Chapter 16
Cait woke to the sun just starting to shine in the door of their bedroom that went to the porch in the back facing the east. She leaned her head up slightly to look over Jack at her clock. 7:03 it read. She stretched a bit, still snugged next to Aaron. Lying on her side, yet leaning against her husband had been just what she needed. Mom was right as usual. That ten hours was heaven. She smiled to feel Aaron pulling her hair off her neck as he nuzzled the area, then gave it a tender kiss as he caressed her hip with his hand. "Feel better?" he whispered.
Cait rolled in his arms to look at him and just smiled, gently rubbing his cheek. He rolled over and got out of bed, offering his hand to help Cait. They put on a few more clothes, quietly brushed their teeth and walked to the kitchen, shutting their bedroom door so Jack would continue to sleep. As Cait started the coffee, Aaron called the hospital to see what time he could pick up Dave. As they shared coffee and juice, Cait pulled out her notorious list pad and they mapped out a plan for the day.
Maggie and Jarrod joined them about ten minutes later, with Jarrod carrying the items he needed for his morning shower. Maggie looked at the two of them, making sure they were better. Cait just shook her head as Maggie smiled at her. They shared a common thought; moms will always be moms no matter the age of their children. "Jack's still sleeping," Maggie asked. "He went to bed at 8:30 last night."
"He's still catching up too," Aaron said as Cait told them about what had happened the other night.
Maggie wrapped an arm around Aaron's waist. "Are you OK?" she simply asked.
Aaron looked at Cait, took a breath and then smiled at his in-laws. "Yes; finally."
Jarrod looked at the two of them smiling softly. "Good; we worry. And we're really proud of the two of you for keeping Haley 'alive', he gestured, "for Jack. He deserves that."
Cait smiled. "She's his mother and always will be." Jarrod kissed her cheek as Maggie squeezed Aaron's waist.
"You both know we'll always support you on that," she said. Aaron just smiled.
"Guess I'm showering in the bath outside of the workout room downstairs," Jarrod said as he grabbed his cup of coffee. Maggie took her toothbrush and paste from his shaving kit and used the bath off the kitchen for the job. As Jarrod re-entered the kitchen, Jack sleepily emerged from the bedroom and climbed up into Maggie's lap, who was sitting at the lunch counter.
Aaron headed into the master bathroom to take his shower as Jarrod headed upstairs with his toilet kit. He and Jake passed on the steps. Jake walked into the kitchen scratching his stomach, as Cait set a glass of juice on the counter for Jack. "What's for breakfast," he yawned and rubbed his face stubble.
"It's on your own. There's Krispy Kreme doughnuts and muffins from Panera Bread on the counter as well as bananas. There's apples, oranges and juices in the fridge and cereal in the cupboard. And if that doesn't fill you up, McDonald's is that way," Cait pointed. "It's got the golden arches. You can't miss it." Jake stuck his tongue out at her.
Maggie just shook her head. "You two ever going to grow up?" Her oldest and youngest, over twenty year apart in age, but still incredibly close, just smiled at each other and then shook their heads at her. Maggie just rolled her eyes as Jack laughed. Jake grabbed his toilet kit, gave Jack a fist bump and headed downstairs to use the shower. Cait started the second batch of turkey breasts baking. Fifteen minutes later, the three Barkley's were sitting at the lunch counter, with Jack sitting on Jarrod's lap and Cait and Aaron standing in the kitchen as they all ate breakfast. The dogs, who had come down earlier, were laying in the sunlight by the French doors.
After they finished, Aaron went over to Dave's to get what he had put on his list. After showering, Cait and Maggie started getting the first batch of the turkey breasts that cooled overnight cut up while Jarrod read the paper at the lunch counter sipping his coffee and Jack and Jake curled up on the couch to watch Tom and Jerry after Jake had helped Jack pick out his clothes.
When Aaron returned, he went into their study to get the bed ready for Dave. That would be one less thing that Cait would have to do. He got Dave's clothing arranged in the closet and went back into the kitchen to hear Jarrod summoning Jake. "Ummm, Muscles your presence is required in the kitchen." Aaron smiled.
Jake got off the couch with Jack following him. He walked into the kitchen and Maggie handed him a long handled mixing spoon. "Stir," she said, handing him the spoon. Jake grabbed Jack and set him on the kitchen counter so he could watch. With biceps the size of cantaloupe that pushed the sleeve of his t-shirt to its limits, he took the spoon, smiled and dove into the project. Three times around the large roaster, he looked at his mother and sister.
"What the heck is in here," he asked.
"Cheddar cheese and cream of celery soup, chicken broth," Cait paused. "And twenty pounds of turkey breast."
"Holy Hannah," Jake said, as he re-positioned his feet and started again.
"Awww, come on Uncle Jake, you can do it," Jack smiled.
After Jake finally started to get the mixture blended, Aaron took over and got it mixed to Cait's standards. Aaron looked at Jake. "We get to do that again later. Twice."
"Jeez passing drills in spring practice have nothing on that." He caught the look, question and hope in Jack's eye. Jake smiled and pulled him off the counter. "Come on kiddo, I'll teach you how to catch a post pattern pass."
Jack raced for the garage, his fist pumping in the air. "Yes, yes, yes," he joyfully shouted. Beans and Mudg jumped up to join them. Cait rubbed Jake's arm as he followed Jack out of the kitchen.
"Thank you."
"Any time sis; I love that little guy," he said, giving her a kiss on the cheek. Aaron smiled and looked at the clock. It read 10 am.
"I've got an hour before I have to leave to get Dave. What else can we do?"
Cait looked at Maggie. "Is it too early to start working on some of the veggies? Can't we put them in containers with cold water and put them in the fridge?"
"What are you planning for the veggie tray?"
"Baby carrots, which I bought already in bags cleaned. They're last. The cauliflower and broccoli are for tomorrow and can't be put in water, but can't we do the celery and radishes?"
"I don't know why not. But where are you going to put them?"
"Dave's fridge," Cait answered. She looked at Aaron. "That means we need a couple of the ice cream buckets from downstairs."
Aaron looked at her. "You mean the ice cream buckets that we tangled over about you saving."
Cait smiled. "Yup, those would be the ones." Cait, with three sons and a husband (who knew Aaron Hotchner had an ice cream fetish) went through gallons of ice cream they bought in "pails". Five gallon plastic containers with lids. Cait and Aaron had argued about the value of saving them. Cait, the forever plan ahead person, seeing this weekend coming, knew they would come in handy; and be used. Five buckets and Cait's large plastic container she took to Dave's cabin, was already holding the Monster cookies.
Aaron rolled his eyes at Jarrod. "Another argument I lost." He headed for the basement.
"Aaron, hang on a second," Jarrod said looking at him and Cait. "Just what is on the menu for Sunday?"
"What Matt wanted," Cait said. Jarrod gave her a questioning look.
"Jarrod, it's his graduation party. We let him pick what he wanted. He sat down with us one night and between the three of us, we worked it out."
Jarrod smiled at the two of them. "You still haven't answered my question."
Cait grabbed her list pad, and started in. "Turkey sandwiches, ripple," she smiled with an eye roll, "potato chips with dip; baked beans that I'm going to cheat on, pickles; veggies, you heard his selection, with veggie dip and ranch dressing; fruit salad, which is Sean is going to help with; his four favorite kind of bars; Monster cookies and the usual grad party cake, which is ordered through the deli at the local food market."
"Bottom line; is costing you two how much" Jarrod asked.
Aaron looked into his eyes. "As Cait said yesterday, you sound like Dave. Thank you, Jarrod. We know you mean well. But we've got it handled. Trust us."
"Aaron, I'm a dad and grandpa. Don't blow me off."
Cait and Aaron laughed. "Now, you really sound like Dave," Cait said. "Thank you both. We love you for that. But come on; you know what I got from Mark's family. And while I invested some of that money when the boys were babies, when I met back up with Dave, he gave me some very wise investment strategies."
Jarrod and Maggie were never in on the entire details of Cait's fight with Mark's family. It was her battle, she told them and her battle alone. While their dear friend and Jarrod's Harvard roommate all four years, Harvey Kantrell, with a large, thriving law office in the DC area (and politically connected in all the right places) oversaw that fight with one of his up and coming associates actually handling the case, he never broke the lawyer/client privilege with his two best friends. They knew Cait and her then very young sons had a legitimate right to Mark's share of the Pittsburgh steel family's estate, which was rumored to be in the eight figure range. After their first separation, Cait had got that locked down in her own legal steel. But to keep Mark's family out of her son's life forever, and allowing her to raise them under her maiden name, she had settled for seven figures.
"And since she paid for the home she built here outright with that money," Aaron said, smiling proudly, "she, and now us, never have had to worry about a house payment. And with both of our salaries," Aaron let his voice trail off and just shook his head.
"That's why we are so proud of Matt. Virginia offered him a full ride scholarship to play baseball. About the same time we started talking about this menu, he was making that final decision. He asked and we agreed." Maggie and Jarrod looked at the both of them with questions.
Aaron continued for Cait. "While he signed a national letter of intent to play baseball, he turned down the scholarship. He told Coach O'Connor to give to the scholarship to another player the team could use that needed the money. He didn't. Between what Cait has invested and what Dave has already told us he has set aside for a college trust fund for all three of the boys, and JJ's Henry as well, he's covered for college."
Cait looked at them. "And we're pretty sure that Grandma has added to that as well. We can pay for this party and do it right for Matt. He has proved to us he deserves it. And while our finances are none of your business, we thank you for offering. And I know you two would never ask but I will tell you. The minute that Aaron and I signed the adoption papers that made this an 'official' family, is the day whatever we both had in bank accounts became ours, as in one. Including all three of the boys."
Jarrod and Maggie proudly smiled at the both of them. Aaron and Jarrod went to get the ice cream buckets as Cait and Maggie started in on the radishes and celery.
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A/N: In the US, high school sports players, both male and female, that are very gifted in their given sport, are highly "recruited" by universities and colleges to join their athletic teams. In agreeing to play the sport for a said university or college, those students usually get a full scholarship to the school, including room and board. To do that, they sign a "letter of intent"; basically giving their promise that the athlete will play and study at that university or college. Athletes that are highly sought after by major universities and colleges, sign what is known in the US sports world as a "national" letter of intent. Jake Barkley signed such a letter four years ago to play quarterback (US football) at USC in my little world.