CHAPTER 11

Elisabeth realized a long time ago of her poverty as regards friendships. She had no one; no one to come check on her when she went missing, no one to fight for her or with her through her life battles, nobody was present through her hardest moments and her greatest human investment was Reuben. She was clearly always waylaid by life, placed in the most unfortunate of circumstances, always at the wrong place at the wrong time. She believed her life had already been orchestrated to turn out in the worst of ways; growing up she had lost every battle as a kid and was always in blame’s way even when it clearly wasn’t her fault. For Elisabeth, life had in its entirety been unkind and unfair; with her brother and father now late, there would be even fewer people to talk about her at her burial; few people who really knew what it felt like to be her and to love her.

Umber was particularly special to Lisa because of the coincidence in the timing of him being conceive. Elisabeth lost her father to brain cancer, the disease was diagnosed at a late stage and chemotherapy seemed to have even killed him rapidly. It was a dark time for Elisabeth, it put the family in huge debt and made her mother’s health deteriorate as well. Linn tried offsetting the bills through various means and that included his several fraudulent means; this was why he tended towards a life of crime even after his father’s death and Elisabeth knew it. By the second week of her father been hospitalized, he had lost his hearing, taste and smell; it got worse and worse. He slowly drifted into a vegetative state by the third week and it remained that way for several months; everyone had given up on him except Elisabeth. She sat by his bed side as frequently as she could and Reuben was the most supportive man ever. Just when Elisabeth could see the light at the end of the tunnel, Reuben’s business career had begun to blossom into a beautiful flower, he was changing the game and setting the pace; plans were set in motion to get specialist help for her father and all their debts were getting cleared but she never got to that light. He died. Elisabeth’s hurt knew no end, she conceived Umber two months after that and had always seen her father in him. She knew that was God’s consolation to her for the great loss she encountered even after she had been through so much to avert his death. Lincoln’s coping mechanism was a much destructive one, he took to a life of crime; determined to never be poor as he blamed his death on their inability to afford the best care he needed. Elisabeth’s mother on the other hand concluded that all things with a beginning had an end and her husband’s end had come; Elisabeth believed that to be her own coping mechanism.

“Once again, the Elizabethan effect” Detective Nathan whispered staring through the transparent glass door that led into one of the ICU rooms in the hospital.

“I’m sorry?” Antonio reiterated in confusion.

“She has managed to find herself in the most complex and questionable circumstances in the last three months and have always managed to end up innocent. I cannot make this up.” He explained putting both hands into his pocket and heaving a deep sigh.

“I just hope she’s okay” Antonio said showing concern.

“She will be. There are no gunshot wounds, just anxiety attacks and a moderate concussion from the struggle. She is doing quite well. A brain scan and few other things will set us right, and she will be out in no time.” Dr. Wills’ frail voice trailed them as he opened the glass door and walked into the room, leaving them behind.

“How did you find her?” Antonio asked referring to detective Nathan.

“I didn’t find her; someone called the station late last night, right after the rainstorm to complain that he had heard a gunshot. His wife was scared and they wanted us to check it out so we did. Although it took us all night, streamlining and combing through the suspected areas until we came upon an old tavern where she was found at midday.” He explained to an attentive Antonio.

“I’m so glad you found her. I don’t know what I could have done if something more terrible had happened.” Antonio added with expressions of concern all over his face.

“I am glad we found all the evidence we needed along with her,” Detective Nathan concluded, turning towards the long corridor that led to the exit stairs.

“Hi, I remember you.” A cheerful voice filtered in through detective Nathan’s ears. He stared at the elderly woman standing in front of him and wondered where he must have encountered her. Her voice sounded way too smooth for someone her age; he couldn’t place the face.

“I’m sorry, I encounter so many people on this job and I end up being unable to remember names and faces” he apologized, taking her hand in his and placing a kiss at the back of her palm.

“Oh I understand”; she smiled beautifully with a wave of her hand, “You invited me to the police station because you needed to match my fingerprints with some fingerprints you had found at my daughter’s house, her house had just been broken into and—”

“You are Elisabeth’s ma.” He interrupted excitedly.

“Yes, yes” she responded with a wave of joy and they both began to laugh together.

“It is so good to see you again and once again, I apologize for the stress; putting you through all that and for assuming you were a suspect as regards that incidence. I also sincerely apologize for your loss," he said sounding as polite as he possibly could.

“Oh Nathan. Some things are not in our power to control and direct; we have to find ways to strengthen ourselves and continue on our journey”; she kept her eyes fixated on him as he nodded in affirmation, “Would you be in attendance of the service of songs?” she asked with a straight face.

“Why, yes” he replied, he was thrown a little off balance by the invitation.

“Lincoln was a good man; but sadly, even good men have to end their stories too.” She added.

“Right.” Detective Nathan responded feeling a little out of place and lost for what to say in response.

“The address is 89th Rosenberg. The service of songs will be held this weekend. I want to see my daughter. I got a call saying she was begin held here for treatment, so I had to run over,” she concluded wearing a week smile.

“Yes, she is in the ICU room just at the corner; you’ll see a young man there, Spanish descent.” He described vaguely, pointing in the direction of the room.

“Oh, thank you.” She replied, scurrying away.

“You’re welcome, see you on Saturday.” He added loudly behind her.

Elisabeth’s mum was a petite, elderly woman. She was well read, well-spoken and very polite. She was English, soft-spoken, very educated but introverted. She was a very athletic woman in her younger years and for that reason, she still looked well-built and very healthy despite her age and frail look. She was a strong, tolerant and beautiful woman who did everything within her power to hold her family down every day.

“Excuse me!” Detective Nathan heard her ringing voice calling to him once again. He turned around and began to walk slowly towards her as she walked briskly towards him.

“Are you okay ma’am?” he asked, showing concern as she drew closer.

“What really happened in that tavern detective?” she asked with her chin slightly raised indicating her interest in the conversation and her curiosity.

“We can’t say certainly at this moment because Elisabeth would know better but the team that had rescued her found a bullet that had been launched in the wall; Shane sustained some deep cuts from broken bottle bits but her mother seemed to be fine though and has been transferred to the old people’s home. We recovered Lisa’s phone that contained a voice recording where Shane had confessed to killing Umber; we also rescued Reuben because Shane had drugged and duct taped him. Elisabeth would be in the best position to give you the details.” He narrated with a nod, stammering sometimes, as he tried not to sound insensitive.

“Dear God!!” she exclaimed with her head bowed and her arms folded.

“I’m sorry ma’am” Detective Nathan apologized, reaching for her hands as she began to sob softly; he knew that the poor woman had suffered a great deal. She had lost her son in the most gruesome way and now life was pulling it strings at her daughter, the only child she had left in the world. He knew how depressing it could be.

“I’m alright” she mumbled between sobs, sniffling and using a little face towel to consistently dry her eyes and face.

“Can we sit at the corner? So you rest for just a little bit.” He indicated with his fingers and squinted his eyes.

“Sure.” Her smooth voice was now breaking and laced with agony; she tried to smile.

As they walked towards the long bench at the end of the corridor, she began to speak, slowly as one saying her last words but hopefully as though certain of an incoming positivity.

“You know, Lisa is just like her Daddy. Family was always the most important thing to him; he was such a fighter and would not give up until he had drawn his last breath. It was hard sometimes living with him you know”; she drew a deep breath trying to stop her tears from forming again as her voice became shaky and coarse, “planning and executing life projects with him because sometimes I could see the end from the beginning and I knew some things were bound to fail but he always believed in everything and everyone and he just wouldn’t stop until it truly failed or it truly succeeded. That’s kind of how Lisa is and it can get exhausting because you look at something and you know you can see the end from the beginning but Elisabeth, poor child, she would want to go all the way through to see what happens in the end. It doesn’t matter if it killed her.” She wiped the towel across her nose and sniffled, forcing on another smile.

“Mm-hmm,” Nathan mumbled indicating that he was listening as attentively as he could.

“She is such a straight woman with all her plans, goals and aspirations but I wish she could pick up an opinion sometimes, get a mentor, try out someone else’s way or listen to advise you know”; she took a little pause and coughed lightly, she ran her wrinkled fingers through her blonde fringe and continued, “I didn’t like her working at The Firm; it was bound to fail. She used her little motorcycle thing to camouflage and try to appear like a lot of the average workers there but she isn’t an average woman and I could not understand why she wouldn’t act her status. I don’t intend for her to be proud and boisterous but I wanted her to be more real and comfortable in her position and status. She was always drawn to false humility and substandard attitude; this is why she could not make friends at the firm. None of her colleagues fitted her social and financial status; she couldn’t invite anyone to her house for fear of being marginalized but she could get another job somewhere more worthy with people who were in higher positions; she could have been more comfortable, gotten some friends and even had some influences and adapted new hobbies. I want a new life for her after this; I want her to travel, to live and love. She finds too much false comfort in her shell and I hate to watch her do that to herself; I understand that she lost a son, well I just lost a son too; we can’t let the pain draw us in and suffocate us like that, we need to try to look out for the best in the situation because it is always there, looking us in the eye and asking us to come get it.” Her voice was getting stronger now.

“That’s right.” Detective Nathan whispered as he looked at the fierceness in her once timid blue eyes.

“I know she’s had a couple of cases and has been confined to this city but I want to know how that is going at the moment.” She stated and paused anticipatorily, looking at Nathan who had a confused look on his face.

“I’m not sure I understand what you seem to be asking Ma’am” he shook his head briefly and rapidly too.

“Can she travel out now?” she asked simply.

“Oh, yes. She has every right to. Her case with the firm has been closed for nearly a week now if not more than; we have her boss in custody for falsification of work papers and other fraudulent reasons; she was just a square peg in a round hole in that particular case. There was no reason for her to be put through all she went through during the case. She was innocent of all the allegations leveled against her,” he explained emphatically.

“This town has done my baby so much evil.” She looked in the distant as she spoke wearily.

“She would have gotten her job back instantly, but the local government sealed the firm already. Further investigations are being carried out as the firm was involved in a lot of other fraudulent activities.” He tried not to sound too negative to her; so he tried to scratch the surface of the entire discussion, tending towards only the positive aspects of the focus.

“I am glad she doesn’t have to work at that firm anymore. Those people did horrible things to my baby, horrible things to my girl,” she reiterated in a whisper.

“What are your plans for her, considering she is an adult woman whose decisions cannot be influenced by a great deal?” He asked curiosity waiting eagerly to hear what she had to say in response.

“Well” she started with a loud chuckled and sniffled again, the light had returned back into her eyes just as Nathan wanted, “I want her to leave this town and I want to go with her, be the influence she would need and guide her path. I want her to remarry, I don’t know how that would turn out but I strongly believe she would do well with a partner, someone who loves her in the entirety of the word.” She explained with a shy smile on.

“That sounds beautiful, you are an amazing mother.” Nathan added with a smile on his lips.

“No, I’m crazy. I’m out here planning my grown daughter’s life like she is some project.” She responded through bouts of laughter.

“Well, best believe she is a project. Children are," he said, nodding.

“Do you have any children of your own?” she asked him, staring into his eyes intently.

“Yes, I have a daughter”; he pulled a photo out of his chest pocket and showed it to her.

“She is so beautiful.” She added emphatically as she stared at the child in the photo, admiring her.

“She has Down syndrome, but she makes me and my wife so hopeful and happy all the time. My wife is afraid to try for another child again because sometimes she blames herself for giving birth to such a special child, and I totally understand. I would like her to take her time with it even though I would love to have more kids. So for now, we are focused on giving Angela the best of our time, attention and capability. She is only eight years old, but she is a lifetime project to me, and I am so blessed to have her," he said, tears welling in his eyes.

“That is so beautiful. Tell your wife today that I said Angela is a special child and she would make her so proud someday. I want to be there for her ninth birthday, if you don’t mind.” She laughed nervously, handing the photo back to him.

“That’d be amazing. We would love to see you there.” He sounded so happy and fulfilled, pushing the photo gently into his chest pocket.

They both stared at each other for a short while, smiling at the possibility of the similarity between them; both of them fighting hard to give the best to the most important thing in the world to them at that moment, their children. It didn’t matter the age difference between them, the strength of the similarity in their love and passion for their respective child could not be hidden. They bonded over it, acknowledged it and laughed about it.

“Good evening; you must be detective Nathan”

“Yes I am.” Nathan stood to his feet, accepting the handshake of the young vibrant man wearing a doctor’s coat and smiling.

“I am the specialist doctor in charge of Elisabeth King, and I would like to know if you are the one I have to speak to.” His deep, beautiful voice filled the hallway.

“This is her mother. You should talk to her instead,” Nathan directed.

“Hello ma’am” he greeted with a smile.

“Hello. I’m a little exhausted, forgive me” she said in a low tone as she slowly got on her feet.

“I’m sorry to hear that.” He replied politely.

“pfft”; she waved her excuse aside and pulled herself together, “This better be no bad news doctor, I have a whole life set ahead for my daughter.” She admitted strongly, putting her arms at akimbo.

“We have no bad news ma’am; just a little discovery but your daughter continues to be alive and well. She is awake and stable and we have moved her into the ward. You can come sit by her bed and speak to her now.” He narrated vibrantly, his voice exuding hope and promising life as well.

“Please, I would like to excuse myself; I have a few things to complete at the office. I need to get back in time to complete my desk work and close for today. I would be back tomorrow to see how she seems to be coming on.” He promised as he bowed slightly.

“That’s okay Nathan.” She replied, opening her arms to receive him into a warm hug, the doctor nodded and smiled as they embraced each other, “say me well to your wife and daughter.” She added as she let him go, tapping his shoulder gently and watching him leave.

“Please come with me.” The doctor said politely as they walked side by side.

“Thank you for looking after my daughter.” She mouthed through deep breaths.

“That’s my job”; he replied happily, “My name is Dr. Sam and you can call me the EEG doctor.” He stated vibrantly as they continued to walk slowly down the hallway.

“That’s electroencephalography, right?” she asked, although she was certain that it was.

“Yes ma’am, that’s right. Your daughter and I would be seeing each other very often for the next few weeks because we noticed some slight abnormalities in her brain waves and function.” He stated nervously.

“It’s okay. My husband died of a brain cancer so you can tell me anything, I can handle it.” She replied as she sensed his nervousness in breaking the news to her.

“That explains it—” he said as her mind travelled out of the space that they both occupied.

She remembered just how it felt to her when the doctor had broken the news her concerning her husband, King. King never had any symptoms or signs leading up to that very moment in the hospital. She was home alone with him and they had just finish eating lamb gravy with some white bread and they were chatting away happily. She had left him for a few seconds to take the trash out back; he had just done the dishes and was sitting in his favorite couch sipping on some black antioxidant tea. There was no violence or ill luck in the air, no warnings or signs of emergency; she walked into the sitting room after washing her hands and there he was on the couch, out like a light. She thought he was sleeping but it felt really odd because they had spoken moments ago, just a few seconds ago. He was rushed to the hospital when she could not wake him and moments later, the doctor informed her that he had brain cancer.

“Although we highly doubt that it is brain cancer because there are no rapidly multiplying malignant cancer cells in her brain at this moment, Antonio has informed us of her fainting spells and episodes and we would like to think it is as a result of her continuously hitting her head against a hard surface during her fainting spells. Was she ever involved in an accident while she was younger where she sustained brain injuries?” he asked, turning to cast his glance at her for a short moment.

“Nothing of such nature.” She replied quickly, trying to hide her previous absentmindedness; she knew that she had not been following the entire conversation as she should have and she hoped it was not so evident in her speech.

“Okay, that streamlines it to all her fainting spells and the impact that falling with her head against the floor has had on her over the years. We are afraid of an eventual resulting brain cancer in the near future considering her genetic history but we believe that it would be preventable if her anxiety and fainting episodes are controlled effectively.” He explained as they stopped in front of a door.

“I understand.” She responded sincerely, putting her hands together and nodding her head.

“This is her ward, bed 2. The nurse, Abigail, should be there with her. Please try not to ask to many questions or put any form of pressure on her for now.” He advised.

“Are you leaving?” she asked worrying about his manner of speech and their pause right outside the ward door.

“No ma’am; far from that. I will be with you in about a minute.” He gave her his word, smiling as he did. “You should wear a smile on that worried face too. Your energy will determine hers. It works like magnet,” he added.

“Thank you," she said as he opened the door and held it for her to go in.

“You are welcome ma’am” he responded with so much enthusiasm.

She knew where she was headed but she could not help but look around the ward; she felt plagued by the sick people lying on the bed, each with her own brain condition. There were some women with their heads wrapped in bandages, she tried to maintain a positive outlook. She soon sighted Elisabeth talking with the nurse who was holding a tray containing her medicines.

“Oh my baby!” she exclaimed as she got to her bedside, laughing in relief, tears welling up in her small eyes.

“Mom!” Lisa exclaimed smiling.

“Look at you, tough gingerbread, always getting yourself in trouble," she said with admiration.

“I’m sorry mom. Every time you have to talk to me, it’s because I have gotten in trouble again.” She apologized, tearing up and sniffling.

“No baby, no. It’s because you fought through something bad and survived.” She corrected her, embracing her lightly.

“Hello, I am Nurse Abigail” the plump nurse said nicely, grinning.

“Hello. Dr. Sam told me about you, thank you for looking after my daughter.” She replied with a smile.

“You are welcome. I will leave you girls to catch up; please call my attention if anything goes wrong.” She added, turning around to take her leave.

“Mom, how did you know I was here?” Lisa asked pleasantly surprised.

“That detective, he is such a nice man. He filled me up on everything and he would not leave your side until I got here; he loves my baby like I do so I like him already. He’s got an eight-year-old baby girl, just like you—”

“Mom, I am not eight. You can be so exhilarating sometimes but I love it.” They shared a laughter and her mother snorted, making them laugh all over again.

“I saw your doctor and Antonio, everyone loves you.” Her mother said gesticulating as she spoke.

“Everyone? Or Antonio?” she asked because she knew what her mom was driving at.

“Everyone. You are adorable and I need you to know that, stand tall and be proud of your journey. I love you every day and I can never take that back.” She held her hands as she spoke.

“Oh mom. You are life’s greatest gift to me and I love you so much too. Thank you for staying with me through everything.” She began to sob.

“Come on Sugar” she held her hands firmly and caressed them.

“I received this strange note, it was just there in my mailbox, inviting me for dinner. It was supposedly from Reuben, but I know there was something off about it because it was just unlike him to send me something so bland and uninteresting. I went to the address written on the paper anyway. I walked there.” She stopped briefly to see her mother’s reaction or hear what she had to say, but the elderly woman continued to caress Lisa’s palms and listen attentively. “When I got there, everything was beautiful at first. There was a woman about your age, but she looked older. She reminded me of you a lot. She spoke to me nicely and asked me to come in. That was when everything changed because it wasn’t Reuben that had invited me for dinner as I had thought, but his wife, Shane.” She paused again, staring at her mother.

“Why would she do that?” he mother asked wide-eyed.

“I cannot say I have the answers to that for a certain. It was a crazy experience mom; she had a gun at the dining table, there was dinner set on the table and she made me eat while she asked me ridiculous questions and threatened me to leave Reuben alone. I just didn’t get it. I thought she had poisoned the food and wanted to kill me slowly, but that wasn’t the case. She asked me chose: my life or Reuben’s. And if she couldn’t have him, nobody else would. I chose Reuben, and that meant she would kill me, but I fought for my life. That is why I am lying here. She released the bullet but that was about half a second after the bottle I launched at her had hit her hard; her bullet missed me and I could not remember the rest of the incident from there.” She concluded almost out of breath.

“She made you choose your life or Reuben’s?? That’s unbelievable!” she exclaimed in disbelief.

“She had Reuben drugged and tied up mom, it was crazy. She was like some psychopathic woman from a horror movie and I felt like Gretel; stuck in a witch’s house and being forced to eat candy against my own will. Although I was really hungry.” She chuckled.

“Gretel was really hungry too my dear.” Her mother replied laughing too.

“We never really got to talk about Linn.” She mumbled nervously as the laughter died down.

“I know. You didn’t call me to inform me about it but I understand and it’s totally fine. I know that you think it is your fault that we lost Linn but I need you to realize that Linn chose his path and walked it with pride and that was the consequences of his choices,” she explained forcing a smile to prevent Lisa from shedding a tear.

“He had so many prospects. He was so strong and admirable, and he wouldn’t give up for anything. I wish I was there for him a lot more; maybe gave him a listening ear and was the big sister he really wanted to have.” She explained through the blinding tears.

“You have got to stop crying Elisabeth, Dr. Sam said not to put an unnecessary pressure on your brain. We do not want to worsen your condition.” She emphasized fighting back her own tears and forcing on a smile.

“It is my heart that’s hurt here, Mom, not my brain.” They both laughed weakly and Lisa began to dry her eyes.

“You received my memo, didn’t you?” she asked her, peeking into her face.

“Of course mom. We lay him to rest this weekend. I think it is perfect and I would like to perform a service of songs for Umber too this weekend alongside Linn’s. Shane admitted to kidnapping him, she said he developed a fever and died while in her custody. She put my poor baby in the basement.” She recounted, shaking her head sadly and fighting the building tears again.

“I need you to know that he has gone to be with God. He was sweet child and no one knows what Shane would have put him through so God took him instead to save him from the horrors that he would have gone through in the hands of that woman.” Her mother explained with a deep sense of certainty.

“You always have a way of seeing things in such a positive light.” Lisa smiled, staring at her mom.

“You are never leaving my sight ever again.” Her mother concluded.

They both lifted their eyes to look at the person who had walked in on their conversation. Elisabeth was intrigued with what her eyes met; she exchanged glances with her mother and looked at the figure again.

“I was so worried for you, I thought you had died.” Elisabeth explained with horror in her voice as she opened her arms to embrace him.

“I was appalled when I heard the story too.” Reuben replied embracing her and planting a kiss on either side of her cheeks. He walked over to her mom and embraced her too, “You look so beautiful” he complimented, kissing the back of her palm.

“Always been a charmer.” Her mother replied as everyone laughed.

“I am so sorry for bringing in such a monster into our lives; I have thought about how I could have averted everything that had happened in so many different ways. I was too comfortable and I let Umber down but most importantly, I disappointed you. Forgive me.” His voice tapering as he spoke, going down on one knee.

“No. Don’t do that Reuben, there is nothing to forgive. It is not your fault that she did that, you could not have known that she was such a monster; It is all the past now and we look forward to a better future” Lisa said as she casted a glance on her mother and saw her nodding in agreement.

Reuben got on his feet and embraced her again, caressing her back lightly as he did.

“Wow. It is a full bedside reunion party.” Her mother signaled as Antonio walked in slowly, eyeballing Reuben and smiling lightly.

“Antonio. You would not leave my side for even a little bit, no?” she asked jokingly, taking his hand as he reached her bed side.

“Well technically, I wasn’t even allowed near your bedside while you were in ICU and I wasn’t here when you were moved into the ward because I got a call from the Police department, the diner has been released to me and reopened too. I just went in to collect the keys and sign some papers.” He concluded as Elisabeth pulled him close and hugged him tightly.

“That’s so wonderful to hear. Have you met my mom?” she asked shyly.

“Yes, I have, right outside ICU. She is a charmer,” he replied with a much wider smile. Everyone agreed, laughing.

“This is my ex-husband, Reuben.” She pointed at Reuben, speaking slowly and emphatically.

“Hi. The name is Antonio, Lisa’s friend.” He introduced himself as they shook hands.

“Nice to meet you Antonio” Reuben responded curtly.

“I want to see every one of you here at 89th Rosenberg on Saturday” her mother reiterated.

“Would Lisa be off this bed by then?” Antonio asked hopefully.

“From the look of things and judging by the way the doctor’s spoke, she will.” Her mother replied, filled with an unwavering confidence.

Everyone laughed and began to chatter as Lisa’s mind wandered away from the hospital. She needed to talk to Reuben about her plan to include Umber’s service of song for Saturday. She loved the peace that flowed through her soul; she missed Umber so much but it was easier to deal with now that she knew that he had gone to be with God. Everything was an eye opener to her. She understood why things went the way they did. She had a few regrets, but she was grateful for her life and all the bittersweet experiences. Nothing mattered more to her than this very moment with all the people she adored, all the people who adored her. It was a hard-knock life, but she was content and happy to see the faces of the ones that surrounded her sick bed light up with laughter and smiles. She was energetic and full of life once again. She had been inspired to live.