Sunday, April 28th
The party was in full swing in the backyard Sunday afternoon when Mattie Arrived with Jason. As they came around the back gate Mattie could hear her father's booming voice as everyone was playing corn hole. As they entered the yard Amanda saw the two and went over and got Lee's attention and she guided him over to Mattie and Jason.
"Hi Mama and Papa I want you to meet Jason"
Amanda smiled warmly and said "Hi Jason I'm so glad you could join us today"
She nudged Lee who was wearing his shoulder holster as Mattie had feared. Amanda gave a hug to Mattie and whispered in her ear "I'm sorry I tried"
"Hi Jason" Lee put his hand out to shake.
"It's so nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Stetson. May I call you Lee and Amanda?"
Amanda nodded sweetly and said "Yes"
However, Lee looked at him intently and said "Mr. Stetson is just fine!"
Amanda cleared her throat and Mattie rolled her eyes.
"Uh, Mr. Stetson then" Jason responded weakly.
"Ok well let's get something to drink. Coke or beer?" Mattie asked Jason as they walked away from her parents.
"Coke"
Mattie turned to Jason"I'm sorry about my dad. I warned you"
Jason laughed nervously and shook his head."Yes, you did!"
Mattie caught JJ's attention from across the yard and shrugged her shoulders and gave a so-so hand wave indicating how the first meeting with their father went. JJ pointed to her shoulders and made a sign of hitting her head regarding the dreaded shoulder holster.
They went over to greet more family members. Mattie brought Jason over to Jamie who had just gotten back the day before from his assignment in the Middle East photographing some of the turmoil there. Jamie started discussing with Jason some of the region's problems since Jason mentioned his parents had been from Lebanon. Lee noticed Jason was starting to feel uncomfortable when Jamie mentioned he was a photojournalist.
"Have we met before you look familiar to me?" Jamie asked.
"I don't think so, Jamie. I do work at the Lebanese embassy. Have you been on assignment recently at any of the press conferences there?" responded Jason
"That could be it I have done both overseas and domestic assignments for the Post" Jamie replied
Jason nodded "could be, next time we have a press conference I'll let you know"
"Sure,...Hey, Danny get down from there!" He called to his young son who he noticed was trying to climb up into his old treehouse.
Danny called to Lee "Grampy I climbing"
Lee called "Be careful now" and ran over to help Danny.
"Gotta go get him down" Jamie ran off after his son.
Mattie then took Jason to meet the Colonel.
"Colonel, this is my friend Jason Bashir. Jason this is Colonel Clayton my Dad's uncle who raised him"
"Nice to meet you my boy." the gruff old man said.
"Mattie said you got her the job with the joint Chief General Welsh. She said you had some pull since you were retired, Air Force"
Jason responded back
"Quite right!" The Colonel turned to Mattie and said. "I hear the joint chiefs will be hosting some Military officials from Nato sometime soon"
"Yes Colonel, but I can't talk about it-you know details are classified. Only that they are coming sometime in the next month."
Mattie acknowledged.
"Understandable my girl. Wish I was a part of it! Still love the air force"
Mattie Smiled and took Jason over to talk to Uncle Billy.
Meanwhile Dotty was fawning over Jamie's other child, her five-month-old great-granddaughter Lily Amanda whose mother was feeding her.
"Look at that beautiful girl! Beth, she is growing like a weed you need to bring her over more often dear."
'I'll try Dotty but I am still trying to work. I've been writing a piece for the paper"
"I am so amazed at mothers nowadays. I can't believe how much you have to deal with working, raising the children and so much more!" Dotty stated
"It's hard Dotty especially when Jamie has been away on assignment off and on overseas, but he has agreed to only do work in the US now. The trip that he got home from yesterday was his last"
Jamie came up with Danny on his shoulders.
"That is wonderful news dear" Dotty smiled as she kissed Jamie on the cheek and wiggled her nose at Danny.
Jamie interjected "Yeah I didn't want to make the same mistake as my dad. I want to be here for the kids and Beth. I can still do my job closer to home.
Amanda came over to coo over her grandchild. She had heard the last part of the conversation and said, "I wish you would call your father Jamie, especially now since Lily was born"
Jamie countered,
"Mom. Stop I don't want to hear it again. We've been over this."
"Jamie..it's just that he realizes.." Amanda tried to reason with Jamie as he cut her off.
"And Like I told you he's way too late. Lee is my father" Jamie said Irritated.
Shaking her head Amanda turned her attention to Lily.
"Beth, Lily is getting so big she looks so much like you!"
"Oh no Amanda she looks just like you when you were a baby. Look at that head of hair. Don't you think so too Beth" Dotty gushed
"I wouldn't know Dotty. I haven't seen any of Amanda's baby pictures" Beth commented. She seemed a little annoyed with Dotty's comments.
"Oh Mother, I think Lily is actually the perfect combination of Jamie and Beth. Beth, would you mind helping me get the food on the table? Amanda added
"Sure" replied Beth
"You go help, Amanda. Let me sit down so I can hold her'' Dotty sat down and Beth gently placed her in Dotty's arms. Beth took a picture of Dotty with Lily with her phone and then sent the picture to everyone's phone who was at the party. Soon everyone was ohhh and awwing over the picture of Lily with her great grandmother.
Amanda also got Mattie and JJ to help as well and soon everyone was at the table. They had to eat inside because it was still too cool to eat outside.
Lee commented, "ok dig in!"
Everyone started to eat but Scott stood up and said "I'd like to say something first"
All eyes turned to him. He then bent down on one knee in front of JJ who was sitting next to him. He took her hand and said
"I want everyone here to know how much you mean to me. I have known you my whole life. I can't imagine life without you. I love you and I would be honored if you would be my wife. Will you marry me?" JJ's eyes welled up with tears as Scott took out a ring and placed it on her finger.
"Of Course I will marry you! Scott!"
All the guests clapped as the couple had a prolonged kiss. Amanda had tears of happiness in her eyes and Lee beamed with pride.
Lee stood up. "I propose a toast" Lee motioned for Amanda to come stand next to him. She came over and placed her arm around him. Everyone lifted their glasses.
"To the happy daughter Jennifer, My Bomber Princess, my baby girl. I will never forget your entrance into this world"
Amanda chuckled at the thought of JJ's birth and Lee's special nickname for his daughter.
"You exploded into our world and you always keep us on our toes. May your love shine brightly. Twenty-six years ago your mother and I made the same commitment. May you two be as fulfilled and as happy as we have been. And To my beautiful bride who gave me everything I ever wanted. A family. Amanda blushed but smiled radiantly. "Francine do you have anything to add" asked Lee
Francine cracked "It's about time. Who knew that Amanda and I would end up as in-laws. As we know Stranger things have happened." Alluding to Amanda's being a housewife turned agent. They all laughed and clinked glasses again.
Later that night as Scott was taking JJ home she mentioned Francine's reaction.
"You know your mom really didn't say a lot. It's not like her."
"You know my mom. she's not the warm fuzzy type. I know she is pleased. But you know I always felt she had some type of competition going on with Aunt Amanda. Whenever I really needed mothering it was her who supplied it. I always felt mom thought she had to prove something. I know she loves me and you!
"It was perfect having everyone together when you proposed to me. And I love my ring!" JJ looked down at the sparkling pear-shaped diamond that Scott had placed on her finger that night.
"It was my Grandmother's, Mom gave it to me when I told her that I was going to be proposing soon so that means a lot."
When they got to JJ's apartment Scott walked her up to her door and gave her a deep longing kiss. JJ responded by pushing her body closer and murmured "Do you want to come in for a few minutes"
"Hmmm yes." Scott seductively whispered as he gave a little nibble to JJ's ear. As JJ closed the door a shadowy figure crept under the window outside.
Late that night after the Party:
A dog barked from one of the Stetson's neighbor's houses. It was quite late and a figure lurked in the outside patio. The person went to each window observing the locks but not touching anything. All the shrubs from the garden guarded the imposing figure against any signs of an intruder. Then moving around to the garage noticed the door and opened it. Much to the intruder's dismay, there was not an entrance to the house from there. Finally, the person made their decision and pulled out of the backpack they were carrying a timed bomb that could be activated by their phone. The lone figure stuck several to the side of the house where the shrubs covered it and then crept off into the night.