All My Life

Chapter 43

Don felt like he had just fallen back asleep, while holding Meryl, when his cell phone rang. He quickly, and carefully, disentangled himself from his wife not wanting to wake her up. After her nightmare the night before he wanted her to get as much as sleep as possible. He noticed the sun wasn't even peeking in through the blinds yet. He worried that his cell phone was ringing so early; and he worried even more when he saw it was his mother. He turned on his side away from Meryl and the babies and talked quietly. "Ma? Is everything okay?"

"I'm sorry for calling so early." Jane sighed. "I woke you up."

Don shook his head. "It's okay; it was just kind of a rough night."

"Are you okay?" Jane asked quickly. "How about Meryl and the babies?"

Don looked back over his shoulder to make sure his wife was still asleep. "We're all okay; just one of those nights. Is everything okay with you and Dad?"

"I just got a message from the nurse through the doctor that he got Brad's results from the biopsy of the tumor they took from his brain." Jane said. "I was hoping you would be here; but if you can't I..."

Don got out of bed and was searching for his jeans in the dark. "I'll be there as soon as I can; is that okay?"

"Of course." Jane said. "The doctor said just to have him paged when we're ready. I was told it would be in the same consultation room as the other day."

Don nodded as he traded his pajama pants for his jeans and he was looking for a shirt and sweater. "I'll be there as soon as I can."

"Thank you, honey; bye." Jane said.

Once Don had dressed he quickly brushed his teeth and went over to his wife. He hated to wake her up, but he wouldn't leave without telling her; and especially not after her nightmare the night before. He sat on her side of the bed, placing soft kisses on her face. "Baby?"

"Hmmm?" Meryl asked as she was slowly waking up. "Don Man?"

Don smiled tenderly at her as he ran his fingers through her hair. "I'm sorry to wake you up, Darl."

"It's okay." Meryl said as she was trying to wake up. "Everything okay? The babies?"

Don nodded as he continued to whisper, not wanting to wake the babies. "I need to leave, baby. Mom called and the doctor wants to talk to us about Dad's tests from the tumor. You just sleep, love; and I'll come right back after we meet with him."

"You're leaving?" Meryl choked sitting up. "You're going out without us?"

Don sighed that her nightmare was obviously coming back to her. "I'll be safe; and I'm going to make sure all the doors are locked so you and the babies are safe."

"I want us to come with you." Meryl started crying as she threw herself in his arms. "I don't mean to make this harder on you, Don Man; but I really want all of us to be with you."

Don kissed her lips. "I of course want you there, but I also wanted you to sleep after last night. The sun isn't even out yet, baby."

"If I just throw on some clothes and my hair up in a pony tail can we come with you?" Meryl asked. "We can leave them in their pajamas."

As much as Don hated that his wife was hurting so much after her nightmare the night before; his heart melted that she wanted to be with him. "Of course, Darl; I always want you with me. I just wanted you and the babies to sleep."

"Always taking care of me; taking care of us." Meryl said, now feeling a little better that she and Don and the babies would all be together. She was anxious for it to be a decent time of day so that they could call Larry to make sure that Rebecca was still in jail; as well as the kids to make sure they were all alright. She quickly got out of bed and started looking for clothes; but not before placing a kiss on his lips. "I'll be quick."