Adrian's doorbell rang at about 8 in the morning on Saturday. He went to get the door. It was Leland.
"Leland," Adrian whispered, "Come on outside. Trudy's asleep."
Leland followed Adrian out to the porch.
"How is she doing," Leland asked.
"Her leg is hurting," Adrian said, "She won't be out of the cast for at least another eight weeks. How's Jennifer?"
"We started taking her to the therapist every day," Leland explained, "She's really having trouble coping with this situation. Karen and I are really worried."
"I can imagine," Adrian said, "This is really scary stuff."
"My cousin, Charlie 'helpfully' suggested shock therapy," Leland said air quoting 'helpfully'.
"Well, that's a dumb idea," Adrian replied.
"I agree. He said it's a treatment. So is a lobotomy. I wouldn't approve of that either for Jennifer. He also recommended putting her in Saint Aspens. I snapped at him that my child has been through trauma. She doesn't have a mental illness. She needs to be home with her family and not in a psychiatric hospital. He said if I were like him the problems I had wouldn't have happened."
"Maybe he needs to be in a mental hospital," Adrian remarked, and Leland laughed.
"My cousin is a good guy, but he and I are not only not on the same page– I don't even think we're in the same book."
Now it was Adrian's turn to laugh.
"Everyone does the best they can," he said finally.
Trudy woke up a few hours later. Adrian was awake and looking at her with a smile on his face. She tried to sit up and groaned. Her leg hurt really badly.
"Hey," he said gently.
He helped her to sit up.
"Thank you, Adrian," Trudy said.
He noticed the tears in her eyes. Gently he wiped them away with his thumb.
"Hang on," he said, "I'll get you a pain pill and something to eat."
She nodded.
"I love you," she told him.
"I love you more," he said.
He was back in five minutes.
Trudy took the pill with a glass of milk. Adrian stroked her hair and watched as she fell back to sleep.
"Leland," Charlie said, "Glad I caught you."
Leland sighed. He loved his cousin, but he really didn't feel like getting into it again.
"Hey Char," he said, "What's up?"
"I want to apologize," he said, "I was a little insensitive towards you lately. I'm just going through a lot."
"Thank you," Leland said, "I appreciate that. What's up?"
"So, I just found out that Robyn has a brain tumor. She needs to have surgery. Jemma doesn't understand why her sister is sick and why I'm treating her differently than her sister."
"Robyn and Jemma are only 8," Leland exclaimed.
Charlie's twins were born 8 ½ months before Jarred.
"I know that" Charlie said.
"You shouldn't treat them differently," Leland said.
"I can't discipline Robyn when she misbehaves now," Charlie said.
"You don't discipline," Leland said, "You punish. Karen and I have never punished any of the kids but we discipline them all the time."
"It's how I was brought up," Charlie pointed out.
"I know," Leland said.
"I'm fine," Charlie argued.
"Are you? I'm not sure you are," Leland said, "Also why is fine, the measuring stick. I don't want Jennifer, Jared, Max or Caroline to be "fine". I want them to thrive."
Charlie looked thoughtful.
"I love my girls," he said
"Of course, you do. I love my kids too. It's just important to be positive."
"I'm positively terrified," Charlie said, "But I will take into consideration what you said."
"Good," Leland replied, "And I love you."
"I love you too," Charlie commented
"Robyn will be just fine," Leland told Charlie, "She's a strong little girl."
"I hope you're right," Charlie said, "The thought of losing a child scares the **** out of me."
"It's awful," Leland said, "I remember when Karen and I thought we lost Jennifer."
Charlie paused.
"Jennifer's alive though," he pointed out.
"So is Robyn," Leland returned easily.
"I know," Charlie said, "I'm just so frightened."
"That was a great show," Trudy said as she, her parents and Adrian walked out of the theater.
"It really was," Adrian replied.
"Is anyone hungry," Trudy asked.
"I could catch a bite," Marsha said.
"Me too," Dwight agreed.
"How about Planet Hollywood," Trudy suggested.
She'd never been to that restaurant, and she wanted to try it.
"I heard good things about that place," Marsha said.
"Let's try it," Adrian said.
They took a limo to Planet Hollywood. Adrian paid the driver. He helped Trudy into the restaurant, and they took the elevator upstairs.
"Table for four," Trudy said.
Trudy tripped on her way to the table. Adrian caught her before she could fall.
"I guess I'm still getting used to these crutches," Trudy said softly.
"Trudy it's okay," Adrian assured her.
He helped her to the table. She put her leg up on his lap at his insistence.
"Just eight more weeks until this leg heals up," Trudy said.
She couldn't wait to be out of the cast. It was itching like crazy for one thing.
"I'm sorry your leg is broken," Adrian said, "I wish I could wear the cast for you."
"Adrian you've worn enough for me," Trudy said referring to the shock bracelet.
"I would do it again in a heartbeat," he said seriously.
"I know," Trudy said gently touching his shoulder, "I love you."
"I love you too," Adrian said, "I've loved you since the first day I met you."
"What you're feeling is normal," Bella told Jennifer gently.
"I know it's normal," Jennifer said, "But it's horrible too. I'm scared all the time. It's like in my mind I'm always back in that dark time."
"Yes, but that won't last forever," Bella assured her, "We're going to get through this, and we'll do it together."
"How do I stop the nightmares," Jennifer asked.
"You're stronger than those nightmares," Bella said gently, "You survived a trauma."
"Whenever I see someone acting hurtful," Jennifer said, "It makes me so mad. It makes me want to scream in their face. Don't they realize what they're doing? Can't they see that it's wrong to act that way?"
"For some people," Bella said, "It's all they know. People can't do better until they know better."
"I guess that's true," Jennifer admitted.
"I for example," Bella said, "Will freely admit to making my share of mistakes."
"You? You seem completely together."
Bella laughed.
"I'm human," she pointed out, "It's okay to make mistakes. Everyone does. It's how you learn and grow."
"I sometimes react very strongly to situations. I don't know why? Maybe it's because of what I went through."
"No "maybe" about it. You've been through hell, Jennifer."
"I know," Jennifer sighed.
She broke down into tears.
