CHRISTMAS, 2035--
Shortly after Brittyn reached out to Todd to get in touch with Christine, the sisters had been emailing regularly. One afternoon shortly before Christmas, Christine got an email from her twin that asked, “If we come over for Christmas, would it be okay with you if we bring some extra people?”
Extra people? Christine asked herself; Like who? Family? Friends I haven’t seen for years?
And that’s what she asked her sister in the return email: “Who, exactly, would you be bringing?”
She had no sooner hit “Send” when her secure phone rang. Since she and Brittyn had exchanged numbers, Christine figured it would be her.
“Christine,” Brittyn said, “I’d be bringing my family, Chris and his fiancee; Dannie; and a couple of other people. Would that be okay, or would it be too much?”
Christine thought about it for a moment, then said, “No it wouldn’t be too much. If it is, I’ll let you know.”
“Okay, good,” Brittyn said, “because a couple of people are coming from out of town. Couldn’t keep them away even if I tried!”
“Nico and her family?” asked Christine.
“Nico is one, and I’m assuming she’d bring the kids,” Brittyn said; “The other wasn’t sure they’d be able to make it and will let me know soon.”
“You told me that Kaycee was living in Japan with her family,” Christine said; “Is that who you mean?”
“Kaycee’s husband can’t get leave for that long, so no, it’s not them,” Brittyn said; “I’ll try and let you know as soon as I know something.”
“Okay, I guess I’ll have to trust you, Brittyn,” Christine said.
“You sound tired, Christine,” Brittyn said; “Why don’t you go rest? I’ll call again soon. I promise.”
“Is it that obvious that I’m tired?” asked Christine.
“I have had a couple of babies, Christine, so I know a tired voice anywhere,” Brittyn said. “Now, go rest.”
“Yes, mom,” Christine laughed.
===
David and Jordan couldn’t really say they were surprised that Sam and Lauren had gotten married. They’d been expecting it for a while. Their only concern was Sam’s age.
“He’s pretty mature for 19 isn’t he?” Jordan sighed in bed that evening after Sam, Lauren and Ashley left. Jordan wasn’t even sure that David was listening.
“I know I couldn’t have taken on that responsibility at 19,” David said from the bathroom where he was washing up before going to bed; “He kind of reminds me of when Nik and KateLynn got married. We thought Nik was a little young, too, if memory serves.”
“Well, Kate was pregnant with Matt at the time,” Jordan said; “Now he’s going to be a father himself in about a month.”
“Weird how that works, isn’t it?” asked David absentmindedly.
“The life cycle keeps moving along, David,” Jordan said as she lay back in the pillows on their bed.
“Indeed it does,” David said; “We’re going to have all our kids here for the holidays this year. I’m glad that Kimber, Jamey and Drew are coming down. I can’t wait to see how big that boy is!”
“David, Drew is only two and a half months old,” Jordan said, laughing; “He’s not going to have any idea what Christmas or Hanukkah is about for a couple of years yet.”
“But, they’ll be here tomorrow, so we better have stuff for him to play with,” David said. “Nice, safe, fun toys for little guys like him.”
“I think we may still have some of those toys that we bought for him when he was born. They’re still in the boxes and everything,” Jordan said as David joined her in bed.
David leaned over and kissed Jordan on the cheek and said, “Perfect.”
Then he fell fast asleep. Jordan just shook her head.
===
Oh, we’re in big trouble, Kelly thought as she sat in the theatre with Kathryn, Christian and their girls as they waited for The Nutcracker to begin.
There were rather large photos of the principle cast of the ballet, and Helene’s was with a young man Kelly figured was older than she herself was. Was this the boy that Helene went on and on about, Kelly wondered. If it is, he’s much too old for her!
Lili sat between Kelly and Kathryn, and she looked bored as she glanced at the program that Kelly figured that her youngest half sister had looked at one hundred times if she looked at it once.
Kelly leaned over to Lili and asked, “Wishing that was you in the ballet?”
Lili looked at Kelly and said, “No way! I don’t have the same drive that Helene has. I want to work with people someday.”
“That’s a noble goal, Lili,” Kelly said; “What would you want to do to work with people?”
“I haven’t thought about it that much,” Lili said; “Maybe be a teacher or something.”
“There’s always a need for good teachers,” Kelly said; “One of my favorite teachers was in high school, and she told me I was good in chemistry and science, and that I should think about studying it in college.”
“And you are!” Lili said; “That’s pretty cool.”
Kathryn leaned over and told Lili, “The show is going to start, so you need to be quiet.”
“Yes, Mama,” the six year old said.
The lights went down and the ballet began. Kelly was excited for her sister. The reviews that Helene let her read were inspiring.
And as she watched Helene dance, Kelly saw that her sister was extremely talented and totally committed to her craft.
For the time being, the drama that they had all gone through that year was forgotten as a 13 year old ballerina transported them and the rest of the audience to another world.
===
The gathering of David and Jordan’s family took on almost a party atmosphere. There were babies (Kimber’s son, Drew; and Sam’s stepdaughter, Ashley, who was almost a year old), spouses, sisters and brothers. In the middle of all this were David and Jordan.
As they sat down for dinner that night, David asked his usual questions about which of his children had done what without telling their parents or siblings.
Sam stood up and said, “Lauren and I got married a few weeks ago, and after the new year, I’m going to see about adopting Ashley and giving her my name.”
There was a round of applause, and David said, “Next?”
Kimber stood next and reported that she and Jamey were getting married in the spring. That prompted her twin to say, “Hey, Kimber, maybe we can do both at once!”
Kimber looked at Jamey and he nodded his head yes, saying, “That sounds like a grand idea! Drake is it okay that Kimber and I crash your wedding?”
“Sure, mate,” Drake said; “That would be a most excellent idea!”
David look astonished, then asked, “You mean I get to walk both my daughters down the aisle at the same time?”
“What a wonderful thing you two are doing!” Jordan said.
“Sandy and Danica might be a little put off,” Niki said, “but I think they can handle it.”
After about five minutes of talk about a double wedding, John cleared his throat loudly, saying, “Ahem! We’re not done with the surprises yet.”
“Okay, John,” David said, “What’s your surprise?”
John looked around at those assembled, then said, “After the spring semester, I’m taking a year off.”
“What on earth for?” his mother asked.
“Because I’ve decided to go to Israel for a year and learn a little more about both sides of my heritage,” John said; “What better place to do that than Jerusalem?”
“For a whole year?” asked Niki.
“It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a while now, so last summer, I contacted Uncle Ben and he gathered some information for me about possibly studying there,” John explained; “I recently learned that I’ve been accepted as a foreign exchange student, and I’m leaving in June.”
He noticed that his parents and siblings looked stunned. Then Sam said, “Congrats, brother! It’s going to be weird here without you.”
“It’s something I have to do to answer some questions I have in my mind about who I am, where my family comes from, and how I can be a better person for the experience.”
David was proud of his son for making a tough decision without needing his parents advice. He knew they’d talk later about other things. For now, dinner needed to be served so that those who travelled could get some rest. Drew was already asleep, and Ashley wasn’t too far behind.
We’ve done a good job with these kids, David thought. Jordan and I are blessed.
===
Christine was beginning to have second thoughts about having family over for Christmas. Just preparing for the imminent arrival of some of her siblings and their families wore Christine out. Todd took up the slack, imploring his wife to rest.
“You’re not going to be up for anyone coming over if you wear yourself out, Christine,” Todd said. “Take a nap or something.”
“I’m too nervous to take a nap, and the baby’s moving around a lot, so I won’t sleep anyway,” Christine said; “I’ll just sit here and rest...”
Not five minutes later, Christine was asleep on the couch. Todd just looked at her, thinking, silly girl, still doing way too much.
Todd knew who was coming for dinner, but had been asked not to say anything to Christine. She knew that Brittyn and her family; Chris and his fiancee, Faith; Nico and her kids; and Chris’ twin Dannie were all coming.
What Christine didn’t know, and Todd was asked not to say anything about, was that Christine’s grandmother was also coming with Nico and her kids, since they all lived in Chicago. “Wild horses couldn’t keep Nonna away from seeing Bethanie again,” Nico had told Todd; “Er, Christine...”
Christine was still asleep when the doorbell rang, and Todd went to answer it. On the other side was practically Christine’s entire family. He asked everyone inside, but to be quiet because Christine was napping on the couch.
Brittyn looked at her grandmother and said, “Nonna, why don’t you go sit on the couch next to Christine and wake her up.”
Stefanie thought that was a great idea, and walked over to the couch. She saw her long missing granddaughter half sitting, half laying on the couch, and remembered the last time she saw Bethanie. Stefanie felt herself get emotional, thinking, the dead really do come back to life. The only way I could deal with her being gone was to believe she was dead. But here she is, still amongst the living.
She sat next to Christine and gently shook her awake, saying “Bethanie, it’s time to get up.”
“In a minute, Nonna, okay?” Christine mumbled in her sleep. She came awake suddenly, thinking, Nonna? Nonna’s here?
She sat up and looked in the direction of the voice she heard, and there next to her sat Stefanie. “Nonna!” Christine cried suddenly, “You’re here! You’re still alive!”
“Of course I am, dear,” Stefanie said; “I haven’t gone anywhere.”
Christine gave Stefanie a hug and sobbed against her shoulder. Stefanie was right there sobbing with her.
There wasn’t a dry eye in the Travis house that Christmas Eve.
===
JANUARY, 2036--
Matt San Marco looked into the bassinet at the tiny little girl with the dark brown curls, a perfect replica of her mother.
“Wow,” he said as he reached in to touch his newborn daughter, “I helped make this perfect little girl. Welcome to our world, Karina Kiera.”
Lisa was dosing and the new grandparents had left for the evening, but Karina was wide awake, taking in everything she could see with her big blue eyes. Her father lifted her out of the isolette and held her like a pro.
“Hello there, little girl,” Matt said softly as the baby’s head turned to the familiar sound of her father’s voice; “I’m Daddy, but you know that. Mommy and I are so happy you are finally here! Grandpa Nik and Grandma Kate, as well as Grandpa Vince, have all been here to see you! You have Auntie Sandy, Uncle Pete and Uncle Danny, too, but they haven’t had a chance to meet you yet. You are going to be one spoiled little girl, Karina!”
Matt sat in the nearby rocking chair and watched his little girl yawn. “Oh, you’re sleepy, are you? It’s awfully late for a little one like you to be up. Let’s see if your daddy can rock you to sleep...”
And Karina did fall asleep. But, so did Daddy.
That is what Lisa San Marco awoke to- her husband of two months and their less than twelve hour old daughter sleeping in the reclining rocking chair that was in her room.
“Silly,” she said softly as she took Karina from Matt and laid her back into her isolette; “Karina, you have a silly daddy.”
Karina was still asleep as her mother talked to her.
Lisa was still amazed that she actually gave birth to this adorable little girl. All her worrying was for naught. Now, she realized, that a new chapter in all their lives had begun, Lisa wanted to be the best wife and mother that Matt and Karina could hope for. She often wondered how her own mother did it. Lisa was about to find out.
Once that Karina was sleeping safely in the isolette, and that Matt was still sleeping in the recliner rocker, Lisa slipped back into bed and lay against the pillows. She sighed.
No more being afraid, she told herself. Matt and Karina need me to be strong. Mom was the strongest woman I know. I have to emulate that. God, give me strength!
Soon, Lisa was asleep. A new future awaited all of them.
===
Even though they had been discussing it periodically since the previous fall, Jeremiah running for elected office was something that just didn’t sit well with his wife. Jasmine had some serious misgivings about the whole process. The first and foremost in her mind was the chance that, because of who he was and his background with the Disturbed Ones, he could be assassinated.
Oh, come on Jas, she chided herself time and again; you know Jeremiah wouldn’t even consider something like this if he even thought it would put him and the family in danger.
Jeremiah had decided that he would run for elected office, but not the State Senate seat he was approached about months before. Unfortunately, the Congressman who represented their district had died suddenly, and his staff contacted Jeremiah asking that he consider running for the now vacant position. The Congressman was a contact of Jeremiah’s through the Times-Tribune, and had become a good friend. Jeremiah had no second thoughts about running.
It would be a crowded field, Jeremiah soon learned he had an advantage that the others in the field didn’t have- the blessings from the late Congressman’s widow. Through her, he’d have people who would work hard to get him elected. If he won, he’d practically have a ready made staff. Jeremiah only wanted one thing; that was to have Nik be his Chief of Staff.
Jasmine would support him and his efforts to represent the District, and the kids were eager to help.
It would be a big step into the role that Jeremiah Donovan was born to play. But neither he, Jasmine, their family, nor anyone else knew what that role was to be.
Not yet.
===
MAY, 2036--
“We probably should say something to Dad and Krysta,” Kathryn said. “I don’t want to wait too long.”
“We will, Kathryn,” Christian said. “I think they’ve got their hands a little full right now.”
“Don’t I know it!” said Kathryn; “Imagine, me getting a new sibling at 33 years old. It’s too weird!”
“Then just imagine what Chris is going to think when we spill the beans about our good news!” Christian said, laughing. “Then again, he’s had to come to terms with having three half sisters!”
“Dad will be a grandfather again before his and Krysta's son is a year old,” Kathryn said.
“That, too, my dearest,” Christian said, pecking Kathryn on the cheek. “Anyone tell you that you absolutely glow when you’re pregnant?”
“You do,” Kathryn said.
“Besides me?”
“Not this go round, no. But I’m sure someone will,” said Kathryn. “There’s still seven months to go before our little one arrives.”
“You still want a boy?” asked Christian; “because I have plenty of experience with baby boys.”
“You’ll need to update your information about that,” Kathryn said; “A lot has changed since your sons were babies.”
Christian sighed. She’s got me there, he thought, a smile spreading slowly across his lips.
“I guess I’ll need a baby boy boot camp, then,” he said playfully.
“Let’s find out if it’s a boy before you go planning on that, Mister,” Kathryn said, laughing.
===
Well, will you look at that, Todd thought as he looked at his newborn baby girl. She’s simply beautiful, just like her mother.
Christine just looked at her precious bundle of joy. She never knew that she could be so happy, and so sad at the same time.
She was thinking about Jacob, and how thrilled he would have been to have another daughter. It wasn’t to be, and Todd graciously stepped up and took over. She looked at him looking at the baby, and her heart smiled.
“She’s perfect,” Christine said.
“Indeed she is,” Todd replied; “but she still needs a name.”
“I’ve been thinking about that since our last conversation about what we were going to name her, and there’s a name neither of us considered,” Christine said; “I want to name her after Jacob’s sister, Miranda. She died just a few months before he did.”
“I like Miranda,” Todd said. “It’s a nice strong name and not too girly. How about a middle name?”
“Joy?” Christine asked. “Miranda Joy Travis?”
Todd smiled, then looked over at the baby. Yeah, he thought, it fits. Miranda Joy Travis.
He leaned over and kissed Christine on the forehead, then did the same to baby Miranda. He looked at his wife and said,
“Done. Miranda Joy it is.”
===
JUNE, 2036--
There was a very nervous father of the brides waiting in the breezeway of the house for his twin daughters to arrive so he could walk both of them down the aisle to their husband/husband to be. Niki would be renewing her vows to Drake; Kimber would be making hers with Jamey for the first time.
The canopy stood at the other end of the courtyard. David was mystified as to why the girls wanted to be married to their grooms in the Jewish tradition. John had said it best, “It’s part of who we all are, Dad. Why shouldn’t they honor that part of our heritage? Besides, there’s going to be a priest, too.”
David had only nodded at the time, but John was right.
And about John, leaving for Israel just four days after the double wedding/vow renewal ceremony for his sisters. David knew that John’s mind was made up, but he only wished that his youngest son wouldn’t be so far away for a year. John was an adult, and it was time for him to spread his wings and fly from the nest known as Austin, Texas. At least Ben will be able to guide him, David thought.
“Dad, are you ready for this show to start?” asked Niki, interrupting his thoughts.
“Honestly, no, Nicole, I’m not,” David said; “I’m probably more nervous than you and Kimber are.”
“Yeah, Dad, sure you are...” Niki teased as she walked a short distance away. “You should be happy that neither of us is pregnant right now.”
“Kimber’s already had a baby,” David shot back, “and you have no business even thinking about babies right now.”
“Well, Dad, we are getting a new addition to this ever growing family in five months,” Niki said; “I’m so thrilled for Sam and Lauren!”
“And Ashley makes such a cute flower girl,” David said.
Kimber came running down the breezeway toward her father and sister. “Sorry I’m late,” she said; “Drew is not a happy camper right now. He hates his little suit, and is kicking up the most incredible fuss!”
“He’s not wearing a tie, is he?” David teased Kimber.
“Well, yeah, Dad,” Kimber said; “It’s part of the suit.”
“Take it off and see if he calms down,” David said; “He could just be another one of us guys who can’t stand ties!”
“And he’d know this at eight months old?”
“You hated bows in your hair if memory serves,” David said. “Even as a baby.”
Kimber laughed. “Yeah,” she said; “only Julia could get me to wear them!”
Kimber then took her phone out of the bodice of her gown and called her mother to please take the tie off Drew and see if that calmed him down.
As soon as David saw Jordan bringing Drew downstairs to take him to his father, he heard the string quartet begin playing.
“There’s our cue, ladies,” he said as each of his daughters took one of their father’s arms; “let go getcha hitched!”
===
JULY, 2036--
At a private meeting with the CIA Director, Julia Summers, Nik San Marco, and Jeremiah Donovan were released from their duties to the Agency and allowed to resume their normal lives, as the threat from the American Republic Movement had been neutralized. The group had been inactive for over a year, but still not completely off CIA’s radar.
Julia went back to working for the Department of Homeland Security, keeping tabs on those who fled from the Occupational Army without informing the current government.
Nik asked for, and received, a discharge from his duties to the United States Army and allowed to retire. He would be entitled to pensions befitting a man of his rank and experience.
Jeremiah had won the vacant Senate seat left by the death of the previous holder of that position. In between his official duties as Senator Jeremiah M. Donovan, and head of his household, he began writing the book Jasmine had been bugging him to write about his experiences as a member of the Disturbed Ones, as a well known journalist, and his job with CIA.
He had asked Nik to be his Chief of Staff, which his brother accepted. Both families would establish homes in Washington, DC as well as keep their homes in Chicago. Julia teased them endlessly about them abandoning her yet again.
“I could give you a position on my staff,” Jeremiah teased right back.
“Thanks, but no thanks, brother,” Julia said; “I have bigger plans, and they will be happening right here in Illinois, thank you very much!”
“And what plans are those, Jules?” asked Nik.
Julia let the question hang there for a few moments before saying, “I’ve been accepted to Loyola Medical School. I’m going to finish my getting my M.D., then specialize in reconstructive surgery.”
Nik and Jeremiah just looked at her, then they shook their heads. Looking at each other, they said in unison, “I knew it!”
Then started laughing about how they had the same thought at the same time.
===
NOVEMBER, 2036--
Sitting down at her computer, Julia started to begin a task that she had abandoned nearly a year before.
She had gone through all the password gates to get to the three videos she started to watch the Thanksgiving before. Since she had already viewed Ryan’s video will, she thought she could just start up at the second video.
An error message came up instructing her to watch the video will first, then go on to the second, then third, videos.
So Julia watched the video will again, then clicked on the second video.
What it contained would shock her.
It began with Ryan explaining that he was going to visit someone who would be able to tell Julia about his “problem” if he were unable to.
“Jules, I was scared to tell you this,” Ryan said on the video; “but my medical problems are far worse than I feared. I didn’t want to worry you with all of it, but now, I have no choice. So I’ve asked someone you know to help me.”
Ryan somehow placed the video camera on the dash of his car, and the car went up a very familiar dirt road toward a house that she now owned.
The car came to a stop in front of the house and Ryan took the video camera with him. Ryan’s went to knock on the very familiar door, then the camera shut off.
The next scene was about to change everything Julia thought she knew about her late husband.
Jack appeared on screen and said, “Julia, Ryan has asked me to tell you that if anything should happen to him, that I will take care of you and your family. We met by chance, and realizing who I was, came to ask this of me. By the time you see this, he would have told you this.”
But he didn’t! Julia realized. Ryan found Jack before I did? she asked herself; and he didn’t tell me?!
Julia remembered when Ryan returned from that trip. All he said at the time was that it was a business trip and she didn’t worry about it. But Ryan found Jack two years before I did! she said to herself.
“Ryan! How could you not tell me any of this!” she said aloud; “You knew I wondered if he was really dead. You knew and went searching for him on your own and didn’t tell me!”
Julia knew Ryan was sick with something. The weight gain in the last months of his life gave it away, but all the while, he only attributed it to getting older and not getting enough exercise.
“WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL ME YOU WERE DYING, RYAN?” Julia practically screamed; “DIDN’T YOU THINK I’D HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW?”
If Ryan knew, who else did? Julia asked herself as the second video ended.
She then clicked on the third video and her question was answered.
The familiar voice of her father could be heard as Ryan drove away from Jack’s house.
“Well, son,” Jacob said; “Is he going to do it?”
“Yes, Jacob, he is,” Ryan said; “I have it on video. Jack Coltrane promised he’d take care of Julia and the kids.”
“That’s good,” Jacob said; “Now you must tell Julia about your condition. She probably already suspects something.”
“I know, Jacob,” Ryan said; “She’s already accused me of cheating on her.”
“Have you?”
“Of course not!” Ryan said hotly. “I’ve been going to doctors in three different states to see if there was anything anyone could do to keep me alive! I’m going to die on her like my father died on my mother. I didn’t even know I’d inherited his heart condition until a year ago. I fear for Zachary, Jacob!”
“He’s still young, Ryan,” Jacob said; “It can be detected in him long before it becomes impossible to treat. Start now, as soon as you get home. Tell Julia how sick you are, then insist that Zachary be checked for any markers of the disease. Maybe it’s skipped him.”
“I will, Jacob,” Ryan said.”
The video then went dark.
Julia sat in shock at what she had just watched! The three men she loved the most all betrayed her! They treated her like a little girl from whom the truth must be kept. The only thing she heard from Ryan that was anything close to an admission of how sick he really was, was to have Zach checked for congential heart problems. And she did have him checked. He had no markers of the disease that took both his father and paternal grandfather. Zach had a slight heart murmur, but that was corrected with surgery and medication when he was a little boy, long before Ryan’s problems became evident.
“How could all three of you not trust me with this?” Julia asked aloud. “How could you keep something this important from me?!”
Julia closed out the program. How convenient that you’re all dead now, she thought bitterly. She briefly wondered who else knew. Her mother? David? Nik? Jere? Jasmine?
Julia laid her head on her crossed arms on her desk and sobbed over what she truly believed was a betrayal by three men she loved.
Her husband.
Her lover.
Her father.
“How could they...”
===
JULY, 2037--
“You don’t have the balls to go over to that girl and say hello, do you, Nichols?” sneered one of the older boys at the camp for children who had lost one or both parents.
“Do so!” Cole Nichols exclaimed. “I’ll show you.”
“Oh, please,” the older boy said; “I’ll bet you ten dollars right now that you won’t go up to that redhead girl and say hi before camp is over. I’ll say hello before you do.”
That pissed Cole off. No one called his intentions into question. He seriously doubted the older boy, named Terry, even had ten dollars with which to make a bet.
Without another word, Cole walked away from the group of boys and walked right up to the petite redheaded girl sitting at a picnic table with some girls making friendship bracelets to trade.
“Hi,” Cole said; “I’m Cole Nichols. I’m from Chicago. My dad was cop who died in the line of duty. What’s your name?”
Rachel Summers turned around to face the boy. He was cute, she thought, and not many boys had the chutzpah, as Granpa David would say, to just come up to her and say hello.
“I’m Rachel,” she said; “I’m originally from Chicago, but I live in Belvidere now. My dad died when I was five. How old are you, Cole? I just turned eleven before camp began.”
Cole looked at her in disbelief. She was actually talking to him!
“I’m eleven, too,” he said. “Could you show me how to make one of those bracelets? I’d like to give one to my mom and one to my great grandmother.”
“Sure, it’s easy,” Rachel said as the other girls just stared; “Just pick out what colors you think your mom and great grandma would like, and I’ll show you how to get started. Okay?”
“Okay,” Cole said.
Within a couple of hours, Rachel taught Cole how to make the friendship bracelets. It was pretty easy, as she promised.
They spent the rest of the two weeks at camp hanging out together, and when it was time to go home, they exchanged email addresses and video chat screen names.
Nine years later, they got married.
===
~*fin*~
