I own none of the characters of October Road
"I don't have any crazy childhood stories like we have heard here this evening to share." Allison Rowan said. "I did not grow up in this wonderful town. Owen and I met at college and during the beginning of our relationship all I ever heard about was Owen's amazing friends that he had at home. When he brought me home with him for our first Thanksgiving and I met these amazing friends of his I could see why they meant so much to Owen. I have never seen such a tight knit group of friends before. It was amazing. After Owen and I got married and we moved here I loved small townness; where everyone knows your name and your business." That drew a laugh from the crowd. "I knew Janet from going to Sully's and we got to know each other better when she and Eddie started dating but our friendship didn't really take off until Natalie came along. I thought that it was funny that everyone but Eddie and Janet knew that they were going to be amazing parents. Like every new parent they were nervous and scared but they shouldn't have been. They were naturals and as I look at Natalie, Zach, Amber and Collin today and see what wonderful, well rounded adults they have become I know that we were all right. Eddie, Janet congratulations."
Years ago
"Hey mom what are you doing here?" Natalie asked when Janet walked into Best Friend Windows.
When Natalie turned sixteen and started driving she needed some extra money for gas so Eddie gave her a part time job filing and recently he had started showing her how to do some of the instillations and she was loving it.
"I'm here to take my daughter to lunch." Janet said with a smile as she walked over to kiss Natalie.
"I'm supposed to be working." Natalie had a day off of school and she was spending it at the office with her dad.
"I have a connection with the boss. I'm sure I can persuade him."
"Persuade who to do what?" Eddie asked walking out of the back room and over to his wife to kiss her.
"I want to take Natalie to lunch." Janet told him when they broke apart.
"Okay. Have fun girls."
"See told you." Janet said to Natalie with a grin.
"Can I have the rest of the afternoon off dad?" Natalie asked with a smile.
"Nice try kiddo." Eddie kissed his daughter. "One hour."
"Fine." Natalie grabbed her purse from her dad's desk drawer and she and her mother left.
"Does the deli sound good?" Janet asked when they got in the van.
"Yeah that's fine."
"So how is work going?"
"Crazy. I swear daddy and Uncle Nick are such slobs. Their paperwork is such a mess. I don't know how they ever manage to find things. Every time I file something I find something that doesn't belong in that file."
"That sounds like those two." Janet said with a laugh.
"I could really take a couple of Saturdays to clean out their filing cabinets but daddy is too cheap to pay me for that."
"And you are too cheap to work for free."
"No mom. I'm just too smart."
They finished the ride to the deli and ordered their food around comfortable small talk and then they found a small table in the back corner to enjoy their lunch. "So what's the occasion mom?" Natalie asked
"Can't a mother just want to spend some quality time with her daughter?"
"Mom."
"We have both been so busy lately and we haven't had much time to talk lately so I thought that we could just talk. Is that okay?"
"Yeah sure mom."
"So how are things going between you and Anderson?" Natalie has been dating a boy from her class for a couple of months now and neither Eddie nor Janet was fond of him. He hasn't come out and done anything wrong but they both just had a weird feeling about him but since Natalie liked him a lot they kept their mouth shut.
"It's good." Natalie said with a huge smile. "I still haven't gotten him his Christmas present gift yet. He told me he wants this new video game but it's like a hundred dollars."
"That's an awful lot of money to spend on someone you have only been seeing for a few months sweetie."
"I almost have enough money saved up."
"How serious are you two Nattie?"
"Serious?"
"You know what I'm talking about."
"We've had some pretty hot and heavy make out sessions."
"Is that all?"
"Well…" Natalie glanced around to see if anyone was listening and found that it was practically just the two of them in the back of the deli. "He may have felt some things." She admitted shyly.
"May have?"
"Okay there was no maybe." Janet reached out and took Natalie's hand.
"I know you like him a lot sweetheart and I want you to know how happy it makes me that you are happy."
"But?"
"I just don't want you to rush into anything that you may regret."
"Anything like sex?"
"Anything like sex. Sex is an amazingly wonderful thing that should not be taken lightly. It's a huge adult responsibility. There are STD's HIV and pregnancy; all of those things could happen to you so if and when you decide to start having sex you need to be careful and take all of the proper precautions. When you're ready to take that next step let me know and I'll take you to the doctor and get you started on the pill. Your dad and I love you but we will not raise your baby. If you're going to have sex then you will have to be responsible enough to deal with any consequences and don't rely on the guy to bring the condoms. Make sure you have some with you at all times because the pill doesn't protect against HIV or STD's." Janet told her.
"You sound like a commercial."
"Baby I love you and I want you to be safe and happy. I told you that sex is a wonderful thing and it really is but only when you are in love. Your daddy taught me that. Sex without love is…well…just sex but sex when you are in love is where the term making love comes from. I don't ever want to see you hurt Natalie and sex can hurt you…in so many ways so please just take your time."
"Sex hurt you didn't it mom?" Natalie asked softly.
"Yeah baby it did and I don't want you to get hurt by it."
"Getting hurt is a part of growing up mom."
"I know that but as your mother I want to try to help you avoid going through that."
"Thanks mom. I appreciate that and when the time comes I will come and talk to you."
"I love you Natalie."
"Oh mom. I love you too."
--
Two weeks later on a Sunday afternoon Eddie and Janet were spending a lazy afternoon at home with the boys while Natalie and Amber were at the mall doing some last minute Christmas shopping.
"Collin give me my game back." Zach shouted at his brother.
"I don't have it." Collin yelled back.
"I let you borrow it last week."
"I gave it back."
"No you stupid idiot you did not."
"Yes I did stupid head."
"No name calling." Janet yelled up the stairs but they kept yelling at each other. "Knock it off before your father comes up there."
"So much for our Sunday afternoon nap." Eddie said with a smile. They were curled up in his recliner trying to take a nap. When they heard Collin cry Janet reluctantly climbed off of her husband's lap and he stormed up the stairs yelling at the boys as he went.
Sighing Janet grabbed a blanket off the back of the couch, her book of the coffee table and settled in to read a few chapters while Eddie handled the boys. She was a couple of pages in to her book when Natalie stormed into the house in tears followed by Amber.
"Natalie what happened?" Natalie ignored her and rushed upstairs slamming her bedroom door. "Amber what happened?" Janet asked her youngest daughter.
"She saw Anderson kissing another girl." Amber told her.
"That son of a bitch." Janet mumbled under her breath racing upstairs after her daughter.
"What the hell is going on?" Eddie asked standing outside of Natalie's room.
"I'll tell you later." Janet said pushing past him and into Natalie's room. "Oh sweetheart." Janet exclaimed when she saw Natalie curled up on her bed sobbing. Janet rushed over and crawled on the bed next to Natalie and pulled her into her arms.
"Anderson…kissing…Christina…" Natalie sobbed into her mother's lap.
"I'm sorry honey…so sorry. I know it hurts right now but it won't hurt forever. That I will promise you."
"Why mommy? What did I do wrong?" Janet felt tears spring to her eyes.
"Nothing. You didn't do a damn thing wrong Natalie. Boys are just stupid."
"I really liked him." Natalie cried softly.
"I know baby. I know." Janet held Natalie until she cried herself to sleep. "I'm sorry that you have to go through this." Janet whispered as she untangled herself from Natalie's arms. Natalie sighed as Janet covered her up and kissed her.
"I'm going to kill that little twit." Eddie told Janet as soon as she came back down in the living room.
"Amber told you?"
"Yeah. Is she okay?"
"She just had her first heartbreak so no, she's not okay but in time she will be."
"I should go talk to her."
"She is sleeping. You can talk to her later." Eddie pulled Janet down on the couch next to him and Janet laid her head on his chest.
"Our poor poor girl." Eddie mumbled tightening his arms around his wife.
"Where are the kids?"
"Napping." He said with a grin as he wrapped them up in the blanket. "Maybe we should follow their example." Eddie reclined the couch so he stretch out his long legs and Janet laid her head on his lap but neither of them slept. They were too consumed with thoughts of their heartbroken daughter.
Three hours later the Latekka family was just getting ready to sit down for dinner when the doorbell rang. "I'll get it." Collin shouted jumping up from his seat and running to the door. "Hi Anderson. What are you doing here?" They all heard Collin say. Natalie who was slouching at the table immediately sat up.
"I'll take care of this." Eddie grumbled.
"Daddy wait." Natalie spoke up. "I'll talk to him."
"Are you sure?" Eddie asked.
"I can't have you fighting my battles." She said standing up from the table.
"If you need me I'll be right here."
"Thanks daddy." Eddie and Janet watched helplessly as Natalie went into the foyer to confront Anderson. They both wanted to do it for her, save her more heartbreak then necessary but they knew it was something that she had to do on her own.
"Come on guys. Everyone sit down and let's eat." Janet said.
"What about Nattie?" Amber asked.
"She will be here when she is done talking to Anderson. Now sit your nosy little butt down before your dinner gets cold." Eddie told her.
"Well Natalie's dinner will get cold." Amber said.
"Amber mind your own business."
"Yes sir." Amber mumbled sitting down.
Janet dished out their roast, mashed potatoes and carrots and they all ate their dinner rather quietly for them. Eddie and Janet were quiet because they were keeping and ear out for Natalie in case she needed them and the kids were quiet because they were just plain nosy.
A few minutes later they heard the front door slam and Natalie returned to the table with red swollen eyes. She silently sat at her seat and Janet put some food on her plate.
"Is everything okay?" Janet gently asked her and Natalie just nodded as her eyes filled with tears. Eddie reached over and took her hand.
"Be brave pumpkin." Eddie encouraged. Again Natalie nodded and proceeded to pick at her food.
"Mom I'm just not hungry." Natalie said after everyone else had finished eating. She had maybe taken one or two bites.
"You know you have to eat honey because if you don't you can revert back to your previous bad habit of not eating."
"I won't mom I promise. I'll eat tomorrow."
"I'm sorry sweetheart. You need to eat." Like she did when Natalie was younger Janet got a little but of food and put it on one side of the plate. "Here honey just eat this right here. It's not even half."
"Mommy I'm not hungry." Natalie cried as tears slid down her cheeks.
"I'll help you." Janet sat next to her heartbroken daughter and fed her like she was a child.
"Thanks mom." Natalie whispered sadly.
"It's my job." Janet said smiling softly at Natalie.
"I know but thank you."
"You're very welcome sweetheart."
--
"Mommy." Janet felt her shoulder shaking. "Mommy." Janet opened her eyes and rolled over to find Collin standing next to her bed. Janet looked at the clock and saw that it was 3:30am and she and Eddie and only been asleep since two because of the annual Christmas Eve party, putting the kids gifts under the tree and then their traditional Christmas eve/morning love making session in front of the tree, they had a late night.
"Collin it is way too early to open your presents."
"Mommy my belly hurts."
"Do you wanna sleep with me and daddy?" Janet figured that he was just too excited for Christmas presents to sleep.
"Yes please." Janet shoved Eddie over and he never woke up. He just grumbled and rolled over and then Janet lifted Collin up and placed her between her and Eddie.
"Comfy?" He nodded and she leaned over to kiss his head. "Oh baby you are burning up. Wait here and mommy is going to get you some medicine." Janet climbed out of bed and went into her bathroom to grab the children's Tylenol. When she returned to the bed she turned on the lamp on her nightstand and Eddie didn't stop snoring. "Do you feel like you are going to throw up?"
"No. It just hurts."
"Okay honey sit up for me." Collin slowly sat up. "Open wide and drink your medicine." Collin did as he was told. "That's mommy's big boy. Now lie down and try to get some sleep okay?"
"Okay mama." Janet turned off the light and climbed back into bed. Collin immediately snuggled up next to his mother and within a few minutes he was sound asleep.
A few hours later Eddie, Janet and Collin were woken up by Natalie, Zach and Amber bounding into their room yelling "Merry Christmas." Eddie and Janet responded with groans.
"You told us to wait until six thirty and its six thirty three." Zach announced. "It's time to open our presents."
"All right. All right. Go on downstairs and wait for us." Eddie instructed. "If you touch any of the presents you won't get any of them. Understand?"
"Yes sir." The three older kids said.
"Natalie will you please start the coffee for your mom and I?"
"Sure thing dad." Eddie smiled at his kids and then rolled over to kiss Janet but was met with Collin's head.
"What is he doing in here?" Janet sent Eddie a glare before answering him.
"My God you can sleep through anything can't you?"
"Yes I can and apparently so can our little guy." Collin was still sound asleep.
"He woke up in the middle of the night with a fever and stomach ache. I'm glad that you were able to sleep so well cause I was up most of the night being hit, slapped or punched or holding him while he cried."
"Mommy." Janet placed her hand on his head and found that his fever had returned.
"Hey bud. How is your belly?"
"It still hurts." He whined tearfully.
"I'll give you some more medicine and then we'll go downstairs to open your presents that Santa left for you. Does that sound good?"
"Okay."
Eddie and Janet got out of bed, took care of their morning bathroom needs, gave Collin another dose of Tylenol and then the three of them headed downstairs to the living room filled with presents with Eddie carrying Collin.
"Merry Christmas guys." Janet said to her kids.
"Merry Christmas." They all chimed together.
"Can we open our presents?" Amber asked impatiently.
"Mom and I need our coffee and nanny and papa aren't here yet." Eddie said. His parents came over every year on Christmas morning to watch their grandkids open their gifts.
"I'll call them." Zach said.
"Here's your coffee." Natalie said bringing her parents their coffee cups.
"Thanks honey." Eddie said laying Collin on the couch next to his mom. He immediately curled up next to her, whimpering softly.
"What's wrong with him?" Amber asked.
"His stomach hurts." Janet answered.
"Hello. Merry Christmas." John and Samantha called coming into the house.
"Nanny, Papa look at all of the presents we got." Zach said.
"Wow. It looks like Santa thought that you guys were really good this year." Samantha said with a wink. All of the kids but Collin knew that mom and dad were Santa but they still played along for Collin's sake.
"Merry Christmas mom and dad. Can I get you guys some coffee?" Eddie asked as he kissed his mom.
"You know you can sweetheart."
"Zach why don't you separate the gifts for everyone?" Janet suggested.
"Oh I wanna help." Amber said.
"Okay. Just work together and don't fight." Janet warned.
"Yes ma'am." They said.
"Hey Collin. What's wrong? Are you tired?" Samantha asked sitting on the couch next to her grandson.
"I don't feel good." He mumbled.
"I'm sorry honey."
"Is okay." He mumbled snuggling closer to Janet.
"Are we ready to open presents?" Eddie asked returning to the living room with his parent's coffee.
"Yeah."
"I gotta throw up." Collin announced. In one swift movement Eddie scooped Collin off of the couch, stepped over kids and presents and rushed Collin to the downstairs bathroom just in time followed by Janet. "My belly hurts." Collin sobbed as Janet wiped his face.
"Eddie he should probably go the hospital." Janet told him. "Especially since he is puking now his blood sugar is going to be out of control."
"Yeah you're right. Do you want to take him or shall I?" Janet looked at him with pleading eyes. "Both us should take him. I'll stay with him and you go get dressed."
"I'll be right back sweetie." Janet told Collin who was clinging to Eddie.
"Come on sport." Eddie lifted Collin up and the two of them returned to the living room where everyone was waiting anxiously for their return.
"Is Collin okay?" Natalie asked.
"Actually no he's not. He needs to go to the hospital. Mom, dad…"
"Of course we'll stay." Samantha interrupted and Eddie shot her a grateful look.
"I'm sorry guys but mom and I both need to go with Collin so you guys are going to stay here with nanny and papa. Go ahead an open your presents and you can show them to us when we get home in a couple of hours okay?" The three older kids nodded.
"I'm really sorry about ruining your Christmas morning." Eddie told them sadly.
"You didn't ruin anything dad. Just take care of Collin." Natalie told him.
"Okay Eddie. I'll take him. You can go change now." Eddie handed Collin off to Janet and he went to change. While he was gone Janet told them the same thing that Eddie told them and she smiled through her tears at how understanding her children were being. They never continued to amaze her.
--
"Mr. Mrs. Latekka we have Collin's test results." Dr. McGee said walking back in the room. "Your son has appendicitis and his appendix is going to have to come out."
"Surgery? He needs surgery?" Eddie asked clutching one of Collin's hands while Janet had the other. When he got to the hospital they gave him some medicine for the pain and he was finally sleeping.
"I know that surgery is scary especially when it concerns one of your children but an appendectomy is a relatively simple procedure."
"Relatively simple?" Eddie gasped.
"Anytime anesthesia is involved there is always a risk."
"Eddie he needs the surgery." Janet said.
"I know." Eddie and Janet agreed to the surgery and Dr. McGee went over the risks of the surgery that scared the crap out of them even though they were minimal and then they signed the consent.
"Mommy my belly hurts." Collin whimpered a few minutes after Dr. McGee left the room and the nurse was prepping him for surgery.
"I know honey. The doctor is going to make you feel all better. They're going to take you upstairs, give you some medicine that will make you go to sleep and when you wake up your belly will feel all better."
"Okay Collin. It's time to go." The nurse said and Collin burst into tears.
"Mommy daddy I don't wanna go."
"You have to be brave sport and go up by yourself."
"Noooo." He sobbed.
"Please baby. Please be brave. When you wake up daddy and I will be right here."
"Collin you are daddy's brave man right?" Collin nodded through his tears. "Okay this is the time to be brave. You'll be fine I promise. Now are you ready to be brave?" Collin nodded again. "That's my boy." Eddie leaned down and kissed his son. "I love you Collin."
"Mr. Mrs. Latekka it's time to go." The nurse said and Janet kissed Collin.
"I love you so much baby boy."
"I love you too." The nurse nodded to the orderly and Collin was wheeled out of his cubicle. Janet fell into Eddie's arms and sobbed as Collin's cries echoed down the hall.
--
"Mama." Collin moaned from the bed.
"Hey baby. Daddy and I are here." Janet whispered to her little boy.
"Hey sport. How do you feel?" Eddie asked.
"Tired. Was I brave cause I cried?"
"Crying doesn't make you not brave. Collin you are the bravest kid I know. I am so proud of you."
"Really?"
"Yeah really sport."
"My belly doesn't hurt anymore."
"I told you when you woke up you would feel all better didn't I?" Janet asked him.
"Yeah you did. I'm tired. Can I take a nap?"
"Go ahead sweetie." Collin closed his eyes and fell back asleep.
"He's an amazing kid isn't he?" Eddie said proudly.
"He sure is." Janet agreed.
For the rest of the day Collin was in and out because of all of the pain medication he was on and Janet and Eddie never left his side. They called home many times with updates and the kids seemed to be fine having Christmas with their grandparents and not their parents. Finally around seven, as much as he didn't want too Eddie left. He knew that there was no way in hell Janet was going to leave Collin alone for the night and he knew that their kids needed at least one of their parents home on Christmas.
"Hey I'm home." Eddie called walking into the house.
"In here." Samantha called from the living room. Eddie took off his coat and boats and then joined his family in the living room.
"Hey what's all this?" He asked in surprise. They were all spread out watching a Christmas movie but that wasn't what surprised him. What surprised him was the fact that all of their presents were back under the tree still wrapped up. "Why didn't you guys open your gifts?" John paused the movie.
"We all decided that we couldn't have Christmas without you, mom or Collin so we put all of our gifts back under the tree until we could all celebrate Christmas together." Natalie explained and Eddie was momentarily speechless.
"Oh my God. You guys are amazing. This was the most wonderful thing you guys have ever done. I am so proud of each and every one of you." He said tearfully. "I love you guys." The kids all jumped up and hugged their dad.
Later that night after all the kids were tucked in bed and Eddie was in his bed all alone he called Collin's hospital room and a sleepily Janet answered on the second ring.
"I just wanted to tell you what amazing kids we have."
"I already know that." She said with a yawn.
"Yeah but what they did today confirms it."
"What did they do?"
"They decided that they can't have Christmas without the whole family together. All of their gifts are under the tree still wrapped." Janet didn't respond. "J are you there?"
"Yes." She sniffed.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes." She blubbered. "I can't believe that they did that."
"We've got ourselves some pretty awesome kids." He said
"We sure do."
"How's Collin?"
"Sleeping like a baby."
"How are you honey?"
"Tired. This tiny ass cot sucks. I miss you. How about you?" Janet asked him.
"My bed is really comfy."
"Bite me Latekka."
"But without you in it with me I might as well be sleeping on that cot."
"Good save." Eddie laughed.
"Merry Christmas Janet. I love you."
"Merry Christmas cowboy. I love you too."
As always thanks for reading. Please review with your thoughts. I really appreciate your reviews.