Chapter 48 - All That Really Matters

 

 

 

Seeing the doctor did very little for Beth in regards to calming her nerves about the lessened possibility to getting pregnant.  She keeps thinking that with the potential allergy to her own children and now half of her female anatomy gone, she's pretty convinced that they will never have a baby.  After the doctor left her room, she looks at Jon and says, "This is crazy.  This is fucking crazy."

 

Jon can see that she's upset, he can see that she's hurting but he can't let this get her down.  It's Christmas Eve and they are in a hospital a long way from home.  Their family is at the hotel, having already eaten dinner, they were getting ready to open presents.  Jon asks Beth, "Are you up for company?"

 

Beth looks at him with question, "Seriously??" she snaps.  "Do I look like I'm up for company?"

 

"I'm calling my mom, I'm going to have them bring all the gifts up here and we are going to do our Christmas Eve." he tells her, not leaving it open for discussion.  He walks to her purse and grabs her cell phone.  He thought that it was off, and maybe she did too but there were several calls from a number that he didn't recognize, as well as 3 voicemails.  "Babe, who do you know in the 206 area code?"

 

"I don't even know where that is." she says as she reaches for her phone.

 

"There are a few voicemails. Do you want me to screen them?" he asks, not thinking that she really cares what's on there.

 

"Yeah, please." she was reading material that the doctor had given her about post op care.  Jon listens to one voicemail and ends the call.  Beth asks without looking at him, "Who was it?" 

 

He sits on the edge of the bed and says, "A salesperson - you won a cruise."  That is not who was on the phone, but he wasn't going to tell her being just a few hours out of surgery.  They will deal with it later.  "I'm calling Ma, are you okay with them all coming up here?"

 

"Yes, yes.  I would love to see them.  It's Christmas Eve." she rubs his hand.  Jon calls Matt's cell and tells him what he's thinking.  Matt agrees to round everyone up, pack up two of the cars and head to the hospital so they all can open presents as a family.  "Can you get my toothbrush, hair brush and help me to the bathroom?"

 

"Absolutely." he stands up, giving her room to get out of bed.  She is sore, she just had surgery and the incision was much bigger than they thought.  When she gets to the bathroom she lifts up he hospital gown and sees the 15 steri-strips that were holding her belly closed.

 

Jon see that she turned a shade whiter than she already was, she was mortified by how big her incision was.  But, thankful to be feeling better, she accepts it and does what she needs to do.  Her family was coming to see her and she wanted to look as good as she could.  She didn't want to offend anyone with her dragon breath.  Hair and teeth are done, and as she baby stepped her way back to her bed, she asked Jon, "Can you get me a clean gown babe, unless you brought a bag?"

 

"I did bring your carry on, are there pajama's in it?" he asks, heading toward the closet. 

 

Beth thinks for a minute, "Yeah, the ones that you gave me for Easter are in there."

 

"The silk ones with my name all over them?" he laughs.

 

She laughs too,  holding her incision as the doctor told her to, "Yeah the ones that have your name all over them with the words Property Of"

 

He digs them out of her bag and brings them to her, after closing the door.  He helped her change and get comfortable I bed before the family arrived.   He gathered a couple of pillows to protect her when Romeo and Jacob climbed on her lap.  They love her and they both will no doubtedly want to sit with her.  She's tucked in and ready for them, when the nurse appears.  "Beth, how's your pain?  On a scale of 1 -10, what would you rate it?"

 

Beth thought for a second and said, "Steady at a 5, can I get a little something to take the edge off?"

 

"Sure. I can get you some Tylenol with codeine."

 

"That works.  Thank you."

 

A few moments later, the nurse returned, and with her she had a family in disguise behind her.  She smiled as she walked in with the Bongiovi family behind her.  How many nurses can say that?  THIS one can't - she will have to sign a confidentiality agreement as soon as possible.

 

Beth takes her medicine and pats the bed for Romeo to join her.  She's tired, but they won't know it.  He climbs up and hands her an envelope.  She's zoned in on Romeo and didn't see the guys bringing in chairs for everyone.  They were set up around the bed with Beth being the center of attention.  When Romeo was done being loved on, he climbed down looking at what he could get into.

 

Beth and Jon answered all questions that they all had.  Leaving out some of the details that they didn't need to know.  Jon explained what happened and what will happen at home and that she's going to be just fine.

 

"Let's open some presents.  Who wants to play Santa Claus?"  Senior asks the group.

 

"Why don't you play Santa, dad?"  Jon asks. 

 

"Okay."  Mr. B gets up and grabs the huge cloth bags that are filled with enough gifts to stock a small store.  One by one he walked around the circle and handed them put to whom they were tagged for. 

 

There was a caveat to the opening of presents.  There is one for Beth that needs to be opened first.  Jon handed her that one, and said "It's from all of us, and our hearts are in it.  Please open this one first."

Beth looked at everyone and they all were looking at her.  With a smile on her face, and an eye on Romeo wandering around she peels back the snowman covered wrapping paper and sees that back of a picture frame.  With shaky hands and a small lump in her throat, she knows that what's on the other side will make her cry. 

Flipping it over, she sees the family in a portrait that one of them had someone commissioned to paint.  Jon and Beth are sitting on a couch, each holding one of the twins.  Stephanie was next
to Jon and Jesse was next to Beth.  With Jacob and Romeo at their feet.  Mom, dad, Matt and Tony are behind them.

She focuses in on her and Jon holding the twins.  The detail is amazing and the entire portrait took her breath away.  She was in a trance.  Looking at every inch of the canvas, she is in awe at each stroke and the unbelievable color palate that was used.  Beth is holding the most beautiful thing she has ever opened, or ever been given.