What We Never Knew We Needed

Chapter 18

Don was pulling up to their house with his hand on Meryl's thigh while his other hand was on the steering wheel. Meryl had offered to drive them home from the hospital; but Don insisted he was fine. Meryl immediately noticed the moment his hand tensed and she knew why; the reason why he tensed broke his heart. "The kids are here."

"Well, Henry's car is here at least." Don sighed as he parked their car in the circle drive in front of their house. "I'm pretty sure I can guess why he is here; and I can't say that I blame him. If I knew someone had hurt you I would show up on their doorstep so fast they wouldn't know what hit them."

As soon as Don parked the car, Meryl turned to him. "Baby, they could just be checking on us. I cannot honestly believe that they are here because they believe it is true. They know you, sweetheart. Not only do they know you; but they knew we were coming here tonight. They knew we were together. They know your car. They know that you would NEVER hurt me. They have to know that, baby."

"So does Dana." Don said as his hand unconsciously went to his face. "Or at least I thought he would know that after all these years."

Meryl nodded sadly at him. "My brother has turned into a fucking lunatic. Come on sweetheart, they won't believe this. They CAN'T believe this. There is NO way they could believe this. I don't know what my brother's fucking problem is."

"It just seems like lately the kids have jumped to conclusions about me and ow I treat you." Don repeated the words he had said to her earlier.

Meryl shook her head as she ran her fingers through his hair. "The worst, unfounded, unbelievable conclusions; baby. You have NEVER laid one finger on me. You wouldn't hurt a single hair on my head. You ALWAYS put me and the kids first; especially when it came to learning who Brad was. You have NEVER cheated on me. I know that. They know that. Hell, Michael Tanner who doesn't know us NEARLY as well as our children knows that."

"I NEVER have." Don said strongly. "I haven't even THOUGHT about it. Why would I go ANYWHERE else when I have the best and most gorgeous woman in the whole universe?"

His words made Meryl smile. "I have the most sexy and perfect husband EVER. I have never thought about it either. I know about all those fucking rumors out there. No man has EVER had a prayer once I met the GREAT Don Gummer. You and our children mean EVERYTHING to me."

"I think we're still pretty smitten even after all these years." Don winked as he kissed her fingers.

Meryl laughed at him as she patted her pregnant stomach. "I think that's already been established. Sweetheart, I know you worship the ground I walk on, I do the same with you; and the kids KNOW that. Why else would they complain that we're so disgusting?"

"You're right." Don sighed. "I just don't like it when people think I hurt you. Or our children."

Meryl nodded as she unbuckled her seatbelt. "Me either, Don Man. Come on, let's go in."

"Hold on." Don said as he quickly got out of the driver's side of the car and ran over to open her car door and helped her out of the car. "Doing okay?"

Meryl smiled as she grabbed his hand. "I'm with you; I'm perfect."

***

"Okay Suze, here's the bassinet they had upstairs for Lil." Henry said setting up the bassinet in corner of the room.

Susie smiled softly at him as she laid a sleeping Lily in her bassinet. "Thanks, Hen Man."

"Fuck." Mamie said slamming the phone down. "I can't get ahold of them."

Louisa came into the kitchen. "Well, I found Mom's phone in the bedroom their obviously staying in down here like at the apartment. Their bedroom looks like they were in a hurry. They have their bathing suits on the floor."