When Everything's Said & Done Read online

  “This is not the moment, child, to be afraid. This is the moment to gather all your strength and do what must be done.”

  Cora nodded again. “You’re right. You’re right.” She panted. “And I’ve seen it done before. I’ve seen a woman in Zambia crouch down, there was a mound of soft hay beneath her, and while she held on to this stick that two of the women were holding, she bore down and pushed the baby out. I saw her do it, and if she could do it...if...she could...do it—” Cora gasped as another contraction mounted “—so—so can I. Uh!” She squatted fully and a sound emerged from deep within her body, a massive noise that in and of itself seemed to emit pressure.

  “Push!” Nebia ordered. Cora grunted and pushed.

  Nimble and quick, Nebia got on her knees. She extended her arms, that were wrapped in a white towel, beneath Cora’s body. Nebia waited for the baby to emerge. It was only a matter of moments before the child made her debut, quickly and smoothly, as if she could not wait any longer.

  There was no need to shake her. There was no need to make her cry. She cried out loud and clear as she went into Nebia’s waiting arms.

  “Oh, my God!” Cora looked down. “Oh, God!” Cora exclaimed as she looked down at her freshly born child. “It’s a girl, Nebia.”

  “Yes. It’s a girl.” Nebia smiled. “And the Robinsons’ way continues.” Quickly she cut the cord and tied it off. Then Nebia wrapped the baby inside the soft, downy towel.

  “Look! Look-a-here.” Cora reached for the baby, but her face contorted again. “It’s another contraction.” She grabbed the doorknobs again.

  “It’s the sack,” Nebia declared, and no sooner than she said the words, the afterbirth emerged and Warren was at the door.

  “Can I come in? Can I come in now?”

  “One second,” Nebia replied.

  With effort, Cora wrapped the wide nightgown through and around her legs, turning them into pants before she made her way to the bed. Then Nebia placed the newborn child in Cora’s arms.

  She looked down and smiled. “Come in, Warren. Come in and see our beautiful baby.”

  The door swung open as Cora continued to gaze into the baby’s face. Gently, she wiped it clean with a small cloth Nebia gave her. “It’s a girl, Warren.” She looked up. “We’ve got a baby girl.”

  “I can’t believe it,” Warren said, kneeling beside the bed. “She’s so beautiful.”

  “She is, isn’t she?” Cora replied.

  “And so are you.” Warren moved Cora’s sweat- soaked locks out of her face.

  “We’re a family now,” Cora said. “You. Me. And this little one.”

  Warren kissed the baby’s forehead.

  “Is everything all right up there?” Laura called. “Yes, Mama. You’ve got a grandbaby. A little girl.” Cora attempted to shout but her voice was weak. She handed the child to Warren. “Take her downstairs so Mama can see her.”

  Hesitantly, Warren reached out and Cora placed the little bundle in his arms.

  “But hurry and bring her back.”

  “I’ve got to call my mother at work and let her know she’s got a grandchild.” Warren walked, slowly, carefully toward the bedroom door.

  “Nebia.” Cora reached out. “Come here.”

  Nebia crossed the floor and Cora took hold of her hand. She lifted it to her face. Tears wet the brown skin. “Nebia, you have always been here for me. And now you were here for me and my baby. I’ll always be grateful to you, Nebia. All of my life, I will always be grateful.”

  “Hush, child. There is no need for all this. You’re just emotional because you just gave birth.”

  “I did, didn’t I? I just had a little girl.” Cora cried and smiled. “I’m a mother, Nebia.”

  “Yes, you are.” She tried to look stern but her eyes twinkled. “And God help the poor little thing having a mother like you.”

  Nebia’s Story...

  “Why wasn’t Miss Laura in the room?” Sheila asked. “By then Laura’s condition had gotten worse,” Nebia said. “Climbing the stairs just became too much for her. We actually had to turn the sun porch behind the kitchen into a bedroom.”

  “And mercy!” Cynthia grabbed her throat. “Cora actually had the baby holding on to two doorknobs?” “Yes, she did. Ye-es, she did,” Nebia replied.

  “I don’t think I could do that.” Erica frowned.

  “I don’t think you could, either,” Cynthia said. “You’re scared to have a baby with an epidural and any other kind of ’dural that might help with the pain. So

  I know you wouldn’t have one without any kind of anesthesia, holding on to two doorknobs.”

  “Like you would,” Erica retorted.

  Cynthia looked down. “You got a point there.” “Well, Cora did. And her baby was healthy and she was healthy,” Nebia said. “And boy, was Warren one happy father. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a man that happy. And Laura—” Nebia shook her head “—when I went downstairs to get some special tea I’d been brewing for Cora.. .Laura was holding that baby and crying. ”

  “I hear there’s nothing like the first grandchild,” Sheila said.

  “If you judge the truth of that by Laura, I’d say you are absolutely right.”

  CHAPTER 26

  “Brenda,” Michael called. “Have you seen my navy blue pants with the cuffs?”

  “Yes.” She walked to the entrance of Michael’s walk-in closet.

  “Where are they?” Michael shuffled through several pants and jackets.

  “They’re at the cleaners.”

  “The cleaners?” He looked at her.

  “I put them in the cleaners with the last batch of clothes.”

  “Ohh.” He shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. I’ll just wear these.” He peeled a pair of brown slacks off of a hanger. “I did what I could to temporarily fix the situation with the water heater, but I think we’ll need to get a professional in on Monday since it’s too late now and tomorrow’s Sunday.” He slid one leg into his pants. Drops of water from his wet hair darkened the tan material in tiny splotches.

  “Where are you going?”

  “I’ve got a potential client that I’m going to talk to tonight. He’s a white guy that owns a small business.

  He’s got about fifty employees and should I be able to bring him aboard with an insurance package, it’ll open up the white market for me. At least that’s my strategy. How about you? What are you planning tonight?” Michael continued to dress.

  Brenda crossed her arms. “I thought that we had decided that we’d have a nice quiet dinner together tonight.” She walked over in her most sultry fashion and put her arms around his neck.

  Michael stopped zipping his pants, but held onto the waistline. “That sounds nice, but not tonight.”

  “Not tonight,” she repeated softly, and kept her arms around his neck.

  They looked into each other’s eyes.

  “Not tonight,” Brenda repeated. “That’s supposed to be my line, Michael, not yours.” Her arms dropped to her sides. “I don’t like this. I don’t like this at all.” She shook her head. “Can you really call this a marriage?” Michael closed his eyes. “Yes, I do because Fm giving all I’ve got to give here.” He opened them. “Could it be better? Yes. But it is a marriage, Brenda. We’ve got a beautiful home together. We’re respected in the community. Our futures are bright. We—”

  “What about the love, Michael? What about love?” Brenda stopped him.

  He looked down and buttoned the single button at the top of his slacks. Then he said with resignation, “I love you, Brenda.”

  “Then show it.” Her voice rose. “Show it, Michael. Don’t rush off every chance you get to go do some work. That’s all you do. Work. Work. Work. Even though Dr. Martin has warned you to slow down.” Michael looked at her.

  “Yes, I know all about it.” She stepped back. “Although you didn’t tell me. I ran into him at the grocery store and we started talking. The next thing I know he’s asking me have you sl
owed down any. And he’s telling me how he told you you really need to. Then he’s talking about your heart and I’m thinking, I didn’t know anything about any of this. I know nothing about my own husband.” Brenda flung her arms toward the ceiling. “I don’t even know that he’s having health problems because he didn’t tell me. He doesn’t share anything with me, except for his big house and our wonderful cars and how great we look to the public.” Michael turned his back and pulled a light green shirt off of another hanger. “I didn’t want to concern you, Brenda. I didn’t want you to worry.”

  “Well I am concerned,” Brenda replied. “I’m concerned about that. I’m concerned about our marriage. I’m concerned that I may never have a baby. Never.” Michael began to put on the shirt. “And that is what this is really all about, isn’t it?” He looked at her. “And it’s not just about your not having a baby.” His volume dropped. “It’s about Cora having one.”

  “Don’t you throw Cora’s baby up to me, Michael. Don’t you do it.” She pointed. “I wanted a baby before Cora and Warren got married. I wanted a baby, but I lost my baby. So don’t you show me that in that department, too, I don’t measure up to Cora.” Brenda trembled.

  “It’s not me that’s doing the comparing, Brenda.” Michael’s eyes were sad. “It’s you.”

  “You say you’re not comparing...” She shook her head. “How can I not compare us, Michael? When, ever since Cora married Warren, you have made love to me less and less. And you work like some crazy man. Every day. Day in and day out. Weekends. Nights. It doesn’t matter to you.”

  “I’m sorry you don’t like the way I’ve chosen to make a living for us. When everything I do is for us.” “No it’s not,” she said quietly. Tears filled her eyes. “You’re doing it so you can forget how you feel about my sister. Well, you can work yourself to death, Michael Dawson, and I don’t think you’ll ever be able to forget her.” Brenda sobbed. “And no matter what I do, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to make you forget her. It’s my punishment—” she choked up “—^for loving you after all you’ve been to my family. To both my sisters. It’s my punishment.”

  “Brenda... Don’t. Don’t.” He pulled her into his arms. “Don’t do this.” Michael kissed her forehead, then tried to wipe her tears away. “Don’t cry. Why should God punish you? You’ve tried to do nothing but good.” He gently kissed her. “Look. I’ll stay home tonight. I’ll give my client a call and tell him something very important has come up.”

  Brenda continued to sniffle but her eyes brightened. “We’ll have that quiet evening you want,” Michael continued. “That I want. I want peace of mind just like you.” His eyes turned desperate. “And I’m going to do everything I can to help us have that life that we deserve.”

  “I love you.” Brenda put her arms around Michael and he kissed her in a way that he hadn’t in a long, long time.

  Nebia’s Story...

  “I’ve got to give it to them,” Erica said, “they keep trying. They keep working on that marriage. Whatever little marriage they had.”

  “I know that’s right,” Sheila replied. “Shoot. Every time I think that Michael’s going to explode or that Brenda’s going to say dee-vorce.” She waved her hand across her face. “This never-give-up spirit just comes and Michael reaches out to Brenda again. I tell you, it’s the most amazing thing.”

  “It is,” Cynthia replied. “So I guess he did love Brenda. At least he wanted a home with her. But he loved Cora, too. What a mess.”

  “Yes, he did,” Nebia said. “Michael loved both of them. But he had made a life with Brenda, and being the kind of man that he was, he couldn’t turn his back on that.”

  “I—I—I don’t know,” Cynthia said. “What if Cora was free? What if Cora hadn’t married Warren? How much turning back would he have done?”

  Nebia paused. “Well...I guess that’s something we’ll never know, because Cora did marry Warren, and Michael and Brenda continued to try to hold their marriage together.”

  CHAPTERS 27

  "Mommy. I want bubble. I want bubble, Mommy.” “Faith, we agreed to wait until we got home to blow bubbles,” Cora said.

  “I want bubble now, Mommy.” Faith’s chubby fingers tried to unscrew the top of the plastic bottle.

  “All right. Okay. Just two blows.” Cora knelt in front of the door of the Five and Ten. She placed her purse and a small bag on the ground. “Here, let me help you.” Cora gazed at Faith’s intense face as she took the pink container and unscrewed the top. Carefully, she removed the bubble wand. “Okay, now. Blow.” She put it near her daughter’s mouth. Unconsciously, Cora pursed her lips, too.

  Faith blew several times, but no bubble formed. “Let me show you,” Cora offered. She brought the wand to her mouth and blew slowly. A large bubble bloomed. They both watched as it detached itself and floated into the air.

  “Look, Mommy! Look! Bubble. Bubble.”

  “Ye-es. It’s a bubble.” Cora laughed and kissed Faith on the cheek.

  “It’s a bubble.” Faith’s little finger pointed and followed the rise in the incandescent circle as it floated up and in front of Brenda, who had stopped a few feet away.

  “Hi, Cora.”

  “Brenda. Hello.” Cora rose to her feet.

  “Mommy.” Faith tugged at her dress. “You said two bubbles. Make another one.”

  Cora picked up her belongings, then situated Faith in her arms. “Okay. One more.” She dipped the wand in the bubble mix and blew. Several small bubbles emerged from the quick burst of air.

  Faith grinned. Cora smiled than looked at Brenda, whose eyes lingered on Faith’s face.

  “How are you?” Cora asked.

  “I’m fine,” Brenda replied. “And you? The two of you?”

  “We’re good. Say hi, Faith. This is your Aunt Brenda.”

  Faith looked at Brenda then lay her head against her mother’s breast. Finally, she wriggled her fingers.

  Cora looked back at Brenda. “We decided to come down here and pick up a few things.”

  “I’ve got a little shopping to do myself,” Brenda replied.

  “Look at you. Aren’t you thin?” Cora said. “As thin as those models in some of the magazines.” She smiled. “But I guess you look at me and say I’ve gained weight.”

  “You look wonderful, Cora. Just as any mother should. You look absolutely wonderful,” Brenda repeated.

  Cora looked into her sister’s disillusioned eyes and looked away. “When we were growing up, did you ever think it would end up this way?” She looked aback at Brenda. “I didn’t.”

  “Neither did I.” Brenda’s grip tightened on her purse. Her face saddened.

  “But life could be worse,” Cora said.

  Brenda nodded. “Sure it could.”

  Cora nodded, too. “I’ll tell Mama I saw you.” Brenda placed her purse in front of her. “Thanks.” Their eyes locked.

  “Bye.” Hesitantly, Brenda touched Cora’s cheek, then Faith’s hair. “Bye, Faith.” Brenda said the toddler’s name softly before she entered into the revolving door.

  Cora and Faith went straight to Laura’s place. She took the BenGay and BC Powder out of the brown bag, and placed them on the kitchen counter. “Mama?” she called.

  “I’m back here putting some things away,” Laura replied. “I did some washing.”

  “Come on. Faith. Let’s see what your grandmother’s up to.”

  Cora took Faith’s hand and followed her mother’s voice into Laura’s bedroom. “I got the things you asked for. I put them on the counter in the kitchen.”

  “Thank you, sweetie.” Laura smushed the clothes inside the drawer.

  Cora leaned against a nearby wall. “Faith and I bumped into Brenda as we were leaving.”

  Laura continued putting the clothes away.

  “She looked like one of those models you see in the magazines,” Cora said. “Dressed to kill, she was. And so thin. Mama. Brenda’s so thin.”

  “She said she was doi
ng okay?” Laura didn’t look at Cora.

  “She said things were fine. I just—don’t know if that was really true.”

  “Well you can’t know any more than what she’ll tell you.” Laura closed the drawer.

  Cora sighed. “It’s amazing to me that we all live in the same area and we just don’t see each other.”

  “Well we all got our lives, and we go about them the best way we can.” Laura cleared her throat. “We’re different, that’s all. Got different ways of doing things. And I don’t think nobody’s right and nobody’s wrong. So we keep goin’, and that’s how it’s suppose to be.” Laura focused on Faith, who had climbed onto her bed and was picking at the nodules of yarn that stuck up from the pale green bedspread.

  “Sometimes,” Cora began, “but I don’t obsess about it, I wish that we could start all over again. That we could all be together the way that I thought we would when I was a girl growing up.”

  Laura clasped her hands in her lap. “It does no good to try to remake the past, Cora. No good at all. Don’t cause nothing but a bunch of heartache and I’ve had my share of that. I’m not going to fish for no more.” Laura’s chin tilted stubbornly. “I’m not going to fish for no more.”

  Nebia’s Story...

  “Lo-ord,” Erica exclaimed. “I don’t know if I could take it. I think one of us would have to leave town or something.” She looked at the night sky. “How do you do it? Walk around seeing your sister once in a blue moon and when you see her you don’t know what to say. Yuck! It’s too much for me.”

  “Yeah, I’d say that would be rough,” Sheila replied. “But you know, we know folks right now that know their sister or brother, or some relative lives nearby, and they don’t have nothing to say to each other because they have had a falling out, a fight or something. So what can you say? When it comes to families, there are all kinds.”

  “But I’m not talking about those kinds of folks. To me it seemed like Cora and Brenda wanted to love each other. They wanted to be sisters again. Didn’t they, Nebia?”