Under the Cypress Moon (18 page)

Mark stormed back through the double doors and took a seat next to Shylah who had decided to leave the matter alone, resuming her place in one of the very uncomfortable chairs in the waiting room. 

"What's wrong," Shylah asked right away, seeing that Mark was upset.

"The doctor."

"What about him, Babe?"

"He's an asshole!  I asked him a simple question, and he treated me like I was a little kid.  I'm stressed out over all this, and honestly, I haven't been thinkin' too clear since the blow to my head."
  Mark sat with his arms crossed, huffing and not really in the mood to talk but not wanting to ignore Shylah.  The last thing that he wanted was to push her away in any way.

"What can I do, Honey," Shylah proposed, rubbing Mark's back once again but still having no idea what she could really do.

"Nothin'!"

"Babe?!  C'mon.  Tell me."  The worry weighed on Shylah's mind so heavily that she felt she had to get Mark talking again, to get him in a better mood and hopefully, find some bit of hope.

"I don't know," Mark snapped, not realizing what he was doing.

"I know this is all hard on you, Mark, but don't snap at me, please."

"I'm... I'm sorry, Babe.  I didn't mean to yell.  I'm so stressed out, so very stressed out.  I'm scared.  I'm freaked out.  I'm... I'm lost here."

"You got me.  It'll be ok, somehow.  I know it.  The Lord provides.  This is probably better than ever a time to be praying.  Just close your eyes, and say a prayer.  It'll help.  I know it will.  At the least, it'll make you feel better.  God always gives some kind of answer, even if it's just in letting your mind ease off.  Trust Him, please, Babe."  Shylah smiled so intently, so affectionately at her boyfriend that he knew her words must be truthful.  Mark had always trusted in God in times of need but hadn't thought much of it that day.

Mark felt like dropping to his knees right there in the waiting room but didn't want to draw unnecessary attention to himself.  Instead, he took Shylah's advice and closed his eyes, losing himself in a silent prayer, begging for his father to have an easy passage, for him to know how much he was loved and would be missed, and for all of the pain to go away.  Mark's real comfort at this moment was the sudden knowledge that no matter what, his father would be better off and would no longer have to suffer.  Realizing that, Mark knew that that was his answer.  God had already given the support that was desperately needed.

When Mark lifted his head at last, Shylah was there to meet him with her angelic smile.  "Feel better, Baby?"

"Yeah.  Yeah, I do.  It worked."

"See!  Like I said, just put your trust in Him, and you'll get through anything.  Just don't give up.  It's when you give up that He may not be able to help you cuz you won't let Him help you.  As long as you still have some little bit of faith in His power, nothing can get you down for good."  Shylah felt as if the situation were testing her own faith somewhat, but she still believed and wanted Mark to believe just as strongly.  Shylah had already prayed so many times that day for Mark's well-being and even for that of Thomas, a man that she had wanted to hate for so long.  Now seemed the best time to let it all go and forgive the man for all that he had done to the King family and to so many others.  If Thomas had truly give his heart over to God, as he said that he had, there was no longer any need to hold onto such ill feelings toward him, not to mention that there was no need for the empty and lingering sickness that such feelings often leave those experiencing them to hold onto in their own hearts.

"How did you get so wise," Mark asked, somewhat incredulous about it all.

"You don't pay a lot of attention to Reverend Hill, do you?  I listen to every word the man ever says.  He's got this stuff figured out.  Maybe you need to listen a little more next time.  Just sayin', Babe.  You're a good man.  Don't ever forget what a good man you are and that so many people know it, see it, feel it.  You're the sweetest man I ever met and have one of the purest souls that's ever been on the Earth.  I see it every time I look at you, but you gotta just trust some more.  I'm not the best example for a lot of things, but I do know who it is that I can turn to, no matter what.  You got the love thy neighbor thing down better than anybody, except maybe Reverend Hill.  I think you let your faith slip, though.  If you get the faith thing down, you'll get through anything."

"I had it," Mark quickly added, looking as though he might begin to cry.

"I know, Baby.  I know you did, and I think you still got it somewhere, maybe more under the surface than it used to be, but you got it.  Just know I'm here for you through anything and everything, and I know God is, too.  And please know how sorry I am for what I put you through.  I promise you I'm never gonna do that to you again!  You didn't deserve what I did.  I listened to my dad and ruined the best thing I've ever had.  I won't lose that again."

"Well," Mark replied, taken aback some but both greatly relieved and a little too worried that Shylah was so worried, "I know.  You've apologized so many times.  It's ok.  Look.  We're together now.  We got each other.  If anything, it was good for it to happen.  It taught us some things.  And I'm glad you don't ever wanna lose me.  I could never wanna lose you either.  You think I would've fought that guy at the bar and gone through this stuff if I didn't love you so much?  I've loved you so long that it killed me inside to see you with somebody else and see you not want me.  I know you were confused and goin' through a lot, and it's all ok now.  I'm not mad at you.  I'm not.  Just know that I would do anything for you and anything to keep you.  I'll fight til my last breath to protect you and to show you how much I care about you.  I'll slay dragons for you, Shylah, even if they're wearin' ball caps and come from Valdosta."  Mark started laughing so hard that he shook all over and nearly fell from his chair, causing Shylah to begin laughing just as hard.  Both were glad that the mood had been lightened so much.

Shylah, after she finally recovered herself, threw her arms around Mark's neck and kissed the side of his head.  "And I love you for that, Mark! 
I'll fight for you, too.  You think I didn't wanna stomp a mud hole in that skank at the bar I saw hittin' on you?  I couldn't say anything to you then, but I never felt so jealous in all my life!  You got me now, and I got you!  I hope neither of us ever forgets!"

Mark leaned in more closely to
Shylah, accepting her full embrace, throwing his hands over Shylah's arms, gripping them tightly.  They remained huddled together like this for quite some time, forgetting all around them and the troubles they were facing with the health of Thomas and Mark's fears about it.

Eventually, a nurse emerged from behind the two large double doors, barely noticed by Mark or Shylah.  "Crady," the nurse shouted over the waiting room
TV. that had been turned up to an intolerable volume.  "Crady?"

Mark, finally hearing the shout, jumped to his feet.  "I'm Crady."

"Marcus Crady, right," the nurse asked.  "Is your father Thomas Crady, Jr.?"

"Yes," Mark exclaimed, fearing the worst. 

"Your father is awake now, Mr. Crady.  You can go see him."

"Where?"

"Room 214."

Mark rushed for the nearest elevator so quickly that Shylah could barely keep up the pace.  She was afraid that Mark would leave her behind, but that was never his intention.  As soon as the elevator opened, long before Shylah reached the spot, Mark held the door, yelling from a considerable distance, "Hurry up, slowpoke!  I don't have all day!  C'mon.  C'mon.  C'mon."  Shylah might have believed that Mark was serious if it weren't for him letting out a deep chortle.

"Boy," Shylah announced, now within less than twenty feet, "I'm gonna hurt you!"

"Hurt me, Baby! Hurt me!"

At that moment, Shylah made it to the elevator and immediately slapped Mark very hard across the shoulder as he let go of the door. 

"Ow," Mark sarcastically screamed.  "You hooht me so bad.  I tell on you."

"Who you gonna tell," Shylah asked as the doors closed and the elevator began to rise. 

"I'll tell your mama.  She likes me.  She'll take my side."  Mark could hardly hold back his laughter at the thought of it.

"Whoo," Shylah resoundingly shot back.  "My mama?  You gonna tell my mama?  I am so scared.  She might... She might... She might tell me, 'don't do that.'" 

"That's right!  And you'll be grounded!"

"Boy, you're too damn silly," Shylah laughingly stated.

The doors opened quickly, Mark and Shylah emerging into a stale and sterile air that seemed overwhelming.  They strode quite happily, hand in hand, to room 214.  Mark found joy in knowing that he could be there for his father at the worst time of his life and at least, relay more of the same things that the two of them had discussed. 

Chapter 9

Thomas looked pale, frightfully pale, far more so than Mark had ever before seen or imagined.  Much of the hope and comfort that Mark had previously felt now dissipated with the sight.  "Dad," Mark shouted.

"Hey, Son."  Thomas could barely find breath, most leaving him before it could be mustered.

"Dad, you doin' ok?  You feelin' ok?"

"Well, they got me hooked up to eighteen thousand machines.  I got needles in me all over, and it is about the most uncomfortable thing I ever felt.  Other than that, I guess I'm ok.  I got lost of pretty nurses to look at when I'm actually awake."  After finishing this, Thomas took a very deep gasp, struggling to reclaim what little air his lungs could fight to filter.

"That's good, Dad.  I'm glad.  A man always needs a pretty woman to look at, or in some cases, lots of 'em!  Just rest, though.  Don't talk too much.  It doesn't sound like your lungs are that good right now.  Know that we're here.  We're gonna be here for you for a while.  We don't need to go anywhere.  Do we, Babe?"  Shylah barely noticed Mark's question, staring at all of the machines and wondering what they all did, also thinking of how it had only been a few days prior that she had seen Mark in much the same condition.

Finally snapping out of her daze, Shylah emphatically replied, "Yep.  We're here for you, Sir.  Like he said, we're not leavin', so you gotta put up with us!  And I hope maybe I'm another pretty sight to look at."  Shylah's smile, so big and bright, filled Thomas with a great deal of joy.  He thought how lucky his son was to have such a caring and beautiful woman. 

"Always," Thomas replied, still gasping.  "Always... good... to... see you.  I..."

"Dad," Mark screamed.  "Take it easy, please.  I'm worried.  Just be easy on yourself."

"Ok... Son.  But Shy... Shylah... an angel.  You're... a... lucky man... Son."

Shylah blushed, not only at the compliment but at the man from whom the compliment had come.  Thomas must have really changed, Shylah thought to herself.  Perhaps, he really was trying to be a better man and had given his heart to God.

"Mr. Crady, thank you," Shylah struggled out of her mouth.  "You're not so bad yourself.  I know where Mark gets his good looks from.  I bet you had a lot of ladies after you back in your day."

"That... that... I did."  Thomas' face lit up, despite his difficulty breathing.

"You should hear some of the stories," Mark declared joyously.  "My mama was after him for a long time before she got him.  She told me so many times about how he was the most gorgeous man she'd ever laid eyes on.  He had, what was it, Daddy, about three or four other girlfriends when he started datin' Mama?!  Daddy here was what you call a real ladies' man, way more than I ever was."

"Whatever, Mark," Shylah automatically replied, slapping Mark's shoulder again.  "I've seen the girlfriends you had.  Remember, I've known you since I was born.  You had so many girls in high school that T.L. was jealous as hell all the time and never could keep 'em all straight."

"He was jealous, huh?  He never said much of it to me."

"You shoulda heard him!  He'd go on and on about Mark this, Mark that, Mark has all these hot girls.  Why can't I get a girl like he's always got?  It was funny most of the time.  He didn't like it when I said you were hot, and I saw why all the girls liked you."  Shylah and Mark both began to laugh so hard that they could not control themselves and caused Thomas to laugh once more at the thought of his son following in his footsteps so well.

"T.L. did good," Mark exasperatingly let out.  "He didn't have bad luck.  He must've dated at least five or six different girls through high school, sometimes, two of 'em at once."

"Yeah, but they weren't as pretty as your girlfriends, and you had more than that.  You always had tons of girls hangin' on you.  I think you must've dated at least half the girls in school, including one of my friends, if you don't remember," Shylah added plainly, her brows furrowing, her lips pursing, almost wanting to laugh about it but not quite sure.

"I dated one of your friends?  Not me," Mark chimed.  "I wouldn't do that!"

"Yeah, and I guess you're not dating me, huh?"

"Is that what we're doin'?  I thought you were just some girl that lets me sleep with her."

Shylah, a little shocked, acted as if she were going to leave the room after this, but Mark stopped her short, grabbing her by the arm.