“Anna, Anna,” Maydine called out.
“Yes….yes, Sister Maydine.”
“Did I disturb your rest? I saw your light on,” Maydine poked her head through the door of my bedroom.
“It’s okay. What is it?”
“V is on the phone. She would like to speak with you.”
“V?”
Maydine knitted her eyebrows. “Vena, your cousin.”
“Vena, yes sure. We do need to chat. Thanks.” I waved at Maydine before she exited my bedroom.
Grabbing the cordless phone from its cradle on the nightstand, I greeted Vena with a smile. “Vena, how are you doing?”
“Hey Anna! I’m good. Hope I did not disturb your beauty rest. I wanted to pop by but figured that you would be busy.”
“Busy is an understatement,” I said dramatically, “but you know that I would make time for you.”
Vena chuckled. “I know. I remembered how we use to communicate frequently before you migrated.”
“Yes. Life happened. It’s great to hear from you at this very, very happy time in my life.”
“Lucky you!” she blurted out. “I am still single.”
“That’s alright. Your blessing is on the way,” I reassured her, trying to ignore the bitterness in her voice.
“Are you sure you want to get married?” she asked pointedly.
My brows knitted at the skepticism in her voice but I quickly shook off the nagging feeling that was rising in my mind. “Oh yes, very sure,” I responded lightly.
She gave a hollow laugh, before saying in a measured tone, “I remember you saying that God has to send you someone special. Is he special?”
“Vena, are you okay? Put my cousin Vena on the phone,” I teased, uncomfortable with the turn of the conversation. But, Vena did not respond. “Yes. He is special,” I said quietly. “So what have you been…?”
“They say marriage is hard work,” she said testily. “At this age, you should remain…”
Good grief! What is this? I tried to keep the edge out of my voice as I interrupted her. “Vena, are you okay? Is there something you need to tell me?”
“Not really. I am defending you everywhere I go. They say you’re pregnant so that’s why you are rushing to get married.”
I did not respond immediately. There was a throbbing beneath my jaw as a mixture of revulsion and apprehension washed over me. “Vena, I have to go.”
Vena exploded. “You did not invite me to your wedding. I cannot believe it. I thought that I would be on your bridal ….” She was unrelenting and angry.
“Stop talking like that. You know…”
“Anna, I have known you forever. I first heard through the grapevine that you are getting married.”
I exhaled deeply and tried to reason with her. “Yes Vena, we have known each other for a long while but we have been out of touch. I’m sorry that you are taking it so personal.”
“Am I not family?” she exclaimed emphatically. “How can you not invite me to your wedding? The times when you were down and out, I was the one who…”
I held the cordless phone at arm’s length and swallowed the lump in my throat, before urging, “Vena stop…’
She raged on. “You’re acting all high and mighty. I have testimonies…”
Help me Jesus! I really don’t need this right now.
“Vena, I’ll talk with you another time. Have a goodnight.” With that, I disconnected the call.
Phew!
I shut my eyes for a moment; the situation was too difficult for me to process. “Lord help me! This does not make sense,” I murmured, placing the phone back in its cradle.
They thought I was pregnant.
They?
I struggled between anger and curiosity. Curiosity was eating away at me, yet at the same time I did not want to know…did not care. Here I am, fiercely guarding my ‘chastity belt’ to honor the Lord and all this crazy talk going on behind my back.
My conversation with Vena left me numb, like someone had punched me in the stomach. I did not want to face the fact that Vena was acting more than a little strange…perhaps even a little jealous. I did not understand her actions or reactions.
My spirit sagged as I burrowed into the bed and pulled the sheets closer to my chin. That conversation was not good, and not at all promising for the future of our relationship. Disconnecting the call did not add to the health of our relationship but I had to stop the insanity. I exhaled deeply in a vain attempt to extinguish my anxiety. Moments later, I found encouragement in the word of God and committed the situation to Him.
I heaved a sigh of relief as I pressed play on the small CD player beside the nightstand. The words of Michael W. Smith’s worship song “Let It Rain” filled my room. Shortly thereafter, I fell asleep.
CHAPTER 27: BED REST
The sounds of laughter and a familiar voice woke me up. I jumped out of bed and ran to the living room to see Maydine, Mr. Mohan, Harriett and Bella.
“Sister Bella,” I yelled happily.
“Annalisa,” she smiled warmly at me.
I threw my arms around her and hugged her tightly. “I’m so glad to see you. It has been a while.”
A bright smile lit Bella’s face. “Yes, way too long.” Her medium, 5’ 5” frame and long black hair swayed in rhythmic harmony as she joyfully danced around. “My baby sister is getting married. Bring out the bubbly. Time to raise the roof. Oh, Oh, Oh!”
We all laughed.
“Too early for that.” Maydine slapped Bella on the shoulder. “You need to eat.”
Bella gave a sheepish smile, before saying, “Fine!” She tilted her head then linked her arm with mine as we moved towards the dining room.
While Bella ate, we chatted about the days of old. Mr. Mohan left us at the table to attend a meeting at his church.
“Oh no. We cannot have that!” Belle frowned at my coughing. “You don’t look well.”
Maydine glanced at me then informed Bella. “Orane told her to stay in bed but noooo.”
I grabbed a napkin and dabbed my watery eyes, then protested, “I have been in bed all day. I even had dinner in bed.”
Bella, a registered nurse, looked thoughtful. “I have just what you need for that cough.” She rummaged through her large red purse, pulled out a sachet and handed it to me.
“Will I live?” I asked, reading the packet.
Bella pursed her lips while Maydine and Harriett chuckled softly.
I grinned at her before swallowing the pills. “Yes, I will.”
“Mrs. Conway,” Bella smiled mischievously, “I purchased a few goodies for you.”
“Bella, behave yourself,” Maydine warned her.
“I’m too young for this,” Harriett declared smiling.
“Thanks Sister Bella.” I smiled at her. “I know I could count on you.”
Bella’s dark eyes narrowed. “I’ll give them to you later. Away from these two.” She then playfully wagged her index finger at Maydine and Harriett as they began to protest. “I don’t want to hear it.”
I broke into giggles as I watched and listened to the banter of my three eldest sisters, three peas in a pod, their laughter filled the air, pulling me in. I adored all my sisters. We had a visceral connection. Our different personalities, individual disappointments, loves and passions, had caused us to journey through periods of tears, shock, joy, amazement and triumph. A great epic movie! No matter the distance between us, we were never far apart, always within reach.
After she ate dinner, Bella, a decorator at heart went to work. From under the comforter, I watched her decorate my plain white satin shoes with clear rhinestones and then continue to decorate the programs. Her masterpiece was the decoration of the three transparent vases to be used in our sand ceremony. The three vases were decorated with clear rhinestones, white ribbon and tiny white bows.
When Orane stopped by to check on me, he met Bella. I watched in amazement as they chatted on the sofa in the living room about a
nything and everything. By the way they were conversing; you would think that they had known each other for years.
“Sister Bella, I will see you tomorrow,” Orane said smiling. “Please make sure Annalisa stays in bed.”
“What?” I interjected pouting on the sofa.
He leaned forward with serious eyes. “Stay in bed.”
“Orane, I will make sure she stays in bed,” Bella remarked, eyeballing me.
“Okay, bed it will be,” I conceded, wiping the sweat from my forehead. “I’ll accompany you to your car.”
On the way to his car, Orane waved goodbye to Maydine who was raking the yard in the distance, with much joy in each rake. My second mother was totally overjoyed about my upcoming wedding.
“Annalisa.” The seriousness in Orane voice drew my attention. “It’s time for you to see a doctor.”
I gazed into worried eyes. “Don’t worry Honey. I’ll go to bed right after you leave and I’ll make an appointment to see my former doctor.”
“Promise?” he asked softly, hugging me.
“Yes, I promise.” I hugged him tightly. I could see concern in his eyes as he closed the gate behind him.
“Sister Maydine,” I called out.
“Yes Anna.”
“I’m heading to bed. I will see you tomorrow.”
“Oh Anna! I know that you’re still not feeling well.” The care in her voice made me feel better.
“I’ll be alright. I’m going to make an appointment to see Dr. Thompson.”
“That would be good. Do you need anything now?”
“No. Thank you.”
“Okay. Call me if you need anything,” she said comfortingly. “I will check on you later.”
I smiled and gave her a grateful nod. “Thanks Mother dearest.”
As the MayPo sky gave way to night fall, another coughing spell hit me. Was I becoming some kind of nocturnal creature? This was becoming very weird. I noticed that I coughed sporadically during the day but as nightfall approached, the coughing spells increased.
Sickness was not a part of the plan, I continued to declare.
I flopped back against the pillows on my bed, wiggling to find a comfortable position. I felt more exhausted than I ever felt in my life. Running my hands over my face, I could feel the soreness in my cheeks. My throat was aching and my eyes stung and were puffy from the constant coughing. I exhaled loudly, hoping that the medication would kick in soon.
Two hours later, I was still tossing around in my bed, willing myself to sleep. I snatched a bit of sleep between my coughing spells and must have fallen fully sleep in the wee hours of the morning.
CHAPTER 28: BOUNCING BACK
Ouch! I need a new body!
I woke up the next day feeling extremely tired. I fell back in bed, feeling like I needed to just lie under the covers. My head weighed a ton, too much for my shoulders and my eyes were burning from lack of sleep. I must have fallen asleep again because an incessant knocking woke me up.
“Anna, wake up,” Maydine called out, behind the closed door.
“Okay,” I murmured, trying to ignore the throbbing in my throat.
I dragged myself out of bed and glanced in the bathroom mirror. The night’s turmoil was evident. I looked a fright, like something that the cat dragged in. After showering, I used concealer to hide the dark circles under my eyes but I could not hide the wounded feeling in my body. The lack of sleep was certainly taking an effect.
Orane picked me up after breakfast and we traveled to Kingston for my appointment with Dr. Toby Thompson. Thankfully, Dr. Thompson’s receptionist was able to squeeze me into his tight schedule, after I told her about my big day, which was four days away.
Orane was quiet for most of the journey; his dark brown eyes were filled with concern.
“I’ll be alright,” I comforted him.
After updating my records at the doctor’s office, the nurse showed me to an examination room. As I lay on the bed, I glanced around the room and attempted to read the health tips on the light blue walls but my aching eyes made reading difficult. I could not wait to find out what was ailing me.
Within minutes, Dr. Thompson entered with his winning smile. He was a ruggedly handsome, tall man, perhaps well over six feet with broad shoulders and curly black hair.
After a thorough inspection, he sat back in his swivel chair and smiled at me. I looked at him curiously. “You do not have the flu,” he informed me.
My mouth fell open as the diagnosis ricocheted in my head. I was taking every flu medication in the book. “What is…?”
“You have an allergy, possibly to dust.”
“Dust!”
“Strong possibility. Not to worry. A few antibiotics will take care of it.”
“Will I be ready for…?”
Dr. Thompson smiled at me with understanding eyes. “Yes. You will be ready for your big day.”
“Thanks, Dr. Thompson.”
My thoughts swirled as he wrote the prescription.
Dust?
I would never have guessed that I had an allergic reaction to dust. Very strange! But, may be not so strange! Maydine raked the yard in the mornings and sometimes in the evening. Still, I continued to extend my faith. Sickness was not a part of my plan or God’s plan for me. I continued to declare good health for my wedding day.
Orane filled my prescription and I took one pill before we joined Mr. Mohan, Maydine, Bella, Aunt Joy and Harriett for lunch at the exquisite Vosacana Japanese Restaurant. Thankfully, Orane made reservations because the restaurant was packed with patrons who clearly shared his views on the desirability of the Japanese meals.
I couldn’t wait to taste the food and I was not disappointed. It was simply divine! Cooked to perfection! I was so full that I dare not take another bite.
“Your ailment has not affected your eating habits,” Orane said, laughing softly as he wiped his mouth with a napkin.
I knitted my brows and ignored him.
“Do I need to roll you out of here?” he teased quietly. “I saw you…”
“Shush, that’s my secret shame.” I had quietly unbuttoned my jeans beneath the table.
He chuckled softly as I playfully glared at him. “We have company,” he whispered, still chuckling.
Half an hour later, Orane and I waved goodbye to the group and headed for counseling. In Reverend Fuller’s study, we discussed scriptures regarding the role of a husband and wife. We explored and assessed our personalities, personal goals and individual differences. Conflict resolution, communication styles, sexuality and intimacy were topics that created exciting frameworks for discussions. Orane and I also articulated our feelings about living apart at the initial stage of our marriage. Reverend Fuller gave us home work to develop a long-term plan of action to keep our marriage alive. I left the session freshly energized and fully prepared to constructively tackle future challenges and conflicts that may arise in our marriage.
That evening, as Orane and I journeyed back to MayPo, I began coughing again.
“I hope the medication kicks in soon,” I murmured.
“Yes,” he agreed.
“I would hate to be coughing on our wedding day.”
“I just need my baby up and running,” he said, adjusting the radio channel from the news to jazz music.
“I know you do,” I said softly.
“You are…” His voice cracked and he cleared his throat. “You are very special to me.”
I smiled contentedly. “Honey, you are a blessing to me…my treasure. I love you.”
Warmth radiated from his eyes as he smiled at me. “The feeling is mutual. I love you too.”
After we pulled up at Maydine’s home, Orane touched my hand. “Let us pray,” he said caringly. We thanked the Lord for my full recovery and an unforgettable wedding day.
An hour later, I pulled the comforter tightly around me as the cool breeze blew through the window. I was still coughing but that did not prevent me from having sweet dreams a
bout my husband-to-be and our wedding day.
The following day, Melissa and I headed to see Alaine Burgess, my hair stylist at Reflections Beauty Salon in Kingston. We laughed incessantly as we reflected on the days gone by, chatting at several miles per hour as only good friends do.
Alaine greeted us with hugs as we entered the salon. “Annalisa, the day is finally here!” Back in the day, Alaine had many visions of my wedding day and her role in it.
“Yes. Finally,” I declared amidst laughter.
“Hello everyone,” I greeted her employees.
It was always a pleasure to visit Alaine’s hair salon. She gave true meaning to the term ‘customer service’. Simply breathtaking would aptly describe the salon’s décor. The mint green, rectangular room had a large mirror lining the entire length of one wall. The patterns on this mirror captured the elegance of stalagmites and stalactites. Large beautifully framed photos and green plants were stationed strategically to enhance the décor.
“Did you get the makeup?” Alaine asked, interrupting my gaze.
“Yes,” I responded.
She perked up. “Let’s go to my office.”
Alaine observed with glee as Melissa and I laid out my personal effects on the round wooden table—jewelry sets, veil, gloves, make-up, pictures of my wedding gown and suggested hairstyles.
“Looking great!” Alaine beamed. “You have everything that I will need. I’m going to relax your hair and then do styling and makeup tomorrow.”
“Sounds great,” I responded.
“So, when will I meet this Mr. Conway?” Alaine asked with arched eyebrows.
“Today is your lucky day!” I grinned at her.
“Al…righty then!” she said enthusiastically. Melissa and I laughed as she performed a victory dance.
Two hours later as Alaine was putting on the finishing touches on my hair, Orane arrived, looking like the man about town.
“Has anyone seen my lovely bride?” He pretended not to see me.
Unforgettable, My Love Has Come Along Page 17
