When Everything's Said & Done (19 page)

“Son,” Nebia said as she placed her hand on his back, “it’s Cora’s decision. She’s asked me to help her have the baby here, and that’s what I’m going to do. If she changes her mind. I’m with her as well.”

“Maybe you should go and have a beer, or a drink.” Cora tried to console him. “Just get out of the house for a while. You’ve been running up and down those stairs since I went into labor. You’re going to wear yourself out.” She smiled as sweat beaded her brow. “I’m the one in labor, but you’re working just as hard as I am.”

“Is everything all right up there?” Laura called from downstairs.

“It’s fine, Mama. Warren’s coming back down there with you. Tell him to get out of here.”

“Okay.” Warren squeezed his forehead. “All right.” He leaned forward to kiss Cora’s cheek, but her face mashed into a deep grimace.

“This is another one. And it’s stronger than any of the rest.” Cora’s grip on Warren’s wrist was intense. “Maybe you shouldn’t go. Maybe you should wait downstairs just a little longer.” She took hold of the bed.

Nebia shoved him, gently. “Go. Go downstairs. Go.” Warren stared at Cora as he went to the bedroom door. Reluctantly, he closed it behind him.

“You say this is harder than the rest?” “Uhh...uhh...” Cora’s body heaved. “Yes.”

“I got to check you again.” Nebia grabbed a nearby towel and dabbed at Cora’s face. “Ease back on the bed and let me see.”

Weak, Cora scooted back and put her feet on the edge of the mattress. Nebia lifted the wide nightgown. “You’re right, Cora. You’re right. It’s just about time, and I don’t think it will be much longer,” Nebia said. “It’s time to get ready.”

Nebia helped Cora stand. “Come on over here and take hold of the bedroom doorknob and the closet knob as I showed you.”

On the other side of the contraction, Cora did as she was told but her head weaved from side to side from the depth of it.

“Now, when another pain hits you, squeeze those knobs,” Nebia said. “Squeeze as hard as you need to. And whatever you do, push when I say so.”

They looked at each other as Cora held on to the knobs with her knees flexed.

“The next time the contraction comes,” Nebia repeated, “I want you to squeeze the knobs and I want you to squat and push with all—” Nebia gritted her teeth “—^you got.”

Cora nodded. She took several deep breaths, but when she looked into Nebia’s eyes, Cora’s eyes held fear.

“This is not the moment, child, to be afraid. This is the moment to gather all your strength and do what must be done.”

Cora nodded again. “You’re right. You’re right.” She panted. “And I’ve seen it done before. I’ve seen a woman in Zambia crouch down, there was a mound of soft hay beneath her, and while she held on to this stick that two of the women were holding, she bore down and pushed the baby out. I saw her do it, and if she could do it...if...she could...do it—” Cora gasped as another contraction mounted “—so—so can I. Uh!” She squat
ted fully and a sound emerged from deep within her body, a massive noise that in and of itself seemed to emit pressure.

“Push!” Nebia ordered. Cora grunted and pushed.

Nimble and quick, Nebia got on her knees. She extended her arms, that were wrapped in a white towel, beneath Cora’s body. Nebia waited for the baby to emerge. It was only a matter of moments before the child made her debut, quickly and smoothly, as if she could not wait any longer.

There was no need to shake her. There was no need to make her cry. She cried out loud and clear as she went into Nebia’s waiting arms.

“Oh, my God!” Cora looked down. “Oh, God!” Cora exclaimed as she looked down at her freshly born child. “It’s a girl, Nebia.”

“Yes. It’s a girl.” Nebia smiled. “And the Robinsons’ way continues.” Quickly she cut the cord and tied it off. Then Nebia wrapped the baby inside the soft, downy towel.

“Look! Look-a-here.” Cora reached for the baby, but her face contorted again. “It’s another contraction.” She grabbed the doorknobs again.

“It’s the sack,” Nebia declared, and no sooner than she said the words, the afterbirth emerged and Warren was at the door.

“Can I come in? Can I come in now?”

“One second,” Nebia replied.

With effort, Cora wrapped the wide nightgown through and around her legs, turning them into pants before she made her way to the bed. Then Nebia placed the newborn child in Cora’s arms.

She looked down and smiled. “Come in, Warren. Come in and see our beautiful baby.”

The door swung open as Cora continued to gaze into the baby’s face. Gently, she wiped it clean with a small cloth Nebia gave her. “It’s a girl, Warren.” She looked up. “We’ve got a baby girl.”

“I can’t believe it,” Warren said, kneeling beside the bed. “She’s so beautiful.”

“She is, isn’t she?” Cora replied.

“And so are you.” Warren moved Cora’s sweat- soaked locks out of her face.

“We’re a family now,” Cora said. “You. Me. And this little one.”

Warren kissed the baby’s forehead.

“Is everything all right up there?” Laura called. “Yes, Mama. You’ve got a grandbaby. A little girl.” Cora attempted to shout but her voice was weak. She handed the child to Warren. “Take her downstairs so Mama can see her.”

Hesitantly, Warren reached out and Cora placed the
little bundle in his arms.

“But hurry and bring her back.”

“I’ve got to call my mother at work and let her know she’s got a grandchild.” Warren walked, slowly, carefully toward the bedroom door.

“Nebia.” Cora reached out. “Come here.”

Nebia crossed the floor and Cora took hold of her hand. She lifted it to her face. Tears wet the brown skin. “Nebia, you have always been here for me. And now you were here for me and my baby. I’ll always be grateful to you, Nebia. All of my life, I will always be grateful.”

“Hush, child. There is no need for all this. You’re just emotional because you just gave birth.”

“I did, didn’t I? I just had a little girl.” Cora cried and smiled. “I’m a mother, Nebia.”

“Yes, you are.” She tried to look stern but her eyes twinkled. “And God help the poor little thing having a mother like you.”

Nebia’s Story...

“Why wasn’t Miss Laura in the room?” Sheila asked. “By then Laura’s condition had gotten worse,” Nebia said. “Climbing the stairs just became too much for her. We actually had to turn the sun porch behind the kitchen into a bedroom.”

“And mercy!” Cynthia grabbed her throat. “Cora actually had the baby holding on to two doorknobs?” “Yes, she did. Ye-es, she did,” Nebia replied.

“I don’t think I could do that.” Erica frowned.

“I don’t think you could, either,” Cynthia said. “You’re scared to have a baby with an epidural and any other kind of ’dural that might help with the pain. So

I know you wouldn’t have one without any kind of anesthesia, holding on to two doorknobs.”

“Like you would,” Erica retorted.

Cynthia looked down. “You got a point there.” “Well, Cora did. And her baby was healthy and she was healthy,” Nebia said. “And boy, was Warren one happy father. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a man that happy. And
Laura—” Nebia shook her head “—when I went downstairs to get some special tea I’d been brewing for Cora.. .Laura was holding that baby and crying. ”

“I hear there’s nothing like the first grandchild,” Sheila said.

“If you judge the truth of that by Laura, I’d say you are absolutely right.”

CHAPTER 26

“Brenda,” Michael called. “Have you seen my navy blue pants with the cuffs?”

“Yes.” She walked to the entrance of Michael’s walk-in closet.

“Where are they?” Michael shuffled through several pants and jackets.

“They’re at the cleaners.”

“The cleaners?” He looked at her.

“I put them in the cleaners with the last batch of clothes.”

“Ohh.” He shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. I’ll just wear these.” He peeled a pair of brown slacks off of a hanger. “I did what I could to temporarily fix the situation with the water heater, but I think we’ll need to get a professional in on Monday since it’s too late now and tomorrow’s Sunday.” He slid one leg into his pants. Drops of water from his wet hair darkened the tan material in tiny splotches.

“Where are you going?”

“I’ve got a potential client that I’m going to talk to tonight. He’s a white guy that owns a small business.

He’s got about fifty employees and should I be able to bring him aboard with an insurance package, it’ll open up the white market for me. At least that’s my strategy. How about you? What are you planning tonight?” Michael continued to dress.

Brenda crossed her arms. “I thought that we had decided that we’d have a nice quiet dinner together tonight.” She walked over in her most sultry fashion and put her arms around his neck.

Michael stopped zipping his pants, but held onto the waistline. “That sounds nice, but not tonight.”

“Not tonight,” she repeated softly, and kept her arms around his neck.

They looked into each other’s eyes.

“Not tonight,” Brenda repeated. “That’s supposed to be my line, Michael, not yours.” Her arms dropped to her sides. “I don’t like this. I don’t like this at all.” She shook her head. “Can you really call this a marriage?” Michael closed his eyes. “Yes, I do because Fm giving all I’ve got to give here.” He opened them. “Could it be better? Yes. But it is a marriage, Brenda. We’ve got a beautiful home together. We’re respected in the community. Our futures are bright. We—”

“What about the love, Michael? What about love?” Brenda stopped him.

He looked down and buttoned the single button at the top of his slacks. Then he said with resignation, “I love you, Brenda.”

“Then show it.” Her voice rose. “Show it, Michael. Don’t rush off every chance you get to go do some work. That’s all you do. Work. Work. Work. Even though Dr. Martin has warned you to slow down.” Michael looked at her.

“Yes, I know all about it.” She stepped back. “Although you didn’t tell me. I ran into him at the grocery store and we started talking. The next thing I know he’s asking me have you slowed down any. And he’s telling me how he told you you really need to. Then he’s talking about your heart and I’m thinking, I didn’t know anything about any of this. I know nothing about my own husband.” Brenda flung her arms toward the ceiling. “I don’t even know that he’s having health problems because he didn’t tell me. He doesn’t share anything with me, except for his big house and our wonderful cars and how great we look to the public.” Michael turned his back and pulled a light green shirt off of another hanger. “I didn’t want to concern you, Brenda. I didn’t want you to worry.”

“Well I am concerned,” Brenda replied. “I’m con
cerned about that. I’m concerned about our marriage. I’m concerned that I may never have a baby. Never.” Michael began to put on the shirt. “And that is what this is really all about, isn’t it?” He looked at her. “And it’s not just about your not having a baby.” His volume dropped. “It’s about Cora having one.”

“Don’t you throw Cora’s baby up to me, Michael.
Don’t you do it.” She pointed. “I wanted a baby before Cora and Warren got married. I wanted a baby, but I lost my baby. So don’t you show me that in that department, too, I don’t measure up to Cora.” Brenda trembled.

“It’s not me that’s doing the comparing, Brenda.” Michael’s eyes were sad. “It’s you.”

“You say you’re not comparing...” She shook her head. “How can I not compare us, Michael? When, ever since Cora married Warren, you have made love to me less and less. And you work like some crazy man. Every day. Day in and day out. Weekends. Nights. It doesn’t matter to you.”

“I’m sorry you don’t like the way I’ve chosen to make a living for us. When everything I do is for us.” “No it’s not,” she said quietly. Tears filled her eyes. “You’re doing it so you can forget how you feel about my sister. Well, you can work yourself to death, Michael Dawson, and I don’t think you’ll ever be able to forget her.” Brenda sobbed. “And no matter what I do, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to make you forget her. It’s my punishment—” she choked up “—^for lov
ing you after all you’ve been to my family. To both my sisters. It’s my punishment.”

“Brenda... Don’t. Don’t.” He pulled her into his arms. “Don’t do this.” Michael kissed her forehead, then tried to wipe her tears away. “Don’t cry. Why should God punish you? You’ve tried to do nothing but good.” He gently kissed her. “Look. I’ll stay home
tonight. I’ll give my client a call and tell him something very important has come up.”

Brenda continued to sniffle but her eyes brightened. “We’ll have that quiet evening you want,” Michael continued. “That I want. I want peace of mind just like you.” His eyes turned desperate. “And I’m going to do everything I can to help us have that life that we de
serve.”

“I love you.” Brenda put her arms around Michael and he kissed her in a way that he hadn’t in a long, long time.

Nebia’s Story...

“I’ve got to give it to them,” Erica said, “they keep trying. They keep working on that marriage. Whatever little marriage they had.”