Chapter 6
It has been nine years since Becky passed away. Nicky and Alex are 13. Michelle is 18, Steph is 21 (almost 22) and DJ is 26. Joey is married to a woman named Claire Johnson and they have a little girl Becky, named after Becky Katstopilis. She is seven. Danny and Vicky got back together and married three years after Becky's death. They have a little six year old boy named Jeremy. DJ and Steve got back together and they married just three years ago. Jesse never remarried. Though he did date a LITTLE bit, he decided not to get remarried...ever.
"Come on, say Da Da!" Danny encouraged his little son.
"Ahh ma," Jeremy said laughing.
"Vicky!" Danny exclaimed. "He said 'ahh ma'"
"Oh I'll get the baby book!" Vicky said running in.
Danny began writing and then he paused. "Vicky, uh, I don't think 'ahh ma' is classified as a real word."
"Aw Danny you're right, but don't you think he should be talking by now?" Vicky asked concerned.
"Nonsense!" Danny said. "All of my little girls didn't talk until they were almost one...at least, not REAL words."
"Ok then," Vicky said. "I can wait."
Just then Steph runs in. "Dad! Vicky!" Steph exclaimed. "I'm so glad you're both here! I have great news."
"What is it sweetie?" Vicky asked as she and Danny walked over to her.
"Well, you know Ethan. We have been dating since I was 17..." Steph started with her hands behind her back.
Just then Joey and Claire walked in. "Oh hey Steph!" Joey said. "I thought you were gonna be home much later."
"Well I have some great news and I couldn't wait to tell you!" Steph exclaimed.
"Oh please tell!" Claire said excitedly.
"Well I might as well wait to tell EVERYBODY," Steph said.
"Ok, I'll go get everyone," Vicky said rushing out of the room.
Vicky walked into the backyard where Jesse Nicky and Alex were playing catch. "Hey Vicky guess what?" Jesse said.
"What?" Vicky asked smiling.
"You are lookin' at the new pitcher and short stop for the middle school baseball team!" Jesse said with his arms around Nicky and Alex. He smiled proudly. Nicky and Alex gave a smile that said, 'daddd stop bragging!'
"Oh! Congratulations you guys! I can't wait to see you play!" Vicky said giving the boys a hug. "Oh and there is more good news coming. Come inside. Steph wants to tell us all something."
"Ok, we'll just put our stuff away and then we will come right in!" Jesse said. "Come on boys."
Claire went into the kitchen to call DJ and Michelle. They were over in seconds. Soon everyone was gathered in the living room around Steph.
"Ok," Steph started. "As you know..." She was cut off. Becky ran into the family room.
"Guess who you forgot...again!" Becky said crossing her arms.
"Oh sweetheart, we're so sorry!" Joey said putting his arm around his daughter.
"Oh it's ok daddy, just please...don't let it happen again," Becky said sweetly. Joey patted his daughter on the head.
"Anyway, as I was saying. I have been going out with Ethan since I was 17...and boy, we have had such a great relationship. So many romantic dinners..." Steph started.
"Ok just get to the part we wanna hear!" Steve exclaimed with his arm around DJ.
"Ok...me and Ethan...we're getting married!" Steph exclaimed showing off her beautiful ring on her finger.
The whole family was in shock. Claire, Vicky, DJ and Michelle ran over to hug Stephanie.
"Congratulations sweetheart!" Danny said giving Steph a hug. He was still in shock, but he was happy for his daughter.
"Steph's getting married?" Becky asked excitedly.
"Yes honey," said Joey. "Congratulations Steph!" Joey gave her a hug.
"Alright Steph!" Nicky said giving her a hive five.
"That is quite a rock you got there Steph," Alex added.
"Thanks guys," Steph said smiling. "Becky do want to be the flower girl?"
"Me?" Becky asked with her mouth wide open. "I get to be the flower girl?"
"Yeah," Steph said grinning.
"Thanks Steph!" Becky said hugging Stephanie.
Then Steph noticed Jesse sitting on the couch. He looked kinda sad. Then she remembered that look. It was the same look he had when Joey, Danny and DJ got married. It was also the same look he had when Claire and Vicky had their babies. Steph was gonna find out what that look meant.
Jesse noticed Steph starring at him so he got up and went over to her. "Yeah, congratulations Steph," Jesse said giving her a hug. When he hugged her, Steph could've sworn she felt a tear drop fall on her shirt.
It was late, almost 12. DJ had gone home with Steve. Michelle was out with her boyfriend for the night. Danny and Vicky were asleep with Jeremy. Becky was in her room sound asleep. Nicky and Alex were both over at friend's houses so they were probably still awake. Joey and Claire had fallen asleep on the couch. Steph was in the kitchen drinking tea. She decided now was the best time to go talk to Jesse. She checked in his room but he was no where to be found. She finally decided he had gone out for the night when she noticed the attic door slightly open. When Becky died, Jesse moved back into his room and Joey and Claire moved into the Attic. Becky had moved into Steph and Michelle's old room.
Steph went up the attic stairs and peered in the door. She saw Jesse sitting on Joey and Claire's bed. She casually walked in. "Hey Uncle Jesse, what are you doing up?" She asked.
"Oh hey I was just..." he trailed off. "What are YOU doing up?"
"I couldn't fall asleep. I kept thinking about the wedding. I'm actually kind of nervous," Steph said sitting down next to Jesse.
"Oh hey, there is nothing to be nervous about. But I know how you feel. But if you really love this Ethan, which I think you do, then you'll be just fine," Jesse answered. "Aw I miss the old days. Living up here with Nicky and Alex and..." he trailed off again. "It's late you'd better get to bed."
"No Jesse, I know why you were sad today. You miss Becky. You get sad every time one of us gets married or has a baby. It reminds you of her," Steph said.
Jesse sighed. "No Steph its..."
"Its what?" Steph asked.
"You're right. I miss Becky. She was the love of my life and I just can't be happy for you guys the way I wanna be. Aw, Becky would've been so proud of you. She would've been so proud of all of you," Jesse's eyes began to water.
"Jesse, I bet she is proud right now. Proud of how you're raising the boys and keeping everything together," Steph's eyes began to water as well.
"I know Steph, I know," Jesse said. Then they both had a good cry until they fell asleep.
The next day they woke up with the whole family surrounding them. "We could hear you last night," Danny said sympathetically. "And we think we know what will help you Jess."
"We think you should talk to the boys about Becky. When they get home. Sit them down and talk to them about Becky. Share the good times," Joey said.
"Thanks you guys," Jesse said. His cheeks were tear stained but he was smiling. "I think I'll do that."
A few hours later Nicky and Alex walked through the door. "Hey boys," Jesse said. "How was you sleepover?"
"Great!" They both said. Then they started heading upstairs.
"Whoa whoa whoa boys," Jesse said pulling them back. "I want to talk to you about something."
"Aw man what did we do this time?" Nicky asked.
"Nothing," Jesse said. "I want to talk to you about your mom."
"Why?" Alex asked. "We were only four when she died."
"I want to talk to you about her," Jesse said sitting the boys down.
"But dad," Nicky said. "We don't even remember her."
Jesse sat there speechless. "But boys...she was your mother!" Jesse's voice cracked.
"Sorry dad," Alex said. Then they both slowly walked upstairs.
Jesse eyes filled with tears. "Some father I am, I never even talk to my boys about their own mother. I'm doin' a nice job...aren't I Becky?" Jesse looked up and then put his face in his hands and sobbed.
It has been nine years since Becky passed away. Nicky and Alex are 13. Michelle is 18, Steph is 21 (almost 22) and DJ is 26. Joey is married to a woman named Claire Johnson and they have a little girl Becky, named after Becky Katstopilis. She is seven. Danny and Vicky got back together and married three years after Becky's death. They have a little six year old boy named Jeremy. DJ and Steve got back together and they married just three years ago. Jesse never remarried. Though he did date a LITTLE bit, he decided not to get remarried...ever.
"Come on, say Da Da!" Danny encouraged his little son.
"Ahh ma," Jeremy said laughing.
"Vicky!" Danny exclaimed. "He said 'ahh ma'"
"Oh I'll get the baby book!" Vicky said running in.
Danny began writing and then he paused. "Vicky, uh, I don't think 'ahh ma' is classified as a real word."
"Aw Danny you're right, but don't you think he should be talking by now?" Vicky asked concerned.
"Nonsense!" Danny said. "All of my little girls didn't talk until they were almost one...at least, not REAL words."
"Ok then," Vicky said. "I can wait."
Just then Steph runs in. "Dad! Vicky!" Steph exclaimed. "I'm so glad you're both here! I have great news."
"What is it sweetie?" Vicky asked as she and Danny walked over to her.
"Well, you know Ethan. We have been dating since I was 17..." Steph started with her hands behind her back.
Just then Joey and Claire walked in. "Oh hey Steph!" Joey said. "I thought you were gonna be home much later."
"Well I have some great news and I couldn't wait to tell you!" Steph exclaimed.
"Oh please tell!" Claire said excitedly.
"Well I might as well wait to tell EVERYBODY," Steph said.
"Ok, I'll go get everyone," Vicky said rushing out of the room.
Vicky walked into the backyard where Jesse Nicky and Alex were playing catch. "Hey Vicky guess what?" Jesse said.
"What?" Vicky asked smiling.
"You are lookin' at the new pitcher and short stop for the middle school baseball team!" Jesse said with his arms around Nicky and Alex. He smiled proudly. Nicky and Alex gave a smile that said, 'daddd stop bragging!'
"Oh! Congratulations you guys! I can't wait to see you play!" Vicky said giving the boys a hug. "Oh and there is more good news coming. Come inside. Steph wants to tell us all something."
"Ok, we'll just put our stuff away and then we will come right in!" Jesse said. "Come on boys."
Claire went into the kitchen to call DJ and Michelle. They were over in seconds. Soon everyone was gathered in the living room around Steph.
"Ok," Steph started. "As you know..." She was cut off. Becky ran into the family room.
"Guess who you forgot...again!" Becky said crossing her arms.
"Oh sweetheart, we're so sorry!" Joey said putting his arm around his daughter.
"Oh it's ok daddy, just please...don't let it happen again," Becky said sweetly. Joey patted his daughter on the head.
"Anyway, as I was saying. I have been going out with Ethan since I was 17...and boy, we have had such a great relationship. So many romantic dinners..." Steph started.
"Ok just get to the part we wanna hear!" Steve exclaimed with his arm around DJ.
"Ok...me and Ethan...we're getting married!" Steph exclaimed showing off her beautiful ring on her finger.
The whole family was in shock. Claire, Vicky, DJ and Michelle ran over to hug Stephanie.
"Congratulations sweetheart!" Danny said giving Steph a hug. He was still in shock, but he was happy for his daughter.
"Steph's getting married?" Becky asked excitedly.
"Yes honey," said Joey. "Congratulations Steph!" Joey gave her a hug.
"Alright Steph!" Nicky said giving her a hive five.
"That is quite a rock you got there Steph," Alex added.
"Thanks guys," Steph said smiling. "Becky do want to be the flower girl?"
"Me?" Becky asked with her mouth wide open. "I get to be the flower girl?"
"Yeah," Steph said grinning.
"Thanks Steph!" Becky said hugging Stephanie.
Then Steph noticed Jesse sitting on the couch. He looked kinda sad. Then she remembered that look. It was the same look he had when Joey, Danny and DJ got married. It was also the same look he had when Claire and Vicky had their babies. Steph was gonna find out what that look meant.
Jesse noticed Steph starring at him so he got up and went over to her. "Yeah, congratulations Steph," Jesse said giving her a hug. When he hugged her, Steph could've sworn she felt a tear drop fall on her shirt.
It was late, almost 12. DJ had gone home with Steve. Michelle was out with her boyfriend for the night. Danny and Vicky were asleep with Jeremy. Becky was in her room sound asleep. Nicky and Alex were both over at friend's houses so they were probably still awake. Joey and Claire had fallen asleep on the couch. Steph was in the kitchen drinking tea. She decided now was the best time to go talk to Jesse. She checked in his room but he was no where to be found. She finally decided he had gone out for the night when she noticed the attic door slightly open. When Becky died, Jesse moved back into his room and Joey and Claire moved into the Attic. Becky had moved into Steph and Michelle's old room.
Steph went up the attic stairs and peered in the door. She saw Jesse sitting on Joey and Claire's bed. She casually walked in. "Hey Uncle Jesse, what are you doing up?" She asked.
"Oh hey I was just..." he trailed off. "What are YOU doing up?"
"I couldn't fall asleep. I kept thinking about the wedding. I'm actually kind of nervous," Steph said sitting down next to Jesse.
"Oh hey, there is nothing to be nervous about. But I know how you feel. But if you really love this Ethan, which I think you do, then you'll be just fine," Jesse answered. "Aw I miss the old days. Living up here with Nicky and Alex and..." he trailed off again. "It's late you'd better get to bed."
"No Jesse, I know why you were sad today. You miss Becky. You get sad every time one of us gets married or has a baby. It reminds you of her," Steph said.
Jesse sighed. "No Steph its..."
"Its what?" Steph asked.
"You're right. I miss Becky. She was the love of my life and I just can't be happy for you guys the way I wanna be. Aw, Becky would've been so proud of you. She would've been so proud of all of you," Jesse's eyes began to water.
"Jesse, I bet she is proud right now. Proud of how you're raising the boys and keeping everything together," Steph's eyes began to water as well.
"I know Steph, I know," Jesse said. Then they both had a good cry until they fell asleep.
The next day they woke up with the whole family surrounding them. "We could hear you last night," Danny said sympathetically. "And we think we know what will help you Jess."
"We think you should talk to the boys about Becky. When they get home. Sit them down and talk to them about Becky. Share the good times," Joey said.
"Thanks you guys," Jesse said. His cheeks were tear stained but he was smiling. "I think I'll do that."
A few hours later Nicky and Alex walked through the door. "Hey boys," Jesse said. "How was you sleepover?"
"Great!" They both said. Then they started heading upstairs.
"Whoa whoa whoa boys," Jesse said pulling them back. "I want to talk to you about something."
"Aw man what did we do this time?" Nicky asked.
"Nothing," Jesse said. "I want to talk to you about your mom."
"Why?" Alex asked. "We were only four when she died."
"I want to talk to you about her," Jesse said sitting the boys down.
"But dad," Nicky said. "We don't even remember her."
Jesse sat there speechless. "But boys...she was your mother!" Jesse's voice cracked.
"Sorry dad," Alex said. Then they both slowly walked upstairs.
Jesse eyes filled with tears. "Some father I am, I never even talk to my boys about their own mother. I'm doin' a nice job...aren't I Becky?" Jesse looked up and then put his face in his hands and sobbed.