Waiting Is The Hardest Part

Chapter 17

Jennifer took Jason in her arms. It was as if the shape of him was made for her as she felt a familiar rush of love. She felt an instant maternal instinct toward the child, telling her that he was her's. All outside noise was gone as she stared at the child in her lap. She didn't notice Bosco staring at her and seeing the instant love in her eyes for their son.

"I wish I could remember everything about you," she thought to herself as she lowered her face toward him and took in the scent of him. She didn't notice the pulling of her hair or the tears on her cheeks until she felt Bosco's hand untangle her hair from Jason's grip and tuck it behind her ear. There was something familiar about this man's touch and she blushed slightly.

"Jen?" Bosco asked as he noticed the tears on her cheeks. "Are you okay? Is he hurting you?"

She wiped the tears from her cheek, "No. It's just..., he's beautiful." Jennifer looked from Bosco over to her sister. "I FEEL that he's mine, I just don't remember," she said in frustration, not sure how to express what she was feeling, except to let her tears flow.

Jennifer moved Jason around in her lap so that she could take in his features - every inch of him - as if she were trying to burn them into her memory. She brushed her hand against the side of his cheek and he looked up at her.

"Ma, ma," he said and snuggled into her.

Jennifer had gone upstairs to lie down. She was physically and emotionally drained after her trip home from the hospital and holding Jason again.

Bosco walked upstairs to check on Jordan who hadn't been downstairs in a while. He looked into her room and saw that she wasn't there. He walked down the hallway on his way to check out in the backyard when he noticed the door to his bedroom slightly ajar.

He stopped at the door, pushed it open a little further and saw Jordan curled up next to Jennifer, both sound asleep. He quietly walked into the room and covered Jordan with the blanket as well. Neither one stirred and he quietly walked out, taking a look back before gently closing the door.

Bosco continued downstairs and into the kitchen where Kathy was preparing some dinner. Kathy turned from the counter and caught sight of Bosco as he walked out on the deck at the rear of the house. She watched as he walked over to the rail, placing both hands on the railing and then leaning forward onto his elbows. He looked out into the yard, at nothing in particular that Kathy could see. After a moment, she saw him put his head down on his forearms. She put aside the chicken she was preparing and walked quietly out behind him.

"You okay?" Kathy asked him as she put a hand on his back.

He took in a deep breath as he picked up his head and looked out into the yard again. He didn't want to look her in the eye because he didn't want her to see the emotion in them.

Letting his breath out slowly, he nodded that he was okay. "Just tired, I guess," he said.

"Thanks, by the way," he said to his sister-in-law. He turned toward her.

"For what?" she asked.

"For taking care of everything, for being here, making dinner…, everything," he said gesturing toward the house.

Kathy turned and leaned against the railing so that she was looking back into the house. "It'll be alright, you know," she told him quietly.

He looked over at her. "I hope you're right, Kath. I've waiting too long for all this. I don't know what I'd do if it's gone forever," he said, trailing off and looking away from her. She noticed the catch in his voice as he finished the sentence.

She turned toward him and wrapped her arms around him. "Maurice, you won't lose it. We won't let that happen. Jennifer needs and loves you as much as ever. She just needs to find her way back."

Breaking her embrace, he straightened and walked to the end of the deck in an attempt to regain his composure. "I know, Kathy. I know."

"So, where's Jordan?" Kathy said, changing the subject. "She said she wanted to help me with dinner."

"She's asleep upstairs with Jennifer. I went to look for her – you know, to see if she was okay – and I found her curled up next to Jen. I didn't have the heart to wake her up. She's missed her so much," Bosco answered.

Just then, they heard the sound of Jason in the baby monitor. "But, someone's awake," he said, smiling as he listened to the babble coming through the speaker. He walked into the kitchen, turned off the monitor and headed upstairs to get him before he woke up Jennifer. Kathy followed him in to finish getting dinner into the oven.

TBC…