Chapter 29

Liiani jumped up from her seat and gave Vince a tight hug as the rest of the family also rose to greet the black sheep of the group. As he was saying hello to the rest of the family, Liiani took the last chunk of breakfast casserole and the three remaining pancakes to warm them up in the microwave. While they were heating she sat a place for Vince near their father giving up her own seat.

While they caught up, Liiani figured she could get the dishes started. She wasn't at all surprised when Sue started helping her, but she paused in open mouthed surprise when Sam pitched in as well.

Noticing the look on his sister's face, Sam told her, "Susie has trained me right. She simply told me that if I didn't help clean up, she would stop cooking for me."

"And that worked?!" Liiani asked incredulously.

"You bet it did!" Sam responded enthusiastically. "She's a great cook and I have to work hard not to overeat and mess up my yearly physical."

With three of them doing it, the work was quickly finished and they were able to rejoin the rest of the family for a cup of coffee.

Just as they were all about to have a quick snack, in place of lunch, the fourth of the boys arrived. David, Nicci, and two year old Joyce were greeted with hugs and kisses by the family who were especially gladdened by the surprise news that Nicci was five months pregnant with their second child. David smugly reported that the ultra-sound showed they were expecting a boy.

Congratulations rang out as David was slapped on the back by his brothers in the traditional manly way to show approval.

Liiani watched as each of her brothers took their turns talking to Gerald, catching him up on events in their lives. It had been just over a year that the whole family had been in one place. Sam and Susan's wedding had been the occasion. It made Liiani sad to think that the family only came together now for events like weddings, milestone birthdays, and God forbid, funerals.

The boys were all busy with their own lives and families. Even the two that lived close didn't come by all that often. It wasn't that they forgot or didn't love her and Gerald, it was simply that their career's and life in general kept them busy. She was not above giving them a nudge upon occasion if she felt too much time had gone by since they had dropped by to see Gerald.

But enough about that! They were all here now and for a great reason! It was Gerald's day and she intended to see that he had the best party ever! It wasn't everyday that someone turned 100! In fact very few people even had the chance to turn 100. She didn't know another soul that was even close to a milestone like that. Truth be told, that was why Gerald was a rather lonely man. All of his friends had passed away as he kept marching on. Now, with the exception of family, he had very few true friends.

He did, however, have a very winning away about him and many men who served under him over the years would attend the party out of respect for the man and the service he had given to his country over the years.

Liiani glanced down at her watch and realized that she needed to get everyone moving so they could get the Veteran's center ready for the party. Nicci said she would stay at the house with the children because in her condition she wouldn't be able to do very much in any case, and having two small children underfoot would be counter productive to getting things done. She would bring the kids to the Veteran's center when the party started.

In the few hours they had before the guests started arriving they managed to change the plain impersonal hall into a space fit to offer the proper tribute to a man that had not only served his country in time of war, but who had raised a family that were following in his footsteps. There were three hundred helium balloons floating around the room and tied in bouquets to floral centerpieces. The color scheme for the event was a patriotic red, white, and blue. There were several poster boards on easels around the room that told the story of Gerald's life as well as individual pictures of his weddings. Also there was a baby picture next to a current picture of each of his children. There was a collage of pictures of the two married sons with their wives and children as well.

The caterers were setting out the food as Liiani went to the doors to open them allowing the guests to freely enter. The guest book near the door would give them a record of everyone that attended, but Liiani didn't need that to tell her that the turnout was even better than she had hoped for. She was mentally patting herself on the back for ordering extra food 'just in case' when she saw AJ arrive.

To be continued…..