Again, much credit goes out to Renthead621 for helping me out with this chapter. I couldn't have done it without you! Thank you so much! To the rest of my readers, enjoy!
Chapter 15
A few hours later, Stephanie and Glory were resting comfortably, and Jennifer came to the door. "Knock, knock," she said.
"Hey, Jen," Stephanie said. She held up Glory, so Jennifer could see her. "Come look at your new niece."
Jennifer smiled and tears welled up in her eyes. "She's beautiful, Stephanie," she said. "You're so lucky."
"Thanks," Stephanie said, smiling up at her. "Pull up a chair, so we can talk."
"OK," Jennifer said, and she pulled up a chair. "Can I hold her?" Stephanie nodded and carefully handed the newborn to Jennifer. "So how did it happen? Mark still isn't speaking to me."
Stephanie closed her eyes in frustration. "Oh, I'm gonna kill him," Stephanie said heatedly. "Unless Roger does first, that is. He can't keep doing this to you, Jen. The loss is yours as much as it is his."
"I know," Jennifer said, looking at her. "Has Roger tried talking to him again?"
"I don't think so," Stephanie said. "There was never time. He will later, though, I promise."
"OK," Jennifer said. "So tell me what happened."
"Well, it was about nine o'clock last night and I decided to take a shower," Stephanie began. "After I showered, I stepped out and there was water on the floor— it's linoleum, you know— and I slipped." Jennifer grimaced sympathetically. "I guess my fall was what caused me to go into labor. Then, well… you know the rest."
Jennifer nodded. "I'm just glad you're OK," she said, looking at Stephanie with concern.
Stephanie smiled. "So am I," she said, looking up at Jennifer. "But more importantly, Glory's OK. The doctor said the fall didn't harm her at all; only made her come a little early. But she's tough."
"Just like her mom and dad," Jennifer said. "She's so lucky to have you two as her parents. If you love her half as much as you love each other, she's gonna be one lucky child."
Stephanie smiled. "So, what do you think of her name? Her middle name is yours, just like I promised."
"Glory Jennifer Davis," Jennifer said, smiling at her. "I like it a lot."
Stephanie smiled. "We do, too," she said. Then she looked seriously at Jennifer. "If Mark shows up, Jen, you should try talking to him. Maybe if you do the talking and he listens for once, something will work out. You two love each other and you know it, even if you are going through a rough patch. Nothing can change that."
Jennifer nodded and stood up, as they heard Roger and Mark talking out in the hallway. "All right, I'll go talk to him," she said.
Stephanie nodded. "You go, girl," she said encouragingly, squeezing Jennifer's hand before Jennifer left.
Roger came into the room as Jennifer went out into the hallway to talk to Mark. "What's going—?" Roger began, before Stephanie put a finger to her lips, telling him to be quiet.
"I want to listen," Stephanie whispered, looking at him.
"Stephanie, you shouldn't—" Roger began.
"I know," Stephanie hissed, "but I still want to. Shush for a moment, will you?"
Roger smirked and chuckled, taking Glory from her and rocking the baby gently. "Fine," he said, and they were quiet for a moment.
"Mark, we need to talk," Jennifer said, following Mark as he walked away from her.
"What about, Jennifer?" Mark asked hotly, turning around to face her. "About how I've been a lousy friend to Stephanie and Roger lately, or how I've been an even lousier husband? Jennifer, I know we both suffered a lot when we lost the baby, but I just don't know how to deal with it."
"Deal with it with me," Jennifer pleaded, looking up at him sadly. "I lost our son as much as you did. I can help you, if only you'll help me, too." Mark began to walk away, but Jennifer grabbed his hand. "Mark, please don't leave…"
Back in the room, Stephanie sat up, preparing to get out of the bed and go out there, if she had to.
"Stephanie, don't," Roger warned her. Stephanie scowled at him, but stayed put.
Mark looked down at Jennifer, his eyes filled with pain. "I don't know, Jennifer," he said. "I don't want to leave you. I know that for sure. I just… you know me, I always run from my pain. I live a lie. Roger said it himself to me once, when we were fighting, several years ago. I don't want to fight with you, Jen, but I just… I need a break."
"You are leaving, aren't you?" Jennifer asked him, as her eyes filled with tears, and she put her face in her hands in despair.
"I'll never leave you, Jennifer Caitlyn Cohen," Mark said. "I just need to go think for a few hours, OK?"
"You've had a few hours, Mark," Jennifer said, hurt by his words. "You've had a few months. How much more time do you need? We both can't deal with this alone; why can't we deal with it together? The way things are supposed to be."
Tears started to fall down Mark's face as well and he sat down on a bench wearily, not saying anything. "OK," Jennifer gave in. "If going to think is what you want… then I'll let you do it. But please come back later, OK? Either here or the loft, it doesn't matter where. We need to talk this over. We need to do something about it. We need to move on. For better or worse, in sickness and in health, remember?"
Mark nodded wearily and walked away from her. Jennifer put her face in her hands and cried.
"OK, I can't stand this anymore," Stephanie said angrily, slowly swinging herself out of bed, so as not to wake up the baby girl sleeping in Roger's arms. "I have to talk to him. Knock some sense into him."
"No, Steph," Roger said, and he handed her the newborn. "You stay with Glory. I'll go after Mark. You just stay with Jennifer, OK? This has gone too far."
"All right," Stephanie said, and she walked around the room, cradling Glory in her arms. The newborn started to cry, as if sensing the high tension in the room. Then Roger began to walk toward the door. Jennifer came back into the room, her face in her hands.
"Jennifer, are you gonna be OK?" Roger asked, putting his arm around her comfortingly as she sobbed.
"I'll be all right," Jennifer said, though both Stephanie and Jennifer knew she wouldn't be. "Just don't kill him, OK?"
"I might not," Roger said. "But this has gone too far. Stay here with Steph, OK? I'll be back soon."
Jennifer nodded and went over to Stephanie, as Roger stormed out.
Roger stormed angrily into the loft and found Mark in the room next to his and Jennifer's bedroom, which had recently been converted into a nursery. Mark was staring out into space, a glassy look in his eyes. It looked as though he didn't care anymore, that he was close to completely giving up.
"Mark, what the hell is wrong with you?" Roger demanded, and as he expected, Mark jumped. "How could you just leave Jennifer like that? What are you, fucking crazy?"
"Why do you keep doing this, Roger?" Mark asked, looking up angrily at him. "Why do you keep trying to interfere? Jennifer and I are not your problem."
"But it is my problem, Mark," Roger said. "You and Jen are fighting, so you and I are fighting and the only sane one around here is Stephanie, and she's about to lose it, too. For Christ's sake, Mark, get a fucking grip and grow up! Be a real man for her, Mark!"
"I told Jennifer I needed to think, not you," Mark snapped. "I intend on going back, just not for a while."
"Do you?" Roger asked testily. "I don't honestly think you do, Mark; not with the way you've been acting lately."
"I'm grieving, Roger!" Mark yelled. "Damn it, why do you always have to interfere, huh? I lost my son, Roger! You can't imagine how bad I feel about that."
"No, I can't," Roger said. "But I can help you, Mark. Get counseling or something, if you need to, but stop wallowing in your own damn self-pity. Jennifer needs you, can't you see that?" Roger whacked Mark on the side of the head; not hard enough to hurt him, but enough to make a point.
Mark backed away from Roger, surprised. "Roger, don't hit me," Mark said. "Fine, I'll talk to Jennifer. But I do really think we need a break from each other."
"Let her decide that, though, Mark, OK?" Roger asked. "You saw how upset she was when you only left the hospital for a couple hours; imagine how upset she'll be if you say you're done for good."
Mark nodded and swallowed, looking up at Roger. "Will you come back to the hospital with me, if it'll only make you stop hitting me?"
Roger nodded, looking down at him. "Of course," he said. "But remember what I said about me kicking your ass if you act stupid again." Mark nodded, and they left together.
OK, honestly, I hate having fight scenes between Roger and Mark, but I'll see where I want to take it from here. I won't spoil whether Jen and Mark get back together or not, though; you'll have to wait to find that out for yourself! Please review and thank you for reading!
Until next time, lots of love,
Renthead07