For the love of literature
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| A shot from my childhood, the era close enough to that of 1971, when Home and Far Away takes place. |
Sometimes a manuscript grabs my heart like no other. In a perfect world, this story would never have been written, the entire Enran Chronicles series based upon when my brother-in-law died nearly three years ago. Yet shit happens, and sometimes miracles do too. The miracle of of Home and Far Away staggers me, and while I'm reaching the end and don't want to include spoilers, these two short scenes between Sooz Noth, her employer Dr. Kevin Whitlow, and his receptionist Jane Hubbard call to my heart, begging to be noted. Okay, authorial heart, here you go.
Suze arrived at two p.m., but Kevin didn’t speak with her, clients waiting for her assessment. Within his head, he had employed the most clinical terms concerning her place in this practice, wincing when thinking of her possible absence, her probable absence, he corrected himself. For as much as he liked her, Richard too, there was no way he could comply with Lund’s request. While Kevin didn’t know much of Jumpville’s history, he was fully aware of how hostile some of the residents were toward the black female doctor within the practice. Not that Kevin had been threatened with bodily harm; those who hated Suze, and now Richard too, were smart enough to exclude the area’s white male physician from their threats. Maybe Richard knew how serious were those who would love to torch his house or harm his…. If Richard married Suze, Kevin would tell the Lunds to do more to protect themselves. If Richard married Suze, Kevin would have to acquiesce to the strangest request in his still fledgling career. If, if, if…. Kevin sighed, then drank another cup of coffee. I’m never getting to sleep tonight, he grumbled inwardly.
Stepping from his office, Kevin approached Jane, but she was on the phone. He glanced at his schedule, then blinked; the rest of his patients had been erased from the column. Jane closed the call, then sighed. “Another cancellation, what a crazy day.”
“Another?” he asked.
“Well, take a look. Everyone who was supposed to come in this afternoon has called to reschedule. I’ve called a few who were hoping to see you and even they can’t make it.”
“Huh. That’s, uh, strange.”
“That’s one way to put it.” Jane shook her head. “Meanwhile, three people have called wanting to see Suze. I told them you were free, but they, well….”
“Prefer their own doctor,” Kevin smiled blandly.
“They do. Several asked if she’s starting maternity leave next month. She hasn’t said anything to me, has she talked to you about it?”
“Uh, no, I mean….” Kevin sighed, then winced as broad laughter emerged from where Suze was caring for a client. “Is she booked the rest of today?”
“She is.”
“Okay, well, I’m gonna catch up on paperwork. If she gets a break, ask her to come talk to me. We’ll, uh, discuss maternity leave, or I’ll mention it to her.”
“Of course. Dr. Whitlow, are you all right?”
“Uh, yeah.”
Jane smirked, then sighed. “I’ll tell her.”
“Thanks.”
“Certainly.”
Kevin nodded, but didn’t move.
Jane turned around. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Oh yeah, just thinking. Sorry, I’ll, uh, be in my office.” He quickly walked away, but slowed his steps by the exam room where Suze spoke Spanish in a rather jovial tenor. He didn’t understand that language, though if he was smart, he’d take some correspondence courses. He might be treating more of the Hispanic community soon enough.
An hour later someone knocked on his closed door. “C’mon in,” Kevin said.
Suze stepped into the room, her hair swept atop her head, but she wasn’t wearing her white jacket. “Jane said you wanted to speak to me?”
“Uh, yeah. Can you close the door?”
She did so, but didn’t sit. “Well,” she smirked, “what’s there to say? I stopped at home before coming in. Richard told me he told you.”
Kevin swallowed hard. “He told me some things I can’t accept as true. I mean,” he sighed, then smirked. “I guess if I did believe him, it’d explain a lot of things that otherwise I don’t have a rational answer for.”
Suze clasped her hands in front of her large belly. “That’s one way to put it. Does that mean you’re willing to….”
“I can’t, you know that.”
She nodded. “Richard doesn’t know the pressure you’re under.”
“I told him I just couldn’t….”
“I understand,” she sighed. “Well, Jane said you wanted to talk about maternity leave. I guess we’re doing that. My staying in this practice would be too difficult for you to….”
Kevin stood, then slowly approached her. “We can work it out, I just can’t….”
“Everything he said was the truth.” She sighed, then pulled something from the pocket of her slacks. “This is the scanner he told you about. I do use it with some of my clients, those I know who won’t say anything about it. And yes, I am having a boy. Maybe Lupe will deliver him.”
“Suze….”
“Kevin, if you won’t provide the necessary results for Richard and me, I won’t ask you to continue to lie on my behalf. I only hope you won’t, well….”
“I won’t what?”
“I hope you won’t turn me or Chella over to the authorities.”
“I, uh, no, I wouldn’t…I won’t do that.”
Suze nodded, putting the device back in her pocket. “I’ll see the rest of my clients this week. Then I’m going on formal maternity leave. I’ll inform everyone, don’t worry about calling them.”
“Christ, can’t we talk about this?”
She had turned to leave, but she whipped around, her face in a scowl. “There’s nothing else to say. If you don’t wanna believe Richard or me, fine. But it’s the truth. And also true is that I am not leaving here, no matter how much it pisses off those who wish otherwise. I am a human being Kevin, and I have every right to the same happiness as anyone else, no matter where I come from.”
She grunted, then stalked from the office, but didn’t close the door behind her. Kevin remained on his feet, but he felt weak, then he tightly shut his eyes as Suze spoke calmly to Jane. Then Suze cleared her throat, calling in her next patient. Her client, Kevin corrected himself, wondering what he was going to do.
