by Shane Morgan
I had more fun than I’d expected to last night. So much that Vanessa ended up staying in my dorm because she was too tired to walk over to hers. My eyes fluttered awake as the bright sun peeked through the green, sheer curtains, warming my face and melting away icy residues on the window panes.
Sluggishly, I rolled out of bed and woke up Vanessa, wrapped up in my blanket like a cocoon as she slept beside my bed.
“Mmm…what?” she grumbled, uncovering her head.
“Time to go home,” I said.
“Five minutes.” She pulled the blanket over her afro and went back to sleep.
I shook her arm. “We have to get going. I’ve already brought most of my stuff out to the car, and I’m pretty sure someone’s going to come clean the room later on.”
As Vanessa sat up with a miserable expression, I walked over to the desk and checked my phone. I didn’t call Branden back last night. But he hadn’t called me either, so I took it as a sign that he wasn’t mad. Regardless, I sent him a text before heading to the showers. He replied in no time with a phone call.
“Hey, baby, wasn’t sure if you were up yet. Sorry I didn’t call you when I got back to my dorm. I was beat.”
“That’s fine,” he sounded groggy, like he hadn’t slept well.
“You okay?” I asked.
“Yeah, I had a lot of fun at the game last night. I was really tired too, passed out the second I came home.”
“Oh.”
“So, you gonna head to Berlin Heights now?”
“Mmm-hmm.” I stepped past Vanessa—who was now sprawled out on my bed—and went over to my backpack by the closet to get a towel and my travel kit. “You wanna come over for dinner later? Momma would love to have you again.”
I slapped her foot as I headed for the room door. She moaned, rolled onto her side, and then fell right back to sleep, snoring lightly.
“Sure,” Branden answered. “We should hang out afterwards.”
Silly me, I nodded as I replied, “Yeah. We should. And now that I’m finally on break from school, I’m so happy we’ll be seeing each other more, even if it’s only for two weeks.”
“Mmm…can’t wait for our weekend getaway, too,” he reminded.
I felt shy now, thinking how alone we were going to be wherever Branden had planned on taking me.
“Where are we going anyway?”
“Somewhere far, isolated. A cabin in the woods where no one can hear you,” he messed around with me.
“Stop,” I giggled. “But seriously, where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise, babe. I’m sure you’ll like it, don’t worry.”
“I’m not. I trust you, remember?”
He exhaled before answering, “I know. So call me when you get home then?”
“I will.”
“Cool. Love you, talk to you later.”
“Love you too.”
Vanessa made kissing sounds when I got off the phone. “Ooh, Branden…Ooh, Moya. We’re so in love…” she spoke in a high-pitched voice, twirling strands of her hair around her fingers in a flirty manner.
Laughing, I dashed over to the bed and hit her lightly with the pillow.
“Ah!” she yelled, trying to wrestle the pillow away from me. “It’s true! You guys are so mushy with each other. It’s a whole different you.”
I stopped and tossed the pillow over to the blanket on the floor. “I have changed a bit since Branden’s been in my life, huh?”
“A bit?” she cocked her head, dipped her eyes, then let out a scoff. “Girl, you’ve done a complete 180. First of all, you no longer despise the opposite species,” she counted off on her hand. “You don’t walk around with this bitter ‘I’ll kill you if you dare ask me out’ look on your face.”
“What? I never did that—”
“And lastly,” she spoke over my voice, then lowered it as she continued in a soft tone, “It’s great hearing you say “I love you” to someone other than me or your momma. I thought I’d never see the day.”
I peered down at her manicured hands holding mine. “I know. I surprised even myself.”
Glancing up at her again, Vanessa had teary eyes. “Is everything okay?”
She let go of me and hopped off the bed, nodding. “Yeah, I’m good. I’m gonna head over to my dorm and get my bag.”
As she walked to the door, she glanced over her shoulder and said, “Text me when you’re done and I’ll meet you at your car.”
“All right.”
Vanessa left right after, obviously bothered by something, but deciding not to discuss it with me. I thought back to her relationships; probably she was beating herself up for getting into such a situation where she had to choose one and hurt the other. I only hoped she’d choose the right one.
***
Momma was more thrilled than I was when Branden came to our house for dinner that night. She’d cooked her favorite beef stew dish with potatoes, carrots, and rice on the side. I whipped up strawberry trifle for dessert. Branden was stuffed by the time we finished.
Then we moved into the living room to relax. The second we made ourselves comfortable—Momma in the armchair, me and Branden on the crimson sofa—she went right to questioning him.
“So, what are your plans once you finish school, Branden? We never did get a chance to talk about that.”
“No, ma’am, we didn’t. Actually, even though I’ll have a Bachelor’s Degree in International Business,” he sat out on the sofa and folded his hands, looking her straight in the eye. “I’d love to be a professional hockey player.”
Hearing him say that made me shiver a tad. Could he really handle it? I had no idea how terrified I was of losing him.
“Hockey?” momma clarified. I jumped out of my thoughts. “I’m afraid I don’t know much about that sport, but it sounds like a plan to me.” She gazed over at me, smiling halfway as if pleased. “I like when young men have ambition. They want to go somewhere and make something of themselves. I think you’re just fine for my baby girl.”
“I’m not a baby anymore, Momma,” I reminded.
She waved me off. “You’ll still be my baby girl even when you’re fifty.”
Branden couldn’t help a laugh. He looked at me in such a way, my stomach did flip-flops. Then his eyes steered away from mine, and began penetrating the hardwood floor. His smile faded. He appeared troubled.
“How are your parents doing?” asked Momma, bringing his attention back to her. “I was thinking we should set something up when it gets warmer; maybe a picnic in the park with everybody. What ya’ll think?”
“That’s a good idea,” he replied.
“It is, huh?” I squeezed his hand.
“Oh, I almost forgot.” She stood from the armchair and walked around to the storage trunk behind the sofa. Momma took out a gift wrapped box and reached it over to him. She giggled with excitement, clasping her hands together as she sat down.
“Oh you didn’t have to, Ms. Douglas—”
“None of that now, sweetie,” she shushed. “Open it.”
Waiting to see what it was, I said, “I’m curious myself. You didn’t tell me you got Branden a gift, Momma.”
“I only bought it today.”
Branden tore the blue wrapping off and opened it up. Moving away the white paper inside, we saw it was two dress shirts and ties. He took them out to see them better.
“Thank you, Ms. Douglas. It’s really nice of you.”
Momma gushed, fanning him off. “You’re welcome, dear. An early Christmas present, since I won’t see you on Wednesday and my daughter keeps you all to herself,” she eyeballed me in a playful way.
“No I don’t,” I countered. “I bring him by every so often.”
“Mmm-hmm.”
She shook her head, gazing at both of us. “Branden, I don’t know what you did, or how you did it, but I am so glad my daughter met you.”
“Oh geez, you make it seem as if I was horrible before.”
“I t
hink she’s saying we’re great together,” Branden helped her.
“Well, if you say so.”
There was a knock at the door. Momma stood and walked over to see who it was.
“Moya,” she called out. “It’s Nessa.”
“Why don’t she come in then?” I asked, getting up.
Momma’s elated expression had evaporated. She stepped away from the door as I walked over.
“I’ll leave you girls alone,” she said, going back to the living room to keep Branden’s company.
Vanessa looked broken. Her eyes were red, as if she’d been crying.
“What happened?” I asked, taking her hand. “Come inside—”
She pulled away. “I can’t stay. I’m meeting my cousin in a bit. I wanted to tell you I did it.”
“Did what?”
“I told Calvin I wanted to break up.”
“Oh, Nessa…” I stepped out on the porch and hugged her. “How’d it go?”
Easing out of my embrace, she replied in a low voice, “He actually cried. You believe that? He never cried over anything, but he did tonight.”
“Is that why you’re so upset?” I rubbed her arm.
“No, not really. I guess I thought I’d hurt more. I thought because we were together for so long, that it’d be way harder to end it with him.” She shook her head slowly. “But it wasn’t. In fact, I feel better. I’m not going around behind his back anymore, and I certainly won’t miss our fights.”
I didn’t know what to say. Truthfully, I’d wanted it to work out between them. They’d always fought and made up before. Then again, this was different. Vanessa had fallen for someone else.
“Does he know about Warren?”
“No. I don’t want to tell him yet.”
“Nessa, he’s going to find out once they start playing basketball together—”
“I know, girl. It’s just…I don’t want to drop too much on him at the same time.”
I lifted my thumb and wiped away a tear from her cheek. “I know. It’ll be okay. I’m here if you need me.”
Hugging me again, she whispered, “I know you are. I gotta go though.”
“Okay.”
She turned and headed down the porch steps and around the corner to her house. Right now, she wasn’t her funny, carefree self. But I knew that by tomorrow, her laughter would return.
“Is everything all right?” asked Branden, coming out to the porch. He closed the front door then tightened his strong arms around me, warming my body in his embrace.
“I hope so.”
“Look at the sky,” he whispered into my ear. “There are so many stars. Not easy to see back in Harrington.”
“I know.”
Spinning around, I linked my fingers around his neck and inched close to his lips. “I’m starting to miss them.”
“What?”
“The fireflies.”
He grinned broadly and planted a kiss on my mouth. Like any other time he would do this, it felt new, but always sweet.
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
Branden
First thing Monday morning, I went by Dr. Henderson’s office at St. Joseph’s Medical Center. I didn’t make an appointment beforehand. That’s how desperate I was to make sure it wasn’t the disease again.
Knocking on his door, I waited for a reply this time instead of barging in.
“Come in,” he answered.
The minute I did, I got right to it. “Can you check if its back?”
“Branden,” Dr. Henderson stood from his chair. “What happened?”
Composing myself, I moved around one of the chairs facing his table and plopped down into it. Dr. Henderson settled back into his.
“Well, go on,” he prompted, growing concerned.
“Two days ago I had this sudden, throbbing pain in my chest. It was horrible. I was…”
“Scared?” he finished for me.
Falling back in the chair, he took off his glasses and placed them on top of the table. “And you think it’s back?”
I nodded slowly.
“It could be your chest is still going through a healing process. I wouldn’t be too quick to say the Aortic Dissection is back. However, if you want to be absolutely sure, I’ll have an X-ray done on your chest right away.”
“I’d rather be sure.”
“All right then.” He put his glasses back on, stood, then walked around the desk, urging me along.
When we stepped out of his office and into the corridor, Dr. Henderson asked, “Did you tell your parents about this?”
“No,” I replied, keeping my gaze straight ahead as we turned at a corner and continued down another corridor. “I wanted to make sure first.”
“Sounds like you already believe its back, Branden.” He stopped at a door and peered at me over his glasses. “Remember what I told you that day you left the hospital?”
I stuck my hands inside my pockets and answered, “That I should keep positive.”
“Yes. I hope you’ll continue to do so.”
Dr. Henderson opened the door and entered what appeared to be an examination room. “Change into that robe over there and I’ll have a nurse come in to perform the X-ray shortly.”
He left me alone to it.
After changing, I waited a few minutes for the nurse to come in, cracking my knuckles and growing anxious by the second. Thoughts circulated around my head. Like what if the disease was really back? Would it kill me this time? How was I going to tell my family, not to mention Moya? She would be devastated.
“Hi, Branden,” a petite nurse with her red hair up in a ponytail entered. She held a plastic smile on her face as she pointed to the box-like device mounted on the wall and instructed, “If you’ll step over here please.” I’d grown used to seeing the machine by now.
She positioned me in front of it, and then she walked over to the producing device a few feet away and sat down before it. “Okay, Branden. Stay still until I tell you.” This nurse sounded like my mother.
“Ready when you are,” I said flatly.
“Okay,” she replied, her voice chirpy and high-pitched. “Here we go.”
I heard a buzzing sound and lights flashed from the machine in split seconds, my heart thumped with each. Then she instructed me to turn sideways with my arms outstretched. The same lights flickered again, and before I knew it, she was finished with me. A flood of relief washed over my body, and I was able to steady my breathing again.
Getting up, the nurse headed for the door. “You can get dressed. I’ll get these developed and get the results back to Doctor Henderson. He’ll be in shortly to talk with you.”
The minute I hauled on my t-shirt and slipped on my sweater, I received a text from Moya.
What you up to today?
Nothing really.
I hated not telling her about this when I’d promised her if anything happened I would, but like Dr. Henderson said, it could be nothing to worry about.
Wanna meet up?
Sure. Later though. Anything in mind?
Why later? How about in 10 mins?
Can’t babe. Taking care of something now. We’ll get together later. Wanna catch a movie?
Dr. Henderson walked in the room, holding my x-ray images. I stiffened, fearful of what he was going to say. His mouth curled into a smile as he sat down on the chair. It gave me hope.
“So?” I urged, growing impatient. Sweat started to run down the side of my face. “Is it back?”
“Branden, it’s not the disease. Like I said, it was probably a late effect from the surgery.”
He glanced over the images then handed them to me. My chest looked clear from what I could see.
“There’s nothing wrong, Branden,” he confirmed.
I swallowed down the huge lump that had formed in my throat. “You’re sure?” I asked again, peering at the x-ray then handing them back to him.
Nodding, Dr. Henderson patted my shoulder. “Relax, son. Enjoy life and stop worryin
g so much.” He guided me towards the door. We stepped outside the room. “I suggest taking aspirins now and then, just in case the pain returns. If it ever gets bad, come see me.”
“Okay.”
A flood of relief washed over my entire body. Geez! What a scare that stupid pain had caused. Fortunately, it was nothing major though.
Reaching the door of his office, I shook his hand before going on my way. Doctor Henderson gave me a father-like look as he said, “Remember what I said, Branden. Stay positive.”
“I’ll try,” was all I could utter, still overcome by relief.
When I got to my car in the center parking lot, I checked my cell phone before taking off. Moya had replied to my text for a while now with an okay about the movie. I quickly replied:
I’ll pick u up later k.
k love u
love u too babe
***
When I walked in the front door, there were boxes piled up in the foyer. Dad was moving out. He’d also made it clear he would give Mom the house and a certain amount of money every month once the divorce was finalized. He wanted to make sure she’d keep up her fancy lifestyle, or more so that she’d be satisfied enough to let him go.
It was only now soaking in. My parents were going their separate ways. I knew this was inevitable, yet, it kind of hurt now that it was happening.
“Branden,” Dad came down the hall with two more boxes. He placed them on the floor. “Where’d you go? I was looking for you earlier.”
“Out walking,” I lied. “Why were you looking for me?”
Twisting, he examined the boxes then opened up the one on the top. “I got you something. Your mother doesn’t want me coming back here after I leave today, and I know you and your brother won’t come by my place to see me so—”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
He eyed me with a surprised expression. “You would?”
I took the gift from his hand. “Yes, I would. You’re my father. Regardless of how things are between you and Mom, I still want you in my life.”
“Wow,” he glanced down at the box in my hand. “I wasn’t expecting that. I thought you hated me. I mean, your brother certainly does.”
“Ashton hates everybody—”