A Piece of My Heart Chapter One Bumping In
A/N Yah, I know. Like I need a new story. Blame House( the TV series). That is where the seeds of this story came from. I promise to finish the others I am working on also.
He literally ran into her. He was carrying Reilly out for some needed air. Was paying no attention to his surroundings. She was unloading the back of a U-Haul and had just turned around when he steps off the front stoop, Reilly secure in his front carrier in front of him. She collides into his chest and side. By instinct, his hands reach out to grab her.
“Oaf,” she grunts before looking up. “Oh my! Did I hit the little one?”
“No, just his daddy.”
“So sorry.” She blushes,” I was distracted. Getting the last of my stuff moved.” Something occurs to her and her blush deepens,” What if I had a box in my hands? I could have really harmed you and the baby.”
“You didn’t. Don't take full responsibility. I was just as distracted. On the way to get Reilly some air before it gets to hot.”
“Reilly. A sweet name.” She reaches out to touch the babies soft, dark curls. Assuring herself that he really was okay. “I am Elisabeth. Beth to my friends.” She drops her hand from the baby and presents it to the daddy.
“Beth.” He takes it.” I am Julien.”
“Nice to meet you. Seems we are to be neighbors.”
“Yes.” He looks back to the stoop and up to the three story apartment building he had just left. “What floor?”
“Second. And you?”
“Second also. Number 203.”
“207. Just down the hall.”
“Nice.”
“Yes. You and your wife should come by in a day or so when I have everything together.” She frowns as his face fell. He wears a wedding ring so married then. But..
Does the pain ever go away? His friends had gently suggested he take off his ring. Then it wouldn’t be assumed. He just can’t. It has only been two months.
“Did I say something wrong?” Reilly starts to fuss and he sways to settle him. He is picking up on his daddy's negative emotions. He tries but there isn’t much he can do about that.
“No. It is just---she died two months ago. Reilly was just a week old. A car accident.”
“I am---I am so sorry.”
“Not your fault. I best get little man his walk.”
“Yes. I need to get the last of these in. Ah, I am just down the hall if you—”
“Thank you. Nice to meet you Beth.”
“You too Julien and Reilly.” She gently touches the baby's hair again and they are off.
Elisabeth understands the process of grief. She hasn’t lost a husband but has lost her own heart. An infection caused irreversible heart damage. She was put on the transplant list and waited to see if she would live or die. She received a new heart, just in time. Recovered, she is here to finish the Master's in social work that she was working on when her heart started to fail.
Almost dying( she was days away) puts everything in a new perspective. She had returned to the faith she had left when she was 18 and moved away from the smothering love of her parents. Life is so much better but, she still mourns. She carries a stranger's heart inside her and will be on anti-rejection meds the rest of her life. She says a prayer for the family of the person who's heart she carries and another for Julien and Reilly as she carries the last of her things in. To lose a wife and mommy that way.
Julien walked Reilly around the neighborhood, pointing out the many interesting things he sees( the hot dog stand, the fruit vender, the bird's next, the puppy, the just budding rose bush). His son is to young to understand much off what he was saying but, he knows talking to him as if he does, was important. Reilly will only have one parents voice, he wants him to hear a lot of it.
After he takes him home for a bottle and a nap. He passes the U-Haul and wonders if Beth was getting moved okay. He would normally offer top help but with Reilly, he can't. Not moving anyway. He has an idea and starts on it as soon as he lays Reilly down.
Beth is exhausted. After getting all moved in( and isn't she thankful the apartment is furnished) she still needs to put her kitchen together enough to cook herself something. She looks around the box covered floor and into the kitchen. It is also covered with boxes. She groans from where she sits on the couch.
“Please God, give me the strength.” She prays just as the there is a knock on the door. She pulls herself up and looks through the peep hole. It is Julien so she opens it.
He stands in the hall with one hand on the stroller where Reilly lays. In his other hand he holds pan of what smells like chili. “Welcome Wagon.” He says with a grin. “I couldn’t help you move but thought dinner would be welcomed.
“You, Julien, are an answer to a prayer. Please come in.” She opens the door wide and he pushes the stroller in.
“Well, I don’t recall ever being that before.” He says as he follows her into the kitchen. He places the pot on her stove, the only clean spot in the whole kitchen. He is thankful he brought bowls and spoons also.
“As you can see, I am not prepared to cook in this kitchen and to tired to sort it out. So yes Julien, you are an answer to my prayer.”
“Happy to be of assistance ma'am.” He bows low and she smiles.
