And love
Chapter 80 Good Grief
A/N: Warning, animal stillbirth described. MAJOR emotional turmoil for our Mary Rose.
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JAMKO ESTATES 18:00 (Same day)
Mary Rose bursts through the front door screaming.
"MOMMY, DADDY!" She rushes into the home office, skidding to a stop when she sees Father Raphael. "NO!"
She dashes out of the office and runs pall mall up the stairs to her room, slamming the door behind her. She throws herself on her lower bunk and sobs.
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5 HOURS EARLIER
Vet Donna Blake examines the mare Maddie again. The labor is not going well – she wishes that Mary Rose wasn't with her. But that was her own fault, she invited the child. There hadn't been any signs of trouble all through the pregnancy. But of course, that meant nothing now.
Actually, Mary Rose was helping. She sat on the floor with her legs crossed; holding Maddie's head in her lap. The little girl kept up a soft, slow flow of words to the troubled mama. She softly caressed Maddie's nose and placed an occasional kiss. *
'DAMN, this girl is going to be the best vet I've ever met' Donna thinks. 'She will need strong emotional control though. I bet her family will instill that.'
Mary Rose strokes Maddie's nose. "You are doing great mama, a little longer. I can hardly wait to meet your beautiful baby! I am sure he or she will be a beautiful horse, just like mama. You will take good care of your baby, I am sure. Donna says you are a good mommy."
Owner Scott MacPherson stops by to observe. He listens a while and walks away shaking his head, amazed. 'You can't pay enough for vet support like that', he thinks.
Donna takes another look at Maddie, then talks to Mary Rose. "Sweetie, I'm going to take a break. I'm going into the house. Why don't you come with me?"
Mary Rose looks up, "No thanks. I'll keep Maddie company. Can you bring me a snack and drink, please?"
"Surely, I will send something out."
Katy MacPherson (8 y/o) came out with lemonade, mixed nuts and 2 kinds of chips. She snacked and sipped along with Mary Rose.
"Do you like working with animals?" Katy asked.
Mary Rose resisted an eye roll. "Yes, I have my own donkey. His name is Joseph. Do you have a horse of your own?"
"No, we just have horses to breed them and sell the babies when they get old enough."
The girl's snack on.
"Don't you love your horses?"
"Naw, I don't want to get attached. Say, why are you talking to her like that?"
"Like what?"
"Like it understands, or something?"
"Maddie is a she! And she understands. I am comforting her. She is having a hard labor."
"Well, I hope the foal doesn't die. We put a lot of money into this pregnancy; that would be a waste."
Mary Rose has a sick feeling in her gut. She pushes the snack food aside.
"Don't you want more," Katy asks.
"No thank you."
"Ok." Katy picks things up and disappears into the house.
3 HOURS LATER
Donna checks Maddie again. Labor is not going to be successful – this will be an emotional tragedy for one little Reagan girl.
Donna brings Mary Rose into the tack room. She has the young girl sit on a stool; she kneels in front of her. "Mary Rose, sometimes bad things happen-
"Is Maddie going to die?" She starts to cry.
"No, but her baby-
"Won't make it, right?"
"That's right. We don't want that to happen. I know you poured a lot of love into that mama, but it just wasn't enough. I'm sorry baby." Donna leans forward, her charge leans forward into her mentor's arms. They embrace and gently sway for a long time. The tears slowly subside.
"What will happen to the baby?"
"He will be buried-
"A he?"
"Yes."
"What's his name?" (Donna caught this train of thought too late)
"They haven't named him."
"May I? Please?"
'DAMN' "What name would you choose, sweetie?"
"Charlie."
"I will ask, ok?"
"Ok." She asked, they agreed. Katy scoffed – it was a good thing Mary Rose didn't hear that!
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Donna pulls Scott MacPherson aside.
"Scott, what are you going to do with Maddie?"
"Well, her uterus is shot, right?"
'Man, it's a good thing Mary Rose isn't hearing that horse described by how her body parts are working!'
"Yes, she will never foal again."
"Well, I'll take her to auction and see what I can get . . . what is that gleam in your eye, Donna? Wait a damn minute!"
"Scott, you know where Maddie belongs. You saw and heard the love!" She grins at him.
"I did. But this business doesn't run on love, Donna!"
"One damn horse, Scott!"
"One damn horse," he mutters. "You set it up," he grins.
"With pleasure."
Donna TXT Eddie:
DB: MR TLC, MUCH TLC!
ER: OK, talk L8R?
DB: Y L8R
Mary Rose blows in like a hurricane.
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UPSTAIRS BEDROOM
After Father Raphael leaves, Eddie goes into the nursery to care for the boys with Mal's help; Jamie and Cassie go upstairs to tend to Mary Rose.
They find her on her lower bunk. They kneel beside the bed and softly talk.
"Can you tell us what happened, sweetie?" Jamie starts.
"There was this mare, Maddie," tears are slowing.
"What did you do to help?" Sis asks.
"She was having a really hard time . . . so I sat on the floor and held her head; and talked with her, trying to encourage her you know; and I stroked her cheek. And she snuffled . . . I think she was comforted."
"I am proud of you sissy!" Cassie gives her little sister a kiss on the cheek.
"Thank you, Cass! But in the end, she lost her beautiful boy baby."
"We are so sorry, sweetheart." Dad kisses her head.
"Daddy, I got to name him!"
"Oh?" Dad knows that's not usual practice. "What name did you give him?"
"Charlie!"
"Hm, I like it."
"Thank you." She looks at Cassie.
"I love it!"
Jamie receives a TXT from Eddie:
Donna and a Scott in barn 4U
"Cassie, can you stay with her? I have visitors to see."
"Sure dad, go."
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NURSERY
Jamie sticks his head in, on his way out.
"Eddie, what's up?"
"Don't know, Donna was rather secretive."
"Are the boys, Ok?"
"Yes, go."
"Ok, be back soon."
STALL BARN
"Jamie Reagan, this is Scott MacPherson. Scott owns the ranch where Mary Rose and I were today. Scott, Jamie is Mary Rose's father."
The men shake hands.
"Jamie, you have an extremely remarkable daughter!" Scott compliments Mary Rose.
"Thank you, we feel she is special." Jamie smiles.
"Jamie, the mare we attended lost her foal."
"So sorry. I suspected as much, from the reaction of Mary Rose as she blew in."
"And the mare cannot foal again," Scott fills in.
"Ah, so here we stand in our stall barn!" Jamie grins.
Donna chuckles, turning to Scott "I told you he was smart." Scott chuckles too.
"Well, I see an empty stall or two here." Scott looks around, he misses nothing.
"Your move," Jamie gestures to Donna.
"I have convinced Scott that Maddie's next home should be here." She is proud of herself.
"I have agreed. I saw a lot of love sent Maddie's way. Donna convinced me that I ain't seen nothing yet."
"Probably true," Jamie admits.
Donna glares at both men. "So," she prompts.
Jamie scuffs a toe of his work boot in the straw on the floor. He looks to Scott, then to Donna. "So?"
She explodes, "You morons!"
"I thought you said that you convinced him," Jamie points from Donna to Scott.
"I DID!" She shouts.
"Well, what does he want for a mare he can't breed?" Jamie smirks. "We'll give her a good home, lots of love . . . what more do you want?"
"Nothing," Scott admits.
"So," both men look to Donna.
She throws up her hands in frustration. "OK, when shall I deliver?"
"Saturday after next," Jamie muses. "She will be healed by then, correct?"
Scott nods in assent.
"Good, I need to get a big red ribbon for her neck," Jamie adds.
"Oh, she doesn't need that," Donna subtracts.
"I was talking about you," Jamie turns to walk away.
Scott doubles over with laughter.
Donna stomps off, "I'll deal with the girls." 'JERKS!'
Scott & Jamie bump shoulders.
"Easy, huh?"
"Yup, see ya."
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Damn, this part was difficult to write.
TBC