Sunday morning Dan and DJ were on the floor across from each while Jerry was in between them taking his first steps. DJ had his camera and for the first time ever one of Dan's kids had their first steps on camera.
"Come on Jerry!" Jerry took baby steps and walked unsurely into Dan's arms. "Good job, Jerry!" Dan hugged Jerry happily, and then Jerry laughed too and walked to DJ. The three boys laughed and had a great time. After an hour, Jerry had the walking thing down and was going around the house like a wild child. To Dan's utter amazement Jerry quickened his pace and learned to run.
As a father Dan knew he was screwed because he had gone through this very situation with Darlene who tried to escape every chance she ever got until Dan grew tired of it and carried her everywhere until she was five.
Now that Jerry was walking the house was soon a disaster area with toys everywhere. When DJ bombed his dad with a tiny Chicago Bulls foam ball, a small dodge ball war was declared as every soft ball in the house was gathered in the kitchen. DJ and Dan were both careful to not hurt Jerry and even let him participate.
One red ball zoomed past Dan who was standing by the front door. "HAHA You missed!" He said as he launched a bigger orange ball at DJ's head. DJ dodged it but unfortunately the family's heirloom was caught in the crossfire: The foot tall Godzilla that had sat on to the liquor cabinet since Becky's birth.
The three watched motionless as Godzilla fell hard and took the pictures and mini Godzilla with it. Once impact with the floor was made both Godzilla's stayed in perfect health amid tiny shards of glass that now covered the floor behind the couch.
Dan instinctively picked up Jerry and handed him to DJ, and then went and got the pan and broom and swept up the biggest shards and then got out the vacuum and sucked up the tiny miniscule ones in the carpet, as DJ stood in the same spot afraid of stepping on glass.
When he was done he and DJ went around and cleaned up the disaster area, just as they were finishing there was a knock on the door. When Dan opened the door he found a tall, blonde, and older woman standing on the porch. He looked at the lady curiously as he had no idea who this person was or what she wanted.
"Hello….?" Dan said as Jerry hugged his calves.
"Hi. I'm Barbara Healy." The lady said uptight.
Dan's mind reeled with different emotions. "You're David and Mark's mom?"
Barbara Heely tensed up. "Yes I am."
"I'm Dan Conner." Dan stood silently then moved aside and picked up Jerry and held him with one arm. "Do you want to come in?" He asked, subtly motioning for DJ to disappear.
Barbara walked in while she quickly glanced around the living room like a nosy neighbor. She saw that DJ was gone and sat down on the edge of the chair by the door. "I'm sorry to hear about your wife." She said sincerely.
Dan also sat down with Jerry and put him down. Jerry just sat down on the floor and played with MEGABLOKS. "Thank you…."
The two sat uncomfortably, until Barbara finally spoke. "I came here from Michigan because my friend told me that I was going to be a grandma." Barbara seemed to say this as she was boring holes into Dan's eyes. Dan shifted more uncomfortable than before and averted eyes contact. Although he was slowly getting used to it Darlene's pregnancy was still a sore subject for Dan. Dan struggled to think of something to say. He knew of Barbara's relationship with her boys so he didn't have exactly nice thoughts about her, but he also didn't want to cause drama in the family….and have it be his fault.
"Yeah I'm uh sorry no one told you." Dan said truthfully. Barbara rolled her eyes but let it go.
"I came here because I wanted to meet you." Barbara continued talking and Dan just listened. "After I went through my divorce and you took in David I was pissed at your family and David. But then I realized why he left, and began to wonder what your family was like. Then when I found out my son knocked up your daughter I really began to wonder."
Dan cringed a tiny bit at the use of the phrase "knocked up" but tried to hide that. "I can give you David and Marks phone numbers if you want."
Barbara shot up from the chair. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have come here. Please don't tell my boys we talked." She said before disappearing out the door to never be seen again.
Dan stood in the living room confused as he tried to figure out what just happened.
DJ reappeared. "Was that Mark and David's mom?"
Dan looked at DJ. "Yeah it was. Don't tell them I talked to their mom. Understand?" Dan pointed his finger at DJ until DJ nodded his head. "Thank you. Now can you watch your brother while I work on my truck?"
DJ nodded again, and then Dan went to work on his truck.
About an hour later a Red Dodge truck pulled into the drive away and parked next to Dan's truck. Dan knew immediately that it was his friend Rocko.
Rocko had been a Co-owner of Four Aces Construction with Dan, Dwight and Chucky before the company went belly up. Now he owned and ran the Lanford Hardware Store and rather successfully.
Rocko got out of his truck and hovered behind Dan as Dan was bent over with his head underneath the hood of his truck. "Hey, Dan. I'm glad your back." Rocko was in his fifties but also in great health.
Dan pulled his head from under his hood. "I'm glad to be back, Rocko."
Rocko smiled. "Yeah, I'm sure you are."
Dan studied his good friend's body language and smiled back. "It's true, Rock."
Rock stopped smiling and went serious. "What's true?" Rocko was playing dumb. He knew that Dan knew he was beating around the bush.
Dan chuckled lightly. "I did quit drinking." Rocko watched Dan but Dan didn't seem at all mad or angered.
Rocko shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other and looked at his shoes. "I uh had heard rumors."
Dan smiled again. "This is Lanford of course you heard rumors. I haven't bought beer at the Buy N Bag in two months." Dan stuck his head back under the hood and reached over the engine with a wrench
Rocko chuckled uncomfortably. "Dan I came here to…well offer you a job."
Dan stopped what he was doing and looked up from under the hood at stared at his good friend. "I beg your pardon?"
Rocko smiled again. "I came here to offer you a job. Things are going great at the store, and well it's getting to be too much for me to manage. I got these lazy ass kids working for me and I need someone to help me manage them."
Dan continued to stare at his friend in utter disbelief. "You're serious."
Rocko unfolded his arms and relaxed. "I guess I am."
Dan unbent himself and stood straight, taking a rag and drying the oil from his hands and forearms. "I'm on the prison job." Dan said believing that he should finish dry walling the prison before he makes a new commitment.
Rocko shook his head. "I know, I know. And you always honor your commitments. That's partly the reason I want to hire you."
Dan took his hat off his head and wiped the sweat from his forward then put his hat back on his head. "Thanks for the offer…."
Rocko waved his hand. "Before you turn down the job, I want to tell you that the jobs yours when that prison is finished or before. Just please think about it before you turn it down."
Dan shook his head, "Yeah I will. Want anything to drink?"
"Whatever you got." Rocko said as he and Dan walked into the house, through the utility room and into the kitchen. Rocko pulled out a chair from the table and sat down. Dan handed him a Coke and sat down himself.
DJ came in and handed Jerry to Dan. "Xavier just called I'm going to the movies." Before DJ made it to the living room.
"DJ! I don't remember telling you could go to the movies." DJ stopped and turned around and locked eyes with his dad.
"That's because I didn't ask." DJ's attitude was fierce and typical of a fourteen year old.
Rocko watched as Dan held his baby son on his lap and seemed to take pleasure from this small fight. Dan continued, "Well you're still not going. There were all those movies you saw in St. Louis after all."
DJ glared at Dan and stormed off. Rocko leaned back in his chair, making himself at home. "I remember when my son was that age."
Dan smiled, and took a drink from his Coke. "The boy's grounded for a year and he doesn't even realize it."
"Can I see him?" Rocko asked, holding out his hands.
Dan put Jerry on the floor and Jerry walked into Rocko's hands. "It's amazing how much he looks like you."
