Circle of Secrets

by Lauren Tisdale

  “Marissa, how are you feeling? Any side effects from the sample I gave you last time?” he asked as he looked at her folder.

  She looked at the man who was about three years older than she, with the deepest of brown hair, almost black. His skin was the color of honey, due to his Spanish heritage. Clean-shaven, with a hint of a five o’clock shadow. His smile was bright, teeth perfectly aligned, with an angled jaw line, and smile lines by his mouth showing his aging. When he looked up at her she almost forgot his question. He was so handsome. His warm brown eyes looked into her hazel ones. Blinking a few times she answered him, “No, not that I’ve been able to tell. I’m not in as much pain anymore.”

  He gave a nod and looked back at her file, writing a few notes down before placing it on his desk and walking closer to the exam table.

  “I’ll check your blood work and see if the numbers have improved since last month’s.” Taking the blood pressure cuff and placing it on her arm he held the stethoscope on the crook of her elbow. He concentrated on listening for the beats to determine the reading.

  “135 over 80, not too bad. Slightly raised.” He removed the cuff and placed it in the basket on the wall. With the stethoscope still in his ears, he pressed the diaphragm to her chest as she took deep breaths. Moving it around her chest a few times then placing it on her back, he listened for any signs of breathing or heart troubles. Dropping the diaphragm and removing the ear pieces from his ears, he looped it around his neck as he took a seat on the stool with wheels. “Things sound good so far. The blood work you submitted yesterday should be in, I’ll have to check with Ruth.” He looked at Sophia and smiled. “Winning?”

  Breaking her concentration, she looked up from her game with a smile. “Oh, me? Ha-ha, yeah…sorta.” She went back to her game as he stood, grabbing her mother’s file and smiling at Marissa before exiting. They were attracted to one another, but each of them was probably too afraid to tell the other. Dr. Martinez was divorced, three years now. Marissa’s ex, Sophia’s father, vanished when she learned she was pregnant. Something was holding her back from acting on her attraction, she just didn’t know what it was.

  Trying to wait patiently but getting more and more nervous by the minute, she fiddled with her hands, her watch, and her phone. She tried to keep as busy as possible while awaiting the results of the blood work. When the door opened again, she practically jumped. As he walked back in, he was reading and making small “hmm” sounds.

  “Is...everything…okay?” she asked.

  “Looks like it, Miss Hayes. From the blood results it appears the medicine and few rounds of dialysis have helped.” She sighed as she felt the urge to cry with relief. For now at least, she wouldn’t need permanent dialysis or a transplant.

  Looking at Sophia with tear-filled eyes, she suggested, “How about ice cream to celebrate?”

  Sophia stood and threw her hands up in the air. “YAY! Ice cream! And good news.”

  Dr. Martinez chuckled and closed the folder. “I’ll have Lyndsay make you a check-up appointment, but you come and see me if any problem ensues. Okay?”

  “Of course, thank you so much, Doctor.” She stood up from the exam table and stepped down off the small step. She took her purse and placed it on her shoulder as Sophia stood and began to walk out, looking down at her game. Lyndsay gave her a smile and thumbs up, hearing of her friend’s blood work. Marissa smiled a wide smile and nodded, happily. The checkout counter receptionist smiled as she handed Marissa an appointment card for the following month. She paid her co-pay and stuffed the wallet back into her purse, waving good bye to Lynsday. As they left the office, Sophia skipped to the car.

  “Grandma and Grandpa will be excited to hear the news! Can we get ice cream first?” she asked with a big smile, standing by the door waiting for her mother to open it.

  Marissa nodded. “I guess we can. Then we’ll go see Grandma and Grandpa.” She put the key in the door and unlocked it. Sophia slid in with a smile, buckling her seatbelt. Going around to the driver’s side, Marissa slid in and started the car. Closing the door, she put her seatbelt on. A smile was on her face because of the good news she was able to hear today. Her mom and dad would be thrilled to hear that she was getting better, or in some sort of remission.

  It was the beginning of spring and the flowers were starting to bloom as the heat began to rise. North Carolina was usually a moderate temperature year-round. Just hot or cold enough to be comfortable but not miserable. Sophia squealed with delight when they turned into the Dairy Queen driveway. One of her favorite treats was ice cream. Marissa shook her head and smiled. “Are we eating here? Or bringing it to Grandma and Grandpa’s?” she asked as she parked.

  “Here!” Sophia answered as she unbuckled her seatbelt and opened the car door.

  They ate their ice cream and talked about things that had happened in school before she had to check her daughter out early so that Marissa could go to her doctor’s appointment. Marissa knew she’d be in town late and didn’t want Sophia home alone. She laughed as Sophia described the history teacher’s face when one of the students asked why they called it the World Series if it was only in America. “Well, it’s a good question, Momma!” Sophia said, giggling.

  “You’re absolutely right,” Marissa said. On the drive to Marissa’s parents they sang along with their favorite radio station. She and her daughter had the closest of relationships.

  As she pulled up into the driveway she heard Sophia unbuckle and get close to her ear. “I’m gonna ask Grandpa, I bet he doesn’t even know. And he’s old!” she said as they both laughed. Marissa’s mother stood outside waiting for them to park. Sophia got out as soon as the engine shut off and ran to her grandma, giving her a hug. Marissa’s parents lived on the beach and Sophia loved it there. The North Carolina air gave one a sense of peace as the waves crashed against the sand and dock. As a child it was Marissa’s favorite place in the world to be. Dangling her feet into the water while sitting on the dock, her father teaching her to fish. Romantic walks on the beach when she was in high school. Many of her friends had slept over and had a bonfire on the sand. Walking up the porch steps, she hugged her mother, Susanne, and smiled. She could tell her mother was dying for information on how the doctor’s appointment had gone.

  “It went great, Mom. Really good news this time. He said my blood work came back great and the medicine and treatment seem to be working.”

  Her mother let out an excited squeal of delight at the news. Hugging her daughter tight again, she closed her eyes and exhaled a sigh of relief.

  “Come, let’s go tell your father the great news!”

  Marissa’s mother grasped her by the hand and headed into the house calling out for her husband.

  “Mike? Mike! Where are you?” she called out as she pulled Marissa through the house, Sophia following them. She finally spotted him in his study as he sat at his desk looking at his latest stamp collection additions. Putting down the magnifying glass and removing his glasses, he looked up.

  “What is it, Susie?” he asked in his gruff voice as he saw Marissa standing there with a smile on her face. He returned her smile and tilted his head slightly.

  “What? What’s with the smiles? We win the lottery?”

  They all laughed as Sophia chimed in, “Oh, Grandpa. I wish!” she said with a giggle. Marissa shook her head no and began speaking.

  “My blood work shows signs of improvement and it seems the medicine is doing its job. We aren’t out of the woods yet, but we can hope.”

  For a few years now, Marissa had been suffering greatly with her kidneys. It was only a few months ago that Dr. Martinez had been able to narrow it down and diagnose her with a condition known as glomerulonephritis. This meant that her small blood vessels in her kidneys were inflamed. The medication he was able to prescribe to her as a test trial seemed to have helped reduce the inflammation. They weren’t completely out of the woods because it could get worse or she could develop an underlying condition. It w
as all just a wait and see game.

  Her father pulled her into his arms and closed his eyes, looking like he was silently thanking God as he hugged her tight. Marissa wrapped her arms around her father and smiled with delight at such great news.

  “I think it calls for a celebration. How about we go out for a family dinner? On us.” Mike suggested this to everyone as Susanne nodded in agreement.

  Sophia clasped her hands together and jumped up and down. “Oh, yes Momma, please! Please Momma? Please?”

  Marissa smiled and nodded her head. “Of course, we’d love to. Thank you Mom, Dad.” They smiled and all made their way into the family room to visit until dinner time.

  Once they all sat down to relax, Sophia sprawled out on the carpet of the living room. She sat up and looked at Mike. “Grandpa, I have a question for you.” Marissa chuckled as she knew the question.

  “Well, Sophia. I might have an answer,” he said with a wink.

  “Okay, so you know how in baseball,” Sophia began, as she talked and explained with her hands as she always did. “…the big game is called the World Series. Right?” He nodded for her to continue. “Well, the whole world doesn’t play in that game. So why is it called the WORLD Series. Why not United States or New York Series since it’s always in New York?”

  Mike tilted his head and grinned, the wrinkle on his brow seeming to indicate that he was stumped. “Well, I suppose…I guess because it’s such a big deal. I hate to say, but I don’t know Sophia.”

  Sophia giggled and looked at Marissa as she said, “Told ya he wouldn’t know, Momma!” They all laughed again as Marissa shook her head at her daughter’s silly antics. That little girl was her whole world and she made each day easier to manage, even with the pain. Her mother, Susanne, was always there for her and gave great advice. She had a great relationship with her mother and always had. Her father, Mike, was a retired fireman who was enjoying retirement by restarting a hobby he’d stopped a few decades back. Susanne had suggested during his first month home for retirement that he find a hobby to keep him occupied. So he did, and began to collect his stamps again, expanding his collection.

  Susanne was a painter. Some of her work was featured in the local gallery in town, but as her hands cramped up more and more she painted less and less. But it still brought her joy to pick up a paintbrush and spend hours conveying a story through a single picture on a canvas. She viewed life the same way and would always say, “Write your own destiny, just as you paint your own picture and tell a story.”

  Marissa was their only child and Sophia their only grandchild. Marissa’s grandparents had long passed on so it was just their little family. Her aunts and uncles were spread across the states and some lived in North Carolina but in different towns. Major holidays often brought family to visit but she mainly saw them for family reunions, weddings and funerals. Marissa had always wondered why her folks had never had any more children after her and they claimed it was because they just couldn’t no matter how hard they tried. She was their miracle.

  Sophia’s father had long since disappeared many years ago. They had been engaged to be married when Marissa found out she was pregnant. He struggled with the idea of becoming a father and thought it best they go their separate ways. He just didn’t inform her of that decision. One day she woke, six months pregnant, to a half-empty apartment. They’d shared an apartment while they both attended college.

  She was a strong woman and picked herself up after being left high and dry. She pawned the engagement ring for money and one of her best friends moved in to help with the rent and utilities. Having a roommate helped. Especially when she went into labor over winter break. Her best friend and roommate was so helpful to her during all that time.

  Chantelle had been her friend since high school. They had done everything together and most days felt like sisters more than friends. When Marissa went into labor, Chantelle was the one who stayed with her until her parents got to the hospital. Even then, she didn’t leave. Chantelle cried when she held Sophia for the first time, and when Marissa told her she’d like her to be the baby’s godmother.

  After Sophia’s birth, Marissa had just enough time to recuperate, and she quickly went back to school and work. She was determined to make it and her parents loved watching Sophia while Marissa went to school and worked. Chantelle helped on the days Marissa’s parents couldn’t keep Sophia and Marissa worked her way through college to become a third grade teacher. She loved to teach, and she loved children. The day she graduated was one of the happiest days of her life, aside from having Sophia. She and Chantelle graduated at the same time. Marissa, the teacher, and Chantelle, the social worker. They still got together frequently and Sophia was super close to her godmother.

  Once Marissa started to get sicker, she realized she had to step away from teaching for a while until she could get her illness under control. Today’s news gave her hope that she could return to the classroom soon.

  “What’s on your mind, Marissa?” her mother asked softly, as Marissa turned to her.

  “Oh, nothing much, just wondering when I can get back to the classroom. Rachel says my class misses me. I miss them, too.” Rachel Roberts was Marissa’s friend who taught Sophia in the classroom across from hers. Sophia loved Ms. Roberts’ class.

  “I’m sure it will be soon. If you’re feeling better you should ask for your position back. Didn’t that nice superintendent say you could go back when you were ready?”

  Marissa nodded, smiling. “You’re right, Mom. I’ll talk to him next week when I can get an appointment to see him. It’s about time to get back to living.”

  Chapter Three

  The doctor said that Joseph would be okay and have a full recovery. It would take some time and he’d have to wear the splint for a few weeks before getting the cast put on. Helen had already told her father and her husband of her plans to have her father stay with them until he was back to one hundred percent mobility. Tyson Sr. did not object to her wishes. He knew how deeply Helen cared for her father. She held Joseph’s hand in hers constantly and barely left his side, unless she had to or when he was sleeping. She was there when he woke up after the accident.

  It had been a week since the accident and his cuts were starting to heal but the bruises were getting darker. “I’ll be okay, don’t you worry Cupcake,” he said to her that night while she held his hand. He was still unable to move much and still had severe pain. While he slept she prayed, read, slept and just watched him. Tyson would bring her clothes and supplies while she stayed there. Occasionally, the kids would come to visit their grandpa. Seeing the grandkids with their kids always made his day brighter.

  After one long week, he was finally sitting up and eating by himself. His left arm was still in a sling, but thankfully, he was right-handed. His shoulder was still sore from the dislocation. The large laceration on his face had needed stitches but it was healing fast and he was able to move around a little more. Helen still refused to leave his side, despite her father’s and husband’s protests to get some rest and take a break. Tyson Sr. finally managed to persuade her to go home for one night of rest in her own bed and a bath in her own bathroom. She reluctantly agreed after talking with the doctor who reassured her that her father was on the road to recovery and might even be released after the weekend. That made her feel better and she hugged and kissed Joseph goodnight and left the hospital for the first time since the accident.

  “I hate leaving him alone. I’m the only one who lives close enough to care for him.” Helen had one older brother and one older sister, both of whom lived in different states and only came down for major holidays or vacations when their families were able to.

  “I know you do, love. But he has the best care where he is. I promise you that. They have strict orders to call if there is the slightest of changes.” That made her feel slightly better but not completely. She watched the trees go by as she rested her head against the car window while Tyson drove them home. It had been a long
week. Hospital cots were not the most comfortable for resting. She did miss her bed, her home and her husband. A smile crossed her face when she felt his hand atop hers, giving her a squeeze. Turning to face him, she exhaled a sigh.

  “Thank you, Tyson for all you’ve done for me. You don’t know how much you mean to me. I love you.” He smiled and kissed her hand, before looking back at the road.

  “It’s what I promised you. I love you, too, love.”

  The rest of the drive was fairly quiet as she fought to keep her eyes open, knowing she still hadn’t had dinner.

  Upon arriving home she slowly got out of the car and started to get her suitcase from the backseat until Tyson protested.

  “I’ve got it, love. Go on in,” he said as he handed her the keys to get into the house. Unlocking the door and stepping inside, she held the screen door open for him to pass through with her things. He set the suitcase down and placed a hand on each of her shoulders, looking into her eyes.

  “How about you go and take a relaxing bath with those bubbles that smell so good, and I’ll head into town for some Chinese take-out from your favorite place. Sound good?”

  She nodded and smiled with relief. “I think that sounds like a wonderful idea, Tyson. I’ll probably be still in there when you return,” she said with a laugh. He kissed her forehead and took the keys from her hand before turning for the door. After he closed the door behind himself she closed her eyes and exhaled deeply. Relax. She needed to relax. Tension was in all parts of her body, and her arthritis was getting the better of her.

  Helen had always wanted a claw foot tub. After she and Tyson were married, they began making plans to purchase a house. They refused help from their parents because they wanted to do it alone. They stayed in their small apartment for what seemed like forever. Before long Tyson was accepted into a nearby hospital for his residency. Once money started flowing in, they saved up until they had enough for the down payment on her dream home. It was just right. A four bedroom, two-and-a-half bath, one-story home. It had the claw foot tub in the master bath and she fell in love with the floor plan. Once she was able to begin working again, she did. Years later, when Tyson had become an established doctor, she worked in his office and sometimes filled in for nurses at the hospital.