Chapter 55

Returning from the grocery store the next morning, Brianna pulled into her parking spot, noting the new cars parked close by. It looked like friends were starting to stop by to pay their respects. Hope I got enough food!

She leaned her head against the seat and sighed. She was tired. Sleep had not been easy to come by the night before - at least in any significant quantity. By the time preparations were made for the next few days, and everyone got settled or left, it was midnight. Brianna had hardly gotten to sleep when she heard a child crying. She waited, figuring Jon would get up, but when it didn't stop, she'd gotten up. 

She'd found Jon pacing Romeo's room, the sobbing child in his arms. When Jon saw her, a look of relief had crossed his face. "I can't get him to stop. You try."

Brianna had gathered the toddler in her arms and rocked him, humming softly and rubbing his back. Within five minutes, the sobs had subsided and he'd drifted back to sleep. 

Jon's lips had twisted wryly. "Thanks."

A couple hours later, she'd heard footsteps in the hallway heading towards the stairs. When she hadn't heard them return, she'd gone to investigate. The kids had all been sleeping, but she could see the empty room through Jon’s open door, so she'd headed downstairs.....and had found Jon sleeping on the couch in the living room. Even with the fire going, the room had been a little cool, so she'd pulled the blanket off the back of the couch and covered him. She'd reached out a hand to move a lock of hair away from his eye and he'd let out a ragged sigh. Her heart had gone out to him. 

Then, an hour or so later, Jake had crawled into bed with her and had tossed and turned for another ten minutes before he'd been able to get back to sleep - and let her as well.

So, to say that she was tired was an understatement. Climbing out of the car, she opened the back and grabbed a hand full of grocery bags and wondered if she could nap with the little ones.

"Hey Sunshine, need a hand?"

"Hi Tony, yeah, thanks. Looks like you've got company. I hope I got enough food."

"Yeah, we do. Aunts, uncles and cousins." He surveyed the packed car. "Looks like you got enough for an army."

"Or an Italian family gathering." Matt suggested as he joined them. "Mom sent me to help."

Even with three of them it took two trips to get everything inside. Surveying the mountain of food waiting to be put away, Brianna sighed and dug in.

"Aunt Linda, I'm fine! Really!"

Brianna raised a brow at Stephanie as she stomped into the kitchen.

"What? She's driving me crazy!" Stephanie grumbled, grabbed a bag and started to put food away.

"She's just trying to comfort you."

"I'm fine!" Stephanie insisted.

"No, you're not. You will be, but right now you're not. You're in shock. And when that wears off you're going to crash. Aunt Linda just wants you to know that she's here for you when and if you need her." She eyed the teenager angrily slamming cans into a cupboard. "She lost her sister Steph. She's hurting too. Don't forget that. She needs you too."

Tear filled blue eyes turned to look at her for a long minute, then Stephanie nodded and started for the door. "Aunt Linda!"

Brianna sighed tiredly and went back to putting away groceries, praying she was handling the situation right. She jumped when strong hands settled on her shoulders and massaged gently.

"Hey Beautiful. I wondered where the miracle worker was hiding out."

"Hi Lemma. I haven't seen any miracle workers around here."

"That's not what Jon and Momma C tell me. From what I hear, you pulled Jesse out of a silent funk and got him to talk when no one else could, calmed a screaming Romeo, comforted Jake and shared your bed with him.....and then what you just did with Stephanie. Sounds pretty much like a miracle to me, or as close as I'm likely to see." He hugged her. "How did you know what to say to them?"

"I had a good teacher." She explained. "Dot. She spent a lot of time talking to me about the kids, how they thought, and how to deal with them." 

"She really planned this out."

"Mmmmm." She frowned. "I just hope I'm handling all this right."

"Oh, I'd say you're off to a great start." He gripped her shoulders, held her at arms length and studied his face. "How are you holding up? You look tired."

Brianna grimaced. "Last night was a little rough. I didn't exactly get a good night's sleep."

"Well, you need to look after yourself, or you'll be no good to anyone else."

"Yes, Daddy." She smiled.

"Daddy? I always knew you were a dirty old pervert Lemma." Richie set two huge casserole dishes on the island. "Cabbage rolls from Mom. She's in the living room talking to Momma C." He looked around at the bags still sitting on the countertops. "Although it looks like you've got enough food for a small army."

"The way people are eating, I'm not sure it's enough, so thank you, and thank your mother." Brianna moved to hug him. "How did you get here so fast?"

"I've been at Mom's for a few days." He explained. "Matt kept us updated on the situation." He lifted her face towards his with a hand under her chin. "You look tired. Rough night?"

She nodded. "Yeah, a little. I'll survive." A glance at the clock warned her she'd better get moving. It was almost lunch time.

"Bri, is there any......food.....wow." Jon's eyes widened when he took in the sight of the kitchen, every flat surface covered with bags of groceries or casserole dishes.

"Yeah. As soon as I get this put away I'll put together some lunch. What do you feel like?"

He shrugged. "Sandwiches are fine." Grabbing the closest bag, he started to empty it. Pausing, he eyed his friends. "You guys going to just stand there or are you going to help? You know where the fridge is."

"Gee Swingman, do you get the feeling Boo Boo's hungry?" David grumbled, but reached for the nearest bag.

"Yeah, we'd better hurry so that Brianna can feed him."

"I'll make a nice pic-a-nic basket for him." Brianna pulled bags of cut vegetables out of the fridge and held them out. "Here. Munch on these until we get things organized in here."

"Smartasses....all of you." Jon growled. But he took the bags she offered and bit into a carrot stick. Pulling out a stool, he sat down. At their inquiring looks, he grimaced. "I need a break from....that." He waved towards the living room.

Understanding, David and Richie settled in to do what they did so well - distract Jon and make him laugh. Before long, Brianna was again wiping tears from her face, but this time they were tears of laughter.

Carol and Joan entered the kitchen and stared at their sons and their friends. Carol raised a brow, Joan just rolled her eyes and shook her head. They may have looked disapproving, but inside they were pleased to see Jon laughing.

Joan picked up a platter piled high with sandwiches. "Brianna, I'm sorry you have to see these childish antics from grown men."

Carol snorted. "Joan, she was on tour with them for a year. I think she's probably seen them at their worst and hasn't run away screaming......yet."

"Good point. The poor girl." Joan winked at Brianna. "No wonder she's so good with the kids - the younger ones I mean. She's got a strong maternal instinct....and the patience of a saint!"

"Ha ha." Richie mumbled and reached for a sandwich as his mother walked by on her way out of the room.

Carol picked up the tray of raw vegetables and followed.

Each of the men reached for a sandwich as Joan passed.

Brianna sighed and reached for another loaf of bread.

After lunch was cleaned up, Brianna joined the rest in the living room, sinking down onto the couch with a relieved sigh. A few minutes later, Romeo left his blocks on the floor and climbed onto her lap.

Jon smiled sadly as he watched his baby curl into Brianna and drift off to sleep as she rubbed his back just the way he liked. He had to admit Dorothea had been right about one thing - Brianna was great with the kids, both as caretaker and grief counsellor. And they responded to her. Romeo was a prime example. If he needed a bath or help dressing or eating, his aunts or grandmother were perfectly acceptable, but when he was tired or upset, of all the family there - including him - it was Brianna, and only Brianna he wanted. She seemed to know how to calm him with a touch and a murmured word.

Catching Jake yawning out of the corner of his eye, he started to stand, but Brianna beat him to it, proving how closely she kept a watchful eye on his children.

Shifting Romeo in her arms, Brianna held out a hand. "Come on Jakey, let's go upstairs."

After settling Romeo in his bed, she entered Jake's room and tucked him in, bending to kiss his forehead. She started to straighten and step back from the bed. But Jake grabbed her arm.

"No weave! Stay wif me.....pease?"

The comfortable looking bed - and the pleading in his blue eyes - were more than her tired mind and body could resist. She stretched out on top of the covers beside him and within minutes they were both asleep.

Half an hour later, Jon looked at his watch and glanced around the room, making sure he hadn't missed her return. He checked the kitchen and the office. Finding them empty, he headed upstairs.

Standing in the doorway of Jake's room, Jon had to smile. He'd thought she'd looked as tired as he felt. Looked like he was right. Poor thing.

He pulled a blanket out of the hall closet and spread it over her. A lock of hair fell over her eyes and he moved it aside with one finger. "Sleep well Golden Eyes."