Chapter Twelve

Ed walked out into the waiting room and saw Danny seated between Mary and Delinda, his arms around each woman. Delinda was resting her head on his shoulder and it was obvious to anyone walking that she was still emotionally fragile. The older man sighed heavily as he walked over and sat down next to her and took her hand, softly, "Mom's awake."

Delinda nodded as she brought her Kleenex up and dabbed her eyes, softly, "Does she know?"

Ed nodded quietly, "Yeah, and now probably wouldn't be a good time to go in there. She's really upset, she even kicked me out of the room."

"I would too."

Ed leaned forward to look at Mary, "What?"

Mary sighed as she looked at her boss, "I said I would too. I'm not trying to be a bitch, Ed, but if I had just lost both breasts, the very last thing I would want is my husband with me. Even if he did take the 'in sickness and in health' vow and stuck to it for thirty-odd years."

"Don't worry, Ed, she'll reach out for you again."

Ed sighed softly, "Danny, what do you know about this?"

Danny looked his boss in the eye, softly, "My mom died of this, Ed. My dad stood in the shoes you are standing in now. I stood in the shoes Delinda is standing in. Contrary to what you may think, Ed, I do know a thing or two about relationships." Rising to his feet, Danny walked down the hall to go outside and get some fresh air.

"Son of a bitch..." Ed stood up to go and talk to Danny, but was stopped by Mary stepping in front of him.

"Give him time."

Ed tried to gently push Mary out of the way, "I need to go and talk to him."

Mary moved back in front of him to block him, "Ed, seriously, take it from me... Give him time."

Ed looked at Mary and sighed softly, nodding. Glancing over her shoulder, he spied both Nessa and Sam coming in through the doors. He gave Mary a pat on the shoulder as he bypassed her and went to meet the women.

Kissing each on her cheek, he gave them both a weak smile. "Thanks for being here."

"Ed, what's going on? Where's Jillian?"

Dawning on her that Nessa didn't know, she decided to duck out and give Ed some privacy with Nessa. Kissing his cheek as she walked by him, she said softly, "I'm going to go and talk to Delinda."

Ed reached out for Nessa's hand and lead her to a corridor. Looking at her, he said bluntly, "Jillian's really sick, Nessa. They determined that the lump was cancerous and it was about the size of a ping-pong ball, plus it is in both breasts. They had to take both breasts."

Nessa sighed deeply as she leaned in and hugged the man she regarded as a father, softly, "Have they said what stage?"

Ed shook his head no as he held the woman, "Not yet. Jill's awake and she knows, but she's pissed and doesn't want to see anyone right now."

The woman nodded understandingly. "That's understandable. I don't think I would either."

Releasing her, Ed lead her back into the waiting room with the others. As they reached the waiting room, Ed locked eyes on Sam. Hesitating for the briefest of moments, Ed made a gesture with his head, indicating that he wanted to speak with the casino host.

Catching his signal, Sam squeezed Delinda's hand in support and stood up and walked over to him.

"Come with me."

Sam blinked in surprise as Ed lead her down the hall. When they reached a corridor, Ed leaned against the wall, softly, "What's going on with the kid?"

Sam let out a soft sigh, "Metro hasn't been able to locate her parents. She's staying with me and Luis is going to see if he can't pull some strings and get it as a legal foster care placement."

The man arched his brows, "I didn't know you were licensed for that, Sam."

"I'm not... hence the pulling of strings. He's going to see if children's services can't overlook that for about a month or so, until I'm able to get Jasmine in school, and then I'll take the classes."

Ed nodded softly, "You gonna move out of the Montecito?"

Sam sighed deeply and nodded, "Yeah. She needs her own room. And a hotel room is fine for just me, Ed, but I need more space to raise a child."

The man nodded again quietly. "If you need anything, and I mean anything, Sam, you see me, got it? I don't care if it's time off, money, a good school recommendation, advice, or what, you see me."

Sam gave him a small smile, "Thanks, Ed, but you have more than enough on your plate right now."

"True, but I want to help any that I can."

The woman smiled again and went over and hugged him, whispering softly, "The same for you, Ed. If you want to use me as your emotional punching bag, than I'm more than capable to fill that role. Anytime, day or night, call me, or stop by."

Ed gave her a quiet smile and kissed her cheek and looked at her, sincerely, "Thank you, Sam." Sighing softly, "I should go back in and try to talk to Jillian."

Sam nodded and gave him a reassuring smile, "Give her my love, would you please?"

Nodding quietly, Ed made his way back in to see his wife.