Sonny looked at me. “We’ll continue this little talk later.” He gave me a half grin and headed outside with Bullhorn in tow. A little gathering had formed in the front yard, Dallas at center- stage as she kept trying to make Jessica talk. Jay Johnson of VICE had already cuffed Miss Myrtle and Jessica. It was enough that they had proof of the money being exchanged for sex with the pictures I took on my phone.
Then out of the corner of my eye, I saw a man in a dark suit walking towards us. His hands were in his pockets as he sauntered up to the crowd. It was Harry. He moved through us all straight over to Jessica.
“Jessica, why?” Harry seemed hurt. He trusted this hometown girl.
“It was him! Jessica looked straight at Bullhorn. “He was the one! He paid me to do it.”
“What?” Harry and Sonny said together. We all couldn’t believe Bullhorn had stooped that low and been so desperate to replace Harry in congress.
“Yes. He paid me to bring you down. He thought he would take your place if you were thrown out of office so he sent me there to frame you up in an affair.” Jessica explained as she spilled the whole conspiracy.
Dallas had the story of the century. “Get all that Daniel?” She asked her cameraman.
“You bet,” he smiled. And he kept right on rolling.
“How much did Bullhorn pay you, Jessica?” Dallas kept pushing.
“I think we need to get these three to the station and get ‘em booked,” Jay broke in. “No more questions for now. They got plenty to answer once we get ‘em downtown.” He took Jessica and Miss Myrtle to his squad car. Sonny pushed Bullhorn from behind over to Jay’s car too. He shook Jay’s hand and made his way back to me. Vivi and I were talking to Harry.
Harry looked a bit shaken but relieved. The burden was gone. His name would be cleared. “I’m so glad you believe me now,” he said. “I knew she was up to something since she kissed on me all the time but only when there was a camera. I guess you never know who to trust.”
“Now look you two,” Sonny said as he arrived to our little circle. “You two could have gotten hurt doing this. Remember, a dead man was found out here just the other day. This was crazy dangerous! Who’s idea
was
this anyway?” Vivi and I looked at each other.
“I’m not gonna tell, are you?”
I heard her mind speak loud and clear behind those emerald green eyes of hers.
“Well, I got a tip and the tipster said you two might even be out here. I took no chances, grabbing Jay, since this is all his department, I sent him to go on ahead while I called Harry and told him I’d pick him up. We came rushing—in case you two were in over your heads.
“No, we’re fine. I just needed to get some info for myself,” I said. “We never expected to find Jessica in the act itself. Just plain luck.”
“Well good thing you did, I guess. All those phone pictures will surely come in handy,” Sonny reasoned.
Harry leaned over to hug me. “I gotta get back to D.C. I promised Dallas an on-set interview over at WTAL and after that it’s the redeye to Washington.” Just as he hugged me I felt it. Warm water gushing past my knees.
“Uh, y’all. I think we may have more on tap for tonight than that TV interview,” I said, stepping back from Harry and looking down.
“Ohmygosh! You’re water just broke!” Harry shouted.
“Get in the car. I’ll call Kitty and Meridee. I’ll call your doctor. Go!” Vivi quickly organized the situation.
“Come on baby. Our boy is on the way!”
“He’s early”, I cried. “I’m scared.”
“Just a few weeks-- he’s already a kicker. He’ll be fine. I’ll turn the siren on and we’ll be there in no time!” Sonny hurried me to his waiting patrol car.
“Harry come on,” Vivi said. “I know you don’t wanna miss this.” Harry and Vivi ran to her car and followed Sonny and me in the squad car. This was strange in a way. Harry would be there to see me give birth—but not to our son-- to mine and Sonny’s.
CHAPTER 21
“Come on, baby, let’s get you in here!” Sonny ran around to the other side of the car to help me get out and into the hospital.
“Miss Blake! What in the world are you doin’ here? Ain’tchew early? That baby’s in a hurry.” Miss Wylie, at the admitting desk, said as I rushed into the hospital. She was a short round woman about sixty-five years old with poufy graying hair piled on top of her head in an unruly bun. I had called my doctor on the way. She said she’d get me set up with the room and call the hospital before I got there.
“Yeah, I know it, Miss Wylie. This baby of mine’s gonna be in a hurry his whole life. Did my doctor call?”
“Yep, let’s get you registered, sweetie-pie. Have a seat.” I sat down as I felt my contractions begin. I was nervous but I looked over and Sonny was worse. I had never seen him like this—he was pacing back and forth, biting his nails. My strong, in charge homicide detective was coming apart right in front of me! He looked over to me and smiled a weak little grin. I needed to give him something to do or he was gonna gnaw his fingers completely off.
“Sweetheart,” I beckoned. “I’m gonna need my bag. I have it packed and sitting by the bedroom door. Could you be a honey and run home and get it for me? I need it.” He looked at me as if I had asked him to go get popcorn right as the Titanic struck the iceberg. He might miss the action.
“Baby, I’m gonna be awhile,” I assured him. “The contractions are really far apart.” I did need my bag. I had packed it full of my primpers. You know, my make-up to look perfect in all my pictures, my special brand new fuzzy socks, and my perfumed body lotion for Sonny to massage me and soothe me. My baby blue nightgown set with satin robe was also in my bag. I had prepared to be the princess giving birth to the future king. I
needed
my bag!
“Okay,” Sonny finally agreed. “But don’t you have our son without me, I’ll be right back. Cross your legs.” He leaned down and kissed my head and dashed through the automatic doors just as Harry and Vivi rushed in.
“I’m going to grab Blake’s bag,” Sonny said. “Don’t you let her have this baby without me.”
“I won’t but hurry up,” Vivi said as she passed. She hurried over to me sitting with Miss Wylie. Miss Wylie and Kitty had been friends for years, though Miss Wylie was a good bit older. She lived in Glendale Gardens and had grown up just down the street from Kitty.
“I called your mama and Meridee. They’re on the way,” Vivi said as she clutched my shoulder. “You nervous?”
“As a cat in a room full of rocking chairs,” I answered, smiling at her. That was one of her famous metaphors.
“Well, don’t be. I did it and you sure can too.” She smiled at me.
“Okay, who is the husband?” Miss Wylie asked. I was jolted away from my visions of me in my silk robe holding my precious bundle while Sonny massaged me with the perfumed body cream. Technically I was still married to Harry. I took a deep breath.
“Harry Heart,” I answered. Harry looked over at me from the chairs across the lobby. He seemed out of place but where he belonged all at the same time.
“Okay and he’s the… father?” She kept typing without looking up.
“Uhm, no…” I mumbled, interrupting her.
“I see.” She peered over her silver glasses at me. “Well, I need the name of the father.”
“Sonny Bartholomew.” I sat up straighter in my chair. I was proud this baby was Sonny’s. Mine and Sonny’s. But the pride was only momentary.
“Hmm,” Miss Wylie spoke up. “So the father’s name will go on the birth certificate. Sonny is the father but listed as spouse will be Harry Heart?”
“Yes,” I said sliding back down in my chair. “That is correct.” My plans weren’t working out exactly as I had hoped. The baby was about three and a half weeks early. My divorce was supposed to be final next week. If the baby weren’t so eager to get here then Harry wouldn’t be in the mix. I had so wanted my baby born to me after the divorce. There would be no confusion. Harry wouldn’t even be in this picture. But no, the universe was not cooperating.
“Okay, your room will be ready soon. A nurse will be here in a jiffy to help you. Don’t move.” Miss Wylie smiled as she got up and took my file to the nurses’ station.
“Oh my Lord, that was so embarrassing,” I said to Vivi.
“What—you think she never saw a case like yours before?”
“No, it’s just that it’s me—you know, the good girl.”
“Baby, that ship has sailed.”
“Thank you. That boost of self esteem is exactly what I needed,” I said dripping with sarcasm.
“Oh, sweet baby Jesus, I’m so glad our little one hasn’t arrived yet. I wanna be in there watching my baby have her baby,” Kitty announced, her bangle bracelets jingling as she waved her arms wildly.
“My baby girl’s gonna be a momma!” Kitty was comin’ unglued with excitement.
“Oh, sugar, I am so proud of you,” Meridee leaned down and kissed my forehead.
“What’s
he
doin’ here?” Kitty asked gesturing to Harry.
“I’m her husband,” Harry stood and said boldly. I knew he just wanted to get a rise out of Kitty but I was beginning to think this day could actually get worse. The clash of people and personalities was fixin’ to make one sour soup.
Little did I know, it was about to get even more interesting.
“Oh, baby girl, there you are. We just heard. Kitty called us to make sure we had the nursery ready, and honey, we so do. You are gonna be so happy when you see what we did. We’re here to decorate the birthin’ room now!” Druid City Hospital would never be the same. The Fru Fru’s had arrived.
CHAPTER 22
The contractions were coming now on a regular basis. I settled into my bed as my entourage set up camp. All but Sonny. I was now in one of those hideous hospital gowns with no back, my bare ass on the cool sheets. I lay back with visions of my silk robe dancing in my head.
“Hey, Miss Blake, well it looks like our little guy will make his own time,” Dr. Partlow said as she entered the room. “Everybody out so I can see just when our boy will be here.” She shut the door as they all stepped to the hallway.
“Who the hell are those two?” The Doctor asked, “and why in the name of God are they hanging fancy lights in here?” She asked as the Fru Frus twirled out into the hallway with everyone else.
“Oh, I’m sorry. They are my nursery decorators.”
“Well, they
do
know you aren’t gonna live
here
after the baby’s born, don’t they?”
“Yeah they just wanted the room to be festive for all the pictures,” I explained.
“Where’s Daddy?” She asked.
“Sonny’s on his way. He ran home to grab my bag.”
“Well he might need to use his siren if he wants to be here to greet his baby. This kid’s in a hurry.”
“Noooo,” I begged. “Sonny told me to wait.”
“Well, our boy here has other plans.”
“I need to call him,” I said full of anxiety. “I need my bag,” I said, not even thinking of Sonny missing the birth. “It has my body cream and fuzzy socks.” Dr. Partlow just looked up at me from between my raised legs and smiled. I knew she was right. I could feel the contractions getting closer together. Nothing was going along with my grand plan. I wanted to be a princess.
“Okay, I think he’ll be here in the next hour or so. He’s waiting for no one.”
“And he’s okay? I mean he’s early and all. Is he too early? Is he in danger?”
“He’s healthy as a future Crimson Tide football star. I mean Sonny does keep calling him his quarterback. His vitals look good. He’s just ready right now. So we’ll go with his timing. We really have no choice. You’re water has already broken or we could try to stop the labor,” she explained as she grabbed my chart from the end of the bed and wrote something down. “It’s all gonna be okay, Blake.” She smiled. “You’re fixin’ to be a mother. It’s the greatest feeling in the world. Now I’ll be back to check on you in a bit. Rest while you can.” She patted my foot as she walked over to the door.
The minute she left, the Fru Frus dashed back inside and pulled out some fabric swatches.
“Honey child! Lookey here. We gotta show you this pretty pattern we found. Want us to cover something with it while we wait?” Coco was beyond his usual excited self. He pranced around the room holding the fabric over a chair then up against the walls as curtains. “Gor—geous,” he sang out. Don’tcha just love it?”
“Oh, I do. I’m just not too sure
management
here will.” Just then Vivi and Kitty and Meridee stepped in. I was relieved. My girls to the rescue.
“Need some water? Ice chips?” Vivi asked.
“Nauseated?” Kitty quipped. “Maybe I can find you some salt to lick.”
“Y’all, the doctor said I can’t have anything now. The baby will be here in an hour.”
“An hour?” Vivi said in shock. “Sonny better get his ass here. I’ll call him.”
“No no,” Kitty said to Coco. “That pattern’s all wrong. We’re havin’ us a boy. I don’t like the paisley or the chevron prints.”
“Are they for real?” Vivi asked me, her face contorted and her eyebrows up. She was dialing Sonny. “Voicemail,” she said. “I can’t believe this is your baby birthin’ room—those two are nuts.” She shook her head as she tried Sonny again.
“Miss Blake,” Jean Pierre announced. “We believe the Feng Shui of this room is all off. We’re gonna need to move a few things. And don’t you worry—all’s just as you ordered at home—butter and baby blue stripes and nobody is paintin’ any naked people on the walls anywhere in the entire room.”
At this point, I didn’t care. I just wanted Sonny here. The boys began shoving the chair over near the door and pushing a small table over to the other side near the window. Another contraction. Vivi saw me wince. She ran into the bathroom and emerged with a wet cloth. She stood at my bedside and wiped my brow as Kitty and the Fru Frus kept rearranging the room. Vivi called the nurse’s desk and asked for ice chips.
“Okay, little mama. Won’t be long now. Lets have some deep breaths,” Vivi said.
I breathed in and blew it out just like they taught me in Lamaze class. And again, little blows like I was blowing out birthday candles.
“Where the hell’s Sonny? I need Sonny!”
Blow. Blow. Blow.
“Where is he? I need my fuzzy socks”—
Blow. Blow. Blow
. “--And my pretty blue nightie and body cream”—
Blow. Blow. Blow.
“It’s not supposed to be like this. I’m supposed to be a princess.”