Warning: mention of a stillbirth and loss of child later on in chapter!
The girls took off after eating and played in the living room while Meredith cleaned off the plates and put the leftovers away. Hershel was helping her. "Thank you for supper, it was delicious." He smiled and started running hot water.
"You're welcome." Meredith smiled. "Think of it as a thank you after all you did for Cash." She said and washed the table, and started washing dishes.
"I'm sorry I couldn't do more for him." Hershel said softly, still feeling awful about having to put her dog down, and grabbing a dishcloth, and drying them after rinsing them.
"You did what you could...I was lucky to have him as long as I did." Meredith smiled slightly, and breathed slightly trying to not break down. "He helped me through a lot, and I'm thankful to have had him for all that." She looked over hearing the girls laughing. "You don't have to help me with dishes." She smiled. "You're probably tired."
"I can say the same for you - working all day, and then taking the girls over like you did, and doing everything else." Hershel chuckled slightly, smiling. "Dishes won't kill me." He looked at her, while drying a plate. "Thank you for treating my girls so good."
"They are good kids. They are a blessing to have around." She smiled finishing up handing him the casserole dish, then dried her hands on a towel.
Hershel smiled back and took the dish, drying it off putting it on a dish rack to dry more. He walked with her to the living room and found the Beth playing with barbies. Maggie was curled up on the recliner asleep with an open photo album on her lap.
Meredith smiled picking it up and covered Maggie with a blanket, and then sitting down putting it on the armrest of the sofa. Hershel sat on the other side of the sofa and watched her look at the pictures slightly. He saw a picture of Meredith holding a baby as a teenager while laying in a hospital bed. Meredith stared at it for a long minute, and then shut the book, lost in thought for a minute before glancing down at Beth staring up at her holding the picture that fel. "You's has a baby?" She asked climbing in Meredith's lap.
Meredith smiled slightly looking down at Beth slightly caught off guard at the question.
"Beth! Ms...Kelley...You don't - " Hershel said trying to get Beth's attention and moving to take her.
"It's…..okay." Meredith smiled slightly looking at Beth. "I did." She said softly. "Her name was Jasmine. She was born sleeping.. She lives in heaven with Jesus."
"She pretty." Beth said watching in amazement at the picture.
"Yes she is." Meredith smiled softly, rubbing Beth's back.
Beth smiled big, looking up at her. "Jesus said her favorite color is pink and she loves butterflies."
Meredith smiled slightly. "Pink is a wonderful color and butterflies are beautiful." She closed her eyes for a minute and felt Beth wrap her arms around her tightly and hug her. Meredith forced a smile, and hugged her back. "Thank you Beth."
"Yous welcome." Beth said snuggling with Ms Kelley, and fell asleep holding onto the picture.
Meredith laid her head back on the sofa and let Beth fall asleep, she raised one hand up and wiped her face.
Hershel hesitantly reached over and placed a hand on Meredith's free hand ."I'm sorry. I should have stopped her from.."
Meredith shook her head and smiled slightly, "It's okay." She opened her eyes and looked at Hershel, " I haven't talked about her in so long, that it kind of helped." She shifted a bit and got Beth to sit more comfortably.
"I'm sorry for your loss." Hershel said softly. "I lost my son two years ago, he was about 3 months old. It was a car accident that killed him and my wife."
Meredith glanced at him. "I'm sorry for your loss." She looked down at Beth and smiled slightly. "Jasmine would have been 5." She glanced back at Hershel. "I was about 5 months pregnant. My ex threw me down a flight of stairs and caused me to go into labor early.. I gave birth in the ambulance - I don't even remember it really from hitting my head. She was stillborn."
Hershel didn't say anything, he looked at her and closed his eyes. "That's horrible." he put a hand on her hand. "I'm so sorry for your loss."
Meredith nodded, and wiped her eyes with her other hand. "It was hard being 16 and going through that." she sighed. "Wish I learned my lesson though. I didn't. I ended up staying with my ex until this last few months. He had changed for the good for so long. Then he started again and I left."
Hershel nodded listening. "At least you got the heck out of there." He smiled slightly. "We are glad to have you in our little town."
Meredith smiled. "Thank you. I'm glad to have been given the opportunity to be able to be here." She took a drink and sat back more.
They talked more for a while, about other things along with loss. She helped load the girls up in the car and Hershel walked her back to the door.
"Have a good weekend Ms Kelley." He smiled.
"You too Mr Greene." She smiled back and went inside.
She listened to his truck pull away and locked the door.
Then went to bed.
