A Womb With A View by Kakie

Chapter 13

Jeannie and George were anxiously waiting for news from him when he returned to the waiting area. He simply shook his head and their faces fell. He walked down the corridor and found the door leading to one of the exits. He stood in the cold and let the chilly air slap him in the face.

"Put this on before you get sick and I have two kids in the hospital."

Larry turned and was surprised to see Jeannie holding his coat. He took it from her and put it on.

"Thanks."

Jeannie cleared her throat. "I know that I wasn't very nice to you at Christmas. Fact is I was behaving like a horse's ass."

"No, you weren't. You were behaving like a mother whose heart had been broken. You were angry and you had every right to be. But we didn't elope to hurt anyone, Jeannie. We did what we needed to do."

She laid her hand on his arm. "I know that, son. I didn't at the time. Like you said I was hurt and angry. I was also scared. You hurt my daughter badly when you left her. I never thought she would get over that. Then she says she's pregnant and wants to try again with you. From a parent's standpoint, that was a terrifying thought. Any parent wants to protect their children from pain and unhappiness but when you can see them doing something that will for certain bring that to them, you want to stop them any way you can. You'll learn that one day with Sam and Kelsey."

Larry said nothing. The idea of his daughter getting involved with someone like him was a sobering thought. "I can't undo what's been done, Jeannie, but I can promise that I will be there for my family."

She kissed his cheek. "That's all anyone can ask for."



The three of them took turns for the rest of the night. At day break George and Jeannie convinced him to go home, clean up and take a nap. He stumbled into the apartment and looked around. He hadn't been there since New Years. The spare bedroom that had once been an office after Renee moved out was now a nursery. The room was perfect and it took his breath away. On the table next to the rocking chair was an envelope that simply read "Dad." Larry opened it and found a letter. "Dear Larry, Today we start a new chapter in our life; being a family. Your daughter and I are very lucky to have you. Love, Ally." Larry's knees buckled and he sank in to the rocking chair.



Larry didn't know how long he slept but when he opened his eyes he was lying across the bed fully clothed. He reached for his glasses and focused on the clock. He had been asleep for nearly four hours. He called the hospital for an update, there wasn't any news, and then stumbled into the shower. Within the hour he was back at the hospital.

He found George in the same spot he had left him a few hours before.

"Where's Jeannie?"

"I sent her back to the hotel for a while. She's exhausted. We both are."

Larry nodded. "Why don't you join her? I'll stay here and let you know if anything changes."

"I'm not leaving this hospital until I know my daughter is okay."

"I understand, George, but the fact is you look like you are about to pass out and Ally would be very upset if anything happened to you. A few hours of sleep would do a great deal of good."

George waged a small battle in his head. The truth was he was so tired he couldn't focus on anything for more than a couple of seconds. And that is not good when you're waiting on news from a doctor.

"Okay, I give in. I'll join Jeannie at the hotel but you'll call me if there is any news?"

Larry offered him his hand. "I promise."

George studied the young man for a second and accepted. "There may be hope for you yet."

Larry grinned. "I'm counting on it."



Larry took the next visit and the one after it and each time came away dejected. He knew the next visit would be his last for a while because George had left word with the nurse that they were on their way back along with Renee and John. Larry quickly took his all-to-familiar seat next to the bed and once again took her hand.

"Okay, honey, I need you to wake up," he whispered, "I have just spent time with our little girl and she wants to meet her mother and I know you want to meet her. So I need you to open your eyes and look at me the way you always have."

He watched and waited but nothing happened. She had always been moved when he sang to her. He knew that singing out loud would probably be frowned on in ICU but he could sing to her in his head. He knew she had a mind/body connection he never fully understood. What did he have to lose? He closed his eyes and pictured the night he wrote her a song after a terrible fight. "Chances are you'll find me somewhere on your road tonight....Seems I always end up driving by..."

"You're singing my song."

Larry's eyes flew open and he looked down at his wife. "Ally?" he whispered. Her eyes were still closed.

"Why did you stop singing?"

Larry was completely flabbergasted and said the first thing that came to his mind. "How did you know I was singing?"

"Silly question. I could hear you."

He watched as her eyes began to flutter open. She smiled when she saw him. "Larry."

Larry's heart was beating a mile a minute. He knew he needed to get someone's attention but he couldn't move. Luckily the nurse noticed a change in her readings and came right over.

"We need you to leave, Mr. Paul."

"But...but my wife."

"I'll let you know."

While the nurse and the doctor tended to Ally, another nurse escorted out Larry.

"We'll let you know something in a few minutes."

Larry nodded and grabbed the wall for support.

Jeannie and George saw the expression on his face and came running up.

"Did something happen?" she asked.

He nodded. "She woke up."

"Really?" asked an excited Jeannie. "She's awake? That's wonderful." She hugged George and then hugged Larry. "How did it happen?"

He opened his mouth to explain but couldn't. He was saved by the presence of the doctor. George and Jeannie ascended on him immediately. Larry found the first chair and collapsed. What happened in there? How could he explain it to Ally's parents if he couldn't explain it to himself?

"You must be relieved."

Larry looked over and saw that John had taken the seat next to him.

"You have no idea."

John tilted his head and studied Larry's face. "You don't look like a man whose wife has just come out of a coma. You look like a man who has seen a ghost."

"What if I said you were very close?"

John nodded. "Tell me."

Larry explained what happened to an understanding John.

"Larry, you have just tapped into a special part of Ally. You knew there was something different about her when you met her."

"I just never really thought about what it meant."

"Don't start analyzing it. She can't read your mind if that's what you think. She just connected to what was in your heart. Even in a coma you two are connected mind, body and soul. And this proves it." He stood up. "I'm going to see if I can get in to see the patient. Oh, by the way, congratulations on the baby. She's beautiful."

"Thanks."



Larry knocked on the door and then opened it. He stood in the door, watching Ally hold their daughter.

"Don't just stand there, come inside and give your wife a kiss."

Larry let the door close behind him and was at her bedside immediately. He lifted her chin and gently placed a kiss on her lips.

"I know you can do better than that."

Larry chuckled. "Not in front of our daughter." He touched her cheek. "She's gorgeous." He looked over at Ally. "I'm sorry I wasn't there for you when this happened."

She could see in his face how much he meant it. "Honey, you were there for me. I asked Renee to call you because I needed you and I trusted that the two of you wouldn't let me down." She smiled at him. "And you didn't."

"But if I had been here."

"Then you would have done the exact same thing you did do. Larry, honey, nothing would have changed."

"But you would have known that I was here and that I loved you."

She touched his cheek with her free hand. "I know you love me. I knew it before and I know it now. And as for the other, I knew you were here, if not physically, then emotionally. We are connected, Larry."

Emotions flooded Larry's body. It was at that moment he understood what John was telling him before. This was the life he was meant to have.

He pressed his forehead against hers. "I love you, Ally."

"I love you, too."