In Name Only

by Vivian Rose Lee

  The women rose, meeting him.

  “Edmond, how Sky?” Ms Georgie asked.

  He shook his head. “Not good Mom, she in labor, her pressure extremely high and it not lowering, mostly due to her pain. Dr Yancy wants to do a C-Section, but we have to wait for her pressure to lower. What happened to her, she was fine Sunday, did something upset her?”

  “Now what Edmond? What will happen?” His mother asked concerned.

  “We are trying to prevent her from having a stroke, pray her pressure lowers, and where in the hell is Ben?” Just then, Ben rushed into the emergency waiting area.

  “Where’s Sky?” Ben asked frantically.

  “She in ICU Ben,” Edmond said, “I’m sorry she not doing so well right now?”

  “What happened? Can I see her?”

  “Come on,” Edmond told him.

  Ben went behind the curtain. Sky was eyes closed, her breathing was irregular and shallow, an ashen look to her face. A blood pressure monitor attached to her arm, IV tube in the back of her hand. The monitor would hiss signaling that her blood pressure registering. Ben looked over at he monitor, 170/110. Ben looked at Edmond, tears glistening in his eyes.

  “Edmond?”

  “Ben we need to get her blood pressure regulated, Dr Yancy needs to do a C-Section, but her pressure has to lower. The medicine we gave her isn’t working, and the doctor does not want to give her anything stronger because of the babies. Ben she could have a stroke on the table, that’s what we’re trying to avoid.”

  “Is she awake?” Ben asked choked. Edmond nodded somberly. Ben went to her bedside.

  “Sky,” he called softly. Her eyes opened and looked at him.

  “Ben,” she said still panting.

  “I’m here Baby,” her eyes closed. She started groaning, breathing harder. Her eyes squeezed shut, her face contorted with pain.

  “What’s wrong?” Ben asked frantically looking at Sky.

  “Ben she’s in labor, the pain also making her pressure rise, so you see our dilemma.” Edmond explained.

  A nurse stood beside Sky rubbed her belly talking soothingly to her. Slowly Sky quieted down.

  “Mr. Smith here, put your hand her on her tummy. The muscles will tighten, the stomach will arch and change shape during the contraction. As they get closer it important to relax her. Rub her tummy lightly; I like to think it calms the baby inside. Ben slipped off his uniform jacket stood in his T-shirt. His hands gently rubbed her tummy. Sky eyes opened, and fixed on his face.

  “Hi Baby, every thing going to be alright, I promise, I’m here Baby, “he said tenderly to her.

  Tears gathered and fell from her eyes.

  “Ben,” she panted.

  “Sh...” he said tenderly rubbing her belly. With his other hand, he wiped her tears. Gently stroking her head. His eyes trained on her.

  “He comes another one, Baby, keep your eyes on me Sky, relax Baby,” he coaxed softly.

  Ben could feel her stomach hardening and arching. Sky breathing became rapid, but she calmed slowly. “That’s it Sky relax, I’m here baby, I’m not going to leave ever.”

  “We going to give her and epidural, just to ease the contraction,” Dr Yancy said entering the room. “But her pressure is still to high, keep her calm; I don’t want to give her any more drugs than I have to.” Ben nodded his eyes still on his wife.

  Ben helped them roll her over, so they could insert the needle in her spine.

  Sky eyes still trained on his face. She rolled back. Ben continued to rub her tummy lightly and softly talking to her.

  “I love you Sky, and soon we will see our babies; you have to relax so they can come home with us.” He told her soothingly.

  “You love me?” she said brokenly.

  Ben smiled. “Very much.”

  Her eyes closed. Edmond patted Ben on his back and left them alone. Dr Yancy examined her, sure that the babies were okay.

  Ben looked at the monitor; her pressure was lowering.

  “Doctor,” he said getting her attention nodding his head toward the monitor.

  Dr Yancy smiled. “Good, good, whatever your doing don’t stop, I’ll be back in a minute.”

  Sky blood pressure did lower, she didn’t pant so much as she did. Ben closed his eyes and gave thanks to the Lord.

  Out to the waiting area, Ben let his mother know they were prepping Sky for delivery. He was going to the operating room with them; he was not going to leave his Sky. Edmond would come get him when they were ready. Jana and Clara sat across from them.

  “Clara what happened?” Ben asked his tone firm.

  “After you called to let her know you were out of town, she was fine, we were putting the babies’ clothes away; I was preparing lunch, when Dina came by. I heard all that she said, the bottom line is, she told Sky she should just divorce you like planned, because you and she were going to be together, but I don’t think that’s what got to Sky, she insinuated that you were with her last night, not out of town.”

  “What?” Ben yelled not able to believe what he just heard.

  “After she went to bed, refusing to eat, I checked her vital before I left and she was fine. This morning I returned, she was having difficulty breath, she tried to call someone, because the phone was on the floor, it must have fallen when she tried to get it. I called you, and Dina answer, I told her to have you call home right away, I couldn’t wait Ben, and so I called 911.”

  Ben watched as Clara told him this. His face tight with anger. Dina has gone too far this time.

  Clara reached into her pocket, and handed Ben the card. “This was on the floor by the phone.”

  Ben eyes went over the card. He looked up at his mother handing it to her.

  “What is it?” Jana asked frowning.

  “Dina invited Sky to her and Ben’s engagement party,” Ms Georgie said simply.

  “Mom, I saw Dina give Sky a gift Sunday, I put it on the table so Sky wouldn’t open it, I meant to throw it away. Was it in a pink flat envelope?” she asked Clara.

  “Yeah, it was a pink envelope on the bed.”

  Ben covered his eyes with the heel of his hands. His mother rubbed his back.

  “Right now, Sky is what’s important; Ben can deal with Dina later.”

  Edmond joined them. “Ben we’re ready, you need to put on some scrubs.”

  Ben hugged his mother. “It’s going to be alright Son.” Ben took a deep breath and followed Edmond.

  Sky was lying on the operating table, a technician sat her head, which monitored her vitals, two nurses on each side of her, and Dr Yancy was on the side of her. Edmond was there to assisting the doctor. Ben stood at Sky’s head.

  “She a little drowsy Ben, we don’t want her sleep, she just twilight, so you can talk to her, comfort her, let her know you’re here,” Dr Yancy told him.

  Ben bent to Sky. “Hey Mrs. Smith,” her eyes opened. She could not talk an oxygen mask over her nose and mouth.

  “I told you I’m not leaving you.” Ben said smiling.

  “Okay let get these babies to their parents.” Dr. Yancy said grinning.

  Sky eyes stayed on Ben’s face. He told her he loved her several times.

  “Okay, Ben here’s comes one of your girls!” Dr Yancy announced. Ben looked at his daughter was quickly passed to the nurse, right away, and the baby started wailing.

  “You hear that Baby, that’s our daughter.” Ben said tears streaming down his face.

  “Okay,” Dr Yancy said, here is her sister!” instantly the babies cry filled the air.

  “You hear that Sky, are babies are here.”

  Ben bent and kissed her forehead. He looked over at the nurse, as they cleaned them, and wrapped them in a blanket. When his eyes returned to Sky, she was looking at him with a glazed look in her eyes.

  “Doctor, her pressure is dropping!” the technician called, “90 over 60!”

  Everything started happening fast.

  “Doctor get him out of here!” Dr Yancy
yelled loudly to Edmond.

  “What’s wrong?” he yelled.

  “Ben please, you have to go!”

  “No! I am not leaving her! What’s going on”? Ben shouted.

  “80 over 60!”

  Edmond put his blood hands on Ben chest and pushed him out the swing doors.

  “That’s my wife!” he screamed.

  “Ben I have get back, I’ll let you know.” Edmond left him going back in the OR.

  Ben fell to his knees crying, tears streaming down his face; he raised his head back and prayed as hard as he could.

  “Please God, save my wife, don’t take her from me, I love her, please save her Father,” he cried.

  A nurse came to him, and helped him to his feet. “Mr. Smith, please wait outside with your family, Dr Smith and Dr Yancy will be out to talk to you.”

  “Is she…?”

  “No sir, their still working on her? She’s going to be fine, just believe that.”

  Ben dropped his head and covered his face with his hands. “Come on Mr. Smith,” she said softly leading him out.

  Ben came out of the swing doors, his head low, still wearing the bloody gown where Edmond pushed him out.

  All in the waiting room went to him. Jonathan by then had joined the family at the hospital.

  “Ben,” his mother called. Ben looked at his mother, tear flowing down his handsome face.

  Ben couldn’t talk. He fell to his knees before his mother, and pressed his face into her stomach. Clara and Jana held each other hand. Jonathan sat on the chair holding his head.

  “Ben, son what is it? Ms Georgie asked frantically. She helped him get up.

  “Mom, they put me out, her pressure was dropping, I don’t know what’s happening, the girls were born, and next thing Sky’s pressure started to drop, Edmond made me leave, they were working on her.”

  “Come and sit Son, Sky going to be fine, she not going to leave us, we have to believe that.”

  Finally calmer, Ben sat beside his mother holding his head. The waiting was getting to him. Jonathan went to him, and stood in front of him. Ben raised his head and looked at his nephew with reddened eyes.

  “Unck, she is going to be alright, I feel it.”

  “Thanks knucklehead,” Ben said giving him a trembling smile.

  Ben lowered his head. His mother rubbed his back.

  “Ben!”

  Ben looked up it was Dina. Ben sprung for the chair.

  “What in the hell are doing here, haven’t you done enough!” he yelled coming to his feet.

  “What Ben?” Dina said not understanding.

  “Why didn’t you tell me the nurse called?” Ben demanded fiercely.

  “B-Ben I...” Dina stammered nervously.

  “Mom get rid of her!” Ben said walking away.

  Ben saw the card Dina gave Sky on the table beside the vinyl sofa.

  Ben picked it up and stalked to Dina just as Ms Georgie was telling her to leave.

  “What the hell is this?” he said pushing the card at her.

  “Uh…Ben,” she stammered.

  “You better stay clear of my family Dina, before I have you brought up on charges for court marshaled!” Disgusted Ben moved away from her.

  “Ben, give me a chance…”

  “You better hope Dina, my wife, recovers,” Ben turned to his mother. “Mom get her out of here before I forget I’m a gentleman!”

  “Get out Dina,” Ms Georgie told her curtly.

  Dina looked over at Mrs. Smith, she then turn and left the hospital.

  Edmond and Dr Yancy came out to them. Both looked exhausted. Ben rushed to them.

  “How’s my wife?” he asked frantically.

  “She stable, Ben.” Dr Yancy said exhaled. “But she in a coma, I’m sorry.” Ben’s knees weakened as he fell against Edmond. Edmond held on to him.

  “Now, her vitals are good, and she may come out of this thing tonight, but right now she stabled.”

  “Can I see her?” Ben choked out

  “You don’t want to see your girls?” The doctor asked.

  “Not without my wife.”

  “I understand, she needs you now,” she said rubbing Ben’s arm.

  “Can my family see the babies?” Ben asked instead.

  “Absolutely, now it’s important that Sky has family around her, talk to her as if she were awake.” Dr Yancy instructed them.

  As his family followed Dr Yancy, Edmond took Ben to see Sky.

  Ben watched her lying so still, she looked pale, but peaceful, her small hands on her lap.

  “Take off that gown Brother.” Edmond said gently. Ben removed the gown, his eyes only on Sky. Ben sat down beside her, taking her hand in his.

  “Hi Baby, wake up have to see our babies, I won’t see them until you wake up, I want us to see them together. Open your eyes Sky, baby please open your eyes,” he pleaded.

  Ben took her hand in his gently caressing her, as he continued to talk to her about anything that came into his head.

  Ben didn’t know how long he sat beside Sky bed. His eyes were red from watching Sky, for any sign that she was awake. He was still in his T-shirt and uniform pants. Edmond tried to get him to leave for a while and get some rest. Ben refused saying he couldn’t leave, she might wake up, and she wouldn’t see him. His mother sent Jonathan to get some fresh clothing for Ben.

  Ben sat beside Sky for two days, laying his head on the side of the bed when he could no longer stay awake.

  The family came in intervals, sitting with them talking, so Sky can hear them. The Sunday of the week that Sky was in the hospital, Ms Georgie decided they were going to have tradition family dinner in the hospital with Sky. The whole family was their. Ben sat in the same place he always did beside his wife.

  “Ben,” his mother spoke softly, Ben looked up at his mother. He was exhausted, Georgie noticed. Nevertheless, he refuses to leave Sky. He sat with her, talking or reading to her.

  “Come on Honey eat something.” His mother coaxed.

  “Just give me a piece of chicken,” he said exhaling. Jana brought it to him, wrapped in a napkin.

  Ben smiled up at her. “Thanks Jana.”

  “The girls are beautiful Son,” his mother commented.

  “I knew they would be Mom,” he said not looking at her.

  “Ben I got in touch with Sky mother,” Georgie informed him. That was the only time Ben turned his attention from Sky.

  “What did she say?” her son asked.

  “Well, after I told her off, and then told how wonderful her daughter was and how she should be ashamed of herself for turning her back on this beautiful young woman, the woman had the nerve to cry.”

  “Really?” Ben commented surprised. Sky said her mother was a hard woman.

  “I’m going to pick her up in two hours at the airport.”

  Ben smiled. “Sky will like that,” he said turning back to Sky.

  Jonathan, being who he is. “Unck, remember the last time you and Aunt Sky were at Grandma’s?”

  Ben nodded his head. “Well I had been meaning to ask, how do sardines and ice cream taste?” Ben looked over at Jon and chuckled.

  “It not very good, but don’t tell Sky,” he said smiling.

  Jonathan laughed. Then everyone got quiet. Then Jonathan started laughing.

  “What Jon?” Ben asked.

  “I was just remembering when Aunt Sky got stuck in the bathroom.”

  “I told you not to make fun of my wife,” Ben said with a smile.

  “It was funny Ben,” his mother said.

  Then silence. Georgie started laughing, and then Jana, after a minute, everyone in the room was laughing uproariously, and talking at once.

  Ben looked down at Sky. “They are laughing at you Baby,” Ben said laughing, bending down to kiss her lips.

  “It was funny Ben.” Sky spoke her voice dry.

  Ben jumped up from the chair knocking it over.

  “Sky!”

  Everyone r
ose from their chairs, and surrounded the bed. Sky’s eyes flickered and then open.

  She cleared her scratchy throat.

  “Water Ben, give her some water!” Georgie ordered. “Jon go tell the nurse Sky is awake.”

  Ben took a cup with a straw and put it to her lip. She sucked greedily.

  “Whoa, slow down,” he said smiling.

  Ben set the cup down. Sky eyes went around the room. Her eyes came to Ben; she saw the tears flowed freely down his handsome face. Weakly Sky raised her hand to caress his face. Jonathan returned with the nurse.

  Hey you, did you sleep well? The friendly nurse said, as she checked Sky. Everything seems okay; I’ll call Dr Yancy and let her know you have awakened Sleeping Beauty.”

  “More water?” Ben asked her.

  “Yes please.” Ben sat her up to drink. She drained the cup.

  Dr Yancy entered the room. “Hey you decided to join us did you?” Dr Yancy said looking at her chart. She looked up at Sky. “Everything looks good,” she said with a smile.

  “I smell Mom’s chicken,” she said softly. Someone handed a piece to her, Dr. Yancy intervened, taking the chicken and biting into it.

  “Let’s take it easy, your dinner will be up pronto, no solid foods yet, you will be dining on jello and broth for a couple days, then you can have some of this delicious chicken.” Dr. Yancy said taking another bite.

  When everyone left, Ben was grinning from ear to ear. He couldn’t take his eyes of Sky. He held her hand gently, caressing it.

  Sky looked into his eyes. “Have you seen the babies?”

  “Not yet,” Ben told her grinning.

  “Why?”

  “We will see our daughters together,” Ben stated with finality. Sky smiled. She loved him so much.

  When her dinner arrived, Ben helped her eat that horrible broth and jello.

  “You scared me Sky,” Ben admitted. “I don’t know what I would have done without you; I find that I need you.”

  “What about Dina?” Sky asked.

  “There was never Dina, even if we had divorced, which we most certainly will not be doing, I would not have turned to her.”

  “But she said…” Ben put his finger to her lips.

  “I’ll take care of Dina, don’t worry about that, right now I want you to get better, so we can take our babies home.”