Not him too. She was deeply saddened. Wasn’t anyone calling to see about her and the baby without asking about the division? Did anyone care? Anxiety rushed through her veins uncontrollably. Suddenly she felt a sharp pain in her abdomen. She winced from the pain but refused to panic. She drew in long, slow breaths. Despite her attempts to manage the pain, it intensified. She grasped for positive thoughts, finding none. She didn’t know what to do. Instinctively, she wanted to call Joel. Under duress, she decided not to upset him prematurely. Fear and pain meshed, raising an alarm. Another wave of pain hit, and her alarm meter went into overdrive, with bells of panic ringing in her head.
She touched a small patch of moisture on the bed and looked down to find a few spots of blood on the sheet. Terror set in. She sprang from the bed and ran into the bathroom. Once inside, she found a few more spots of blood on her clothing. Doubt, fear, and panic rolled into a giant ball. She was paralyzed, unable to move. Losing her child couldn’t happen. It just couldn’t. She had to believe her baby was well. Denial seemed less frightening.
Chapter 41
Spinning his wheels at the hotel was driving Joel crazy. Most of the week had been wasted, including the botched visit with Zarah. He had to get moving and make something happen. He drove onto the street without a clear direction. The admonishment from the church mother continuously replayed in his head. You need to come back home in the spirit. You’ve been gone too long. Joel was much more mindful of her advice than he’d been in the past. He wasn’t discounting God totally. He couldn’t, having experienced the power of God’s presence supernaturally on numerous occasions. He definitely knew who God was, but he wasn’t ready to give up his personal desires. The allure of being back in the limelight and in charge was a powerful drug, constantly pulling at him and taking precedence.
He revved the engine at the stoplight to bolster his enthusiasm. None was flowing personally or professionally. Zarah had discounted his last appeal. Yet she kept popping into his head. She had a board meeting with DMI coming up in a few days. The meeting was just as important to him as it was to her, although she probably didn’t know why. The strength of her presentation could determine whether she got control of Harmonious Energy and then have the heart to let him have the West Coast division. He had made countless presentations to the board of directors and had a feel for what they liked. He could help Zarah tremendously in her preparation for the meeting. She hadn’t asked for help, but it didn’t mean she wouldn’t welcome his input. What the heck, he thought, inching his way into the right-hand lane. He would zip onto the highway and go see Zarah. He would go unannounced, hoping she’d let him in. He didn’t dwell on the alternative.
He punched the accelerator, intending to cut the drive down to a minimum. With each mile clocked, he grew more eager to see Zarah.
When he got to the house, he jumped out of the car, hurried to the door, and rang the bell. No one answered. It was after eight o’clock. The staff was gone, but normally Zarah was at home in the evening, at least the former Zarah used to be. The new one was hard to gauge. He rang the doorbell again and waited a few minutes. Again nobody answered. He plucked his cell phone from his pocket and dialed the house phone. No answer. He held the phone, not sure what to do. Where could she be, other than off somewhere with Tamara? Joel’s zeal was doused. Too late. You’re out of luck, he thought grimly. He pressed the doorbell once again and began walking to the car, dialing the house phone as he went. This time, Zarah answered.
“Hey, you are home,” he said, halting.
“Yes. I am resting.”
“Are you alone?”
“Yes,” she replied.
“Fabulous,” he wanted to say, relieved Tamara wasn’t on the scene. “Would you like company?”
She didn’t answer immediately, but he wasn’t leaving without a yes.
“Because I’m at the front door if you do,” he added.
She still didn’t answer, forcing him to be direct.
“I’d like to come in.”
“Do you have the key with you?” she asked.
“Why?” Joel asked before realizing he was being defensive. It was too late to retract the question.
“Because I don’t want to come down the stairs. If you have a key, it would be most helpful for me.”
Joel had the key in his car. “Okay, I’ll let myself in. Where are you? Upstairs?” he asked.
“Yes, I’m in the bedroom.”
“Give me a few minutes, and I’ll be right up. Is there anything I can get for you?”
“No, thank you,” she said in a strange tone.
Zarah didn’t seem to have the same eagerness to see him as she had during other recent visits. Joel wasn’t certain, but he figured Tamara had something to do with the mood change. He didn’t let it bother him. He got the key and went inside Zarah’s house, which was his house too, and savored the advantage he had over Tamara. She had a mouth and many unsolicited opinions, but what Tamara didn’t have was a key. She was an outsider who had access to his wife only when invited. Joel’s steps slowed as he reclaimed his influence on Zarah.
She didn’t want him to bring her anything, but Joel stopped by the kitchen and got two bottles of water, one for each of them. He climbed the stairs and headed to the master bedroom. He hadn’t been in there in over a month. Before leaving for Chicago, he had shared the room with Zarah on occasion, but his love had been absent. He swallowed the awkwardness, opened the door, and approached Zarah, who was lying on the bed. She didn’t move when he entered the room. He found it slightly odd but was not alarmed. He’d maneuver gently through the conversation until Zarah either kicked him out or warmed to his visit.
“You’re not feeling well?” he asked, remembering what she’d said earlier.
“I’m fine.”
She didn’t appear fine, but he didn’t harp on her appearance. Joel certainly didn’t want to make her self-conscious about the way she looked. He rerouted the conversation away from her health, assuming that she wasn’t having a problem. “Are you ready for the board meeting coming up?”
“I don’t want to talk about business,” she said, cutting him off abruptly. She stood. “I have much pressure from everyone in the family, and it’s very stressful for me and the baby.” She clutched her stomach. “I can’t take the pressure,” she said, crying out and clutching her stomach tighter.
Joel rushed to her. “What’s going on?” he asked. He could see she was in pain. “Here,” he said leading her to the chair. “Sit down and have some water.” He handed her one of the bottles he’d gotten from the kitchen. Joel wasn’t a medical technician, but he didn’t have to be one to see that something was wrong. He feared for her and the baby. “What’s wrong?” he asked, determined to get an answer.
A second later Zarah was wincing, with her fists balled tightly and pressed against her abdomen. He tried to get her to tell him what was happening, but nothing coherent reached his ears. Zarah became increasingly hysterical. He was out of his element and didn’t know exactly what to do.
Without a better idea, he yelled at her in a loud, commanding voice. “Zarah, you have to calm down and tell me what’s going on,” he shouted from a squatting position in front of her.
“I can’t lose the baby,” she repeated over and over.
“You won’t,” he replied, with the sole purpose of reassuring her.
He had to get her to calm down; otherwise there was no telling what could go wrong. It didn’t take long for Joel to realize he was in way over his head and had to get help.
“Let me call the ambulance and get you to the hospital,” he said.
He went to stand, and she dug her hand into his arm. “No, no hospital. I don’t want to be there.”
“But you’re in pain,” he said, exacerbated by the entire ordeal. Her condition wasn’t one to play around with. Indecision could mean the difference between the baby living and dying. Joel was motivated to action. His baby had to live. “I have to get you to
the hospital.”
“Please, no,” she pleaded. “Rest is what I need, not the hospital.”
Joel was torn. She continued pleading, which wore him down. Against his better judgment, he caved. “All right, I won’t call nine-one-one. I’ll let you rest for a while.”
She leaned forward and hugged him. “Thank you.”
He pushed her back gently in order to make eye contact. “I will not let you stay here alone. I won’t call so long as you let me stay here with you.” He sensed the stress rising in her as she tightened her grip on his arm. He quickly worked to diffuse her worry. “I will feel much better sleeping close by in the guest room.” Before she could reject his appeal, he added, “And this is nonnegotiable. I stay, or I place the call. The choice is yours.” He peered straight at her without wavering.
She must have noted the seriousness in his voice, because Zarah agreed without resistance. He figured she was probably as glad to have him there as he was to be there. She let her body relax in the chair.
“I’m glad you’re not fighting me on this,” he said. “Can you stand?”
“Not very well,” she told him.
In a flash, Joel gently scooped Zarah up from the chair and carried her to the bed. He delicately placed her on top of the sheets. She slid underneath. He tucked her in, harboring the same reluctance about not going to the hospital. Joel hoped it wasn’t a decision he’d live to regret. He sat on the edge of the bed.
“Remember, I’ll be right next door. Call me for anything. Do you hear me? Anything.”
She nodded in affirmation.
He tucked the phone next to her. “Don’t get up for anything. Call me first.”
She agreed.
Joel brushed the hair from her face and leaned in to kiss her cheek. “Don’t worry. I’m here.”
She sighed, and he could tell Zarah’s discomfort hadn’t subsided.
“Can I get you an aspirin or a pain pill?”
“No,” she blurted out. “I won’t hurt the baby. No medicine.”
Joel stroked her face again, frustrated that he’d upset her. “Okay, no medicine,” he told her. Joel would keep his promise for as long as he could, but he couldn’t guarantee he wouldn’t change his mind later. “Good night,” he told her and turned out the light on his way out of the room.
He went down the hallway and around the corner to the closest guest room. With each step, the distance seemed too far from Zarah. He’d be more at ease sleeping outside her room. Once she fell asleep, he might even take a nap on the chair in her room. He’d decide right after placing a call to his mother. This was a big deal, and he needed his mother’s advice.
Chapter 42
Joel took off his watch and laid it on the dresser, then unbuttoned his shirt. He was in for the evening. They weren’t going anywhere, unless it was by ambulance to the hospital. Before he settled into his room and called Sherry, he would lock up downstairs and turn off the lights. As he stepped foot on the bottom stair, the doorbell rang. Whoever was dropping by had to return another day. He’d express his apologies and get them off the doorstep in a matter of minutes. He peeked through the stained glass near the front door, and his tolerance withered. He leaned against the doorknob and scratched his head, peering at the floor. He could ignore the bell, but it wouldn’t solve his immediate problem. There was only one thing to do—confront the thorn in his side. He gathered his emotions and snatched the door open.
“Tamara, how can I help you?” He forced each word out with such a cutting edge that it figuratively slit his tongue.
Tamara stood there with a bewildered expression. “Well, hello to you too,” she retorted. “What are you doing answering Zarah’s door?”
Joel wasn’t sparring with Tamara tonight. He had to get back upstairs. Fiddling around with Tamara wasn’t going to happen. “How can I help you?” he asked again.
“I’m here to see Zarah.” Tamara gestured as if she was going to push past Joel to gain entry to the house.
Pests were too difficult to get out once they crawled in. There was no way he could let her in. He had pressing issues upstairs, and her antics weren’t going to distract him from completing his mission of getting Zarah settled. He let his stature dominate the doorway, his arms folded and his legs spread a shoulder’s length apart.
Brushing up against Joel’s stone wall of a physique, she instantly halted. “Can I come in and check on her?”
“No, but I can let her know you dropped by.”
“I don’t want you to deliver a message. I can talk to her myself.” Tamara took an extra step back, almost as if being too close to him repulsed her.
He didn’t understand what thoughts were churning in her head, and he wasn’t trying to find out. It would be up to her and a therapist to unravel her idiosyncrasies, as long as she got off his doorstep. If she kept dragging out her goodbye, he might have to assist her in vacating the premises.
“Leaving a message is your best bet tonight.”
“And who made you king?” she roared. “You’re not able to decide who she talks to. She’s not a child.”
“Why don’t you leave?” he suggested. “I don’t want any trouble.”
She planted her hand on her waist. “You better not have caused her any harm, or you’ll see what trouble is,” she barked at him.
“Yada, yada, yada,’ he replied, not caving in to her threat. “I’m shaking in my shoes about what big bad Tamara is going to do to me. Woo,” he said, intentionally fueling her anger. Then he took a serious tone. “Don’t you worry about my wife. I’m here now. I’ll take good care of her.” He sealed the statement with a wink.
What did he do that for? Tamara’s temper blazed with “You are pathetic, taking advantage of a woman who had the poor luck of ending up with you for a husband.”
Joel discounted her observation. He didn’t care what she thought. Zarah was his concern. Still, Tamara’s comment was piercing, causing him to reflect. So what if he had professional reasons for pursuing Zarah? Tonight was purely personal. He’d made mistakes previously, too many to count. The last month had been filled with confusion. With the baby in jeopardy, the decision seemed clear. He couldn’t and wouldn’t leave Zarah. She was the mother of his unborn child. She deserved his respect.
“Tamara, you don’t have to worry. I’m not mistreating her. You’ll be glad to know that her well-being is my primary concern right now.” He leaned against the door and let his glance meet Tamara’s. “I’m serious.”
“I hope you’re telling me the truth,” she said, showing signs of relief, or at least Joel saw the reaction in her that he wanted. “Before I leave, can you tell me if she’s sick?” Tamara asked with a glimmer of raw concern.
Joel hadn’t seen her express concern for anybody. It was a shock, and he didn’t quite know how to react.
Tamara went on. “Because I’ve called her several times today, and she hasn’t returned any of my calls. That’s unusual. She usually calls me back right away.”
Joel buttoned his shirt partially as the night air swept in. “She’s been tired, but I’ll definitely let her know you are concerned. Give her a day or two and I’m sure she’ll be in touch.” Hopefully, Tamara would take the suggestion he’d offered and walk away. He wasn’t going to share any details about Zarah’s health scare, and Joel most certainly wasn’t letting her in.
A veil of apprehension covered Tamara’s face, but she seemed to accept his explanation. “I’ll check on her tomorrow,” she said, turning to walk away. Sincerity enveloped her.
As her guard lowered, so did his. In a moment of compassion, kindness rose within him. “Do you need to use the phone to call a ride?”
She eased the long purse strap over her head and let it rest on her shoulder. “No thank you. The cab is parked at the foot of the driveway,” she said.
Joel peered down the driveway and saw the cab facing the road. “All right. Then we’ll see you later.”
Tamara turned her back and schlep
ped to the cab.
Joel called out, “Tamara.”
She stopped and turned around.
“Thanks for checking on Zarah.”
She smirked.
“Seriously, you’ve been a good friend for her. You’ve been here when she needed you. So I’m saying thank you for looking out for Zarah and my baby,” Joel said, truly meaning what he was saying.
She waved at him with a grin. He guessed her reaction meant she was receiving his gratitude. He waited at the door until she was safely in the car and it pulled away.
The cordial encounter he’d just experienced with Tamara was unexpected but refreshing. However, Joel wasn’t putting much stock in the truce. He eased the door shut and locked it. He cleared his thoughts and dashed up the stairs to check on his family.
Chapter 43
After ascending the stairs, Joel stood in the doorway of the master bedroom. Zarah appeared to be resting quietly. He wanted to go inside and make sure, but he didn’t want to take the chance of waking her while she was sleeping peacefully. He stood in the doorway for a few minutes. When she didn’t move, he heaved a sigh of relief and retreated to his room.
He glanced at the clock. Eight thirty wasn’t too late. He dialed his mother’s number, and she answered.
“I’m glad you’re there,” he told her. Comfort from his mother was exactly what Joel needed in order to get through this ordeal.
“Why? What’s going on?” she asked, unaware of the weighty response coming.
“I’m at the house with Zarah. She was in a lot of pain earlier.”
“Did you take her to the hospital?” Sherry blurted out.
“No. She wouldn’t let me call the ambulance.”
“What do you mean, she wouldn’t let you? Just dial the number. She can’t stop you.”
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