Sunday brought several happy visitors. They were thrilled that Francie was awake and safe. None were as happy as Marley.
"Okay, Baby Doll, remember what I told you," Kendall held his daughter and looked into her eyes, the same shade of green as his own. "I know you're excited to see Mommy, but we have to keep it down and be gentle, okay?"
"Okay, Daddy. I promise to be good. I can't wait to give Mommy the picture I made."
Father and daughter neared the waiting room, Kendall's parents followed behind.
"I'm sure she'll love it. I can't wait to see it, too."
Marley had guarded the picture since she drew it, not wanting anyone to see it until her mommy had.
"Uncle James!" The little girl squealed, seeing James in the waiting room. Kendall put his daughter down and watched her run into the arms of his tall friend.
"Blondie!" James hugged the girl, tightly. "I missed you, little one." James' heart ached for the child he would never hold, and Kendall knew it. He could see it all over James' face.
"I missed you, too. Are you home for good?" Marley looked at James with hopeful eyes.
"I have to leave on Tuesday but I'm coming back a few days later. After that, I'll be home for a long time, I promise." James playfully poked the little girl's button nose.
"Good, me and Mommy miss you when you're gone."
"Aw, Blondie, I miss you and your mommy, too." James kissed Marley's blonde head. "Come on, let's go see your mom."
James put Marley down and looked to Kendall's parents, smiling. He stepped forward to greet the couple.
"Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt. Thank you for coming in to help with Marley, we all appreciate it."
"We're happy to, dear. Besides, it gives us some time with our granddaughter." Kathy hugged James. "We're so sorry about the baby." She whispered in James' ear.
"We are, son, very sorry," Kent agreed, patting James on the back.
"Thank you. I'm sure Kendall told you," James slid his eyes to Kendall, then back again, "Francie took it really hard, but she's strong, she's coping."
Marley impatiently tugged at Kendall's hand. Taking the hint, Kendall said, "Okay, okay, let's go see Mommy."
James tapped at the door to Francie's room, then opened it. Francie, Dom, and Sophia looked over at James.
"I have a special visitor for you, Sweetness."
Sophia stood, and she and Dom excused themselves for another round of visitors. They slid out of the door and kissed their granddaughter, and her father. They greeted the Schmidts, as well.
James leaned in close to Kendall and spoke softly. "You go ahead in with Marley and your parents. I'll wait."
The nursing staff had eased up on the two visitor rule, since Francie was showing progress and would likely be out if the ICU very soon.
"No, you're coming in with us." Kendall didn't want to push James out.
"It's okay, go ahead. I'll go next. Besides, Marley may need her..." The pained expression clouded James' face again, "...her dad."
"No way, James, you're a part of Marley's life, too. You heard her, she missed you. Here, you carry her in to see her mom."
Kendall lifted Marley and handed her to James who, in turn, smiled at his friend, appreciating being included in the family unit. He nodded his acceptance.
James stepped through the door with Marley in his arms. "Special visitor for Francie Mancini." James grinned at Francie.
"Mommy!" Marley was excited to see her mom.
Francie's face lit up at the sight before her. Her sweet girl in her love's arms.
"Hey, Princess!" Francie held her uncast arm out for her child.
James carefully sat Marley on the bed, next to Francie. Marley curled into her mother's side and snuggled in. Francie cried silently for the child she lost, as she held onto Marley.
Oh, Marley, I'm sorry. I know how much you would have loved your baby brother or sister. Maybe one day, Princess, you'll get your younger sibling.
"Mommy, I made you a picture." Marley unfolded the paper she clutched in her hand.
There were four people in the picture: Marley, Kendall, James, and Francie. The young artist drew her father playing his guitar while James sat at his piano. Marley drew herself in her mother's arms, dancing around the room, as two puppies chewed on bones in the lower corner of the page. At the top, Marley had written in capital letters, 'MY FAMILY'.
"Baby, it's beautiful." Francie wiped the tears from her cheek. "I love it!" She handed the picture to Kendall, then greeted Kendall's parents, thanking them, as James had done before, for their help.
Kendall examined the picture Marley had drawn and grinned, handing the picture to James. Kendall watched as tears came to his friend's eyes and Kendall knew that he was touched by Marley's picture, as well as sad for the child that wouldn't be in any of Marley's future masterpieces.
James has a child...my child, Francie's child...Marley. He may not be blood, but he's an important part of her life. I hope he knows that.
"See," Kendall whispered, as he rested his arm across James' shoulder, "even Marley knows that you are part of our family."
James nodded and wiped away his tears, his heart swelled with love, acceptance, and belonging. He did have a family, and he loved them very much. He beamed with pride at the little girl sitting beside her mom, being careful not to wiggle and squirm. It was the best medicine Francie, and James, could have.
After the visit with Marley, Kendall and Francie tried to convince James to go home and get some rest. Kendall promised that he would drive James back to the hospital later. James gave in.
Kendall followed James into the house, carrying his bag for his friend. He was going to make sure that James got some rest, if he had to tuck him in himself.
Both men dodged the rambunctious puppies, romping at their feet. James walked into the front room and his eyes fell to the blankets, and pillows, in front of the fireplace. A gnawing feeling in his stomach made him wonder who was sleeping where the night of the ice storm.
"Okay," Kendall followed James' path into the front room, "let's get you settled. Want me to make you a sandwich while you hit...the...shower?" Kendall saw James scrutinizing the crumpled bedding on the floor and his stomach tightened with apprehension.
Shit! In all the craziness, I forgot to pick up the blankets and pillows. Fuck! Francie's bra and panties! Kendall scanned the floor for the damning evidence of his sexual interlude with Francie. Where, in the hell, are they?!
James tried to control his jealously and contain the unsettling thoughts in his head. He turned to Kendall wanting answers.
"What's this?" James tried his best to smile through the pain at the though of what may have happened on that wintry night. "Did you have a camp out, or something?"
"Yeah, um, sort of." Kendall shrugged, trying his damnedest to look nonchalant, "We drank coffee, and played with the puppies, in front of the fire while we waited for the power to come on..."
I've got to distract you. Sorry, James, but I have to...
"...before the call with Amber." Kendall hated throwing that tidbit at James but it was necessary.
Anger flashed across James' face at the mention of Amber. Her very name filled him with disgust. James' thoughts switched from that horrid woman to Kendall's explaination. He knew what Kendall said sounded plausible, and he accepted the explaination, all the while chastising himself for his suspicion.
I'm being ridiculous. They would never have done that.
"Go ahead, man, hop in the shower. I'll get this mess straightened up." And find Francie's unmentionables. Please, James, just go...
James grinned and nodded. "Thanks, Kendall." James pat his friend on the shoulder, feeling foolish for thinking the worst of Kendall and Francie. "You're a good friend."
Yeah, that's what I am, alright, Kendall thought sarcastically.
He managed a small smile for James' benefit. "I'll have a sandwich and a beer waiting for you when you get out."
James turned and headed for the master bathroom. Kendall made quick work of digging through the rumbled linens and found the matching bra and panties he removed from Francie's body in the early hours of his birthday. He carried the pink and black delicates to the laundry room, recalling how it felt to touch, and be touched by, Francie. Kendall threw the silky garments in the hamper, along with the covers that the two, former lovers, had shared their hours of passion on, and under.
Kendall located clean blankets and pillowcases from the linen closet and made up the bed for James. When he finished that task, Kendall hightailed it back downstairs and picked up the buttons that Francie had ripped from his shirt. Confident that all signs of their secret had been removed, he made a sandwich for James and popped open two beers.
James removed his shirt and turned on the shower, warming the water to a comfortable temperature. Carefully, he removed the bandage from the upper part of his left arm, and smiled at what he saw. James ran his hand over the inked art, embedded under his skin. He couldn't wait to show Francie, to see her reaction. James had played the moment over in his mind time and again, with the same outcome. He had to wait for right moment and, James knew, it was fast approaching.
James finished undressing and stepped into the inviting warmth of the shower. As the warm water cascaded over James' exhausted body, he thought about Francie and how great it will be to come home to her, to their house, and lay beside her in their bed. It's been so long since James had curled up next to Francie's warm body, he missed it, he missed her.
James lathered soap over his left arm and smiled again. He let his doubts and questions about Francie and Kendall fade from his mind except for one. At some point, he'd have to ask why, when James got to the hospital, Kendall was wearing one of his t-shirts.
On Monday, Francie was moved from ICU after getting the 'all clear' from Josh. If things continued to go well, she would be able to go home in a few days. James knew that he would be leaving town tomorrow evening, without Francie, and disappointment flooded his soul. He didn't want to leave her, or Marley.
James looked at the picture taped to the wall by Francie's bed, the picture that Marley had drawn of her family...THEIR family. He couldn't leave them. James looked from the picture to Francie.
"Maybe I can postpone it." James was sitting next to Francie, in her hospital bed.
"No, James, you can't. Go, I'll be fine." She rubbed his denim clad thigh.
"But I don't want to leave you, Sweetness. You're still in the hospital, and..." James stopped short of reminding Francie of the miscarriage.
"Go, I'm serious. Wrap it up and come back home to me." Francie smiled at him. "When you return, I'll be out of here and back home, at our home, waiting for you, Bello."
James stared into Francie's eyes. The amount of love he felt for her still amazed him.
She's so selfless, so caring, so...perfect. I'm lucky to have her and her love.
"Okay, but when I get back I'm not leaving again without you."
Francie smiled, "Deal. Next job you get, I'll go, too. We'll work it all out."
James flashed a quick smile and kissed Francie.
"You make me so damn happy, you know that?" James caressed Francie's cheek.
Francie felt herself blush. Still, that nagging feeling, that there was something she had to remember, made itself known. Francie smiled through it and kissed her boyfriend.