Epilogue
"Where's Linda and Ricky, I want to start the Easter egg hunt", A.J. groused impatiently, his arm itching inside its cast. Rick chuckled, "Easy, little brother, Linda's probably changing him or something." Both brothers were ensconced in the patio, a week after their ordeal, they were still healing and getting used to inactivity.
Rudy hadn't cleared them to go back to work, but fortunately most of their regular clients understood. Captain Ron came by everyday; ostensibly to check on paperwork they were assisting with but, as Laurie put it, "coming by "just as Rick might need help with getting around.
Rick was grateful for the extra help, he was afraid he might topple over and hurt his wife, but he was getting pretty good with the crutches. He was watchful over Laurie, Rudy was still angry the emergency room doctor didn't see her for seven hours, Dr. Wakely had completely forgotten. When Rudy had checked her over himself, he found a bad hematoma on her left arm that could have been serious, as well as bruised ribs and several nasty cuts. Rick and Laurie were still having a hard time dealing with her being alone for more than a few minutes, but the flashbacks she had of the attack in their home were fewer. Rudy had told both of them they would ease off with time.
Still healing, Laurie was allowed to do some chores herself, but the majority were still being done by Robbie and Robin. She was insistent about helping with Easter dinner though, and came out to the brothers with a tray of iced tea. "Rick, are you and A.J. comfortable? Here's some ice tea in case you're thirsty."
"Sweetheart, you're going to spoil us rotten, you know. Please sit down, as soon as Oscar and Rudy come I'll round up everybody from gathering eggs. Speaking of which, have you seen Linda and Ricky?" he asked
"Not since she volunteered to get some more eggs, I'll see if she's still in the barn." Laurie replied, feeling uneasy about her sister-in-law's delay. Heading quickly to the henhouse portion of the barn, she opened the door and called out, "Linda, are you..."
"Laurie, don't move, just back out and get one of the guys, please!" her sister-in-law replied, frozen with fear. Laurie looked and saw Linda, holding a frightened Ricky, backed into a corner by a rattlesnake. Starting to follow her sister-in-law's request, she saw the snake start to move, then sent a mental call to Rick. Remembering a story on how a fire extinguisher could freeze a snake, she grabbed the one near the horses, then carefully stepped across the stalls to a few feet from the snake.
"When I hit this thing, Linda, you take Ricky and run, I know it's scary, but just focus on moving, now!" Laurie sprayed the reptile, as Linda ran all the way out of the barn. Turning off the spray, Laurie was startled to see the snake covered in white powder, now gliding after her.
Trying to back away, she tripped and fell, then screamed, "Rick! Robbie, snake!" As it came closer, she saw the barn door open, then in one moment heard a gunshot and saw the snake dead. Closing her eyes in relief, she felt arms around her, lifting her up.
"Darlin', are you hurt? "Rick's voice enveloped her, and she opened her eyes to find him holding her. "I'm ok, I tripped and the snake came after me. Oh, Rick, I thought a fire extinguisher would freeze a snake...all it did was blind it for a minute."
"Sweetheart, that was very brave of you, but that fire extinguisher is for electrical fires, it won't freeze a snake." Rick soothed her. Just then A.J. came in, and hugged Laurie as he thanked her. "Sis, you saved both of them, Linda can't get over how calm you were." "I'm not calm now, oh, darling, you mean the snake could still have..." she started to shake.
"You're safe, Laurie, it's ok, come help me back to the patio," Rick comforted her and putting an arm around her, had her "help "him to the now decorated dinner table.
Once he was seated, he drew his wife onto his lap, then cuddled and kissed her until she stopped shaking. "Better, darlin'?" he asked, seeing her smile return. "Much better," she returned, kissing him. "You slew the dragon for your lady, my knight, you get an extra piece of pie for dessert, just for that." "I'll slay any dragon for you, sweetheart, pie or no pie!" he promised
"All right, all right, I don't see any Easter eggs being hid!" Rudy's voice sounded, then Rob and Robin went to help him with his contribution to the Easter feast. After being told about the near-disaster, first Rudy then Oscar hugged Laurie then praised Rick for his marksmanship.
Crimson with embarrassment, he laughed at his little namesakes' crowing at the multi-colored eggs he was "finding". Linda took him from hiding place to hiding place as Robbie and Robin would call out "cold" or "hot"! Mike barked and limped from place to place as he "helped" Ricky find his prizes.
When the egg hunt was done, the extended Simon family gathered in a circle to pray. Rick stood to give thanks, but found himself too choked up to speak. Robbie looked at his father, then said, "We give thanks that we've come through so much in one week, that miracles large and small have kept us safe and brought us home. We say thank you for the love that holds our family and friends together. And we pray that nothing or no one will ever tear us apart. In thy bounty through Christ our Lord, Amen"
A fervent "Amen" sounded, and as plates were passed around, Rick hugged his son, "Thank you, Robbie, I couldn't have said better myself." Looking at his little brother, now holding Ricky, he added, "or done better. We are blessed." "Yes, Pop, especially for Mom, for never letting us give up hope!" Robbie said.
As everyone sat down to eat, Rick caught Laurie's hand in his, and to her questioning look, whispered, "I'm giving thanks for you, darlin', you're our Easter Blessing." Her smile filled with joy, Laurie kissed his hand, and added, "and you're my Easter Miracle!"
"Where's Linda and Ricky, I want to start the Easter egg hunt", A.J. groused impatiently, his arm itching inside its cast. Rick chuckled, "Easy, little brother, Linda's probably changing him or something." Both brothers were ensconced in the patio, a week after their ordeal, they were still healing and getting used to inactivity.
Rudy hadn't cleared them to go back to work, but fortunately most of their regular clients understood. Captain Ron came by everyday; ostensibly to check on paperwork they were assisting with but, as Laurie put it, "coming by "just as Rick might need help with getting around.
Rick was grateful for the extra help, he was afraid he might topple over and hurt his wife, but he was getting pretty good with the crutches. He was watchful over Laurie, Rudy was still angry the emergency room doctor didn't see her for seven hours, Dr. Wakely had completely forgotten. When Rudy had checked her over himself, he found a bad hematoma on her left arm that could have been serious, as well as bruised ribs and several nasty cuts. Rick and Laurie were still having a hard time dealing with her being alone for more than a few minutes, but the flashbacks she had of the attack in their home were fewer. Rudy had told both of them they would ease off with time.
Still healing, Laurie was allowed to do some chores herself, but the majority were still being done by Robbie and Robin. She was insistent about helping with Easter dinner though, and came out to the brothers with a tray of iced tea. "Rick, are you and A.J. comfortable? Here's some ice tea in case you're thirsty."
"Sweetheart, you're going to spoil us rotten, you know. Please sit down, as soon as Oscar and Rudy come I'll round up everybody from gathering eggs. Speaking of which, have you seen Linda and Ricky?" he asked
"Not since she volunteered to get some more eggs, I'll see if she's still in the barn." Laurie replied, feeling uneasy about her sister-in-law's delay. Heading quickly to the henhouse portion of the barn, she opened the door and called out, "Linda, are you..."
"Laurie, don't move, just back out and get one of the guys, please!" her sister-in-law replied, frozen with fear. Laurie looked and saw Linda, holding a frightened Ricky, backed into a corner by a rattlesnake. Starting to follow her sister-in-law's request, she saw the snake start to move, then sent a mental call to Rick. Remembering a story on how a fire extinguisher could freeze a snake, she grabbed the one near the horses, then carefully stepped across the stalls to a few feet from the snake.
"When I hit this thing, Linda, you take Ricky and run, I know it's scary, but just focus on moving, now!" Laurie sprayed the reptile, as Linda ran all the way out of the barn. Turning off the spray, Laurie was startled to see the snake covered in white powder, now gliding after her.
Trying to back away, she tripped and fell, then screamed, "Rick! Robbie, snake!" As it came closer, she saw the barn door open, then in one moment heard a gunshot and saw the snake dead. Closing her eyes in relief, she felt arms around her, lifting her up.
"Darlin', are you hurt? "Rick's voice enveloped her, and she opened her eyes to find him holding her. "I'm ok, I tripped and the snake came after me. Oh, Rick, I thought a fire extinguisher would freeze a snake...all it did was blind it for a minute."
"Sweetheart, that was very brave of you, but that fire extinguisher is for electrical fires, it won't freeze a snake." Rick soothed her. Just then A.J. came in, and hugged Laurie as he thanked her. "Sis, you saved both of them, Linda can't get over how calm you were." "I'm not calm now, oh, darling, you mean the snake could still have..." she started to shake.
"You're safe, Laurie, it's ok, come help me back to the patio," Rick comforted her and putting an arm around her, had her "help "him to the now decorated dinner table.
Once he was seated, he drew his wife onto his lap, then cuddled and kissed her until she stopped shaking. "Better, darlin'?" he asked, seeing her smile return. "Much better," she returned, kissing him. "You slew the dragon for your lady, my knight, you get an extra piece of pie for dessert, just for that." "I'll slay any dragon for you, sweetheart, pie or no pie!" he promised
"All right, all right, I don't see any Easter eggs being hid!" Rudy's voice sounded, then Rob and Robin went to help him with his contribution to the Easter feast. After being told about the near-disaster, first Rudy then Oscar hugged Laurie then praised Rick for his marksmanship.
Crimson with embarrassment, he laughed at his little namesakes' crowing at the multi-colored eggs he was "finding". Linda took him from hiding place to hiding place as Robbie and Robin would call out "cold" or "hot"! Mike barked and limped from place to place as he "helped" Ricky find his prizes.
When the egg hunt was done, the extended Simon family gathered in a circle to pray. Rick stood to give thanks, but found himself too choked up to speak. Robbie looked at his father, then said, "We give thanks that we've come through so much in one week, that miracles large and small have kept us safe and brought us home. We say thank you for the love that holds our family and friends together. And we pray that nothing or no one will ever tear us apart. In thy bounty through Christ our Lord, Amen"
A fervent "Amen" sounded, and as plates were passed around, Rick hugged his son, "Thank you, Robbie, I couldn't have said better myself." Looking at his little brother, now holding Ricky, he added, "or done better. We are blessed." "Yes, Pop, especially for Mom, for never letting us give up hope!" Robbie said.
As everyone sat down to eat, Rick caught Laurie's hand in his, and to her questioning look, whispered, "I'm giving thanks for you, darlin', you're our Easter Blessing." Her smile filled with joy, Laurie kissed his hand, and added, "and you're my Easter Miracle!"