Meryl and Don-Love and Only Love Chapter 35, Part 2
Don and Meryl were sitting in their den with her brothers and their wives.
"What's going on?" Mary asked.
Dana and Third looked at each other and then Third spoke. "Yeah, you two look worried."
"If this is about Dad we said we'd look after him while you're gone." Dana pointed out.
Maeve was pretty sure she knew what was going on. She had seen the signs, and Meryl had made a couple of comments to her. "I've seen it too. This is about what I've tried to tell you, Third."
"Maeve, I told you, Dad's fine. He's just grieving." Third pointed out.
Don put his hand on Meryl's leg as she took the lead. "No, he's not. Don and I were out there last week and his finances are a mess, he can't remember things, and is easily agitated. Dana and Third, I've tried to tell you."
"Meryl, you're just worrying for nothing." Dana said gently.
Mary shook her head. "Meryl's right, I've seen it and tried to tell you as well, Dana."
"Listen, we don't want to turn this into an argument. We are just worried about him. I would like the three of us to take him to the doctor, together, when I get back." Meryl said.
Dana and Third looked at each other and nodded as Don jumped in. "Listen guys, I can't imagine how hard this is for you, but Harry's not doing well. I had a good visit with him, but he's scared. I hope I didn't over step, but as Meryl said sometimes it helps when someone with a different perspective is involved."
"No, we're glad you did talk to him." Dana said as Third nodded.
Don smiled as Meryl squeezed his leg. "We just wanted all of us to be on the same page."
"Don's right, it is going to take all of us. Now, I don't know what's wrong with Dad, but I do have my suspicions." Meryl explained.
Maeve looked at the Streep kids and Don and Mary. "I'm afraid it's Alzheimer’s."
"Don and I share the same concern." Meryl pointed out.
Mary took Dana's hand in hers. "Me too."
"Okay, so what do we do?" Dana asked.
Third took a deep breath as he put his hand on Maeve's leg. "We take it a step at a time."
"Third's right. The first step is getting him to the doctor, and then we go from there." Meryl said. "I'm on a break for awhile, and you all are very busy with your careers. I'm the oldest, I consider it an honor to take care of Dad. But I want all of us to make the decisions together."
Third nodded at his big sister. "Thanks, sis."
"Sometimes I forget you're older than us." Dana laughed. "Thank you, and we will watch after him when you're gone."
Don decided they had done all they could for the moment. "Listen, we didn't want to put a damper on Christmas."
"Yeah, we just thought it would be best to talk about this and make sure we are all on the same page while we are all here together." Meryl added.
Third nodded. "We'll just do what we need to."
"Absolutely." Dana nodded. "Now, let's get your vows renewed."
***
Meryl was standing at the back door with her father as they heard Henry playing the guitar. "Thank you for walking me out, Daddy."
"My pleasure, baby girl." Harry smiled. "I have never seen you so happy, as you have been for the last years with Don."
His words made Meryl tear up. "Thank you, Daddy."
"Listen, I know I haven't been myself lately. I just want you to know I love you." Harry said.
Meryl could see the fear in his eyes. "We're going to take care of you, and I love you, too, Daddy.”
"Come on, let's get you married again." Harry said walking her out the door and towards the rest of her life.
Meryl smiled as they walked past their family, and she couldn't take her eyes off her handsome husband. Here she was, 23 years later, and she was more in love with him than ever. He was everything to her. This day meant more to her than anything, and she knew it was because of everything they had gone through in the past 23 years, and here they were, more in love than ever.
Don smiled as he saw the love of his life walk towards him, again. He didn't know how it was possible, but he was more in love with her then ever. For a brief moment when she was shot, and then a week later when she experienced complications, he experienced what life would be like without her, and it was something he never wanted to experience again. Here she was, walking towards him again, and they both looked at one another with tears of love and adoration in their eyes.
Harry hugged Meryl and then Don, and sat down in a chair they had set up for him on the dock.
The girls were standing by Meryl, and Henry went to stand by his dad and Don began to speak. "This is going to be pretty informal. We are just honored you all are here to share this with us. We just wanted an opportunity for us to recommit ourselves to each other, and this family again for the 4th time, I believe." Don said referring to their two weddings and two vowel renewals making her smile. "This is a new beginning for us, for our family. Baby..."
"Well." Meryl said taking a deep breath as she looked deeply into her husbands eyes. "I can't believe it's been 23 years since we were married. So much has changed, and then again it hasn't. You have given me 23 amazing years of love, trust, safety, and happiness. You have given me our amazing children, who bring such joy into our lives every single day. I can't begin to tell you how much I have loved raising a family with you. It has been so sweet because of who you are, the man you are, the husband you are, the father you are, and the love you give me. I am so insanely in love with you it's crazy. I never thought it was possible, but I am more in love with you now, than I was 23 years ago. All I want is you and our family. I want to fall asleep every night in your arms, and wake up looking into your gorgeous eyes. I'm sorry, I'm not doing very well at telling you how I feel."
Don smiled as he wiped her tear. "You're perfect."
"You are why my heart beats." She choked as she placed his hand she was holding on her chest. "When I'm stressed, I look into your eyes and you calm me. You are the first one I call when I'm excited, when I'm scared, when I'm sad. You are my anchor, Donald Gummer. I promise to continue to love, honor, and cherish you for the rest of my life. I can't wait to be grandparents together, to cherish each and every moment of our life together. It's you and me forever baby, I love you." She said with a kiss to his wedding ring on his finger.
Don gently kissed her lips. "Hey, not yet old man." Henry teased.
"Okay, okay." Don laughed as he looked around. "I look around and I don't see your family, I see our family. I can't even put into words what you have given me. Growing up the way I did, I never thought it was possible. If you would have told me when I was an awkward teenager that after 23 years of marriage, and 4 children later, I would be more in love with the most beautiful woman in the world than the day we married, I would have laughed in your face. But here we are. I am more in love with you than 23 years ago. I look into your eyes and I see my past, present, and future. I see everything I have ever wanted or needed. I look at our beautiful babies, and I see the amazing family we created together. It has been an amazing ride, one that has stood the test of time, and is my life preserver. I want to share everything with you. Every laugh. Every smile. Every kiss. Every tear. It's only you, Mary Louise, it always has been. I promise to make you happy, to make you smile, to make you laugh everyday for the rest of my life. I love you, I love you so incredibly much." Don placed a sapphire and diamond wedding band on her ring finger along with her original and her diamond ring he gave her a few weeks before.
All of their kids were smiling with tears in their eyes. As much as they teased their parents about kissing and touching, nothing made them feel happier and safer than seeing their parents so in love and happy.
Meryl didn't stop the tears that streamed down her cheeks. "It's beautiful."
"Now can I kiss my wife?" Don asked as they all cheered.
***