“Shit,” Joshua yelled.
I reached around, gripped his calves and flipped him on his back, pinning him.
“Uncle,” he declared and I immediately released him.
A discreet cough sounded from the side of us. Mariah, Mandy, Mother and Rachel were glaring at us with their arms crossed.
“That looked like fun,” Matthew grinned. “I wonder if I can try that with Sidra.”
Mother smacked him on the head and rolled her eyes. Josh and I jumped up and walked away in opposite directions, muttering. I caught Mariah and grabbed her waist again.
“Everyone's eaten, baby. Let's have the cake now.”
She laughed. “You're just anxious to tell everybody.”
I grinned and excitedly nodded. “Sure am.”
“Big baby.” She kissed me. “Go ahead.”
I summoned everyone over. “Okay, cake time,” I announced, rubbing my hands together. “Let’s gather the kids and move to the tent, Mariah's pregnant, while I go get the cake?”
Mariah giggled and Rob chuckled as everyone began to move to the tent. They were calling the children over when Lisa suddenly stilled. She turned to Mariah and I, wide-eyed, and screamed.
“What the hell, Twinkie,” Ethan yelled as he rubbed his ears.
“Honey, what is the problem,” Nathan laughed. “Are you having one without my help?”
Lisa smacked Nathan’s chest. “Everybody, shut up! Especially you, Puppy,” she ordered then turned to Mariah and pointed to her. “Did he say you're pregnant again?”
Everyone gasped and turned to us. Mariah smiled and held my waist.
“Did you say that, boo?”
I scratched my head, pretending to think. “Hmm, lemme see... I said something about the gathering the kids and the tent...”
“Mm-hmm,” Mariah murmured. “And I heard something about cake...”
“You know what, baby, in between citing the tent and the cake...”
The mothers started jumping up and down.
“I think you said it, boo, so...” Mariah sighed, grabbing her bag of marshmallows. “Yes, I’m pregnant!”
Monica rushed over and hugged her. “Oh, that's wonderful! No wonder you haven't had a shot at karaoke nights!”
Dad shook my hand. “Congratulations, son!”
“When, Cookie,” Thomas said as he smiled.
Mariah beamed, devouring a marshmallow. “Early September.”
“It's marshmallows this go around, huh? Glad Tom and I didn't go in on that watermelon farm,” Joshua said and kissed Mariah's cheek. He shook my hand. “Good going, Cramp.”
“Yeah, good going, Cramp,” Matthew grinned, patting my back. “Didn't think you could still get it up, old as you are.”
Mariah smacked him lightly on the forehead, causing laughter to erupt everywhere.
“Love you, Cookie,” Matthew sung then puckered his lips to her.
Mariah shook her head and kissed him on the mouth. Matthew immediately dropped to the ground, pretending to faint. Lila ran up to Matthew, freshly changed, and fell to her knees. She smacked Matthew's chest repeatedly with both hands and blew hard on his cheek, causing Matthew, and us, to go into a round of chuckles.
“Angel, what are you doing,” Matthew asked, raising on his elbows.
“Pee-pee-are,” Lila shouted, pushing him down and resuming her version of CPR.
That made us all erupt into a fit of laughter that lasted several minutes.
I looked up at Joshua, who was holding a camera. “Tell me you got that!”
“Yep, all of it,” he laughingly confirmed.
Nathan picked up Lila, rescuing Matthew. I kissed Mariah's temple.
“That is your daughter, baby.”
“Oh, no... fifty-fifty, boo.”
I laugh and kissed her again. “I'm getting the cake now.”
* * *
I walked to the tent with the cake and called all the boys over. The twins ran up and hugged Mariah. After, I lifted them both up in my arms, while Nathan held Lila to Mariah's right. Matthew and Ethan were on my left. I smiled as Lisa snapped our picture.
“Oh, good! I made it,” Tom sighed in relief. “What did I miss?”
“Cookie's pregnant,” Matthew informed him, smirking.
“Again? Jesus, Marcus... give her a break, why don't you?” Tom laughed with the rest of us. “Congratulations,” he yelled then kissed Mariah’s cheek. I shook his hand as best I could with a six-year-old on each arm.
Tom ruffled the twins’ hair. “Happy birthday, boys!”
Mariah lit the candles and started singing. Everyone joined in. Each holding my neck, the twins leaned down and blew out the candles and started arguing over who blew out the most.
“Enough,” I scolded. They quieted immediately. “Next time, you’ll each get your own cake and candles. No more of this.”
“I blame you two,” Mariah laughed, pointing to Tom and Ethan. “And you other three.”
“What three, baby?”
“Cramp, Toad and Twerp, that's who,” she grinned and everyone laughed. She was so right and we all knew it. I put the boys down and kissed her.
“Mommy! Dad! EWWWWW,” the twins whined and that got a bigger laugh.
“I want one,” Lila wailed. I kissed her cheek. “No, from Mommy,” my daughter scoffed, wiping off my kiss.
We laughed again. Mariah took her from Nathan. Lila grabbed Mariah's face and planted a kiss on her mouth.
“I love you, baby,” Lila sweetly declared, repeating what I tell my wife at least fifty times each and every day.
Mariah's hand went to her chest. “I love you, too, Angel,” she said, quietly, and kissed Lila. “Wanna help your brothers cut the cake, Angel?” Lila nodded. Mariah looked around. “Who has the knife?”
A waiter passed her a knife and, gripping it carefully, she told Lila to put her hand on hers. They cut into the cake as Lila giggled.
“Again, Mommy!”
“One more, then I have to put you down, okay, Angel?”
Lila nodded again and they do another slice. Not wanting Mariah to strain herself, especially in her condition, I grabbed my daughter and held her.
“Te amo, papa,” Lila shouted.
Mariah gasped. I smiled then frowned a little, having no idea what Lila said.
Alissa smiled at me. “She said 'I love you, Daddy.'”
“I can't believe she remembered,” Mariah whispered, passing me a slice of cake.
I smiled and kissed my baby girl’s cheek. “I love you, too, Angel,” I said as I walked over to the grass. I sat Lila on my crossed legs and watched as she devoured her cake.
Sidra squatted next to me. “Would you like me to take her now, Marcus?”
I looked at her and smiled. “Not yet, Sidra.”
She smiled back, gave me a pack of wipes, and walked away.
“Daddy,” Lila called, shoving cake into her mouth with her little fingers while holding the fork in her other hand.
“Yes, Angel?”
“I did pee-pee-are with Uncle Toad.”
I laughed. “Yes, you did.”
“I'm a big girl.”
“Yes, you are, Angel.”
Her cake finished, I wiped Lila’s hands and face as her eyelids sag.
“Kiss, Daddy.”
I kissed her cheek and she smiled as she snuggled into my chest. I held her close and watched as sleep claimed my angel. A hand landed on my shoulder. I looked up as Mariah smiled and lowered on the grass next to us, with a bag of marshmallows. I smiled and kissed her cheek.
“You almost missed this,” she whispered, pointing a marshmallow at Lila.
I sighed deep and looked at my baby girl's sleeping little face.
“Yeah, I did. Thank God you forced me into fatherhood.”
She lightly slapped my forehead. I chuckled.
“Glad to see I'm not the only one who gets abused around here,” Matthew whispered, sitting on my other side.
Soon al
l the adults joined us on the grass and we talked quietly about the new baby, sports, karaoke... everything... while all our boys ran around and Lila napped in my arms.
July 8, 2018
Joshua steps in front of me. “Marcus... um, maybe you shouldn't see her yet.”
“She's my wife, for better or worse. Does it get any worse than this? Outside of death?”
He looks down and shakes his head.
I inhale then say, “Step aside, Joshua.”
He moves to the right. I walk to the bed and inhale sharply. I rub the left side of her neck and immediately feel her scars. I sag... Yes, it is my baby.
Her eyes are swollen shut, and they are purple and black, as is the rest of her face. I notice her leg is elevated under the blanket. I pull back the covers and lift her gown. Her right leg is in a cast; so is her left arm. There is a wrap around her breasts and ribcage. She must have broken or bruised ribs. She is bandaged on her abdomen and fitted with draining tubes and bulbs. Her entire body is distended. Her perfect nails are gone. So are her rings; she never takes them off.
“Marcus, I'd like to call a neurosurgeon,” Ira says quietly. “Someone with that eye needs to see her films and decide the course for the swelling.”
“Melvin Henderson. Didn't Mariah set you up with him?”
“Yes she did, but I didn't know if –”
“Get him to see her. He's the best.”
“I'll page him right now. He's still in the hospital.”
I nod, still staring at my wife.
“Melvin Henderson?” Rob asks, “Are you sure?”
“Yeah,” I whisper, blinking back tears. “He's new at the practice and has a stellar reputation. We were lucky to get him.”
“Okay. No offense, Marcus. As you do, I only want the best for Mariah. I have to check my service, so I'm going to give you a minute. Joshua? Let’s go see how Matthew's holding up.”
Joshua stands and pauses. I nod my head then he and Rob leave the room. I move to the other side of the bed and sit in the chair. Her head is turned that way. I gently pick up her hand and hold it.
This hospital visit is completely different than the one where I flew to Chicago after she disappeared while carrying the twins. Much more frightening. For the first time, I feel like I could actually lose her… forever.
I lean in close, tears pouring from my eyes, trying to forget or look past the fact that this looks nothing like my baby.
“Mariah, baby...” I whisper. “I need you. Our babies need you and we haven’t had enough time together in this life. Please, fight hard… Don't leave us yet. I love you, baby. I love you so much and I’m so sorry I left you alone. I’ll never do that again. Just please come back to me. To us.”
I sniffed, holding her hand, staring at it.
“I've been thinking about our relationship and everything we've been through while we, your brothers and mine, looked for you, hoping and praying. We figured out what you were trying to tell me on the phone. I’m so very sorry my past did this to you. You'll never know how much. Please fight, baby. Come back to me and I will make this up to you, somehow.”
“Dr. Cannon,” a man calls, gently.
I wipe my face then look up. An African-American man in a doctor's coat is standing on the other side of the bed.
“I'm Melvin Henderson.”
“Right.” I stand and shake his hand.
“I'm sorry we couldn't have met under better conditions.”
“So am I. Are you willing to take my wife's case?”
“I am. I've looked over her previous scans and I'd like to order another set, right away. CT and MRI. It will take hours, as you know, Dr. Cannon.”
“Marcus. Anything you can do to bring her back to me and her family, Melvin, do it. Have you a plan yet, or are you still evaluating?”
“Still evaluating but I'm sure she will require surgery. I need you to consent. The new tests should tell me exactly where I need to go in her head. My hope is that she will regain all her functions, but she’ll need extensive rehabilitation.”
“I know. Please, do whatever you can, whatever you have to do to get her back to me.”
“Fine, Marcus. I'd like to perform my own neurological exam, see and feel if the untrained eye missed anything. I'm not questioning Doctors James and Burns’ exams, but –”
“No, I understand.”
Melvin points to a man and woman behind him, both in doctor’s jackets. “I have my intern and a colleague waiting to assist in the examination and right after, I’ll escort Mariah to Imaging myself. I won’t let her out of my sight.”
“Thank you, Melvin. Her family and I will be in the conference room, if you need us.”
“That's fine, Marcus.”
I look at my wife then kiss her hand. “I'm still here, baby. I love you.”
I nod at Melvin and the other doctors then go back to the conference room.
“She's with the neurosurgeon and his team. She needs surgery but more testing, first,” I murmur when everyone looks expectantly at me. I look around the room. “Where's Matthew?”
“He's not with you,” Mother asks.
“No. He couldn't... He left. I assumed he came back here.”
“What about Joshua,” Mandy asks.
“He left with Rob. I thought they were coming in here, too.”
“Neither of them came back in here, Marcus,” Tom says.
“Somebody call and make sure they don't something extremely stupid,” I shout. “Shit!”
“Joshua! Where are you? Are you all right? ... Okay ... He just came in ... No, Matthew isn't here ... Good, see you in a minute. He's in the doctor's lounge with Rob. He's on his way back.”
“Thanks, Mandy. Anyone contact Matthew?”
No one has. I call from my phone.
“I'm busy, Marcus,” Matthew answers.
“Where the hell are you, Matthew?”
“I'll call you in about an hour. Any changes?”
“None. Get back to the hospital. I need you here.”
He takes a deep breath. “I'll be there; give me ninety minutes,” he says finally.
“What are you doing,” I loudly demand.
“I'm... wrapping up a case. See you in ninety,” Matthew murmurs then hangs up.
“Matthew! SHIT,” I yell as Dad walks to my side.
“What did he say, son?”
“He's wrapping up a case. I know he's doing something with that fucker Guzman.”
“I hope he kills him.”
“Ethan,” Lil scolds.
“No, Mother,” Ethan says, too calmly. “He should pay with his life for what he and that bitch did to my sister. Fuck all three of them! I’d quit the firm and only work on Matthew’s case if he did! Fuck! Now, I have to tell my wife what’s happened to her best friend! I'm going to see my son!”
“Ethan! Don't –”
“I'm going to maternity, Tom. Nowhere else.” He walks over to me. “Give me a dollar.”
I reach in my scrub top but I have no cash; my father gives him one.
Ethan looks at me. “I am now on retainer. You’ve hired me and my firm to represent anyone whose last name is Cannon. Pops? A dollar. You too, Mother, Lisa and Evelyn.”
They give it to him.
“You speak to no one but the people in this room. No outsiders unless they have Doctor in front of their name or RN behind it. Got it?”
We all nod.
“Good. Tell Joshua and remind Matthew, as well.”
“Tell me what,” Joshua asks, entering the room with Rob.
“Rob, give me a dollar. You’re placing me on retainer. Anyone other than family attempts to question you about Mariah’s case, you contact me right away,” Ethan says.
After Rob gives him the dollar, Ethan points around the room. “Not one word without me. I'll be in Alissa's room. You can reach me there.”
We look at each other, stunned. Ethan is the Harvey's Matthew; to see him professional mode is unbelievable.
/>
“Mother, have you called Caspar and the boys to update them? Where are they?”
“Caspar is still in Washington, I think, Lisa. Matthew sent security to both boys’ campuses to escort them home. I don't know if either of them have landed yet. I'll call them now.”
“Good.”
“What did Ethan want to tell me, Marcus?”
“Just that he's our lawyer. He's advised us not to speak to anyone, just doctors.”
“Doesn't he need a retainer to do that?”
“Dad paid him,” I chuckle. “A whole dollar.”
Mariah would have loved that. My face freezes at the thought. “Why don't you all go home, check on the children.”
“Marcus, you should get some rest. Weren't you on call last night,” Rob asks.
“I was but I can't leave. I can't leave her.”
“There's an on-call room across from ICU. I'll make sure no one uses it. Nurse? Please get Dr. Cannon some fresh scrubs.”
“Yes, Dr. Brand.”
“There's a shower in there, Marcus. Freshen up then get some rest.”
“Fine, Rob. But the moment Melvin or Matthew show up, someone come and get me.”
“Of course,” Rob agrees.
“Please, go check on the children. Mariah's children,” I say to the others.
“Okay, Marcus,” Rachel says. “Call me with the slightest news.”
“I will, Rachel. Right away.”
I watch as they leave and a nurse brings me hunter green scrubs; my former favorite color.
Showered and dressed, I lie down but I stare at the bunk above. I turn to the bunks on the other side. Joshua’s stretched out on his back, sleeping. I was surprised to see him there; I thought he left with the others. Where the hell was Matthew?
* * *
I must’ve finally gone to sleep because the next thing I know, I am being shaken and my name is shouted.
“What? What happened?”
“You're dreaming, Marcus,” Joshua says urgently. “A nightmare. She's not dead.”
“Who?”
“Mariah. You were shouting she was dead.”
I groan, trying to remember the dream. “I don't remember it. Where's Matthew? Did he come back?”
“Yeah. He's been talking to Ethan and Alissa since he checked on you.”
I rub my eyes, then look at Joshua. “What did he do?”
Marcus: The M Series, Book Three Page 25
