Chapter 67

The next day, Miranda and Callan had the entire day to themselves.  Brie and David insisted on having little Grace all day once they came in.  The adults spent the day passing her around, cooing and playing with the first baby in the family in ten years.

When it was his turn with the new baby, Jake sat in the same arm chair that he had sat in with most of his nieces and nephews and all of his kids and grinned from ear to ear.  “Hey Uncle Jake”, Eli said, “when you gonna hand over me niece?  I like to hold her today you know.”  He was teasing, of course, though Jake had been holding the little girl for quite some time.

Jake chuckled.  “When you have a set big enough to come over here and take her, Elijah Michael.  Until that time comes, you can wait your turn.  I’ve had to wait through your parents, Callan’s parents and your grandparents, and after I’m done Aunt Lilah wants to hold her for a little bit before going to the clinic for a client.”

“When are you going to let them come home so that I can fight with my brothers and sisters over who gets to hole her?” Isaiah asked.

“Probably tomorrow”, Jake said as he gave his new great- niece a bottle.  She was starting to get fussy like she needed to eat.  “When I hand Gracie off, I’m going to go check on Miranda.”  He paused.  “But before that happens I need to weigh this little angel and see if she’s gaining of losing.  I suppose after that and after Aunt Lilah holds her, one of you can if you take it up with your parents and grandparents.”

“That’s so not fair”, Kelsi said.  “You’re just this side of evil, Uncle Jake.”

“Uh… get over it?  I’m your uncle last time I checked and therefore I make the rules seeing as it is my house.”  He smiled down at the baby girl in his arms.  “Isn’t that right, little one?  This is Uncle Jake’s house and he makes all the rules.”  Once she was done with the bottle of breast milk she was drinking, Jake put her on his shoulder and burped her like he’d done with countless babies before.  “Come on Gracie; let’s get all of that gas up off our tummy.”

Miranda came out of the room to check on her newborn daughter and saw her uncle.  “You’re so cute, Uncle Jake.”

He chuckled.  “How do you figure?”

“I’ve heard the entire exchange out here.  My brothers and sisters giving you a hard time and that you would dismiss them then turn to a newborn for validation as if you know she’s going to agree with you is adorable.”

“If you say so Miranda”, he said right before hearing a belch in his ear.  “There you go.  You burp just like your mama did when she was your size.”  He pulled her away from his shoulder and smiled at her.  “And looking at you make me SOOO jealous of your Grampa Malachai.  I can’t wait to be a grandpa myself one of these days.”  He looked over at Miri.  “You still shouldn’t rush it though.  I’ll relax on the ‘not until I’m 50’ rule but don’t be in a big hurry.”

Miri laughed.  “Believe me Daddy; I’m in no big hurry.  I want to be wearing a wedding band.”  She looked at Jax and winked.  “Got that?” she joked.

Jax just laughed.  “Your wish; my command.”

Jake just shook his head as Grace started fussing again.  “Here Miranda.  Take a seat and feed your daughter while I go upstairs and check on your grandparents.”

“Are Gramma and Grampa alright?” she asked as she took the baby from her uncle so that he could stand.

“Gramma’s back was bothering her a little while ago so they went to go lie down.  They’re fine.  Gramma just needed to stretch out and now that their kids are all grown Grampa is all about taking care of Gramma.”  He stood and felt his back locking up and the knee he blew out in high school popped audibly.  He grimaced in pain and kept headed up the stairs, passing Delilah on the stairs.  “Baby, we need to talk after you get home from the clinic.”

“About?” she asked.

“I’ll tell you then.  It pertains to a couple of things.  I’m actually about to run off everyone that doesn’t live here and isn’t here because their daughter/sister just had a baby.”

“Feel free.  There are too many people here.  When you get accustomed to having a certain level of peace, you like to maintain it.  Not that I don’t enjoy having Miranda, Callan, and Grace here but the additional people need to leave.”

“Exactly.”  He kissed her cheek quickly.  “Go on to work.  I know you want to see Grace, but Miranda is feeding her and until I manage to run Malachai and crew off you having the chance to see her is slim unless decreed by Mom and Dad, or Miranda and Callan.”

She nodded.  “I understand.  Malachai’s kids are aunts and uncles now.  We can let them have their time with the baby before I get mine.  Now, if it were Miri or Ira that had just become a parent that would be a totally different story.  I would wait for no one but Mom and Dad.  I would even take the baby from you.”

“I bet you would”, he laughed.

She leaned in and kissed him.  “You go check on Mom and Dad.  I’m going to go to work.  I’ll be back in a couple of hours.”

He smiled.  “Sounds like a plan.  By then I should have everyone run out of the house so that we can have a quiet conversation without having to hide in one of the offices.”

“I love you, Jakey.”

“I love you too, Lilah.  Now get out of here before you’re late.”

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

“What did you see last night that had you crying?” David asked Brie as they rested in one of the guest rooms.

“Matt”, she said with a heavy heart.  “He was checking up on me, letting me know that the time is creeping for us.”

“Really?  What else did he say?”

“That time moved differently on the other side.  Oh, did you know that at his last doctor’s appointment before he died his doctor told him that his entire chest cavity was full of cancer, even his ribs and sternum?”

David looked shocked.  “I had no idea.  Did he tell you that?”

“Yeah, last night when he visited me.”  She sighed.  “I wish he would have told us.  There may not have been anything that we could have done, but I would have still liked to know.”

“I’m sure he and Jen had their reasons for not telling us.”

“Jen didn’t even know, David.”

He looked at her in shock.  “Are you serious?  Jennifer didn’t even know?  Wasn’t she at all of his appointments while they stayed with us?”

“She was, but according to what Matt said to me last night she wasn’t in the room at that last one.  I think Matt knew he was going to get bad news and he didn’t want it to hurt her.  He thought he was protecting us all by not telling us.  What kind of nonsense…”

“I seem to recall us not wanting to tell the kids the morning he died that he was dead until after the body had been removed from the house as a way to attempt to protect them.”

“That’s what I’m getting at David.  It didn’t work.  We still had to tell the kids because they all knew that something was up.  The only one that knew until we told them was the only one that was over the age of 18 at the time.”

Before David could think of a response, there was a knock at the door just before it opened.  “Topic on pause”, he whispered.

“I’m not interrupting anything, am I?” Jake asked.

“Not at all”, David said.  “What can we do for you, Jake?”

“Just checking on you, that’s all.  I wanted to see how Mom’s back was doing; how your knees are feeling.  Nothing too major.  That; and I wanted to get away from all of the noise down there.  I have too many people in my house.”

“Run them off then”, Brie said with a soft laugh.  “If you don’t want them here and they don’t have a reason to be there, tell them to get lost.”

“Oh, I plan on it after I check your back.”  He offered his mother a hand and helped her sit up so that he could check her out.  “Is it still bothering you?” he asked as he palpated her lower spine.

“Not really.  The muscles are still twitching every now and then, but that’s about it.”

He nodded.  “Is that pretty normal?”

“More so than you might think”, David said.  “There are times we’ll be relaxing and your mother will be lying on my chest, and I’ll feel the muscles twitching.  It doesn’t alarm either of us anymore.”

“Does it hurt when they twitch like that?” Jake asked.

“Nope.  Not anymore”, she said with a sigh.  “I’m afraid I’ve gotten used to it.”

He nodded and stood.  “Are you two feeling up to coming downstairs and getting something to eat?  I know you’re both getting to a point where you need to eat.”

“We’ll be down after you run everyone off that doesn’t have a reason to be here”, Brie said.  “We’ve been enjoying the peace and quiet up here.”

“I understand that.  I’m too old for this shit”, he said with a sigh.  “I’m actually considering retirement.”

“Really?” David said.  “Lost that fire?”

He shook his head.  “Not by a long shot.  But, I’ve got other issues coming up and I need to slow down and take care of me now.”

“Have you talked to Delilah about it?” David asked.

“Not yet.  I’m going to when she gets home from the clinic.  I’m not deciding anything without consulting her first.”

“Smart of you.  I remember when your mother and I had that conversation for her to retire.”

“I never would have decided to do it had Dad and I not talked about it first”, Brie added.  “It’s a big decision.  I’m sure that the two of you will come to the decision that’s best for the two of you and your family.”

He smiled genuinely for the first time that day.  “Thanks Mom and Dad.  I’m glad that you two have so much faith in me.”

“Of course we do, Jacob.  We have faith in all of you, as well as your children.  You know what’s best for you and for your family”, David said.  “We know you’ll make the right decision.”

“Now, why don’t you go run everyone off and let us stretch and more around a little bit before we come down to eat?” Brie said with a smile.

Jake chuckled and gave his mother a half salute.  “Aye ma’am”, he said as he walked toward the door.  “Thanks for the impromptu chat.  I kinda needed it.”

“You’re welcome Jacob.  Now scram”, his father said with a laugh.

He couldn’t help but join in as he left the room, replying, “Scramming.”

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

Eli was finally getting to hold his new niece when Jake came down the stairs.  He looked from Eli to Miranda and Callan.  “Where is everyone?” he asked

“Aunt Meagan and Aunt Jordan went into town for something then they’re going back to Jordan’s”, Eli said, his eyes never leaving the little angel in his arms.  “Mom and Dad had to take Jenni to her art class thing and they’ll be back for the other 2/3 of the trips, and Isaiah and Chelsea had to go back to the house to start packing to go back to New York.  Isaiah has to get back for classes and Chelsea has some auditions that she needs to get to.  She’s auditioning for the lead in Peter Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty as well a ballet adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Shakespeare.”

Jake chuckled.  “Ah yes, ‘If we shadows have offended, think but this and all is mended, That you have but slumbered here, while these visions did appear.’  Fantastic piece.  I loved reading Shakespeare in school- both high school and college.”

Eli nodded in agreement.  “Oh yeah, Classical Lit.  I loved that class, though I have to admit when we hit Shakespeare I was more one for the comedies than the tragedies.”

“Same here.  Not a big fan of the tragedies, other than Hamlet and Macbeth.  My favorite Shakespeare of all time has to be Much Ado About Nothing.”

“Good one.”

Jake took a deep breath and sighed.  “Where is Uncle ‘Miah?”

“His place out back”, Callan said.  “He said something about helping Aunt Jona make some of her herbal concoctions for the clinic to sell in general.  She also has a few requests from clients that she needs to fill.”

Jake nodded.  “Cool.  If the house starts filling with unnecessary people again, let me know and I’ll run them off.  Miranda needs peace and quiet so that she can recover from having a baby and Gramma and Grampa just want peace and quiet.”

They all nodded.  “We’ll let you know, Uncle Jake”, Miranda said.  “I don’t want a lot of people around right now.”

“Ok.  And so there won’t be.”

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

Once David and Brie came down, Jake started making lunch for those that were there.  While he was doing that, he had Jax- who wanted to be a pediatrician- look Grace over to assess when she could go home with her parents so that both sets of grandparents could dote on her with no problems.  “Not that I don’t enjoy having Miranda here, but the sooner they go home the sooner I’ll have my house back”, he said to his parents after running his children off.

“This is very true”, David said with a nod.  “You just need to tap into that amazing patience you have.”

“I’m afraid my patience is running a little thin today.”

Jax came in.  “I looked the baby over; she should be just fine to go home tomorrow.”

Jake nodded.  “Thanks Jax.  I’m sending Miranda home tomorrow too.  She’s getting a shower now.”

“I don’t blame her.  I’d probably feel disgusting after all that she did yesterday too.”

“Just wait until it Miri”, David said.

“Oh we’ve already had a chat about that one”, Jax laughed.  “She’s determined that she’s not having a home birth unless there’s NO OTHER WAY.  I really can’t argue.  It’s her body.”

Brie nodded slowly.  “Good man.  I knew I liked you for a reason.”

“Are you sure it’s not the accent Mom?” Jake teased.

Brie rolled her eyes.  “Pretty sure.”

Jax grabbed a chip and one of the tea sandwiches that was sitting on the platter on the counter.  “I’m gonna head upstairs and do a little studying with Miri.  We’re testing each other on medical terms.  We’re going to try to test out of the class when we get back to Chicago so that we can move on to bigger and better things.  We’re both pretty bored with the class.”

“Having doctors in the family would do that to you, I would think”, Jake laughed.  “If you need help I’m down here.”

Jax and Delilah passed each other as he left the kitchen.  Delilah looked exhausted.  “I really hate that particular client”, she said shaking her head.  Brie looked a question at her and she clarified.  “One of my regular Body- Mind clients comes in with all kinds of mental issues linked to trauma as a child.  I’ve been working with her for a couple of years now once a month.  She’s not making any progress because she doesn’t want to get better and stop living with the trauma.  I know that the muscles hold on to trauma but if you don’t want to let it go then there’s nothing I can do.  I’m about to call her psychiatrist that there’s nothing I can do for her.  I’ve been trying and there’s nothing I can do.  She doesn’t want the help.”

Brie nodded.  “That’s the best thing you can do, dear.  If she doesn’t want to give it up then there’s nothing you can do.”

Delilah smiled.  “Thanks Mom.”  She looked at Jake.  “Everyone is gone.  Did you want to go somewhere private so that we can talk?”

Jake shook his head.  “Nah.  Mom and Dad know what I want to talk to you about.”  He had been leaning over the counter on his elbows.  He stood up straight and felt his back protest.  “Damn my spine”, he said under his breath.  “Anyway”, he looked at his wife, “I’ve been thinking recently that it’s about time I retire.  It’s been 23 years that I’ve been practicing medicine.  I’ve done it all and then some.”

“What brought this up?” she asked.  She would support him no matter what his decision; he knew that.  She just wanted to know what had caused him to start thinking retirement.

“My back issues.  You and I both know that even though Jona’s been stuffing foods high in natural sodium down mine and Jeremiah’s throats, my issues are far too advanced for it to make too much of a difference.  I’m going to have to have surgery.  I’d rather not be worrying about a medical practice when that happens.  That and my knees are acting up.  I may need a knee replacement.  It’s just that time.”

She nodded.  “I understand that.”  She took a deep breath and sighed.  “Jakey if that’s what you feel is best for you then do it.  You know that I’ll take care of you if that’s what needs to happen.  You and I have been saving so that we can retire early anyway.  I’m going to wait until the twins are out of school.  Samantha has been talking about learning to do what I do so that she can take over for me at the clinic.  If you feel it’s best for you to retire, then do it.  When were you thinking about doing this?”

“Beginning of the year.  I want to finish out the fiscal year.  It will give me time to decide which of the young med school graduates that works for me is worthy of becoming partner in practice.  No way in hell am I selling my half of the practice.  They can buy in under the stipulation that they don’t change the name.”

“I don’t blame you.  You and Tom worked hard to establish Draiman- Thibodaux Neurology.  There’s a certain standard of care that comes with hearing that name.  Changing it would change the expectation.”

“My point exactly.”  He glanced at his parents briefly, then back at his wife.  “We’ll talk about the other thing later.  For that, I really do want us to be alone.”

She nodded.  “Not a problem, my love.  We’ll talk some more later.  Right now, I need to go get changed and head back to town.  I’ve got a doctor’s appointment with that osteopath down the street from the clinic.”

“Set me up an appointment with him while you’re there.  The doctor I’ve been seeing is a moron.”

She nodded.  “You’ve got it.  What do you want to see him about?”

“My knee.  I blew it out in high school.  Tore my meniscus playing soccer; dislocated it, all kinds of stuff.  I want to see if he refers me to an orthopedist or what he suggests.”

“We remember when you blew out your knee”, David said.  “What’s going on?”

“I stood up to come check on you and Mom and Miranda and Eli heard it pop.  They didn’t say anything, but I know they heard it.  It’s been grinding and all that fun shit.  I just need to get it looked at and my asshole doctor is giving me the run around, thinking that because I’m a neurologist that I don’t know that he’s bull shitting me.”

“Have you tried any essential oil treatments?” Brie asked.

“I have.  They’re not really helping.  Jona’s been a big help, but I need to have a doctor look at it.  I honestly think that I’m going to need a knee replacement.  I’ve not always been kind to my knees.”

Delilah nodded.  “I’ll talk to him and see what he suggests until he can see you and while I’m there I’ll set up an appointment for you.”

“Thanks baby.  No wonder I love you”, he laughed.

“Yeah.  I keep you organized and on your toes.  And I love you too.  Now, if you’ll excuse me I’m going to go change so that I go to the doctor.  I’ll see you all in a little while.”  She kissed her husband before heading out of the kitchen to do what she needed to do.

Jake smiled to himself even though he wasn’t alone.  “I’m so glad she said yes 23 years ago.  I don’t know what I would have done the last several years if she hadn’t.”

“Yeah.  Neither do we”, his father said.  “Neither do we.”

Chapter 66

Callan and Miranda were up and down all night with Miranda. She had been looking forward to the sleepless nights she knew she was going to face once the baby was born. She was also thankful that she wasn't having to face them alone. After feeding Gracie and getting her settled back down to sleep, Callan and Miranda took the time to talk. They knew that getting much sleep was unlikely to happen that first night. "Is it everything you expected it to be?" she asked him.

"No. It's more", he said with a shake if his head. "I never thought it was possible to love another human being more than my own life, let alone two. Now I know it is because I have you and I have Gracie. The two of you are the lights of my life and I can't wait to have more when you're ready." He reached out and cupped her cheek with his hand as a smile spread across his lips. "I love you, Miranda. Thank you for this opportunity to be a part of your life as well as Grace's."

She reached up and trapped his hand against her cheek with her own. "I love you too, Callan. Thank you for your understanding about Gracie and being willing to be a part of her life. I don't know what I would have done had you not been."

"How could I not love a piece of you? Never mind that moron that fathered her. Gracie is my little girl and will be until the day I'm dead." His thumb stroked her cheek. Is there anything I can get for you, baby? I know you've got to be hungry."

"I'm famished. I guess see if anyone is still up and would be able to give you some sort of idea as to what's in the kitchen."

He nodded. "You just get some rest, baby, and let me take care of you." He stepped out of the room and went toward the living room, happening upon a very cozy Jake and Delilah. They were curled up on the couch watching a movie of some sort. He cleared his throat to let them know he was in the room. "Excuse me", he said politely.

They both turned and mutually looked over his shoulder. "Yeah Callan?" Jake said.

"Miranda and I are both kinda hungry. I was wondering if there was anything in the fridge that I could just warm up so that we can eat."

Delilah stood as Jake paused their movie. "Come on into the kitchen Callan. Let's see what we can find for you two.”  He followed her after she stretched and walked into the kitchen.  She pulled out some Swedish Meatballs that they had eaten a couple days before.  “This needs to be gotten out of the fridge before I have to feed it to the dogs.”

He studied it.  “Swedish Meatballs.”

She nodded.  “My kids all seems to like them and Miri’s boyfriend thought they were as good as they make them in Sweden”, she chuckled a little.  “But yeah, it’s good.  I just don’t keep leftover food in the fridge for longer than two or three days.  If you two will eat it, feel free.  If not, raid the fridge.  There are plenty of leftovers in there.”

Callan nodded and Delilah walked away.  He searched through the huge box for something for Miranda.  He was going to eat the meatballs.  He needed something for her.  He was sure that she was hungry but he was only guessing as to what to get her.  He decided on the leftover egg noodle dish- whatever it was- and hoped that she would eat it.  He had no idea what it was but if Aunt Lilah made it then it had to be good, right?

Once everything was warm he grabbed forks and headed back into the room after thanking Delilah for her help.  When Miranda smelled what he had with him she laughed.  “I smell Swedish Meatballs and Kugel”, she said.  “Please tell me that the Kugel is for me.”

“So that’s what the egg noodles were.  Kugel.  I need to get familiar with all of the different Jewish dishes you all eat.”

“Don’t waste your time.  I don’t even know them all and I grew up eating and cooking them.”

All Callan could do was laugh as he handed her the bowl and took a seat on the edge of the bed so that he could eat.

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

“I’ve decided that there is NO WAY IN HELL that I’m having any babies at home unless I can get an epidural somehow”, Miri laughed as she and Jax talked about what he could expect when they started their family.

“All from watching and helping Miranda as she had your new little cousin today?” Jax laughed.

“Oh yeah.  You’re insane if you think for half a second I’m having a baby at home unless there is NO other option.”

“Ok, so what if we’re in Austraila visiting my family and we’re in the middle of the Outback.  The closest hospital is four hours away and you’re dilated to 7cm?” he asked, offering a scenario where there was no turning back.

She rolled her eyes.  “On the off chance that we traveled to Austraila at the end of my second trimester and got stuck in the Outback where the nearest hospital is 4 hours away and I’m dilated that far, then you had better be prepared to play catch, Daddy, because I’m not going to have any choice at that point, am I?” she laughed.

He shrugged.  “I guess not”, he laughed.  He kissed her hair.  “It would be killer to deliver my child rather than let someone else do it.”

“My dad, though at the time he was only boarded as a neurologist, delivered Ira.”

“And since then, how many of your cousins has he caught?”

“Two that I know of.  But every time there’s a birth in the family and they have a home delivery here at homestead, he’s on standby.”

“Nice.  Well when we have kids I want to be the one to catch.”

“Aren’t you going to be a pediatrician though?”

“I can’t double board like your Dad?”

“My Dad is triple boarded.”

“As?”

“A neurologist, an obstetrician, and an ER doctor.”

“So I can double board as an obstetrician and a pediatrician and it won’t be a big deal.”

“Why don’t you add psychiatry to that and put Ira out of business?” she joked.

“Nah.  I can’t do that to Ira.  He’s pretty cool.  After you left me out there to be with Miranda, he tried to make me feel like I was part of the family.  He’s actually pretty awesome.”

“I’m glad that he was so cool.  I’ll have to find him a girlfriend when he comes back to school next semester.  Maybe one of our friends?”

“I don’t think any of your girlfriends want to date your little brother, no matter how handsome they may think he is.  Anyway, hasn’t he said that he’s trying to focus on school before getting involved with any sheila?”

“FINE”, she said, exasperated.  “I just hate how bitchy he’s getting.  From what I understand, he hasn’t gotten any since the road trip he took with Tony and Levi before they headed out to Chicago.”

“Miri, stop meddling in Ira’s business.  I’m sure that if he gets to a point where he just has to be with a woman that he will find one.  He’s not ugly.  Anyway, maybe he needs to find his soul mate like your parents and grandparents did.  Hell, even I found you.  I never saw myself finding a girl like you.  Now look at us.  My family is flying out to meet your family so your Dad can see what kind of people I come from before I’m truly allowed to propose.”

“So Dad has given you my hand?”

“Yes, but he asked that I wait for my family to meet your family before I pop the question.  So, until my family gets here, you’re safe from the sudden outburst of hopeless romance that I will have in store for you when I finally do pop the question.  After they’re here and they’ve met your Dad all bets are off.  I will hit you when you least expect it.”

She faked a shiver and stretched up to kiss him softly.  “Oh, I’m so scared”, she whispered against his lips.

“Is that a fact?”

“Absolutely.  I’m shaking in my house shoes.”  She pressed her lips against his in what was supposed to be a chaste, teasing kiss.  His arm constricted around her and held her a little closer to the side of his body as he savored that touch of her lips to his, his tongue gently probing to find its way in between hers.  Once her lips parted he rolled her onto her back, placing himself between her legs and supporting himself in a half push up. Her arms wrapped around his neck and her legs wound themselves around his waist.  He broke the kiss and dipped his head down to kiss and nibble along the side of her neck as the heels of her feel pushed at the waistband of the pants he was wearing.

She sighed and whispered in his ear, “I love you, Jackson Tompkins.”

“I love you, Miriam Draiman.  Are you sure this is what you want?”

“Yes.  Make love to me, Jax.  Please.”

He didn’t make her ask again.

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

“Brie”, she heard from behind her. 

She turned to see who it was.  She knew the voice but need to see his face to be certain it was her older brother.  “Mattie”, she said softly.  “Mattie, what are you doing here?  It’s not time, is it?”

Matt shook his head.  “No little sister.  I just had to see you.  We can’t wait to have you and David join us over here, Brie.  The day is near.”

“How long has it been over there?” she asked.

“I’ve only really been here for a few days”, he said, shaking his head.

“No you haven’t, Matt.  You’ve been dead for 30 years.”

“I know.  Time moves differently over here.  It’s slower, more deliberate.  Like all of creation is a hot Sunday afternoon in July and we’re all sitting on the front porch watching the day crawl by.  Though, I have to say, time has taken its toll on you, hasn’t it?  You’re still so beautiful baby sister, but physically you’re starting to break down.”

She nodded, a tear rolling down her cheek.  “Yeah.  It hurts so much to move Mattie.  I can’t feel my hands; I can barely move them some days.  And don’t get me started on my back.”

“How is David taking it?”

“He’s still taking care of me.  If I can’t grip the pan I’m trying to cook our breakfast in, he takes over.  ‘You’ve cooked so much for me over the years’, he says, ‘let me make it up to you and cook for you’.  I hate it, Matt.  I really do.”

“I know you do, Brie.  And he’ll never let you see how much pain he’s in.  He’ll never let it show because he’s got to be a man and be strong for you.  But, getting around is just as painful for him.  I’ll promise you that.  I remember when I was staying with y’all while I was sick.  Jen wanted me to use my damn wheelchair.  It hurt so damn much to walk around because of all the drugs they had given me.  The lung cancer had spread.  I don’t know if you know that.”

“No.  I didn’t.”  She shook her head.

He nodded.  “Yeah.  My last doctor’s appointment before I died they told me that my entire chest cavity was riddled with cancer.  Even my ribs; my own bones were full of tumors.  Eventually that’s what took me.”

She nodded.  “I wish you had told me.  I know there’s nothing I could have done about it, but it would have been nice to know.”

“Jen didn’t even know.  I didn’t want her in there with me when the doctor told me that if I take a breath that too deep I could puncture a lung and die.  I couldn’t live with seeing that horror on her face.  Hell, I could barely live with keeping it to myself.”

“I understand, I guess.”  She sighed.  “How much longer, Matt?  I can live with this pain anymore and I can’t live with knowing that David is suffering as he watches me suffer.”

“I can’t give you an exact date little sister.  You know better than that.  But, I’ll say a few more months at the outside.  You won’t make Thanksgiving.  Neither of you will.”

“When you all came to me over Hanukkah, Ira said that neither of us will have to live without the other.”

“You won’t.  I can’t give you anything more though, Brie.  You’ll have the time to enjoy your new great- granddaughter for a little while and even get to see her off when they get ready to leave you.  By the way, I’m glad that Miranda found herself a Marine.  Much better than that dick wad that fathered that adorable little girl.”

“Oh I completely agree.”  She sighed.  “Matt, tell me something.  Is there going to be any such thing as a moment’s peace once David and I cross over?”

Matthew Cartwright had to laugh as his little sister.  “Not a fucking chance.  And that guy Skyler, Jeremiah’s father in law?  Forget the Three Amigos.  You’re going to have to deal with the Four Amigos.  I think Skyler Mason will fit in JUST FINE in this little gang.”

She shook her head and rolled her eyes.  “I hope like hell that they have aspirin in heaven.”

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

The surroundings were unfamiliar.  He wasn’t sure where he was, but he knew that if he wasn’t standing in the Irish countryside he wasn’t dealing with his grandfather.

Instead, he heard a woman’s voice.  “Jacob”, she said softly.  He turned around a few times, finally spotting a woman the size of his mother with the same radiant smile.  “You look so like your father, my boy”, she said as she reached up and cupped his cheek.  Her hands were softy.  Not as soft as his mother’s, but close enough.

“Do I know you?” he asked.

“Who do you think I am, Jacob?”

“If I had to put money on it, I’d say you were my mother’s mother.”

“And you would be correct.  I’m your Grandmamma Bekah.  You partially named your oldest after me.”

He smiled.  “How are you, Grandmamma?”

“I’m well.  Not like I can get sick anymore”, she said, trying to make a joke.  When he didn’t laugh, she waved it away.  “You’re such a handsome young man.  I just can’t get over it”, she laughed.  “But, I’m not here to tell you how handsome you are.  I’m here to tell you that you’re ready.”

“I’m ready?”

“To lead your family.  To let your little Miri get married.  You’ve ready.  Now Jacob, you’re going to need to prepare yourself to possibly discover them.”

“Mom and Dad?”

His grandmother gave him a stern look.  “Do I need to get sarcastic with you, grandson?”

He chuckled.  “No ma’am.”

“Good.  Now, I’m not saying that it will be you because I know it’s random as to who travels to that nifty little house they call the cottage, but you need to be prepared.  You also need to prepared your sons and your nephews, as well your brother Jeremiah.  There is a possibility that any of you could happen upon them.”

“How much longer do they have?”

“Not much longer, I’m afraid.  I can’t give you specifics.  You know that.”

“Ballpark?”

“Before Thanksgiving.”

“That’s not a lot of help, Grandmamma.”

“Nothing I can do about that.  I’m giving you what I can.  You’re lucky that you’re even getting a warning.”

“Yes ma’am.  I’m sorry.”

“I love that your parents taught you to be so respectful.”

“Is it true that you told Mom that if you had been younger and hadn’t been with Granddad, you would have given her a run for her money over Dad?”

“Sure did.  And I’m still going to when they get over here.  Once you join us in eternity, you’ll get to watch me flirt endlessly with your father and embarrass the hell out of him.”

“Sounds like you’re anticipating that greatly.”

“Oh I am, my grandson.  I very much am.”

Chapter 65

Once Miranda was moved from the bathroom to one of the downstairs bedrooms, Callan cut the cord and went to the back porch to let everyone know what was going on.  He looked between both set of parents and to his wife’s grandfather.  “Mr. Draiman, sir, congratulations.  You’re officially a great- grandfather”, he said, grinning from ear to ear.

David sighed in relief.  “How long ago?” he asked after exhaling the breath he had been holding.

“Twenty minutes.  Gramma Brie held her all nasty and bloody while Aunt Kenna birthed the placenta.  I was in the room while Kenna weighed and measured her.”

“What are her stats?” Malachai asked.

“Well, I’m going to have to call the Colonel and let him know that he hit the nail on the head.  She’s 7lbs. 5oz, and 19 ¾ inches long.  He and Eli get to split the pot.”

Elliott Maguire chuckled.  “Eli is your brother in law?”

“Yeah.  The one I was standing with him and his boyfriend during the father-daughter dance.”

“When can we see her?” Mandy asked.

“She asked me to bring one person specifically then everyone else can come back.”  He looked at David.  “Great- grampa, would you like to hold your great- granddaughter before the grandparents get too grabby?”

David laughed and pushed himself to standing.  “Lead the way, Cal.  I’d love to.”

Callan looked at all four of his parents- birth and in laws.  “I’ll be out to get you all when Miranda gives the ok.”

“Don’t worry about it son”, Anessa Maguire said.  “We’ll be here.”

“Great grandparent trumps grandparent every day of the week”, Malachai said.  “Anyway, we never know how much longer my parents are going to be around.  They should be allowed to enjoy whatever they want with next to no bitching.”

Callan went into the house and took the 85 year old man to the bed room that Miranda was resting and tending to little Grace.  When they walked in, Miranda was burping the little angel.  She smiled when they walked into the room.  “Hey Grampa”, she said happily.  “You want to see your great-granddaughter?”

David grinned and walked around the bed to where Brie was sitting.  “You had better believe it.  I’ve been waiting for a decade for this moment.  Give me that baby.”  He held his arms out for the infant and pulled her into his chest once she was in his arms.  Gently, he caressed the blanket she was swaddled in and knew that she was wrapped in the blanket that he and his wife had bought for her over Hanukkah.  “Hello little Gracie”, he whispered as he relaxed into the rocking chair he was sitting in.  “You don’t know me, but I’m your great- grampa.  Now, you may not get to spend a lot of time with me but I want you to know that as long as there is still breath in my body, you are loved and adored by myself and your great- gramma.  You have been anticipated and are the first in what I’m sure will be a long succession of great-grandchildren.”  She made a little grunting noise and he smiled.  “You are such a beautiful little girl.  May you grow to be strong and do great things.  Great-gramma and I will be watching closely.”

Brie was leaning against his arm looking on.  “She’ll do just fine, Grampa”, she smiled.  “She’s destined for greatness in some way.  Much like her Mom, and her aunts and uncles, and their cousins.”  Her well-manicured finger caressed the cheek of the tiny child.  “But she needs to stay small as long as possible.  I’m sure that Mom and Dad would greatly appreciate that.”

Miranda laughed.  “That’s for sure.  I am in NO HURRY for her to start walking and talking.  I want to enjoy her being so small for a little while.”

Brie smiled.  “Aren’t you glad I told you to dig deep, Miranda?”

Miranda nodded.  “You were right, as usual.  I’m so glad that I did.”

Grace started to cry and David was quick to hand her off.  “She may be hungry again.”

“You don’t want to feed her, Grampa?”

David was quick to shake his head.  “I’ve done my share of that and then same.  I did all of that with all ten of my kids and all twenty-seven of my grandkids at some point.  I’m done.”

She looked at her grandmother.  “Gramma, what about you?”

“No dear.  I’m fine with just spoiling her.  Anyway, aren’t you breast feeding?” Brie asked.

Miranda nodded.  “Of course I am.  It more natural that way.”

“Then we will step out so that you can feed your daughter and the two of you can bond with your new baby.  Don’t forget that there are four very eager grandparents out here that would like to see the baby as soon as you’re ready.”

Miranda nodded as they walked from the room.  “I’m ready to go out to the cottage for the night and relax”, David whispered to his wife.

She nodded.  “Same here.  Let’s grab Jake and have him get someone to take us out to the cottage so that we can relax.  It’s been a very long day.  I’m hungry and I’m tired, and I want a hot bath.”

He smiled.  “Then let’s get Jake to get someone like you said and we’ll go eat, take a hot bath together, and relax for the night.”

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

The grandparents were finally allowed into the room where Miranda was resting with the new baby. When they came in Callan was tending to the little one while Miranda rested. His father smiled. "You're a natural at that Cal", he said as Callan gave the baby girl a bottle of freshly pumped milk.

Cal grinned. "Thanks Dad", he said, rocking back and forth in the rocking chair he'd claimed after Gramma and Grampa Draiman left and went to lie down.

The new grandmothers could hardly agree on who got to hold the little girl first and woke Miranda with their soft bickering. "Mama Anessa, Mother; what's the matter?" she asked as she woke.

"Which of us gets to hold her first?" Mandy asked.

Miranda looked at Callan. "I say your parents seeing as we're going to be staying with mine until we go to Japan."

He nodded. "I agree." He stood and held the tiny little girl in his arms. "If you wanna sit down, Mama, here's my chair." She took the offered chair and held her arms out for little Gracie, cooing softly as she rocked with her. She spoke very softly and told the little girl that she was a long awaited arrival for the Maguire family. Gracie made soft cooing and grunting noises as the 50 year old woman rocked with her.

Meanwhile Malachai and Mandy talked with their son in law. "How are you taking to fatherhood?" Malachai asked.

"Great. I love it. I love that little girl with everything I am. She will always be the apple of my eye."

"That's good. While you're all with us, we're going to have to keep an eye on her for depression", Mandy said quietly. "I had depression when I had her and Isaiah."

Callan nodded. "I'll keep that in mind."  He looked over his shoulder to his wife.  “She seems like she’s doing alright right now, but we can keep an eye out.”

“I’m not saying it’s going to happen mind you, but it doesn’t hurt to be watchful.”

Malachai nodded.  “But at the same time dear, you were also undiagnosed with Bipolar Disorder”, he said softly for only his wife and son in law to hear.  “But, none the less we wanted to bring it to your attention that we should keep an eye on her.”

Callan nodded.  “I certainly appreciate it.”  He looked back over his shoulder at the beautiful brunette that he’d married.  “How long do you think Uncle Jake will keep us here?  I know he’s playing doctor and usually does when a baby is born in the family, but I’m sure that Miranda will want to take Grace home so that we can get her settled.”

“Jake has a two to three day policy.  We’ll all go home tonight while you two stay here.  She’ll have her run of the house and with my parents here, you will likely see very little of Gracie.  Make sure that they have the things they need and they will make sure that she is taken care of while they sit on the couch and dote on their great- granddaughter”, Malachai laughed.  “And tomorrow we’ll all be back and her brothers and sisters are going to want to see their niece.  And you have better believe that we’re going to want to see her too.”

Callan nodded.  “Ok.  I’m just nervous over her.”

“Understandable”, Malachai said.  “You’re a first time Daddy.  When Miranda and Isaiah were born Jessi and Marc were six.  I was super nervous about them holding them.  Hell, even breathing on them.  Finally I relaxed around the time that Reckless Disregard went on our first tour.”

“That’s kinda funny.”

Malachai shrugged.  “I’m glad I could give you a smile.”

Callan’s father spoke.  “Malachai, I was wondering if we could bother you for a room tonight.  We came straight here from the airport.”

Malachai nodded.  “Until you go home to Texas, mi casa es su casa.  We’re going to have to leave soon so that my daughter Jenni can make it to her art lessons on the morning.”

“She has art lessons outside of school?” Anessa asked.

“It’s more like a showcase of young artists in the area”, Mandy answered.  “She’ll learn different techniques while she’s there and at the end of the month.  It’s the only thing she’s going to be doing this week.  She won’t even be in school, but all of our kids have always been ahead of their classes.”

“Wow.  Do her teachers know?”

“Yeah”, Malachai said.  “Our son Eli did it when he was in school too.”

“And now he’s a professional artist who sells for hundreds of thousands of dollars”, Elliott said.

“And he just finished commissions for his fiancé’s family”, Mandy added.

“You two want to hold Grace before we leave?” Anessa offered.

Malachai chuckled.  “In the words of my father every time he’s had a grandchild born, give me that baby.”

­---------------

Once everything settled down, Miri finally go to sit down and take a breath.  “Oh My Goodness!” she said with a sigh.  “What an exhausting day!”

Jake chuckled.  “No kidding.  I’m about to go check up on Miranda and Grace before calling it a night.”

Miri nodded.  “Have fun with that one, Daddy.”  She looked around.  “Where’s Jax?”

“Your room.  While you were helping Miranda deliver Grace he and I had a heart to heart.  Turns out that young man really loves you and wants to be with you.  I have to say, as much as I hate the thought of you growing up and going off on your own you are a woman now and you no longer need Daddy to hold your hand, or tell interesting animal facts to nonstop.  He asked for your hand and I told him that as long as he takes care of you he’s got it.”

Miri smiled.  “Wow Dad.  That had to really hurt for you to do that.”

Jake laughed unhappily.  “I’m not going to lie.  It was about as painful as a root canal, but I know that you two love each other and I want you and your brothers and sister to be happy once you’re no longer under my roof.  Anyway, he seems to have impressed Grampa and Gramma so I can’t bitch too much.”

“Does he need to ask Grampa for permission?”

“No.  Callan didn’t have to ask Grampa for permission to marry Miranda.  The only person Jackson needs permission from is me.  Don’t worry about it, Miriam.  All you need to know is that at any moment, Jackson Tompkins will be pulling a ring out of his pocket and ask you to marry him.  If I were you, I’d say yes.  He’s a good man.”

“And you haven’t even met his parents yet.”

“Actually, that’s next on the list.  They’re going to come out to meet the family.”

“All 50 some odd of us?” she said in a panic.

Jake chuckled.  “No, just those who live here.  You mother, Ira, Seth, Samantha, me, Uncle Jeremiah, Aunt Jona, Matt, Rina, and your grandparents.”

She sighed in relief.  “Thank goodness.  I was almost afraid that you were going to have Aunt Makayla and Uncle Marc fly out from California and all that good stuff.  I’m relieved.”

“Miri, I wouldn’t put them through the gauntlet like that.  The only people they’re going to meet are those that live here.  Anyway Miriam, let’s be honest.  There is no way in hell that all 50 some odd of us as well as his family will all fit at the banquet table.  We all know better than that.”

Miri laughed.  “Very true Daddy.”  She yawned.  “I’m going to head up to my room and start packing.  We’re going to have to head back to Chicago soon.”

“Ah yes.  The Loyola University Veterinary Program is calling your name.”

“Yep.  I’m two and a half years from graduating.  The sooner I finish to happier I’ll be.”

“You have a hospital in mind that you’re going to work for?”

“Yeah.  There’s a really nice one in Homer Glen that I’ve been volunteering at.  They told me that if I want to work with them after graduation they’d be happy to have me.”

“Homer Glen.  Isn’t that the suburb of Chicago that Uncle Danny used to live in?”

She shrugged.  “I don’t know.  I see Justin a lot.  That’s all I know.  He and his family are keeping an eye on Uncle Jay’s house while he’s here, though I think that once Miranda’s been allowed to go home they’re packing up and heading back to Chicago.”

Jake nodded slowly in understanding.  “Nice.  It will be strange not having Gabe and the twins around as often as they have been the last nine months.”

“Yeah.  It’s been fun while I’ve been home to hang out with the twins.  Hannah is a bossy little bitch though.  It’s really awesome how they’re identical twins but they have totally different personalities.”

Jake nodded.  “Look at your Aunt Meagan and Aunt Makayla, or Uncle Jay and Uncle ‘Miah.  They’re all very different.  James is a touch cocky and rather loud where Jeremiah is very quiet, even timid.  Meagan is a bit of an introvert and has a science mind keener than even my own.   Makayla loves to be around people, loves teaching, and would rather dance than anything else in life.  Meagan wouldn’t be caught dead dancing.”

“Pretty cool.  I hadn’t thought about it like that.”  She shrugged.  “Interesting.”  She stood from where she was sitting on the couch and kissed her father’s cheek.  “Thanks for the talk and the heads up, Daddy.”

He kissed her cheek in return.  “My pleasure, princess.  Why don’t you go relax and hang out with your man for a little while?  I know that after you left the range to come in and help Miranda with delivery, he was awfully lonely no matter how hard Ira tried to make him feel at home and like he was a part of the festivities.”

She laughed.  “Aw, my poor baby.  I’ll go check on him.  I need to cuddle right now anyway.”  She walked away and headed up the stairs.  “By the way, Daddy, I don’t know if I’ve said it recently but I love you.  I don’t think there’s a better father in the world than you.”

Jake laughed.  “Thank you Miri.  Go see about Jax.  I love you too.”

She walked up the stairs and went to her room.  “Hey babe.  Did you miss me?” she laughed as she closed the door.

Jax looked up from the eBook he was reading and grinned.  “Yeah I’ve missed you.  Where have you been, darlin’?”

“Helping Miranda get settled after having a baby.  Got me to thinking about when we have kids.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.  We’ll talk about it later.  Right now, I just want you to hold me while we watch a movie.”

He cracked a crooked grin.  “Sound like a plan to me, gorgeous.  Pick a movie and we’ll just lay here and watch.”

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

"So what was going on at your brother's house that everyone was gathered like that?" Elliott asked Malachai.

"My dad and my brother Jeremiah's father in law have become partners in crime over the last decade and a half. About ten years ago they decided to take our modified rifles and have a shooting contest on the improvised shooting range that Morbus had set up for us all to practice on. Mind you, there is a 20 year difference between the two men. As you can probably imagine, they both feel like they have something to prove. Well, today they decided to take paintball guns and empty liquor bottles out and shoot at them considering that my Dad is 85."

"Whoa", Anessa said. "What are the usual stakes?"

"None. They do it for the fun of it and for bragging rights."

"Who won the shootout ten years ago?" Elliott asked.

"They tied. They took five shots each from lying down, kneeling and standing. They both grouped the shots so damn tightly it made me sick. The late Master Guns would have been proud."

"Master Guns? You mean Master Gunnery Sergeant Cartwright?"

"One in the same, but I grew up calling him Uncle Matt."

"WHAT?!" Elliott Maguire had shock written all over his face. "Yeah. Master Guns Cartwright was my mother's brother."

"No kidding", Anessa laughed. "Wow, so you’re related to several of the heroes of the Resistance including the Voice and the Master Guns. That would also mean..." Anessa's face filled with understanding. "You're also related to the Transitional President Gail Richardson."

Malachai nodded. "I'm all kinds of awesome, huh?" he laughed.

"Wow. That's insane", Elliott said. "Who knew?"

"We don't hide it in our family. Our parents are both far too proud of where they come from to hide those kinds of things. They instilled in us that same pride. We in turn instilled it in our kids."

"That's good. We've worked at doing the same. It's actually a bit of a family tradition for the first born son to go into the Marines."

"Not a bad family tradition to have", Mandy said.

"Hell, all five of us boys talked about it when we were teenagers. I wanted to enlist as did my younger brother Marc. Jake, James, and Jeremiah all would have commissioned", Malachai explained.

"Why is that?"

"As far back as I can remember, Jake wanted to be a doctor and James and Jeremiah wanted to be lawyers. Then their senior year, Jeremiah started having a crisis of conscience and started wondering if he could defend someone who was guilty and he knew it. Instead he decided on Theology. Had we all been raised actively in the faith of our parents, he would probably be known as Rabbi Draiman." He chuckled a little at the end.

"But he also has degrees in Philosophy and History. His History degree carries a specialization in ancient cultures", Mandy added.

"Did any of your sisters talk military?" Anessa asked.

Malachai shook his head. "No. None of them had that desire, though if they had expressed it I'm sure that our parents would have told them to research it thoroughly like they told us boys."

"Are any of your nieces or nephews thinking military?"

"My nephew Hunter is going Navy and will be a JAG attorney until James decides to retire and hand his share of Intoxication down to the next generation."

"So, back to the topic of family pride, do you think that Miranda and Callan will pass that same pride that we raised them with on to Grace and the children they have afterward?" Elliot asked.

"I'm going to level with you, Elliott. I don't see them NOT passing it on. You raised Callan very well. He's a man of principle and that's a good thing. Miranda has a very strong moral background and they will go to whatever lengths necessary to teach their children the same principles that we taught them."

Chapter 64

“Well, it would have been real rifles but the doctor would kill me and so would my wife”, David chuckled.  “She doesn’t tolerate me doing anything see views as foolish.”

“And I won’t allow him to do anything I think is foolish”, Miranda said, her hand caressing his thigh.  “Well, foolish that doesn’t pertain to his job.”

Brie nodded.  “Yeah, I know.  Been there, dear.”

“Hey Callan”, Hunter called.

“What’s up, Hunter?” Callan responded.

“Come shoot with me.  Eli has been the only competition I’ve had.”

“Let me sit down for a little bit with my wife, and I’ll come shoot with you.  Isaiah and Eli are good shots.”  James stepped up and started shooting with his oldest son and let Callan rest for a little bit.  “I guess I’m a bit of a novelty”, Callan chuckled.

“You’re the shiny new toy”, David said.  “They see you and they want your attention.  Once the new wears off you’ll have a little peace.”

“Or once Grace is born”, Brie added with a smile.  “Sometimes it takes another new toy to distract them so that you can get a break.”

“Well, I know that they’re ALL going to have to wait their turns with Gracie”, Callan said.  “Grandparents and great- grandparents get precedent over aunts, uncles and cousins.”

“Speaking of grandparents, were your parents going to come up so that they could be close for the birth of little Grace?”

“They’re on their way as we speak, as a matter of fact.  All we can do is hope that she holds on until they land and can get to town.”

“No one is picking them up?” David asked.

Callan shook his head.  “Malachai offered, but they declined.  They would rather have a rental car so that they don’t feel that they’re having to rely on anyone to pick them up and take them anywhere.”

“They’re not even going to stay at the house, even though Dad offered them the guest room”, Miranda told her grandparents.

“That’s their prerogative”, Brie said.  “If they don’t want to stay at your Dad’s house then they don’t have to.  It’s totally on them.”

“I know”, Miranda said.  “I just don’t feel right about them staying so far from the house.”

Her grandparents nodded.  “We get that Miranda”, David said.  “But if they would rather spend the money on a hotel room then you have to respect that.”

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

The festivities continued as each of the men- and a few of the women- decided to participate.  David and Skyler just sat back with their wives and watched.  Miranda was a little bummed that she couldn’t join in the fun but she knew that if she tried there would be 20+ people on her ass about being in her condition and doing something stupid being so close to delivery.  She really didn’t want to hear it.  So she sat and watched her brothers, cousins, aunts and uncles, and husband have all the fun. Instead she just sat and laughed as everyone talked trash with each other and enjoyed the sights and sounds of the family having a good time together.

More paintball guns were retrieved and Callan went up with her brothers and several of her cousins.  They stood in a line and prepared to fire on James’s mark.  Miranda was laughing so hard she couldn’t catch her breath.  “They look like a firing squad about to carry out someone’s execution”, she said.

Miri was close at hand and laughed with her as she hummed a funeral dirge and handed her older cousin a bottle of water from the cooler.  “We who are about to die salute you”, she laughed.

“That quote has nothing to do with what’s going on Miri”, Matt laughed.  “You know that right?”

“Yes Matt, I know.  I passed AP World History with a near perfect A.  I was just making a funny.”

Miranda kept laughing as her uncle James gave the mark for the men to take aim.  She loved to listen to her cousins banter about the things that their parents were knowledgeable in.  As James gave the first mark, Miranda felt a kick.  She ignored it.  It wasn’t anything unusual.  Gracie was kicking a lot here recently.  The further along she got the more active Gracie seemed to be. 

A second shot was fired in the succession of five and nothing happened.  The same with the next two.  Right as her Uncle James was calling for the boys to fire their next shot Miranda felt a gush from between her legs and heard the liquid splatter on the ground.  Her grandparents heard it, as did her cousin Miri who was still pretty much right next to her.  All eyes that were close enough to hear the event flew to her as she cursed under her breath.  “SHIT!” she said out loud.  “UMM… AUNT KENNA!”

Kenna Draiman rushed to her niece’s sided.  When her husband heard her curse, his shot was fucked.  Callan heard Miranda call for her aunt and immediately handed the gun off to someone so that he could be with her.  “Are you ok baby?” he asked after practically doing a baseball slide to be next to his wife.

“Callan, my water just broke and I’m in labor.  It hurts.  Am I ok?” she asked as calmly as she could manage.

Brie looked at Kenna.  “You guys can take the golf cart.  Take someone with you to come back out here to get Dad and me.  I need to lie down for a little while.”

Kenna nodded and called for Hunter.  “Hunter Shane Draiman, come help me move your cousin to the golf cart and get her to the house to have this baby.”

Hunter set his gun against a tree and ran over to help Callan and his mom move Miranda into the golf cart.  After getting the keys from Callan he mover the cart over and jumped out to help move Miranda after the contraction was over.  His mind raced as he thought about his girlfriend Candace.  He knew that, in theory, Candy would be going through the same thing about seven months but actually seeing it first hand from one of his female cousins was something very different.

Miranda was moved to the house with Jake accompanying them.  Kenna had asked him to be on standby in case he was needed.  According to all of the tests that had been run throughout Miranda’s pregnancy, Grace was going to be fine but it never hurt to be prepared.

Hunter came back out and helped his grandparents into the golf cart with Miranda’s parents joining.  “Feel free to continue”, David called back to his family.  “We need to get inside for a little while.”

“Anyway, I want to be close by for the birth of our first great- grandchild”, Brie laughed.  “I’ve already called dibs to hold her first.”  And with that, Hunter drove his Aunt Mandy and Uncle Malachai, as well as his Gramma Brie and Grampa David back up to the house.

When they came in the back door, Miranda screamed from the pain.  “OH MY FUCKING GOD!  WHY DO CONTRACTIONS HURT SO MUCH?!”

“It’s the nature of the beast”, Kenna said.  “That’s just the way it is, dear.  Believe me, I asked the same question when I was in labor with Gabe.”

“Well it sucks!”

Brie and David laughed as they made their way into the living room.  “I remember similar conversations”, David laughed.

“Oh yeah, I remember them too.  I called you horrible things when I was in labor with Maddie”, Brie said, laughing as well.  “But you were so cool about it.  I’m so sorry.”

“I was over it then and I’m over it now.  That was 43 years ago damn near.”

She smiled.  “Why don’t we go into the living room and see how Miranda is doing?”

“I like that idea.”  He kissed her temple and went into the living room.

Miranda was sitting back against the couch and trying to catch her breath.  When she spotted her grandparents she was sure to ask her grandmother the question that burned in her mind.  “Gramma, how did you do this with as many sets of multiples as you had?”

“The same way your mother had the triplets”, Brie laughed.  “Well, with the quads and the last set of twins.  My first four I carried to term and delivered completely naturally.  Hell, my last two were home births because there was no other way to deliver them.  I didn’t have the option of going to a hospital.”

Miranda nodded.  “Any tips you can give me for my first?”

“Someone needs to get a wet rag and some ice chips to help keep you cool and hydrated.  As for you, breathe through it, slow and deep.  If you need to move around, let someone know.  Don’t try to do too much moving through the contractions themselves.  There are several different things I could show you from my massage and midwife training that will help the baby drop if you’re interested.  I’m sure that Aunt Kenna knows them as well.  If you don’t want to be touched, let them know but try not to be a total bitch.  And if there are other people you want present, you need to make that known.  This is about you and your comfort.”

Miranda nodded.  “I’ll give all of that a little thought in between contractions.”

Brie walked over and kissed her granddaughter’s hair.  “Just stay strong.  Callan’s here and something tells me that it would take a jack hammer to pull him away from you right now.”

Callan chuckled.  “Nah, it would take an industrial strength acid to get me to leave her right now.  And I need to call my parents to see when they land in Denver so that they’ll know their new granddaughter is on her way.”

Brie smiled and cupped his cheek.  “Such a sweet young man.”  She looked down at Miranda.  “Do what it takes to hang onto this one, baby.  He’s a good catch.”

Miranda smiled.  “I plan on it, Gramma”, she said with strain in her voice.  “Now, if you’ll excuse me I need to scream.”

And that’s just what she did as her grandparents made their way upstairs to rest for a little while.

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

Miranda did what she said she would and thought about who she wanted in the room as she gave birth to her daughter. First and foremost she wanted her Gramma if possible. "Let me rest for a little while and I'll be down, dear. I need to give my back a break", Brie said when she found out how far labor had progressed.

All Miranda could do was nod as a new contraction hit her and she squeezed Callan's hand with everything she had in her. She tried to breathe through the pain, but it wasn't easy.

The other person she wanted for sure was Miri. Her mother in law was negotiable once she arrived.

After the contraction ended and Miri was close by Callan stepped away to call his parents. "Hello?" Anessa Maguire said when she answered her cell.

“Mom, please tell me that you and Dad are at least on the highway and one your way here?” Callan said in a hurried whisper.

“We’re on the way.  We’re about thirty- five miles from the address you gave us for the Draiman house.”

“Which house?  My father in law’s?”

“Yeah.”

“Ok.  You want to enter a new address into the GPS and get here as fast as you can.”  Callan rattled off the address to Homestead.

“Why the new address?” he heard his father, Elliott Maguire, ask.

“Well, if you want to be present for the birth of your granddaughter, you need to hurry up and get your asses here.  Miranda is in labor as we speak.”  Miranda groaned in pain and Callan was quick to get off of the phone.  “I gotta go, Mom and Dad.  Call when you get here.”

When he hung up and was immediately at his wife’s side, her hand in his as she squeezed with everything she had and tried to remember to breathe through the contraction.  “Oh God, Callan it hurts”, she cried.

He took the cool wash rag and wiped her forehead with it.  “Shh… I know.  I hear you.  The pain is this baby making her way out of your body.  You’re almost there, Miranda.”

Miri held her cousin’s hand as she timed the contractions so that she could call their aunt so that she could measure them.  When Miranda relaxed Miri smiled at her cousin.  “You’re doing so well Miranda.  I hope I’m as strong as you’re being when I finally have kids.”

Miranda smiled.  “Thanks Miri.  I’d ask for a hug but I know that I’m sweaty and I stink.  I look a mess.  I’m not used to looking like this.”

Callan chuckled.  “Nonsense”, he said, kissing her knuckles.  “You look gorgeous.  You are absolutely beautiful.”

She looked at her man.  “Callan, stop kissing ass.  It’s unbecoming.  I look like hell.  I know I do.”

He shook his head.  “If you say so, my love.”

“Where are your parents?” she asked.

“They said they were about thirty-five miles from your parent’s house.  I gave them the address here.”

Miri’s eyes grew wide.  “You had better let my Dad know that we’re going to have two extra here soon”, she said.  “He doesn’t like surprise visitors.  You can’t imagine the lecture I got when I brought Jax home and didn’t warn him.”

Callan nodded.  “Next time he comes back into the room I’ll let him know.  I’m not leaving my wife’s side and I’m not going to disturb Gramma and Grampa.”

Miri nodded in response.  “I understand that.  I just hope I find a guy like you who will stay next to me like you are with Miranda.”  Little did she know, she had one and before they left to go back to school in Chicago would he was ask her if she would be his wife.

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

“OH FOR THE LOVE OF GOD”, Miranda cried out as most intense contractions hit.  She knew she had to be getting close.

Kenna came into the room as she put on her gloves.  “You’re pretty much there Miranda”, Kenna said.  “Scream when you feel like you have to push.  I’m going to go make sure that I have the things I need to wrap the baby, clean him, and weigh and measure.”

“Aunt Kenna, did you ever get the water run?” Miranda called after her Aunt.

“Would you believe that Gramma insisted on doing that?”

Jake laughed in the kitchen.  “Sounds like something Mom would do”, he called.  “Everything is ready in here”, he said as he came into the room.  “It’s being moved to the trauma/ medical room by Sammi.  She wasn’t feeling all that hot and stayed up here.”

“So you asked her to help set up for the baby and she agreed?”

“Something like that.  Mom’s old scale was up in the attic and she’s a lot younger than I am so I had her climb up there so that we could test it out for this to see if it was still properly calibrated.”

“Was it?”

“The software needed severely updated because it’s been in storage for 15 years, but hey.  It happens”, he said with a shrug.

There was a knock on the door.  Jake walked across the room and opened it.  “Hi, we’re looking for Miranda and Callan”, the man standing at his front door said.

“We’re Callan’s parents”, the woman said as well.

“Names?” Jake asked.

“Anessa and Elliot Maguire”, the man said.

“Callan, come here a moment please.”  Callan jogged over to the door.  “Are these your parents?”

Callan peeked around the door.  “Those are my parents”, he said before jogging back to Miranda’s side.  “Sorry I don’t stay over there and greet everyone.  My wife needs me.”

Jake chuckled.  “He has not left her side since her water broke.”

“Not a surprise”, his mother said.  “I’m sorry, but I don’t recall meeting you.”

“I’m Miranda’s Uncle.  My name’s Jacob.”

“You’re the neurologist”, his dad said.

Jake nodded.  “Amongst other things.  Come on.  Miranda doesn’t want parents in the room at the moment, so I’ll show you to the back where Malachai and Mandy are waiting after Miranda’s moved to the bathroom.”

“Why is she going to the bathroom?” Callan’s mother asked.

“Water birth.  It’s something of a tradition in the family that if the baby is born at home it’s a water birth.  Started with our sister Maddie.  There have only been a few of the grandchildren that were born at home that weren’t water births.”

“Interesting statistic.”

“I like to think so.  Remember how big the Draiman clan is.  Someone’s got to keep those stupid little factoids in mind so that they can pass them on the future generations.”  He looked over his shoulder and saw that his couch was empty.  “If you’ll follow me, I’ll show you to the back porch now.  Malachai, Mandy, and I believe my father will be waiting with you.”

Meanwhile in the bathroom, everyone was in place.  Callan was in the tub with her so that she could brace against him.  It was a very familiar scene for Brie, though this time she wasn’t the one catching or in labor.  She was holding one granddaughter’s foot while another held the other up so that she could push.  It was one of her daughters in law that was catching.

“Please Aunt Kenna; tell me it’s time to push.  I really need to push”, Miranda’s voice was strained.

Kenna nodded after putting on a pair of gloves.  “Why don’t we deliver this baby, Miranda?  I know you’re in between contractions right now.  On the next one, Gramma and Miri are going to lift your feet and I want you to push with everything you’ve got.”

Miranda nodded.  “Cal, hold me tight.”

“I’m not going anywhere”, Callan said, squeezing her gently.  “You couldn’t tear me away.”

A new contraction hit and her feet were pulled up, her knees as close to her chest as they could get, and she pushed with everything she had left.  The labor had taken a lot out of her.  She was so tired she could barely keep her eyes open.  In the background she heard her grandmother and cousin counting out loud.  Once they got to ten she had enough time to catch her breath before she was pushing again.  The contraction ended and her aunt told her to relax.  Brie reached up and brushed her Miranda’s hair from her face.  “You’re doing so well, baby.  Rest for now.  I see her head.  She’s almost here.”

Miranda was taking quick labored breaths.  “Gramma, I’m so tired.  I don’t know if I have it in me.”

“Miranda Jayde, you are a Draiman.  Dig deep.  You’ll be glad you did.  You have another contraction coming soon.  Dig down and push.    You’re can do this, Miranda.”

The new contraction hit and Miranda pushed with everything she had.  Mustering the strength to do so was a bitch, but she managed.  After a total of six pushed, Kenna pulled the baby free and cleared her airways- the first cries of life echoing through the downstairs.  Kenna smiled.  “Mr. and Mrs. Maguire, congratulations.  It’s a girl.”

Miranda cried tears of joy as her bloody newborn daughter was handed to her.  “Hi there, baby girl”, she said, kissing her head.  She looked back at Callan.  “Isn’t she beautiful, Cal?”

“One of a kind, baby girl.  They certainly broke the mold with this one.”

“You wanna name her?”

“My pleasure.”  He brought up a hand and rubbed the baby girl’s head.  “Grace Irian Maguire, welcome to Earth baby girl.  Mama and I are so happy to finally meet you.”