Meryl and Don-Love and Only Love Chapter 31, Part 2
Don and Meryl walked in and saw his mom immediately. "What are you two doing here?" She asked.
"I need to talk to you, Mom. Where are the kids?" Don asked.
"They are watching a Christmas movie." She said, confused.
"I'll be back with them." Meryl smiled and walked off.
"Don, Meryl looks pale and worn. Is everything okay?" She asked.
"No, Mom, it's not. I walked in on Dad saying some very insulting things to her and I can't take that prick anymore; he has fucked with her over and over-that’s it, I’m done. He can mess with me all he wants but NOT my wife or my kids. We are going back to hotel.” Don said.
"Oh, Donny, you know your dad. Just brush it off." She said.
"No, Mom, enough is enough. Some things can't be brushed off. Meryl has brushed off way too much where he is concerned for you and the rest of the family. I am not going to let her do that anymore. I didn’t want to come here but I did it for Meryl, the kids, you and the rest of the family. I am done putting my family in harms way-which is what it is when he is involved. My first priority is to my wife and children. We would like for you to have dinner at the Embassy Suites with us tonight. We will come over tomorrow afternoon, but you better keep him away from me and my wife."
"Don, come on. Work this out." His mother pushed. Don couldn't take it.
"He called my wife a whore, AGAIN; some things can't be worked out, Mom. He has hurt her over and over. Hell, he kidnapped Henry when he was only a year old. He has come after me and my wife. Not even almost dying changed him. He said Mamie wasn’t mine as well. I’m done.” His upset face turned into a smile when he saw his pregnant wife walk towards him with their kids. "We need to go, Meryl needs to eat. Will we see you for dinner at 6?" He asked.
"Yeah, I'll be there alone." She said giving the kids hugs.
"Meryl, I'm-" Jane tried to say she was sorry but there were no words.
"It's over, Jane. We will see you tonight." She kissed her mother-in-law's cheek. She didn't blame her.
"Let's go, babe. Come on kids, let's go get some lunch!" Don said trying to sound excited.
Don and Meryl both had heavy hearts but were determined not to let it ruin their family's Christmas.
***
Don took the family back to the hotel and Meryl settled the kids down in the living room of their suite to watch a Christmas movie. Don arrived a little while later with pizza. He smiled when he walked in and saw Meryl snuggled on the couch with a sleeping Grace. She was holding her close in front of her kissing her head. It caused a pang in Don's heart. How could anyone ever question her love for her family? She didn't even hear him come in, her mind was elsewhere.
"Food!" Henry said running over to the table where Don placed the pizza.
"PIZZA!" Mamie said following her brother.
Meryl still hadn't moved. So Don went over and leaned down in front of her. "Baby, food's here." He said gently
His voice brought her out of her thoughts. "Hey, when did you get here?" She asked.
"Awhile ago, I will go lay her down in the kids’ room and you get some food." He said lifting his sleeping daughter in his arms and kissing her head.
Don came back out and the other two kids were in front of the TV eating. "Where's your mom?" He asked.
"ROOM." Both Henry and Mamie said not taking their eyes off the TV.
Don walked in and he heard his wife getting sick in the bathroom. He immediately ran into the bathroom and knelt down behind her and pulled her hair back saying loving words in her ear. When she was done she looked back and smiled weakly.
"Damned if I know why they call it morning sickness when it is all day." She laughed as he helped her up to splash cold water on her face and she brushed her teeth.
"Should I take you to get checked out?" He asked concerned. Flashes of what happened when she was pregnant with Mamie and they had a similar experience with his father flashed through his mind, terrifying him. ”Did HE do this to you?"
"Babe, it's morning sickness, nothing new. Pizza sounded great until I smelled it." She laughed.
"Well, come lay down. Want your soda crackers? I bought some Ginger Ale." He said.
"That would be great, thank you." She smiled as she laid in bed and propped herself up.
He smiled when he came back in. "Here you go, baby." He said giving her the pregnancy staples. “Can I do anything else for you?”
“Thanks. Yes, come lay down with me. Are you not eating?" She asked giving him a cracker.
"No, not really hungry." He said accepting the cracker and a drink of her Ginger Ale from her.
"Baby, it's over. We can't change it. I was so worried, though.” She admitted.
"About what?" He asked. Her fidelity to him was a non issue.
"That you would believe him. I wouldn't be able to take that." She choked.
"My God, Meryl! How could you ever think that?" He asked taking her in his arms. “I would never listen to a fucking thing that came out of his mouth!”
"I don't know. Hormones?" She laughed.
"Have I ever given you any reason to doubt my trust in you? I mean I know I can be a jealous ass sometimes, I can't help it. I would never believe the things my father said." He told her rocking her.
"I know, I know you trust me as I trust you. It was just a hellish situation." She said.
"I know. Damn it, I never should have left you alone with him. When am I going to learn?” He said, disgusted with himself.
"Don, baby, how many times do I have to tell you that you can't control everything? I was on my way to come get you when he came in but he wouldn’t let me.” Meryl told him.
Don shook his head as he kissed hers. “I’m so fucking sorry he hurt you; it makes me sick.”
“Thank you for protecting me." She said snuggling up closer to him.
"Always, you know that. Don't EVER doubt my love for you." He said as she looked up at him.
"Or mine for you." She whispered placing a tender kiss on his lips.
"You want to go join the kids?" He asked.
"No, they're fine. They'll let us know if they need anything." She said causing both of them to laugh. "There is something I need." She finally said.
"You name it."
"Hold me, just hold me." She said as they laid down on the bed and wrapped their arms around each other.
"With pleasure." He said placing a kiss on her cheek.
He relaxed once he felt the tension leave her body and she finally relaxed in her husband's arms. They rested for awhile and prepared themselves for the rest of a Gummer family Christmas 1990.
***
Meryl couldn't believe what was happening. She stood there looking into her husband's broken eyes. He was breaking, he was hurting, their lives were crumbling down around them and he blamed HER!
"You fucking whore! While I am home taking care of OUR children you were off at exotic locations fucking other men. How, Meryl, how could you do this to me? to us? To our family?" He yelled.
"Don, you CAN'T believe this! I would NEVER cheat on you. Even if I had the opportunity the thought would never cross my mind. You and the kids are my life. I wouldn't throw everything we have created, everything we have made together for some fast fuck!" She cried.
"Come on Meryl, I'm not an idiot. I've seen you at awards shows and premiers. You are always hugging other men, kissing other men. Just fucking admit it!" He was in her face now.
"Don, all of that is part of the business; it's called acting. We've talked about it, you know none of that means anything. Don, you are the only man for me. Every decision I make revolves around you and the children. Why can't you believe that?!" She cried trying to reach out to him, but he moved away from her.
"NO...DONT! I can't stand the fucking sight of you anymore, you make me sick. I'm leaving, I am taking the kids with me. Don't even THINK of looking for us. I sure hope those fucks were pretty damn good, because they have not only cost you our marriage, they have also cost you your children. You will NEVER see them again." He said storming out of his parents house to go pick up the kids.
"DON, NO, NO, DON'T LEAVE ME! DON! DON!" She cried.
***
Meryl sat upright in bed; she was shaking and sweating. "Don! Don!" She breathed. She looked around and realized where she was. She was in a hotel room in Indianapolis with Don and the children, where they were staying. She sat there with her head in her hands crying and shaking. It was a nightmare, an awful nightmare, that was in part based on reality. She had to remind herself it wasn't real, Don didn't believe his dad. She wished Don was in there to hold her. She took deep breaths trying to calm down but that just wasn't happening.
***
Don slowly opened the bedroom door to check on his wife; he hated to wake her up but they had to get ready for dinner with his mother. He knew she was emotionally exhausted and needed her sleep, so he had reluctantly left the children to go wake his wife. He was surprised at the sight before him-his pregnant wife sitting up in bed with her head in her hands and she was crying and shaking. Don immediately ran over to her. "Baby, what's wrong? What happened?" He asked as he immediately took her in his arms. "You're sweating and you're shaking, babe. Are you sick? Did something happen to the baby? I’m taking you to the hospital.” He said as he began to panic.
She shook her head and she held onto him tighter. "No, no hospital, it’s not that. Please, don’t leave me Don, don't leave me." She cried.
"Babe, what's going on? I was just in the other room with the kids." He tried to console her.
"I had an awful dream, Don. It felt so real." She said.
"Can you tell me about it? It just might help and make you feel better." He said kissing her head.
"We were at your parents fighting after what happened with your dad. You believed him, you didn't believe me. You called me a slut and accused me of sleeping around at different locations and called them fast fucks. Then you took the kids and left me. Told me not to bother looking for you because I would never see you or the kids again." She cried.
Don's heart was breaking as he held her tighter. "Baby, you know I would NEVER believe that. I don't doubt your love for me or your commitment to our family. " He pulled back to look in her eyes. "You are NOT a whore as my father implied. Don't listen to him, listen to me. Fuck, I hate him for doing this to you You are the most amazing wife and mother in the world. You put all of our needs before your own. I mean, you HATE LA, but we are living there so you can spend more time with us. My father is the biggest prick that ever lived; he is an awful, hateful bastard. I HATE he has done this to you. He has made you doubt yourself, and us." He said wiping her tears.
"I know it was just a bad dream." She took a deep calming breath. "I love you so much, Don. I don't know what I would do without you." She cried.
"I'm not going anywhere. Are you planning on going somewhere?" He asked making her laugh.
"No." She smiled.
"Well then, there ya have it." He smiled kissing her forehead. "Babe, do you just want to pack up the kids and go back to LA? Your parents? Salisbury? I don’t want to expose you to this anymore.” He said.
"No, it will be fine. The kids are so excited to be here and we can't do that to them or your family."
"We don't have to go to my parents tomorrow." He pointed out. Truth be told it would probably be best if he weren't around his father.
"No, it will be fine. Don, I don't want to come between you and your family." She said.
"You are NOT. You would NEVER. He did this, Meryl, not you. He has been fucking with me my whole life. I could take it when it was just me, but it's different when it comes to you or the kids. We have warned him over and over; he doesn’t give a shit. I can’t keep putting you through this; I won’t keep putting you through this. You can do whatever you want to me, but DON'T fuck with my family." He said.
"All I want is you and the kids. I can do anything as long as I have you 4, well 5." She laughed patting her stomach.
"How you feeling? Need anything?" He asked rubbing her back.
"Just tell me you love me, that's all I need." She choked
Don took her face in his hands and met her lips with his. He crushed his lips to hers and ran his tongue along her lip. She opened her mouth further and let his tongue tango with hers. He conveyed all the love he had for her in that one small kiss. When he pulled away he placed a small tender kiss on her lips. "I love you." He whispered holding her.
"I love you, too." She whispered
"Babe, I would love nothing more than to hold you all night. But, we have to get ready to meet my mom downstairs for dinner. You feel up to it? Want me to cancel?” He asked as he pulled back and wiped her tears with his thumbs.
"Yeah, I'm fine. But, I need to pee." She said laughing. She felt like she spent half of her days in the bathroom when she was pregnant.
"Okay, then." He laughed. "You do that and I will finish getting the kids ready." He said as he got up to leave.
"Don?" She called out as he reached the door.
"Yeah, babe." He responded.
"You are the most amazing man, and I am so glad you're my husband." She choked.
Don looked at her and put his fist to his heart. "I didn't do so bad in the wife department." He said winking as he turned to tend to their kids.
***
Don got the kids ready and went in to check on his wife. He smiled when he saw her turn around. She was always beautiful, but there was something about being pregnant that gave her that glow, despite the emotional hell his father had put her through that day. "You look amazing." He said smiling.
Meryl looked at herself. "Don, I am wearing jeans and a green blouse." She laughed. "My jeans barely fit, and all the make up in the world isn't hiding these puffy eyes."
Don walked over to her and held her at her hips. "You have never looked more beautiful to me." He said placing a tender kiss on her lips.
"No wonder I keep you around." She joked. "You look pretty great yourself." She said eyeing him up in his red button down shirt which had the first 3 buttons undone giving her a glimpse of the chest she loved so much. His sleeves were rolled up and the shirt hung untucked over his jeans and black loafers. "The kids ready?" She asked.
"Yes, Henry is STARVING. If he doesn't eat soon he will die you know." Don joked making fun of their son who never seemed to get enough to eat. "He only ate half a pizza 2 hours ago." He said making her laugh.
"I swear, that boy is going to eat us out of house and home." She laughed grabbing a scarf to enhance her outfit.
"Well, let's go so I can come back and give you my present." He winked.
"And what does that involve, Mr. Gummer?" She asked.
He walked up behind her and whispered in her ear. "You...me...naked." He said kissing her ear.
"Then, what are we waiting for?" She asked as she grabbed his hand. "Let's get this show on the road." They both laughed as they walked out to grab the kids and head to dinner with his mother.
***