“I am the senior physician and director of the clinic.” Dr. Ng informed Vanessa as she sat primly with her hands folded on top of a folder.
Vanessa sat down. Her face was livid with anger after Dr. Ng finished talking and handed her a business card. Tears of rage filled her eyes. How dare the hospital not let her see Moniqa. First Jeremiah and now this. Vanessa shook with anger.
Dr. Ng fed her a lot of nonsense about Moniqa’s condition. She’d had the nerve to imply that she was the root of Moniqa’s illness. The damn doctor wouldn’t even tell her Moniqa’s room number. Vanessa had never been so humiliated in all her life. She imagined that wherever Nate was right now, that he was having a good laugh at her expense.
She opened her purse and dropped the card into it. Moniqa you’re on your own for now. Mommy is here even if they won’t let me see you. I’ll make sure to look out for your interests. That includes Jeremiah and Jay. Vanessa departed and walked outside to her car. The nurses stared at her rigid back as she walked outdoors. Vanessa vowed before the day ended someone was going to allow her to see her daughter and stop the divorce.
* * *
Michaela lay on a hospital bed down the hall from Jeremiah’s. She was resting after completing the tests. Dr. Herman was in the lab expediting results. Melissa walked into the room. She looked fatigued as she sat. “How are you doing? I hope the tests weren’t too painful,” she inquired.
“It wasn’t too bad,” Michaela lied, feeling uncomfortable. She’d never liked getting poked with needles but knew she had to endure whatever the doctors threw her way. Jeremiah’s life was at stake. “How is Dr. J?” She asked as she pushed a braid off her forehead.
“He’s resting. I want to thank you for coming, Michaela. I know this situation has been difficult for you.” Melissa patted Michaela’s hand.
“I just hope I’m not too late…” Her voice choked.
“Me too,” Melissa admitted with a tremble in her voice. “He’s a good man.”
Dr. Herman promised to have the test results by early afternoon so Melissa and Michaela returned to Jeremiah’s room after Michaela proclaimed she’d rested long enough.
At five o’clock pm, Dr. Herman returned to the room elated. “She’s a match,” he announced. “We need to setup the transplant as soon as you’re ready young lady.”
“I’m ready.” Michaela grinned and hugged Jeremiah.
“Thank God,” Melissa and Bobo proclaimed at the same time.
“That’s great,” Jay said exhaling a sigh of relief.
“Let shoot for tomorrow morning,” Dr. Herman suggested. “Young lady, we’ll check you in and schedule the procedure for 9:00 am tomorrow morning.”
“Let’s do it,” Michaela said, putting her arm around Jeremiah’s neck.
Melissa leaned wearily into Bobo’s chest. He smiled down at her. Jeremiah mouthed “thank you” to Melissa.
She winked at him and mouthed, ”I love you”. “I’m going back to the hotel to pick up clothing for Michaela and myself then come back. I’m staying the night.” She looked at Jay who looked uncomfortable. “Why don’t you come with Bobo and me? We’d enjoy your company?”
“Sure,” Jay mumbled. “I don’t have anyplace else to be.”
Melissa kissed Jeremiah’s forehead tenderly. “We’ll be back in a couple of hours. Take care of your father, Michaela.”
* * *
Jay lay asleep in the backseat of the car as Bobo sat in rush hour traffic. Millions of cars seemed to inhabit the expressway. “I should have taken the side streets,” he apologized.
Melissa looked back at Jay. He snored softly. “Michaela being a match is a miracle. A long overdue one.”
Bobo pressed his left turn signal and slid smoothly into the lane. “It’s not a miracle, cuz, it’s fate. Something had to happen to bring you all together.”
“It’s too bad that the reason is because of Jeremiah being ill,” Melissa remarked. She sat upright in her seat and turned toward Bobo. “I hope we’re not too late. Jeremiah seems to be growing weaker.”
“Stop worrying,” Bobo chided her. “Michaela’s and your presence is the best medicine in the world for him. Mel, you’ve got to have faith. Jeremiah will be fine.”
Melissa’s cell phone rang. When she saw the hospital’s number on the caller id unit, her heart skipped a beat. She shook her head and clicked the phone on. Her expression became concerned as the nurse informed her Jeremiah had taken a turn for the worse. Dr. Herman was doing the bone marrow transplant immediately. She should return to the hospital.
Bobo got off the expressway at the next exit. Fear was written in capital letters on everyone’s face. Melissa felt like someone was playing racquetball in her stomach. Bobo grimly steered the car quickly through traffic. Jay commented he felt like bawling like a baby.
By the time they arrived back at the hospital. Jay and Michaela were already in surgery. Ophelia and Jeremiah Sr. sat tensely in the waiting room. Ophelia took Jay’s hand and led him to the couch to sit between her and her husband.
Jeremiah’s sisters greeted Melissa solemnly. Jeremiah Sr. led the family in prayer. The wait seemed endless. Everyone looked hopefully at the doorway as doctors walked in and out of the waiting area.
Bobo rubbed Melissa’s back encouragingly from time to time. She’d shut down and wasn’t saying anything. Ophelia commented on trivial matters to break the monotony. The sisters returned with coffee for everyone.
Melissa excused herself after informing Bobo she was going to the ladies room. She asked the nurse for directions to the chapel. The room was empty, dim and comforting. A statue of Christ with outstretched arms was positioned behind the candlelit altar. Church hymns played. The wooden pews gleamed.
She knelt and clasped her hands in front of her chest. Lord, I haven’t asked you for much over these past years. I just hoped to get through the day and survive the night. Now I have so much to be grateful for. If this is Jeremiah’s last day, I will be able to share it with him along with our daughter. Lord, please leave him here on earth just a little longer. Melissa clasped her hand tighter. If only I hadn’t been a coward all those years ago, maybe we would be together. I should have told him I was pregnant. All the years he’s missed with his daughter. A tear trickled on her hand. He’s the only man I have every loved and I pray that you heal his body and restore his life.
She got up and turned to leave the room. Bobo walked up to her. “Dr. Herman is done. He’s waiting on you before he tells us how the surgery went.” They literally ran to the elevator.
“Is he all right…?” Melissa asked imploringly as she stopped in her tracks before Dr. Herman. Her brow was creased in concentration. Everyone stared expectantly at Dr. Herman with bated breath. The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
He looked at Jeremiah’s parents and then his gaze sought Melissa. “Jeremiah is doing as well as can be expected. The bone marrow transplant is done. It was touch and go for a while. I’ve done everything humanly possible to extend his life. The next few days are critical. If he pulls through this crisis, Jeremiah’s chances for life will be greatly improved.”
Jeremiah Sr. rose from his chair and pumped Dr. Herman’s hand. “Thank you. My boy is gonna be fine. I know it.” He touched his heart.
Everyone jumped from their seats and hugged joyously. Melissa faced Dr. Herman in a state of shock. Her knees felt weak. She swayed from side to side. The emotional strain of the past weeks had sapped her waning strength. She teetered forward. Dr. Herman grabbed her arms, and led her to the couch.
Tears of happiness trickled down her face. Peace, like a river, flooded her soul. Bobo hugged her as he lifted her from the chair. “Can I see him?” Melissa asked hopefully. She glanced at Jeremiah Sr. and Ophelia. “After his parents see him of course.”
“No, you go ahead,” Ophelia suggested. “He’d love to see your face when he awakens. We’ll be here. Jay will go with us to check on Michaela.” She shooed Melissa from the room with one
hand and grabbed Jay’s hand with the other.
“Michaela is in the recovery room down the hall.” Dr. Herman pointed. “Melissa, you follow me.”
Melissa walked serenely next to Dr. Herman. She wanted to run to Jeremiah and see for herself that he was really alive.
Finally, they turned a corner and walked into the room. She was shocked to see Jeremiah on a respirator and turned to Dr. Herman questioningly.
“That’s just a precaution,” he said hastily. “Jeremiah had trouble breathing after the operation. He’s doing as well as can be expected given the circumstances. I’ll leave you two alone. Keep in mind this is the intensive care unit and you’ll need to limit your visits to ten minutes.” Dr. Herman patted her arm and walked out the room.
Melissa stood next to the bed and drank in the sight of her love. Jeremiah opened his eyes, and when he saw Melissa standing next to the bed, he winked at her then closed them again. She caressed his cheek and whispered softly into his ear, “I love you.” Melissa dropped to her knees, clasped her hands together and said a prayer of thanks. When her ten minutes were up, she leaned over, kissed Jeremiah’s cheek and left to check on Michaela.
Chapter Thirty-Five
A month later, Michaela was busy in her hotel bedroom packing to return to California. Clothing and personal items were strewn everywhere. She still had a way to go before finishing the task.
The relatives made her promise she’d return to Georgia soon. Michaela felt her mission in Georgia had been accomplished and could hardly wait to see her Cali family. She missed them keenly. She spent the past weekend with Jeremiah’s parents and had a grand time getting to know her Jeffries kin.
Jeremiah and Melissa rented a house in Marietta, Georgia after he was released from the hospital. Melissa took a leave of absence from her job to care for him. They both knew she wasn’t going to return to Chicago.
Jay moved in with them temporarily until he decided what to do with his life. When Vanessa heard of his defection, she promptly cut off his allowance. Edward came to his great grandson’s rescue and opened a checking account. He promised to replace the funds Vanessa withheld. Jay was too ashamed to tell Jeremiah about his grandmother’s actions and didn’t want to upset his father unnecessarily since Jeremiah was still recuperating.
Michaela opened the dresser drawers and closet door one last time to make sure she hadn’t left anything behind. It seemed she’d lived in this room forever. Jeremiah and Melissa had tried coaxing her into staying at the new house with them. She’d declined after surmising correctly that Jay needed the time with them more than she did. She sensed a deep well of loneliness filled her brother’s soul.
There was a knock at the door. Michaela peeped out the hole. Bobo’s made comical faces at her. He and Connie walked into the sitting room where Bobo made a beeline for the television set and turned the channel to ESPN.
Connie walked into the bedroom with Michaela and winced as she looked around the room. “You still have a bit to do? Why don’t I help you? Then we can stop and see Melissa and Jeremiah before you leave.”
Michaela grabbed her windbreaker off the chair, yelling for Bobo to get her suitcases. During Michaela’s stay, Melissa had taken her shopping and bought another set of luggage to put her new belongings in. She looked around the room wistfully as she inserted a pair of silver earrings into her ears.
Bobo regretfully turned off the television then walked into the bedroom and lifted the suitcases. “Are you ready?”
“Sure,” Michaela answered. “You know I didn’t believe I would ever miss this place when I came here. And now I’m going to miss everyone. Especially you two.” Her eyes flooded with tears. “Thanks for everything.” Bobo dropped the bags. The three hugged.
Bobo smiled. “It’s getting a little bit too emotional in here. Let’s go. I know two people, no make that three, who want to see you before you return to California.”
Thirty minutes later, Bobo pushed open the gate to the backyard of the Jeremiah and Melissa’s home. The man of the house, wearing red and white striped pajamas, sat on a lounging chair. Jeremiah knocked over a cup of orange juice in his eagerness to greet Michaela. He embraced his daughter in a bear hug. “Thank God you came. Words can’t adequately express my joy. Make an old man happy and say you’ll come back?”
“Of course I will. You bet,” Michaela vowed as her lips curved upward into a smile. “Where’s Melissa?”
“Puttering around in the kitchen. She’ll be out in a minute.”
As if on cue, Melissa walked out the glass patio door. She looked wistfully at Michaela. “I guess it’s that time, huh?”
Michaela nodded her head. “It is. But I promise to come back.”
“I hope so,” Melissa said, leaning against the table with her arms folded across her chest. “Make sure you say goodbye to Jay before you leave.”
“I’ll do that now.” Michaela rose from her seat and entered the house.
“We’re going to miss her,” Bobo observed. He and Jeremiah talked football, discussing the Atlanta Falcons prospects for the upcoming NFL season.
Michaela returned with Jay. Then, all too soon, it was time for her to leave. There wasn’t a dry eye as everyone exchanged goodbyes. Michaela hugged Melissa briefly. “Take care of Dr. J,” she whispered into her mother’s ear.
Melissa replied in a shaky voice, “I will.”
Michaela smiled contently after she’d boarded the plane and sat in the window seat. The past months had become one of the most interesting ones of her life. She knew what Grandma Brenda would say when she greeted her, ”Girl, you done good.” Michaela adjusted her seat and leaned back. She put on her sunglasses and the earphones to her mp3 player in her ears. After takeoff, she closed her eyes and fell asleep.
* * *
Vanessa sat impatiently in Dr. Ng’s office a couple of days after Moniqa’s thirty-day confinement ended. She opened her purse and removed a tissue, reaching down to wipe a smudge of dirt from her left shoe. Her gaze wandered to the frames hanging on the beige wall. She noted Dr. Ng’s degree was awarded by Loyola Medical School located in Chicago. Vanessa nodded thoughtfully as she eyed the parchment. The doctor credentials weren’t shabby at all.
She could hardly wait to see her child. They hadn’t been apart this long since Moniqa attended college and married Jeremiah. Vanessa called Jay and left a message on his cell phone inviting him to join her this morning. Not surprising, Jay didn’t return her call.
Dr. Ng walked into the room, greeting Vanessa. Dr. Ng sat and rolled her chair closer to her desk. She flipped open Moniqa’s file and made notations. Vanessa testily asked if she could see her daughter NOW.
They walked through what seemed to be an endless maze of winding hallways. Finally, Dr. Ng stopped at room 112. She knocked on the door and opened it.
Moniqa’s back faced the woman. She sat unmoving in a dark- brown wooden rocking chair, staring out the window. She didn’t bother to turn and see who entered the room. Vanessa’s eyes threatened to burst into tears. Moniqa’s hair looked uneven. The ends of her hair were split and her hunched shoulders were so thin.
Vanessa walked behind the chair and covered Moniqa’s eyes. “Guess who?” she asked her daughter in a gentle voice.
Moniqa’s cold hands flew upward. She grabbed Vanessa’s hands and removed them from her face. Moniqa looked up at her with a serious expression on her face. “Mommy.”
Dr. Ng walked to the door. “I’ll be back in an hour or so to see how things are going.”
Vanessa took Moniqa by the hand and led her to the white and pink chenille covered bed.
Vanessa stared at the caricature of her daughter and wanted to sob. Moniqa’s fingernails were broken and chipped. Her head looked as though a bird had taken residence in it. Strands of silver were weaved in and out the bird’s nest. Much to Vanessa’s dismay, Moniqa was wearing a hospital gown when she’d brought plenty of Moniqa’s nightwear to the hospital. She made a mental note to ask Dr. Ng
where the clothing was.
The most telling sign of her daughter’s illness was the lack of animation in her eyes.
Vanessa’s voice broke when she asked Moniqa how she was feeling.
“Fine,” Moniqa mumbled as she chewed on her thumbnail.
“Has the doctor said anything about you going home…?” Vanessa voice faltered as her hand flew to her throat.
Moni stared at her mother curiously for a moment then replied, “Not for a long, long time I think.” She held her hands in front of her and stared at them. “My hands are ugly aren’t they?” she said in a singsong voice. Then hid them behind her back
Vanessa choked up and brushed a few strands of untidy hair away from her daughter’s face. Moniqa recoiled from her touch as if she’d faced a cobra.
“Do you like Dr. Ng? What do you talk about?” Vanessa couldn’t stop the trembling that crept into her voice.
“We talk about lots of things,” Moniqa answered looking out the window. “You, Daddy and Jeremiah.” She sighed deeply when she spoke Jeremiah’s name. “Do you think Jeremiah and Jay will come to see me?” Moni raised her eyes hopefully at Vanessa.
“I don’t know, baby… You know that Jeremiah is ill. That’s why he hasn’t been here to see you.”
The visit wasn’t going as Vanessa had anticipated. The room felt cold and sterile. The only furnishings were a full-sized bed and a dark wooden dresser that sat in one corner of the room. A white doily covered the top of the dresser. The magazines and books Vanessa had sent to Moniqa were nowhere in sight.
Family pictures were absent from the room. The person Vanessa loved most in the world seemed to have disappeared. She rubbed her goose pimpled arms.
Moniqa walked to the window and stared outside with unseeing eyes. She turned slowly toward Vanessa. One side of her gown hung limply off her shoulder. The cloth footwear was soiled.
“Attorney Jamison is coming here tomorrow. He’s bringing documents for me to sign. I’m going to grant Jeremiah a divorce.” Moniqa face was blank as if she were reading a story.
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