II
May good fortune be with you
May your guiding light be strong
Build a stairway to heaven
with a prince or a vagabond
And may you never love in vain
and in my heart you will remain
Forever Young, Forever Young
Forever Young, Forever Young
Forever Young
Forever Young
And when you finally fly away
I'll be hoping that I served you well
For all the wisdom of a lifetime
No one can ever tell
But whatever road you choose
I'm right behind you, win or lose
Forever Young, Forever Young
Forever Young ,Forever Young
Forever Young, Forever Young
For, Forever Young, Forever Young
Forever Young, Rod Stewart
One Month Later
"My turn to get up, Princess",Jo said, dragging herself out of bed at 3am. "Go back to sleep, babe."
The daily routine at the Blair-Polniaczek household. Blair and Jo traded nights as to who would feed little David, or "DC", as Jo had nicknamed him. On Jo's nights, she would trudge into the kitchen, grab a bottle from the fridge, use the baby bottle warmer that they had bought, then go into David's room. Sometimes he just fussed awake, other times, he could have waken up half of Long Island. They always checked his diaper first before feeding, even knowing they might have to change it again before going back to bed.
"Hey, David, Mama Jo's got you, sweetheart." She gently raised him. "Yep, you got a dirty one there, lemme clean that up for you." First time either of them had changed a diaper, they wondered what they had got themselves into. Now it was just a part of keeping their son healthy. Jo talked baby talk to him as she wiped his bottom and put a fresh diaper on him, then snapped his Onsie back on.
"Come here, champ", Jo said, always greeting him with a loving smile. "I know you probably prefer how Mama Blair gives it to you, but it's Mama Jo's turn." She settled him in, and brought the bottle to his mouth, and he greedily began sucking on the nipple. As he was feeding, Jo very softly sang to him.
May the good Lord be with you
Down every road you roam
And may sunshine and happiness
surround you when you're far from home
And may you grow to be proud
Dignified and true
And do unto others
As you would have done to you
Be courageous and be brave
And in my heart you'll always stay
Forever Young, Forever Young
Forever Young, Forever Young
Jo didn't see Blair standing at the doorway into David's room. It wasn't unusual for the other to wake up even when it wasn't their night to feed DC. She looked at her partner, feeding their son, singing softly, and her heart almost burst with the love she felt for both of them. No, it wasn't fun getting up in the middle of the night to feed and change, but it didn't feel like a chore to either of them, just a blessing in their lives.
"You know Joey, you've always had a sweet singing voice", Blair said softly, not wanting to startle David. Jo smiled up at her lover.
"Yours is better, Princess", she responded, as Blair leaned over, kissing Jo's lips, then her son on his cheek, as she moved a chair next to the rocker. "Although I bet we could do some pretty good harmony."
"Well, we do 'harmonize' together quite nicely, if you ask me."
"Not that we're getting a much time to 'rehearse', but I won't argue with you there, hon."
Blair looked down at her son. "Looks like the little guy is almost asleep, sweetie."
Jo noticed the contents of the bottle were almost gone. "Yeah, he's a growing boy. Before ya known it, he might double his drinking."
"Growing like a weed.", Blair agreed. "I'll head back to bed, Joey, while you put him down." She stood up then leaned over to kiss Jo and David. "I love you both."
"Right back atcha, Princess", Jo said, holding the kiss an extra beat.
Since being released on bail, which he could easily afford, Anthony St. Clair had been very circumspect, both in his private life and as CEO of St. Clair Worldwide. Despite the fact that his daughter, Boots St. Clair was still in protective custody, the man was still blindingly angry at his daughter for selling him out. Even with the charges against him, he wanted to see Boots pay a price for her insolence.
His trail wouldn't start until June, and he would remain free until then, with restrictions against traveling, and a restraining order to stay away from Boots if he found her, and another order doing the same for Jo Polniaczek and Blair Warner. In truth, he cared nothing about the latter two.
Boots, as was to be expected, was going stir crazy being put on a short leash, even though she understood it perfectly. One thing it had accomplished was to strengthen her resolve to start reaching out and living instead of just existing as she had for so long. She had a glimpse of the life Jo and Blair were leading. She wanted to find someone to love, and to settle down with, and feel more a part of the world. For now, she had to survive until her father's trial was over, and hope that the fates looked kindly upon her.
She was determined that, whether he father was found guilty or innocent, she would grab life with a new purpose and meaning.
For Charlie and Rose Polniaczek, life was suddenly about new beginnings: the beginning of a life as grandparents; the beginning of life in a new, large home in a good neighborhood; the beginning of a new life together, trying to make it work now that they were retired.
It had been a hectic month between moving from The Bronx to Jericho, and the birth of David Charles Warner, their grandson. Jo had wanted to help her parents with them move, but her folks would have none of it, hiring movers to do the work. ("Hey", Charlie had reminded his daughter, "being able to afford this now, I'm damn well gonna take advantage of it.")
They had finished the move four days earlier, although most of their belongings from The Bronx hadn't made it to Jericho. Much of the "moving" was new furniture, like beds, sofa's, recliners, putting brand-new appliances in the kitchen that Rose herself had picked out. Rose was going to have a field day in her new kitchen, and was going to make sure she had her daughters and grandson over to enjoy lots of meals.
It also had meant brand-new cars for both of them. Charlie bought a loaded Cadillac Escaslade SUV (black, of course), while Rose went with something a little less extravagant, buying a fully loaded Honda Accord. It was the only time either had bought brand-new vehicles in their lives, and they were proud that they were driving them.
Jo and Blair brought David over to the Polniaczek house in Jericho on Noon on a Sunday. It was the first time they had visited since the move had been completed. Rose had already given the girls a tour of the home, which was about half the size of the one Blair and Jo owned, but it was a gorgeous home, and seeing the new furniture and appliances inside lit up Jo like a Christmas tree, so happy that her parents could enjoy the rest of their days, and not have to worry about barely getting by.
While Rose gave the girls the tour, Jo pr0udly holding DC, Charlie fired up the electric grill that was part of Rose's huge kitchen, cooking some double-boned pork chops, and mixes vegetables for dinner. Rose wasn't the only one enjoying the new kitchen.
"Myles told the guy that he couldn't even give himself that kind of price break on the bike." Charlie could hear Jo regaling her mother with stories of work, Rose snickering at the story. "In the end the guy stormed out saying he knew someone who would give him that kinda deal."
"Then why didn't the idiot go there in the first place?" Blair always sounded shocked to hear such stories about humanity.
"Maybe because he knows my place gives better service? Maybe he thinks because a girl is running the store, he could con me."
"I should simply stop by one day and watch", Rose said with a wry grin. "Sounds like fun."
"Until they're yelling at you, Ma", Jo said, Rose indicating it was time to hold her grandson.
"DC doesn't have to worry about that for quite a while, do you, young man." David gabbed something back to Grandma, clearly amused by whatever she had said. "Lord, he's growing like crazy."
"Yeah, Blair gives him that high-octane stuff, ya know?" Blair turned red, slapping Jo on the arm, Charlie bursting out in laughter, Blair giving him a death stare.
"I know it's only been a month, Blair", Charlie noted, "but you startin' to get a little antsy to get out and about?"
"Besides grocery shopping and the like?"
"Yeah, you take him on any rides in the country? I know you can't take him out on your bike", Charlie added, "but he seein' any of the big city?"
"We've gone out a few times. Joey and I took him for a stroll in Central Park, kept him bundled up, but he seemed to enjoy it."
"Yeah, blondie loves showing off the kid to anyone", Jo said approvingly. "Then again, he's a handsome son-of-a-gun."
"Takes after his Grandpa that he shares his middle name with", Charlie said with an impish grin, Jo just shaking her head.
"I'm still a ways away from even thinking about starting up or doing serious work on a non-profit or Foundation, but I'm still reading up on it. I'm so happy just being Mama Blair right now. It's the most amazing feeling in the world."
"When I first met you", Rose said looking at her second daughter, "I couldn't imagine you being a mom, Blair. Now, it looks so good on you."
"Thanks, Rose, I appreciate that." Blair stopped cold for a minute, thinking about something, Rose wondering if something was wrong with her.
"You okay, honey?"
"Oh, yes, Rose I am, but I was just realizing something." For a moment, she looked at her son in Rose's arms, and how sweet it looked. "All these years I've called the two of you Charlie and Rose."
"Well, that is our name", Charlie said, not being able to help himself.
"Pa!" Jo shushed him.
"Well", Blair continued, organizing her thoughts, "with Daddy gone, and Mother...wherever Mother is, I've come to realize that you two are really the only parents I have now-along with Mrs. Garrett, but our lives don't let me see her as much as I'd want to. I think, with your permission, and with Jo's, that from now on, I'd really like to simply call you mom and dad?"
Three iridescent smiles beamed back at her, all three clearly touched. Rose had thought at one time that Blair wasn't even in need of such things as parents. She had looks, wealth, and influence all her own since she was a teenager. Yet Rose had been so wrong. Blair had held a wonderful relationship with her father, but he had been taken in the most cruel of ways, and Monica Warner had never bothered fully playing the role of Mother. If there was anything missing in Blair's life, if was a supportive family above and beyond Jo and little David.
"Blair", Rose said, placing a hand on the woman's own hand. "Nothing would make me prouder than for you to call me mom. I think 'mom' fits me a little better than 'Mother', but either way, it fills me with happiness. Thank you, my dear."
Blair leaned in for a gentle hug, making sure not to squish her son. "Thank you, mom", Blair said, her eyes shining at Rose, then turning to Charlie. "Thank you, dad. I have to get used to saying it that way, but it means the world to me."
For the first time since her father's death on that terrible September morning just over a year ago, Blair Warner truly and completely felt she was home.
Monica Warner had received the news of her grandson's birth just over a month earlier, with full bio and a photo. She had to admit that David Charles Warner was a beautiful baby, not surprising her in the least, seeing how beautiful her daughter was. Yet despite wanting to go visit, she had hesitated. The biggest reason being Blair's lover, Jo.
She had no desire to face the woman that she had scorned for years. For too long, Monica had considered Jo just an ignorant inner-city gutter rat, but the woman had constantly one-upped the woman who had spent most her adult life living and mingling in the Manhattan social scene. She hadn't given Jo enough credit for being as intelligent as she was, and as tough as she was. The last time they had met at David's funeral, Jo Polniaczek had Monica believing it when Jo said she'd make Monica pay if she upset Blair.
But she supposed she should put that aside, and visit her daughter. Perhaps Jo, with Blair's son present (she refused to even contemplate David Charles Warner being Jo's child), would hold her silence, and allow Monica to bond with the newborn. She had thought of going alone, but Blair had insisted again after David's birth that Bailey come along. She made a call to Blair's home phone, praying that Blair, not Jo, would answer.
Coming home from work one evening a week later, Jo was starting to seriously consider either finding a larger location for her dealership, or opening a second one. Any such move would be at least six months in the making, but it was crossing her mind.
Brooklyn Honda-Kawasaki was making a clear profit, already having paid off about sixty percent of the start-up costs. Jo was giving her employees small bonuses-she wished she could give them move-as well as slightly above-average wages for what was the norm. Once all the start-up costs were paid-essentially, that meant paying it to Blair, she wanted to start a better bonus plan.
Sales were through the roof, the location in Brooklyn that had looked almost too large when it opened, was now feeling cramped. The most important thing on her mind was her son and partner, that always came first, but she had to admit that the prospect of expansion was exciting.
Speaking of excitement, she always anticipated walking through the door of their beautiful home in Rockville Centre, kissing her partner, and picking up and loving her son. She could have the very worst day at work, but all that melted away when she came back to hearth and home.
Walking in, as she had done in the apartment, she greeted those she couldn't see yet. "Hey Princess, I'm home. Where you guys at?"
"In the living room, Joey", Blair said.
Walking into the room, Blair was in the recliner, David in tow, breast-feeding him. Despite it being nature's way of feeding their son, she couldn't help but get excited seeing Blair's still-large breasts exposed, and rarely could she hide it.
Seeing the look, Blair rolled her eyes. "You are a barbarian, Polniaczek", she said with sweet undertones. Blair had DC release the grip on her nipple, moving over onto the couch, indicating for Jo to sit with her. When they were next to each other, they warmly kissed, holding it.
"Junior's gonna get jealous if you don't hook him back up, blondie."
Blair laughed into the kiss. "Junior isn't gonna starve if I kiss you a few more seconds."
"I do like your style, babe." They both chuckled.
Blair finished feeding David, both of them changing him together and putting him down for a nap while they talked. Back in the living room, Blair lounged against Jo, soaking up the warmth and love.
"By the way", Blair said, figuring she needed to get it out of the way, "I got a call today."
"Who gave you a call? Our phone isn't exactly ringin' off the hook these days."
"Which is fine by me", Blair added. She sat up and turned to Jo. "Mother and Bailey are flying into New York next week to visit."
Jo sighed, suddenly feeling a terrible headache overtaking her.