A Second Chance

Best friends

After Dorothy got some rest Jessica and her siblings were able to see her.

All of them were upset, especially George and Jessica.
Jessica was an emotional wreck, and had almost made herself sick from being so upset.

"Mom.. I love you. I love you so much." Jessica held her mother's hand close to her.

"You're my world, mom. I need you. You need to get better."

Jessica looked into her mother's eyes. Searching for something. Anything.
None of them ever expected this to happen. Their mother is what held their whole family together. Just a month ago they were all together and happy at Jessica's wedding. Now Dorothy is fighting for her life, and their whole world is once again shattered.

Jessica left the room and quickly walked passed Danny.

"Jess!" He takes her arm and holds her to his chest as she sobs.

"Danny, she's not there! That isn't her! She looks so lost, that's not my mother!"

Danny held her in his arms and kissed her head.
The twins and Michael walked over and she looked at them with tears running down her face.

"You boys go home and get some dinner, okay? Grab some cash out of my purse and buy yourselves something."

"We're not leaving you." Samuel says.

Jessica sniffles and hugs him as the other two place their hand on her.

***

It's now been two weeks since Dorothy's stroke.
The drug tPA worked well, but Dorothy has not spoken a word. Once when Albert talked to her, she looked him in the eyes, and when he held her hand she moved her fingers. Other than that she hasn't done much besides lay there.

Danny took time off work to be there with Jessica, and her family.

"I just don't know where we go from here. I mean, is she gonna be a vegetable the rest of her life? Because if she is, I know my mother wouldn't want to live that way. She wouldn't want that life, Danny."

Jessica begins to cry, so Danny wraps his arm around her.
"I just want my mom back.. that's all I want!"

"I know... you'll get her back, Jess. I really do believe you will.. we just need to pray.
That's all we can do."

Jessica lays her head on him and sighs.
"Thank you for being with me during all of this."

"Of course! I love you and your family.. they're my family now too and there's no way I wouldn't be here."

Jessica looks up and smiles softly. Danny kisses her lips and Jessica goes back to resting on him.

**

"Mama, why you always sad? Me no like dat."

"Awe baby, I'm sorry. I'm sad because... let's not talk about that right now. Let's talk about what makes me happy. You know what makes me happy?"

"What?" He smiles.

Jessica giggles and pokes his belly.
"You!"

"I make mama happy?!"

"Of course you do!"

"Yay!" Grayson giggles and claps his hands.

Jessica smiles and scoops him into her arms.

**

Jessica had been begging for Grayson to see Dorothy. She really felt it might be good for her. Grayson was like his daddy and could make anyone smile.
After two weeks they finally gave her the okay.

"Okay, Gray, were gonna see grandma."

"Yay! I see gamma!" He jumps.

"Yeah, baby but listen. Grandma is very sick right now so she's not going to be the way she always is. She looks a little different and she's not going to hold you and talk to you, but you can talk to her, okay?"

"She not gonna give me kisses?" He asks with a sad look in his eyes.

"No." Jessica nods and tries holding her tears back.

"Not because she doesn't want to, but because she can't right now. But she's gonna get better soon."

"Okay..."

Jessica and Danny take Grayson in and Jessica carries him on her hip.

She sniffles and stands beside her mother.
Grayson first was very quiet and just stared at her.

"Say hi to grandma." Jessica says.

He waves my then quietly says hi.

"Mom.. Grayson's here! He's been asking for you.. he wants to play. I told him you'd be better to play with him soon."

"We can play cars, and watch paw patrol! You make me cookies and play catch me!" Grayson says with excitement in his eyes.

Jessica giggles and fixes his shirt that said, My grandma is my best friend.
"Gamma, my shirt!" He pokes his chest.

"Oh your shirt? Oh, Mom, his shirt says my grandma is my best friend!" Jessica says in a cute voice.

"We best fwiends, gamma!" Grayson smiles.

"I bet you she loves it, Gray." Danny says.

"Yeah!
I give gamma kiss!"

"Gently, okay?"

He nods and Jessica bends over so he can kiss her cheek.
He looks Dorothy closely and holds her cheek in his little hand.

"Get better, gamma." He smiles

Dorothy lifts her hand slightly, then lays it back down.

Jessica gasps and looks at her.
Dorothy had a single tear running down her cheek and smiled softly.

"Grayson look! Grandma can hear you, baby! She's smiling, you made her smile, baby boy!" Jessica happily says in tears.

"Yay! I make gamma smile!"

"Yeah!" Jessica chuckles.

"Lub you!"

"She loves you too, Grayson!"

"I lay wit her?"

"Sure. Just lay there though. Don't touch anything that's connected to her, okay?" Jessica says wiping her mother's tear and kissing her cheek.

"Yes, mommy."

Jessica laid him down and Grayson held Dorothy's hand.
"No cwying." He smiles softly.

Danny stood behind Jessica and wrapped his arms around her waist, and rested his chin on her shoulder.
With tears she said, "He's just like his father.. he can make anyone smile no matter what. This boy is my Sammy."