Meeting the family

You spent the next few days getting adjusted as best you could, figuring that the needles and tests being done were a precaution to a reoccurrence or any lingering side-effects from Julianne's brain injuries. The official story that was told to the rest of the Miller family was that you had hit your head against the side of the window upon impact and the coma had been a direct cause. Kerry and Saunders had mentioned bleeding on the brain and brain swelling, something that made perfect sense in the reason you had been out for almost two weeks. They had given you plenty of cover to recoup and get used to the idea of being a woman and their new mother. It was funny in a way, the social worker commented, you had gotten what you had wished for: a family. You bitterly replied that you hadn't imagined a family like this.

"Try to look at it this way: there's bound to be one person in the beyond who would trade for your spot in a second. Think about that. You owe her that much."

You supposed that was right. The happiness in the kids' faces as they came into the room that afternoon had somehow warmed your heart, though you played off the awkwardness between the initial greeting to the bandages around your head. Each of the two girls were talking while the son, who was trying his best to look and remain as calm and aloof as possible, still stayed rather close to your bed. There was a sense of relief that came over you and you couldn't help smiling and greeted each with a warm, if not gentle, hug. Apparently Julianne was a bit of a hugger and you had picked up on the need to give each of them a hug. The eldest was the first and she was warm in the hug. Kevin, the boy in the room (irony there), played still a bit standoffish but somehow, in your mind, you knew he needed it. _What was it about a mother always knows? _The youngest gave a warm hug too and after brushing the tears from her eyes, you smiled and nodded towards the chairs.

After an hour of talking, the nurse came in and adjusted the **** drip, giving the kids a subtle cue that it was time to leave. "Bye mom," Marsha whispered as she gave you one last hug before she joined her sister and brother walking out. You waved goodbye before you gently rested your head against the pillow and looked at the folder on the side of the bed.

"Nice family you have there," the nurse whispered.

"Yeah, thanks," you replied with a smile before your eyes closed. The last thing on your mind was how would you handle meeting your new...husband...