Читать книгу The Reluctant Savior - Krystan - Страница 19

chapter 10

For Unto Us a Child Is Born

Dallas, Texas

June 2003

Carmella sat quietly on Gabriel’s couch and looked lovingly down at the beautiful baby boy cradled in her arms. “You know, Mr. Gabe, I thought you was pretty crazy that first night you talked to me ’bout havin’ this little baby fo’ you an’ yo’ wife. But now that I’m sittin’ here lookin’ into his brown eyes, I’m thinkin’ maybe you was right. You got yo’ son, and I, well, I got somethin’ that changed my whole life—this little fella right here. You know, I been thinkin’ ’bout this fo’ a while, an’ wonderin’ how I was gonna feel. I’m sad, all right, but I know you can raise this baby way betta than I can, ’least right now. So even though I’m sad, I’m happy fo’ you, Mr. Gabe—happy that you got the son you wanted, and that Carmella could give that to you.”

Gabriel fought to hold back the tears as he looked over his desk at Carmella and Demarius. She was right. She had given him the very thing he had wanted most in his life—a son to carry on the Franklin family name. And he was certain that she had benefited as well—financially, especially now that he was making good on the $5,000 bonus he had promised her for a son—but much more than that, really. Like she had just said, he had given her the opportunity to bring a new life into the world and to experience the miracle of that little boy growing inside her. Plus, at least for him, the time they had together was nothing short of an incredible dream that really did happen, and in fact, far exceeded his initial expectations. As the mother of his only son, Carmella had a very special place in Gabriel’s heart, and he hoped that she had the same feelings for him. Even now, he wondered how her newly discovered maternal instincts would allow her to part with this beautiful baby boy.

“Carmella,” Gabriel asked, “how are you going to be with letting Tamika and me raise this little bundle of joy that you and I have conceived? Are you going to be ok with that?”

Carmella was silent for a moment, choosing just to enjoy gazing into Demarius’s eyes and feel his warm little body against her breast. Finally looking up, she smiled and replied. “Mr. Gabe, now you don’ hafta worry yourself none ’bout me. We made a deal, you an’ me, an’ I always stick to my promises. I do love this little boy, but I couldn’t raise him like you an’ Ms. Tamika can. I don’t have nothin’, an’ I got a lotta schoolin’ ahead a me. Like I told you, I really want to make somethin’ outa my life, an’ much as I love this little boy already, I’m happy for you all to raise him for me. I know maybe you’ll let me see ’im from time to time, maybe even babysit ever now an’ then,” she laughed. “But don’t you worry none, Mr. Gabe…Carmella will keep our little secret and not be no problem for yo’ wife or yo’ self. I jus’ want you to promise me one thing, tho’. You make some kinda will that you keep in a secret place, an’ you write in there that if anything eva happen to you an’ yo’ wife, that Demarius can come back to me if I’m able to care for him. Would you do that fo’ me, Mr. Gabe?”

“Of course, Carmella,” Gabriel answered without hesitation. “That would be only fair to you and Demarius. And I really don’t think Tamika will have any problem with you seeing him on occasion, so long as she doesn’t know that I’m the father! As far as Damarius goes, I think it’s better that he not know that you’re the real mother, don’t you agree? Maybe sometime, when he’s much older, if he ever asks…but we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. Are you good with that?”

“Yessuh, I am,” Carmella replied, “’cause if he find out I’m his motha’, he be wonderin’ pretty quick-like, who da’ daddy is, an’ that wouldn’ be no good. That’ll just be our secret, like you say. Now, how you gonna tell yo’ wife ’bout this little baby?”

“Well, pretty much like I said at first—that you worked here at the nursing home and had unexpectedly gotten pregnant. That you wanted to have a career and just couldn’t raise the baby. Once he was born, that I asked you if you would consider Tamika and me adopting him and that you had agreed. Pretty simple. Sound ok to you?”

“Yeah, long as she neva know you da daddy,” Carmella laughed. “We be in big trouble then!”

“Don’t you worry yourself about that!” Gabriel added quickly. “I don’t think that bit of information would benefit anyone, especially my wife. She is very insecure about her infertility problem and gets jealous quite easily. We’ve talked a lot about adopting, but she could never handle the idea of me having sex with any other woman, even if it were just a surrogate sort of situation. So I’m definitely on board with that plan!”

“Ok, then…you just figure out some kinda plan ’bout how you gonna tell her, and I’ll go along with whateva you come up wid. I know you all’ll be good parents fo’ Demarius, probably better’n I could ever be, so dat’s what’s most important to me.”

“And to me,” Gabriel seconded. “Carmella, I just want you to know, too, that I am so appreciative of what you’ve done. It was such a crazy idea that I was so scared to ask you, but it has really worked out amazingly well. You’ve just been incredible, and I’ve grown very fond of you. I’m certain you will do very well as a nurse, because you’re a very kind and loving person. I’m just so grateful to you and for the sacrifice you made for these past nine months. I really mean it.”

“You right, Mr. Gabe. It ain’t been easy, bein’ pregnant and tryin’ to keep up with my classes an’ all. But yo’ money an’ not havin’ to work so much helped a lot. I’m grateful to you, too, an’ wish a whole lotta happiness for you and the missus. God will bless you, Mr. Gabe, an’ our son too. I gotta get ’im fed an’ to bed pretty soon, so I be leavin’ now. You all call me soon, ’cause my clinicals start end o’ the summer, an’ I can’t be home babysittin’ this here little boy afta that. So I’ll be waitin’ for you an Ms. Tamika to visit real soon, ok?”

“You got it, Carmella. And thanks again for everything.” As Carmella stood to leave, Gabriel once again looked into his son’s eyes, and his own eyes were flooded with tears of pure joy. He had a son! Praise God!

As Carmella walked out of his office with Demarius, she called back over her shoulder, “You know, he look just like you, Mr. Gabe. Hope you got a good story fo’ dat too!”

Two Weeks Later

Gabriel’s Office

Hearing some commotion in the hall just outside his door, Gabriel looked up from his desk just in time to see his door open and two small gray wheels struggling to get through. “Gabriel!” came a familiar voice from the hall, “can you help me out here?”

Intrigued, he arose from his chair, walked over, and opened the door further, freeing the stroller and his wife, who were stuck between the partially open door and the jam.

“Oh, thanks, honey,” came a somewhat-relieved response, as Tamika Franklin now managed to gain entry along with her cargo. “Just look at Damarius’s new wheels—his first vehicle!” Tamika beamed as she showed off the new stroller she had just purchased at the mall. “Isn’t it cool?”

Gabriel had to agree that it was indeed ‘cool’, and unlike any other stroller he had ever seen. “Where on earth did you find that?” he asked in amazement as he gazed in awe at the contemporary, somewhat-tubular polished aluminum device.

“Babies R Us, of course, silly,” she responded, eager to show off her new purchase, which Gabriel conservatively estimated at three days’ salary. “Check this out!” she exclaimed, already beginning a product demo that would rival that of any sales associate’s at the baby store. “Look how easily it folds up, and it even gets smaller as it folds to fit in an overhead cargo space on the plane!”

Gabriel quickly envisioned what their vacations would soon resemble—much like those poor couples he used to make fun of, struggling with all their baby gear as they attempted to board the plane with a screaming infant not nearly so thrilled at the prospect of leaving the good old ‘terra firma’. “Hopefully, it won’t do that with the baby in it!” he cautioned.

“Of course not,” his wife continued, undaunted by his initial skepticism. “See, there are safety sensors that keep it from folding up with the baby in it,” she pointed out.

Gabriel could already envision a massive product recall the first time that failed, but he kept that little tidbit to himself. “Very nice, honey. What else does it have?” he smiled, pretending to be as interested in her purchase as she obviously was, and hoping for some justification for the outrageous bill he envisioned on his upcoming credit card statement.

“Oh, that’s just the beginning,” Tamika smiled proudly. “Daytime running lights, path lights under the stroller for nighttime visibility, a generator in the rear wheels to charge your cell phone, cupholders for four drinks, more than ample storage, an ergonomic seat with adjustable recline, AND an LCD dashboard that is easy to read! What do you think of that?”

“Amazing!” Gabriel replied, this time truly impressed with how technology had advanced since his first stroller. “So Damarius can chat on his cell phone without fear of the battery running down?” he teased.

“Oh don’t be silly, Gabriel! That’s for you or me so we can talk as much as we want while taking him on long strolls!”

Gabriel could already envision his new workplace. “Does the dashboard have Wi-Fi and video games?” he asked, this time not so certain that it didn’t.

“You’re such a tease!” Tamika laughed, walking over and giving him a kiss. “I am just so excited about today. “Has that nurse’s aide brought the baby yet?”

“Carmella, you mean?”

“Oh, whatever her name is. I’m just so excited about little Demarius—that’s a great name she gave him, don’t you think?”

Gabriel smiled, secretly knowing that the name was really the one he and Carmella had picked out together. God, if she ever knew…he thought to himself as he nodded in agreement, “Sure do, honey.”

Tamika and Gabriel had been married for some twelve years now, having tied the knot just after their graduation from the University of North Texas. Tamika has been quite the catch for him then—captain of the cheerleading squad, prom queen their junior year, and all-around social magnet at NTSU. Gabriel was no slouch either, as quarterback of the Mean Green—until his neck injury, that is. Even so, they had always made a handsome couple…his tall muscular physique coupled with her vivacious good looks. Tamika had put on a few pounds since then, even with no excuse from pregnancy, but all in all, she was still a very attractive and personable woman. Not the same sexual intensity as Carmella, Gabriel had come to realize, but he couldn’t really hold that against her. After all, their decade-long struggle with infertility had taken its toll seemingly on both her self-esteem and her libido. Today was a good day, though—hopefully one that would help turn all that around and provide them both with a bit of joy in their lives.

“She said she would be here around one with Demarius,” Gabriel announced. “It’s just about that time now, so she should be here any minute.”

“Good, I’m so excited to see our new baby!” Tamika beamed. Then her countenance changed slightly, as a new thought apparently entered her mind. “Are you sure she is ok with the adoption and giving up her baby?”

“Well, she’s already signed all the papers,” Gabriel recounted. “It probably will be a hard thing for her to do, but I’m sure she realizes we can do a better job of raising him than she can—at least at this point in her life.”

“Do you know her very well?” Tamika questioned, a little unnervingly.

“Oh, I see her around the facility. She works evenings, so not all that much. Seems like a pleasant young lady, though.”

“Who’s the father, do you know?”

“No, I never asked. When it became obvious that she was pregnant, I told her of our circumstances, just in case she might be interested. It appeared that she was unmarried and trying her best to put herself through school, so I thought she could possibly be receptive. Turns out that she was, especially when I offered to assist with all the expenses of having the baby and her own care in the process.”

“Yes, I remember you telling me all that. Well, I just hope she doesn’t change her mind…”

A knock on the door interrupted Tamika’s concern, but as Gabriel opened it, all her doubts evaporated with her first vision of their new son in Carmella’s arms. “Oh, he’s so beautiful!” she exclaimed, looking past Carmella to the baby she held. “May I hold him, please?”

“Sho can,” Carmella replied, holding the baby out into Tamika’s outstretched arms.

“This is Carmella, by the way,” Gabriel interjected, a little affronted by his wife’s total disregard of the mother. “Carmella, this is Tamika,” he added, shrugging his shoulders slightly behind her back.

“Pleased to meet you, Ms. Tamika,” Carmella replied, attempting a smile.

“Thank you, Carmella,” Tamika replied, still not taking her eyes off the baby. “I’ve heard a lot about you from Gabriel.”

“Good things, I hope.”

“Yes, he seems happy to have been able to help you,” Tamika responded, pulling back the blanket to get a good look at little Demarius. “Oh, he is just so cute! And, Gabriel, my goodness, he looks so much like you…anyone who didn’t know would think you are the real father!”

If Gabriel could have blushed, he certainly would have. “That is amazing,” he replied, somewhat cautiously, looking down at young Demarius. “What a blessing,” he added, hoping to change the subject quickly. “How have you been getting on with him, Carmella?”

“Well, Mista Franklin, I does my best,” Carmella nodded. “You know, school an’ all. It’s tough losin’ sleep and havin’ to get to class the next mornin’. Summer’s finally here, though, so I can rest up a bit before fall. I’m glad you and Ms. Tamika can take over now.”

“Really?” Tamika asked, somewhat skeptically. “I would think it would be really hard for you to give up a baby so beautiful.”

“Handsome!” Gabriel corrected.

“Yes, that too. Aren’t you upset about it, Carmella?”

“Well, ma’am…yes and no. I know in my heart I jest cain’t raise him as well as you two can. He needs a daddy and a mama, and no matter how hard I tries, I jest cain’t be both. So yes, I’m sad ’bout dat, but glad he’ll be in such good hands. You and Mista Franklin will be as good a parents as any chil’ could want.”

“Thank you, Carmella. You can rest assured that what you have said is true. We have wanted a child for a long time now, so today is very exciting for us, isn’t it Gabriel?”

“Yes, we’re very excited,” Gabriel agreed, his eyes locking with Carmella’s as Tamika fondled the baby. He regretted, in a way, that their relationship would have to end—well, it didn’t HAVE to—but he certainly imagined that it would. Noble purposes were one thing, but just plain lust was another entirely. He had grown to love Carmella, though, or at least it felt like love. They had a certain connection now that would never be broken. Looking into her eyes, he knew that she felt the same. Sadly, though, it just wouldn’t be right for their relationship to continue. He knew that, and from the look she gave him, she must be feeling something similar.

Carmella was indeed feeling sad, even though she tried her best to conceal it. Losing her baby was hard enough, but now Mr. Gabe too—that was even tougher. It had done her good to be desired by a man of his means—sort of elevated her own image of herself, which, in a way, was a good thing. She had gained confidence from Gabriel, confidence that she might not have come by any other way. He was a good man, well-educated, and a model for her to look up to. She hoped to be as successful in her own career as a nurse as he obviously was as the administrator there at Shadyside. It was still a painful time, though, and tears began to softly fall down her cheeks as she looked down at Tamika holding Demarius, realizing that she wouldn’t be holding him like that ever again. She bowed her head and struggled with the feelings, hoping that no one would notice.

Gabriel did, though, and his heart went out to her. He missed Carmella already, and just hoped that this arrangement he had crafted would end up as well for her as it would for them.

Tamika interrupted his thoughts, however, as she asked, “Gabriel, do you want to hold the baby?”

“Sure,” he responded, reaching out somewhat tentatively toward Demarius. “Hey there, son,” he whispered softly as he cuddled him in his arms. Demarius ironically seemed to recognize his father, as he opened his eyes, cooed, and looked directly at Gabriel.

“Look, Gabriel,” Tamika exclaimed, “it’s like he already knows you’re his daddy!”

“He does seem to recognize me,” Gabriel conceded, again hoping to redirect the conversation. Looking quickly at his watch, he announced, “Oh my gosh, I’ve got a manager’s meeting at 1:30! Carmella, would you mind going over with Tamika anything you can think of that will help with her taking care of young Demarius here? Tamika, honey, I’m gonna have to scoot. I’m sure Carmella will help you get the baby out to the car, and I’ll get home early today to help, is that ok?” he inquired, gently handing Demarius over to Tamika.

“Sure,” Tamika agreed, turning to Carmella, who fortunately had managed to dry her tears and now seemed up to the task of educating the new mother. “What else can you tell me, Carmella?”

“Well, Ms. Tamika, I has been feedin’ the baby from my breasts here,” she began, cupping one of those beautiful breasts Gabriel had grown so fond of, in her hand, “but I guess I won’t be able to do that no mo’. Guess I could pump some milk fo’ you, though…”

“Oh, that won’t be necessary,” Tamika interjected quickly. “I’m sure he’ll do just fine with the bottle.”

Behind her back, Gabriel glanced over at Carmella, rolling his eyes and shaking his head as if to say, “Good luck with all this!” Tamika was making it clear that the baby was her domain now, and she wanted no further ties with Carmella.

“Well, if you say so,” Carmella replied, then, in the baby’s defense, added, “I jest learned in school how good a mama’s milk is fo’ the baby.”

“I’m sure it is,” Tamika relied sharply, “but we’ll manage. Anything else I need to know?”

Gabriel winked at Carmella as he bent over to kiss his wife. “I’ve gotta run, honey. See you at home!”

As he headed toward the door, he sincerely hoped that an all-out catfight wouldn’t erupt in his absence. In the back of his mind, though, he fully trusted Carmella to keep that from happening. This is going to be interesting, he thought as he turned the doorknob and headed out into the hall for his meeting.