The comforting, spicy smells of sausage, maple syrup, and coffee filled the hospital cafeteria.
Sue sat across from Jolie with a paper cup of herbal tea. She slowly and methodically dunked the bag in the hot water. As with them all, Jolie knew it was just busy work. They all needed a task to distract them for a moment, even if it was only to make a cup of tea they didn't really want.
After the doctor had delivered his news they'd all sat in shocked silence until an elderly female nurse had turned up to tell them they could go in and see Aunt Barb.
The boisterous and lively woman had looked much too frail against the stark relief of the big white hospital bed. The nurse explained Barb needed to rest as much as possible. She advised them against asking her too many questions or trying for deep meaningful conversations as Barb was still groggy.
Despite her exhaustion, Barb's face lit up at seeing her family surrounding her bed. She reached blindly with her left hand. Hal automatically sought her empty hand and filled it.
"Wow. You guys are a terrible cheer up crew. If these forlorn faces are all I'm going to get I think I'd rather have a candy striper." She smiled, or tried to. The muscles on the left side of her face refused to answer the call of her nerves and stayed where they were. "Please tell me someone at least brought me chocolate."
"There is a gift shop down stairs. There will be chocolate in less than 10 minutes Mama. I promise you that." Caleb leaned in kissed his mother's face. "I love you Mama." He quickly turned his face away from the other family members and made a break for the door.
Caleb hadn't made a peep all morning. Everyone was quiet, contemplative, but Jolie had noticed Caleb as more withdrawn than the others. As the youngest, she imagined he was struggling with his own emotions as well as the expectation to appear manly in front of his older brothers and cousin.
Each family member had taken a turn holding her hand as they assured her of their love. Tommy broke down in tears mid joke and then announced he would never make it as a professional clown, he'd have to find a new professional goal. His announcement succeeded where his comedy failed as the room erupted in chuckles. Barb followed up with a few suggestions on how he could do his makeup.
No one made mention of her infirmities or the slur in her speech.
When it came to Warren's turn he pulled Jolie along beside him.
She was grateful. As much as Jolie wanted to speak and spend time with the woman she felt self conscious about taking time away from her blood relatives. Not that anyone appeared to feel any ill will about her presence that she could perceive. Warren had silently solved the problem by wrapping his arm around her and insisting she remain by his side.
"Sweety you look tired. Have either of you been to bed yet?" Barb asked in typical motherly fashion as Jolie patted her hand softly.
"You know me Aunt Barb, crazy party animal. I kept Jolie up all night if you know what I mean..." He winked suggestively at his Aunt as Jolie elbowed him in the ribs.
Barb snorted with laughter. "Honey, he's going to need a lot more than the occasional elbowing to keep him in line," She directed at Jolie. "He's a rascal. I'm glad he's finally found someone to watch over him."
Jolie could feel the tears building in the corners of her eyes. Warren's arm tightened around her waist.
Caleb returned with a box of gourmet chocolate truffles. At Barb's request Jolie cut one in half and handed it to the woman. Jolie tried to keep her features from showing the sadness she felt as she watched the other woman try to seem unselfconscious as she struggled to chew the confection.
Barb was strong. It had to be hard to acknowledge the difficulties she now faced, the body parts that refused to work the way they once had. If that morning showed anything, it was that she wouldn't be taken down long. There would be no extended pity sessions for Barb Hancock. She appeared defiant and ready to start working toward her new reality.
A nurse appeared and announced the family would have to leave for a while so they could run more tests.
Hal and the boys went to the terrace for some air and male bonding. Sue and Jolie had retreated to the cafeteria where Sue found solace in bobbing a tea bag.
Jolie added another little plastic cup of flavored creamer to her cup of dark coffee. It wasn't bad as far as hospital coffee went. A giant, gooey sticky bun sat on a white porcelain plate between them. It's warm, cloyingly sweet cinnamon aroma drew her back to ravage a piece off the pastry between sips.
"How are the girls?" Jolie broke the silence after licking frosting from her thumb.
"Ok. Kate keeps asking if gran is ok, but I don't thinks she really understands. My parents have been distracting them with toys and candy." Sue leaned back and rubbed her swollen tummy. "This one is just content to kick my bladder."
"How are you doing?"
Sue sighed. "I'm sad it happened, but confident. Barb is the strongest woman I know. If she wants to recover she will." She glanced toward the hallway searching for her husband's return. "It's the men I'm most worried about. They all adore Barb, as they should; this is going to be hardest on them."
Jolie thought of Warren and his stoic face all morning. He'd already lost so much. She nodded in agreement.
"So when are you going to tell me what the heck happened last night?" Sue pierced her with a sharp stare.
She'd given little thought to last night since they'd left the truck. The hospital, Barb, and all they'd learned had taken control of her thoughts.
Jolie took a deep breath. "Well the summary would be that my friend Jake," She made air quotes as she spoke the word friend. "He's apparently had a thing for me. Warren saw it. He warned me and I didn't take it seriously. Jake ambushed me with some information he thought would drive a rift between Warren and I."
"And it worked?" Sue sounded incredulous.
"Only because I let it. Deep down I was freaking out about falling in love with Warren. Jake just provided me with ammo to self sabotage. Don't get me wrong, he's a punk and I sent him packing, but really, I was the problem." Jolie leaned back in her chair with a deep, frustrated sigh. "I finally figured that out at dawn, rushed back to apologize, only to find Tommy there breaking this bad news.
"So you guys still haven't really talked it out yet?" Sue took a sip of her tepid tea.
"Nope." Jolie picked another piece of glazed pastry off the bun and popped it in her mouth.
"But you figured it out? What you want?" Sue reached across and plucked a bit of the pastry off for herself and placed the gooey bite in her mouth.
"Yes. I want Warren. I want us." She stared across the table at the other woman. "If he'll still have me." She took a long drink from her tall paper cup.
"I don't think that is concern you should be having." Sue stared down the hall behind Jolie. Her smile became soft. Jolie turned just in time to see the guys enter the cafeteria in a pack of tall, broad shouldered, strapping men.
Warren and Hal walked abreast of each other. The older man had a hand on Warren's shoulder. They looked to have just finished up a deep conversation. Warren looked up and found Jolie. The corners of his mouth pulled into a wide grin.
Jolie felt her heart stutter in her chest. How in the world did he manage to do that with just a smile?
The men crossed the cafeteria.
Beau made a beeline for Sue. "How you doin babe? No more contractions?"
"What!?" Jolie coughed up the drink of coffee she'd just taken as she exclaimed. "Contractions? You never said anything to me this whole time!"
"She had a few last night, but they stopped." Beau looked amused as Jolie wiped coffee off the table with her knapkin.
Warren had pulled a chair in close to her. He brushed her hair back from her face and kissed her temple. "It's not like we're not in the perfect place for her to have a baby. Aunt Barb would be tickled pink to get a new granddaughter today."
Jolie had been distracted by the feel of his lips on her skin. How had she ever missed it? How had she not realized this man was it for her?
"Well, keep me informed on any developments in that arena," Hal, who was still standing by the table, pointed at Sue's stomach. "I'm going to head back up to check on Barb."
Beau promised to let him know any pertinet news. The older man turned and headed back toward the bank of elevators.
"I'm starving. Tommy, I know you're hungry. You were born hungry. Let's go see what kind of grub this place has." Tommy followed Caleb toward the sound of clanging pans and the smell of breakfast food.
Jolie leaned into Warren's warm chest. He placed his arm around her and gave a squeeze.
"Go for a walk?" Warren suggested.
"I'd love to." She stood.
Warren stood and offered her his hand. They promised to meet the others back upstairs in a short while.
The boys had found the hospital sported a glass domed, hothouse garden in the center of the complex where all the wings converged. The sun shining through the smoky glass made it warm and muggy, but it was beautiful none the less.
"This is really nice," Jolie exclaimed when they arrived. They walked a lap around the garden before she spoke again. "How are you doing babe? All this has got to be hard on you."
Warren pulled her to a stop and swung her around so that they faced each other. He wrapped his arms around her body. "It's a shit situation, but Aunt Barb is the most stubborn woman I know. Well she was until I met you." His voice sounded serious, but his smile was playful.
"I'm sorry!" She blurted into the air. Her eyes filled with tears. "I'm dumb. I got scared. It wasn't even really about Jake or what he said. I just freaked. I'm so very dumb!"
She made to pull away from him but Warren kept his arms locked tightly around her. With no other option she buried her blubbering face in his chest.
His arms loosened a little after a few moments of letting her sob. Then he was stroking her hair. "I love you so much. I don't care how much time it takes to make you feel safe, to convince you I'm in this for the long haul. I'll do it. Jolie you are it for me. I'm a gonner without you."
His words washed over and warmed every inch of her. She leaned back and met his eyes. "I love you too. I'm sorry. I won't let my crazy get in the way again. I want you. I want us. I'm staying to ride this out with you. Wherever it goes."
For a moment he just stared deep into her eyes. She stared back, but couldn't discern a kernel of what he was thinking. Then he leaned down and claimed her lips with a ferocious passion.
She had no concept of how long they stood locked in a kiss that seemed to be doing it's best to meld their souls together. She just knew that his lips were all he was aware of until the moment Caleb came bursting into the garden with Tommy on his heels yelling "It's time!"