Endings and Beginnings

Chapter 87

As Meryl was called to the witness stand, Don stood up with her and pressed his lips to hers. "No matter what that damn lawyer tries to say to you or tries to make you believe...


"This heart is mine." Meryl whispered as she touched his heart; and then put his hand over hers. "And this heart is yours. I love you so much; NOTHING can change that."

Don nodded as he kissed her again. "I love you, too, my girl; kick their asses."

"She'll be okay." Mike said before he got up.

Grace sat there and watched her father lean forward in his seat as he twirled his wedding ring. She leaned over to Mamie. "He looks so worried and upset."

"And lost." Mamie whispered back. She noticed there was a seat on one side of their father and behind him free. "I think we should go sit up by him. Henry was able to show them both his support; this is a way we could do that."

Grace nodded as they both got up and went to sit with their father; Grace beside him and Mamie behind him with her hands on his shoulder. Don looked at his girls. "What are you two doing up here?"

"We can't imagine how hard this is for you to watch her go through this." Mamie kissed her father's cheek. "Again."

Grace grabbed her father's hand as they watched Meryl being sworn in. "You are the best thing that has ever happened to her, and us for the matter; and we wanted to let you know that we are here and we love you."

"That means so much to me." Don choked as he was softening towards their girls; and he saw the tears in his wife's eyes as their gazes connected. "And your mother; thank you."

Mike saw Meryl wipe tears away from her eyes and he followed her line of sight: her husband being surrounded by their oldest two daughters. "Mrs. Gummer, can you tell the court when you married your husband?"

"Objection!" Thatcher already popped up. "What does it matter when he got married?"

Mike looked at the judge. "Your honor, the defense has been trying to say that Mr. Gummer left Peggy Gummer for his wife; I am trying to show that is not the case."

"Overruled." Judge Stewart looked at Meryl. "You may answer, Mrs. Gummer."

Meryl couldn't help but smirk. "That is kind of hard to answer; we seem to do it a lot. Our first wedding was on September 30, 1978 which is when we celebrate our anniversary because that is when we committed ourselves to each other before God and our family and friends. However, 5 years later we learned that Peggy and Don's stepfather paid off the lawyer Don filed the divorce papers with; and so his divorce was never finalized. He was devastated; as was I. He worked so hard to make sure it was finalized as soon as possible."

"Did Peggy Gummer sign immediately?" Mike asked knowing the answer.

Meryl shook her head. "No. I wanted to come to Indianapolis to confront her but Don knew she wasn't stable; and he didn't want me around her or his stepfather. Well, my husband and my family are more important to me than anything. So I left Don a note and hopped on a plane with our 6 week old daughter, knowing our son was with Don, and came to confront Peggy. I got her to sign immediately. I wasn't going to leave until she did. Not long after I got her to sign, my husband showed up at my hotel after leaving our son with my brother because he was terrified at what Peggy would do to me. I was glad he was there with me, and our daughter; because then we got to file the papers together. We then got married again, this time legally, on September 30, 1983. Oh, before we knew all that we renewed our vows in 1980. Then we renewed our vows in 2001; and we are planning on doing it again soon so our newborn twins can get in on the fun. That's what I mean when I say we like to get married to each other lots. Don proposed to me again the day after I had the twins on our 34th wedding anniversary and also a month before that when I was admitted to the hospital for premature labor; and on our 34th anniversary the day after our babies were born he gave me this beautiful ring." Don couldn't help but laugh at how Meryl held up her left ring finger flashing the new engagement ring he had given her; though he didn't remember that part but glad he did that. His wife wasn't the one to flash their wealth and possessions; but he knew she was trying to make a point. "Then after his accident his wedding ring had to be cut off him because of infection and that killed me. I know how much his wedding band means to him; just as it does to me. I took it and had it melted and reformed; then on Monday I proposed to him this time and we can't wait to get married again."