"I thought I was dreaming last night. But when I woke up and you were in my arms I knew that it was true. I love you so much Amy. I am just happy to have you back in my life." Ricky said in a soft voice.
"I love you too. And I am glad to be back home too." Amy said and then she laid ontop of him and kissed him for a few minutes and then she smiled back at him.
"Amy we have to get the kids up soon." Ricky said as he saw the more confident side of Amy that she had lost after her accident.
"Yeah I know. I just have missed you so much and I want to spend some time alone with you. I just wish Lucy was here with us and John and Anna. It doesn't feel complete without her here." Amy said with bit of sadness in her voice.
Ricky put his arms around her a little tighter. Amy leaned in closer to his chest. And then Ricky wiped away her tears. He gave her a kiss on her cheek. "I know honey. But I also know that one day she will be here with us. We just have to stay strong and think positive thoughts. I love you for your wonderful and generous heart." Ricky said as he gave her a smile and then Amy gave him a smile.
"So what do you want to do today after we go and visit Lucy?" Ricky asked Amy.
"Um well we have a ton of things to get and do before Lucy comes home. I mean we haven't even gotten the crib or anything ready. I just would feel a lot better if we did that. It would make it seem like she is going to be alright and she will be home soon." Amy said as she looked into Ricky's eyes.
"Yeah we can do that. I am going to get John and Anna up and ready to go. I'll be back in a few minutes." Ricky said as he got up and gave Amy one last kiss and then left their bedroom and went to the kids rooms. Amy smiled to herself as she thought about her kids and her husband. Life felt like it was falling back into place. Although she had a few pieces missing still she felt good about her future.
Amy's phone rang a few seconds. Amy picked it up and then hit talk. "Hello?" Amy said into her cell phone.
"Hi Amy, it's Adrian. I was wondering if you would like to come over to our house for dinner and we could talk for a while too." Adrian said with a bit of hestitation in her voice.
Amy tried to place what she was feeling but couldn't. "Um let me check with Ricky, but it shouldn't be a problem. Did you want us to bring over a dish or something special for dinner?" Amy asked her.
"No we have everything all ready. Bryan and I would just like to talk to you and Ricky and catch up some more. So we will see you about seven?" Adrian said hopeful.
"Yeah we will be there. Bye." Amy said into the phone but something just felt off to her. And she didn't know what it was.
"Ok great. Bye Amy." Adrian replied and hung up the phone.
Amy hung up her phone and set on her nightstand next to her bed. Then she laid on her bed looking up at the ceiling. The entire conversation left a bad feeling over Amy. She just could not shake. She got up off her bed and then she got dressed. Then she went into the kitchen and she made breakfast for everyone. After the kids were dressed and fed then they all got into Amy's SUV and went out shopping.
Ricky and Amy went to go to the hospital to visit Lucy for a few hours and then they went and picked up the kids from Amy's parents house and then they went bought furniture and everything that Lucy could need when she got home from the hospital. Then they ate out for lunch. And then they went home and put the crib and changing table together and put it into Anna's room where the girls would live together. Then Amy washed clothes and bedding and got them put away and the room was all set for when Lucy would come home. Anna had gone down for a nap and so had John. John normally didn't take naps anymore but the long day wore him out. Ricky and Amy were curled up on the couch in the living room and Amy could not get Adrian's phone call and her tone of voice out of her head.
"Ricky I am worried about Adrian. She sounded off on the phone. I mean I do not really know her as well as I once did but I could tell she was trying to keep her voice even and steady but it seemed like she had a sad tone to her voice. It is probably nothing. What do you think?" Amy asked Ricky.
"It could be with Bryan going overseas in four months. Maybe she is scared cause they just bought a house and that is a huge responsiblity. Or maybe she is scared cause she is pregnant with twins. Or maybe Bryan's ex is causing trouble again. It could be anything. Or maybe she is tired and wore out. Or maybe it's because Bryan asked to adopt Hope perhaps." Ricky said as he thought about it.
"Why would that upset her?" Amy asked Ricky with a bit of confusion.
"Maybe she is not ready to let go of Ben. Cause he is Hope's father and Adrian really loved him a lot. Not that she does not love Bryan. It's just hard to let someone else you love so much and had a child with fill that place. I mean Hope is Ben's daughter and she carrys his last name. And Ben would have loved Hope so much. Maybe Adrian is scared for Hope to have Bryan be officially and legally be Hope's father." Ricky said as he looked over at Amy a few times.
"No it has to be more than that. She loves Bryan and she knows Ben is gone and that Bryan would make a good father to her daughter. I just feel it's has to be something else." Amy said as she was deep in thought.
"Well no sense in worrying about it now. We will know soon enough. So why don't we just take a nap since the kids went down a few minutes ago. You could catch up on some sleep." Ricky said as he looked into her tired eyes.
"Okay. That sounds like a good idea." Amy said as they got up from the couch and went into their bedroom and fell asleep after a long day. They slept for a few hours and then later they got up and got the kids ready to go over to Adrian and Bryan's house for dinner. They drove quietly over to their new house. And then when they drove up into the driveway. Ricky got John and Amy got Anna out of the back of the car and then they walked up to the front door and rang the doorbell. Adrian opened the door and motioned for them to come in.
Bryan was sitting on the couch with Hope, Kate, and Holly. Amy, Ricky and their kids sat on the other couch across from them. Then Adrian went and sat down next to Bryan. They had a very serious look on their faces. Amy exchanged a look with Ricky who looked worried. But then he and Amy both looked back at Adrian and Bryan waiting for them to start.
"Kids why don't you go play in the girls room." Bryan told the kids. So all the girls and John went to play leaving the adults alone to talk in private.
"Bryan got a phone call last night and he found out some bad news." Adrian said as she put her hand into Bryans.
"Susan was supposed to pick up Kate and Holly two weeks ago. But she never showed or called. So I got worried and I went to her apartment. It was vacant and no one had seen her in several weeks. So I filled out a missing persons report. Yesterday the police called me. They had found someone who fit Susan's description. They found her in an alley. She had OD on drugs. It was her. I just don't know what to tell the girls but I have too. I didn't want to put this on you guys especially now but I didn't know where else to turn to. You are both my closest friends.
"Her funeral is going to be in two days. We were both wondering if you would both be there to support Byran and especially the girls. It would mean a lot to us. I know it's asking a lot." Adrian said as she looked at Amy and Ricky for a few moments.
"I am so sorry for you loss. We will both be there and if there is anything else we can do to help please let us know." Amy said as she choked back her tears.
"Amy can you stay with Adrian while I tell the girls. She really needs a friend right now. And Ricky I was wondering if you could come with me to tell them. I just cannot put Adrian through anymore stress since she is pregnant. It would mean a lot to me." Bryan asked his very good friend.
"Yeah of course." Ricky said as he and Bryan left the room and went upstairs to talk to the Holly and Kate.
Amy went over to Adrian and sat down where Bryan had just been sitting. She enclosed her arms around Adrian. Adrian broke up in tears. She held onto Amy tightly. Her tears kept coming. "Amy I am so glad your here. I just keep feeling so sad. And I just keep thinking of those two little girls who will never know there mother ever again. How can that be fair? Now Hope lost her dad and Holly and Kate lost their mom. So much pain and so much sadness. And then I tell myself I have to not stress for the babies. Because Bryan and I both want these two little ones so much. I just feel so lost and with Bryan deploying in a few months. I keep thinking what if something happens to him. Then the girls would only have me and I don't know if I can take care of them by myself." Adrian said with fear in her voice.
Amy sat there and held onto Adrian for several minutes. Both women cried for all the hard times their families were facing and would continue to face. Both of them cried until the tears finally started to stop. And then they heard the cries of two little girls whose hearts had just been broken and then they cried again at the horrible thought of those two little girls going through some of the hardest times in their lives ever.