Chapter 5: CHAPTER FIVE

“Dwight. Dwight.” Savannah shook him. She had watched him fall asleep an hour ago. Unable to sleep herself, she stood at the window, crossing her arms to fight off the chill. Nicholas had cried out several times in his sleep and she stroked his back until he drifted off. Savannah had watched the sun rise, painting the sky reds and oranges erasing the blues and purples from the night.

Dwight was sitting in the recliner on the other side of the bed. He had managed to stay up late with her but had finally succumbed to slumber. Now he looked as helpless as her son, his features having softened during the course of his rest. He stirred slightly before finally opening his eyes. He smiled when he looked up and saw her.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to fall asleep on you.” He stretched before standing up. “What time is it?”

“It’s about 6:30.” She whispered. “I just wanted to say thanks for sticking around.” She whispered and smiled.

“No problem. I wish I had someone there to help me out when Izzy was in the hospital. How are you?”

“Besides the massive headache, being tired out of my mind, and these puffy eyes, I guess I’m all right.”

“Have you talked to anyone yet?” He glanced down at Nicholas.

“Yea. They said he did okay during the night, and it looks like I’ll be able to take him home later. I called out of work for a few days. Good thing too because I forgot that I had a business meeting with a potential client today.”

“Work will always be there.” He glanced at his watch. Savannah noticed.

“Speaking of work, are you late?”

“No. I work from home some days. Just seeing if my neighbor was up yet. She’s not really a morning person though.” He moved toward her and pushed her hair behind her ear.

“Thank you. You have done more than enough for me already. If you need to leave, I understand. I’ll give you a call later.”

“Yea. All right.” He kissed the top of her head. “Call me for anything. Really.”

She watched him as he walked out of the room and down the hall and was stunned at the immediate longing for him welling up in her chest. What kind of crap was this? How in the world did a man like him exist? They hardly knew each other, yet he had sacrificed his night and his time with his own family to comfort her. They were virtually strangers and he had stayed with her all night. She leaned against the crib in wonder, astonished at what she had found in him. She felt a slight tug on her arm and looked down to see that Nicholas had awakened and had crawled to the edge where she was.

“How’s my big boy?” She picked him up, careful not to disturb the cords still attached to him. She cradled his head in her arms.

Nicholas mumbled softly but could barely move after that. Surely the attack had taken a toll on his little body. Just then, Dr. Parks entered the room with a little toy monkey in her hand.

“I just came to check on him.” She smiled. Nicholas lifted his head a little and reached for the toy. “I need to talk to you about your son’s medication. I spoke with Dr. Martin about an alternative medicine for him. I’ve had much success with it, and it has been very effective in the treatment of asthma in children.” She pulled some papers from her pocket and handed it to Savannah. “Here is some information about it. I’ll be right back.”

Savannah read over the paperwork just as Thomas walked in. Savannah held Nicholas closer to her body. Thomas stood near the doorway. “How is he doing?”

“Better.” She answered quickly. “I’m getting ready to take him home.”

Thomas looked around the room. She wondered if he was looking for Dwight. She put Nicholas in the crib and pulled out the clothes she had for him. His little body barely responded as she lifted each leg and each arm to dress him. After she put his shoes on, she turned back to reading the paperwork.

“So, that’s it then? You’re done talking to me?”

Savannah looked up slowly. “I don’t know what you expect from me.”

“I want you to stop treating me like I’m some kind of wall or something.”

“Look, whatever it is you’re looking for now, I can’t give it to you. I don’t even want to. You made it very clear what you wanted. Sorry you feel like a wall, but that is something that you control, not me.”

Thomas rubbed his eyebrows. “All this started after I was messing with Angie. We used to be friends and now you don’t even have two words to say to me.”

“Say hi to Daddy, Nicky.” She turned their son around so he could see his father.

“Hey man, how you doing?”

Nicholas lifted his little fingers in a wave and then dropped his hand. He nuzzled his face into her neck. “I have to get him home. Is there something I can do for you?”

“I want my family back.” Thomas stared at her.

Savannah backed away from him. “Are you crazy? No. Are you insane?”

“Yea, I know. But seeing you last night with that dude made me realize where I really want to be. Angie was just a phase, you know.”

“You’ve got some nerve com—”

“Ms. Mitchell.” Dr. Parks walked in and stopped a few inches away from Thomas. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know you had company. I’ll come back.” She turned away.

“No. It’s okay. This is Nicholas’ father.”

Dr. Parks looked from Savannah to Thomas. “Oh. Okay. Well, I’m sure you’re happy to hear that Nicky is doing just fine. We monitored him last night and he did great. I was just telling Ms. Mitchell that I wanted to change his meds. Something that I think will work better to control his asthma. It’s called Theophylline. It’s available in both forms, liquid for small children and a pill for older children.”

“Will you write him a prescription?” Savannah asked, ignoring Thomas staring at the side of her face.

“Yes. Now, I’d want him to continue to take the medicine he has now for the quick relief of his symptoms. But for long term treatment, he would be taking Theo. There are no contra-indications for these two medicines. I wrote you a prescription for refills and had some sent up from the in-house pharmacy.” She handed them to Savannah. “Now, take him home and give him a dose and let him rest. Here are your discharge papers.” She nodded and left the room.

Savannah checked for anything else she may have left behind before she headed for the door. “You can come by if you want to see the kids. But if you want anything else, you might as well stay where you are.” She added before she brushed by him.

*****

“Daddy?”

The voice sounded as if it was further away than it really was. Dwight cracked his eyes open to see a cloudy little face. He rubbed his hand across his face and sat up slowly. “What’s up love?”

“I’m woke from my nap. You told me to tell you when I woke up.”

He reached for her and kissed her cheek. “How about a grilled cheese sandwich?” Dwight got up from the couch and headed for the kitchen.

“Yeah! Is the baby all right?” Isabella asked as she pushed a chair to the counter to reach the plates.

“He’s doing better.” He put the cheese between the two slices of bread and put it in the pan.

“You’re a good daddy. You did a nice thing. Is he a cute baby?”

“Not as cute as you.” He pinched her nose as she giggled.

When he had gotten home after the hospital, he was beyond tired. Fortunately for him, Izzy was still exhausted. After he handed Mrs. Dipello some money for her help, he dragged the both of them to her room where he tucked her in and then he fell out on the couch. He had awakened once and sent a quick text to make sure that Savannah and Nicholas were okay. He didn’t even realize that he had fallen back to sleep.

“So, what do you want to do today?” He sat the grilled cheese in front of her and went to the fridge for some grapes and juice.

“Can we go to the playground?”

“Sure.”

Isabella flew from the car and over to the swings. It was a beautiful day out. He had managed to toss together some snacks to bring to the park. He waved to a few of the mothers he had met on prior outings to the park. He unpacked their cooler at the nearest picnic table and walked over to where Izzy was trying to get on the swing. He helped her get her balance and pushed her.

“Hey stranger.” He looked over his shoulder to see Tammy walking towards him. Tammy Ford was a mom he met when he and Izzy joined the local YMCA. He had been eager for her to meet new people as well as to learn to swim. He was plagued by fears of a drowning accident. Tammy had set him up with one of the best swim coaches and before long, Isabella was swimming like a fish. The trouble was that she was looking for more than a thank you. And she was hardly subtle. Even when her husband was nearby. She tossed her dark hair over her shoulder, her freshly tanned skin gleaming in the sunlight.

“Hi Tammy. How are you?” He only made brief eye contact.

“Oh, the usual. Dragging these kids all over the place. I’m just so worn out.” She pouted her lips. As usual they were coated with red lipstick. Dwight wondered how she could breathe in her skintight yoga pants and tank top. He had to admit that she did look good, even for a woman with three kids. But he had never dated a white woman. Not that he was against it. There were not many that he wanted to date. But he could not get her to understand that. “I wish Al would spend more time at home instead of working all the time. A girl could get lonely.” She was pressing her body close to his. He could feel her expensive perfume jumping onto his own skin. He backed away.

“He may not know that you want him around. You should tell him.”

“Why bother? He’ll just give me more money to spend on things I want but don’t need and for the moment I’ll forget. Why couldn’t I have met someone like you first?” She ran her claws down the sleeve of his shirt.

“Not everything is meant to be.” He grabbed Isabella from the swing and practically ran over to the table.

He smiled as Izzy chewed on everything not glued down. He figured that after he did some work later, he would call Savannah. Just to make sure that everything was okay. He did not want to come off as a stalker. He was sure that that was not the way to make someone like you. He reached for his vibrating cell phone.

“Hey Unc. How’s everything?”

“Good, good. I have a colleague who wants you to take a look at his numbers for him. Make sure he’s paying what he needs to pay. All that money stuff.”

“Well, I guess I can look at it for him. Have him email me.” Dwight handed Izzy a napkin and she wiped her face before she ran over to the monkey bars nearby.

“How is everything going with that wife of yours?” He giggled.

“Just won’t let that go, will you?” He sighed. “She had to take her son to the hospital. Apparently, he has asthma really bad. I stopped by.”

“You’re into her.”

“I can’t help it. She’s just so… so… me.” He rubbed his hand across his head, thinking about Savannah’s body in his arms.

“I don’t want to be a preacher, but you know what happened with Sandra. You had your nose so wide open, I could park all my cars in it.”

“Yeah. I remember. I’ll wait a while before I tell her I love her.” He laughed, but he was serious. He had rushed with Sandra and before he realized who she really was, he had professed his love, married her, and gotten her pregnant. The last thing he wanted was a repeat situation.

“Anything worth having is worth taking your time with. Well, I have to go. The carpet guys are here, and I have to make sure they lay it right.”

Dwight tucked his phone into his pocket and joined Izzy on the monkey bars.

******

“Is Nicky okay, Mommy?” Jake appeared at her side when she entered her sister’s house. She sat Nicholas on the couch and pulled Jake closer to her. She hugged him and kissed his forehead.

“He’s fine baby.” She sat down on the couch. She had missed him. He was her sweetheart. He helped her take care of Nicky, feeding him, trying to wash him up, dressing him, even though he made the biggest messes in the world, it was his effort that she appreciated. “How you doing buddy?” She could see concern in his eyes. Jake snuggled up to his mother.

Kim walked in and hugged her. “Girl, you ain’t nothing but a Tyler Perry movie! You got your baby in the hospital. Your baby daddy is sitting there. Then your new baby daddy shows up. Girl! You too much for me!” She handed Jake the juice in her hand.

Savannah rolled her eyes and laughed. “Now you know that ain’t right.”

“It was still funny though. How are you doing?”

“I feel better that Nicky is doing good.”

Kim reached for Nicholas and held him in her lap. Taking his jacket off, she tossed it on the arm of the couch and lifted his arms and legs and searched his chest and his face.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m checking my nephew for bruises. You don’t know what they do to children in the hospital these days when you’re not around.” Nicholas had started to laugh. “So, was Mr. Sexy this Dwight guy that you don’t know what to do with?”

Savannah blushed. She hated when her sister was inappropriate. “Aren’t you married? You can’t go around calling other men sexy.”

“Girl, please. I can say whatever I want. Kenneth is my chocolate king and as long as I remember that I am okay. I was just admiring Dwight’s physical features.” She dropped her voice and leaned closer. “Have you tested those physical features?” Her smile was sinister.

“No. I just met him. What are you trying to call me?”

Kim sat Nicky on the floor and stood up. “Girl, I was just playing with you. But you know I have to live the single life through you. Kenny ain’t going nowhere.” She laughed.

“Thomas came to the hospital this morning. Right after Dwight left and right before we left.”

“Wait a minute. You mean you and Dwight spent the night together?” Her eyes sparkled with interest. “This is getting juicy.”

“We did not spend the night together.” Savannah replied matter-of-factly. “He slept on one side and I didn’t sleep at all.”

“Sav, that’s just a minor detail. That man, who just met you, who never met your kid, leaves his kid at home, and spends the night with you and your sick baby in the hospital. And you mean to tell me you ain’t giving him none?”

“That is what I’m saying!”

Kim shook her head.

Savannah just rolled her eyes. Kim could be a piece of work indeed. She had always been the outspoken one. Savannah was secretly a little envious of Kim’s ability not to care. Savannah thought about what her sister was blurting out and it was those very things that worried her about Dwight. Why had he committed so early? Why did he come to the hospital and stay? It was all very confusing. Did he do that for all the women that he had ever met? “I’m not giving him any, sheesh. Is that all you think about?”

Her sister simply nodded her head and leaned back against the couch. Savannah chuckled. Her sister drove her crazy, but they had always been close. “Thomas said that he wanted his family back.”

“I will kill him.” Kim blurted out. Her facial expression was strangely serene.

“He said that seeing Dwight there made him realize it.”

“And just what in the hell is he going to do with Angie? Savannah, look, men are greedy. If they can have their cake and eat it too, they will.” She paused. “I can’t tell you what to do, but you better not let him back. I will kill him. And then I will kill you.”

“I know.” Savannah stated. She knew there would never be a second chance for them. Initially, that thought bothered her and she wondered if she shouldn’t just forget about all the things he had done to her and forgive him. Wasn’t that in the Bible? Forgiving and forgetting? Putting up with others? Sticking to your mate? There were even a few verses about divorce where it was considered against God. Yet, when she thought back on the nights she spent curled in a ball, crying her eyes out, she realized that there was no way she could hold on. Her marriage was toxic and needed to end.

“Just take it slow with Dwight. You have a habit of letting your need to be loved take over and the next thing you know, you’re buying wedding dresses and renting banquet halls.”

Savannah rolled her eyes again. “We’re going to go so Nicky can finish resting up. I’ll call you later.”

*****

Savannah stretched and yawned. She didn’t even remember falling asleep. It was nearly eight in the evening. When they got home after picking Jake up, they all stretched across her bed and fell asleep. The boys were still asleep, and she decided that it would be a great time to take a nice, hot bath. As the warm water washed over her body, she thought of Dwight. It had been such a gesture on his part to be there for her. And Kim was right. Dwight was handsome. Handsome enough for her to lose her ground and fall head over feet. A smile crossed her lips as she remembered him sleeping. He didn’t even snore which was a major pet peeve of hers.

It was about time she was happy. In fact, it was overdue. She’d spent years getting nothing but second best from Thomas. Small gestures like bringing her pancakes in the morning after he had been out all night or buying her some trinket to satisfy his guilty conscience, were no longer acceptable. She would let herself be happy. All that thinking was not helping her relax and so she shook all thoughts from her mind and closed her eyes.

*****

“Savannah, Dean here. How is your son?”

It was a little past nine in the evening. Her boys had awakened to eat dinner, but almost immediately went back to sleep. Nicholas was doing a lot better since he had been home from the hospital, but he was still tired. Jake was pooped out as well, drifting off minutes after they had been washed and put into their beds. She had been trying to catch up on some work when Dean called.

“He’s fine. Thank you for asking. I told your secretary to tell you that I would be in on Thursday. I’ve talked to Clarke and we have rescheduled our preliminary meeting. I’m finishing up the figures now and I should have them by then.”

“Good, good. I’ll let you go then. Take care.” With that he hung up. It was moments like that that made him seem human and less like a snake. Dean did have a good side, but it was often trapped underneath his slimy come-ons and inappropriate gestures. Savannah typed for a few more minutes and then closed her laptop and placed it on her dresser and grabbed her cell phone.

“I’m glad to hear from you.” Dwight said almost as soon as he answered the phone.

“I’m sorry it took me so long to call you. I was just winding down from everything. Were you sleep?”

“I was just resting.” He yawned. “How is Nicholas?”

“He’s getting much better. He ate dinner, some of it anyway. They slept most of the day. But I just wanted to thank you again for your support. I’m really glad you were there.”

“You’re welcome. I didn’t mind at all.”

“Yea, I know. But it’s a lot to throw on you so early. I just hate to burden you with all this.”

“Savannah, if it was Isabella, would you have been there for me?”

“Yes.”

“Would it feel like a burden to you?”

“No.” She said softly.

“Well okay then. I can’t be ignorant of your circumstances. I’m a single parent too. I know that things happen. I wouldn’t have come if I thought it was too much.”

“Well, like I said, thank you. I really appreciate it.” She paused. “Where is Isabella?”

“Lying next to me. We were watching a movie and the next thing I know she is sprawled all over the place and my phone is ringing.”

Savannah smiled at the thought. She remembered waking up on many occasions with feet and other body parts across her body. “How was work?”

“It was okay. The company I’m consulting with does furniture for most of the office buildings downtown. I’m helping them find the most cost-effective ways to do it.”

“That must be interesting work.”

“It is. I love being able to tell people my ideas and having them listen. Not to mention the pay. Although I do miss working with my hands.”

Savannah could not help but feel a pull of desire in her secret parts. She wondered what his hands felt like. Her eyes closed as she imagined him, exploring her flesh until her flesh ended, running his hands throughout the most intimate parts of her. She felt his lips place hot kisses along her neck. “H-have you always worked in that line of business?”

Dwight chuckled. “No. I started with my father in construction when I was in high school. Then as I got older, I wanted to try something different. I was always good with math and money. Now I tell people how to make more of it.”

“Why did you laugh?”

He yawned again. “I believe you were being a very bad girl just now.” There was humor in his tone.

“Was it that obvious?” She asked a little embarrassed.

“Yea. But don’t feel bad. I was thinking similar things.” He laughed.

“I have to tell you; I’ve been celibate for a few years. And if you’re looking for a sexual relationship, then that is something I can’t offer you.” Savannah waited for the long pause right before he told her he needed to end it. That was what she came to expect when she dropped the celibacy bomb. Men, who at first showered her with attention and gifts, quickly disappeared when they realized that she was serious.

“Wow. That is a big deal.”

“Look, if you don’t think you can handle it, then I suggest you go now. I don’t need you thinking of ways you can get me to give in.” She sat up in her bed.

“Now wait just one second. I haven’t said anything like that. I just said it was a big deal and it is. But I’m not really looking to jump into a sexual relationship just yet anyway, so I guess it works out for the both of us.” His voice was rigid.

“I’m sorry.” She closed her eyes and fell back against her pillows. Who in the hell was she turning into? This insecure, overly-defensive, emotional wall of a woman was acting crazy. “I’ve become psychotically paranoid about those things.” She offered a small laugh.

“Yea. I get it. It’s not like my sex life is booming right now. I’m so busy with work and Izzy, that there really is no time left.” He paused. “But now that we got that out of the way, are you looking forward to the concert? I hope I don’t feel old surrounded by all those teenagers.”

“I am. It’s been a while since an evening for me did not include SpongeBob and SpaghettiOs.”

Dwight laughed. “I know. If I watch another episode of Hannah Montana, I’m gonna tear my eyes out. I have to be honest. I do find myself tapping my feet to some of the music these little kids put out.”

Savannah’s eyebrows furrowed. “You can’t even begin to know how weird that sounds. Most men wouldn’t dare let that slip.”

“You’ll come to find Savannah that I’m not like most men. I don’t care what other people think of me. I’m an adult. I speak my mind about whatever is on it. That’s it.” He paused. “For instance, what do you want from me?”

“That’s a loaded question. I’m not sure how to answer that.” She had never been asked that before.

“I know it is. And I know it’s early, but I figure that if I know ahead of time, I can spend more time giving it to you instead of trying to guess. I think it would make things a little less complicated.” She heard him shuffling around. “Hold on for a second.”

Savannah heard the bed squeak and Dwight mumbled something. What did she want from him? It was a great question. She wished she had thought to ask it. At this early stage in their getting to know each other, she had no idea. There were millions of things she wanted. A better car. A bigger house. World peace. Good lives for her boys. Love. Real love. A dog. But what she wanted from him at this point was elusive. Besides, how do you put that into words?

“Sorry about that. I took Izzy to her room. She was kicking me way too much. I’ll go first and maybe that can help you with your list.” He cleared his throat. “I want honesty. If you’re mad, say you’re mad. I want you to be able to tell me when I’m doing something right and when I’m doing something wrong. I want you to be open minded about us and what we could be together.”

“Am I getting punked? Where is Ashton?” She laughed into the phone. His guttural laugh sounded from the other end. “Is it fair to say I want the same things?”

“If they apply.”

“Where do you even come from? Here we are, having just met and already you’ve met both my boys, spent the night with us in the hospital, and now you are telling me what you want up front? Where is your wife or your girlfriend?” In the back of her mind, she wondered if he was some type of jerk because what woman in her right mind would pass up a guy like this? If he was as legit as he said he was, she wanted to know why no one had snatched him up. Surely good men were scarce so any woman coming across him would have tied that ball and chain around him so fast.

He sighed. “I suppose it’s for the same reason that you don’t have a man around. I don’t have time for BS.”

“I understand.” Savannah yawned. “And as much as I would love to keep talking to you, I have to say goodnight.”

“Ahh, so soon. Well, I guess I will survive until tomorrow.”

“It’s not that far away. It’ll be fine.” She suppressed a giggle. “Goodnight.”

“Night.”