Chapter Eight

"Baby, come on, we're going to be late."

Ed stood before the bathroom door, glancing at his watch. He heard his wife's muffled voice coming through the door, "Just go on without me, Ed."

Her husband rolled his eyes, "Now Jillian that would be a little hard considering I don't have breasts."

"Don't worry, I'll only have one after today anyway."

Ed blinked and opened the door and walked right in. Sitting on the edge of the tub was his wife looking more than a little scared. "Don't say that Jillian Marie Deline. We will get you through this, I told you that. But, honey, all you are doing in here is prolonging things. All of this may be over absolutely nothing."

Jillian sighed softly as she nodded and stood up. "You are right." Sighing again, she reached for his hand, "Let's go."

Ed gave her a reassuring smile as he took her hand and brought it to his lips, brushing them over her wedding ring.

As the two quietly walked down the stairs and out the front door, they both stopped as a plum PT Cruiser convertible pulled up along side the curb. The blonde driver put the roof up and got out and walked over. "I want to come too."

Jillian smiled softly at her daughter as she reached out and hugged her, nodding quietly. "I'd like that. Plus, you'll keep your father from wearing a ditch in the floor at the hospital."

Delinda smiled softly at her father and kissed his cheek. Looking back at her mother, she said, "Danny and Ness send their love."

Her mother nodded and the three walked over to Ed's waiting Hummer. Opening the door for his wife, he extended his hand to her, to which she smiled and gratefully accepted and stepped up into the massive sports utility vehicle.

The three remained quiet as they made their way back to St. Rose Dominican Hospital.

The girl's eyes were great big mirrors that reflected all the lights of a Vegas casino. Her young ears soaked in the bells, whistles, cheers and occasional curse words that floated around. Sam smiled softly as she felt Jasmine's grip tighten around her hand. Looking down at her, she gave her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, okay? I promise you that I won't let anything happen to you and my office is right over there."

Jasmine nodded and smiled as they walked to Sam's office. Once they got inside, Sam picked the phone up and called the front desk and asked them to bring crayons, coloring books, some games, toys from the gift shop and apple juice. As she sat down behind her desk, she motioned for Jasmine to sit at the small coffee table. "Someone will be here in a few minutes to bring you some goodies to play with so you don't get bored, okay? Also, my friend, Mary, is going to take you to lunch. Don't be scared of her. She's really really nice, I promise."

Jasmine smiled and nodded, "Okay, Sam."

As promised, a few minutes later, someone poked their head in carrying a large black bag bearing a gold "M" insignia of the Montecito. "Miss Marquez?"

Sam smiled as she stood up, "Martin, come on inside. Thanks for bringing all this stuff."

The staffer walked in and smiled at the girl as he made his way to Sam. "Here are the coloring books, toys, crayons and some games from the gift shop. Mystique is out of apple juice, so Bella Sera will be sending over a few bottles as well as some disposable glasses."

Samantha Jane nodded and smiled as she set the bag down and grabbed her wallet from her purse and handed him a generous tip. "Thank you so much, Martin, I really appreciate it. Also tell Kyle in the gift shop to just put the stuff on a tab and I'll be in later this week to pay for it."

Martin nodded as he accepted the tip. "You got it, Miss Marquez, have a nice day."

The woman smiled as he left and walked over to where Jasmine was patiently seated and grinned at her as she sat down next to her. "Let's see what's in here, okay?" She took out a box of crayons, some drawing paper, coloring books, and a doll. Jasmine's eyes grew wide as saucers as she looked at the stuff.

"Is this all for me?"

Sam laughed and nodded, "It sure is. Dig in and have fun. Someone will bring by some juice in a bit, okay? And if you have to go to the bathroom, just holler and I'll take you."

Jasmine nodded as she quickly began to open the crayons and find a coloring book.

Grinning to herself as she walked back to her desk, Sam said, "Oh yeah... This is going to be a breeze."

As soon as the family walked through the doors of the hospital, the matriarch was whisked away to be prepped. Ed sighed dejectedly as he watched his wife being wheeled away. "God help us if I lose that woman..."

"Daddy..." Delinda walked over and hugged her father, her eyes shone with unshed tears. "Nothing's going to happen to Mom. She's as strong as they come. This time next year, all of this will just be a distant memory."

Ed smiled and planted his lips on his daughter's forehead and walked over and sat down. Following her father, Delinda sat down next to him and put her head on his shoulder. The two remained silent, their hands intertwined in a quiet vigil.

"Have you heard anything from Ed yet?"

Danny sighed as he shook his head, his eyes focused on the surface of his desk. His hands quickly shuffled through some papers. "Not yet."

Mary nodded quietly as she walked further into the room. Danny had pulled her aside earlier that morning and told her what was going on in the Deline family. He felt that he needed to, he knew she'd ask questions about why both Delinda and Ed were absent from work. "Has Delinda called?"

The man shook his head as he sat down and rubbed his eyes. "No, and I'm going bonkers here, Mare. Jillian and Ed are like parents to me. Which, actually, is very bizarre..." his voice trailed off as he made a face, "considering that I slept with their daughter."

Mary's pretty features contorted in a face as well. "Yeah. Hey, Danny, how about let's not say that again, okay?"

Danny nodded in agreement as he just looked at his best friend. "This is going to kill Ed if something happens to her. Never mind the fact that he'll be pissed till his dying day, never mind the fact that he may try and find solace in a bottle... He'll be destroyed, Mary. The man will completely shut down. And Delinda can't take care both of her father and herself. I mean, she's going to be going through some major heartache herself."

Mary sighed deeply and nodded, leaning against the lip of Danny's desk. "Yeah."

"I'm thinking maybe of going over there, just so Ed knows that he's not alone. I mean, I know he's got Delinda, but still..."

Mary nodded and stood up. "I'll go with you. I want both Ed and Delinda to know that they have my support."

Danny smiled softly and kissed her forehead. Grabbing his cell phone and keys, he lead Mary out of the office.