by D. Camille
“Now you just let me know where it hurts…” she whispered before voraciously taking his mouth.
Chapter 18
The Seventies…
The new decade ushered in a myriad of changes for Henry and Millie. Their second wedding anniversary was approaching and Henry was planning a surprise for his incredible wife. Millie was working the day shift at the hospital and making a name for herself as an excellent nurse.
Henry, for his part, had now been promoted to Foreman at his job. He and Millie were working hard to create the lives they wanted. They both agreed to wait on having children until they were established enough to care of a child.
Millie had seen how Maggie struggled to provide for Amber and that was enough for her to be patient before starting a family. In addition, she wanted to settle into her career. Henry was in total agreement with Millie on having kids since he held his own reservations about bringing a child into the world at this time.
Henry checked his watch as he stood at the front door waiting for Millie to arrive home. He had taught her how to drive and she now had her own car. Glancing back, he looked around the home that Millie loved and spent so much time cleaning and decorating.
He still remembered her face on their moving day. Henry couldn’t remember seeing her happier, not even at her graduation. Making Millie’s dreams come true would always be his mission in life and Millie made sure to take very good care of Henry as well.
Hearing a car, Henry turned back to the door and saw Millie parking in the driveway where he’d just shoveled and removed a pile of snow. Stepping outside, he met her at the car and opened the door. Millie smiled up at him as she got out and shivered at the cold. Henry picked her up and carried her through the snow and up onto the porch, where he settled her on her feet.
“Go on inside, it’s nice and warm in there,” he told her opening the door for her.
“Where are you going?” she asked.
Henry looked at the rapidly falling snow. “I’m going to shovel some more. I don’t want this to pile up on me too high.”
Millie shivered again. “You want me to help you?”
Henry gave her a look. “Pretty woman, go in the house.” He gave her a gentle push in that direction.
Millie turned back and kissed his cold lips with her own. “Hi Henry.”
“Welcome home Millie.” He kissed her again before pushing her inside and closing the door behind her.
Millie felt the warmth of the heat and smiled. She hated Michigan winters more than Henry. At least he had a reason, being a country boy. Millie, on the other hand, had been born and raised here. It just didn’t make any sense for her to be so sensitive to the cold weather. This winter had been especially tough and she’d contracted the flu, which had her in bed for several days.
Henry had become very cautious of her being out in the cold and made sure he kept the house warm in addition to warming up her car every morning before she went to work. Walking further inside, Millie removed her bulky winter coat and winter boots before inhaling the aroma of food. Henry had started dinner.
Making her way to the kitchen, she surveyed his handiwork. Millie loved that Henry was such a good cook although she also loved cooking for him. Usually, whoever arrived home first would begin the evening meal. Millie would make their lunches for the next day and Henry took care of things around the house, like taking out the trash and shoveling the snow.
She heard his big boots as he stomped off the snow in the entryway. Going to greet him, she waited until he’d removed his boots and hung his coat in the closet before walking into his arms. Henry held her close while kissing her cheek.
“Are you warm?” he asked concerned.
“Yes, thank you.”
He studied her face. “I don’t want you to get sick again.”
“I’m fine Henry.”
Henry touched her temple. “I was worried about you. You’re late.”
Millie wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her head on his chest. “I know. Something happened at work.”
He became alarmed and looked down at her. “What happened? Are you okay?”
Millie nodded slowly. “We had a blood drive at the hospital and I donated.”
Henry waited.
“Afterwards, I felt lightheaded like I was going to pass out,” she continued.
“Are you still sick?” Henry questioned.
Millie looked up at him. “No, I’m pregnant.”
Henry froze as Millie pressed on. “They tested my blood and said that I’m six weeks along.”
She looked worried. “I missed my pills while I was sick.”
When Henry still didn’t respond, she grabbed his shirt. “Henry!”
He shook his head. “Did you say you were pregnant?” he asked finding his voice.
“Yes,” Millie confirmed.
“With our baby?” he questioned in awe.
Millie reached out and touched his handsome face. “Yes, with our baby Henry.”
Henry sighed and took her into his arms holding her gently, absorbing her words and how they had changed his life.
“Millie…” he breathed quietly.
With her ear against his heart, Millie held on tightly. “At first I was scared, but I want our baby Henry.”
He stepped back and cradled her face in his hands. “Of course we want our baby Millie.” He kissed her softly. “I love you Millie Patterson and I love whoever this is…” Henry placed a hand on her stomach. “I don’t know what the future holds, but I know I’ll do everything I possibly can to take care of both of you.”
Millie smiled as her eyes watered. “I know you will and that’s why I love you Henry.”
“Just tell me what I need to do,” he said earnestly.
A tear fell from her eye. “Just be my Henry.”
******
The months flew past until Henry found himself sitting in the hospital waiting room nervous and excited. If he’d thought Millie was pretty when he met her, nothing could compare to how she’d looked during her pregnancy. Her honey skin had glowed and Henry wondered how he’d survived not making love to her every minute of the day.
His mother-in-law, Gina, was sitting next to him as they waited to hear on Millie’s progress. All the nurses at the hospital were also anxiously awaiting the arrival of Nurse Patterson’s first baby. As they passed Henry in the lobby, they would give him thumbs up signs and bright smiles. Everyone at Detroit Memorial loved Millie because she was as sweet as they came. Doctors and patients alike thought the world of her.
When the doctor came out to see Henry, he had a big smile on his face. “Your wife came through like a trooper,” he told Henry. “And you have a beautiful baby girl in there waiting to see you.”
Henry smiled. “It’s a girl?” He turned to Gina. “I’ve got a baby girl!” he announced and she leaned over to hug him.
“Millie is anxious to see you,” the doctor told Henry.
Henry nodded and hurried to the room. He stepped inside the door and spotted Millie in the bed holding their new delivery.
She looked up and gave him that wicked smile that had stolen his heart. “Look what we got,” her voice was a bit raspier after the delivery.
Henry forced his legs to move and approached the bed, curious about the tiny bundle in her arms. When he reached her, Millie lowered the blanket to reveal a tiny honey colored face with plush little lips. Her eyes were closed as she rested.
“Oh my!” Henry said smiling. “You see this Millie?”
Millie smiled in return. “I see her Henry…”
“She looks just like you,” he said coming closer and Millie lifted the baby up to him.
“I think she has your nose,” Millie told him as he accepted the little girl into his arms.
Looking down into her face, Henry felt his heart stop. This was his very own little Honey because she was the sweetest little thing he’d ever laid eyes on.
He looked over at Millie who was watch
ing him. “How is my Millie?” he asked.
“Much better now that you’re here,” she answered.
Their daughter began to fuss and squirm in his arms before two bright brown eyes snagged his. She let out a loud wail and Henry laughed.
“Looks like she wakes up mad like her Momma,” he commented and Millie laughed.
“She may be hungry. They brought a bottle for her on the table right there.” Millie pointed in that direction.
Henry turned and took the small baby bottle, removed the cap and placed the nipple into the little angry mouth.
Millie watched in appreciation as the baby began feeding. “You did that very good.”
Henry winked at her. “I know lots of things.” He took a seat next to the bed and continued feeding the baby.
He watched as Millie smiled and laid back against the pillows closing her eyes. “Can I get you anything pretty woman?”
She shook her head. “No sir, I’m just a little tired.”
“I’ll be right here, so you can rest for as long as you need.”
Millie smiled again. “I love you Henry.”
Henry looked down at the baby in his arms. “And I’m so glad that you do Millie.”
When Millie awakened again, one of the nurses was checking her over. She looked around the empty room.
“Where’s my husband and my baby?” she asked sitting up alarmed.
The nurse smiled. “Relax Millie, they took your little sweetie down to run some routine tests and Daddy went along with her. Your mother’s in the restroom.”
Gina entered the room and saw that her daughter was awake. “Well, hello new Mommy.”
Millie saw the nurse leave as her mother came to sit on the edge of the bed. “They said you did so well. I’m so proud of you.” Gina fluffed the pillows behind her daughter.
“Thank you Momma.” Millie took her hand. “I was so scared but all the doctors and nurses were really good to me.”
“They love you. I can’t tell you how many of them came and talked to me and Henry, keeping us updated and sending their blessings to you.”
“Have you seen her?” Millie asked.
Gina nodded. “She looks just like our little Honey. Marvin would have been so proud.”
Millie looked down. “I think of Daddy all the time, especially around baseball season. I still miss him.”
“The smoking and the drinking finally caught up to him,” Gina explained.
“I’m so glad Henry doesn’t do either of those. I don’t think I could live with that again.”
Gina looked at her daughter. “Henry is a good man. Marvin was too in his own way. He had demons that the bottle couldn’t outrun.” She squeezed Millie’s hand. “He tried to stop for you, but it was much too late.”
Millie gave a sad smile. “Henry says he thanks Daddy for teaching me baseball or else he may never have found me.”
The door opened and Henry entered with a huge vase of roses then set them next to the bed before leaning down to gently kiss Millie.
“You got those for me?” she asked looking at the beautiful arrangement.
He took a seat in the nearby chair. “Yes, ma’am.”
Gina smiled at Henry’s thoughtfulness and politeness. Even after being married, he still treated Millie like he was still courting her.
“Thank you, they’re beautiful,” she whispered.
“Just like my Honey and my little Honey.”
Millie’s eyes went to the door. “Where is she?”
“They’re bringing her down shortly. She had a few more tests they needed to finish,” Henry explained. “They said I can take both of you home in a couple of days.”
“Miss Gina is going to help me make sure we got everything ready for you when you get there,” Henry said looking at Millie’s mother.
“So we don’t want you to worry about a thing, okay?” Gina told Millie.
Millie nodded then looked at Henry, who looked at his watch. “Are you going to work?”
“Yes, I’ll take off when you come home, to be with you and the baby.”
“But you’ve been here all night.” Millie had gone into labor shortly after Henry had arrived home from work the evening before. Their daughter had been born late last night and now it was reaching early morning.
Henry leaned over to her. “I’m fine Millie. You take care of my wife and daughter until I come back this evening to see you.”
Millie frowned. She hated when Henry pushed himself too much to take care of them. He needed to rest and she was just about to tell him that.
Watching her facial reactions, Henry stood. “No ma’am. We’re not about to fight about this today.”
“You need to rest too Henry,” she protested anyway.
“I will, when I get you both home.”
Gina watched the exchange and admired how Henry handled her daughter. Millie was a sweetheart, but she could be a firecracker when she chose, while her oldest daughter, Maggie was simply firecracker that could not be contained. She’d now run off to Chicago with a guy she’d met. Gina kept tabs on her granddaughter Amber, trying to ensure that she was being cared for.
While one daughter was wild and loose, here was Millie with a good job, a beautiful home, a wonderful husband and a new baby. Gina couldn’t be happier for her and the fine young man she’d married.
“I’m going now,” Henry told Millie. “Be nice to these people around here, okay?”
He kissed her gently. “I love you.”
Millie pouted then smiled. “I love you too Henry Patterson.” She kissed him back before he turned to Gina.
“I’ll see you later Miss Gina.”
“Okay Henry, have a good day son.” He kissed her cheek and then he was out the door.
“He’s so stubborn,” Millie complained.
Gina turned to her daughter. “That right there. That’s a man Millie.”
The nurse entered pushing the little cart that held baby Patterson. She lifted the blanket that covered the little girl and placed her in her mother’s arms.
“She’s all done. Tests all came back good. You have a healthy little girl,” the nurse announced.
Millie smiled down at her twin. “Hello there, precious girl. Daddy’s coming back later to see us.”
Gina watched her daughter and granddaughter with a smile.
“Then we’re going to make him go home and go to bed,” Millie finished with determination.
Her smile faded and Gina shook head. She should’ve known Millie wasn’t going to let it go. She shrugged, Millie was Henry’s problem to deal with now.
When Henry returned that evening, Millie could see the fatigue on his handsome face. She waited until he was settled into the chair holding the baby before she began.
“You’re going to be no good for me if you’re passed out,” she told him.
“Millie…”
She shrugged. “I’m just saying, I need you.”
Henry sighed. “What do you need Millie?”
Her eyes held his. “I need for my husband to go home and go to bed.”
“I want to be here with you and the baby.”
Millie held out her hand and he took it with his free arm. “Just for tonight, Henry you’ve been running ragged for the last two weeks, getting the baby’s room together and working extra shifts.” She squeezed his hand. “I’m worried about you.”
“I’m fine Millie.”
She looked away. “My Daddy said that too…all the time.”
Henry brought her hand to his lips. “I don’t drink Millie and I’m not going anywhere.”
“You look tired Henry. I can see it in your face,” she looked at him worriedly.
The last thing Henry wanted was for Millie to be upset. She’d delivered their baby just hours ago and he didn’t want her fussing over him. He had picked up extra shifts so that while Millie was off from work they wouldn’t have to dip into their savings. He had to admit he couldn’t remember the last time he’d
slept a full night.
“You know I don’t like you fussing over me pretty woman,” he told her.
“Then don’t give me anything to fuss about.”
Henry nodded. “If I go home, you won’t give me anymore grief about this?” he asked pointedly.
“No sir,”
“Let’s name this little one before I go then,” he suggested.
Millie agreed. “Well we narrowed it down to Victoria or Angel if it was a girl. Which one do you like?”
Henry stared into the little brown-eyed face. “I like Victoria.”
“Me too. Victoria Patterson.”
“You like that?” Henry asked the baby and she let out another wail. “I guess that’s a yes.”
******
Victoria Patterson entered her new home swaddled in blankets. In the room that her father had prepared for her, she was placed in the white baby crib complete with a mobile of the planets that played a sweet melody.
Victoria was adored by her parents and grandmother. She had everything a child could wish for including two loving, hard-working and supportive parents. Henry and Millie were determined to give Victoria everything they hadn’t been able to have in their young lives.
In addition to material things, Victoria’s parents decided to make sure she was educated on who she was and where she’d come from. A few years after having their daughter, Millie and Henry became very involved in city politics, wanting to have control over who ran their area and how they did it. It was no longer just their city; this was where they were now raising their family.
With three-year old Victoria in tow, Henry and Millie stood in line to vote for Detroit’s black mayoral candidate. Coleman A. Young was a brash, outspoken black man who challenged the police brutality inflicted upon the black citizens by the Detroit Police decoy unit, S.T.R.E.S.S. Stop the Robberies, Enjoy Safe Streets was accused of killing twenty-one black residents and arresting hundreds more without cause.
Millie turned to Henry who was pushing the baby stroller. “Do you think he has a chance?”
Henry shrugged and looked at the long line of voters. “Looks like it.”
“A black mayor in Detroit? That would be amazing,” Millie told him.
“It would be something. Something I never thought I’d see.”
