The Ten of Them – Chapter 12

Sam gets big eyes and says, “Really they will be a book about me. Will I get to read it?”

MC says, “You get the first copy and I’ll sign it.”

Chuckling I say, “First we have to make enough money so you guys can retire.”

Marshall says, “We’re close to that now, once we take out the house construction cost we still should be able to finish within two weeks.”

Kathryn says, “No need to rush that hard at it Marshall. We can play it a little safer and do it in three or four weeks. Not take the chance of being sent back even further.”

Uncle George laughs and says, “What’s two more weeks when you’re retiring for the rest of your life.”

I smile and say, “I’ll probably come back out of retirement once in a while to help others like we did with this class. But helping them I made nearly one hundred million at the same time.”

Marshall smiles and says, “No good deed goes unpunished.” He reaches across the fence and tickles Sam’s belly.

After just a second or so a giggling Sam jumps back and hides behind my leg tugging on me to lift her on my shoulders. Once on my shoulders and out of arms reach of Marshall, Sam playfully sticks her tongue out at him. “Now you can’t get me Uncle Marshall.”

Marshall chuckles and jumps the fence and says, “That’s what you think Princess Sam.”

With a squeal Sam pleads, “Daddy, don’t let Uncle Marshall get me!”

I back off and Marshall chases us, we run around the yard Sam on my shoulders dodging Marshall. Marshall playfully chases us as Sam giggles. We chase around for about ten minutes until Sam stops giggling. When I set Sam down she has wobbly legs from all the quick turns I was doing.

Marshall asks, “Are you okay Princess Sam?”

Sam falls on her ass and says, “Dizzy, I’m dizzy.”

Marshall chuckles and says, “Just sit there for a while it will go away by the time I’m ready to tickle you again.”

Sam giggles and says, “You still have to catch me.” She gets up and still a little wobbly half runs to Kathryn.

I chuckle and say, “You think I’m protective, don’t mess with momma bear when she got her cub.”

Chuckling Marshall says, “Misty is protective of her too. They are both great moms.”

I asked my best friend, “Marshall, are you and Misty expecting?”

Marshall says, “Yes, if the early pregnancy test is accurate. But don’t tell anybody yet Misty and I are going to get married this week. You still have that tux?”`

With a chuckle I say, “Just got back from the cleaners last week. Does Kathryn know that you are getting married?”

With a sigh Marshall says, “We are telling everyone in about an hour at dinner. Try to look surprised.”

With a chuckle I say as I help him up off the ground, “I’ll do my best. But you’re not the only announcement at dinner today.”

Grinning Marshall says, “Everybody already knows that Kathryn is pregnant, look just how she is glowing.”

I say, “Now that you mention it, so is Misty.”

Marshall with a smile says, “Oh God I love that woman. I’m so happy, thanks JJ for giving me the courage to chase her.”

With a light punch to his arm I say “Don’t forget to think Misty. She had the courage to let you catch her.”

With a chuckle Marshall says, “I do.”

Alyssa surprises us, she holds dinner off for a while keeps us ran out of the kitchen and she makes dinner with Kathryn and Misty. Sam is standing guard not letting anyone in to the kitchen. We went downstairs playing pool or waiting a turn until we can play next. Sam says, “When it’s ready I’ll come and get you.”

I finally get a turn to play against the Judge, Uncle George easily defeats his competition so far. But I’ve been practicing whenever I had the chance. His third shot and the ball breaks funny which happens. This gives me my shot. We are playing nine-ball with six balls left on a table. I sink five balls and have it easy shot on the nine.

Sam bumps me just as I was shooting and I miss badly. Sam says, “Oops, sorry Daddy. Dinner’s ready.” Sam scampers off to chuckles around the room.

Uncle George quickly makes his shot easily and grabs the cash from the table as we head to dinner.

I shake my head chuckling I chased after Samantha as she climbs the stairs I catch her quickly taking Sam into my arms and give her a kiss. She giggles merrily as we finished coming up the stairs.

Dinner is on the table and the smell of it fills the air, causes my stomach and several others to growl. With Sam’s still in my arms I take my place with Sam on my lap. There is actually two meatloaves it’s a very popular dish, I guess Alyssa figures one would not be enough. Maybe this way I get a meatloaf sandwich later on. With several different dishes and I notice Misty’s cookbook on the counter. Instead of mashed potatoes there’s a potatoes casserole dish I’m not sure of the name. Through several other vegetable dishes along with fresh baked bread.

Marshall seems to recognize the potatoes casserole. He says “You’re going to love the potatoes.”

Alyssa begins dishing out the plates with portions of food on them. Like always, I feed Sam and get one mouthful to her three. Fortunately she does fill up faster than I do. Alyssa started putting extra on my plate too. After she’s full Sam snuggles against me and lets me eat.

Marshall and Misty set together and feed each other, it’s kind of cute and it’s something that Kathryn and I have done in the past. Now we take turns with Sam on our laps and feeding her. We only do this on Saturdays, most of the time there’s room and Sam sets between Kathryn and I and feeds herself.

Sam would say, “I’m a big girl Daddy. I should feed myself because I can.”

She makes an exception on Saturdays to give someone a place to set. With Sam seated in our lab, she enjoys being fed by us. It’s something that we gladly do me especially I love to spoil her and it is one way I can. Although Sam seems to be unspoiled, she hadn’t gotten mean, self-centered, or any bad trait that I know of. She is a little needful when it comes to attention, but having gone through what she went through that is totally understandable.

As dinner nears the end, Kathryn and Misty bring out two cakes. Written on the cake that Kathryn carries is I’m having a baby. The other cake, carried by Misty has written on it Marshall and I are getting married. I do my best to look like a little surprised as I shake Marshall’s hand. I smile and say, “Welcome to the club.”

The Coach slaps me on the back and grins he says as he grabs my hand, “Welcome to the club Daddy.”

Mom isn’t all surprised, neither is Alyssa, MC or even Joan. Sam giggles saying, “Goody it’s not a secret anymore.” From the reactions around the table, I don’t think it was much of a secret to start with. Kathryn sisters give a giggle as they go hug her. Helen still has tears as she comes to hugs Sam.

Uncle George is hugging Misty as tears running down his cheeks. He kisses her forehead and says, “I know I did wrong by you. I hope you can forgive me.”

Misty giggles and says, “It turned out all right. If I can just get my father to come around too.”

We spent the next hour and half speaking with family. We had fallen out of touch with what they were up to. Michelle has decided not to return to school. Mom had a project in town she basically started a week ago. Kathryn and I have been so busy with ourselves that we didn’t even notice that she went into town three days this week for at least four to five hours. Mom was letting Alyssa do many of the things she used to, which freed her up quite a bit.

Mom’s house in California sold so fast it wasn’t funny. I wonder if it been underpriced but her realtor there assured us it wasn’t. Saying sometimes it just happens like that, right seller, right time, and the house as soon as it goes on the market right buyer walks by. So Mom invested the money in a property in town, an old theater she wanted to do some renovation too.

Sam figuratively has pulled Kathryn and me out of our bedroom where we concealed ourselves. We’ve ignored family members far too long. Later that afternoon I asked the Coach why he permitted Kathryn to accept my proposal at twelve years of age.

Michael chuckled and said, “I didn’t think it would last for two months let alone two years or go as far as it did. I figured the two of you would have a fight and it would be over. Shows me how little I know sometimes, I should’ve realized you’d made her happy so far and that wouldn’t change. I come to understand you and Kathryn are soul mates. That is why I let you go ahead and get married.”

Smiling I say, “It’s probably a real good thing that we are, Kathryn and I would not have the chance to keep Sam otherwise. You and Helen have eight kids already, and God knows how many grandkids you too will have. Michael Junior already has his wedding planned. Mom just had me, but I don’t know about a single mother adopting. If it wasn’t for the wedding I doubt those two would have come here, and would never have stayed as long as they did. So Sam being in our life is a great thing. Maybe an accidental thing but one I never wish changed.”

The Coach jokes, “In that case is the best money I ever spent. But you know why I will ask for a lone when the other girls get married.”

With a smile I say, “I can’t let my sisters have less of a wedding than my wife. Consider the loan approved just asked for the amount you need.”

Two of Kathryn sisters, Michelle and Maria were attending college while Kathryn’s other two sisters Kara and Karen are still in high school. I don’t know if any of them has a serious boyfriend, Michelle and Maria had pretty bad reputations when going to high school here. Kara and Karen have much better reputations but haven’t dated very seriously. Kara will be a senior this year, and her seventeenth birthday is only a few weeks away. Michelle and Maria have come home for the summer. Maria will return to college this fall. Michelle has decided to work instead of continuing college.

With all the help Kara has been given us lately with Sam I really want to do something special for her on her birthday. I wish I knew a guy, like Marshall for her but there are only so many really good guys that are unattached. Most of the boys that I know of I would not let date her, the few that I would set her up with already have long-term girlfriends.