Devin

Devin

By Lisa Hiatt

Beverly Jane, sat facing Sam her long time lover at the local diner. Sam Elliot sipped his coffee nervously playing with the salt shaker lid.

“Damn the test came back positive Sam what are we going to do?” Beverly said anxiously.

“Well you wanted the sex baby just as much as I did, now you have to live with the consequences,” Sam said sarcastically.

“Sam it takes two ya know. I didn’t just get knocked up immaculate conception.”

“Damn woman why did ya have to drag me into this. You couldn’t just sponge off the government nooo. You have to dig your greedy little hooks into me,” Sam said throwing his hands up in the air.

“All right you bum you’re the father. Are you gonna do good by me or do I have to get the law involved?” a stray lock of curly red hair escaped her tight binder slipping in front of her violet eyes. She impatiently swiped it back into place.

“All right, All right Bev. If I am the father I will take care of you and the kid.”

“What do ya mean IF ? Of course you’re the father. I don’t cheat. I don’t play that game you jerk,” Beverly said crossly.

“Fine! I’m the brats dad. You win. Is that what you wanted to hear?” He raised his voice to be heard over her screech.

“Shush,” she said in a much quieter voice looking around to see if anyone was listening, “Yes but I ain’t winning any prize here for it. The baby is due in September. I don‘t expect you to marry me or nothing. Just make sure the kid don‘t want for nothing and you are free to go.”

“I won’t leave ya Bev. I won’t be like my old man was like. I’ll be here. Besides I was planning on marrying you anyway.” He reached over and closed her mouth as it hung open in surprise, “Don‘t look so surprised Bev I do have a heart under this hairy chest of mine. I do care for you, ya know.“

“Is that your proposal? You’re such a romantic!” Shock forgotten, she said sarcastically.”

“All right Bev have it your way. If ya don’t want me then I’ll be on my way.” He preceded to get up when her hand reached out to stop his departure.

“I was just teasing you big lug, I’ll marry you,” She said kissing him.

They had made a commitment to stop gambling drinking and smoking, for the sake of the child, but it lasted only as long as it took to run out of the vices before it started again. Beverly drank her whole nine months. Sam trying to quit but gave into smoking again after one hellish hour of trying to stop.

Miracles of miracles The baby radiated with health in the warm lights of the delivery room, like a halo upon his shiny peach fuzz head. For a while.

“What’s the matter with Devin? He feels like he‘s burning up,” Sam asked one night after feeling Devin’s forehead.

“I don’t know. He’s been cranky all day. He won’t drink anything,” A little worry crept into Bev’s voice.

Devin at four months was underweight. He should weigh around 15 pounds but barely tipped the scale at 11 pounds.

“I’ll take him to the doctor tomorrow if the fever don’t go down.” Beverly said.

The next morning Devin seemed to be his old self. He drank his formula without a problem. That night Beverly and Sam through a party. The drinking and smoking went well into the night.

While Devin slept he slipped into a coma.

“Doc how is the little guy?” Beverly said tearfully.

“It’s hard to say Mrs. Richards. He seems to be suffering from emphysema. Do you or your husband smoke around the boy?”

“No Doc. We both know how second hand smoke is bad for him.”

“I think you and your husband better think about quitting. Devin must be getting it from somewhere. I also notices a little cirrhosis of the liver. Is he getting alcohol from someone?”

“Jeese Doc! What kind of parents do you think we are? No he don‘t get any booze.”

“Well then I can’t explain it.” Doctor Belle said shrugging his shoulders.

Beverly sat by her son. She wondered why such a little body had to have so many wires and lights. At ten months old he seemed so tiny in the hospital bed. The doctor had said his good-byes and continued on his rounds. Beverly listened to her son breath in and out. The machine would beep each time he exhaled.

The afternoon wore on but Sam didn’t come in to relieve her. Afternoon turned to evening and still no Sam. Doctor Belle finally convinced Beverly to go home to take a break.

Beverly pulled into the driveway. Every light in the house was on. She stormed into the house. The smoke hit her first. He had sworn he would quit for Devin’s sake. In the dinning room Sam and a few of his buddies were playing poker.

“Sam! Where in the hell were you today? You were suppose to come by this afternoon to give me a break.”

“I had business to attend to. Don’t start on me Bev.”

“Fine you go ahead and take care of business. I will take care of MY son.”

She grabbed a fresh set of clothes and stormed back to the hospital.

A half hour later Sam came with his hat in hand.

“I’m sorry Bev. I just can’t handle seeing the kid here. I can’t help but feel we are somehow responsible.”

“Don’t be silly Sam. How are we responsible. We’re good parents.”

They both turned to a noise over at Devin’s bed. Devin was reaching up to try and pull the wires off of his head and arms. The monitor beside his bed sounded in alarm. Nurses came rushing in.

“Get the doctor Nurse Betty and put his parents out in the hall.” Nurse Ann said agitated. She rushed over to stop the child from harming himself.

The nurse opened the door. For Devin’s parents. She rushed to the desk and paged Doctor Belle.

Doctor Belle finally came out of Devin’s room. He walked over to Beverly and Sam.

“Devin will be all right. He won’t be needed the wires and whistles anymore. Sometimes when patients wake from comas it is a little disorientating. Devin will be fine. He will be able to go home by Thursday if he keeps improving.”

“That’s great news Doc thanks.” Sam said hugging Beverly.

Friday night after Devin was home one night, Beverly and Sam went out to celebrate. The babysitter called them at the club. Devin was running a high fever.

Beverly and Sam rushed home.

“He won’t drink he was a little restless early right after you left. His temperature kept raising. It is about 102.” The babysitter said.

Beverly kissed Devin’s forehead. Indeed it was very warm. Sam paid the sitter and drove her home. Beverly gave Devin a cool bath. It seemed to help. He fell into a restless sleep soon after his bath.

The next morning Devin’s fever was gone.

“I can’t explain it Sam. It seems every time we go out or have a few Devin gets sick.”

“Don’t be silly Bev. Why would he get sick when we have a few. He’s just a baby. He can’t be doing this on purpose.”

“Ok I know it sounds silly but it does seem odd.”

By the time Devin was three he had been in and out of the hospital more times than either Sam or Beverly could count. His parents so self-absorbed didn’t seem to connect that their little angel was giving them a second chance.

One cold winter afternoon, Bev and Sam sat with Doctor Belle deep in discussion over Devin’s health issues:

“Devin has advanced liver disease, heart disease, colon cancer, Emphysema. None of this makes any since. Both you and your husband drink and smoke but neither one of you show any signs of the diseases that your son is dieing from. Bev your liver should be so saturated with cirrhosis you’ve been drinking for ten years yet your liver is healthier than mine. And you Sam have lungs healthier than anyone who has never smoked. I have heard in some beliefs that the children pay for their parents sin, but this is just too unbelievable.” Doctor Belle said in awe.

Devin Died exactly three years to the day he was born. His parents tried as they may couldn’t stop their vices. The wires and tubes hung from his too small frame like a puppet at rest, with his last breath he whispered, “I love you mommy and daddy. As he lay dieing his shallow breath slowed until the light that seemed to eluminate, his angelic face faded and flicker out of his eyes all together, leaving behind a beautiful smile of peace in its wake.