25. All I Need
All I Need
Nadine was going ninety down the highway toward Alisa’s house.
She called Alisa from the car, encouraging her to stay on the phone until the ambulance arrived.
She’d told Nadine that she tried calling everyone.
Christophe was in court. Kadeem was at the studio.
Tatum wasn’t picking up. She’d called her doctor’s office and was put on hold.
Nadine had done the same and gotten no answer, either.
It was a clusterfuck of bad shit all at once.
“Alisa, talk to me, honey. I am on the way.”
“It’s too early. They are coming too early.” Alisa looked panic-stricken. Nadine could tell she was on the floor, leaning against either a counter or a dresser of some sort. The babies weren’t due for another two months.
“Honey, sometimes twins come early. It happens.”
Alisa was crying, her hair sticking to her face. “I don’t want to be alone. Oh, God…”
“Where is the nurse, Alisa?” Nadine asked as she weaved in and out of traffic. She prayed to God she wouldn’t get a ticket or hit anyone.
“She…she went to get my nausea meds. Something is wrong, I feel it.” Alisa let out a wail that made Nadine’s blood run cold. It was terrifying. She’d never heard Alisa in pain like this.
“I am almost there.” Nadine looked at her GPS on her console.
“It says I’ll be there in 5 minutes. I got the codes to get in the gate and door.
I’ll make sure it’s open. You just say calm.
” Kadeem had the foresight to give both Tatum and Nadine the app that controlled access to the mansion.
Kadeem and Christophe were so overprotective.
She never thought she’d have to use them.
Alisa’s voice was drifting in and out. Nadine had to keep her alert. She had to talk about something, anything.
“Keep talking to me, sweetie. Did you decide on names for the babies?”
“No…not yet. Uggggh.. It hurts!” Alisa screamed, her hands shaky. Nadine knew she was going to drop the phone at any second. She had to get to Alisa. She had to make sure she was ok.
Nadine pulled into the driveway at the same time as the EMTs. She barely put her car in park before she was running up the circular driveway to the house.
“Ma’am?” said one of the paramedics. “Do you live here?”
“No, but I am the one who called 911! That’s my sister!” Nadine screamed. “Please, she’s pregnant with twins! It’s high risk!”
“OK ma’am. We’re just heading in. Stay calm.”
Nadine followed the paramedics inside the mansion, where they found Alisa, lying in the kitchen in a pool wetness. Nadine gasped when she saw a trickle of blood on the floor and on her caftan. She ran to Alisa, kneeling down. She looked as if she passed out.
“Alisa!” Nadine’s voice cracked. “Wake up, baby! Wake up!”
Alisa’s eyes barely fluttered open. “Deanie?”
“I’m here,” Nadine said. “The EMTs are here to check you out.”
Nadine stood back as she watched the team of paramedics examined Alisa, taking her vital signs and giving her IV fluids. Nadine closed her eyes, praying that Alisa and the babies were going to be ok. She hadn’t been to church in a while, so she hoped God still knew who she was.
“Ma’am. We need to get her to the hospital immediately,” one of the medics announced. “Her blood pressure is through the roof and her water broke.”
Nadine nodded, her eyes watery. “Ok. I’ll follow you there.”
Nadine sat in the waiting room, her stomach doing flips.
She shot a text to both Eddie and Zaire, telling them what was going on and to expect her late.
Zaire understood, saying she’d prepare to spend the night if necessary and would make sure EJ was settled in for the night.
Nadine decided against telling Alex. She didn’t want to stress her out, given it was her midterms. Nadine hadn’t been there too long when she looked up to see Christophe and Kadeem barreling through the labor and delivery doors.
“Nadine,” Christophe said, tie undone and his eyes red-rimmed. “Where is she?”
“Is she ok?” Kadeem was out of breath. “Fuck! I was prepping before going on-air. I knew I shouldn’t have turned off my phone.”
Nadine stood. “She’s in the ICU. They are trying to get her blood pressure down and stabilize her. The doctors are preparing to deliver the babies. When I found her, she was lying on the floor. She’d lost a lot of amniotic fluid.”
“ICU?” Kadeem’s eyes widened. “Jesus.”
“And where was the fucking nurse? She knows she’s not supposed to leave her alone. She’s supposed to call if she leaves her alone.” Christophe was furious.
“Calm down, Christophe,” Nadine said, rubbing his arm, but he snatched it away.
She understood his anger. “The nurse had gone to get Alisa’s nausea meds and got caught in a bad accident.
She called me as soon as she got home and saw that Alisa was gone.
She called you all too, but your phones were off. ”
“Still,” Kadeem fumed. “Still, she could have…if we lose her…lose them…” Kadeem’s voice broke as Christophe embraced him.
“The doctor said she’d be back out shortly. It’s going to be fine. Alisa is so strong. You know this.” Nadine was trying her best to reassure them, to calm them down, but it was utterly useless. She had no idea if Alisa would be fine, and they didn’t either.
“The doctor needs to bring her fucking ass out here now!” Christophe yelled as onlookers stared at them. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw someone snap a photo of Kadeem. She tried her best not to curse them out because someone had to remain calm.
“Kadeem. Chris. You’ve both got to remain calm. For Alisa,” begged Nadine.
Kadeem and Christophe both took deep breaths, trying to regain their composure. “We gotta find out something,” Kadeem said, motioning toward Christophe. “Come on, babe.”
Nadine watched as Christophe and Kadeem marched to the nurses' station, trying to get answers.
Minutes later, Tatum rushed in, with Miles, Deacon, and Cassidy trailing behind her. Nadine raised a brow. By the way Tatum was scantily dressed, it looked like she was out with her men having adult fun. Nadine could only imagine where.
“Oh my God, Deanie!” Tatum rushed over, wrapping Nadine in a hug. “I am so sorry. I didn’t have my phone. None of us did. We were uhm…”
“Occupied?” Nadine asked, brow raised. “Already? It’s barely evening time!”
Tatum sighed. “We were trying to blow off some steam. It’s mid-terms and well. You know the establishment doesn’t allow phones, so…that shit doesn’t matter right now. What matters is Alisa.”
“Right,” Miles said, rubbing his bald head. “Is Alisa ok?”
Nadine sighed. “I hope so. She’d lost a lot of amniotic fluid. There was blood. They can’t get her blood pressure down.”
“She…she was bleeding?” Christophe said, coming back over. “Oh my God.” He looked as if he was going to pass out. Deacon and Cassidy quickly led him back to the chairs.
“I’ll go grab him some ice water,” Miles announced as he headed in search of the ice station.
Tatum let out a shaky breath. “Is she gonna be ok? Be honest, Deanie.”
Nadine shrugged. “It’s been a minute since I’ve seen the doctor. I have no idea what is going on.”
A tall, slender Black woman with shoulder length locs came to the waiting area. “Is the family of Alisa Bishop-Miller here?”
Nadine motioned toward everyone. “That’s the doctor.”
Everyone got out of their seats.
The doctor smiled. “Ok, let me clarify. Is her next of kin here?”
Kadeem and Christophe both stepped forward. Puzzled, the doctor looked down at the paperwork and back up at them. “And which one of you is Mrs. Bishop-Miller’s husband?”
“We are,” they said in unison.
The doctor’s eyes widened. “Uhm, ok.” She looked back down at the paperwork. “But who is her legal husband?”
Christophe cleared his throat. “That would be me. Christophe Bishop. But…” He looked at Kadeem, who shared an equally distressed look on his face. It was breaking everyone’s heart, including the doctor’s.
The doctor nodded. “I understand. But I can only discuss this with Mrs. Bishop- Miller’s legal spouse.”
Kadeem folded his arms across his chest. “Like we said, I’m also her husband. Those babies are also…my babies.” He could barely get the words out.
Miles stood up. “There should be a medical directive on file with this hospital that lists both Mr. Miller and Mr. Bishop as her health care proxies. I know because I am the one who drafted it. Now, if you would, please share the status on Mrs. Bishop-Miller to both of her husbands before I have to call the hospital board and make a complaint.”
Nadine smirked. She loved that Miles could push his weight around like it was nothing. She could see how Tate was drawn to that. That type of power and authority was appealing.
The doctor’s facial expression was tight as a drum. “Very well. If you would, let’s discuss it over here, shall we?” She motioned toward both Christophe and Kadeem, who huddled with her in a corner.
Nadine and Tatum sat holding hands, watching as Kadeem, all brawn and muscle, was reduced to tears. Christophe nodded, as he tried to listen to the doctor and literally support his man. It was too much to bear witness to.
“She’s going to be fine,” Tatum reassured, squeezing Nadine’s hand. “My cousin is too strong-willed to not fight for her babies or herself.”
Nadine nodded. “I know. She’s too fucking stubborn to give up.”
Tatum chuckled softly. “Yep. That she is.”
Cass knelt down in front of both of them, his hand resting on Tatum’s leg. “Ya’ll want anything? Coffee? Candy? Shit, weed?”
Tatum rolled her eyes. “You know damn well you don’t have weed.”
Cass shrugged. “I bet I could find some. This is a hospital.”
“Shit, I’ve got some,” Deacon said, a little too loudly. “Some edibles too.”
“Deacon, seriously,” Tatum said, shaking her head. “Coffee is fine, Cass.”
Cassidy smiled. “Sure thing, mama. What about you, Deanie? Coffee?”
Nadine nodded, even though she didn’t really want it. “Yeah. That’s cool. Just black.”
“Got it.” Cassidy kissed Tatum on her shin before rising and heading toward the vending machines.
As soon as Cassidy left, Deacon was there to rub Tatum’s shoulder.
Nadine smiled. Tatum was so well cared for.
Franklin knew exactly what he was doing.
Her mind flashed to the two people waiting for her at home.
She wondered if she could have that with Eddie and Zaire.
Tatum and Nadine sipped the terrible vending machine coffee, hoping it could soothe the anxiety that they’d felt. Christophe and Kadeem made their way back toward the group. Everyone turned their attention towards them.
Christophe rubbed his head. “Doctor says they’ve stabilized Alisa’s blood pressure.
She was nearing stroke level due to her preeclampsia.
The babies are fine. But they aren’t taking any chances.
They are preparing to deliver the babies within the next half hour, then they’ll be transported to the NICU.
By the grace of God, she got to the hospital just in time. ”
“Praise God,” declared Nadine, clasping her hands.
“Listen,” Kadeem rubbed his eyes. “Ya’ll can go home. I know you all had things to do. Places to be.”
Nadine shook her head. “Absolutely not. Alisa is our family. You’re our family. We will be staying until we know the babies are here safely.” Everyone agreed, shaking their heads.
Christophe and Kadeem looked at each other and smiled. The group settled in for the night on the uncomfortable waiting room chairs and prayed.
It was almost 1 a.m. when Nadine finally made it home.
She was exhausted and hungry, having eaten nothing but a vending machine chicken salad sandwich and more stale coffee.
Deacon had offered to grab decent food for everyone, but they all declined.
Everyone was too anxious to eat anything substantial.
To Nadine’s surprise, Eddie and Zaire were both at the kitchen island, talking and sharing a laugh. She smiled, seeing the two people she adored enjoying each other’s company without her.
“Hey you,” Zaire said as she came up to Nadine, kissing her on the temple. “How are things with Alisa and the babies?”
Nadine blew out a breath. “Well, the babies are here. A boy and a girl. They delivered them about two hours after we brought Alisa to the hospital. They were barely three pounds each. Their lungs aren’t the greatest so…
they’ll be in the NICU for a while getting treatment and a battery of tests to make sure they are fine. As for Alisa…”
Nadine’s eyes watered as she tried to get the words out. Eddie rushed over to put a hand around her shoulder, guiding her to the chair. He sat next to her and Zaire brought over a glass of wine for Nadine, sitting down on her opposite side. She took a sip before continuing.
“Even though she delivered the babies, her blood pressure wouldn’t come down.
They think she had a clot somewhere, maybe her lungs because she said her chest hurt.
They think it was something called HELLP syndrome, and they are praying they got it under control.
She’ll be in the hospital for a while. I just…
I can’t lose my best friend. This is too much. ”
Eddie rubbed gentle circles on her back. “It’s ok. You got her to the hospital. Plus, Christophe and Kadeem are there. They’ll move heaven and earth before they let anything happen to her.”
“And what if I hadn’t picked up her call?
She would have bled out on the floor of her kitchen and those babies…
.” Nadine shook away the thought. “Black women die all the time in childbirth. Shit, she could die now. We’re never in the clear.
Doesn’t matter if Christophe or Kadeem are there or how much money they have. The stats don’t lie.”
“But the devil does! So don’t listen to lies swirling around in your head. Alisa’s not dead,” Zaire reminded her. “She isn’t. She and the babies will be fine. You’ve got to think positively.”
Nadine drank more of the wine, then frowned as the taste soured her stomach. “Maybe I shouldn’t drink anymore. I haven’t had much to eat.”
“Chef made ratatouille and grilled chicken. Would you like some?” asked Eddie, moving toward the fridge, but Nadine stopped him.
She looked between Eddie and Zaire, the heat of her gaze increasing by the second. “I just want you.” She placed a soft kiss on Eddie’s lips, then turned to Zaire, doing the same. “And you.”
Zaire looked at Eddie, then back at Nadine. “Are you sure, baby? You’ve been through a lot tonight. I mean, this seems like a family thing.”
Nadine looked between Eddie and Zaire, her heart breaking, if they’d say no. “You are my family. I need you…we need you.”
Eddie grabbed her hand, pulling Nadine off the bar stool. “Let’s go, honey.”
They walked a few steps. When Nadine didn’t feel or hear Zaire next to her, she stopped. She turned to find her at the island, looking hesitant. Nadine stretched out her hand. “Come, love.” Slowly, Zaire walked toward her and took her hand.
All three of them made their way toward the master bedroom.