I own none of the characters of October Road

"I think that I speak for all of us when I say that I think that we grew up with the best parents." Amber began. "But growing up with Coach Latekka as your father put a definite damper on my social life. What did you do daddy? Threaten your players?" A laugh went up around the room while Eddie sat there with an angelic look on his face. "That's okay dad. You don't have to admit it. I know what you did. Besides the fact that he scared away practically every guy that was interested in Nattie or I Coach Latekka was the best father that a girl could ask for. He was strict, but easygoing at the same time. He would make a decision whether we liked it or not and he would stick to it but he was also the man that could easily be talked into something with a simple pouting of the lips or batting of the eyes. Mom taught Natalie and I that trick. One thing that I learned from my parents is that true love really does exist. Mom and dad were always telling each other they love each other. They were always kissing, hugging and holding hands. One thing we learned, early on in life when mommy wasn't happy, daddy really wasn't happy, especially if any of us made her cry. If that happened there was always hell to pay because dad would never tolerate anyone, not even his own kids making the woman he loved cry. I guess the best thing about my dad is that he has always been there for any of us no matter what. He continued to love and support us even if it wasn't what he had planned for us. When I found out that I was pregnant I was so scared that he would hate me and be disappointed in me but he wasn't. He loved me anyway and supported me during a very hard time in my life. I always knew that he would be there for me whenever I needed him, for any of us whenever we needed him and that is what makes him such a wonderful father and husband. Thank you for all you've done daddy. I love you." Eddie stood and embraced his youngest daughter.

"I love you too." He whispered in her ear.

Years ago

"Zach, Collin, Amber, Natalie, dinner's ready. Come on in and wash your hands." He moved to the side as Zach and Collin came flying into the house with Natalie following behind them much slower with her nose in a book.

"Sweetheart, you should really watch where you're going instead of reading." His eleven-year-old daughter had become quite the avid reader, like her mother. As soon as the words were out of his mouth she walked into a wall. "Told you so." He smirked. "Put your book down and wash your hands."

"Yes sir." She said smiling at him.

"Amber let's go." He yelled out the door.

"I'm not done swinging yet."

" Yes you are. It's dinner time." She ignored him and kept swinging. "Amber Elizabeth you have until the count of three to get your butt in this house. One." She quit pumping her legs. "Two." She jumped off the swing and made a beeline for the house. "Three. Now go wash your hands." He watched as she sulked off to the bathroom. Sighing he returned to the kitchen just in time to see Collin getting ready to place a cookie in his mouth, In two large steps, he was reaching down and plucking that cookie from Collin's hand. "No way mister. Cookies are for dessert." Looking at the cookie he couldn't figure out if it was one of Collins's sugar free ones or not so he tossed it in the trash.

Tonight was Janet's one night at the bar so he was on his own with the kids. She had put the spaghetti sauce in the crock-pot and made a salad before she left so all he had to do was boil the noodles, regular for them and whole wheat noodles for Collin. "All right guys let's eat." He had just filled their plates and sat down when the complaining started.

"I don't want milk. I want pop." Zach told his dad.

"You know the rules. Milk with dinner."

"I don't like tomatoes." Natalie said.

"Then don't eat them. Pick them out."

"I spilled daddy." Collin told him. Sighing Eddie jumped up, grabbed a towel and cleaned up the spilled milk.

"Collin don't take the lid off." Eddie told him after he had refilled his glass.

"Why don't you guys ever act like this when mom is home?" He asked out loud. The kids never gave them this much trouble when Janet was home.

"I want pizza." Amber announced. She was definitely in one of her moods tonight.

"We aren't having pizza. We're having spaghetti."

"I don't like spaghetti."

"Since when?"

"Since today."

"Eat it Amber."

"No." She pushed her plate away from her and crossed her arms across her chest stubbornly. "I. Want. Pizza." Eddie sighed in frustration and turned to face Amber.

"You do not tell me what you want. We are having spaghetti for dinner and you will eat what's in front of you or you will eat nothing." She stared back at her father, not making any attempt to eat. "Fine then Amber. Go to your room until you are ready to eat." She pushed away from the table and stomped up to her bedroom. "Don't you slam your door young lady." He yelled after her.

They managed to finish dinner in peace with the three remaining good children laughing and talking with their father and each other. When they were done eating Zach and Natalie cleared the table while Eddie took Collin up for a bath since he managed to get sauce all over himself.

"How did you manage to get sauce in your ear champ?" Collin giggled as Eddie scrubbed out his ears.

"Daddy, I'm hungry." Amber said from the door.

"Your plate is on the table where you left it." He answered without even looking at her. He smiled when he heard her walk away. "All righty champ let's get the sauce out of your hair." Collin squealed in delight when Eddie dumped the water over his head.

After Collin was dried and in his PJ's it was time to check his sugar. Collin watched as Eddie took the needed supplies out of the medicine cabinet in his and Janet's bathroom. They kept all of his supplies in their bathroom so none of the kids could get to them.

"Ouchy daddy?"

"Yeah, time for ouchy." Eddie hated having to hurt his child but he knew it was necessary. Collin knew the drill and held out his finger. Eddie quickly poked it and got the needed sample. "Looks good son. Now do you want your second ouchy in your belly or leg?"

"Belly." Collin pulled up his shirt and Eddie quickly injected the Insulin he drew up before giving him his bath.

"Good job champ. How about that cookie now?" Collin nodded and they headed downstairs for their dessert.

As the kids sat at the table waiting for their cookies Eddie glanced at Amber who was picking at her dinner. He had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from smiling.

"Daddy it's cold." She whined as he passed out the cookies.

"You should have ate with the rest of us when it was hot."

"Can I have a cookie when I'm done?" She asked him.

"After the way you acted do you think that you deserve one?"

"No sir." She mumbled.

"That's right Amber. You don't deserve a treat. I will not put up with you acting like a brat. Do you understand me?" She nodded and finished her dinner in silence

--

When Janet arrived home she found her husband sound asleep on his recliner. The TV was on and her was holding a beer. She couldn't help but smile. His nights alone with the kids always wore him out. She walked over and pressed her lips to his. He responded immediately.

"Hey sleepy head. Rough night?" She asked with a grin.

"You have no idea." He grumbled.

"Go on up to bed. I'm going to kiss the kids, get a shower and I'll join you."

"How about you kiss the kids and I'll join you in the shower?" He suggested.

"Aren't you tired?"

"I got a second wind." She rolled her eyes and headed upstairs. She snuck into the kids' room, adjusted their blankets, kissed them, and none of them stirred. When she got to their bedroom she heard the shower running and realized that Eddie was serious about joining her. She shed her clothes and stepped into the hot, steaming shower. "Hey pretty girl."

"Hey cowboy." Grinning she stepped under the hot stream to rinse off the smell of the bar from her skin.

"How was work?" He asked filling his hands with her shampoo. He gently turned her around and began to wash her hair causing her to moan softly as his fingers massaged her scalp. He really knew how to work magic with his fingers.

"Same old shit. I had to kick out a bunch of Duf students for fighting."

"Was anyone hurt?"

"No. How were the kids?" She watched as Eddie lathered up her loofa with her body wash.

"I busted Collin trying sneak a cookie before dinner and he managed to get sauce all over him. I had bathe him right after dinner." Janet laughed. It sounded just like Collin.

"How was his sugar?"

"It was fine. Now Amber on the other hand was a total brat. She suddenly hated spaghetti and refused to eat. After sulking in her room she ended up eating her dinner cold." Janet closed her eyes as Eddie began washing her body with the loofa. She moaned loudly when he cupped her breast and gently massaged it, rolling her nipple between his thumb and forefinger. She grabbed the loofa out of his hand, tossed it on the bottom of the tub and shoved him roughly against the wall, crushing their chests and lips together. She shivered as he ran his fingers across her wet naked back.

"Didn't you mention something about a second wind?" Grinning wickedly, he spun her around so she was against the wall, he lifted her leg, wrapped it around his waist, and he shoved himself into her with one smooth stroke. His hands went around to cup her ass and he pumped himself furiously inside her. By the time they both reached their climaxes, his back was covered with red, ugly scratches and her ass had indents that resembled his fingers on it.

"Baby, I'm sorry about your back." She told him, gently kissing the marks.

"I'm sorry about the bruises that will probably be on your gorgeous ass."

"That's okay. You're the only who sees it."

"I better be." Laughing they climbed into bed and cuddled together. "Love you babe."

"Love you too."

--

"Eddie phone is for you." Nick said.

"Who is it?" He asked

"I didn't ask. I'm not your damn secretary." Sighing Eddie picked up the phone.

"This is Eddie Latekka. Can I help you?"

"Mr. Latekka, this is Kelly Manners from Millpond nursing home." Eddie's heart sank. There is only one reason why the nursing home where Janet's grandmother is staying would call him. Five years ago after her grandfather died they moved her to The Ridge so Janet could be closer and the kids could visit more often. "I have been unable to reach your wife." Kelly continued and he guessed she left her cell phone at home.

"What's going on?"

"I'm afraid that I have some bad news. Mrs. Meadows passed away."

"Thank you for calling me. I'll get in touch with my wife."

"As per your wife's instructions we will transport Mrs. Meadows to Seeley Funeral Home and one of our staff members will box up her belongs to be picked up at your convenience."

"Thank you."

"We are sorry for your loss Mr. Latekka."

"What goes on Eddie?" Nick asked when Eddie hung up the phone.

"Janet's grandma just died."

"Oh hell man. You better go to her."

"I'm going to need some time off."

"Take as much time as you need and tell Janet how sorry I am. I'll let Hannah know so I'm sure she'll be over."

"Thanks man."

Eddie finished up the work on his desk and headed o Sully's, dreading the news he was going to have to tell her. He smiled at Karen when he walked in.

"Hungry again?" Karen quipped. He had just left the bar an hour ago after lunch.

"No. I need to talk to Janet."

"She's in her office."

"Can you guys handle things without her for the rest of the day." Karen nodded. "Janet's grandmother died today so I'm going to need you to rework the schedule for the rest of the week cause she's going to need some time off."

"Of course." After passing along her condolences Eddie went to Janet's office. As soon as she saw him she gave him a beautiful smile, wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.

"What brings you back?" She purred in his ear.

"Honey, I need to talk to you. Why don't you sit down?"

"What's wrong? Are the kids okay?"

"The kids are fine hon. Come on let's sit down." He tried to lead her to her chair but she refused to be moved.

"I don't want to sit. Just tell me." She demanded.

"J, it's your grandma." He watched her eyes fill with tears.

"No. No. No. No. No. No." She mumbled.

"Baby, I'm sorry but she passed away this morning." With a wail she collapsed in Eddie's arms and sobbed into his chest.

"I…I…was supposed to go and see her…yesterday...Sue called off…I had to cover…I never…got to say…goodbye." She told him between sobs. He knew she would find some reason to feel guilty. "I didn't…have a chance…to tell her…I love…her."

"Sweetheart, you talked to her on the phone everyday and saw her every other day. She knew that you loved her." He murmured. He continued to hold her until her sobs subsided.

"Where is she?" She asked when she finally composed herself.

"They took her to the funeral home."

"I need to see her." He nodded. He grabbed her purse, wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulled her close to his body and led her out to their van. He made a mental note to have Nick and Owen come pick up his truck later. Because she seemed to be in a daze he helped her into the van and then drove to the funeral home while silent tears rolled down her cheeks. When they arrived at the funeral home she let Eddie lead her in.

"Can I help you?"

"My grandmother should have been brought here, Helen Meadows. I would like to see her please."

"Of course. She is right in the back." Eddie and Janet followed the caretaker to the back of the funeral home. "Take all the time you need." Janet grabbed Eddie's hand and they walked over to her grandmother. They stood there in silence for a few minutes before Janet finally spoke.

"Hey grams. I'm so sorry that I wasn't with you in the end. I should have been there for you like you have always been there for me. I don't think that I told you enough how much you meant to me. I guess I took it for granted that you would always be here, that there would always be enough time to tell you everything that I wanted to tell you. It's because of you that I found my true love and I have my family. When mom and dad died do you remember how much I fought with you and gramps about coming to The Ridge. I was a stupid teenager who was content to keep things as normal as I could considering that my parents just died. Making friends never came easy to me but I had managed to make a few over the years at school and the thought of moving to a small town where I would be the fat outsider made me miserable but in the end, you always knew what was best for me. Yeah, it was hard but The Ridge was the best place for me. You found your true love with gramps here, just like I found my true love with Eddie. Things got really bad for me for awhile and I never told you but I know you knew. I hope you didn't take it personally that I didn't tell you but you were gone and I didn't want to worry you. I know you're my grams and it's your job to worry and I would be so angry if something major was going on with one of my kids and they didn't talk to me but not you grams, You just waited patiently for me to tell you which I did, years after the fact. Thank you for just listening. I know you wanted so much more for my life than for me to be a bartender but when you saw how happy I was with my bar, my husband and my kids you realized that my life was just as full as it would have been if I would have been a nurse." She paused to blow her nose. "I'm really going to miss you grams. Thank you for being my grandmother, my mother, and most importantly, my friend. I'll love you forever." She leaned over and kissed her grandmother. "Tell gramps, mom, dad and Andy I said hi and I love them all so much." She slowly walked away from her grandmother, walked over to her husband, wrapped her arms around him and she let herself be comforted in his embrace. He knew that words weren't necessary so he just held her tightly.

When she finally pulled away they returned to the lobby where they picked out a coffin made the arrangements for the calling hours and funeral. From the funeral home they went to the nursing home to pick up Helen's belongings where all of the nurses offered their condolences. Janet and Eddie had always thought that the staff at Millpond was exceptional. On the way home from the nursing home, they returned to the funeral home so they could drop off the clothes for the funeral. As she sat in the van, watching Eddie take in the dress that her grandmother was going to be buried in, her tears started to fall again. By the time Eddie returned she was sobbing softly in her seat, head against the window.

"Oh sweetheart." He reached for her hand and held it tightly.

"Please, I just want to go home."

"Okay." They drove in silence until they pulled into the driveway.

"I have a headache so I'm going to lay down."

"Whatever you want sweetheart." They climbed out of the van and headed into the house.

"Can you tell the kids for me? I don't think I can."

"Of course I will."

"Thanks." They opened the door and Samantha greeted them by pulling Janet into her arms.

"I'm so sorry Janet." She whispered and Janet nodded. "Is there anything I can do?" Janet shook her head, wiping away her tears.

"Go on upstairs hon. I'll be up to check on you shortly." He watched sadly as his brokenhearted wife walked up to their room. He turned to his mom with tears in his eyes,

"Thanks for picking up the kids."

"No problem."

"Did Collin get his afternoon shot?" He asked rubbing his eyes.

"Yeah, I gave it to him." Heather had taught his parents how to give Collin his shots.

"What was his sugar?"

"It was 104."

"Good. Mom I hate to ask but I think that I'm going to need some help. Janet is pretty torn up. Do you mind hanging out for the next few days and giving me hand?"

"Baby you don't have to ask. Of course I'll stay. I've already started dinner."

"Where are the kids?"

"Natalie is upstairs doing her homework and the twins and Collin are outside."

"Can you bring them in from outside and I'll grab Nat. I want to tell them after dinner." Samantha nodded and Eddie went to go fetch his daughter. When he got to the top of the stairs he found Natalie standing outside his bedroom door looking inside.

"Honey?"

"What's wrong with mommy?"

"Her head hurts. She needed to lay down. It's time for dinner. Why don't you go downstairs and help nanny." She nodded and quietly left. As soon as she was out of sight Eddie went to check on Janet. He found her lying on top of the bed, fully clothed, clutching a photo of her and grams sound asleep. He grabbed a blanket, threw it over Janet, and kissed her head.

After dinner Eddie gathered his children in the living room to tell them about the death of their great- grandmother.

"Mommy and I found out something very sad today. Grams died and went to heaven today. Do you understand what that means?" They all nodded except for Collin who was still too understand. "Now mommy is very said and she will be crying a lot so you guys need to leave her alone and be extra good. Can you do that for me?" They all nodded.

"Can I color mommy a picture to help her not be so sad?" Amber asked.

"Yeah chipmunk. I think that she would like that."

"I'm going to make mommy a picture too." Zach announced.

"No you can't." Amber yelled. "It was my idea."

"Hey you both can do it." Samantha intervened.

"Yeah mommy will like that." Eddie told them. He looked around and noticed that Natalie had disappeared and he had a pretty good idea where she went.

--

Janet was lying on her side with her back to the door and she heard Natalie shuffle into the bedroom. She smiled through her tears when she felt Natalie's hand playing with her hair. Janet rolled over and faced her youngest daughter. Natalie took that as permission to join her mother so she climbed up on the bed next to her.

"Daddy said grams is in heaven now."

"Yeah she is baby."

"Is she an angel?" Janet nodded "Then you shouldn't be sad mommy cause grams is watching over us like your mommy and my mommy. Now we have three angels instead of two always watching and taking care of us." Natalie told her mother wisely.

"You're right sweetheart." Janet kissed her daughter's head.

:"I love you mommy."

"I love you so much Natalie." Neither of them saw Eddie standing in the doorway watching them, his own tears falling.

Later that night when he crawled into bed and reached for her she didn't respond even though she was awake. "I'm so sorry J." He gently ran his hand up and down her arm. "Janet I know your hurting but please baby, please don't push me away. We are here for you, me, mom, dad, the kids, Hannah, please let us be here for you. You don't have to go through this alone." She rolled over, her eyes full of tears.

"Will you hold me?"

"Always Janet. I'll always hold you." She scooted close to him, he held out his arms and she settled her head on his chest. He wrapped both of his arms around her tightly around her and Janet was finally able to fall asleep in the safety and security in the arms of the man that loved her.

Thanks so much for reading and reviewing. I look forward to reading more reviews.