Meryl and Don: An Unforeseen Journey

Chapter 21

"There you go, Henry." Mary Streep said to her grandson as she placed him in his high chair in her kitchen and placed a kiss on his head. "Did you have a good nap, sugar pie?"

Henry reached out and opened and closed his hands. "Ma? Da? Baby?"

"You will see Mommy and Daddy soon, sweetie." Mary said as she put some Cheerios on his high chair and handed him some apple juice. "They miss you so much. Daddy just needs to get better. They will talk to you tonight."

Henry looked around. "Baby?"

"Not for a little while, sweetheart." Mary laughed as the phone rang and she went to answer it. "Streep residence."

Jane Gummer was happy someone finally answered the phone. "Mary, this is Jane Gummer."

"Oh, Jane, hello." Mary tried to act normal. She knew her son-in-law's family didn't know what was going on and she understood why. She didn't understand how Jane Gummer could allow her own son to be treated so badly. It just made Mary love Don more at how he protected her daughter, grandson, and future grandchild by not telling his family; she knew he was doing it for them as a way of protecting them.

Jane breathed a sigh of relief. "I'm glad to have finally gotten ahold of someone."

"Is everything alright? What can I do for you?" Mary asked as Henry was babbling away.

Jane listened carefully as she swore she heard her grandson in the background talking. "Is that Henry I hear? Are Don and Meryl there?"

"Uh, no they're not; and yes, Henry is with us right now." Mary only wanted to answer the questions she had to answer.

Jane sighed. "Of course he is. Where are Don and Meryl? I have been leaving messages for them at the loft and in Millerton for days. Even on Don's work line."

"Well, I know Don took some time off to spend with Meryl and Henry." Mary answered.

Jane shook her head. "They're obviously not with Henry. What is going on, Jane?"

"Everything is okay. They were being stalked but the stalker is behind bars and will be forever thanks to your son. Don got hurt, he's fine though, and so Meryl is making sure he rests and gets better so we are keeping Henry for a few days." Mary only wanted to give her the basics.

Jane erupted. "What the fuck did your daughter get my son into now?"

"Excuse me?!" Mary wasn't liking this at all.

Jane shook her head. "She is always getting him in some mess causing him to hurt himself."

"First of all, our children have gone through HELL." Mary started. "I don't like your tone and what you are implying."

Jane interrupted her. "Well, I wouldn't know would I? Because they always tell you and Harry things but not me and James? My son comes to you and not me."

"Why do you think that is? Yes, your son got hurt in the fall protecting Meryl and Henry but why is that? Because YOUR husband kidnapped Henry and threatened Meryl. Don is an amazing man, who yes we do love as one of our own, and I am so glad he and Meryl love each other as much as they do. The story isn't mine to tell. I want you to know this; just as Don would walk through hell for Meryl; she would do the same for him and they both would walk through hell for their children." Mary was beyond pissed off. "Don't you dare blame Don and Meryl for keeping you out of the loop. You want someone to blame? Then you and your HUSBAND should look in the mirror."

Jane got hung up on something Mary said. "Children?"

"Well, I mean Henry and whatever children they might have in the future." Jane tried to cover when she realized what she had let slip.