New Amsterdam: Tess (13 page)

“Being a mother is the greatest joy in a woman’s life. I have a few friends that can’t have children, and I pity them. Almost as much as they pity me.”

Chapter Ten

As a courteous reminder, New York Presbyterian Hospital forbids use of all cellular devices.

Hearing the announcement for the fiftieth time, Lois DeMarco glances at the screen of her iPhone and then shoves it in her pocket. She’s always been the type of person to follow the rules, even when the rules tend to screw her over. When she delivered Christina Marie in this same hospital over sixteen years ago, Lois declined an epidural and opted for a natural delivery. Richie, her husband at the time, claimed that drugs used during childbirth would eventually make the kid a substance abuser, even though he himself was a raging alcoholic with no authority on the matter.

So for the health of her baby girl, and to refrain from fighting with Richie, Lois endured twenty hours of excruciating labor pains. And as she sits in the dimly lit waiting area to the ICU, a jabbing pain terrorizes her uterus.

Removing another piece of gum from her handbag, Lois chomps to the rhythm of the ticking clock above the water fountain. She glances at the elderly man dozing in the corner, and then at the middle-aged man reading a paperback with tiny reading glasses, wondering if they could ever share the same pain as a mother losing her only child.

Lois closes her eyes and smiles – watching as fading memories dance across her eyelids. She sees Christina, dressed in a white gown and white gloves. Christina’s toothless grin beams while she poses with a Bible and an antique rosary. It’s Christina’s First Communion – a day of spiritual celebration followed by a family dinner in Whitestone. Even Richie, handsome in a blue suit, dances soberly through the memories with Christina twirling from his arm.

The Communion party shifts to a summer vacation in Fort Lauderdale. They’re having the best time at the beach, building a sandcastle in the shape of Midtown and swimming in the warm salt water. As night falls, Lois surprises Christina with a tiny pair of diamond studs. Christina flails her arms and hugs her mother, realizing that at eleven years old, she can finally get her ears pierced.

An older Christina, with aqua-blue hair and a nose ring to match her diamond studs, lumbers across the fading memories. She takes Lois in her scrawny arms as they watch Richie walk out the door to never return. Christina cuddles next to Lois in the king-size bed, stroking her hair and listening to her mother cry.

“Ms. DeMarco?” a quiet voice announces.

Opening her eyes, Lois leaps from her seat and searches for the voice. “I’m here,” she replies frantically.

A doctor wearing green scrubs and a white lab coat approaches Lois. “Let’s talk over here,” he suggests calmly.

Biting the tip of her tongue and clenching her jaw, Lois prepares for the worst as she follows the doctor to the opposite corner.

Placing a gentle hand on her shoulder, the doctor says, “I’m Dr. Fletcher. Christina suffered from an overdose because her body’s metabolism couldn’t detoxify the chemicals fast enough. We flushed her stomach and gave her an intravenous of fluids. Honestly, she was very lucky – most kids don’t make it with that many drugs in their system.”

Wiping away her tears, Lois asks, “So she’s okay?”

“Christina will recover, but I need to be straight with you, Ms. DeMarco. If there’s a next time, her heart won’t be able to handle the stress.”

“I can’t lose her, doctor. She’s my entire life.”

Squeezing her shoulder, Dr. Fletcher adds, “I understand. You will need to seek treatment for Christina – would you like to meet with a social worker to discuss options?”

Shaking her head and wiping away dry tears, Lois states, “I found a place in Florida near my parent’s house that offers a payment plan. When will she be released?”

“It’s too early to say, but as long as everything remains clear the next few days, she could go home as early as Monday.”

Exhaling in relief and dropping her shoulders in exhaustion, Lois says, “Thank you, Dr. Fletcher.”

“There’s no need for you to be here until she’s moved to a room. Why don’t you go home and get some rest, Ms. DeMarco.”

“I don’t want to leave her, but I do need to make a few phone calls and arrangements. I’ll be back in a few hours.”

“I’ll keep you informed,” the doctor adds with a comforting smile before heading back through the ICU doors.

Lois drops into the nearest chair – weak and completely weightless. She closes her eyes once again and smiles . . .

Only this time, it’s the future dancing across her eyelids.

“Do you normally close on Saturdays?” Shelby asks while running a box cutter over the FedEx tape of a box.

“We’re not really closed, but I don’t post the hours outside the shop. Our schedule is so screwy around here that we decided to just let things flow.”

“Ah, so what happens if someone comes in while we’re unpacking all this shit? And why is the bubble wrap yellow?”

“Why so many questions, baby brother?”

“I’m cranky, I guess. What do you have to eat back there?” Shelby motions to the kitchen as Thessaly’s phone rings.

Grabbing it from the island and recognizing Lois’ number, she quickly mumbles, “Lots of healthy stuff. I need to take this call.”

Shelby closes the blade and nods to Thessaly. He stretches his arms and twists his torso in opposing directions before announcing, “I’ll grab some breakfast.”

“Iced latte,” Thessaly shouts at Shelby as he leaves the store. Swiping her phone to answer the call, Thessaly says, “Lois?”

“Tess, I have great news! Christina will be discharged in a few days.”

Sighing and praying to the heavens, Thessaly expresses, “Thank God, Lois. What can I do to help?”

“Tess, I’m afraid I have bad news as well.”

“Okay.” Thessaly bites her lip as she sits at the island.

“Christina will start a rehab program in two weeks.”

Glancing at the vase of flowers from Levi, Thessaly replies, “That’s a good thing, Lois.”

“The rehabilitation facility is in Florida,” Lois whispers.

“Oh.” Slouching over the counter, Thessaly props head on her arm.

“And I’m moving in with my parents so I can be close to Christina and eliminate my living expenses. The rehab is going to cost me nearly fifty-thousand dollars.”

“Holy crap, Lois. Maybe we can host a fundraiser or something?” Thessaly suggests.

“That would embarrass Christina, and she has to trust me.”

Thessaly’s phone vibrates with an incoming text, but she ignores it to finish her conversation with Lois. “Last night, Seth and Meg agreed to give you their remaining vacation days to help out with some of the medical bills. It’s not a lot, but it would give you another week’s salary on top of your early holiday bonus I can offer. I wish I could do more, Lois.”

Lois sobs, “You three are like family to me.”

“I feel the same way,” Thessaly replies.

“Tess, thank you for stealing me away from King’s last year and offering me an exciting adventure. I wish you all the success and happiness.”

“Don’t make me cry, Lois! Promise me, when Christina’s feeling better, you’ll pop in and let us give you two a proper New York sendoff?”

“Deal. I have to meet with my landlord now – I’ll call you in a few days.”

“Take care, Lois.”

“Bye, Tess.”

Ending the call, Thessaly walks to the kitchen while reading a text.

Mason: Let’s finish our conversation.

Thessaly: Give me the weekend to think about it.

Tucking her phone in the pocket of her shorts, Thessaly opens the small wall safe behind the mixing bowls. She removes the company’s book of checks and places it on the work station. Grabbing a pen from the canister near the refrigerator, Thessaly makes out a check to Lois DeMarco for two-thousand dollars. She then accounts for the check in the register and returns the book to the safe.

“Tess?” Shelby shouts outside the kitchen door.

“In here,” Thessaly responds while addressing an envelope.

Shelby pushes open the door carrying a caddy of Dunkin Donuts coffee and a box of donuts. “Strawberry frosted with sprinkles,” he ploys.

“Ugh, their iced coffee is watery.”

Removing a large iced vanilla latte from the cardboard caddy, Shelby suggests, “Chase it with a glazed donut.”

Thessaly leans against the work station and sighs. She gouges the plastic cup with an orange straw and groans.

Talking with his mouth full, he asks, “What’s up, sis?”

“Mason asked me to marry him. And move to London.” Taking a sip from her coffee, Thessaly adds, “Or maybe it was move to London and hypothetically get married.”

“Weren’t you engaged once before?”

“He’s never really proposed, or maybe I never really answered – God, I’m so confused.”

“So he asked you to move to New York with him, and now he wants you to move to London, but you’re not together?” Shoving the rest of his donut in his mouth, Shelby adds, “Seems like he just wants a moving buddy.”

Thessaly stomps her foot and laughs. “Holy shit! Mason’s such a pussy!”

“I could’ve told you that,” Shelby drawls.

“He needs me, but once he’s settled, he doesn’t want me. I’m like his, his . . .”

“His blankie,” interjects Shelby.

Thessaly nods while her eyes expand in horror. “Oh, my God – Mason had this torn flannel blanket at Duke. He’d sleep with it every night, and I mean
every
night. He’d also wear it like a cape when he was sick. One time, I tossed it in the hamper to take to the laundry room, and he went ballistic!” Tilting her head and frowning, she mumbles, “I’m his flannel blanket.”

“Nah, you’re just really sweet.”

Reaching for a strawberry donut, Thessaly exhales and lowers her head. “I don’t want to move to London. I want Levi.”

“Then buy some,” Shelby replies as he leaves the kitchen. “These boxes won’t unpack themselves, TayTay.”

Laughing, Thessaly grabs her coffee and follows him into the shop. “I really like the square jars, don’t you?”

“Amazing. Sometimes, when I’m sitting in my neurology clerkship discussing brain anomalies, I’m actually daydreaming about square jars.” Shelby positions the containers of raw honey on the island and whistles along to the music blasting through the speakers.

“Shelby?”

Crouching down near the stack of boxes and removing his box cutter, Shelby says, “Yeah?”

“I love you,” Thessaly proclaims.

“You should.”

While Shelby and Thessaly organize the inventory and argue over the best television spinoffs, Seth and Meg waltz into the store holding hands.

“Did you hear from Lois?” Meg asks, ripping her hand away from Seth.

Smiling at her friends, she replies, “I did. Christina is going to be fine. Although, they’re moving to Florida.”

Seth picks up a large container of honey and scowls. “That sucks.”

“It’s for the best,” Thessaly says with conviction. “And by the way, are you two official?”

“Officially not dating, if that’s what you’re asking!” Meg leans against the island and grins. “Hey, Doogie. How’s New York treatin’ ya?”

Sitting on the floor and retying the laces to his sneakers, Shelby answers, “Not bad. I managed to get tickets for Jimmy Fallon tonight – wanna come?”

“Hell yeah!” Meg exclaims.

Standing from the floor and slapping Seth’s arm, Shelby apologizes, “Sorry, man, I only scored two tickets.”

“It’s cool. I’ll just watch Silicon Valley with my roommate. Maybe grill some cheese sandwiches and share a six pack . . .” mutters Seth.

“Awesome,” Shelby agrees. “Donuts?”

Meg follows Shelby to the kitchen while Seth helps Thessaly unwrap the remaining jars. “Jimmy Fallon and a doctor? I can’t even compete,” Seth drones.

“I wouldn’t worry. Meg is totally into you.”

Spilling from the kitchen with a napkin and two glazed donuts, Meg frowns. “Did I hear my name?” She places a napkin on the island and then shoves the shiny golden pastry into Seth’s face.

Seth rips off a piece with his teeth and smiles at Meg. She moves closer to him, their bodies touching, and whispers, “Good boy.” Spinning back around to face Thessaly, Meg says, “I was thinking we could suspend online orders for the remainder of the month. Without Lois, and with the new launch coming, it will be impossible to keep our high standards of delivery.”