40.
~ "Norman's progress has been coming along very well." Doctor Edwards said. His tone was hopeful and encouraging. It was still easier, even with the vaccine to have meetings with Norman's doctor online so they could still talk face to face.
Alex leaned back in the chair and waited for the doctor to go on.
"Why do I feel like there's more you need to tell me?" the Sheriff asked.
Edwards was quiet for a moment. He looked slightly uncomfortable.
"What is it?" Romero asked.
"I know you were aware of Miss Watson, and that Norman had… relations with her before she died. We've talked about that." Edwards said delicately.
Alex nodded.
"Yes, an autopsy was performed in Portland." he said. "They…" he looked behind him to make sure Norma was still cloistered in the bedroom and well out of hearing range. "They found his seamen in her. We had to consider Norman in our investigation of her murder."
"Yes, it would seem that… unfortunately, Miss Watson was forcing Norman to have a sexual relationship. It appears this had been going on for sometime before she died." Edwards said.
"How long?" Romero snapped angrily. He wished that Blair Watson was still alive just so he could arrest her for traumatizing someone as fragile as Norman.
"According to Norman, the abuse started as early as his moving to the area and starting school. He was encouraged to spend time at her house. It's where most of the abuse happened." Edwards told him.
Alex leaned away from the computer screen. His fingers running over the gold wedding band he'd finally gotten around to buying.
"He was afraid to tell his mother. Afraid she would be upset. Blame him." Edwards concluded.
Alex nodded.
"Norma would be upset." he sighed. "It's better that you told me. She dose't need to know. Not in her condition."
"How is Mrs. Romero doing, Sheriff?" Edwards asked. That hopeful tone was back and encouraged Alex to only give him good news.
Romero nodded.
"She's been writing letters from bed." he sighed.
"Writing letters?" Edwards asked. "Emails?"
"No." Alex shook his head. "She's writing letters to the baby. In case there are complications due to birth."
His voice sounded sour and unhappy to say it. That Norma's paranoia about dying was now manifesting and becoming a real thing.
"I see." Edwards told him. "Would you like me to talk to her?"
"No, she's keeping herself busy and off her feet. That's as much as I can hope for. I didn't think she'd make it a month on bedrest. She's very active and its been hard on her not being able to do things. If this keeps her occupied until the delivery, then it's good." Alex explained.
Edwards didn't seem to share the same idea.
"Having a more pessimistic attitude, especially right now can be very detrimental. She needs to plan for the future." he explained.
"I tried that." Alex said darkly. "Tired to get her to pick out baby clothes and furniture. She didn't even want real maternity clothes. She's wearing my old shirts. The only thing she does want is to go back to the old house when the baby is born. We installed a downstairs bathroom and made some repairs to the other side of the house that was kept closed off. She wants to see it."
"Well, keep her focused on that goal, Sheriff." Edwards reminded him sternly. "Remind her that you need her help to maintain the house. That she's needed for the baby and your other sons."
Romero almost corrected him that Norman wasn't his son, but stopped quickly. It was odd how easy it was to think of Dylan as a son. Not as a younger brother or his grown step-son. No, it was easy to believe that he'd raised Dylan and that's why they were so much alike at times. Why they got along so well.
"I will." Alex nodded at last.
"Only happy conversations about the future and make sure she 'sees' herself in the future." Edwards told him.
~ Norma didn't see herself in the future. It was slowly, but strongly coming over her that she was on borrowed time. That somehow, she'd cheated her fate and was living longer than she should.
Maybe she had cheated fate. Maybe she'd been fated to die and the pregnancy, her marriage to Alex, had caused a different line of events to happen. Fate had become a dark specter waiting in the shadows now. Almost as if she could see it. See how hungry it was for her.
'You slipped away from me.' the phantom said. 'But I 'll have you soon. Oh, yes. Your baby will be born healthy. The little girl you've always wanted and dreamed of. Your husband will love her till the end of his own life. A life that will be much longer than yours. He'll never re-marry though. Never give your daughter a chance to know another mother except your memory. We both know how he is. It's just his way to avoid being hurt. But I'm merciful, Mrs. Romero. That's what you like to be called now isn't it? I can show you mercy. I'll give you plenty of time to enjoy your baby. To shower your child with love and thus giving your husband and daughter a chance to remember you as a good mother. To redeem yourself. Whatever you want to call it. But, when the time comes, you'll have to come with me. Don't worry. Like I said, everyone will be fine. For many years to come. They'll be better because of you. Not everyone can say that, Norma Romero. Not everyone is blessed with this second chance. So enjoy it. Enjoy your baby and your husband and your oldest son. Give them happy memories that will last a lifetime. Because they will have to last a lifetime.'
Norma blinked away the looming fears and placed a hand on her belly. Her daughter kicked her angrily and she could feel more movement. Dylan and Norman kicked a lot when she was pregnant with them. They practically did summersaults inside her right before delivery.
Norma looked down at the neatly arranged envelopes. Her looping girlish handwriting across each envelope that was sealed and said things like:
'To be opened on your 10th birthday. On your prom night. On your graduation from High School. On your graduation from college. When you're lonely. When you've lost someone. When someone breaks your heart.'
She was having trouble writing the letter for her daughter's engagement. The idea of the baby inside her getting married and having her own children in about twenty years was too humbling to think about.
'I want so many things for you. I want most of all, for you to be happy. I'd been married twice before I met your father. He was the first man who seemed to think like me. He wanted to be there for me and protect me. I honestly don't know what I'm doing most of the time in life, and I'm sure you've felt the same way. I can only advise you to marry someone who will put your needs first. Who will call you out on your own bullshit.'
Norma squinted at the rude profanity in her feminine script.
'My first two marriages, as I'm sure Dylan or Norman have told you, were not good.'
Norma rolled her eyes.
'I got knocked up when I was only seventeen. I used it as a means of escaping an abusive home. Then, I fell for Norman's father. A man who told me everything I wanted to hear. I threw away anything good I had with my first marriage because I was lonely and needed to believe someone loved me. I honestly tried to make it work with Norman's father. I stayed in a terrible marriage far too long. I should have left sooner. Maybe I could have met your father sooner. But I don't regret anything because I'm going to have you very soon.
Whomever you marry, I want your father to approve. I know it sounds archaic, but he's a good judge of character. He's a cop after all. He can always tell. Also your brother Dylan need to approve. Dylan always trusted your father from he start and I should have to.
I want a lifetime of happiness for you and your future spouse.'
Norma paused before writing spouse. It was possible her daughter would marry a woman and she didn't want to seem biased.
'I want more than anything for you to remember me at your wedding and know I'll be there; and I'll be so proud of you.'
She fought back the urge to cry at the idea of Alex walking their daughter down the aisle. The idea of Alex, older and grayer, but still looking remarkably handsome made her smile. He wouldn't want to give her away in marriage. Would hate the idea in fact and would want her to live with him forever. No, she'd have to get married and live her own life and Alex would just have to be mad about it.
Alex being mad made her feel a little happier. It made it easier to seal the letter and write:
'To be opened on your engagement'
"You're smiling." came a voice from the doorway and Norma looked up to see Alex had been watching her.
"Writing about," she stopped before she said 'her'. They still wanted to keep the gender a surprise. "About getting engaged." she finished quickly.
Alex rolled his eyes.
"Norma, you'll be there for that. You'll get wedding fever and start planning a huge party that's going to cost a fortune. I hate weddings." he added petulantly.
"You might like having a daughter in law or son in law." Norma chastised gently.
Alex shook his head and sat on the edge of their bed. Never once had he asked to read the letters she'd been writing. Sometimes she really got into the task, and wrote five a day.
"No, I won't." he said. "Especially if it's a girl. I know I won't want her dating."
"Yes, I've already written down how she should hide all your guns before she brings a boy home." Norma smiled. "Just in case it's a girl." she amended.
Alex smiled at her.
"I've never needed guns, Norma." he said. "Maybe we can get her into a nunnery."
"No." Norma said sternly. "I want grandchildren. And so do you."
Alex looked sulky for a moment.
"We need to talk about names." he said.
"What did you have in mind?" she asked moving her bed table aside with all her papers and pens.
"Well, if it's a boy…" Alex started out slowly. "I like the name Christopher. Something simple."
"If it's a girl?" Norma smiles sweetly. Her daughter kicking her slightly and feeling like she might want to finally turn over.
'Any day now.' she thought pleasantly.
"Well, I know it's asking a lot. Umm… what about Theresa? After my mother?" he asked hopefully.
"Theresa?" Norma asked skeptically. The name didn't exactly right out for her.
"I'd like to have a Theresa back in my life again." Alex admitted quickly. "It's been so long."
Norma smiled. She knew what had happened to his own mother. How she'd had issues and chose to leave this world. How it had hurt him more than anything else in life ever could.
The baby suddenly turned and Norma reflexively sat up straiter and yelped in shock at the rough movement.
"What's wrong?" Alex asked worriedly. His own body snapping to attention. His hands, unsure of what to do, were careful to not touch her as he might do more harm than good.
"It's fine." Norma said letting out a laugh and knew the skin under her belly must look like an alien waiting to burst out.
"Baby is turning." she let out a long sigh and took Alex's hand, guiding it to her enlarge stomach so that he could fell the movement's that were growing still again.
"Oh." he said.
"It's getting close to time, Alex." she whispered. "Remember what you promised."
"No more talk like that." he scolded harshly. "I want you to think of good things only. Think about the future. We need to make plans."
"I feel bad that the baby is going to have to have Norman's old room." she sighed.
"We need to be close. All night feedings." he reminded her.
"Yeah but, stuffing Norman's things into Dylan's old room?" Norma made a face.
"Dylan and Emma are fixing up the other two rooms across the hall. He can stay there." he reminded her. "Besides, he might not want to stay with us full time. He might decide to go to college out of state, just to avoid babysitting."
Norma wanted to laugh at that but didn't. She knew, deep down she knew, that Norman could never be around the baby. Never babysit or be alone with her.
"I think the baby likes Theresa." Norma said calmly maintaining a happy front.
"Really?" Alex hopefully.
Norma shrugged.
"She kicked me and decided to turn over when she heard it." she reasoned. "Theresa Romero is a good name."
"We'll have to think of a middle name." Alex reminded her and Norma let out a sigh of annoyance.
"Not today." she said. "I have letters to write."
"You're acting like you won't be here for all these milestones." He nodded to the stack of letter Norma was creating.
"Just in case." she whispered. "Promise you won't read them."
"You're not writing anything about me in there, are you?" he asked with a slight smile.
"Only the truth, Sheriff." Norma assured him.
One of the reasons why I wanted Norma to be so unsure about having a child was because she was afraid of Norman and what would happen. Women have babies while living in toxic or dangerous partners or family members. It's something that is very hard and would have been a real issue for her.