Blessings From the Father (29 page)
Read Blessings From the Father Online
Authors: Michelle Larks
Chapter Thirty-six
“Ms. Green.” The doctor extended his hand. “My name is Dr. Morrison.” He wore a white jacket over green scrubs. A stethoscope dangled from his neck. His brown face was wreathed in wireframe glasses and had a nerdy, intelligent look about him.
Mariah cut him off. “How is my grandmother?” She couldn't call Rosemary “mother,” not yet.
“She is stable for now. I understand you performed CPR. Doing so probably saved her life. Mrs. Green suffered a heart attack. We are running tests. I'll have a better idea of the severity of damage to her heart when we get the test results back.”
“Is she conscious? Can I see her?” Mariah asked apprehensively. She had a worried look on her face.
“She's been in and out. Yes, you can go see her. Don't be alarmed by all the equipment and try not to stay too long and tire her out.”
“Thank you. Please keep us posted,” Carson interjected.
“If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I will be in and around the area. One of the nurses can locate me if needed.” Dr. Morrison made his exit.
“You all right?” Carson asked Mariah. He looked at her with a concerned, caring look.
“As all right as I'm ever going to be.” Mariah nodded. She inhaled deeply and then exhaled, trying not to hyperventilate.
She and Carson walked to Rosemary's room. They found Rosemary surrounded by many machines and an IV was attached to her arm. Mariah's heart rate slowed. Rosemary looked so small and frail. Her eyes were shut and her breathing raspy. Mariah moaned and her knees felt like they were going to give out.
Carson put his arm around Mariah's waist. They walked over to the bed. Mariah looked at her grandmother and sobbed. “Granny, I am so sorry. Please forgive me.” Mariah's knees buckled. She would have fallen had Carson not tightened his grip around her body.
For the next ten minutes per the doctor's instructions, Mariah just stood next to the bed. She clutched Rosemary's hand like it was a lifeline. The nurse entered the area, and told Mariah that time had elapsed. She informed Mariah that she could return within an hour. Mariah nodded and bent over to kiss Rosemary's cheek. Rosemary opened her eyes and choked out, “Find Cassie. Bring her to me?” She turned her head slightly and closed her eyes.
Mariah's hands flew to her mouth. Carson led her out of the room. “Do you think she's going to make it?” Mariah asked Carson worriedly as they walked to the waiting area.
“Babe, I don't know. We'll have to wait and see.” Carson pushed open the door. They returned to their seats. Reverend Dudley and Raquel arrived thirty minutes later.
Raquel's eyes were red. It was apparent she had been crying. She hugged Mariah and Carson.
“Reverend Dudley, thank you for coming so quickly. I appreciate it,” Mariah told her minister.
“You knew I would come. How is Rosemary doing?” he asked in a grave tone of voice.
“The doctor said she's stable, but she's not out of the woods yet. The next twenty-four hours are critical,” Mariah informed Reverend Dudley.
“Jesus is always in control, so don't despair.”
“I know. . . .” Mariah gulped. “She just looks so ill. For all her ailments, I've never seen Granny look so sick.” Tears sprung into her eyes. She clumsily brushed them away and sniffed. Sonyell passed her a tissue.
“You've got to stay strong for Rosemary. When our way seems dim, God shines His light to remind us of His omnipotent power. Stay focused and most of all, keep the faith. Shall we pray?”
Heads bowed and hands clasped together as everyone stood in a circle as Reverend Dudley prayed, “Father, God, we ask that you stop by this hospital today, and lay your healing hands on Sister Rosemary. We know that there is no sorrow that you can't heal. When all seems lost, you step right in. Help Mariah to stay strong and to keep the faith as you work your miraculous powers. Bless the doctors, nurses, and other hospital personnel as they care for our sister and the other ailing people in the hospital today. These blessings I ask in your Son's name. Amen.”
“Amen,” the circle replied and sat back in their seats.
“Has anyone been in touch with Cassie? I imagine she'd want to know about her mother.” Reverend Dudley looked at Mariah.
“Granny just asked me to try to find her.” Mariah's lips trembled. “I don't know if that's a good sign.”
“It's not up to you to try to interpret signs right now,” Reverend Dudley told Mariah gently. “Stand on your faith and stay prayerful.”
“I will,” Mariah promised halfheartedly. “Pastor, can I talk to you in private?” she asked Reverend Dudley.
“Of course.” He and Mariah walked out of the nearest exit to the outside of the building.
The minister looked at Mariah questioningly.
Mariah bowed her head. “My father left a series of journals and I've been reading them. I was especially surprised to find my grandfather's name in some of the entries, since I've asked my grandmother if she knew my father and she told me no.”
Reverend Dudley judged by the tortured expression on Mariah's face and her monotone voice that she'd stumbled upon her family secret.
“At first, I thought my father raped my mother, and I rushed over to confront Granny about it. Then, she told me the truth; that she's my mother and she had an affair with my father.” Mariah rubbed her arms as if she were cold. Her body trembled. “I lost my temper, I yelled at her, and then she had the heart attack. If Granny doesn't make it, I will never be able to forgive myself.”
Reverend Dudley put his arm across Mariah's shoulders. “I am so sorry that you learned the information the way you did. Rosemary confided in me her dilemma a few years after you two joined church. I urged her to tell you, but she wasn't quite ready. I know the news was devastating to you, but God had a reason for the way you learned the information. You said your father left journals?”
Mariah bobbed her head. Her throat was so tight with grief that she didn't trust herself to speak.
“Then maybe this is how God intended you to learn the information, from your father's point of view. I already know Rosemary's thoughts and she was misguided. She compounded one mistake with another. God intended for you to be born. He has great plans for you. Rosemary's heart was weak. She could have had the heart attack at any time. I don't want you blaming yourself for what happened.”
“I feel like it's my fault,” Mariah lamented. “If I hadn't lost my temper and just spoke to her in a normal tone of voice, perhaps she wouldn't be lying in the hospital fighting for her life today,” Mariah cried, as her eyes leaked tears again.
“You don't know that for sure; something else may have triggered the attack. I want you to pray over the matter. When I began counseling Rosemary, she'd talk about how she felt her family was cursed, and I likened that to the Israelites, who felt they were cursed. I suggested she meditate on Nehemiah 13:2, which reads, âBecause they met not the children of Israel with bread and water, but hired Halaam against them, that he should curse them; howbeit that our God turned the curse into a blessing.'
“The hardest thing for people, and that includes Christians, is to forgive themselves. I know when this crisis passes, and you have time to reflect on all that has happened, you will see that the situation wasn't what you imagined at all. Your father actually played a role in your life, and he was a blessing from the Father,” Reverend Dudley said wisely as he patted Mariah's shoulder.
“I will,” Mariah vowed. “Pastor, will you pray for my granny?” She looked at the minister hopefully.
“Of course I will. Let's see if they'll let us go back and see her for a few minutes.”
Reverend Dudley and Mariah returned to the waiting area. Reverend Dudley spoke to the duty nurse and she agreed to let Reverend Dudley go back to Rosemary's room to pray. The pair returned to the waiting area shortly, and Reverend Dudley departed. He informed Mariah that he and his wife would return to the hospital later in the evening.
As Reverend Dudley was walking out, Michael entered the hospital. He quickly strolled to the group of friends and told Mariah he was sorry to hear about her grandmother.
Sonyell was pleased to see Michael, and proud of him.
Maybe,
she thought,
he has really changed.
Maybe,
she thought,
he has really changed.
Mariah informed Sonyell and Raquel that they could go and peep on Granny during the next short visit. Mariah looked up and saw Alma walking toward them with a concerned look on her face.
“I heard about Rosie,” she told Mariah after embracing her. “If there is anything I can do, please let me know. Rosie is like a sister to me.” Alma choked up.
“I will. If you could keep us updated as to what the doctor is doing and her progress that would be great,” Mariah told her grandmother's best friend.
Alma exited the waiting room and after telling Mariah she would keep her posted.
“So is there anything we can do?” Michael asked. He peeped at Sonyell then fixed his gaze on Mariah.
“Actually there is something you and Carson can do.” She glanced at Carson and then back to Michael. “If you don't mind that is. Granny asked for Cassie.” Mariah tugged on a lock of hair. “I have no idea where she might be. But, if you and Carson can go to the Garden and see if you can find anything out, that would be one less thing I'd have to worry about.”
Raquel looked at Michael. “Do you remember what Cassie looks like? Do you need me to go with you?”
Michael nodded. “I remember her vaguely. All I have to do is ask around for her. I know where to go and who to ask where she might be. I still have some associates in the Garden.” He stuck his hands in his jacket pockets. “We'll see what we can do.”
Carson nodded and stood up. “God willing, we will find her.” He leaned over and kissed Mariah's cheek. “Try not to worry. We'll be back as soon as we can.” Carson and Michael exited the hospital.
“I have to admit both men are stepping up to the plate.” Raquel watched the men's retreating backs. “I always told you Carson was a keeper and perhaps I was a little hard on Michael.” Raquel looked abashed.
“So was I,” Sonyell remarked sadly. “Michael broke up with me,” she announced.
“He had some nerve. He'll never find a woman as good as you,” Raquel roared, as she pounded the side of the chair. “I take back all I said.”
“No, he had a good reason, although I think my reason for not trusting him was valid. I guess we'll just have to wait and see how the situation plays out,” Sonyell said airily.
“Girl, you know Michael love him some Sonni. He'll be back,” Mariah predicted. She looked around and lowered her voice. “I feel guilty as sin about what happened today. Granny getting sick was my fault. I lost it when Granny told me that she's not my grandmother, she's my mother.” Mariah's voice cracked when she said “mother.”
“Come again? What did you say?” Raquel asked, clearly astonished. She was sitting on the edge of her seat and she nearly fell out of the chair. Her eyes widened.
“Y'all heard me right. Granny is my mother.” Mariah's brow wrinkled with incredulity. She was still trying to process the news she'd learned earlier that day.
“On the real, I'd rather have Granny for a mother than Cassie any day.” Raquel swiveled her head on her neck, and snapped her fingers twice.
“I'm with Rocki on that one. That explains Cassie's behavior to you all these years. It was sibling rivalry.” Sonyell shook her head and glanced at her two friends, then back to Mariah.
“It was a little bit more than sibling rivalry. Granny perpetrated a lie, a big one. I took the news badly. And look where Granny ended up,” Mariah cried. She began sniffling and placed her hands over her eyes.
“You couldn't help reacting the way you did. I probably would have acted worse. Still, the truth is out now. Once Granny regains her strength, you can find out what really happened. I'm sure she doesn't blame you for her attack, Mari, and you shouldn't either.” Raquel tried to find words of comfort for Mariah. She threw her arm around Mariah's shoulders.
“For once, our friend is showing good sense,” Sonyell teased Raquel. “Seriously, though, Rocki is right. Stop focusing on the negative and pray for Granny. Let's pray she has a speedy recovery.”
“I'll try but it's so hard.” Mariah closed her eyes and looked upward.
“It's tough now, but things will get better. You don't have to face this crisis alone. We're here with you. Girl, we ain't going nowhere,” Raquel informed Mariah.
The two friends sat vigil with Mariah.
The young women silently prayed that Rosemary would recover from her attack. They were also hoping that Carson and Michael would be able to find Cassie.
Other books
Slawter by Darren Shan
Laura Meets Jeffrey by Jeffrey Michelson, Laura Bradley
The Suitable Bride (The Emberton Brothers Series Book 2) by Aminadra, Karen
The Available Wife by Pennington, Carla
Little Donkey by Jodi Taylor
Love in the Highlands by Barbara Cartland
Valley of the Lost by Vicki Delany
Robot Trouble by Bruce Coville
Bad Men Die by William W. Johnstone
Suddenly Texan by Victoria Chancellor
