Chapter Twenty
“He’s in room 234,” the intensive care nurse informed Jerome’s children.
Barely reading the numbers on the doors as they raced down the hall, the boys and Zora flew into the hospital room. Two doctors stood over Jerome, exchanging opinions about his condition and writing in their tablets.
“Good morning,” Jerome Jr. greeted, interrupting their chatter. “I’m Jerome’s son. Can you tell me what happened?”
Unlike his brothers, Joshua paused at the door. The tubes coming from various parts of Jerome’s body, and the constant beep of the heart monitor was too much for him to digest at one time.
The boys listened intently as the middle-aged doctor explained the diagnosis.
“But he’s in great shape,” Jerome Jr. mentioned when the doctors were done.
“The heart can be a tricky organ,” the other doctor interjected. “Your father’s cholesterol is high, and he has high blood pressure. These things should have been treated a long time ago. He’s lucky someone was around him when the attack occurred.”
“He needs to continue exercise, but nothing too strenuous, and work on a better diet,” the first doctor said.
Reggie poked and touched his father’s limbs, checking for any unusual reactions or signs of discomfort. “We’ll make sure he does better,” he told the doctor.
“We’ll be back in a few hours to check on him. He may not be able to talk much when he wakes up, but I assure you he’s okay. He’ll be himself in a few days,” the doctor said.
Still not ready to look at his father, Joshua moved behind his oldest brother when the doctors left the room. “Where’s Mom?” he asked.
Reggie looked around. “Good question. Did you call her cell?” he asked Jerome Jr.
Puzzled, Jerome Jr. said, “She was supposed to meet us here. I’ll go try her cell again.”
“You stay here,” Zora said. “I’ll go look into it.”
Minutes later Zora returned with Renee sluggishly walking behind her. Renee kissed her children one by one then walked over to the hospital bed, her face expressionless and cold. “I was in the waiting room.”
“How are you holding up?” Reggie asked.
“I’m fine.” Renee crossed her arms and sighed. “I’m leaving tonight.”
“Huh?” Jerome Jr. looked at his mother, shocked. “Work can’t wait? Do you need me to call Everett and tell him what happened?”
“He knows.” Renee rubbed her arms. The room was chilly, even for her. “I need to work, Junior. I’ll call the hospital often, and I’m sure you’ll keep me abreast of any changes. Your father’s strong. He’ll live.” Renee placed her hand on the metal railing of the bed and gazed at her husband. “Your aunt and uncle are in the cafeteria. They should be back shortly.”
“Are you sure you want to leave, Mom?” Jerome asked, still unpleased with her decision.
Renee faced her family. “Don’t worry about me. As long as you’re here, I’m sure things will be fine.”
“But Christmas is in three days,” Jerome Jr. added.
“Since you’ll be here, maybe I’ll go stay with Grace and the kids.”
The boys were silent and more confused than they’d ever been. Their parents had been inseparable since the move to Chicago. They knew their mother would never leave Jerome’s side at a time like this.
Renee held Joshua’s hand. “I promise I’ll give each of you a call every day.” She looked at Jerome one more time. “Let me know if anything changes.”
When Renee left, the boys stared at one another. “You think she’s in shock?” Jerome Jr. asked. “Maybe I should follow her.”
“Let her go,” Zora said and stopped Jerome Jr. from walking out the door. “She’s concerned about Pop, but she needs some space right now.”
“Space for what?”
“Let it rest, Junior,” Zora said. “Let’s focus on Pop right now.”
Jerome’s family sat in the hospital room in silence for hours before he stirred. “This isn’t exactly the Christmas present I had in mind,” Reggie teased when Jerome’s eyes opened.
At the sight of his sons around him, Jerome smiled as best he could.
Finally able to stand the sight of his father up close, Joshua held Jerome’s hand. “The doctor said you have high blood pressure and high cholesterol, Pop. You’ve got to take better care of yourself.”
Jerome turned his head from side to side and tried to utter Renee’s name.
“She went home . . . home to River Forest,” Jerome Jr. replied. “Is there something going on between you two that we should know about?”
“Maybe you shouldn’t ask so many questions right now,” Joshua said to his brother.
“I’m trying to find out what’s going on?”
“Pop’s not up for a lot of talking. Can’t you ask him later?” Joshua pleaded.
Jerome Jr. looked around the room. “Don’t we all want to know what brought on the attack?”
Reggie finally stepped in. “Josh is right, Junior. Pop needs to rest.”
“All right, fellas,” Zora called from her chair, “take this outside if you have to.”
Jerome Jr. backed away. “It doesn’t seem odd to everyone that Mom’s not here. Or that Aunt Jocelyn didn’t come back to the room?”
“My wife is right,” Reggie asserted. “You’re gonna raise Pop’s pressure. Save your interviewing techniques for later.”
Jerome Jr. turned to face Zora, as if he’d just uncovered a mystery. “Did Mom say something to you?”
Unaffected by the bass in his tone, Zora continued to edit an article she had written for a DePaul University newspaper. “Mom will talk to you when she gets back.”
Brandon, who had been sitting quietly in a corner, finally spoke. “In case you hadn’t noticed, your father is crying. Maybe everyone needs to leave for a few minutes just to cool off.”
“I’m going to get something to drink,” Jerome Jr. said, and, like a spoiled infant, stormed out of the room.
“I’ll go with him,” Reggie said and looked at Zora quizzically. “We’ll talk later.”
As Reggie headed out the door, Joshua also turned to leave. “I guess I need to go with them.”
Brandon and Zora were the only visitors left in Jerome’s hospital room. They looked at one another, their eyes confirming knowledge of the truth. Zora got off her chair and walked to Jerome. She wiped his eyes with her finger. Jerome tried to speak, but she motioned for him to keep quiet. “No matter what you’ve done, God says that all things work together for the good. You made it through a heart attack, so I have confidence you can make it through this, too.”
“Merry Christmas,” Jerome’s nurse said as she entered the room. In the last three days, she’d come in twice throughout the night and once in the morning, checking his vitals and drawing blood. The constant interruption and change in his normal routines had started to depress him. He was ready to go home and sleep in his own Sealy Posturepedic®, next to his wife.
“Okay,” the nurse said, rolling her mobile station next to his bed. “Let me get a good vein.”
Easing his weakened limb from under a blanket, Jerome placed it in the nurse’s hand. He turned away, the sight of his own blood making him squeamish.
In the corner of the room, Joshua was sleeping in the recliner. The hospital had been his second home. Head cocked to the side with two thin lightweight blankets covering his long body, Joshua had to be uncomfortable. Jerome hated that his family had to spend Christmas and New Year;s this way.
“The doctor tells me you’re leaving in a few days. We’re gonna miss you around here,” she said as she labeled Jerome’s tube of blood. She placed the vial on her cart then reached inside her pocket. “You have a lot of messages from last night.” She read off the names slowly. “Reggie, Melanie, Grace, Renee, Joi . . . Joi called a few times. Your phone should be working today. If you need help, buzz me, okay?”
“Merry Christmas,” he said and tried to fall back to sleep before visitors arrived.
Reggie entered the room as Jerome strolled out of the bathroom in a new pair of silk pajamas. He wasn’t expecting anyone other than family, but just in case, he wanted to look presentable.
“Somebody loves you,” Reggie said, lifting a shopping bag full of gifts in the air.
With a little help from Joshua, Jerome got back into bed and opened every gift: a robe, wallet, set of ties, and a golf certificate, all gifts from Reggie and Zora, Jerome Jr. and Grace, the grandchildren. Nothing from Renee. Jerome guessed he should count his blessings that Renee had called at all and left a message.
“I know something big happened between you and Mom,” Reggie said as he balled up ripped wrapping paper and stuffed it into the wastebasket. “Zora knows too, but she won’t say anything. Whatever it is, I pray God will help you work it out.”
Jerome could tell Reggie wanted him to talk, but he wasn’t going to say anything until he talked to Renee. “We had an argument,” was all Jerome said.
“That must’ve been a pretty big fight. I mean, you have a heart attack, and Mom doesn’t want to be here with you.”
Jerome had never been at a loss for words, but he found it hard to speak.
“Your mom and I will be all right. We used to argue all the time when you were small,” Jerome tried to joke. “A little space is all we need.”
“This is different,” Reggie replied. “We don’t need to talk about it. I know married couples don’t always see eye to eye. But I hope this won’t affect the family.”
The phone rang, and Joshua jumped to answer it.
“Well,” Reggie said, “I better go. Josh needs to get cleaned up and changed.”
“It’s Pastor Hampton,” Joshua said and handed Jerome the phone.
“We’ll see you after dinner,” Reggie whispered and tipped out of the room.
Joshua gathered his things and followed his older brother.
“I didn’t act fast enough,” Jerome told the pastor once his children were gone. “I should’ve known better.”
Jerome told Pastor Hampton the details of his trip to Philadelphia. Talking, he found, was therapeutic. Saying the words aloud helped him see that he had been selfish. He knew Renee and the kids needed a husband and father, and he had been that to the best of his ability. But what about Joi? Jerome had resented his own father for not being around. How could he, in good conscience, let Joi experience the emptiness he felt as a child? As Jerome approached the end of his story, he was ashamed of himself.
Hearing the disappointment in his voice, Pastor Hampton tried to lift his spirits. “As I listen to you speak, I am reminded of Jonah. Do you know his story?”
“Yes,” Jerome replied. “He was the prophet swallowed by the fish because he was running from God.”
“That’s right. God sent a storm Jonah’s way when he wouldn’t obey Him. Sound familiar?” Pastor Hampton asked. “While Jonah was held up in that fish, he had plenty of time to reflect on things. And look how powerful his life was after the fish spit him out. While you’re held up in the hospital, ask God what He wants you to do now. I’ll bet He has great plans for your life that will not only bless you, but the kingdom.”
By the time Jerome ended the call with Pastor Hampton, it was time for dinner. He removed the protective lid from the plate of food and frowned. Meatloaf wasn’t exactly his favorite. Longing for the turkey, ham, macaroni and cheese, greens and stuffing Renee prepared each year, he exhaled. Due to his current condition, Thanksgiving may have been his last soulful meal.
He took a bite of the meatloaf and pretended it was Renee’s cooking. This was not the way he wanted to spend Christmas. His heart went out to those who had no family to spend holidays with, and he vowed not to take his for granted. Jerome closed his eyes and thought about his life. He wanted to tell God to have His way, but feared His way wouldn’t include Renee. Not wanting to prolong his stay in the “belly of the fish” as the prophet Jonah had done, Jerome put his pride and emotions aside. God was in control, and whatever He had in store for his life, Jerome prayed he’d be able to accept it.