Love's Home Run, page 23
Djuana also had worries. She was afraid of the pending birth of her child. It was going to hurt. Would the baby be healthy? Would the baby love her? Would she be able to handle the baby day in and day out?
She also missed Jack Newhouse.
After the game Jack drove through and around Portland for hours. He stopped at a bar before 1 a.m. and had two beers. Some guys recognized him and cut his private time short. They approached, saying they would be buying the next round, but Jack stood up, pulled his wallet out and said, “Join me, and we all pay, and get blasted.’’
They did. Jack drank more that night than he had in three weeks. The guilt ate at him like a cancer. He had done just what Djuana said he would: slept with another woman. But damn, he sure needed what Kristen offered. And could use some more.
When his cell rang in his pants pocket Jack’s first instinct was to ignore it. It had to be Oscar, and he didn’t feel like any freaks that night. But he checked it anyway.
It was Djuana. It rang four more time s before he had the balls to answer it. He actually thought in his stupor that she knew and was going to curse him out. When he answered she was gone.
Jack called her back quickly, darting to the back of the bar. His drinking buddies told him to hurry back.
“Are you okay?’’ he asked, trying to steady himself and clear his thoughts, and not sound drunk.
“Yes. Just can’t sleep. The baby is doing flips.’’
He stood off the barstool, his legs wobbly.
“Are you okay?’’ he repeated.
“Fine. I guess he’s just having a bad dream.’’ Djuana was lying on her back on her bed, eyes to the ceiling. “The other day I had a sonogram. And, they said they could tell the sex of the baby.’’
“So, it’s a boy, right?’’ Jack smiled.
“Maybe. Maybe not.’’ She smiled.
“I thought you said they could tell?’’
“I don’t want to know! I can wait. That takes the thrill out of the remaining four months.’’
“Yeah, but it also makes it easier for people to select gifts. You won’t get a bunch of yellow and white stuff.’’
“How you know so much?’’
“Years of showers for teammates.’’
“Well, I don’t want to know.’’
“Okay.’’
A moment of silence brought in the sounds of the bar. The voices of Jack’s drinking buddies calling him irritated Jack, and startled Djuana. He wanted to say he was in love with her, deep love.
“You have to go, Jack?’’
“No. Hold on a second.’’ He put the phone on his thigh and called to the bartender.
“Give them another round on me.’’
“Anything you say, J-New!’’
“I’m back,’’ Jack said into the phone. “I’m just at some bar downtown. I needed a drink before I went home.’’
Djuana heard him, but didn’t.
“Jack,’’ she twirled the phone cord. “I miss you. I’m sorry if I destroyed us. I have never been happier then when I was with you.’’
“I miss you too, Djuana. And, you haven’t destroyed us.’’
“Why haven’t you called?’’
Jack had no reason. He paused, and chose not to lie. “I've wanted to, but I just wanted to give you time. I want you to be a part of my life, but I don’t want to push you.’’
“I’ve had enough time without you. And, none of it has been exactly pleasant. I miss being with you.
“I love you.”
Jack paused. He could never describe his feeling at that moment. Shock, he would think it to be later. But the sensation was more like contentment. He knew then that he would marry Djuana Pioneer.
“Are you sure?’’
“As sure as I have ever been. I mean, I thought I loved a man for seven years, and I never once felt so warm, safe and loved with him like I do with you.
“I love you, Jack.''
“I do love you too, Djuana. Very much I do.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
August was Djuana’s favorite month for one reason: The Mount Hood Festival of Jazz. It was the highlight of her summers because she could never afford to travel out of Portland. The Mount Hood Community College in Gresham hosted the event, thirty miles from Portland. It showcased some of the best professional jazz musicians from all parts of the world. Djuana wasn’t a huge fan of jazz, but she loved live performances and she enjoyed the crowds and the vendors.
When she told Jack how much she cared for the event, he immediately made plans to insure she would have a great time this year. His ideas and promises were thrilling to Djuana, usually it would be her and Tia at Mount Hood, now she would be able to enjoy the romantic evening with a man.
Jack had made just about every day since she met him special. And since he found out she was pregnant, he has been more gallant. After she showered or bathed, he would massage her back, shoulders, legs and feet. He would also care for the rippled, stretch mark rash that, now entering her sixth month, had developed beneath her belly from the growth of the baby. He would soothe it with lotion and then cornstarch. The feel of his gentle touch would put her to sleep with a grin.
Jack would cook her healthy meals and bring home various snacks that sometimes did include forbidden treats, like cheesecakes and pies.
When Djuana needed a set of ears for her worries, Jack not only listened intently, he would offer sound advice and constructive criticism. His easygoing, caring manner was like a magnet aimed at Djuana’s soul. She found herself staying at his house most nights of the week.
Djuana was often worried about giving birth to the constantly growing human in her stomach.
“This is going to hurt like hell,” she would say at least once a day.
Jack's reply would be a nod, and careful words. “It sure will, but hey, women do it everyday all over the world. You'll be fine.”
“Sure. But that doesn't mean it won't hurt like hell.”
Jack did not let a day go by with out telling Djuana how beautiful she was, and how she would make a wonderful, caring mother. He sincerely believed all he told the lady he loved.
“I am not beautiful,” Djuana said. “I am a fat pig. I know you don't find me attractive.''
“Yes I do, Baby.” Jack would kiss her. “You're gorgeous.”
Then, although satisfied that he was thoughtful enough to lie, Djuana would push for more compliments.
“How do you know that I would be a good mother?'' she'd frown.
“Because I can see your heart is made of gold.'' Again he would kiss her, and hold her. “I see how you deal with your brother and the tender way you are when you see a baby.
“You'll be a great mother.''
His words would warm Djuana. She was happier now after four months of knowing Jack than she had ever been in her life. And, still their relationship hadn’t evolved from the friendship stage.
Jack had come to the realization that he was not going to make love to Djuana until she felt ready. And, he noticed, that was no time soon. He was content to wait for the arrival of the baby. But the women he knew continued to offer him sex.
Kristen was in love with Jack, and she could not help but show it. Before and after games she would ask him out. He always said no politely. Kristen hated it. After a game in Miami, Kristen held Jack in the empty clubhouse.
“What is it, Jack? Did I do something wrong?”
“No,” Jack flatly answered. “You know what it is. I'm seeing Djuana. And, this time I plan to keep her and make her happy.”
“Why you talking to me like this? Would I ever stab you? What does this, this female have over you?”
Jack stared in Kristen eyes. He saw the glossy look, but could not pick up on the fact that she was in love with him. All he saw was the venom of a jealous woman.
“What has gotten into you?”
“You. Jack, you have. I have always cared deeply for you, you know that. That woman is pregnant, she's violent and she can't love you like I can.
“Just give me a chance to show you.”
Oscar walked up on them, coming in from outside the stadium, as Kris ran her hand over Jack's groin area.
“I can love you like you need to be, and you know it,” she said.
O cleared his throat. Kris jumped back, and Jack snatched up his Crowns travel bag.
“The bus left us,” Oscar said. His serious tone startled Jack.
“We'll take a cab then,” Jack said.
“Come back to my room,'' Kris said.
Jack walked briskly passed O and out of the clubhouse. Oscar stood there a minute staring at Kristen.
Kris wiped her eyes, and glared at O.
Oscar said to Kris, “You need to stop begging. That shit is so unbecoming.’’
She sprang her middle finger up to O’s face.
Djuana sat on her side of their bed, refusing to touch his side until he was laying there. She was wearing his gray and burgundy baseball jersey, watching the Crowns play in Miami wishing she was there. Dr. Oppen was against her taking the long flight across country, and when Dr. Oppen was against something Jack enforced his rule.
Djuana had a bowl filled with fruit Jack had bought between her legs on the bed. She nibbled on the green grapes and strawberries, craving a Snickers bar, when Tia phoned from Portland State. Her summer class had just let out for the day and although she was supposed to go and pick up the Mount Hood tickets and take a taxi to Jack's house on Djuana, she wanted Djuana to drive into the city to pick her up.
“How about you meet me at the Square,'' Tia suggested.
“I don't know,'' Djuana sounded worried. She rubbed her belly. “It's raining and Jack would hit the roof if he knew I was driving in the rain. He's so protective of this baby and me.
“He's worse than Momma.''
“Yeah, and you know you love it.''
Djuana blushed between grapes. “I guess I do.''
“Come on, Dee,'' Tia begged. “It's just drizzling. Just get here and I'll drive back and spend the night, if that's okay.''
Djuana could use the company. She thought a second, watching the Miami team score another run off the Crowns, then agreed.
Pioneer Courthouse Square was crowded on a misty, foggy Saturday afternoon. The people milling around scared Djuana. She feared some crazy Crowns fan was out there still angry with her for stabbing Jack Newhouse. She felt eyes on her at each step. She thought about Jack telling her that what people thought of her, or them, didn't matter. He said she had to be strong, and she replayed his words with each stride, and her head raised.
Djuana paused to wait for the blue sheron to emerge from the Weather Machine in the square. The mechanical sculpture forecasts the upcoming weather 24 hours each day at noon. Djuana looked at the clock, in seconds a dragon surfaced—meaning a storm was coming—and groans spread through the pedestrians. She was indifferent, now watching the tumbling waterfall, recalling in her mind how her brother had fallen in two summers ago. She giggled, picturing her mother dragging Devon, then six, and crying, out of the two feet of water.
The sight of Tia pleased Djuana more than she expected. They hugged and kissed. Tia looked over her friend. They had not seen each other in a week. A long time for those two not to be together.
“Let me feel the baby,'' Tia said as she slipped her hand underneath Djuana's maternity blouse. “Girl, you are getting so big! How does that feel?''
“Like a cold hand! Don't you know better than to say something nice or nothing at all?''
Tia laughed and Djuana shook her head.
“I'm sorry. But, hey, that thing is going to burst!''
“Be nice, and I'll let you feel the baby move.''
“Really? He’s moving a lot now? Where he be going?''
“Give me your hand.'' Djuana held Tia's long hand against the baby's still body.
Djuana said, “It's asleep now.''
Tia was amazed. “Remarkable. I can't believe there is a little human in you.''
“Believe it.''
After the women picked up the jazz tickets, Djuana had to have French fries. Djuana talked Tia into stopping in McDonald's. She steered into the drive-thru.
“It must feel good to be driving again?'' Tia asked.
“Yes it does,'' Djuana said, carefully guiding the truck. “I haven't driven in years. You know there's only one car in my family and that's Uncle Cal's Olds.”
They both chuckled at the thought of Calvin's dirty, but speedy car.
Djuana laughed, “And, you know I ain't getting behind the wheel of that death trap. Bad enough I ride in it time to time.''
“It's nice of Jack to let you drive his pride and joy.''
“He is a nice guy, you know.''
“Djuana! I know he is. Believe me, I can tell. He has you smiling more than ever.''
“Yeah. He does, doesn't he?'' she beamed. Djuana leaned on the steering wheel. There were two cars ahead of them on the take-out line.
“I remember the first time he let me drive,'' she reminisced. “We were coming from the movies and he let me drive back to my building.
“He was flinching, but he was cool. I made some sharp turns, I was kinda rusty. When I parked by my building he got out of the car and kissed the sidewalk.''
And Dexter ruined it, she thought but didn’t say.
Tia was envious. She looked deeply at Djuana. Her friend's laugh had become so carefree.
“I hope someday I meet a man that loves me that much,'' she sighed.
“What? That means he loves me to let me drive his car?''
“No. Don't play stupid,'' Tia slapped Djuana’s thigh. “You know exactly what I mean.''
The Pathfinder crept in line with the other automobiles to the ordering speaker board. Djuana was thinking about being loved. She was enjoying her turn at it. She remembered how Tia would force the men she dated to include a lonely Djuana on trips to amusement parks, movies and dinner.
Some of Tia’s dates would protest, and Djuana did also, but most times Tia won out. Sometimes a guy brought along a friend. That worked once, but both of those guys were dating others. Tia tried her best to ensure Djuana did not have to be a couch potato because Dexter was neglecting her.
Now Djuana felt she was repaying the kindliness, but still Tia felt awkward being the one with a steady. Jack was great when it came to Tia. He was genuine and thoughtful in his attempts to include her.
“Yeah, Tia. I know exactly what you mean,'' Djuana said in a dead-serious tone of voice. “I love that man for all he has done and all he has been for me.”
She turned to Tia, “And, I know you know this, but I haven't given him any yet.''
“Shit, I know. Imagine when you do!''
“To tell you the truth, I don't think anything will really change that much.''
“You don't think so?'' Tia meant Jack was going to tear up her friend because of the long wait, but she didn’t push it.
“No. Maybe he might love me more, but he's loving me more now than I could ever have asked for.''
At the drive-thru board, Tia and Djuana each ordered fries and a shake, no burgers or sandwiches. They suddenly decided to collaborate on a lasagna dinner.
“So, how are the childbirth classes going?'' Tia asked to strike up conversation.
“They suck,'' Djuana said, sipping her shake. Her eyes were glued to the wet road and crawling traffic. “They teach how to breathe when the pain strikes. I don't know. I think they're going to haveta knock me out.''
Tia sucked strawberry shake through her straw. “You can do it, Dee.''
“No. I really don't think so,'' she turned to Tia and dug into the bag for her fries. “I'm really scared. Seriously.
“We saw a movie the first day - I told you about it,'' Djuana pointed her fry as if to reminded her friend. “And, please, let me tell you. That woman was bigger than me down there, and Lord, did she scream! She hit her husband and fought the bed.
“Nope. Breathing ain't gonna help. I need a little more than that.''
Tia was laughing and cramming French fries into her mouth. “You got Jack to hit.''
“And what is he gonna do? He got queasy watching the movie. Oh, he'll be loads of help!''
They both giggled.
But after the joke on Jack died down, Djuana gave grave thought to how much help Jack would be. “Tia, I don't know where I would be or what I'd be doing if it weren't for Jack, though.''
Tia was still smiling at the thought of the 6-foot-2 Jack wobbling at the site of Djuana spread eagle with a head protruding from her vagina.
“Yeah,'' she chuckled. “He has been a Godsend. But the doctors might have to hold him up and attend to you at the same time!''
Stacie was sure she saw Jack's Pathfinder go into McDonald's. She was positive. Her best friend since middle school, Kimberly Melendez, never doubted Stacie. But that time she thought her friend was wrong because it was common knowledge that the Crowns were in Florida.
They sat across the street from the restaurant in Kimberly's husband's car for near 15 minutes. When the SUV eased out of the McDonald's parking lot onto Morrison, Stacie choked up her beer.
“That is Jack's truck!'' she announced.
Kimberly looked out in the direction Stacie's head faced. “How can you tell? It's fucking raining.''
“Bitch, I know that truck when I see it. You know how many times I got porked in that mother?''
“Not really,'' Kimberly lost interest. She was tired of Stacie calling her a bitch.
“Follow it! Hurry!''
“You kidding? For what?''
“I want to see who's driving it. I bet it's that bah-ditch who stabbed him. I heard he got back with her. Stupid ass.''
“Fuck that, Stace. I got to get home before Ramon. You know how he gets.''
“Come on, Kimmie. Do this for me. I just want to scare her. Although, I should bust her ass for stabbing' my man J-New.''
Kimberly spun the car into a sharp U-turn and sped after the Pathfinder. In the mist, it took them five blocks before they could tell they were two cars behind Djuana. At each green light they would try to maneuver closer, but traffic was slowly moving along Morrison because of the wet conditions.
