My Son's Wife

by Shelia E. Bell

  Rena waited with anticipation for her mother, inside the airport, while Audrey manned the car. When she saw the splash of honey blonde hair peaking through the flurry of people, Rena waved her hands and ran into until she reached her mother.

  They embraced each other tightly.

  “Don’t you look radiant,” her mother said after pushing her back and inspecting Rena’s oval face.

  “Momma, I’m so glad to see you.” Rena’s tear smothered voice shook with joy. How long are you going to be here?” Trails of questions further revealed Rena’s happiness. “You said you might stay until after the wedding. Are you, Momma? How’s Daddy? When is he coming?”

  “Honey, please. Calm down.” Meryl laughed and hugged her daughter again. “There’s plenty of time to answer all of your questions. Right now I just want to look at my precious baby. It seems like ages since the last time I saw you.”

  “I know, Momma. I’ve missed you and Daddy too. But you’re here now and you can help me with my wedding and everything,” her voice rose in surprise. Rena retrieved the luggage, and locked her free hand with her mother’s.

  “Where did you park?” Meryl looked around the busy airport.

  “Audrey brought me. She’s outside waiting on us.”

  “Well, come on. We don’t want to keep her waiting. You know how the airport authorities are these days. I hope they haven’t already made her move.”

  The day of the barbeque, laughter and love permeated the air. Though it was July, one of the hottest months of the summer in Memphis, the weather was perfect. Temperatures hovered around 80 degrees with a gentle breeze that scattered the back yard with the scent of the dozens of flowers. Invited guests filled the lanai and overflowed into the landscaped grounds. The fragrances of roses were mixed with the tantalizing smell of barbeque tenderloin, steaks, burgers chicken and grilled vegetables. While some people were busy talking, others enjoyed the delicious taste of southern home cooking.

  Audrey was in her element. She took full advantage of the opportunity to entertain and show off as she walked around making sure everything was in place and that the guests were well taken care of. Organizing the loads of gifts being brought in for Stiles and Rena, Audrey gloried in all of the attention by displaying smiles and laughter.

  Audrey clasped her hands together like a child and grinned. There was no doubt in her mind that after today, the talk around the neighborhood and at Holy Rock would be centered on the grand Fourth of July bash she’d thrown in honor of her darling Stiles and her soon to be daughter-in-law.

  Pastor had no problem giving the reins to Audrey. He understood her need for attention and for perfection in this event. She hadn’t always been that way though. When he first met her, she was rather shy, almost withdrawn. But soon after their marriage, and the church began to expand, Audrey quickly climbed out of her shell. She loved being the First Lady, with the members doting on her and treating her like she was royalty. Initially, Pastor didn’t quite know how to accept the change in his wife’s demeanor. But it didn’t take long for him to become accustomed to her desire to be the center of attention. He loved his wife dearly; for Pastor there was no one else who he could ever remotely love more than his Audrey.

  The phone rang just as Audrey and Rena closed the door to the last of the guests. Stiles rushed to answer it. “Hello, Graham residence,” he spoke articulately into the phone. His face turned ashen as he listened to the voice on the other end. Pastor stood close by witnessing the peculiar look on his son’s face.

  “What is it, son?” he asked, moving in closer to where Stiles stood.

  “Yes, we’ll be right there. Thank you. Thank you very much.” Stiles hung up the phone and stood motionless. “That was the hospital. Frankie’s been in an accident.” Holding his hand to his forehead, Stiles continued. “She’s…she’s at The Med, in the Trauma Unit.”

  “Oh, my God,” Pastor yelled, his voice like an echo from an empty tomb. Audrey, Rena and Meryl rushed into the family room when they heard the urgency in Pastor’s voice.

  Stiles remained silent with the phone still in his hand.

  “What is it? asked Audrey, her breath caught in her lungs. “Who was that on the phone?”

  Pastor walked over to where his wife stood, and took hold of her hand. He didn’t give his son time to explain the call. “Audrey, honey. Frankie’s been in a car accident.”

  “Oh my God, is she all right?” Audrey’s voice broke miserably into a scream. “Tell me my child is all right.” She found her voice again.

  Rena went to Stiles. She peeled the receiver from his hand, her eyes brimmed with tears, while Meryl helped Pastor comfort Audrey.

  Holding his wife underneath the grip of his arm, they listened to Stiles repeat what the nurse told him.

  Stiles took a deep breath and tried to relax. “She’s in stable condition. We need to get to the hospital.”

  When the family arrived at the Trauma Unit, Rena immediately recognized Kansas. She looked fatigued. With eyes the color of blood, the woman glared at Frankie’s family with a wicked look. Rena pretended not to notice Kansas. She couldn’t bring herself to look at her face to face. The two of them had ran into each other a time or two before when she popped up over to Frankie’s apartment. Neither Kansas nor Rena liked each other. Rena was no fool, she knew Kansas had feelings for Frankie but Frankie always refused to reciprocate, or so Rena thought. Maybe Kansas finally got what she wanted. Now that Rena was involved with Stiles, the door had certainly creaked open for Kansas to slip through.

  Rena prayed silently, hoping that Kansas wouldn’t say anything to her. Her prayers certainly had been answered so far because Kansas turned and walked away in the opposite direction.

  Pastor walked up to the nurses’ station and inquired about Francesca Graham’s whereabouts.

  “Sir, your daughter is still being x-rayed and evaluated.” Her voice was kind and sympathetic. She stood and walked from behind the desk. “If you’ll follow me, I’ll take you all to the waiting room. The doctor will come and talk to you as soon as he can.”

  “Thank you, ma’am,” replied Pastor.

  With her head bowed down, Audrey sobbed as they went into the waiting room.

  Kansas was already in the waiting room sitting next to three other ladies and a man that Rena recognized as some of Frankie’s friends. Shunning her, Rena clung to Stiles as if he could protect her from her horrid past.

  The doctor walked in some fifty minutes later and asked for the Graham family. Kansas’ ears perked up and she listened to what he told the family.

  Rena, Stiles, Pastor, Audrey and Meryl huddled together.

  “What happened to my baby?” Audrey cried.

  “Ma’am,” the doctor answered. His piercing green eyes drifted from person to person. “It appears that Miss Graham was a back seat passenger in a car. The driver lost control of the vehicle, veered off the road and down an embankment.”

  Rena gasped and her tears gushed from her baby doll eyes.

  Stiles slammed his fist in the palm of his hand.

  “Is she going to be all right?” asked Meryl.

  “Miss Graham was thrown from the back of the car, out of the rear window. She wasn’t wearing a seatbelt. She sustained some pretty serious lacerations on her arms. It’s a miracle that she came out with minor bruises and scratches on her face, but she fractured both legs and her right ankle. We also had to insert a breathing tube because she has a collapsed lung. The tube should relieve some of the pressure off of her lungs.”

  Audrey’s hands flew up to her mouth. “Noooo,” she cried harder. Pastor kissed her forehead and wrapped his trembling arm around her shoulder.

  “Doctor, tell us. What’s my sister’s prognosis?”

  Kansas stood against the wall. She listened silently to the doctor.

  “Her injuries are extensive, but we do have her stabilized. I expect her to make a full recovery. But it’s going to take some time.”

  “I want to s
ee her,” Audrey insisted.

  “Can we?” asked Stiles.

  “Now is not a good time, I’m afraid. I just gave orders for her to be transferred to Critical Care, and she’s heavily sedated. “Tomorrow might be a better time,” he explained.

  “Thank you, thank you so much, doctor,” Pastor said.

  After the doctor left, Kansas walked over to where Frankie’s family was seated.

  Standing before them, they all looked up.

  Pastor spoke up. “Yes, young lady, can I help you?” he asked.

  “I’m a friend of Frankie’s. I was in the car too,” Kansas mumbled nervously while scanning her bruised and scratched body.

  “Thank God, my child.” Pastor stood and embraced Kansas. Her body stiffened at this touch.

  “They released me after checking me over, but Frankie and one of our other friends wasn’t so lucky. I heard what the doctor said. I was wondering if I could go with y’all to see her? They won’t tell me, or any of us nothin’,” said Kansas as she looked over her shoulder at the rest of Frankie’s friends. “They say it’s ‘cause we ain’t `mediate family.”

  “That’s right and I don’t think it would be a good idea anyway,” Audrey abruptly spoke up, with a look of total disdain. She stood and looped her arm inside of Pastor’s. “Francesca,” Audrey emphasized her name, “doesn’t need to be upset. If you heard the doctor, then you know she’s in critical condition, and no one can see her tonight anyway. We’ll be glad to tell her you were here.”

  Rena refused to lock eyes with Kansas, afraid that her secret would be revealed by the look in her eyes.

  Stiles didn’t utter a word.

  “Kansas, it’s nice of you to be concerned about Francesca. And I’m certainly glad you came out of the accident all right. That’s truly a blessing from God. I tell you what,” Pastor said meekly, “why don’t I take your number and call you when we hear something? There’s no reason for you to hang around here. You may not be scratched up but I know you’re going to be sore in the morning. It’d be a good idea for you to go home and get some rest. I promise to call you,” Pastor said humbly.

  “Thanks, but no thanks,” Kansas retorted loudly, and glared at Audrey and Rena too. “You know what? I see why Frankie don’t want to be `round y’all. You’re all a bunch of…” The people who were with Kansas rushed to her side and guided her away from Frankie’s family, but not before Kansas screamed at Rena, pointing a two inch crooked nail, “And you, Miss Thang, sitting there like you the loving bride to be. You make me sick to my stomach.”

  Stiles pounced up like a starving lion after its prey, but Pastor reached out in time and grabbed hold of his arm, pulling him back down in the chair.

  “Let her go, son. Let her go.” The strength in his father’s arm and the compassion in his eyes made Stiles relent.

  The Security Guard grabbed Kansas. She shook his hands off her. “Turn me loose.” She seethed with mounting rage. She straightened her clothes and huffed down the hall toward the elevator.

  Frankie was in the hospital close to three weeks. Somewhat apprehensive, Rena went to see her for the first time by herself. She opened the door and saw Frankie sleeping. Rena stood next to the bed and watched her.

  “She looks like the Francesca I remember from school, not the angry, uptight woman she is now,” whispered Rena.

  Frankie stirred in her sleep. Her eyes slowly opened and she saw Rena hovering over her. “What are you doing here?” Frankie’s anger couldn’t be retained. “How many times do I have to tell you that I don’t want you here, or Stiles?”

  Rena rolled her eyes toward heaven. “I had to come. I wasn’t about to let you lay up here without checking on you. Are you feeling better?” Rena asked her.

  “Like you really care.”

  Rena pursed her lips and shifted from one leg to the other. “Come on, Frankie. Let’s not go there. You’re my best friend. Of course I care.”

  Ignoring Rena’s response, Frankie asked, “Why aren’t you at work?”

  “I turned in my resignation last week. I’m going to start working in Memphis at the Benjamin Hooks library after the wedding.”

  “Humph, is that right?” Frankie mumbled and turned her head away.

  Rena ignored her. “You never answered me. How do you feel today?” Rena reached for Frankie’s hand but she quickly snatched it away.

  Turning to face Rena again with raised brows she complained, “I’m tired of this place. I’m ready to get out of here.”

  “You will soon. Audrey said the doctor thinks you’ll be able to go home in a day or two. She’s busy fixing up your room at Emerald Estates so you’ll be comfortable.”

  “I’m not going back there. No way.” Frankie rebuffed, trying to ease herself upright in the hospital bed.

  Holding her down, Rena responded, “Don’t get yourself upset. Anyway, what choice do you have? You need to have someone take care of you until you’re feeling better. Look at your legs!” You can’t walk with casts on both of your legs, not to mention the wounds on your arms and hands.” Rena pointed, looking down at Frankie’s legs.

  Frankie’s right leg was encased in traction and the other leg was positioned in a bent angle in the cast. Her left hand was wrapped in bandages and bruises were still quite evident on her neck and forehead.

  “I don’t need Audrey’s sympathy, Frankie growled. “All she wants to do is make herself look good. She wants people to tell her that she’s such a good mother, taking her daughter in and nursing her back to health. Well, I won’t give her the satisfaction of using me. I can manage at my own place.”

  “How do you suppose you’re going to do that, Frankie? First of all, you won’t be able to get up the stairs to your apartment in your condition. And if you think you can rely on Kansas to help you out, then you’re crazy. You and I both know she won’t hang around too long; she’s not exactly the nurturing kind.” Rena watched Frankie’s expression change from a frown to a blank look.

  As much as Frankie hated to admit it, Rena was right. Kansas wasn’t about to stick around and play the Good Samaritan to her.

  “That’s not for you to worry about. I have more friends than Kansas anyway. You just concentrate on your little wedding and this charade with my brother.” Frankie waved Rena off. “Look, I’m tired. Will you just go?”

  Rena looked hurt. “Frankie, I’m praying for things to be better between us. Maybe you need more time, then we can be friends again like we used to minus all of the baggage.” When Frankie didn’t respond, Rena walked away. “I’ll check on you tomorrow.” Upon reaching the door, Rena stopped briefly and said, “Audrey asked me to tell you that she’ll be out here later this afternoon.”

  Frankie spoke up. “Why did she have to send the message by you? The phone is right there,” Frankie looked at the hospital phone sitting on the table next to her bed.

  “Get some rest,” Rena said ignoring Frankie’s snide remarks. And with that, she left.

  The elevator doors opened and Rena walked in. She almost bumped into Kansas stepping off of the elevator.

  Kansas gave her an evil eye of jealousy not bothering to say one word to her. She pushed past her and walked in the direction of Frankie’s room.

  “I hate to be the bearer of bad news. You laid up in here all bandaged up and everything.”

  “What is it? It can’t be no worse than everything that’s already happening.”

  “When I got up this afternoon, an eviction notice was hung on the door. That punk landlord said he’s gonna sit Oh no. your stuff on the curb in two days.

  “What do you expect me to do about it?” Frankie gritted her teeth and yelled. “There’s nothing I can do about it in here. This place is like being in jail.”

  “I’m tryna see what I can come up wit. But I had to tell you.”

  “Yeah, I know that. But still, I don’t have any money, no job and I sure ain’t about to ask Rena, my daddy and none of them for anything. They’re spending all of thei
r money on that big fancy wedding. I tell you what I want you to do.”

  “What?”

  “Go back to the apartment and get all of my stuff. Take ‘em to Emerald Estates. Tell my Momma that I told you to bring them there. Since she talkin’ about she wants to take care of me, here’s her chance.” Frankie said sarcastically and laughed.

  Kansas laughed just as hard. “Hey, I saw your girl when I got off the elevator. What she have to say?”

  “Nothing worth talkin’ about,” Frankie answered.

  Frankie’s doctor entered the room and interrupted their visit. “I’m sorry to barge in on you, Miss Graham.” He eyed Kansas from the top of her blond braids to the top of her run over wedge heeled sandals.

  “No problem, Doc.” Frankie cleared her throat.

  “How are you feeling today? I’ve been concerned about your lingering low grade fever. I can’t discharge you until we can get it under control.” He approached her bedside and began checking her heart rate and pulse. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to talk to you in private,” he said, his eyes shifting in Kansas’ direction.

  “I’m going downstairs for a smoke. I’ll be back a little later,” Kansas told her.

  “Okay, I’ll see you in a minute.” Frankie nodded slowly.

  As the door closed behind her, the doctor didn’t waste any time. “Now tell me, how are you really feeling? And be truthful,” he asked.

  “I’m tired and I ache all over.”

  “That’s understandable. You were involved in a serious accident. One that could have very well been fatal.”

  “Yeah, I’m lucky, huh?”

  “Some would call it that. Others would say that you’re blessed.”

  A withdrawn, terrified look enveloped Frankie’s face. She watched her doctor as he continued his examination. “You…have…” his voice faded out with every word that trailed out of his mouth.

  “No, it’s a mistake,” Frankie screamed. A nurse appeared from out of nowhere with a syringe in her hand. “I don’t want a shot.” The doctor didn’t seem to hear a word she said. His lips kept moving as she drifted off into a heavy, sedated sleep.