soda, and left over saucers and plates of spoiled food had taken the place of a once spotless abode. Combined with his malodorous body odor from not having bathed or groomed himself in days, the smell in the apartment was like rancid meat.

  The flat screen on the wall flashed scene after scene of Audrey, Stiles and Detria. The video had clips from when they brought Audrey home from the hospital. She was the most beautiful baby Stiles had ever seen. Another clip was at her first birthday party, yet another one showed her being christened at Holy Rock.