Chapter 3

"Yes he will and General Cresswell is going to get word to him. I'll be here with you to help you make any arrangements you want made."

"Thank you Sir, you've always been so good to our family!"

"It's AJ and I remember when you sent that out as a Christmas picture, Bud was so proud of his family."

"Yes, he was always a family man and he considered you part of our family," leaning her head against his shoulder, she asked, "AJ, will you deliver the eulogy please? There is no one who knew Buddy as well as you."

Wrapping his arm around her shoulder and patting it, he said, "I'd be honored to. Would you also want General Cresswell to say a few words since he was Bud's Commanding Officer? If so I can ask him for you."

"Yes, please."

They chatted softly for the next hour, and Harriett on and off would break into tears. AJ would comfort her as best he could, trying to keep his own grief at the thought of losing a man he thought of as a son from showing. A short time later Mac arrived with all five children.

James came in with the three girls and said, "Auntie Mac was crying all the way home and it's not my fault!"

Looking at his mother's face, Little AJ asked, "Mom why have you been crying?"

AJ was the one that spoke, he said, "If you'll all sit down your mother and I have something to talk to you about." As he was speaking his three year old daughter Allison climbed into his lap.

Harriett looked into the faces of her children, the twins so unsuspecting, Little AJ who looked like he was already bracing himself for bad news, and James who looked so much like his father that Harriett started to cry again. Once again AJ stepped in, "Your father did something very brave today. He saved a lot of people's lives, but in doing so he gave his own life."

"How can you give your life away?" James asked.

Putting his arm around his brother as though he were already the man in the family, Little AJ said, "It means that Daddy died, but he was a hero…right Uncle AJ?"

"Yes, son, he was. He saved your Auntie Mac's life and many others that were in the courtroom today. He'll probably get a medal for what he did."

"When will Daddy get home from being a hero?" one of the twins asked.

This time it was Harriett who answered. She had pulled herself together enough to respond, "He won't be coming home, sweetie. He's gone to live with God in Heaven."

Allison piped up and asked, "Like my Mommie?"

"Yes sweetie. Uncle Bud will be watching over all of us just like your Mommy does," her father told her.

"Dat means him an angel too Daddy?"

"Yes it does, Allison."

"But can't he come home when he wants to?" Margaret asked.

AJ took her onto his lap along side of Allison and said, "Maggie, you know how when your daddy sometimes had to go away when duty called him? Well when God calls, it means that all your work here is done and it's time to go home to Heaven."

"Oh, okay. Can I go play now?" she asked hopping down from his lap.

Over her children's heads Harriett mouthed, 'Thank you' to AJ. As the twins, James and Allison ran upstairs to play, Little AJ stood there silently tears rolling down his cheeks.

He said, "But Mommy, Daddy promised to be at my Cub Scout award ceremony next week!"

"You know that only saving lives could have been more important than being there for you AJ. I'm sure Daddy is sorry, but I'm just as sure that he will be watching as you receive your awards."

"But someone is supposed to greet us when we cross the bridge, now there won't be anybody there when I do!"

Harriett looked helplessly at the elder AJ and he nodded and said, "If you will allow me to stand in for your father, AJ, I'd be happy to greet you when you cross the bridge."

Squaring his shoulders like a little man, young AJ held out his hand and said, "Thank you, Sir."

To be continued….