Meryl and Don: An Unforeseen Journey

Chapter 88

After another wonderful few days in Maine, Don and Meryl returned to New York with Henry relaxed and having healed aeven more. Don looked at Meryl as she pushed Henry in the stroller up to the door of their apartment. "You ready?"

"Yeah." Meryl smiled then she put her hand on his that was on the door knob. "Wait!"

Don was confused; she had just said that she was ready. "What is it, Darl?"

"We're going back into our apartment as 2 different people than when we left. We are closer and more in love with each other and our boy; and little one." Meryl said placing her hand on her belly. "Than ever. We have overcome some AWFUL and HELLISH times; but we're closer than ever. NOTHING can break us."

Don smiled as he kissed her lips. "NOTHING. You're right; we aren't the same people who left this place over a week ago. We have done so much growing and healing in that time. I don't know about you; but I'm damn proud of us."

"Me too." Meryl smiled as she opened the door with them.

Don held the door open so she could push Henry through and then he carried the suitcases in. "Looks the same."

"Looks better to me." Meryl smiled. 

Don looked down at Henry. "He's still out. Let me take him to our room. I think he's exhausted."

"He is." Meryl laughed. "But I'll do it; the doctor hasn't released you to pick him up yet."

Don smiled. "Always worried about me."

"Just as you are about us." She said with a kiss to his lips while holding Henry closely after picking him up. "Our room now; and his room tonight?"

Don nodded. "Yeah, with the lights on. I'll come with you and we can unpack some."

"Back to our life." Meryl smiled happily at him.

Don kissed her and then Henry. "Our WONDERFUL life."

***

After they unpacked, Meryl went to start laundry and Don went to check their messages on the answering machine. When Meryl came out of the laundry room she was surprised that he wasn't still checking messages and going through the mail in the office. She smiled that he had already separated the mail from bills and other correspondence and saw that he threw all the junk mail away. She loved that he could be as organized as she was. Meryl started to head back to their bedroom to see if he was in there then something up in his studio caught her eye. She saw him just standing there in the middle of the loft area. Not only did she fall deeper in love with him in that instant; her heart also hurt for all that they had gone through. She quietly walked up the stairs and then wrapped her arms around him from behind. "You okay, handsome?"

"I'm so glad you and Henry are back here where you belong." Don said turning around and holding her tightly. "I'm not going to think about the what ifs because it's too awful to do that. I am only going to cherish you and Henry and our baby. I'm never going to take our AMAZING lives for granted EVER again."

Meryl was blinking back tears as she rubbed soothing circles on his back and she laid her head on his chest. "I can't think about the what ifs either; not just with me and Henry but when he shot you. Things could be so different; and I can NOT bare to even think about it, my Don Man. You have NEVER taken our lives for granted; but I know NEITHER of us EVER will. We are back where we belong. I only want to look forward."

"Me too, Darl." Don said pulling away and kissing her lips. "Me too."

Meryl cupped his face in her hands when they broke from their kiss. "Sweetheart, what are you doing up here? You know you haven't been cleared to do stairs by yourself yet. I just don't want ANYTHING to happen to you."