Chapter 16
Fenton was going home eight days later. He walked up to his rancher home in Arlington very slowly clutching a heart shaped pillow. Joe and Laura were with him. Laura unlocked the door and they entered the house. Fenton went straight to his recliner and sat down. Joe elevated his legs. Fenton took a deep breath and coughed painfully. Joe rubbed his arm soothingly. "Keep doing that from time to time to prevent pneumonia."
"I will Joe. Call Frank and let him know that I'm home."
Joe nodded and pulled out his phone.
Laura brought a large insulated cup full of ice water to the end table beside his chair. She also placed a bell beside him. "Call me if you need to get up. I mean it Fenton."
"Yes dear."
Joe hung up. "Frank's going to stop by after he visits Callie."
Callie was waiting for a visit from her husband. It was a week after Fenton's discharge from the hospital. She was anxious to hear how Fenton and Claire were doing. She was much better on her new drug regimen and would probably be discharged tomorrow. She was eager to get home. That's when she saw him. Callie's eyes brightened. She went to meet him.
Frank pulled her into a long hug and kissed her. "Hey beautiful."
"Hello. I have a lot to talk to you about."
Frank found a quiet corner and sat down. She sat beside him and took his hand. Frank kissed her again. "Sounds good."
"How are Claire and Fenton?"
"Dad is doing well. Claire is doing fine. The doctor wants to keep her at the house until after her surgery, so she's going to get a homebound teacher."
"I'm not happy with our current and past pediatricians. This should have been caught."
"Agreed. Are Rick and Ginny really moving to Arlington?"
"Yes they are. The practices where they work are closing. Ginny's brother works in DC. So they want to move closer to us. I'm going to lend Rick the capital to start his own pediatric practice. Ginny is coming to Dr. Wagner's practice."
Frank squeezed her hand. "That is all good news."
Callie said. "They want to discharge me tomorrow."
Frank smiled. "Even better news. We all miss you."
"I miss you guys too. So how scary was I?"
"You were having a psychotic episode. You aren't responsible for what happened."
"I know, I must have scared Brooke and Claire senseless though."
"They were very worried. We all were. But you're doing better now."
Callie rested her head on his shoulder. "This time it came on so suddenly and more intensely."
Frank kissed her hair. "I'm sorry for that."
"Me too."
Frank had something he wanted to talk to his wife about but didn't know how to broach the subject.
Callie looked up at him. She saw his look. She elbowed him playfully. "What's on your mind?"
"Thinking about us and thinking about Brooke and Ben."
Callie said. "They've gotten really close. I've talked with both the girls about sex and boys. I hope they come to me when they're ready to make that leap. I think Brooke and Ben are very close to going all the way and wouldn't be surprised if it happens within the next six months."
"I'm not sure if I'm ready for that."
"It's coming our way like it or not Frank."
"I know and it's not like we are going to trick our kids the way your dad did with us."
"Absolutely."
"Did I ever tell you about coming home after our first time."
"I don't think so. Why?"
Frank chuckled. "Mom came up to my room. She put a box of condoms on my dresser. She said. I assume you used protection and will continue to be smart. Did I have any questions? I said. No ma'am. I was completely stunned. I mean how could she possibly know we made love after homecoming?"
Callie smiled. "You must have been mortified. We were sixteen and so in love. My mom never confronted me. But she did push for me to be on birth control for my heavy periods. I guess looking back she felt like I needed it. I'll talk to Brooke."
"Better you than me. She was blushing when I asked where she went yesterday."
"I hope they discharge me early tomorrow. How are the boys?"
"Ford is obsessed with his baby brother. I caught him trying to change his diaper the other day."
Callie laughed. "Really! That's funny! He's got a nurturing soul." She trailed her finger down his cheek. "Like someone else I know."
Frank kissed her. "You bring out the best in me."
Callie leaned over. "I've really missed you. I miss going to sleep in your arms, and waking up beside you in the morning."
"Soon baby. What meds are you on?"
"The same combo as before with geodon added."
Frank remembered. "Are you feeling any head fog?"
"Not like before. I do a little."
The psych tech came over to them. "Sorry but visitation is over."
Frank stood up. Callie pulled him into her arms and kissed him. The kiss simmered with heat and left him completely breathless. For a moment he forgot where they were. He broke the kiss. "I'll see you tomorrow. Call me."
"I will."
Frank kissed her, turned and waved, and left the unit with the other visitors. Frank drove to his father and mother's home. He pulled up to the curb and went through the front door with his key. He walked into the den and saw his dad watching the news. He looked better. "Hey there."
Fenton turned. "Hey. How's Callie?"
"She's doing well, they are talking about discharging her tomorrow."
Laura came into the den. "That's good news. Is Claire doing okay being at home."
"Oh she's not happy one bit, but understands. Brooke picks up her school work daily on her way home from school. Her homebound teacher teaches her for a couple hours twice a week. She's a science teacher at the school. Claire works on it the next day. It's been working out. I took a leave of absence."
Fenton chuckled. "Bet Gray wasn't happy."
"It was either that or my resignation. So he was happy to give me the leave."
Laura sat in her own recliner. "You are entitled to that time under FMLA because of both Callie and Claire."
Frank said. "I also want to get Claire into some counseling. She's having anxiety issues due to the shooting incident and she's not coping well with this heart condition."
Fenton coughed. "That's a good idea. A lot of those kids are going to need some help. From what Claire told me she was right by the door sitting on the floor against the desk that was barricading the door. She could see the door handle turn."
Laura shuddered. "So terrifying."
Frank sat on the sofa. "Agreed. I just hope everything settles down."
"It will." Laura said.
Frank looked at his watch. "I have to get home. Claire shouldn't be there by herself for long. I know George and Joanne are there but still." He kissed his mother, then his father. "I'll call you tomorrow."
