It was almost like having a home of their own.
Because Charlie was with Gina and Emma at her flat so much and Linda was always at the newspaper office working with Phil, the Metcalf house was left pretty much to the devices of Jeff and Ginger Metcalf.
More often than not, Ginger would cook dinner for Jeff and herself but would always make enough so that the other two residents of the house could have something to eat if they wanted it. Jeff always told her that she shouldn't do it because it should be up to them to fend for themselves.
"I know that." Ginger answered the complaint one night at dinner. "But my mother always said to cook like you're feeding an army because you don't want anyone to go hungry."
He reached over and took her hand. "I'm sorry Ginger. I'm not criticizing you for wanting to make sure everyone eats. I think it's swell that you worry about all of us so much."
She squeezed his hand in gratitude. "Thank you Jeff."
"So how are the plans for the reception coming?" He asked her with a smile.
Ginger smiled back at him because she knew that their wedding reception was pretty much all she talked about and Jeff knew it. "My mother is really unhappy that we want to have the reception here but since we're paying for it she can't really argue. And you still haven't given me your guest list, mister. We've got our family and our friends all set, but it seems to me that there are some people that you wanted to invite that you didn't mention."
"Like who?" And to Ginger he seemed a little defensive.
"Don't be like that. You know darn well who I mean, so put them down so we can send them an invitation." She looked at him before sliding a note pad and pencil across the table to him. "This is your reception too Jeff and you should invite who you want."
"You wouldn't mind?" He looked at her curiously.
"Of course not." She assured him. "Are you sure you don't mind having a Nuptial Mass? Father Dreher says it's not necessary because in the eyes of the Church we are already married."
Jeff smiled at her. "I don't mean to sound disrespectful Ginger, but it doesn't matter what Father Dreher says. My mother and your mother think it's necessary even though Father Dreher married us properly because they didn't get to see it. So if it means that we make our mothers happy by having a Nuptial Mass then I don't mind."
"You are sweet." Ginger smiled again as Jeff picked up the pencil and she waited while he scribbled down his choices for his reception guests.
"I talked to Hank earlier and told him what our plans were." He said as he finished writing and pushed the note pad and pencil back to Ginger. "I asked him if he would come home and stand up with me at Saint Matthews."
"What did he say?" She asked as she looked at the names that Jeff had written down. She shouldn't have been surprised by his choices but she was. She looked up at him and was hesitant to ask. "Are you sure about this?"
"He's been really swell to me Ginny and I thought it was the right thing to do." Jeff seemed to feel the need to explain it to her.
"Then we'll add him to the list." Ginger told him without another word about it. "And you still didn't tell me what Hank said about being your best man."
"It's not the best man part that he wants to say no to, but he's not sure if he can handle the reception being here."
"So he's not going to come then." She sighed.
"I didn't say that. Being back here for another reception is going to be rough for him but he said that it was the happiest day of his life when he married Sarah and he knew it was the happiest day of ours when we got married. So if it means that he has to deal with a few ghosts and the possible appearance of Al Kahn to be with me on my wedding day, he said he would do it."
"It's awfully nice of him to put aside his differences to be here with you. A lot of fellows wouldn't do that, even for their own brother." She commented as she put the notepad aside.
"But they aren't Hank." He said and Ginger thought he was trying to defend his brother.
"You don't need to explain it to me Jeff. I know how much he means to you and how much you miss him."
"I sound like such a dope. I'm a major league ball player just like I've always wanted and a married man. We have my mother's house pretty much to ourselves and I'm sounding like a kid." He frowned.
"It's a wonder we're doing as well as we are." She sighed. "Just think about all of the changes we've gone through in the last year. We had our own troubles together and apart and before we knew what was happening, your mother was moving with Michael to New Jersey with Al. That was after we found out that Charlie decided to convert to Judaism so that he could be with Gina and you got called up to the minors."
He grinned. "And that wouldn't have happened if you hadn't talked to Coach."
She laughed. "I lectured him is what I did. I called him a heartless man and he proved to me that he really wasn't."
"If it hadn't been for Coach pulling the rotor from Arthur's car who do you think you would be sitting with right now?" Jeff asked her. "Would you have married him?"
It wasn't something Ginger gave any thought to after Jeff proposed to her on the way to the television station because she'd finally gotten the man that she really wanted. But she also knew that she'd made a commitment to Arthur and as much as she didn't like to admit it she probably would have gone through with it.
Thank God Coach had intervened.
She looked at him hesitantly. "If Coach hadn't meddled I would probably be sitting with Arthur right now and wondering why I wasn't as happy as I thought a new bride should be."
"Are you happy with me?" His voice was soft and Ginger saw the look in his eyes that signaled to her that their conversation was about to come to a screeching halt.
"You should know the answer to that Jeff." Ginger answered as she stood up. "If you'll help me clear the table and do the dishes I'll show you just how happy I've been these last few weeks."
His eyes seemed to sparkle because she knew that he understood what she meant. "I'd do anything for you Ginger."
"I know." She smiled as they hastily cleared the table and took the dishes into the kitchen.