I know I’m blushing because of all the complements. Kathryn’s voice sounds like an angel’s to me as she says, “He never gave me a reason to be jealous even though I am. I know he’s capable of so much, but never seen JJ use it to bring harm to anyone. I’ve never seen him not try to help anyone who was in need, because it would be too hard or costly. He seems to figure out a way to help someone in just the right manner, whether it is a kind word or gentle ass kicking, he seems to change everyone around him for the better.”
Kathryn stands there holding Samantha who’s fallen back asleep in her arms. Kathryn holding the little girl as naturally as she would have her own daughter brings a smile to my face. I notice Kathryn’s eyes are not the vivid green I’ve come to expect, but bluish Hazel. Michelle with her eye for detail notices as well. The coach, Michael her father, gives a sad sigh as he to notices. Michael asked, “What’s wrong Kathryn?”
Kathryn says, “The doctor had to give her a sedative so he could finish the exam. She will sleep for another few hours if not the rest of the night. Sam’s going to be fine in a few days’ time. I’m just worried about her. Sam talked a lot about how bad her old mommy and her boyfriend were to her. What were you talking about Sam I didn’t catch all of it?”
I whispered to Michelle, “Watch Kathryn’s eyes.” A puzzled look is across Kathryn’s face. Now Michelle and I looking Kathryn straight in the face, I begin explaining about Samantha the whole story that we found out how the poor girl lost her parents, then her grandmother and ended up in the care of those two who abused her. Samantha’s Aunt just died of a drug overdose, leaving her without a legal guardian. By this time Kathryn’s eyes are deep blue revealing her sadness. Then I inform her, “Because of the situation I volunteered us to be Samantha’s new parents. If she has no other living relative to step forward, and I seriously doubt she does. Sam will be a part of our lives until she’s grown.”
The change is striking in a blink Kathryn’s eyes are the brilliant green from this morning. Michelle notices the change with a gasp. Kathryn leans to me to kiss me which I proudly do, still mindful of the sleeping child in my Love’s arms. Michelle waits until we break our kiss before she asks, “Kathryn, how can you do that, your eye color actually changed?”
Kathryn giggles, “My eyes are hazel, and they don’t change color.”
The coach clears his throat before he says, “Sweetheart they do. For the last four years they have been more or less continuously green letting me know you been happy. Every time you are with JJ they have been green as any eyes I’ve ever seen. Only when the two of you are away from each other or something else upset you they look blue, but when you are with JJ they always turn green again, like they have just now.”
Misty notices too, she says, “You are right her eyes are green now, they were blue in the exam room. I thought it was just the lighting in there, but I watch them change right now out here.”
I rub Kathryn shoulder and tell her, “I love your eyes. They tell me when you’re happy or sad. I know when I have to work at making you happy again.”
Samantha shuffles in her sleep, moving her head from one of Kathryn shoulders to the other in the process she says, “Love you mommy.” Kathryn’s eyes are again brightly green, her eyes turned to a little Hazel during our conversation.
I smile and ask, “I don’t really need to ask, but are you happy now?”
Looking into my eyes Kathryn says, “Yes, I’m a little sad for Sam, but I know our family will be good for her.”
With a chuckle I say, “You’re a great mother already. Our daughters are going to love being your children.”
With a pretty strong punch to my arm Kathryn laughs and says, “Our children.”
Ms. Clark actually laughs as she walks to us, is the first real emotion I’ve seen the woman show. She says, “Watching you together I know Sam is in good hands. Your whole family came here; when there was so much else they could be doing especially on the Fourth of July.”
Ms. Clark does ask where Sam will sleep tonight and I tell her probably with us. I don’t want her to panic if she wakes up and Kathryn is not there.
Ms. Clark agrees with that, although she says, “It will be all right for a few days for Sam to sleep with you. Soon you need to move Sam to her own bedroom. Once she’s assured her home life will be stable she should make the change fairly easily. I will check on you guys in about a week that should give enough time to get the official story on Sam.”
The Judge remarks, “I do believe we have just enough time to catch the fireworks.”
Kathryn says, “Why don’t you guys do that. I want to put Sam down so she can sleep more comfortably so JJ and I need to go home.” Mom, Grandma, Helen and Alyssa come back home with us, the Coach and the rest of them go watch the fireworks.
We get home and are there for a while Helen comes over with some of Kathryn’s old clothing that should fit Sam. She also brings over a few T-shirts that should be small enough for Sam to sleep in. Kathryn gently washes Sam with a damp washcloth before dressing her in the T-shirt to sleep in.
Our mothers and Alyssa watch with smiles on their faces as Kathryn gently lay Sam down in the center of our bed. Samantha shifts a little to get herself comfortable, smiles a little then relaxes back into her sleep.
Mom whispers, “Come down to the kitchen so we can talk.”
Leaving the bathroom hall light on but turning the overhead lights out so Sam can sleep easily. Kathryn and I nod and following the three women down stairs leaving the door open so we can hear Sam if she stirs in her sleep. We enter the kitchen the three women pull Kathryn into a hug and tell her how proud they are. Blushing slightly Kathryn nods and says, “I was just trying to live up to the examples I have.”
Helen kisses her daughter on the forehead and says, “You’re doing better than trying baby.”
Mom giggles saying, “You’re a natural when it comes to being a mother.”
Alyssa ask, “You two hungry?” My growling stomach answers for me. Now giggling Alyssa says, “I’ll take that as a yes. Let me make something for us.” Alyssa begins checking the refrigerator and pulling out items, when I start to get up Mom’s hand goes to my shoulder.
Mom in a whisper says, “Alyssa is staying to help me JJ. Let her do her job she needs that right now.” I know what Mom means, sometimes feeling useful is important, just like having enough money to live on or even a place to live.
Grandma comes in; she had been cleaning her room. She asked Alyssa, “You cooking this late?”
Alyssa looks over her shoulder and says, “With all this excitement today, JJ only had breakfast and then a portion of wedding cake. Kathryn had a plate of chicken with Samantha but neither got a good dinner. Most of us did neither so I’m going to make up a quick dinner that should be ready when everyone returns from the fireworks, something lite because it’s late.”
She hands me container of potatoes. She asked, “Could you and Kathryn pill these?”
Kathryn I take the two paring knives that she offers and start to work on the potatoes. Alyssa says, “Thank you.” And goes back to what she was doing. She has ground beef she’s mixing eggs breadcrumbs and spices into. When she finishes she places them into a pan and then into the oven. Although it looks like she’s making a meat loaf she is using a nine my twelve inch pan instead of a loaf pan.
The way she place to meat it was thin not like normal meat loaf. She goes to the pantry and pulls out a couple cans of carrots, which she drains and places into a pot to heat adding water. Kathryn I finished peeling the potatoes, and I take them over to the sink as Kathryn deposits the potato peels in the trash. I rinse the potatoes removing any dirt smeared across them.
Alyssa asks, “Could you cut those up fairly small less than a half inch chunks.”
Kathryn and I begin doing just that. As Alyssa continues busily preparing the rest of dinner, as soon as we have finished cutting the potatoes Alyssa takes them and puts them into a pot of boiling water. Alyssa turns the carrots completely off drains them, adds butter and brown sugar and places it back onto the warm stove top to rest. Now satisfied with her preparations Alyssa comes back to the table and joins in the conversation.
Of course the conversation quickly turns to babies and children, Kathryn and I listen intently. Of course Mom mentioned that her and my Dad used an early version of your baby can read. Mom brags about how I can read when I was thirty months old. Helen mentions that Kathryn was reading back her books to her when she was about the same age. It does make me wonder if Samantha can read yet. That will give us something to do together Kathryn and I can teach Samantha how to read. I’m bending in and give Kathryn a kiss on her cheek. I whisper, “Yes will do that. We’ll find out if Samantha can read and make sure she can.”
Kathryn just grins at me before she whispered back, “You’re good Dad.”
We notice the room is gone quiet. Mom clears her throat and says. “What are you two whispering about?”
For the first time in my life I can actually say this, “Just parent things.” Mom raises an eyebrow and I chuckle then continue, “I didn’t want to interrupt your conversation, but I told Kathryn we need to find out if Sam can read if not we need to teacher.”
Our mothers start giggling then Helen says, “You be patient doing that you two are very intelligent. It may be harder for Sam she’s a little older and she may not have your IQ.”
One thing teaching other people does for you, is teach you to have patience, not everyone will pick things up as quickly. Others pick things up so quickly that they become impatient to learn more. I always had those individuals that picked it up quickly to help me teach the ones having problems. This did two things, helped the ones who needed help, taught the advanced students to have patients or gave them some practice. More often than not it taught the impatient to have patients. Kathryn giggles and says, “Mom JJ is one of the most patient teachers I’ve ever had.”
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