A Couple of Years of Gardening (Chapter 10) (standard:romance, 1506 words) [10/10] show all parts
Author: kmr412002	Added: Apr 27 2008	Views/Reads: 2065/1485	Part vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
The courtship and marriage of a detective as told by his wife.

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story

hurting you?”  Jack touched his shoulder and told the little boy to 
tell Mamie and she would tell him. Then his eyes flickered as they met 
mine. 

I remember also when we got into the car, he sat there for awhile
drumming the steering wheel with his fingertips. He looks back at the 
school, “Neen, you got to know something, before--.” 

“Before what?” 

“Before we go on. I don't want children, not ever.” 

“I know, Jack. You told me about the vasectomy.” 

“Nina, I'm not going to change my mind about this.” 

“I wouldn't expect you to,” 

I turn and look away because, unexpectedly, the whole conversation had
made me sad.  This was not news, but this moment was colored with the 
real possibility that we might spend our lives together. 

I thought about something my grandmother said when I was ten. She's
baking bread and her big meaty arms the color of mahogany are covered 
with flour. She mops her brow with the back of her hand and says, 
“There's two kinds of men in this world, the one you play with and the 
ones you marry. Make sure you choose the right one for the daddy of 
your babies.” 

Kate continues, “Well, he had not shown up in class for couple of days,
and Mamie told Jack about it. This morning, we went to check it out. 
Jack started questioning him, when the guy goes berserk and starts 
shooting. Jack was hit in the chest.” 

“Oh, Jesus, is he--?” 

“No, he's in emergency surgery right now. He was in such goddamned hurry
to talk to this guy. I remember he said he wanted to pick you up. God, 
Nina, I should insisted that he put on a vest, I should have--.” 

She begins to cry. I wrap my arms around her hoping if I can hold on to
her I won't float away in my own terror. . 

I see the detectives he works with in the hallway, and I see others that
I did not know. Right then, I want them to all go away, because I 
didn't need any reminders of why this all had to happen. I also don't 
want to take the role of the suffering loved one. I was used to being 
behind the camera, out of the spotlight. 

After he comes out of surgery, the doctor came out looking for his
family. Eyes in the room turn to me. I look at Kate, “Emily. I've got 
to call his sister.”  I started digging for my cell acting like I 
didn't see the doctor. 

The doctor bends down to look me in the eye. “Are you Nina?” 

I nod slowly, hating the helpless way I feel. The doctor takes my hand.
“I play basketball with Jack.  He's told me a lot about you. Listen, 
Nina, the bullet nicked an artery, and he lost a lot of blood, but he 
got in here in time. I think he's going to make it, but I want him to 
stay in ICU a couple of days. You can have few minutes with him if you 
like.” 

I'm thinking to myself someone stronger would jump up and be in his room
this second. I just croak, “I've got to call his sister.” 

Kate said, “Go see him. I'll call Emily.” 

“No, I'll call her when I get back.” 

I walk into the darkened room and see Jack lying among a jungle of tubes
and machines. I sit beside the bed staring at him. His eyes are closed 
and I think about how many nights I watched him sleep feeling safe and 
content, and now I'm just scared and angry. 

The doctor says, “I think he's coming out of the anesthesia, so he can
probably hear you.” 

I whisper, “Jack, Baby, it's me. I love you so much. Please don't leave
me here.”  His eyes flutter open and they mirror my terror. He can't 
speak because of the tube that's in his mouth. It hasn't even been 
twelve hours since this terrible thing has happened, but all ready he 
looks so frail. 

I find a quiet corner of the waiting room to call Emily. As I recharge
my cell phone, I find I've missed a call from Jack. “Baby, I wanted to 
let you know I'll be a little late picking you up. I've missed you so 
much. I'll even take you to that vegetarian restaurant you wanted to go 
to. Hell, baby, I'd even eat dirt for --.” 

I can't take it anymore. I start banging my phone on the end table
saying, “Fuck, fuck, fuck” over and over again. Kate gets a hold of me, 
but not before I find myself holding pieces of it in my hand. I stare 
at the shards of plastic and computer chips. I say, “Kate, I won't be 
able to hear his voice anymore.”  She wraps her arms around me, “Sure 
you will. We all will.” 


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