Baumgartner generations: Janie

Josh murmured into my ear, the words unimportant, stroking my hair and back as I cried in his arms. Nurses and doctors and even patients passed us, not even looking twice. There were few places left in the world where they were used to the gamut of human emotion, but this was one of them.

“I was so scared.” I clung to him, seeing I’d stained his shirt with tears.

“I know.” He kissed the top of my head. “So was I.”

“You sure didn’t show it.” I looked up, surprised.

He shrugged. “I’m good under pressure.”

“I can’t believe she still wants to go.” I wiped my eyes.

“I really don’t think it will hurt anything. It might actually do her some good, let her relax. And it’s a short flight.” He snapped his fingers, his eyes brightening. “I’ve got an idea.”

“What?”

He winked. “Let me make a few calls and then I’ll tell you.”

“My man of mystery.” I kissed him softly.

“Are you really okay?” His eyes searched mine. “I thought you might faint there for a minute when you were on the phone…”

“It felt like it.” I shivered. “She’s…” How could I possibly describe what Ronnie meant to me? Now wasn’t the time or place, I decided. “She’s like family to me.” He hugged me, long and hard. “Well, I guess it will be up to you and TJ now to make sure she rests easy.”

“I guess so.” I sighed. “Josh, I was thinking…”

“Uh oh.” He waggled his eyebrows. “That can only mean trouble.”

I slapped his arm playfully. “I was wondering if you might want to come with us to Georgia? I talked to my mother and she said there’s plenty of room.” He looked at me in surprise. “Whoa-taking me home to meet the parents?”

“Well, secondarily, I guess.” I smiled. “Mostly I just don’t want to be away from you for a week.”

He grinned, sliding his hands down to my lower back. “I know. I’m irresistible.”

“You are,” I agreed, playing with the hair at the nape of his neck.

“When is it?”

“Second week in July.”

He nodded, kissing my cheek. “I’ll clear my schedule.”

“Really?” My eyes brightened and I kissed him

I didn’t even think about the fact that I hadn’t told anyone else, aside from my mother, until TJ came out of the hospital room, pushing Ronnie in a wheelchair. What were they going to think, I wondered, when I told them I’d invited Josh? And how was I going to tell Josh about my relationship with them?

“Can’t you walk?” I asked as they came closer and we started heading toward the elevator.

“Hospital policy.” Ronnie rolled her eyes. She glanced up at TJ. “Did you call a cab?”

“I’ll drive you.” Josh pushed the down arrow button for the elevator.

“Hey.” Ronnie grabbed his hand and squeezed it. He looked down at her, smiling quizzically, and she said, “Thanks. For everything.” He nodded, his eyes softening. “It was the least I could do.”

“Can you do one more little thing?” Ronnie asked as TJ pushed her into the elevator.

“Sure,” Josh replied, seeing we were all in before pressing the button to close the doors.

“Can you stop on the way at Emack and Bolio’s?” She grinned up at him. “I’m sooo craving some of that Purple Cow ice cream. “

I laughed. “You’re gonna get as big as a house.”

“So I’ll be fat and happy.” She stuck her tongue out at me.

Josh laughed, squeezing my hand. “It’s not a bad way to go.”

* * * *

I came in from dropping Beth at day camp, kicking off my shoes in the kitchen, already thinking about sleep. I was so tired. I talked to Josh way too late every night, and now that Ronnie pretty much had to stay prone as much as possible, I had to get up with Beth to make her breakfast and get her off to camp.

Sometimes I wished they would just let her stay home, but Ronnie said she wanted to keep her stimulated. Between six weeks of day camp, two weeks of sleep-away music camp, and two more weeks of swimming lessons, I figured the kid was probably over-stimulated, but she didn’t complain.

I was spending my time entertaining Ronnie during the day now. Since we couldn’t go anywhere, we watched chick flicks and cried a lot. Not that Ronnie wouldn’t cry anyway-she was so emotional lately she burst into tears at commercials. We also played Yahtzee and lots of card games like Cribbage, Gin and Five-Hundred. But that meant I wasn’t getting any writing done, and when I wasn’t writing, I got cranky.

And if I’d thought having Gretchen around was going to help, I was wrong. She was gone most of the time, either working or hanging out with Catherine. But when I heard her voice coming from the living room, I perked up. Maybe I could actually go sleep for a few hours!

“I don’t know.” Ronnie was sitting up on her elbow on the sofa, talking to Gretchen, who sat in the plush chair next to the TV. “I honestly don’t think TJ isn’t going to survive four months without sex.”

“Sure he will.” Gretchen scoffed. “His hands work, don’t they?” I couldn’t help but laugh at that and Ronnie looked over at me, smiling. “Hey, there’s Janie. Well, at least he has you, right?”