The Ten of Them – Chapter 30

The crowd comes to their feet as the coach wishes the graduating class the greatest of luck in their future. The auditorium gives him a long-standing ovation. The applause is so loud I feel my phone buzz but cannot hear my phone ringing. Looking at the caller ID, the call is from Ron just as the crowd dies down I answer and he informs me Reese is in labor her water broke on the way to graduation.

Fortunately, everyone in the family seated near me and other than a few having, difficulty getting out of the parking lot we all manage to get to the hospital together. Reese was very close to being full-term, and we were not too worried because of that. Ron is as nervous as the day of his wedding; he is walking back and forth with a slight limp. Sam runs up to him, jumps into his arms causing him to stumble backwards but he catches himself. Excitedly Sam asks, “Aunt Reese is having her baby, is he here yet?”

Ron shakes his head no, and Sam’s face turns into a pout before Ron says, “I know how you feel Sam I feel the same way.”

Crystal tugs on Ron’s arm getting his attention. He bends down and scoops her up too. I use my cell phone and take a quick picture of my two daughters in their Uncle’s arms. The two girls work together distracting Ron from his worries.

I do not know who taught them how to be such little angels when it comes to that. However, the two can distract us men when we are the most worried. They did the same for Marshall when Misty was in labor. I heard the stories from Helen after a day or two had passed. It was one of the afternoons when the girls were at Helen’s home. They all were asleep, including Kathryn. Helen and I talked in whispers and she told me the story.

My phone rings yet again, and I step outside to answer. It is Major Denton, his retirement had finally come through and he is actually in town. He is looking forward to meeting my family, and catching up with Ron and Reese along with the Samson family.

He agrees to meet us at the hospital, as I explained that Reese is in labor. Fifteen minutes later, he finds the hospital than chuckles at a nervous Uncle Ron still pacing the hallways now with the two girls in his arms.

Major Denton smiles and says, “Look who I found on my way here.” He opens the door again and in comes Ron’s father-in-law and mother-in-law. Reese’s mother rushes to Ron, the last time they saw each other was just before Ron went off with Reese on their honeymoon. After she lets him go, Sam and Crystal take a deep breath, and then they giggle before giving Ron a kiss. Ron sets the two girls down, and takes his mother-in-law back into his arms.

Reese’s father walks up to me and says, “I understand you are my nephew.”

I smile throwing my arms wide I say, “Yes.” I wrap my uncle, who is a little surprised at my actions, into a hug. I release him, and my Mom takes my place.

Mom spent her free time of the last three weeks with Reese. No matter where Reese was, Mom try to spend as much time with her as possible. That meant Mom was at Kara and Daniel’s house every day. Mom related almost every story she had about Dad and me to Reese. Kara listening intently as Mom told stories about her brother-in-law. More often than not Kathryn and the girls were there loving the stories too.

Every time Reese seen me, she would throw me in a hug and kiss my cheeks for a couple minutes at least. Giggling Reese would say, “I am such a lucky aunt to have a nephew like you.”

I usually give her a kiss on the cheek before I would say to her, “My aunt only needs to ask, and whatever I have I will share with her.”

Reese would say, “All I need is to share your time, and your love my nephew.”

Chuckling because I was so happy I would reply, “I thought you were going to ask for something hard, but just try to stop me from fulfilling that promise.” So far, that has been very easy to do, my wife, children, and my mother were usually with Aunt Reese. Recently Sam or Crystal cuddled to Reese whenever I found them together, with Ron holding both of them.

I watched how gentle Ron could be, especially when he would hold Amanda. For a big man, battle hardened, he truly had a soft spot when it comes to children. He seemed calmer too, with Reese at his side and one of my girls in his arms. I knew he was going to be a great father. He definitely was a great uncle.

Reese’s Dad, Robert who prefers Bob, smiles at Ron now have in the opportunity to give the big man a hug. Ron seems more comfortable now showing such affection, before he always was a bit standoffish when it comes to such things. Although, I think now things changed slightly for Ron he more easily accepts affection and gives it as well.

Ron did not have much of a choice but to become accustomed, Sam would jump into his arms as she did me. Crystal would demand affection from him too. Although she was not as rough, it can be harder to deny her, her pout would precede tears and both could melt the hardest heart.

Ron certainly have a soft spot for the girls, which now included Cindy. Ron takes Cindy into his arms, introducing her to his in-laws too.

Reese’s Dad asks, “Have we been away that long?”

Cindy giggles and says, “No, I got my new Mama and Daddy because my Mommy died saving us. She knew Mama Kara would save us, she just needed the chance my Mommy gave to her.”

Kara weeps, and Ron moves to her still holding Cindy. Cindy leans toward Kara with her arms outstretched and Ron passes Cindy to Kara. Cindy says, “Momma I did not mean to hurt you please do not cry.”

Kara caresses Cindy and says, “It is okay baby, it is just that I miss your Mom so much. I miss her every day.”

Cindy holds to Kara and says, “I love you Mama, Mommy did too. She knew you would save us. You and uncle JJ had saved Mommy it was her turn to help. She knew she was too sick and would die, she said by saving us her life meant something. She told me that just before she left us.”

Ron says, “I know how you feel Kara, there is people that I miss every day, friends that I will never get to see again, friends who have saved my life. I live to honor their sacrifice. It does not stop me from missing them, but I know they would not want me to be sad all the time.”

Kara draws a deep breath releases it slowly and says, “It is just that every time they call me a hero I see her face as she was shot. She smiled, and then she coughed up blood. I knew she was hurt so bad, there was nothing I could do.”

Cindy says, “Mommy was very happy that she is able to save you and me. She knew you were the only one who is going to stop him from hurting me, and Aunt Karen and Daddy. She was happy to give you the chance.” Cindy sobs and to her Mama’s shoulder. Kara begins trying to comfort Cindy even as she still sobs.

Most of the family try to comfort both Kara and Cindy. Ron finally says, “Maybe we should get a plaque made for the other hero that day, Sylvia should be awarded and give our highest praise, her action saved as many lives.”

I realize now that is what has bothered Kara all along, called a hero when the person who saved you died doing it was totally forgotten. That her friend happily gave up her life so she could live as a hero made the loss all the greater. The anger at the loss of her friend only magnified when her friend’s sacrifice ignored by those who called her hero.

Kara once under a little more control says, “That is exactly right, without her, without Sylvia I would not be here.”

Daniel after kissing his wife says, “I am so grateful to her, she saved you, she saved all of us. I want to name our daughter Sylvia. Is that all right with you, Love?”

Kara wraps herself around Daniel, squeezing poor Cindy in between them. They hold her for a second or two, before moving apart enough for Cindy to giggle. Cindy exclaims, “I like being squeezed like that.”

Sam says, “It is not bad until you cannot breathe.”

Cindy looks up into Kara’s face laughing she says, “I think Sylvia likes her name, is she jumping?”

Kara says, “I think they both like their names, I want to name your son Daniel Junior. Is that okay with you my Love?” Cindy gets a second squeeze as they kiss. Not so long to cause Cindy suffocating, when they part Cindy giggles again.

Cindy hugs Kara’s abdomen that holds her twins and says brightly to her yet to be born brother and sister, “Just wait to you guys get out here and I can play with you Sylvia and DJ. We are going to have so much fun.”

Kara puts her hands on either side of Cindy and remarks, “I think they like that idea, they seem to really jump for joy.”

It could be that their favorite playmate was just being born. The Doctor called Ron into the delivery room, after he was finished dressed in operating room protective wear he ushered into the delivery room. Now it was my turn to walk with the two girls nervously. Amanda needed nursed, and Kathryn had gone to the ladies room, along with Kara and Cindy.

Ron exited the delivery room with a bright smile, the Doctor had Ron cut the umbilical cord, something Reese had requested. Smiling he says, “I have a son. Robert John Davis is 8 lbs. 1 oz. has all ten fingers and ten toes, he is absolutely perfect.”

His father-in-law Robert smiles had the baby’s name stepping forward he pulls Ron into a hug. Ron has is bewildered look for a moment and says, “I never knew how much the human heart could love until now. It is a wonderful feeling.”

The rest of the fathers chuckle and simultaneously say, “Yes it is.”

We look around the room at each other, and then burst out laughing at ourselves. Ron gets handshakes and hugs as family members congratulate him. The baby brought to the observation window, wrapped in a blue blanket and placed in a bassinet. Reese will be going back to one of the rooms shortly, and Robert John will join her there.

Kara heard the commotion and sent Cindy to find out what is going on. Ron scoops her up and says, you have a new baby cousin Robert John Davis. Cindy hugs him gives him a big kiss and Ron sets her down, she rapidly disappears into the bathroom. Only a second later Kara is on her way to Ron to congratulate him. A few moments later Kathryn hands me Amanda, and she goes to run giving him a hug and congratulate him.