Chapter 49

When the plane touched down in Los Angeles, David and Brie Draiman couldn’t have been more relieved.  They were finally on the last leg of their final journey back to the states.  The next time they were on a plane, one of them would more than likely be escorting the other back to be buried.  They walked off of the plane and searched for their son.

Marc was standing back behind Josh as they waited.  When Josh spotted his grandparents, he was sure to let his father know.  “Dad, I see shiny baldness.”  He nodded his head in that same that he saw his grandparents coming from.

Marc chuckled.  “That must be Grampa David, huh?”

“He’s the only shiny bald guy I know.”

“Well, why don’t you go see if there’s any way you can assist him and your grandmother, Joshua?”

Josh took off as Marc pulled his keys from his pocket.  It wasn’t often that his parents stayed with him there in LA and when they did he wanted to make sure that they were comfortable.  As little as he got to see his parents anymore, it was a privilege to have them staying in his home.  He usually only saw them a couple times a year unless there was a graduation coming up.  That Marc was aware of, it would be a couple of years before there were any more graduations and the next ones to graduate would be his older brothers’ children.  James’s daughters, Jeremiah’s son, Malachai’s triplets and Jacob’s twins would be the next to receive their diplomas.  He wasn’t sure if Jordan’s daughter would be in that group or not- though he was nearly positive that his parents wouldn’t live to see that happen either way.  He just wanted to enjoy the little bit of time he had left with them.

Though he never really was one to express his feelings to anyone but his wife, he’d given his parents his unspoken permission to pass a long time before.  Everyone dies.  Why mourn them?  Celebrate their lives and their achievements rather than cry over them.

He watched as his son come out of the crowd with his parents behind.  He knew that the train of thought he was on needed to be derailed because he was getting just a touch misty eyed.  Just because he had accepted it and had given them permission at least ten years before, he still didn’t want them to see him weak.  He wasn’t ready by any means for his parents to leave the Earth.  Not until the movie was done- though he knew it could happen at any time.  He shoved the thought aside.  Stop it, Marc Christopher.  You’re being ridiculous.  They go when God calls them home.  That’s the final word on it.  Stop tormenting yourself like Jake does.  Enjoy what little time you may have left.  He had to be stern.  If he didn’t he would drag himself into a depression that would be nearly impossible to come out of.

When he saw his mother’s smiling face, it wasn’t hard to forget the progression of thought that he had going before they approached.  He smile in return and hugged his tiny little mother.  “Hi Mama.  How are you feeling this afternoon?”

“I’ve been better, that’s for sure.  My back is screaming at me from that flight.  I’m certainly not going to miss the jet lag either”, his mother said.

“And yet you smile, Mom?  What are you so happy about?”

“I’m actually kind of excited to see that Mercedes and Connie make us for dinner tonight.  Your wife is a magnificent cook.”

“That she is.”  He looked at his father.  “You look a little grouchy, Dad.  Is everything ok?”

“Yes, Christopher.  I’m just tired.  You know how I get.  Insomnia is still to this day kicking my ass.”

He hugged his father and shook his head.  “I’m sorry, Dad.  Maybe there’s something Mercedes can concoct to help you sleep tonight?”

His father shook his head.  “No son.  I’ll be fine.  Why don’t we get the hell out of this airport so that your mother and I can get settled in the guest room and recover from the first two legs of this trip?”

“You could always stay out here until the wedding”, Marc laughed as he took his mother’s bag from her so that he could carry it.  She handed it over to him without argument.  “Mom, Jake mentioned a doctor’s appointment when you two went home after the New Year.  What happened?”

“Poor circulation in my hands because of my age.  Between that, the arthritis, and the carpal tunnel I’ll use the use of my hand all together by the time I’m 90.”

He chuckled.  “That’s funny.  Not that you’re going to lose your hands, the 90 comment.  That was funny in a morbid sort of way.”

“You were always the more morose of your siblings”, his father pointed out.

“And I’m afraid I’ve passed on the morbidity to Pilar”, he laughed.  “That child thinks of the most morose things in the world.  I wish that would have skipped her.”

“What about you, Joshua?” Brie asked her grandson.

“I’m not dark and morose like Connie, but I have my moments when I’m twisted and just a touch psychotic.  But, then again, I’m a Draiman.  We all have those moments.  Wouldn’t you agree, Grampa?”

His grandfather chuckled.  “You’ve got me there, grandson.  I know I’ve had my moments.”

“I’ve had mine as well”, his grandmother agreed.  “There were times when your father was young that I would call Grampa about ready to start pulling my hair out because your aunts and uncles were being cantankerous.  There were even days when Grampa would come home from the studio or from the road and I’d be sitting on the couch just laughing for no reason.  It wasn’t that anything was funny.  If I didn’t laugh I was going to end up crying.  And the laugh itself wasn’t one of humor either.”

“It was maniacal”, Marc said with a laugh.  “There were times when we would all come home from school and go hide in our rooms because Gramma there was about to snap and none of us wanted to be there when it happened.”

“What would you do when you got like that, Gramma?”

“Call Grampa and tell him what was going on.  He would call after he got off stage- unless he was overseas that is, then he would call when his insomnia would get ahold of him- and he’d put an end to the children acting like fools.  And if he had to come home from a tour or something like that it was all over.  Heads rolled.”

“I believe it.  I’ve heard stories.”

“Believe me son”, Marc said to his oldest child, “stories can never convey what actually happened accurately.  One of Grampa’s epic ass chewings is only something that you can really appreciate first hand.”

---------------

When they walked into the house they were greeted by Mercedes and Connie as Josh took their things up to the guest room.  “Gramma, Grampa”, Connie said as she hugged them, “how long are you staying with us?”

“Only until tomorrow, Connie”, David told his granddaughter.

“Why not just stay until the wedding?” Mercedes asked.

“The only reason we’re even here this early is because James asked us to come back to watch the Super Bowl.”

“Oh yeah”, Marc said with a grin.  “The Bears are in the big game this year.  JJ and I have a little friendly wager on that game.  He’s of the impression that the Jaguars are going to kick Bear ass that day.”

“So the two of you decided to put a little money on it?” Brie asked with a laugh.

“I am the only son the man has, Mom.”

“Remember Mama Brie, I told you that my mother died when I was born and my dad never really had time to date because he was always working on a movie in some way?” Mercedes said.

Brie nodded.  “I remember you telling me that.  I just find it hard to believe that Marc- my sarcastic, morose little Marky- is gambling with his father in law on a silly football game.”

“Mom, it’s not a silly football game”, Marc said.  “It’s the Super Bowl and the Chicago Bears.  I’ve got to get my money from my father in law for talking shit all season.”

Brie shook her head.  “I don’t understand it; never have and never will.  The entire thing is confusing to me.  Football, the Super Bowl- I don’t get it.”

“Then why do you consistently watch it with us?”

“Because it’s something that your Dad and I do together.  We watch the game with you kids and your kids.  That’s just what we do.”

“It’s always been something that Mom and I do together.  It’s been like that since long before you and Jessykah were born.  It will be like that until the day one of us goes”, David added.

Marc chuckled.  “Can we not talk about that?  Yes, I’m all for the two of you have your freedom and passing on, but I really don’t’ want to think about it.  I just want you two to enjoy the time you’re here.  I think JJ is going to bring the story boards over for the movie later tonight or tomorrow morning at breakfast.”

“That will be easy to see, but why does JJ have the storyboards?” David asked as he moved the conversation to the living room so that he and his wife could both sit down.  His knees were telling him he was an evil bastard for standing for so long and he was sure that Brie’s back was screaming at her as well.”

Marc followed as Mercedes went back into the kitchen.  “You haven’t seen my office lately, have you?”

“It’s trashed isn’t it?” his mother said, slowly lowering herself to the love seat as her lower back protested.

Marc noticed and offered his mother his arm.  “Mom, please be careful.”

“I am.  That’s why I’m taking it slowly.”  Once she was seated, she looked over her shoulder.  “Mercedes, dear, when will dinner be done?”

“Soon Mama Brie.  I’m actually just waiting on the cheese on the enchiladas to melt.  Everything else is pretty much ready.”  She looked at Marc.  “Angelito, would you get the niños and have them set the table?”

“No problema, amor”, Marc said and went to the stairs of his Los Angeles mansion.  “Josué, Pilar- come set the table for dinner.”

“Ok, I’m confused”, Brie said.  “Is Josh’s legal name Joshua or Josué?”

“His name on his birth certificate is Joshua.  JJ took to calling him Josué when he was a baby”, Marc answered as he sat down in the arm chair by the love seat his parents were sitting on.  “Does that clear it up?”

“Yes.  Thank you.”

---------------

After dinner, Marc was sure to call Jake.  It had slipped his mind until they had set down for dinner and Marc had a rule about phones at the dinner table.  He wouldn’t even take a call unless it was an emergency.

When Jake answered, he sounded relieved.  “What took you so long?  Was there a delay in Mom and Dad’s flight?”

Marc had to roll his eyes.  Jake was such a worrywart.  “No.  They landed early as a matter of fact.  It simply slipped my mind.  I’m not perfect, Jacob, no matter how much I might want to be.  Neither are you though you’re the closest thing to it we have in our family.”  The last was pure sarcasm.  Marc was a master of it.  He had made use of it when even his brothers and sisters couldn’t.  The only one that might have come close was James.

“It slipped your mind to call your older brother to let him know that your 80 year old parents were in the country and safe with you.”

“Jake, I am human after all.  Le preocupa demasiado.”

“You know I hate it when you speak to me in Spanish, though I’m sure I know what that meant.”

“¿Por qué me importa?  No es como se puede hacer nada al respecto.”

“What the hell did you just say?”

“For me to know and you not to find out, big brother.  I’m just calling to let you know that Mom and Dad are here, they’ve eaten, they’re safe and they’re comfortable.  They’ve taken over my television but that’s ok.  There’s not usually anything interesting on this time of night.  They’ll be there in the morning the day after tomorrow.  Make sure that Malachai is panicking when he picks them up.  You know what Dad wants.”

“Oh I know.  Dad made his wishes very clear.  Any suggestions, master prankster?”

“Call him at like, 2 in the morning and just freak out on him.  ‘Dude, what the hell are you still doing asleep?!  Mom and Dad will be here in 30 minutes.  You’re going to be late and you know that Mom and Dad hate it when we’re late.  And don’t forget you have to play that shitty ass cover for them.  Mom and Dad have been pissed about that since you and James told them about it.  You had better hope they like it because if they don’t… boy, are you in for it’.”

Jake laughed.  “I might just have to do that.  I’ll leave Mom and Dad alone for the time being.  Let them relax a little and recover from their flight.  How are they?”

“Mom’s moving a bit stiffly because of her back and Dad’s limping a little on his left side.  They’re bothering him pretty bad I think.  They both took pain medication after dinner.”

“What did you guys have out there?”

“Enchiladas al la ‘Cedes with a Chef salad.  The adults that chose to had a nice dark Sangria with dinner.  Everyone else either drank water or non- caffeinated soda.  I believe Mom requested Diet Sprite.”

Jake chuckled.  “Fabulous.  Did Dad drink?”

“No.  He had Diet Sprite along with Mom.  They took pain medication after dinner.  They’re currently sitting on my couch watching TV with my kids and my wife and waiting on me to get off of the phone with you.  No hay más, Jacob.  There is no more.”

“Thanks for the translation, Marc.  You spend too much time around Mercedes and JJ.”

“I am married to Mercedes and JJ is her father.  It only makes sense that I spend a lot of time around them.”  He then spoke in Hebrew, telling his older brother that he had, in essence, lost his marbles if he thought that anything was going to change.

“At least I know you can still speak Hebrew, Marc.”

“I’ll never forget it.  I might get a little rusty, but that’s it.  My kids have been learning it as well.  They’re both very blessed to be so multicultural.  I just wish that we could have learned Celtic so that I could teach it to Connie and Josh.”

“That’s pretty cool kids, man.  They’ve grown up with three different languages being spoken around them as I’m sure that you speak Hebrew to them every now and then.  They also know English and Spanish.  They’re very lucky kids.”

“I think all of the kids are lucky- from mine all the way up to yours and Malachai’s.  Hell, we were lucky to have such wonderfully loving and just flat fucking awesome parents.”

“Amen to that, little brother.  Amen to that.”

---------------

A peaceful end to a beautiful day.  David and Brie couldn’t have been more relaxed than they were as they laid down for bed that night.  “I might accidentally sleep the whole night”, David chuckled as he and Brie got comfortable in the strange bed.

“You think?  Are you relaxed enough to tell you mind the shut off for a few hours?” she asked with a laugh.

“It’s possible.  I’m not going to guarantee anything though.  You know me.”

“Yeah.  Genius knows no rest, my love.  Even when said genius is soon to be 85 and has arthritis in his knees and hands.”

“I wish it weren’t true, but it is.  I’m gonna be 85 and our oldest granddaughter is not only going to be married soon, but she’s going to have a baby in less than 3 months.  We’re going to be great- grandparents.  I have to admit, it’s a little bit frightening.”

“That we’re going to be great- grandparents soon?”

“Yeah.  It’s just a little frightening.”

“I remember when Mandy and Malachai told us that she was pregnant with Miranda and Isaiah.  You woke me up in the middle of the night once the realization finally hit you that we were going to be grandparents.”

“I remember that too.  I was so excited about it when we woke up.  We got the kids off to school and you went about appointments as I took a look at the guest house that Jeremiah now calls his and called the guys.”

“Then we went to lunch and started buying for the baby, not knowing that it was twins.”

“Ah, memories.  I almost miss those days.  Almost.”

“Why almost?”

“Well, we were younger and could do a hell of a lot more than we can now.  Granted with age comes wisdom, but I miss being able to go diving whenever I wanted and all that wonderful stuff.”

“I miss that too, baby.  All we can do now is be grateful for our health as it is now and our enormous family.”

“Enormous is right.  And it’s just getting bigger.  Isaiah is engaged now too, from that Malachai tells me.  Her name is Chelsea.”

“Nice.  Hopefully we’ll get to meet her.”

“Hope so.”  He yawned.  “Can we go to sleep now?  I’m actually very tired.  Nice and relaxed.  Conversation isn’t going to last much longer the way I’m headed.”

“Then why don’t we shut off the lights and stop freaking talking.”

Chapter 48

Jake was sitting at the kitchen table eating breakfast with his family when his phone buzzed.  “Hello?” he asked, not looking at the caller ID.

“Jacob, it’s Dad.  How is everything over there?”

“Not bad.  We’re eating breakfast and getting ready for school or work.  Seth and Sammi about to leave for school with Matt and they’ll pick up Jasmine on the way.  How has the trip been for you and Mom?”

“It’s been good.  Mom’s in the shower in our private room right now.”

“Ooh, private room.  As in there’s no one else in the car?”

“As in it’s the only car where the rooms have showers in them and our windows have blackout curtain on them for our privacy.  The conductor recognized me and said that he would see to it that Mom and I had as much privacy as we needed.”

“That’s good.  Where are you, do you know?”

“We’re somewhere in the Iraqi countryside.  We’ll be in Iran by morning.”

“Fun.  One of these days, I’ll have to take Delilah and the kids on something like that.”

“Are Malachai and James there yet?”

“Not yet.  They should be here.  Malachai is bringing the triplets over so that they can ride to school with Samantha.”  He paused.  "Nevermind, it's Saturday.  I'm so not here right now.  Sorry."

“Ah. It happens, Jake.  And James just rides along with?”

“Sometimes.”  He was quiet for a minute.  “They just walked in.  My answers are going to get vague.”

“Which sibling are you pretending you’re speaking to today?”

“Bro, that is so funny.  I can’t believe that.  Did he seriously?”

David chuckled.  “So, I’m Marc.  Got it.  They’re in the room?”

“Yeah?  That’s insane.”

“At some point I want you to nonchalantly ask Malachai if he remembers what he has to do when he picks us up at the station. Can you do that, Jacob?”

“For sure, man.  I’ll be sure to let him know.”

“That was slick, Jake.  I have to hand that to you.  That was slick.  Well your mother is out of the shower and wants to go to sleep.  Is everything ok over there?”

“Yeah.  We’re good.  It good that she said something.  We wouldn’t want someone with no back bone to play that character, would we?”  He looked over at his brothers and held up a finger to them.

“Good night Jacob.  We’ll see you in a week.”

“Alright.  Get some rest.  We’ll talk later.  Bye.”

“Bye Jake.”

Jake chuckled.  Now it was time to out in his performance.  The performance he’d been putting on the past three weeks was Oscar worthy; his baby brother had even said so.  Marc couldn’t help but laugh as he talked with Jake the night before on the phone so that Jake could fake the answers with their father the next morning.

“Marc again?” Malachai asked.

“Yeah.  Just updating me on how thing are going.  It’s been an amazing journey he says.  He’s reading over the script- which is based on Dad’s auto biography as well as different video sources that the writer had seen over the years and he was updating me on some of the things that are happening as far as production.  He was also telling me that he’s going to put production on hold during the wedding.”

“Cool.  Any news on Mom and Dad?”

“They’re in Iraq at the moment.  Dad estimates they’ll be in Iran by morning.  He asked that you be reminded that you have something to do…”

“I know.  I haven’t forgotten.”

“Anything for me”, James asked.

Jake thought for a moment.  “Not off the top other than be prepared.”

“For what?”

“Hell if I know.  It’s a Saturday morning, man.  I’m not fully aware right now.  I’ve got to take Sam to the school so that she can go to some cheer competition in Denver.  That’s more at the forefront of my thoughts than a conversation I had with Dad at 2 am.”  No one but Delilah knew that he hadn’t spoken with their father at 2 am.  Instead, he was otherwise occupied by his wife as he made her toes curl and her back arch in pleasure.

“Oh.  Sorry.  I understand that you’ve slept since then.”

“Yeah.”  Amongst other things, he thought to himself.

----------------

“Dad, why did you lie to Uncle James and Uncle Malachai?” Samantha asked as she and her father headed to town so that she could go to the State Cheer competition.

“Because Grampa told me to, Sammi.  He told me that he wanted them panicking and scrambling when he and Gramma arrive in a couple of days.”

“Ah.  That makes sense I suppose.”

“Any other questions?”

“Are Gramma and Grampa dying, Dad?”  Her voice was small as she asked the question.

He reached over and took his daughter’s hand.  “I’m sorry to say, baby, but yeah.  Gramma and Grampa are dying.  They probably won’t see the end of the year.”

“No more Hanukkah?”

“Not with Gramma and Grampa, sweetheart.  I’m sorry.”

She took a deep breath and nodded.  “That kinda sucks, but I guess I need to get ready for it.  They’re on their way back to the US right now, aren’t they?”

“Yeah.  Judging from what Grampa told me when we talked earlier, they were on their way through Iraq and they’d be in Iran by the time you’re in bed.”

“Fun.  Will they bring us anything?”

“I don’t know, Samantha.”  He pulled to a stop at a stop light.  “Look Samantha, I know you’re worried about your grandparents.  For the time being, just focus on your competition.  If you win this you guys go to Nationals, right?”

She nodded.  “Yeah.”

“Then focus on the competition.  Let me worry about Gramma and Grampa.  That’s kinda my job.”

She giggled a little.  “Ok Dad.  Thanks for listening, though.”

“It’s my job.  I’m your Dad.  If I didn’t listen to you, then who would you talk to?”

“Mom.  Or Miri.”

“Touché, Sammi.  Touché.”

---------------

“Babe, what all do you want done before you get home from the set tonight?” Mercedes asked Marc as he prepared to head out to meet his father in law.

“The house needs to be spotless, ‘Cedes.  My parents will be here in two days and this is a big house.”

“How long will they be staying with us?”

“Just the night that they land and the following afternoon.  The next time we see them will be Miranda’s wedding in San Diego.”

“So, I need to get the guest room made up and all that good stuff?”

“Yeah, and see if you can’t get the some of the portraits that we did last spring up in there as well.  I’m sure that they would love to see pictures of the kids and the two of us.”

“I’ve been meaning to get those put up.  I’ll have Joshua help me with them when he gets in from school this afternoon.”

“Oh, did you know that he wants to play a younger me for the movie?”

“Seriously?  Are you and Dad considering it?”

“We’re talking about it.  When we get there, we’ll screen test him and see we’ll see where it goes from there.”

“This is teenaged you, right?”

“Yes.  He’s going to be 15 soon, ‘Cedes.  I wasn’t a virgin anymore by that time.”

“Don’t remind me that I wasn’t the one that took your virginity.”

“Sorry hon.  And, I don’t know if this will make you feel better or worse, but it wasn’t just one girl that night either.  Seven women, one Marc- one night.  The best night I had as a teenaged boy.”

“Then we met, right?”

“Yes.  You’re the only person I see anymore.   You’re the only person I’ve seen for the last sixteen years, amor.  No veo mas.”

She smiled.  “Muy bien.  Te quero, amor.”

“Te quero tambien.  Now, I have got to get the hell out of here.  I’ve got to get to the set.”

“What are you guys working on today?”

“We’re shooting the last night of Uproar when my Dad got shot.”

“Lovely.  Have fun.”

“Of course.  I love you.  I’ll see you when I get in, baby.”  He brushed her black curls from her face and kissed her softly.

“Try not to be too late if you can.  It would be nice to have you home for supper sometime.”

“I think your Dad and I will be calling it early tonight because he wants to have dinner with us tonight.  Oh, speaking of, what’s for cena a la noche?”

“Tell my father not to worry; it won’t be beans and rice.”

“I want to know so that I know that to be ready for.”

“Tacos.  And I don’t mean the kind with hamburger meat.  I’m taking steak.”

“Yummy.  Can’t wait.”  A horn sounded from outside.  “That’s your Dad.  I’ve got to go.”

“Ok, angel mío.  Hasta luego.  I love you.”

“I love you too, corazona.  I’ll see you when I get home.”  The kissed one more time and he headed out the door.  Once he was in the car with his father in law, they took off with the top down and started talking about what they were going to do that day on set.

Mercedes stood at the door and waved at them before they took off, blowing her husband a kiss before the two men that meant more to her than anything drove off.  She turned and started working on the list of things she needed to do that day while her husband was at work and her children were at school doing their various activities.  It wasn’t like she kept a messy house or anything like that.  It was a daily job picking up after her husband and children.  She was going to have to go into her husband’s office and straighten up his desk and things like that.  Her children’s bedrooms she’d leave to them.

She took out her Android pad and started making her list.  The kitchen needed to be straightened up after breakfast, the room she and her husband slept in needed to be straightened up a little and the bed needed made.  She absolutely had to run the vacuum in every room that had carpet and she needed to clean the floors in the kitchen and bathrooms.  The guest room needed to be cleaned, the bed made, and last but certainly not least the family portraits they took the last time his parents were out during the spring needed to be put up in the house.  She made note of all of it as she sat and watched her morning novela, then she started the grocery list for the week.  She had to make sure that they had plenty to eat for the week, and she wanted to make sure that there was plenty in the house while her mother and father in law were staying with them- though it was for a short period of time.

Once her show was over, Mercedes Draiman got the things that she needed- purse, keys, recyclable shopping bags, ect- and headed out to get the week’s groceries.  It wouldn’t be a long trip, but the time that Marc was working and Josh and Connie were in class was her time to do what needed done.  After all was said and done, she would get a glass of Sangria and relax for a few minutes in the Jacuzzi tub she and her hubby soaked in when they would take a bath together.  Jacuzzi jets and her favorite bubble bath would be the perfect end to such a busy day… until her kids got home.

---------------

The train ride wasn’t rough, but it wasn’t comfortable for either of them.  She’d had to get up and move around a few times during the day because she would feel her legs starting to go a little numb.  All she had to do was get up and move about the train carefully.  They would eat their meals and watch different movies for the most part.  When the time came to set up the bed one of the many attendants in the car would come knock softly on the door to let them know that she was there to help them out.

And that was how the days went when they were on the train.  They knew the route like the backs of their own hands.  They would completely miss India this trip, which didn’t really bother either of them.  They were traveling at a few hundred Km/h so missing India wasn’t a concern.  It was getting to Shanghai so that they could fly into LA. 

That night as they slept, they knew that their clocks were adjusting on their own to the constantly changing time zones.

They slept the only way either of them was comfortable- on their sides, spooned against one another.  It was familiar.  It was home away from home.  It didn’t matter where they were, as long as they could hold each other they were home.

He woke in the middle of the night and moved enough to turn on the computer they had been watching movies on during the day.  When he got the new movie queued up, he adjusted in the small bed.  She moved as he did, rolling onto the opposite side and resting her head on his chest.  Another familiar position.  They had spent many hours laying like this and holding each other- usually after sex or when she was resting and just wanted him to be close.  He just watched the movie and held her as tightly as he could without hurting himself.

With a glance down at her where she was laying on his shoulder he cracked a smile, kissed her forehead softly, and watched his movie with a sigh of content.

Chapter 47

“Mom, Dad, are you ready to go?” Jessi called when she arrived at her parents’ house to pick them up to take them to the train station.

“Almost Jessykah”, her mother called from the bedroom.  “I’m getting couple of things together before we leave.”

Her father came out of the bedroom.  “We’re almost ready.  Before we leave though, I need to show you something.”  He walked over toward the wall by the sliding glass French doors in the back of the house and opened a small utility box.  “You see this switch?” he asked her.

“Yeah”, Jessi said with a nod.

“Do you know what it does?”  She shook her head and he flipped the switch causing the back patio to open up and a hot tub to rise from the opening.

Jessi’s eyes nearly popped out of her head.  “I thought that was the fuse box so I never fucked with it.  How long has that been here?”

“A few years.  Mom and I had it put in when Mom’s back started acting up again.”

“Why are you showing me this?  You guys are coming back, right?”

“It’s really doubtful, Jess.  Mom and I are getting too old to be jumping the pond as often as we do.  I know we joke that we’re not getting old and we’re only as old as we feel, but let’s face it Jessykah.  Your mother and I are in our 80’s.  This is getting to be too much.”

She smiled sadly.  “I understand Daddy.  I don’t want you to go for good, but if that’s what you feel you have to do that’s what you have to do.  I will always love you and I’ll miss having you so close by, but, this is more than likely what’s best.  I wish you and Mom well and I love you both and I’ll miss having you so close to me.”

He chuckled a little bit and it turned into a cough.  Once he caught his breath, he looked at his youngest daughter.  “It’s time that you learn to fly on your own, Jessi.  It’s beyond time for you to learn to fly on your own.  You need to be alone with Adam and Abby.  Know that your mother and I love you too and we always will.”

She nodded.  “I know Dad.  You and Mom need to do what’s best for you.  I need to grow up a little, you know?”

He chuckled again.  “No kidding.  Now, I’m going to go check on your Mom and see if she’s ready.  It’s about time to leave to check in at the train station.”

“Which direction are you two going?”

“We’re going east as usual.  Marc will pick us up in LA and we’ll stay the night with him and catch our train the following afternoon.”

“Nice.  Well, go check on Mom so that we can get you two to the train station.”

He walked away and went to the bedroom he shared with his wife.  “Brie, are you ready to go?”

She sighed looked around the room one final time.  “Yeah.  I think I’m ready.  Are you ready, David?”

He nodded with a sigh.  “I think I am.  Let’s get these suit cases out of here and head to the train station.  Remember, when we get to Denver, we have a cover to listen to.”

“Please don’t remind me.  I’m not ready to listen to that damn song just yet.  I’m upset that the boy even touched it, let alone that he botched it.”  She pulled her suit case off of the bed and started it to rolling it toward the living room, her husband not far behind her.  “We’re ready Jess.  Did Dad show you the hot tub?”

“He did”, Jessi said with a chuckle.  “I’m going to go put that away while you and Dad are getting into the car.  Just leave your bags next to the trunk.  I’ll take care of it.  When Dave gets off of work we’re going to turn that bad boy on and just chill.”

“I hope you two enjoy it.  Your father and I have over the years that we’ve had it.  Now, let’s get moving, shall we?” Brie and David headed out with their suitcases so that they could get in the car as Jessi put the trunk and got in the back seat for the ride.

When she came out of the house, there was nothing said.  She put the suitcases in the trunk, got in the driver’s seat and they took off.  As she drove her parents to the train station, Jessi couldn’t help but wonder how much longer her parents were going to be around.  As her mind drifted, she thought back to the dream she had of her long lost uncle over Hanukkah and the warning he gave her.  “You have to give them their space, Jessykah.  You don’t have much more time with them.  You have to let them go so that you can help your brothers and sister prepare to help the rest of your siblings that don’t receive this message to accept their passing when it happens.  You can do this, Jessi.  You’re an amazingly strong girl.  You can stand on your own two feet.  Your parents taught you to be independent.  Be strong for your daughter as she loses the only grandparents that she knows.  We all believe in you”, her uncle’s voice rang in her ears.

She glanced back at her parents in the rearview mirror to see if they were ok.  She smiled as she saw them being just as playful as ever.  It didn’t seem to matter what ages they were, her parents were always playful and always more in love than they were the day before. It warmed her heart.  She hoped for that with her husband.  She hoped that she would have the marriage that her parents had- being so sweet together that it made people’s teeth hurt.  I wonder if when they go, will they be holding each other?  Will Dad have a hand laid sweetly against Mom’s cheek as they take their final breaths?  Will Mom have her head resting on Dad’s chest?  Or will they be lying spooned against each other?  There was only one person that would get the answer to that question… and he wouldn’t share until their parents were both cold and in the ground.

---------------

Jake settled into bed next to Delilah for the night with a sigh. "What's on your mind, Jakey?" she asked.

"Nothing much really. Mom and Dad are on their way out. They'll be here in about a week. Malachai has to pick them up. Dad is supposed to call me in the morning as he and Mom are settling in for the night to get some sleep. Malachai, James, and Jordan will all be here when he calls so I can screw with them a little."

"Do you take pleasure in messing with your siblings my love?"

"Just a little. It's a little revenge for all the shit they gave me when we were kids."

"And just what will you make it out to be this time when Dad calls?"

"Probably Meagan calling. I might go with Marc again."

"Do Meagan and Marc know that you're using them as ways to mess with Malachai, James, and Jordan? Better yet; does Dad know that you're messing with your brothers and sister?"

"Yes and yes. Marc thought it was funny. Meagan thought it was whatever."

"Sounds like Mae. So, you're just going to play it off? And Dad approves?"

"Yeah. It was his idea so that they were lulled into a false sense of security."

"Do you think they suspect anything?"

"Oh I know they suspect I'm screwing with them but they have no idea that I'm under orders to do so. It's kinda fun though."

"So you do enjoy messing with your siblings?"

"Just a little, like I said. I do get a small bit of satisfaction out of knowing that the day Mom and Dad are supposed to arrive, I get to spin them into a frenzy."

"Do you know how you're going to do that?"

"Oh yeah. It's going to be a blast."

"What is Mom and Dad's itinerary?"

"They should be on the train now and they'll be reaching Shanghai in two days. They'll fly out to LA where Marc will pick them up and they'll stay with Marc that night. The next afternoon they'll catch a train from LA to Denver where Malachai will pick them up and play some song for them."

"Kenna's been renting a room at the clinic because she's taken on a few pregnant mothers aside from Miranda and I've heard her talking about that. Something about the song Dad wrote for Mom and it being ruined."

"Yeah. Apparently the kid from Wrought Iron decided that he was going to take Mom's song and rearrange it so that it sounded more like something that his band would do rather than a Disturbed song. Malachai, Jordan, and James all say that the song has been ruined."

"Ah. And Mom and Dad aren't too happy about that.  I don’t blame Mom.  If it were me, I’d be pissed too.”

“Well, Malachai had kinda relaxed a little since Mom and Dad jumped him about that.  I’m going to make sure that he’s freaking out when he rolls out to pick Mom and Dad up.”

“Again on Dad’s orders?”

He chuckled.  “Yep.”  He took a deep breath and yawned.  “Subject change.  Do you know how Ira is doing in his online classes?”

“He’s doing well from what I understand.  I’m sure he’ll let us know what’s going on when the time is right.  Remember Jake, he’s JUST started the classes and has been doing the work for three weeks.  Give it time.  Ira’s not like Miri who tells us every grade she makes on every paper.”

He nodded with a shrug.  “True.  Miri will call with every grade no matter what it is.  She tells us when all of her tests are.  Last semester we could go for weeks and not hear from Ira.”

“We heard from him at midterms and finals.  That was it.”

Jake shook his head.  “Yeah.  I wonder if he’s going to be like that now that he’s home this semester?”

“Probably hon.” She yawned.  “I need sleep, Jacob.  What about you?”

“Sleep would be nice.  Maybe we should shut off the lights and get some sleep.  What do you think?”

“I’m so glad you suggested it, Jacob.  I was willing to hold on as long as you talk, but I was starting to fade.”  They both reached over and turned off their individual lights and they settled into bed.  His arm wrapped around her waist as he pulled her tighter against the front of his body and his other arm snaked underneath their pillows.  She sighed in content, turning her face so that she could kiss him good night.  “I love you Jacob Micah”, she said, her lips brushing against his.

He smiled softly.  “I love you, Delilah Cheyenne; more and more every day.”  He completed the circuit and kissed her gently a couple of times.  His arm tightened around her waist as he held her tightly.  The response was strictly reflex on his part.  He always wanted to hold her as close to him as he could.  But the moment their lips met, a spark was ignited.  What was supposed to be a tender kiss good night became something more.  His hunger for her was aroused and needed to be slaked.  As she rolled and placed herself on her back as he shifted and put himself between her thighs.

---------------

“Dude, I can’t believe my big sister is getting married so soon”, Eli said to B as they sat up and watched TV.  They weren’t staying in a hotel like they had when they had last come out.  Instead they were staying in the guest house on his father property.

“It’s kinda freaky isn’t it?” B asked with a sigh.

“Just a little.”  He sighed.  “You know what I’m most excited about, babe?”

“What?”

“Becoming an uncle.  I’m stoked that Miranda is going to have a baby.  I’ve been looking forward to being the awesome uncle that spoils the hell out of the kid for the longest.”

“You’re looking forward to being an uncle?  Did you ever want kids of your own?”

“It would be nice, but I want to be sure that we’re going to be together for the rest of our lives.  I don’t want 

us to go through what my Aunt Jordan went through ten years ago.”

“What exactly happened with that?  There are all kinds of stories.”

“Do you want the official story or the real story?”

“The real one please.”

“You took history in high school and college so you know about the Utopian Regime and all that stuff right?”

“Yeah.  Your Grampa was a driving force in shutting them down.”

“Well yeah.  That’s how he earned the nickname he still can’t live down.  He will forever be known in history as The Voice of the Resistance.  Well, ten years ago a new Utopian Regime was trying to build up steam to take over again.  They had a candidate in the Presidential race and everything.  The guy behind it all was a guy named Porter Grissom.  He wanted to be some big wig in the Regime once they pulled off their hostile takeover.  Well, long story short, not only were my grandparents and Morbus targets but my dad and all of my aunts and uncle were too.  The day Rina was born, Aunt Jordan snuck out to get a gift and she was kidnapped.  Grissom had her for two days and did a real number on her.  Knocked teeth out, broke ribs, broke a femur; shattered the fibula in her right leg.  To this day she has a titanium rod in her calf to stabilize the bone.  Dad and all of my uncles as well as Mr. Skyler all went to rescue her.  Gramma and Grampa played Ops Command or something like that.  Well, anyway, Aunt Jordan stays in the hospital for five of the six weeks she was in her cast and Levi and Jasmine go with Gramma and Grampa to Israel for a few months.  Davina, Aunt Jordan’s ex-wife, couldn’t handle it so they split up.  Finally Aunt Jordan filed for divorce and that was a huge spectacle in and of itself.”

“Wow.  Deep shit.  How long had Jordan been with her ex-wife?”

“Ten years.  But things came to light that very few people knew about.  She was beating Levi and Jasmine both.  You’ve met Reece right?”

“The guy that was in the pictures with them and Jordan’s new woman?”

“Yeah.  He was under of all kinds of wrong impressions until he met Gramma and Grampa then came out here to meet the rest of the family.  Aunt Jordan and Reece even dated for about a year so that they could have a relationship and he could be there for the kids.”

“What happened with that?”

“They couldn’t make it work.  Aunt Jordan is a lesbian and she’s very monogamous.  She doesn’t share well either.  They still live together, though and Reece has always been able to stay close to his children, so everyone won the long run.”

B nodded.  “Very true.  So, you just want to make sure that I’m not going to hurt you like Davina did your Aunt?”

“Yes and no.  I want to be sure that you’re it.  The ONE that I’m going to grow old with.  I mean, we’re safe and we’re monogamous.  I love you more than I can possibly quantify, Brandon.  But, I want to be positive that you feel the same about me.  I know you tolerate my eccentricities as an artist and that you went to bat for me as I tried to finish that collection we just sold off.”  Eli sighed.  “I guess my eccentricities make me a little insecure.  I just want to be positive that you can handle my being like this for years.”

B turned in his seat on the couch and looked at Eli.  “Elijah Michael Draiman, I’ve been with you for over year now.  I’m the only person you know that can navigate that chaotic mind of yours, aren’t I?”

Eli nodded.  “Yeah.  It’s comforting, believe me.”

“I know when to talk to you when you’re painting and when not to.  I know you are a work-aholic and how you like your eggs and all that stuff.  I cook for you, I clean up after you and I don’t ask a thing in return other than that you just keep creating the masterpieces you have.  If that’s not in it for the long haul, then I don’t know what is but I’ll hang around until I figure it out.  I love you, Eli.”

Eli cracked a smile.  “Come here, sexy.”  He crooked a finger at his man.  B scooted closer and leaned against Eli’s taller, more slender frame.  Eli kissed him and smiled.  “I know I’m difficult, babe.  I don’t mean to be.”

“If I didn’t love you, Eli, I wouldn’t put up with all of the things that I do.  I’ve been around the block a few times to know that you’re the one I want to be with.  Whether or not we get married is completely up to you, but I will say that I’m a big fan of unconventional.”

Eli chuckled.  “I know.  You’re with me.  So, do you want us to start thinking about having a family together?”

“After your sister’s wedding we can talk about it.  Right now, I’m content with you just like this.”

---------------

Miranda was having trouble getting comfortable.  She fidgeted all night no matter how she laid.  Left side, right side, on her back.  She could hug the body pillow all she wanted but nothing worked.  Little Gracie just wouldn’t be still.

She got up and padded down the stairs to see if there was anything she could do to get Grace to settle down.  When she reached the bottom of the stairs she spotted her parents on the couch.  He father looked over his shoulder.  “Hey Miranda.  What’s go you up?”

“I can’t sleep.  She’s so active tonight and I just can get comfortable.”

“Have you though to sleep reclined?” her mother asked.

“Did you have to do that with either of you pregnancies?”

“With you and Isaiah I did when I went on bed rest.  My doctor was a strict stickler about that.  But as long as I wasn’t moving you and Isaiah were and it was worst of all when I tried to sleep.  I had to experiment with what would work for me.  When you’re ready to go back to bed, let me know and I’ll help you set up.  Gramma showed me a way to do it with two body pillows.”

“What?”

“Yeah.  She folded one up behind me and wrapped it in a sheet and the other laid next to me in case I needed to roll into either side.  I could hug it and put it between my knees if need be.”

“Cool.  Gramma showed you this?”

“Yeah, when I was pregnant with you.”

“Well, I was thinking about getting a snack before going back to bed.  I’m a little hungry.”

“Is there anything specific that you want?”

She laughed.  “Nothing that you can get me right now.”

“What do you want?” her father asked.

“Uncle Jay and I were talking the other day when you guys went to go pick up Eli and B from the airport and we joked about sushi.  I’m kinda craving a little tuna roll.”

“A tuna roll?”

“Yes Dad, a tuna roll.”

“Well, I can’t roll sushi and you’re right that I can’t get it for you tonight.  I could get it for you tomorrow.”

“That’s fine.  Do we have any chocolate that I can melt down and dip some strawberries in?  I’m really craving strawberries and chocolate.”

“So you want chocolate covered strawberries?”

“Yeah, kinda, but I also want a really sour pickle.”

“I can get you everything but the sushi tonight.  Are you sure this is what you’re craving?”

“No.  There’s a lot more.  I don’t want to bankrupt you Dad.”

Her father snorted a laugh.  “Please Miranda.  First of all, you’re my daughter.  Second, you can’t bankrupt me with your cravings, and third Grampa did it for your mom.”

“Really?”

“Yeah”, her mother said.  “When your Dad first went into the studio I was on bed rest with you and your brother.  Your Grampa was getting ready to start writing for a new record at that point and was waiting on the email that contained the music from Uncle Danny and Uncle Mikey.  I would be laid up on the couch and Gramma would be busy with a massage or other business and I would need something.  Grampa would wait on me while the younger kids were in school and your Dad and Gramma were busy.  He would even interrupt his own business to help me out.”

“What other business did Grampa have?”

“Your grandfather always had businesses going in all kinds of arenas.  I don’t even know all of the details.  I’m sure when he retired there were all kinds of sales made that we know nothing about.  Grampa always had something going when all of us were growing up.  He was a true entrepreneur.”

“Do you have all of the businesses going like Grampa did?”

“I have a few, but your grandfather was the master at juggling that stuff.  I wish I has his skills with that.”

“I might have to ask him about that when we go over to homestead for the Super Bowl.”

“Are you looking forward to the game?”

“I am.  I think that it’s going to be epic to watch the Bears kill the Jaguars on the AstroTurf.  It’s going to be a hell of a game.  Now, can I get something to snack on please?  I’m kinda hungry.”

Her father chuckled.  “Let us see what’s actually in the kitchen before I go into town to see what I can scrounge up for you; savvy?”

She laughed.  “Sounds good to me, Dad.”

Chapter 46

The following morning, Malachai and James went homestead to tell Jake what the plan was.  When they walked into the kitchen, he was on the phone.  “Yeah?  That’s good.  Ooh, I would hate to be in their shoes.  So if you don’t..?  OUCH!  That’s gonna be a sight to see.  I hope I’m there when that goes down.  That’s going to be classic.  Yeah.  Well, I will make sure I reiterate that to him seeing as he just walked into the kitchen.  OH?  Yeah, he’s here too.  Ok.  I’ll let him know.  Ok.  Sleep well.   Bye.”

Malachai looked at his younger brother.  “What was that all about?”

“Oh, that?” Jake said, pointing at the phone that he’d just set on the table so that he could enjoy a cup of coffee.  “That was a chat with Marc.  There’s something that he wanted me to tell Malachai and Jeremiah- but I can’t think of what off the top.  He was telling me about the movie he’s cutting his directing teeth on and shit like that.  JJ found a script that they can both live with and they had Dad meeting Grandmamma and Granddad written in because Marc being Marc he recorded it so that it could be added.  They’ve been doing the casting part and they screen tested the people playing Mom and Dad with the people playing Mom’s parents and there was instant chemistry.  I told him that I’d love to be there when they shot the scene for real.  It’s going to be epic.  He thought he’s give me a call before he passed out from shooting screen tests all night.”

Jeremiah was making himself a cup of coffee as Jake spoke.  “Do you remember what he wanted to tell us?”

“It was something about Miranda’s wedding.  I don’t really remember.  Oh, ‘Miah, before you take off toward the school, we need to talk.”

“No problemo.  About?”

“I’ll tell you then.”

James cleared his throat.  “So, Mom and Dad are coming back early.”

“I know.  I always know Mom and Dad’s plans.  I also know that Malachai has been ordered to pick them up and to play the Wrought Iron contribution to the tribute that’s been in the works for a couple of years now and that they don’t like it Ryan is to be escorted over here so that they can scream at him.  I have it on good authority that you might even get a lecture.  I can’t tell you for sure because I’m not in Dad’s head.  I know that if it’s as bad as I keep hearing it is, there’s going to be quite the show here when Mom and Dad get back and I’ll get to just sit back and watch the fireworks.”  He winked at his brothers.  “Now, ‘Miah, if we could speak really fast I need to get my shit from my office and get the hell out of here.  My patients pay quite a bit to see me.”  He pushed away from the table and Jeremiah was right on his heels.

James and Malachai exchanged a look.  “Was Jake playing coy?” James asked.

“Hell if I know, Jay”, Malachai said with a sigh.  “All I know is that if that was Jake acting, he’s gotten really good over the years.”

“That’s fucked up, ‘Chai.  Jake’s not the actor in the family.  That’s usually Marc.”

“I know.  If Jake’s playing head games, then we’re fucked.  You know that, right?”

“Oh yeah.  All of us are screwed.”

Malachai thought about that for a moment.  “But, Jake wouldn’t play head games… would he?”

----------------

Jake walked up the stairs and chuckled as he headed toward his office with Jeremiah on his heels.  “Do you hear those two down there speculating on whether or not I’m playing head games?”

Jeremiah laughed with him.  “Yeah, I hear them.  Messed up stuff right there.  So, what did you need to talk to me about?”

“I just wanted to let you know that I wasn’t talking to Marc when Malachai and James walked in.”

“Who were you talking to?”

Jake laughed.  “Dad.  I have talked to Marc and he said that Connie is still ok with the wedding being on her, Matt, and Dad’s birthday if that’s what the plan still is.  But Dad called and told me what he and Mom were planning on doing in a couple of weeks and he said that he didn’t want me to tell them that he was the person I was talking to but to make it known that he meant what he said when he talked to them last night.  And James is probably going to get a bit of an ass chewing over being a snitching bitch.”

“Ooh, that’s going to be EPIC.  But, what if they actually do like the tribute?”

“Then they like it and James still gets a lecture for being a snitch, I guess.  I don’t pretend to know what our father thinks, Jeremiah.  He’s supposed to be confusing.  He’s Dad.”

Jeremiah shrugged.  “Very true.  Dad’s not supposed to make sense to us much like we’re not supposed to make sense to our kids.”

“Exactly.  Now, I know you have a class to get to and I have appointments to get to.”

“Have fun with those.”

“Same to you.  Any late classes?”

“Not this semester.  I told them that I couldn’t do night classes.  I work until 5 every day, then I bring my ass home.”

“Nice.  Well, I’ll see you when I get home.  I have appointments to get to.”

“Any interesting cases?”

“Everything from migraines to Parkinson’s, to Paget’s , to ALS.”

“Lou Gehrig’s Disease?  Fun.  Any of your old TBI patients?”

“A few.”

“Have fun.”

“You too.  What classes do you have?”

“Theology and History.  There’s a new Philosophy teacher on campus and they want her to take the brunt of the philosophy classes.  Fine by me.  I have one philosophy class every Tuesday and Thursday.  I’m fine with that.”

“Well, enjoy talking about the differences between Monotheism and Polytheism with college students.”

“And you have fun reading MRI and CT results all day as you try to figure out what’s going in with the idiots that thing a simple migraine means terminal brain cancer.”  They toasted with their travel mugs and went their separate ways.  Jake grabbed briefcase, his coat, and his white lab coat and headed out the door.  Jeremiah headed down the stairs and went back into the kitchen.  “Are you two sticking around for a little while?  If so, I’m sure that there are things that need to be done as far as yard work goes.  Jake and I would sure appreciate it if you guys could help out with that.”

“What all needs to be done?” Malachai asked.

“Just basic yard maintenance stuff.  Mom’s rose bush needs to be trimmed back, I think there’s a hay shipment at the feed store that needs to be picked up for Ranger, if you could do that for me I would sincerely appreciate it.”

“Does he need oats and stuff?” James asked.

“No.  He has plenty of oats and stuff like that.  We just need hay for him.”

“No problem”, Malachai said.  “We’ll take my truck and head over that way.”

“This house is becoming a regular ranch, I swear”, Jeremiah said as he put his satchel over his shoulder,  “Well, I’m gone.  I’ll see you later.”

---------------

On the other side of town, Miranda was talking with Callan about the wedding.  “It’s coming so close.  I can’t believe in two months, we’re going to be husband and wife.”

Callan chuckled.  “Me neither.”  A look crossed his face like he’d suddenly remembered something.  “OH!  I wanted to show you.”  He turned so that his shoulder was toward the camera on the iPad.  “Look what just happened.”

She looked at his sleeve and counted the stripes.  “Did you get your promotion?”

“Yep.  I’m officially a Gunny.  I’m now Gunnery Sergeant Callan Maguire.  You’re marrying an NCO.”

She giggled happily.  “I’m so proud of you.  You’re just so awesome.”

He smiled that same breathtaking smile that won her heart.  “Thank you, baby.”

“So, do the guys in your unit know about the baby?”

“They do.  And they’ve started a baby pool based on all of the information I’ve given them.  The know it’s a girl, and the estimated weight as of the last checkup, and that’s about it.”

“What’s the total so far?”

“A couple thousand.  They’re all putting a couple hundred on the pool.”

“What are some of the guesses?”

“Oh Lord, there’s 7lbs. 5oz, 20 inches.  One of the girls in the unit thinks that little Grace is going to be a whopping 8lbs and some change.”

“Goodness.  I’m not that big and I have gained that much weight.”

“Mind you, the woman is an only child of an only child.  She has not kids, siblings, or cousins.  She’s taking a shot in the dark.”

“So, it’s a huge gamble for all of them?”

“Yeah.  I mean, you’re 6 ½ months pregnant, Miranda and they’ve already started doing the pool.  They’re going to have to wait on my call, because the base CO is giving me leave until after the baby is born so that I can get used to being a Dad and I can help you pack and tend to our little angel.  From there, a moving company will ship all of our stuff to Japan and you’ll stay close by with Gracie until they ship us off.  Probably in one horrible extended stay hotels until they finally ship me off.  It will only be a couple of days and I’ll be there with you, so that’s a plus.”

“So we’ll get married and we’ll kinda sorta have a honeymoon.  Once Grace is born we’ll take care of her until she’s cleared by a pediatrician to travel.  We’ll go to San Diego so that you can check in and Grace and I can have Military ID’s made and they tell you to ship the hell out.”

He nodded.  “Pretty much.  From there it’s Goodbye USA, Hello Japan.  Little Miss Grace is going to spend the first year of her life in Japan eating sushi when they’ll let us feed her solid food.”

She laughed.  “I can’t wait to have real sushi.  There are a lot of things I would love to try but it only feels right if I can eat the real thing.”

“Are we going to have a rehearsal dinner?”

“Of course.  My father insists on it.  ‘I’m paying for it and I say we’re having a rehearsal’, he said when I talked to him about it.”

“Not a surprise.  I can live with that, though.”  He looked over his shoulder at the clock on the wall.  “I had better go.  I’ve got to get out to the range here in a little bit.”

“The bomb range?”

“Yeah.  I’ve got some training to do.”

“Are you teaching or learning?”

“Teaching my successor.  Once the Staff Sergeant was promoted a Sergeant has to be promoted to fill the gap.”

“Oh.  I see.  The promotion board has been busy then, huh?”

“Yeah, they have.  Well, I’ve gotta go to chow and get ready to go out to the range.  I love you, Miranda.”

“I love you too, Callan.  Be careful.”

“I will.  Goodbye, beautiful.  I call you later.”

“Ok.  Bye.”  She sighed and smiled.  She had things she had to do that day too.  She and her mother were going to deal with the menu for the reception dinner as well as go into Denver so that she could do another fitting for her dress.  She loved the dress she was wearing for her wedding.  It wasn’t exactly her dream dress, but she had never imagined getting married while she was pregnant- let alone when she was getting ready to deliver at any time.  She knew that getting married just a few weeks before she was supposed to deliver her baby was risky.  She wouldn’t be able to consummate her marriage to her husband until after the baby was born unless she was really careful.  She was not looking forward to that but she knew that Callan would be careful with her for the sake of the baby and they would be making the trip back from San Diego with her grandparents on the train rather than in a car.  And Miranda knew that flying was out of the question.

She slipped into her house shoes- because they were the only ones that fit her other than her flip flops and it was too cold out for those- and carefully went down the stairs to see what he mother was doing.  “Hey Mama.”

“Hey Miranda, baby.  How are you feeling today?”

“Good.  Talked to Callan.  I’ll update you on the way to Denver.”  She picked up a piece of turkey sausage and took a bite.

“Well, we’ll get a bite to eat and we’ll head out.  Dad and Uncle Jay are doing some yard work for Uncle Jake while he’s at work.”

“Nice.”

“You look like you’re so excited.  I’ve never seen you so happy, baby girl.”

“I am excited and happy.  I’m in love, Mama.  How else am I supposed to look?”

---------------

Ira Draiman was sitting in his room doing his class work for his different psychology classes.  The material in the book was boring as hell but the other reading usually fascinated him.  He would lie awake for hours at night as he read over the different ‘true crime’ novels for his Criminal Psychology class.  The mental states of the Serial killers was mesmerizing to say the very least.

Finally, there came a point where he needed to walk away.  He felt like his eyes were trying to cross as he read over what amounted to the biography of one of the country’s first female serial killers post- Occupation.  The State of Texas had no problem whatsoever putting Tracy Gail Stevens to death after she decided to go on a soldier killing spree.  She may have been traumatized from watching her parents die at the hands of the Utopian Army, but that was no excuse.  He’d heard the stories of the things that his Dad experienced after his Grampa’s famous ‘Never Again’ Speech.  Stevens going on a rampage and killing every soldier she found in a uniform in Beaumont, Texas was nonsense.  The Utopian Army had fallen.  There was nothing left of them after the Resistance Army had gotten finished with them.

He trotted down the stairs to and headed into the kitchen to see two of his uncles in the back yard.  He poked his head out of the door.  “Hey Uncle James, Uncle Malachai,  what are you two up to?”

“Just doing your Dad and Uncle ‘Miah a favor by doing a little bit of yard work”, Malachai called back.

“Ah.  I see.  Anything I can do to help?”

“Yeah, get us some water out of the fridge because we’re taking a break”, James called back as they headed for the stairs to the patio.

Ira got his uncles each a bottle of water from the fridge and set them on the table as they walked in.  They picked up the bottles and took good long drinks from them.  “AH!” Malachai said.  “Perfect.  Liquid perfection.”  He looked at Ira.  “So, what are you up to today, nephew?”

“Doing some reading for class.”

“What are you reading?” James asked.

“Do either of you remember a case about a female serial killer from Texas just after the Occupation ended?”

“I do”, Malachai said.  “Tracy Stevens, I think it was.  Texas had no problem putting a needle in that arm for killing all of those soldiers.”

“I’m reading her biography for my Criminal Psychology class.”

“Fun”, James said.  “So you finally settled in a major?”

“Yeah.  I’m going to be a psychologist.  I got my Associates’ in Computer Programming before Hanukkah last year.  Now, I’m going to start working toward my own PhD.”

“Are you going to specialize?”

“Behavioral Psychology is my focus.  I’m really looking forward toward working on this.  It may take me a couple of years to get through it all, but I’m determined to have my Doctorate.  I estimate a year for my Masters’ thesis and a year to a year and a half for my Doctoral dissertation.”

“You have it all planned out, don’t you?” James chuckled.

“Oh, far from it, Uncle James.  I wish I had my life outlined like Hunter does.  He knows he wants to be a JAG attorney so he’s busting his hump in laws school and he’s doing ROTC in college on the guarantee of being a Captain in the Marine Corps or the Army and a lieutenant in the Navy when he graduates.  Of course, he’ll need trial experience but that’s what life is for.  After retiring from the military, he’s going to take his turn at the reins of Intoxication Records.  Hunter knows what he wants to do.  I don’t.  I’m just trying to do me.”

His uncles nodded.  “You’re a very insightful young man, Ira”, Malachai said.  “I’m glad that you’re so blunt about what’s going through your head.”

“It’s a gift”, he shrugged with a chuckle.  “I have my moments where I’m all profound and shit and I think I scare the hell out of my Dad when I get like that.  Then I have my moments where I just don’t want to care so I don’t.  I know it seems like I don’t pay attention, but I’m really taking mental notes.”

“You must have a photographic memory”, James said.

“It’s a near photographic memory.  It’s a good thing I’m a visual learner.”

“Yeah.  So, when did they test your learning style?”

“High school so that the teacher could make a seating chart in my tech class.”

“Nice.  So, you’re a visual learner?”

“Visual- tactile.  Predominantly visual though, yes.”

Malachai shook his head.  “Wow.  I don’t even remember what my learning style is.”

“Me neither and I’ve graduated more recently than you have”, James chuckled.

“Don’t remind me.”

“As fascinating as I’m sure this is going to get, unless there’s something I can do to help you guys with the favor you’re doing my Dad and Uncle ‘Miah, I really need to get back upstairs to my room to  do some more reading so that I can start my paper on the book.”

“Well, don’t let us keep you, nephew.  Go read.”

Ira nodded quaintly to both of his uncles before grabbing a bottle of water and a snack and heading back to his book.  He wanted to learn more about the depraved woman that killed 7 soldiers before she was caught.  What was her method?  How much of what she did started as pre- meditation?  Were there any loop holes in defense’s case that he needed to bring to light and is that evidence enough to possibly warrant a second trial if the evil woman hadn’t already been put to death.  There was so much to learn.  He just wondered if anything he found would change anyone’s mind.  It was doubtful, but he was more than willing to try.