Chapter 11

Four days before that…

John couldn't stand still. His nervousness caused him to pace and he constantly kept his arms in motion from one position to another.

Freed of the sling, his wounded arm still ached, especially since he'd stopped taking pain pills yesterday. And Marlena had persuaded him to let her carefully apply a smidge of concealer on his face where a few black and blue bruises hadn't yet faded completely on their own. She'd done it expertly, and she was sure no one looking at him would be the wiser. Generally, though, he was in good shape. The headaches and dizziness had abated, and the goose egg his head had sustained had shrunk to nearly being undetectable. He was putting in regular hours at work.

At present though, they were both staring at the exit door where Flight 117 from Denver to SFO would be deplaning passengers any second now.

Marlena's dad had intended to fly with Sami and Eric, but he'd sprained his ankle yesterday and had to stay home to nurse it. Marlena's mother offered to come instead, but, when this was discussed on the phone, Sami and Eric said they'd be fine if she just put them on the plane. Marlena and John reluctantly agreed, knowing they would be at the other end of the flight.

Marlena smiled sympathetically at John, understanding his jitters. She put a comforting arm around her fidgeting husband. "Honey, it's going to be fine. It's going to be great. You'll see."

He looked so vulnerable.

The door to the jet way opened. But no one emerged. Finally, a woman with a baby walked out and into the arms of her husband. Then a man who was probably 95 if he was a day was wheeled out by a flight attendant. Next came another cabin attendant in her blue uniform accompanying two children - Sami and Eric.

John and Marlena surged forward. The kids caught sight of them and pointed them out to the woman by their side. In a moment the kids were enveloped in hugs and kisses, and they gave as good as they got. Everyone spoke at once in greeting, and then Sami began crying. That started John off. Marlena and Eric laughed instead, and a hodge podge of emotion spilled over with their joy. As a huddled group, they maneuvered out of the traffic stream, halting for a minute by the giant windows that revealed the plane the twins had just exited.

John declared, "I'm so happy to see you both. I've missed you something fierce." He was about to brush away the tears on his face, but Marlena beat him to it, and, with a tissue, very delicately dabbed his cheeks to prevent the bruises from showing.

Eric hugged John again. He didn't mind speaking for Sami, "We missed you too, So much."

Sami wiped her eyes before Marlena could give her a tissue. "So much," she echoed.

Marlena's smile couldn't have gotten wider. She hugged the two again and said, "We'll have plenty of time to talk. But let's get your bags first, okay?"

It was hurry up and wait at the baggage claim and the family chattered excitedly. Eric noticed the shining rings on John and Marlena's fingers. "You're married!" he exclaimed.

John and Marlena put their arms around each other's backs. They both smiled broadly, and Marlena said simply, "Yes."

Sami, round-eyed, said wonderingly, "That was fast!"

Marlena gave each of the twins a loving look. She had not explained the legal situation to the twins before she went to see John. "Not really," she said. "I promise we'll explain it all to you when we have some privacy." She didn't want to tickle any eavesdropper's ears with the details of their unique situation.

John asked the two about their visit with their grandparents in Colorado, and they were content to tell some stories, including how their grandpa hurt his ankle.

Once in possession of the luggage - none of which was lost in transit - they proceeded to short term parking and climbed into John's Bronco. It was 1:43 pm when they left SFO, so at least the traffic wasn't horrible. Estimated time to reach Napa: about an hour and 15 minutes.

Sami said, "We don't know much about where you live." She paused. "Um, And what should we call you?"

Marlena saw that the driver, her husband, was a little choked up by that question. She said kindly, "What would feel comfortable to you, Sami and Eric?"

Eric didn't hesitate. "We always called you 'Dad.' Can we again? If you're married, that's okay, isn't it?"

John cleared his throat and glanced up at the rear view mirror to catch a view of the twinners in the back seat. "It would be VERY okay!" he said huskily.

Marlena touched his arm, understanding his emotion. She was so happy! She shifted around in her seat to look at the kids. "That would be wonderful," she told them.

Sami smiled and said, "Okay, Dad, we don't know much about where you live…."

"Sami and Eric, I live on a combination vineyard/winery. We grow the grapes and then press them into juice which ferments in barrels, for a year or two or more. When it's time, we sell the wine."

"Like Gallo?"

"Yes, but we're after a more refined palate."

"You mean you make better wine." Sami said knowingly.

"Bingo!" John laughed.

"Do you have animals? Horses?" Sami had been on an equine-loving kick recently.

"No, afraid not. Horses and grapes don't mix so well. Horses need good pastures. But if you want to go riding, Sami, Napa's got some good stables and some great open areas and horse trails all over."

"Do you have a dog?" Eric asked.

"Nope, sorry. For most of the last three years I've been pretty busy with the business. There are a few pretty tame barn cats around the winery buildings. You'll probably run into one or two. But no dogs."

Checking his rear view again, John saw that Eric looked a little crestfallen, so he continued, "But, hey, maybe soon a dog will fit into all our lives. You'd like a dog, Eric?"

"Yes!" he said firmly. "A beagle or an English Springer spaniel would be great" He quieted, "But Mom didn't think one fit into our lives either."

John shot a sidelong glance Marlena's way. "Think you might change your mind?"

Marlena smiled. "We'll see."

John asked them, "Do you have any pets? A hamster or a turtle, maybe?"

"We hatched some chicks for a school project last year," Sami informed him. "That was quite cool."

"But we gave them to a hatchery when they were a couple weeks old. They were getting kind of stinky," Eric said.

"Do you live close to the ocean?" That was Eric again.

John replied. "The distance to the coast from Napa is about the same as from the SF airport to Napa. That's a big difference between Salem and Napa - going to the ocean is doable here. Muir beach is one. Or Salmon creek another - often sea lions sun themselves on a little bar of sand there. We'll be sure to take you. Other natural sites to see are the Russian River, and the Old Faithful Geyser in Calistoga (almost a suburb of Napa), and so on."

"Do you like it here, Dad?" Sami asked.

How John loved hearing that word from the twins! He took a moment to savor it before responding, feeling emotion beginning to well up. Marlena thought the words might be stuck. But then he spoke, "This is a good area. I was blessed to be able to come here. But the fact that you twinners and your Mom weren't here meant it could never truly be home for me. Because my true home, I am convinced in my heart and soul, is inside this family, wherever we may be - as long as we're together." John's voice cracked and he said no more.

Marlena stepped into the breach. She turned again to gaze at her offspring. "And our family is a little bit bigger now too. When we get to Napa, you'll be able to meet Tommy, John's son."

"Wow," Sami breathed. "How old is he?"

"Almost ten months," John said proudly.

"Does he walk and talk yet?" Eric wanted to know.

John chuckled. "He's working on it. He'll be toddling around daring people to catch him any time now. But really talking will take longer. He babbles right now."

Marlena added, "Tommy does say 'Da' to John already. And I'm sure once he gets used to you, he'll bring you his books to read - over and over - to him. He's still a little young, but, Eric, he's got some big cars he can't swallow, so you can play race driver with him."

Then Eric said the sweetest thing, "Hey! A little brother! After only having sisters around, I'm cool with that."

John beamed. "It's tough on us guys when the ladies outnumber us, isn't it?" he commiserated.

Marlena chuffed at that. "Well, now you 'guys' will have the majority for a change. Just don't get too puffed up about it, or we girls will have to depuff you," she kidded.

They continued their happy chatter until they reached Napa Valley. Then Sami and Eric looked out their windows ready for John to turn into the winery.

As they drove through the Napa Valley, Erik noted, "There sure are a lot of grape vines here. Do you like making wine?"

"You know, I do. If anyone had told me I'd be a vintner some day back when I was a cop in Salem, I'd have had a hearty laugh. But it is satisfying to make a product from the fruit of the earth that so many people enjoy."

"But wine tastes kind of sour," Sami said. "I'd rather have a Coke."

Marlena laughed. "Wine is meant for an adult palate, I think. But even for adults, it can be an acquired taste."

Sami and Eric saw the sign at the same time. "Grafton Wineries."

Sami spoke again, "So, I'm confused. Your family's last name is Grafton, Dad?

"Yup."

"Okay, but you're still using Black as your last name?"

John chuckled good-naturedly. "Yes, that probably is confusing, Sami. Well, you see, when I reverted to John Black as my name in Salem, I had it made my legal name again. When I found out that I was born John Grafton, I made the decision not to change my legal name again. I was kind of done with name changes."

"Oh, okay," Sami said, "That makes sense."

John pulled into the drive. He indicated what the various buildings were as he slowly navigated, always aware of the visitors who could pop up right in front of him any moment. Sami and Eric craned their necks and twisted from looking out one side to the other. Then John drove up the private driveway to the house, stopping in front of it so they could see. Marlena thought it's only been 13 days since I saw the house for the first time, but it feels like it's always been home because John's there.

"Wow - it's big," Sami breathed.

In a minute or two they exited the Bronco inside the three-car garage, and everybody took some of the kids' luggage. When they entered, Peggy and Tommy were not to be seen. But the doors to the backyard were unlocked, and John saw them outside. Tommy was playing with some toys in a shady spot. John put down what he carried and told the family, "I'll give you a tour of the house in a bit, but come outside and meet Tommy."

The twins followed him and Marlena. Peggy got up from the chair where she'd been reading and smiled in welcome. "Hello!" John introduced her to the kids. Meanwhile Tommy saw his Dad and the new people. He tried to hoist himself up on his legs, but there was nothing close by to hold onto, so he promptly sat down again. "Da!" he cried, grinning.

John strode over and pulled his son into his arms. "Hi, buddy! Did you have a good time with Peggy today?" Tommy gurgled and touched his father's face. But when the rest of the group approached them, he put his fingers in his mouth and laid his head against John's shoulder.

John gave him a reassuring squeeze and said, "Sami, Eric, this is Tommy. Tommy, meet Sami and Eric (he put his free hand on their shoulders to identify them for Tommy), a new part of your family."

Sami grinned at Tommy. "Hi." Sami had long, straight, blonde hair, and Tommy was fascinated with it. He reached out a little hand and touched it.

Eric said hi also, but Tommy focused on Sami. So Eric surveyed his surroundings, telling John, "Nice big backyard - a lot bigger than ours at home."

"Sometimes it's too hot to take advantage of it," John replied. "But today - maybe in honor of your arrival - we got a little reprieve." He gently disengaged Tommy from Sami's tresses. "Let's go inside, and we'll show you where you can put your things," he told the twins.

Peggy said her farewells for today, but the rest of them, after a look around downstairs, trooped to the second floor. "You can each choose a room." John nodded at the larger ones first, then the two smaller ones. "Oh. When Carrie and Austin get here, they should probably stay in one of the larger bedrooms, so be prepared."

"This is a big space," exclaimed Eric. "If you put a kitchen up here, it could be a separate residence."

"Good thinking. Except there's no separate access to the outside, other than the fire ladder, of course."

Sami was curious. "Why do you have so much room? Wasn't it just you and Tommy when Mom suddenly showed up?"

Both Marlena and John smiled. "It was. These bedrooms up here were for guests - mostly business guests before, Sami, but now they are being put to much better use - you two!"

Marlena pointed to the bedroom she'd stayed in. "I can vouch for that room. I slept very soundly there when I first came here." Sami called dibs on it. But Eric surprised them all by choosing the smaller room across the landing from Sami. "Then we won't have to argue about which of us is going to give up their room to Carrie and Austin."

Marlena hugged her son, and then went to hug Sami again also. "I've missed you both!"

Tommy was still in John's arms, and before John could set the suddenly fussy little fellow down, he went to the top of the stairs and set the baby safety gate in place. Moving back into the loft common area, he put Tommy on the floor by the little couch there. Tommy pulled himself up and surveyed all the people with his dad. Sami went to him and held out her fingers to him to grab. "Want to walk a little?" she asked.

Tommy looked quizzically at her. Then, leaning against the couch to keep his balance, he raised his arms. "Pah!" he said firmly.

John grinned, "He means, "Up!" He continued, "Here, Sami, sit down on the couch, and you can hold him if you'd like."

She did, and John put Tommy on her lap. Of course, Tommy again went for Sami's hair.

"Does he do that to you too, Mom?" Sami asked.

"Yes, but since mine isn't so long, he doesn't have so much to pull and play with."

Eric said down next to Sami and Tommy. "My hair is short so he won't do that with me."

Marlena produced one of Tommy's books which she's snagged on the way up here. "Would you like to read to him, Eric?"

Sami carefully transferred the little boy to Eric's lap, and Eric read. Tommy kept switching between checking out the familiar book's pictures and checking out Eric.

John put his arm around Marlena. "Now there's a picture to behold," he said, happiness just coursing from him.