He saw so many of the same faces that had been in his mother's parlor for Hank and Sarah's reception and couldn't help but feel an odd sense of déja vu. He half way expected to see Sarah standing on the stairs as she threw her bouquet and Ginger looking absolutely mortified that she caught it. He tried not to look for Hank in his Sunday suit with his top collar button undone, tie already loosened and dancing his first dance with Sarah to "It's Been A Long, Long Time".

In deference to his brother, when he and Ginger were deciding what records to play at their reception Jeff made sure that that particular song would not be anywhere near the phonograph. He knew it would be hard enough for his older brother to be back in the house where his own reception had been and he wanted to make it as easy for him as he could.

Charlie was there, as he'd been two years earlier but this time he was with Gina. Linda was there of course, solo again even though Ginger told her to bring Phil. But his sister demurred telling them that Phil was her boss and didn't think it was appropriate to invite her boss to her brother's wedding.

His mother again played hostess and Jeff could see how much she enjoyed being home and wondered if she ever got homesick for River Run. But even if she did she would never admit it, not even to Al. He was an addition this time around and helped Jeff's mother as much as she would let him. And because they were circulating around the parlor making sure that everyone had fresh punch and cake Hank took on the job of looking after Michael.

He was taken upstairs before the guests arrived and every so often Al, Linda, Hank or his mother would check on him. But he must have gotten tired of being left alone because a couple of hours later he started to cry and wouldn't stop.

But no sooner did Hank go upstairs again that Michael stopped crying and a few minutes later came down with his baby brother in the crook of his arm. He was singing the Lemo Tomato Juice song to him and the baby was smiling.

"You have a way with that kid Hank; he's really taken to you." Al commented with a smile of his own as he met them at the bottom of the stairs.

"Well I've kind of taken to him too." He replied with a smile for his brother.

"I hate to ask but it sure would ease your mother's mind for the rest of the afternoon if you would look after Michael. He's obviously comfortable with you and you have a way with him that eases my mind too. What do you say?"

Jeff watched his brother and could almost see the jumbled thoughts racing around in his brain. "Sure."

"Thanks a million Hank. And just in time too, Ann needs me at the front door." And he went to meet Jeff's mother.

"Should I ask if you're settling things with Al?" Jeff asked as he approached his brothers.

"I don't know about settling things Jeff, but I think that maybe I can work on it. Now that I've met Michael, I'd kind of like to get to know him and if it means that I have to bury the hatchet with Al to do it I think I can."

"That's swell and I know it will make Mom happy to hear it too." He smiled as he heard a knock at the kitchen door. He looked at Hank and his older brother looked as puzzled as Jeff felt. "I better go see who it is."

"Nothing doing little brother. This is your reception and you shouldn't be answering the door." Hank grinned at him and walked into the kitchen. Jeff followed him to the side door and was surprised to see Abe and Gloria Davis standing there.

"Why didn't you come to the front door?" He asked and could have kicked himself for it.

"Gloria and I didn't feel that it would be appropriate." Was all Mr. Davis said.

"We were so pleased that you thought of us and it meant the world to Abe to receive your invitation. We've never been to a Catholic service and it was something to behold." Mrs. Davis smiled at him.

"You were there?" Jeff asked and wondered why he hadn't seen them.

"We stayed in the vestibule," Mr. Davis explained. "We didn't want to take any attention away from your special day."

Jeff knew what he meant and it bothered him, a lot. "Well the important thing now is that you're here, please come in."

"I'm sorry, but I'm afraid we can't stay." Mrs. Davis looked disappointed as she handed a beautifully wrapped package to him. "We did, however want to drop off your wedding gift with our best wishes."

"You didn't need to do this." He told them.

"Yes we did. You did us the honor of inviting us to your wedding and a thoughtful guest brings a gift." Mr. Davis said to him.

"You'd still be welcome to come back later if you like when there aren't so many people here." Hank chimed in as he bounced Michael in his arms. "I know that Mom and Al would like to see you and you could spend some time with my little brother here."

"I was wondering who this little angel was." Mrs. Davis smiled.

"This is Michael Kahn." Hank introduced him. "He was named for Mike Sloan."

"I remember hearing something about that." Mr. Davis commented. "Ruth Sloan helped this little one into the world, didn't she?"

"Yes Sir she did." He smiled.

"You seem to be quite the dotting brother Hank." Mrs. Davis said to him. "And he seems to have taken to you."

Hank grinned. "That's what everyone keeps telling me."

"It's just a shame that all of you are so far apart." She added.

"Well now that he's been home, maybe we can talk him into coming home more Mrs. Davis." Jeff quipped. "And the same goes for Mom and Al. We'd kind of like to see Michael grow up too."

"In God's own time." She smiled.

"Jeff, where on earth did you disappear to?" Jeff heard Ginger's voice as she walked into the kitchen and turned around. "And why don't you invite the Davis's in for heaven's sake. They'll think your mother didn't teach you any manners."

"We've already explained to Jeff and Hank that we can't stay. But we will think about coming back later." Mr. Davis smiled at Ginger and it looked as though Mrs. Davis was trying not to laugh.

"Please do. There is enough food out there to feed Patton's Third Army." She laughed and took Jeff's arm. "We were sorry that you weren't able to make it to the wedding."

"They were there Ginger." He knew that she would understand his meaning so didn't elaborate.

This was a situation that Jeff always had trouble with because his mother raised Hank, Linda and him to treat everyone they met with respect and she never made the distinction between Negro and white. But not everyone in River Run was raised the way that they were and it made for uncomfortable situations like the very situation with Abe and Gloria Davis.

"Well, it's time that Gloria and I say goodbye, you've got other guests to look after." Mr. Davis said to them. "Thank you for thinking of us Jeff, it's something that we won't forget."

"When you get back from your honeymoon, please come see us at Rupert's and have a meal on the house." Mrs. Davis added. "Anything on the menu."

"We'll take you up on that Mrs. Davis but you have to let us pay for it." Ginger insisted. "It's only right."

Mr. Davis cut his wife off because Jeff could see that she was about to protest. "Now Mother, we can't turn a profit if we're going to be giving meals away."

"I know, but." She conceded with a smile. "As for you Hank, if you have some time tomorrow I'm planning on baking a cobbler if you're interested. The coffee is always fresh and you'd be welcome."

Hank looked a little surprised but he accepted. "Thank you Mrs. Davis, I'll be there."

"Congratulations again Jeff to you and your lovely bride." Mr. Davis put his arm around Mrs. Davis' shoulders. "I've had many happy years with this woman and if the two of you find just a small measure of what we've had together; you'll be very lucky indeed."

"Able Davis." His sincerity seemed to fluster her. "What a thing to say."

"Mother is a little bashful when I pay her a compliment, but she knows I mean every word." He explained as he patted her shoulder. "We'll see you sometime tomorrow Hank and we'll see the two of you when you get back."

They said goodbye and watched as they walked down the driveway and turned up the sidewalk.

"I wish they could have stayed." Jeff sighed.

"I know slugger so do I, but it's not time yet." Hank looked at him with regret.

"Well aren't you two a couple of Gloomy Gusses. Jeff, they came all this way to congratulate us and give us a gift and I think it was swell of them to come, even if it was only for a few minutes."

"They came to our kitchen door." Jeff stated.

"But they came and that's all that matters." She looked at them with exasperation. "Rome wasn't built in a day you know and this will take some time too." She finished by turning around on her heel and walking back out to the parlor.

He heard Hank behind him, laughing. "You're going to have your hands full with her little brother. And you wouldn't have it any other way."

"You've got that right." He answered as they followed her out of the kitchen to rejoin their family in the parlor.