Bundle-2

This was the fourth time he read the note and it still wasn't sinking in. The baby's cry brought him out of his daze and he jumped.

The cry was one of 'I am hungry and wet so pick me up instead of staring at me.'

He jumped up and after running his hands over his face and through his hair he carefully picked him up. Much to his dismay he found a soaking wet baby - all the way up his back.

"UGH! No wonder you're mad," he thought. Cradling him in one arm and with the other he started to rummage in the basket hoping for a diaper. Nothing - just a very wet blanket.

"Oh Man I'm in trouble!"

Then he remembered the carry- on bag. He found clothing and yes, cloth diapers*, pins, formula and a few bottles. With a soaking baby on his arm, Johnny walked over to the sink and filled it up with warm water and a squirt of dish soap. After freeing the baby of his wet stinky clothes, he tackled the diaper. While undoing the pins, his mind went into a Johnny rant in his head...

"Oh Man Whew! What did you eat? Okay….wait… now hold on… stop moving around! I don't want to drop you... how in the world... I need to get this wet stinky diaper off of you. Now how did you get your heel in your poop? Are you kidding... this is like glue!"

After he got the diaper off and wiped as much as he could off the baby's rear end and back, he slowly lowered him into the warm sudsy sink. He carefully washed him getting in all the nooks and crannies. Filling the other side of the sink with warm water he rinsed the baby off just as he would if he was washing dishes… with a grin to himself. Picking the baby up he noticed he had a problem - he didn't have a towel so he picked him up and held him to his chest as he quickly walked to the linen closet. As he reached for a towel he felt a warm trickle of water down the front of him so with a roll of his eyes he grabbed the towel and redunked the baby in the sudsy water - and redunked him in the lukewarm water. Laying the baby down on the kitchen table he tried from memory to do the diaper. After a few tries he got it to stay on. Johnny was quite pleased with himself. Looking around for something other than the basket - that needed a good cleaning - he pulled out one of his small dresser drawers and laid the baby inside.

Bringing the baby into the bathroom with him he took a shower. He still hadn't had his coffee. With the baby wrapped snugly in a blanket he put the bottles on to boil and started to make himself some coffee. Once the bottles were cooled, formula made and in the fridge, the baby fed and cradled in his arms asleep, he took a tentative sip of his coffee and with a sigh ... he picked up the note again and read...

Dear Johnny,

I'm Sorry I didn't tell you I was pregnant. You and I, we just didn't work out and I wasn't going to have a baby be the glue that kept us together. I thought I could do this! I really did. I wanted to keep him and my parents were for it at first but then when they found out he was part Native American and they saw him... they flipped saying I'd be dead to them, disowned if I kept the baby. That it would be better for everyone if I put him up for adoption. I couldn't do that! Always thinking he was out there somewhere. I just couldn't so forgive me for dropping him on you like this. He is yours. You don't have to worry about that! I put your name on the birth certificate. I named him John Roderick Gage Jr. I had him down in San Diego. My parents sent me to stay with my aunt until the baby was born. You will get a copy of the birth certificate in the mail. Please, don't try and contact me if you have any feelings for me... just tell JR that I loved him.

Anne

Tons of memories flooded his mind. Mostly of how he had been treated for being half Native American and maybe if his son had blonde hair and light eyes, like Anne had, she would have kept him.

Well he had no choice. This was his son and he was going to do right by him.

The doorbell rang startling Johnny and the baby started to cry. Walking to the door and trying to shush the baby he opened the door to Roy, Joann and the kids.

"Roy... JoAnn hey guys!"

Opening the door wide, his voice said "Come on in" but on his face was the look of 'Oh crap! I forgot!'

Johnny turned and walked over and put the baby down in the dresser drawer.

"Hey Guys ...Ummm could we uhh sorry for the mess, umm lets go out on the back porch and I will get the barbeque started and we can sit and talk. The kids can saddle the horses and go for a ride before we eat okay?"

As he made a move to head outside he calmly picked up the dresser drawer and headed outside with him.

"Hey do you guys want a beer?" He asked over his shoulder to his very silent partner and wife.

"Wait a minute! Johnny, what's going on?"

Joann's question stopped Johnny in his tracks. Hesitantly, he came back in and looked at them. Joanne and Roy hadn't moved from the entry way of the house even though the kids had run outside to tend to the horses.

"Guys come on, I'll explain." They slowly made their way in – taking in everything including the kitchen in shambles, wet towels, the basket, carry- on bag and note.

Joann looked at the sink with both sides filled with water. Turning around she raised her eyebrows.

"I am afraid to ask."

"Well, he was wet and you know and ... needed a bath." Johnny answered slightly offended.

Joann muttered under her breath, "Oh Johnny, it's a baby not dishes."

With a flash of anger, pride and hurt in his voice he hissed, "well, he is my son and I am keeping him!"

Roy and Joann let out a collective gasp. Looking at the hurt on his face and in his eyes, Joann was quick to apologize for the remark. With that said, she was the first to come out of her shock. She moved to Johnny and gave him a hug and took a peek at the baby. With a deep breath, she jumped into action.

Pushing the men and baby outside, she soon had the kitchen and house put back in order. While doing so, she began making mental notes of what Johnny would need; especially a bassinet for starters.

The steaks were ready for the barbeque and the picnic table in the backyard was set with salad, side dishes and drinks. All the while, Johnny noticed that Roy remained very quiet. So as the barbeque got hot Johnny picked up the baby and gave him to Roy while he went in to retrieve the note.

Roy looked at Johnny. "Not fair Junior."

Johnny just gave him a grin...

Coming back out on the back porch he silently handed the note to his trusted friend of 11 years. Roy still called him Junior when he was worried or proud of him. This time he didn't know which it was.

After Roy and Joann read the note they both looked at him expectantly.

"Well?" Johnny looked anxiously at both of them. Roy almost said it's a deep subject but didn't want a jab in his ribs so he kept his mouth shut.

"Guys what do you think?"

Both said almost in unison "Congratulations you have a son" and then they broke into smiles.

"So do you think I can do this?"

Joanne had a gleam in her eye as she said, "Johnny, you're 36 years old, you're a Captain of your own station, you own your own home and …well apart from the bathing situation, I think you will do just fine!"

On that note Johnny Jr. opened his eyes and wailed! Roy smiled. "He must be hungry like his dad!"

As Joann went to grab him she said, "well, let's see if he needs to be changed first okay guys?"

She was talking more to Johnny Jr. or JJ as she was going to call him. A few minutes later she walked out on the back porch shaking her head and with a look on her face she said, "Okay I guess I have to show you how to diaper too!"

Johnny gave her a curious look.

"Pants are not made to HOLD a diaper on. That's why there are things called diaper pins, right JJ?" as she cooed to the baby. Handing the baby back to Roy she pointedly looked at Johnny with that last statement.

As only Johnny Gage could do, he shrugged his shoulders and tossed his head, " Well... Well... I.. didn't want to pin him or... prick him or hurt him!"

Roy got a glint in his eyes, "Junior, you always had a problem with needles but you have to put your hand in between the baby and the pin so YOU get stuck not him."

"Boy, do I remember those days well! Lots of sore fingers! And don't expect him to just lie there nice and still either…. Oh No!" Joanne smiled warmly at that memory.

At that point the DeSoto children 14 and soon to be 18 years of age, rode back in on their respective horses. Johnny had taught them well. Within a half hour the horses were cooled down, brushed, watered, fed and the stalls mucked out. Both of them ran up to the porch claiming to be starving, Roy's son, Chris, was just topping six feet and thin as a rail which Johnny says he got from him.

The two Desoto children looked expectantly at their parents and 'Uncle Johnny.'

Their daughter finally broke the silence that had descended on the adults.

"Sooo...like ..which girlfriend had your baby? " - which brought both parents talking at the same time.

Johnny made a time out sign and said, "he's my baby, his name is Johnny Junior or as your mom said JJ and THAT'S all that needs to be said on the matter. You dig?"

"Oh my God! Like... like can I babysit for you! I have my babysitters certificate AND like I totally know CPR AND basic first aid from like girl scouting. Please Uncle Johnny can I?" as she batted her eyes at him and giggled. She knew he could never say 'no' to her.

He sighed because he knew she would be a blessing in disguise.

Looking at her parents, he said with a wink at them, "well, like ...we grown-ups need to discuss it, you know like... totally man and then like... we'll get back to you okay?" He looked at his God daughter with a straight deadpan face - then he grinned.

"Come on, let's eat. I don't know about you but I am starving!" As if on cue, John Junior made it known he was hungry too! Everyone headed to the table laughing.

It had been a nice dinner and the kids were inside watching TV and the adults were outside on the back porch. With a sigh Johnny looked down at his son sleeping in the crook of his arm. Joann got up to get more coffee.

Roy squirmed in his seat and then cleared his throat...Umm Johnny? I am going to address the big elephant in the room okay?"

Johnny looked up at him his eyebrows scrunched. "Huh...what?"

Roy shifted in his seat and moved his chair so he was looking at him. "So ...what now? What is your plan? Who is going to watch him when you are at work? Did you even know she was pregnant and the big question... how do you know he is yours... there I said it."

Joann put the coffee pot on the little table and refilled their cups. Looking over at Johnny who to her was like a little brother. "Tomorrow is Saturday and you go back to work on Tuesday, so that will give you Monday to go to the hospital and vital statistics. Maybe you can call Anne? She seems like she loved the baby so maybe you guys could work something out?"

Johnny looked at both of them and blew out the air he didn't know he was holding.

"Well ...being with Anne…. it was great at first and then it was little things that became big things you know? And... I know I am not the easiest person to be with either and ….like she said in the note, she doesn't want the baby to be the glue to keep us together if we are miserable. That would not be a good environment to raise the baby in. As for if he is mine... he looks like me …..and the timing is right …..and it's a feeling ...I guess ...I could go and have a blood test done.* They would have Anne's blood type on file at Rampart. I guess that would be the first step and then I can go from there." That said the evening ended peacefully.