James’s Lamborghini pulled into the drive at homestead and stopped to let out two passengers. “Tell your Dad that I’ll be back here shortly. I’ve got to go get the rest of mine and your Aunts car”, James told one of the people he was dropping off.
“I will”, the green eyes woman said. “We’ll see you soon, Uncle Jay.” James winked at the girl and took off once they were both clear. She looked at her companion. “Are you ready to meet the family?”
“I was born ready, love”, the man with her said with a thick Australian accent. “Let’s get in there so that I can get the third degree from your Dad.”
She smiled and took his hand. “Let’s go get this done.” She started them toward the house and went in without announcing herself. It wasn’t like she didn’t live there most of the time. “Knock, knock. I’m home!!” she called.
Her younger sister looked up from where she was sitting on the couch. “MIRI!” she shouted. “You’re home!”
“Hey Sammi!” she said with a smile. “Yeah I’m finally home. We’re getting ready to go to California to see Miranda get married. It’s time to come home and get ready for that. Hell, I’m in the wedding party. Thankfully Miranda has been very up front with me about what she expected from the bridesmaid’s dresses that I think I managed to nail down the vision with all of the trips back and forth to the bridal shop.”
“Do you know who’s escorting you?”
“One of Callan’s Marine buddies. I’m sure that I’ll meet him at the rehearsal.”
They hugged. “I’m so happy you’re finally home. I have someone to gossip with other than Jazz.” She looked over her sister’s shoulder. “Hi there”, she said to the person accompanying her older sister. “Who are you?”
“You must be Samantha. I’m Jax.”
Samantha looked at her sister. “Jax the Aussie?”
“Yeah. He’s a great guy and I know about the drama that went down when Aunt Maddie brought home a guy unannounced. I know that he’s going to get hell, but he can take it. Now where is Dad and where are our grandparents?”
“Gramma and Grampa are resting upstairs after taking a soak in the hot tub. And I have a story to tell you all about that too. Mom and Dad are in town getting something for dinner and Ira has pretty much been keeping himself locked in his room unless it’s meal time because he’s trying to get all of the necessary work to get his Associate’s out of the way this semester and then go back to Loyola for the next to. I think getting his PhD is still up in the air thought.” She shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“So, what is Seth up to?” Miri asked, sitting on the couch next to her sister.
“Seth is in so much trouble right now he’ll be lucky if he sees daylight again anytime soon.”
Miri looked over at Jax. “Have a seat, hon. The suspense is going to have to hold on for a little while longer.” Once he was sitting, she looked back to her sister. “Ok. So what did Seth do that has him in such hot water that he won’t be seeing the light of day for a while?”
“This morning he and Matt went to pick up Gramma and Grampa from the cottage and Seth decided to drive like a moron. Took off too hard and jarred Gramma’s back. Got his ass chewed my Grampa and spit out by Dad, then guilt tripped by Gramma. I’m just waiting to see for Mom to tear into him to make it all even and shit.”
“WHAT?! Mom hasn’t gotten him yet?”
Sammi shook her head. “Nope.”
“What did Dad give him to do as punishment?”
“He had to empty and scrub the pool and hot tub; he’s got to do yard work and whatever else Dad can think of and he has to get it all done before we all leave for the wedding. Dad was pissed when he came in behind Seth this morning. Then Uncle ‘Miah had to carry Gramma in. Grampa came in behind them and he was livid. After that, no one saw him for hours. Food was taken up to them and Dad was up and down keeping Gramma knocked out.”
“Ooh. Not good.”
“No. Seth fucked up.”
“Sure did. Did Matt get in trouble too?”
“Nope. Not that I know of. But, you know Matt wouldn’t get behind something like that.”
“True.” She looked at Seth who had just come on from shed. “You ok baby bro?”
“I’ll be fine, Miri. I earned this. This is only fair, ya know?”
---------------
As Miri and Samantha sat and got caught up in the living room Jake and Delilah came in through the garage after coming in from town. "Jake, I'm telling you that what I picked up at the store will help ease Mom's pain", Delilah said as they walked in.
"You're sure?"
"Jacob, how long have I been doing what I do?"
He chuckled. "I know. I just worry about Mom."
"You need to relax."
"I know. I'm trying. I wonder, do you think I'll relax once our children start having children of their own?"
"Only time will tell Jake."
"True. I think I'm going to retire early. I mean, we have plenty saved up that we could both retire a few times over. Not to mention every all of the money I have left from school. I think Dad set the money anticipating that I would spend 8 years in med school rather than 5."
"Sounds like something Dad would do." They paused their conversation and listened. "Miri's home and it sounds like she brought company", she said.
Jake chuckled with a sigh. "I guess I need to have a talk with our daughter about surprise visitors." In the same breath, he called his oldest child. "Miriam!"
It was a few moments she was in the kitchen. "Hey Daddy", she said with smile, hugging her father for the first time since December when she had come home for Hanukkah. "What's up?"
"Who did you bring home with you and why?" Jake asked his daughter as she greeted her mother.
"He's my boyfriend Dad. His name is Jax. I asked him to be my plus one for the wedding."
"Does he know that you're in the wedding party?"
“Yes.”
“Did you plan on letting us know that you were bringing a guy home with you? You know how I feel about surprises of this magnitude.”
“Yes Daddy, I know and I’m sorry. It was kinda spur of the moment. We were out on a date when I told him that I was about to leave Chicago for about a week so that I could go to my cousin’s wedding. We talked about how much he would miss me then I remembered that Miranda put on the invitations that I could bring an extra person.”
“So you asked him to a family event on a whim and he said yes? Does he know the clout your last name carries?”
“Yes. He’s actually researched us all rather thoroughly. He knows about you, Mom, all of my aunts and uncles, and Gramma and Grampa.”
“Is he intimidated?”
“Not in the least. He thinks it’s awesome that I come from such historic notables. Those are his words by the way.”
“You realize he’s going to meet your grandparents while he’s here, right?”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way. I want him to meet Gramma and Grampa before they die.”
Jake nodded. “Has he ever raised a hand to you?”
“Please Dad. Do you really think I would have brought him home with me if I thought he was violent like that? Anyway, he told me that it his Dad ever heard of something like that going down, and I quote, ‘he’d kick my ass right and proper’. He’s never hurt me”, she replied. In the back of her mind she added, unless I asked him too.
“Ok. Let Mom and me get dinner on and then we’ll come out and meet him. While we talk to him, go greet your grandparents.”
She laughed. “Ok Dad. I’ll be sure to tell Gramma and Grampa hi and let them know about Jax while I’m at it.”
“Good. We’re glad you’re home baby.”
“I’m glad I’m home too. I heard about what Seth did. He must have a death wish.”
“He does”, her mother said. “But that’s being taken care of.”
“Ok. Oh, Uncle Jay asked me to tell you that he’ll be back. He had to go pick up the rest of his clan and change vehicles. The car was a little cramped on the way back from Denver.”
“Really? Why?”
“Hunter brought home a girl that he met at Harvard. Sweet girl named Candace.”
“Fun. So James’s little portion of the Draiman family will be full and joining us tonight as well. I’ll let Gramma and Grampa know. Now, go spend a little time with your man and we’ll be right out.”
---------------
Jake finally emerged from the kitchen to greet his guest. “Hello. It’s nice to meet you”, he said cordially. “I’m Miri’s father, Jacob Draiman.” He extended his hand toward the young man sitting next to his daughter.
The young man stood and took the extended hand. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Doctor”, he said in a thick Australian accent. “The name’s Jax; Jax Tompkins.”
“Jax? Is that short for something?”
“Yes sir. Short for Jackson. My folks had a sense of humor, I swear it.”
Jake laughed. “Nice. Mine didn’t.”
“Well I would imagine not. Your Dad’s creativity went into making music. I tell ya, my parents were Australia’s biggest Disturbed fans. Then Reckless Disregard started touring down there and we were at all of those shows too. My father nearly cried when Disturbed retired. He actually did cry when Dan, Mike, and John each passed. He’s probably going to make an ass of himself when your Dad passes away.”
Jake chuckled. “My Dad’s too damn stubborn to die”, he said with a laugh.
“I believe it. I wouldn’t have the opportunity to meet him on this trip, would I? I’d love to meet him so that I can rub that in my Dad’s face.”
“He and my mother should be down soon. As a matter of fact”, he said and looked at Miri, “Miriam, go check on your grandparents for me would you?”
“You got it, Daddy.” She stood and headed for the stairs.
While Miri was gone, Jake kept the conversation going. “So Jax, tell me about your family. Where are you from?”
“Well, obviously I’m an Aussie. My Dad’s Australian and my mum’s an American. She’s actually from New York. I spent a lot of time back and forth, but most of my time was in Australia.”
“Were you born there, seeing as you continent hopped a lot?”
“Actually no. I was born at Loyola Medical. My Mom was there with family for a little while and that was the end.”
“Born in my Dad’s hometown. Kudos to you on that one.”
“Thank ya.”
“How did you and Miri meet?”
“Medical Terminology class. She was taking it because it’s required for veterinary school and I was taking it because it’s required for medical school.”
“Med School? You’re studying to be a doctor?”
“Yes sir. Loyola is one of the best medical schools in the country.”
“That it is. I attended Johns- Hopkins for my Neurology board, but I received my obstetrics and my emergency medical boards through Loyola Med.”
“So you know what I’m talking about.”
“I most certainly do.” He sighed. “I’m sorry it’s taking my wife so long to join us. She’s trying to cook dinner for 41 with only my brother Jeremiah’s wife to help her for the moment.”
“I understand. It’s not like you didn’t have a total surprise with my popping up on you like this. And Hunter brought a girl home. I’m almost afraid to think of what it’s like to have holiday meals around here. Your family, I’m sure is huge. Miri says she has 23 cousins and a second cousin on the way.”
“Yep. I’m the second boy in a family of ten; most of us are multiples.”
“Your parents must have been barking mad when they had you lot. Ten kids? Please tell me that if Miri and I get married that we’re not expected to meet those expectations.”
Jake laughed. He couldn’t help it. “No. If you only want to have one that is perfectly fine by me. As long as it’s healthy and you love that child and my daughter with every bit of what you are then I’m perfectly fine with one.”
“Good. I mean, I love kids and I would love to have a few, but ten is far too many for me. I’m the oldest of six myself. Ten is just too many.”
“I totally understand. I have four myself. My brother Jeremiah has two, my sister Maddie has two, my sister Meagan has 1 and my sister Jessi has one. None of us had ten. How many would your ideal number be?”
“Four. I would LOVE to have two of each.”
“Two little girls to over protect and two boys to teach the way of the world?”
“Something like that.”
“I understand that. I certainly do.”
---------------
Jax was introduced to David and Brie once they made their way down the stairs for supper that night. They were shocked to see that Miri had brought someone home with her but they were happy for her all at the same time.
When the rest of Miri’s cousins that were in the area arrived, everyone made their ways downstairs to the game room to leave the living room free for their parents and grandparents. Anyway, Miri’s brothers had some things that they wanted to talk to Jax about in private- like the repercussions of laying a hand on their sister in anger. He politely explained that he’d take the ass kicking because he’d have to get one from his father at the same time. That put Ira and Seth’s minds both to ease.
At dinner, Hunter introduced everyone to his girlfriend Candace. Everyone called her Candy. She was as sweet as her name and then some. David even joked that he had a toothache from how sweet she was. She smiled at her boyfriend’s grandfather and thanked him politely.
Finally the herd thinned out and everyone went home to finish getting ready for the wedding. They would all be flying out two days later. As everyone trickled off to bed, Jake was sitting in quiet turmoil. The only person that could look at him and know what he was thinking other than his parents was his wife. As they prepared for bed that night, she asked him what was going on. “I’m torn to be honest, love. I honestly don’t know what to think or say. I like the guy, I really do, but she’s my princess. Do I really have to let her fall in love with this guy and marry him?” he called from the bathroom as he shaved before bed. He hated shaving during the day.
Delilah laughed softly as she laid in their bed and watched him. “Jakey, come on. I know she’s you’re Princess and all that, but are you really going to give her the same problems that your Dad gave Maddie when she got married?”
“Yes by God!” he laughed as he knocked the hair out of this razor blades. “I don’t know why it’s such a big deal, Lilah baby, but it is.”
“I’ll tell you why it’s such a big deal, Jake, but you won’t like it.”
“I already don’t. Go on ahead.”
“It’s such a big deal for you because you still see that little baby in the incubator that you fell asleep holding in the NICU. You still see that curly haired green eyed girl that would pester you in the mornings with animal facts that no matter how much they drove you nuts, you couldn’t tell her that you didn’t want to hear them anymore because she was your little girl. You still see the little science whiz that was bringing home blue ribbons and gold medals for her science experiments. You still look at her and see the 10 year old girl that brought you a wooden box that contained human ashes sitting with the police telling them everything that had happened that day and seeing her heartbreak when you told her that they weren’t going to school the next morning. You watched her grow up and blossom into a beautiful young woman. You’ve intimidated every boy that’s come here thinking that they were going to take your baby anywhere without a good talking to first and threatening them that if they hurt her their bodies would never be found. You even did that to her prom dates. Now she’s young and starting to fall in love and though you’re happy to see her happy, you’re terrified that if you let her get married to this strange young Aussie, you’ll lose your little girl. Am I close?”
As she spoke, he kept shaving and listened to everything she said. “As much as I hate to admit it, you’ve pretty much built a damn birdhouse with as many nails as you’ve hit on the head.”
“Because I know you, Jake. You’re my sweet, intelligent, OCD Jakey. We’ve been married for over 20 years now. I think I know you better than you know yourself by now. Don’t you?”
He chuckled as he cleaned the remainder of the shaving cream off of his face and applied the aftershave lotion to his face. “It’s scary how well you know me. You know me as well as my mother knows my father.”
“You’re parents have been married for over 40 years. I would think that your parents know each other inside out by now. If not they’ve been living a lie for as long as they’ve been together. I swear, they breathe each other.”
“Same with us”, he said, climbing into bed next to her. “Being with you is like breathing. I live and breathe you.” He smiled the same crooked smile that she’d fallen for all those years before.
She kissed him softly. “Exactly. And I have a feeling that Miri may possibly have found her version of what we have, and what your parents have. You can’t deny her that opportunity, Jacob. You can’t deny her being with her true love. If you don’t let that boy propose to her when he asks for permission, they’ll run off and get married. Do you really want to be denied the chance to walk your princess down the aisle when she gets married because you wanted to be an ass and she decides that they’re going to run off to Vegas or something?”
He sighed. “I suppose not. I would like to be able to walk both of my daughters down the aisle when they get married. Hell, I’ll be disappointed if I don’t get that chance.”
“And if you deny Miri this when Jax comes to you and asks for permission to marry her, that’s exactly what will happen. You know it and I know it. You know how stubborn your daughter is, Jacob.”
“Yeah, as stubborn as her parents combined.”
“Exactly.” She sighed as she got comfortable. “I love you, Jake. I just don’t want you to make a decision that you might end up regretting.”
“That’s one of the things you do, baby. You keep me from making the stupid decisions that I’ll end up regretting and I never have to wonder, ‘What if?’.”
No comments:
Post a Comment