Author's note: Again, I can't thank you all enough for the wonderful
response I have been getting. I'm so excited! And I know the last chapter
was a little emotional, but hopefully this one makes up for it. Enjoy!
________________________________________________________________________
"Oh god Boz stop…I can't take it anymore…please…stop…" you cried out, doubling over with tears. It was getting to the point that I thought you were going to collapse, so I stopped. Finally, you calmed down enough to sit back up, but that was all it took to start you again.
"I think I'm going to pee myself!" you cried out as you began to laugh uncontrollably all over again. I stood there with a huge smile on my face, the obvious reason for your laughter. With my spatula in one hand, an oversized chefs hat falling off my head, and an apron appropriately displaying 'Kiss Me, I'm Italian' how could you not laugh?
I finished my 'Naked Chef' impression and served you breakfast – homemade French toast. Not bad, if I do say so myself. I made them with the hope that you would eat something. You had recently lost you appetite and it was already beginning to show.
It was almost 2 ½ weeks since Fred left, and I had kept my promise to help you through everything. I was on vacation from work so I could be with you all the time. Eventually, commuting back and fort between our apartments became such a hassle that I moved in with you. It made things easier and also made me feel a lot better knowing you weren't alone. I vowed you would never be alone as long as I was around. It was a little awkward at first, but we quickly fell into a routine that was convenient for both of us. I was really enjoying your company and I guessed by your laughter that you enjoyed mine too.
Fred did keep his promise to give you time with the kids. They came over almost every day and it lifted your spirits so much to see them I wish they would stay. But Fred took them back every night and you would regress once again.
I remember we took them to the park one day. Because you wanted to watch them play. Charlie was digging something in the dirt and he called for you to come over and see. I was busy watching Emily practice her cartwheels so I didn't notice you get off the bench. The next thing I knew, Charlie was screaming. I jumped to see what had happened only to find that you were lying in the grass. You had fainted. I ran to your side and Charlie just kept screaming. Emily tried to calm him down, but it was no use. I'll never forget that sound of fear and confusion as long as I live. The shrill cry of "mom" echoed in my head as I tended to you. Within a matter of minutes you were conscious again, swearing that you just stood up too fast. But I insisted that you wait for the ambulance that I had already called to check you out.
I have to laugh as I replay the next scene in my mind. I was helping you sit up when both Boy-55 and Adam-55 came to a screeching halt no more that 50 feet from us. Kim and Alex were out before Carlos and Doc, but all 4 gathered equipment with speed that amazed both of us. Seconds later, you were surrounded not only by paramedics, but by friends. You were looking at the commotion in disbelief as I stepped back to let them work and take it all in.
Doc: "Faith, are you ok?"
Kim: "What are you guys doing here?"
Carlos: "What are we doing here? What are you doing here?"
Alex: "Well it looks like we were responding to a call before you stole it from us."
Carlos: "What? The call definitely came to us. You two ladies are the thieves."
Alex: "Excuse me Neito? You wanna repeat that for me?"
Kim: "Careful Carlos. She's gonna get pissed."
Carlos: "Like I'm afraid of a girl. Come on Taylor. Show me what you got."
Alex: "Oh, I'll show you alright…"
At this, Doc jumped up from tending to you to break up the fight before it could start.
Doc: "Hey now! You two know better than that!"
Alex: "Sorry Doc."
Carlos: "Yeah you should be sorry. Attacking me for no good reason!"
Alex: "What?! You are unbelievable! Doc, I did not attack him! This was all his fault!"
For a minute, I thought the fight was going to start up again, but Doc sensed it too and wasn't about to let that happen.
Doc: "Enough! In case you two haven't noticed, we do have a patient here and you are in a public park! Now Carlos, go take Faith's BP. Alex, Kim thank you for your help, but I think we can handle this."
Kim: "Well thank you Doc, but I think we can handle this. It was our call after all."
Carlos: "No it wasn't!"
Doc: "Carlos! Can't you ever just shut up and do what you're told?"
Alex: *snickers*
Doc: "He does have a point though. It was our call and…"
With that the fight was on. As it began to escalate, I heard one voice overpowering the others.
"Hey! HEY!"
All at once the arguing stopped and 4 pairs of eyes turned to look at you. You stood up to face your friends.
"You guys are worse than my kids! Now, I really appreciate your help and concern, but if we're done here, I'd like to go home."
Doc was the first one brave enough to speak.
"As long as you're feeling ok Faith. Are you sure you don't want to go to the hospital? Carlos and I can take you…"
"Or Kim and I can," Alex broke in.
"That's ok. I'll be fine. I just want to go home. Are you ready Boz?"
I nodded, trying to hide my smile. "I'm ready. Emily? Charlie?"
While the entire event was hysterical (I thought Alex was going to rip Carlos apart!), it was also very touching to see all those colleagues who were so concerned for you that they fought to give you medical care. And I knew you were touched too because you knew that your friends would always be there for you and would never forget you.
Later that night, I dropped the kids off with Fred. They were still a little shaken up by your fainting spell, so I wanted to make sure they were going to be ok. As we were leaving, you settled down on the couch and began flipping through the channels on TV. I was shutting the door when I heard you mumble something about there being nothing on. When I got back, you were still flipping through the channels.
"Still can't find anything?" Click.
"Nope." Click.
"Really?" Click.
"Yep." Click.
"That sucks." Click.
"Yep." Click.
I came around the couch and sat down next to you.
"How bout this?" I handed you the movie I decided to rent while I was out.
"Boz, I love this movie!"
"I know. So you get it ready, and I'll make some popcorn."
"I don't think we have any popcorn. Sorry."
"I got you covered. I picked some up while I was out."
Your face lit up.
"Ok! I'll get the movie ready and you make the popcorn."
10 minutes later we were all set. I sat down on the end of the couch; you came over and sat down next to me. And I don't know what made me do it, but I opened my arms to you. After a brief hesitation, you curled up against me and I wrapped my arms around you. And with my feet propped up on the table, a bowl of popcorn on my lap, and you in my arms, I couldn't imagine a more perfect moment.
Well, maybe if we weren't watching The Sound of Music.
________________________________________________________________________
"Oh god Boz stop…I can't take it anymore…please…stop…" you cried out, doubling over with tears. It was getting to the point that I thought you were going to collapse, so I stopped. Finally, you calmed down enough to sit back up, but that was all it took to start you again.
"I think I'm going to pee myself!" you cried out as you began to laugh uncontrollably all over again. I stood there with a huge smile on my face, the obvious reason for your laughter. With my spatula in one hand, an oversized chefs hat falling off my head, and an apron appropriately displaying 'Kiss Me, I'm Italian' how could you not laugh?
I finished my 'Naked Chef' impression and served you breakfast – homemade French toast. Not bad, if I do say so myself. I made them with the hope that you would eat something. You had recently lost you appetite and it was already beginning to show.
It was almost 2 ½ weeks since Fred left, and I had kept my promise to help you through everything. I was on vacation from work so I could be with you all the time. Eventually, commuting back and fort between our apartments became such a hassle that I moved in with you. It made things easier and also made me feel a lot better knowing you weren't alone. I vowed you would never be alone as long as I was around. It was a little awkward at first, but we quickly fell into a routine that was convenient for both of us. I was really enjoying your company and I guessed by your laughter that you enjoyed mine too.
Fred did keep his promise to give you time with the kids. They came over almost every day and it lifted your spirits so much to see them I wish they would stay. But Fred took them back every night and you would regress once again.
I remember we took them to the park one day. Because you wanted to watch them play. Charlie was digging something in the dirt and he called for you to come over and see. I was busy watching Emily practice her cartwheels so I didn't notice you get off the bench. The next thing I knew, Charlie was screaming. I jumped to see what had happened only to find that you were lying in the grass. You had fainted. I ran to your side and Charlie just kept screaming. Emily tried to calm him down, but it was no use. I'll never forget that sound of fear and confusion as long as I live. The shrill cry of "mom" echoed in my head as I tended to you. Within a matter of minutes you were conscious again, swearing that you just stood up too fast. But I insisted that you wait for the ambulance that I had already called to check you out.
I have to laugh as I replay the next scene in my mind. I was helping you sit up when both Boy-55 and Adam-55 came to a screeching halt no more that 50 feet from us. Kim and Alex were out before Carlos and Doc, but all 4 gathered equipment with speed that amazed both of us. Seconds later, you were surrounded not only by paramedics, but by friends. You were looking at the commotion in disbelief as I stepped back to let them work and take it all in.
Doc: "Faith, are you ok?"
Kim: "What are you guys doing here?"
Carlos: "What are we doing here? What are you doing here?"
Alex: "Well it looks like we were responding to a call before you stole it from us."
Carlos: "What? The call definitely came to us. You two ladies are the thieves."
Alex: "Excuse me Neito? You wanna repeat that for me?"
Kim: "Careful Carlos. She's gonna get pissed."
Carlos: "Like I'm afraid of a girl. Come on Taylor. Show me what you got."
Alex: "Oh, I'll show you alright…"
At this, Doc jumped up from tending to you to break up the fight before it could start.
Doc: "Hey now! You two know better than that!"
Alex: "Sorry Doc."
Carlos: "Yeah you should be sorry. Attacking me for no good reason!"
Alex: "What?! You are unbelievable! Doc, I did not attack him! This was all his fault!"
For a minute, I thought the fight was going to start up again, but Doc sensed it too and wasn't about to let that happen.
Doc: "Enough! In case you two haven't noticed, we do have a patient here and you are in a public park! Now Carlos, go take Faith's BP. Alex, Kim thank you for your help, but I think we can handle this."
Kim: "Well thank you Doc, but I think we can handle this. It was our call after all."
Carlos: "No it wasn't!"
Doc: "Carlos! Can't you ever just shut up and do what you're told?"
Alex: *snickers*
Doc: "He does have a point though. It was our call and…"
With that the fight was on. As it began to escalate, I heard one voice overpowering the others.
"Hey! HEY!"
All at once the arguing stopped and 4 pairs of eyes turned to look at you. You stood up to face your friends.
"You guys are worse than my kids! Now, I really appreciate your help and concern, but if we're done here, I'd like to go home."
Doc was the first one brave enough to speak.
"As long as you're feeling ok Faith. Are you sure you don't want to go to the hospital? Carlos and I can take you…"
"Or Kim and I can," Alex broke in.
"That's ok. I'll be fine. I just want to go home. Are you ready Boz?"
I nodded, trying to hide my smile. "I'm ready. Emily? Charlie?"
While the entire event was hysterical (I thought Alex was going to rip Carlos apart!), it was also very touching to see all those colleagues who were so concerned for you that they fought to give you medical care. And I knew you were touched too because you knew that your friends would always be there for you and would never forget you.
Later that night, I dropped the kids off with Fred. They were still a little shaken up by your fainting spell, so I wanted to make sure they were going to be ok. As we were leaving, you settled down on the couch and began flipping through the channels on TV. I was shutting the door when I heard you mumble something about there being nothing on. When I got back, you were still flipping through the channels.
"Still can't find anything?" Click.
"Nope." Click.
"Really?" Click.
"Yep." Click.
"That sucks." Click.
"Yep." Click.
I came around the couch and sat down next to you.
"How bout this?" I handed you the movie I decided to rent while I was out.
"Boz, I love this movie!"
"I know. So you get it ready, and I'll make some popcorn."
"I don't think we have any popcorn. Sorry."
"I got you covered. I picked some up while I was out."
Your face lit up.
"Ok! I'll get the movie ready and you make the popcorn."
10 minutes later we were all set. I sat down on the end of the couch; you came over and sat down next to me. And I don't know what made me do it, but I opened my arms to you. After a brief hesitation, you curled up against me and I wrapped my arms around you. And with my feet propped up on the table, a bowl of popcorn on my lap, and you in my arms, I couldn't imagine a more perfect moment.
Well, maybe if we weren't watching The Sound of Music.