Chapter Two-Hundred and Twenty-One

John played with the purple ribbon that Amelia had tied around his wrist, picking up Johanna as she began to fuss. "Shh… it's alright, Cupcake." He soothed, offering her the bottle that Julia had left at their table while she went to the ladies' room. "Hungry?"

"She's cute." Smiled an elderly woman at the next table. "How old?"

John thought back for a moment, trying to remember exactly what day it had been when he delivered his godchild. "She's six weeks." He smiled, taking the bottle from her mouth as she began to cough. "You alright?" He lifted her to his shoulder, patting her back until she spit up. "I forgot the rag… didn't I?" He sat her on his lap, picking up a napkin and wiping her chin before he moved to his shoulder.

"Are you the father?" The woman asked, taking in the scruff that was attempting to come in on his jaw and upper lip that made him look older than he was.

John shook his head, looking up as Frank walked in to meet with he and Julia for lunch. "No, I'm just her uncle."

Frank took a seat across from John, kissing Julia's cheek as she sat beside him. "What's shakin' bacon?" He asked, chuckling as Johanna started to pull on the key at John's neck.

Julia shook her head, taking her daughter from John so that she could change her butt. "Come on, Baby, let's get you cleaned up."

Frank leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table. "What did you want to talk to us about?" He asked, afraid that John had changed his mind about being Johanna's godfather.

John took a breath, pushing the mixed emotions back. "I think that this… this little girl… in Tom's case… she, she might be my sister…" He rubbed a hand over his cast, the skin itching as the bone inside of his leg began to heal.

Clarissa sat with John as the dentist clipped the paper bib around his neck, smiling at how nervous he was. "Relax, Pumpkin. Dr. Williams is just gonna take some x-rays to make sure that your wisdom teeth are ready." She kissed his head, watching as Dr. Williams adjusted the x-ray machine and helped John fit the little plates into his mouth. "We'll be right out there." She smiled, draping the lead blanket over John's body before she left.

She stepped over to the next cubicle to check on Claire, smiling when she saw that her daughter was twisting her ring. "Hey, Claire Bear."

Claire smiled, standing as Dr. Higgins finished with her x-rays and cleaning. "How's John?" She asked, remembering their conversation from the night before. "He was a little worried."

Clarissa nodded, kissing her daughter's head. "He's alright."

Thomas handed a paper to John, placing a cup of iced coffee beside him to help with his sore gums from the dentist. "Her name's Phoebe Wright, she's eleven-years-old, and she and her social worker are going to meet you tomorrow after school at the fountain in the park."

John nodded, sipping on his coffee and letting Amelia climb into his lap. "Sounds good." He rubbed his nose against Amelia's cheek, able to feel that she was starting to get sick from the bug that had been going around. "Should we go take a nap, Squirt?" He asked, pushing on his jaw where one of his bottom wisdom teeth was starting to ache.

"Yeah…" She nodded, snuggling up to John's chest until he put her down to pick up his crutches. "I wish you could still carry me…"

He gave a sad smile, ruffling her short hair as they limped up to his room. "He too, Kiddo."