“Sylvia impresses them both. Now free of her addiction Sylvia is a great mother to Cindy. Kara and Sylvia have planned out a vacation for after her recovery; together the four of them are going to see the Grand Canyon.”
Before this latest development, Sylvia was watching how Cindy got along with Daniel and Kara. Instead of being jealous of Daniel and Kara, she came to me. She asked if I could get the legal documents drawn up that if something ever occur to her, and giving her condition probably would, that she wanted custody of Cindy to go to Daniel and Kara. Sylvia also asked that I not tell Daniel or Kara. That is something Kathryn knows, but because of my promise to keep it secret, she will keep it too.
Mom states, “It has been a lot busier around here than normal, Crystal’s adoption how is it going?”
Kathryn replies with a smile, “It is going really well, another three weeks and Crystal will be ours permanently. Ms. Clark came back yesterday, we became Crystal’s executors last week, but yesterday she was checking up on Cindy and Crystal. She informed me that the judge in this case has approved Crystal’s adoption is just a matter of time before it becomes legal. Then the signing ceremony like we had with Sam.”
Helen asks, “Did you guys get an invite over to Kara and Daniels tonight for Dinner?”
I reply “Yes, I asked what Kathryn and I should bring but they said nothing just ourselves.”
Helen asks, “I understand she had some news to tell us. You have a clue to what it could be?”
I answer, “No idea could be anything, I know Daniels business has really picked up, and he has been designing everything from businesses, to new homes and doing renovations. Kara has been helping Sylvia as much as she can after school. I know she has been busy as well with school, and the martial arts classes though she does seem distracted, maybe a little depressed.”
Helen says, “You think Daniel and her are having problems already? If he is hurting my daughter so help…”
Cutting Helen off I say, “No I think it is more to do with the fact she is torn over the situation with Cindy, and she is envious of Kathryn.”
Kathryn is startled; her emotions erupt as she says, “Jealous of me, why?”
Addressing Kathryn on what I have observed, “First, everyone has been fawning over you and your pregnancy, petting your belly, rubbing it telling you how special you are. Kara wants that too, she wants to be Cindy’s mother so bad, but as Sylvia improves something she wants too, she sees the situation for what it is.”
Now directing my observations to Helen, “Okay this is going to be hard to say Helen and I mean nothing mean by it, but just events I have observed. I know Kathryn is your baby, and mothers tend to be closer to the youngest. However, your older children especially your daughters still feel a little left out. Especially Kara and Karen, they love Kathryn but they still are a little jealous of the affection you and the Coach lavish on her. I know that might be just their perception and you truly do not love them any less. Occasionally you should try a little harder on giving them affection. I know you can fix the situation, it should be easy enough just tell them how proud you are and how much you love them.”
Helen startled says “Really?”
I reluctantly remind Helen at one time when her daughters received mixed messages, and could easily misunderstood her motivations. I began, “Helen remember the party three years ago, and sure your daughters got wild. Nevertheless, you dressed all them down the same except for Kathryn. I know that was because of our engagement, you saw it differently. However, I am unsure if your daughters realized that. Some people must think that they had all done the same thing; they should receive the same punishment. Maybe you should have explained it better to them then. I know you did try, it is just probably hard to think when you are standing there naked in front of your mother.”
Helen is a little shocked and says, “I was trying to motivate them to stop their wild behavior, to do like Kathryn and find someone special for them.”
Kathryn can sense where I am going, although unhappy about it she allows me to continue without her interrupting. I say, “That might not been the impression they got. They may have thought you favorite Kathryn. They did not realize that you and Michael had already accepted our engagement, and eventual marriage. That when you allowed Kathryn to move in with me, it was not them seen Kathryn as a young woman like I did, they so you letting their little sister move-in with a man.”
Helen realizing that her sisters could easily see Kathryn as the spoiled pampered little sister who always gets her way even if that was not the way she saw it. Helen says, “I had no idea, I really do want what’s best for my daughters, all of them, and I never ever meant to play favorites. How do I fix this?”
I reply, “That is up to you, but I have faith that you can. Talk to them, let them know how you feel it could be that easy.”
Michelle had been listening; although she tried to remain out of sight, I caught her out of the corner of my eye. Finally getting her courage up Michelle walks back in. She stops in front of Kathryn and gives her a hug in whispers into Kathryn’s ear, “I know you love me that is one thing that has made it easier. I was jealous of how Mom treated you. Here you are my baby sister and so young moving in with JJ.”
Tears spring up in Kathryn’s eyes as she looks at Michelle she says, “You know I would never do anything to hurt you. It is just that I have never felt that young.”
Michelle with tears of her own gives Kathryn a smile saying, “I know, and I come to realize that even though you’re younger in years, in some ways you’re my big sister. Mom is right you and JJ are the two most married people ever. You have been since you met, and I do have a right to be a little jealous, who would not be. I am also very, very happy for you.” Michelle and Kathryn wrap each other in a warm hug.
Michelle begins giggling pulling back from Kathryn. Michelle has green eyes, and says, “Look at you, our baby big sister.”
Kathryn begins giggling along; she uses Michelle’s analogy and playfully refers to her, “My big little sister.” They both stick their tongue out at each other as only sisters can tease each other.
Helen comes and hugs the two, looking into Michelle’s eyes she says, “Michelle, I am sorry if you misunderstood what I wanted to do. I love you, and I am so very proud of you. Even when I did mess up you turned out so good.”
Michelle hugging her mother tightly says, “I know Mom, I love you too.”
As the three embrace my phone rings, I wipe a tear away as I answer, “Hello.”
Karen is on the phone and she is nearly frantic as she explains, “JJ, can you get Mom and Dad…” After a deep breath she continues, “It is Kara she is in the hospital… It is really bad… They need to get here.” This is the most upset of ever-heard Karen to be. Karen hung up the phone unable to go into more detail. As I turn to them, Kathryn has gone pale and shaking, I am sure if it were not for the fact that her mother and Michelle had held her she probably would be on the floor.
Looking at them I say, “We need to go NOW. We got to head to the hospital, it is Kara, and Karen was too upset to give me any more details.”
Michelle becomes the strength of the three, now holding both her shaking mother and sister. Mom comes and helps seeing them in distress. She begins them towards the garage, and I get the intercom for the TV room, getting Charles’s attention. I quickly tell him of the situation and they volunteer to watch the girls for us.
I sprint to the garage, and help Michelle with her mother, Kathryn have nearly recovered enough to get into our SUV on her own, but Mom helps her into the back seat with her mother. As the garage door is still coming up I start the car, when I have just enough room for me to make it under I begin pulling out, I am careful of the bicycles, but fortunately there is no children riding on the driveway. The radio still adjusted to the local station, and a news bulletin comes over the air. (Escape convict shoots two local women, one dead, injures another. Police at the scene have regained control of the escape convict, more details when they become available.)
Helen screams, “Not my baby, not my Kara.” Michelle and Kathryn cries beside her mother yet trying to comfort her.
I call Uncle George; his contacts with the police may mean he knows more than anyone else does at this moment. “Uncle George, do you know anything about what happened to Kara? If not maybe, you should come to the hospital too. Karen gave me a call, she said Kara is hurt, she did not give me any other details.”
Uncle George is stunned, “JJ this is the first I have heard, of course I am on the way.”
I call my father-in-law, once he answers I say, “Dad, get to the hospital as fast as you can, Karen is there apparently Kara is hurt. I got Helen, Mom, Kathryn and Michelle with me we are on our way.” Of course, he asked if I knew what was going on, and I had to confess I did not know.
The normal twenty-minute trip took me ten; I had not even realized I was driving that quickly although it seemed like the longest ten minutes of my life so far. Arriving at the emergency room we run in, we waive the nurse away she must think Kathryn is in labor. Spotting Daniel, we run straight to him. Helen wraps him in a hug crying. Poor Cindy caught between the two and squeeze much like Sam was at the airport.
I ask as I work Cindy free, “Daniel what happened?”
Daniel begins, “We were with Cindy and Sylvia at their apartment. We were bring in Cindy’s birthday presents, just having a good time when we heard a crash at the front door. Seems Cindy’s Dad must have made bail or escaped but he broke in carrying a gun. He came in and fired right away. The bastard was aiming right at Cindy; Kara scooped her up in her arms but did not have time to get out of the way. Sylvia dived in front just as he fired. Sylvia caught most of it, which saved Kara and Cindy.
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