I stood among the crowd of folks all waiting for their people to get off the plane looking for my own people. Damn a lot of folks were milling around and it wasn't even possible to tell which flights people was getting off of. Good old Detroit Metro. It was my first time ever having to meet someone's plane. It wouldn't be the last and there would be plenty of times that folks would be coming to meet mine. I kept looking but I wasn't seeing nothing. I heard something though.
"Uncle Jimmy!"
It was the only warning I got before I was barreled into by a ten year old who'd been running flat out. She nearly knocked me over, the little scamp. I recovered quickly and picked her up.
"Hey there sweetheart," I said, "Where's your sister?"
"Theresa Ann McCloud!"
"I guess that would be her," I said recognizing the voice.
"Theresa, what have I told you about running off into crowds?" Lou scolded not even completely taking in the scene before her.
"Sorry Lou," Theresa said.
At that moment Lou did notice me.
"Jimmy, oh God I'm sorry," she said talking way too fast, "I was too worried to even notice you."
I put Theresa down and hugged Lou.
"How are you Lou?" I asked her and she just beamed a smile at me in answer.
I looked down to see the stroller she pushed.
"This must be Bobby," I said crouching down to him, "Hey there buddy."
He looked at me uncertainly and then at his mom who was smiling big and then he gave me a smile. I think he had about four or five teeth and that smile was damned hard to resist.
"You did bring your husband with you, didn't you?" I asked.
Lou laughed a little and I hadn't realized how much I had missed her laugh. I'm going to get off topic a bit and tell you that you need to hold stuff like that close. Life can take some strange and scary turns and we take far too much for granted. I knew at that moment I'd never take Lou's laughter for granted again.
"He's getting our bags," she answered me. I stood up and took Theresa's hand and then put my other arm around Lou's shoulders.
"I've missed you guys," I said.
"I see how it is," said a familiar voice behind me, "I do the heavy lifting and you abscond with my whole family."
"Kid," I said and nearly cried, "Put those damned bags down and get over here."
He stepped to me and I wrapped him in a hug I didn't care who saw. It had been far too long since I had seen this man and he meant too damned much to me to waste any time thinking about what others might think. I led them to my car and we drove back toward the city. Yeah the airport is called Detroit Metro but it's out in Romulus. We barely got clear of the parking lots when Kid piped up.
"So what's this surprise you have for me?"
You might guess now that I hadn't told him I was engaged. It was big news and while I was kind of feeling guilty that everyone knew before he did, it wasn't something I wanted to tell someone so important to me over the phone. It was different back then. I think you could almost get away with texting the whole proposal now and no one would bat an eye but back then there was still certain things you wanted to tell people face to face if it was possible. And I knew I didn't have too long to wait before he was here.
"Well," I said, "I guess I might's well tell you now since Joanie's at Emma's helping get some chow around and she's about going to beat you over the head with the ring when you see her."
"You finally did it," Kid said understanding fully, "A two year engagement isn't that bad, is it?"
"Two years dating," I said, "Two years engaged, I just hope the marriage lasts longer than two years."
Kid laughed, "I can't believe you're still insecure about her after all this time."
"What are you talking about?" Theresa wondered from the back seat where she sat with her sister who was holding Bobby.
"Joanie and I are getting married," I said.
"I already knew that," she said. The kid had more faith in me than I had in myself and she was only ten.
"Well, it wasn't official before and it is now," I explained.
"Has she calmed down any?" Lou asked.
"Not really," I admitted, "I think she's always been like this. I know how to calm her down when she's real upset."
Lou gave me a look I wasn't sure I was reading right since I was only glancing at her in the rear view and trying to keep my eyes on the road. I know Lou liked Joanie and they was friends and all but that look was like Lou didn't think Joanie was right for me. We was going to have to have a talk later.
"How's Ike doing?" Kid asked changing the subject. It wasn't a happy subject to change to but I think he knew what Lou was about to start saying and didn't think it all needed to come out in the car with Theresa and little Bobby right there. He was probably right about that too.
"I think he's still shaken and I think he and Annie have taken that kid to every specialist in Detroit and one all the way to Cleveland looking for someone to say that it can be fixed."
I saw Lou clutch Bobby a little closer to her, "I can't even imagine."
"Funny thing is," I said, "It's all the grownups that's fussing about it. Timmy doesn't even seem to notice, except when he wants or needs something. He can't ask for it and it frustrates him something awful. They found someone to teach them all sign language though so that's good. I think pretty soon they'll be able to know what that poor kid wants. They said eventually he'll be able to read lips too and maybe even learn to talk."
"That's got to be expensive," Kid said. "How are they managing with just Ike working at her dad's grocery?"
"You didn't hear?" I asked figuring that Bill would have been only too happy to toot his own horn. I needed to learn to never make assumptions about that guy. Kid shook his head and I related the story as I remembered the conversation I'd had with Bill Cody just a couple weeks after we all first found out about Timmy.
The two of us was sitting in my apartment with a couple bottles of Stroh's and Bill was asking me what I knew about Timmy and his condition.
"Not too much more than you do," I had told him, "He had that high fever for so long and somehow it caused some infection in his ears and they say he won't ever hear anything again."
"They get a second opinion?" Bill asked me.
"Yeah, and a third," I said, "There's some specialists they'd like to take him to but they're not sure how they'd pay for it."
"You think Ike would be okay with leaving the grocery?" Bill asked and there was something going on in his mind. Now you need to understand something about Bill Cody. At first glance he was a loudmouth pain in the ass that seemed to never take anything serious. But you didn't have to dig far to find a guy who was one of the best and most loyal friends you could ever find. The rest of it was just how he kept it all from bothering him. Bill cared almost too much about things and especially about his friends so joking and being a braggart was just how he dealt with seeing friends in hard times.
"I think he's looking for another job but they're roughly scarce as hen's teeth, at least ones that pay more."
"I know where there's a few openings but you got to know someone," he said, "And luckily I know someone. The Rouge is hiring and I know Dad'd vouch for any of you guys and especially if I tell him what's going on with Ike and Annie and little Timmy."
And Bill talked to his dad who called Ike and told him how to apply and that was that. It didn't take hardly any time at all and Ike was building Fords.
The conversation with Bill then turned toward his lack of luck at keeping a girl for very long and his not being able to figure out how they was resisting his many charms. Kid laughed out loud when I got to that part in the telling.
"Now that's Bill Cody for you," he said, "He is a darned good friend though."
"Couldn't ask for a better one," I agreed.
"So Ike's working at the Rouge," Kid said, "That's a good gig. Benefits and good pay and regular hours."
"Yeah," I said, "They can live like real people now. And they can do what they need to for that boy."
We got to Emma's where they'd be staying and Joanie ran out to meet us. I know she was really looking forward to seeing them again and to meeting Bobby. She hugged me and then Lou and Kid before bending down to Theresa.
"Look at you," she said, "I didn't think it was possible for you to get prettier but just look at you."
Theresa hugged Joanie tight. They used to be kind of close before Kid and Lou had to move and I think Theresa still really appreciated all the times Joanie took her for walks and got ice cream or just talked a bit.
"Did Uncle Jimmy give you a pretty ring?"
"He sure did," Joanie said showing the girl.
"Does this mean you're my Aunt Joanie now?"
"I'd like that a whole lot," Joanie said and I know it really touched her when Theresa gave her a big smile.
Joanie straightened and then made that silly half squeal, half coo sound that women make around babies.
"Oh Lou," she said, "He is the most adorable child! He really is."
Lou tried to hand Bobby over to Joanie but he started crying and grabbing for his mama.
"Robert James Cassidy," Lou said not really all that sternly, "What has gotten into you? I'm sorry Joanie; he's normally not like that."
"I'm sure he's just tired from the trip and kids this age start getting more scared of strangers," Joanie said and I know she would have liked to have gotten her hands on that baby but she really did understand. We'd both been in Psychology class and she was right, they call it 'stranger anxiety' and it hits right about the age little Bobby was at. Of course I was less concerned with Bobby's social development age at that point and much more interested in what Lou had said.
"Did you say Robert James?"
"Kid!" Lou half hollered in a tone that sounded so familiar from all their little spats when they was still back in high school. "I thought you told him our son's name."
"I did, didn't I, Jimmy?"
"You said Robert," I told him, "You never told me his middle name though."
The women headed toward the house with Lou only pausing to hand Bobby to his dad.
"You named him after me?" I asked.
"Yeah," he said, "I know you said that Jews don't normally name after people who are still alive but I wanted him to have something of you. Damn that sounded corny as hell. You're my brother, you know that, right?"
I nodded and knew that he was mine as well. They all were but it was different for me and Kid.
"I couldn't even think of naming him after my dad. I mean he was the sorriest excuse for a father aside from yours and besides his name was Horace. I mean really, I could not name my son Horace, not even for a middle name. James is a nice name. I think I would like it even if it weren't my brother's name."
"Dammit, Kid," I said, "There's a word Joanie and her mom use sometimes, verklempt. It means choked up. I think you're about to make me get all verklempt. I'm turning into a little girl with you home."
We decided to walk a ways with the little guy. He was walking real good and he'd even hold a couple of my fingers in his chubby little mitts while we walked.
"Lou's not happy I'm engaged, is she?"
"You need to take that up with her," he said, "I don't agree with her on this and I'm not going to tell you what she's thinking because it'll sound like I'm defending it. She cares about you though. You need to know that. It's just that she's a woman and so she doesn't know what it feels like when men are in love."
It's true what he said. There's that whole song about when a man loves a woman and it's so very true. When we are in love, really love, we'll walk through the depths of hell gladly for them. Being in love is really when you stop seeing your needs only and start seeing someone else's and seeing theirs as important as your own. I was starting to understand what Lou's objections were but she was like a sister to me and I didn't have too many of those, aside from the one who'd be my sister-in-law. I needed to clear the air with Lou somehow.
We headed back and Emma was pacing madly on the porch. She'd been fussing plenty over Lou and Theresa but we'd taken off before she could get her hands on Kid or that baby and she had too much welcoming within her and it had nowhere to go. She spotted us and sprinted off the porch and wrapped Kid in her arms. I stood there with Bobby's grip getting tighter on my fingers.
I looked down at the little one and took a chance that he'd been holding my hand so maybe he wouldn't scream bloody murder when I picked him up. He looked startled at first and then grabbed tight to my shirt and gave me that five tooth smile. Emma was on that kid like ants on a picnic blanket.
"Oh Kid," she said, "He looks just like you. Look at those blue eyes."
That about summed up the rest of dinner. Sam finally got to meet these people he'd only seen in pictures. It was our normal chaotic family dinner. And for once, we were all there. Annie and Ike with little Timmy and Buck and Carol with sweet little Lisa. Our family was whole and it felt good. I think I saw Emma nearly break down more than once. Al was just beaming at having the whole gang together. I think Al would have loved to have had kids and been the doting dad and granddad. We gave him that chance finally and I know it was a bit of what he thought he lost when Lucille died. As much as those of us with wives and fiancées made him mourn all the more for her knowing that he had children and family all the same took a bit of the sting out of it. I know he was still lonely and we all wished he could have found a nice woman to marry but at least he had family to look after him. Not that he was that old yet but as he got older at least he did have us to look after him.
After dinner Joanie had finally won Bobby over and everyone was asking Kid about the Army and things were such a whirl of activity I needed a chance to get out for a minute. I went out on the porch and sat with a bottle of beer.
"I'm surprised you haven't taken to drinking something stronger yet," Lou said coming out the door and sitting down next to me.
"I have my days," I said, "Most times though a bottle or two of good old Stroh's suits me just fine."
Then I thought about it and added, "And what makes you say something like that anyway?"
"You're here for everyone," she said, "Seeing Ike and Annie dealing with Timmy and then the way Joanie is."
"Okay, I've had enough of the way you've been acting since you found out about us being engaged," I said, "We've always been honest with each other. I've always loved you like a sister and I respect you too, Lou. So out with it, tell me what your sudden problem is with my fiancée."
"I don't have a problem with Joanie," she said, "I have a problem with her being your fiancée and I wouldn't have a problem with that except it means she'll be your wife."
"That's how it works," I said, "What's so wrong with marrying the woman I love?"
"Jimmy," Lou said and I could tell she was a little worried about what she was saying. "She's just so, well, so you know."
"No, I don't know," I said with my voice raising. Lou realized I was about to start ruining the festive atmosphere.
"Walk with me," she said pulling me off the porch and heading around the block.
"Lou," I said, "You need to explain what you meant by that remark."
"Joanie gets so worked up and you're always having to rescue her from her fears," she said.
"Everyone's got fears," I said defensively, "Shouldn't she have a man who loves her enough to help her with her problems?"
"I love Joanie, I really do," Lou said and I knew she did. "She's helped every one of us in one way or another and sometimes she is so much more together than any of the rest of us. But when she loses it she really loses it. You could get hurt someday."
"I can take care of her," I said, "I need to take care of her. I've never felt so good about myself. I love being her hero. I love the man she's made me see I can be. I don't know why you can't see how good she is for me!"
"Please understand," Lou said trying to calm me down, "I worry for you, Jimmy. I worry you'll get hurt. I worry sometime you won't be able to calm her. I worry about things I can't even explain. You've always been so good to me, like a big brother. I couldn't stand to see you get hurt."
"Joanie would never hurt me," I said softer but still kind of angry that she could think such a thing. "She would never hurt me, don't you know that?"
I turned away from her and started walking. I just couldn't even look at Lou anymore. But she was a stubborn gal and started following me grabbing at my arm. I tried to yank away from her.
"Jimmy, just listen," she pleaded with me, "She gave you a black eye once. God only knows what else she could do to you. I know you love her, Jimmy but I just don't think you should marry her."
"Well, I'm going to no matter what you think and you just need to get over this," I said, "I don't care what you have to tell yourself but she is going to be my wife and I can't have you scowling about it. I love her too much to not marry her."
Lou sighed, "I know you do and that's good and she's been good for you too. But I'm still going to worry. I just hope I never have to say I told you so."
"No matter what happens," I told her, "Don't ever say it even if the worst happens and you're tempted."
She smiled at me and I knew she never would. A good friend is one who doesn't say 'I told you so' even when they did.
This chapter fought me at first and then finally got going...Who wants to pinch Bobby's cheeks? Get in line! Isn't it nice to have the whole family back together for a little while?-J