Chapter 35
The Seventh Year: Fall 2011 to Fall 2012
Just after the New Year AJ and Mac once again added to their family. Andrea became their eleventh child.
Andrea, (11) also known as "Andi," is a playful girl with a desire for a family. Andi is an animal lover. She also loves reading and always has a book going. Sports and art are also activities that bring a smile to Andi's face. Andi wants a mother and a father and would like to share her life with siblings. Her top "wish list" item is that she wants to be included, not feeling left out or forgotten. Andi will blossom in a forever family that provides structure, patience, and unconditional love.
Francesca announced that she was finally expecting. The doctor had told her it was twins and she cheerfully called her father to blame him for this since he was a twin himself. AJ laughed and gladly took the blame.
Harm married a beautiful blond with green eyes, named Bethany. They had met in rehab and were a wonderful support system for each other. As part of their program not to make any drastic changes in their first year of sobriety, they decided to wait until that one year anniversary before trying to have a child.
The Eighth Year: Fall 2012 to Fall 2013
The Rabb's anniversary passed and three months later came the announcement that they were expecting. Everyone was very excited for them. However, their sobriety was sorely tested when a month later Bethany miscarried. Two more miscarriages before the end of the year had them both falling off the wagon. After a night of heavy drinking for both of them, Bethany was driving them home when she wrapped the car around a lamppost. She was killed instantly and Harm spent the next two months in the hospital recovering. He left the Navy and returned to the States with no plans or, it seemed, any ambitions either.
Bud's law firm was doing very well. He attributed it all to his fantastic receptionist, a blonde beauty named Harriett Sims-Roberts. She, of course, told everyone that it was due to the legal skill of her handsome husband.
Mike and Jen Roberts became parents of another son and named him after Mike and Bud's father who had died earlier in the year.
Three of the first five of the Chegwidden children; Emily age 18, Ethan age 17, and the very bright Esme who was only 16 all graduated from high school. The girls were both going to start college in the fall. Emily was going to become a lawyer, and Esme an architect. Ethan, on the other hand, had decided to go into the Navy, even in the face of all the teasing from his mom, the Marine General!
With three of their eleven gone from the house, AJ and Mac couldn't resist adding one more to the family making an even dozen. Alaina joined the Chegwidden family.
Alaina (13) is a delightful child whose excitement and glee at the world becomes contagious. Her adoptive family must be patient, which will be rewarded for she has potential. Alaina struggles with ways to seek attention, and at time feels as though she can never get enough.
Francesca's twins were born healthy and happy and since she'd gotten one of each on the first try, she told her Papa there would be no more grandchildren. Baby Alberto and Marcella would be her only children.
As the year drew to a close, Bud got a call late one night to come and get his buddy, Harm from a bar. Even though he was drunk, he had just enough sense not to drive especially after what had happened to Bethany. Bud took him home, let him sleep it off, and then in the morning, put his foot down! If Harm would check into a rehab center Bud would take him into his law firm when he got out on the condition that Harm stay sober. That very afternoon Harm entered rehab.
To be continued….