Chapter 70

"All right, but I doubt anyone is hungry," Krystal said following Tom into the dining room to the cold food on the table.

"They're in the dining room, shall we join them?" he asked holding her hand, but letting her make the choice.

"Sure," she said taking his hand, "I'm not very hungry, but I should eat for the babies."

"Yes, I bet the little things are starving. Are they moving around much tonight?" AJ hoped he could feel his children kicking again.

She smiled up at him, "They always are, Albert, unless I've poured my calming tea into them!" She took his hand and placed it on her tummy so he could feel them kicking.

"Have you had an ultra sound to see what sex they are?" he asked excited. "Not that it matters as long as they are healthy."

"It didn't matter to me what sex they were since I was thinking I wouldn't be around to see them grow. If you would like to know, I could get one."

"No, we'll let it be a surprise. Kind of like opening a present on Christmas morning," he smiled as one of the babies kicked his hand. "On the other hand they may kick the wrapping off and just be laying there waiting for us to feed them."

She giggled as Tom and Krystal came into the room.

"Need any help?" AJ asked as he helped Krista sit down. "I'm pretty good in a kitchen if you remember, Tom."

"No, but thanks, I can handle a few plates in the microwave," Tom grinned. "How about if I open a bottle of wine for everyone?"

"Sounds good, I'll help you do that, buddy," AJ insisted. Walking into the kitchen he leaned over Tom's shoulder and whispered, "What the hell is going on?"

"It seems their father was abusive to them. Because he was in the military, Krista associates the abuse with military men."

"I've seen men come back from Vietnam that didn't look as scared as she did," AJ whispered. "What kind of abuse are we talking about?"

"I don't know, Krystal said that she protected Krista from a lot of it, but that she still got verbally abused. I'm going to have to find out what happened to Krystal while she was sheltering her sister!" Tom turned and looked at his friend, "AJ, if that man were not already dead, I'd be hunting for him right now!"

"And I'd be right beside you Tom. At least you know Krystal wasn't sexually abused since she's a virgin. So maybe it was physical and mental abuse. The way Krista flinched, I say she was hurt physically, no doubt about it," AJ whispered. "We better get back in there or they'll come looking for us and that might not be a good thing now."

"I'll let you know if I can find out anything from Krystal. Will do the same if Krista tells you anything?" Tom said and nodded at AJ leading the way back into the dining room with the wine and food. They found the girls deep in a discussion of the wedding plans.

"Food and wine anyone?" AJ made a great show of passing out the wine while Tom passed out the food. "Anything else the ladies require they have only to ask."

Krista took a large gulp of wine when he handed her the glass. She needed something to calm her.

"Thank you, gentlemen, you've done a splendid job and we're both proud of you," grinned Krystal up at Tom. "I love you, Tom and am especially proud of you."

"Wow this kind of praise because I can run a microwave and open a bottle of wine? You have very low expectations of me, darling!"

"No Tom, I have high expectations of you. You forget, I know the man you are and what you're capable of. I just want you to know how much I love you and how every proud I am to soon be your wife."

"And you should know how honored I am that you'll have an old sea dog like me!" he leaned over and placed a quick kiss on her lips before sitting down to eat. Suddenly his appetite was back.

To be continued…