No ‘Moore’ Mess- Chapter Fourteen (Serial Version)
Chapter Fourteen- Helen (Moore) Kobayashi Loses Her Wife
The traffic was moved at a crawl as Mary’s taxi made its way to the hospital. Mary called Helen several times from the backseat of the taxi, but no answer. It was more than an hour before she arrived at the hospital’s parking lot.
Mary jumped out of the taxi, and ran to the information desk. Helen was nowhere to be found. The nurse at the desk looked up from her computer screen as Mary pulled on the woman’s green scrubs.
“Kobayashi. I’m looking for Helen Kobayashi.”
“I’m right here. It’s okay.”
Mary spun around, and there was Helen. Tears filled Helen’s eyes. Mary pulled her sister tight against her, and the pair embraced. Helen pulled from Mary, and she let out a long sigh as her shoulders sank. Mary knew it was bad, but she was strong for Helen.
“Erica?”
“Erica.”
“What happened?”
“She went out to the garage to grab a bottle of wine from the fridge, and she fell.”
“Fell?”
“I’ve told her a million times not to go out alone. But she’s a stubborn woman.”
“Don’t listen to anyone.”
“Right.”
Erica screamed for Helen after she fell. She rushed to her. Erica was in sad shape. All she got out was, “Love, Her — on.” before she passed out in Helen’s arms.
“I’m so sorry.”
“Thanks. Not to change the subject, but you look like crap, Mary.”
Mary didn’t realize a long night of drinking had left her looking haggard. She pulled some lipstick from her purse. Helen handed her a small hairbrush from her bag.
“I went out with an old friend after work.”
“Old friend?”
“Yes.”
“Do I know them?”
Mary shifted side to side, and she let out a small sigh. She played with her cell phone as Helen waited for a reply. There was no point in lying to Helen. Mary had done more than enough of that over the years to her older sister.
“You do.”
Helen knew whoever Mary was with it was not good. Mary swayed from side to side as she chomped on a breath mint. Helen pushed her glasses up to her nose. Mary prepared for Helen’s inquisition.
“And so who is it?”
“Jackie.”
“That Jackie?”
“Yes, that Jackie.”
“Mary Moore, are you freaking kidding me?
Helen’s ‘Moore’ anger built inside her heart. She was going to let Mary have it. Helen’s shoulders raised, and she growled as her face turned beet-red. Mary stepped back as she prepared for Helen’s worst, but she was saved when a doctor came up looking for Helen.
“Helen Kobayashi.”
“That’s me.”
The elderly doctor ripped off her surgical mask, and she looked at her white tennis shoes. She shook her head. She had been a doctor a long time, but these moments were not why she went into medicine.
“I’m sorry. We did all we could do to try and save your wife.”
“She’s gone.”
“I’m so sorry for your loss. It was a miracle a gal in her condition lived so long.”
Helen fell weeping into Mary’s arms. The women cried and prayed for several minutes. Erica lived longer than anyone imagined. But she was gone.
“I should call Nancy. I’m sure she will want to come back for the funeral.”
“No doubt, she will.”
Nancy arrived at Helen’s house three days later. Helen was most delighted to see her one surviving link to her deceased wife. She hugged Nancy harder than usual. Nancy did her best to pull from the embrace, but it was no use. Helen was a strong woman.
“Mother, go easy on me before you break me.”
“It’s just you know?”
“Joking. I’m joking. It’s okay, mother.”
The funeral was beautiful. Many of Erica’s friends who never bothered to visit her while she was alive came to the cemetery. There was quite a crowd assembled. Helen appreciated they came, but a small part of her was annoyed it took Erica’s death to get people to come see her. Still, she gave a moving eulogy at the funeral.
“Erica was my wife, my lover, my best friend, and my soulmate. I cannot say why she had to suffer through the struggles she did in her life. But I am most grateful we faced life’s challenges and experienced life’s joys together. Amen.”
Nancy spoke at the funeral. Her speech was heartfelt and sincere. It offered a shocking surprise for Helen.
“I never knew my mother as a healthy woman. But I always knew she loved me. She couldn’t express much in words, but she more than made up for that with me in action. I can only hope to share as much love with my baby when it arrives later this year.”
Helen was shocked. After the service was over, Helen and Nancy grabbed a taxi back to Helen’s house. Nancy knew what was coming next from her mother.
“You’re pregnant?”
“I’m about four and a half months along.”
“Who’s the father?”
Nancy concluded she was unlikely to find a suitable husband. There were a few boyfriends in the time since she dated Richard, but those relationships didn’t work out. The reasons were complicated.
Sometimes it was Nancy. Her ‘Moore’ anger got the better of her on occasion. But mostly, it was bad timing or other circumstances getting in the way of her chances to find a husband. Nancy didn’t want to be alone, so she came up with a novel solution for a baby.
“Just a guy who did a little favor for me with a turkey baster one weekend.”
“Nancy! Are you serious?”
“Don’t judge me! It worked. But trust me, the father is out of the picture.”
“Doesn’t the guy want a relationship with you?”
“Ha! Not much chance of that. Michael is allergic to women, if you know what I mean. He’s just a co-worker. Michael is moving to China for the company anyway. No interest in raising a child.”
“Oh I see. Speaking of work, how do they feel about the baby?”
“The upper brass is fine with it. In fact, I was going to talk with you about that.”
“About what?”
“My company is expanding into this area. They have offered me an executive position in the new branch here. It’s a big step up for my career.”
“That’s marvelous. I’m so proud of you.”
Nancy lived on the other side of the country for several years. She came back as she could, but Nancy was a busy professional woman. Now, with Erica gone, it would be good to have her living in the area.
“I’m glad you think so mother. But the baby will take a lot of work, and I’ll need some help.”
“You could move in with me, right?”
“I don’t know about that.”
Nancy thought about asking her mother about it before Helen broached the subject first. Nancy wondered if an independent adult child moving back in with her mother was a good idea.
“It will be fine. Besides, I’ll have a lot more free time now that — ”
Helen stopped mid-sentence. She realized what she was about to say, and so did Nancy. The reality of Helen’s new life sunk in for mother and daughter.
“Erica’s gone?”
“I know that sounds selfish.”
“No mother, mom didn’t mean it, but she was a lot for everybody, especially you.”
“She really was a lot on everybody.”
Nancy nodded. Helen loved Erica, but it was not until that moment she realized the enormous weight lifted off her shoulders. It relieved Helen to be free of the stress, but she felt unneeded.
“It will be strange to not have someone to take care of now.”
Nancy laughed. She patted her stomach as she reached for a strawberry doughnut from the plate on the table. Nancy looked at Helen and gave her a little knowing smirk.
“Don’t worry mother, I’m sure if this little one is like the other people in this family, the kid will have her grandmother hopping.”
“Let’s hope not. I’m getting a little old for that.”
“Do you think it is a good idea? I don’t want to end up fighting like cats and dogs.”
“It’ll be fine. Trust me. We are ‘Moore’ women after all. ”
“I know.”
“Don’t worry. We will figure it out together.”
The next week Nancy moved into Helen’s house. Helen invited Mary over for a Sunday brunch to celebrate Nancy’s new living arrangements. She was hopeful she could talk some sense into Mary about her and her ex-wife.
“You and Jackie. Has that been going on long?”
“We met just once. I’ve called her a few times. But she doesn’t answer me.”
“That can’t be a good sign. Same old Jackie. Love them and leave them.”
“I’m telling you. She is a changed woman.”
“Women like Jackie don’t change. They just clean up their act so some woman is foolish enough to fall for it.”
Mary’s shoulders slumped, and she let out a long sigh. Mary knew only Helen could say something so biting about her newly rekindled relationship. Mary was ready for Helen this time.
“I knew you wouldn’t understand. This is my chance. Maybe, my last chance to not be — ”
“Alone, Aunt Mary?”
“Yes, it’s my chance to not be alone, especially at my age.”
“But you aren’t alone. You have us.”
“I know. But it’s just not the same. You two have each other and soon the baby will be here.”
“Give up, Nancy. Jackie has always had some magic pull over her.”
“That’s not true.”
Mary knew Helen was right. Something about Jackie kept Mary coming back for more. Helen saw it from the sidelines over and over again. She was tired of picking up the shattered pieces of Mary’s heart every time Jackie or some other crap woman left her heartbroken.
“It is true. How many times has a woman broken your heart? 10? 20? 50? When will you wake up and smell the coffee, Mary?”
“Mother, can we just eat lunch?”
“No, I want to hear this. Your mother thinks she has all the answers.”
“Hardly. But at least, I’m smart enough to ask the right questions.”
“Now, I am not smart. Thanks for that, genius.”
“Mother, Aunt Mary please. Let’s just eat lunch. Okay?”
It was too late. The ‘Moore’ anger was on full display in the dining room of Helen’s house on that Sunday afternoon. This was going to end one way.
“This is my house.”
“Wow your house. That’s a good one, Little Pastor Andrew.”
“Get out.”
“Mother, please don’t do this.”
“It’s fine. I’ve got places to go and people to see.”
“More like people to do.”
“Screw you, Helen.”
Mary threw her lunch plate across the room. It broke into a million pieces as it hit the wall. Helen jumped from her dining room chair. The ‘Moore’ anger was getting warmed up. There was no stopping it. Nancy tried to play peacemaker one final time, but it was a lost cause.
“Mother, Aunt Mary please don’t do this. I’m begging you both. For me. Please?”
Mary stormed out of Helen’s house, slamming the door. That was a mistake. Helen chased after her ill-mannered younger sister. Helen was the full embodiment of generations of ‘Moore’ anger. She smacked Mary across the face.
“Don’t you be slamming my door! This is my house you junkie.”
“I’m not a junkie. And boy, wouldn’t Roberta be so proud of you right now?”
“Screw you. O-U-T.”
“F you Helen. We’re done. Do you hear me? Freaking done.”
Mary kept right on walking as she rubbed her right cheek until she got about two blocks from her condo. She recalled the dark times she and Helen shared. She was lost in thought when a voice from the alley whispered to her.
“I got what you need sweetheart.”
The shady figure pulled out a familiar-looking brown bottle. Mary stopped, and she opened her purse. She pulled out ten dollars.
“How much?
“$15. It’s on special just for you, baby.”
The stress of the events of the last few days had her frazzled. Mary yanked another ten dollars from her old wallet, and she folded the two bills together. Mary took the bottle, and she opened it. She took a sip. It had been a long time. The drug dealer took delight in seeing Mary’s moment of bliss.
“Good ain’t it?”
“Too good.”
Mary fell to her knees. She clasped her trembling hands. The bright stars twinkled as she prayed. Her ‘Moore’ anger had subsided, but the demons of drug addiction in her mind were in a frenzy.
Mary realized her spirit was as empty as her life. It was time to change before it was too late. Mary dropped to her knees, and she looked towards her Creator.
“Dear God, if you can hear me please answer.”
The drug dealer listened to Mary’s heartfelt prayers and confessions of her past sins. Mary prayed for several minutes. The drug dealer saw enough.
“Lady?”
“What? I don’t need any drugs. I’m not an addict.”
“No, I just wondered if I could join you?”
“Of course.”
The drug dealer dropped to her knees. Mary and the young woman prayed. The drug dealer poured the contents of her remaining bottles on the ground. The pair stood, and the young woman looked at Mary one last time as she slunk back into the cover of the shadows of the late evening.
“Don’t need that.”
Mary was uncertain if the epiphany for the drug dealer would last. She hoped it would, but she knew she and Jackie in their present relationship form would never endure. It was time to track Jackie down and find out why she was ignoring her phone calls.
