To Everything, There Is A Season

Chapter 17

Meryl stirred awake when she felt someone poking her eyes. She pulled the little person closer to her. "Hen, go back to sleep for Mommy."

"Aunt Mawa." Suzie's little voice quivered. "I scawed."

Meryl immediately woke up when she knew it was her and Don's goddaughter who needed her. She sat up and pulled Suzie to sit on her lap. "Hey, sweetie girl. I'm right here. Do you want to go out in the other room and play with me while Uncle Don and Henry sleep?"

"Uh uh." Suzie's little lip quivered. "Wan Mommy and Daddy."

Meryl's heart broke for ht little girl; she was sure she was confused. She took Suzie into her arms, kissed her head and started to get out of bed. "I know you do, baby; we will see them later today. Come on, sweetheart."

"Mer?" Don started to wake up when he heard his wife's voice and crying. "Are you okay?"

Meryl walked to Don's side of the bed with Suzie still in her arms and kissed her husband's head as she continued to try to soothe Suzie. "She just missed her Mommy and Daddy. We'll go into the other room to play."

"I'll come with you." Don said as he got out of bed and held out his arms to his goddaughter, he always had a soft spot in his heart for their goddaughter. "Come here, Suzie girl."

Suzie immediately leaped into her Uncle Don's arms. "I scawed."

"Aunt Meryl and I are right here with you, pretty girl." Don said soothingly as he rubbed Suzie's back and kissed the top of her head as he and Meryl walked into the living room. "It's okay."

Meryl watched as Don sat on the couch with Suzie, pulling a book out of her bag, and started to ready to their goddaughter. Meryl sat there next to the two as she watched him, as she saw how he immediately made Suzie feel better. She ran her fingers soothingly through Suzie's hair, and then kissed her husband's cheek, whispering in his ear. "I can't wait to see you with our daughter."

"I hope our next baby is a girl that looks just like you." Don whispered as he kissed his wife's lips and then looked down at the little girl sitting on his lap. "Until then we have Suzie girl to practice on."

Meryl nodded with a laugh as she noticed Suzie seemed to be preoccupied with the pictures in her book. "We are lucky to have such an amazing goddaughter. She's family."

"She is, absolutely." Don kissed the top of Suzie's head as he smiled at Meryl. "Remember when we first saw her?"

***

"Baby, do you think you bought Susan Elizabeth enough gifts?" Don laughed as he and Meryl made their way through the hospital to go see Larry, Liz, and Suzie. "Did you buy out the baby department?"

Meryl playfully smacked Don's arm as they made their way to the obstetrics floor of New York Presbyterian on Halloween. "This is your brother from another mother's daughter, your niece, and you have known Liz for as long as you have Larry-they are family; we are both excited."

"Just a little bit." Don laughed with a quick kiss to his bride's lips. "Besides, she is OUR niece."

Meryl smiled at him as they were both carrying gifts for baby Brown. "She is. I didn't spend too much did I? I kind of go crazy when it comes to babies."

"I think it's pretty darn cute, Mrs. Gummer." Don flirted with his wife. Ever since they got the call that little Susan Elizabeth Brown was born he couldn't stop thinking about starting a family with Meryl. He knew it wouldn't be for a while as they had just celebrated their 1 month anniversary the day before. He wanted to enjoy her, wanted to enjoy being husband and wife for a while before having a baby; but secretly, he absolutely couldn't wait. "Baby, I've told you, we are fine financially. We are more than fine. I think it's cute you're so excited."