11
What’s Going On?
I
t had been more than two hours since Derrick had been wheeled beyond the
DO NOT ENTER
sign and Vivian’s life had begun to hang in limbo. After her initial panic and near breakdown with Tai, she’d managed to pull herself together and now sat sipping a cup of chamomile tea, trying to remain calm. King had joined her and Tai in the office and Princess split her time between there and the waiting room. Many of the people who’d joined them initially had left, but King’s assistant, Joseph, co-pastor Solomon Cole, the associate ministers, Reverend Doctor O, Cy and Hope Taylor, and a few from Mount Zion’s prayer circle still remained.
One of the deacons walked over to where Obadiah sat, reading his Bible. “What do you say, Doc?” he asked, as he sat down beside him.
“God is able,” Obadiah replied.
“Sure is taking them a long time to find anything.”
“No news is good news, I reckon.”
The deacon nodded. “I reckon so.”
At this moment, “news” walked into the office where Vivian, King, and Tai were seated. “Hello,” the short, deeply tanned man with kind eyes said as he entered. “I’m Dr. Bhatti.”
Vivian was up on her feet in an instant, meeting the doctor at the door. “How is he, Doctor?”
Dr. Bhatti closed the door behind him and stepped farther into the room. “His vital signs have stabilized. This is encouraging.”
“Where is he? I need to see my husband!”
King walked up and put a comforting arm around Vivian. “We’re very anxious, Dr. Bhatti, as you can imagine.”
The Indian doctor’s brown eyes were full of compassion as he nodded. “I totally understand.”
Vivian took a deep breath and tried to calm down . . . again. “Do you know what happened?”
The doctor took off his wire-rimmed glasses and slowly cleaned them with the hem of his white jacket. “That is what we’re hoping the tests will prove. But we’re only able to perform a limited amount at this time.”
“Why’s that?” Tai asked.
“Because Mr. Montgomery has not yet regained consciousness.”
Vivian’s heart sank and her eyes fluttered closed as she leaned against King for support.
“This is not in and of itself a bad sign,” the doctor continued, his voice professional and devoid of emotion. “Often the body shuts itself down as a defense mechanism, thus preventing further damage from occurring. Once your husband has regained consciousness, we can perform another series of tests. At that time we’ll determine whether he should remain here or whether you’d prefer he be transferred to a location that specializes in whatever diagnosis he’s given.”
“But I don’t understand, Doctor. My husband seemed fine up until this happened.”
The doctor reached into his breast pocket for a pen, and began writing on a chart that no one even noticed he carried. “So then, there were no complaints from him in say, the past three weeks or so? No mention of headaches, vomiting, difficulty breathing, or limited blood flow in his extremities?”
“Limited blood flow?”
“Has he complained of his arms or legs falling asleep, or of any tingling sensations?”
Vivian slowly shook her head. “No, nothing like that.” Her brow creased in thought, however, because Derrick was from the old school and “took pain like a man.” He probably wouldn’t have told her if any of what the doctor asked had occurred. She hadn’t noticed anything unusual but with their busy schedules and the limited time they’d spent together, that didn’t necessarily rule anything out.
Dr. Bhatti jotted several things down on his pad. “What about his sleep patterns lately? Any fluctuations there, like sleeping more or less, or complaining of insomnia?”
“He’s been getting little sleep but that’s due in large part to a major expansion happening at our church. Plus, he’s been in and out of the country frequently, spending a lot of time in South Africa.” Vivian’s eyes widened as a thought occurred. “Do you think this could have anything to do with his overseas travel, Doctor? He received the required inoculations, but could he have possibly contracted some type of disease while traveling?”
“At this point, we won’t rule anything out,” Dr. Bhatti answered. “But until we can conduct further tests, anything I say will be simple speculation.”
King ran a weary hand over his face. “Can we see him?”
“Because of the precariousness of his situation, I want to limit the amount of extraneous stimulation he receives. It will be okay for him to receive one visitor at a time, but only for a few minutes or so.” When Vivian would have protested, the doctor held up his hand. “At least for now. Let’s continue to monitor him, and if his vitals remain stable over the next few hours, then we’ll see about longer visits.”
An inner strength arose in Vivian, her back straightening and chin lifting as a result. “I’d like to see my husband, Dr. Bhatti.” The look in her eye told him she meant business, and she meant it right now.
“Very well,” he nodded, opening the door. “Come with me.”
While Vivian followed Dr. Bhatti down the hall, King and Tai walked into the other room to update those waiting. At least a dozen sets of eyes locked onto them as soon as they turned the corner.
King held up his hands, staving off the slew of questions he knew were heading his way. “We still don’t know anything specific about why Pastor Montgomery passed out,” he said, “but his vital signs have stabilized, which the doctor said was good news. They have to run more tests before anything more concrete can be established. Right now, the doctor said he just needs to rest. His wife is in with him now.”
“Thank you, Jesus!” one of the members of the prayer circle exclaimed.
“Thank the Lord,” a deacon added.
“What a mighty God we serve,” said yet another member.
Obadiah closed his Bible and stood. “I think that we should go to his room and have prayer, set a hedge of protection around him and invoke the Spirit of the Lord.”
“That’s not possible, Daddy,” King answered. “At least not right now.”
“Why not?” Obadiah asked, with a touch of indignation.
King had purposely chosen not to disclose that Derrick had not regained consciousness. For the most part he trusted everyone in the room, but he was a big believer in the right hand not having all of the information that the left hand possessed. “Because even though his vitals have stabilized, the doctor wants him to remain in as calm and undisturbed an environment as possible, at least for the next twenty-four hours.”
This answer seemed to satisfy Obadiah, and everyone else.
“So with that said, I think that y’all should keep him lifted up in prayer as you return to your homes. You all know that to me Pastor Montgomery is less like a friend and more like a brother. So I appreciate your concern for him, and your support of me.”
“Will you be at church tomorrow?” one of the members asked.
King doubted it, but since he wasn’t sure, he chose not to answer directly. “I’m not certain, but regardless of whether I am there or not, I’ll make sure the church gets an update on Derrick’s progress.”
With that said, everyone from the church gave their hugs, said their good-byes, and began filing out of the waiting room. The only ones who remained behind were Joseph, Obadiah, Princess, Sarah, Joni, and Greg.
While King pulled Obadiah aside to speak with him privately, Princess turned to her friends. “Thank you, guys, so much for being here. It has made this incredibly easier for me to handle.”
Joni gave Princess a hug. “We wouldn’t be anywhere else, girlfriend.”
Sarah looked around. “Where’s Rafael?”
Princess had been so absorbed in worrying about and praying for her uncle that she’d not even been aware that her fiancé hadn’t returned. “He left earlier, said that he had something to do.”
“We’d better call him,” Greg said. “Let him know that your uncle is resting and tell him where to meet us.”
Joni turned to Princess. “Are we going back to the hotel? Or to your house?”
“I think you and Sarah should go back to the hotel,” Princess answered. “Greg, I think you should find out where Rafael is and make sure he’s okay. I think I’m going to stay here for a while, with Mama, Daddy, and Aunt Viv.”
“Are you sure, Princess?” Joni looked at her friend with concern-filled eyes. “This has been a very trying day for all of us. And as early as you got up this morning, you must be exhausted.”
“I couldn’t sleep right now if I tried,” Princess said. “I love you guys and appreciate your caring about me, but really, I’ll be fine. Take the limo back to the hotel or if you want, have him drive you guys around Kansas City. You saw the Plaza, but maybe you’d like to check out our other tourist areas. Eighteenth and Vine is a historic jazz district and downtown has some nice spots, too. It’s unfortunate what happened to Uncle Derrick, but I don’t want that to stop you two from having fun.”
Sarah looked at Princess with comprehending eyes. “Are you sure you don’t want us to wait with you?”
“I’m positive. And if anything changes I have your cell numbers. So get on out of here,” Princess admonished, wrapping her arms around her friends’ shoulders and guiding them to the door. “And remember you’re married,” she said to Joni. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!”
“How can anything like that happen when I’m partying with Mother Teresa?” Joni asked, with a nod in Sarah’s direction.
“Ha! True that. Then go to a nice restaurant, enjoy some live music or something.”
“Call us if you need us,” Sarah demanded. “No matter what.”
“I’ll have Rafael call you, too,” Greg said. He hugged Princess and left.
Princess watched her friends walk out of the building and then turned toward the office where she assumed her mother waited. When it came to her uncle’s condition and what her father had told the group, she felt certain there were some pertinent details that he’d purposely omitted. She wasn’t leaving until she had the answers she needed, and knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that her uncle would be okay.
12
Power of Love
R
afael reached for his phone as he left his parents’ home. He’d returned their call as soon as he’d finished handling some business with one of his good friends who worked at City Hall. Cleavon Jackson was not only a mentor of sorts to the ambitious mayoral assistant, but he was also one of Rafael’s staunchest supporters. Barely a week went by when he didn’t ask when “Mr. Stevens” would become “Mayor Stevens.” Next to his own father, when it came to people Rafael knew personally, Cleavon was the man he most admired. He’d been standing just outside the hospital talking to Cleavon on his cell phone when his mother had beeped in and demanded he come over. The visit hadn’t gone as well as he’d liked, but he understood his parents’ frustration. He couldn’t really blame them. Knowing how she felt about her uncle, Rafael was trying to be patient with Princess. But he felt frustration as well.
“Yeah, man, what’s up?” he said, as soon as he’d reached his Lexus and started the car.
“That’s what I’m trying to find out from you,” Greg replied. “Where you at?”
“Just left my parents.”
“You don’t sound too happy.”
Rafael snapped. “Would you be happy if at the end of your wedding day you still weren’t married?”
“My bad, man. I’m sorry about putting it to you like that. This shit is messed up, dog, for real.”
Rafael sighed. “Tell me about it. But if all goes well, I’ll be a married man by this time tomorrow.”
“Word? You talk to the pastor?”
“No, my man Cleavon is going to hook us up.” Along with being Rafael’s mentor and staunch supporter, Cleavon Jackson was also a justice of the peace.
“I’m happy for you, dog. I know how long you’ve been waiting for this to happen.” Greg had not only known Rafael a long time, he was more than a little familiar with the Stevens household and their family dynamics. “So are your parents going to be there for the final ‘I do’?”
“Man, my parents aren’t feeling any love for Princess or her family right about now.”
“For real?”
“Mom can’t understand why Pastor Brook couldn’t take ten minutes and finish our ceremony, and they are upset that their calls to both his and Miss Tai’s cell phones have gone unanswered.”
Incredulity was more than evident in Greg’s voice. “Your wedding was interrupted slash basically cancelled, and the bride’s parents have not talked to the groom’s?”
“Exactly.”
“Damn.” Greg held the word for at least three seconds.
“Dad knows Pastor Montgomery and understands how upset King is that his best friend is lying in a hospital, and for all we know clinging to life.” Mr. Stevens, a certified public accountant with a subdued personality, was usually the voice of reason and peace in Rafael’s household. “Mom, on the other hand, says there is no excuse for how the Brooks are behaving. She feels how they’ve acted is disrespectful and rude. My parents spent a grip for our honeymoon. If we’re not on that plane tomorrow at noon, I think Mom is going to go gangster and whup some serious butt.”
“Ha! As bougie as your mom is, dude, I can actually see that happening.”
“Mom hasn’t always been a deacon’s wife,” Rafael said, with one of the few smiles he’d managed since Princess left him at the altar and ran to her uncle’s side. “She took no prisoners when she lived in the Lou.” Rafael heard a beep and looked at his caller ID. “Let me bounce, man. This is Princess.” He switched over. “Baby, perfect timing. I’m on my way back now.”
“Oh, okay.”
Rafael would have preferred a response such as “thank God,” “can’t wait,” or “that’s great, baby, I need you,” but . . . okay. “How is your uncle?” He asked this question strictly out of obligation.
Princess told him what the doctor had said. “We won’t really be able to know anything until he’s conscious,” she finished. “Until then . . . we’ll just keep praying.”
“But you did say he is stabilized, right? He’s out of the woods for right now?”
“The doctor is cautiously optimistic.”
“But . . . for right now . . . he’s okay.”
Princess’s answer was low and soft. “Yes, I guess.”
“Good,” Rafael said with authority. “I’m coming to get you and then we’re going to our hotel.”
“Rafael—”
“No, Princess. That was a statement, not a question.” He took a deep breath and softened his tone. “Baby, I understand that you’re conflicted, that part of your heart is there with your uncle, and your family. I know that Derrick Montgomery is your father’s best friend. But, Princess . . . we were ten minutes away from getting
married
today. If what happened hadn’t happened, you’d be my wife right now. We’d be beginning our life together. Right now. You and me. And we still can. . . .”
“I hear you, Rafael. I really do. But—”
“But what?”
Princess paused before answering. “But we didn’t get married. And I’m not your wife.”
An even longer pause before Rafael responded. “So what are you saying? That you don’t want to marry me?”
“Of course not!”
“Really, Princess? Because I can’t tell.”
“So much has happened today, baby. . . .”
“All the more reason I come get you, we go to the room, chill, have some dinner... and then I have some news for you.”
“Really? What?”
“Good things come to those who wait, my love. And it’s good news, I promise. I’m just about fifteen minutes away, so you won’t have to wait long. Oh, and can you ask your mom to please call my mother? She’s about to blow a gasket for real!”
“Oh my God, Rafael. I’m so sorry. Your parents are probably furious with me.”
That’s an understatement.
“No one could control what happened today. They just need to hear from someone, that’s all.”
“Okay, I’ll call her. And, Rafael?”
“Yes.”
“I love you.”
Rafael’s smile could have lit up the sky.