Chapter 9 – Epilogue

With Chris so close to me, we were able to spend a number of weekends together. The LaSalle blood line in him came to forefront as he quickly experienced hunting, using guns and eating southern dishes.

Unlike me, my son was serious when it came to dating and met a brainiac young woman his first year on the job. After dating for a year they decided to tie the knot.

I could hardly contain my tears at Christopher's wedding. Brody had kept photos of the team from a Marine Corps Ball while we were in New Orleans. There was a photo of Sonja and I alone that the kids used in their wedding board. Again I saw the twinkle in her eyes as she looked at me. How could I have missed it? Maybe I just didn't want to see it I thought when it came in the mail. It was a beautiful day that I would never forget.

Three years later they had my first grandchild a boy also named Christopher. Three more years passed by when they brought home a little girl named Elizabeth.

My interaction with Lizzie was challenging. Why one would ask? Because she looked and acted exactly like a miniature Sonja Percy. She loved her 'Pop Pop' and after she started walking well, she was constantly at my side. As she grew older I marveled at how her mannerisms matched those of her grandmother. Her gait, how she nodded her head, how her eyes sparkled, how she bit her lip when she was holding something back and her smile mirrored that of Sonja. There was more than once that I had to wipe away a tear or two thinking back to the three years that I worked with Percy.

No one can stop the aging process and that applied to me as well. I was still running and one day noticed a lump in my left arm while showering. It turned out be a soft tissue sarcoma. Removing the growth and the following chemo literally brought me to my knees. Chris called daily and invited me to visit after my treatment was completed.

Shortly after getting a cleaning bill of health, I attended a baseball game for CJ. Lizzie had assumed her normal place right by my right hip. We both stood and cheered as CJ rounded second base of his triple. I had long forgiven Sonja for keeping my son from me and marveled that day what joy that Christopher and his family had brought into my life. Lizzie and her mother rode back to their house with me as Chris joined CJ and his teammates at a victory celebration.

You're a lucky man Christopher LaSalle I thought to myself as we pulled up in the driveway. Yes, a very lucky man indeed.

That night sleep escaped me and I got up and went into the living room. I moved around the room noting the many photographs of Sonja and Christopher. I walked up to the fireplace mantel and picked up the photo of Sonja and me from the Marine Corp Ball her last December in New Orleans. Look at those eyes I thought. Look at that smile. Then I sat down and bawled like a big ole baby. Oh how I miss you City Mouse was all I could think.