{Author's Note: I am intentionally skipping the Memorial Day Services part of this story, for now. I intend to post that as a "Transitions Universe Bonus Story on Memorial Day.}
"Are you really okay?" I ask Donna for the fourteenth time since we got in Marine One to head back to Camp David.
"Josh, I think I speak for all of us when I tell you that if you ask Donna that question one more time, I'm going to push you out of this helicopter."
Helen snickers and the agents all nod in agreement with Matt's statement.
"I'm fine." Donna insists.
This morning on the trip to DC, she had looked a little sick but she said it was just nerves. The ceremony was intense, but when it was over Donna insisted that she was fine and that she wanted to come back to Camp David. So here we are.
I guess her first experience with Marine One really was due to the morning sickness and not due to the method of transportation. I am glad for that, it will make her life much easier.
As we disembark, the sight of the Marines in their dress blues is all the more sobering. I truly am grateful for their service.
As always, the staff have the golf carts waiting for us. I look to Donna. "Do you want to change first or go get some lunch?"
"Definitely lunch. I'm starving. Then afterwards we can just change into our suits and go to the pool."
"Okay by me."
"This is great. Absolutely heaven." Donna is leaning against me, eyes closed. I have to agree. Somehow we've managed alone time in the pool twice, and we've got this raft thing down.
"Mind if we join you?" Elena's voice breaks the silence. We'll there goes the alone time. But hey, at least she doesn't have any kids with her.
"Not at all." Donna calls out. "How long until the kids descend?"
"They all swam before lunch. They're watching Shrek the Third with Abuela now. We've got an hour."
"Are Matt and Helen coming?" I ask her.
"No, they're spending a little time with Carmen and Dolores before they go."
"Okay then, this is a perfect opportunity for you to tell "How Helen got her Tat. After the look Matt gave you at dinner last night, I gotta hear this story!"
Elena gets a delightfully fiendish look on her face. This is going to be good.
"It all goes back to the sorority. In the early nineties tattoos were just becoming mainstream. Everyone was getting their Greek letters. Most of the sisters just got a little tat in a fairly discrete location that could be covered up on trips home so Mommy and Daddy wouldn't notice it. But Helen's not most people. We went to the cheapest place near campus, planning to get matching ankle tattoos. But the guy at the shop offered to incorporate ZTA into a "lower back tribal tattoo." He drew up a really cool design. When he told us the price, I almost fainted. But Helen just batted those baby blues and the next thing you know, he was offering do it for the same price as the tattoos we had come for. We had never heard them called 'Tramp Stamps' and it seemed like a great bargain. So we did it."
"You guys got tramp stamps because it was a good deal?!" I can't help but laugh, and Elena and Paul are laughing right along. Donna's not really laughing though. She's worrying her lower lip.
"Last night you said Matt was mad about it. What did he do?" She asks Elena.
"This was during our third year of college. I'd been taking her home for visits for a while. And she'd met Matt a few times but they weren't dating or anything yet." Elena's a good storyteller and she's getting back into it.
"Well, it turns out the place we chose for it's price probably wasn't the most reputable place. A couple days after we got them neither of us were feeling that great. Turns out they were infected. Helen really didn't want her parents to know, so we decided to go home to Mama. She took one look and hustled us off to the doctor."
She pauses a minute. "I swear that antibiotic shot in the ass hurt worse than the Tat!" Once again we're all laughing but Donna.
"We left the doctor's with a prescription and instructions to air the skin out as much as possible. So Hen and I were laying on our stomachs across my bed watching TV, in just our undies with our shirts pulled up to the middle of our backs, when Matt storms into the room and starts ranting at us."
"Tramp stamps?! How could you be so foolish? And from some hole in the wall joint? I thought you two were smarter than that!"
Elena's doing a good job copying Matt's booming voice. Paul and I are laughing really hard.
"Suddenly he noticed the position we were in, and says- I ought to tan your hides. I've never seen Helen jump up so fast! Her eyes were blazing!"
"What makes you think you have ANY say about what I do with my body?" Now she's imitating Helen to a tee.
And Matt shouted right back- "Well, since I plan to make you my WIFE one day, I think I have plenty!"
"Then Helen used that sugary sweet, prom-queen voice. You know the one I'm talking about, right?" She asks us and I nod affirmatively. I can't wait to hear the rest of this.
"And she says, maybe you want to ask me out on a date before you threaten to beat my ass."
"So he did."
"He asked her out, right?" Donna seems a little uncertain.
"Well, yeah." Paul replies "I doubt they'd be married now if he'd beat her!" We all laugh again.
"Right, of course," Donna says quietly.
We float around the pool for a little longer, making small talk and just hanging out. I'm a little surprised when Donna suggests we golf. We had talked about it but I really didn't expect her to be the one to bring it up. I'm not really disappointed when Paul and Elena turn down the offer to join us. I'm always happy to have Donna to myself.
She's about to drive the ball from the farthest tee when suddenly Peter yells " Hi Tio Josh!" as the cart flies across the green. Oh my god, if he gets hit with the ball he could get really hurt.
"Donna wait!" I scream. She turns towards me but she's already mid swing. The club sails over the ball without making contact.
"Owww! Shit. That hurts." Her faces twists in pain. "Ohhh. Ohhh."
"Oh my god. What's wrong? Is it the baby?" My voice is high-pitched as I race up, grabbing her arms to steady her.
"No, it's my back. I twisted it. Josh, it really hurts," she whimpers.
We aren't that far from our cabin. But I don't know if she can walk. Where did those damn kids go with the cart? Where's an agent when you need one?
"Can you walk back to the cabin?"
"I think so." She takes a few tentative steps, grimacing.
Just then I spot an agent checking the green as part of his circuit. "Hey! Come here!" I wave him over.
He runs over. "What is it Mr. Lyman?"
"Donna hurt her back. I want a cart right now."
He lifts his wrist and makes the call for a medical team.
"Should she lay down?" I ask the agent.
"Do you feel like you're going to pass out Mrs. Lyman?" He asks her.
"No."
"Do you want to lay down?"
"Not really. The pain is going away. I think I'm fine. I just need a ride back to the cabin."
"No. You're getting checked out by the doctor." I tell her firmly.
Once the medical team arrives, I turn back to the agent "I want Peter, Jackson, and David delivered to the infirmary immediately." I glance down at my watch. It's just after 3. "Unless they are with their parents and actually heading to the airport."
"Yes, sir. Are they in trouble?"
"Oh, yeah."
When we get to the infirmary, Donna insists that she's not in pain anymore as she walks carefully into the examination room. I help her into a gown and onto the table. As she lays down, I'm surprised but glad to see the Doppler machine. I guess they really do have everything here.
"First things first," the doctor says "let's check the baby's heart beat. How many weeks are you?"
"17 on Wednesday." Donna looks nervous but once we hear the swooshing sound, we both break out into relieved grins.
"Everything sounds fine. I'm not an OB/GYN but the baby's heart rate is in the normal range. If you have any pain in your abdomen or any bleeding, we'll get you to an ER right away."
"No, really, I'm not in any pain anymore. Just it was just a shooting pain for a few seconds, right here." Donna put her hand on her side and around her back a little. "It's gone. Now I'm just a little sore."
"Okay, let's take a look at your back then."
Fifteen minutes later, the agent pokes his head into the examination room.
"They're in the lobby." He announces.
The doctor is still examining Donna, so I lean down and whisper in her ear- "I'll be right back, don't go anywhere."
"Har, har." She responds.
I stride into the lobby and encounter three, slightly pale, slightly trembling boys. I think they might already be regretting their joy ride. I wonder what the agent said to them.
"ARE ANY OF YOU 16?" I thunder at them like they are recalcitrant congressmen. I know damn well they aren't but I give each of them a long lingering look.
"Nnn-no." They each stutter.
I give them a glare, then address them in a cold, seething voice. I am angry and I make sure they know it.
"THEN NONE OF YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING THAT GOLF CART! If you were OLD ENOUGH to drive would have known that it's dangerous to drive right across the green! You could have been hit by a golf ball and been seriously injured. Instead, Donna twisted her back preventing that from happening. So she's laying in there, IN PAIN. They can't take an x-ray or give her any pain medication because it could HURT THE BABY."
I narrow my eyes and look them all over. They look appropriately chastised.
"NOW SIT DOWN! You can go in there in a few minutes and apologize to her."
They all scurry over to the chairs, then another idea hits me.
"No. STAND UP. COME HERE!" Their eyes all bug out of their heads as they stand back up. I direct each of them to a corner and stick their nose in it.
"Stand here and think about it."
"M-m-mr. Lyman?" David quakes, "m-my Mother said I needed to be back at the cabin by 3:30."
He's more scared of his mother than me. Well, that seems about right. I glance at my watch again. I can leave the miscreants where they are for five minutes then release them. It'll probably feel like hours anyway.
"Would you like me to send an agent to tell her where you are right now?"
"NO! Please don't tell our parents."
"Then STAY PUT."
When I get back into the exam room, Donna is sitting up.
"How are you feeling?"
"Just a little sore."
"She okay, Doc?"
"Yes. I don't feel anything out of place. The latissimus dorsi feels a little tight. Donna says that's where the pain was. She probably just tweaked it."
"Is that the medical term for it?" I laugh in relief.
"Yep. That's the one we use. During pregnancy the muscles get stretched out bit any way." He looks back at Donna- "You've probably had some discomfort before right?" She nods slightly.
"What?! You've never said anything."
"Because it's normal and I didn't want to worry you, Mr. Overreaction."
I narrow my eyes at her. I'm getting some good practice with my Dad voice today. "We'll talk about this later."
But this time it doesn't work on Donna. She just laughs at me. Damn.
The doctor interrupts our banter. "My prescription is take a hot-bath. If you weren't pregnant, I'd send you to the hot tub. That should relax the muscle. A little stiffness or tenderness is normal, but if you have any more pain or if your back seizes up and you feel like you can't move let me know, or follow up with your doctor back home."
"Thanks Doc." She starts to get up.
"Hold on. Can you lay back down? I've got to finish dealing with the rug-rats."
I go out, grab David by the ear, a move I learned from Donna, and lead him back into the exam room, stopping by Donna's head.
"Do you have something to say to Mrs. Lyman?"
"I'm sorry you were hurt, Mrs. Lyman. I shouldn't have been in the golf cart without a grown-up."
"Are you going to tell my parents?" He still looks really scared. Now that I know Donna's fine, I'm actually a little concerned for him. He's not afraid of getting beat or something is he? Matt's mentioned his strict catholic upbringing before, but I'm not sure how far down that's carried, especially given his threat to Helen and Elena.
"No. That's up to you. As far as I'm concerned, if you are really sorry, we're done."
"I am, I am."
"Rules are for a reason, David." Oh my god, I really am ready to be a parent. "Okay, you can go."
He races out the door, as I grab first Jackson, then Peter and repeat the process twice.
Once Peter's left, Donna gets dressed slowly.
"Are you in pain?"
"No, really, I'm just a little nervous. You know how it is when you are afraid to make a wrong move."
"Okay, but seriously Donna, I want to know if you have any pain, or stiffness or soreness. Please don't keep things from me because you think I'm going to over-react."
"Josh, you suggested that they carried me in here on a backboard!"
"Fair enough. If I promise to try not to over-react, will you promise to tell me everything?"
"Yes."
"Okay, then."
Donna continues to insist that she's fine, but I'm taking the hot bath prescription seriously. Our cabin doesn't have a tub, but Aspen does, so that's where we'll go.
Leaving Donna in the cart, I knock on the door. Matt actually answers it himself.
"Josh! I'm really glad to see you. Can you tell me why my son is in his room laying on his bed sobbing? The only thing I can get from him is Tio Josh hates me now."
"Um, no. I can't tell you that." Matt raises his eyebrow at me. "But I can come in and talk to him." I hope Matt remembers what he told me when he made me an honorary uncle. Peter doesn't need me to report his behavior to his father. He needs me to help him grow up.
Matt doesn't say anything so I continue. "The reason I'm here is Donna tweaked her back while we were golfing. The doctor suggested a hot bath and our cabin doesn't have a tub. Can we borrow yours?"
"Of course! Does she need help walking?"
"Nah, I've got her. Once I have her settled, I'll talk to Peter. Okay?"
"Yep. Anything I need to know?"
"No. It's between me and Peter unless he chooses to tell you. I think I can handle it."
"Good man. I'll let Helen know we've got guests."
After I'm satisfied that Donna is comfortable in the bath, it's time to talk to Peter. I hope I can find the right words.
I knock lightly on his door while opening it. "Hey buddy." I call out softly. He doesn't answer but his soft sniffling stops, so I know he's awake. I sit down on the side of his bed and try to think about how my Dad would handle something like this. Tentatively, I reach out and rub Peter's back for a minute.
"I don't hate you. I'm not even mad at you any more."
"You aren't?" He slowly sits up.
"No. Do you remember Mr. McGarry?"
Peter nods, his eyes solemn.
"He was a friend of my Dad's. But, when I worked for him, I got my self into quite a bit of trouble more than once. When he yelled at me he'd say "now I have to whack you with a two by four!"
Peter's eyes get really wide- "you're not gonna whack me are you?"
"No! God, no, Pete, I'd never hit you. Leo didn't actually whack me either. He just meant he had to give me a lecture."
I see Peter's shoulder's relax a little.
"He was like a father to me. Even when was yelling, I knew he loved me. Sabes que te quiero, ¿no?"
Peter throws his arms around me. Sí, yo también te quiero, Tio Josh.
{Translation: You know I love you, don't you? Yes, I love you too, Uncle Josh.}