I was going over through Ann’s plan in my head while swallowing my breakfast rapidly.
I had to call Ashley in ten minutes to ask her to take me to the hospital. She was supposed to, according to Ann, be at the mansion by herself.
Ann had the bright idea of lowering my car’s tire to pretend it was flat. That hurt, but what wouldn’t I do for my sisters-in-law, especially if their happiness depended on it.
It wasn’t a surprise when I found her going through my closet this morning. According to her, my entire wardrobe needed an update. And it was true.
Here I had old clothes. What I would normally wear was back at the mansion. Looking at my face, she volunteered to take me shopping.
She couldn’t fool me, she was dying to take me showing and spend all her credit on her credit card.
Having her here was good for me and made me forget about the pain for a while. Her humor and her little girl’s mischievousness were things I missed about her.
She left around then in the morning, not before picking my clothes for the day: black tube pants, white jersey and high heeled long boots.
“Is that mine?” I asked surprised.
“Yes and don’t make me beg, you will look spectacular.” She replied with that mischievous spark on her eyes.
This little devil was capable of convincing her husband to bring her anything really early in the morning. I had no doubt about it.
“Consider this as a birthday present...belated. You are forced to wear this or I’ll believe you don’t love me anymore.”
“You are the queen of all manipulators in the world.” I said laughing. “Thank you for the gift.”
She smiled and hugged me energetically. This girl was definitely a morning person, and full of energy.
With my luck, throughout the day I will fall at least fifty times with these boots.
Ann did my hair and make-up the way she wanted, something natural and especially, making my face look fresh.
When I looked at myself in the mirror I looked like somebody else, I even looked sexier. I was as good as new and I owed her for that.
I looked at the clock hung in the kitchen; it was time for me to call Ashley. I grabbed the phone and dialed the number, at the fourth rang, someone answered.
“Hello?”
“Ashley! Thank goodness I found somebody...”
“Alison, what’s wrong?”
“”I don’t know what’s wrong with everyone’s phone today; when I dial they seemed to be off... and I need someone to drive me to the hospital...One of my tires is flat and I can’t find anyone, not even my father.”
“Ah...Well, Cedric is on call at the hospital and the rest went to the movies with your daughter, that’s probably why their phones are off.”
“Oh no! What am I going to do now?” I said very dramatically.
“Wait for me outside. I will take you, I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”
I hung up the phone feeling proud of myself. The first part of the plan had worked perfectly.
I went outside just like we agreed with my briefcase hanging from my arm. The lie had to be perfect.
As always, she would come speeding, just like Noah she liked to drive fast. I moaned in pain just to think about him. I bit my lip and took a deep breath.
This separation hurt so badly. How long was this torture going to last? A month, hours, a year...God, I wanted to die. It hurt so much.
“Earth to Alison!”
I jumped and was surprised to see Ashley standing a meter away from me. She looked at me funny.
“I have called you many times and you were lost in the moon. Who or what were you thinking about?”
“Umm...about work of course.” I answered quickly.
“Yeah right. Come on, let’s go.”
I went in the car and watcher her in the corner of my eye. She was wearing a long red dress, black boots a matching belt. She was so pretty she would take your breath away. To be honest I was a little jealous.
When we were about a kilometer away, I followed the second part of the plan, I made a worried face.
“Could I ask you a favor?”
“Yeah, what is it?”
“Well, you see, I promised I would keep a patient company today. I don’t know if I’ll have time with all the work I have today, I was wondering if you could go in for me...”
“Who, me? No! Anything but that, I can’t stand sick and whiny people, Alison.”
She looked at me suspiciously; I put my hands together and with teary eyes.”
“Please...you won’t have to do anything, I swear. Actually, that patient can’t even talk, so he won’t bother you at all. You just have to be there and...talk about things you like to distract him.”
I saw she was hesitating yet thinking about it. My pulse was racing.
It had to work, I begged in my thoughts.
“Is it going to be for a long time?” She asked.
“Until he falls asleep and trust me, at that age he gets tired easily...
Opps! Fool, I almost spilled the beans without realizing it, I told myself off.
Thank goodness we’ve arrived and she got distracted trying to find a parking spot.
We entered and I took her to the pediatric floor right away. It was quarter to one. At this time he had taken his noon bottle. Therefore it would be easier she didn’t for her not to freak out if he was crying since she had been looking at the floor all the time.
I walked her into a room with little furniture; a small table, rocking chair and a plant. It smelled like disinfectant. When Ashely looked up her look was perplexed by her surroundings.
“Where is your patient?” She asked.
“Stay here, I’ll go get him.”
I turned and headed to the neonatal services. I found him there giggling. Everyone was sleeping except for him, as if he knew today was going to be special.
“Hey cutie. I see you’re doing a lot better today.”
I took him into my arms and cradled him with tenderness, his clear blue eyes were looking at me.
“Listen to me; you’re going to spend a little while with your future mom. You have to behave like a champ and not cry. Show her how cute you can be, cutie.”
Of course he couldn’t understand me but I was really hoping this would work.
I crossed paths with Brenda and told her what I was up to so she wouldn’t worry if she didn’t see the baby there. She wished us luck with a big smile on her face.
When I entered the room, Ashley was looking out the window. I got closer,
“Here he is.”
She turned around and her eyes widened when she saw me. Not waiting I handed her the baby.
“Alison! But what is this? Where is your patient?”
“You have him in your arms.”
I turned and headed to the door, I saw her panicked in the corner of my eye.
“Alison, don’t leave me with him!”
The baby started to cry when he felt Ashely’s nervousness.
“Don’t get hysterical or he’ll cry even more, I’ll be back.”
When I was out in the hallway, I heard her yell.
“Come back right now!”
Oops, she sounded upset, and I ignored her.
I went to the emergency room and found Cedric going through some analysis. I was able to recommend him to get the job at the Denver Hospital last year; he first had to review the updates on medicine. Cedric loved realizing the medical discoveries from this century.
When he noticed my presence he came to greet me smiling.
“Hi, isn’t today your day off?”
“Hi, Cedric. It is, but I had something important to do.”
“Oh I see. Is Ashley with the little orphan?”
“Yes.”
“Ann called me this morning. She told me everything. She told me not do go over until later today. She would find a way to get everyone out except her. It is a very nice thing to do from your part, I hope the plan works.”
He looked tired but with a very hopeful look on his face. I smiled back.
“I hope it does. How is everybody?”
“Everyone is fine. Margaret asked me to invite you over for dinner tonight at the mansion.”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
Just to think I had to be close to him for a couple of hours, not being able to touch him or kiss him brought a twist to my stomach.
“I know you’re hurting. He is too, believe me, he misses you more than he thinks.”
“Well, it was him that wanted a separation, not me.” I said harshly, I knew it wasn’t his fault but I was feeling frustrated.
I raised my voice without realizing it and it made people turn to us watching me curiously. Cedric noticed and he said:
“This is not a good place to talk about this. Let’s go to the cafeteria, I finished my shift.”
I nodded; I couldn’t say anything since my throat was closed. I was scared to open my mouth and let the cry I was holding in escape. I didn’t want to give a scene, not here.
I let my father-in-law lead me to the cafeteria and we sat on a table as far away as possible from the others. He asked for tea for me and a coffee for him. Perfect, hopefully it would calm me a bit. I took sips of the hot tea and thank God it did calm me a little.
“Are you feeling any better?”
I looked up; I could see he was worried.
“Yes, thank you. It’s just that I cannot control the anger I feel from what’s happening, though I guess I deserve it.”
“That’s not true. No one deserves to be treated that way Alison. I do not forget that thanks to you we’re all here. You took care of everything, to help us adapt to modernity with patience. If it wasn’t for you we wouldn’t be able to do it and I will always be thankful.”
I closed my eyes heavily at the memories. I would do it again without thinking about it. They were my family; I loved them all in a very special way. I will never forget all they have done for me.
“My son is very stubborn, and even though what you did, you did it out of love, he doesn’t see it that way. He is hurt, but he will get over it, you’ll see.”
Please, Cedric, can we talk about anything else? I won’t be able to keep myself together and I’ll cry again...this subject...it’s bigger than me.” I murmured.
My father-in-law nodded. Thank goodness. He was a worried father, it was normal.
We spent all afternoon talking about anything; work, his medicine discoveries, how much Ayleen has gown and the extraordinary maturity for her age.
Time went by so fast and it was almost five o’clock. I said goodbye with a quick hug not before promising to go to dinner at the mansion, he said his wife missed me and how great it would be to be all together again.
I rushed to the pediatric floor. How would Ashley and the cutie be? When I got there, I couldn’t hear screams or cries, just a couple of nurses nearby.
Without making noise, I opened the door and was surprised to see what I was seeing. My eyes gave to credit for neither what I was looking nor my ears for what they were listening.
Ashley was signing a lullaby. I didn’t know what she was signing, but it was lovely.
She was sitting on the rocking chair. The boy was sleeping on her chest with his head on her shoulder. They were really like mother and son.
She was rubbing his back softly. The expression on her face was like a mother looking out for her son with love.
I sent Ann a text message telling her the plan was working and it was all up to her now, she replied right away: Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it and I’m going to have a lot of fun!”
I believed her, when Ann wanted to be a pain, she could be, especially if she could get something out of it.
Poor Ashely, she has no idea what’s coming for her. In this case, Ann had to babble on about how sorry she is for the boy and what future holds for him.
“Ashley, I’m sorry I took so long.” I said whispering. She stopped singing and raised her head.
Her eyes sparkled and she was smiling.
“Don’t worry about it, time went by so fast with this precious baby.”
“It’s time to get him into the crib.”
She carried him as if she were holding a treasure, gave him a kiss on the forehead and put him down carefully and affectionately.
I told her I would go with her since I was invited over for dinner. She didn’t say anything on the way to the mansion. She was silent, having mixed up feelings.
We arrived and when she turned off the car she was holding the wheel so tightly. Her knuckles were white and her whole body tensed. She was having a strong internal fight.
“Mommy!” My daughter called.
I got out leaving Ashley alone with her thoughts, she needed some time.
I went to my daughter, two days without seeing her and I was dying to hug her. When I got to the backyard, Noah appeared.
I stopped with my heart beating a thousand miles per hour. I slowly raised my head and he was looking at me. When our eyes met, I could see he was very upset and disgusted. I was so angry not knowing why. Could it be by the way I was dressed today? Was it too provocative?
“Alison.” He said my name, his new way of greeting me. I did the same.
“Noah.”
His indifference hurt so badly.
I forced myself to stay there, though my body was dying to go to him. I wanted to smell him aroma, touch his hair. I longed for a kiss, his touch. I bit my lip nervously.
I saw him raised a hand quickly to touch my lip, but when he was closed to it, he stopped.
He would always touch my lip when I bit it. He clenched his hands and put his arm down. I was very disappointed.
“I’ll see you at dinner.” He murmured and left.
His behavior was so strange, so cold and dry. It hurt my heart. I let my shoulders fall and made my way to the garden.
I found Jeffrey, Ann, Thomas and my daughter. I raised my hand to greet them and went to hug Ayleen.
“Alison, wasn’t my wife with you?” Thomas asked looking for her.
“Yeah, she’s in the car.”
“I’ll go look for her...all day without seeing her, it’s too much!” He complained.
“Thomas, just be gentle right now. Go with her and give her those bear hugs of yours, but don’t ask her questions.”
“What’s wrong with my wife? Is she hurt?” He asked anxiously.
“No, for the first time in her like, she’s changing her ideals around. Things she thought they had to be, but they weren’t. Do you understand?”
“No, but what are you saying about her life? And changing her ideals? Doesn’t she love me anymore? I’ve always let her be the master and I’m the slave...Oh God! What am I going to do without my queen? Is she going to divorce me? But I’ve been good! I don’t go over porn magazines, I swear...
Everyone was mouth opened, I covered my daughter’s ears, she shouldn’t hear that kind of stuff. In ten seconds he went from being worried about his wife to having a nervous breakdown. He had made his own movie. Ann interrupted before he could tell us more about his sexual life.
“Stop it, she’s not going to leave you, you fool.”
“So? Can somebody please explain what’s wrong with her?”
“I’ll explain brother.” Noah answered jumping in the conversation; I turned around letting my daughter go.
He was looking at mi coldly, he continued with an upsetting tone.
“My wife once more wanted to direct out lives. Now she wants to force you and Ashley to adopt an orphan. When are you going to stop manipulating us?”
I couldn’t believe that was my Noah, it didn’t look like him. Anger took over me.
“How dare you talk to me that way, Noah? I only thought of their happiness.”
“It was my idea, not Alison’s. I had a vision and that boy will be part of the family very soon. We’re just giving them a push, that’s all.” Ann explained.
Noah, who still was looking at me upset, relaxed his tensed body. But he didn’t say anything.”
I wanted to leave; I couldn’t stand to confront him.
“I’m leaving, Ann tell Margaret I’m sorry, please. Ayleen, say bye to everyone and let’s go.”
At my words, she started having a tantrum.
“You’re invited for dinner and it’s going to hurt mum if you leave like this.” Ann answered trying to convince me.
“Mommy, please...grandma is making my favorite dessert and I want us to be together like before! Say yes, mommy!”
How could I say no? It was not her fault and for her, I agreed to stay.
Something told me that it was going to be a long, long night.