by E. N. Joy
“Great.” Paige looked to Norman. “Now we can go home and get some sleep.” She began gathering her purse and the baby’s diaper bag.
“Well, thank you, Doc.” Norman stood and shook the doctor’s hand.
“Anytime. And with the paperwork the nurse is going to give you with your discharge papers, there is a pamphlet describing what I just discussed. There is also a twenty-four-hour nurse hotline.”
“Thank you.” Norman thanked Dr. Wright again and shook his hand. He opened the examination room door to let Paige and the baby through.
“Thank you for everything, Doc. Next time I hope to see you at church and not here at your place of employment,” Paige said, heading toward the door. She then turned and said, “But can I ask you a question?”
“Certainly,” Dr. Wright said. “Shoot.”
“How in the world do you know about snorkeling?”
He chuckled and shook his head. “In spite of popular opinion, some Black folk do enjoy snorkeling, water skiing, and swimming with the dolphins on occasion.” He then turned to Norman where the two high-fived and then exited the room.
“So how’d she do? What’s she doing? Did she cry for me? When’s the last time you changed her diaper? How many ounces did she eat? Oh my goodness. Did you remember to burp her after she ate?” Paige hadn’t even set her purse and keys down when she entered the house and began bombarding Norman with questions. She still had the mail in her hand she’d gotten out the mailbox.
“She did fine. She’s just sitting here in her pumpkin seat, as you can see. She only cried when she needed to be changed, which was just twenty minutes ago, after she ate about four ounces of milk and I successfully burped her.” Norman patted himself on the back. “But you know all of this already. I told you when you called me five minutes ago on your way home.” Norman put his index finger to his temple as if pondering. “Or maybe it was when you called ten minutes ago. No, it had to be the time you called fifteen minutes ago.” Norman snapped his finger. “No, it had to be when you called twenty minutes ago.”
Paige put her hands on her hips. “Mister, are you trying to insinuate that I called you every five minutes?”
“I’m not insinuating anything. You did call every five minutes, and I have the call log on my cell phone to prove it,” he said.
“Oh, hush.” Paige shooed her hand and laughed. “I can’t help it that this was my first time away from my little muffin in six whole weeks and I couldn’t stand it.” Paige made her way over to the baby and began cooing. “Ain’t that right, Mommy’s little smhoo? Did you miss your mommy? Huh, baby cakes?” Paige tickled the baby’s chin.
“So what did the doctor say? Did you get a clean bill of health?”
“Yep. Clean bill of health. I’m good to resume all of my regular activities, which unfortunately means going back to work.”
“Ha! You couldn’t even go to the doctor’s for an hour. How are you going to make it eight hours at work?”
A drab look took over Paige’s face. “Ugh. Oh, no. I haven’t even thought about that.” Paige sat down looking as if she’d just lost her best friend, her eyes watering.
“Well, you have six more weeks of FMLA to think about it. You’re twelve-week leave will be up then.”
“I’ll lose my mind if I resume my work duties.”
Norman shrugged. “Then forget about work. Stay home and resume your wifely duties instead.”
Both Norman and Paige’s eyes darted at one another and locked. Both of their minds traveled to the gutter and then back again.
“I mean your motherly duties,” Norman corrected himself.
“Yes, I know exactly what you meant.” Paige shot Norman a knowing look as her mind wandered back to that unfinished conversation they’d started in the kitchen three weeks ago. Paige felt, had hoped, Norman was about to confess being in love with her before Adele’s hurling cries drew them from the kitchen to the bedroom. Paige had dropped subtle hints over the past few weeks in an attempt to lure Norman back to the conversation. All had failed. Yet here once again it seemed like opportunity was knocking. “You know these awkward little moments can be avoided if you just come out and say whatever it was you were about to say in the kitchen awhile ago.”
Norman looked confused.
“You know; the night we had to rush Adele to the hospital,” Paige reminded him, although she had a feeling he was playing coy and had known exactly what she was talking about all along.
“Oh, that night,” Norman recalled with a nod. He shifted a little on the couch as if trying to get comfortable. “Well, you know how . . .” he started. He was about to go into some long, drawn out pre-speech but felt he was tired of all the awkwardness as well. It was time to give the poor elephant in the room a break and stop making it jump through those stupid circus hoops. “Paige, plain and simply put, I’m in—”
“There you are.”
Both Norman and Paige looked up to see Miss Nettie coming out of the kitchen, drying her hands on a paper towel.
“Miss Nettie, I didn’t know you were here.” Paige looked at Norman and spoke through closed teeth and tight lips. “Norman, why didn’t you tell me Miss Nettie was here?”
“Uh, yes, why, Miss Nettie, I forgot myself that you were even here.” Norman looked to Paige. “My mother sent Miss Nettie over with some groceries and asked her to prepare a couple days’ worth of meals just in case you were busy with the baby.”
“Oh, how nice of Mrs. Vanderdale. She sent Miss Nettie to do her grandmotherly duties.”
“Don’t start,” was what Norman wanted to say to Paige. He didn’t though. He just shot her a look that said it all. Miss Nettie concurred with a look of her own.
“Anyway, Miss Nettie.” Paige stood and went and approached her in-laws’ housekeeper. “It’s good to see you.” She hugged Miss Nettie. “And do send my thanks and regards to my mother-in-law.”
Miss Nettie pulled away from Paige and said, “It’s good to see you as well.” She had a strange look on her face.
“Miss Nettie, what is it? Why are you looking at me so strangely?” Paige asked her.
“Nothing really, or maybe it’s just me.”
“What?”
“Do you notice that whenever you start talking about the missus that you end up with this accent like you’re one of the characters from Gone with the Wind?”
Norman couldn’t help but burst out laughing. “You notice that too, Miss Nettie? I thought it was just me. That’s why I’ve never said anything.”
“I do not,” Paige said in disbelief.
“I wouldn’t lie to you, child,” Miss Nettie assured her. “Sounding like a broke-down Scarlett O’Hara.”
Norman roared out in laughter even harder this time.
Paige shot him a glare. “It’s not that funny. Besides, I honestly had no idea I was doing that.”
“Now that you know better, do better,” Miss Nettie said, she then changed the subject as she began gathering her belongings to leave. “I made a spaghetti pie that’s cooling on the stove. You can cut it up in squares, freeze it, then thaw and warm whenever you got a taste for it. There’s some homemade chicken and noodle soup I done froze up for you already. On the stove I got you some meatloaf, parsley potatoes, and green beans. You can eat those for dinner tonight.” Miss Nettie pulled her thin, sheer scarf from her purse and tied it around her hair. “Oh yeah, and I cleaned and sterilized Miss Adele’s bottles. Took the liberty of throwing that binky out though. Ain’t no need of getting her started on that. Them thangs is just outright nasty. Besides, kids don’t need pacifying. That’s what’s wrong with the spoiled little things now. Then they grow up with a sense of entitlement and . . .” Miss Nettie’s words trailed off once she realized Norman and Paige were stone-faced while she went off on her rant. “Oh, well. Never you mind. But you know what I’m talking about.”
“Yes, Miss Nettie, we do.” Paige smiled as she went and opened the door for Miss Nettie. “Thank you for ever
ything, Miss Nettie. Please send my regards to my mother-in-law.” Paige said that last line in a purposeful and jokingly Southern drawl.
“You stop cuttin’ up, child.” Miss Nettie swatted Paige on the rear as she walked by her and out the door. “Oh yeah, and one last thing,” Miss Nettie said before heading down the front porch. “I washed little Miss Adele’s blankets. They should be about finished up in the dryer. Take ’em out and fold ’em up while they’re warm from the dryer so they don’t get all wrinkled and will be nice, flat, and soft for her.”
“Is that everything, Miss Nettie?” Norman said, exasperated at all of Miss Nettie’s instructions.
Miss Nettie threw her hands on her hips. “Don’t worry, that’s everything,” Miss Nettie said, sensing Norman’s irritation. She rolled her eyes and then climbed down the steps, but not before throwing one final task over her shoulder. “Now you can get back to telling the missus that you’re in love with her.”
Chapter Seventeen
Paige slowly closed the door after watching Miss Nettie walk away. The sense of awkwardness in the room nearly suffocated her. She had to think of something to say, something to do, quick. “The mail!” She hurried over to the end table where she had placed the mail. “Let me see if my million dollar check came today,” she joked. Paige flipped through the few pieces of mail. “Here, these are for you.” Paige handed Norman a couple pieces of mail that were addressed to either him or current resident. “And these are for . . .” She continued through the pile. “Me.” Her tone changed to one of fret.
Detecting the change in Paige’s tone Norman asked her, “What is it, honey?”
“Well, it’s, uh, something from the jail,” Paige informed him.
“With that restraining order, Blake knows darn well he’s not to contact you in any shape or form,” Norman seethed.
“No, no, it’s not from Blake.” Paige tore the letter open. “It’s from what looks like the prison clinic.” She looked up at Norman with fear in her eyes as she pulled the single piece of paper out of the envelope. After reading the first few lines, it was as if the wind had been knocked out of Paige. She nearly fell onto the couch, landing on the baby’s pumpkin seat, until Norman caught her fall. It was like the scene when Norman’s father had to catch his mother from falling, only this time there was no exaggerating. Paige really had to catch her breath.
“Paige, what is it?” Norman sat Paige down next to the baby. He then picked up the letter Paige had been reading that she’d let fall to the floor. After reading the first few lines, Norman, too, thought he’d need to be resuscitated. “Oh, my God. Is this a joke? Is this a horrible joke Blake is playing on you?” Norman examined the paper and the envelope for authenticity. “Maybe he found out you married me and this is his way of paying you back, some sick form of revenge. Or maybe he found out about Adele. Oh God.” Norman threw his hand on his forehead. “This could get ugly.” He began to pace.
“Norman, I really don’t feel like this is a joke.” Paige held out her hand. “Let me see the letter again.”
Norman continued reading the letter himself.
“Please,” Paige shouted. “Let me see it.”
Norman handed Paige the letter and watched as she read. She just started shaking her head as tears filled her eyes.
“This can’t be happening to me. It can’t,” Paige cried.
Norman hated seeing Paige in pain, in such agony. He felt so sorry for her. Just when everything in life seemed to be going okay for her, out popped the devil. Norman couldn’t take seeing her like this. He pulled his cell phone out.
“Who are you calling?” Paige stood up to her feet and made an attempt to snatch the phone from Norman’s hands. “Don’t tell anyone. Don’t you dare tell anyone. Do you know how people will treat me?”
“The heck with people, Paige!” Norman snapped. “At some point in your life you can’t base every decision you make on what people will think of you. This isn’t about people. This is about getting to the bottom of this. I’m calling the number on the paper. Now read it off to me.”
Paige stood frozen.
“Read it!” Norman was getting frustrated.
Paige shook her head as tears filled her eyes. “No. No. What if I don’t want to know?”
Norman walked over and got in Paige’s face. “Are you serious right now? Why would you not want to know?” Norman took Paige’s face and turned it toward the baby. “Her, right there; she’s all the reason you need to want to know. Now read me the da—” Norman had to catch himself before a cuss word slipped. “Read me the darn number.”
Paige took a deep breath and read the phone number she was instructed to call from the paper. Norman dialed. Once he heard the first ring, he held the phone out to Paige. “Here.” He nudged the phone toward Paige. “Come on; it’s ringing.”
Paige exhaled again and then took the phone from Norman. She placed it to her ear until she was greeted on the other end. “Uh, yes,” she said, swallowing tears. “My name is Paige Dickenson . . . I mean, Robinson.” She slapped herself on the forehead as if knocking some sense into her head. Even though the letter was addressed to Paige Dickenson, that was no longer her last name. “This is Paige Vanderdale. I, uh, received a letter in the mail regarding my husband . . . my ex-husband, Blake Dickenson.”
Norman rested his hand on Paige’s back to calm her down, comfort her, and let her know that he was there to support her no matter what. Just like all the other trials and tribulations he’d been able to stand by and help Paige get through, he wouldn’t forsake her now.
She took another deep breath and gained her composure. “I received a letter in the mail regarding Blake Dickenson. Yes. Umm hmmm.” Paige looked at Norman with a deeper fear than ever. “Yes. But I got tested when I found out I was pregnant. Yes.” Paige nodded as if the person on the other end could see her. “About six, seven months ago or so. I just gave birth a couple months ago. Yes. Sure. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Good-bye.” Paige ended the call and then slowly handed Norman the phone.
“What did they say?”
“Well, it’s not a joke,” Paige confirmed. “This letter really is from the clinic prison. And Blake really did test positive for HIV.”
Paige and Norman sat in the waiting room of her doctor’s office holding hands. She’d just signed in at the reception window and had only been waiting a little over ten minutes, but it had felt like hours. The very next day after she got the letter informing her that Blake had tested positive for HIV, she’d made an appointment with her doctor to get tested for HIV. That was four days ago, but it had felt more like a month.
“Paige Vanderdale,” the nurse walked out of the door leading to the examination room and called.
“Yes!” both she and Norman said at the same time, each of them abruptly standing.
“Mrs. Vanderdale, it’s good to see you again. How are you?”
“I’ve been better,” Paige sighed.
“Well, come on back.”
Paige looked to her husband. “Will you come back with me?”
“Of course.” Norman stood and squeezed Paige’s hand. She didn’t have to ask him twice. There was nowhere he’d have rather been right now than with his wife. He knew she’d need him now more than ever, and was glad when his sister agreed to babysit Adele while he accompanied his wife to the doctor’s. He’d been scheduled to be off work anyway and was going to stay home with the baby while Paige went to be tested for HIV per the suggestion of the doctor at the prison clinic. A minute didn’t go by after he watched Paige back out of the driveway before he’d gotten on the phone, called Samantha up, and asked her to babysit while he went to be with his wife. She happened to be en route to their parents’ house when he’d phoned her. That worked out fine because it was closer to his place than her condo downtown.
Norman packed up the baby and her things, met Samantha at their parents’ house, and had just arrived at the doctor’s office with Paige about two minutes ago. The wait in the
waiting room had felt just as long for him, but finally, it was time for Paige to go back to see the doctor.
The nurse led the couple back to examination room number two. She got some basic information from Paige and then left the room after telling her the doctor would be in shortly to talk with her. Again, the couple found themselves waiting on pins and needles. By the time Paige’s doctor knocked on the door and greeted them with a “Hello,” they both nearly jumped out of their skin.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you,” Paige’s doctor apologized.
“It’s okay, Dr. Benton,” Paige breathed out.
“I understand this is a pretty tense situation,” Dr. Benton said as she sat down on her stool and opened Paige’s file. “But like I said to you on the phone a few days ago when you called to make your appointment, I think you are going to be fine.”
When making the appointment, Paige had asked to talk to the doctor personally. It wasn’t a matter she felt comfortable speaking with the nurse or receptionist about.
“Yeah, but you also agreed that I should be tested again,” Paige said.
“Well, yeah. Whenever you’ve had sexual contact with someone who has tested positive for HIV, it’s a good idea to get tested every six months for a couple years just to be on the safe side.”
“But there’s a chance he could have, you know, maybe contracted the virus in jail. That means that there is no possible way I can have it.”
“True.” The doctor nodded. “But did they happen to tell you when he was tested? Perhaps it had been upon some type of entry physical. Maybe he’d been experiencing symptoms for some time and just looked into it while in jail.” The doctor shrugged. “I don’t know, and because we don’t know, we can’t take any chances. It’s a good sign that the testing you received during your prenatal appointments came back negative, but it would be wise to take a couple more tests at least.”
