CSI:MIAMI SEASON ELEVEN
Episode Eleven
This was the second morning Calleigh woke up to an empty bed. Today she decided to just turn over and go back to sleep. She had been in pain in the middle of the night, and her wonderful husband had gone downstairs to get her pain medication and a glass of water. She was just dozing off when she heard the door open, and then footsteps coming around the bed. She opened one eye and smiled. "Hi. Is that coffee for me?"
"It is. With plenty of sugar." He placed the coffee on the nightstand and leaned over to kiss her. "I thought if you felt like it you could come downstairs to eat this morning."
"I can try. I hate the thought of being cooped up in here all day."
"I told your mother that we'd probably be leaving tomorrow."
"How'd she take that."
"Not too well, she was hoping we could all stay longer."
"We'll come back this summer and bring the kids, and we'll be back in the fall when we pick them up. So what's for breakfast?"
"Fresh eggs, gathered by our lovely daughter's hands, fried grits and pancakes, and some fresh fruit, carefully sliced by our son. They wanted to help Grandma fix breakfast for Mommie."
Tears filled her eyes. "We are so blessed, Horatio. They are such wonderful kids."
"That they are. Are you ready to get dressed and go downstairs and see what they've made you?"
"Absolutely!"
Minutes later they were downstairs at the kitchen table, their children waiting on them, smiling the whole time.
"These two worked their fingers off this morning, Cher. I'm so proud of them."
"We are, too, Mama." She reached out and grabbed her daughter, pulling her into her lap. "I love you so much, Angel."
"I love you, too, Mommie." She squeezed Calleigh's neck tightly, and then pulled out of her mother's grasp and moved to her father. "And I love you, Daddy." She reached up for Horatio to pick her up. He looked at Calleigh with tears in his eyes and hugged his daughter. "Daddy, you're squishing me!" She giggled as Horatio released her and tickled her as she climbed off his lap.
Austin brought the fruit bowl to the table. "I cut all this up by myself! Grandma said that if I was very careful with the knife you wouldn't be mad. She watched me most of the time."
Horatio put his arm around his son. "No, Austin, we aren't mad at you, and the fruit looks wonderful."
"Thanks, Dad. I have to go outside and pick some tomatoes now. I promised Grandma I'd help make something for Mom."
"I didn't see any ripe tomatoes out there, Son."
Calleigh grinned. "They're supposed to be green. Mama's gonna fry 'em. I love fried green tomatoes."
"It was supposed to be a surprise." Austin looked down at the floor.
"Tell you what, I'll act surprised. How does that sound?"
"Thanks, Mom." His smile returned. "I have to go clean up my mess. Grandma said that's part of cooking."
"Yep, she's right."
"I'll help you, Austin." Patty followed her big brother into the kitchen and he pulled a chair in for her to stand on while they cleaned the counter.
"Oh, look at these little angels." Marie came in through the side door.
"We're cleaning, Grandma."
"I can see that, Patty. You need to be careful on that chair, though." She pulled her granddaughter off the chair and placed her on the floor. "Why don't you sweep for me?"
"Mama, are you going to make them do all your housework?"
"No, just the kitchen. You know the rules, you cook, you clean, and I didn't want this sweet girl to take a fall. It's bad enough that my big girl took a fall. How's that ankle this morning?"
"A little better. It was pretty bad last night, but Horatio kept me drugged up."
"I thought I heard someone walking around. Horatio, you take such good care of my little girl."
Patty giggled. "Grandma, she's not a little girl, she's a mommie."
"Well, honey, no matter how old your mommie gets, she'll always be my little girl. Just like when you are all grown up and a mommie, you'll still be her little girl."
"Does that mean I'll be her baby boy?" Austin wrinkled his nose.
"I'm afraid so, Son. You'll be a grandpa and still be mommie's little boy."
He sighed and went back to cleaning the counter. Patty hit him with the broom. "Patty, be careful. Just ask me to move."
"Sorry, Austin. Please move so I can sweep here, there's some fruit on the floor."
"Let me get it with a paper towel." He pulled one off the roll and picked up the fruit chunks that made it to the floor.
"We'll mop that later, kids. Don't worry about it, it'll be sticky. Horatio, now that y'all are done eatin', why don't you take your beautiful bride out on the porch so we can finish our work?"
I think I can handle that." He lifted her up and carried her to the porch swing. Her mother followed them with a tray filled with coffee, sugar and two cups.
"I thought you might like to have your coffee on the patio, like you did when you were growin' up."
She smiled up at her mother. "Thanks, Mama." After her mother went back inside, Horatio poured her a cup and sugared it for her. "She always knows just what to do to make me feel better."
"I thought that was my job."
"It is, but if Mama wants to take over, it's easier just to let her do it, she'll just fuss otherwise."
"I know, I've heard her. It's nice having a mother again, she's so much like mine."
"Horatio..." Calleigh stroked his leg gently. "You don't have to do this."
"Calleigh, you've given me a family. Parents, siblings a wife and children...all in a few days time. It feels like we've always been like this."
"It's something you've always wanted. You didn't get to see Kyle grow up, your mother died when you were a teenager."
"Let's not forget my wonderful father."
"How about let's do. I'm happy to share mine with you, and he loves you, Handsome. Today is another family day. Horseshoes, swimming, maybe some volleyball, it'll be fun for you and the kids."
"And you?"
"I'll have fun watching. I love seeing you happy."
He kissed the back of her head and drew her closer to him, careful not to spill her coffee. "You are the reason I'm so happy. You and our wonderful children."
"With more to come. Have you thought any more about what we talked about?"
"I have. I think this should be your decision, Calleigh. You'll be the one going through all the treatments and the implantations. What if one of the eggs splits and we get twins?"
"Then we have twins. Horatio, I really want to give you Marisol's child. It was her dying wish, and I promised her." She sipped the last of her coffee.
"Refill?"
"Mm-hm, thanks. I really think she's watching over us and has waiting for us to follow her wishes. She lay there dying and asked each of us to find each other again. It took over five years."
"You're right, as usual. All right, when we get home we'll go to the clinic and see what we need to do."
"You're sure you're onboard with this? I don't want to get into the treatments and have you change your mind."
"If this is what you want...if you are sure..."
"I am. We talked about a baby anyway, and the kids want a little brother or sister, this is perfect."
"It is perfect." He sighed deeply. "I love you."
She sat her cup on the table and turned in his arms. "I love you too." She smiled brightly. "We're gonna have a baby."
He leaned down and kissed her gently. "That we are."