VII
Take that look of worry
I'm an ordinary man
They don't tell me nothing
So I find out what I can
There's a fire that's been burning
Right outside my door
I can't see but I feel it
And it helps to keep me warm
So I, I don't mind
No I, I don't mind
Seems so long I've been waiting
Still don't know what for
There's no point escaping
I don't worry anymore
I can't come out to find you
I don't like to go outside
They can't turn off my feelings
Like they're turning off a light
But I, I don't mind
No I, I don't mind
Oh I, I don't mind
No I, I don't mind
So take, take me home
Cos I don't remember
Take, take me home
Cos I don't remember
Take, take me home
Cos I don't remember
Take, take me home, oh lord
Cos I've been a prisoner all my life
And I can say to you
Take that look of worry, mine's an ordinary life
Working when it's daylight
And sleeping when it's night
I've got no far horizons
I don't wish upon a star
They don't think that I listen
Oh but I know who they are
And I, I don't mind
No I, I don't mind
Oh I, I don't mind
No I, I don't mind
So take, take me home
Cos I don't remember
Take, take me home
Cos I don't remember
Take, take me home
Cos I don't remember
Take, take me home, oh lord
Well I've been a prisoner all my life
And I can say to you
But I don't remember
Take, take me home...
Take Me Home, Phil Collins
Two Months Later
Blair had been back in Albany for the day, meeting with sympathetic politicians from around the state and with other groups working with the Warner-Polniaczek Foundation to plan strategy as to how to get the State Legislature to pass same-sex marriage legislation.
The ruling by the New York State Supreme Court hadn't been unexpected. In fact, most of those fighting for same-sex union felt that legislation was the way to go, not through judicial fiat. San Francisco had begun issuing same-sex marriage licenses in 2004, as did Portland, Oregon. New Mexico had begun doing it state-wide the same year.
The one recent exception on the judicial front had been that just a few weeks earlier, the New Jersey Supreme Court had ordered the state to recognize same-sex union, which meant that same-sex couples who couldn't marry still had legal standing when it came to medical information and visitation rights in hospitals. In essence, New Jersey had cleared the way so that same-sex residents of that state could never go through the hell Jo had gone through after Blair's accident.
It was an exciting step, but everyone involved with the process knew they still had a long, tough road ahead.
As Blair was heading back from Albany, Jo had been feeding David and Gloria dinner. She would breast-feed Gloria in her bedroom, then bring her daughter out in a portable crib while she fixed dinner for she and DC. Gloria was still being, as Jo had told Blair recently, "a little snot" in the middle of the night, still waking up often, whereas by this time in his development, David had begun sleeping through the night.
"It's the Polniaczek in her", Blair had chided her lover, who rolled her eyes, but in the end, had to agree.
As they were finishing up, her cell phone rang, Jo's face lighting up seeing the name on it.
"Hey Nat, how you doing girl?"
"Hi Jo, just a little early on the weekly call. Sorry if I caught you in the middle of something."
"Nah, just finishing up dinner. Me and DC just ate, and I fed Gloria just before that, so everything's cool. What's up, Natalie?"
They talked for a while about their lives, Jo making sure Nat knew Blair wasn't at home. Even though they talked each week, it seemed they never ran out of things to talk about, and both of them always had a blast on the phone. Near the end of the call, Natalie had a surprise for her.
"I was wondering if you and Blair would be up for some visitors in about two weeks?"
"You comin' home for a while? God, it'd be great to see you. I've shown you the photos, but you won't believe how big DC is, and you'll finally get to meet Gloria."
"And you guys will finally get to meet Curt", Natalie added proudly. "We both have two weeks off, and he's been wanting to visit my old stomping grounds for ages."
"God, yes, girl, we'd love to see you and meet him! You need a place to stay? You know we have plenty of room."
"Thanks for the offer, Jo, but we're gonna stay with mom. Amazingly, she and Curt get along great, and she has the space as well. But if anything happens, we'll keep your offer in mind. I'm so excited about coming home-and it won't be because someone's in the hospital."
Both women laughed loudly at that one, at that had seemed to be a recurring habit for Natalie when coming back to New York.
Jo let DC talk to his Aunt Natalie for a few minutes before hanging up, each of them giving their love to the other when the call ended.
As she had told her daughters, Monica Warner was back in France, basically settling any accounts she had there prior to her move back to New York. She didn't have a whole lot of settling to do, but she did have a few friends that she wanted to touch base with.
Monica had been in New York ever since Blair's auto accident, and that had been what seemed like a lifetime ago. Indeed, in some ways it was. The entire ordeal had changed Monica Warner in ways that she could never have expected, and had given her a new perspective not only on her daughters, but on Blair's partner Jo, and life itself.
She couldn't have imagined five years ago breaking into tears when she first held Gloria Rose Warner. The infant wasn't even her own flesh and blood, unlike David, but she had wept with joy at holding the little girl that had come from Jo Polniaczek.
Jo's devotion to Blair during her convalescence and recovery, and how much it had taken out of the woman to care for DC, all the while wondering if Blair would ever recover had more than impressed Monica. Monica was ashamed to admit that she had never been as devoted or as loving toward anyone or anything the way Jo was to Blair and their children.
There would always be some tension between she and Jo, but Monica wanted to put that in the past, as life was too precious and short to squabble of petty things. She was determined to be just as involved with Gloria's upbringing as she was David's.
She wondered what her late husband David would think of all this drama since he had died so tragically five years earlier on that world-changing September morning? Monica thought he would approve of almost everything that had transpired, including her own growth as a human being.
As she bade farewell to France, perhaps for good, she was looking forward to immerse herself completely in her family, and never to take it for granted again.
"Natalie!" Blair Warner almost screamed as she met her dear friend outside of Security at LaGuardia Airport. "Girl, I've missed you so much."
The two hugged and rocked each other like long-lost sisters, which they were in many ways.
"Blondie", Natalie cried, "it's so good to be back home and not have to visit a hospital." Both women laughed and hugged again. "Oh, where are my manners! Curt, I'd like you to meet one of the Four Musketeers, Blair Warner. Blair, this is my guy, Curtis Tompkins."
Blair surprised Curt by not just shaking his hand but wrapping him in a hug. "Any guy who can handle this whirlwind deserves a hug, not a handshake. It's so good to finally meet you, Curt."
"Likewise Blair", he said with a warm smile. "It's finally going to be good to meet the other three Musketeers that I've heard so much about."
"Jo at home with the kids?"
Blair nodded at Natalie. "Yep, it was about mid-day feeding time for Gloria, so she felt it was the easiest thing to do."
"Well don't make us wait any longer, Blair", Natalie said, "let's get over there."
"I'm surprised you didn't have your mom pick you up?"
"Mom's working, and she knew I'd want to see you guys first. If it's okay, she's gonna stop over at your place later?"
"That's wonderful", Blair said with a smile. "It's always good to see Evie. Let's get moving."
Blair had texted Jo that they were on their way so she could look presentable when Natalie and Curt arrived. She had David dressed nicely to see his Aunt Natalie, and had put a comfortable Onsie on Gloria.
Jo smiled excitedly when she heard the door open, and heard Natalie's voice come through loud and clear. David, hearing Natalie, ran to the door while Jo waited in the living room.
"Aunt Natalie!"
"Oh, my God, David!" Natalie scooped up the boy. "My goodness, Jo wasn't kidding, the kid is getting ginormous!" Jo heard the others laugh as they headed toward her, and she had to join the laughter. Natalie heard the unmistakable snicker.
"I hear a Jo Polniaczek..." Natalie entered the room, her eyes going wide seeing Jo, but more so the little tiny girl in Jo's arms. "Oh, my Lord", Natalie breathed. "Her pictures don't do her justice!"
Jo handed Gloria to Blair so that she and Natalie could share a tearful hug and kiss on the cheek. "You look fantastic, Green", Jo said, taking her friend in. "I've missed you so damn much."
"It's good to be back home, Joanna", Natalie twinkled at her. As before, she introduced Jo and Curt, and, like Blair, Jo didn't settle for a handshake, but hugged the man.
"I feel like I know you already, Curt", Jo said, looking at him warmly. "And whether you like it or not, you're officially part of our crazy family."
Curt laughed, a warm, rich laugh. "Natalie told me you'd insist on that first thing. The honor is all mine in meeting the both of you."
"Okay, introductions are done, gimme that little girl, Blair", Natalie said, more chuckles ensuing. When Gloria was placed in her arms, Natalie wept tears of happiness. "My God, guys", she gasped, looking at Jo and Blair, then back at Gloria, "she's an angel. She's gorgeous." Natalie looked into the little green eyes. "Hello Gloria Rose, I'm your Aunt Natalie. You'll find I'm the crazy Aunt in the family." She kissed Gloria's cheek tenderly.
"I think Aunt Boots has you beat on the crazy, Nat", Jo said with a snicker.
"Am I gonna get to see Boots while I'm here? I hear she's doing well, and has her own hot mamma?"
"We're gonna run by her studio one of these days", Blair assured her. "By the way, Tootie will be over later. She's rehearsing this afternoon."
Natalie nodded. "That's what she told me. God, can't believe the Four Musketeers and the two Snoop Sisters will be together again!"
"Are you in trouble now, Curt", Jo said to the handsome man, bumping him with her shoulders.
"I'm looking forward to it", he said with a large grin.
When Tootie stopped by later that evening, Curt was bemused at the site of these four adults screaming like they were teenagers at a Justin Timberlake concert. But beneath the crazy greeting among the four ladies, he could see just how close and how deeply they cared for each other.
Dorothy Ramsey's eyes lit up when Natalie introduced her to Curt. "Nat, girl, does he have twin brother or something?"
"Down, girl", Jo said before anyone else could butt in, but the others had the same thought. After they had greeted one another and Dorothy had been introduced, the youngest Musketeer wanted some Aunt Tootie time with David and little Gloria.
"Jo, I saw her what? Five weeks ago?"
Jo nodded her head. "Yeah, you came up to Peekskill when I introduced her to Mrs. G. and we visited Bailey."
"She's so much bigger than when I last saw her. It's amazing."
"I'm not amazed", Jo chortled. "The girl eats and eats and eats."
"That Grade-A, Pasteurized stuff?" Natalie winked at Jo.
"I don't wanna hear about it", Dorothy said, putting her hands over her ears.
They all sat down, Tootie holding Gloria, not ever wanting to let her go. Dorothy caught up everyone on her acting career. She was moving on to an on-Broadway house, where she would have to start from the bottom and work her way up again, but this could be her big chance.
Natalie also gave an update on her job. "I'm now one of the reporters assigned to cover the entire state, instead of just doing the feel-good stories in the Denver area."
"Does The Post have a reporter assigned to New York?"
Natalie turned to Blair. "One in New York, two in Washington. Those are usually very senior reporters who get those beats, but my Boss told me to always keep my eyes peeled. I'm the only reporter who is from New York on the staff. That might give me a leg up some day."
"Think you could handle New York or D.C, Curt?" Dorothy still was looking at him as if he were a Greek god.
"I'll go wherever Natalie goes", he started to reply, Natalie cutting in.
"And visa-versa, if it turns out that way. You're stuck with me, Mr. Tompkins." Everyone laughed.
"So I hear we'll be seeing another old classmate while Natalie is out here", Dorothy noted.
"Yep", Jo said, as David climbed up on Mama Jo's lap. "Boots and her girlfriend are really doing a helluva business with their photography studio, but they may be branching out shortly."
"Another studio?"
Blair took up the story. "No, she and her Girlfriend Georgia are going to be doing work for the Warner-Polniaczek Foundation. They could work with us in Albany, or at an internal function here in the city. In fact, when we get up to Peekskill, we'll show you ladies and Mrs. Garrett the portraits Boots did of our family."
"Sounds like she's hit her stride", Dorothy said approvingly.
"She really has", Jo agreed, feeling sentimental about Barbara St. Clair. "What she went through with her father almost did her in, but she came out of it a new person. It's so cool to see how she's changed."
"I can't wait to see this metamorphosis of the legendary Boots St. Clair", Natalie said.
They talked for several hours, when Natalie's mother came over after work. When Evie Green arrived, Blair and Jo took all of them out to dinner.