Chapter 6
Sela gently woke to Jack giggling in his dad's bed. Smiling, she pulled her cell off the bedstand. Merrill rolled over. "What time is it?"
She smiled, turning to look at him. "Almost nine; how late did you and Aaron stay up?"
"It's was one scotch and out," he smiled.
She beamed at her husband. "Good boy," she said kissing him. "But I want to fix breakfast for the boys."
Merrill sniffed the air. "Then my love, you better get a move on. 'Cause I think a big ass NYC chef is already in the kitchen."
Sela kissed him again. "You know what coffee does to me," she smiled, getting out of bed.
"Yeah," he smiled. "The Energizer bunny can't hold a candle to you." Sela laughed, starting to put on lazy morning clothes.
A couple minutes later, she walked into the kitchen. Sean smiled at her. "I see you've learned the morning dress for the Hotchner family." Sela was wearing cotton lounge pants and a t-shirt; Sean was wearing the same thing.
"Yeah, it sorta rubs off," she smiled. "And they're right; I like be comfy this time of morning."
"Me too," he smiled back. "What we cooking for them boys?"
Sela smiled. "We owe Zach; I know his favorite breakfast is scramble eggs and bacon."
Sean pulled out two pounds of thawed bacon he had hid in the fridge. "Zach buys it in three packs at Sam's Club and puts it in the freezer. I'm in," he beamed.
"I bow to your excellence Chef Sean; but you do the bacon. I'm the scrambled egg queen," she smiled, opening the fridge.
"You rock," Sean smiled as they shared a fist bump. "I roll; let's get some people up." Starting breakfast, they discussed Zach's frugal shopping for the family at the mega discount grocery store.
"He's good," Sela smiled.
"That's my nephew," Sean smiled proudly. Sela laughed and shook her head, cracking eggs into one of Haley's mixing bowls.
Less than ten minutes later, the kitchen was full of people with Merrill pouring a cup of coffee for himself and Aaron cutting some grapefruit. Zach was pulling out place settings for the table as Caleigh got apple juice for the younger version of the Hotchner brothers.
"JP, your helping Uncle Sean and Sela on toast patrol," Zach said, gulping down his juice as he set the table.
"I'll help you Jack," Merrill smiled.
They all sat down to a wonderful breakfast filled with laughter and love. "So what's up today," Jack asked, shoveling in a forkful of eggs.
Sela and Merrill shared a look. Zach eyed Aaron. "Did you see that?"
Caleigh shook her head. "Geez Zach, I did and I'm not around a profiler all the time like you."
Sean laughed. "You're good Caleigh," he said, taking a bite of his toast.
Aaron eyed Merrill. "Give it up."
Merrill softly smiled. "Sela and I have never been to the DC area."
Zach looked at Jack. "Bro, I think our day just got planned out," he brightly smiled.
Jack giggled. "And we're going to walk them into the ground."
"Yuppppp," Zach smiled.
By five that afternoon, it was a tired crew that climbed into Aaron's SUV and Zach's truck at the Huntington Metro stop. As Zach followed Aaron, Merrill sitting in the backseat, took note. "This isn't the way home?"
"Nope it isn't," he smiled. "Our last DC tour is of the mansion that one David Rossi owns." He smiled at the couple in the backseat through his rearview mirror. "He's cooking dinner."
They pulled into Dave's driveway and got out. Mudg met Jack as he was getting out of Zach's truck, holding a stick. Zach laughed. "I think you have a play date bro," he smiled.
"An easy one," Jack said. "I can just stand still and throw the stick. My legs are tired." Sela and Merrill just shook their heads at the mansion.
Caleigh put her arm around Zach as they walked up the sidewalk. "He was a trooper today, but he's getting tired." Sela looked at her and nodded her head.
They walked into the mansion, taking off their jackets. The fall air was brisk that day. Zach took one sniff. "Be still my foolish heart; it's lasagna," he smiled.
They walked into the kitchen to see Dave pulling the cork out of a bottle of one his fine reds. Sean eyed the label. "A '79 Cabernet Sauvignon," he smiled. "You're good Big Dog."
Less than two hours later, with the adults enjoying a snifter of Dave's fine scotch, they heard Dave's gaming system shut down in the den. Aaron rubbed Dave's shoulder, sitting next to him. "My brother is right," he smiled. "You are good Big Dog. But I think someone just hit the wall." Zach walked into the living room, carrying Jack, starting to conk out on his shoulder.
"You folks enjoy finishing your drinks," he smiled. "Caleigh and I will get the munchkin home and in bed."
Caleigh hugged Dave. "The lasagna was amazing," she said, kissing his cheek. "See you Sunday," she smiled. "Love ya Uncle Dave."
Dave softly smiled at her. "Love you too sweetheart," kissing her cheek.
Caleigh and Zach moved to door. Somehow, through Jack's stupor of being tired, they got his jacket on while putting their own on. They waved to everyone in Dave's living room. "See you tomorrow morning," Caleigh smiled, as Zach headed out the door with Jack.
As Caleigh shut the door, Sela looked at Aaron. "I know; I'm not pushing," she smiled. "But those two are going to make you a very proud grandpa someday," she beamed.
Sean roared. "Oh I can't wait I see that." Aaron blushed his usual Hotchner red, as Dave laughed at him.
"Oh goody, more kids to spoil." Aaron just rolled his eyes at Dave. The group laughed more.
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They all slept in Saturday morning with everyone waking to a wrestling match on the futon with Sean and Jack. After another wonderful breakfast, it was a "guys" and "girls" day. Caleigh and Sela took off to meet Rachel at one of the suburban malls in the area to take advantage of the Thanksgiving sales. They all had a plan to pick up specific items for Christmas presents they knew wouldn't be picked over by the Black Friday crowds.
Sean helped Aaron winterize the house, getting the outside air conditioner unit covered for the winter snow and other little projects that Aaron wanted done.
As they finished another project, Sean looked at his brother. "I'm sorry about Beth Aaron." Aaron looked at him. "Zach told me; don't give him hell."
Aaron shook his head. "I won't; I supported her decision," he said, looking at Sean. "We still talk every now and then." He smiled. "And as 'Dear Abby' aka Dave told me after he quickly profiled the situation," he winked at Sean, who laughed, "Beth got me to move past Haley." Sean looked at him seriously. Aaron shook his head with a smile, rubbing his shoulder. "It's all good Sean, it really is. I learned with Beth to put the corner of my heart that will forever hold Haley exactly there," he smiled. "I'm learned to move on."
"And Beth," Sean asked.
Aaron slyly smiled. "Like I said, we still talk."
Sean rubbed his shoulder. "Don't push?" Aaron smiled at him.
Merrill headed out to the backyard with Zach and Jack to rake up the final leaves the big oak in the corner of the lot had finally dropped after the hard freeze the area had on Tuesday. As they finished bagging the last ones, Mike, Caleigh's brother, pulled his truck up to the curb. He pulled his chainsaw out of the back and walked up to meet them.
Zach happily introduced him to Merrill. Mike smiled at Jack. "Captain Merrill that gets us crappie filets?"
"He's da man," Jack replied. Merrill and Mike shook hands.
"What's up with the chain saw?"
Zach and Mike recounted the severe storm they had went through a couple months back. Mike pointed at the big oak. "That tree needs a bit of pruning of its dead branches."
Merrill nodded. "I noticed them." Mike put the chainsaw down and followed Zach into the garage to get the extension ladder. The two of them took it down from its hooks in the garage and carried to the oak. Aaron and Sean followed, as Mike extended the ladder.
"Who's doing the ladder work," Sean asked.
"DCFD," Zach smiled, introducing Sean to Mike. They shared a handshake with smiles. "He's used to ladders," as he and Mike secured the ladder against the trunk of the tree. He handed the chainsaw to Mike. "And using this," Zach smiled.
Mike quickly ascended the ladder, put in his ear plugs, set his safety glasses on his face and fired up the chain saw. Aaron pulled Jack out of the area, as Mike looked around. Zach gave him thumbs up, moving away with Sean and Merrill.
A bit later, Mike, Zach and Jack were headed to the compost site with the dead branches and bags of leaves in the back of Mike's truck.
Merrill eyed Aaron. "I hate to sound like my wife, but they seem to get along pretty well. Zach and Mike I mean," he smiled.
Sean beamed. "You noticed too?"
Aaron looked at the two of them. "Yes they do; so does Caleb, Caleigh's younger brother. He sits for Jack every once and a while so Zach can get a break and go out with Caleigh." Merrill and Sean shared a smile. "But come on guys; Zach has told you and I have as well."
"Don't push," Sean and Merrill said together, laughing.
Sean rubbed Aaron's shoulder. "We won't bro. What's up for dinner tonight?"
Aaron smiled. "Rumor has it that Zach is cooking pork chops on the grill since the weather is so nice. And Caleigh's family is joining us with Rachel and Caleigh backing him." Sean and Merrill shared a look. "I give up," Aaron said, shaking his head, turning towards the house. Sean and Merrill laughed again.
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Sela and Caleigh walked into the house to a total guy scene. Aaron and Merrill were sitting on the couch with their legs up on the coffee table, drinking a beer. Sean was in the recliner, doing the same. Zach and Jack were sprawled out on the floor. They all were watching a college football game. The two ladies looked at each other and rolled their eyes, heading for the kitchen as Zach and Jack reacted to a large tackle by a linebacker on a running back. "Boom," the brothers shouted. Aaron and Merrill shared a smile. The ladies just shook their heads.
With the Hotchner, Dobson and Graystone families sitting down to dinner with Zach's expertly cooked pork chops, with Caleigh, Rachel and Sela's sides, Jack looked around. "Where's Uncle Dave?"
"He's busy," Zach smiled with a wink at Caleigh and his dad.
"Bet I can venture a guess," Sean devilishly smiled, taking a bite of his chop.
Caleigh burrowed the Hotchner glare at him. "Unless it's rated PG, stuff it Uncle Sean."
Zach laughed at him. "Busted."
Sela looked at Zach with a smile. "Oh really?"
Caleigh and Zach laughed. "It's Saturday night," Zach smiled, winking at her.
Jack gave Caleigh a puzzled look. "It's Uncle Dave," Aaron, Zach and Caleigh laughed together.
Jack eyed his father. "Is that why Uncle Dave needs to see Father Jimmy on Sundays?" The group roared.
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Caleigh had gone home with her family the night before after sharing heartfelt hugs with Sean, Merrill and Sela. "You're welcome at the cabin any time Caleigh," Merrill smiled at her.
"I just may take you up on that," she smiled back.
Zach's turkey pot pie was a total hit Sunday night with the Dobson's and the Hotchner's. Dave smiled at Zach. "That, as always, was primo my boy."
"Thanks Uncle Dave," Zach smiled back.
"Yes it was Zach," Aaron smiled. "But its Sunday night," he said, eyeing Jack.
"Awww dad, come on."
"Buddy, it's a school day tomorrow."
"I wanna spend some more time with Sela and Merrill," he argued back.
"After you finish your homework and take a shower. It's back to the real world tomorrow with all of our schedules."
Jack eyed him. "Do I at least get dessert?"
Aaron smiled. "When your homework and shower are done; get moving." Jack left the table. "How 'bout you Zach?"
"I could use some time to finish an assignment for one of my classes," he admitted with a shrug.
"Go Zach," Sela smiled. "We've got this. Your studies are more important and goodness knows you've done you share of cooking this weekend. We've got the clean-up," she smiled.
Zach got up from the table, grabbing he and Jack's plate. "Make this one," he devilishly pointed at Dave, "do the dish washing Sela."
"Got it," she smiled. "Go."
The evening ended after polishing off the last of the pies. Dave said his good-byes, pulling Sela to his shoulder while shaking Merrill's hand. "It was wonderful to see you two again," he smiled. "Have a safe trip home."
"Thanks Dave," Sela smiled.
"We loved being here," Merrill smiled. "Thank you for opening your home to us as well."
Jack, in p.j.'s, powered into Dave for hug. "Good night Jack," he smiled, kissing his head.
"Night Uncle Dave; I love you," Jack said, hugging him.
"I love you too Champino," Dave beamed. Sean and the Dobson's smiled at the scene. He and Zach shared a hug as well. "And you?"
"I'm gonna help dad get the kiddo to bed and then head back to my homework," Zach smiled. "I've got five on the Dobson's trouncing the Hotchner brothers in Cribbage."
"No bet," Dave smiled.
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A/N: Sam's Club is a mega discount food store. However, to enjoy the savings, you must buy in mega quantities. Zach uses the Hotchner freezer quite well for that. ;) And extension ladder is well, a ladder in a ladder. It's two pieces of a ladder; the second that can be lifted and locked into place to make the ladder reach higher. A large linebacker tackle on a running back is American football.