“Thank you, doctor.” Primo shakes his hand, while holding Eve with the other.
The room breathes a collective sigh of relief. “Mr. and Mrs. Pipilini—”
“Eve and Primo. Mom and daddio. Whatever you are comfortable with.”
“Woman don’t speak for me. He can call me Mr. Pipilini.”
“Sometimes, he answers to asshole.” Eve rolls her eyes at her husband.
“Eve and Mr. Pipilini,” I smirk, “While we wait, would you like to meet…your grandson?” I hedge, not sure how much Eve has told them about what’s going on or my presumption of the future.
Eve claps and Primo smiles big. “I have been waiting to meet the little guy. Eve talks about him all the time and how strong he is, how perfect.”
Primo smiles indulgently at his wife. “Of course, we’d like to meet him. Lead the way.”
Ephraim 23.
Sitting next to Priscilla’s still body, listening to the monitors beep, it’s a far different scene than Elead’s. They both fight for life, but one fights for the chance to experience it for the first time, while the other fights to keep her place in it. Both fight and my heart and soul cheer them on. But, my b’shert doesn’t look like herself, her face is hidden behind bandages and gauze and bruising so dark it looks like makeup. Someone did this to her, on purpose, wanting to end her life, wanting to take her away from me and El.
“She almost died right before her 9th birthday.” Eve begins from her and Primo’s post on the other side of Priscilla. I keep hold of Priscilla’s hand, as I meet Eve’s tear-filled eyes. “Her appendix burst, I…it was horrific to see her in the state she was in, to feel helpless, to be unable to hold her and comfort her as a mother should, to make it better. She had complications from the surgery, but they were able to save her. But for those 36 hours, I felt my heart stop, my world ceased to spin.”
I can’t imagine experiencing that with my child, with Elead. I came into El’s life when he was already in safe, capable hands who were prepared to keep him going. To watch your child suffer through something and hope to get them help in time…I shake my head, unable to picture the pain Eve must have gone through.
“I was on the road, I wasn’t with them, and it was the most painful experience of my life.” Primo pauses, staring at his daughter. “Until I got that phone call from her. I have felt moments of futility, times like with her appendix, when she got her first period. But to hear her on that phone, screaming for her life…I felt my soul wither.”
I can understand that sentiment. It is how I have felt since I realized she was missing, only increased ten-fold when we found her body.
“She is a pain in the ass. Stubborn as hell. Strong willed and insolent…and she isn’t done with us. She is just starting with you and Elead, don’t let the darkness consume you, son. It is only temporary, your light will return, it will burn brighter for having almost been snuffed out. She will come back stronger than ever, just to piss off whoever did this to her.”
Priscilla moans, we fall silent, waiting. Wanting something more. This is the first sound she has made in days. Then she farts. And the three of us smile and rejoice.
“And though that light may be blinding in it’s intensity, it will bring a stench so horrific, only the most righteous and worthy can survive.”
“Challenge accepted.”
Ephraim 24.
“She insisted on calling him daddio before we even acknowledged there was something between us. She was all ‘you should start dating, mom, cause you’re depressing and addicted to Netflix’. Abe had died about 4 years before that, and I was ready, I just hadn’t found anyone interesting enough.”
“She hadn’t found anyone who she thought possessed the proper skill-set.” Primo says with an arrogant smirk, Eve laughs, turning red and smacking him in the shoulder.
“You all are obviously very close, was there a transition period adjusting to dating a woman with a child from someone else, a widow no less?” In the last few days, I have gotten to know Primo and Eve, they already feel like family, bringing a comforting parental presence. And so far, I believe they like me in return.
“It was as easy as breathing.” I give Primo a questioning look. “Seriously, there wasn’t anything more natural than sliding into their lives. Like a moth to a flame. The two of them were like finding missing pieces of myself.”
I nod my head in understanding. “I felt that when I heard Priscilla’s voice for the first time. Add in the fact it was comforting Elead, my nephew, now my son, I was a goner.”
“These women have that affect. I never met Abe, but I believe with everything I am, that he brought me into their lives, and I have never, not for one day, took for granted that he gave me the greatest gift when he put them in my care.”
“She has taken so well to Elead. You don’t think she will treat him any different than any children we have together?” I don’t think she will, I guess I just want reassurance.
“You know she won’t, or you wouldn’t have pursued her. Priscilla comes from a long line of women, who are not related by blood,” Eve laughs at her own remark, “that possess the biggest hearts, endless wells of compassion, and the sense of humor
