Chapter 13

"Are you really calling again?" David half laughed, half said.

"Shhh, it's ringing." Erica said, covering the phone.

"How many is that today? Seven? Eight? Erica you called an hour ago. He's fine."

"Well I just want to make sure. Joe and Ruth aren't exactly built to take care of a newborn."

"They're grandparents for goodness sakes Erica. They can handle a newborn for twenty-four hours without you checking up on them every hour." he said, putting his hands on her shoulders. His cheek against hers.

"Erica? What is it now?" Joe answered the phone, already knowing exactly who was calling.

"I just wanted to make sure everything was going alright."she repeated, just like all the other times she had called.

"He's sleeping. We're getting ready to go to Tad and Dixie's for dinner." He told her.

"Well David and I already had dinner, should we come get him now?" Erica asked, hoping he would beg her to come get her son.

"No, the kids are looking forward to meeting their new cousin. We'll bring him by on our way home."

"Don't hesitate to call if you change your mind Joe."

"I know you already had dinner since you told me an hour ago when you called, but why don't you and David take the time and enjoy this free time." Joe said, about ready to hang up the phone.

"See even Joe thinks you should stop calling and focus on me. I take back everything rotten thing I ever said about him." David added, his hands falling down her shoulders.

"Okay, we'll call before we leave Tad's. Goodbye Erica, David." He said, able to hear David's part of the conversation too.

"Stop. I think he'd change his mind if he knew what you want me to focus on." She threw at him as she hung up the phone. Only Joe hadn't quite hung up his end, getting quite an ear full.

"True, but I don't care I'm going to go with what he said. Let's focus on us, well me."

"You think you're so cute don't you? I made us dinner. Shouldn't I get a thank you at least?" She said with a smile, spinning around in his arms.

"Don't worry, I plan on thanking you. Many times." He winked, pulling her closer.

"That's better. Why don't we go upstairs? Cuddle in bed. We don't have to worry about getting up to feed or change a baby." She suggested, moving from his arms and taking him by the hand.

"Mom and Dad are here." Tad called from the front door. "Kids, grandma and grandpa are here."

"Grandpa. Grandma." JR called as he hurried for the door, followed by Jamie.

"Who's baby? I know it isn't yours. You're too old to have a baby." Jamie said, looking intently at the sleeping baby.

"It's David and Erica's baby." Ruth told the boys.

"Why do you have their baby?" JR asked, also peering at the baby.

"Because we offered to watch him." Joe told them.

"Why would you want to watch Dr. Hayward's baby?" Jaime asked.

"Because Dylan here is your cousin." Joe explained to the boys.

"My cousin? But how?" Jaime asked Joe, looking from JR to Dylan and up to his grandparents.

"Well David is my son. So that makes me Dylan's grandfather, just like I'm your grandfather."

"So David's our uncle? But he wasn't before." JR asked, thinking this whole thing was just weird.

"We just found out that David is your uncle. No one knew but when he got hurt, his blood told us who he was. That he was Joe's son, and your dad's and uncle Jeff and uncle Jakes brother." Ruth tried explaining.

"Then why didn't dad tell us?" Jamie asked, looking over to his father who was helping with dinner.

"Because your daddy doesn't like David very much. "

"Well…" Joe stalled, trying to figure out how to explain this to a 12 year old and a 9 year old.

"Time for dinner." Dixie called from the dining room.

The kids ran over to the table and Joe and Ruth made their way over to the table too.

"Hey dad, Ruth." Jeff greeted the two he hadn't seen in a few days. "Is that Dylan?" He asked, not having seen the baby since he was born.

"Yes, we've been watching him for David and Erica since last night."

"Oh really? Parenthood too much already?"

"Don't knock it until you've had kids." Dixie mentioned, coming out of the kitchen.

"Well we haven't gotten to see him since he was born. We offered to watch him for the day. Give them a break for a bit. With Erica out of commission for close to two weeks, David was taking care of Dylan buy himself. With one arm, courtesy of your brother." Joe glared at Jake who had been quiet the whole time.

"I'm right here. I can hear you." Jake whined.

"He slept for most of the time we've had him. He's just so cute." Ruth added, stroking the baby's cheek.

"Yeah they all are. Especially the two over there. You know, the other grandkids of yours.
Tad said angrily, motioning to JR and Jaime. "The ones that you could care less about now that you have your new cute and fluffy replacement."

"Thaddeus Martin. Why must you act like this? And in front of your children?"

"I'm just tired of this 'David this', 'David that'. It's like he took us away from you. I thought he wanted nothing to do with you? And now he's better than all three of us."

"Tad, really. Not in front of your kids, man." Jeff said to his brother.

"Really, Jeff? You like David because you barely know the man. You have no room to judge anyone. You left this family years ago." Jake added.

"Boys, stop this please." Joe started, moving to stand up, but quickly clutching his chest.

"Dad?" Tad asked as the older man was quiet, pale and diaphoretic. Everyone stopped what they were doing only focusing on Joe now. They all watched as he fell to the floor, Jake and Jeff moving to get to him. "Dad."