Protection (closed)

[heartofcourage]

It's a pretty restless night for the entire family. I toss and turn. Molly tosses and turns. No one gets much sleep. Shortly after the sun rises, Molly is awake, rubbing her eyes as she nudges your shoulder.

"Papa, can I have a pancake?" She asks, still half asleep.

 

[garajd]

"Sure, Molly, let's let Mommy sleep a bit longer." Crawling out of bed and staggering down to the kitchen, followed by a still-sleepy little girl. As much as you fought me on this, I'm glad you let my buy some frozen pancakes and waffles. It makes it so much easier in the morning.

Starting the coffee pot . . . I need it this morning, more than usual. Not quite sure how to attack the events of yesterday, but the first step will be to call the vet and get Lucy home for Molly to play with and take care of!!

 

[heartofcourage]

Molly is happy with two toaster pancakes and some syrup for breakfast, eating without talking much. She's still a little down about what happened to Lucy, but she seems to be doing better after some sleep.

"Papa, can Lucy sleep with us tonight?" She asks as I make my way downstairs to get a cup of coffee and make us some eggs.

 

[garajd]

"I think Lucy will be more comfortable in her own bed in the family room, but you can spend the day down there with her and make sure she is well taken care of." Not the answer Molly wanted to hear, but not sure she really expected anything different than what she got.

Just as you serve up the eggs, the vet calls telling us that Lucy is ready to go and getting antsy to leave. "OK, Molly, as soon as we finish breakfast, we can go pick up Lucy."

 

[heartofcourage]

Molly is instantly up and wanting to go that moment. I tell her to sit back down until we have a chance to eat our breakfast. She's obviously not happy about it, but she does as I ask as I dish up some eggs and toast for the both of us.

"Molly, if you want to go and get dressed, you can. Papa and I are going to eat and we'll go after that." I say finally and she runs off to her room. "I'm going to call Maria and see if she'll come to watch Molly for a few days. Do you think she'd mind?"

 

[garajd]

"That's probably a good idea, once she hears what has been going on her. And maybe Alex and Becky can help out."

Finishing out breakfast, grabbing a mug of coffee to go, Molly practically drags me out to the car. A bit slow, and obviously sore, Lucy gets really excited when she sees Molly and runs to the car, ready to go home.

 

[heartofcourage]

By the time you get back and get Molly and Lucy settled, I have called Alex and Maria and both have agreed to come and lend a helping hand. Maria will come first and watch Molly for two days and then Alex and Maria will come and take her to the city for a few days. That gives us the chance to sit and relax and prepare for not only the baby, but for what is going to happen next.

As Molly is downstairs, I sit in the rocking chair in the nursery, directing you as you move furniture around. "I''m a little bit worried this time around, baby." I admit to you, my hand resting on my swollen belly. "What if something goes wrong?"

 

[garajd]

With all the stress going on around here lately, I'm not surprised at your nervousness and concern about the baby. "Babe, he is probably a boy, giving you a hard time before he even gets here. We are in good hands with your doctor and his office."

Stopping to massage your shoulders, leaning over to give you a kiss on the top of the head, we can hear Molly talking to Lucy in the family room. Now that Lucy is back home, moving slowly, Molly is starting to get back to normal.

 

[heartofcourage]

"If something were to happen to me, you'd take care of her, right?" I ask, glancing up at you as you massage my shoulders gently. "You make her so happy, Alan. You've been more of a father to her than my ex ever was."

 

[garajd]

"You know I would, but, don't even go having any thoughts like that, Michaela." I know it's just the stress of the pregnancy and the events of the last couple of days, but, somehow, I need to help you calm down.

"With Maria out here this afternoon for a couple of days, you will be able to get plenty of rest; Molly will be well taken care of. I'm sure that Maria can take Molly across the street for a couple of hours so that you have some quiet around here."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I know." I sigh softly, looking up at you with a small smile on my lips. "I just worry about everything going smoothly."

Pulling your head down for a gentle kiss, looking you in the eye as we both pull away. "I love you, baby. With all of my heart."

 

[garajd]

"Just take it easy here, babe. Molly seems to be quite content right now in the family room with Lucy. Maria will be here in a couple of hours."

Grabbing another cup of coffee, I peek down the stairs and see Molly watching TV, Lucy on the couch with her head in Molly's lap. I hear the door bell, and opening the door, the detective investigating the shooting is here, just needing to ask a few more questions. He has a female officer from the juvenile department who wants to talk with Molly.

 

[heartofcourage]

I come down stairs a few minutes later as the officers want to talk to you and Molly about what happened. I go with the woman downstairs, sitting next to Molly as the officer asks her about what she saw and about what happened in the backyard. Molly is a little shy, but does her best to give the officer what she wanted to know. I'm proud that she's being so brave about the whole thing.

 

[garajd]

Was definitely a good idea to send the female officer to talk with Molly; she was able to get her to relax and tell her what she saw. Fortunately, she had her back turned when the gun actually fired and hit Lucy, but she definitely saw the guy when she turned around and saw the gun in his hand.

The officer talked with the two of you for a few more minutes while I reviewed my report with the detective. He did a quick check on my gun again and determined that it had not been fired recently. I gave him the bullet taken from Lucy by the vet; properly tagged and signed by the vet so that the police can use it as evidence.

Just as the officers leave, Maria arrives, giving Molly something to be excited about.

 

[heartofcourage]

Maria greets everyone before she turns her full attention on Molly. The little girl is so excited to see her big sister. She brings Lucy with her to Maria's room to help her unpack while we relax in the living room with a cup of coffee.

"Let's go out to dinner tonight." I suggest, looking up at you with a smile. "Something to get our minds off of everything that's happened. We can let Maria order something in for Molly."

 

[garajd]

"Sounds good to me . . . as long as it is someplace that has 'real' food. Now that Maria is here, why don't you go up and try to rest a bit before we go out."

Leaving Molly and Maria in the house, I head out to clean up the back yard . . . will be glad when Molly is old enough to do this!!

 

[heartofcourage]

"Real food? Maybe just this once and only because I'm too tired to argue." I say, giving you a smile as I pull myself out of my rocking chair and head upstairs for a nap.

Maria entertains Molly until the little girl crashes on the sofa downstairs with Lucy curled up against her side. She comes to find you in the backyard, helping you to clean things up.

"Michaela's getting nervous, isn't she?" She asks you as you both take a seat on the porch to talk.

 

[garajd]

"Yes, she is, but mostly because of all the stress of the past few days. The doctor has said that everything is going as it should and that within 3-4 weeks we will have a baby. She just worries too much about every little detail. So, with you and Alex pitching in for the next few days, she should relax a bit and not worry quite so much."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Well, I can take Molly whenever you need me too. I've got some time off of school and I think it would be good for you and Michaela to have time for yourself." Maria offered, giving you a smile as she reached over and takes your hand. "Daddy, I love you, but you are going to run yourself ragged at this pace."

 

[garajd]

"I know, Maria, but right now I can handle the stress better than Michaela can. With you and Alex helping out with Molly, that will make a big difference for us. And, once this other situation resolves itself, that will help Michaela calm down."

Michaela sticks her head out the back door and says she is ready to go out to eat and that Molly is ready to eat, too. Turning back to Maria, "Why don't you take her to McDonald's so she can spend some of that energy in the play room before you bring her back home?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'm sure that I can keep her occupied until you get back." Maria promised, kissing your cheek as I get my coat on and wait for you at the front door.

"Ready, baby?" I ask with a slightly more relaxed smile on my face. "Because I am starving."

 

[garajd]

"Let's go, gotta remember you are eating for two, and we don't want either of you to go hungry." Molly could care less what we are up to; she's with her big sister, Maria, and for her, it doesn't get much better than that.

Driving to one of our favorite restaurants, a small Italian place in the middle of town, I can sense that you are finally relaxing a bit; the stress-level is starting to lower somewhat.

"Feeling a little better, babe?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"Much better. Guess I just needed a nap." I say as I take your hand and we walk into the restaurant. "And lucky me, the little peanut decided to rest too."

We don't talk about what happened at the house last night. This dinner is for the two of us, simply relaxing and enjoying a night away from children and responsibilities.

 

[garajd]

Just what we needed; a night out for the two of us, Molly in good hands with Maria at the house, good food, and each other.

After dinner, we take a slow drive around the city and end up at the park on the edge of the lake; just the two of us, like a couple of teenagers in dad's car.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kissing you as we sit on the edge of the lake I feel like a teenager making out with her boyfriend. The thought makes me smile and laugh slightly as we part, looking into your eyes for a long while.

"You've been so good to me, baby." I say softly, my fingers already reaching for your belt. "And I think I'm going to reward you tonight."