Endings and Beginnings

Chapter 32

Don and Meryl had enjoyed a nice lunch out on the screened in porch together; with the babies asleep in the bassinet right there with them. Meryl had told Don it reminded her of Henry's first Thanksgiving, only 10 days after he was born, and they had come out to Mason's Island for Thanksgiving. The day after Thanksgiving Don had gone and gotten them the same meal from the same Inn; and while her parents watched Henry inside the house they had sat together and enjoyed dinner on the porch. The only thing different this time was that the babies were on the porch with them; which was exactly how they wanted it. Once they ate it was time for Meryl to nurse again they went inside. After nursing Meryl excused herself to use the restroom only to come back into the den to find Don moving the bassinet back and forth, singing softly to the babies. She was pretty sure she fell in love with him all over again right then and there as he talked and sang to the babies. "Now, your mommy has sung on famous soundtracks and everything; but she tells me I have a pretty great voice. I know I'm not Mommy but maybe my voice can help you two feel better." Meryl blinked back tears as she heard the brokenness in his voice at the last sentence; the ordinary ear probably wouldn't have heard it but because she knew him better than anyone she heard it.

Hush-a-bye, don't you cry,
Go to sleep my little babies.
When you wake you shall have
All the pretty little horses.
Black and bays, dapples, grays,
All the pretty little horses.
Hush-a-bye, don't you cry,
Go to sleep my little babies.
Hush-a-bye, don't you cry,
Go to sleep my little babies.
When you wake you shall have
All the pretty little horses.

To Meryl, there was nothing sexier than a man who was caring, loving, sensitive and a wonderful father; the fact that man was her husband, the one who had her heart for the past 34 years, made her love him even more. She went up to him and grabbed his hand. "They're asleep."

"Darl?" Don asked as she led him to the couch and laid them down so he was holding her from behind; wondering what she was up to as he wanted to add more wood to the fireplace. "I was going to go chop some more firewood and make some tea."

Meryl shook her head as she pulled his arms around her even tighter. "Don't go anywhere."

"Baby?" Don asked concerned as he moved her hair so he could kiss her neck like he knew made her feel safe and loved. "Are you feeling okay, Darl?"

Meryl pulled his hands up to her lips and kissed his hands as she sighed happily. "I'm feeling so much better, Don Man; you always make sure of it."

"Thank God." Don sighed as he kissed the back of her head and felt her heart. "I can't let anything happen to any of you."

Meryl shook her head as she closed her eyes. "You won't let it; neither of us will."

"Damn straight." Don said as his lips seemed to be glued to her neck. "Are you sure you don't want me to chop more firewood or get you some tea?"

Meryl nodded as she began to relax more in his arms. "My amazing husband is holding me while I watch our babies sleep. This is the normal I've wanted. The normal I was afraid we would lose because..."

"Shhhh...." Don leaned his head so he could kiss her lips. "Won't ever happen. This is what I want us and you to do for the next week. Relaxing. Napping. Cuddling our babies."

Meryl began to fall asleep. "Perfect."

"Yes this is." Don whispered as they both began to be lulled to sleep by the sound of their babies making sleeping sounds in the bassinet close by. THIS was what he had in mind when he suggested they go to Mason's Island for the next week. He would never forget the moments he thought she was gone from them forever and he wanted to make sure that didn't happen. He was relieved when his plan of relaxing finally worked. "Finally."