Angel On Board - Guardian Angel 101

by Thornton, EJ

  Jeannie eventually got up and stumbled her way to the bathroom. Pearl disappeared behind the door with her and Marie and Edwina watched over their charges.

  "This is going to be a big day," I said to them.

  "Amen," Marie agreed.

  "Promise to call if you need me," I reminded them. They nodded and I left again. I caught up with Jeremi in the dining room. He had scarfed down his breakfast and now, checked his watch. I could tell he was doing calculations in his head of how many hours it would be until Peter would come to get him and he could start his life all over again.

  The morning outpatient group session went well. He and Don played around as usual, but got down to business when it was time.

  Lunch came and Jeremi's excitement started to turn to nervousness. He picked at his lunch and calculated the time left remaining. At this point, he had to have been counting the minutes left. He and Ken talked quite a bit, but Jeremi was very distracted. Ken laughed really hard when Jeremi put cream and sugar in his soda.

  Finally, it was time to go to the afternoon group session, his graduation. Everyone in the group wished him health, sobriety and prosperity. They wished him control over what was previously uncontrolled in his life. Then it came time for Bill to say his good-byes.

  "Jeremi, I want to wish you all the same as what your fellow recovering friends have wished you. I want you to remember that this struggle is fought one day at a time. And even though you're faced with challenges in the near future, I believe you've come this far and will remain successful in doing what it is that you want to do. With that in mind, I have some gifts for you." He reached behind him and pulled out a large bag with presents inside. He handed the bag to Jeremi.

  Jeremi reached in and the first thing he pulled out was a box that said, "For Jeremi." He unwrapped a coffee cup with the serenity prayer inscribed on the side. "I know, I know," Jeremi said to Bill. "This is a coffee cup!" The group laughed that Jeremi had beaten Bill to his trademark punch-line. The second thing he pulled out was a box that said, "For Marshal (with one '1')." He showed it off and muttered, "I must've said that a few times." He unwrapped a baby bottle with an inscription of the serenity prayer on the side. He held them both up to show off the set and everyone laughed.

  "Now go and be a great, sober father!" Bill said.

  He gave Jeremi a handshake and then they embraced, "I will," Jeremi said quietly back to Bill.

  Bill Sr. and George and I said our good-byes as well. Then Jeremi hotfooted it out of the room as everyone clapped and said good-bye.

  The nurse stood by the door with his belongings in a bag right beside her. He picked them up without missing a beat and she yelled after him "Good luck!"

  Peter was in the waiting room, ready to go as soon as Jeremi came in.

  "Excited?" Peter asked.

  "Yup!"

  When they got back to Peter's house, Jeremi greeted Melinda and tossed his belongings onto the bed in his room. Then he made a beeline for the phone. Peter and Melinda just watched.

  He dialed and then said, "Baby, listen, I know you're at work, but I wanted to tell you that I'm home now and that I want . . . I mean, I need . . . I mean, I'd . . . I'd really like it . . . I mean, I'm sorry for what happened and I'd like to tell you that tonight over dinner here at six-thirty. Bring the girls. Please come, I have so much to tell you." Jeremi hung up the phone.

  "You could've just called her directly." Melinda said.

  "To call her at work, might've caused a problem."

  He sat down. He crossed his legs one way, then the other. Then he shifted in his chair. Then he started to tap his fingers.

  Melinda said, "Well, if we're putting on a dinner tonight, we'd better get cookin'." She smiled at Jeremi.

  "Let me help." Jeremi jumped up. The three of them got to work to get ready for a family dinner.

  I checked on Jeannie to make sure all our plans were still in place. They were still at work. "Make sure she listens to her answering machine when she gets home," I told Pearl.

  "Okay," Pearl agreed.

  Jeannie was very anxious, too. She looked just like Jeremi did. Her phone rang and she jumped a mile. Judie noticed and as soon as Jeannie hung up the phone, she asked if she was ready to take a walk. Jeannie declined, but Judie watched her carefully. Eventually Judie came to the inevitable conclusion. She whispered, "She's got it bad!"

  "Did you say something, Judie?" Jeannie asked.

  Judie cleared her throat and said quickly, "Uh, no, nothing, nothing at all." Judie turned her head away from Jeannie, so she could smirk freely.

  Quitting time finally rolled around. Jeannie gathered her things together. "Remember, six-fifteen, my place, right? We'll grab a quick dinner before the movie," Judie said. Jeannie confirmed the deal with a nod, smiled, and left.

  She picked up the girls and hurried home. She told the girls all about going out to dinner and seeing a great movie tonight. They were excited.

  When Jeannie walked into the door, Pearl shined her angel light on the answering machine. Jeannie saw the light blinking, but avoided the machine like it could bite. She went down the hall to change out of her work clothes and into something more casual for a night at the movies.

  Since Jeannie refused to cooperate, Marie jumped in and helped out. She shined her angel light on the answering machine and got Carole's attention focused on it. Carole ran right over to it and said, "Look, Mommy, the light is flashing; there's a message." She pressed play before Jeannie could run over and stop her. Jeannie was apprehensive and Carole was excited to hear Jeremi's voice. They stood there and listened to the message. When it was done, Jeannie's hand started to tremble and she sat down quickly.

  Carole jumped up and down. "Mommy, Jeremi's all better now! Can we go see him, he said for you to bring us. Can we Mommy, pleeeeease!"

  "Carole, we're going to the movies."

  "Can we have dinner at Jeremi's and then go to the movies?"

  "We're eating dinner with Judie and that's final!"

  "Aw, Mommy!" Carole stomped out of the room. I followed Carole into her bedroom because if I really thought she'd give up that easily, they'd reassess my skills as a guardian angel.

  Carole was telling Lynne all about Jeremi's invitation and then Lynne came out and begged her mommy, "Emi?" Lynne was so cute with that little baby voice and big eyes.

  "Honey," she picked up Lynne. "Carole! What did you tell her?" Jeannie yelled down the hall.

  Carole came out of the room sheepishly, giving her mother another dose of the puppy-dog eyes. "Nothing," she said innocently.

  "I bet," Jeannie said sarcastically. "We're going over to Judie's to pick her up for dinner and then we're going to see the movie and that's that!" Jeannie commanded. She grabbed her purse, the diaper bag, the children and they left the house.

  In the car, Carole nagged on at her mother. "But, why?"

  "Silence!" Jeannie snapped and Carole crossed her arms in frustration.

  The drive over to Judie's house was humorous. Pearl pulled out all the stops! She constantly talked to Jeannie about every place she passed and replayed a memory - any memory - that it held for her and Jeremi. Jeannie had trouble keeping it together on the road, so Edwina and Marie and I handled that part. It was clear Pearl, being the master she was, was getting through to Jeannie.

  As Jeannie approached the last turn to Judie's house, Pearl went into high gear to get Jeannie's curiosity up about Jeremi now. "I know you're wondering if he really is sober. I know you're curious what he's been thinking about these past few days. You want to know if he really is sorry. You're obviously still hooked on him, feel that knot in your stomach, it's more than a baby in there! Your hands are trembling. Come on. You're just aching to know. Set aside your pride and go find out."

  Jeannie shook it off. Then she looked serious and determined and drove straight up to Judie's house and into the driveway. "I'll be right back," she said to the girls, as she turned the car off and walked up to the door.

>   When she got to the door, she saw a note taped to the doorbell. It read, "Jeannie, I'm sorry I've got to cancel our plans for tonight. Something came up and I had to leave town suddenly. I'll be back to work on Monday, I hope. Tell you all about it then. I'm sorry again. Judie."

  Jeannie heaved a heavy sigh and went back to the car. Luckily, she was oblivious to Judie as she peered out of the side window of the dark house. Judie smiled as she mouthed the words, "Good luck, Jeannie."

  Judie's angel also wished us luck.

  "Where's Judie?" Carole asked.

  "The note says she had to leave town suddenly. I hope nothing's wrong," Jeannie said.

  "So, can we go to Jeremi's now?" Carole asked.

  Jeannie looked at her and tried to say no, but instead her eyes got big, she bit her bottom lip and held her stomach.

  "What's happening?" I asked.

  "She's having a contraction. Her blood pressure is way up about now," Pearl informed us all.

  "Are you all right, Mommy?" Carole asked.

  The contraction ended and so did the lip-biting. She blew out a good breath and said, "Yes, honey, Mommy's just fine."

  Pearl took it from high gear to overdrive: She started to chant, "Jeremi! Jeremi!" Edwina and Marie followed her lead and got the girls to chant "Jeremi! Jeremi!"

  "All right!" Jeannie yelled. The car quieted down. "We'll go see him, but just for a minute, then we're leaving!"

  The girls cheered. Jeannie turned around and gave them a scolding look. The car was quiet as they drove over to Peter's house, save some light giggling in the back seat.

  Pearl pointed her finger at the radio and smiled. Jeannie turned it on. The song was one of the songs that Jeremi sang frequently at the pub. Jeannie shook her head and rolled her eyes. "Okay, okay, okay!!!" she muttered. "I'm going, I'm going! Sheesh!" Jeannie snapped off the radio and the angels laughed.

  I went ahead to see how Jeremi was holding up in this waiting game. He and Peter, Melinda sat around the table. It was after 6:30, barely. "Maybe she's stuck in traffic," Melinda offered.

  Jeremi, looking down, shook his head.

  "She's a woman, you know how they can be," Peter said. Melinda shot a look at him over her glasses of complete disbelief for saying something so stupid. Peter got very defensive. "Well, you know what I mean," he said.

  "How could I know what you mean sir, I'm just a silly girl," Melinda did her best southern belle accent.

  Jeremi chuckled a little at that exchange.

  Their faces all perked up when they heard the car pull up.

  Jeremi jumped up and knocked into the table, crushing his hand between it and his thigh. He shook out his hand and ran to the peephole in the door. "It's them!"

  He opened the door just as Carole and Lynne ran up to it. They ran in. Jeremi got down on his knees and hugged them tight. Carole gave him a kiss. Jeannie appeared in the doorway. The expression on her face was neutral. She waited for him to set the tone.

  Jeannie stepped inside the doorway. Jeremi went over to her and held her, just held her. He began to cry. "I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. I just pray that some day you'll be able to forgive me those horrible things. Please, please give me a second chance."

  After he said it a couple of times, her arms reached up and she hugged him back. Tears streamed down her face, too.

  He let go of her and backed away a step. He patted her protruding belly and said, "Are you all right?" Jeannie nodded. Jeremi held out his hand. Jeannie looked at it, then slowly reached out hers. Then, hand-in-hand, they walked to the table. Peter, Melinda and the girls all watched and smiled.

  They situated themselves around the tables. The children had their own table in the kitchen and the four adults were out in the dining room. Since Jeannie had some trouble getting up and down easily, the other three adults took turns and saw to the childrens' needs as dinner progressed.

  Jeremi talked non-stop through dinner, telling them all about the experiences he'd had over the last several days. He told them about Bill cornering him. He told them about the golden light and his decision to stay. He told them about Don. He told about the group sessions. Then he showed them the good-bye presents. Peter looked at the tag on the baby's bottle.

  "So you told them about Marshal, with one 'l'?" he asked.

  Jeremi nodded. Jeannie was curious, so Jeremi drew it out for her. He showed her the names "Martin" and "Sheila" and drew arrows down from those letters to form the name "Marshal." Jeannie smiled and shivered.

  "Do you like it?" Jeremi asked.

  "Yeah, I do. It just gave me a chill."

  Everyone listened to Jeremi talk on through dinner. Jeannie listened, too, but occasionally she'd lift her napkin to her mouth and clasp her hand hard on her thigh. She'd had several contractions but she did her level best to hide them from everyone.

  About the fourth time this happened during dinner, I asked, "Pearl, is she all right?"

  "Actually, it's time to get her some help," Pearl responded. "She's starting to have regular contractions. They're ten minutes apart right now. A couple more and we're gonna have to blow the whistle on her."

  All the angels agreed.

  Jeannie had stopped eating and only sipped her water.

  Melinda was the first to notice something was up. Jeremi was still deep in his stories and Peter was listening intently. Melinda started to watch Jeannie. Jeannie had another contraction and as she had done before, she put her napkin over her mouth, grabbed her thigh and looked away from everyone, without making any noise. It was a feat to behold, Melinda saw this, glanced at her watch, and also kept quiet. The next time it happened, she and Jeannie made eye contact. Jeannie had a panicked look in her eye. Melinda mouthed the words "Are you all right?" Jeannie nodded. Melinda glanced at her watch again. As ten minutes approached again, Melinda looked at her watched and then waited to see if Jeannie would have another contraction. Right on schedule, up went the napkin and to her thigh went her hand. Jeannie realized that Melinda now knew, but Jeannie pleaded with her with her eyes to keep quiet. Melinda kept her secret, but looked at her watch again.

  Melinda kept a watch on the time, as yet another contraction hit.

  "Okay, I'm blowing the whistle on her!" Pearl announced. "Get Carole in here." Marie jiggled the table and a little water spilled on Carole's dress. Carole immediately got up and ran to her mommy. Carole stopped short when she saw the strained look on her mother's face. But before Jeannie could shake her head to keep her from saying anything, Carole announced, "Mommy, your face is all scrunchy again!"

  Peter and Jeremi focused on the situation just as the contraction subsided. Jeannie looked around and realized she'd been found out. She let out a big, cleansing breath, now that her secret was out.

  "That's about the sixth one I've seen. Carole, has your mom had that scrunchy-faced look before?" Melinda asked her.

  "Yeah, at Judie's house just before we came here."

  Melinda confronted Jeannie. "How long have you been in labor?"

  "What?!" Jeremi and Peter jumped up at the same time.

  "You're in labor?" Jeremi asked her directly.

  "Probably," Jeannie said, then shifted in her seat.

  "The ones I've seen are about ten minutes apart," Melinda said. "You're due in a couple of weeks, right?" Jeannie nodded.

  "When was the last time you saw the doctor?" Jeremi asked.

  "On Tuesday," Jeannie told him.

  "What did he say?" They all asked in their own way.

  "That I could start to have stress contractions and that I needed to work at keeping my blood pressure down."

  Jeremi took that pretty hard. "Oh man, it's all my fault. I did this to you. I am so sorry."

  "You did this to me, all right!" Jeannie capitalized on that confession.

  They all laughed, which provided some welcomed comic relief. Jeremi's panic settled somewhat.

  "What's happening, Mommy?" Carole asked.

  "Well, sweetheart," Melinda got up and took C
arole by the hand and led her back into the kitchen and explained, "Jeremi is going to drive your mother to the hospital. You and your sister are going to stay here with your Uncle Peter and me. How would you guys like to have a slumber party?" All the children cheered.

  "I'll drive you," Jeremi offered.

  "No, I'll drive. Really all this fuss is too --" Jeannie started to stand up, but another contraction hit her. After it was finished, she went to her purse and handed Jeremi the car keys. Jeremi and Peter each took an arm and helped Jeannie to the car. Melinda and all the children waved as they watched out the window.

  Chapter 31

  "It's showtime!" George said. George and I sat by Jeremi and kept him driving carefully. He was carrying precious cargo.

  "Is there something familiar about this scene?" Pearl whispered to Jeannie, who then chuckled to herself.

  "What's so funny?" Jeremi asked her.

  "I was just thinking that about nine months ago, we were doing this exact same thing." Jeannie laughed some more until a contraction interrupted it.

  "That's a trip, huh?" Jeremi said and cracked a smile.

  They got to the emergency room. Jeremi ran in, grabbed a wheelchair and brought it to the car. An orderly came out and assisted him. The orderly wheeled Jeannie inside, right to the check-in desk. Jeremi went to park the car. Jeannie finished checking in, when Jeremi got back to her side. The nurse pointed and Jeremi wheeled her down the hallway to the elevator.

  "Wave hello to the nice doctor," Jeremi said.

  Jeannie looked up and realized the man at the end of the hall was the doctor who had told her she was pregnant. They both waved and smiled and he waved back, too, but walked on. As they got on to the elevator, the doctor came back around the corner quickly to do a double-take, but Jeannie and Jeremi were already gone. The doctor scratched and shook his head, then went about his business. Even the doctor's angel laughed with us.

  "Anne! I've got to call Anne," Jeannie panicked. Then she thought about it and counted on her fingers and said, "Wait, no. Anne should already be here. I think she's working tonight."

  "I'll find her for you," Jeremi reassured her.