The Cost Of Winning

FIANNA'S POV :

"Does we weally gets to goes home wif Daddy now ?" , Bren asks me , for at least the fourth time this morning .

"Yes , sweetie , we really do , as soon as he comes to pick us up ." , I answer .

"Calls he , and tells he to huwwy up , Mommy !"

"Tell who to hurry up , cutie ?" , Ashley's voice says from the doorway .

"Yay , yous here ! Now we's cans go byebye !" , she exclaims .

He steps into the room , walks over to the bed , and kisses her on the end of the nose . "As soon as the nurses come with the chairs , we can go , so just be patient for a few minutes ." , he tells her .

"Don't need chair , me cans walk mineself !"

"Yes , but those are the rules , Miss Brenna ." , Dr . Abernathy says , as he enters the room . "If you won't get in the chair , they won't let you leave ."

He brings out his stethoscope , and checks Bren's heartbeat , then her temperature , and then does the same to me . He turns to Ashley , and hands him a small bag , and several slips of paper , saying , "All right then , as soon as the wheelchairs arrive , they're free to go . Just stop by the front desk and sign the release forms . And here's an emergency supply of their medications for today , since I realize that most pharmacies aren't open on Sunday . I've also given you their prescriptions , so they can be filled tomorrow . There are prescriptions for pain relief for both of them , as well as antibiotics to help prevent infection . And the most important one is the prescription for Brenna's immunosuppresive medication . You must be very diligent about making sure that she takes it , or we'll run the risk of rejection ."

Ashley tells him that we'll be right on it , and then the orderlies finally show up with the wheelchairs . Bren and I get into the chairs , while Ash gathers up our stuff , and we make our way to the desk , to get signed out , and then to the car .

He takes Bren and carefully fastens her into her carseat , then comes back and helps me into the front seat . I buckle my seatbelt as he puts our things in the trunk , walks back around to the other side of the car , and gets in . He straps himself in , and says 'Okay , who's ready to go home ?"

"Me is , Daddy ! We's be here for wots and wots of years , and me don'ts wike it !"

"Smidge , we've only been here for two weeks , not years ." , I chuckle .

Ash starts the car , and we're finally on our way to his house , where we'll be until I heal up enough to find another job , and a new apartment . Hopefully , that doesn't take too long , because I'm not sure how long either of us will be able to cope . He's doing his best to be helpful , and I do appreciate it , but I know he'll want his space back at some point . Plus , I'm not really confident in my ability to avoid saying or doing something stupid , and letting him know that I still care about him . I'm glad that we can be friends now , but if he knew that I'd like us to be more than that again , I'm pretty sure that would screw everything up . And , for Bren's sake , I can't let that happen .

As we get closer to the house , he glances over at me , and says , "Ryan and I , plus a couple of his workers , got all of your stuff out of your apartment , and I had your furniture put in storage , except Bren's bed . I went ahead and put it up in the guest room , because I figured it might be easier to have both of you together , at least for the first couple of days or so . You cool with that , Fi ?"

"That's fine , Ash , thanks . What about our clothes and other stuff ?"

"Your clothes are all at the house , along with Bren's toys , and your movies and CD's and stuff . I also made sure to put that big red rolling bag near your bed , since I assumed that had the stuff you were working on in it ." , he says , as we turn onto his street .

"Yeah , that's my project bag . At least now I should have time to finish the guys straps . I actually got Juliet's sent off the day before Smidge went in the hospital ."

As we get closer to the house , I see Ryan's SUV parked in front , so I assume that he and Miki are waiting for us . Then I notice Web's pickup , Mr . Frobisher's little Mini Cooper , and a couple of others there too .

"Why so many peoples am here , Daddy ?" , Bren pipes up from the backseat . "Am's us having party ?"

"As a matter of fact , we are , cutie ." he replies . "Because that's what you do ."

We pull into the driveway , and almost instantly Ryan pops out the front door and dashes over to help me out of the car , while Ash takes Bren out . He gives me a peck on the cheek , and asks , "How are you feeling , kid ?"

"Sore , but better than I did right after the surgery ." , I tell him . "What's up with all this , anyway ?"

He gives me sort of a strange look , but doesn't answer , just keeps moving me toward the front door .

As we step inside , I understand the look , when I see everyone standing near the fireplace , under a multicolored banner that reads , " HAPPY BIRTHDAY , FIANNA "

Ash chuckles as he walks up next to me , and says , " I guess it's a good thing our memories are better than yours right now , isn't it ?"

"What it says , Daddy ?" , Bren asks , looking around the room .

"It says Happy Birthday , sweetie . Today is Mommy's birthday ." , he replies .

Ryan leads me over to the couch , and Ash sets Smidge down next to me , at which point we're swarmed by everyone , giving us hugs , welcoming us home , and wishing me happy birthday . Miki and Ryan are here , along with Web and Pauline , Miki's brothers Cade and Damon , Mr . and Mrs . Frobisher , and my former co - workers Nola , Jennifer , Bob , and Lupe .

Then , the doorbell rings , and Ash goes to answer it . A few seconds later , he says , "Well , I think this present might actually be for Brenna ."

"Me gets a pesent , too ?" , she asks excitedly . Then she looks toward the door and squeals when she sees Jeff and Ivy following Ash into the room .

"Bwenna ! We brings you a story , and some puggles ! " , Ivy shouts , as she dashes toward the couch . "When you can comes back to school ?"

"Ivy ! You's here ! I cans talks to you out of Daddy's 'puter !' , Bren shrieks back . The doctors wouldn't let Ivy come in to see her after the surgery , So Ash brought his laptop in a few times , and he and Jeff would let them Skype for a little while .

Jeff sweeps her up just before she can launch herself at Bren . "No , remember what I told you , baby girl . Brenna can't play like that until her tummy gets better ."

"Oh , yeah . I forgetted ." Ivy says . "Well , can we's play with the puggles , or colors some pictures ?"

"I think we can arrange that ." Ash says , pointing to the corner just past the patio door . We all look and see that he's set up a play area for her , similar to the one at Miki and Ryan's place . He picks her up from the couch and places her in one of the little chairs . Pointing to the small cabinet next to the table , he tells her , "All of your coloring books and crayons are in there when you want them , and you need to put them back when you're finished ."

"So me can's be a big girl , right , Daddy ?"

He nods , and then leaves the girls to play with the puzzles that Jeff and Ivy brought for Bren , and rejoins the rest of us . "So , do you want to do the cake first , or open gifts ?" , he asks me .

"Let's do the cake , I'm sure the girls would enjoy that ."

"No doubt about that , my dear ." , Mr . Frobisher informs me . "Edith made her famous hummingbird cake . She's won three blue ribbons at the fair with that one ."

"Oh , that one is good ! You'll have to try some , Ash ." , I tell him .

"Yeah , I can break my diet for special occasions , so I'll have some ."

Mrs . Frobisher and Pauline go to the dining room table to slice and plate up the cake , while Ash and Jeff head to the kitchen to get drinks for everybody . Brenna can't have soda right now , so Ash has little bottles of chocolate milk for her and Ivy , while the rest of us drink soda or iced tea .

The cake is really good , and by the time everyone is finished , there isn't any left . Ash actually ate two pieces , surprisingly , saying that he'll just add a few extra minutes to his workout tomorrow . Miki and Ryan load the dishes into the dishwasher , and then it's time to open presents . Ash , Ryan , and Web carry everything over to the coffee table , and Ash informs me that the reason there are so many is because the band and the girls sent some things , since they couldn't come back to Nashville right now .

I start opening packages , finding clothes , gift cards , books , some movies , and a couple of bottles of my favorite perfume , plus a handmade lap quilt from Mr . and Mrs . Frobisher .

"I've been teaching Norman to quilt , so he actually helped put it together ." , she says , and he nods in agreement .

Then finally , Ash hands me an envelope and says , "This is from me . Happy birthday , Fi ."

I open the envelope and pull out the piece of paper inside . As I read it , I realize that it's a two hundred and fifty dollar gift certificate from the jewelry - supply company I sometimes order from , when I have a bit of extra money .

"You had a catalog in your mailbox the other day , when we were moving your stuff ." , he explains . "It's on your nightstand , by the way . But I wasn't sure what you actually needed , so I just had them do a gift certificate , so you can pick out whatever you want ."

"This is so cool ! Thank you , Ash . Now I can actually order enough stuff to get the bulk discount !"

Everyone hangs out for a bit longer , then they start leaving , a few at a time , until only Miki , Ryan , Jeff , and Ivy are still here . The girls finish the puzzles , and then Jeff tells Ivy to put on her coat , so they can go have Sunday dinner with her grandparents . She and Bren both protest , but Jeff promises to bring her back after work later in the week .

After they leave , Ash talks to Miki and Ryan , asking one of them to stop by tomorrow so he can go get the prescriptions filled , and grab a few groceries . They say that they'll both come , so Ryan can watch Bren , while Miki helps me out with having a shower and stuff like that . They leave a few minutes later , so it's finally just the three of us .

"I can't believe you forgot your own birthday ." , Ash chuckles , and I toss a cushion at him .

"Well , I have had other things on my mind lately , y'know ." , I remind him .

"True . But I have a question for you , Fi ? Would it be okay if I look at some of the stuff in your red bag ?'

"Sure , I guess so , if you want ."

He goes to the bedroom and rolls the bag out to me , and I open it and start laying things on the coffee table . He starts looking through the necklaces , bracelets , earrings , and Christmas ornaments as I put them down , and says , "This stuff is really good . You definitely have talent . Is this stuff you did from books , or your own ideas ?"

"Some of both , actually . I'll follow a pattern to learn a stitch or a process , then I'll kind of put my own spin on it , or combine parts of two or three patterns . For example , that Christmas ornament is actually a combination of an earring pattern , and half the steps of a bracelet design put together ."

"The reason I asked to look at these was because I was thinking that maybe you should consider starting your own business . You seem to enjoy making these , so you'd be doing something you like , instead of having to put up with idiots like Detwiler ." , he says .

"That sounds like a dream come true , Ash , but I wouldn't even know where to start ."

"But I do . I can help you set up a website in a couple of weeks , when you're feeling better , and I can help you figure out all the tax stuff and licenses , since I had to do it for my own company . I might even be able to help you with some contacts ."

I look at him and see that he seems to be not only sincere , but actually somewhat enthused by the idea . And the more I think about it , the more appealing it sounds to me , too .

"Do you really think I could actually make a living at this , Ash ? Be completely honest with me , okay ?" , I say .

"If I didn't think so , I wouldn't suggest it ." , he replies . "Yeah , starting any sort of a business is a risk , but I think it's worth a shot . Worst case scenario , you at least have yourself a little bit of a cushion to work with while you look for a regular job , or get back into school . So why not give it a try ?"

I think about a bit more , and look over at Bren , who's still at her table playing with puzzles . If I could pull this off , I could spend more time at home , with her , instead of having her in day care all the time . She could still go a couple of days a week if she wants to , and play with Ivy and the other kids , but I wouldn't have to miss out on so much of her growing up .

Ash is sitting on the edge of the coffee table looking at me , apparently waiting for an answer , so I look back at him , smile , and say , "Okay , lets go for it ."

Notes