"She's still in bed?"

"Now, now, David, let her be," Ruth chided her husband. "Besides, it's only 9:30."

"I know that, but she's usually up by this hour. It's just strange to know she's here but we don't see her."

"Well, she's with Andy now. We have to learn to share again. She's not only ours."

"I know... but it feels strange. We don't even know this guy. How do we know he's good enough for our daughter?" David grumbled as he poured his tea.

Ruth laughed at him, "You do realize your little girl is over 60, and she's quite capable of making her own decisions. Besides, she's been alone for a long time and she deserves this."

"But how do we know he's not going to be another leach like the last one?"

"The last one she married when she was still too young to know what she was getting, and too stubborn to hear what we had to say. Besides, if you want to know about Andy, just look down there." Ruth pointed to Nicole building lego with her sons. "You know she's not their birth mother, but look at her. She couldn't love those boys any more if she tried. The man who raised that girl can't be all bad."

"That doesn't mean anything. Look at Lizzie, she's a wonderful and she's all Sharon. That no-account had nothing to do with her."

"David, if Jackson walked in through that door right now, what do you think your grandchildren would do?"

"Well I know what I'd do..."

"I'm serious. You were there last night when Nicole arrived. She was so happy to surprise Andy. Can you imagine Lizzie ever doing that for Jackson?"

"No... I guess you're right."

"I am right. Andy is not Jackson, thank the Lord. He's someone we always wanted for her, so if they want to spend time alone in their room, let them. They're on vacation."

David grumbled some more, "No they're not. Technically they're working. They're supposed to be looking after Krista. Where is she, anyway?"

"Krista? She was over in the big chair with a book last time I looked. She's not there?" Ruth went over to see, and was relieved to see Krista in the same place she'd been all morning. "Krista is fine, David, and there are six other adults in this house that are quite capable of watching a 12 year old girl who wants to spend her time reading."

"What's the story on her anyway? Did Sharon tell you anything?"

"No, not that I expected her to. Andy told Krista at dinner last night that she could tell her own story, do you remember? That sounded like something Sharon would say, too. All we know is she's lost her parents, poor lamb. That's hard enough, but at Christmas it's even harder."

"Has Sharon said when they're taking her back to LA?" David asked.

Ruth shook her head, "No, she hasn't said a thing, and please don't ruin my bubble. Right now I've convinced myself that we will have everybody here for a long time. I don't want to think anything else at the moment."

David smiled apologetically at his wife for the first time, "Sorry Ruthie, it is nice having everyone here, isn't it. Rusty seems to fit in like Sharon's third child, Sharon is happy with someone for the first time in years, and that Nicole looks like she could fit in there with Lizzie and Ricky, no problem at all. I even like the look of that Adam. That's a good crew of kids."

"See," Ruth went over and gave David a hug, then kissed him on the head. "We're blessed so let's enjoy it."

"Yes Sweetheart, we are..." he agreed, then got to his feet. "And I'm going to enjoy it."

"David Thompson, I know that look," Ruth said, standing back with her hands on her hips. "What are you planning?"

"Nothing..."

"Liar..."

"Everyone else is having fun, so I'm going to have some too."

"What are you going... No David, leave her alone!"

"Ruth, I'm almost 90. How many more chances am I going to get to embarrass my daughter?" He smiled, and headed to the stairway that lead to the bedrooms.

"David... DAVID!"