Chapter 8: Preparing for Mary's Homecoming

Sam and David were coloring in the living room when Ruthie came home from school.

"Hi Ruthie," Sam and David said in unison.

"Hi Sam and David," Ruthie said smiling as she came in to see her brothers coloring in the living room.

"Ruthie is that you," she heard her mom calling to her.

"Yes mom," Ruthie said as she left the living room to find her mom in the kitchen.

"Ruthie, I talked to Wilson and Mary is doing a lot better, and so she will be coming home soon," Annie told her young daughter.

"Sounds wonderful," Ruthie squealed. Ruthie squeezed her mom tight up to her room and called her friends Hannah and Jenna.

After two rings she got Hannah and Jenna both since they were both at Jenna's.

"Mom got off the phone with my brother-in-law and she said Mary was coming home soon," Ruthie excitedly told her friends.

"Sounds great," Hannah said to Ruthie.

"That is awesome that Billy will be able to be home with his mom and dad all the time," Jenna responded.

"Yeah, it will be, and I hope that the Coach Koeper is gone for good," Ruthie told her friends.

"So do we," Jenna and Hannah said together. Ruthie then hung up with her friends and got started on her schoolwork. As she worked on her room her mom came up to her room, and sat down on her bed to talk to her daughter.

"Ruthie, can we chat?" Annie asked her daughter.

"Sure mom," Ruthie said putting her homework aside to talk to her mom.

"Mary is coming home soon you know," Annie said to her.

"It will be so nice have her back," Ruthie said.

"Yes it is but she is going to need a lot of help so Wilson wondered if after school you could go stay with Mary and Billy until Wilson came home," Annie asked her daughter.

"Of course mom, but what about when I am at school, Ruthie questioned.

"Actually Wilson is switching to nights until she is better," Annie said. Ruthie smiled quickly and leaned forward and gave her mom a hug.

"I will let you go do your home work, and I will call Wilson and let him know" Annie said.

"Thanks mom," Ruthie said to her mom.

The weeks had gone by fast for Mary and she was finally off of monitors. She was even feeling happier and stronger at the hospital. She was sitting up in bed when Wilson came in with Billy.

"Hi mom how are you," Billy said running up to see her.

"Hi son I am fine, I am coming home soon," Mary said as she helped her son climb up her.

"Wow so I can stay with you now," Billy squealed.

"Yep." Mary told him.

"Daddy has something to tell you," Billy said.

"What honey?" Mary asked him.

"I switched my hours so that I can be home and at night Ruthie will be over to help" Wilson said to them.

"Honey you didn't have to do that, I will be fine especially with Billy helping," Mary said.

"I know that but Ruthie will be extra help and so will I" Wilson told her.

"Okay" Mary finally agreed. Billy was just climbing off the bed when the nurse came in.

"Good evening Mary and Wilson West," The nurse said.

"Good evening," Mary and Wilson said in unison.

"I have good and bad news," The nurse said.

"What is it," Wilson and Mary asked.

"Mary can go home tomorrow, but you won't be able to work for a while," The nurse said.

"That sounds wonderful," Mary said to the nurse. Wilson gave a wide smile when he heard the news. The nurse nodded and then started doing a physical on her.

The night as Wilson was tucking Billy in bed the phone rang.

"I will be back I got to go answer the phone" Wilson said.

"That is fine dad," Billy said. Wilson got up and went to answer the phone as he did he turned to see Billy was already asleep. He then went out and went to answer.

"Hello the West's," Wilson said.

"Hi Wilson it is Annie," Annie said.

"Hi Annie," Wilson said.

"Ruthie is delighted that she can stay with her sister and nephew until you come home," Annie said.

"Well Mary, isn't to sure about this," Wilson said.

"She just needs to get use to it and it won't be permanent," Annie said.

"No it won't," Wilson said calmly. The two of them said good night then and Wilson went back to hug and kiss his son.

"I love you son and so does your mom," Wilson whispered to Billy in his ear. Billy shot his eyes open and smiled.

"Good night dad I love you too," Billy said as he fell back to sleep.