One Hand On The Podium (9 page)

“I suppose so.” Peggy paused a moment, watching her husband make a few final grooming touches, then asked, “Are you going to miss me?”

He walked toward her, gave her a kiss on the cheek and turned away to pick up his suitcase.

“Hey you, I need a bigger kiss than that to get me through these next few days alone.”

“Oh, of course, Baby.” Tony went back to her, put his arms around her and faked a passionate kiss. Peggy sensed that his heart wasn’t in it but decided not to make anything of it.

“I got the impression that you were the only one from your office going to Kansas City.”

“No, no, me and at least three others,” he lied.

“Who’s that? Anybody I’ve met,” she pushed?

“No, ah, I think the others are from the mayor’s office.” Tony was a bit surprised that he was able to get away with such lies and contradictions, but he did.

As Peggy turned toward the kitchen, a sharp pain shot through her stomach. Tony noticed her holding her round belly but didn’t think to ask what was wrong.

“Oh—!” Peggy moaned. The pain subsided and she continued walking to the kitchen. Tony went on to complete his preparations for his clandestine, secretive day.

At nine o’clock Peggy dropped him off at the front steps of City Hall so he could meet up with his ride. She waited for a good-bye kiss but did not get one. Her sad face, which Tony couldn’t help noticing, told the whole story of their relationship. She only hoped things would get better after the election, while he didn’t show any signs of caring one way or another.

***

The day was cool and very gray. Hardly the kind of weather to cheer a person up. Rush hour on Market Street had thinned out as Tony looked out his office window and watched busses and taxis drive by as he waited for his ride to the Illinois side of the river.

Dressed in a pink low cut, long-sleeved blouse and tight fitting jeans, Michelle climbed out of her red, well-worn 75’ Camaro.

Tony spotted her as she put some money in the parking meter. He picked up his suitcase and quickly ran out of the office to meet her. “Hi, Michelle. Are you ready to go?”

“Sure,” she answered, followed with a perky smile. Then without warning, she leaned over and planted a kiss on Tony’s left cheek.

“Are you crazy, Michelle,” he snapped angrily. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Oh, my goodness. I’m sorry. I couldn’t help myself,” she smiled, teasingly.

He quietly shouted with clinch teeth, “If somebody sees us doing that it would only take a few hours before it’s front page news.” He looked around to be certain no one was watching.

“Gee, I forgot, Tony,” Michelle sadly explained.

“Well, you can’t forget. You know better than that.”

“Well, don’t yell at me.”

“I’m not yelling. Come on. Let’s get going.”

Michelle frowned as she made her way into the driver’s side of the car. Tony got in his side tossing his luggage in the back seat. They sat silently as the auto jerked its way from stop sign to stop light then out of the city.

It was a good thirty-minute drive, heading 20 miles east of St. Louis to Belleville, Illinois, a typical mid-size American city. As they circled the large fountain in the middle of the business district, he checked a piece of paper that he’d pulled from his shirt pocket. “We’re almost there, Michelle. About three more blocks.”

“When are you going to tell me where we’re going,” she carefully asked?

Ignoring her question, he said, “You can signal here.”

He pointed to a small brick office building set back off the street with a long walkway leading to its entrance.

“Is this it?” she asked.

“Yes.”

She parallel parked the car next to a small building with a sign that read “Merrill Wilson, M.D.”

“Tony!” she grabbed his hand. “Why are we here? What’s going on?”

“I’ll be back in about an hour. You can drive around awhile or wait right here, which ever you prefer.”

“Tony, please tell me why you’re here.”

“I’ll tell you when I get back out. There’s a drug store over there across the street with a lunch counter. Why don’t you wait there?”

She glanced over her shoulder at the old-fashioned building that was both a pharmacy and ice cream lunch counter.

“No, that’s fine. I’ll sit here in the car.”

“An hour is a long time,” he warned.

“Why can’t I go inside with you?”

“No. Now damn it, just wait here.” He got out of the car and walked up the sidewalk towards the doctor’s office, as Michelle watched him, confused and upset by his insistence of hiding his mission. She pouted as he went inside, leaving her there without a clue.

***

Nearly two hours passed when Tony came out of the doctor’s office. The bright sunlight hurt his eyes as he tried to focus on his watch. Although Michelle’s car was waiting there at the curb, she was not. Tony looked up then over across the street by the drug store and saw her standing next to two men, one of whom was doing the talking. Slowly he made his way toward the trio. Michelle turned and saw him coming. She looked back at the men, who then quickly turned and walked away getting into a large dark blue car. She moved toward Tony wearing an awkward smile, obviously trying to hide something.

“Are you done? Why are you limping?” she asked.

“Who were those guys?” Tony asked, watching the dark blue car drive away.

“Ah, I don’t know, ah, just some guys needing directions,” she responded.

“How could you give directions, you don’t know this town.”

“Well, that’s what I told them.”

“Oh.”

“Are you ready to go? What did they do to you in there?” She took him by the arm and escorted him back to her car.”

“He didn’t answer.”

“So, Tony, why did you go to the doctor.”

I’ll tell you later.

“Why can’t you tell me now?”

In a frustrated, exhausted tone, he answered, “I’ll explain it later. Can we just not talk till we get to your place?”

Michelle shrugged. “Gosh, I’m just worried about you.”

“I had a mole removed from my leg,” Tony lied.

“What’s the big deal about that? I’m glad you’re okay.?

“I’m okay. Let’s get back to your place.”

The pair got into her car and drove back to St. Louis, where he was to stay in hiding for two days at her apartment while he recuperated from his minor surgery.

***

Tony settled in comfortably on Michelle’s couch on that afternoon. Sitting with his legs propped up and a blanket over them, he was only wearing his underwear and a canary yellow polo shirt. Tony spent that remaining day reviewing his notes, readying himself for the debate which was weeks away. He paid little attention to Michelle. His primary concern was his wound and also coming up with enough ammunition to make a good showing at the upcoming debate

“Can I get anything for you, Sugar?” Michelle generously asked.

“No, but you can turn the TV on. I’d like to watch the news.”

“Oh, I hate the news,” she pouted.

“How do you keep up with politics, if you don’t watch the news, for Christ’s sake?” he asked her. “That doesn’t make sense? You’re working on my campaign and you don’t watch the news? That’s kind of scary.” Tony laughed.

“I like politics,” she said.

“You like politics, but hate the news. That makes no sense.”

“No, actually I just like you, Sexy Boy.” She smiled to herself.

“Yeah, but I like the news, so please turn it on,” Tony said, raising his voice to make her move.

“I will, I will. Gosh, don’t get so bent out of shape,” she said shrugging.

He shook his head, frustrated with having to always watch what he said to both Michelle and Peggy.

“Women!” he said loud enough for Michelle to hear.

“What was that?” she asked as she turned the set on.

“Nothing,” he mumbled.

Michelle found a corner chair and a book to read. During the hour of news that followed, Tony would moan a little, every-so-often, to get her attention. She wasn’t the kind of woman to let any man treat her like a slave, but for this man she was willing to play the game.

Something kept her from giving up on her relationship with this married man. Something let those snide remarks Tony always made about how his wife this, or how his wife that, just pass without fazing her.

Even Tony thought it odd how such a lovely girl as Michelle would stay with him when she could have any man she wanted. But he wasn’t arguing. He enjoyed her company, and especially her lovemaking. Finally, at five o’clock his favorite newscaster came on. He listened intently.

“Good evening. This is Rebecca Ray with the news at five. Leading the news here in St. Louis today, Mayor Allen White appeared at a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new convention center. The complex is expected to bring thousands of business conventioneers a month to our city along with millions of dollars annually. A much needed boost for the Gateway to the West.”

“That’s good. We needed a new convention center,” Tony said, though Michelle didn’t look up from her book. “We need more convention space.”

“And this afternoon, the wife of congressional candidate Tony Bix, is in a South County hospital.”

Tony sat upright instantly to listen more closely, his eyes widened.

“Peggy Bix was admitted to St. Anthony’s Hospital in South County after suffering a miscarriage.”

Tony’s eyes widened more, and a panic came over him. Michelle stood up from her chair to watch and listen. She looked over at Tony to watch his response.

“It seems,” Rebecca Ray said. “Tony Bix is out of town on business at this time and has not been reached for comment. Doctors expect Mrs. Bix to recover fully. All efforts to save the infant were in vain. This would have been the first baby for the Bix family. Friends of the family say Peggy Bix is extremely shaken from the loss. She is to be released in a few days.”

“After this station break, we’ll be back with the weather. It was a gloomy day today, and Sam will let you know what’s in store for us the rest of the week.”

Tony stared blankly at the television screen. Michelle went over to him and put one arm around him and squeezed his hand with the other. “Help me up Michelle,” he asked her, not really sure what would be the right thing to do next. As she lifted him by the arm, he cried out in pain. “Oh, that fucking hurts.”

The area between his legs was very painful. The nurse had told him there would be quite a bit of discomfort but certainly not the kind of pain he was having.

As he carefully got up from the couch he made sure not to let go of the blanket.

“Here Tony, give me the blanket. You can’t walk with it wrapped around you like that,” she said as she grabbed the blanket but he held it tightly.

Michelle quickly jerked it away, as though she were a magician whipping a table cloth off a table out from under fine china.

“Don’t! Don’t, damn it, Michelle!” Tony begged.

Michelle let out a slight scream and panic filled her face as she looked down between his legs, not believing what she was seeing. “What’s the matter? What the— ?”

Tony immediately looked down at himself and began to panic too. He was covered with blood. His underwear were completely soaked with a horrifying dark red stain. His yellow shirt had also soaked up some of the blood too. “What’s going on?”

Tony looked at Michelle with desperation, hoping she had an answer. “I don’t know, Tony. What did they do to you? You only had a mole removed. Did you get stitches? What did the doctor tell you?” she begged him for a answer.

“Yeah, I got stitches. I didn’t get a mole removed damnit. It’s from the vasectomy. That’s what I did today. I got a fucking vasectomy.”

“A vasectomy?”

“Yes, but I thought I did everything right. I’m not sure. Let’s see, Michelle, I’m really bleeding badly.” Tony looked back down as he could feel the blood running down his leg.

“Lie back down,” Michelle instructed. “I better take a look at your stitches.”

“No way. I’m not letting you.”

“Sit down, Tony!” she demanded. “Something’s wrong here.”

He carefully did as he was told.

Gently she pulled elastic band of his underwear away from his blood-soaked pubic hair. Tony winced, even though nothing Michelle did added to the pain he was already experiencing. She looked at each side of his testicles, grimaced, then allowed the elastic support to go back in place.

“Well?” Tony asked her, not really wanting to know.

“Well,” she matter-of-factly stated. “It looks as if the stitches on your left side have broken open. You better call a doctor. That is so gross, Tony.”

“Damn it! Why the fuck is this happening to me? Get me my briefcase. There’s an emergency number the nurse gave me. Damn it! Give me my cell phone.”

Michelle sprung back to her feet, handed Tony his phone then walked over to his briefcase, opened it and looked inside.

“Give it to me. Give it to me!” he shouted.

“I will, I will. Don’t yell at me.”

“Here it is. Okay, let’s see now, 618-777-1008.” He dialed the number and looked up at the ceiling as he took a deep breath to calm himself.

“Hello. Hello. My name is Tony Bix. I’m sorry to bother you, but I was in your office the other day for a vasectomy and I’m having a real problem here.”

“Oh, yes,” came the familiar voice of the nurse who’d earlier helped him through his procedure with the doctor. “Yes, we just saw the report on the news about your wife’s miscarriage. We are so sorry.”

“Thank you. Yes, thank you.”

“What seems to be the problem, Mr. Bix?”

“I’m bleeding all over the place. My friend checked the stitches and she thinks one side opened up.”

“I know one side opened up. I saw it.” Michelle said in a quiet tone as she bit her finger nails.

“Are you in pain?”

“Yes. Very sore.”

“How long did you keep the ice on them?”

“Ice?”

“Yes. I told you today that the ice would keep the swelling down and stop any bleeding that may occur.”

“Oh, gosh, I guess I don’t remember you telling me that.”

“Well, I did indeed, Mr. Bix,” she stated, talking as though she were a schoolteacher scolding a naughty pupil.