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Episode
23 Scene 1: Dinah climbed the stairs to Chris and Jesse's bedroom. Gently pushing the door open, she peered into the semi-lit room. Jesse was fast asleep, his small chest rising and falling with deep breaths. She glanced over at Chris who was watching her intently. Stepping into the room she went to his bed and sat on the floor next to him. "What's the matter Chris?" She asked in a hushed voice. "Can't sleep?" Chris rolled over in the bed and looked at her with alert eyes. "Dinah, is my dad home?" He asked in return. "No, Chris, he called though. He has to stay with your mom at the hospital," Dinah replied casually. Mr. Mason had made a point of telling her not to let on how difficult Mrs. Mason's labor was. No need to worry them, he had said. "Is my mom dying?" Chris pressed. "No!" She reached over and messed his hair. "Mom's have to stay in the hospital to wait for their new babies, that's all. Your dad is staying to keep her company that's all. He said you two are going to have a beautiful baby brother or sister tomorrow and he would call as soon as he knew for sure which one it was going to be." Chris nodded but the look in his eyes was unbelieving. He turned his head towards the window and let out a yawn. "I can go to sleep now," he said keeping his back to her. Dinah stood and went back to the door. "If you need anything Chris, I'll be staying until your dad gets home, okay?" She caught a small nod from Chris and closed the door. Poor kid, she thought, he's probably scared out of his mind for his mother. Scene 2: Jamie leaned against the wall in the cafeteria, drinking his coffee slowly. It had been an exceptionally long night and he wished with all his heart that it would be over soon. Michaela was having a hellish time with the labor. If the baby didn't come soon, he was sure the doctors would have to do a c-section. At this point, Jamie thought, anything was preferable than to watching his wife in so much agony. He'd left the delivery room to make the phone call to Dinah and had yet to make his way back into the room. "How is she doing?" His mother asked at his elbow. Jamie jumped at her voice, managing to keep his coffee from spilling down his front completely. Gwen offered him a napkin but he waved it away. "She's tired but hanging in there," he replied motioning to a table nearby. "Dr. Stafford said if she was still having problems in an hour he was going to do a c-section." Gwen settled into a chair and stared up at Jamie. "Is that really necessary?" Jamie pulled out the chair opposite her and sat down, setting his coffee on the table. "Dr. Stafford thinks so. She said it would be less stress on the baby." "Oh Jamie...I'm so sorry," Gwen said laying her hand across his. "This is the last thing you two needed." "What does that mean, Mother? I'd say our lives are pretty good." "Well, I just meant this nonsense with Hallie..." Jamie frowned. Hallie was hardly his concern right now. "It's just that she's made herself such a nuisance," Gwen continued. "I've tried to talk to her but she is behaving terribly." "I don't see that she's being anything but herself, Mother," Jamie cut in sharply. "And to be honest, Hallie and her fiancé are the furthest things from my mind right now." "Excuse me, Mr. Mason?" Jamie swung around to the nurse who tapped his shoulder. "Your wife is ready to deliver. Dr. Stafford thinks you should join her now." Without a second glance at his mother, Jamie leapt from his chair and ran the length of the hallway to the elevators. As long as everything would just be okay, he prayed as the doors slid open. Scene 3: Chris crept out of his bed and tiptoed to the window. He had seen his mother earlier...not Micki, because she was in the hospital...but his real mother. He had seen her while he and Jesse were playing catch in the front yard. He had dropped his ball quickly and grabbed Jesse's hand, leading him indoors as quickly as he could. His real mother wasn't nice and with both Dad and Micki at the hospital, he was the only one left to protect Jesse from having to go there too. Dinah was nice, but she had no idea about his mother. Chris knew and he wasn't about to let Jesse get hurt too. He pulled the curtains back a little and gazed down at the street. It was quiet but well lit and he could see her sitting in that big blue car he'd seen around the neighborhood. The car was parked just to the side of the house in front of the Kinsey's house next door. Chris let the curtains fall closed again and inched his way back to his bed, careful not to wake Jesse. She'd been around for a long time, Chris realized, just watching them. He'd seen her at Grandma Gwen's house and again one day while shopping with Dad. Of course he hadn't said anything to Dad. That would only have upset him and Chris never wanted to see his dad upset again. He had caused his dad enough worry. He supposed his mother only wanted to talk to him, but Chris was still very much afraid of her. Afraid that she would put him in the hospital again. Afraid that she would make Dad and Micki cry again. Afraid that she would try to hurt Jesse. She could do what she wanted to him, Chris decided as he lay back on the bed, but she couldn't hurt Jesse or his folks again. No, he would have to deal with his mother all on his own. He might only be seven years old, but he could take care of this himself. There was no need to worry anyone else. His family had enough to worry about with bringing his new brother or sister home from that terrible place. This was one problem he intended to take care of on his own. Scene 4: Gwen waited anxiously in the cafeteria for Jamie to reappear with news of a new grandchild. Her stomach was twisted in knots while she waited. She hoped for Jamie's sake that everything turned out well. Since his return, he'd been faced with more stress than she had anticipated. Hallie had been an absolute brat about the whole ME shake-up. If it weren't for Hallie's desire to have her engagement party at Four Winds, she would be creating quite the ruckus, Gwen thought. Of course, who was to say that Hallie wasn't raising a ruckus right now? She could very well be plotting something very quietly. The only one who would know would be Luke and he would very likely keep his mouth shut. Stephen Roth might have an idea what Hallie could be up to, Gwen reminded herself as she refilled her coffee mug. She would have to see him soon. He could be of great service to Jamie. She would also check in with a few of her friends on the fund raising committees at the Foundation. There was a chance, however remote, that Hallie might have clued one of them in to something. If nothing else, they might have heard some gossip that Gwen would need to know. And of course, there was the engagement party coming soon. Hallie had wanted a full blown barbeque and ball, Gone With the Wind style, but Gwen would have none of that. She did not want to insult some of her friends with it. Though the idea itself was interesting, it had been overdone. She could have the barbeque and gala but it would be a modern affair without hoop skirts and without the melodrama. Gwen would make sure it went off without a hitch but there was no second guessing her willful niece. She returned to her seat and waited patiently for Jamie to reappear, mentally recapping everything that would need to be done before June 30, the day Hallie had requested for her gala. There was a caterer to consider, Hallie wanted a real barbeque after all, and musicians for the day and evening. She would need to hire a valet service and serving staff. Hallie had better appreciate this, she thought. "Mother?" She glanced up quickly and met Jamie's wide blue eyes. His face was pale and his eyes weary with worry and exhaustion. "Jamie? Is everything all right?" She asked. She stayed glued to her chair as Jamie knelt in front of her. "Everything is fine," he said softly. "Michaela is fine. She's sleeping now." "And?" "And Lily Celeste Mason is doing fine too," he grinned. "Oh Jamie!" Gwen wrapped her arms around Jamie is a tight hug. She felt the tiniest shudder of relief pass through Jamie as he relaxed and let her embrace him. |
