You couldn't find a man happier than John Walton, when he looked at his family it was with pride and wonder. He had raised seven children and was grandfather to nineteen and had even held a great granddaughter.
They had come through the Depression and World Wars. There had been births, deaths, weddings. They had faced everything together – good and bad, expected and unexpected. His children had kept his life interesting.
His life was most definitely complete he thought, as he looked at the family sitting across two long dinner tables. It had been a long time since they could squeeze everyone on to two benches. They just about managed to get everyone in the kitchen at the same time. Summertime gatherings were easier – picnics in the garden, lying around on the grass with tables of finger foods. When Ben had suggested building a second dining table it was an obvious yes from the whole family, no more nearly falling off benches and adding chairs to squeeze in as many as possible.
His two eldest boys sat at the tops of the two tables. John Boy and Jason's relationship as children always seem to be the younger trying to catch and prove himself to the elder. Though as they grew they began to view each other as best friends; he knew they spoke of things that they didn't tell anyone else – hopes and dream of the future, how they'd be a famous writer and musician one day. They were his creative ones. He wasn't sure where they had gotten their talent of words and music, but they were both determined to follow their hearts. And how many men could say that one son had written a film and the other wrote the music for it?
John Boy. His first born. His namesake. He'd always be that dreamy eyed little boy (who had a cute little squint until he was ten and got glasses). The responsible eldest son who would do anything for his brothers and sisters. Or for anyone really. He took risks and chances, and was the son who had to learn the most for himself – maybe that's why the other boys watched him so closely. So they knew how not to approach tasks. John Boy was always the one he knew would leave home. His head was so full of stories of far off places and his scholarship to Boatwright helped him to get there.
Maybe he was biased, but John believed no one could write like his John Boy. He could make the Mountain and the family come alive with his words. His heart would always belong to Walton's Mountain but his home was firmly in the big city of New York now. It was where he'd met Janet and where they had chosen to raise their twins.
Janet. She was good for John Boy. For a while he didn't think his son would ever settle down – he could be rather flighty when it came to girls. As a boy he seemed to have a different crush every week. John knew Janet was different when she was mentioned in numerous letters and phone calls, and then asked to join them for Thanksgiving. She made John Boy see that there was more to life than writing.
Johnny and Liv. You'd be hard pressed to find a male and female pair that were more alike in looks and personality. Two peas in a pod from their fair hair to their blue eyes. Liv was a little louder than Johnny, but only because she had a habit of answering for both of them. Both were bookworms, a love of books inherited from their father. They were city children, and were in awe of the Mountain when they visited. And John loved that wonder that passed over their faces when they saw the animals and birds.
The two of them sat now opposite each other, having a silent staring match, not paying much attention to the goings on of the kitchen around them. Johnny and Liv were what everyone called the 'Middle Twins'. The 'Bigs' and the 'Babies' made-up half of Jason's brood.
Jason. His optimist. As a child he always had a smile on his face, and if something didn't go to plan he was there saying how it could always be worse. He was mischievous as a boy, trying to escape the shadow of the well-behaved John Boy John often thought. Never badly enough behaved to warrant punishment but simple jokes and tricks were common, until he got his harmonica and suddenly his world revolved around music. John was sorry he didn't realise his passion was so strong, it was the only time he could ever think that he argued with his good-natured son. He'd admit now he was wrong. Jason had carved a life out of music so that fighting for his Kleinberg scholarship was worth it.
He'd expected Jason to be the first of his children to settle down, but for years, like John Boy his music was his priority. John completely believed him the day he introduced them to Sergeant Hazelton and announced he'd marry her some day. And he was quite glad that Toni was nothing like his other girlfriends. They had their almost baseball team of eight, mostly red heads, ensuring the Walton name wouldn't go anywhere anytime soon. A family band they could have been from eldest to youngest they were all musical gifted in some shape or form – what else could you expect with their parents.
Tyler was his daddy's double in looks, though not personality, he was louder, more rough and tumble. He held the belief that he could do anything and was willing to try anything. He and Charlie were more like twins than cousins. When the pair were together no one was safe. As boys their pockets were checked for frogs and snakes and spiders; nothing to cause a scare. Tyler loved the piano and took every bit of advice his daddy offered on composition. He was another one determined to make a career from music.
Jason junior had the personality of his father and John would have to say if he had to pick a favourite grandson Jay probably snuck ahead of the rest. He was the first to show an interest in the mill and had begged to join the family business as soon as he was old enough. John could see his father's harmonica sticking out of his shirt pocket. It was never far from his hand.
On one side of him his girlfriend sat, he had told John only a few days before that he was planning to propose and had begged his grandfather not to tell anyone. The other side was glued to Sophia. They were the closest pair of siblings. The only two dark haired grandchildren in a family of red and fair.
Both Jasons had prayed each night for a girl and Sophia was their pet. From her grand appearance at John Boy's wedding, you always knew when she was in the room. She was a perfectionist and hated saying no to things. Two things that were not a good combination. She was the voice of reason within the family; able to logically view both sides of a situation and offer a fair opinion. She loved music and was able to turn her hand to any instrument and genre though her favourite instruments were the piano and violin.
Laurie was the one who'd be famous, if you asked John. The only one in her family who hadn't taken up an instrument she claimed music lay in her feet. She was a dancer. Ballet and tap were her favourites. She had wanted to be a Rockette since seeing them on a visit to New York. She was a giggler, she liked to make people laugh; a regular class clown her parents were often called to school in to speak about her behaviour. But everyone loved Laurie and nothing made her happier than to have an audience.
Laurie was currently pouring drinks for the little twins. The little twins were a surprise. Laurie was the last was what her parents said after she was born. She was always supposed to be the youngest. A sister for Sophia and the family was complete. John remembered saying that too. After Ben. And then Jim Bob. And then Elizabeth.
It seemed Jason and Toni followed a similar pattern. Gene and Georgie were last until Sophia and then Laurie.
But then came Jackie and Junie. There were four years between them and the next youngest.
They were outdoorsy children. They loved climbing trees and getting lucky in the pond. Jackie loved animals and wanted to be a zookeeper. Max week the dog was his best friend. Jackie was the quieter one. You could lose him very easily; which worked in his favour as he attempted to catch and tame the wild of Walton's Mountain.
Junie was always a cuddly child. She reminded John a lot of a little Elizabeth, always wanting to be curled up on his lap or hanging off Livy's arm. She tried to be loud. Maybe it was from being the youngest of eight, but she always wanted her voice to be heard. And she normally achieved it. She sang wherever she went, you'd hear her before you saw her coming.
Opposite the little twins were the big twins.
Identical in looks was where the similarities stopped. Gene was troublesome. Georgie was a rule follower.
Gene tested limits; if you were to ask his parents they would tell you he was responsible for all their grey hairs. He wasn't a bad young man. Just difficult. He liked an argument and had a sense of standing up for what was right, which sometimes got him involved in a fight. And he never thought his actions through.
Georgie liked routine. He liked rules and organisation. He was a guitar player – strictly country, all that classical composing of Tyler's required too much thinking. He could just play and the words and music came to him. Georgie could keep any secret and he had to – the number of holes he had pulled his twin out of.
Georgie had little Joy beside him, and every so often he poked her back, trying to make the little smile that was normally on her face appear. She hadn't been her cheery self the past few days. Joy was her mother's daughter with red hair, freckles and big brown eyes. So much that Drew said he doubted she was his daughter sometimes. Joy never seemed to know what to do, one minute she'd be sitting perfectly normal the next she'd have her head on the floor and legs over the back of the chair, wanting to see how long till she got dizzy.
Ginny was on Joy's other side, after being begged to sit there, along with baby Amelia in the highchair behind her. Virginia. His oldest granddaughter. He had so many memories of her as a baby, he'd had so much time with her during those war years. The happy little girl who'd grown into a sweet young lady. She was a bright thing; her brain was good with figures, and she'd decided to study engineering at the University of Virginia. The look on Ben's face was of complete surprise when she'd announced that. But Ginny was a Walton; she didn't give up. She was the first of her generation to get married.
When John Curtis had brought his friend Philip home one weekend it had only taken minutes before the pair were smitten. And within the year they were married with little Amelia on the way.
John Curtis was his eldest boy. John had to admit the boy could do no wrong in his eyes. He found it hard to believe that the little boy was approaching his thirtieth birthday. How the years had went by so quickly. Always full of questions and a happy go lucky attitude. He had followed in his Mother's footsteps and had completed medical school. You could trust John Curtis with your life. He was a good cousin and brother, always there to offer advice and include the younger ones.
He had always thought of him and Ginny as the big ones. There was a large enough gap between them and then the rest who all seemed to appear at once. For about five years it seemed there was always a newborn Walton to be held.
Katie was her mother's daughter. A tomboy. As soon as she had the words she demanded trousers and no dresses. She was outspoken and direct and as stubborn as a mule. She had a good heart and would do anything for anyone. She had decided she wanted to be a nurse when she was very young and she was good at it. She and her brother were a good team.
Just as there was no questioning Katie was Mary Ellen's daughter it was the same for Susan and Erin. She was pretty and she knew it. At times rather vain until she came back to earth with a thump. 'Stereotypically pretty" Laurie once said (which earned her a black eye from a baseball) with long blonde hair and blue eyes. Susan was sweet. She always had been. Susie didn't really know what she wanted in life; but she was still young. It was hard being surrounded by family who acted like they knew everything.
Katie and Susan, for being so different, were best friends. Just like their mothers. They had gone through the period of despising each other and being in constant competition, to having a close bond.
Which Amanda was sometimes a little jealous of. But Amanda was a free spirit. She wanted to travel the world and as a child she said she'd discover new countries. Amanda was scatterbrained, she never knew quite what was going on and sensible Sophia often took the job of organising her cousin's life.
Peter was the middle of the Northridge children and John hated saying it but he felt the least like a Walton. Peter looked and acted like his father. They'd realised early on that he would talk anyone round to make sure he could get his own way. Peter wanted to be the best and didn't care what he had to do to get there. No matter how many times he was taken down a leg it never lasted.
John had once heard Jay (who couldn't say boo to a goose) claim he couldn't get tired of punching him. Recently his grandson had felt a stranger to him – going off to college in Richmond and rarely visiting home.
Charlie was just like Ben. The most hot headed of the children. John had lost count of how often Ben had asked for advice on his son, and all he could think was how Ben would get into similar scrapes as a boy. He was a born salesman and had a very likeable personality. He and Tyler were the best of friends. When people thought of the young Walton boys Tyler and Charlie were always paired together.
Young Clay was another Jim Bob. Head in the clouds. Anything on wheels or with wings. His idol was his uncle and the minute he turned eighteen he followed in his footsteps to join the air corp. much to Mary Ellen's horror. She hated the idea of him flying but knew there was no stopping him. Clay may have been a quiet sort, but he knew his own mind and didn't give up easily.
John looked at his daughters; in his mind they were still the babies he held in his arms though it had been many years. They had grown and matured into fine women – strong and kindhearted.
Jonesy was good for Mary Ellen, for a while after Curt she had lost her spark, but he had brought it back. His easy-going nature was just what Mary Ellen needed. And he had loved John Curtis as his son. Which was all anyone could want.
Drew had been part of the family since he was a teenager and John had enjoyed watching the boy grow. For being young he and Elizabeth had been through their share of tough times but came through stronger. He had willingly become Ben's partner in the mill and John was glad the young man was able to make Ben think before jumping into any deals.
And then the girls he had taken in as daughters. He had to say Ben and Jason couldn't have picked more different wives – it made him wonder how they'd ever argued over the same girl as boys. Cindy was the calming touch that hot headed Ben needed and Toni gave Jason the confidence to try.
Jim Bob was the last to sit, apologising for his usual lateness, and as he did the family joined hands and looked towards the tops of the tables.
"John Boy?" Olivia said, waiting for her son to say the blessing. He nodded.
"Father. We thank you for the food on this table. Thank you for keeping our family safe and look after those of us who have already joined you. Grandpa. Grandma. And Daddy. Cause I know he got up there too." His voice broke and little Olivia dropped her brother's hand to move into her daddy's lap.
"Grandpa would say don't cry," she said, putting her arms around his neck.
"We had him for 70 years. More than some people get," Erin said.
"I bet he's up there watching us now," Ben said.
"Blubbering like babies," Elizabeth sniffed.
"I'm allowed to cry. I'm still a baby," Joy said.
"But not on my shirt please," Georgie said, pushing her away jokingly. That only made her snuggle closer to her older cousin, who wrapped his arm around her and kissed her ginger hair.
"I don't know if I've any tears left," Amanda said.
"Let's try and think of happy memories," Mary Ellen said.
"Your Daddy loved you all so much. He was so proud of all of you," Olivia said.
Sophia patted Jay's leg and he looked at her.
"Tell them," She whispered.
"Soph," he started.
"You don't I will," she interrupted. She wanted something good to be said to cheer everyone up. He nodded and cleared his throat.
"I told Grandpa something just before…" Jay spoke just loudly enough for everyone to hear. "Emma and I are getting married."
That changed the somber mood in the kitchen to one of joy. Cousins and aunts and siblings jumped up to hug the pair and John Walton smiled.
He could go now.