The Kid & Me: Chapter Eight: The Life We Live With

Author's Note: Whether you landed here on purpose or by accident, welcome and thanks for stopping by. If you would like to give this story a try and would like to begin at Chapter One, you can use the links in the margin on the right to navigate between chapters. Also, if you would like to elarge any smaller picture for viewing, simply click on it with your mouse. Thanks again for stopping by and I hope you enjoy The Kid and Me.

"I give you my love more precious than money;
I give you myself before preaching or law.
Will you give me yourself?
Will you come travel with me?
Shall we stick by each other as long as we live?"

~ Walt Whitman (Song of the Open Road)
Spoken by Oliver Barrett to Jennifer Cavilleri in Love Story

In baseball, some pitchers always seem to have certain opposing player’s numbers. They'll always get him out on the no ball, two strike changeup no matter how hot of a hitter he is, or if he’s a career three hundred hitter.. I think that's what the man upstairs had been getting me out with over the past eight months.

Sooner or later though, that opposing batter is going to catch up to that changeup and when he connects, he's going to send it flying over the bleachers. That night in the tower of Pagoda Park, I was waiting for the changeup and I not only swung and connected, I had sent it skyrocketing over the bleachers at Dodger Stadium, over the parking lot, and out onto Interstate 5.

That year in my life had been filled with the highest highs and the darkest lows. But life isn't made up entirely of these rollercoaster moments. It's all the little things in between those wild swings of emotion that draw the composite of our life, that make us what we are, that gives us the life we live. We remember the small joyful moments, the tender moments, the little problems as well as the big ones to balance out the moments of great sadness.

I had once said I was King of my own special world. As I had discovered, it was a kingdom that I may have ruled in, but it was one in which I was the only inhabitant. In the tower high above Pagoda Park, holding Bettie in my arms, I felt like a real king. Bettie was my Princess, the one who had given me not only a reason for my existence, but to make me understand that life is what we make of it, not what we let it make of us.

In the years that lie ahead, there would be many moments to cherish, many moments to remember and look back on.
I remember......

That we stayed in that tower for an eternity but to us it was only as if seconds had passed. We held each other close, feeling our hearts pounding together beating almost in unison. It was as if we were afraid to let go of each other, for fear it would somehow break the spell. And we talked, and by putting two and two together we discovered our meeting was only partially by chance. Erika had called Bettie to tell her to meet her at the park. She would be there later with some friends. Immediately afterwards, Erika had placed a call to Arcadia. They had done their part to get us there together; the rest had been up to us.


I remember....

That descending the stairs was so physically taxing on both of us that we had to stop and rest before beginning the long walk towards the house.

I remember...

It was an extremely long distance to walk so that we had to stop and rest several times on the way to the house to renew our strength. At some point we realized that we had probably missed Arcadia's dinner, but I don't recall that food was utmost on our mind.

I remember.....
That when we finally did reach the house, we talked about how we would tell Frank, Arcadia, and Dag about our engagement. Bettie said that since Frank was her father, she felt she should. I could tell she was nervous about it, as we were sure that while they may have expected us to come home together, coming home engaged was quite a different story. She especially wasn't too sure whether Frank would accept the idea of me being his son-in-law. So after one more quick kiss, we both took a deep breath and I went in alone.

The house was quiet except for the TV. Dag was sitting in her chair watching the football game with Frank and Arcadia who were sitting on the sofa. I had entered so quietly, no one noticed I was standing there until I finally spoke.

"Well, I'm glad to see that everyone missed me. And I'm glad to see Frank made it back home after I spent half the night looking for him."

When Dag heard my voice she jumped off of the chair to greet me with a big hug. "Daddy, where have you been? I haven't seen you all day! Uncle Frank and Aunt Arcadia let me stay up and wait for you. I was scared you weren't coming home!"

"I'm sorry sweetie. I went looking for your Uncle Frank, but I see he managed to find his way back here. Would it make it up to you if I told you I brought you a present home?"

"What kind of a present? Is it in your pocket?"

"I had to leave it outside. It was too big to carry into the house," I told her.

"Is it a puppy?" she asked smiling.

"I think it's better than a puppy, why don't you go see?" Dag ran past me and headed for the front door, and just as she did the door opened and Bettie walked in.

"BETTIE!" Dag screamed and literally jumped into her arms. Then she began sobbing, and I have to admit that a tear formed in my eye also. Not to mention that Arcadia took off her glasses and gave her eyes a quick wipe and that I saw Frank's hand reach for the corner of his eye. Dag was holding Bettie so tight, it was a wonder she could breathe.

"Oh Bettie, I missed you so much! I didn't think you were going to come back to me! I love you Bettie! Please don't leave me!" Darn it, I had to wipe away another tear. Not to mention that Bettie was doing her best to hide her own tears.

"I love you too Dag. I'm sorry I had to leave. I won't ever leave you like that again!” Bettie whispered.

"Not ever!" Dag replied.

"Never!" Bettie replied as she held Dag tighter.

When they finally did break apart, Dag ran from Bettie to me, jumping up in my arms. "You were right, Daddy! Bettie is way better than a puppy! Thank you for bringing her home!" And while Dag continued to hold onto me, Bettie walked over to Frank who put his arms around her.

"Glad you came back to your home," he told her. "I think this is where you belong."

"I do too, Dad. I do too," Bettie replied. When Dag finally let go there was one more hug I had to give.

"Thank you, Arcadia!" I whispered to her. "Thank you for having faith in me. Thank you for bringing us back together."

"You got yourselves back together," she answered. "Erika and I just gave the two of you a little nudge....well maybe a big push."

I remember...

That when all the hugging, kissing and tears were wiped away, we went to the living room. Dag insisted on sitting next to Bettie. Arcadia finished telling us how Erika and she had planned for us to go to the park, but they were still concerned we might somehow miss each other. Erika had spent the day giving Bettie a new hair style and helping her with her makeup. Even Dag didn't mind that their hair was no longer the same, telling Bettie how beautiful she looked. We also talked about having Christmas dinner at my house. It would be a first for me with my first tree. But it would be a rush. Christmas was less than a week away.

"Of course, Christmas isn't the only thing to be celebrating," Bettie finally said. Uh-oh, I knew what was coming and took a deep breath and held it.

"What else are we celebrating?" Frank asked her, seeming quite puzzled.

"Nick won't be able to come home until late January or February at the earliest," Frank reminded her. “So we can’t be celebrating that just yet.” He looked quite puzzled.

"Well Dad, that's not all there would be to celebrate.” Bettie paused and took her own deep breath before continuing. Wouldn't you want to celebrate your daughter's engagement? Joe asked me to marry him, and I've accepted."

Frank threw up his arms. "Married! Engagement! Please dear Lord, tell me it just isn't so! Please tell me I'm not going to have this lug for a son-in-law! I'll go to church every Sunday, I'll never sin again, and I’ll give all my riches to the poor! Anything but this!"

"Wow!" Arcadia said. "You two didn't waste anytime. I sure never expected it to happen that quickly!"

"OH BOY!" Dag said clutching her face. "I'm going to have a second mommy! Is it true, Daddy!? Is it true, Bettie?!"

"Yes Dag, it's true. Bettie's going to be your new mommy!," Dag was grinning from ear to ear, looking first at Bettie than at me as if all the prayers she had said night after night had just been answered."

"And can I go? I've never been to a wedding!!! You won't get married without me, will you?"

I laughed. "Of course you can be there! We wouldn't get married without you being there!"

"There's just one thing we have to get straight right here and now, Joe," Frank said sternly. "Don't you dare ever call me dad!"

I laughed. "Okay, it's a small price to pay for marrying your daughter, pop!" Arcadia thought that was the funniest thing she had ever heard. And of course Dag helped smooth things over with her question.

"Does this mean you'll be my Grandpa Frank instead of Uncle Frank," she asked.

I don't know if Dag understood what Arcadia, Bettie and I were laughing about. She knew she had said something funny but wasn't sure what it was. She laughed anyway.

Later, as Frank and Arcadia prepared to leave there were more hugs and more kisses. Arcadia warned me that I had better take good care of Bettie. I promised I would. Frank gave The Kid a big long hug again.

"Are you sure this is what you want baby girl?" I heard him ask her.

"I’m absolutely 100 per cent positive, dad. I couldn't be happier. I love him so very much." Finally they left, and we returned to the inside of the house at about the same time that Laurie let lose with a big wail. Bettie started to head for the stairway to get her but I stopped her.

"I'll go get her and take care of her while you tuck, Dag in." Bettie smiled. It was the first time I had volunteered to take care of Laurie for her. She went in to get Dag into bed, while I ran upstairs to the wailing Laurie, whose diaper was soaked. I quickly changed it, thinking that my diaper changing score was appreciably inching higher. By the time I returned downstairs, Dag was already asleep, the lateness of the hour already having did her in.

I handed Laurie over to Bettie, and she seemed to relish having the baby in her arms once again. Laurie had this look that said she was glad to finally have been rescued.

"Hey, it’s not a bad diaper change!" Bettie said. I started to beam with pride until she added, "For a novice!"

"I'll get better," I told her but feeling like my gold medal in diaper changing was slipping away. I'd be lucky to get a bronze.

I went over to give Dag a goodnight kiss. She stirred a little but didn't awaken. I was already beginning to take great pride in my family. Bettie had already started feeding Laurie her bottle. Laurie was gulping it down in big swallows.

"Are you sure you've been feeding her?" Bettie asked. "She's turning into a little piggy!"

"I've been feeding her quite a bit. She's got a problem though. I no sooner feed her than it all comes out of the other end."

"Yeah, that does happen quite a bit," she laughed. "Truthfully Joe, it looks like you did just great with her. I'm really proud of you."

"I couldn't have done it without my official tour guide known as Dag showing me how to get from A to Z the first day. I was kicking myself for not paying attention when you tried to show me the way." Laurie had finished her bottle and after burping her, she was ready to go back to bed. I followed Bettie up the stairs.

She continued cuddling Laurie for a while.

"Maybe what happened the other day had to happen in order for things to work out," she said. "I know I've been in love with you for a long time, and I felt that you loved me. I was sure that you would run away from it. I couldn't tell you how I felt without you knowing for sure what your feelings were. Does that make any sense?"

"Yes it does," I answered. "Because it's true. I've been in love with you for a long time also. But I couldn't admit it to myself let alone tell you. I kept trying to convince myself it wasn't happening when I knew in my heart it had happened." Then I asked her. I don't know why I asked her the question I did.

"Would you have left and gone to college in the east?" I asked.

"Yes Joe, I would have gone. It's a painful and hurtful thing to love someone and not have your love returned. I wouldn't have been able to be with you every day, always hoping, always wondering if you would ever return that love."

"When we danced on Thanksgiving day, I thought for sure that you would be able to tell me your feelings. When you returned with Laurie, after what happened with Susan, I felt I had lost you forever."

I looked up from the now sleeping Laurie. "I was going to tell you after Thanksgiving. I should have told you that very night. But I kept letting my past come between us. You know the kind of life I've led. I thought that at some point the things I've done would come back to hurt you. I couldn't stand for that to happen. Not to you. Charlene was just the tip of the iceberg."

I walked over to her. "And my past may show its ugly face again. I'm sorry for the things I've done, but they won't go away. They'll always be there."

The kid didn't answer me right away. "Joe, I've always known about the way you were. I've also seen a side of you that very few people have seen. I'm not just talking about these past few months since I've been here with you. I've always seen that special side of you. I handled Charlene just fine. I'll handle any of your bimbo eruptions that come along the same way. And I can do that because I know that you love me as much as I love you. I'm sure there won't be very many people in this town that will ever believe it or understand it. They’ll say I only married you for your money, or that you used your money to rob the cradle. Let them talk, because I really don’t give a damn what other people have to say."

I leaned into her to kiss her. "I really don't deserve you, do I?" I said. I was kidding but her answer surprised me.

"Yes you do, Joe. You deserve to have good things in your life. Not just me, but Dag and Laurie also. You have so much love to give that's been locked away for way too long" She kissed me again. We held each other for a moment, again professed our love, and I left to return to my room downstairs.

I remember...

The next few days were a mad dash to get ready for Christmas. Thankfully, Frank and Arcadia had long ago finished any shopping they were going to do and were able to take care of Dag and Laurie while The Kid and I dug up the courage to face the stores which were under siege by a mad throng of last minute shoppers. It was also the day that Bettie showed she was ready for any thing citizens of Devonshire might have to say regarding our relationship.

One stop we made was at the Fashion Sense, which had become our shopping home away from home. While Bettie and I were looking through the racks there was an elderly lady going through the clothing items also. Eventually, she struck up a conversation with Bettie, since my only response to her had been a few nods here and there. I was concentrating on getting the job done and getting out of the place.

Bettie, forever the polite one, did her best to be attentive and at least appear halfway interested. I had ducked into one of the clothes changing booths to try on an outfit and when I returned the old lady still had poor Bettie cornered. As I placed the pants I had tried on back on the rack, it was then that the old lady said it.

"Your father seems like such a nice man," The old woman said. "It's not every young girl's daddy that will take the time to go shopping with them."

As Bettie stood and listened to the old woman, I saw her looking at her fingernails. It was the same thing she had done during the summer, in the restaurant where she had the pleasure of being introduced to Charlene. I knew something was going to happen, but I didn't know what.

"Can I set you straight about something?" I heard her ask. Then I watched as Bettie nonchalantly leaned over and whispered something in the woman's ear. The next thing I saw was the old woman throwing her hands up and saying, "Well I never!""

"Apparently not," was all Bettie said to her.

Bettie stood there like she didn't have a care in the world. I watched as the woman stomped out of the store. Okay, that was it. I just had to know. I walked over to Bettie.

"What did you say to her? She looked a little perturbed."

"Oh I just set her straight on a few things," Bettie said it as if it were something she did every day. "I simply told her she had it all wrong about you being my daddy. I told her the truth was you were more than just a regular old daddy, because I already had one of those. Then I told her you were really my sugar daddy, and not only that, you had one helluva nice ass."

"Uh....was ass the word you used or was it something else?" I asked.

"You'll never know!" she answered finally grinning at me. Then after thinking about it for a second, I knew another question had to be answered.

"Do you really think I have a sexy butt?"

"From what I've seen so far, it looks good! I'll give you a definitive answer after I get up close and personal with it!" Then she gave me a quick kiss and went back to looking at clothes.

We finally finished our shopping, and stopped by the video store to pick up a movie to watch that Bettie had promised Dag she would bring home. It was a Disney movie, called Pirates of the Caribbean.

"They made a movie based on a ride?" I turned my nose up at it. "I'd rather watch the Shrek thingy again."

"Can't," she said. "I promised Dag. Don't be so judgmental. You may like it. You've said the same thing about Shrek and you ended up liking it. You know you did."

I sighed. "Well, okay. I guess I'll take my chances. I hope it's better than the last Pirate movie I watched. That Cutthroat Island thingy with Geena Davis was awful"

I remember...

After arriving home, Dag immediately wanted to watch the Pirates. Bettie told her firmly that it would have to wait until after we put the tree up and ate dinner. Dag made a face at that but once we started hanging the lights, ornaments and filled the bottom up with presents she really got into it. When it was finished we stood admiring our work.

"It's beautiful," Dag said clapping her hands!

"It is pretty," I told her. I never thought I would see a Christmas tree sitting in my living room. I had to admit that it did look nice and gave me kind of a holiday feeling that I had never experienced before.

"Pretty good job for an old Ebenezer," Bettie told me. Then she grabbed me. “Merry Christmas, Eb,” she said before planting a wet one on me. And there wasn't a single strand of mistletoe hanging anywhere.

Afterwards she went and hurriedly cooked us a quick dinner, while Dag paced around carrying the DVD and looking at the cover. Finally it was finished, and while there had been occasions in the past where it had been a chore getting Dag to eat, there was certainly no problem that night. She was done before Bettie and I were a quarter of a way through. Not only that, when we finished Dag hurriedly stuffed the dishes into the dishwasher saving Bettie the chore.

"Now, can we watch the movie?" she asked.

"Yeah, now we can watch the movie," She handed me the DVD to put into the player and raced off toward the game room. Bettie and I followed behind her.

The movie started and what I quickly discovered that for a movie based on a ride, it wasn't bad. There was this one guy, a pirate named Captain Jack Sparrow, then there was this sword maker who was born a pirate named Will Turner who was in love with this skinny looking blonde bimbo. The movie hadn't been on very long when I noticed that every couple of minutes, Dag was letting loose with a huge sigh.

"Is she okay," I whispered to Bettie. "Dag doesn't sound well." and the words were no sooner out of my mouth than Dag sighed again.

"She's fine," was all Bettie said. "Perfectly normal healthy girl." Dag sighed again.

"I don't know, maybe we should take her to the doctor tomorrow."

About that time Dag turned around in her seat.

"Shhhhhssss, daddy! Quiet! It's Or--land--do."

"What? They're in Florida?" I asked. Dag made a face. "NO!!! It's Or-land-do. I can't hear."

I looked at Betty and started to say something. "Shhhhhsshh, she said putting her fingers to her mouth.”It's Orlando!" I picked up the DVD case and sure enough, there it was on the cover in big letters, starring Johnny Depp and some dude by the name of Orlando Bloom.

"Oh, I see," I said loudly as if I had suddenly made a great discovery of some kind.

"Shhhhhhs!," Dag said turning back to the TV.

"I know," I said winking at Bettie. "It's Orlando!" I personally I thought the movie was a showcase for Johnny Depp but there was no questioning the taste of a young girl in love with Or-lan-do. And I had the strange feeling that Bettie agreed with Dag, once again making me a minority of one.

I remember...

That the first Christmas morning we spent together would always be the most memorable simply because it was my first real Christmas. Dag excitedly opened her presents, except for the swing set I had spent the night putting together and was now standing proudly in the yard. Bettie had swung on it a few times of course just to make sure my handiwork was up to par. It was, and I graded myself a 9.0 in the swing assembly Olympics.

Dag loved all her presents, but there was one special one Bettie had bought at the last minute. When Dag opened it she let out a squeal I'm sure that Frank and Arcadia heard three blocks over. I didn't even get a chance to see what it was before she went racing away toward the bathroom.

"What was that all about?" I asked.

"You'll see," was all Bettie would answer. I simply shrugged. Moments later Dag returned, grinning from ear to ear. I thought she was going to pass out from excitement.

She was now wearing a T-shirt that said I heart Orlando on the front, and had a picture of Or-lan-do covering the entire back. "Oh Daddy, Bettie, this is just so cool. It's the best Christmas Present ever. I love it. It's Orlando!"

I sighed. A two hundred dollar swing set sat out back, a hundred dollar hand held video game sat under the tree as did a working EZ Baking oven. And the gift she went ga-ga over was a $20 dollar tee shirt! You would have thought she had ripped it directly off of Mr. Bloom's back.

"Be careful you don't drool all over it," I told her, “it might shrink”. Bettie punched me in the arm for that one. I was beginning to get use to her little kicks under the table and punches in the shoulder. It was the quickest way for her to tell me to zip my lip.

"Well, I'm glad you like it sweetie. But thank Bettie for it. She's the one who bought it."

She ran over and gave Bettie a hug. "Thank you Bettie!! You are just so cool!" Dag had said cool again, a word I had never heard her use in describing anything, not even the weather. I looked to make sure somebody hadn't switched kids in the middle of the night.

"I wonder if they talked about cool things at the missionery," I whispered to Bettie and promptly got another punch in the arm.

"I almost forgot something!" Bettie said and hurried off to the bedroom, just as Dag had run off a few minutes earlier. I was beginning to feel like Captain Jack Sparrow commandeering a sinking ship.

I was glad she had left though because it gave me a chance to grab her present out of the closet, and place it behind a lamp.

When she returned, I sighed! Bettie was now wearing her own I heart Orlando shirt also, complete with a picture of Mr. Bloom on the back as Will Turner. Dag squealed with delight at this turn of events while I could only shake my head. I was beginning to wonder if I shouldn't have looked for a Keira Knightly shirt so I wouldn't be the odd one out. I took comfort in the fact that at least Laurie, asleep upstairs in her bed, hadn't yet succumbed to the madness.

"What do you think?," Bettie asked me. "I thought Dag would get a kick out of me wearing one!"

"Yeah, right!," I said. "I think Bettie is the one getting the kick out of wearing it. That's okay, though," I said winking at her, "It's tight enough that I won't even notice what's on the front of it. Just what's in it?" That statement promptly earned me a third punch in the shoulder in less than half an hour. I think it was a record.

"I got you a little present too," I told her. "And Orlando Bloom is no where on it. Not even on the box but if you want I can take it back."

"Don't you dare!" she said. "Where is it?"

"You'll have to close your eyes for this one," I told her, "And no cheating or I'll punch you in the shoulder." She laughed but closed her eyes. I reached behind the lamp, grabbed the present, opened it and held it in front of her.

"You can open them now!" I told her.

"Do you like it?," I asked.

"Oh my! Oh my! Oh my! Oh my! It's, it's it's absolutely beautiful! Oh my! I can't believe it!!!"

"Well, I take it that it's a little bit better than Orlando, then!" She laughed, took the engagement ring out of the case and slid it on her finger. Then she jumped into my arms, squeezing me as if she were a twenty foot boa constrictor.

"Orlando who?," she said. "Never heard of him!" Which only proves one thing. Orlando may be today's cubic zirconium but a diamond is forever!

I remember....

When my future in-laws arrived, Bettie and Arcadia busied themselves into the kitchen. Dag talked Frank into watching "The Pirate Movie." I noticed he kept looking at Dag every time she would sigh, but her t-shirt had told him everything he needed to know.

As for me, I spent most of the time taking care of Laurie.

When we finally sat down to dinner in the dining room, the discussion turned to wedding plans. You know, all the basic ones such as when? where? how big? in a church or somewhere else? The only answer we knew for sure was who was getting married. Bettie and I had planned on sitting down in the next few days and talking about it but the Christmas rush had put those plans on hold.

"We can't really plan a whole lot until we hear from Nick," Bettie said. "I wouldn't think of getting married without him here."

"The trouble is," Frank said, "The Army tells you where you're going and when you're going. You don't tell the Army. I don't know why he wanted to go in anyway. His grades were certainly good enough for college and we're a long way from being in the poor house. What did he think I've been saving for all these years,” Frank sighed. He had never been happy with Nick's decision, and once told me he'd have rather seen Nick in the priesthood.

At least until the time came that someone who knew what the hell they were doing was sitting in the oval office.

"Now, Frank," Arcadia said. "Let's not spoil Christmas talking politics." Betty was beginning to look a big glum. I tried to cheer her up.

"Whenever Nick can come home is when we'll get married," I said. "The only thing I want is for Bettie to be happy with whatever plans we make.

"Can I say one thing," Frank asked. "Whatever you decide on I'm paying for it. Think of it as a wedding gift. And Joe, if you try to say otherwise, I'll take that as an ultimate insult. I want to do this for my little girl...who isn't so little anymore."

I didn't even try to argue with him. The point wasn't that I could probably afford a hundred weddings, the fact was that this would be the last thing he could do his daughter, and I wasn't about to deny him the pleasure of fulfilling it. And then the phone rang. Bettie got up to answer it.

"Hi Nick! Merry Christmas!" she yelled into the phone. "Merry Christmas Nick," we hollered behind her. Then of course we could only hear Bettie's side of the conversation. "How's it going....that rough huh....you know we miss you......I sent you an email did you get it.....not yet?....well....you're not going to believe this........I'm engaged!......Yes, really.........I'm not kidding, Nick....what do you mean who to? You know who.......yeah you'd better be kidding......when can you come home?........because I miss you and so we can plan the wedding......the end of January?......and then how long will you be gone?.....A year!!!!!!.....where are they sending you.....when will you find out?.......I don't know Nick....I was hoping you would get to come home again after that say in six months or so..........I know you can't help it you big dope......we'll work it out though......write me......I know it's hard but do it or you'll think your drill sergeant was a patsy when I get a hold of you........already…you just got on the phone.....this weekend.....you promise.......we'll let you know more than.....Thanks Nick.......we love you too Nick!"

"We Love you Nick!" we all hollered in unison.

"Yes, they are a bunch of clowns....bye Nick.....and take care of yourself." Bettie returned to the table. She looked positively glum.

"What's the news," I asked.

"Not good," she said. "He only gets to come home for two weeks at the end of January and then he probably won't be home for another year. I was kind of hoping to have more time to plan, but I don't really want to wait another year! Do you?"

"Not really," I answered. "So we've got a month, it's not impossible. With Arcadia helping, I'm sure it'll be okay. It just may not be the biggest wedding."

"I don't care about that," Betty said. "I do want it to be nice though. I only intend to do this one time!"

Laurie interrupted our wedding plans, letting loose with a big wailling sound. I started to get up but Bettie motioned me to sit back down. It wasn't long before she rejoined us.

"Things like this have been done in a shorter period of time," Frank said. "I'm speaking from experience."

"No offense, dad," Bettie said, "but I have no intention of getting married at the Elvis Presley Love Me Tender Chapel or whatever it was."

I winked at Frank, "Do they have an Orlando Bloom First Order of the Pirates Chapel in Vegas?" I asked. Bettie made a face. "I'm sure everything will be okay, Bettie," I hurriedly added.

Christmas Day ended up with a little song, music provided by yours truly, and a little dance, kind of provided by Frank and Arcadia. All in all, it had been a great holiday! Finally though, Arcadia and Frank headed home, and Laurie and Dag were asleep in their beds, leaving the kid and me to enjoy each other's company and finally a few moments of relaxation. It had been one hectic week.

I remember...

Whereas we had always enjoyed our late night conversations, or just relaxing watching an old movie, after that night at Pagoda Park, things changed. Now, with our feelings for one another out in the open, our talks became more intimate. Not only that, I found myself opening up to her about my childhood, much of which I had only skimmed the service in previous talks we had.

And of course we didn't always just talk. Sometimes our talks did end up in some heavy duty make out sessions. We had kept our passion for each other locked up for so long and now it was unbound and unchained. Now I know what your next question is going to be. So let’s pause the story for just a moment.

If you’ve ever seen Titanic, just as Jack prepares to paint his portrait of Rose, the movie returns to the present day just so Bodine can ask Old Rose in Titanic, “What happens next?.” And just like Bodine, I’m sure many of you are scrolling down the page wandiering the same thing. “Did we do it?” Sorry, my answer is that we both knew when to draw the line. It's not that we didn't want to continue, but there were many reasons why we didn't. I didn't want to treat her as just another one of my bimbo's, was most important in my mind, and likewise I didn't want her to think of me as one of her pawing high school dates even if I hadn’t been in a school in twenty years. Then there was the fact to consider that we had two kids in the house, either one who could have awakened at any time, and continuing would not have set the best of examples. There is probably nothing more aggravating than having a sleeping baby wake up screaming to have her diaper changed while you’re in the throes of passion. Yep, it didn’t take us long to find that out either.

And there's another reason, a smaller reason. I was actually nervous and a bit scared about continuing. For all the high school dates that Bettie had, she had never gone all the way with any of them. That thought had instilled quite a bit of nervousness in me, a kind of tense feeling I wasn’t sure I could overcome, even on our wedding night.

I remember...


The day thay I found her standing in the living room studying my lighted flamingoes.

"You know, Joe," she said. "These would be more appropriate in a bar. Is that where they came from?"

"They didn't come from any bar!" I answered. "They came from an art gallery. They're art."

"And who told you that?" she asked.

"The art gallery owner told me there wasn't but fifty of them like it in the country. I love my flamingoes."

"Oh!" she said. "And where is this art gallery whose owner is such an art aficionado?"

"Uh...its downtown. Down there next to the payday loan office! You've probably have never been in there"

"Mel's Pawn Shop! You bought these at Mel's Pawn shop? That's not even close to being an art gallery! And what were you doing in a pawn shop of all places?!!!" Uh...I guess she did know the place.


"Mel's got lots of fine art pieces in there," I protested. "He's got dogs playing poker, dogs shooting pool, Elvis in velvet, vintage beer and coke signs. He's even got a nice collection of Pete Rose betting slips and Billy Beer cans."

"What," she asked crossing her arms in all seriousness, "is a Billy beer can?"

"That's the beer Jimmy Carter's brother became famous for. Those are probably worth a fortune alone!"

"Well I don't know what you would call the decor in this place. But it reeks of bachelorhood! It really needs a few changes now that you're a family man. It needs a woman's touch!"

I sighed. "Go ahead and give it a woman's touch, a family touch, whatever kind of touch you want to give this place. But the neon flamingos stay put."


So what does a woman do when you put your foot down? She becomes sad and long-faced, and then sniffles a few times. But I stood my ground. The flamingoes were staying. I was firm in my resolve for all of five minutes. I had to face it; I was quickly becoming a whipped puppy.

I remember....

That it was a day in late January when I stood in church in a tuxedo, Frank at my side. I wasn't sure if he was there to offer me support or was supposed to keep me from running out of the church in case I chickened out at the last moment. My knees kept twitching as if they had a motor in them. And I kept glancing upward towards the ceiling. It didn’t take long for Frank to notice that.

"Quit looking up at the ceiling," Frank said. "Why do you keep looking up there anyway?"

"I've never been in a church before," I told him. “I just wanted to check it out while I had the chance. And besides that, I'm afraid the man upstairs is going to find out I ain’t never been here before and strike me down." Frank just shook his head.

"You'll get through this alright. It's certainly a day I thought I'd never see," Frank said. I noticed my palms were beginning to perspire, and I tried to nonchalantly wipe them on my pants. Then the piano music started. The church door opened, and it was time. I took a deep breath.


Bettie entered the church, with Dag leading the way. I gulped. I was certainly going to have to come up with some new adjectives to describe Bettie. She had decided to wear something a little more unconventional than the normal wedding gown. The dress was elegant and stylish and yes, even sexy, but totally different from the generic wedding garb one might have expected. Instead of a veil she wore a tiara. On her right arm Bettie sported a stylish bracelet with ancient symbols on it. A necklace with it’s centerpiece being a blue stone, and Aphrodite herself couldn’t have looked better. Yep, Bettie always did things her own way and sometimes unconventional, but it always was for the better.

I took another gulp as they walked slowly toward us. Bettie walked up to Frank, Dag walked up to me. It was how they had planned it. "Did I do okay, daddy?," Dag asked.

"You were just perfect, sweetie," I told her.

"I guess today I lose my little girl forever," I heard Frank say.

Dag went to hug Bettie. Then she ad-libbed.

"I love you mommy," she said. And to Dag, Bettie was already her second mommy. She had been since the day they had met. Dag had always sensed it.

And finally, I took her hand. It was time to begin. "We are gathered here today to join this man and this woman in the bonds of holy matrimony...," I heard Father O'Brian begin. But I only half heard him. I was still mesmerized by the beautiful young girl who had chosen to spend the rest of her life with me, who asked nothing of me but to love her in return and that I did, heart and mind, body and soul.

And as I clasped her hands in mine, I heard Father O'Brian ask me if I took this woman to be my lawfully wedded wife, from this day forward, for richer or poorer, till death do us part."

And without even a hint of hesitation, I replied. "I do." And then he asked her. And she too, said "I do."




When it came time to slip the ring on her finger, my hand was noticeably shaking and at one point I thought I was going to drop it. She smiled at me and I smiled back. And as I slid the ring onto her finger, I said the words, "With this ring, I thee wed."


And of course afterwards there were more hugs and handshakes from just about everyone. Nick told me I'd better treat his sis well or he'd be after my hide. I told him he didn't have anything to worry about. Afterwards, we had a small reception with some family and friends.

I had called and invited Daggett to the wedding and he said he would try to be there. He did show up and immediately made a good friend in Erika. The two of them hit it off quite well. And Erika did catch the bridal bouquet. Even Alison, having forgiven my past indiscretions showed up. Nick spent a lot of time getting to know her.

Of course, Bettie and I had to dance the first dance together with everyone watching us. We didn't mind though. As a matter of fact I don't think we even noticed that we were being watched.

Afterwards, everybody got a chance to show off their dance moves. Of course some were better at it than others but I'm not going to tell you who. When it came time for Bettie and I to depart there were more hugs and more tears. Dag and Laurie would spend the next week staying with Frank and Arcadia while we were away. Dag wasn't too pleased that she wasn't going along with us, not fully understanding why kids couldn't go on the honeymoon too. But she was calm about it when we finally left.

I remember...

We had decided to honeymoon somewhere quiet and cozy, away from everyone and everybody. We chose the Calabar Inn, a small inn nestled out in the mountains. It was very exclusive, and had only had about ten suites if that many. For our needs it was perfect-almost.

Our suite was on the top floor, three flights up and there was no elevator. Accessible from an outside stairwell. I was just about to head up the stairs when Bettie stopped me.

"No, you don't," she said. "You have to carry me over the threshold."

"I thought the threshold was at our own house?," I asked.

"Well, that's a threshold, and this is a threshold. You can carry me over both," she said using her ever abundant propensity for illogical logic.

"When we get to our room, then I'll carry you over the threshold," I answered.

"Nope," she said. "That won't do. I want you to carry me all the way up!"

"But we're on the third floor!" I told her. "I'll be dead before we reach the top"

"Are you saying you're less of a man than Ryan O'Neal whom I will remind you, carried Ali McGraw up three flights of stairs!"

"But that was just a movie," I protested. “He didn’t really carry her up all those stairs.” I was beginning to rue the day that I had gotten Bettie interested in watching so many old films.

"Well this is a movie too. This is my movie and I'm the director, now show me those muscles all that diving has given you and carry me. You wouldn't want me to be sad on our honeymoon, would you? Now get with the program, rich guy."

She leaped up into my arms, and I was surprised at how light she really was. It was a challenge but I was sure I could handle it. I began the trek up the staircase. By the time I reached the second landing though, I could feel my knees beginning to wobble.

"How's this," I said. "Close enough?"

"This is not the official threshhold. Keep going!"

Finally we reached the last landing. But it was still a ways to go into the door, and down the hall to our room.

"Now is this the threshhold?," I asked pointing to the door in front of us.

"Is our room in that door?" she asked.

"No, not exactly."

"Then it's not the threshold. Keep moving."

"How would you like me to accidentally throw you over the balcony," I said, walking towards it.

"Then you'd have one lonely honeymoon wouldn't you," she laughed.

Finally we reached our room and I carried her inside.

"Now, is this the goddamn threshold?" I asked. My breath was coming in short pants, and I was perspiring quite heavily.

"Yep, this is the official threshold," she answered. "You can put me down now. I wouldn't want to damage you permanently and ruin my honeymoon!"

Now kiss me," she said. "I want to make sure you're still up for this honeymoon."

"No doubt about that," I told her. No doubt about that at all!"

Later we sat out on the balcony, and I held her in my arms, as we enjoyed the peaceful surroundings around us. I would have been happy just to sit out there, on that balcony, holding her in my arms forever. But eventually night fell as the sun settled in between the mountains.

"Do you want to go take a shower?" she whispered in my ear. "I think it's time you showed me what you got."

I couldn't help but chuckle, and I headed off to the shower.

But as soon as i did my nerves began to get the better of me again. And I would have stayed in there forever if I didn't finally hear her yell through the door, "Are you going to stay in there forever? We've only got a week you know."

So I finally finished, put on some of my best cologne and headed out. She was waiting by the door.

"Wait for me on the balcony," she said, hurrying into the bathroom.

I stood looking out over the hills and forest below us, when eventually I heard the landing door open and she stepped outside.

"Well, what do you think?" she said softly.

"I think you are absolutely stunning," I told her.

And to prove it, I kissed her once again. She took me by the hand and led me into our suite. We stood there facing each other for the longest time. To me, she was the most beautiful creature that had ever walked the planet. She was young, gorgeous, caring, sexy, sweet, beautiful, and there was an innocent but worldly charm about her.

"I love you, Mrs. Baker," I told her. It seemed strange to say it. It was the first time I had called her that.

"Hmmm...Mrs. Baker," she answered. "It has a nice ring to it. I might just keep it."

And then we kissed, but it was a kiss that was different from the many others we had shared over the past month. It was a kiss of anticipation, but not eagerness, it was a kiss that told us that what we were about to share, on that night, in that room, would be unlike anything else we had shared before.

She was as nervous as I. I felt clumsy and awkward, something I hadn’t felt since my own teen years. But what I discovered that night is that it didn't matter. In my life I had shared my bed with many women. But I had never shared myself with someone I loved so passionately or cared about so deeply. And I found that that when you love someone that much it's as if each cell that inhabits your body, each particle of your being merges with theirs, that you are no longer separate entities, but you become one with them as they become one with you.

And later, as we slept, as she lay there with her arms wrapped around me, I had the greatest feeling of serenity, comfort, and fulfillment that I had ever known.

We spent much of the next week walking through the gardens, and spending time down by the stream that flowed lazily past the Calabar Inn. We took a few trips into a nearby town, ate at a small diner there, saw a movie, but by our fourth evening there I could feel something was amiss with Bettie.


"Is there something wrong hon?" I asked as we walked across the bridge.

"No, nothing's wrong," she answered. "Everything has been just perfect."

"You've been awfully quiet this morning," I answered. "I just thought something might be bothering you........like maybe you were missing the girls!"

She laughed. "Now that's a switch," she said. "You figuring out what I'm thinking instead of the other way around. Yeah, I know it's silly but I kind of miss them. The quiet and relaxation were good for a few days, but......I guess there's such a thing as too much of a good thing."

"In a couple of months you may be praying for some quiet relaxation."

"You're probably, right," she said. "It'll probably get to a point where we have very few quiet moments together. Would you care if we went back home a day early? We've only got two more days left anyway, and I'd like to spend at least one night alone with you in our home. You know, just the two of us."

"Not at all darling. As a matter of fact, I was just about to suggest the same thing myself. The idea of spending a couple of nights alone at home with you is a wonderful idea. We can leave first thing in the morning."

And so it was that we returned home the next afternoon. Upon reaching the front of the house, she once again leaped into my arms.

"Carry me across the threshold!" she told me.

"Didn't we already do this bit?" I asked.

"That wasn't the official threshold. This is where I'm going to spend the rest of my life so this is the official threshold. Now move your butt," she said, and then whispering in my ear, "To the bedroom, and be quick about it!" She didn't have to ask twice.

"There's just one thing I have to ask you," I said carrying her towards the bedroom. "And remember that before you answer I now carry your life in my hands,"

"And what might that be," she said.

"Do I have a cute butt or not?"

Bettie let out a huge laugh. "You absolutely have a cute butt! Now take me to heaven!"

In the weeks that followed our return home, life returned to a certain amount of normalcy...sort of. Bettie was true to her word about turning the bachelor pad into a family home with a woman's touch. With the help of several thousand simoleans, a few painters, wall paper hangers, and various other high priced home remodeling experts, her work was finished. It was mid May by the time it was completed, almost a full year since I had fled Devonshire and my troubles for Florida.

I had to admit, that the house did have a more cheerful atmosphere to it and I was glad for the change.

"Well what do you think," she asked me that afternoon when the last carpenter had left, check in hand. "Can I cook, or can I cook?"

I looked around the room. "Hmmm...not bad, I said. Not bad at all. There's just one thing missing though."

"What might that be?" she asked me, somewhat puzzled.

"My neon flamingos," I answered with a straight face. For that comment I received shoulder punch number 87. I had decided to keep track in case there was a world record to be broken.

I remember….

That there was one particular afternoon when Dag exited the school bus and entered the house crying hysterically. Dag had always come home cheerful and full of news about her day, never in tears. Ever the doting parents, we wasted no time in running to her with Bettie two steps ahead of me.

"What is it Dag, what happened?," Dag continued to sob. In between she managed to spill the beans.

"Bettie," she began, and that was the first clue. Since we had been married, Dag had only addressed Bettie as mommy. Since "The Swimming Pool" incident, I had always been Daddy. "Marsha Breunig....says I can't have two mommies and daddies...that you aren't my real mommy at all....that I only have one real mommy and daddy and that Joe can't be my daddy either......and just because my mommy and daddy died didn't mean I could have new ones.....and she said you and Joe couldn't be my mommy and daddy because....because my skin is darker."

I could see the anger boiling up in Bettie's face, but not as much as it was in mine. I grabbed Dag and pulled her towards me.

Bettie clinched her fists. Remember how I said I once needed three fingers to count the number of times I had heard Bettie curse. She ran up a littany of expletives that used up all my fingers and toes. I would need a caluclator from that point on. And each expletive was punctuated by the words Marsha Breunig, brat, and she even one threw in one “that little bitch” for good measure. The thought crossed my mind that Bettie wasn’t setting a very good example, but I knew now was not the time to mention it. As I already knew, that when it came to family, there was nothing more important to Bettie than that And if you mess with the family, you get the bull, buster.

"Dag, you shouldn't pay attention to kids like Marsha Breunig. Lots of kids have two mommies and daddies. Sometimes something happens, and they need new parents to take care of them just like you did. That doesn't mean you forget your real mom and dad. I will always be your dad, and Bettie will always be your mom. We love you as much as your real mommy loved you and that's why she left you with me, so that you would have someone to love you as much as she did."

"But Marcia....said...if my real mommy and daddy were alive...they'd be mad at me for calling you mommy and daddy." Ten more expletives from Bettie.

"Dag, remember when you first got here? There was a letter in your overnight bag that your mommy wrote. She asked me to love you and take care of you as if you were my own. And Bettie and I love you as if you were our very own. Do you think since your mommy asked me to take care of you she would care if you had another mommy and daddy since she can't be here to take care of you? Lot's of children lose their parents for many different reasons. They can't be there for them as they are growing up. The lucky ones find other parents to take care of them. And those parents are as much their mommy and daddy are as Bettie and I are to you. And they all call them mom and dad, just like you call Bettie and me mommy and daddy?"

I looked at Bettie, hoping to get affirmation from her that I was making sense. I wasn't sure I was doing such a great job. She nodded approvingly.


"And Dag, as far as the color of a person's skin, it doesn't matter one bit. It doesn't say anything about who a person is or what a person is. All that matters is what's inside here, in your heart, and how you treat people and how other people treat you."

"We love you Dag. And that should be all that matters. And you keep right on calling us mommy and daddy as long as you want!" It was then that I heard Bettie on the phone. She related the incident to whoever was on the other end. It didn't take long for me to figure out who it was.


"What do you mean, kids will be kids Mrs. Breunig? I agree, Mrs. Breunig, but there comes a time when kids have to be put straight especially when they hurt someone like that............no Mrs. Breunig, she won't get over it by tomorrow.........Let me put it to you this way Mrs. Breunig, I want you to set your daughter straight and I want it done now.............Well, Mrs. Breunig, it's either that or I can arrange a meeting with the principal in which I, my husband, and you and your husband and daughter will be in attendance. And If I can't get any satisfaction there, then I'll take it to the school board, are we quite clear on that Mrs. Breunig?.......I thought we would be and Mrs. Breunig, thank you for your time. The last five words out of Bettie's mouth sounded as insincere as I had ever heard her.

"See honey, it'll be okay. How would you like a certificate from a lawyer showing that Bettie and I are your official mommy and daddy? Then the next time someone tries to tell you otherwise, you can show it to them."

"What's a certificate?" she asked.

"This certificate will be like a law. And once we get that certificate nobody can ever again try to tell you that you can't call us mommy and daddy?"

It was something I should have taken care of already, but neither Bettie nor I had given it much thought. Legally, I was Dag's and Laurie's parent.

Legally, Bettie was not. While Bettie took her turn at comforting Dag, I put a call in to Jay Daggett. When I told him what I needed and wanted, he assured me there should be no problem. If there were to be one, it would probably come from Laurie's grandparents, but he had received no reply from them after Susan's death, despite a certified letter having been sent to them and the delivery confirmed. And true to his word, three months later, he was at our door.

"Bettie, once you sign those papers you are and will always be the mother of Laurie and Dag,"

"Don't I have to go before a judge or something?" Bettie asked.

Daggett chuckled. "Let's just say some of my best friends are judges." Bettie smiled and quickly signed the papers. And then he turned to Dag and handed her a piece of paper, with engraved lettering, gold trim and a gold emblem.

"This is for you Dag, and Laurie has one too for when she gets older. It says that Joe and Bettie are your official mommy and daddy."

Dag looked in awe at the piece of paper. Smiled at me then smiled at Bettie. "Thank you Mister Daggett. Thank you so much!"

"It was my pleasure, Dag," Then he turned to me. "You know Joe, if you keep calling me out here, I may just have to set up my own practice here in Devonshire. I kind of like the weather. It gets mighty cold back there in Ohio during the winter."

"Well if you do, I'll be happy to give you my business."

"I've always used Dad's attorney and he's getting up there in age and is going to retire soon anyway."

"Now," he said. "Am I going to get to see Laurie on this trip or not. I missed her when you got married."

Bettie got up to get the previously sleeping Laurie. "She is getting big already!" Daggett said. "And she certainly looks happy and healthy. You and Bettie are doing a wonderful job with these kids. Susan would be pleased with both of you I'm sure."

"You are going to stay for dinner, aren't you?" I asked him.

"I will during my next trip out here. I've got a friend picking me up here in just a few minutes!"

"A friend, here in Devonshire?" And as if it had been cued, the doorbell rang. I went to answer it. It was Erika.

"I guess this is your ride!," I told Daggett. "Ah! The secrets you keep!"

"Now Joe, you're beginning to sound like all the other gossips in this town."

"Me? A gossip?" I winked at Bettie. "Only if there's really something juicy to gossip about. Is there?"

"If you need to be finding a new gardener again, we'll let you know, Joe." Dagget said while handing Laurie back to Bettie. "Now, Dag, come and give me a hug."

Susan had been more than right about Daggett. He was one of the good guys. In three months, Dagget would move to Devonshire to start his own private practice. In less than a year, I would be hiring a new gardener. In three years, Bettie and I would become godparents to Jonna Lynn Daggett, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jay Daggett.

I remember...

That by the time Laurie hit her terrible twos she was hell on wheels. I do believe she was faster than a jack rabbit at getting around the house on all fours. Half of our days were taken up with trying to track her down. Take your eye off of Laurie for one second and she would find her way into anything.

When Bettie could get her corralled, she spent a great deal of time trying to get her to talk. Bettie was hoping her first words would be ma-ma. As it turned out Laurie's first words were ba-ba, which was even more appropriate considering how many bottles of milk the kid could down a day. I was thinking of buying my own cow.

Then one day I came in to find Bettie teaching Laurie how to walk.

"Uh...are you sure you want to do that?" I asked. "You think she's hard to keep up with now, wait until she's walking."

"Well, she can't crawl around on this floor the rest of her life."

"Do you want me to give you a helping hand there," I asked. "I walk okay so I should be able to teach her how to do it."

"No, but if you want to teach her something I got just the thing for you to teach Laurie. As a matter of fact, now is as good a time as any to start." She picked up Laurie and carried her to the bathroom, where she promptly handed her to me.

"What do you want me to do?" I asked.

"Potty train her," Bettie said. "It's time that we got her out of these diapers. Let's see how good you are at that."

As it was, potty training turned out not to be so easily done. The first few days Laurie wouldn't even sit on the thing. Then the next few days she would sit down, slide off, sit down, and slide off. When she did go the potty, it would always be right before I could get her diaper off and put her on the pot. Sometimes though, I would stick her on it and she still wouldn't go, until fifteen minutes after I would give up for the moment and put a clean diaper on her. She knew how to do that quite well.

Sometimes she would sit on the pot for ten minutes and then look inside.

"I don't know what you're looking at Laurie, it's as empty as it was fifteen minutes ago."

On other days she would just refuse to sit on it. Jumping off, sitting in the middle of the floor throwing a female type hissy fit. And then she would wet herself right there in the floor. The battle of the potty chair was in its second full week, and there had been no advancement by the troops. And then finally, when I thought it would never happen, she sat on the chair and I heard the tinkling of water dripping into the empty pot.

"Dear Lord," I said. "I know I've been a sinner, but if you can let her get the hang of this I'll be forever in your debt!"

And when she was finished she climbed off, looked inside at what she had done, then looked at me for approval! I applauded! I cheered! I probably cheered too much so because she wanted to get on it and do it again.

And a couple of days later, Bettie came in just as Laurie was depositing a package into the receptacle.

"Now, that wasn't so hard to do, was it?" Bettie said. "She's doing just fine."

"I always knew you could teach the kids something. Here's a reward," And she planted a good one on me. Unfortunately, while she was doing so, Laurie had slid off the pot and was doing a thorough exmaination by hand of what she had left in the chair.

Bettie and I both sighed. "I'll empty the pot, you bathe the kid," she told me.

While I was bathing her Dag and Bettie stood there and watched.

"Does she know how to use it now," Dag asked.

"I certainly hope so," I said. "Just think about it though, no more diapers! I thought this day would never get here! I say that alone is worth celebrating! When I get finished, it's time to go get some ice cream!"

Later that very same night, about three thirty in the morning, I heard Bettie climb out of bed and go into the bathroom. I could hear her being sick and was just about to go see if she was okay when she returned to the bathroom.

"Upset stomach," was all she said. "Too much ice cream."

"You sure you're okay?" I asked.

"I'm fine, go back to sleep." Except three nights later, it happened again, about five in the morning.


This time she was in the bathroom longer and I rushed in to check on her.

"Is there something I can do?"

She shook her head. "It's just another upset stomach."

"Maybe you should go to the doctor and get it checked out. Maybe you're getting an ulcer or something."

"I'm not getting an ulcer," she said. "But Laurie and Dag have a check up in a few days; I'll have the doctor check it out."

"Promise!" I said.

"Yes, I promise, I'll have the doctor examine me. Now quit being such a worry wart and let's go to bed."

A few days later when she returned from the doctor, I asked her what he had said.

"He says, everything is fine. Absolutely, perfect." she answered. Then she walked away humming. For some reason, all that day she did a lot of humming, and had this kind of grin on her face like the cat who swallowed the canary.


"Do you know what we need?," I told her that night as we lay in bed. "We need to go on a vacation."

"A vacation?" she asked. "Why a vacation?"

"We've been married for almost three years now; we've been raising two girls since even before that. I think it would be great for all of us to take a trip. It shouldn't be too hard with Laurie finally being out of diapers. What do you think?" I also noticed that Bettie was patting her stomach, and wondered if she was going to be sick again.

"A vacation might be nice," she said once again patting her stomach. "The five us on a vacation now would be a lot of fun!"

"I've promised Dag to take her to Disneyland, now would be a good time.....and what do you mean the five of us? Who are you thinking of inviting along? Frank won't go without Arcadia."

She sighed. "By the five of us I mean you, me, Dag, Laurie, and....." she patted her stomach again with a little more emphasis. I looked at her. I looked at her stomach. I looked at her again. Then I looked at her stomach again.

"Yes, dear," she told me. "We're going to have a baby! Guess you'll be changing diapers for a while longer!"

"You! Me! You're pregnant? We're going to have a baby! Us?"

She laughed. "Then you don't mind? I mean more dirty diapers, getting up in the middle of the night, more bottles."

"No, of course not. I mean, I just never thought about us having...we...a baby!" I was truly speechless.

I pulled her too me. And begin to kiss her. I didn't need to say another word!



I remember...
The first time I felt the baby kick. Bettie took my hand and placed it on her ever growing belly.

"Did you feel it," she asked.

"Has to be a boy to kick like that. He'll be kicking field goals for Devonshire High in no time."

"It could be a girl," she said. "Are you still living in the dark ages where the only thing a woman could do was sit home and darn socks?"

"No, of course not," I said. "But they still don't kick field goals for Devonshire High."

I remember...

Bettie's sudden appetite for Chinese food. Not just once every now and then but three times a week she would want Chinese food. It seemed no matter how much of it she ate she couldn't get enough of it. I had hoped she would have a craving for pizza or hamburgers or something but it was not to be.

I remember...

Dag always had a wondrous fascination with the child growing inside of Bettie. One day while I was sitting on the sofa, she pointed to Bettie's stomach.



"How do Babies get in there, mommy," she asked.

"Well they grow out of love," Bettie answered. That wasn't a satisfactory answer for Dag.

"Don't look at me," I said burying my face deep into the newspaper. "She's a girl, you're a girl. This is your department not mine."

"Coward!" Bettie said.

"Well, how does the baby get in there?" Dag asked for the third time.

Bettie let out a huge sigh and I had to wonder if she had bargained for this moment when she had taken on the responsibility of raising two girls.

"What do you say we go up to your room and have a little talk, Dag," she said.

"Am I in trouble?" Dag asked.

"Nope, but we need to have a real girl talk."

I watched as they left for the upstairs. I don't know how long they were up there but it was a good while before Bettie finally trudged back down the stairs and she sat next to me on the couch.

"How did it go?" I asked.

"Fine, just fine," she said. "But if this one here's a boy, then you'll be the one doing the explaining." I suddenly began wishing for the unborn child to be a girl.

It wasn't long before Dag returned to the living room.


She looked first at me than at Bettie. Then back at me almost accusingly. Then back to Bettie.

"Is something wrong, Dag?" I asked.

"Yech!" she said. Then she repeated it as if to emphasize her point. "Yech, Yech, Yech! I’m not ever going to do that with anybody," she said.

"I wonder if that includes Orlando?" I asked Bettie who responded with punch in the arm number 687.


I remember...

One morning when Dag was going through her usual ritual of checking out the baby. Bettie had just entered month 7, and the bulge was now quite large. Everything was okay at that point. Then before running off to catch her bus, Dag reached up to Bettie to get her hug.

"Gee mommy! You're getting so big I can hardly get my arms around you anymore." And then she was off to school. She had barely walked out the front door when the tears began falling from Bettie's face!

I jumped up from the table I was sitting at and rushed to her.

"What is it darling, what's wrong."

"I'M FAT!" she said.

"You're not fat," I offered. "You're just pregnant."

"I'M PREGNANT AND I'M FAT. AND YOU DON'T LOVE ME ANYMORE AND YOU THINK I'M UGLY!"

"That's silly. Of course I still love you. What ever made you say something like that?"

"But you still think I'm fat and ugly," she said through her tears.

"I think you are the most beautiful woman on the face of the planet."

"Yeah," she replied, "Planet Ugly."

"You're not ugly and you're not fat," I tried again.

"But you haven't made love with me in weeks. See, you do think I'm ugly and fat."

"Well, I didn't know that we could. I thought when you got really bi....I mean extremely pregnant, you weren't supposed to do it anymore."

"You big blockhead," she said. "My doctor said we could do it up until the last minute if I wanted to. I want to but you don't."

"I most certainly do want to make love to you," I told her. "It's been harder than heck for me to keep my hands off of you. I didn't know we still could have sex, honest!"

"Cross your heart," she said wiping away the tears.

"Cross my heart," I said.

"When?" she asked.

“When what?” I asked.


“When can we have sex?” she replied looking at me as if I was stupid, which I probably was.

"How about twenty minutes ago!" I grinned.

I sealed the deal with a long passionate kiss, just before we headed off to the bedroom. Thankfully, Laurie didn't wake up until forty five minutes later.

By the time she had entered her last month of pregnancy, Arcadia and Frank had again temporarily moved into our upstairs bedroom. It was agreed that Frank would go to the
hospital with us when the time came, while Arcadia would stay with Dag and Laurie. In the last month of her pregnancy, the lovemaking did stop. The effect of carrying such a heavy load in front of her all that time had taken a toll. The anxiety of waiting for the moment to arrive was keeping both of us awake at night and we would often lay in bed reading while until we were tired enough to fall asleep. Finally one evening, I got under the covers to try and sleep while Bettie continued reading.

Somewhere in the back of my mind I heard her calling.

"Joe, wake up, it's time!" But I thought I was dreaming. Then I felt her hand on my shoulder, shaking me.

"Joe," I heard her say again. "Wake up, I'm in labor." That stirred me into action. Usually it took me a good five to ten minutes to wake up. This time I literally jumped out of the bed. Bettie was headed to the bathroom. I shook my head to break the cobwebs loose. I heard a loud moan come from the bathroom.


When I reached the bathroom, Bettie was standing in a small pool of water.

"My water just broke," she said. "I'll have to take a shower."

"We don't have time for that, I'll go wake up Frank and call a Taxi." I was beginning to panic.

"Calm down, hon. We have plenty of time," she tried to assure me. "I have to take a shower." She began to take off her pajamas and as she did she moaned again.

"Okay, you take a shower. I'll go get Frank!" I wasn't sure what I was doing, but I quickly raced for the stairs.

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