All My Life

Chapter 4

The next day after doing more scans on Don's head, and happy that nothing had changed, he was released to go home. Dr. Abbott encouraged both of them to rest. Don was reminding Meryl constantly, again, that she hadn't been released yet and needed to take it easy. Dr. Abbott reminded both of them that neither of them had been released yet. Don knew it would be easier said than done keeping his wife down; but he was going to do his best.

***

Don hobbled back into the den from using the bathroom and sighed that his wife wasn't in there. He went over to the bouncy seats his babies were in next to the couch. Don sat down and bent down to pick them up; Mags first. "There's Daddy's big girl. You really need to stop growing Margaret. It makes Daddy just as sad as it makes Mommy." Margaret smiled at her father. "You already have your mother's smile." Don kissed Margaret's cheek and laid her down on the couch; then picking up his son. "You need to catch up with your sister on the eating front, little man. We want you to grow big and strong." Don said kissing his son. "Did you hog all the food when you two were cooking away; and you kept this little secret from us?" Don smiled as he got a smile out of his son. "I got a smile out of you too? It's Daddy's lucky day." Don said placing Brady down on the couch next to his sister and he turned to face them; putting a hand on each of their little torsos. Don's head turned when he heard the phone ring; but before he could do anything about it, it stopped. "I wonder who Mommy is talking to one the phone."

***

Meryl was in the kitchen getting snacks together for her and Don, as well as a bag of frozen peas for his crotch, when the house phone rang. She immediately got it thinking their babies were asleep and she didn't want it to wake them up. "Hello?"

"Hey, M." Tom, the widower of Meryl's best friend Diane who passed away almost 2 years ago, said on the other end. "How are things going? Third said you all are home."

Meryl nodded. "Hopefully we will stay that way; and no hospital visits for awhile."

"I hope not." Tom said as she stood in his kitchen in his bathrobe. "You all have sure been through it."

Meryl laughed. "We're on the other side; thank God. Now Don and I just need to get well."

"I can't believe Charlie, Charlotte and I haven't been over to meet the newest Gummers." Tom said; there was actually something he wanted to talk to his friends about, in person. "I'm so sorry."

Meryl shook her head. "We've barely been home it feels like. I can't imagine how busy our pre-teen godchildren are keeping you."

"Yeah, the single dad life sure isn't easy." Tom said. "They are dying to meet the twins; just like them. I thought I could bring them by after school today; if we won't bother you and Don."

Meryl finished getting their snacks together. "Of course not. We would love it. Charlie and Charlotte can play with the babies; and we can catch up."

"There's a lot I need to catch you and Don up on." Tom said cryptically. "Alot has happened."

Meryl could have sworn she heard a woman calling Tom back to bed; and her heart dropped. She didn't know what to think. "We'll see you this afternoon, Tom."

"Yeah, I gotta go." Tom said quickly when the new he needed to tell his friends who was calling him back to bed. "See you soon."

Meryl looked at the phone once the line went dead. Now she was sort of dreading this visit.

***

Meryl walked back into the den and saw Don making faced and playing with babies. She couldn't help the tears. "If you would have died, if I hadn't gotten you out of that fucking car in time, there is no way I could have EVER dated anyone again. Let alone let someone touch me the way you do."