While Naomi finished her meal and the nurses worked with her to prepare her to leave the hospital, Jill walked down to the cafeteria to find some food of her own. She had been too nervous to eat breakfast, but now her belly was complaining over its lack of food.
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When Naomi was sitting in the recliner in Monica’s living room, Fred, Trish and James appeared on the front porch. When they walked inside, Fred immediately went to his daughter and checked on her. Naomi started to cry, but wiped the tears away and said, “I am perfectly fine Father. I had a very wonderful friend when I needed her. She spoke for me when I could not, she comforted me when I cried, and she held me when I was frightened. I think she loves me just as my own Mother would have loved me if she was alive.” Fred turned to Jill, but Jill headed out the back door. Fred said, “Daughter, I think your partner in strength needs a shoulder to cry on, would you excuse me for a moment.”
Fred followed his wife into the back yard. Jill sat down on a small stool and cried so hard that Fred was unable to comfort her. Finally, Jill began to sing softly. Fred listened carefully to the song she sang. Jill had a beautiful voice. Trish heard the song from the living room. She took Naomi’s hand and said, “I know you may be very sore, but you must listen to the comfort song Jill is singing, and then I will explain it to you when we are alone.” Naomi walked with Trish to the back door and listened to Jill sing while being held in her husband’s arms. As the song ended and Jill had calmed herself, Trish helped Naomi back into her chair.
Frederica now was crying in her daughter Monica arms, but they walked out the side door so Jill would not see the tears when she returned with her husband. Jill walked into the kitchen with eyes so swollen they looked like she had been beaten. Jill started to walk into the room with Naomi, but turned around and went back outside. Trish said, “Fred, would you allow me to settle Jill, this one time she needs more than one shoulder to cry on.”
When Jill and Trish returned to the living room, Jill had settled her emotions and sat down on a footstool in front of Naomi. She reached out, took Naomi’s hand and then said, “Naomi, I have some things to tell you and I will try to say the words without crying. First, you need to know that I have had one of my eggs implanted. Without your father’s knowledge, I am now pregnant and have a tiny child growing in my belly. My husband has forgiven me for keeping secrets from him. I hope with all my heart that this child grows up with the wisdom and love of life I see in your eyes. I am proud to be part of your life, and hope that I can be as close to you as your mother would have been to you. I love you Naomi, I love your father with all my heart, and I love this child Fred and I have created. This child in my belly will be calling you big sister one day, and will look up to you for your wisdom and guidance in life. I will deliver this child on The Empress and would like you to be with me while my child is being born. Would you be brave enough for that task?” Naomi tried to lean forward, but winced and sat back in the chair. She said, “I will be with you, I promise.”
Frederica and Monica returned to the living room and all of Naomi’s guests began to leave. Fred said, “Daughter, I will stay with you, and care for you until you are able to teleport back to The Empress to rest.” Trish spoke up and said, “Fred, I know you have an important meeting in the morning that you need to prepare for. I planned to vacation here anyways, how about if I stay with Naomi. Later we can all make a decision if Naomi can stay here and recuperate, since she planned to vacation here with me anyways.” Fred walked up to Trish hugged her and said, “Thank you Trish, I appreciate everything you do for Naomi and me.” Fred took Jill’s arm and walked to the front porch where they teleported to The Empress. Frederica talked with the girls for a while and said, “I will stop by tomorrow and see how everyone is doing.” As she walked past Naomi, she leaned down and kissed her cheek. Then she handed Naomi a piece of paper and said, “Ask Trish and Monica to discuss this song with you. It means a lot in this family and every time I hear Jill sing it, my heart breaks for her and her mother.”
As Naomi read the words to the song, she wondered what the story of this song really was. She read the words slowly trying to comprehend their meaning:
Hush, little darling, don’t you cry
Mama’s going to keep you safe tonight
If that nightmare makes you weep
Mama’s going to hold you, until you sleep
When you find your prince someday
One small child you’ll have I pray
If that child should wake at night
Hold her tight until the light
Hush, little daughter I love you
Mama’s going to have to hug on you
If the hugging can’t still your cries
Mama’s going to have to kiss those eyes
If those kisses don’t work on you
Mama’s going to have to tickle you
If those tickles put a smile on you
Maybe you’ll sleep the whole night through
Hush, tiny dreamer, I love you
If you dream about the dark
Hug me close and calm your heart
Feel my love that mends the fright
Let my love show you that life
Will guide your way into the light
Please my God, please help this child
Don’t let her take her life tonight
Her love you see is dear to me
Show her life is the way to thee
Hush, little darling, hold tight to me
I am the light that will set you free
A boy named Ronnie, will fight for thee
A girl child he will give to thee
If you see the light in He
The child he gives will set you free
Hush, little darling, don’t you cry
Close your eyes and sleep with me
Hush, little darling, don’t you cry
Mama’s going to keep you safe tonight
If that nightmare makes you weep
Mama’s going to hold you, until you sleep
When you find your prince one day
One small child you’ll have I pray
If that child should wake at night
Hold her tight until the light
Hush, little darling, don’t you cry
Mama’s going to keep you warm tonight
If you wake and need to feed
Mama’s going to let you fill your need
When your diaper needs a change
Mama’s going to wash you nice and clean
If the dreams, you dream tonight
Turn too real and make you scream
Mama’s going to hold you until you sleep
Hush, little darling, Mama loves you
Hush, little darling, papa loves you
Hush, little darling, please don’t cry
Trish and Monica pulled chairs up to Naomi’s recliner and quietly waited until she had finished reading the words to Angela and her daughter Jill’s comfort song. Naomi looked to Trish and asked, “Has my father heard this song sung before today?” Trish said, “Yes one time, today was the second time for him.” Naomi asked, “When was the first time?” Trish looked deep into Naomi’s eyes and said, “When your father took Jill to visit your mother’s grave and told Jill about the death of his first true love and how your mother had only seconds to hold you before she died. Your mother died with you still in her arms, you do realize that don’t you? That story your father told Jill, broke her heart.” Naomi said, “I know the night they visited Mother’s grave, Jill had the same look on her face that night as she did just now.” It took Trish and Monica over two hours to tell Naomi the story of the comfort songs origin. Trish could see that Naomi was getting very uncomfortable and said, “Which would you prefer first Naomi, a walk to the bathroom, or a pain pill with a glass of water.” Naomi said, “I had made up my mind to tough out the pain and not take any pain pills, but I may have misjudged my ability to deal with pain this real.” Tris
h said, “For the next two days, you should take the pain pills so you are able to walk with me. You need to maintain your strength and keep your belly working.” Naomi smiled and said, “Yes, I believe your suggestion has a lot of merit. I will use the bathroom, and then take the pain pill. I would love a slow walk around the gardens of Monica’s home that I have heard so many wonderful stories about.” Trish stood up, offered her hand for Naomi to pull herself up. When Naomi was standing, Trish said, “I think I will stay with you while you use the bathroom this first time. Your legs are as wobbly and a newborn fawn right now.”
When they walked out of the bathroom, Naomi said, “Let’s try walking just to the porch and then see if these legs calm down a little before venturing into the gardens.” As they walked, Naomi began to get her strength back and the pain pill began working. Naomi ventured out into the sunlight and sat on a wooden bench looking out into the gardens. As the girls talked away the next hour, Naomi said, “I hate to be a party pooper, but that recliner I was sitting in sure would feel good right now. A short nap might fix what ails me.”
While Naomi got herself comfortably seated in her chair, Monica and Trish began to prepare supper. Trish was talking to Naomi and had asked her a question, but she got no response. Trish looked into the living room, giggled and said, “Wonderful drugs they have now days, we may have to delay supper. Naomi may not open her eyes again for an hour or more.” Monica said, “We will go ahead and eat and I will warm up some food for her later.” Trish heard James talking to himself in the bedroom and walked in to check on the still sleepy boy. As she carried him to the bathroom, she said, “I figured you would wake up when you smelled the wonderful food Monica has cooking in the kitchen, boys often do.” Monica put the coffee pot on the stove, and it had not perked for more than a minute when Monica realized Naomi was standing at the end of the kitchen counter. Naomi looked refreshed and ready to eat some supper. The first words out of Naomi’s mouth were, “I could not sleep with that wonderful smell of coffee tickling my nose.” The second thing she said as James and Trish came into the kitchen was, “I think I will cut one of those pain pills in half next time, at least during the day.” Monica said, “Now we know how the pills effect you and we can begin to adjust the dosage so you are comfortable but still able to function as you wish.”
James pulled on Naomi’s leg wanting into Naomi’s arms. Naomi slowly kneeled down to him and explained that she could not pick him up for a few days but she could sure hug him when he needed it. James wrapped his arms around Naomi’s neck and gave her a big hug. When he stepped back, Naomi said, “I missed you too my friend.” Naomi opened her robe just enough so that James could see the staples in her belly. She explained the operation to James as best she could, then he hugged her again. Naomi had to use the edge of the counter and Trish’s hand to get back to her feet, but smiled and pulled James up close to her leg and comforted him. Monica said, “Can you sit at the table Naomi or would you rather sit in your recliner?” Naomi said, “I will sit at the table with my friends. The pain pill has me feeling well for now.” Naomi said, “I should have brought some of Fathers red wine to sip and I would not have needed the pain pills.” Trish smiled at Naomi and said, “When I am certain that the medication has worn off, I have a vintage of red wine that will settle your pain if you go easy on it. If you drink too much of it, your next hurt will be inside your skull.”
As the girls began putting the food on the table, they heard Naomi scream, “JAMES, NO.” As Trish ran to Naomi, she saw Naomi attempting to catch James as he tumbled down the last few steps of the stairs leading down from the second floor loft. Naomi went down to her knees trying to catch him, but he still hit hard. Naomi had James up and into her arms before he could begin to cry. Trish yelled to Naomi, “Don’t lift him.” Naomi was already crying, from both the pain in her belly and in fear James was seriously hurt. Trish got James off Naomi, but she realized her son was not hurt. Naomi on the other hand was in real pain. Monica got Naomi back onto her feet and Naomi said, “I am okay now. It just hurt for a moment or two.” James was rubbing his arm, but it did not seem hurt too badly and he began telling his mom about falling down the stairs. Trish calmly explained to him that he was not to climb the stairs ever again. She shook him gently and he put his arms around her and said, “Sorry mommy.” Monica said, “Naomi may I peek at your belly for a second.” When she looked, nothing seemed damaged on the outside. Naomi said, “I did not mean to scare everyone, but I wanted to stop James from jumping down three steps at once; but he fell before I could get the words out of my mouth.” Monica walked Naomi to the kitchen table and sat her down.
************
When Trish woke in the morning, James was still sleeping and she could smell fresh coffee brewing. She walked out into the kitchen and poured a cup. She looked around and discovered Naomi outside sitting on the porch sipping her coffee. When Trish walked outside, Naomi smiled and said, “The planet Quantum has the best sunrises. As the sun rose in the eastern sky, I watched the planets twin moons set in the west. I never paid much attention to the planet’s twin moons until now.” Trish said, “It is good to see you up so early this morning and smiling again. You scared the crap out of everyone my friend.” Naomi said, “I tried to keep my problems secret but that did not work out so well.” Trish said, “Naomi please speak up whenever your problems get out of control; there is always someone on The Empress that can help you. You need to quit acting like a spoiled b…, sorry, enough said. You just need to ask when your life gets out of control.”
Trish sipped some of her coffee and then looked at Naomi and said, “Naomi, I am sorry I tend to distance myself from other people’s problems. I have always fended for myself and I tend to push my very best friends away when I become emotional or I feel tears about to run down my face like a child. Problem is, when I do finally confront the issues, I tend to double up my fists and knock some sense in the people around me. That attitude drives my best friends away and has even prevented me from being a wife and living with a man I truly once loved.” Naomi said, “I understand your defensive maneuvers, but sometimes I am unable to get to the real Trish when I need to, all I do is piss off the woman named Trish. I am the opposite from you. You run away from attention and the affection of others, I tend to run towards those things. I often push so hard for attention that I act like a spoiled brat. Trish, I will say the words you could not say, because I do act like a spoiled brat sometimes. You may have to use those clenched fists on me a couple times before I get the message to not act that way.”
Trish’s eyes began to blink and the tears ran down her cheeks. “I would never hit you Naomi, I may threaten you if you really piss me off, but I would not ever hit you. You must believe me Naomi, I would never hurt you.”
The patio door slid open and James ran out to greet the girls. Then the door slid shut and Naomi realized that Monica had opened the door for James. James hugged his mother, then slowly walked to Naomi and said, “Hug you Naomi?” Naomi leaned down and hugged the dickens out of him. Then she kissed his forehead and said, “Young man, I need to scrub that body of yours. It has been to long since your bath yesterday. You smell like a boy child.” James said, “After breakfast I take bath.” Naomi straightened his hair with her fingers and said, “I will wash your back when you get in. Just holler at me.” James ran off to get his breakfast and Monica let him into the house. Monica stepped out onto the porch and said, “Breakfast is ready if you two have the notion.” Naomi put her hand on her belly and stood up without the slightest wince of pain. Trish stepped up to her, carefully hugged her and said, “Naomi, it is nice to talk to you and not feel inferior or bullied. I have not felt comfortable around you since you came to The Empress, and now I believe part of that feeling was my own insecurity and mistrust of others. I hope we can continue being friends instead of combatants.” Naomi said, “If you help me to the breakfast table I will be your very best friend for life. I am starving.” When they stepped into the k
itchen, James had jelly from ear to ear and Monica said, “I think James is happy with my latest batch of strawberry jam. But I may have to cut him off or we will never be able to clean the stains off him.” Naomi began giggling and had to walk into the living room and force herself to stop laughing over the jelly on James face. Naomi then picked up a plate of food to take to the table but quickly put it down and commented, Doctor Tom told me true when he said, “Do not lift anything bigger than your toothbrush, understood!” Monica told Naomi that in a week she would not hurt like that when she picked up a plate, but for now, lifting was per Doctor Tom’s orders, don’t do it.
Trish said, “I would like to walk around the block and show you a little of the neighborhood after we do the breakfast dishes, would you consider half a pain pill before we attempt the walk. Naomi smiled and said, “Yes, please. I need to walk before my belly explodes from the excess pressure inside.” Monica said, “Take James with you, or sit with him while he sits on the potty for a while, please.” Naomi giggled and said, “I just thought he needed a bath. Maybe he needs me to read to him while he sits on the potty after breakfast.” Trish said, “If you would read to him, I will help Monica with the dishes and the beds, and then we could walk when everyone has had their turn in the bathrooms.”
That evening Trish sat down with Naomi and said, “How are you feeling?” Naomi said, “Sleepy and very sore.” Trish said, “Monica has hired a babysitter for James for the evening. We are going to a night club to dance and maybe find a couple of men to love on.” I am not going to invite you tonight as I figure you need to rest and to heal your body, but I plan to ask you to join us many times while we are here on Quantum. There are some incredibly wonderful nightlife places to visit and I will take you every night when you fell better and want to go. Tonight involves alcohol and condoms so I will not even ask you. Tomorrow night we plan to visit the Marauder Restaurant and Grill. It is a wonderful restaurant with plenty of dancing and guys of all ages. If you are not ready, I will take you another night, but you will have a blast with the live band and the shoulder-to-shoulder people. They have the best fresh lobsters on the planet. You do like lobster don’t you?” Naomi nodded and smiled as Trish continued talking. “Then we will go when you are ready. Tomorrow afternoon if you are not too sore, we plan to visit the zoo in Liberty with Frederica. It will involve walking, but you are strong and we will carefully feed you pain pills through the day.” Naomi smiled and whispered to Trish, “I will be fine, have a great time tonight.” Trish leaned down, kissed Naomi on the forehead and said, “If you need anything, the babysitter will help you. I explained that you had surgery and might need a hand lifting things. Her name is Marilyn. Do you need anything now?” Naomi said, “I am good. My bed is ready and I will take a shower later. See you in the morning sometime.” Trish asked, “Can you shower with the staples in your belly?” Naomi smiled and said, “Yes, There is no bandage over the wound, and the doctor said the water from a shower would do the incision good, so I will be just fine.” Trish said, “Why do I feel worried about you right now, are you sure you can cope tonight without me being here?” Naomi reached up and touched Trish’s cheek and said, “I am fine my friend. Now go and have a good time.”
Volume II Page 20
