Free Mama B: A Time to Speak by Michelle Stimpson

take a good look at her.”
    “Yes, sir,” Pastor answered, leading me and Libby out to the hallway.
    “What the doctors been sayin’?” Eunice wanted to know.
    Pastor frowned up. “They don’t know. One minute they say all they can do is make her comfortable. Next minute, they want to try some experimental procedures. Insurance won’t pay for it, no guarantee it’ll work anyway. I don’t want ‘em using her for a guinea pig, but I want to give her every chance.”
    I patted his arm. “Doctors don’t know everything, Pastor. That’s why they in practice .”
    “Ain’t that the truth,” he agreed.
    “Let’s just pray right now,” Libby said. She grabbed both our hands and we made a circle outside Geneva’s room and called on Jesus. Thanked Him for His healing power, put our faith in His blood and His finished work on the cross. Asked the Lord to give the doctors wisdom, and give Pastor strength to continue aiding Geneva in Jesus’s name.
    We said, “Amen,” and that’s when I heard Dr. Wilson say it, too. Guess he joined in the prayer somewhere along the way.
    “No change in her condition, but she is resting fairly well. You can go back in now.”
    “Thank you,” Pastor said and he rushed back into the room.
    Libby barely caught the door handle behind him.
    That’s when Dr. Wilson stopped in his tracks, turned back around and said to me, “Excuse me. I don’t believe I caught your name.”
    “Beatrice.”
    “It’s nice to meet you, Beatrice.” Got a big, wide smile on his face. I, for one, didn’t see much to be all chippy about. And for two, I know those teeth of his wasn’t real.
    “Thank you. Same here, Dr. Wilson. You take good care of my friend.”
    “Certainly. And I hope to see you again.” He folded up his laptop and went on down the hallway.
    We went back into the room, stood over Geneva with Pastor and sent up another prayer, then Libby pulled one of the plastic containers out of her purse and left it with Pastor. “We got plenty more where that came from. Just let B know when you and Geneva get home. We got ‘em already frozen for you.”
    “Sure appreciate you and Libby,” he said.
    “Mmm hmm,” Geneva moaned again.
    Libby and I decided to make a little stop at the whole food store on the way back. Plenty fresh strawberries, blueberries, and green beans to choose from. I picked up a few squash. Cameron didn’t know it yet, but he was about to float into squash heaven by the time I finished cooking it.
    We got in line, waited our turn to check out. Libby come teasin’ me, “Well, B, if I’m not mistaken, I do believe Dr. Wilson was a little sweet on you.”
    “Sweet on me?”
    “Yes! He asked you for your name directly.”
    I smacked my lips. “Libby, that man wasn’t studyin’ me.”
    “Yes he most certainly was!”
    “Well, if he was, I wouldn’t know.” I turned my nose up.
    “Oh, B, why wouldn’t he? Look at you.” She held her arm out, swung her hand up and down like she showing off a washing machine on The Price is Right .
    I looked past her. “Move ahead, Libby. You holdin’ up the line.”

 
     
    Chapter 15
     
    Cameron finished all his books before the due date, and Nikki said she would take him back to get more. “While I’m there, I can follow up on a job I applied for online last week. I can’t believe you don’t have an Internet connection in this house, Mama B.”
    “Hey, I got an iPhone with my email, and I can look stuff up on my phone. That’s all I need,” I said to her while cutting cantaloupe. That Cameron was a fruit fanatic, eat it all day if you don’t watch him.
    Nikki kissed me on the cheek. “It’s alright. I need ta get that book No Ways Tired and read it before Saturday’s book club meeting.”
    I smiled at her. “Nikki-Nik, you readin’ books now?”
    “Yes, if it’s something I’m interested in.” She slung her purse over her shoulder.
    “Here. Taste this.” I held out a piece of the fruit on a