Hey all! I am so happy that you all have liked this story. It has been a really fun one to write. Easier than I had anticipated.
I do know that Hanukkah started in the evening on Thursday the 10th and ends tomorrow on Friday the 18th. But, this is the last chapter I have for this story. The characters have found a place in my heart and they might just come back in a few different stories on the future.
Tish11: Thank you. And they had been raised Jewish and Christian as you'll see towards the end of this chapter.
Thank you all for the love and support on this story. It means the world. Happy holidays.
Enjoy!
64 Years Old (Thursday December 12th - Friday December 20th, 2047)
"You don't think the kids are going to be mad at us, do you?" She asked, curled up into her husband's side. They had just gotten back to the hotel after taking a stroll around the block.
"Were they mad when we told them the plans for this year, months ago?" He asked, handing his wife one of the sufganiyot they bought on their walk. These one's being jelly filled. To Wade there was just something that made eating the pretty much jelly donut so much better when in Jerusalem. A trip he's been making plans to take with his wife for a few years now. Deciding if they didn't take the trip this year, they wouldn't make it at all.
"No," she said. "They were happy for us and told us they would still get together and celebrate," she repeated what they had told her.
"And they will," he assured her. "They are going to be fine, spending the time with their families and coming together as one big family," he stated.
"Okay, you might be right," Zoe sighed. "But Gen is in the midst of planning her wedding and what if she needs me?" She asked, Wade stopping her from grabbing her phone to see if their daughter called.
"Before we left, she said what?" Wade asked his wife.
"That she was going to take a break from planning her wedding because the holidays are stressful enough she doesn't want to add more stress to her plate," Zoe recited with a sigh.
"They want us to enjoy the next week and a half we have here. And we have a lot planned over the next few days," he told her. He wanted to get as much in as he can, they do have days when they have nothing planned to do as they please. "First up we have the Kotel Menorah lighting," he reminded her.
They have found a different public menorah lighting ceremony to attend for each night of Hanukkah, as they're spending every night of the holiday in Jerusalem plus some. The first lighting ceremony they're attending is the Kotel Menorah lighting at the Western Wall. Leading rabbis and dignitaries would be present. It's the ceremony Zoe was looking forward to the most.
"And don't forget we've got the walk around the old City," he reminded her.
"How can I forget?" She asked, nudging him. "Both things being high on my list of things to do while here," she remarked. Taking a walk around the old city, windows filled with menorahs, just sounded like a nice romantic walk with her husband.
"Let's go have that shower and get ready for the lighting ceremony," he commented, standing up. Offering to help his wife from the bed.
"Just a shower," she warned him. "I don't know if I can handle much else," she stated.
"I can't make any promises," he winked. "We both know what happens when I can't keep my hands to myself. I love every inch of you now as I did when we're 16," he commented.
"Just don't make us late," she grumbled, giving him a teasing look.
"Still a little minx after all these years," he laughed, pulling her into the bathroom.
Jake at 31 has a family of his own. He's been married for 6 years. Turns out when he sat down to really talk things out with Kacey, as much as they loved each other, they couldn't make things work for them. He's always going to love her in some way, she meant the world to him at one time in his life. It wasn't long after that he found Mandy. He's not sure they have the same type of love he's seen growing up with his parents, but he wants to say it's close.
They were dating a total of six months when they decided to get married. His parents were about the only two that didn't question him about it being too soon. It wasn't. He's been one to believe that when you know, you know. In that short amount of time they dated, they learned a lot about each. He can't say he knows everything about his wife, because they're still learning things about each other as the days pass. His dad once told him, he learns new things about his mom every single day, years after their wedding. That is what he wants with his wife. To never stop learning and to never stop loving her.
They have two kids together. With a boy on the way. Their oldest is a girl. Chloe Faith Kinsella. She's 5. Their middle child is a boy. Landon Earl Kinsella. He's 2 going on 3. Their third baby is due in February. His name is going to be Adam Greyson, to be named after Mandy's father.
He remembers his grandfather a bit. Knows the story of how everything came to be. How he tried to save himself, but it was just too late for him. Being named after his grandma, it only seemed fair to name his son after his grandfather. Asher beating him to the use of Harley. Not that he minded.
Asher at 29 has been married for the better part of 5 years. Brenda set him up on a blind date after he returned home after the holidays 8 years ago. He didn't get along with Alora at first. It took them hanging out for nearly six months before they got along and saw something in each other.
They have one little boy. Harley Kingston. He goes by Kingston or King. He is a very hyper 4-year-old. Asher remembers spending time with his grandpa Harley, and it only seemed fair to name his firstborn after his grandfather. They are expecting their second and third baby. Twins. He couldn't believe it when he was told. Before he tells his siblings he wants his parents to be home to share the news with everyone.
Genevieve at 25 is getting married. She's been planning her wedding for a year and a half. They had a hard time picking a date and the place they wanted to get married at. That they didn't leave them with much of choice but to have a long engagement. They preferred it that way. They still have another six months to go.
They've talked about having kids. They want to have a big family. Her soon-to-be husband, Cason Jackson has a huge family. 4 brothers and 2 sisters. Plus his parents divorced giving him 2 half brothers and 2 half sisters. He loves having so many siblings. Genevieve doesn't think she can handle that many kids. Maybe four. She just knows that she can only take one stressful situation at a time and with the wedding planning, she can't deal with having a baby. She would like to be married for a year or two to give her time to be with her husband before adding to their family.
She wants to establish her relationship with her soon-to-be husband, building upon what they have now, before adding kids into the mix. She wants to have a strong marriage like her parents. The last thing she wants to happen is for them to have kids and realize that they don't love each other the way they thought they had. A strong foundation to build upon.
"Looks as though they're having a grand old time," Jake commented, joining his sister and brother outside. They may not live in the same town, or the same state any longer, however, they still remain close as ever.
Jake still calls Baton Rouge home. Asher moved a little further away, calling Nashville home and as for Genevieve she called Tampa home for a few years. That was until Cason saw Bluebell and instantly fell in love with the small town. Together the two of them decided it wouldn't be so bad to call Bluebell home. Something that made Genevieve very happy. The longer she was away from her hometown, the more she missed it and had this need to be home.
Coming home let her take over the Jammer for her dad. Something she didn't know if she wanted to do or not. She graduated with a degree in business. It wasn't until she worked a few shifts at the Jammer to help her dad out that she found why he likes working there for. It's not about serving people. More times than not she's helping someone with some sort of problem. Helping make people laugh. And just have a good time. She sees why it was more than a job for him.
Asher works at a record label in Nashville. His love of music taking control of his life. When he didn't know what to do with his life after high school, music was there. When he had a horrible day, music was there. When he dealt with a bad grade, when he couldn't think right over an essay, when he struggled through a breakup, music was there to help him get through it. It only seemed right to chase after a career that made him happy.
As for Jake, he didn't have it as easy as his brother and sister. He went into college not knowing what he wanted to do with his life. He loved math so going for his associate degree in accounting made sense. He has never once used that degree. To help pay his way through school, because his parents were great in lending a hand, which made him feel bad, because he was supposed to be out in the world on his own. He took up a part-time job as a mechanic, something he's enjoyed doing with his dad. He just didn't see himself being a mechanic as anything more than needing a little money. Now he's got his own garage. Fixing up old cars and restoring them to their former glory gives him an amazing sense of pride for what he can do with his two hands. And he feels bad for wasting so much of his time and money on a degree he won't ever use. His parents didn't ever make him feel guilty for it, they are proud of him and his brother and sister for going after what they want.
"They really are," Genevieve nodded, swirling her glass of wine around. The white liquid sloshing around the glass.
"Everything okay?" Jake checked, looking from the crestfallen look on his sister's face to his brother shrugging, not knowing either.
"Don't you feel bad?" She asked, eyes casting a look to the darkening sky. Stars and the moon hidden behind the clouds moving in.
"What do we have to be feeling bad about?" Jake asked, sharing a look with his brother. As far as he knew nothing bad happened.
"The fact they shouldn't have had to wait so long to experience the world. That they spent their time taking care of us, that they have a whole world to explore, and they won't even get to see it," she rambled.
"You know they decided to have us, we didn't tell them," Jake sighed. He got what his parents felt now that he's a parent. He'd doing anything for his kids.
"I know that," she sighed. "It's stupid," she shrugged.
"We can always call them, and they can assure you that they did what they felt was best and that was having a family," Jake told her. If she wouldn't listen to them, she'd listen to mom and dad.
"It's three in the morning in Jerusalem, we're not calling them," Asher spoke up for the first time. "Gen, mom and dad saw everything they wanted to. You're forgetting that to them, we are the world," he softly told his sister. That's how he sees his child and soon-to-be twins. They're his whole world.
"So we won't call them yet," Jake said. "Before they got married they had time to travel. It's that they chose not to. We have no reason to feel bad about them wanting to have a family instead of seeing the world, Gen. Not everyone wants to explore," he explained to his sister. There are a few places around the world he wanted to go see, but he wasn't going to freak out if it never happened for him.
"Do you know what they did for their honeymoon?" She asked, looking at her brothers. Jake and Asher shared a look, they didn't know. Can't recall if they were ever told. "New York and Vegas," she huffed. "Can you imagine?" She asked, shaking her head.
"Not everyone can afford a honeymoon to Fiji, Gen," her older brother stated. "I spent my honeymoon in the Rocky's. Your honeymoon doesn't have to be perfect for everyone, just the two that are going on it," Jake gruffly stated.
"Are you forgetting that mom loves New York, so dad was making her happy and mom repaid the favor by taking Dad to Vegas. They have never complained about their honeymoon," Asher told his sister. "I spent my honeymoon on a cruise. Everyone has a different experience and destination for their honeymoon, Gen," he sighed.
"I know that," she said, rolling her eyes.
"I don't think this has anything to do with Mom and Dad, I think this has everything to do with you," Jake said, watching his sister. Most of the time you can tell what she's thinking, her emotions written on her face. Tonight she's been void of that.
"I think we've left our spouses alone long enough," she quipped, standing up.
"You know you can tell us anything," Asher said, watching his sister slowly walk to the house.
"You also know they're just fine, they've built a friendship that even we're not allowed to partake in," Jake told his sister. It took Cason, Mandy and Brenda very few seconds to become the best of friends.
"I don't know what you want me to say," she huffed, turning to look at them.
"I can still beat up any guy you need me to," Jake smirked, watching his sister fight to hide her smile. He likes Cason, he treats Gen right, with a lot of love and admiration. As much as he likes Cason, it doesn't mean he won't threaten the guy.
"Cason didn't do anything, so relax," she said, retaking her seat. "I don't want to wake up one morning and have regrets about not doing something," she confessed.
"You think Mom and Dad have regrets?" Jake asked with a frown.
"They might," she cried. "Mom dreamt about being a doctor in New York," she pointed out.
"And we all know that dream changed when she came to Bluebell. People's dreams do change, Gen," Jake pointed out. "I thought I would make it pro playing baseball, Asher dreamt of being a famous artist being double platinum, and we all thought you'd follow through with soccer," he pointed out.
None of that happened. He got older and realized that baseball wasn't what he wanted anymore. Asher is more happy producing the music than making it. And as for Gen and soccer he's not sure why she fell out of love with the sport. He never asked, because he knows what it's like to have a fall out with a sport you grew up playing.
"I'm not stupid, I know this," she hissed.
"Then explain what the problem is!" Jake yelled at his sister. His head is starting to pound from all the cryptic talk she's got going on.
"Shove it, Jacob," she hissed.
"We can't get to the root of whatever is going on with you two acting like crazy kids," Asher said, looking between his brother and sister, wanting to keep the peace. "Deep breaths," he instructed.
"I only want to help, Gen," sighed Jake. "I can't do that if you can't say what's going on."
"I'm trying," she whispered, taking a deep breath. "Don't you feel like there's a whole lot of stuff out there, and we've done none of it?" She asked.
"It doesn't bother me, because I am living the life I am happy with," Jake told her. "Asher?" He asked.
"I wouldn't change my life," he said, shaking his head. "Make a list," he suggested. "Brenda wrote a list back in January of all the things she wanted us to do this year," he told his siblings.
"Like what?" Gen asked. Jake became interested in this list as well.
"It's stupid and silly things for the most part," he told them. "Karaoke, romantic walks on the beach, go on a ride at the fair, try new foods, hike, explore a new area of the city we haven't yet. Enjoy a day out with King, take him to pick out a toy for fun, spice things up, take a dance class or do improv. Let King decide what we do for the day. Just stupid and silly things like that," he listed off. "We have a bigger list with Disney world, universal and vacations with King and trips to take alone. It's the small things that we like to focus on," he told them.
"That's not a bad idea," Jake nodded. He'd have to mention that to Mandy, and they can make their own list of things to do and try for the new year.
"I don't know," Gen sighed.
"We all know mom and dad would agree to doing this. Write down your dreams, and what you want to accomplish before it's too late. They don't have to be little things," Asher explained to her.
"You know Mom would be all for this," Jake told her. She would want any of her kids to do something that would help them deal with the stress and the worry they have in their lives.
"It's worth a try," she nodded. "Can we now go back inside to the ones we love?" She asked, making no move to actually get up.
"Are you saying that you don't love us? That you're just dealing with us?" Jake asked, stretching out in the chair he sat in.
"Dealing with you is the only way to go," Gen nodded. "I've put up with you plenty of times over the years," she smirked.
"Ouch!" Jake pouted. "You sure do know how to wound your oldest brother," he remarked.
"I wouldn't have to, if his ego could fit through a door," she retorted, smirking.
"Take that back," he warned. Gen shook her head. "You asked for it," he smirked, pouncing from his chair into hers, to put her into a headlock.
"And they wonder why I stay to myself," Asher said to himself, watching his brother and sister goof off.
With one mischievous look shared between the oldest and youngest sibling they were up and tackling Asher to the ground. Laughter filling the night sky. Would they ever be too old to goof off with each other? It's who they are and will keep being them.
"Give me a minute, doc," Wade said, taking a much-needed stop to sit on the first empty bench they came across. His feet, his legs and his back are hurting him. He doesn't know how many hours they have spent walking around the city. It's been hours, they had breakfast at the hotel and shortly after they had left to go on a shopping spree. They stopped for lunch, and we're back at it again. He's ready for a nap. A long one, at that.
"We don't have much left to do," Zoe told him, placing the bags on the ground as she sat next to her husband. The small break helping her sore muscles relax.
"We've already been to five different stores," he huffed, tossing his head back. "What else do we have to get?" He asked. They made the point of collecting small things for their kids and friends over their time spent in Jerusalem. And yet here they were on their last day in the city, shopping for more presents.
"Let's see we have all the grandkids and Asher. That boy hasn't gotten any easier to get a present for," she stated, nudging him. "He gets that from you."
"I have always been easy to shop for," he pointed out. "You, on the other hand, are not so easy," he grumbled.
"That might be true," she laughed, resting her head on his shoulder. "Regardless we have to finish this shopping," she told him, pushing herself to stand.
"Do we have to?" He asked, causing his wife to laugh. He frowned looking at her not understanding what happened to be so funny.
"That took me back to when Jake was 5 and didn't want to play dreidel with Asher," she explained, a fond smile on her face. How she misses watching her kids run around the house, growing up before her eyes. Now that they're out in the world with families of their own, she's proud of the adults they have become, she just misses how noisy her house once was.
"You know you don't have to be worried about them, right?" He asked his wife, getting up to take the bags from her.
"As their mother I can't stop worrying about them," she stated, slowly moving along the sidewalk, looking at the window displays as they walked past them.
He got that, because he worries about them. Especially after they call wanting advice on something. The older he gets, he doesn't think he will ever stop worrying about his kids. Ready to give them a helping hand in what they might need.
"I know the feeling," he nodded, longingly looking at the bench as they walked by one.
"Keep an eye on the bags," she told her husband, eyes lighting up at a little toy store. "You are free to wait out here on the bench," she informed him, much to his relief.
He hated shopping when he was younger. He only ever did it because he couldn't escape it. Not only that, but he did the least amount of shopping as he needed to. In and out of the store as fast as possible. Unless it happened to be the hardware store, then he could get lost, but more importantly it was about the laughs with the guys hanging out in the store avoiding what waited for them. If he could have stayed at the hotel he would have. But he didn't want his wife out exploring the city alone. He would have worried too much if he didn't come with. So he'll suck it up for his wife, who he loves greatly.
"Please tell me that you have everything?" He asked his wife as exited the shop, a yawn leaving his lips.
"Excuse me well I go back in and get Asher a deck of cards," she retorted, rolling her eyes at him.
"We can get him some stupid box subscription thing," he huffed, making no move to stand.
"Wade Kinsella, we are not going to do something like that," she huffed, frowning at him. "You wait here," she warned, walking across the street, to check out a different store.
From where he sat, he could see his wife moving about in and out of the store. He didn't have to worry about anything happening to her. The best part being that he doesn't have to join her. He'll gladly sit on his bench and watch her from afar, a smile on her face while he stays back to watch her bags. Her happiness is his happiness.
"Where to next?" He asked, standing up grabbing all of her shopping bags.
"That bakery you love," she smiled, linking arms with her husband as they walked down the street. His happiness is her happiness. She took it all in one last time before they leave tomorrow.
"Don't tell me we need to go find a suitcase," Wade grumbled from where he sat in bed, having gotten comfortable after eating breakfast. His stuff was packed away last night, leaving what he needed for today out. Packing the rest up the second he got up.
"It will fit," his wife grumbled right back at him. He wasn't as confident as his wife seemed to be. Both her suitcases were already full. One held all of her clothes and could barely zip shut. The second one, he found packed with gifts, and he didn't think the remaining gifts would fit.
"If anything, I have room in mine," he informed her.
"No you don't," she smiled at him, some of her clothes finding a home for the flight home in his suitcase.
He shook his head as he kept watching her try to fit the remaining few gifts inside the suitcase. He doesn't see them fitting, not without being broken by the time they make it back to the States anyway. Furthermore, he's half tempted to grab his wallet and go out himself to find her another suitcase, forget about the extra cost for more luggage, he just wants to make sure they bring home everything they brought with them and some.
"It doesn't matter," he muttered with a sigh. "If you force the rest of the gifts in the suitcase, they're going to be broken," he told his wife, making her stop trying to shove them in the suitcase. "Is that something we want?" He asked, moving to get off the bed.
"No," she sighed. She didn't want to give any of her friends or family broken gifts. And maybe she's being a bit stubborn on it all. "Let's go see what we can find," she told her husband.
"I will go down to the gift shop and see what kind of bags they have, while you finish getting ready to go," he said, giving her cheek a kiss as he walked past her out the door.
With Wade headed to the lobby of the hotel, Zoe grabbed what she needed for a shower and headed to the bathroom. She felt bad that she bought a bit too much to bring back with them. She couldn't help but see one of her kids or a friend in something she saw in a shop window. Not only that, but she loves to spoil her grandkids.
Wade walked around the small gift shop looking for a bag that would fit what his wife has left to pack away. It doesn't need to be a big bag by any means. A nice medium-sized bag will work just fine. He smiled, finding the right sized bag. His eyes lit up seeing some gelt coins at the counter. He bought some. He doesn't eat as much candy now as he used to, but he still has a sweet tooth for the smoothness of a gelt chocolate coin.
Entering the room, he could hear the shower running and the smell of her guava shampoo lingering in the air. A smell he quickly got used to smelling. One he hated the smell of but over time came to love the smell of. As it will always remind him of his wife. A scent he doesn't want to stop smelling any time soon, as he knows what that will mean for him, and he's not ready to lose his wife. He really doesn't want to live a day without her.
While his wife took her sweet time in the bathroom, he finished packing the gifts for her. With her still in the bathroom he went around the room making sure they had everything, he didn't want to lose something and only realize it once they got back home in Bluebell. Just thinking of his tiny town brought a smile to his face. He's had fun experiencing a new place with his wife. Watching the wonder and amazement cross her features. But he can't wait to be home. To sleep in his own bed.
"Did you find a bag?" Zoe asked, opening the bathroom door. Her shower bag and dirty clothes in one hand.
"Yep," he nodded, moving the suitcases to place next to the door. "Finish packing up while I check the bathroom," he instructed. The thoughts of home getting the best of him.
Zoe nodded, finding the spot she left in her suitcase for her dirty clothes and small shower bag. Wade checked the bathroom, again coming up empty-handed, not seeing anything that belonged to them. Feeling good about not leaving anything behind, he flicked the lights in the bathroom off.
"Ready to go home?" She asked her husband. She, herself, is ready to be home with family. Furthermore, she misses her kids and her grandkids. She's had a lovely time that she won't ever forget, but her favorite place to be is at home.
"More than you know," Wade chuckled, walking around the room to turn the lights off. Celebrating Hanukkah in the birthplace of his wife's ancestors has been an experience for the both of them. A trip he was happy to give to his wife.
"I know it's after Hanukkah, but I can't fathom the idea of not making latkes with Austin, or the kids not fighting over who happens to be cheating at dreidel," she laughed. Having a small Hanukkah party with family wouldn't hurt, after getting home.
"Let's go home and celebrate Christmas with the kids."