"Thank you, sir," Solange's eyes started to well with tears, yet she successfully restrained them.
"Don't wait 'til tonight, Liza. Go home now! Go home now and grieve for your loss. I completely understand the pain of losing a loved one. If you need tomorrow off too, I'll give it to you."
"I can't…" Liza started.
"Don't worry about the pay," Sam patted her shoulder. "I will not cut you. You still get pay for double shift."
Solange was shocked by Sam's generosity. Maybe Sonia was right — or maybe Sam was just sorry for her. Either way, she was grateful.
"Thank you, sir. I'll just get my purse." She reached behind the office door for it. "I might come in tomorrow, sir. Have a good evening."
"Good evening to you!" Sam waved behind her.
"I'm going home now," Solange said quietly to Sonia who was waiting at the kitchen window for an order.
"Now?" Sonia asked.
"Yes, and he offered me tomorrow off as well."
"That's good, dear. You go home, curl up in bed and just let it out. After a while, get up, wash your face, make yourself a hot cup of tea and thank God for the times you had with your uncle. You'll start to feel better as time goes on. If you focus more on being grateful for the time you've spent together, you'll find the grieving process a little easier," Sonia explained. "I know — I lost my Mom two years ago. She was my everything. At first, it was so hard accepting the fact that she was really gone, but then as I reminisced on the times we spent together and the love we had for each other, I was so grateful for it all and knew that our love would never die. I'm counting on seeing her again someday — that is, if I don't let that fart of a man I'm married to cause me to veer off path by strangling him in his sleep."
"Sonia!" Solange grimaced.
"I'm just joking, girl. If I haven't done it by now, chances are it'll never happen," she grinned.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Sonia." Solange turned to leave.
"I thought you said he gave you tomorrow off too…"
"He offered it to me, but I didn't say I would take it," Solange clarified. "We'll see."
"Okay. Praying for ya."
Solange left the restaurant and sauntered down the block. She sat in the shaded booth at the bus-stop and watched as people of all nationalities, ages, shapes and sizes passed by. She let out a deep sigh as she unwillingly pondered the events of her life. Why did it have to be so hard for me? She thought. Why did my parents have to die while I was so young? Why did they have to be murdered — snatched away from me in such a cruel manner? Why did I have to struggle so much since then to make ends meet? Why Ferdinand? Why did Oncle Victor have to die and leave me so alone on this earth? Why? She felt the tears streaming down her face and quickly wiped them away as she didn't want anyone to notice. Her thoughts then drifted towards her brother: I don't know him; we're complete strangers. There'd be no connection. Regardless, I'm still alone. I may as well be an alien to him and he to me.
The bus's large tires screeched to a halt in front of her. Standing up, Solange waited for several passengers to exit the bus before she mounted.
At home, she readily took Sonia's advice. All she wanted to do was clear her mind of all the heart-rending ruminations and just fall asleep. Deep inside, she wished that she would never wake up again.
7
Mercy Me
"Thanks for meeting with us on such short notice, Doc." Trent extended a hand.
Dr. Palenski did likewise and then pleasantly greeted Tina who went directly to a seat in front of the massive mahogany desk. He had seen that a handshake was not in order for her.
Tina sat quietly; her face void of expression and she looked pale.
"Barb took care of the little one for you?" Palenski sat down after inviting Trent to do so.
"Yes, she did," Trent replied.
"No worries. Your baby will be just fine in our nursery. Only certified nurses work in there caring for the children," Palenski said.
"That's good to know," Trent answered.
Looking over at Tina and then back at Trent, Palenski asked, "Now, how can I help you good folks today?"
Tina was looking off to the right, paying no attention to the doctor whatsoever — or at least it appeared that way.
"Doc, my wife… well, my fiancé here has been having some slight issues since giving birth to our son about a week and a half ago." He looked at Tina. "Honey, do you mind telling the doctor what's been going on?"
Tina didn't bother to respond.
"Miss Sheffield…" Dr. Palenski interjected. "I'd really like to know what's been bothering you. I promise I would do my very best to help you."
Not a word. Tina continued staring off into space.
"Tina's expressed to me that she's been… seeing things." Trent grabbed Palenski's attention again.
"What kinds of things?" The doctor asked, glancing at Tina for a response.
"Tina…" Trent tried again.
Palenski cleared his throat and stood up behind the desk. "Mister Matheson, do you mind if I have a few moments alone with Tina?"
"Not at all," Trent replied, getting up. He motioned toward the door. "I'll just wait out front."
"I'll call for you in a few minutes. Thank you," Palenski said.
Trent walked out and shut the door behind him.
Palenski walked to the front of the desk, stopping directly in front of Tina who had successfully held the same position since she walked in there.
"Tina…" he bent down a bit hoping to establish eye contact, "…can you please look at me for a minute?"
A few moments went by before she glanced at him, then away again.
"I would really like to know what's been happening to you lately," Palenski continued. "I promise that whatever you tell me I will listen to with an open mind. If there's something you want to say that you'd prefer not to share with anyone else, including your fiancé out there, I will respect that. I initially agreed to the joint session because you both consented, but if you change your mind at any time and would like to speak with me privately going forward, we can do that. Okay?"
Tina slowly nodded setting her eyes on the doctor again.
A smile of relief formed on Palenski's face. He was finally getting through to her.
"Now, please tell me what's been happening to you, Tina."
Tina leaned forward in her chair and started in almost a whisper. "They're trying to hurt my baby," she uttered fearfully.
"Who Tina? Who's trying to hurt your baby?" Palenski asked.
"The strange people who showed up at my house," she went on. "The hooded people with no faces and lately, the black blob thing that was leaning into my son's crib."
Palenski started to straighten up a bit. "I see. Did they say anything?" He probed.
Still whispering, Tina replied. "No." She motioned for the doctor to lean forward again. "See, my soon-to-be husband doesn't believe me. I think these strange people like his house; there's something about that spooky place. Almost a year ago, I saw something in the bathroom mirror — just hideous it was! He didn't believe me then and he doesn't believe me now. Things just got worse since the baby came. That's why you have to help me get the baby out of there. I can take him someplace where he'll be safe."
"Where do you want to take him?" Palenski's eyes were fixated on hers.
"Anywhere — a hotel, an apartment — just away from that creepy house. You've got to tell him to let me take the baby and leave. He doesn't want me to take the baby," she stated.
"You mean… your fiancé?"
"Yeah."
"Tina, is this your first child?" Palenski asked.
"Uh, huh. Why do you ask?"
He walked around to his desk again, sat down and perused the file in front of him. He noticed that there was no indication of mental problems in her family line. "How have you been feeling — both physically and emotionally since giving birth?" He asked.
"Naturally, I was a little tired at first, but after a while I felt fine.
Emotionally, I've been feeling like crap, especially since the man who's supposed to be my best friend in this world treats me as if I'm a lunatic."
"How's that?"
"He doesn't believe anything I say to him. He thinks I'm losing my mind or is depressed," she explained.
"Are you depressed?"
"I said that emotionally I feel like crap, so I guess that's pretty much the same thing, Doctor."
"Have you been sleeping well lately?" Palenski probed.
"I sleep fine," Tina replied with a scowl that disclosed her bewilderment regarding the basis of the question.
"That's good, Tina. Before I call your fiancé back in here is there anything else you'd like to share with me?" Palenski asked.
Tina leaned further in and loudly whispered, "Just tell him to let me take the baby somewhere safe. He should come too, but I know he'll never leave that house."
Palenski pressed the light orange button on the dial pad. "Carol, have Mister Matheson come back in please." He rested his elbows on the desk and interlaced his fingers. His demeanor was much different than it was when the couple first walked in.
Trent entered the room and took a seat.
"Mister Matheson, I have had a rather interesting conversation with Tina and I'd like to suggest something to both of you. From the brief talk we've had, I feel it would be beneficial now and in the long-term to run a number of tests on Tina so that I can garner a conclusive diagnosis of her current condition. We have a state-of-the-art facility here and I would really like to get her medically evaluated as soon as possible," he explained.
"Okay. What do we have to do then?" Trent asked.
"Well…" his fingers were still clenched and interlaced, "…I'd like Tina to remain here overnight to get those tests done."
"No way!" Tina protested. "I'm not staying here. I have a baby to take care of!"
Trent glanced at her and then retuned his focus toward the doctor. "Is there any way we can just come in and get these tests done instead of Tina having to stay overnight?"
Looking at Trent, Palenski cleared his throat. "Can I see you outside for a minute please?"
Trent immediately stood up and they both walked out together. Tina remained seated, quietly fuming at the nerve of that quack to even consider admitting her after everything she explained to him. Doesn't he care at all about Little Foster's safety? She wondered. This was all just a complete waste of time. Obviously, no one realizes the severity of the matter.
"We need to admit her, Mister Matheson. Your fiancé is clearly in need of professional help and is in no way in a position to care for a newborn. We have to get her thoroughly evaluated to rule out anything other than what I believe might be causing these hallucinogenic experiences she's been having," Palenski said in the hallway.
"What about just giving her something for post-partum depression?" Trent asked.
"In my professional opinion at this juncture, without the aid of the aforementioned tests, I can pretty much safely conclude that Tina's problem has nothing to do with Post-partum depression. The symptoms are pointing elsewhere, but I'm not at liberty to state where at this point. I prefer to have my facts in front of me first; I'm sure you understand."
Trent considered the doctor's suggestion, unsure of how any of them would get Tina to agree.
"I have to say this, sir, but if Tina doesn't agree to remain overnight — at least until we've conducted all the necessary tests and can thereafter propose treatment — by law, I can have her committed on the spot without her consent. I just want to make that clear," Palenski added.
Trent sighed heavily. He was suddenly feeling like a traitor to the woman he loved with everything inside of him. He had pretty much forced Tina to come for the visit and now he had inadvertently placed her in a rather precarious position.
"She'd never forgive me for this," Trent indicated, subconsciously hoping the doctor would say or do something that would appease the whole matter. "But she breastfeeds the baby. How can she possibly stay here right now? Isn't there something you can prescribe for her, Doc? I know you might be going out on a limb here, but Tina really needs to be at home with our son and under no circumstances will he be staying here even if you permitted it."
Palenski scratched his forehead, then shook his head as if in deep contemplation. "I'm very concerned for your child, Mister Matheson. I think with your fiancé having to care for him particularly when alone could possibly place the child in a dangerous situation." He gave the matter more thought. "What I can do for now is prescribe something for her that will relax her a bit which would also be innocuous to her breast milk. The only way I'll agree to out-patient evaluation and treatment at this point is if you agree to immediately put some measures in place that would be beneficial primarily to your baby's safety and also to Tina."
"Anything. Just tell me what to do," Trent replied eagerly.
"You need to have someone with her at all times while she's caring for the baby. The child is not to be left solely in her care."
"Okay. That's no problem," Trent answered.
"Make the home environment as stress-free as possible for Tina. She shouldn't feel burdened with chores or anything as such and you must ensure that she takes the medication I will prescribe — on time, every day."
"Done!"
"You can schedule an appointment with my secretary for Tina to come in and have the medical evaluation done. I want this done as soon as possible, Mister Matheson." The look on Palenski's face couldn't be more serious.
Trent nodded.
"I am relying on you to do every single thing I've laid out to you. This is in the best interest of your child and Tina. As soon as the tests are conducted and all results are in, I will advise you of my findings. In the meantime, we'll monitor Tina's progress and see if the prescribed medication is helping her to cope any better with reality."
"Thank you, Doc. I really appreciate this," Trent said. "I assure you that all points are duly noted."
Trent re-entered the office first; Palenski followed. The look in Tina's eyes revealed worry. As Trent sat next to her, he placed a hand on her knee and offered a slight smile of approval. Tina sensed that the news would be good. After Palenski explained everything to her pertaining to his recommendations, Tina fully consented to the arrangement, particularly after being told that he could have out-rightly committed her. She still thought that he was really the one that needed to be committed.
"You okay?" Trent asked during the drive home.
Tina had again assumed her previous position of staring outside of the car window; the passing wind washing her face.
"I hope you now see that all of this was a complete and utter waste of time." She failed to look at him. "You almost got me committed back there!"
"I didn't think for a moment that he would suggest that."
"Really? You didn't think so? What about the remark you made earlier about the police arresting and institutionalizing me if they heard my crazy babbling? If you knew that they could have me committed, how could you not think a psychiatrist wouldn't suggest the same thing?! Your logic behind this makes absolutely no sense to me, Trent. You think I'm nuts because of what I honestly told you I saw, but you didn't even think that a shrink would have tried to commit me for a psycho evaluation after hearing my highly ludicrous story! Sure, you didn't!" She barked.
"I'm really sorry about that, honey. You ought to know that I fought like hell outside that door to convince the doctor to change his mind."
"So I should be thanking you then?" The sarcasm in Tina's voice was indubitably clear.
"You'll be fine, honey… and these things you've been seeing will stop once you start taking your medication. We're almost at the pharmacy and you can take the first pill just as the doctor advised."
Deep down inside, she hoped he was right.
8
The Reveal
"I told you all of this is totally unnecessary; I don't need any help," Tina stood in the bedroom holding the
baby.
"I hear you, honey, but that's the doctor's orders. He doesn't want you to feel overwhelmed." Trent said, dressing for work.
Tina gave him a reprimanding look. "You know that's not it. He doesn't want me to be left alone with Little Foster because he thinks I'm a raving lunatic that's out to harm him."
"That's ludicrous!" Trent replied, grabbing his coat from the hanger.
"You know I'm right, Trent. I wish Taylor was here instead of some stranger."
"Taylor has a job to go to, Tina. She took off work to be with you that day, remember?"
Tina's thoughts drifted elsewhere.
"I don't agree with what the pediatrician said the other day about the baby's development," Tina said, looking at Little Foster who had grown considerably larger since his birth.
"Why not? He says that he's growing very well and will be a big guy when he grows up. Why's that hard to believe?"
Tina shook her head. "I don't know… it doesn't seem normal to me."
"I must admit, Doc was clearly surprised when he saw him too — couldn't believe he was the same one he had seen at the hospital that day," Trent grinned.
The baby was smiling as if being entertained by his parents' debate. Trent went over and started playing with him. "Daddy will see you a little later. You be good to Mommy, okay?"
He picked up his briefcase and kissed Tina on the lips. "I'll see you later too. Amina's downstairs, so please call her when you need her — I'm not paying her on slack, you know."
"Okay," Tina returned a reluctant smile. As much as he had gotten on her nerves over the past couple of weeks, she couldn't help but soften her temperament whenever those dark, brown eyes stared back at her.
Trent turned and looked her way again. "You've been so good taking your meds, honey. I feel like I finally have my Tina back. I just want to say that I love you and I'm so proud of you." He then headed downstairs.
Amina Marovic was in the kitchen drying dishes and stacking them away. She was a fifty-five-year-old Yugoslavian widow, slightly obese with short, graying, blonde hair.
Immortals- The Complete Real Illusions Series Page 23
