Chapter 24

Luckily Bud had seen this happen many times before and had stopped out of the house on to the front step and grabbed the Admiral's wrists over the head of his eight year old son. This bit of added help kept AJ from falling on his backside as well as saving the soda.

Everyone came inside and introductions were made all around. Danika was dragged into the den with Little AJ, James and the twins. The bag of Lego's spilled out on the floor as the four adults go the table set and food carried in. For the more mature pallete Harriett had made bacon wrapped BBQ shrimp, for the three youngest there was mac and cheese, they would also get raw baby carrots for their veggie while the others would be having steamed buttered brussel sprouts.

Everyone was called to the table and Danika was dissappointed that she wasn't on the mac and cheese list. Little AJ also wanted a change from the sprouts to the carrots. When everyone had what they wanted on their plates things got quiet for awhile as they all dug in to the wonderful meal Harriett had made.

Harriett finally had a chance to tell AJ and Jessy how thrilled she was at their marriage because Bud told her about the ceremony the night before she informed them she had made a surprise for desert.

The meal was finishged and their guests were waiting to discover what the surprise desert was. Harriett went into the kitchen and brought out a two tiered wedding cake with figures of a Navy officer groom and civilian bride on the top. Jessy's eyes filled with tears and even the retired Admiral was touched beyond measure at this incredible gesture.

Harriett informed them that the top teir was for them to take home and put in the freezer for their first anniversary. Jessy cleared her throat and thanked Harriett profussly, AJ also offered his thanks as their hostess handed him a knife and told him that it was tradition for the bride and groom to cut the first slice and feed it to each other.

AJ began to worry about that the moment he saw the wild gleam in her eyes. He just knew that when Jessy fed him the cake she would smear it on his face. His question was should he do the same thing in return? They cut a piece of cake and then Jessy took half of the slice in her hand and held it in front of his mouth. AJ was surprised that was all she did. He moved closer to take a bit and that was when his dear sweet new bride struck! With a wide grin on her face she smeared the cake from cheek to cheek.

Danika led the laughter and then the younger kids joined in. Bud was also laughing but Harriett's giggle quickly turned into a sigh when Jessy slid her hands on either side of his head and pulled him to her for a kiss. AJ took the opportunity to move his face back and forth transfering as much of the cake to her face as he could.

Both of them were laughing as the kiss ended and when everyone else saw their faces they did too. Bud handed them napkins to clean up with as Harriett stepped in to serve the cake.

While they were eating Bud began to talk about the adoption. He asked AJ and Jessy why it was that they wanted to take Danika in. When they asked why, Bud said he needed the information for the forms he needed to fill out.

"We found out that she was living in her car, when we later found out it was because both her parents were dead. But it wasn't just that as we spent more time with her we fell in love with her," Jessy paused in what she was saying to reach across the table and take hold of Danika's hand.

"Fell in love?" Bud asked.

It was AJ that responded, "We had only spent a few hours with Danika and it was all that it tood to know that we wanted for her to be our daughter.

To be continued…..