Endings and Beginnings

Chapter 98

Meryl was sitting down while rocking Brady back and forth in her arms; while her foot moved the stroller back and forth in order to keep Mags asleep. She felt some pulls on her stomach whenever she did that; but she didn't care. She was going solo with twins at the moment and she would do whatever she could to keep them happy and safe. Just as she would for her husband; that's why they were there. Meryl bent down and kissed her infant son. "You're Mommy's sensitive boy, aren't you? Always feeling when something isn't right around you. I don't think you're hungry. If you could hold off until Mommy has some help so I can feed both you and your little sister at the same time then I would really appreciate it." Meryl sighed when Don's cell phone rang. She didn't bother grabbing hers before she left. She had his. It was good enough. She smiled when the song Brown Eyed Girl started playing for the ringtone and she knew immediately who it was. "Hey, Lou Lou."

"Mama." Louisa cried. "I tried calling your cell phone a few times; but since you texted us from Daddy's phone I thought I would try his phone."

Meryl's heart broke at her daughter's anguish. "He's going to be okay, sweetheart, his vitals are strong. They are running some tests. He had the most peaceful look on his face when he took him for testing. I still feel him, Lou; I have to believe he will be okay."

"What happened?" Louisa asked.

Meryl sighed. "He had a moment of temporary amnesia regarding the first trip we took together when we were dating. I was upset because I hate this for him. He then had a memory from when I had temporary amnesia when I was pregnant with the twins; and how much that broke him. My amnesia was only for 5 minutes; and he said he couldn't imagine how I was hurting knowing how he hurt when I had the temporary amnesia. All the stress and everything came crashing down around him; everything is so jumbled for him with his brain trauma. He collapsed on his knees and hit his head with his hands wanting to remember so badly. Baby, he was NOT a threat to himself or me. Also, he's not crazy or unstable. The doctor and EMTs said this is completely normal with brain trauma. He deserved to breakdown. So much shit has happened to him. His eyes rolled in the back of his head and he passed out. Then I texted you kids and Larry and Liz. His vitals are strong." Meryl said again. "I kept talking to him. He's going to come back to us. I have to believe it."

"How are you so strong, Mama?" Louisa choked.

Meryl looked down at Brady who was now sleeping, at Mags who was sleeping in the stroller and her eye caught her wedding band. "Your father; and you kids."

"I'm reorganizing some things." Louisa said. "I'll be home..."

Meryl cut her off. "No, you stay at school. You will be home in a week. Your father would want you to stay; he wants you to stay. We'll see you for Thanksgiving though I have no idea what we'll do since I still can't really do anything; and your father is sticking to that."

"Of course he is." Louisa said; having already known the results from her parents' and brother's and sister's appointments earlier that day. "You'll keep me updated?"

Meryl nodded with a small smile. "I promise, baby girl. Listen, I know how hard it is to be so far away with all of this going on; but you, Louisa Gummer, are doing what we want you to do. You just blow those Vassar professors out of the water."

"Okay, I love you, Mama." Louisa choked. "Tell Daddy I love him?"

Meryl was blinking back tears. "Of course; and we love our Lou Lou so much. I'll call soon, bye." Meryl took a deep breath as she ended the call and closed her eyes. "Come on, Don, please be okay."

***

"Mom!" Henry said running in to the waiting room with his wife by his side pushing their daughter in stroller, his sisters and in-laws behind him. "What's going on?"