Defining moments, p.19
Defining Moments, page 19
He waited for Tori to respond, but she remained silent. In truth, there was nothing she could say—his heart belonged to Sheila.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Could Nicholas be falling in love with me? Sheila dared to wonder.
She’d worked hard to stay grounded where Nicholas was concerned, because she didn’t want to make the same mistake twice.
But it appeared she and Nicholas were becoming very close. Maybe this time her luck would take a turn for the better.
The thought of her and Nicholas as a couple put Sheila in such a good mood that she didn’t mind calling her mother and asking for help.
“Hey, Ma. Did I catch you at a bad time?”
“Naw. Jis sittin’ here readin’ my Bible. ’Smattuh, gal?”
“I fell down the other day,” Sheila told her. “The MS is progressing . . . I-I need you to come stay with me, Ma.” She paused to clear her throat. “If you can’t do it—”
Essie interrupted her daughter. “When you want me dar?”
“My friend and I will come pick you up on Saturday morning if that’s okay with you.”
“Dat be fine. I’ma be ready.”
Satisfied, Sheila made the arrangements and hung up the phone.
The automobile carrying Nicholas and Sheila neared the dirt road where her mother lived.
“She lives in a shanty, Nicholas, but the house is clean,” Sheila explained.
He reached over, grabbing her by the hand. “Sweetheart, you don’t have to be embarrassed.”
“I just didn’t want you to think . . .” Sheila’s voice died. “I hope I’m doing the right thing. Maybe after living with me, she’ll want to stay in Charleston.”
“Don’t push her, Sheila.”
“You can park over there.” Her stomach felt queasy at the thought of Nicholas meeting her mother. Sheila was embarrassed by her.
He parked the car. “Here we are . . .”
“Yeah,” she muttered.
Her mother opened the front door and walked out on the porch wearing a dress that had clearly seen better days.
Sheila was mortified. She’d never wanted Nicholas to see her poverty-stricken roots.
Nicholas got out of the car and walked around to the passenger side where he opened the door for her.
She stepped out.
“You look like your mother,” he observed.
“Humph . . . no, I don’t.” She couldn’t believe he’d said something like that to her.
Nicholas wisely let the matter drop.
Essie came down the rickety steps to assist Sheila, almost sending Sheila into hysterics. To anyone watching, they must look absurd.
Sheila waved her mother’s efforts away. “I can manage, Ma.”
She breathed a sigh of relief when she reached the porch. Sheila didn’t want to go inside the house—she couldn’t stomach the smell.
“I think I’ll just sit out here,” she said firmly. “Are you all packed and ready?”
Essie nodded. “Jis’ need to get my suitcase.”
Sheila was thankful her mother hadn’t lapsed into her Gullah dialect. She’d suffered enough humiliation already.
Nicholas held the door open. “I’ll bring out your luggage,” he offered.
Sheila couldn’t help smiling. Nicholas was always a gentleman.
After he placed her mother’s suitcase in the trunk of the car, they were ready to leave. No one was more ready to leave than Sheila.
At least for now, she wouldn’t have to come back out here, with her mother living in her house.
“The order came in for the book club,” Charlene announced when she strolled into the office. “I’ll call Margie in a few minutes to let her know.”
Tori glanced up from the computer monitor. “Great. I was worried the books might not arrive in time. They’re having the author come in for the meeting in three weeks, I think.”
Charlene released a groan and leaned forward clutching her stomach. “Oooh . . .”
Tori pushed away from her desk and rushed to her cousin’s side. “Charlene, what’s wrong?”
“I just had a sharp pain.” Tears formed in her eyes. “I can’t lose this b-baby . . . please God . . .”
Placing her hand to Charlene’s stomach, Tori began to pray. “Heavenly Father, I come to You with the assurance that You have a special love and concern for little children. Father God, You know the anxieties within Your daughter, Charlene, concerning her unborn daughter. But from Your Word, I am assured that You love this little girl more than we do, and we commit this child into Your loving and protecting hands. We ask that You keep her safe until it is time for her to leave the protection of Charlene’s womb.”
Charlene placed her hand over Tori’s. “Loving Father, I humbly ask that You place this blessing that You’ve given me under Your mighty wings and protect this baby from any kind of virus or any other attack that would seek to destroy her life. Let Your precious blood cover my unborn child at all times. We thank you, Father God, for listening to our innermost cries and for sending Your angels to keep guard over my little one. Thank You for the peace You have given me. In Jesus’ precious name, we pray.”
“Amen,” they murmured in unison.
Charlene wiped her eyes. “I’m going into the bathroom to freshen up.”
“Okay . . . I’ll be right here if you need me.”
Five minutes later, Tori heard Charlene cry out. She rushed into the bathroom.
“I’m spotting!” Charlene’s eyes were wide with fear.
“Let’s get you to the hospital.”Tori didn’t waste any time getting Charlene out of the store and into the car.
Tori continued to pray while driving as fast as legally allowed.
When she neared Charleston Memorial Hospital, Tori reached over and patted her cousin’s trembling hand. “We’re almost there.”
Charlene had tears streaming down her face, bringing Tori to tears as well.
As soon as they arrived at the hospital, Tori jumped out of her parked car and rushed around to open the front passenger door.
“How are you feeling now?”
“Okay. Thanks so much for coming with me to the doctor. I’m so scared something’s wrong.”
“Honey, your baby is fine. I’m sure of it. It’s too bad Shepard’s out of town.”
“Tori, he’s really excited about this baby. I am, too. We didn’t think we’d be able to conceive . . . now I don’t want to have a miscarriage.” Charlene’s eyes filled with unshed tears. “If we lose this one, we may not be able to have another.”
Charlene didn’t have to wait long to see a doctor, who diagnosed her condition as premature labor.
“I can’t have this baby now,” she whispered. “It’s too soon.”
Tori nodded, unable to speak at the moment. She raised her eyes heavenward. “Father God, I stand before You asking You to bless and protect this little baby in her mother’s womb. Grant Charlene a safe and easy delivery at the right time and bless her and Shepard with a normal and healthy child, Heavenly Father. I ask that You also keep Charlene in peace and perfect health . . .”
She couldn’t explain it, but suddenly Tori began to feel warmth surrounding her. It was the peace that comes from knowing God is who He say He is. With tears in her eyes, she said, “I give You all the glory for answering this prayer. Thank You, Father God. Thank You.”
Tori glanced over at Charlene and stated, “It’s done . . .”
When the doctor allowed them to hear the baby’s strong heartbeat, both Tori and Charlene sighed with relief.
“Thank You, Jesus,” Tori murmured over and over. “Thank You . . .”
The doctor left the room after assuring them the baby was fine.
“Praise God,” Charlene gasped in relief. “I’m so glad my baby girl is doing good—I just want her to stay inside for a little while longer. You hear me, sweetie? Don’t be so fast to want to come out.”
Tori chuckled as a nurse walked into the room.
Tori stood by silently as they administered an intravenous magnesium sulfate drug treatment, to decrease Charlene’s uterine contractions.
“I’ll call Shepard,” Tori announced, retrieving her cell phone from her purse.
“No . . . just wait and see if this works. I don’t want to scare him.”
“Okay, but I’m calling Aunt Kate and Jake.”
Charlene nodded.
Tori walked out of the room and down the long, sterile hallway to the nearest exit, where she punched in her aunt’s phone number.
“Aunt Kate, Charlene and I are at the hospital. Calm down . . . she’s okay. She went into premature labor and they’re giving her medication to stop her contractions,” Tori explained.
“No, ma’am. You stay home and I’ll call you later if anything changes. I feel in my spirit that everything will be alright. Now don’t go getting all upset.”
Next, she called Jake but got his voice mail. “Honey, I’m at the hospital with Charlene. She went into premature labor and the doctor’s got her on medication. I’ll call you back if anything changes. Oh, and don’t say anything to Shepard if you talk to him—Charlene doesn’t want to scare him unnecessarily. Love you.”
When she returned to the room, Charlene had dozed off. Tori tiptoed across the room and sat down in the empty visitor’s chair.
Hours later, Charlene was released with strict instructions to stay off her feet as much as possible and to keep herself well hydrated.
“I told you to drink more water,” Tori fussed. “You know I’m gonna be on your back.”
“Girl, this scared me to death! You don’t have to worry—I’m drinking water until I burst.”
“The goal is to keep the baby inside you until she’s big enough,” Tori said with a laugh.
“You know what I mean.”
“And you can forget about coming back to work. Girl, I can manage the store until you have the baby. I’m hiring more help—we’ll be okay.”
Charlene sighed in resignation.
“I’m taking you to Aunt Kate’s house. You should stay there until Shepard comes home.”
Rubbing her belly, Charlene inquired, “Did anyone ever tell you that you’re very bossy?”
Laughing, Tori held the car door open for Charlene, then walked around to the driver’s side and climbed inside.
“Thank You, Jesus,” she murmured once again.
“Tori, isn’t that Sheila?” Charlene asked as they were about to pull out of the parking space.
Tori followed her cousin’s gaze. “Yeah, that’s her. Is she walking with a cane?”
“Looks like it.”
Tori watched Sheila slowly make her way over to a nearby car.
“That must be her mother with her,” Charlene commented.
“Wow. She looks like an older version of Sheila,” Tori mumbled. Her eyes traveled back to her nemesis. “I can’t believe what I’m seeing. Sheila using a quad cane.”
“I wonder what happened to her.”
Shrugging, Tori responded, “She could’ve hurt her leg or something.”
“Or got beaten up for messing with somebody’s man. She good for that.” Charlene placed a hand to her stomach. “Lord, please forgive me for that. I’m wrong and I know it. Here I am talking about that woman like that.”
“I’m just as bad. You know, we should be ashamed of ourselves. God just gave us the blessing of your child’s life, so enough about Sheila,” Tori said. “We need to focus our attentions on your little one. With that in mind, let’s get you to Aunt Kate’s house.”
“My car is back at the bookstore.”
“Shepard or Jake can pick it up. You’re going straight to bed.”
“The doctor said partial bed rest, Tori. I just have to stay off my feet as much as necessary. Not all the time.”
“Staying in bed can’t hurt you, Charlene.”
“Alright, bossy . . .”
“Call Aunt Kate . . . she’s probably about to have a nervous breakdown.”
Tori didn’t get home until after eight. She’d stayed with Charlene and her aunt to make sure her cousin had everything she needed.
Brittany and JJ were hungry so she waited until Aunt Kate could feed them before driving home to Edisto Island.
Jake met her at the door. He picked up Brittany, who had fallen asleep, and carried her up the stairs. JJ and Tori followed.
After the kids were settled in their beds, Jake and Tori went to their bedroom.
“I called your aunt’s house but you’d already left. I called your cell and left a message. How is Charlene?”
Tori sat down on the edge of her bed and removed her shoes. “She’s doing fine. They were able to stop her contractions. She’s on partial bed rest and she has to drink lots of water—she was dehydrated. Shepard’s coming home later tonight. He went to Texas to speak at some conference.”
“Is everything okay with the baby?”
Rising to her feet, Tori nodded. “Jake, I’m so glad they were able to stop her contractions. Charlene’s terrified of losing this baby and not being able to have another. You know how much they went through to get pregnant.”
“I said a prayer for them as soon as I got the message.”
“I was praying the whole time I was there, too.” Tori rubbed her arms to remove the slight chill she felt. “The doctor says the baby’s heartbeat is normal and thinks Charlene just needs to slow down some. I told her to stay home until after the baby’s born. I’ll hire another person to work in the store.”
“Shepard’s gonna be happy.”
“I know,” Tori responded. “I think if Shepard had his way, he’d have Charlene home full time.”
“Have you two talked about it—you and Charlene?”
“Yeah, we have,” Tori confessed. “I’m only in the store two days a week and even then it’s only a half day. Charlene plans on doing the same kind of schedule. We have a pretty good staff.”
“If Sheila weren’t on leave right now, I’d take some time off to help out bu—”
Tori cut him off by saying, “Oh, I saw her today. Jake, she was using a quad cane to help her walk.”
“Really? The last time I saw her she was walking fine.”
“Not today.”
“Hmmm . . . that’s interesting.”
“Not enough for me to dwell on,” Tori said. “I could care less.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
“Nicholas ... hey,” Tori greeted.
He leaned over to embrace her. “The store is looking good. Especially the window.”
She laughed. “You saw your book display, huh?”
“Thank you, Tori. I really appreciate the push you give my books.”
“Hello, good-looking,” Charlene said as she joined Tori and Nicholas.
Her hands on her hips, Tori demanded, “Charlene, what are you doing here?”
“I ran out of books to read. Mama drove me here to pick up a couple of books, then I’m going back home to prop my feet up and read.”
“If you’d called me, I would’ve brought some books to you. Charlene—”
Charlene cut her off with, “Point of Deception is wonderful, Nicholas. I’ve read it at least three times now since I’ve been banned from working. I love it.”
“You ladies make me feel good.” Nicholas broke into a wide smile. “Don’t stop.”
Charlene and Tori laughed.
“Are you looking for something special?” Tori asked him.
“Yeah. I need to pick up a new Bible. Mine is falling apart, so I want to get the Quest Bible.”
“We just got some in a couple of weeks ago,” Charlene told him. “We have them in black, navy and burgundy.”
“I’ll take the navy leather—it is the leather-bound, right?”
“Yeah. I’ll get it for you.”
Charlene walked away.
“You’re in a good mood,” Tori observed.
“I’m always in a good mood.”
“I know. It’s just that you seem happier than usual.”
Nicholas laughed.
“Here it is.” Charlene returned and held out the Bible to him.
“Thanks.”
“Nicholas, we saw Sheila a couple of days ago,” Charlene said. “She was walking with a cane. Is she okay?”
“She sounded fine the last time I spoke to her.” Nicholas walked over to the cash register.
Tori and Charlene followed him.
Tori knew Nicholas well. His response was an evasive one. While she strode around the counter to ring up the sale, Charlene continued to probe. “Why is she using a cane?”
Nicholas pulled a credit card out of his wallet. “I guess she needed some help in walking. It’s not a big deal, I’m sure.”
“If it’s not a big deal, then why are you being so evasive?”
Nicholas didn’t respond.
“Charlene, leave it alone,” Tori interjected. “Can’t you see Nicholas isn’t going to tell us anything?”
“I’m not trying to be difficult. It’s just not my place.”
“I can’t believe you’re being loyal to that snake,” a voice said from behind him.
He turned around and greeted Tori’s aunt. “How are you doing, Miss Kate?”
“Nicholas, what’s gotten into you? You know good and well that tramp can’t be trusted.”
“Aunt Kate . . .”
She quieted Tori with a wave of her hand. “The truth is the light. That girl ain’t nothing but trouble with a capital T.”
“It’s not our business,” Tori told her aunt.
“It may not be my business, but Nicholas . . . you know I treat you like my own child. That Sheila Moore is a bad seed. Mark my word—she’ll use you till you’ve got nothing left in you. Then she won’t have nothing to do with you.”
“I hear you, Aunt Kate. But you don’t have to worry. I’m not going to let Sheila, or anyone else for that matter, manipulate me.”
“Sheila Moore is the spawn of Satan. Listen to me, son. You might wanna check to see if she got them three sixes tattooed on her body somewhere.”
