The Greatest Gift

by Michael John Sullivan

  Connie could hear the dryer blowing in the bathroom. She giggled a bit and stopped when Hewitt appeared. She smiled when Hewitt’s shoes squished as they walked down the hallway. “I told you I was a great date,” she said.

  Hewitt grinned.

  A nurse greeted them with gowns. “You are cleared to be in the room with Virginia. Sir, are you a friend?”

  “He is,” Connie said.

  “Can I get some clothes?” Hewitt asked. “I had a little accident.”

  Connie smirked.

  The nurse nodded and returned minutes later with a robe.

  “Please wear these,” the nurse said. “Please listen to any instructions by the doctors and nurses in the room. Any questions?”

  “No,” said Connie.

  The nurse guided them through two hallways and into a room at the far end. The area was quiet except for three nurses chatting outside a small desk.

  “How eerie is this?” Connie said.

  “What’s wrong?” asked Hewitt.

  “This is the same place I saw Elizabeth when she was born.” She pointed to a big glass window. They stopped and looked. Row after row of babies lay in incubators.

  “This way,” said the nurse.

  “Are you sure about this being the place?” asked Hewitt.

  “Yeah. Very sure. You don’t forget a place or a night like that.”

  He touched her shoulder. “I can go in there alone if you want.”

  “I’m fine.”

  “This way,” the nurse said again, opening the door.

  Virginia lay on a short bed with an IV protruding from her hand. A nurse in the corner wrote on a chart.

  “Hey ya, sweetie. How are you doing?” Connie asked.

  Virginia winced and struggled to say a few words. “I could use some more pain medicine.”

  “Nurse,” Connie said.

  The nurse continued to write on the chart.

  “Nurse?”

  “Here, hold this,” said Connie, offering her hand to Virginia who squeezed it hard. “Wow, that’s some grip you’ve got there, girl.”

  The smell of clean sheets and pillows softened Connie. “Excuse me. Can you help Virginia? She looks like she’s in a lot of pain.”

  The nurse looked up and put the chart into a plastic holder attached to the back of the bed. “I’ll be right there.”

  “Well, can it be right now?” asked Connie.

  “Okay, Connie. Let’s let the nurse do her job,” said Hewitt.

  “You’re right,” Connie said. “I apologize.” She turned, looked at him and grinned. “See, the new me.”

  The nurse adjusted the pump. “How does that feel now?”

  “Better,” Virginia said.

  “Hold my hand, sweetie,” Connie said. “Squeeze it as hard as you want.”

  Virginia let out several small moans. “How many centimeters dilated is she now?” asked Connie, turning to the nurse.

  “Nine. Almost ten.”

  “Okay. You’re almost there, Virginia.”

  “Dr. McKenna will be in soon,” the nurse said while dropping ice chips into a plastic cup. She placed it on a tray and swung it in front of Virginia. “Dr. McKenna’s our best. He’s been doing this for over twenty years.”

  “Do you hear that Virginia?” Connie said. “You’re going to be fine.”

  “If I am going to be fine, why do I feel so awful?” She released a loud moan. Hewitt grimaced.

  The nurse patted Virginia’s forehead with a towel and placed it on the tray. “If you need anything else, press the red button.” She handed her a device. “It won’t be more than a few minutes before Dr. McKenna arrives.”

  Hewitt sat and Connie stroked Virginia’s hair. She held the cup of ice chips to her lips. “Do you need anything else?”

  Virginia shook her head. ”Just stay.” She moaned again, gripping Connie’s hand.

  “Crap,” Connie said.

  “You all right?” asked Hewitt.

  She turned and mouthed the words, “That hurt.”

  Hewitt smiled.

  “It’s not funny,” Connie said out loud.

  “What’s not funny?” screamed Virginia.

  “Nothing, honey.”

  “Huh? Is that your husband?”

  Connie looked behind her at Hewitt. He stood and joined them. “He’s a good friend.”

  “You’re a lucky woman to have him. Not many men would want to be around a screaming woman.”

  “I am.”

  “What’s your name? I need to know if I’m about to moan some more. Do you scare easy?”

  “Hewitt’s my name.”

  “What an odd name. Oooooooh, God. That was a long one.”

  “What a way to meet, right?” he asked.

  She half laughed and half moaned.

  “Where is that doctor?” Connie asked.

  “I’ll go look for him,” Hewitt said.

  “Hang in there, Virginia,” Connie said. “The doctor will be here soon.”

  She moaned and struggled to sit up.

  The beeping sound of the heart monitor started to bother Connie. She took a deep breath as she watched Virginia grimace. “Are you feeling the drugs?”

  “A little.”

  “Well that’s not enough. Where’s Hewitt? Where’s that doctor?” Connie asked.

  “The doctor is in,” said a man entering the room. “Dr. McKenna at your service.” He held out his hand to Connie.

  “About time,” she said.

  “No. Perfect time,” he said, examining Virginia. “She’s ten centimeters dilated now.”

  “How do you know?” Connie asked.

  “Well, when I did the internal exam, I could feel the head in the birth canal. This baby is ready to be born.”

  He stood and moved the tray out of the way.

  “What are you doing?” asked Connie.

  “It’s showtime. Are you ready to push?”

  Virginia screamed. “Yes.”

  “Oh, that’s a good attitude. I’m glad because we need your full cooperation.”

  Dr. McKenna moved to the back end of the bed. “Nurse, please. Here,” he said. A tiny table with several metal instruments was wheeled in and placed on the other side of the bed.

  “Hold my hand, sweetie,” Connie said. “Break it if you have to.”

  “Okay, Virginia, hold your breath and push,” said Dr. McKenna. “Good girl, I think the head will be through with the next push. This contraction is over, so try to relax and rest for a few seconds until the next one starts.”

  “Oh my God,” said Connie. “You’re almost there.”

  “Oh no, here comes another one,” groaned Virginia.

  “All right, let’s have another good push,” Dr. McKenna implored. “Keep going, keep going.”

  “I can’t. I can’t,” Virginia shouted.

  “Yes you can,” urged Connie, pressing her hand.

  “No. No. He’s staying in here until I have more money saved.”

  “Too late for that,” Connie said. “He’s coming and he’s wanting his Christmas presents.”

  Hewitt joined Connie.

  “I have no presents under the tree for him,” Virginia said.

  “There’ll be plenty of gifts for him,” Connie replied. She turned around and motioned to the shopping bag in the corner. “Get it.”

  Hewitt handed her a neatly wrapped small box with a red ribbon stuck on top in the middle.

  “Do you see this?” Connie asked, showing it to Virginia.

  “Yeah. So what?”

  “The first present under your tree for your boy.”

  “My boy?”

  “Yes. Your boy.”

  “But … ”

 
“Quit the chitchat, ladies,” pleaded Dr. McKenna. “Here’s his head.” He pushed the head in slightly and adjusted the child so one shoulder would come out first. “Give me another good push,” he pleaded. “Come on Virginia, push.”

  “Push, honey, push,” Connie said.

  “Nice job!” Dr. McKenna said.

  “Am I done?” Virginia asked, panting.

  “Almost. One more push,” he said. “There he is, a handsome little fellow.”

  “Wow,” Hewitt said.

  “Is he beautiful?” Virginia asked, gasping. “What color is his hair? His eyes? Connie, tell me.”

  “What?”

  “Tell me what he looks like.”

  Connie let go of her hand and went behind Dr. McKenna.

  “Tell me. What color is his hair?”

  “Hold on a second, sweetie.” Connie watched the nurses care for the baby, assessing his condition. They took a couple of minutes cleaning the blood and amniotic fluid off of his reddened skin, finally drying him with three white towels.

  “His hair is brown, Virginia,” Connie said.

  “His eyes?”

  “They look blue.”

  “Is he beautiful?”

  “Yes. Like you.”

  Virginia cried.

  Connie glanced at the baby one more time and then stared at Hewitt.

  Chapter 54

  First-century Jerusalem

  Soldiers ran in different directions, as Augustus demanded his workers find hiding places for cover. An emerging fog obstructed Michael’s and Elizabeth’s vision as they rushed to the deck. The workers dropped a small boat overboard and threw two oars down.

  “Help the prisoner to the boat,” Julius said. “Hurry.” He approached Michael. “The boat is not big enough for two more people,” he said.

  Michael pushed Elizabeth toward him. “She will go.”

  She shoved back. “I will not. I am not leaving you here with those butchers coming.”

  Julius waved his arms in the air. “Decide. One will need to go. Rome demands it. Go to the boat now.” He walked away.

  “Elizabeth – ”

  “Hold on, Dad. Can you hear that?” she asked, looking over the railing.

  “What?”

  “The noise. Come here.”

  “We do not have time to sightsee, Elizabeth.” He grabbed her arm, but she wrestled his grip away.

  “Listen, Dad.”

  A small buzzing sound hovered several yards away. He leaned over the railing. “Quiet,” he said.

  Out of the fog, about fifty yards away, emerged a big ship with several Roman soldiers lined up in military fashion, amassed on the deck. A man shouted from a top tier of a bridge. As they drew closer, the man’s shouting became more audible. “You have a prisoner of mine,” he yelled.

  “Get the plank,” Julius demanded. Two workers grabbed a long, wide wooden board and extended it out into the ocean. It was big enough to march soldiers two by two across. “Hold,” he told the workers. He climbed up and took several steps out.

  Michael grabbed Elizabeth’s arm and dragged her to the other side of the boat. “Get down,” he ordered.

  They watched Julius take two more steps as the approaching ship stopped. “We have our instructions to take the preacher of Jerusalem to Rome, Titus. My orders are clear.”

  “It is not the preacher I seek,” Titus said. “I am looking for a man named Michael who kept company with my sister-in-law.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “This man Michael of Jerusalem has committed many crimes against the Roman Empire.”

  “What crimes are they?”

  “Obstructing a trial. Freeing a Jew and her peasant daughter. The women are wanted for the murder of Marcus, a decorated Roman soldier. The man is also wanted for assaulting a Roman soldier.”

  “I know about your brother. My condolences.” Julius put up his hand.

  “Let me examine the ship,” Titus demanded. “I have a right as a Roman soldier.”

  “No need,” Julius said. “I will seek this man out. Perhaps he has hidden somewhere.”

  “You must go now, Elizabeth,” Michael whispered. “One of us should be with Paul. Take these.” He handed her the tablets in the cloth.

  “I won’t be safe going to Rome,” Elizabeth said.

  “You’re not going to be safer on this boat. We have to take a chance with you going to Rome.”

  “Where will we meet?” she asked.

  “Just keep your eyes and ears open.”

  “That’s not an answer,” she said as she was helped by one of the workers into the small boat.

  “It’s the best one I have.” Michael glanced at Alexander, who stood frozen, glaring.

  “Go,” Augustus pleaded to them. “Now!”

  Michael crawled to the opening of the stairway and tumbled down the steps. He opened a cart and grabbed his writing tool. I guess this will have to do. What a way to defend myself. It better be mightier than a sword.

  “What are you doing down here?” asked Julius as he entered the lower deck.

  “Just getting some rest,” Michael said, lying.

  “Where is your daughter?”

  “I told her to go. My friend will need her.”

  “Good. Titus will not let this ship move until they have someone. I do not want him boarding this boat because I have cargo that would be of interest to him.”

  “I will surrender,” Michael said.

  Julius nodded and looked around. “What you did to save your daughter is noble,” he said. “I must now save my cargo.”

  Michael walked past him and up the stairs. Julius instructed Augustus to push the board closer to the other ship while Titus stepped onto the wide board. “We will take the prisoner now,” Titus said. He met Michael in the middle, aided by one Roman soldier wielding a spear. They pushed Michael ahead a few steps. “You are hereby arrested for aiding two women accused of murdering a decorated Roman soldier. You will be tried before a court at the Antonia Fortress in Jerusalem.”

  Titus pulled Michael’s hands behind his back and tied them with a thick rope. “Walk slowly,” he said.

  “I am, you jerk.” He swung his hands back, hitting Titus.

  “Janikus,” Titus said. “If he jumps, bleed him with your spear.”

  “Yes sir,” he replied, keeping his weapon pressed into Michael’s back.

  The buzzing sound escalated to a low hum as Michael inched his way along. What is that? He looked up and saw a bit of clearing in the fog. The hum rose louder, and he moved a few more steps to get a better view.

  “Slow down,” said Titus.

  Michael could see the deck of the other ship and stopped. Soldiers were moving up and down, swinging their spears. Looks like locusts. Or is it? Something is certainly wrong.

  “Keep moving,” said Titus.

  “I am not taking another step.”

  Janikus poked his back. “You heard him. Move.”

  “I do not think it is wise to move this way anymore.”

  “Shut up and walk,” Titus shouted.

  The hum closed in and surrounded them. Michael froze and pushed the spear away. He stared as the cries from soldiers rang out. They are jumping into the water.

  “Sir,” Janikus said. “Our ship. What is happening?”

  Titus and Janikus edged past Michael. “What is going on?” Titus yelled to the soldiers in the water.

  Michael moved a few steps backward. “See you on the other side, boys.”

  “Janikus, do not let him escape. Kill him if you have to.”

  The Roman lunged at Michael as he backed away from the spear’s edge.

  “Whoa,” Janikus said, stumbling. He steadied himself on the plank. The board wobbled and Titus fell, holding on
with one hand.

  “Sir,” Janikus said, reaching down. “Are you all right?”

  “I cannot swim. My leg is wounded. Help me.”

  The board bumped up and down when Janikus fell to his knees, letting his spear fall into the water. Michael slipped and tumbled into the sea.

  “Help me,” Titus screamed.

  Michael submerged several feet. He kicked and flailed away. Titus grabbed his leg as he struggled. Get off of me. He kicked him several times, pushing him away. Oh, Lord. I don’t want to die. He kicked harder, struggling with the knot. I am not letting my daughter grow up alone. I am going to hold my grandkids. He twisted his hands and wrists, managing to loosen the knot. He swam to the surface about thirty yards from the ships.

  Michael coughed up some water and gazed at what was in front of him – white birds hummed and floated around Titus and his soldiers. Their ship’s deck was empty. My God.

  “Sir, I cannot hold onto you any longer; you will need to swim,” Janikus yelled to Titus, releasing his grip. He stood and shouted at some soldiers floating in the water several yards away. “Help him,” he said.

  Two soldiers started to swim toward Titus. Michael looked back and watched as he reached Augustus’ ship. The swarm of birds drew closer, skimming off the water. “They’re doves,” Augustus said as one flew past him.

  “There have to be hundreds of them,” Michael said, looking up in amazement.

  “Grab my hand, my friend,” he said.

  Michael grasped it and was pulled back onto the deck by two other workers.

  “Row,” Augustus shouted to the men. Their oars struck the water, and the ship began to move. The plank fell. “Faster. Faster. Move your arms. Faster.”

  The ship created some distance between the two vessels. The doves continued to hum and swarm as the soldiers waved their hands in frantic gestures, trying to keep them away.

  Michael and Augustus stood side by side, staring. Michael tried to communicate his thoughts, yet he couldn’t muster any words. The doves swirled around the soldiers much like a tornado. Michael walked to the far end of the ship to get a better look. Some soldiers covered up their faces and others kept submerging, avoiding the swarm.

  “I have never seen anything like that before,” Augustus called out. “Have you?”

  Michael shook his head. “Never.”