by Pat Ballard
Disbelief registered on both the adults’ faces before they broke into uncontrollable laughter. They tried to muffle their voices so Jake couldn’t hear, but they didn’t succeed very well.
Finally gaining control, Sam asked, “Where on earth did that come from?”
“I guess being at the childcare center has taught him more than to share his toys,” Nella answered, wiping tears from her eyes and sitting down in the nearest chair.
They both realized they had a question to resolve.
“So, what do you think?” he asked, watching her intently.
Nella couldn’t believe Sam du Cannon was actually asking her opinion on the matter. She figured he’d be totally against it. He sensed her surprise, but continued.
“You show an uncanny ability to know what’s best for my son. I watch with growing amazement as you teach him good manners, good, sound health habits, and a lot of other things that I would never even think about teaching a child his age. I’ve watched him settle down and become secure in his life with you. So, yes, to my own surprise, I’m asking what do you think is best for this situation?”
“Sam,” she said, in the soft throaty voice he was beginning to look forward to hearing, “I honestly don’t know. And you apparently aren’t sure, so let’s leave it up to Jake. He might call me Mommy for a few days, and then drop it. I’m sure it’s because he’s heard the kids at the daycare greet their mothers, calling them Mommy.”
“So you don’t mind being called Mommy?”
“Well, it obviously will take some getting used to, but no, I don’t mind.”
“Then let’s call Jake and discuss this with him. Jake, come here, please,” Sam called.
The door opened and the child came hesitantly into the room. The previous spontaneous, demanding attitude was gone now as he timidly awaited his answer.
“Come here, Son.” Sam lifted him to his lap. “Why do you want to call Nella Mommy?”
“Because she is!” This was said as if anyone should be able to understand it.
“You know she’s not your real mommy. You remember your real mommy, don’t you?”
Nella was always amazed at the love and tenderness Sam used when he addressed his son.
“Yes, I bemember my ’nother mommy. But she’s not here now, and Nella is.” Such simple logic could only come from a child.
“Yes, Jake, Nella is here now. And I know you love her, and she loves you. We discussed it, and she doesn’t mind, and I don’t mind, if you call her Mommy.”
“So it’s okay?” The little boy almost seemed afraid to hope.
“Yes, it’s okay,” Sam answered.
Jake slid off Sam’s lap and stood looking at Nella for a brief moment, then started running around the room in circles, whooping and chanting, “Mommy, Mommy, I’ve got a Mommy!”
Emotions overwhelmed Nella, and tears unashamedly poured down her face. She knew she would go through whatever it took to be a mother to this child. At this moment he was truly hers. She might not have given birth to him, but she could give him a life he’d always remember and cherish. She would be the mother to him that she had always longed to have. She was suddenly filled with joy and commitment.
She looked at Sam and found him watching her intently. His face was also moist with tears. He cleared his throat, but his voice was gruff with emotion as he spoke. “I didn’t know a woman like you existed.”
The light in his eyes had never been directed toward her, and it took her by such surprise that she felt as if her heart would explode in her chest. Their eyes locked across the room, and nothing seemed to exist but the two of them. At that moment Jake, still doing his celebration dance, came flying into her lap and smacked her bottom lip with his forehead.
As her lip was caught between his head and her teeth she cried out in pain, blood immediately running down her chin.
“Jake! Settle down, now!” Sam admonished the excited child.
Astonishment filled the little boy’s eyes as he watched Nella try to blot the blood with her hand, only to smear it on her chin.
“Oh, Mommy, I’m so sorry.” His voice was hushed as he patted her face with his small hands.
Nella was in too much pain to reassure him at that point. Suddenly Sam was beside her with a cold, wet bath cloth. He lifted Jake from her lap and gently placed the cloth on her broken lip.
There was a warm glow in his eyes as he asked, “Are you really sure about this?”
“I’ve never been more sure about anything in my life,” she answered around the cold cloth and her rapidly swelling bottom lip.
The next morning, Sam called from the office to tell her some of the office crew were having a spur-of-the-moment beach party, and could she and Jake be ready to go by eight o’clock that evening.
Nella tried to beg off, but Sam insisted that it was a family outing, and Jake would love it. She’d finally given in without too much argument, but now she wasn’t so sure.
The group had found a calypso band that would play for them, and the music was fairly good. Nella hadn’t come prepared for a swimming party, but several of the children were splashing around in the water, and Jake was begging to go in with them.
She’d worn a white cotton dress with a red belt, red necklace and earrings, and red sandals. She couldn’t wade in with Jake and let him play because the salt water would turn her white dress an ugly yellow. She wished she and Sam had discussed this “outing” a little more thoroughly, so she could have been better prepared for Jake to enjoy it.
The wind was causing the water to be rough tonight. The air was balmier than usual, it seemed, but the moon was beautiful, and glistened on the water each time a wave rippled.
“Can I please, please, please go in the water?” Jake begged.
Nella was not comfortable with him being in the water as rough as it was, but she hated for him to feel left out. She looked around, trying to find the solution to her problem. She took Jake by the hand and led him toward the nearby fishing pier. A few people sat on the pier, talking and enjoying the music and the evening.
Soon she found a piece of rope that had been left behind by a fisherman. She picked it up with no plan in mind, but hoping some brilliant idea would strike her at any moment.
A couple of the women from the office party were standing around talking. As she and Jake walked by, they heard him begging to play in the water.
“Jake, Sweetheart, I’m trying to figure something out for you, just give me a moment.”
“Mrs. du Cannon?” Nella almost walked on by, not immediately responding to the name she wasn’t used to.
“Mrs. du Cannon?” the voice repeated.
“Yes?” Nella stopped.
“I don’t know if you remember me. I’m Jan, and this is Sue.” She indicated her friend.
“Yes,” Nella acknowledged. “I remember you both. How are you tonight?”
“Oh, having a great time! Look, I don’t mean to interfere, but I heard your son asking to go swimming. I brought an extra life jacket in case one of Amy’s friends needed it. You’re welcome to use it if you want to.”
“Thanks, but I’m afraid for Jake to be in the water as rough as it is. I’m afraid he might drift too far out.” She casually fingered the rope she was still holding. Then the idea came to her. “On second thought, I will borrow the life jacket, if you don’t mind.”
Jake immediately started jumping up and down with happiness.
She went back to where the other children were, and, looking around, found a fold-up chair no one was using. She put the life jacket on Jake, then tied the rope onto one of the belt loops of the life jacket, making sure there was no way it could come untied. Then she formed a loop in the other end and placed her chair leg over the loop. She made sure Jake was close enough to play with the other children, but not close enough that one of them could get tangled in the rope.
She leaned back in the chair and smiled. Now Jake was happy, and she could sit here and listen to the music a
nd the ocean and relax a little.
“That plan would make MacGyver envious.”
Nella jumped at the closeness of the voice. John McHill stood so near, he was almost brushing up against her.
“Thank you,” she acknowledged, glancing at Jake. He was totally happy now, splashing around with the other children. A wave lifted him occasionally, and he laughed with glee as he rode it down.
“He’s a fine boy.” Again, the voice interrupted her thoughts.
“Yes, he is.” Nella smiled, her pride in the child obvious.
“Too bad his real mother won’t be able to watch him grow up.” Was there a touch of sarcasm in his softly spoken words?
“Yes, it’s a shame,” Nella agreed. She didn’t want to get into a conversation with this man, but at the same time she didn’t want to be rude, as Sam had indicated he’d been friends with John for some time.
Now the man took her hand in his and leaned down to her.
“Nella, what are you doing with Sam du Cannon? You’re not his type. Is this marriage just to throw his in-laws off track?” His face was so close to Nella’s she could smell the garlic on his breath.
“Get out of my face!” She was instantly angry. She couldn’t get up because he was so close, but she couldn’t get up anyway, since she had to stay seated to keep Jake’s rope anchored.
“Does he make love to you? Not like I would. I’d love to get you in bed!”
“If you don’t leave me alone,” she ground out between clenched teeth, “I’m going to scream rape.”
His chuckle was nasty. “Baby, it wouldn’t be rape. You’d love every minute of it. If you change your mind, you let me know!” And he turned and walked away.
During her exchange with him she had been vaguely aware of a child’s voice calling “Mommy, Mommy!” repeatedly. Now, she heard it again, more faintly. That reminded her of Jake, and she glanced to make sure he was okay.
Where was he?
“Jake!” she screamed.
Then she saw the small object bobbing in the distance. Instinctively she knew it was Jake. She saw the loose end of the rope floating in the water.
In one fluid move she was out of her shoes and dress and into the water. She started swimming toward the child in swift, strong movements.
How had this happened? She knew the rope was secure enough! Had one of the other kids untied it? No! She’d tied it in several knots! Had that been Jake calling her all the time? She knew it’d been him. Poor little guy. He was probably scared to death, and she hadn’t responded to his cries for help.
But she wasn’t used to being called Mommy, so in her angry dispute with John McHill it hadn’t registered on her that she was being called. Anyway, she would have bet her own life there was no way that rope could have come undone.
She was beginning to feel tired. She raised her head occasionally to check on her progress toward the small bobbing object that seemed to be drifting away from her faster than she was swimming. Was she getting any closer to him? The waves seemed to be getting larger now, and rougher.
Oh, God, she pleaded mentally. She couldn’t lose this child! She had to reach him.
Her lungs were beginning to hurt. I must not panic! With sheer force of effort and self-control, she made herself concentrate on her breathing.
Suddenly the moon went behind a cloud, and she felt the wind pick up. She couldn’t see anything.
“NO!” Did she actually scream out loud, or just in her inner being? It was going to storm! She could feel it in the air now. In fact, she’d felt it in the air all evening. All the signs had been there.
She dog paddled in circles, trying to tread water and find Jake. Just then the moon slid from behind the cloud long enough for Nella to see him being lifted on a huge wave.
In awe, she watched. There was nothing she could do. Then she realized the wave and the child were rolling straight toward her.
Struggling to keep her head above the churning water, she watched as the child came rapidly toward her. If she didn’t catch him, the rolling wave would take him under and he would drown.
As he came closer and Nella waited, she realized he was too far to the right. She was going to lose him. He was going to go right by her, and she would never find him. She could tell he was crying.
Then she saw the rope flopping around on the churning water. Could she reach it? She gave a tremendous kick, using all the strength she could muster, and grabbed at the rope. She felt her fingertips brush it, but it slipped through her grasp. Frantically, she kept flailing and struggling until she again felt the rope. Desperately she grabbed at it, and this time she caught it. She held on with sheer determination, then, pulling the rope hand over hand, she drew Jake to her.
Instinctively, she popped her hand over his mouth and nose just as the wave took them under.
She felt as if she were being thrust to the bottom of the ocean. Her lungs were crushing with pressure. Jake was struggling now, needing air—desperately needing to breathe.
She kept kicking her feet and pumping with the arm that wasn’t holding Jake to her body. Was she going up or down? She couldn’t tell anymore.
Just when she thought she wouldn’t be able to hold her breath any longer, her head popped out of the water.
Gasping great gulps of air, she lifted Jake out of the water. He was coughing and choking spasmodically. Finally he lay limp against her shoulder. She tried to ask him if he was okay, but her voice wouldn’t come.
Too exhausted to even think, she started struggling toward the lights she could see in the far distance. Lights that were quickly drawing closer and closer. Was she swimming that fast? Then she heard the sound of the motor, and realized a boat was approaching. They would be rescued!
Relief flooded through her, and soon she felt herself being pulled from the water.
Nella slowly opened her eyes. She was in a bed in a dimly lit room. But where? This wasn’t the hotel suite. Then she saw the nurse.
“Where am I?” she whispered weakly.
The nurse turned and came to her. “Well, it’s about time you woke up.”
“Why am I in a hospital?” she asked, still woozy, but needing an answer.
“The doctor can explain in the morning. You just go back to sleep, now, and get your rest.”
Nella wanted to argue, but the idea of sleep sounded so good she decided she’d wait until tomorrow to argue with the nurse. Then suddenly her eyes popped open and she tried to sit up. The nurse caught her shoulders.
“Where’s Jake?” The question was desperate, and demanded an answer.
“He’s at home with his father. He’s fine, thanks to you.” The nurse lowered Nella back on the pillow, and patted her face. “You did a very brave thing when you saved that little boy’s life.”
Nella smiled as tears ran down her face. Jake was safe! She fell instantly asleep.
But she was restless the rest of the night. Several times she awoke abruptly, thinking a bright light had flashed in her eyes. But the room was always dimly lit, and the only noise was the soft stirrings of the nurses in the hallway.
She came slowly awake the next morning to the sound of hushed male voices.
A doctor was talking, and Nella strained to hear what he was saying. “Your wife is one of the healthiest people I’ve ever examined,” he softly told Sam. “If one single thing had been different about her, you would have lost her and your son. And if everybody were as healthy as she is, I’d have to sit and wait for an accident to happen, just so I’d have work to do. I don’t know what she does to stay in shape, but she could teach us all a few things.”
Sam was about to comment when he looked toward her and realized she was awake. She wished she could have heard the beginning of their conversation.
“Well, good morning!” The doctor spoke first, coming toward her. “How do you feel?”
“I want to go home.” Her voice was still weak, but she could feel it getting stronger.
“Well, I think we ca
n arrange that,” the doctor said, turning to the nurse at the foot of her bed.
“Blood pressure?” he inquired.
“110 over 70.” She read the chart.
“Pulse rate?”
“70.”
“Temperature?”
“Normal.”
He smiled and took Nella’s hand. “You did a remarkable thing last night, Mrs. du Cannon. But you were very close to exhaustion when they brought you in. You still had some water in your lungs, so we kept you overnight. You’re fine now, and you can go home. It’s been my pleasure to be able to look after you.” He patted her on the shoulder, turned and shook Sam’s hand, then left the room.
It only took fifteen minutes to get from the hospital to the hotel suite. Nella was so busy trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together that she was grateful Sam didn’t talk. How did that rope come untied? She knew Sam was furious with her for doing such a stupid thing in the first place. He’d probably call the whole marriage off now. She’d lose Jake forever.
Silently, Sam helped her get up to their suite. Then he went to the daycare center and got Jake.
She was leaning back on the couch with her eyes closed when she heard them returning. She was not prepared for the charge of emotion that hit her when the small boy burst through the door and ran to her.
“I missed you, Nel—Mommy!” he exclaimed, crawling onto her lap and wrapping his arms tightly around her neck.
Nella couldn’t say a word. She held the precious body close to hers and wept quietly. Soon he pulled away from her and looked at her in concern. “Does it hurt somewhere?” he asked, and patted her face.
“No, Son.” Two strong hands lifted him from her lap. “Nella doesn’t hurt anywhere, she’s just happy to know you’re okay. Now I want you to go get on your bed and rest for a little while. I need to talk with Nella.”
“But she needs to hold me,” his voice quivered. He was becoming upset at seeing Nella cry.
“She can hold you as long as you want when we finish talking, okay?”
The promise seemed to be fairly satisfactory to the child, and he reluctantly left the room.
