"Are you going to open it?"
"What, yeah, of course." I carefully unwrapped the paper, thinking I would save it to use later, and pulled out a framed photograph of Melinda and I at the restaurant. "I love it!" I exclaimed, holding it at arms length so Melinda could see it.
"Hey, it turned out pretty good even if I am in it."
"Lets hang it on the wall above the calendar." I got up to do just that but Melinda laughed and reminded me that it was too early in the morning to be pounding on the wall and waking up the neighbors.
"They might think were having some wild s.e.x in here," She said with a l.u.s.tful drool.
"Youre right, we wouldnt want that, now would we?" Yes!
"Whos that gift from?" Melinda pointed at the door.
"Where did that come from?" There was a flat box, about the same size that the framed picture was in, lying on the floor next to the door, as if someone had slid it underneath the door.
Melinda looked at me, waiting for me to get out from under my nice warm blanket and go pick it up. I rolled my eyes at her and she laughed.
"Well. youre the one wearing socks," she smirked.
"Well. guess what youre getting for Christmas next year," I joked back and got out of bed. "Theres a card on it," I brought the box back to Melinda and while she opened it, I read the card aloud.
"Sorry we couldnt stay and visit today but were on our way to Frankies parents for Christmas. Behave yourselves and have a Merry Christmas. Love, Meg and Frankie"
"That was really nice of them," Melinda said as she pulled out something wrapped in tissue paper with her name across it. She tore the tape off and a small card fell out. It read, To keep that ego of yours from flying away. Melinda rolled her eyes as she pulled out a dream catcher from the tissue paper. "Oh yeah, real funny, ha-ha."
"I think its hysterical."
"It would be kind of funny. if it werent so annoying. So what did she give you?"
I picked up the tissue paper with my name on it and unwrapped it, and peeking inside, instantly I was in tears.
"Whats the matter, did she give you a dream catcher too?"
I showed Melinda the montage of photos with Bonnie and me as children, and a few of the pictures even had Meg in them. The words always in my heart encircled the frame. There was no card with my gift, but then there didnt need to be one. Meg had already said it all.
"You know, that woman makes it so d.a.m.n hard to hate her sometimes."
"Im so glad because I really hope you two can be friends."
At first I thought Melinda was going to say something, but she changed her mind.
We had just two more presents to unwrap, and I couldnt wait to see what Melinda made for me. We promised to make our gifts in order to save money. I had a particularly hard time coming up with an idea for her because shes was just here temporarily and anything I could make would be lame in comparison to what she would be going home to.
Just as we handed each other the gifts, the phone that Meg had given me rang. It was the hospital. They said to come right away and then we were cut off. I had forgotten to charge the battery on the phone, didnt even think about it to tell the truth. I panicked but Melinda thankfully kept her wits about her and called for a taxi.
"Lets think positively, theyre calling to tell us shes awake and asking for us."
"Okay, thats sounds good, keep talking."
She added, "And we should take our gifts and celebrate Christmas at the hospital with Norma."
"Good idea." I rushed to the bathroom to be the first to use the hot water in the shower and smiled when I heard Melindas disproving grumble.
"You know I have half a mind to join you," she shouted after me.
I stuck my head out the door and said, "Then use the other half of your mind because youre not getting in here." Not yet anyway.
A Sterile Christmas - Melinda Blackstone and Chris Livingston We rushed over to the ICU nurses station and spoke to a nurse wearing antlers and Santa Claus scrubs. I didnt recognize her, but then with it being Christmas they probably switched shifts.
Chris said, "Someone called us about Norma Shelby?"
"Mrs. Shelby?" The nurse looked down at the computer, "Yes, oh but it says she has no family here, Im sorry, I cant give you any information."
"What? Weve been here night and day since she was admitted and theyve always let us in, come on, have a heart."
I was about to lose my temper but Chris intervened.
"Please, were all shes got right now." Chris was sobbing, "Dont let her die alone, please."
The nurse had apparently did have a heart, or she forgot those d.a.m.n rules, because she said, "Shes not dying, shes coming out of the coma."
"Thank G.o.d!"
"But shes not awake yet." The nurse stated.
I was confused, "I dont understand, if shes coming out of the coma then why isnt she awake yet?"
"Patients dont always wake up immediately, she could wake up at any minute, or she could linger for days."
"Please, cant we see her; we only want to help her." Chris pleaded.
"You might be able to at that." The nurse said, and nodded toward Normas room.
We walked in carrying our plastic sack full of gifts and went straight to Normas bed, careful not to interfere with the tubes and machines feeding antibiotics into her veins.
"She looks better today." Chris said, "Dont you think she looks better?"
"Yes, I think youre right, she is looking better." Truthfully I didnt see a difference but if Chris wanted to believe it then I would too.
"Norma, its Chris and Melinda. Weve brought presents for you, but youre going to have to wake up first."
Chris looked at me with a poignant smile, "Try flirting with her, Melinda, she loves that."
I laughed, "Okay, it cant hurt." I leaned in close to Normas ear and said softly, "Im still waiting to see those knockers of yours."
We waited, holding our breath that she heard me and would wake up, but she didnt.
"The nurse said it might take some time, so lets just let her rest and well try again in a few minutes. Want to exchange presents while we wait?"
"Sure, wheres the bag?"
I handed her the bag and she pulled out three gifts, setting Normas gift on the night stand. Then she handed me her gift wrapped in cartoon newspaper. Even her wrapping paper is cute.
"You go first," she said.
I tore into it and absentmindedly tossed the paper on the bed by Normas feet. Chris picked it up for me. Inside the small box was an old key with one tooth. I couldnt imagine what that would go to, but I found myself hoping it was her heart. I held it up and looked at her.
"Its the key to the bathroom. I know its a moot point now, but you still have a few hours left to use it."
I laughed and teased her, "Sure, now you give it to me." I picked up my gift to her and said as I handed it to her, "Now, its not much, because, you know, Im poor."
She smiled and opened my poorly wrapped gift, and I watched her eyes as she read the placard, "I. O. U.?"
I nodded and indicated that she should flip it over and when she read it, I thought she was going to cry.
"Everything. I owe you everything." She read aloud, "No, Melinda, I owe you for showing me that there is hope."
"I hope that youre right because Ive got this queasy feeling that Im going to crash and burn."
"Its called being afraid, and its a good thing, itll keep you on your toes. You wont crash because you are the bravest woman I know. Youve done everything you set out to do, and you did it with your head held high. No one can fault you for that, not even you."
I thought about what she was saying to me and I could literally feel the fear being replaced with pride, a pride Ive never felt in myself before. She was right; its up to me what I do now. I know I dont want to go back to Vegas. I know I dont want to throw money away any more, not when I can do some actual good with it. I had some decisions to make, and quickly, because time was running out. "Im going to get some coffee, do you want anything?
Chris shook her head but then changed her mind. "Id love some orange juice. Theres money in my purse, if you need some?"
"Nah, I got it covered."
"Hurry back, okay?"
She was afraid I would miss Norma waking up and she was right, I did want to be here when she woke up. Ive got so much I want to tell her, so much to share with her.
I thought about it as I bounded down the stairs towards the cafeteria. Norma doesnt know that her suggestion to have me oversee the displaced residents move was a brilliant one. My father even liked it. She doesnt know how much Im going to need her help, because Ive never done anything like that before. She doesnt know that I need her, just because shes my friend. I thought about how many times I had the opportunity to tell her how much she meant to me, and I never took it. Death is so final and if I get a second chance, Im going to make sure those that I love know it. Suddenly, I stopped in the stairwell and counted on one hand, the people I love. I felt completely alone.
"What a waste." I said out loud and listened to it echo up the stairwell. And like the scrooge who saw his future and was afraid, I shivered at the vision of my own future. I exited the stairs and walked toward the cafeteria, but suddenly, I turned back and ran up the stairs again, two at a time. I had to talk to Chris.
"Norma, I wish you would wake up and give me some advice. Its almost time for Melinda and I to finish our challenge and she will probably not want to stay in Memphis afterwards. If anything I wouldnt be surprised if she moved to San Francisco where she was happiest. Shes really changed though, Norma, and youd be so proud of her. She hasnt even craved a drink since she moved in, and she worked her a.s.s off at the restaurant and even when she was fired, she swallowed her pride and went back. Shes become the person I knew she could be."
Suddenly Melinda burst through the door with a wild look in her eyes. "Whats wrong, Melinda?"
She walked over to the bed and put her hands on the bedrails, "Chris, I dont want this to end. I mean, I dont want us to end."
I stood up beside the bed and held on to the bedrail, "What are you saying, Melinda?" Please, say it, say you love me!
"Im saying I want to stay in Memphis. I want us to live together and..."
"And?"
"And together we can help people like you want to do. We could even start a corporation and make it official if you want?"
"Oh, no, lets not do that. We mustnt advertise our good intentions; we need to give back without expecting a reward for it."
"Thats right. So how do we do that?"
"Im not sure yet, but I think it would be similar to Carol Burnetts anonymous benefactor who helped her get her start. He loaned her money, on the condition that she never reveal his name and that she pa.s.s on that loan to others to help someone else out. She never did reveal his name and she has helped so many students with her scholarships."
"What if we did both? We start a scholarship fund for students"
"Recovering alcoholic students."
She laughed and nodded her head, "Youre right, we start a fund in both our names for recovering alcoholic students, that will be made public of course, plus we set aside a private fund to help people anonymously."
I was getting excited about her plan for our future, and I leaned in a little closer, "Whose fathers office shall we do this from? Well need some help with creating and maintaining the scholarship fund so that means at least one employee, maybe two."
"We can work out of our house," she said, leaning closer to me.
"Our house? Do you mean like you take one half and I take the other?"
"I think we should buy it together and share the cost."
"Oh..."
"And the house should have at least four rooms," she said, leaning closer still.
"Four rooms? For just the two of us?"
"Sure, one room for the office, one room for guests, and one really big room for Norma to live in."
"That leaves one room left for you?" I wasnt being nave, I was trying to get her to say what I wanted to hear.
"But it will be a master bedroom with plenty of room for two."
I leaned close to her lips, close enough that she could feel the warmth of my breath, and said, "Youre not getting the kitten."
"The kitten? Huh?"
"Just say you love her, Melinda, before you both fall in bed with me."
"Norma!" I shouted.
"Norma, youre awake!"
"Who could sleep with you two hovering over me?" Norma smacked her lips and I wasnt sure if she were making a point or just had a dry mouth.
"Oh, thank G.o.d. We were so worried about you." I couldnt stop the tears from welling up inside of me.
"What happened? Where am I?"