The peace that Christ gives is to guide you in the decisions you make, for it is to this peace that God has called you together in the one body. And be thankful.
Colossians 3:15
Monik Braganza happens to pass her brother's bedroom door when she hears weeping. She wants to knock on the door, but she is hesitant, but she takes a chance.
"Yes," Anton called from his room.
"It's Niki. Are you ok?"
"Yes, I'm ok! Leave me alone!"
Monik leaves her brother's door with a heavy heart. Anton realizes that maybe he is too hard on his sister, so he opens the door and calls back to her.
"Niki, I'm sorry. You can come into my room."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah…"
Monik goes inside her brother's room and sits on the bed.
"So…"
"So…"
"Why were you crying?"
"I don't cry."
"Yes, you do. I can see your tears. Anton, I may not know that much about it…what you are going through…but I know my brother. When you're upset, I'm upset. Whatever you tell me, I will not tell mommy and daddy."
Anton takes a deep breath and sits next to his sister on the bed.
"You know I am arranging to be married to Nataline, right?"
"Yeah…"
"Well, I…I'm torn between her and…Zora."
"Zora. Oh! You mean the girl with the pretty jewels in her hair."
"…yeah. They are beads."
"No matter. I want my hair like hers."
"Anyway, I still…love her."
"…but…you are marrying Nataline."
"I know."
"You don't want to marry Nataline?"
"…Yes…I do now."
"So you love Zora, but you want to marry Nataline."
"Yes…"
"I…I don't understand."
"Ok. I was forced to break up with Zora to marry Nataline, but…after going on a few dates with Nataline and spending time with her, I am beginning to like her."
"So forget about Zora and focus on Nataline."
"You are right. I should focus on my bride…especially now that I know that she is married to my ex-friend."
"What? Who did she marry?"
"Jabari."
"Oh, wow."
"That's not all. Zora and Jabari are expecting a child together. I was betrayed by my "so-called" friends."
Anton began to cry again.
"Oh brother, that's terrible. Well, …this is a lesson to be learned."
"Which is…?"
"You should pick your friends wisely."
"I guess…"
"It's a terrible thing to be betrayed."
"I cannot help to feel this is my fault."
"Why?"
"In a way, I betrayed Zora."
"How?"
"I broke up with her for another woman."
"Anton, you should have never allowed yourself to fall in this position."
"What position?"
"Zora seems to be the problem in this matter. If you did not fall in love with her, it would have been easy for you to fall in love with Nataline. You knew you were set to get married."
"Love is unplanned, and it comes on its own. Zora and I were friends at first. The more we became acquainted with each other, our friendship turned into something more."
"Even so, you still should have told her you were set to marry another woman?"
"I know. I know, but…how could I hurt the woman I love? I was deep. My heart took over my other senses."
"Brother, this sounds like a messy situation. However, arrange marriages are part of our culture; it is tradition. You cannot blame yourself for that. If anything, she is to blame. Running into the arms of another man, will not mend a broken heart. Honestly, I feel that this is a good reason to forget Zora and begin with your life with Nataline. She seems nice. I'm sorry, Anton, but it seems that your friends were not your friends in the first place. I think you should get on with your life and focus on your future, and part of that is Nataline. Do you want her to be part of your future?"
"…yes…"
"You don't sound so sure? Do you want her to be part of your life? Yes or no?"
"Yes! Yes, I do! I love her!"
Anton cannot believe he is professing his love for another woman.
"There's your answer."
"She is nice …and beautiful."
"See?"
"You're right! I'm going to focus on my relationship with Nataline."
For the first time, in a long time, Anton smiles.
"Now, I cannot wait until she's Mrs. Braganza," Anton says happily.
"Great! I always wanted to have a sister," Monik adds.
"What is about me?"
"You can't be my sister. You can only be my brother. That's the rules."
"You silly girl," Anton says, pulling her toward him and rubbing his knuckles on her head.
They both laugh.
"Hey. Stop that," Monik says playfully, pulling away from his clutches, "Great, now I have to fix my hair, silly boy."
"Thank you, Niki. You are wise beyond your years."
"What does that mean?"
"It means that you have the smarts of an adult."
"Oh, Anton…thanks," she says and closes the door behind her.
When Monik leaves his room, he turns his attention to his thoughts. Maybe his sister is right. Zora has made it clear that she has moved on with her life. Most of all, Zora displays no romantic interest in Anton. Then he turns his attention to Nataline, the girl who is destined to marry him through an arranged marriage by his and her family. He reflects on her natural beauty…sweet and gentle disposition…her attractive British accent…
He reaches for his phone and dials Aunt Tina's phone number. The phone rings a couple of times until someone answers the phone.
"Hello," the person answers.
"Hello," Anton replies, "May I speak to…Nata?"
"This is Nata. May I ask who is calling?"
"…It is from Anton."
"Anton! It's so nice to hear your voice."
"Yes…It is nice to hear from you too."
The night is cold and rainy. Zora tosses and turns in her bed; she's in pain. She cannot take it anymore. So, she taps her husband Jabari on the shoulder, trying to wake him.
"Jabari, Jabari," whispers Zora.
Jabari leaps out of bed.
"Zora is everything ok," Jabari asks his wife.
"Not really. I'm feeling pain."
"Ok, Sweetheart. Don't panic. I'll make a couple of calls, and we'll be on our way to the hospital."
"Ok."
Zora cries out in pain; her contractions are coming fast. Her mother instructs her to get in the bed with her. Jabari goes into her nightstand to get her phonebook. She finds the number for a taxi. Meanwhile, Zora's contractions are getting worse.
"Hello? Yes, I need a cab at 256 Celtic Corner. Please, hurry! My wife is in labor," Jabari explains to the dispatcher.
"We will send a cab immediately."
"Thank you."
When he hangs the phone up, Jabari turns his attention to his pregnant wife.
"Now, baby, I know that you're in a lot of pain, but…I need for you to take long, deep breaths."
"Ok."
There's a knock on the door.
"Who's there," Jabari ask slightly in a panic.
"It's mama," Hyacinth replies.
"Come in, mama."
Hyacinth rushes inside the married couple's bedroom and finds her daughter-in-law in labor.
As Zora takes long deep breaths, Hyacinth instructs, "Now Zora, I need you to stay focused and breath slowly…slowly…slowly…slowly…Jabari, do you call Zora's mother and the hospital?"
"Yes, ma'am," Jabari replies.
"Good. Do you have your suitcase ready?"
"…yeah…yeah…"
"Ok. You will get Zora's suitcase, and I will help her get ready for the hospital, ok?"
Zora asks, "Get dressed?"
Hyacinth assures, "Baby, you have to put on some clothes. You cannot go to the hospital like this. I'll get your clothes and sneakers. You can get dressed between contractions."
"Ok."
Zora continues to moan in pain.
Then, the doorbell rings.
"Who is it," January shouts.
"I'll get it," Jabari says as he rushes to the door.
"Taxi."
"May I see your badge, please?"
"Sure," the taxi driver replies, as he shows Jabari his badge through the peephole.
"Um…just a minute, sir."
Jabari rushes back into their bedroom to get her daughter.
"Zora, mama, the taxi driver is at the door," Jabari tells shouts to the women from upstairs, as he fumbles to put on his sweatpants and sneakers, "Are you ready?"
"Yeah, Jabari," says Zora, escorted down the stairs by Hyacinth, her mother-in-law.
"Ok. Well, we have to go! The taxi driver is waiting for us, and this baby has no patience."
Jabari grabs everything they need for the hospital.
"Wait, what about my mother," Zora says, in the middle of labor pains.
"If she comes to the house, it will let her know to meet the two of you at the hospital. I'll stay with the children."
"Ok, mama," replies Jabari, "Ok. Let's go and have a baby."
Jabari opens his umbrella to keep them both dry. Jabari opens the cab door for his pregnant wife.
"Thank you so much for being so patient," says Jabari to the cab driver.
"Patient? Miss, you are looking for a man who has been through this six times with his wife. I am used to this."
"Six children. Wow!"
"Yes. My wife and I are happy and blessed…now I am ready for my grandchildren."
"Grandchildren? Already?"
"My children are all adults now. I asked them, 'Where are my children?'"
Jabari laughs with the taxi driver; Zora moans in pain.
The cab driver, "I tease them about it, but I am a patient man, and I place it in God's hands."
"That's good. As you can see, …we are expecting our first child."
"God bless you."
"Thank you."
Zora has another contraction; she is in a lot of pain.
"Ok. Ok. We will be there in no time," the cab driver assures the passengers.
They finally reach the Saint Maris Mazzarello Hospital. Jabari and the taxi driver help the expected mother out of the taxi and towards the Saint Maris Mazzarello Hospital. Poor Zora. She tries her very best to walk, despite the contraptions, which are happening every 10 minutes. Then, all of a sudden…
"Jabari, I think that I wet myself, and I cannot stop," Zora says, making a sudden stop.
"Zora, I think your water broke," Jabari exclaims, "We have to get you ready. This baby is not waiting for anyone!"
Jabari and the taxi driver help Zora into the St. Silvia Maternity Ward. Little do they know that January arrives at the hospital, first. She springs from her chair and rushes to them when she sees the couple and the cab driver.
"Zora, baby," January cries out as she rushes to her daughter's aid, "How far apart are your contractions?"
"I don't know, but her water broke," Jabari explains.
"Oh, my goodness."
January rush to the front desk, where the receptionist directs them down the hall. When they finally reach the hall, the nurse immediately places Zora in a wheelchair and rolls her into one of the vacant little rooms. The taxi driver takes the bags into the room and parts with Jabari.
"I'm sorry. I have to get back to my taxi," the taxi driver apologetically says.
"I understand. Thank you so much," says Jabari, "Yes, sir. you've been a big help."
"Good luck to you and your family."
"Same to you."
Zora screams in agony. Jabari rushes back into the room where his wife lies on a matted table. The nurse comes back into the room and gives Zora a hospital gown.
The nurse instructs, "I need for you to change into this hospital gown. I will be back in fifteen minutes to check on you."
"Ok," agrees Zora.
After Jabari and January help Zora change into her hospital gown, they lay her back on the matted table.
"Ok. Zora, I need for you to keep taking short breaths," January instructs.
"Ok."
Another contraction occurs; Zora wants to pain to stop. Later, the nurse returns to check the young woman. It is time for delivery. She is then rolled into the delivery room. Doctors and nurses, including her mother and her husband, surround her. The pain is getting worse and worse. Zora is scared and in agony. When Zora dilates to seven centimeters, the nurse finally administers the epidural; the needle is humongous. Jabari helps her sit up and holds his wife's hand.
"Zora, you have to stay still," January instructs, "Otherwise, it can cause complication."
The last thing Zora needs is any complications during her delivery. Despite her fear, she takes her mother's advice. The needle is pricked into her spinal cord. She can feel the stinging sensation along her spine, and suddenly she feels the epidural go down her spine. It is so cold. After the process is over, she gently lays back down in the bed. It does not take long for the medicine to go into effect, and Zora feels, she can deliver her baby with no problems. However, the labor lasts for twenty-one hours. With that last big push, the new life is brought into the world; a beautiful, healthy baby girl. It feels like infinity to Zora, but it is over. She is exhausted. Now she understands the reason labor is called "labor." The nurses clean the baby and remove any excess fluid in the baby's mouth. Then, they dress the baby in a pink cap and a pink swaddling blanket. When the nurses are done, they place the baby in Zora's arms; she is perfect. Jabari, January, and Zora are overcome with joy and happiness. While the baby is taken to the nursery with the other newborn babies, Zora is brought to her hospital room, where she drifts to sleep. Meanwhile, January goes home to get some sleep herself.
The next day, Zora wakes from her sleep. She lays peacefully in bed, although she remains numb from the epidural. Suddenly, there is a knock at the door.
"The door is open," Zora requests.
"Hey baby, girl," greets January, with a big bouquet of Tiger Lilies.
"Hey, mommy," replies Zora.
"I brought a surprise to me."
"Yeah?"
"Surprise," exclaims Jabari!
"Jabari. You came," Zora exclaims!
"Of course," says Jabari, "Why would I not visit my wife and daughter?"
"Did you see the baby, already?"
"Yes. The baby is a beautiful sight."
"Thanks."
"We got the baby a couple more gifts."
"Mom, I have enough stuff at home."
"Zora, deal with it. I am going to spoil my grandbaby for the rest of her life."
"Did you think of a name for the baby?"
"Amisha Soniye."
"Soniye…what does that mean," January ask?
"It means the "beautiful one."
"Amisha Soniye…Nice," Jabari says.
"I think it's a beautiful name," January agrees, "Zora, where is your bathroom?"
"It's behind you, mommy," Zora directs.
January turns around and sees the bathroom open.
"Oh," she exclaims, "I tell you. If it was a snake, it would have bitten me. Excuse me, babies."
When January goes into the bathroom, the newlyweds are finally alone.
"Amisha Soniye," Jabari says, turning his attention to his wife, "…Interesting."
"Why is that interesting? It's a beautiful name."
"It's a beautiful Indian name. That's the reason it's so interesting."
"So…"
"So…what if Amisha asks the origin of her middle name? I have never met a girl or woman named Soniye."
"She has an Indian name because… she is also Indian, duh? Besides…we will cross that bridge when we get there."
"You should have crossed when I asked you to tell Tony the truth."
"If you wanted him to know so badly, why did you tell Tony you are Amisha's father?"
"I am not the one who slept with Tony and had his baby."
Zora rolls her eyes.
"You don't get it, do you? The baby is his, and you should have told him before the baby was born," scolds Jabari.
"Jabari, I don't see the big deal," Zora replies slightly aggravated, "Tony and I went our separate ways. He is getting married to someone else; we are married and had a beautiful child. Everything is fine. Why are you so uptight?"
"Zora, I agreed to marry you because I did not want you and Amisha to have a difficult life."
"…and I am grateful for that but try to understand, if I told Anton the truth, it would complicate things for everyone."
Jabari shakes his head and walks away from the bed.
"Jabari, if Anton and I did get married, it would not have been out of love. It would have been out of force."
"…I thought the two of you love each other."
"We did…but that did not mean we were ready to get married. We were still young. I thought we had time to think about our future…then…the break-up…the pregnancy…"
Jabari pauses for a minute. Although it is hard to accept, Zora has a point.
Jabari sighs.
"…I guess you're right," Jabari admits, "but you cannot keep this up forever. Amisha is going to get older, and she going to get wise to all of this. Eventually, she is going to want to know about her real father."
"Unless you spill the beans, she won't have to ask."
Jabari shakes his head.
'I married you because I love you, too…but you make it so difficult,' Jabari ponders.
"You don't understand my situation," Zora explains, "You did not get dumped for some…"lay-away" bride by the love of your life and then found out you are pregnant with his baby."
"…No. I don't understand. I may never understand. You know something?"
"What?"
"I am going to leave this subject alone. This is the situation you have to deal with for the rest of your life. However, I will be there for you and Amisha. I made a vow to be a good husband and father…until graduation. That way, you never have to worry about Holy Chalice again."
"…Thank you. I will do my best to be a good mother to my baby and a good wife to you, too."
The phone rings at the Gonzalez household. Thinking it is Fabiola or news about Fabiola, he hastily answers the phone.
"Fabiola??"
"Hey, Isaac. It's Anton."
"Oh," Isaac replies with disappointment, "Hey, man."
"Oh, I did not know I was bothering you. I'll call you later."
"Wait! Don't go. Please," pleads Isaac, "I don't want to be alone. Please don't leave me alone."
"Ok. Ok. I'm here."
"I'm sorry, Tony. I was hoping you would be Fabiola."
"Oh…I'm sorry. Is everything ok?"
"No, man," Isaac replies as he began to cry.
"Isaac, what happened?"
Through his tears, Isaac tries to explain to Anton about Fabiola's tragic car accident. When Isaac is done, Anton's heart goes out to him.
"Wow," Anton reacts, "I…I, 'm so sorry, my friend. I feel a bit selfish now."
"Selfish? Why?"
"Well…I have been betrayed by Jabari and Zora."
"How?"
"They are now a couple and expecting a child."
"Aww, man. I'm so sorry. That is harsh. How do you know this?"
"Jabari told me."
"Jabari told you?"
"Yes. Jabari said that he felt that I had to know. Plus, he blamed me for breaking Zora's heart, and he was there to put it back together."
"Well…she was devastated, when you broke up with her. She loved you…maybe she still does, but it doesn't matter. She is with someone else, and you are with someone else. You have to let Zora go. What's the matter? You don't want to marry Nataline?"
"Who?"
"That chick who your folks fixed you on marrying."
"Oh, Nataline. Well…Nataline and I are getting close."
"Ok. So your answer is simple. Get on with your life with your bride-to-be."
"I know…but…Zora finds another love so quickly. Most of all, with Jabari?"
"Well, they've known each other since grade school."
"…it's not fair."
"No….it's not fair…but at least neither Zora nor Nataline is in a coma. I don't if I will ever see Fabiola again. I can't eat. I can't sleep. I go to class, but I leave early. Sometimes I don't go to the class period. I want her back so bad."
Isaac begins to cry on the phone.
"Hey…Isaac…look, man, I'm sorry for being so insensitive again," Anton apologizes, "I want Fabiola to be ok, too, so that you and she can be together again."
"Thanks, Tony," Isaac replies, trying to calm himself from crying, "but it gets worst."
"What else is wrong?"
"Fabiola was pregnant with our child."
"Please…please tell me the baby will be ok."
"No…not only the baby died, but she can't get pregnant again."
"That's terrible."
"You know…it's funny. I was scared about being a papi at first. I mean, I'm just a kid myself but…after this accident…I feel bad about not wanting a baby. I will never have that chance to be a better dad than my own. He was never there for my mom and me. I have no memory of that dude. It, not fair, man. It's just not fair."
Anton feels terrible for his friend. It makes his situation with Zora, Jabari, and Nata seem incredibly small.
"I'm so sorry you are going through this hell, my friend," Anton says, trying to comfort Isaac, "I pray that she comes out of this coma. I pray that somehow…someway…the Lord will send a miracle that will bind the two of you together again."
Jabari comes home from school. He finds his mother, Hyacinth, watching the evening news in the living room. Malcolm Jr., Hyacinth's older son, took the triplets to the playground, which gives Hyacinth some time to relax. She sits comfortably in her recliner, taking in all of the information of the evening news while drinking the cold, crisp water and feasting on its berries.
"Hey, mama," he greets his mother with a simple kiss on the cheek.
With her eyes still glues to the television, Hyacinth does a simple wave to Jabari. Jabari felt slightly offended by his mother's mediocre greeting. So, he decides to detract her by telling her about his visit with Zora.
"SHHH," she replies sternly, "I am trying to watch the news."
Jabari feels ignored by his mother again. He gives up trying to get her attention. Jabari eventually sits on the couch adjacent to her. When the evening news goes to commercial, Hyacinth finally turns her attention to Jabari.
"I'm sorry, baby," Hyacinth apologizes, "but you know not to disturb me when I am watching the news."
"Yes, mama. It's quiet. Where are my nieces and nephew?"
"M.J. took them to the playground for a little while, after finishing their homework. He thought it would be good to give his mama some "R and R."
Jabari laughs and says, "Nothing like "Rest and Relaxation."
"So how was your day," she asks?
"I went to the hospital to visit Zora and the baby."
"O.H.! She had the baby already? I need to see my daughter-in-law and my new grandbaby before they leave the hospital. How are they doing?"
"They're doing fine. Ms. January was there too."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Ms. January took Zora to the hospital and stayed with her until Amisha was born. Then, she went home to get some sleep. Later, she came to visit Zora and the baby."
"My goodness!"
"Amisha is beautiful."
"Amisha? Who is Amisha?"
"Your grandchild."
"Oh, Jabari, that is a beautiful name," she responds with her hand on her chest.
"Yeah. Amisha Soniye Grant-Montague."
"Wow! What a name!"
"Indeed…"
Hyacinth sits back in her chair and takes a deep sigh.
Hyacinth says, "There is nothing more beautiful than welcoming a new life into this world. I am so glad that my grandbaby is a healthy baby…and yet…I worry about our future."
"What do you mean, mama?"
"I meant the future of the world."
"Yeah, …it seems that the world is not getting any better. Poverty…homelessness…drug abuse…the list continues. As long as Zora and I are on this Earth, we are not going to allow Amisha to become a statistic."
"I am pretty sure Amisha will grow to be a fine young lady. Although it is a shame. For one thing, babies are born with drugs in their system every day."
"I am so thankful Amisha was born without health complications. However, if there was any, I would not love her any less. She's my baby girl. Is there a cure to remove the drugs from the system?"
"I'm afraid not. The drugs are in their bloodstream. Maybe if they were treated with the proper medication, they could live normal lives. More and more people are getting hooked on these drugs, like "crack," "dope," and "Buddha."
"I heard of crack. I see empty bottles all over the ground. It's sad…but what are "dope" and "buddha"?"
"Dope" is another name for heroin, and "buddha" is another name for…well…it is potent marijuana spiked with opium."
"Don't tell me opium is another drug."
"Opium is a dried latex from the opium poppy. Unfortunately, it is used as a drug."
"Wow! The Lord places us in this world with the good, the bad, and the ugly. He blesses us with a free will, and yet we take advantage of it."
"I know, baby. I know. Then, there's the AIDS/HIV epidemic. People, mostly gays, are dying because of this disease every day and…there's no cure for it. It is scary. "
"Scary for "homos."
"Excuse me?"
"Well, it's a "homo" disease, right?"
"No, Jabari. For your information, AIDS/HIV is not a…" homo" disease. Anyone can get AIDS/HIV by sharing needles, blood transfusion, or unprotected sex."
"Well, my wife and I won't have to worry about that. We both have a clean bill of health."
"I pray that the Lord covers my family with his blood and protect them from the evil…especially Sabine."
"I don't know, mama. What are you going to do with her?"
"There is nothing I can do for your sister. She is an adult, and Sabine has to fight these demons on her own. I tried to help her, but she constantly pushes me away from her. I don't know her reasons, and if I knew, I probably would not understand."
"It is one thing to be a…mean person but to abuse your children. That's not cool."
"No, but…the triplets won't have to worry about that…for a while…at least."
"The best thing we can do them and Amisha is to provide a safe and loving environment for them. They are going to be fine."
"I know, baby. I know."