“Keba, I cooked a nice dinner for you guys. I’m going to stay at a hotel to give y’all some privacy. You’re in good hands now,” said Rasheeda looking at her friend.
“You don’t have to leave. There’s four bedrooms in this house.”
“We really would like for you to stay,” Declan said suddenly appearing at the door.
“I don’t want to feel like the third wheel. Besides, you two can use this time alone.”
“Nonsense. Thanks for dinner. It smells great out there. I sure hope you set the table for three instead of two.”
“Declan.”
He put up his hand to stop her. “I don’t want to hear it Rasheeda. You’re staying here and that’s all there is to it. We’ll be out as soon as we get cleaned up.”
She eyed Makeba and hunched her shoulders. “Fine.” Turning on her heels, she walked away hearing the door slam behind her.
~*~
Three weeks later the lovers were back into their old grand scheme of things. It was almost as if the time they spent apart was nonexistent. Time apart seemed to have deepened their love for one another so much so that Declan’s first day back to the office had them experiencing separation anxieties. It affected Makeba a lot more than it did him especially since Rasheeda was no longer around. She returned to Newark a few days prior because her vacation time had come to an end. Granny Whitaker was always an excellent stand in. They were spending more and more time together but Makeba was worried about her. Their conversations started to change. She wasn’t as jolly and sarcastic as she was known to be. Her smile dimmed and her zest didn’t have that usual spark. When asked if there was anything wrong she’d just smile and say she was a little tired. Makeba didn’t buy it, none of it.
She had to speak to Declan, make him aware of her concerns. Maybe it was nothing or maybe it was something that needed to be addressed right away. Whatever the case may be she’d rather be safe than sorry. Because of the attachment she felt to granny Whitaker, she declared her an honorary grandmother and had hoped she’d be around for a long time. Makeba exercised patience and waited for the right time to have the conversation about granny. At first, he didn’t seem too worried about what she was telling him, that is, until he noticed the deep concern and fear etched on her face. Only then did he promise to check on her. Relieved, she went into the bedroom to lay down. She was stressed, emotionally drained, and exhausted. The possibility of losing granny Whitaker held her thoughts hostage. What would she do? How would it affect her? She loved this woman as if she was her blood family. Why those thoughts were so prevalent in her mind was unclear. It wasn’t like granny Whitaker was sick or anything or was she?
Lying in bed, Makeba found it difficult to relax. Between worrying about granny Whitaker and her due date drawing near, she didn’t know which made her more anxious. Unable to close her eyes, she sat up with her back pressed against the headboard as her mind began to wonder. In two days she’ll be traveling back to Newark to prepare for the delivery of the twins. It was important to her that she have the babies in her home town around her family and friends. Shockingly, Declan agreed with her and decided to accompany her.
Later that evening, Makeba and Declan decided to make it a movie night. Resting on the sofa and waiting patiently for his return with a bowl of extra butter microwave popcorn, she stood up the moment she felt warm liquid ooze down her legs. Entering the living room with a bowl in his hands and chewing on popcorn, Declan froze when he saw the look on her face.
Slowly, she turned to face him. Before she could say a word a gush of liquid poured from between her legs.
“I think my water just broke.”
Dropping the bowl, he rushed to her side. “There’s still two more weeks to go.”
“Not according to these babies. Help me to the bathroom and bring me some dry clothes. We need to get to the hospital.”
He held her arm and escorted her to the bathroom. Once there, he ran to the bedroom searching every drawer in a panic, trying to figure out the best outfit for her under the circumstances. Makeba had washed, secured sanitary napkins between her legs and wrapped herself in a towel. She exited the bathroom wondering what was taking him so long to bring her some clothes. After standing in the door of the bedroom for a few moments watching him in hysteria, she entered.
“Declan, calm down.”
Never looking up at her he continued to rummage through the drawers.
Makeba chuckled as she pushed him aside and grabbed a clean pair of underwear, blue leggings and a blue t-shirt and put them on. She moaned at the feel of her first contraction. Startled, Declan grabbed her up in his arms. She pushed him away as she went to sit on the bed.
“Babe, get my bag and let’s go. Don’t forget to call my parents and Rasheeda to let them know I’m on my way to the hospital.”
“I will.” He rushed to the closet to retrieve her bag. Grabbing his car keys off the dresser, he ran out the door leaving her behind. Realizing that she would need help he ran back inside. “I’m so sorry honey,” he said as he reached out his hand.
Makeba was in too much pain to crack even a little smile but she would surely tease him about all of this when it was all over. She reached for his extended hand pulling herself up off the bed. “Aaaahh!”
Declan turned beet red at the sound of her screams. He didn’t know what to do. Her screams were happening more often as her face contorted into frowns with every one of them sending him into more of a panic. Slowly, he walked her to the car helping her inside. After securing her seatbelt he threw the bag in the trunk, jumped in the car and pulled off heading to the hospital. She was disappointed she didn’t make it back to Newark in time for the arrival of her twins. She wanted her mom to be there with her but that wouldn’t be the case. These babies were ready to be born and she was more than ready to meet their acquaintance.
After another contraction had subsided she asked, “Did you call my parents?”
“No, I’m sorry.”
“Give me your phone.”
With one hand on the steering wheel and the other rummaging through the arm rest, he retrieved the phone and handed it to her. Again, she moaned holding the door. Once the pain had gone, she dialed her mother’s phone explaining that she was in labor and on her way to the hospital. She could hear the excitement in her mom’s voice as she yelled in the background relaying the message to her father. They ended the call after Mrs. Jones informed her that she would be on the next flight out to Chicago. Afterwards, she managed to call granny.
“Hello child.”
“Hi granny. You sound so much better today.” She moaned.
“Well, I feel so much better. How are you doing?”
Inhaling deeply then exhaling she replied, “I’m on my way to the hospital. The babies are coming.” She grimaced as another contraction hit her. This one much stronger than the last.
“Oh that’s wonderful dear. I’ll get Sam to bring me.”
“Are you sure you’re up to it.”
“I most certainly am. I will not miss the arrival of my great grandchildren for anything.”
Makeba closed her eyes as she let out a scream. The pain was becoming unbearable. Declan took the phone from her and told granny they would see her at the hospital then ended the call.
Makeba turned to him and reminded him to call Rasheeda and Marcella. If they waited until after the babies were born she’d never hear the end of it. He assured her he would as soon as they got to the hospital.
GONE
While Makeba was being prepped, Declan was out at the nurses’ station filling out her chart. His phone vibrated. Looking at the screen, he saw that it was his mother calling. Deciding to ignore it, he sent the call to voicemail. Not long after his phone vibrated again. Annoyed, he glanced down at his phone. This time it was Sam. He answered and in no time wished he hadn’t. It wasn’t good news at all. He gripped the clipboard to his chest closing his eyes. How could this be happening right now at this moment? His bab
ies were coming. He’s supposed to be celebrating while anxiously awaiting their arrival. Yet here he was receiving the worst news ever. Granny Whitaker had a heart attack and was on her way to the same hospital his wife was about to deliver their babies in. He informed Sam that Makeba was in labor and he was already at the hospital. Sam assured him he would let him know the minute they arrived at the hospital. He ended the call and placed the phone in his pocket as he handed the clipboard to the nurse.
A few minutes later he entered the room where his wife was hooked to an iv and a fetal monitor. The expression on her face let him know that she was in great pain. Declan hated being in the position he was in. The fear of losing his grandmother and the fact that his wife was in so much pain and he couldn’t do anything about either of those situations made him feel like crap. He ushered over to her bedside grabbing her hands in his. She was in a lot of pain but not so much that she couldn’t see that something was terribly wrong. Whether he realized it or not, his eyes were filled with water on the verge of dripping from his eyes and his complexion was damn near candy apple red. She opened her mouth to inquire about what was bothering him but was intercepted by a strong contraction causing her to bang on the side of the bed. The doctors warned her that if she didn’t stop they would confine her by putting on restraints to keep her from hurting herself. She wasn’t trying to bring harm to herself, she was just trying to cope with the pain.
Declan turned towards the door at the sight of Sam and Shyanne. Shyanne walked into the room changing places with him so that he could go out into the corridor to get an update on granny Whitaker. Makeba raised the head off the bed. She observed Declan lower his head, shaking it from one side to the other.
“What’s wrong, Shyanne?”
“Nothing.” As difficult as it was Shyanne kept her composure. “He’s just worried about you, that’s all.”
Something told her it was a lie but she didn’t have enough energy to question Shyanne’s story. Five hours in and she was still in labor. For the third time she declined an epidural. Declan tried to get her to reconsider but to no avail. Over the next couple of hours, Sam and Shyanne kept him informed about granny Whitaker. The whole process of rotating their time from Makeba to granny was tiring.
Finally, Mrs. Jones arrived. Makeba was so happy to see her mom being escorted inside the room by Declan. Wishing she was a little girl again when she would crawl up in her mother’s lap and watch her kiss her booboos away but she couldn’t. She wasn’t a little girl and this wasn’t some scrape on the knee she had gotten from falling off of her tricycle. No, this was grown woman stuff that only God and time could make better.
The doctor came in to examine her and determine how many centimeters she was. After asking everyone to leave, Dr. Mason performed the examination and determined she was only six centimeters. He removed his gloves tossing them in the trash.
“Almost there,” he said as he checked her vitals.
“Thank you Dr. Mason.”
She smiled. “I’ll be back shortly,” she replied then left.
Mrs. Jones and Declan stood on both sides of the bed taking turns comforting her. After a while the nurse walked in to check her vitals once more. This time there was concern etched in the creases of the nurse’s face. Immediately she rushed and returned with Dr. Mason. Worried, Mrs. Jones inquired about what was happening. Dr. Mason informed her and Declan that Makeba’s blood pressure was too high and it was causing stress on the babies. She also informed them that it was imperative that they do an emergency cesarean. Declan agreed and signed the consent forms. Immediately, the nurse began shaving her vaginal area readying her for her surgery. Once they were finished they raised the arms of her bed for protection then wheeled her out heading to the operating room. Once inside they told her to count backwards from one hundred as they administered the anesthesia. Only reaching eighty nine, she was out like a light.
In the meantime, Mrs. Jones convinced Declan to go check on his grandmother. At first he declined thinking that if he had gone he would be abandoning his wife. She assured him that it was where he needed to be since Makeba was in surgery. Taking her up on her offer, he hurried to the other part of the hospital with the rest of his family in hopes that there was some news about granny Whitaker, good news. Unfortunately, there was none. She was still in the OR. Disappointed and afraid he sauntered over to one of the empty seats but not before being stopped by his mother as she hugged him and expressed her love for him.
Sam patted him on the shoulders taking a seat next to him as Shyanne stood in a corner with tear-filled, red, puffy eyes. With his head in his hands Declan prayed that his grandmother would make it through. He knew she was old but he at least wanted her to see the twins before she departed this world.
As he sat there with his head in his hands, he recalled the other night when Makeba expressed how concerned she was about granny Whitaker’s behavior. He thought she was worrying for nothing until he noticed the expression on her face. To appease her, he went to the family house to see for himself that she was ok. Even earlier tonight when he spoke to her about Makeba being in labor she sounded fine, like her old self. That’s why this was so hard to believe, how she could be so upbeat and then gravely ill so fast. He stood as he pondered how that was possible. Walking over to the window, he looked over the dark starry sky hoping that he wouldn't have to deliver any devastating news to his wife anytime soon. He was fully aware of how close she and granny had become, hell everybody knew and he wasn’t sure how she’d handle it if something went wrong.
Everyone stood as the sliding doors leading down the hall to the operating room opened. A tall, young Caucasian doctor with blue eyes and short silky black hair removed the mask from his face and took off his cap. His eyes had already revealed what they had dreaded. Granny was gone. Tears had already started to fall before the doctor could even open his mouth.
“We did all we could do. I’m sorry,” he said. She died at approximately 11:42 pm.
Declan stormed off. On his way back to labor and delivery his phone rang. It was Mrs. Jones. His heart began to beat rapidly. Praying this wasn’t more bad news he answered the phone.
“Hello.”
“Your babies are here. Hurry.”
Declan never bothered to hang up. He dashed through the hospital as tears rolled down his face. He was consumed with mixed emotions, joyous because he was about to meet his children and hurt because he had lost one the most important people in his life. How in the world was he going to tell his wife that granny was gone? Not wanting to take on too much at once he pushed the thoughts out of his head and tried to concentrate on how Makeba was doing and seeing the faces of his beautiful babies.
Reaching his destination, he approached Mrs. Jones. She saw the expression on his face as well as the tears flowing from his eyes. Immediately her motherly instinct kicked in as she hurried towards him cradling him in her arms. Without a word being exchanged, she knew Declan had just received devastating news and he knew that she was available for him to lean on. Feeling the comfort of a mother’s love although not his mother, he broke down like a seven year old child who had lost his best friend. Rocking him back and forth, Mrs. Jones kissed the top of his head whispering words of comfort in his ear. After a few moments she released him from her embrace, dug in her purse for wet cloths, handing one to him. He wiped his face and pulled himself together.
“Go and see your babies’ son. Hold them, inhale their essence, bond with your children. It will help to comfort you in these trying times.”
He hugged her once more. “Mom, how is she?”
“She’s fine. She’s in recovery. Once she wakes up they will take her to a room. Go on now. Go!”
Placing his hands together in a prayer position and bowing slightly, he thanked her and hurried to the nursery.
Declan arrived at the window of the nursery. Knocking lightly on the window, he got the attention of the nurse. She walked over to the Whitaker babies pulling their cribs clo
ser to the window for him to get a better view of them. Consumed with so many emotions, he lowered his head closing his eyes tight fighting back more tears. He had cried a lifetime of tears, all in one day. A few moments later he opened his eyes, the birth cards caught his attention. It wasn’t the weight or length that confused him but the names and the times on the cards. One of his twins were born at the exact time granny died. Feeling flushed and lightheaded, he fell back against the wall struggling to hold himself up. The nurse observing his actions ran out of the nursery to his aid.
“Are you all right Mr. Whitaker,” she asked holding on to his arm.
“Yes.” He closed his eyes as he tried to steady himself.
“Son, what’s wrong?”
He was glad Mrs. Jones was there. She was right on time.
“He looked like he was about to faint,” the nurse replied.
“No, I’m fine. The time of birth of one of the babies threw me for a loop. The one on the right was born the exact time Granny died tonight.”
“Oh, I’m sorry for your loss.” The nurse’s words were so sincere.
“Oh son, I’m so sorry,” added Mrs. Jones as she took over caring for Declan allowing the nurse to return to her job.
“Did you get to hold them?”
“No ma’am. I want to hold them with Makeba.”
~*~
Makeba groggily looked towards the door. Standing under the threshold was granny smiling that million dollar smile. She had always thought that was her greatest asset. She had the smile of a spiritual being. She turned on her side to get a better visual of granny. She smiled as granny sauntered closer to her. Leaning down she kissed Makeba on the forehead.
“You did an amazing job. Jillian and Jacob are two of the most beautiful babies I have ever seen.”
“Oh, thank you so much granny.” Makeba was still trying to focus. For some reason there was an awfully bright white light surrounding her. She raised the head off the bed. Elated that granny was walking perfectly, her skin was glowing and young looking, she looked healthy and strong. “Granny, you look absolutely amazing.”
Until My Heart Stops Beating Page 26