Back to normal at work did not feel normal at all, especially when Kat felt compelled to bring her boss up to speed; after all, she started the whole dialogue with Cassie before she left on her prophecy journey with a description of a couple of dreams that weren’t story-worthy at that point. Her story felt more like a justification for things she could not prove, never mind being pregnant…or not.
Dr. Sun, Kat’s trusted OB-GYN, did an excellent job of not confirming anything for Kat other than referring to the extraordinary examination and punted a diagnosis for another week or so. ‘Extraordinary’ was the only word Kat heard.
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Chapter #16 – Power of the Blood
Cassie sat behind her desk with a second cup of coffee before anyone else arrived, ready for another Monday of endless Mondays. The usual routine of her mornings changed when Kat, also an early riser, walked by Cassie’s office with a wave and a knock on the door frame with a bright greeting, “Good morning, boss! Permission to come aboard.”
Cassie grinned and said, “Did you join the Navy last week in Phoenix or what? Permission granted. Have a seat, sailor,” motioning to the table inside her office door. “Push the door shut. I’m anticipating your update that will not be for public consumption. Am I right?”
“Is it that obvious?” asked Kat. She knew her boss and close friend deserved an update after baiting her with the early version of her dreams before any of the bizarreness started. In the story that followed, Kat hit the high points, but in the final analysis, all the points were high enough to retell, so she did. Cassie was a good listener and only interrupted when she raised eyebrows on several occasions that triggered questions.
“I can’t remember the last time I saw a Sinclair service station,” said Cassie, “especially one that looked like an abandoned relic from another age.
“Well, it wasn’t abandoned the first time I was there,” said Kat, “This whole adventure about the prophecy started there with an ancient Indian woman’s prophecy. She was real and I drank the coldest iced tea in Texas served by her. I did not imagine any of that. Did I believe it? Heck no, but I believed in what happened when I met the other spirits I shared with you. I could not tell what was real and what was a dream, so I needed to know…my OCD required answers. When I made the return visit to the same service station hours later to confirm what had happened to me, I found the station abandoned, and it had been for many years…except for the half-empty glass of iced tea still sitting on the service counter where I sat listening to the old woman.”
Cassie had been leaning back in her chair, listening intently. When Kat stopped with her story, Cassie spoke after a period of reflection, “And you believe you are pregnant?”
“Yes, if I can believe what the Indian spirits have told me. I’ll know for sure Wednesday when I see Dr. Sun,” said Kat.
“You know, Kat, there are these things called home pregnancy tests at CVS that could confirm one way or another,” said Cassie with a layer of sarcasm.
“Don’t go there with me,” said Kat with a bit of momentum, “if I need snark, I can call my sister for the abuse. I trust Dr. Sun, and that’s it.”
“Or maybe you don’t want to know…” said Cassie, “and that’s not snark, my friend, that’s something only you can face because I recall conversations we’ve had over the last couple of years about being married to our jobs and not having the time or patience to be in a relationship much less a parent. Where did all that bluster go?”
Kat said nothing momentarily, recalling their past discussions and beliefs, then said, “I wish I knew. It’s like a switch has been flipped in me. I have an acute sense to protect this child, this baby boy, that’s growing in my womb. Remember when I told you Big Crow with Little Feet said the pregnancy would not be ordinary?”
“Yeah,” answered Cassie.
“I’m terrified,” confessed Kat. “What’s not going to be ordinary about all the extraordinary shit that’s happened already? My not knowing aligns with your comment that I may not want to know. Well, perhaps I don’t when you consider all this happened because of an ancient bloodline connection and amazingly intimacy with Indian spirits. Some of the spirits wish to protect, and some want to destroy. I’m stuck in this ancient prophecy, and it does not appear to be ending. So, yeah, maybe I don’t want to know what’s next.”
Their conversation ended as other staff began to filter into the office. Kat returned to her cubicle after greeting her co-workers in her pod. The familiarity of her work family and established routine felt good, allowing her to get out of her head and think less about her troubles and more about getting into the flow of work.
Her cell buzzed with an incoming text message. “Hey Duwit, just checking in on you, love MOM!”
Kat had to laugh. Only Maddie could convict herself by calling her Duwit and then redeem herself by admitting to being in MOM mode in a short text. Kat texted back, “I love you too, MOM!”
Wednesday arrived and the feeling of knowing or not knowing remained troubling to Kat. To complicate things, she had to wear a pad because she had cramps like her visitor was coming and evidence of blood. Her mind immediately feared there was something wrong with the pregnancy. She should not have her period if she were pregnant, but she was, wasn’t she? Granted, everyone who told her she was pregnant had a spirit role. One even said it would not be ordinary, and the blood evidence was certainly not ordinary. The discovery of bleeding that morning felt like reality came at her at increasing speed as she sat in the waiting room at her OB-GYN’s practice for her appointment with Dr. Sun. What could be wrong?
Something being wrong could hardly describe what she heard from Dr. Sun after completing the examination, “Katherine, I see no evidence of an active pregnancy. I’m puzzled that having your regular-as-clockwork period would cause you so much concern.”
“Don’t take my word for it.” Dr. Sun said, handing her a pregnancy test. “Here, get a second opinion. I’ll be right back.” Kat was dumbfounded and at a loss for words as Dr. Sun left the examination room. Kat looked at the test in her hand with an unexplained fear that she would learn something she did not want to know. She took the test and stared at the positive result.
When Dr. Sun returned, Kat handed over the positive test result and said nothing. Dr. Sun had no words of wisdom but had to admit, “I’ve never seen anything like this; bloodwork shows inconclusive with no visible sign of pregnancy; my examination cannot see any evidence that you are pregnant. There is no more evidence to seek other than this positive test result that tells me you are pregnant. Nothing about this makes sense.”
“But what about the blood?” protested Kat. It feels like my period, but it does not feel like my period. I know that doesn’t make sense, but something is different.”
“I know you don’t want to hear this from a professional you trust, but I’m finding this contradiction extraordinary. I recommend waiting for your period to end, and let’s reexamine you then.”
The only word Kat heard Dr. Sun speak was extraordinary. She had not shared any spiritual Indian encounters and thought that was a can of worms best to leave unopened. There was no sense in having her doctor make a diagnosis of some mental affliction behind a wild tale she did not need to tell. No, she was not going there.
Kat promised to make a follow-up appointment when her visitor left, but her heart felt like she needed to know more about this contradiction before making up her mind about the next steps. Walking back to her car in the parking deck, she felt lost. There was no firm ground to stand on; there were too many conflicting thoughts. You’re pregnant. You’re not pregnant. What’s ordinary supposed to look like? What about extraordinary? What am I supposed to do?
Pushing the button on her key fob, the driver-side door unlocked. She slid behind the wheel as a wisp of smoke hit her senses as she pulled the door closed, “Crow, I really hope that’s you,” as she craned her neck from the mirror to peer into the back seat. The breath she felt like she’d been holding all morning eased out when his eyes and gleaming smiled back at her from beneath the crumpled-down top hat.
“It is, dear child,” said the medicine man, “and I know you are filled with confusion over the events in your doctor’s office this morning. Please let me remind you of a conversation we’ve had several times. Do you trust me, Katherine?”
“I do trust you, Crow,” she said softly.
“As a spirit, I can choose who can see me and who cannot,” said Big Crow. “Why would you be surprised to learn the little boy’s spirit in your womb has that same power?”
“Crow, is that why you said this pregnancy would not be ordinary?”
He replied, “That and other things you will learn as he grows. Most importantly, I will always be here to protect you and this baby.”
“Dew on Flowers told me the same thing the night she removed all Indian spirit connections.”
Big Crow said, “I know. She pulled spirits from you and the baby when she held you in her arms, but only connections with evil spirits were broken; our spirit bloodline was strengthened.”
“Please don’t say things like that and disappear in a tendril of smoke without an explanation like you make a practice of doing.”
“My sweet Katherine, you have much to learn about yourself and your baby boy. Call on me or Dew on Flowers whenever you need us. We will help you discover the power of our blood. We will unlock the power that’s been part of your spirit since birth. Some things you have excelled at are already known to you, but not where they came from or from whom. How you will change is part of this journey you are on.”
“So, Crow, you’re telling me this prophecy thing will never end?
Her answer went up in smoke, and she swore he left laughing.
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I hope you enjoyed chapter #16! I’m still editing and writing, so this is a work in progress that may become a novel one day. I’ll continue to share each chapter, so keep checking back. I would love to know your thoughts so far at gdogwise@live.com Enjoy the read!
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