VII

If you wake up and don't want to smile
If it takes just a little while
Open your eyes and look at the day
You'll see things in a different way

Don't stop thinking about tomorrow
Don't stop, it'll soon be here
It'll be here better than before
Yesterday's gone, yesterday's gone

Why not think about times to come?
And not about the things that you've done?
If your life was bad to you
Just think what tomorrow will do

Don't stop thinking about tomorrow
Don't stop, it'll soon be here
It'll be here better than before
Yesterday's gone, yesterday's gone

Don't Stop, Fleetwood Mac

Anth0ny St. Clair Found Guilty On All Counts

So the headlines screamed from The New York Times. Different New York papers, and those around the country pretty much screamed the same thing, as the Corporate giant was found guilty in the assault on Robbie St. Clair years earlier, with attempted murder on his nephew, numerous other charges stemming from that incident, and on top of that, at least for Boots St. Clair, he was found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder by ordering a hit on his own daughter.

Pending the usual appeal, Anthony St. Clair would spend the rest of his life in prison. Since he was only sixty, that could mean a long, lonely stay.

For Boots St. Clair, it meant liberation. Not only was her father found guilty, but many of his associates were also going to prison for their part in the injuries to her cousin Robbie, and the contract on her own person.

She could begin a new life, and she was determined to do so with new gusto. She wasn't even thirty yet, so she had a lot of life to live. She couldn't go back to her old job-that had been filled after she had been put into protective custody. What she had wanted to do all her life, if she had ever found the courage and drive, was to be a photographer, whether it be of nature, or people, or well, she didn't know quite what yet. She had always been fascinated with images.

Now it was time to do, not dream.

Her father would be held pending the appeal, as he was deemed a flight risk, so Boots St. Clair immediately began putting her dreams into action. By the end of that week, she had enrolled in the New York Institute of Photography. She could concentrate solely on that, and within a year, she could finish their study program.

Even before beginning her program, which included being in a mentorship with an accredited, professional photographer, she knew that no matter what she decided to so with her new career, the first subjects she wanted to take photos of were of Jo, Blair, and their son David.

If Blair would just wake up.

Two Weeks Later

It was 3am on a Wednesday morning, Jo Polniaczek was sound asleep in her bed. Long gone were the nights that David, three weeks away from his first birthday, would wake up in the middle of the night wailing for food, a diaper change, or usually both. He was a good sleeper, only occasionally waking up, and then only for a diaper change. With the plaster cast off his leg, and using the removable cast, he was sleeping much more comfortably these days.

Since the accident, Jo always kept her cell phone close when sleeping, and just loud enough that it would wake her and not DC. She pitied the fool who would call the wrong number at such an hour to wake her, but she also knew that the phone had to be close by, because of Blair...

The phone did ring and wake her. She looked at the clock: 3:13 am. Grumbling, she grabbed the phone, the name and number on it jolting her awake immediately. It was Monica, who was spending this night at the hospital.

"Monica", Jo said, her voice still full of sleep, "I'm here. What's happening."

"Jo, the nurses just woke me up a few minutes ago. The physician on duty was called. It seems Blair's eyes were fluttering open and closing again. They think she might finally be coming out of it."

Jo looked at the clock again, coming to a decision. "DC is sound asleep at the moment, and I really don't wanna wake him, Monica. I can come in after he's up."

"Are you sure?" Monica didn't sound accusing or sarcastic. "I know you want to be here if she does wake up."

"I appreciate that, Monica. I really do, but this whole thing is a balancin' act between staying close to Blair and making sure David is living as normal as possible."

"Very well", Monica said, sounding just as tired as Jo. "Do you want me to call anyone with the news yet?"

Jo shook her head reflexively. "Nah, Blair's gonna come awake when she comes awake. I'll start making calls around mid-morning."

Jo knew she had made the right decision to let DC sleep, but she knew that sleep would elude her for the rest of the night. She quietly got up, threw on her robe and made a pot of coffee. While she waited for the automatic brewer to finish, only one thought kept going through her mind.

C'mon, blondie, come back to us.

By 9am, Jo and David were back in the hospital, and sure enough, there was definitely signs of REM coming from Blair. That usually meant someone was dreaming. Before today, she had moved around somewhat, but her eyes had never shown any sings of animation.

"Maybe you're dreamin' about you and me makin' love", Jo said in a whisper so no one else could hear her, a smile on her face, "or maybe you're dreamin' about changing one of DC's diapers?" That thought made her laugh. "Whatever you're dreamin' of, Princess, I'm here when you come back."

She stuck around for another few hours, then decided that she couldn't just sit there and wait. She wanted to take DC to visit Bailey at Eastland, and drop in to see Mrs. G. at Edna's Edibles. She strapped him in for the short ride to her old stomping grounds.

Her first stop was to visit Mrs. Garrett. Bailey would still be in classes, and she and DC could meet up with her for dinner. Afternoons were fairly slow at Edna's Edibles, but there always seem to be someone shopping for something there. She opened the door, the bell that was tied to the top of the door announcing their arrival.

Edna Garrett turned, a wide smile beaming across her face. "Jo! David!"

Jo smiled, going over to hug the woman who would always mean so much to her, Edna giving her a kiss on the cheek. "This is a pleasant surprise, my dear. Now, hand over the kid." Both women laughed as Jo transferred the toddler to his Aunt Edna. "Mercy", Edna said with a laughing groan, "I liked picking you up better when you were smaller, young man." DC gabbed something back at Edna. "So what brings you here?"

"Well, got some news in the middle of the night. Blair's apparently showing signs of REM sleep, and her eyes have fluttered open a few times. It sounds like she might be coming out of it, although it could still be a while."

"That's great news, Jo", Edna said with a nod. "That would be a wonderful birthday present for David if his Mama Blair would wake up, wouldn't it?"

"Yeah", Jo said with a cautious smile, "but I'm not bankin' on anything, Mrs. G. As I told Monica when she called at 3 am, Blair will wake up when she wakes up."

Edna cocked her head in question. "It seems like you and Monica have reached some form of understanding regarding all this, and perhaps your relationship? Believe me, Jo, we've all noticed."

"It's a load off my mind, Mrs. G.", Jo admitted. "She told me about when the two of you walked in and saw the video of Blair and I singin', then when I broke down afterward. She said she saw me in a way she's never seen me before."

"I've seen that side of you since I've known you, Jo", Mrs. Garrett gently reminded her. "And I think it did open her eyes to the fact that you're a very caring, loving person."

"She always thought I was after Blair's money", Jo said bitterly. "I guess, from her point of view, I can understand that. They lived in a society where when you dated someone, it was expected they had money. I had none, but Blair fell for me anyway. It had to make her a little wary, I guess."

"That's a sure sign of progress, Jo", she said, as David started to get antsy. "This isn't the best place for a toddler to crawl around", she said with a wink to Jo, "maybe I should hand him back to Mama Jo?"

"Oh, I see how this works", Jo said with a snicker. "The aunts and uncles and grandparents always get to hand the kid back when he gets ornery." Both women laughed.

"Where you off to later? To visit Bailey?"

Jo nodded. "Yeah, she's always visiting us, so I figured it was time we visited her. How's she really doing here, Mrs. G?"

"She's doing quite well, as I know you've heard. It's been difficult since Blair's accident, obviously, but she has a great stable of friends and teachers who've been very supportive of her. I think it was a wise move by Monica to send her here. She's really starting to blossom."

"God, I love to hear that", Jo said emotionally. "She's such a great kid. And I gotta remember she's actually my sister-in-law, so to speak now. I love her to pieces."

"The feeling's mutual, Jo", Edna assured her. "By the way, if you're gonna take her out for dinner, I suspect I can wiggle one of the older kids from Eastland or Langley to mind the store tonight. Mind if I invite myself along?"

"Heck, no Mrs. G.", Jo said with a grin. "I'll call ya before we stop by so you don't have to run around."

Later That Afternoon

Jo and DC were waiting inside Bailey's residence, talking with the House Mother, whom Jo had gotten to know a little bit. Marcy Gregory was a little older than Jo, and the residence she ran was girls-only. Eastland was co-ed now, but the sexes were still kept in separate homes.

As the school day closed, Jo was playing with DC in the large living area when a gaggle of young girls' voice could be heard approaching the house. "Hey DC, your Aunt Bailey is comin'. And all her friends. Boy are you in trouble now, kid!"

Within moments, Jo heard a loud yell. "Jo! DC!" Bailey was on the floor next to them like a shot, hugging Jo for all she was worth, but quickly turning her attention to her little nephew. "Hey guys", Bailey said, sounding more like Jo than Blair, talking to all girls, "it's my nephew David! Come say hi!"

In moments the gaggle had flocked to the floor, all of them staring wide-eyed at DC, who was a little overwhelmed by the sudden attention, Jo laughing at the look on her son's face. Of course all the girls wanted to hold him, Jo just rolling her eyes as he was passed around, glad that the removable cast was firmly in place.

"What are you an DC doing here, Jo?"

"Well, you're always coming to the hospital, or the house here in Peekskill to visit us, it was time we returned the favor, kid."

Bailey hugged her again. "Hey everyone, I know some of you have met Jo, but for those of you who haven't this is my big kinda-sorta sister-in-law, Jo. She's DC's Mama Jo."

One girl curiously looked at Jo, hearing that description. "Why does Bailey call you David's Mama Jo, not just mom?"

This is the part that always made Jo nervous, not knowing if answering truthfully would lead to snide comments that she and Blair had heard since they became a couple. "That's easy, because David has two mom's. His Mama Blair, who gave birth to him, is the one that's been in the hospital for a couple of months. It makes it easier on all of us."

"David has two mom's?" The girl's face brightened. "That's so cool! I just have a mom and a dad."

Jo couldn't help but laugh at the slightly downcast look on the young girl's face. "Hey, you got two parents that love you and do anything for ya, right?" The girl nodded. "Then you're one lucky young lady." Again, the girl smiled brightly.

If only adults accepted things like this that easy, Jo said to herself, watching the curious girl join the crowd around David.