III
No other lover ever really cared You are my rock and the strength I need I never knew lonely could be so blue I can't make up for the times I've been gone I never knew lonely could be so blue
When I've reached out for you you've always been there
Now I'm so far away and baby I'm scared
I never knew lonely til you
To keep me sane in this life that I lead
Now I'm not with you and my broken heart bleeds
I never knew lonely til you
I never knew lonely could tear you in two
I never loved someone like I love you
I never knew lonely til you
But I'll prove I love you in the words of this song
Back in your arms girl it's where I belong
I never knew lonely til you
I never knew lonely could tear you in two
I never loved someone like I love you
I never knew lonely til you
Never Knew Lonely, Vince Gill
The next morning, at Jo's behest, Rose and Charlie took Bailey Warner out to breakfast. Jo's parents had begun a relationship with the young girl when she enrolled at Eastland, and had visited her with Blair and Jo several times in Peekskill. Bailey had immediately taken a shining to both of them, as they were the total opposite of her mother, and far more like Jo and Blair.
Jo had taken Monica aside, informing them of the breakfast date, and that the two of them needed to have a serious talk. Monica Warner was no fool, and she had a pretty good idea what the subject might about, which involved the "worse-case scenario" of this trying ordeal.
After Bailey had left, Jo and Monica fed David, then let him entertain himself in his bed until he fell back to sleep. He didn't fall asleep like he did when he was a newborn, but this time-for once-he cooperated with his Mama Jo and his Grandmother Warner.
"What's on your mind, Jo?" Monica hastily added an addendum to the thought. "As if you don't have enough on your mind already."
Jo nodded at the acknowledgment. "Far too much on my mind, Monica, but I need to make some decisions and find out some information, like today. They can't wait, and even with Blair still in Critical Condition-probably because of that, I just can't wait."
She told Monica about her plans to sell her business. She just didn't have the time at this point to care for DC, hold vigil for Blair, and run the motorcycle shop. Monica seemed to understand that, and could clearly see that, even with things as bad as they were with Blair, it was hurting her to give up that which she had created.
"I'm gonna contact Raburn and Garcetti later today, and talk with Marla about the sale. And within a day or two, I'm going to have to inform my workers. But that's the least of my concerns."
She had a bottle of cold water next to her, and took a large chug before continuing. "Secondly, thanks to Richard and Dwight, I've closed a deal on a large house about five minutes from here. It has seven bedrooms and six baths. It gives David and I a place to call home while here, as we just can't spend every hour here, no matter how much I want to stay next to Blair. DC needs some normalcy. There's enough space for you, and I hope you'll take a room of your own, just to get away and decompress. There's enough room for visitors to crash for the night if they come and stay, which I already know more than a few will."
"I must say, Jo", Monica noted, "that Richard and Dwight are very devoted to you and Blair, and they're very impressive young men." Jo misconstrued Monica's observation as one that suggested Blair might find them attracted. Monica saw that, and smoothly added more. "It wasn't a match-making observation, but you have two very loyal, very steadfast friends in those two. Keep them close."
"They're the best, Monica", Jo said with a small smile. "But like everyone else, I can't have their lives revolving around what's going on here. There's room for them to come up with their girlfriends and crash and hang out if they want. But they're like brothers to us, and the four of us would do anything for each other."
"One of my worries, Monica", Jo said, not ignoring the crux of why they needed to talk any longer, "is that if Blair...if Blair dies." Both women had to pause to absorb those words and that possibility again. "If Blair would die, as you've told me in the past, and what I'm aware of, is that David is not biologically mine, and it's possible I could lose him, the laws being what they are in this country when it comes to gays and lesbians. That scares me to death."
Monica was as perceptive as her late husband had been, and she could see the terror in the younger woman's eyes. The import of what Jo was alluding to was not lost on her-that she, Monica Warner, would have the right under law to whisk David away. Six months ago, that thought might have crossed her mind, but now?
Monica leaned in toward Jo. "Jo, obviously it's no secret that you and I have never gotten along, and the truth is that I'm responsible for ninety percent of why that occurred. But I have to tell you something. The other day, Edna and I were coming in to see you and David, and visit Blair. You know what we saw?" Jo shook her head. "We saw you with your computer open, a video of you and Blair singing "Dream", like the Everly Brothers. You voices blended so well", Monica said, emotion obviously building up inside of her. "I knew Blair could hold a tune, but you two sounded perfect together." Monica lowered her head. "And the look that each of you had in your eyes for the other?" Monica shook her head with irony. "I've never had anyone, not even David, look at me with such love and devotion. It took our breath away. Then we heard you talking to Blair, and how much you needed her back..."
The room went quiet, both women absorbing the emotion sweeping over both of them, Monica at what she and Edna had seen, Jo at the fact they had seen that moment.
"I always thought you had an angle in your relationship with Blair. I come from a world where everyone has an angle, or an agenda, Jo. It's the way life is in what David and I came to adulthood in. It was expected. But what I saw when you two were looking at each other-it was breath-taking.
"I don't suppose you and I will ever be buddy-buddy, but that's okay, I'm finding out. And I will never understand this...proclivity about a woman being in love with another woman. I guess I'm too ignorant and stuck in my way. What I'm trying to say is that you do not have to worry about me taking David from you. No, he's not your biologically, but he is still the product of how much you and Blair love each other, and you've become a good mother. And if anyone else would try to butt in, I'll back you a thousand percent."
Without any reluctance this time around, Jo took Monica into a hug, again the tears, which seemed endless these days, sprang from Jo's eyes, but they were tears of relief and happiness. "Thank you, Monica", she said sincerely. "You don't know what that means to me. If I lose Blair, at least I have David. If I lost both of them..."
Monica broke the embrace. "You'll always have Blair with you-in your heart, Jo. And DC is as much a part of you as he is of Blair. If Blair should succumb, David belongs only with you, no one else. And I would put my own considerable resources against anyone who tried to mess with my grandson." The last line had been delivered with a small smirk.
"I guess despite everything, Monica, The Bronx in me has worn off a little on you."
Monica burst out in a quiet but genuine laugh at the barb, which was playful. "If that's possible, anything is possible, which is why I'm convinced Blair will make it. She'll make it because she won't want to leave you or little David. On this one, Jo, I've got your back."
Not long after that, Jo called Marla Raburn, the trusted financial advisor for she and Blair. When Monica had confirmed Blair's identity, it became public knowledge, and the media had begun to camp out at the hospital in Peekskill. It became a front-page story in New York City, complete with the fact that Blair was in a same-sex relationship again.
Jo contacted Marla by phone, not daring yet to wander out into the press.
"Oh, Jo", Marla said, concern pervading her voice, "I'm so terribly sorry! I'm thrilled that DC is okay, but is there any news on Blair?"
"None, Marla", Jo said dejectedly. "She's still teetering. If they could get her damn breathing under control, and if the swelling would start to come down in that noggin' of hers, we might start seeing some progress. It's frayed my last nerve."
"I can't even imagine, sweetie", Marla replied. "What can I do for you today?"
"Marla, with everything going on-with Blair in the balance, and taking care of DC, there's no way I can leave Peekskill for a while, at least not for more than a few hours. I've decided to sell my business. I just can't divide my time right now. Blair and DC need me, and my first responsibility is to them. I'd like for Raburn and Garcetti to begin the process, if you can?"
"Of course we can, Jo. Get me a fax number at the hospital, and I can send you over the necessary paperwork to begin it."
"I'm actually gonna need to drive to Brooklyn in the next few days and talk to my employees. Myles and Fran have been running the place, and doing a great job, but I can't keep this from them, and they need to hear it from me face-to-face."
"You could make one stipulation of the sale keeping those employees, at least for a year or so? Would you want me to put that in?"
"Yeah", Jo said thoughtfully, "I gotta take care of them. When I visit them, I can swing by and drop off the paperwork to you. I'll letcha know what day and approximately what time I'll be there."
"Sounds like a plan Jo. Jo?"
"Yeah, Marla?"
"Please, give a hug and a kiss to David, and a kiss for Blair. I'm thinking of all of you. I wish there was more that I could do."
"Thanks, Marla, you're a champ. Right now, the future is out of our hands, as far as Blair goes, but I'll take all the prayers we can get."
Two days later, with her mother, Charlie, and Monica watching over David, Jo drove to Brooklyn to visit her staff at the dealership. She was dreading this, even though it was the easiest and most logical call to make under the circumstances. DC needed to be the center of her life right now, while keeping watch on Blair. She was frightened to death to be gone from Blair, even if for a few hours. Her breathing was a little better, but the hospital team not ready to remove her ventilator, and the swelling in her brain had gone down a little bit over the last twenty-four hours, but she was still on the edge between life and death.
She had called every employee the night before, telling them there was a mandatory meeting the next day at 8am, just before the store opened. When Jo said "mandatory", she meant it. She arrived about 8am, smiling as she entered the shop, perhaps for the last time as owner. She was so damn proud of what she accomplished and of the fine staff that made the shop what it was. Easy call or not, it was ripping her insides out.
"I called all of you in here to let you know that, with Blair's life still hanging in the balance, and now having to be a full-time mom to David, that I'm going to be selling the dealership."
All of her employees had been deeply concerned about not just their boss, but Blair as well, whom they adored. As the senior staff members, Myles Fremont and Fran Bremmer had called her a few times to keep updated, and to offer their support. They especially took the news hard.
"I've already stipulated that, as part of the sale that you guys will all keep your jobs. Anyone who doesn't want to agree to that won't be buying this place. But as much as I love it here, I have no choice right now. My family has to come first."
Fran stepped up and gave Jo a warm hug. "This is a no-brainer, Jo, even though I'm heartbroken over losing you as our boss." She squeezed Jo hard. "Nothing new in Blair's condition?"
"As I told Myles the other day, her breathin' has gotten a little better, and the swelling in her brain is finally going down, but she's far from being outta the woods."
The very tall, personable Myles, who had been as good a sales person as she'd ever seen, stepped up, wrapping his boss and friend in his own hug. "When things start straightening out, Jo, you better not be a stranger around here. We're not just your employees. We're your friends and we love you so much."
"I know, Myles", Jo said, losing her composure finally. "I love all you guys-every one of you. One reason someone will snap this place up is that you guys are the best in New York at what we do. I promise, when Blair and DC are well enough, we'll be in to visit."
"Please", Myles said sadly, "please give Blair a kiss for all of us? David, too? They're like family to us."
Jo broke the hug and smiled up at the man. "You know I will, Myles. Just keep saying prayers for my lady and my son? And for me when you can spare them?"
She stayed around until the shop opened. About a half dozen customers came in just after the store opened, Jo making a quiet exit. As promised, she headed over to Raburn and Garcetti, to hand over the necessary paperwork for putting the business up for sale, and having a nice chat with Marla, who promised when she got the time, would come up to visit.
With that, Jo Polniaczek hopped on her bike, riding back to Peekskill to be with Blair and their son.