Well there you have how my week went. We got better at our morning routine and eventually we were that normal TV family where everyone was sitting around the kitchen table in the morning eating their eggs and drinking their juice before grabbing their packed lunches and heading out the door with a kiss. Theresa was a smart cookie too. She didn't hardly need any help with her studies and she even in that first week brought home a 100% math test. We went over to visit Lou and the boys every day and she would always find a way to talk a little with Jesse.

There wasn't much change in Lou that week either and it was tough to see her like that. We'd sing to her and she'd respond just a little and then retreat again. I tried talking and everything but nothing really changed anything. We began Chanukkah and it was really nice having Theresa there to celebrate with us but then it was sort of bittersweet too because she should have been just visiting or something and not living on our couch because her family was all torn apart by that stupid war.

We got into the next week and one evening we got a call. I answered and it was Jesse on the other end.

"Is everything okay, Jesse?" I asked and I probably should have figured out why he was calling but my mind went right to the thought that something was wrong with Emma or the boys or maybe Lou or even Sarah Jean.

"Sure, everything's fine here," he said, "Could I talk to Theresa?"

His voice cracked a little like it had when it was still changing. I understood then and smiled.

"Sure thing."

I called Theresa to the phone and handed it to her then went to sit on the couch with Joanie letting the poor kid have some privacy while they talked.

"One of her friends from school?" Joanie asked as I settled in next to her.

"Jesse," I replied.

"Oh," she said but in that sing songy way that women get when something is getting really interesting. "So Jesse and Theresa sitting in a tree, huh?"

"Something like that," I said.

A couple minutes later Theresa came out into the living room and sort of cleared her throat. We looked up at her.

"Um, Jesse asked me to a movie tomorrow night," she said like it took all her courage to even say a thing about it, "I know it's a school night but it's the last week before Christmas and we aren't doing anything anyway. I won't fall behind. Can I go?"

"Who's driving you?" I asked knowing Jesse didn't have his license yet. He wasn't quite sixteen.

"He's going to come over and we're going to take the bus together," she said playing with the hem of her shirt.

"As long as you're home by ten I don't see a problem," I said looking to Joanie to see if there was something I was forgetting to ask or say. She was just smiling and I knew she was all ready to get giggly and girly and plan on how they could do Theresa's hair the next day. I guess it was all on me and I couldn't think of a single objection.

"Is he still waiting on the phone?" I asked, "Because if he is he'd probably appreciate you getting back to him with an answer."

"Oh, yeah he is," Theresa replied and ran off to the kitchen.

"That is so cute," Joanie said when she was sure Theresa was out of earshot. "I was worried you'd tell her no."

"Jesse's a good kid," I said, "And besides they'll be in public the whole time."

"They'll be in the dark for a lot of the time," she reminded me and I panicked a little.

"Well, maybe it will be a really good movie and he won't be distracted from it."

"Oh James, you are funny sometimes," Joanie laughed, "It's not always boys who get distracted from the screen."

"This is the attitude I get from the woman who wanted me to kill Dan Shapiro because he kissed her seventeen—nearly eighteen—year old sister?"

"That was very different," she said and somehow I think she even believed it.

"Yeah the difference is that Theresa is thirteen years old," I said starting to think that maybe I shouldn't have said yes. And then the thought that maybe I should drive the two little lovebirds to this date of theirs.

"I can see what you're thinking," Joanie said narrowing her eyes at me, "Don't you dare."

"What am I thinking?" I asked and I knew that she did know but some reason I felt the need to challenge her.

"You're thinking about chaperoning their date. Admit it."

Yeah she had me there. And I was trying to think of a defense for what I was planning but she gave me that look and I knew there wasn't one. Theresa was safe on a date with Jesse. He was a good guy and was still a little nervous around her. I knew full well nothing bad would happen but the responsibility I felt for her was a little overpowering. It's one thing to be the dad for real and the worry is there but it's different. With Theresa it wasn't only a responsibility I had to her but also that Lou and Kid both trusted me to keep her safe. If anything happened to that girl it wouldn't even be a matter of Lou or Kid forgiving me, I'd never forgive myself. I just sighed my defeat as Theresa came bounding into the living room with a huge smile and came over and kissed my cheek.

"Thanks Uncle Jimmy," she said and as much as I had wanted to take back my permission, there was no way I could after that. I looked over at Joanie who seemed very amused. I was not but then it was hard not to be swept a little into Theresa's excitement.

Later that night Joanie and I were reading like we did every night in bed before we turned out the light. I set the alarm and we put our books down and Joanie kissed me before we turned our lamps off. Joanie rolled over and I curled around her draping my arm over her side and nuzzled my face into her hair. It suddenly hit me how we hadn't been together since Theresa had come to stay with us. There had been so much emotion at first and then, well it just didn't happen. But right then I was really needing it to. I took my hand that had been resting over her side and on her stomach and slid it up under her pajama top. She gasped and moaned a little and I thought things were taking off rather nicely when her hand clamped down onto mine.

"We can't do this right now, James."

"Joanie, it's been so long."

"I'm not saying I don't want to, because I do, but Theresa is sleeping in the living room and that's not that far outside our door," she whispered.

"She's sleeping," I said, "It's not like she's three and going to come knocking on the door to ask for a glass of water."

"James, we just can't do this," Joanie said and her voice betrayed how badly she wanted to do it.

"We can be real quiet," I said kissing her neck. That worked. It usually did. She was powerless against neck kisses. We managed being really quiet and I'll admit that it's slightly less satisfying when you're constantly conscious of making too much noise and listening for sounds from the next room but it worked for right then and we fell asleep each feeling a little less frustrated.

The next day was a normal as anything day and we all got home and had some supper. Well, Joanie and I ate because poor Theresa was too nervous to eat very much. I know as her father figure at the time I should have protested that her supper would ultimately consist of movie theatre popcorn and jujubes. But at least she might eventually eat something. Jesse got there early but then the movie was really kind of early too. It was Doctor Zhivago which had just come out that week and it was a really long movie. Eventually Joanie and I went to see it too. I was a real good movie but over three hours long.

Jesse looked nervous like he was meeting some girl's daddy instead of just me. It kind of bothered me that he felt maybe we didn't have the same bond we used to have once he started liking Theresa. I pulled him inside and leaned to speak softly to him.

"Did we stop being friends without you telling me?"

He looked so uncertain at me.

"Look," I said, "I don't want anyone taking liberties with her. She's got enough going on right now. I figure if I can trust anyone to treat her with respect it's you. And you're not ready for any of that business either, trust me you're not."

"I'm kind of nervous, Jimmy," he admitted softly, "I've never been on a date before and she's so pretty. I don't want to mess it up."

"That girl's eyes are twinkling just for you right now," I assured him, "I don't think you could mess this up."

He looked a little better but I knew he was still nervous and that was fine. A nervous boy wouldn't be writing checks neither of their bodies ought to be cashing just then.

"I'm still here for you to come to if you need advice," I said, "I'll even keep an open mind about most things. You're a good guy, you really are. You just remember that and you'll be just fine and so will she."

Theresa finally emerged and I thought Jesse's eyes were going to pop out of his head. Joanie had curled her hair and tied it with a ribbon and she was wearing a nice dress. I found out later there was an argument over makeup that Joanie had won. I had to agree and if it had been brought to me I would have vetoed the use of makeup too. She was only thirteen. Theresa's argument had been that she was a month away from fourteen but I really didn't care. She wasn't going to wear makeup at fourteen either if it was my call. And it was my call until Lou was feeling better and could make those decisions herself. She was a pretty girl and the boy was somewhere past smitten with her without the makeup. I know that it can make a difference but the lack of it didn't make her less pretty and might serve as a reminder that she was younger and still quite innocent.

Jesse managed to squeak out how pretty she looked and I think the makeup battle was forgotten. I could also see the influence Emma'd had when Jesse took Theresa's coat from me and helped her into it. I smiled and I did feel a little better about the evening. Don't get me wrong I had no visions of Jesse taking her anywhere but the movies and I knew he'd behave himself but it wasn't about the specific guy in this case. It was the fact that there was a guy and that Theresa was going to be with him. I can't explain it better than that but being the one responsible for a kid does a number on your logic and reason.

The two of them left and about as soon as I closed the door behind them the panic set in. I had made this call all on my own and I started thinking what if Lou would have wanted me to do something different. It wasn't her fault or Theresa's that Lou had shattered like she had and I just didn't know what to do right then. I started to reach for my coat when I heard Joanie behind me.

"Really James," she said though it was really more of a coo, "You'd rather spend your night making two poor kids feel more nervous and awkward than they already do than to be here with me?"

I almost answered wrong because sometimes there are right and wrong answers. Now I didn't stand to get the look for answering wrong but when I turned around there was my gorgeous wife standing naked in the living room with a twinkle in her eye. The right answer came to me pretty easy then.

"Of course not, Joanie," I said, "I can't think of any place I'd rather be than here with you."

"Good answer," she told me, "Because last night only made me need this more."

Well while Jesse and Theresa were watching one of the finest epic movies of all time, a grand and sweeping saga with romantic subplots, Joanie and I were experiencing a romantic epic of our own. Oh to be that young and in love again.

We finally wore ourselves out and Joanie turned in early. I couldn't sleep with Theresa still out in the cold winter night. I knew she was in good hands although I also was hoping he was keeping those hands to himself. Still I needed to see that she was home safe. It was a little before ten when I heard hushed voices outside the door. A minute or two later and the door opened and in walked Theresa though she looked a little more like she was floating.

"Did you have a good time?" I asked although I already sort of knew the answer.

"Oh Uncle Jimmy it was wonderful," she said and I swear there were actual stars in her eyes. Really, I couldn't make something like that up. I went out in the kitchen and poured her a glass of milk and sat down across the table from her to hear all about it. It was obvious the girl wasn't going to get any sleep any time soon and one night of being up a little later than normal was not going to kill her.

"He is so sweet and charming," she began and I got back up and got out a plate of cold cuts and a loaf of bread to set in front of her. She hadn't eaten supper after all and she absentmindedly began assembling a sandwich as she spoke. "He held every door for me. He held my hand but didn't try anything. He said he really likes me and he told me over and over how pretty I looked."

"Sounds like a perfect first date."

"Oh it was," she sighed, "He even kissed me goodnight."

"He what?"

"Don't flip out, Uncle Jimmy," she said, "It's not like that. It was just a very sweet kiss. I think he was really nervous about it and I know I was. My hands were real sweaty and everything but it was just right. It only lasted a moment. Is a moment too short to know you're in love?"

I wanted to tell her it most certainly was but then I remember the first time I met Joanie and I had to be honest.

"No, it's not. Just be careful, alright little girl?"

I finally got Theresa off of her cloud enough to get to sleep and then I fell into bed myself. We only had one more day of school that week and then it would be Christmas Eve. Theresa and I were both dragging a little from being up later than we were used to but we made it through. If I thought Fridays were slow well, they had nothing on the last day before a holiday break. It did allow me to get a phone call in to Joanie.

"I don't see why you're reacting like this James."

"He kissed her Joanie," I said like that suddenly made it clearer, "On a first date, he kissed her."

"You kissed me on our first date," she reminded me, "And kept me out until all hours on a rooftop besides."

"You were eighteen," I told her, "An adult. And besides, the last thing I want her mixed up with is someone like I was."

"You were never a cad with me, not once. Even our first kiss was tender and innocent, like theirs probably was. However you might have been with other girls, you were never like that to me. Jesse sees Theresa as something different too."

"Maybe," I grumbled.

I had barely gotten off the phone with Joanie when Emma called. The woman never called me at work.

"Jimmy I am at my wit's end with these boys. Threatening them with Santa isn't even working. Is there anything you can think of?"

"I'll come get them after school," I said, "Unless I can get Joanie to drive over and grab them earlier. I'll call her. A change of scenery might do them some good and you need a break to spend some time with Sarah Jean."

"Thank you Jimmy," she said and I could hear the relief in her voice. I could not imagine how hard it must have been. Sarah Jean was only seven or so months old and then she was dealing with two little guys so upset by the turmoil in their lives they couldn't even be bribed into good behavior with Santa Claus. I called Joanie to tell her. I know I should have called beforehand and one day I knew that was going to bite me in the butt but then she was in a real good mood and so was I and we was both worried for those boys and the rest of the family so I knew it was probably okay and it was. Joanie even said she'd order some pizza for supper so the boys could have something fun and we wouldn't have to deal too much with a meal. She even went over and picked them up right then so they could make some cookies together. It's not that being in a different place was going to make them take less energy or be any less the little pistols they had been but Joanie was younger and wasn't taking care of an infant too. I told her I needed to go see Lou on my way home.

"You'll be home to light candles, won't you?"

"Of course I will," I assured her, "You just make those boys save me some cookies."

"I'll do you one better and make them decorate some just for you."

I did go over to see Lou after work. Rachel let me in and just nodded down the hall. I could hear a man's voice in there and wondered what was going on until I recognized it. Al must have taken a break from the garage or else closed up early, it being the day before Christmas Eve and all. He wasn't talking to her and I could hear that Jimmie Davis record churning out that same old tune too. Al was crooning along with it. I peeked in the door and almost went back to the living room. I wasn't sure about intruding on this moment. As much as Al had been a father to us guys, it had never occurred to me that he had been the only father figure that poor Lou had as well. She had to have needed one as bad as the rest of us. Theresa was young enough that we all filled in as uncles and even her brother-in-law raised her up. Lou, though, she had no one but that man and I don't think it hit me until right then that she was his only daughter. What I saw when I peeked in the door was Al sitting on the bed with Lou cradled in his lap like a child. He was rocking her and singing softly that sweet song. For the rest of us it was just a song, just a bunch of words we had sung so many times we didn't even register their meaning but he was feeling every one of them.

"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine," he sang softly stroking her hair and rocking her gently, "You make me happy when skies are grey."

I never thought before that day what we might've meant to that man. He showed us love and God knows we needed him but I don't think I realized before that maybe he needed us too. Maybe he had always wanted children and fate only ever allowed him our crazy, mixed-up bunch.

"You'll never know dear how much I love you," his voice grew pleading as if willing her to understand the truth of the words, "Please don't take my sunshine away."

He sang the last as if begging her to come back to us. I hung back in the doorway and watched as her arms tightened around him and her face turned to his chest. She didn't speak and there was none of the hitching, uneven breathing that usually accompanies crying but her tears fell all the same. So did his. I had never seen Al cry. I had seen him emotional and I had seen sadness in him and a longing for people and times that were long gone but never had I seen him cry. I knew then he was just missing his little girl that much. I was still thinking I should head back into the living room and sit for a cup of coffee with Rachel when he spoke to me.

"You coming in, Jimmy?"

His voice was soft and ragged with his tears and emotion.

"I didn't want to intrude," I said stepping into the room.

"Family ain't an intrusion at a time like this. The more of it she has, hell the more of it we all have, the better. You ain't seeing nothing you ain't feeling too."

I nodded at the truth there then walked over and took Lou from him and set her back in her chair. Al stood up and blinked a few times drawing in a deep breath to collect himself.

"Well, I guess I'd better go check on the missus."

I just watched him go and then sat on the bed across from Lou and took her hands in mine.

"Hey beautiful," I said, "You know you really are too. I've always thought so. The first time I saw you I thought how beautiful your big dark eyes were and how your smile just lit your whole face. Of course Kid thought the same thing so I backed off. I think it worked out better that way. I was a real jerk to girls back then and Kid never had it in him to be like that."

I studied her for any sign of comprehension. There was none but I knew she was in there. I just knew it the way I knew Kid was still alive and fighting to get back to us.

"You always deserved a man like Kid and a father like Al and maybe a brother like me. God I hope I've been good at least at that. I try, Lou, I really do and I love you. You should know that. It's not like how Kid loves you but I love you all the same."

I paused and watched her motionless face for a moment.

"Do you know what tomorrow is, Lou?" I asked, "It's Christmas Eve. Your boys are so excited they are driving Emma to distraction. She couldn't even bribe them with Santa. Joanie's baking cookies with them now. I know they'll make some for you too."

I thought I saw a flicker of understanding in her eyes but it never made it to the rest of her face.

"I know you don't want to leave where you are," I said, "I know it feels good living inside where you can feel him the strongest. But I'm living out here and I can feel him too. He's out there Lou. He is. He's trying to come home and he knows we love him and he can feel that. You don't have to shut everything else out to feel him. We all need you to come back to us Lou. Those boys want nothing more for Christmas than their mama and I have no business raising a teenage girl. She went on her first date last night and I have no idea what I was thinking or if I did the right thing. We all love him and we all miss him and we all need to feel that he's still there. We can help and we can support you through this. God, Lou I know how bad this hurts. I do. He's my brother. He saved my life. Come back to us."

Whatever I had seen in her eyes was gone but she squeezed my hands tighter. I kissed her forehead and got up and headed for home where her children and her sister were baking cookies with my wife and getting ready to light the menorah.

It was a nice evening and the boys weren't too bad. Of course we all had more time and energy to spend with them. The next day was Christmas Eve and I loaded those boys into the car. I pulled up to Emma's and I saw her in the doorway with Sarah Jean on her hip. I looked at her door and then made a decision and headed next door to Al's. I was aware that Emma had handed Sarah Jean off to Jesse.

"Jimmy you are not taking those boys over there."

"It's the right thing to do Emma," I said, "I should have done it sooner."

I bent down and hoisted a boy on each of my hips and headed up the steps to Al's porch. Bobby was kind enough to ring the doorbell for me and Rachel answered. Her face lit when she saw those boys. They were about the cutest little guys ever and really they weren't bad kids. Normal boys with a built in partner in crime was all and they had the added bonus of being in a very upsetting situation. Rachel backed up and let me walk in. I headed down the hall and then stopped. These boys weren't prepared for what they'd see. I crouched down and still kept my arms around them.

"Do you know why I brought you here?"

They shook their heads.

"Your mama's here," I said, "She's not feeling so good so we have to be a little quiet but I know she'll want to see you. Do you still have that bag of cookies, Bobby?"

He held up the brown paper sack with the cookies they had decorated for her.

"Then let's go in," I said and took their hands and led them the rest of the way down the hall. We walked in and Lou was sitting in her seat with the record playing. She swayed back and forth a little in time to the music but made no other motion. The boys were torn. They wanted to run to their mama but then I think they were also afraid of what they were seeing. I crossed over to Lou.

"Good morning beautiful," I said trying to sound bright and cheery, "Happy Christmas Eve. I brought some special visitors today. They needed to see you and it's been far too long."

I looked up at the boys and waved for them to come to me where I was crouched next to the chair. Bobby walked over first and Jack followed his big brother.

"See Lou, I brought your babies to you." I turned to the boys. "Say hi to your mom, boys."

Bobby once again took the lead.

"Mama, look at the cookies we made," he said getting them out of the bag, "Aunt Joanie said they're pretty. Look, Mama, we made 'em just for you."

He looked at me helplessly, "Can I hug Mama, Uncle Jimmy?"

I nodded and he threw his arms around her, "I love you Mama."

Jack took his brother's lead as he did at nearly everything in his life and hugged Lou tight and then it happened. First I saw the tears fall and then I heard the hitching breath and then she moved her arms around her boys and hugged them back.

"Let me see those cookies you two made," she whispered. The boys were only too happy to oblige her and soon they were rattling on about everything from how pretty Emma's Christmas tree was to how smelly Sarah Jean's diapers were. I backed out and went to the living room.

"Is everything okay in there?" Rachel asked when she saw me and the tears I hadn't even been aware I was shedding.

"Oh it's just about perfect in there, Rachel," I told her, "I should've thought of that sooner. The only people on this earth she loves as much as Kid are those two little guys."

We sat and talked for a bit and it was decided more by Rachel than anyone else that the boys should still stay with Emma until Lou was feeling her full strength and of course I wasn't going to give up Theresa until I knew Lou was on her feet and living on her own again. I wasn't going to see anyone take that child's girlhood from her. The boys had a nice visit and were in a much better mood when I took them to Emma's. I reminded them Santa was making his trip that night so they'd better behave themselves and they promised.

I got home and told the girls about what had happened.

"That was a bold move, James," Joanie said with some pride in me.

"I'm kind of shocked it worked," I admitted.

We had a quiet Christmas Eve lighting candles and sitting and watching some TV. The next morning we rounded up our presents for heading over to Emma's. The mood was so much lighter though Theresa was in knots knowing that she'd see Jesse there. We got over to Emma's and Al and Rachel were there and so were Buck and Carol with their little ones. Ike and Annie were there with their little ones since they had spent Christmas Eve with their other families. Noah was there with Michael but not Rosemary. That struck me as strange since she couldn't have been on a march somewhere on Christmas day but it was good to see Noah and Michael was such a beautiful child everyone just fussed all over him. Billy and Sherry were in Midland spending the day with her parents. I looked around for Lou but she was nowhere to be seen. Al sidled up next to me.

"She said she wasn't feeling up to so many people just yet," he explained, "I told her we'd bring her some food and get the boys over there to see her after a while. It's still going to take some time, son."

We all set to opening presents and the general chaos that erupts when the kids know that Santa has come and once that mad scene died down we dug into some cinnamon rolls that Emma had made for us. I don't think anyone but me noticed her at first but I spotted her slipping in the front door. She was so thin and frail I wondered how she had made the walk all the way from next door. I went over to her while everyone else was occupied with eating those wonderful rolls and the kids were showing off their new toys.

"Merry Christmas, stranger," I said, "And welcome back."

She smiled and wrapped her arms around me.

"Merry Christmas yourself," she said, "And for the record you're a damned good big brother."

I quickly realized that the house had gone silent and everyone was looking at us and smiling. Timmy clapped his hands to get our attention and then he signed something. We all looked to Ike who looked about ready to laugh as he translated. I swear to God this is true.

"God bless us, everyone," he said.

Okay...I couldn't resist that last part...I mean how can we not see Tiny Tim in little Timmy McSwain? So yeah this chapter got all kinds of long on me and I really didn't mean for that to happen but I needed to get Lou out of her funk...a few writer pals were actually suggesting I put a lampshade on her head to make her more fun...I really needed to get through all of this and for you K, sweet young love...-J