A Second Chance

I'm sorry!

A doctor and a few nurses rush in to check on Albert as Dorothy and Jessica stand there with fear.

Dorothy held Jessica to comfort her.

"What's going on?" Dorothy asks.

"Is he gonna be okay?" Jessica's voice was weak from sobbing.

"He'll be fine.  The machine glitched.  We'll fix that right away."

"Oh thank God!" Dorothy grabs her chest.

"I'm sorry about that, ladies."

"It's okay.. As long as he's okay." Dorothy says breathlessly.

***

Jessica and Dorothy sit with Albert and hold his hands.

"My poor Al.." Dorothy says softly as she gently caresses his cheek.

"Why isn't he walking up?" Jessica asks.

"He'll wake up soon."

Jessica leans forward and kisses his cheek then whispers.

"I love you, daddy.."

She holds his hand tightly in hers and suddenly feels him flinch.

"I think he's waking up."

"Al?" Dorothy speaks softly.

His eyes slowly open and Dorothy smiles at him.

"Hi honey!"

"Hello beautiful."

"Albert, you scared me to death!"

"Yeah, me too!" He chuckles weakly.

"Daddy?"

Albert looks over to Jessica and she smiles with tears filling her eyes.

"Hey sugar plum.." He smiles softly.

"Daddy you scared me!  I didn't want to lose you."

"Oh you're not gonna lose me Jessie.. I'm still here."

"You need to start taking better care of yourself!"

"I know, I know."

"You do!"

"I will."

"You promise?"

"I promise." He smiles.

"Jessie, I dreamt of Sam."

"You did?!" Jessica smiles.

"What did he say?"

"He told me to look out for you.. To make sure you're okay and not hurting yourself."

"Not hurting myself?"

"Yeah.."

"That's strange.. But that's so great that you dreamt of him!  Way was he wearing?" Jessica smiles big.

Albert chuckles and says, "I don't remember, Jessie, it was all a blur."

"Oh.  Well that's okay!  I'm glad you're up daddy. How are you feeling?  Do you need anything?"

"No princess, I'm fine.. I'm just fine." He smiles softly before closing his eyes.

***

After Jessica saw her father, she went home to get some rest before going to pick the kids up.

For the first time since Grayson was born she slept in hers and Sam's big bed all alone.