The luckiest

Chapter 19

"Daddy?" My dad is laying in the hospital bed, his eyes fluttering open.  Mom is on his other side, her eyes brimming with tears, but she pats at them before they fall and she forces a smile.

"Hmm." He groans out.

"OK, don't speak.  Sorry.  Oh Daddy, I'm so glad you're OK."  I squeeze his hand and he smiles at me.

"I'm fine, Ginny.  You came out here for this little bit of drama?"

"Dad!  It's not little."

"No, it's not!" Mom agrees.  "I'm going to be on you like a hawk with those blood pressure meds from now on."

"Dad.  You need to take your meds.  You have way too many grandkids to be playing around with your health."

"Enough you two.  Gin, pour me some water will ya?"

"Sure."

Mom is kissing his forehead and stroking his hair when I bring him his cup of water.  I linger on the look of utter love and concern she has etched into her beautiful face and my heart swells for them.

"Gin?" I turn to see Jamie and David at the door and hand Mom the cup.

"Can they come in?" I ask.

"One at a time." Mom warns as my brothers start edging forward.

"You go." David says to Jamie and holds the door open for me to come out.

"How's Mom doing?" David asks.  Holly is at his side as soon as we're out.

"She looks like she needs some rest.  Maybe I could take her home and see she gets showered and some rest."

"Yeah she's been here since last night."  Holly adds.

"Hmm.  Yeah.  I'll just see Dad and then suggest it to her."

We'd all come through the morning after Mom texted us.  My brothers were much calmer than what I was when we'd heard.  The thought of losing my dad devastated me.  Mom's demeanour spoke volumes.  She was noticeably concerned, but she kept holding back on completely breaking down.  My goal now was to make sure she got some rest.  The doctor let us know it was minor and a warning almost, for him to take his medication.

 Whatever my parents needed, I'd make sure we all chipped in where needed.

After Mom got cleaned up and a power nap, I insisted on driving her to the hospital, but she wanted to go on her own.  I didn't push her, but I did promise to come back during visiting times.  The doctor said Dad would be discharged within the next couple of days.  He was restless and just wanted to get home.

I checked in with Charlie.  He seemed OK on his own with the kids, but I knew deep down he was probably itching to have me back and the milk supply was probably close to its end.

"You heading home?" Holly asked me as we stood outside of the hospital entrance.  She looked tired as well.

"Yeah.  My people need me."

"I'll make sure she rests and eats.  Don't worry." With that she hugged me. 

"Thanks Holly.  Please tell David I said goodbye as soon as he gets back here."

"Yeah, I think he's probably going to be needing me soon too.  Liam and little Gin are a firecracker duo."

"Get some rest too."

"I'm fine!  Give Charlie our best."

"Will do."

"Baby." Charlie says as I melt into his arms when I get through the front door.

"Thank you." Is all I manage to say as I allow him to just hold me.  He places small kisses on the top of my head.  This man always knows just what to do.

"Come on.  Let's get you something to eat."

He ushers me into the kitchen and I sit down at the counter, my head in my hands.

"How is he?" Charlie asks as he plates me some Caesar salad and pours me a glass of water.

"He's stable, speaking, but he seems irritated by all the attention.  Mom is so worried and I think more upset she wasn't monitoring his meds."

"I'm sorry I couldn't be there with you all."

"I know you would've been there, but Mom and Dad understand.  How are the kids?  Where are the kids?  It's eerily quiet."

He smiles, "They're all down for an afternoon nap.  Girls ran wild until just after three and then passed out in the playroom.  They're still in there.  I just stuck some pillows under 'em and covered them."

"I like your style, Mr King."

"Your son on the other hand, was an angel.  Fed him according to your schedule and put him down at four."

I feel the tears sting at my eyes, my heart overcome with gratitude for the man I married and I think about how my Dad was just as hands on with us, especially me.  I think of the fine men David and Jamie turned out to be under his guidance and how he is so immensely proud of all of us.

"Baby.  Come here." Charlie opens his arms to me and moves around to my side of the counter.  Once again I fall into him and let him soothe me. "It's OK to cry, Gin."  He's right and I don't hold back.

The s**t with Lily, our insanely busy lives (which I do love, but sometimes need an escape from) and my dad; it all just comes to the forefront and spills down my cheeks in hot, salty tears.  I feel my body heaving as I sob and I can't stop.  I try to muffle the sound as I bury my head in my husband's chest.  He smells like his usual Boss Orange and I take a deep breath before the sobs completely wreck me.

His hands are entangled in my hair as he holds me to him.  His cheek is resting on top of my head and he is whispering encouraging words to me.

I want to tell him how much I appreciate him, but I know that I don't need to right then and I allow myself to just need him and his support.

Its two weeks later and we're in the throes of final preparation for David and Holly's wedding.  It's the day before and Holly is on the floor of their bedroom, the zipper of her wedding dress halfway up, tears streaming down her face as she laughs hysterically.  Me, I'm in a flat spin, on the phone with the online supplier she bought it from.

The customer service agent on the other end is sympathetic to our cause, but can't guarantee same day delivery for a replacement.  I decide to do the necessary and manage to get her up from her spot, "Come on.  We're heading into Portland."

"What?"

"Yes, we need to get a dress that fits and maybe some other shoes."

"Ginny,  I can just get something in town."

"Where? At one of the boutiques?"  I think of all the lacey, crochet and old-lady s**t hanging in the Main Street windows. "No."

"I don't care; I just want to marry David already."

"Even after his ass had to be carried home last week?" I'm still slightly pissed at David, Charlie and Jamie for getting so hammered for his bachelor's, which I still think a man with almost three kids didn't have to have.

"You need to forgive him; I have." She smiles dreamily and I don't want to get into just how and why she forgave him.

It takes me another half hour to convince her to come to Portland with me.  We find a lovely, fitted off-white dress with flowing, split sleeves from the shoulder.  The bodice is lace and a low sweetheart neckline, which shows off her ample pregnancy boobs.

The look on my brother's face as Holly makes her way down the aisle is everything!  He is all smiles and I dare say, I spot a tear running down his cheek.  My heart swells for them.  Holly reaches for his hand as she reaches the front, her smile radiant and her blue eyes sparkling.  Mom and Dad are seated in front with Mrs Forbes and Liam and little Ginny, while Jamie and Emma are seated behind them with our girls, baby Charlie and their son, Roan.  Hope is next to them and she's in good spirits.

The other smattering of guests, are David's foreman and a couple of their other friends.  The ceremony is short, but sweet and filled with absolute love.  I catch Charlie's eye behind David and he winks at me.  He is gorgeous in a pair of tight tan pants, a white shirt with sleeves rolled up to his elbows  and the top two buttons open. God, I want to jump him and by the look on his face, he wants to do the same.

The reception after is laid back and we're all seated at a long wooden table in the middle of the yard.  Emma has outdone herself with the décor.  The table is done in all sorts of greenery, with white hydrangeas and baby's breath in between.  The place settings are wooden log cut-offs with each guest's name engraved into it and the date.

"Great work, Emma." I lean over to congratulate her.

She smiles and winks, "If it's one thing I can do; it's throw a party."

"Agreed.  I'd have asked you to help with the girls' if we didn't cancel."  It didn't feel right having a party and my dad was still in recovery mode.  They'd insisted the wedding still go ahead and in my opinion, this needed to happen.  Poor Holly and David had been delaying long enough.

"Well, I'm always available if you need me."

I look over at Charlie, who seems pre-occupied with his phone.  He looks up at me and I can see something is off with him.  He gets up and motions with his head for me to follow him.

We're in the kitchen, his hands over his face, "God!"

"What is it?"

"It's f*****g Lily." Charlie rarely cussed, so this must have been something big.  My stomach turns as I take the phone he has outstretched to me.  It's a text. "Have a look."

I read it aloud, "Dear Charlie.  I'm sorry it's come to this,  but I'm going to need you to own up to your wrong doing.  I've spoken to an attorney and he believes I have a strong case.  The fact that you sexually harassed me for months before dismissing me and then being publicly humiliated by you and your wife recently, does not look good for you."

"You know I never harassed that woman!" He slams his fist on the counter top of the kitchen island.

"f*****g hell!" I cuss, "How deranged is she?!"

"I'm contacting my lawyer."

"I think it's best. She doesn't have a leg to stand on.  You have emails, witnesses and the truth on your side."  I wrap my arms around his waist and pull him close, "We've got this, baby.  Don't worry."

"I knew she walked away to easily.  I f*****g knew it!"