by Zane
Bryce lasted all of twenty seconds before deciding enough was enough. “Excuse me! I’m trying to find my sister Harmony Whitfield!”
The nurse turned toward her and rolled her eyes. “Just one moment, miss. I’ll be right with you.”
By the time Troy caught up to Bryce a couple of minutes later, she had the nurse yanked halfway over the nurses’ station by the collar.
“I tried to be polite at first! But if you don’t tell me what room my sister is in right this second, you’re going to need medical attention your damn self!”
“Bryce, calm down.” Troy pried her fingers off the nurse’s collar.
The nurse started smiling nervously as Bryce let her go. “What did you say your sister’s name was again?”
“Whitfield!” Bryce’s pulse was racing and she was battling the onset of a migraine. “Harmony Whitfield!”
The nurse started pecking away on the computer keyboard while Troy rubbed the small of Bryce’s back, hoping she would calm down but knowing it was a lost cause.
The Hispanic woman started flailing her arms in the air and yelling obscenities at all of them in Spanish. She obviously didn’t appreciate the distraction from her own medical dilemma.
Bryce fidgeted and bit her fingernails, something she hadn’t done since the age of seven or eight. Her mother had to put a stop to the bad habit by making her dip her fingers in crushed red pepper and suck it off every time she was caught in the act.
The nurse looked up solemnly from the computer monitor, realizing how dire the situation was. “Your sister is in Room 517. Intensive care.”
The words intensive care threw Bryce into a tailspin. She covered her mouth to hold in the scream that was trying to escape. Her knees started to buckle underneath her. Somehow, Troy managed to hold her up.
She started looking in all directions, and the nurse, who had originally given her nothing but ’tude, gave her directions instead. She pointed down the hallway to the right of the nurses’ station. “The elevator’s that way.”
Bryce took off running with Troy dead on her heels. The nurse yelled after them, “No running in the hospital, please!”
They slowed their gait to a speed walk. The nurse reluctantly turned her attention back to the woman who was still yelling obscenities at her in Spanish.
When they got on the elevator, Bryce buried her face in Troy’s chest, letting her sobs ricochet off his chest into the air. All sorts of horrible images raced through her mind. She imagined Harmony leaving her temp agency after dark, having worked twelve hours or more straight, only to get attacked, beaten, raped, stabbed, or shot on her way to the car. She imagined her being in a ten-car pile up on the beltway or being the unsuspecting victim of a tractor-trailer driver who had fallen asleep at the wheel and jackknifed. She imagined her being the innocent bystander in a drive-by shooting or a gang war. In D.C., any and all of the above were possible.
As soon as the elevator doors parted on the fifth floor, Bryce noticed the sign on the wall that read Intensive Care with an arrow pointing to the left. Instead of walking fast, she slowed down to a snail’s pace because the fear had truly sunk in.
She thought back to the other times she had been in the intensive-care wing of a hospital. They had been few and far between. When she was four, she had visited Great-Grandma Whitfield at Memorial Hospital in Durham. When she was nine, she had visited Uncle Richard at Baptist Hospital in San Diego. When she was fifteen, she had visited Michael, her high school sweetheart, at a hospital in Los Angeles.
Great-Grandma Whitfield had lost her battle with old age, Uncle Richard had lost his battle with lung cancer, and Michael had lost his battle with the bullet in his chest. The point was they had all lost, and those were the last times she had ever seen any of them alive.
“Bryce, everything is going to be okay, Baby.” She heard Troy whispering in her ear but it seemed like he was talking to someone else. She was having an out-of-body experience because she couldn’t begin to rationalize how she had gone from cooking spaghetti one minute to walking down a hospital hallway scared to death the next. Whoever said that things happen when you least expect them was speaking nothing but the truth.
“Bryce!” She looked up and saw Lucky running toward her, not caring whether it was allowed or not. That broke her out of her trance.
“Lucky, where’s Harmony?” Lucky’s face was tear-drenched and her eyes were bloodshot. “What happened to her?”
Lucky caught up to Bryce and Troy and threw her arms around her older sister, seeking comfort and trying to give a little at the same time. “I don’t know all the details, Bryce. I just know that it’s bad. Real bad.”
Bryce gently pushed Lucky off her so she could look her in the eyes. “What do you mean, real bad?”
Lucky’s eyes started darting back and forth, not focusing on any particular person or object. Bryce held her by the elbows, trying to steady her from shaking so badly. “I don’t know. All I know is that Fatima called an ambulance after Harmony fainted at her house, Zachary called me, and then I called you.”
Bryce was frustrated, yet somewhat relieved because it meant none of the scenarios she had run through her mind previously were true. Harmony hadn’t been shot or stabbed or involved in a wreck. She had probably just passed out from overexerting herself at work or had a stress-related episode. Then again, neither of those explained her being in intensive care.
“Momma and Daddy are on their way. They’re catching the next plane out of Cali.”
Bryce couldn’t manage to keep her emotions under control another minute. That their parents were en route to D.C. made the situation ten times worse.
Troy pointed down the hall. “There’s Zachary.”
Bryce and Lucky looked, spotting Zachary down the hall waving his hand in the air for them to join him. They scurried down the hallway until they got to Room 517 and he directed them inside.
The room was quiet and filled with activity at the same time. The lighting was dim, making the situation all the more depressing. Harmony was surrounded by nurses and doctors and covered with tubes leading to everything from a heart monitor to an IV.
Fatima was sitting in a chair over in the far right-hand corner and didn’t even look like she was breathing. Her eyes were blank and she didn’t even look up when they came in. Just sat there in shock.
Harmony looked extremely pale and her breathing was shallow. Bryce could see her chest go up and down as she struggled to take each breath. Her eyes were open but held a blank expression. Bryce made her way over to the bed while Lucky stood by the door, too scared to take another step.
Harmony reached out to touch Bryce’s hand. Bryce trembled when she felt her cold and frail grasp.
This can’t be happening, Bryce thought, looking at the night table beside the bed instead of directly at her sister. This is just a bad dream, and any second Troy is going to wake me up. This can’t be real. Harmony can’t be lying up here in a hospital bed. Just yesterday, we were making vacation plans.
“Bryce, look at me.” Harmony’s voice was weak, her words barely audible. “It’s time for me to go home.”
Lucky started wailing loudly, still glued to the wall, afraid to come any closer. Bryce diverted her eyes to Harmony’s face. Bryce was still in shock and couldn’t believe it was really happening.
“Remember when Daddy used to sing ‘His Eye Is on the Sparrow’ to us all the time?”
Bryce nodded. “Yes, I remember.”
“Tell him.” Harmony paused, gasping to catch her breath. “Ask Daddy to sing that song for me at my funeral. It’s always been my favorite.”
Bryce couldn’t hold her emotions in any longer. “You’re not going to die, Harmony! You can’t die! If you die on me, I swear to God I will kill you!”
Harmony managed to chuckle at the irony of Bryce’s last statement. “Don’t worry, Baby Sis. You and Lucky are going to be just fine. I’ve made all the arrangements and the two of you will never have to worry ab
out making ends meet. Neither will Momma and Daddy. My insurance money will make all of you set for life.”
“Harmony, stop talking crazy! You’re not dying, dammit!” The frustration showed in Bryce’s tear-drenched eyes. “You’re not even sick! You can’t be sick!”
“Bryce, I am dying.” Harmony tightened her grip on Bryce’s hand. “I’ll always be with you though. I’ll always protect you.”
“Nooooooo!” Lucky’s screams filled the entire intensive-care wing. “Nooooooo, she can’t die! She can’t die!”
Fatima snapped back to reality, stood up, and took Lucky into her arms, determined to try to comfort her the way she knew Harmony would if she could.
“Lucky.” Harmony glanced up at her. “I want you to know how proud I’m of you. I always have been. Both of you.”
“Please don’t leave me” was all Lucky could manage to utter before her sobs overtook her again.
Harmony shook Bryce’s hand to make sure she was listening. “Bryce, you’ve got to be the strong one now. I bought a suit, a powder blue one, my favorite color. Zachary knows where it is. I want you to bury me in it.”
Bryce feverishly shook her head. “No, none of this is happening. There’s nothing wrong with you. This is all some sick joke.” She looked at Zachary for some reassurance. “Right, Zachary?”
He came and sat down on the opposite side of the bed from Bryce and rubbed the small of her back, trying to maintain his own composure as he’d promised Harmony he would. “I’m so sorry, Bryce.”
“Okay, hold up!” It finally started to hit home. “Let’s just rationalize this whole thing. What’s wrong with you, Harmony? You haven’t even been sick.”
Harmony bit her bottom lip and managed a slight grin. “Actually, I’ve been sick for a very long time. I hid it from you. I guess you were wrong about being able to read me like a book, huh?”
Bryce thought about how the last few months had troubled her because she sensed something was wrong with Harmony. What a fool she had been not to see this coming! That’s why Harmony had been acting strange. That’s why Harmony had tried to push Zachary away. That’s why she’d slept with Javon and allowed herself to be videotaped. She knew she was dying all along.
Before Bryce could get the next question out, Dr. Dresher came in the room and practically fainted when she saw Bryce standing there. They all had puzzled expressions on their faces, except Zachary.
“I’m sorry, miss. You just took me off guard. The resemblance is uncanny.” She came closer to the bed. “You must be Bryce. I’m Dr. Dresher.”
Lucky stepped in then. “Dr. Dresher, what’s wrong with our sister?”
“You must be Lucky, right?”
“Yes, I am,” Lucky confirmed.
The doctor glared at Harmony, not really wanting to break her oath but not wanting to lose a patient without a fight either. “There’s not much time. There’s a chance it might work.”
Harmony shook her head. “No way, Doctor. I meant what I said.”
“What might work?” Bryce asked, standing up anxiously.
“Nothing, Bryce. Don’t listen to her,” Harmony stated avidly. “Nothing at all!”
“Harmony, I love you and you might hate me for this, but I have to do it,” Zachary interjected.
Zachary could see the hurt in Harmony’s eyes when she whispered, “You promised.”
He turned toward Bryce. “Bryce, there’s a slight chance you may be able to save Harmony’s life.”
“How? I would do anything for her!”
“I know you would and that’s what I’ve been trying to tell her all along.” Zachary took Harmony’s hand. “Please tell her or I will. I refuse to just sit here and let you die.”
Bryce sat back down on the bed. “Harmony Whitfield, if you die on me and I find out there was something, anything I could have done to prevent it, they’ll be giving us a double funeral. Do you hear me? A double funeral because life is too damn hard to go through without you!”
Harmony looked from Bryce to Zachary to Lucky and decided she really wasn’t ready to leave them all behind. Never had she asked anyone for anything, but there was a first time for everyone. “Bryce, I need you to be a donor for me.”
“A donor?” Bryce chuckled nervously. “Hell, is that all?”
Harmony and Bryce both giggled.
“What do you need? An arm? A foot? A leg? I could always get me a peg leg. I think they look sexy any damn way.”
“Silly ass!”
“Seriously, Sis, what do you need? I’ll cut out my heart for you if I have to.”
Harmony looked into the eyes identical to her own and spoke the words before she lost her nerve. “Actually, all I really need is a kidney.”
Bryce lifted Harmony’s hand and kissed it, not hesitating for even half a second. “One kidney coming right up.”
“You don’t have to do this.”
“Yes, I do have to do this. Can you honestly say that you wouldn’t do it for me?”
“No, you know I would do it for you.”
“Then let me be the one to do something for you for a change and stop complaining because I am getting the last word this time. I don’t care what you say.”
They both giggled, but the pain shot through Harmony’s side again and she started gasping for air.
“We have to hurry this up, ladies,” Dr. Dresher interjected. “There’s no guarantee you’ll match. Although, from the physical resemblance, I’m about ninety-nine percent sure you will.”
“How do we find out if I match?”
“A simple blood test, but we have to do it right away.” The doctor went to the door and held it open for Bryce. “Please follow me.”
Bryce kissed Harmony’s hand again. “Don’t worry. We’re Whitfields and Whitfields never quit.”
“Wait! I’m going, too!” Lucky screamed out.
34
It’s About Damn Time!
Six Months Later
Jazzlyn and Jazmin stood on the edge of the ocean, letting the waves cascade over their bare feet and touch the bottom hems of their white cotton dresses.
They giggled as the water and pebbles tickled in between their toes. They had never been to the beach before and were anxious to change into bathing suits and dive head first into the cool, brisk water.
“Jazzlyn and Jazmin, get up here right now!” Lucky yelled out to them from the top of the hill. “You’re going to be all dirty before the thing even starts!”
“Coming, Cousin Lucky!” Jazmin exclaimed, and ran through the sand up to the pavilion with her twin right on her tail.
Thirty minutes later, the twins marched down the red carpet in the makeshift chapel inside the pavilion. They were all cleaned up and had on white lace socks with black patent leather shoes. They scattered rose petals as the quartet of musicians played “The Wedding Song” by Kenny G.
After they were in place, their cousin Lucky marched down the aisle in her beautiful hunter green maid-of-honor dress. Colette and Fatima looked dashing in their bridesmaid gowns, having marched in earlier, and Robbie looked particularly handsome in his tuxedo. Lucky thought to herself, He really is the best man. The best man for me.
The doors swung open one more time. Chester Whitfield was grinning from ear to ear as he led his daughters down the aisle, one on each arm. Instead of a double funeral, Harmony and Bryce had the double wedding they had always dreamed about.
“Jamaica’s so beautiful!” Harmony stood on the balcony of their suite. “I’m glad we decided to come here for our honeymoon.”
“You’re the beautiful one.” Zachary walked up behind her and placed his arms around her waist. “I just want to hold you forever.”
Harmony turned to face him. “Even though the island is gorgeous, I really want to make love the whole time we’re here.”
“You won’t get any argument out of me.” Zachary giggled, kissing Harmony on the lips. “But what about Troy and Bryce? We’re going to have to tour the island wi
th them and hang out sometime. That was the whole purpose of both couples honeymooning here.”
Harmony chuckled. “I don’t think that’s going to be a major problem.”
She wrapped her arms around his waist and whispered into his ear, “Take me to bed, husband!”
“Ummmm, husband. I like that word.”
Zachary picked Harmony up, carrying her to bed.
“Darling, I’m going to lay it on you all night long!” Troy yelled from the bathroom of their suite as he got out the shower.
“Oh, I know you are, honie!” Bryce yelled in return. “All night and then some!”
She heard him coming so she quickly took out the jar from her cosmetics bag and poured about an eighth of the liquid into Troy’s glass of red wine. Gotta ration this shit since Ripuoff got locked up, she thought to herself.
She replaced the jar in the bag and stirred the mixture into his wine with her finger as he was coming out the bathroom.
She walked over to the bed, carrying two glasses of wine and making sure not to get them mixed up.
“Bryce, why do we have red wine and Zachary and Harmony are chilling over in their suite with champagne?”
“Because red wine is my favorite and I want everything about tonight to be special,” she lied. “Now drink up so we can get our freak on.”
“Gurl, you are in for it tonight.” Troy downed the whole glass of wine, Niagra and all, in one swallow.
“We both are,” Bryce chuckled.
Zachary was busy going to town on Harmony’s left nipple when he heard someone screaming out, “Uncleeeee!”
“What the hell is that?” he asked, plopping her nipple out of his mouth.
“Ummm, that’s just Troy,” Harmony replied.
“Dammmmn, it’s like that, huh? Bryce must be laying it on him something fierce,” Zachary joked.
“More like the other way around, but I’m sure she’s enjoying every minute of it.” Harmony grabbed Zachary by the neck and pulled him back toward her. “Now come here and enjoy every moment of me.”