Chapter 4
The Hotchner family enjoyed the Palm Sunday services at St. Luke's Lutheran. Jack and Kim held the twins as Zach, Caleigh, Aaron, Beth and Sean took Holy Communion. Dave and the Dobsons took Caleigh's car to attend Mass at St. Mark's, receiving the same gift of communion. They all met up at the Lawrenceville FD building and walked in.
Zach paid for everyone's six-dollar breakfast with his own Franklin. "Keep the change Doug," he winked at the firefighter taking the money. Doug was still a member of the department after suffering a spinal cord injury saving a family in a fire. He was now in a wheelchair.
"Helluva game last night Cob," Doug smiled.
Zach smiled. "Thanks man. The team is really starting to emerge."
"We Braves' fans love it," Doug smiled, handing out tickets to the group. They all found a table to hold the group. Kim watched the twins as the rest got in line. Trev and Tay were asleep in their car seats, having got a their mid-morning snack during Pastor Tim's sermon at St. Luke's.
By the time Caleigh, Zach and Jack got back to the table, with Beth and Aaron following them, nearly twenty kids were gathered around the table. Zach smiled at them. Nate Murphy, captain of the LFD walked up. "Hey kids. Give Cob a chance to eat his breakfast."
Zach smiled at the kids, setting down his plate on the table. "I'm here with my wife, kids and my family from D.C. And Cincinnati," he smiled at Merrill and Sela. He looked at the kids. "Who knows where Cincinnati is?"
"In southern Ohio," one kid shouted out. "The Reds play there."
Zach pointed at him. "Winner, winner chicken dinner," he smiled. "You get the first picture with me in the LFD garage by the fire truck. After I eat my breakfast with my family," he smiled.
Captain Murphy smiled at the kids. "You heard the man," chasing them away from the table.
Sean looked at Zach. "Really?"
"Really," Jack said, taking a bite of his pancakes. "Get used to it." Caleigh winked at Beth with a smile.
Aaron looked at Dave. "Get used to it dad," Dave smiled. "That's your oldest son." Merrill rubbed Dave's shoulder with a smile putting his plate down.
After they finished eating, the family proudly smiled at Zach spending nearly forty minutes with each of the kids getting a picture and autograph sitting on the sideboard of the LFD fire truck that went into the cab of the truck. Each kid's picture had the logo of the LFD in the background that was on the door. Zach signed the kids' Braves' jerseys with the Sharpie that Caleigh had in her purse.
Nate looked at Zach. "Thanks man," Nate said, shaking Zach hand.
"Thank you," Zach smiled. "Caleigh and I will be eternally grateful to LFD."
"We can't thank you enough," Beth sincerely said.
"It's our honor to serve," Nate proudly smiled.
Sean smiled at him. "I'm Uncle Sean. Thank you for what your department did back then." He shook his head. "You and LFD were huge for Zach and Caleigh. And this family appreciates it."
Nate shook his head. "We were doing our job."
Zach introduced Nate to the rest of his family. "Holy shit," Nate said. "Talk about serving," he said shaking Aaron and Dave's hand.
"Thanks Nate for taking care of my kids," Dave sincerely smiled.
"We were doing our job Agent Rossi," Nate smiled back.
Merrill deeply rubbed his shoulder. "Just like us," Merrill smiled, shaking his hand.
"And I'm just Uncle Dave," Rossi winked at Nate.
"Oh no Nate," Sean smiled. "He's the Big Dog." Nate laughed.
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Getting back home, the kids woke up from their nap. After changing dirty diapers, the two of them were up on the knees, rocking back and forth at Lexie and Molly watching over them, challenging them with their happy smiles.
Caleigh looked at Sela. "Don't say it," she growled. Sela laughed.
Zach looked at the group. "Dinner plans? I do have a true day off tomorrow. And we're not flying Monday thank God. But I've got to work tonight and get there a bit earlier." Aaron looked at him. "The Braves called up Alex Jackson, the catcher at Gwinnett to back me up. Flowerpot can't go for a couple of days. I've got to get Ajax zeroed in. Because you all are here, Doggie is doing most of it. But I've still got to get there."
Merrill and Aaron smiled at him. "You're cooking chicken tomorrow night," Merrill smiled. "Like only you can. You go to work tonight. Your dad and I know your tricks with pork chops."
Zach looked at them. "I'll need an extra Weber."
Sean rubbed his shoulder. "Pedro and I are close kid." Zach smiled at him.
Aaron looked at Zach. "Who's pitching tonight?"
Zach smiled. "Max Fried. He's this close," Zach smiled, holding up two fingers barely apart.
Aaron looked at him. "The kids are buying into Doggie's system?"
"Yeah," Zach smiled.
Jack looked at Aaron. "Go," he smiled. Jack took off to meet up with Rashad and Miguel.
"Bike helmet Jack," Beth chided.
"Got it Beth!" Jack shouted heading out the door. Zach rubbed Beth's shoulder with a smile.
After dinner, the family watched the game together. Freddie Freeman, Zach and Ronald Acuńa the Braves rookie phenom all homered. Fried throw a one hit shutout through seven innings, throwing only eighty pitches. The young studs in the bullpen, completely in with Doggie's system were spot on with Zach. They shut down the Mets powerful hitters.
Zach walked into the darkened home save for the kitchen. Aaron, Dave, Sean and Merrill were waiting on him. Aaron pulled out the plate of leftovers from the microwave as Dave pulled out the bottle of Canadian whiskey, shaking it at Zach. "Yes Uncle Dave," Zach smiled. "I'm in."
Zach ate the leftovers enjoying a few drinks with the guys nursing a scotch. Merrill smiled at him. "We can't do too much though."
Zach, Aaron, Sean and Dave looked at him. "Breakfast is at Rose's Diner tomorrow morning on me and Sela. They're expecting us at ten-thirty." He smiled at Zach. "They want to see the kids."
Zach drained his drink and shoved the glass at Dave. "One more quickie Uncle Dave," he smiled.
"I raised you right," Dave smiled, touching up the scotch glasses as well.
Zach looked at his dad. Aaron immediately read his son. "Talk to me son." He looked around the kitchen. "Talk to us."
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Rose and Chet smiled at the crew that walked into their diner the next morning, greeting them all. Rose smiled at the kids sleeping in their carseats and looked at Caleigh. "Can I just hold one?" Rose begged.
Caleigh smiled and took Tay out of her carseat, handing her to Rose. "Hi angel," Rose cooed, holding her close. Zach winked at Caleigh.
"I thought we were here for breakfast," Jack softly grumbled.
"Dude," Sean said.
"I'm hungry Uncle Sean," Jack fired back.
Chet shook his head with a smile, looking at Jack. "Some things don't change."
Zach smiled at Chet. "I could pile on."
Chet smiled. "That's a given with you." Zach and Jack shared a high five as the group took their seats and Chet headed into the kitchen.
With the Georgia summer heat kicking in, Zach enjoyed an afternoon in the pool with Jack. Rashad and Miguel, getting home from school, quickly joined that party.
Beth smiled at Caleigh. "That's fun to see."
"Yeah, it is," Caleigh smiled. "Zach loves it as much as the boys."
Beth looked at her. "How often are they down here?"
Caleigh smiled. "Now that the weather is turning warm? Just about every day. It's so good for Miguel. And with Gabby here, I can work with him. Or Zach can when he has a day off."
Sela, doing dinner prep with Beth and Kim in the kitchen looked at Caleigh. "He was very receptive of me the other night. That surprised me."
Caleigh shook her head. "That's autistics. Especially ones that function at Miguel's level. Because he trusts Jack and Rashad implicitly, you were an easy buy in," she smiled.
Kim looked at Caleigh. "It's that black and white with autistics?"
Caleigh smiled. "Actually Kim, the outside world is very gray to them." Kim looked at her. "The bottom line for them is they know what is normal for them and the regimen they need. If they have that, they are good with a little curve ball. Jack has told them about you all. Miguel bought in." Kim looked at Caleigh. "So that made that normal; steady in his world. Autistics need that. Miguel has that here."
Caleigh looked at the ladies in the kitchen. "Miguel took his first intelligence test last week," she smiled. "His scores compared to Zach's."
Kim looked at Caleigh. "Holy shit! The MBA certified Civil Engineer?"
Caleigh smiled. "Welcome to autism. The communication part sucks." Caleigh rubbed Kim's shoulder. "That's why Zach and I love him. And will push him. Miguel is going to be another autistic who will break that spectrum. And the stigmatism. He just needs to learn how to communicate more. I'll say it again. Zach and I will continue to push that with him. And work with him." She pointed out to the pool area. "Zach is challenging Miguel again to speak. That's what he needs."
Sela rubbed Caleigh's shoulder. "I'll say it again. You two are special."
Caleigh shook her head. "We just care for that kid Sela. He's so special and so close to breaking barriers. And Zach and I both know it."
"Got that," Kim smiled.
Beth rubbed Caleigh's shoulder. "Why Aaron and I are so proud of you two."
"Thanks Beth," Caleigh sincerely smiled.
Tay and Trev woke from their afternoon nap upstairs howling for a diaper change and their dinner. "That's on us," Beth smiled at Kim.
"I'll stick in the cheesy potatoes," Sela smiled.
"I'll chase my husband's arse out of the pool," Caleigh smiled. "I know he's got to get the grills going."
Aaron and Merrill gave the boys another half hour in the pool together while Sean helped Zach get the chicken cooking. Aaron walked to the side of the pool. "Sorry guys."
The boys farted around for five more minutes and then got out, using the outside pool shower to get rinsed off, taking care of Lex and Molly as well. Drying off, Miguel looked at Jack. "This sucks."
"Tell me about it," Jack grumbled.
Pulling on their t-shirts, putting their slides on, Miguel and Rashad said good-bye to the visitors. Miguel shared fist bumps with them. "Be special Miguel," Dave smiled. Dave got the Rossi point back. "You rock kid," Dave smiled.
Rashad hugged Beth. "We'll all miss you. Mom and dad too."
"Back at all of you," Beth said, kissing his head. "You and your family are special to our family as well."
"Mine too," Miguel said. He rubbed Beth's arm.
Sela and Kim looked at Caleigh. Tears were forming in her eyes. "Hun?" Sela asked.
Caleigh shook her head and whispered. "That's as close to a hug anyone in Miguel's circle of people that he accepts will get."
Aaron crouched down and stuck out his hand to Miguel. "See you soon my friend," he smiled. Miguel looked Aaron in the eyes. And then shook his hand. Caleigh shook her head, wiping tears with Kim and Sela rubbing her back with their arm around her.
The group enjoyed a wonderful meal and family night. But it ended early.
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By six the next morning, every shower in the home was getting a workout. Caleigh had the twenty-cup pot of coffee rolling. Moesha tapped on the glass patio door. Caleigh opened it, letting the dogs out. "What are you doing here?"
"Helping you make breakfast," Moesha smiled. "I don't have to be to work until nine this morning. And Josh can get Rashad off to school. What's on the menu?" Gabby came in the door ten seconds later and walked into the kitchen.
"I've got the kids," she smiled, putting her purse in the pantry.
Beth came out of her and Aaron's bedroom. Gabby smiled at her, handing a barely awake Trev to her. Aaron smiled at the scene coming out of Zach and Caleigh's bedroom, using their shower.
By six-thirty, Aaron and Beth were feeding their grandchildren their baby food breakfast of peaches and bananas while eating the breakfast sliders of fried egg, bacon and cheese on a toasted hamburger bun that Caleigh and Mo had made. Trev tried to grab at Beth's sandwich. "I'll share with you a year from now," she smiled, kissing his head.
Jack walked in with Dave, rubbing Jack's shoulder. "This totally sucks."
"Yup Uncle Dave," Jack agreed.
"Fifty five days Jack," Zach smiled, frying more bacon.
"Bro?"
"Fifty-five more days and you're flying down here to spend the rest of June with us. That starts with a ten-day home stand where you get put to work. After that, it includes a business trip to D.C., to touch base with dad and Beth," Zach winked. "And then on to Wrigley and then CitiField."
"Wrigley and NYC?" Jack smiled.
Dave looked at Jack, taking a drink of his coffee. "Lucky shit."
Sean pointed at Dave. "And I'm cooking for you two one night when you're in NYC."
"It gets better," Jack smiled at Dave.
"Rub it in," Dave said, taking a bite of his breakfast along with another sip of coffee.
Aaron smiled at Jack, eating his slider, holding Tay. "After that buddy, Beth and I fly down here and we join Zach, Caleigh and the kids on the Braves' family flight to Cleveland for the All-Star game. Provided your brother makes the All-Star team," he winked.
"That's a no brainer," Merrill smiled. He looked at Jack. "It sounds bud like you have a helluva summer planned." He looked at Zach. "Cleveland is four hour drive."
"Got you already covered," Zach smiled. "Including hotel."
Jack looked at Zach. "And maybe something more?" he smiled.
"It's a ride bro; a long one," Zach smiled with a wink.
"I get it," Jack winked back.
Aaron and Beth looked at the boys. "I'm not telling," Zach fiendishly smiled.
"Neither am I," Jack smiled at them.
The good-byes in the driveway forty-five minutes later were tough as usual. Gabby had the twins wrapped in their blankets for the chilly April morning as they got passed around. "Love you my niece," Jack smiled, kissing Tay. He handed her to Dave and got Molly into the Traverse, wiping away a tear.
Zach snagged him back out of the vehicle. "Jack, I meant want I said. Spend some time on the trip I know is going to be brutal for all of you making a countdown calendar on your tablet. Fifty-five days. I promise." Jack hugged him. Zach pulled him off the ground to hug him deeply as Sean and Kim got in the vehicle.
Zach got Jack into the backseat with Sean, Kim and Molly. He and Caleigh hugged Merrill and Sela again as Beth and Aaron got a few more seconds with their grandchildren. Zach shook his head. "You two will never, ever begin to know what you two being here this weekend has meant to us."
Sela smiled at Zach. "Yes we do." She hugged Caleigh and got in.
"Why we came," Merrill smiled. He rubbed Zach's shoulder. "Step up; it's time for you to lead with words," he said, looking Zach in the eye.
"Thanks Merrill," Zach smiled, shaking his hand.
Dave kissed the twins good-bye and got in to be Aaron's co-pilot in the front passenger seat. "Love you Uncle Dave," Zach and Caleigh said together.
"Love you both too," Dave smiled back.
Beth and Aaron handed the kids to their parents. "Love you," Beth smiled, hugging Zach and Caleigh.
"Love you too," Caleigh smiled, kissing her cheek.
"Love you too grandma," Zach smiled, giving her a kiss. Beth winked at him, understanding his words. It was Zach's buy-in to Beth being a total part of the Hotchner family.
Aaron pulled Caleigh into a hug as she held Tay. "Good-bye my ladies," he said, kissing Tay and then Caleigh. "I love and will miss you both."
"Back at ya dad," Caleigh smiled.
Aaron hugged Zach with his grandson in his arms, hugging them both. "I love you son."
"I love you too dad. Drive safe. Please let us know when you get home."
"Promise son." Aaron looked into Zach's eyes.
"Promise dad," Zach smiled. "Thank you."
XXX
A/N: And we're not flying Monday thank God. The biggest thing about baseball teams that I have NEVER understood.
When a team has a day off after a home game, but has an away game scheduled the next day after that day off, they fly out after the game they just completed. Geez, give the players a day home with their families. And if the first game is a day game, I get it. But if it's a night game? Fly in the morning of the game. And I've talked to lots of baseball peeps. They have no explanation except to say it involves possible flight delays with the team getting there late.
Rockie rant done.