Laughing he flipped her over his shoulder before pulling her into a bear hug. "Well, Animal, happy to have me home?"
"Yes, guess what Solomon had puppies so you were right he is a girl. Mommy says I can keep one. And Mrs. Lang is going to keep one, the rest are going to Metropolis. Then Daddy says since Solomon is kind of my dog now that your gone I can keep any money we get from selling the puppies. Say its ok because it has to be ok with you or Daddy says I can't do that. And then--"
She was cut off as Jonathan playfully out his hand over her mouth. "Breathe."
"Jonathan you didn't tell me she was this cute." Martha said as she leaned on the hood of the truck.
"Kayla, I want you to meet Martha, my fiancée"
"Is she why I couldn't come visit you last time?" Kayla asked giving Martha a shy hug.
"You were sick when Dad came out to visit. Remember?"
"When is the wedding?"
"Two weeks," Jonathan answered.
"Would you like to be my maid of honor?" Martha asked.
"Really? You mean it?" At her nod Kayla tore to the house yelling, "Mommy I'm going to be a maid of honor."
"You just made a friend for life," Jonathan told her tipping her head up for a kiss.
"Her smile was worth it." Martha assured him.
They were interrupted by Kayla running back down to the truck. "Mommy says dinner is ready and that Nasty called asking about you." Taking Martha's hand she began pulling her towards the house.
"Who's Nasty?" Martha asked the little girl.
"Nasty is Jon ex-girlfriend. Did you ever see Little House on the Prairie? Well there is the girl Nelly Olsen who is nasty and Nasty name is Nell. She hates me and pretty much everyone else. She threw a fit in the barn when Jon told her goodbye. The words she used, Mommy had a fit right back at her. It was funny."
"Kayla," Jonathan said in a warning tone, only to be interrupted by a warm hug from his mother.
Two weeks later the wedding took place on the Kent's farm. Kayla was dressed in a blue "Sleeping Beauty" dress, and she held a small bouquet of Queen Anne's lace. Martha wore a long but plain white dress and held a bouquet of lilies. The priest was a small old man who had known the Kents for years.
The ceremony was brief but beautiful. After the kiss there was a barbeque which most of the town was invited to. The wedding had gone off without a hitch and to Jonathan's relief Nell had not shown up at the wedding.
Following dinner Jonathan and his old friends started a game of football in the field. Kayla and Martha stood on the sidelines cheering them on. Still wearing her dress Kayla now held a small puppy she had christened Yoda while Solomon lay at her feet.
"Go Beaker!" Kayla yelled as Jon ran past her for a touchdown.
"She certainly is a character," Martha remarked as she watched Kayla nearly burst into tears as Michael Lang tackled Jon.
"She always has been," Anne Kent told her as she watched the game.
"Why does she call Jonathan Beaker?" Martha asked as Kayla began running to the other end of the field with the action.
"She made Jon watch the Muppets with her every night. She started calling him that because he was tall, thin and hair only on the top of his head and the mustache he tried to wear for a while. As she got more into the show he began calling her Animal, and the name stuck. Charlie, don't you spoil her fun," Anne ordered her husband who had gotten up.
"She has Anne and Jonathan wrapped around her finger," he said gruffly. He sat back down and closed his eyes.
"Daddy," a small voice started. When his eyes opened
she continued, "I'm tired."
Leaning over he pulled the child into his lap. She nestled her head
on his chest listening to his heartbeat. Slowly he began to rock her gently
in the chair.
"Wrapped around my finger he says," Anne whispered to Martha with a laugh.
Once the game was over Jonathan came over to his wife and leaned in for a kiss before telling her. "We can go as soon as I shower."
"Congratulations, on your wedding," a slurred bitter
voice said from behind Martha's chair.
Startled she turned around to see an obviously drunk woman dressed
in a black dress behind her. Before she could say anything Michael had
come over and was herding the woman away whispering about embarrassment.
"That was Nasty," a sleepy voice drifted to Martha.
"I'll take her to bed," Charlie said standing up
with Kayla. By the time he made it to the house Nell was gone and Kayla
was once again asleep.
A/N I don't know the names if Lana's parents or Jonathan's. If anyone
does let me know and I will correct them in the story.