Chapter 81

I

The burial ceremony was about to begin. This was the part that Julia was dreading the most.

Morbus the Indestructible is what David called him a lifetime ago. Julia honestly believed it. So having him turn out to be mortal after all was a bit of a shock to her.

People were still assembling at the burial site, and Julia looked up long enough to see her nephew Matt and his fiancee, Lisa, slowly making their way to them. Lisa’s condition didn’t even phase Julia. Okay, she’s pregnant. I’ll bet Nik and Kate have no idea.

None of the San Marcos had any idea, so when the young couple were about ten feet away, Peter looked at his sister and whispered, “Sandy, did you know that Lisa was preggers?”

Sandrina looked and couldn’t believe her eyes. The quip she made at Aunt Natasha’s wedding came back to haunt her. Is it me or does Lisa have a bump? she had asked Danica at the time.

Nik and KateLynn looked non-plussed. Nik felt KateLynn squeeze his hand so hard it hurt. “Oh, my God,” KateLynn said under her breath; “Nik, we’re going to be grandparents!”

“I see that, Katie,” Nik whispered to her.

Matt and Lisa joined the gathering without a word. Matt did catch a glimpse from his father that said, “You and I are gonna talk about this latest development later, okay?”

The service then began and everyone was lost in his or her own thoughts.

===

Christine wasn’t paying attention to the family drama playing out on the other side of the tent. She was feeling extremely uncomfortable being there. She felt like an intuder. Only Julia had said anything to her.

“Christine, it’s so good that you came,” Julia had said; “Dad would have been pleased.”

“Thank you Julia,” Christine had replied; “I was debating on whether or not to come.”

“I’m glad you did,” said Julia. “Dad had told me that you two were starting a relationship.”

“You don’t think he was too old for me?” asked Christine.

“No,” Julia said; “I really don’t have any room to talk about huge age differences in relationships. I found myself in one recently. Unfortunately, like Jacob, he passed away earlier this year.”

“I’m so sorry, Julia. I had no idea,” Christine said.

“Not a lot of people had an idea about it,” Julia said. “I kind of keep those things to myself. People do talk, and I felt I shouldn’t have to defend myself. He loved the kids and he was a good man. I miss him.”

But now, Christine was lost in her own thoughts about how her relationship with Jacob began. She remembered that first night they spent together, where she opened herself and her emotions to him. Later, they had made love.


She loved on him slowly, surely. His touch on her skin was gentle and soft. She pleasured him expertly, completely, honestly. She said not a word as her hands trailed down his broad chest. She saw him shudder at her touch.

“Christine...” he said softly. But that was all he said. No words were required between them as she straddled his hips and slipped him inside her and began to love him. She felt his hands travel from her hips, up each side of her torso, then feeling his hands on her breasts, caressing them gently.

She felt the beginnings of his release in his movements; more urgent, demanding. The ends of her long copper hair brushed against his chest as he fought not to let go.

“Christine,” he gasped, “Oh God... I need you, my darling!”

“I’m here Jacob,” she whispered; “I’ll be here for you, my love.”

Soon he let go with what Christine could only describe as a scream, then “Christine!”

She felt her orgasm ready to reach its peak as well, and as his was ending, hers exploded. “Yes, Jacob...” she cried, “Yes, yes, YES!”

She threw her head back and rode the wave to the end, then she felt like the room was spinning, spinning... she felt out of control...


Alex Springer looked at the female sergeant next to him and saw that she was about to faint. Her knees buckled and he caught her before she hit the ground. Sandrina looked at the scene developing before her and said, “Aunt Jas! Someone’s fainted!”

Alex picked up the sergeant and carried her to a level piece of ground, where Jasmine examined her. Julia soon joined them and asked, “What happened?”

“She fainted, Jules,” Jasmine said. “One of the pall bearers is calling an ambulance.”

“Who is she?” asked Sandrina.

“She’s a friend of Grandpa Jacob’s, Sandy,” Julia said; “He had become quite close to her before he died. Her name is Christine Travis.”

“Is she going to be all right?” This from Alex.

“Perhaps the emotions of the moment got to her, if she was a close to Jacob as Julia said,” Jasmine replied; “The medics will take her to the hospital and check her over to make sure there’s no underlying cause to her fainting spell.”

Since the service was essentially over, many people started to leave. The ambulance arrived and Christine was put inside. She had regained consciousness and asked where she was.

“Where are you taking her?” Nik asked the ambulance driver.

“She’s military, so we’ll take her to Walter Reed,” was the response.

“She works there as a nurse,” Julia said; “At least she’ll be in familiar surroundings. Please let her know that I’ll come visit if she stays overnight.”
“I will, Mrs. Summers,” the driver said as he got back into the vehicle, and then drove away.

After the ambulance left, Nik looked at Julia and said, “Well, that was one weird funeral. First, there were assassins assigned to take us out, then my son and his fiancee show up and she’s pregnant, then someone faints. Could this day get any better?”

“For all our sakes, I certainly hope so,” Julia said; “I’m worried about that gal they just took away in the ambulance. She was one of my nurses when I was at Walter Reed. She’s a nice person, and I hope everything turns out okay.”

“Why was she here?” asked Nik.

“She and Jacob had become close friends, and he asked that she be here,” said Julia.

“What is it between old men getting together with women much younger than they are?” asked Nik. “First you, then her... I’d freak if Sandy was in a relationship with a man old enough to be her father!”

“Well, she’s not, so don’t worry your pretty white blonde head over it, Nik,” Julia said, laughing. “If I were you, I’d find out when Matt was planning to tell you that you and Kate were going to become grandparents.”

“Oh, we’ll definitely have that talk, Jules,” Nik said; “Who would have thought that when I was 18 that I’d become a grandfather before I was 40?”

“I did,” Julia said; “You were the first to become a dad, so it stands to reason that you’d have grandbabies first.”

Nik shook his head. “You’re such a comfort sometimes, Jules, I swear!” he said sarcastically.

===

II

Robby Parkerson came running in from the kitchen when he heard Brittyn say something about Bethanie.

“Britt, you okay? What’s going on?” he asked.

“Robby...” Brittyn said; “My sister was on television! She was at Jacob Ross’ funeral!”

“Your twin sister?”

“Yes!” Brittyn said; “She’s in the Army and was in uniform, but I knew it was her!”

“There’s no way you could have been mistaken?” Robby asked. “Your absolutely sure that was your twin sister.”

“Robby, your dad went to see her after Jacob Ross died,” said Brittyn, still not believing she saw her sister on television after not seeing her in nearly fifteen years. “She had a picture in her home similar to the one I have in my office. The one that was taken when we were about nine or ten years old. He was certain it was her. She goes by another name now.”

“How did she get involved with Jacob Ross, of all people?” Robby asked. He knew that his wife had a twin sister, and that she had disappeared years before, but never expected that Brittyn would see her on television at a state funeral.

“I don’t know, Robby,” Brittyn said. “I’d have to talk to her. I can’t believe she’s been this close all this time!”

“She must have had her reasons,” Robby said; “Didn’t you say she’d been threatened by her ex husband?”

“Yes, but he’s been dead for years. Bethanie has nothing to hide from now.”

“Do you know what name she’s using now? Maybe you could get in touch with her somehow,” Robby said.

“Your dad told me the name was Christine Travis,” Brittyn said; “She had a boyfriend in high school by the name of Travis. Todd Travis. He left school to join the Resistance and didn’t get a chance to tell Bethanie goodbye. They had to keep their relationship secret because he’s mixed.”

“What does that matter?”

“You know back then it mattered a lot,” Brittyn said; “We were already Undesirable because Mom spoke out against the Occupational government; Beth being involved with a mixed race man would have been a death sentence for both of them.”

“So, are you going to look up this Christine Travis?”

“I’m almost afraid to, Robby,” Brittyn said. “What if she doesn’t want to see me, or any other member of our family?”

“It’s a chance you have to take, Britt,” Robby said. “I’d take it.”

“I know you’re right, Robby,” Brittyn said. “I’m going to think about it. Let’s not say anything to the kids quite yet.”

“Brittyn, they’re ten and 13,” Robby said; “They’re old enough to understand this.”

“I want to be sure first.”

Robby had to admit his wife had a point.

===

Nik and KateLynn sat down with Matt and Lisa in their hotel room and just looked at each other at first before Nik asked,

“When were you two planning to tell us about this?”

“We kept meaning to call, but things got in the way with school, with work, with everything,” Matt said; “Then Lisa’s grandmother died, and we kept putting things off.”

“I know Jacob’s sister died, Matt,” Nik said; “But that was back in April. If I miss my guess, I’d say that Lisa is about six months along. Am I right, Lisa?”

“Yes, Nik, you’re correct,” Lisa said, speaking for the first time. “We’re expecting a girl in January.”

“Does your family know about this? Your father and siblings?” asked KateLynn.

“My dad found out by accident about a month ago,” Lisa said. “We weren’t trying to hide it from everyone, we were just trying to get through the rest of the semester. I’m taking the spring semester off.”

“And Jacob knew as well,” Matt said; “He made me promise to tell you guys right away. We just hadn’t gotten around to it.”

“Well, I think your sister and brothers are a bit shocked that they’re going to be an aunt and uncles soon,” Nik said; “This is not how your mother and I wanted to find out we’re to be grandparents!”

“Nik, what’s done is done, and we know now,” KateLynn said; “I know you’re upset, but this isn’t helping anyone.”

How does she always know what to say, Nik thought. God, I love my wife!

===

III

David sat in his and Jordan’s hotel room, staring out the window. He really didn’t see the scenery outside. He was thinking about his own mortality.

Jacob was younger than me, he thought; and he’s gone. He survived being set on fire, disfigured, any number of bullet wounds and stab wounds, losing his wife... and he still died. What hope do I have, then?

“David,” Jordan said softly; “whatcha thinking about, baby?”

David turned to face his wife. “Jacob,” he said; “how he survived all this crap, how I always though how indestructible he was, and he still died.”

“David, we all knew he wasn’t well, and hadn’t been for a while,” Jordan said; “It was only a matter of time. At least he had someone to love him there at the end.”

“The young Army sergeant who fainted at the burial ceremony?” David asked. “How did he get together with her, I wonder. She kinda reminded me of Christine one moment, and Stefanie Travetti the next.”

“You don’t think this is one of Stefanie’s granddaughters, do you?” asked Jordan.

“No, I don’t,” said David; “She just reminded me of her.”

“Whatever happened to Stefanie anyway?” asked Jordan.

“I think she moved to Chicago, of all places,” David said; “One of her granddaughters lives there. Stefanie has a lot of grandchildren, Jordan.”

“She’s in her 70s now, isn’t she?”

“She’s ten years older than I am so, yeah, she is,” David said. “Probably still making men’s hearts race, even at 72.” David chuckled.

“Thanks for that, David,” Jordan said.

“I chose you, remember, Jordan,” David said, sensing that Jordan was mad. “I can’t imagine my life without you. Stefanie was in my past. You’re my now and forevermore.”

Jordan couldn’t argue with that logic. She never did understand how she could be so jealous of a woman she’d never met simply because David had been with her first. God, you need to get over yourself, Jordan, she chided herself as she sat next to the man she loved.

===

“Sgt. Travis, this is the last place I’d ever expected to see you,” Maj. Jennifer Jennings said as Christine got situated in the hospital bed. She had been admitted for testing. She felt incredibly stupid for fainting. She had no idea why, which is why she was admitted.

“Let’s see how patient I am as a patient and not as a medical professional,” Christine said, sighing.

“Well, there are some test results back for you already,” Maj. Jennings said; “The doctor will be in shortly to go over those with you. Other than feeling foolish, how are you feeling?”

“Tired, Major,” Christine admitted. “It’s like it hit me just at that particular time.”

“You do work long hours,” Jennings said; “Maybe we can see about cutting back on the 18 on, 18 off schedule. I’d hate to lose a talented nurse like you.”

“Thank you, Major,” Christine said; “That might help.”

“Oh, and Christine,” Jennings said, “when it’s just the two of us, I’m Jen, okay? Major Jennings is that bitch you all work for.”

“I’ve never thought that for a second, Maj...um, Jen,” said Christine. “You’re a professional in every way. If others have a problem with it, that’s their deal. I don’t. And that’s the honest truth.”

“I know, dear,” Jennings said; “You don’t have it in you to lie. Keep things to yourself, yes. Out and out lie, no.”

Christine looked at her for a second, then said, “You haven’t said anything about what we talked about privately to anyone have you?”

“Of course not, Christine,” Jennings said; “I told you then it didn’t leave my office. And it hasn’t. I”m glad you thought enough of me to trust me with it.”

“You’re my immediate superior, I thought you had a right to know about my background,” Christine said.

Jennings patted Christine’s hand; “You get some rest, Sergeant. I’ll come to chat later if you want.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Christine said.

After the Major left the room, Christine was alone with her thoughts. She thought back to that afternoon at the burial site, before she fainted. Before she realized it, she was asleep. In her dreams she heard Jacob’s voice as clear as if he stood right there.

Christine, my love. I left something with you to remember me, remember us and our love by. I know you’ll do the right thing.

“Jacob?” Christine muttered in her sleep.

===

IV

“Well,” Matt said when he and Lisa got to their hotel room, “that went well.” Lisa couldn’t help the sarcasm dripping from his voice as he spoke.

“They were shocked and surprised and a little hurt, Matty,” she said; “I can’t say I blamed them for they way they reacted, especially your dad. I only hope I’m half the wife and mother your mom is, though. They totally get each other.”

“This is true, Lisa,” Matt said. “They have the kind of marriage I want with you. But, they have no room to talk about getting preggers before marriage. They got married a month before I was born!”

“But I’ll bet they told their families before hand,” Lisa said.

Matt sighed. She was right. In all the stories his parents had told about their lives together, they had mentioned that they couldn’t wait to tell everyone about their new addition.

“They did, Lis,” said Matt; “Almost from the moment the pregnancy test came back positive. We have a lot to make up for.”

“We just did it a little differently, is all.”

“We should just wait until the baby gets here before getting married.”

“Matty, you know I love you with all my heart,” Lisa said; “but we need to make this right. When we get back home, let’s look into getting that taken care of. After the baby arrives we’ll be too busy taking care of her to even think about it.”

“You’re right, Lisa, once again,” Matt said as he joined her on the bed. “Don’t you worry about living up to my mother’s abilities. I think you got that covered.”

“That’s sweet of you to say, Matthias,” Lisa said; “Is it any wonder I love you so much?”

She snuggled up against her man and fell asleep. As he held her, Matt thought, you so totally get me, Lisabeth. I’m a lucky man. I’ll go talk to Dad in the morning.

====

There was something about the televised state funeral for Jacob Ross that Nico found a little odd.

Like, why wasn’t it held in Chicago where the man was born and raised?

That wasn’t the only thing that bothered her, though.

She watched it on her DVR once she returned home from work, in her bedroom where she could relax and unwind before dinner. Her grandmother was fixing one of her favorite meals: steak tips and wide egg noodles. Nico left the vegetable choice up to her, but still hoped there would be a salad, instead of the broccoli Stefanie had mentioned earlier.

Nico flipped past most of the service to the very end, just as the casket was being carried out by eight Army Rangers. The families filed out behind them, then the dignitaries who had come in from all points of the globe to see the husband of the Interim President off to his final reward.

Coming up last were various invited guests. Personal friends of the deceased, was what Nico thought.

The voice over was that of a local reporter in Washington whose voice Nico knew well. It was her brother, Christopher Crowley. The local station was Chris’ first reporting gig, and he was good at what he did. He’d been with them for five years, and really had no interest in going national. He would, he had told his oldest sister, if the right opportunity presented itself. He didn’t want to get anything he didn’t earn because of who his mother was.

As the last of the mourners filed out of the chapel, the narration stopped suddenly, then started up again, as if Chris had been caught off guard by something. That he recovered well was the sign of a pro.

Then Nico saw what might have briefly interrupted her brother’s report. A female Army sergeant had just walked to the street as the hearse carrying Jacob Ross pulled away. She was tall, redheaded, and when she inadvertantly started into the camera, Nico almost choked on her own tongue.

“No, that can’t be...” she said, trailing off.

The sergeant was a dead ringer for her twin sisters, Brittyn and Bethanie.

Bethanie seemingly disappeared more than a decade earlier after divorcing her husband. No one seemed to know where she had gone. Nico herself had conducted a search, which ended at the home of her high school boyfriend, Todd Travis. Todd had no idea where Bethanie had gone, and was just as worried about her.

The sergeant had the same cornflower blue eyes that her sisters had, and her hair was the same shade of red.

Nico stopped the playback to where it captured the moment as the sergeant looked at the camera. She had no idea she was being filmed based on the expression on her face.

She went out into the kitchen and said to her grandmother, “Nonna, could you come into my room for a second?”
“Sure Nico,” Stefanie said; “Something you need to discuss away from curious ears?”

“Something like that. I have something I want to show you.”

When Stefanie joined Nico in her bedroom, Nico said, “Nonna, look at this Army sergeant at Jacob Ross’ funeral and tell me who she reminds you of.”

Stefanie looked at the frozen image on the television screen. Her eyes grew wide, then she looked at Nico, saying,

“If I didn’t know better, Nicoletta, I’d swear that was either Brittyn or Bethanie. It’s not Brittyn, though.”

“What makes you say that?”

Stefanie took a deep breath and said, “Because Bethanie was the one interested in joining the Army after her marriage fell apart. She wanted to be an Army Nurse.”

“You think that could be Bethanie after all these years, or someone who looks a lot like her?” asked Nico.

“Bethanie. Nico, look at the nameplate on her uniform and tell me what it says.”

Nico looked, and couldn’t believe what she saw.

The name plate clearly read, “TRAVIS”.

===