What kind of fool, p.8
What Kind of Fool, page 8
I turned off the television. Long-time girlfriend? Right. If she’d been his long-time girlfriend, she wouldn’t have been in bed with my husband, or would she? Maybe the woman was just a tramp. I shook my head. I didn’t like to label people, but I wanted so badly to categorize her, to villianize her more than I’d already done.
How had someone I’d known for such a short period of time disrupted my life so? My marriage, my community, and now my church were changing. I knew it wasn’t all her fault, but it just seemed like her presence was the catalyst for change. I sighed. I was not going to think about Samaria.
I whipped the comforter off my body and got up to start the day. Quickly I rushed into the bathroom, hit my knees, and hugged the toilet again. I’d start the day right after I threw up.
I spent a few hours in the office looking at bills. Rent, utilities, invoices for services my agency had been providing to families that I could no longer continue to support. Something Extra was not going to last long without donations. It had only been a few weeks since the IRS investigation started, but the halt on incoming funds had me in the red. I realized I was really running this place on a wing and a prayer. I had some cash, but I had to save it for the upcoming summer retreat I’d planned. I’d still have it, assuming the Atlanta Sparks were still on board. I sighed.
The alarm beeped on my BlackBerry. It was time for me to head over to Lenox to meet with Felesia. I grabbed my purse and went out to the reception area. Portia was reading a paperback novel, which she closed when I approached her desk.
“You’re going out?” she asked. “It’s a torrential downpour out there.”
I’d heard rain beating down on the roof. I could see through the miniblind slats that it was indeed pouring. “I have to. My best friend is going out of the country tomorrow, and I promised I’d have lunch and do some shopping with her. I’m going to be gone for the day, so why don’t you lock up and go home? Not like there’s much going on.”
Portia’s excitement bubbled out of her.
I raised my umbrella, exited the building, and made a run for my car.
Traffic was heavy. I decided to take the Peachtree Industrial Exit to Lenox Mall, but I was going to be late. I reached into my purse for my phone and pushed the speed dial button for Felesia’s number. A humongous semitruck passed me on the left and splashed a wave of water onto my windshield. I had zero visibility for a few seconds. When I could see, an SUV jumped in my lane. Its red brake lights came on. Panic filled me. No time to stop. I braked, hydroplaned, and slid into the back of the truck.
I opened my eyes to a bright light over my head. “You’re a lucky lady.”
My tongue felt like it was glued to the top of my mouth. I looked at the woman who had proclaimed my good fortune, and then my surroundings. This was a hospital.
I unlocked my lips. “What happened?”
“You were in an eight-car pileup.” The nurse put a blood pressure cuff on my arm and pushed a button to inflate the sleeve. “A tractor trailer and seven vehicles. You were number three in the group.”
“Did the truck hit me?”
“I don’t know the details.”
“I feel like the truck hit me.” I winced from the sharp pain that shot through my head.
“Well, you have a concussion and some bruising, but your baby seems to be just fine.”
Baby? Katrice! “Where’s my daughter?”
The nurse had been charting some information. “You had a child in the car?”
“You said my baby was okay, my three year old.” I was confused. I was on the way to meet with Felesia, wasn’t I? Katrice was at school.
“I didn’t know you were admitted with a child. I can check on her.” She walked out of the room.
I struggled to get my breath and to speak loud enough and fast enough to stop her, but my head was hurting. I needed my phone.
Another woman walked into the room and I recognized her as a physician. “Hello, Mrs. Preston. Dr. Isley, the on-call physician.” She stuck out her hand for me to shake, and I weakly did so. “We’re going to keep you overnight. You were unconscious for a little while after the accident, so we want to monitor your head injury.” She leaned closer to me and pulled a penlight out of her pocket. “May I?”
I nodded, and my head felt like it would split.
She shined the light in my eyes and did some other cursory pokes and pushes on my body.
“I need my cell phone. I have to make arrangements for my daughter. What time is it?” I asked.
“Three P.M., and I do believe your friend that was here earlier, a Ms. Sosa, said something about picking up your daughter. You’ll want to call her first.”
Relief washed over me. Felesia was my girl. I could always count on her.
“The nurse will bring you some Tylenol. The phone on the table works, but I’ll have someone get your personal belongings so you can place your call.” She smiled and walked out.
After a few minutes, the nurse who had been with me when I woke up returned. “Mrs. Preston, I checked the admission log. You were the only person in your vehicle.”
I tried to think clearly. I was going to the mall. “My daughter, I think she’s at pre-school.”
“You mentioned your baby being in the car.”
“Because you said my baby was okay and I was trying to remember if she was with me.”
The nurse looked confused. “Mrs. Preston, I wasn’t talking about a three year old. I was talking about your baby. You are aware that you’re pregnant, aren’t you?”
Chapter 11
Angelina
Pregnant. I closed my eyes for a second, opened them, and shook my head in disbelief. The shaking of the head was a bad idea. It felt like someone pushed a knife into my temple. I raised a hand to the bandage that was across the front and around the left side of my head. After the pain subsided, I reached for the cup of ice water that the nurse had poured for me. “Are you sure?” I asked. “That I’m pregnant, I mean.”
“Well, we’re about 100 percent sure. We did a pregnancy test when you came in. We had to know whether you were pregnant.”
I took in a breath and closed my eyes again. “I, I can’t believe it. After all this time.”
“Have you been trying?” the nurse asked.
“Sort of.” I heard my own voice trail off. Not lately, I was thinking.
The door to my room opened, and Felesia walked in. “Hey, Mami. You got those eyes open?”
I moved a little, then pushed the button to raise the bed. “Barely. How is Katrice?”
“She’s good. I gave the sitter pizza money, and she said she’d get her to preschool tomorrow and pick her up for you.”
“Wonderful. I am so in love with having a neighbor who’s good with kids and money hungry.”
“That you are.” Felesia approached the bed. “I feel horrible. You would have been in your office if I wasn’t a shop-a-holic.”
“Are you kidding? Girl, you know this is not your fault.”
Felesia sighed. “I still feel bad.” She scratched her head. “I was thinking about calling Greg.”
“Why?”
“You’re still his wife. Just seems like he should know.”
“Maybe,” I said. Then I dismissed the thought. “Look, forget Greg for a moment. I have something to tell you.”
“What?”
“You’re not going to believe this.”
Felesia put her hand on her hip. “Vamos! Spit it out already, chica.”
I paused, shocked that I was about to say these words. “I’m pregnant.”
“What?” Felesia’s mouth hung open.
“One of the nurses told me.”
“No way. How could you ... I mean, you’re pretty far along, aren’t you? You guys have been separated for a while—” Felesia smiled knowingly. “Well, maybe not as far along as the separation,” she laughed.
I blushed from embarrassment, and then smirked at her. She was smiling too brightly.
“Anyway, how could you not know you were pregnant? When’s the last time you saw Aunt Flo?”
I shrugged. “I can’t remember.”
“Girl, what the heck you mean you can’t remember? You ’round there throwing up, missing Flo, and it didn’t occur to you that you might be pregnant?”
I felt stupid, because it hadn’t. “I’ve been so busy with work and Katrice and lawyers I just didn’t think about it.” I shifted in the bed. My ankle stung. “Plus, I was taking that fertility pill. When you stop, your periods can be irregular for a few months.”
“Well, God answers prayers. I’m going to be an auntie, Tia Fee-Fee!”
I laughed. “Well, I’m glad you’re excited about your auntship. I’m going to be the single mother of two kids. Crazy, isn’t it?”
“Angelina, you don’t have to be a single mother.”
“There you go again. Please do not take the joy out of this moment by lobbying for Greg yet again.”
“I’m not lobbying for him, but you can’t possibly be thinking about going ahead with the divorce now that you know you’re pregnant.”
“Are you kidding? I’m divorcing him because he’s unfaithful. How is my being pregnant going to change that?”
“Angelina, I think you owe it to your baby to try to make your marriage work.”
“I’ve been trying to make my marriage work.” I was getting heated. “Look, this pregnancy doesn’t change things. I don’t believe in leaving somebody for one reason and going back for another. The reason I left is still there. He’s still not faithful.”
“He’ll go to counseling.”
“Fee, I’m not judging Greg, but counseling alone isn’t going to fix the problem. Greg is not spiritually where I want him to be. I don’t want to live the rest of my life with an unsaved husband. No matter how much counseling he receives, he’ll still be unsaved.”
“So, he’s got to be perfect.”
“I’m not looking for perfection, but I’m tired of living with someone who’s not on the same page as I am,” I said. “He’s lost his way, and he doesn’t seem to want to find it.”
Felesia crossed her arms in front of her chest. Her expression told me she was still not hearing my argument.
“Fee, if it was just about Danielle’s death I might be more sympathetic, but Greg was backslidden before she died. When we got married we were both committed to the Lord, but he has decided that’s no longer for him, so where does that leave me?”
Felesia sighed and dropped her arms. “I don’t have all the answers. I just know being by yourself with two children isn’t going to be easy.” Felesia reach for my hand and squeezed it. “Call the lawyer. Have her put things on hold and give yourself some time to think about it.”
“I’ll think about it,” I said, but I wasn’t convinced I would. A luminous smile came over my best friend’s face, and I honestly felt betrayed by her satisfaction. “My goodness, you’re on Greg’s side. You’re as bad as my mother.”
“I’m on the side of your marriage like any good friend is going to be.” Felesia squeezed my hand again and let it go. “So the baby was okay with being bumped around.”
I lowered my hand to my belly and rubbed. “Yes, the little precious is fine.”
“How’s your head?”
“Hurting. But I don’t think I can take anything other than Tylenol.”
“For good reason.” Felesia cooed. “Look, I have to go back to the office for a few, and then I have to pack, but I’ll be here in the morning. If they release you, I should be able to zip you home and head for the airport.”
“I appreciate you, girl,” I smiled.
“I hate to leave you all banged up,” Felesia replied. I could see the wheels turning behind her eyes. She reached into her purse for her phone. “I can put it off for a day or two—”
I reached for her phone and stopped her from dialing. “I’ll be fine, and I’m not that banged up.” Felesia squinted like she wasn’t sure she should go, so I continued. “I’m blessed. Eight-car pileup. I could be dead.”
“Don’t even say it.” Felesia shook her head. “If you’re sure?”
I gave her the best smile I could manage without moving the muscles in my face that would cause my head to ache. “I’ll be fine.”
She leaned over the bed rail and kissed me on the head. “Call me if you need me. Otherwise, I’ll see you in the morning.”
After she left, I reached for my cell phone and called my house. Chelsea answered and assured me that she and Katrice were fine. I spoke to Katrice, apologized for not being home with her, and told her I’d see her tomorrow. After I hung up, I pushed the button on the remote to darken the room. I needed to rest my pounding head. I wasn’t sure if it was hurting because of the injury, the news I’d received about the baby, or the memory of the last time I was intimate with my husband.
Greg had let himself in with his key, came up the stairs, and climbed into bed with me. When he first touched me I nearly leapt out of my skin. I’d been sleeping hard.
“What are you doing here?” I’d asked. He didn’t answer with words. He put his lips on mine, on my face, neck, chest, arms. I remember my mind was saying “No, stop. Get out of here.” But my body was saying the opposite and Greg knew it, so no matter how hard I tried to put up a fight, in the end, he’d won. We’d made love. The next day I told him I was getting the locks changed, and I did. I was determined not to let my physical needs get me into emotional trouble with Greg. I wasn’t stupid. That was a dangerous place to be when you loved someone.
So, now I was pregnant, almost twelve weeks if memory served me correctly. I’d almost gone through the first trimester. Who does that? At least I knew why I was exhausted and nauseated.
There was a light knock on the door, and then Greg stuck his head into my room. I’d been expecting him. He’d called a few hours ago. He held a small gift bag and a bunch of balloons. He put both down on my bedside table, examined my bandage, and took a quick peek at the medications hooked up to my IV. “They taking good care of you?” he asked.
“I have no complaints,” I replied.
Greg took one of my hands in his and massaged it. “Honey, you scared me to death.” He looked at me longingly, and all I could think was he was hoping this accident would serve as an opening for him to get back in my life. I pressed my lips together and pulled my hand free of his. Sadness filled his eyes for a moment, but he recovered. “The story about the pileup is on the news,” he said.
“So, I’m news again.” I raised the bed. “Is that how you found out?”
He shook his head. “No. The reporters didn’t say names. Just talked about how it backed up traffic.”
“Did Felesia call you?” I was suspicious of my girl.
Greg shook his head again. “No, but she should have. I’ll have to have a talk with her.” He wagged a finger like he would surely straighten her out. His tone had been light, but then it became somber. “I’m on your next of kin record for this hospital. Remember, you’ve been here before.”
This was the hospital where I’d delivered Danielle. Sadness came with that thought, and I could tell Greg felt it too. I assessed him. He was thinner, which made him look even taller than his six foot two inches of height. He’d gotten a tan in New Orleans, and it gave his skin a bronzy tone. He also had a five o’clock shadow, which I’d always found attractive on him.
A beat of silence passed, and I decided to occupy my thoughts with something besides Greg’s good looks, so I asked, “How was your trip?”
“Interesting.”
“An interesting funeral?”
“No, some other things. I’ll talk to you about it all when you’re better. I’m still processing it.”
I nodded, but I was also very curious. “How’s your dad?”
“Drinking, hating his doctor—” Greg waved his hand, as if to dismiss the entire conversation. “On from that ... I checked on your car. The guy at the auto shop where they towed it said it’s in bad shape.”
“Really? Are they going to total it?”
“Not likely, it’s cheaper to fix, because it’s still worth a considerable amount.” He reached for the bag he’d placed on the table. “I think this should help.” He handed it to me, and I pulled out a key ring.
“What’s this?”
“I took the liberty of getting you a new car. It’s at your house.” He smiled. “But it’s not in stone. It’s a loaner. You can go to the dealer and get anything on the lot when you’re better.”
“Greg, you didn’t have to—”
He threw his hands up and came closer to me. He leaned in so that his face was inches away from mine. “You were due a new car, and this one is much better on gas.” He took my hand. “I always want to take care of you. Don’t you know that?”
I pulled my hand from his and subconsciously moved it to my belly. He would really want to take care of me if he knew I was pregnant, but I didn’t dare mention it. I’d never get rid of him. I’d never have time to think.
“My heart froze when the hospital called me. I swear I couldn’t breathe until they told me you were okay.” He shook his head. “But, I didn’t come here to make you feel bad about not calling me. I just wanted to check on you.”
There was a knock on the door, and the nurse entered. “I need to get your vitals.”
I sat up a little in my bed. Thought about how this nurse might make some more assumptions and blurt out something about my pregnancy. “Greg, do you mind stepping out?” I asked.
He looked confused. “Step out because ...”
I cleared my throat. “I’d like some privacy.”
“Privacy for your vitals?” He said the word like it gutted him. “There’s not something I don’t know about this accident, is there?”
“No.” I was firm. “I would just like some privacy.”
An uncomfortable beat passed between us before he said, “Why don’t I just leave? I have an early procedure in the morning anyway.”
I avoided his eyes. “That’s fine. I’m tired.”
“I should be done by ten. If they release you, I can take you home.”
