Three at the Table

{Dad yelling from bathroom}. Terry, have you seen my reflector vest?

{Terry was in the kitchen getting breakfast ready … pancakes for Tandem and Cereal for Tory. It’s hard to believe how much they have grown. Tandem the big brother all of 14 and Tory the bratty little sister all of 10. And lets not forget the one on the way. Tandem is not going to be happy at the baby reveal party…another wonderful little sister is coming his way}

Terry: {yelling from the kitchen} yes it’s wadded up next to the dresser in the bedroom where you left it yesterday.

{ Dad ate earlier to be one step ahead of the kids. This big jock can never find anything. The only thing he ever did find was the wide receiver. Being new to the school, she was invited to the football game and became mesmerized by this very tall and handsome QB. She would realize later just how stuck up and cocky he was. He thought he was the answer to every girls dream and they definitely made him think that}

Dad: (laughing} Thanks

[5 Minutes Later]

{Dad Yelling from bedroom} Terry have you seen my sunrays…

Terry: {yelling from the dining room} Did you find the vest?.

Dad: Not yet

Terry: Find the vest and you’ll find the glasses

{Dad found the wadded up vest and out fell his sunrays} {what would he do without this woman. She always knows where everything is and what everyone is doing and needs. He remembers loving her from the day he laid eyes on her walking from second period gym. She was wearing the standard issue shorts and t-shirt, showing off all the right curves. She walked right pass him as if he wasn’t there. No girl had ever walked past the star quarterback and not swooned. She must be new}

{Tandem was eating his pancakes when Tory snatched the syrup}

Tandem: Tory you’re eating cereal what do you need the syrup for?

Tory: My toast, you’re not the only one that can eat syrup you know.

Tandem: It’s not French toast Tory. Who puts syrup on toasted bread anyway?

Tory: I do

Terry: Alright you two, hurry up and finish. Your dad is almost ready; get upstairs and brush your teeth and pack your book bags.

Tory: Mom don’t forget to sign my permission slip for football. First practice is Thursday.

Terry: Sir, it’s in your bookbag signed, sealed and ready for delivery. Tory don’t forget to pack your song books for piano time.

Tory: Do I have to go?

Terry: Yes

Tory: But why? I don’t like piano, I can never remember what Mr. Tiger says, he’s so boring.

Terry: Then you’ll just have to be bored.

{As the kids run upstairs Terry starts checking off all the things she needs to do today. Groceries, party stuff for the reveal party, meet up with mom to discuss daddy’s will. That should leave her time to pick up Tandem then Tory after school}

{Dad finally comes downstairs ready to head out to the sanitation job he has held for 15 years.

Dad: (yelling) Tory, Tandem let’s go. Babe where are my car keys?

Terry: I know if you don’t stop yelling. Your keys are on the table at the door along with your cap and neckerchief.

Dad: (Smiling) Thanks babe. Where are these kids, Tory, Tandem…..

Tory & Tandem: (in unison) coming Dad as they come bounding down the stairs

{As her hearts walk out the door, Terry heads back to the kitchen to finally have breakfast. Her phone rings}

Terry: Hey Mom

Jillian: Terry, don’t forget our date today?

Terry: Well good morning to you to, gosh. Why the attitude?

Jillian: I don’t have an attitude, you’re always late and I want to make sure we’re on time for the Lawyer.

Terry: What Lawyer?

Jillian: (frustrated) Father in Heaven, Terry we’re meeting with the lawyer to discuss your fathers will.

Terry: I thought WE were discussing his will. I didn’t know we had to sit with a Lawyer Mom, this is going to throw off my whole day. Where are we meeting the Lawyer?

Jillian: Terry, we discussed this weeks ago. I knew you would forget. Listen, I’m not making another appointment so let me know if you’re making it or not. I can go without you.

Terry: Mom, why is everything always 0-100 with you. All I said was it would throw off my day. Where are we meeting the Lawyer?

Jillian: I’ll text you the address. Terry please don’t embarrass me by coming late. I need to get this over and done with.

Terry: Mom, It’s been two years like really, you got nerve telling somebody about late…

Jillian: Don’t be a smart aleck Terry. You know this has been difficult for me to process.

Terry: I know mom, but we’ve been down this road before. I don’t want to change my plans just for you to chicken out last minute.

Jillian: {Jillian had to admit that Terry was right she had stood her up before} I’ll be there this time, no worries.

Terry: Okay mom, see you later. Love you.

{Terry puts the phone down and heads to the dining room table to have her breakfast. She’s almost there when her water breaks, and she feels a sharp pain in her stomach.}

Terry: God Nooo, it’s too soon. God please.

{Terry tries to get to the phone, but another pain grips her stomach, and she falls to her knees. She manages to grab Tandems hockey stick and knock the phone off the counter. She calls 911.}

AT THE HOSPITAL

{Jillian rushing through the hospital doors frantic to find her daughter. Jillian was Terrys second call}

Jillian: {at the reception desk} I’m looking for Terry Montgomery can you tell me what room she’s in?

Reception: I’m sorry ma’am, I don’t see anyone by that name here.

Jillian: That’s impossible she told me from the ambulance that they were bringing her here.

Reception: If she came in by ambulance, she may still be in the emergency room. Let me check there.

Jillian: Which way is that?

Reception: You can’t go in there ma’am, one minute. Ok she’s in emergency. When she’s stable, they will bring her into the recovery room. You’ll have to wait until then to see her.

Jillian: {impatient} Wait? Wait? I can’t wait, I need to get to my child.

Reception: I’m so sorry ma’am, I will alert staff that a family member is here. I’ll let you know as soon as the Doctor comes out.

AN HOUR LATER

Reception: Ma’am, the Doctor is ready to see you.

Doctor: Hello, I’m Doctor Manzo, I understand your Terry Montgomerys' mother.

Jillian: Yes, I’m Jillian Wright, her mother is she alright? Where is she? Can I see her?

Doctor: I’m sorry to inform you that we lost her in surgery.

Jillian: That’s impossible. {Jillian stumbled backward trying to sit and understand, what happened?}

Doctor: She went into premature labor when she arrived, she was hemorrhaging and there was too much blood, we couldn’t stop the bleeding.

Jillian: My God, the baby?

Doctor: We were able to save the baby. The baby is in the NICU unit due to her coming so soon. She has a long road ahead of her. I’m so sorry Ms, Wright. Is there someone you would like to contact?

Jillian: Father in heaven, how do I tell Dad this?

{Dad is coming into the depot after his first run of the morning when his boss Gino comes over to let him know that his mother-in-law called to say something has happened to Terry and he needs to get to the hospital}

Gino: {hops up on the truck) Come on man, I’ll give you a lift. We’ll make better time on this.

{Dad arrives at the hospital frantically looking for his Mother-in-Law, he spots her in the waiting area}

Dad: Jillian, Jillian…{pausing} Where’s Terry? Is she alright.

Jillian: {tears rolling down her cheeks} Terry’s gone Dad, she’s gone.

Dad: {kneeling down to be at eye level with Jillian} What do you mean gone, gone where?

Jillian: They lost her in surgery Dad, there was too much blood, they couldn’t stop the bleeding. {She was rambling at this point, not quite sure what was coming out}

Dad: What are you talking about? {shaking Jillian trying to understand gone, blood, surgery} All he could do was sit on the floor and contemplate.

Doctor: Hello Sir, I’m Dr. Manzo, are you Terry’s husband?

Dad Dazed trying to stand up, the Dr. helps him.

Dad: Yes, where is she? I have to see her.

Doctor: Come with me, I will need you to sign some documents

Dad: Doctor, I just need to see her.

Doctor: But don’t you want to see your dau…..

Dad: {cutting the Doctor off} Doc my wife please. I just need to see my wife.

Doctor: {seeming confused} She’s in here

{Dad was not prepared to see the love of his life on the table. He went over to touch her forehead, hold her hand and talk to her. As the tears began to flow..}

Dad: (sobbing) Terry you have to open your eyes. We have to go pick up the kids and go home. You have to wake up, you can’t leave me. {Jillian came into the room to console Dad}

Doctor: Mr. McMillan, it’s time to go. We were able to save your daughter. She’s in NICU. Let’s go see her.

{Dad straightens his back, shrugs off Jillian and turns on his heel to leave the room. Jillian runs after him but she could only stand there and watch as Dad walks out of the hospital. Jillian couldn’t believe what was happening. First Jerry, now Terry. Her son-in-law walks out the hospital without even going to see his daughter}

SIX MONTHS LATER

Dad: (yelling) Tandem, Tory, let’s go you are going to be late for school. Come eat your breakfast.

Tandem: Coming Dad, Tory, hurry up and go down, if he sees one of us he’ll calm down. Tell him I’m almost dressed. Tory did what she was told and ran downstairs.

Dad: Tory where’s your brother?

Tory: He’s almost ready his pants tore, so he’s trying to find another pair. What’s for breakfast? {Tory had gotten quite good at distracting Dad from his train of thought and it would give Tandem time to burp Noelle and wrap her up. It was time to bring Noelle to dinner}.

A lot had changed in six months. Tandem was surprised to be called out of class before lunch period and even more surprised to see Dad in the principle office. He looked different. He had been crying. He said, "let’s go we have to pick up Tory." He never said a word the whole drive. Tory was waiting for mom outside at the pick up area to go to disgusting piano practice, when she sees Dad and Tandem drive up.

Tory: Hey what are you guys doing here, where’s mom?

Dad: Get In let’s go.

Tandem gave Tory a look and she settled herself in the back seat and didn’t say anything else. Tandem had never seen Dad like this before. It was like he was an alien or something. When they got home, he told them to go upstairs and get ready for dinner. Tory ran upstairs.

Tandem: Dinner? Dad, it’s only 12:00. What’s going on, where’s Mom?

Dad: (coldly) Tandem, your mother is dead. She’s never coming home. Now go get ready for dinner.

Tandem: Dead? What do you mean dead? Dad what are you talking about? Where is she? What about the baby?

Dad walks away and goes into the kitchen.

Tandem just stood at the door shocked and confused; trying to understand everything Dad just said. As he is trying to work things through his brain Tory came back down the stairs.

Tory: Tandem, what’s wrong with Dad? He’s acting really weird. And where’s mom, she was supposed to pick me up for piano practice.

Tandem: Tory, go to your room and don’t come out until I tell you, Ok

Tory: (confused) Okay.

Tandem goes into the kitchen to confront Dad.

Tandem: (with tears running down his cheeks) Dad, what do you mean mom is dead? Like how? How can you just say it like that? Where is she? What about the baby?

Dad: (yelling) Tandem how else do you want me to say it? Your mother is dead, she died at the hospital this morning. There’s really nothing more to say. Go get your sister.

Tandem now turns his attention to Tory. How does he tell her that mom is dead? He goes up to her room and tells her to come sit next to him.

Tandem: Tory listen, I have some bad news to tell you. Mom died today. She’s gone.

Tory: Tandem that’s not funny. Where’s mom?

Tandem: (solemnly) She’s gone Tory. Dad said she died at the hospital today. But we’re going to be alright Tory. We’re going to be alright.

Tory laid her head on Tandem’s shoulder and cried.

Jillian was trying to figure out how to move forward. Dad felt she was being a nuisance so he told Jillian not to come around anymore. She was also not allowed to contact the children. He didn't see the point. She had to funeralize Terry by herself at the funeral parlor. Dad was nowhere to be found. The kids could not even say goodbye. She had to get a temporary custody order from the State Attorney Generals office to have baby Noelle released into her custody. One month after she was born, Noelle was out of NICU. Jillian took custody and brought Noelle home. Jillian had to bring her to her house because she had no where else to go. Her Father never came back to the hospital to get her. Once he left that hospital, he never looked back.

Jillian didn’t really know what was going on with Dad, any mention of the baby went right over his head. There was never any acknowledgement. But she knew Noelle had siblings that she had never met. Jillian had determined to make sure that Noelle knew her whole family despite the nuisance order. She got Tandem a phone so that they could communicate with each other. Tandem told her that Dad relied on him to pick up Tory from school and get them both home. So she told Tandem she would meet him outside his school and they could pick up Tory and she would drive them home.

Tandem was very excited to see Jillian, he knew she was going to bring his baby sister. Six months had passed and he knew nothing other than his mother was dead. Every time he asked Dad, he never got an answer, just a blank stare. Dad told him his mother was dead but could say nothing about the baby. He finally called Jillian to see what was really going on.

Tandem: (greets Jillian with a hug). Hey Grams how are you?

Jillian: I'm ok Tandem, how are you?

Tandem: I'm okay I think, just trying to understand it all I guess.

Jillian: Come, I want to introduce you to somebody.

They walk over to the car and Jillian takes Noelle out of her car seat and holds her up to Tandem.

Tandem: (takes baby Noelle in his arms) Hi Noelle, so nice to finally meet you. (she cooed and grabbed his finger. It was love. If only mom could have met her, held her, spoke to her. It was all too much to think about.)

Jillian: Tandem I need a favor. Would you be willing to take Noelle home with you for a couple of days? I really need a break. I packed a bag for her.

Tandem: (confused) Grams, how am I supposed to bring a baby in the house? What would Dad say? What would Dad do? He doesn't even know she exists.

Jillian: That's the point, I'm hoping that when he hears her crying and actually sees her, he will have a change of heart. She needs to be with her family.

Tandem: I don't know about this grams, but I'll give it a try. Come on it's getting late. Let's pick up Tory. We have to beat Dad home.

Every day Dad would come home more angry than he did the day before. He was always yelling, he yelled about everything. All the chores were done, but he had to find something to yell about. When he came home this particular day, Tandem was in the living room with Tory and Noelle. Tandem didn't know what to expect, so he just waited.

Dad: (yelling) Tandem Tory are your chores done? Why are you just sitting in here? Go get washed up for dinner.

Noelle never made a sound and Dad never saw her. Tandem and Tory took Noelle upstairs. Tandem fed her and burped her. He remembers watching mom do this with Tory. So Dad started yelling for us to come down. So all three of us came downstairs to dinner. Noelle never made a sound and Dad never noticed her.