VI
It's been a long road And I can feel a change in the wind right now 'Cause I've got faith of the heart I've got faith
Getting from there to here
It's been a long time
But my time is finally near
Nothing's in my way
And they're not gonna hold me down no more
No, they're not gonna hold me down
I'm going where my heart will take me
I've got faith to believe
I can do anything
I've got strength of a soul
And no one's gonna bend or break me
I can reach any star
I've got faith
Faith of the heart
I've known the wind so cold 'Cause I've got faith of the heart
And seen the darkest days
But now the winds I feel
Are only winds of change
I've been through the fire
And I've been through the rain
But I'll be fine
I'm going where my heart will take me
I've got faith to believe
I can do anything
I've got strength of a soul
And no one's gonna bend or break me
I can reach any star
Cause I've got faith
'Cause I've got faith
Faith of the heart
Faith Of The Heart, Rod Stewart
Natalie Green, born and raised in the great state of New York truly loved Colorado. Yes, it could snow cats and dogs in the middle of winter every now and then, but usually days after that, it could be in the 60's or 70's, all the snow melting. She had taken up skiing with some work colleagues, and through that, had met a young man through the activity, and had been dating him for two months.
Yet despite all that, her heart would always be on the East Coast, especially during a time like this when one of her dearest friends had been so grievously injured in a horrific car accident. She had dropped everything in Denver to visit Blair, Jo, and Tootie, even if for a few days, and was so bitter that she had to leave. Yet she had a job that she loved, and had to do. And that was life as an adult.
She had just hit end on her call with Jo Polniaczek. Natalie had always kept in touch with best friends-it had been easy when calling Jo and Blair, since they lived together. Yet despite the tentative good news that Blair was improving, Natalie still felt a searing anger toward the state of affairs that had kept Jo from finding out about Blair and David's condition for almost twenty-four hours.
She was over at her boyfriend's apartment this evening. His name was Curtis Tompkins, who also lived in Denver, working as the Assistant Director of Public Relations at Invesco Field at Mile High, home of the the Denver Broncos NFL football team. He was two years older than Natalie and so much like she was-quirky, quick-witted, and deeply caring for his friends. He had learned a lot about Jo Polniaczek, Blair Warner, and Dorothy Ramsey since they had started dating.
He noticed the red in her face after she ended the call with Jo. "How's Jo holding out, Nat? Something seems to be bothering you?"
"Jo's doing okay, Curt", she responded. "I don't know how she's kept her sanity through all of this, but Blair's showing some improvement, and hell must have frozen over, because even Jo and Blair's mother are getting along."
Curt chuckled, having been told in detail about that relationship. "Well, it is unofficially wintertime, you know." He then became serious. "What's troubling you, hon?"
She had been seated at the kitchen table in his smallish apartment, but got up and sat down next to him on the couch, snuggling into him. "It's the whole goddamned thing Jo had to go through after the accident."
"You mean not being able to get any info about Blair and David, because they're not related."
"See that's just it", Natalie objected, not angry at Curt, but at the whole notion. "She's as related to Blair and DC as anyone, but it isn't recognized as such. Blair and DC could have been dead, and they wouldn't have told her until Monica showed up. They're as 'married' as anyone I know, and you try to tell Jo that David isn't her son, she'll kick the shit out of you."
"I didn't mean that I don't agree with you, Nat", Curt added. "From what you tell me, Blair and Jo are so deeply in love that it's scary, as you say. And the photos and recordings of the three of them-you don't have to convince me. But I'm talking about legal status."
"Exactly", Natalie agreed. "I wasn't angry at you, Curt, just the whole situation."
"Why don't you do something about it?" He arched his eyebrows at her.
"I'm not exactly the President of the United States, you might have noticed", she said with a wry grin.
"No, but you're ten times smarter than the one we have now", he said with a wink. "What I mean is you're a writer. You wrote about what Jo and other's have gone through when being rejected for being gay or lesbian. Write about this?"
Natalie eye's lit up. "I'd love to, but I'd have to get permission from my Editor. Only time I've really stepped out of my department was for that story on the homeless. But I think I could sell her on it."
"Nat, you could sell her that bridge in Brooklyn. You're a very persuasive lady, you know that?"
Natalie blushed. "You say the sweetest things, darlin'", she resp0nded with a laugh, kissing him on the cheek. "I think I just might talk to her tomorrow about it."
A Week Later
Jo and David were sitting near Mama Blair in her hospital room. She was no longer in ICU, for the first time in two months, but in a regular hospital bed. Whether that was an improvement or not, Jo couldn't say, but it meant that Blair was no longer considered Critical, but had been upgraded to Stable. She was breathing on her own, with the ventilator blessedly gone, replaced by a breathing mask. The swelling in her brain was almost gone, but the doctor cautioned her and her loved ones that there was still a long row to hoe ahead of them. Blair was becoming more animated when in her coma, moving around, eyes fluttering occasionally, instead of just lying dormant as she had for so long.
It was looking better, but the better it looked, the more nervous Jo became. It seemed odd, but it made sense to those on the outside looking in. No one knew how much, or if anything of Blair was left inside after the trauma of the accident. She could come out in a myriad of different ways, from having a full memory to being in more of a vegetative state. Jo didn't even want to contemplate the latter.
She just wanted the love of her life to wake up, and go from there with the cards they had to play.
It was mid-day on a Thursday, when she got a surprise while she and DC were visiting Blair. She was helping him do the exercises that had been suggested to help strengthen his leg while it healed. The full cast was off now, Jo having been given a removable cast by their family doctor near their home in Rockville Centre. David wasn't walking yet, but he had just begun to stand up when the accident had occurred. The removable cast helped DC to stand and at least stretch his leg. It would still be a while before he could walk on it without the removable cast.
DC was holding on to his Mama Jo's hands, balancing on his legs, Jo encouraging him, the little guy smiling and giggling back at his Mama. "That's it, champ, stretch that leg out. You're gonna be running before long, I bet."
DC talked back in his baby talk, his smile reminding Jo so much of Blair's smile. It killed her sometime to see it, especially with Blair still laying in the room. Still it gave Jo so much hope for the future, no matter what would transpire.
"Hey", a voice said, entering the room, "he's gonna be walking before you know it, Polniaczek!"
Jo looked up with a broad smile. "Tootie!" She scooped up DC and brought him over to her friend. "Hey, DC, you haven't seen your Aunt Dorothy in a while!" Dorothy greedily grabbed the young boy, hugging him to her.
"Hey little man", Tootie said with a wet kiss to his cheek, "how ya doin?" She then turned to Jo and gave her a one-armed hug, holding it a little longer than she normally would for someone else. "How ya doin', Mama Jo?" She planted a kiss on Jo's cheek.
"Another day in Paradise, Toots", Jo said, still smiling. "Playin' with DC and watchin' over blondie here." She could say "blondie" again, as Blair's hair was starting to grow back in. It was very short, butch-short, as Jo told Edna, but it was growing back, which is all that mattered. "How's rehearsal's coming?"
"Really good. It'll be nice to have a bigger role. It's an original play written by some of the cast."
"You know one way or another, Tootie, I'll try to make it."
Dorothy waved her off. "Hey if you do, great, but if not, I completely understand. You have more important things that watching me in a play."
"Hey", Jo said, indicating that they take a seat, "you're very important. You're my family, Dorothy, and I'm damn proud of how well things are going for you. Pretty soon, you'll be moving over to Broadway, you watch."
Dorothy laughed. "Some day, that's the goal, but I love where I'm at right now."
They chatted about what was going on with each of them. Even though Dorothy visited about once a month, wishing she could visit more, and the fact they talked once a week, they still had a lot to discuss.
"So it looks like the dealership has a buyer. I talked to the group who has put in the bid, and I like them a lot. Even treated them to a dinner with the employees one night after the shop closed. I think they'll be a good fit." Despite the confidence in Jo's voice, Tootie could still here a hint of sadness.
"Don't give up on that dream, Joanna Polniaczek", she said sternly. "You'll be back owning a shop before you know it. You love it, and you're damn good at it."
"Right now, kid", Jo said softly, "the only thing I want is for Blair to come back to me and David. Everything else can wait."
Tootie was silent for a moment, as they both glanced over at Blair. The bruising was mostly gone now, her creamy white face starting to shine through again. She looked so peaceful at the moment. It jolted Tootie's memory about one reason she was there. "Oh, I forgot to tell you. I got this in the mail from Denver the other day.
Tootie opened her purse, and unfolded a copy of The Denver Post from the previous Sunday, handing it to Jo.
"Great, a copy of Natalie's paper", Jo said cheekily. "Now I have everything."
"Uh, open up to the page that I have folded, smarty-pants."
Jo chuckled. She opened it, and she was at the Opinions section of the paper. She scanned it for a moment, then saw the byline:
Time For The U.S To Change Its Victorian-Era Parental Laws
Natalie Green, The Denver Post
Jo's eyes widened even before reading the article, Dorothy smiling proudly at her as she played with her "nephew".
"Read it, girl."
Jo turned her attention to the article:
Just over two months ago, two of my closest friends in the Universe were involved in a horrific auto accident in New York State. My one friend survived with a broken arm, and not much other damage, thank goodness. The other friend, however, has been in a coma ever since, suffering multiple broken bones, a concussion, and a major brain injury, as she took the brunt from the force of the accident. Also onboard was this friend's young son, just under one year of age, who escaped with a broken leg, but it also fine.
With most people in the U.S, especially if one is married, it would mean an immediate call to next of kin to inform them of the condition of their loved one. The problem with my friend who was so horribly injured is that the love of her life was right there, and because of current marital and information laws, had to wait almost 24 hours to receive information.
Why? Because my dear friend's love is also a woman. They are lesbians. They're as much in love as any two people I've ever seen, but her partner was denied the information, not knowing if the love of her life and her son were either dead or alive. Next-of-kin was in Paris, France, and they arrived the following day.
Forget what your stance is on same-sex couples, or the idea of same-sex marriage. Just forget that for a moment. Imagine some law that would prohibit you from finding out the condition of the person you loved more than any in the world, and not being able to do anything about it?
One could easily get mad at the hospitals and their staffs, but they're following State and Federal guidelines on marriage, and who can receive information when someone is sick or injured. It isn't their fault. I talked to more than one of the doctors and nurses in New York while visiting my friends, and to a T, every one of them hates that fact.
Isn't it time we at least start a debate on this subject? It's inhuman; it's barbaric; it's counter to everything that decency tells us is right. I'm not even suggesting that same-sex couples be allowed to marry, although I feel they should have the right. But can we start talking about allowing same-sex partners, and non-married heterosexual partners to have the right to allow their loved one information on their health? No one, no matter who or how they love, should have to go through such an excruciating wait because the legal next-of-kin is on the other side of the Atlantic, and has to present themselves in person so that information can be released.
I'm one voice in a world that has shown it's clearly not ready to tackle such issues, but we have to begin somewhere. I urge all of you, no matter your sexual orientation, or who and how you love someone, to put yourself in my friend's shoes, and realize how tragic this is. It's time we contact or State and Federal elected officials to try and rectify this onerous wrong.