Soul Matters

by Yolonda Tonette Sanders

  Wendy closed her eyes and groaned in agony as the labor pains shot through her body.

  “C’mon, you can do it.” Kim tried to comfort her sister. “Just continue taking deep breaths.” She had brought Wendy to the hospital several hours ago. The two of them had just finished getting the baby’s room together when Wendy’s water broke. It was exciting, but unexpected, since the baby wasn’t technically due for another two weeks.

  “If you want, Mrs. Phillips, you can try and go for a short walk up and down the hall. Maybe that’ll help you dilate a little faster. It works for some women.”

  Wendy wished she could get up and slap the nurse for saying something so stupid. Walking was the last thing she wanted to do right now. Instead of speaking, she gave the woman a look that indicated exactly how she felt about the suggestion.

  “I’ll try and find Dr. Korva and have her come back in to check your progress,” said the nurse, picking up on Wendy’s glare. “You were two centimeters an hour ago. Since you’re in a lot of pain, you may be farther along than we think,” she admitted before slipping out of the room.

  Kim held Wendy’s hand. Gwen, Marlene, and Kevin should all be on their way. Kim had called them once Wendy got settled into her room. Michael said to call him as soon as the baby was born. He and Marlene didn’t want to leave Frances at home alone. It had been less than two months since she had gotten her pacemaker and they wanted to keep an eye on her. Evelyn had the kids and would keep them while Terrance went to work tomorrow.

  This is finally it, Kim thought as she anxiously anticipated the birth of her nephew. She was definitely excited about becoming an aunt. Wendy was the only means she had of achieving that status, because Terrance was an only child. Kim planned to spoil this child rotten then send him back home to his mother, like Wendy had done with her children.

  “I hear you’re in quite a bit of pain.” Dr. Korva walked into Wendy’s room.

  “Um-hmm,” was all Wendy could manage to say.

  “Well, I’ll get you checked out and we’ll see what we can do for you.”

  “I’m gonna wait outside for Mama and Gwen,” Kim said, trying to find an excuse to leave the room. She remembered how uncomfortable it had been to have her dilating progress checked during labor when other people were in the room.

  Wendy’s nod indicated that she understood the real reason behind her sister’s exit. Kim gave her sister’s hand one last squeeze before leaving. As soon as she walked into the hall, Kim was met by Kevin.

  “Hey, how’s Wendy doin’?”

  “She’s in a lot of pain. The doctor is checking to see if she is ready for an epidural, so now is not a good time to go in there. That’s why I came out.”

  “Oh. Well, I’ll be right back. I need to go downstairs and use my cell phone. I’m gonna call and leave a message for my secretary so she knows I won’t be in tomorrow.”

  “Okay,” Kim said and walked away. Is it really your secretary you’re calling? she wondered. She hadn’t seen Kevin since he’d crashed Wendy’s baby shower. She had mixed feelings about him. Yeah, Kevin would be her nephew’s father, but it didn’t mean she had to be his friend. She had called and told him about Wendy being in labor because it was the right thing to do, considering that it was his child. Plus, she didn’t want to hear her mother complain. Kim could hear her now, saying “Two wrongs don’t make a right.”

  “Kim!” a voice yelled from behind. She spun around and saw her mother and Gwen coming up the hall. Both were dressed in sweatpants and T-shirts with night scarves tied around their heads. “So what’s happening with Wendy?” Gwen asked.

  Kim repeated exactly what she had told Kevin.

  “Did you call Kevin like I told you?” Marlene questioned.

  “Yes, Mother. He’s here. In fact, you just missed him. He said he was going to call the office and let his secretary know he wouldn’t be there tomorrow.”

  Marlene rolled her eyes at Kim’s implication that Kevin was up to something. “He very well may be calling the office. The man does run a business, you know.”

  Kim didn’t respond. Deep down, she knew her mother was right. It was almost midnight and there was no telling how long Wendy would be in labor. Kevin probably had meetings set up for the next day, so it was likely that he would call and make alternate arrangements.

  The ladies sat out in the waiting room for a little while and Kim filled them in on all of the details that had brought her and Wendy to the hospital that night. Dr. Korva walked by and recognized Kim sitting in there.

  “Your sister has been given an epidural. It’s okay to go back in there if you want. She’s sleeping, though.”

  “Okay, thanks,” Kim responded. Her mother and Gwen had been at the hospital for about thirty minutes and Kevin was nowhere in sight. It doesn’t take that long to leave a message, she thought as they headed toward Wendy’s room.

  Marlene quietly opened the door so she wouldn’t wake her daughter. Wendy was now resting very comfortably, thanks to modern medicine. Next to her bed, in the chair Kim had once sat in, was Kevin. He slept also. His body was in the chair but his head rested next to Wendy’s stomach.

  Kim felt guilty for thinking the worst about him. It looked as though the two were a happy couple awaiting the birth of their first child. However, the three ladies who entered the room knew that things between Wendy and Kevin weren’t exactly how they appeared to be. Each of them located a spot on the furniture where they intended to rest until the baby arrived.

  “I still can’t believe this,” Wendy said. After thirteen hours of labor, she looked at the baby with admiration while the child stared blankly at her face. Kevin, Gwen, Marlene, and Kim all hovered over her shoulders. “You lil’ booger, you tricked me.” Wendy tugged at the baby’s fingers.

  “You tricked us all,” Gwen cooed at the baby.

  “She tricked y’all, not me. I knew it wasn’t a boy. I told you that,” Marlene said smugly. Her prediction of the baby’s sex had overridden that of the obstetrician, who had used high-tech medical equipment.

  Wendy and Kim just shook their heads. They knew their mother would gloat about this for years to come. Wendy continued holding the baby even though she knew everyone wanted a turn, especially Kevin. She felt that she had the right to be a little selfish. The pain she had gone through hours ago didn’t compare to the joy she felt now that her baby rested in her arms.

  “What did you have as a girl’s name again?” Gwen asked.

  “Maya Nicole, but I’m thinking about something different, so we’ll see.”

  Kevin didn’t like the sound of that. He thought they’d committed to naming the baby Maya Nicole if it was a girl. To him, there was nothing left to think about, so why was Wendy having second thoughts? Forget it. It’s not worth arguing about, he told himself. Although he would be hurt, the baby’s name was the least of his problems. Looking at the child, Kevin was even more desperate than ever to put his family back together. He couldn’t imagine missing one moment of his daughter’s life. Getting Wendy to agree with him would be difficult, considering all that had happened between them.

  The nurse who assisted Dr. Korva walked into the room. “What is her name, Mom?” she asked.

  “We were just talking about that. I don’t know yet.”

  “Well, can I steal your baby for just a little while? The doctors want to run some tests on her. It’s common with all newborns just to make sure they are healthy. I promise it won’t take more than a half an hour, if that. Dr. Korva will probably stop in and say good-bye before she leaves.”

  Wendy nodded her head and handed the baby over to the woman, even though she didn’t want to let her go. The nurse placed the infant in the roll-a-way carrier and went out of the room. Kim playfully stuck her bottom lip out like she was pouting. “I want to hold her first when she comes back.”

  “Well, what about me? I’m the grandmother. I think my rights supercede yours,” Marlene said jokingly. She glanced at Kevin, whose demeanor gav
e away how much he wanted to hold his child. He bit his lip as though he were fighting the urge to say that his rights as the father superceded everyone else’s except for Wendy’s. “Technically we should let Kevin hold her since he is the baby’s daddy.”

  Thank you, Kevin internally whispered to Marlene.

  She winked at him. Marlene had always tried to be a peacemaker. She didn’t approve of Kevin having an affair, but that shouldn’t mean that his rights as the baby’s father should be null and void. Like it or not, he’d be around, so Wendy, Kim, and Gwen had better get used to it. Marlene and Michael had agreed not to discuss their daughter’s marriage and not to railroad Kevin.

  “Fine, I’ll wait until you and Kevin hold her. Gwen can even go in front of me—that way we can save the best for last.”

  “You can skip me. I don’t like holding newborns,” Gwen said. She did not have an ounce of insecurity, except when it came to holding newborns. She was fearful of dropping a baby so small.

  “Oh that’s right—you’re scared of babies,” Kim recalled.

  “I’m not scared of babies.” Gwen got defensive. “I just would prefer to wait until she’s older.”

  “That’s cool. I’ll take your turn.” Kim looked at her mother mischievously. “I’ll get to hold her twice as long as you ’cuz I have two turns to your one.”

  Marlene playfully hit Kim. “I’m gonna run and get some coffee while the baby’s out. Does anyone want anything?”

  Gwen spoke up. “I’ll come with you. I want some water.”

  “The truth is, I wanted to get away by myself for a few moments,” Marlene insisted. “I may try to hunt down some of my former colleagues and visit for a few minutes.”

  “Will you bring me back a bottle of water, then?” Gwen started reaching in her pocket for some money.

  “I would like a Coke or a Pepsi.” Kevin handed Marlene a twenty-dollar bill. “You can get your coffee, Gwen’s water, and whatever Kim wants out of this.”

  “I don’t want anything,” Kim said, refusing to allow Kevin to buy his way back into her good graces. Marlene and Gwen both thanked Kevin for his generosity.

  Wendy dozed off and Marlene didn’t bother asking her if she wanted anything. It was probably too early after giving birth for her to eat or drink anyhow.

  “I’ll be back.” Marlene walked toward the door.

  “If you’re not here when the baby comes back, you’ll lose your turn,” Kim teased.

  Marlene stuck out her tongue before leaving the room. She felt a slight bit of guilt for leaving under false pretenses. She did intend to see some of her former co-workers, but she was also planning to make a pit stop at the lab to see if, by chance, Mr. Wallace would be there. He must come frequently since he and the nurse seemed to know each other fairly well. Marlene had even tried looking him up in the telephone book. She had found several Harold Wallaces. After calling each one, she discovered none was the Harold Wallace she’d been searching for. If she ever saw him again, she wouldn’t hesitate to approach him.

  When Marlene had come back from Tennessee after living with her grandmother, she had never expected to see Harold again. She asked her mother about him, but Frances had claimed she didn’t know where he was or how to get ahold of him. Marlene was hurt by the fact that he hadn’t come by to see her after her daddy died. After all, he was supposed to be one of her parents’ closest friends and a surrogate father to her.

  “Excuse me,” Marlene said as she walked through the door of the lab, past someone who was coming out. She glanced around. No Harold Wallace. Disappointed, she immediately left.

  “You’re lucky—you came just in time.” Kim smiled when Marlene walked back into the room. “Kevin was about to give her up and I was going to take your turn.”

  “Nuh-uh. Give me my granddaughter.” Marlene gave her coffee, Gwen’s water, and Kevin’s pop and money to Kim while she took the baby from Kevin.

  “Mama, make sure you hold her head.” Wendy woke up in time to see her mother getting the baby from her husband.

  Marlene gave Wendy a look as if to say Don’t start trippin’. I had two kids. I even raised you and you came out all right so apparently I know how to hold a baby. She put on her cooing voice and talked to her newest grandbaby. “Hey, punkin. How is Gramma’s suga-wuga?” Marlene forgot all about her coffee and sat down on the couch talking to the baby.

  “So what’s up with a name?” Kim asked. “Suga-wuga isn’t gonna get it.”

  “Tell me about it.” Wendy hesitated for a moment. “Kevin wanted to name her after his sister, but I came up with another idea,” she confessed without looking at Kevin. “I think it’ll only be fair if we name her after both of our sisters, not just one.”

  Kim’s face lit up. Wendy couldn’t be talking about anyone else but her.

  “Her name is going to be Kimberly Maya-Nicole Phillips.”

  Gwen started laughing. “What ever happened to two middle names being ghetto?” she teased. Wendy once had accused Gwen of being very tacky and ghetto when she named her son Galvin Cortez Vincent Simmons. “It’s not natural for children to have more than one middle name,” she had said.

  Wendy smiled. She had known that her best friend would give her a hard time, and she was prepared. “She only has one middle name. It’s Maya-Nicole with a hyphen, not Maya Nicole.”

  “Um-hmm. You think you’re slick, but either way you spell it, with or without a hyphen, it’s still two middle names.”

  “Wow.” Kim had been letting the announcement of her niece’s name sink in. “I’m truly honored.”

  “No, I’m honored to have you as my sister. Thanks for sticking by me. I love you.”

  “I love you too.” Kim gave Wendy a hug. She turned to Marlene, who was still talking gibberish with the baby. “Give her up, Mama. I think my rights supercede yours now that she’s my namesake.”

  Kevin sat quietly in the corner. He was fine with the baby’s name. He only wished Wendy had had the courtesy to talk to him about it before making a change. The fact that she hadn’t indicated to him how little she valued him as the baby’s father.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Whoop-De-Do

  WHAT NOW? Wendy thought when the doorbell rang. It had been less than five minutes since her mother, Gwen, and Kim had walked out the door. She figured one of them had forgotten a purse or something. Wendy glanced around the living room to see if she spotted anything that wasn’t hers, but she didn’t. She hurried to the door to see what they could possibly want.

  She loved those three ladies dearly, but they had driven her crazy with all their unwanted parenting advice. Kim and Gwen weren’t that bad, although they did sneak in remarks every now and then. Her mother seemed to act like she had an honorary pediatrician’s degree.

  “It don’t hurt them babies to lie on their stomachs. That’s how you and your sister were raised and y’all never died of SIDS,” Marlene had said earlier. Wendy had ignored her and laid Kimberly on her back as the doctors had recommended.

  “That’s what’s wrong with kids today,” her mother had continued. “Too many parents listen to what the so-called experts say and kids grow up out of control. Parents don’t want to whup their kids anymore because they say it damages a child’s self-esteem. When you chastise them while they’re young, you won’t have many problems when they get older. Common sense will tell you that.”

  “Mama, what does laying my baby on her back have to do with her growing up out of control?”

  “Nothing. I’m just saying that sometimes them doctors don’t always know what they are talking about.”

  “I’m sure they know something—that’s why they are called doctors.”

  “Okay, smarty pants. If they know so much, why did you think you were having a boy instead of a girl? I told you it was a girl, but you chose to listen to the doctors. When they tell you not to whup your child, you gonna listen to that too?”

  Wendy had rolled her eyes. She had been a mother for only s
ix weeks, and already her mother was getting on her nerves. The correlation between whupings and laying the baby on her stomach didn’t make sense. After the three women had walked out the door, Wendy vowed to spend what was left of her Saturday evening peacefully.

  Wendy looked through the peephole. Dang it! It was Kevin. She opened the door, trying not to let her irritation with his coming by unannounced show.

  “Is this a bad time?”

  “No, I was just looking forward to relaxing a bit, since I just had company.”

  “I cannot exactly be considered company, seeing how my name is still on the mortgage,” Kevin reminded her. “If you want, I can take the baby off your hands for a few hours.”

  “No thanks,” Wendy snapped, and then realized she had answered him in a sharp manner. “I mean, the baby isn’t a problem. I just don’t have any breast milk pumped for you to take with you.”

  “Oh.” Kevin sensed that Wendy wasn’t ready to be separated from Kimberly. “Would you mind if I hung around here for a few hours so you can take a nap, relax, or do whatever you want to do?”

  Wendy was silent.

  “Are you going to let me in? It’s a little windy out here, you know.”

  Wendy moved out of the way so Kevin could enter the house. She had nothing against him coming to see Kimberly, though it would have been courteous for him to call first, considering their circumstances.

  “Is Kimberly up?”

  “No, I just laid her down for a nap about twenty minutes ago. You’re welcome to go in her room and see her if you want. Try not to wake her because Mama, Gwen, and Kim were here and they kept her up, so I think she’s a little cranky.”

  Wendy walked with Kevin to the baby’s room. Kimberly lay on her back in her bassinet. Kim had been kind enough to redo the room so it would be fit for a baby girl. Originally, the room had been decorated with a sports theme, but now the walls were light purple with a Winnie-the-Pooh border.