Meryl and Don: An Unforeseen Journey

Chapter 41

It was the Saturday before the trial started; and a few days since Don and Meryl's romantic night at the screening room and they were as loved up as they had ever been. Henry's new bed had been delivered that morning and thankfully the delivery people had put it together for them and then moved the crib into what would become the baby's room. It cost a little extra but Meryl said she didn't care as Don still needed to be careful. After Don put Henry down for his nap in their bedroom he went to see where his wife was. Not surprisingly he found her making up Henry's new bed and saw her stop to wipe her tears every so often. Don went up to her and took her hands in his, stopping her from what she was doing. "He's going to love it."

"I'm glad someone will." Meryl choked.

Don smiled softly at his wife. "M, he's still a baby. We have several months before he turns 2. He's just a little monkey. He's been climbing on things ever since he culled pull himself up. Who knows maybe he'll become a world famous rock climber scaling Everest."

"At first I thought you came in here to cheer me up." Meryl said giving him a small smile. "This isn't helping."

Don chucked as he kissed her forehead. "My point is he's just an active little boy."

"Baby." Meryl said. "He's still my baby."

Don smiled as he nodded. "And he always will be. Sweetheart, he can't go to sleep unless you rock and read to him. This bed doesn't change the fact that he is still and will always be Mama's boy. Even though he will always be our baby, our first baby, we have another coming that we can dote and fuss on. He's just the practice kid."

"Don." Meryl laughed as she tenderly kissed his lips; knowing he was just trying to make her laugh and cheer her up. "You're right. As always."

Don put his hands up to his heart as if he were shocked. "I'll have to remind you of that."

"I'm almost done in here." Meryl smiled at him. "Then I'll fix us some lunch."

Don shook his head as he kissed her cheek. "Will you be okay if I go make us some lunch?"

"Yes, fine." Meryl smiled at him as she went back to what she was doing. "The true test will be tonight."

Don walked out the door and turned to his. "I'm prepared to not sleep tonight and not in the way we would like."

"Go." Meryl laughed as she threw a pillow at him; then she went back to preparing her son's room for his first night in his toddler bed.

***

"Is everything set for this week?" Don asked holding Meryl closely on the couch as they talked to Larry who was sitting across from them.

Larry nodded he leant forward and smiled. "He's going to be put away, no doubt about that. Nothing new from the last time we talked I just wanted to go through the schedule with you."

"Okay." Meryl said taking a deep breath.

Larry pulled out a piece of paper from his briefcase. "On Monday the judge will lay down the rules then Mann's lawyer Tom Baxter and I will start with opening statements."

"What do you know about him?" Don asked. "Mann's lawyer."

Larry shook his head. "He's a public defender who I take down every time."

"Good." Don breathed. "The judge?"

Larry nodded and smiled. "We don't need to worry about Judge Golden. We've really got this."

"Thank God." Meryl sighed as she scooted even closer to Don. "After opening statements?"

Larry nodded as he continued. "The opening statements will take us through the morning. We'll break for lunch then you two will testify as well as the officers who witnessed his attack on Don and what happened with Meryl. I've also called the doorman at your old apartment who Mann got by. I've called Don's brain surgeon and doctor Abbott. We probably won't get through all of them on Monday but I would like to. I want the two of you to be first so we can get it over with for you."