Post by Mimi on Aug 18, 2006 10:37:40 GMT -5
“John, its good to see you again,” Martha Evans said as she hugged her son-in-law John.
“I wish it were under better circumstances…How was the flight to Salem?” John asked as he shook his father-in-laws hand. Frank Evans, a large man of six-foot six with a shock of pepper colored hair, always seemed so larger than life to John. He always seemed such a perfect complement to Marlena, that it was hard for John to accept that he was not her biological father. On family visits back to Colorado, John used to sit back was watch amazed as Marlena and her father debated the latest political issues.
“Great…I’m so glad that you decided to fly Marlena and the babies back here for treatment,” Martha said as she looked at her son-in-law sympathetically. He looked so tired, the dark circles under his eyes standing out in contrast to the paleness of his skin.
“I thought it was important that she had her family near to support her.”
“That’s so true…I’m just surprised that you were able to make the transfer of the babies happen so quickly…speaking of babies, how are those darling grandchildren on mine?”
“Still the same,” John said as he pointed through the glass window of the Salem University NICU at his children lying in incubators.
“That’s Rachel,” John said as he pointed to the isolet that was closest to the nurses’ desk. “And that’s Noah over there.”
“What beautiful names…what are their middle names?” Martha asked.
“They don’t have any middle names yet…. I kind of named the babies when they were born and left the middle names up to Marlena.”
“Oh,” Martha said. Upon John’s asking, Roman had called up his former in-laws and filled them in on what was happening with Marlena and the babies. Martha and Frank wanted to fly to Alaska immediately and see their daughter and grandchildren, but Roman convinced them to wait a couple of days. “We saw Marlena at the house before coming over here.”
“How is she?” John asked. Since they had returned to Salem three days before, John had not seen Marlena, only talked to her on the cell phone. Marlena refused to come to the hospital to see the children and John wouldn’t leave the babies at the hospital to see Marlena. They were essentially stuck at an impasse with neither side willing to give in.
“She looks good…tired, but cheerful. I think the old Marlena is back,” Martha said. “Can we hold the babies?”
“Unfortunately, the doctors aren’t allowing anyone to touch or hold Rachel yet. Since she had surgery they are concerned about germs and infections. I’ve been able to hold Noah a couple of times…I’ll talk to his doctor to see if he’d allow you to hold him.”
“Thank you John…How are you doing honey?” She asked as she put her arm around his waist. “With all that’s gone on I’m worried about you.”
“I’m doing okay,” John said as he shrugged his shoulders.
“You look like you’ve lost some weight John…you probably haven’t been eating, being worried about the babies…Frank, why don’t you take John down to the cafeteria and make sure he eats something hot and filling. I’ll stay here and keep an eye on the babies,” Martha offered.
“Thanks Martha, but I’ll be okay really.”
“No, John…I insist, my treat,” Frank said as he approached John and Martha at the glass window.
“Okay,” John said. “You have my cell phone. Call me if anything changes.”
“I will dear,” Martha said as she reached up and kissed John on the cheek.
Martha watched as John and Frank headed down the hallway toward the elevator. She was delighted to see her granddaughters Belle and Sami heading her way.
“Grandma Evans,” Sami said as her grandmother enveloped her in a warm hug. Sami relished in the familiar comfort her grandmother provided.
“Samantha dear…I’ve missed you so…you’ve grown up to be such a pretty young lady,” Martha said as she let go of Sami and stepped back to look at her.
“Hi Granny,” Belle said as she tentatively approached her grandmother. Martha took Belle into her arms. “Isabella, it’s so good to see you again.”
“Did you just get in, or did you see mom yet?” Belle asked as she broke the hug and stepped away from her grandmother. Instinctively she folded her arms in front of her chest and rubbed them.
“Are you cold dear?” Martha asked.
“No, I’m fine Granny,” Belle said.
“Take my sweater if you’re cold,” Martha said as she took off her red cardigan sweater and handed it to Belle.
“Thanks,” Belle said as she took the sweater from her grandmother and put it on. “So did you see mom?” Belle asked again.
“Yes, your grandfather and I saw your mom before we came here…she looks good…. Your mom is such a strong woman, stronger than you realize.”
“I’m just worried about her grandma.”
“That’s only natural Belle dear…. Your mom is going to be just fine, you’ll see.”
“I hope your right Granny,” Belle said as she pulled her grandmother’s sweater tighter around her. “Are you staying with mom and dad at the penthouse or at the Salem Inn.”
“With your parents,” Martha offered. “Your father insisted that the company would be good for your mom.”
“Great, I’m sure that mom will like that,” Sami said. “Where are Eric and Carrie staying?”
“I think that they’re both staying at the penthouse. When your grandfather and I went by to see Marlena they were both there and appeared to be living there….Eric was still in his PJ’s,” Martha recounted, laughing, “That boy will never change.”
“Did you see the babies yet?” Belle asked as she pointed to the incubators on the other side of the glass.
“Your father showed me them a little while ago…said he was going to talk to Noah’s doctor to see if I could hold him.”
“He did?” Belle asked. Her father hadn’t made that offer to her and Noah was her brother. “Aren’t they so small? I’m worried about them.”
“They’re going to be fine,” Sami said optimistically. They had to be fine. Sami feared that if anything less than perfect happened it would upset the fragile balance of her family.
“But what if they’re not?” Belle asked.
“Don’t think that way dear…of course they’ll be fine,” Martha stated. Belle looked at her grandmother in awe. Regardless of the situation she always managed to see the positive in it. Belle wished that she could be more like her. Belle walked into her grandmothers open arms for a much-needed hug.
Sami looked on in concern. Her grandmothers’ eternal optimism concerned her. What reality was she living in? It wasn’t fair to give Belle false hope. What if something happened to the babies? It was far more humane to prepare for all options and be realistic than to live in a world of denial.
“I’m going to go talk with the nurse and see how they are,” Sami said as she walked away from the Belle and Grandma Evans love fest.
A minute later she returned, tears in her eyes. “Belle I need to borrow your cell phone.”
Belle quickly reached into her small black Kate Spade purse and took out her phone, handing it to her sister. Sami dialed a familiar number.
“Belle,” the caller on the other end of the line said, recognizing the number.
“No John, its Sami…you need to get up here now,” Sami said as she wiped the tears from her eyes.
“What’s wrong Sami?” John asked as he stood up from the table he was sitting at with Frank.
“Something’s wrong with Rachel,” she blurted out. Martha and Belle stood by stunned.
“I’ll be right there,” John said as he hung up the phone and motioned for Frank to follow him, their hot meal having been forgotten.
“Daddy, how’s Rachel?” Belle asked as her father returned to the small waiting room where the family had assembled.
“Not good,” John said. “She has an infection in her heart that is weakening the muscles…She also has fluid accumulating in her brain. The doctors want to operate and insert a shunt into her brain to drain the fluid and alleviate some of the pressure, but aren’t sure that with her heart issues that she is strong enough to survive the surgery. I’ve signed the consent papers because it’s the only chance that she has…Father Jansen has been called and will be stopping by in a half hour to give her last rites before surgery.”
“Oh John,” Martha said as she stood up and went over and gave John a hug.
“Sami, could you call your dad and let him know what’s going on?”
“Sure John,” Sami said as she took Belles cell phone from her and walked to a vacant part of the waiting room to call her father.
“Is there anything that we can do?” Frank Evans asked.
“Just pray for Rachel,” John offered sincerely. “Come on Frank, lets go down to the chapel and light a candle and pray for Rachel and Noah,” Martha said as she got up from her chair. John watched as they made their way down the long corridor to the elevator bank.
“Is there anything that we can do?” Carrie asked, Eric by her side. John looked at his stepchildren lovingly. He hoped that Rachel and Noah had the chance to become as wonderful adults are Eric and Carrie were.
“No, but knowing that you’re both here helps,” John said as he hugged them both. “Would you mind keeping Belle company and watching out for the babies for a little while…I have my cell phone, so call me immediately if there is any change…I’ll be back in a little while,” John said as she walked away from the group.
“Daddy, you shouldn’t be alone,” Belle said as she placed her hand on John’s strong arm.
“Tink, I appreciate your concern, but there is something I have to do.”
“I don’t want you to be alone,” Belle said as she started to cry.
“I won’t be alone…I’m going to do something I should have done days ago,” John stated as he walked away.
“I wish it were under better circumstances…How was the flight to Salem?” John asked as he shook his father-in-laws hand. Frank Evans, a large man of six-foot six with a shock of pepper colored hair, always seemed so larger than life to John. He always seemed such a perfect complement to Marlena, that it was hard for John to accept that he was not her biological father. On family visits back to Colorado, John used to sit back was watch amazed as Marlena and her father debated the latest political issues.
“Great…I’m so glad that you decided to fly Marlena and the babies back here for treatment,” Martha said as she looked at her son-in-law sympathetically. He looked so tired, the dark circles under his eyes standing out in contrast to the paleness of his skin.
“I thought it was important that she had her family near to support her.”
“That’s so true…I’m just surprised that you were able to make the transfer of the babies happen so quickly…speaking of babies, how are those darling grandchildren on mine?”
“Still the same,” John said as he pointed through the glass window of the Salem University NICU at his children lying in incubators.
“That’s Rachel,” John said as he pointed to the isolet that was closest to the nurses’ desk. “And that’s Noah over there.”
“What beautiful names…what are their middle names?” Martha asked.
“They don’t have any middle names yet…. I kind of named the babies when they were born and left the middle names up to Marlena.”
“Oh,” Martha said. Upon John’s asking, Roman had called up his former in-laws and filled them in on what was happening with Marlena and the babies. Martha and Frank wanted to fly to Alaska immediately and see their daughter and grandchildren, but Roman convinced them to wait a couple of days. “We saw Marlena at the house before coming over here.”
“How is she?” John asked. Since they had returned to Salem three days before, John had not seen Marlena, only talked to her on the cell phone. Marlena refused to come to the hospital to see the children and John wouldn’t leave the babies at the hospital to see Marlena. They were essentially stuck at an impasse with neither side willing to give in.
“She looks good…tired, but cheerful. I think the old Marlena is back,” Martha said. “Can we hold the babies?”
“Unfortunately, the doctors aren’t allowing anyone to touch or hold Rachel yet. Since she had surgery they are concerned about germs and infections. I’ve been able to hold Noah a couple of times…I’ll talk to his doctor to see if he’d allow you to hold him.”
“Thank you John…How are you doing honey?” She asked as she put her arm around his waist. “With all that’s gone on I’m worried about you.”
“I’m doing okay,” John said as he shrugged his shoulders.
“You look like you’ve lost some weight John…you probably haven’t been eating, being worried about the babies…Frank, why don’t you take John down to the cafeteria and make sure he eats something hot and filling. I’ll stay here and keep an eye on the babies,” Martha offered.
“Thanks Martha, but I’ll be okay really.”
“No, John…I insist, my treat,” Frank said as he approached John and Martha at the glass window.
“Okay,” John said. “You have my cell phone. Call me if anything changes.”
“I will dear,” Martha said as she reached up and kissed John on the cheek.
Martha watched as John and Frank headed down the hallway toward the elevator. She was delighted to see her granddaughters Belle and Sami heading her way.
“Grandma Evans,” Sami said as her grandmother enveloped her in a warm hug. Sami relished in the familiar comfort her grandmother provided.
“Samantha dear…I’ve missed you so…you’ve grown up to be such a pretty young lady,” Martha said as she let go of Sami and stepped back to look at her.
“Hi Granny,” Belle said as she tentatively approached her grandmother. Martha took Belle into her arms. “Isabella, it’s so good to see you again.”
“Did you just get in, or did you see mom yet?” Belle asked as she broke the hug and stepped away from her grandmother. Instinctively she folded her arms in front of her chest and rubbed them.
“Are you cold dear?” Martha asked.
“No, I’m fine Granny,” Belle said.
“Take my sweater if you’re cold,” Martha said as she took off her red cardigan sweater and handed it to Belle.
“Thanks,” Belle said as she took the sweater from her grandmother and put it on. “So did you see mom?” Belle asked again.
“Yes, your grandfather and I saw your mom before we came here…she looks good…. Your mom is such a strong woman, stronger than you realize.”
“I’m just worried about her grandma.”
“That’s only natural Belle dear…. Your mom is going to be just fine, you’ll see.”
“I hope your right Granny,” Belle said as she pulled her grandmother’s sweater tighter around her. “Are you staying with mom and dad at the penthouse or at the Salem Inn.”
“With your parents,” Martha offered. “Your father insisted that the company would be good for your mom.”
“Great, I’m sure that mom will like that,” Sami said. “Where are Eric and Carrie staying?”
“I think that they’re both staying at the penthouse. When your grandfather and I went by to see Marlena they were both there and appeared to be living there….Eric was still in his PJ’s,” Martha recounted, laughing, “That boy will never change.”
“Did you see the babies yet?” Belle asked as she pointed to the incubators on the other side of the glass.
“Your father showed me them a little while ago…said he was going to talk to Noah’s doctor to see if I could hold him.”
“He did?” Belle asked. Her father hadn’t made that offer to her and Noah was her brother. “Aren’t they so small? I’m worried about them.”
“They’re going to be fine,” Sami said optimistically. They had to be fine. Sami feared that if anything less than perfect happened it would upset the fragile balance of her family.
“But what if they’re not?” Belle asked.
“Don’t think that way dear…of course they’ll be fine,” Martha stated. Belle looked at her grandmother in awe. Regardless of the situation she always managed to see the positive in it. Belle wished that she could be more like her. Belle walked into her grandmothers open arms for a much-needed hug.
Sami looked on in concern. Her grandmothers’ eternal optimism concerned her. What reality was she living in? It wasn’t fair to give Belle false hope. What if something happened to the babies? It was far more humane to prepare for all options and be realistic than to live in a world of denial.
“I’m going to go talk with the nurse and see how they are,” Sami said as she walked away from the Belle and Grandma Evans love fest.
A minute later she returned, tears in her eyes. “Belle I need to borrow your cell phone.”
Belle quickly reached into her small black Kate Spade purse and took out her phone, handing it to her sister. Sami dialed a familiar number.
“Belle,” the caller on the other end of the line said, recognizing the number.
“No John, its Sami…you need to get up here now,” Sami said as she wiped the tears from her eyes.
“What’s wrong Sami?” John asked as he stood up from the table he was sitting at with Frank.
“Something’s wrong with Rachel,” she blurted out. Martha and Belle stood by stunned.
“I’ll be right there,” John said as he hung up the phone and motioned for Frank to follow him, their hot meal having been forgotten.
“Daddy, how’s Rachel?” Belle asked as her father returned to the small waiting room where the family had assembled.
“Not good,” John said. “She has an infection in her heart that is weakening the muscles…She also has fluid accumulating in her brain. The doctors want to operate and insert a shunt into her brain to drain the fluid and alleviate some of the pressure, but aren’t sure that with her heart issues that she is strong enough to survive the surgery. I’ve signed the consent papers because it’s the only chance that she has…Father Jansen has been called and will be stopping by in a half hour to give her last rites before surgery.”
“Oh John,” Martha said as she stood up and went over and gave John a hug.
“Sami, could you call your dad and let him know what’s going on?”
“Sure John,” Sami said as she took Belles cell phone from her and walked to a vacant part of the waiting room to call her father.
“Is there anything that we can do?” Frank Evans asked.
“Just pray for Rachel,” John offered sincerely. “Come on Frank, lets go down to the chapel and light a candle and pray for Rachel and Noah,” Martha said as she got up from her chair. John watched as they made their way down the long corridor to the elevator bank.
“Is there anything that we can do?” Carrie asked, Eric by her side. John looked at his stepchildren lovingly. He hoped that Rachel and Noah had the chance to become as wonderful adults are Eric and Carrie were.
“No, but knowing that you’re both here helps,” John said as he hugged them both. “Would you mind keeping Belle company and watching out for the babies for a little while…I have my cell phone, so call me immediately if there is any change…I’ll be back in a little while,” John said as she walked away from the group.
“Daddy, you shouldn’t be alone,” Belle said as she placed her hand on John’s strong arm.
“Tink, I appreciate your concern, but there is something I have to do.”
“I don’t want you to be alone,” Belle said as she started to cry.
“I won’t be alone…I’m going to do something I should have done days ago,” John stated as he walked away.
