Until the Very End

Chapter 28

Everyone was mingling around Diane and Tom's apartment eating, laughing and celebrating not only the fact that Diane and Rosie were home where they belonged; but also this new beginning for all of them. The Gummer babies were being passed around among everyone there. Meryl was glad they hadn't needed to be nursed yet, but she knew that would be soon. After Don's most recent health scare, it was so nice for them to be with their whole family and celebrating something happy. Meryl smiled every time she heard her children, granddaughter and godchildren laughing. It was a wonderful evening. She thought there was only one person missing, it seemed like he kind of disappeared since after the ceremony, her husband.

***

After making sure Mags and Brady were safe and happy with the family, Meryl went in search of her husband. She thought it was unlike him to just disappear. She finally found him in the small study where their things were and saw him get something out of her purse, she knew what it was, a pain pill. "I hope you're not going to chase that down with champagne-like on our wedding night."

"You caught me." Don winked as he turned around. "Just plain old water. I learned my lesson. I don't want anything to mess up my dance with my gorgeous wife tonight."

Meryl walked closer to him after he took the pain pill and put the bottle back in her purse. "Now, aren't you glad I brought them? You have been up and doing more than you should be doing. I'm afraid Hal wouldn't be too happy with me for that. I'm not too happy with me for that."

"Hal loves you." Don said making her laugh as he pulled her to him, not wanting her to worry about him. "Not nearly as much as I do."

Meryl couldn't help but smile at his sweet words as she tenderly placed her hands on his chest. "No one loves me nearly as much as you do, and no one loves you nearly as much as I do."

"That's a fact, baby." Don saw the worry in her eyes. "Sweetheart, I really am fine. I didn't even take a whole pain pill. I've been having twinges and didn't want anything to ruin tonight, and you are always telling me how I need to get on top of the pain. So, I decided to take something so we can enjoy the rest of the night."

Meryl nodded with a tender kiss to his lips as she grabbed his hand in hers. "And we will...at home. Let's get the twins."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa..." Don said pulling her back towards him. "There is no reason for us to go home. We still have the reception. We have cake. And most importantly, I have a dancing date with my wife."

Meryl knew he never wanted to let her down. "Sweetheart, you being careful and resting and healing is more important to me than a dance. We have the rest of our lives to dance."

"Yes, we do." Don smiled as he pulled her into his arms and began to dance with her. "Including tonight."

Meryl sighed loudly. "Baby, we need to get you home. To bed."

"I like the sound of that, but I'm pretty sure you aren't thinking the way I am." Don said making her let out her loud and naughty laugh. "Sweetheart, I am fine. I haven't needed my inhaler. My breathing is okay. When we aren't dancing I will sit down. Come on, this isn't just a big night for Di and Tom but for all of us. I want to be here for Charlotte and Charlie. I want to be here for you. I want to be here for our kids. I am tired of us having to change our plans. We wanted to be here for the reception, and that is extremely important to me."

Meryl looked at him as he gave her his famous Don Gummer smile, the smile that made her go weak in the knees. The smile that Henry would give her when he was growing up and she would forget why he was in trouble. The smile she could already tell that Brady had inherited from his father and brother. The smile that when her husband gave it to her, made her go completely weak in the knees. And he did it again. "Okay. But you start feeling worse and we're gone."