Ch 11
The next morning, Sammy wakes up and just looks around. Chris wakes up and looks over at the crib. "Sammy girl…"
Sam starts kicking her legs.
He carefully gets out of bed and kisses Rita's cheek. As he walks over to the crib, Sammy starts crying.
"Hey sweet girl. It's ok. Let's change your diaper and I'll take you over to Mama."
Rita wakes up and moans. He finishes up with Sam and walks over to the bed. "Need some help sitting up?"
"Please."
He lays Sammy down on his side and helps Rita up. He kisses her cheek and picks Sammy up and hands her to Rita.
"There's Mama. I'm going to go get the coffee going and see what we've got for breakfast. Might have to run out and grab something."
She gets Sammy settled and starts to nurse. "Ok. Just let me know."
"Always."
He gets the coffee going and heads back upstairs. "We don't have much. What do you want to eat and I'll go get it?"
"I'm not terribly hungry."
"Ok..but at some point you will be."
He gets dressed. "How about this. What if I go get the stuff for French toast? That sound good?"
She shrugs.
"Ok..tell me what sounds good?"
"Maybe some fruit.."
"I can do that. What else?"
"Coffee of course."
"It's almost done brewing."
"Ok.."
"Think about it and I'll go get some fresh fruit."
She nods. "Ok."
He kisses her. "You sure you're ok?"
"Yeah. Just sore. She didn't eat enough."
"Pump?"
She nods. "Please."
He takes Sam and hands it to her. "I'll take Sammy with me. I'll bring the phones to you."
"Thanks."
He takes Sammy downstairs and grabs the phones. He runs them up to Rita and kisses her. "Love you."
"I love you too."
He gets Sammy. "We'll be back in a few."
"Ok. Be careful."
"We will."
Chris takes Sam outside and puts her in her car seat. "Ok baby girl. Let's go find mama some good fruit."
He drives to the store and straps Sammy in the carrier. She grabs on to his shirt. "I know Sammy. It's ok." He kisses the top of her head.
She sighs and holds on tight.
"It's ok baby."
He goes to the produce and starts looking at everything. "What should we get Mama?"
She kicks her legs.
"Okay. Peaches it is. What else?"
Frannie sees them. "There's my girl."
Chris laughs. "Hi Frannie."
"Hi Christopher. How's Rita?"
He sighs. "Something is off. I can't place it."
Frannie nods. "She's used to being able to do things on her own. But now she's had to get help with the most basic things."
"So I need to let her do some things?"
"Yeah. Let her cook supper if she feels like it.."
"Ok. I can do that."
Frannie kisses Sammy's cheek. "I love you baby girl. Grandpa and I can't wait to see you again."
Chris smiles. "I'll ask her when she wants to go out. Maybe I can get to the bottom of what's bothering her besides what you mentioned."
Frannie nods. "I hope so."
Sammy coos.
Chris smiles and rubs her back. "I know baby."
She sighs.
"Let me know if you guys need anything Chris."
"I will Frannie. Thank you."
He gets some more fruit and looks around the store for things they might need. He grabs his phone and calls the loft.
"Hello?"
"Hey. You ok?"
"Hi. Yeah. Better now that I've pumped."
"Good. You need anything else from here?"
"Not that I can think of."
"Ok. We ran into Frannie. Sammy didn't want to let go of my shirt at all."
"Poor baby. She knows things are off."
"Yeah."
She carefully gets out of bed and grabs the crutches. "Hang on. Let me check the diapers and all that."
"Ok. Be careful."
"Always."
She goes over to where they keep everything. "Ok we're good with diapers."
"Ok. We'll head home."
"See you soon. Be careful."
"Always. Love you."
"Love you too."
Rita hangs up and flops back on the bed.
Chris runs by the jewelry store and gets the ring. He pulls up to the loft and put Sammy back in the carrier.
"We're home!"
"Can you come up when you get a chance?"
"Sure." He sets the bags down and heads up to the bedroom.
"You ok?"
"Didn't have my crutches when I got out of bed. Didn't feel good."
"Ok. Want to go downstairs?"
"Please."
He puts Sammy in her crib and picks Rita up.
She buries her head in his neck.
"Hey, it's ok. I'm sorry you didn't have your crutches. I should've checked before I left."
She nods. "I shouldn't have gotten up."
He sets her on the couch. "Let me go get Sammy and the extra pillows for you." He kisses her cheek.
"Don't leave me."
"I'm just going to get pillows and Sammy."
"Ok."
He grabs the pillows and tosses them down and picks Sammy up. He heads back down and takes Sammy to Rita.
"There you go. Let me get the pillows and I'll slice up the fruit we got. Sammy helped me decide."
"Oh she did?"
"Yeah. We got peaches, watermelon, cantaloupe, honey dew, grapes, strawberries and blueberries." He puts the pillows under her foot.
"Oh that sounds good. Maybe a fruit salad with some honey on top?"
"You got it."
He kisses her cheek. "Want to come sit and help me or stay there."
"I'm good."
"Ok."
He goes over and starts cutting everything up. "Want a bite?"
"When it's done is fine."
Rita puts Sam against her chest and turns her so she can see what's going on.
He smiles. "Hi Sammy girl." He brings two bowls of the fruit over to the couch and kisses Sammy's cheek.
Rita smiles and takes a bite. "Oh that's good. You and Sammy did good."
"Thanks." He leans over and kisses Rita's cheek.
"When should we do date night?"
"You pick."
"How about tomorrow? Give your ankle today to rest."
"Sounds good to me."
Sam looks at Chris and tries to smile. "You gonna smile at Daddy?"
Rita smiles. "We need to get a camera."
"Yes we do. I can go get one if you want me to.."
"I want to get out a bit too."
"Ok."
Sam starts squirming around.
"Ok you. Let's go change your diaper."
He scoops her up and kisses her cheek. "Want me to get your clothes out for you?"
"Sure. Just jeans and a tank top."
"Color?"
"Something light."
"Ok. I'll be back for you in a few."
He kisses her forehead.
"Chris.."
"Yeah?"
"This is probably ridiculous but I'm going to ask anyway.. do you still…"
"Still what? Want to throw you on the bed and kiss you all over?"
"Yeah."
"Of course. Why.."
He puts Sam in the crib and goes downstairs. "Is that why.."
She nods.
He picks her up and takes her upstairs. He carefully lays her on the bed and kisses her anywhere he could reach. "When you are out of that cast, I'm going to take Sammy over to Cap and Frannie's for a while and then we'll recreate the night we got Sammy."
"Ok..but what about.."
He smiles and kisses her some more. "What about what?"
She smiles and wraps her arms around his neck.
"Better?"
She nods. "Yeah. Guess I was just feeling not so pretty."
"You Rita Lee Lorenzo are not pretty." He kisses her cheek. "You are breathtaking." "Even after.."
"Of course. Why would you think I didn't.." He sighs. "Is it because I haven't.."
She nods. "Yeah."
He carefully pulls her in his arms. "I'm sorry. You have no idea how much I want you right now."
She hides her face in his neck.
Sam starts crying.
"We'll pick this up later."
"Promise?"
He nods. "Promise." He carefully puts her down on the bed. "Sammy girl…what's wrong?" He picks her up and kisses her cheek. "You're ok. Wanna go snuggle with
Mama?"
He takes her over to the bed.
"Hey baby girl." Rita smiles and takes her from Chris.
"Want to call and see when we can get some pictures done?"
"I don't want to be on crutches or in the boot in them though."
"I have an idea for one that it wouldn't show. "
"Oh?"
"We can 'interrogate' her. Us on one side, her on the other."
"Now that would be cute."
"Want me to call around? Or.."
"I will."
"Ok."
She grabs the phone book and the phone. "We should get some with Harry and Frannie."
"Oh yes. Surprise them too."
"Perfect."
Rita raises an eyebrow. "Perfect?"
Chris flashes his million dollar smile. "Parfait."
She smiles. "Hang on." She dials their house line.
"Hello?"
"Hey Frannie."
She smiles. "Hi Doll! Feeling better?"
"Yeah I am. Thanks. Ankle is still sore but that's to be expected."
"Good."
"Are you guys busy this weekend?"
"I don't think so.."
"Oh good. We're trying to figure out when we wanted a date night but wasn't sure when you're available."
"Ok. Just let us know."
"We will. Thanks Frannie. We'll be in touch."
"Ok. See you later."
"See ya."
Chris smiles. "You're good."
Rita grins. "Thanks." She calls a photographer.
"Hi, I was wondering if you would have availability this weekend. I'd like to get some pictures with my husband, daughter and her grandparents."
"Let me see. I have Saturday at two pm."
"That sounds great. Are you able to do shoots on location?"
"I am. Where did you have in mind?"
"Well we are all police officers and we were thinking some pictures there and maybe at the beach."
"I can absolutely do that. Where would you like first?"
"The beach."
"Great. I'll call you Saturday morning and find out where you want to go then meet you there. Can I get your name?"
"Rita La..Lorenzo."
"Great and your number."
"It's 555-7265."
"Perfect. I'll see you Saturday afternoon."
"Thanks so much."
Chris smiles. "How are we going to do the ones at the beach?"
"I don't know. We'll ask her."
"Ok."
He slides in bed beside her and kisses her cheek down to her neck.
"Chris.."
"Yeah?"
"Now?"
"Why not?"
She smiles. "How about we pick this up later tonight when she's asleep?"
"But.."
"I know." She kisses him.
"Ok.."
"How are we going to get Harry and Frannie up there?"
"I think I'll call him and tell him I'm going to requalify and want to challenge him."
"Oh good idea."
"What about Frannie though."
"Oh. I can ask them to lunch after…"
"Good plan."
He wraps his arm around her shoulder. "I heard you almost say Lance when she asked your name."
"Yeah. I almost signed Lance when I signed our discharge papers when I had Sammy."
"Oh. Do you want to use Lance?"
She shakes her head. "No. If you go back, I might use Lance Lorenzo. But otherwise Lorenzo."
He tucks her close to him. "Ok. Just wanted to make sure."
She smiles and kisses him.
Sammy squirms.
Rita kisses her cheek. "Were we ignoring you baby? I'm sorry."
Chris sighs.
Rita looks at him. "Talk to me Christopher."
"Just feel out of place. Like I shouldn't have come back."
"Don't you ever say that. I need you. Sammy needs you."
He gets up and walks across the room. "But where do I fit in?"
She starts to get up and puts weight on her ankle. "Ouch.."
He rushes over to her.
"THIS is where you fit in. If you weren't here I would have to stay with someone and Sam would be out of sorts. But you're here. She's happy. I'm happy. Even if I was stupid and tried to put weight on my ankle."
He nods. "Ok."
She lays Sammy on the bed and reaches up for him.
He leans down and she wraps her arms around his neck.
"I…love…you…and….I…need…you."
She kisses him in between.
"I need you too. And I love you too."
Rita holds on to him tight. "When you were gone, everything seemed out of whack. Like someone was missing. And they were. You were missing. Nothing I tried made me feel whole. Except right now. Right here with you. I feel whole…complete…"
He lifts her up in his arms. "I was the same way. I couldn't do anything without thinking about you."
"You're home now. And I don't ever want to be without you again."
"You won't have to be. I'll be here when you get home. And we'll come up and see you."
Rita moved her ankle and groans.
He carefully lays her back in bed and props her ankle up.
"Thanks."
Sam starts crying.
"I know Sammy. I'm sorry. Daddy's sorry." He picks her up and kisses her cheek.
She grabs a hold of his shirt.
"I'm sorry baby. Daddy's not going anywhere."
"Except over here to bed."
Chris smiles and slides in bed next to her. He lifts his arm up and Rita lays her head on his chest. "That's better. I got my girls right where I need them."
Rita had her head over his heart and a few stray tears fall on his shirt.
"Hey..why the tears?"
She looks up and kisses him. "Just listening to your heart beating. Thought I would never get to do that again."
He kisses her back and holds her closer.
Both Rita and Sam fall asleep. Chris carefully gets out of bed and lays Sammy in the crib. He gets back in bed and pulls Rita back in his arms.
