Chapter 16: Family Visits
Robin's parents came from Sweeden to spend time with her and her family. They were going to spend about a month with them. Matt and Robin's place would be pretty crowded with Jesse there too. Jesse debated if he would just go back to the cabin for the month, but he was worried about getting snowed in. His mobility was improving but was not sure how it would be in deep snow. Matt convinced Jesse to go spend some time with Cody in Yellowstone. Jesse had not been up there and had not spent much time with Cody since he left for college. Then he could come back and spend the winter with them, and he could help with Kelly and Jasper. Jesse decided Matt was right and made plans with Cody to stay with him for the duration of Robin's parents' visit. Then he could find out why his son chose Yellowstone over Tahoe. Why Cody passed on an opportunity to become a ranger.
Cody went to the airport in Bozeman Montana to pick Jesse up. Cody met Jesse at the gate. "Dad it is so good to see you. Welcome, to Montana," Cody gave Jesse a big hug. "Let me take that." Cody took Jesse's Carry-on bag and Jesse was walking with a cane. "The airport is not real big, but I can still see if we can get you a wheelchair."
Jesse gave him a look. "I can walk."
"Okay, let's get the rest of your bags," Cody said as they walked to baggage claim. Once they picked up the bags they walked to Cody's truck. Jesse gets in the truck and winces from the pain. Cody puts his bags in the back and gets into the driver's seat. "Lizzie is making us some dinner for tonight."
"Sounds great son," Jesse said.
"Dad, I am glad you came out here. Have you ever been to Yellowstone before?" Cody asked.
"I have never been," Jesse stated as he staired out the window.
"Well, I hope you see why I have fallen in love with this place," Cody said. Jesse stayed quiet. Cody could not figure out what was eating his dad. "I have a one bedroom apartment but was able to borrow a single bed from one of the open apartments. We will have to share a room, but we can have our own beds."
"So where will Lizzie stay," Jesse asked with a little cold voice.
"She will stay at her apartment," Cody commented.
"You don't live together?" Jesse was surprised.
"Ah… well sometimes she stays with me, depending on our schedules. But we don't live together full time. When I moved into my apartment. I told her to make it ours. It's where we will live when we get married," Cody was not quite sure how his dad was going to respond to what he said.
"I see," Jesse said with displeasure.
"Dad, I love Lizzie very much. We are getting married in five months." Cody took a deep breath. "I know you are bit old fashion about things, but it is nearly 2000 and things are different now. Most of my friends are living together with no intension of getting married. Or sleep with someone they barely know. Neither are for me. I dated with the intention of looking for my future spouse. I found that with Lizzie. Yes, we are sleeping together, and she stays at my apartment several days a week. Dad, she makes me very happy." Jesse just stared out the window and would not say a word, "Dad, I hope you don't judge Lizzie by what I said. You can take whatever you are feeling and push them on me."
"I hear what you are saying, son. You live in a world that is different than the world I grew up in. I am disappointed in the choices you have made, but they were your choices," Jesse took deep breath. "I am looking forward to getting to know Lizzie better and getting better understanding of what draws you here, especially since you had a chance at the job you have always wanted."
"Dad, thank you for giving us a chance. As far as the job is concerned, I have just started my career. I am still learning about being a good ranger and getting my skills to be a better chopper pilot. I want to get my skills up before becoming a ranger. Life in Tahoe will be different than what we have here. I look forward to those days, but I love what we have here now. Lizzie loves her job here and we have many friends that have become like family."
"Friends are not the same as blood," Jesse said.
"In some ways it is correct. But my generation. Friends, sometimes you have a stronger bond than your family. It is the family you choose than the ones you were born into," Cody remarked.
They drove into the park through the Mammoth Spring entrance, and they drove up to the apartments where the staff lives. It is lightly snowing. "Here we are."
Jesse looked around, "This is where you live?"
"Yes, they are not bad on the inside. They have been slowly updating the inside of the apartments. It is a modest apartment building. The two men get out of Cody's truck. He gets his dad's bags and brings them inside. Lizzie met Cody and Jesse at the door.
She gave Jesse a hug, "Mr. Hawkes it is so good to see you again."
"It is good to see you too Lizzie, we are going to be family in five months as my son pointed out to me. You can call me dad or Jesse."
"Okay, dad." Lizzie said. Lizzie took one of the bags and they went up to the apartment. "Dinner will be ready in twenty minutes if you like to get settled."
"Welcome to my home," Cody said.
They all sat down and had a nice dinner together. Once they were done Cody and Lizzie cleaned up the table and the dishes. Jesse had gone to his room and grabbed his back pack. He sat down in a chair. Cody and Lizzie sat down on the couch. "I have a few things for the two of you." He pulled out some papers. "These are pictures Kelly drew and colored."
"Cute, it even says Love You Uncle Toad," Lizzie giggled.
"Matt helped her with that," Jesse said.
"I am not surprised," Cody said.
"Here are some pictures of the baby," Jesse handed Cody a couple of envelopes of pictures.
"It's about time," Cody took the pictures and he and Lizzie started going through them.
"He is a sweet little baby, Kelly is very good with him," Jesse said. "She is also very curious about everything. Not going to miss the constant questions she asks."
"He so cute," Lizzie said.
"Kelly looks so proud holding him," Cody said.
"So precious," Lizzie said looking at the picture of Robin and Kelly sleeping. "I hope we have a little girl some day and I have relationship with her that way."
"So, what is the plan while I am here?" Jesse asked.
"Well, thought we show you around the park or as much as the weather will allow," Cody answered.
"Thought we show you the wedding venue and where we are having the reception," Lizzie also answered.
"I got permission to have you come with me to work and you can see how we do things here," Cody said.
"It all sounds great," Jesse said.
Over the next few weeks, they did just as they said. Cody got Jesse on some winter tours, so he could see more of the park than Cody could take him. Jesse met the people they work with and their friends. Jesse got to see how the Ranger operations worked. He could see why his son loved Yellowstone. He also saw how Cody and Lizzie were well paired together.
It is time for Jesse's trip to end. He took them out to one last dinner before heading home. "Cody and Lizzie. I want to thank you for having me. I can now see why you love this place so much. Why you want to celebrate your marriage to one another here. I could not understand why you did not come back to Tahoe when you had the chance and why you chose to get married here. I still think of Cody as this little boy. Now I see him as a grown man. Someone who will soon be a husband and someday be a father. I am so proud of the man he has become. Lizzie, I am so glad that I have gotten to know you better. I can see that you are good to my son. You bring the best out of him. I am so happy to be getting you as a daughter-in-law. I have two sons and will soon have two daughters-in-law who are even better," Jesse said.
"Thanks dad," Cody said.
"Thanks dad," Lizzie said. "What did you think of the wedding venue?"
"I have to say when you ruled out San Diego, I thought for sure the wedding would be in Tahoe. I was thinking I won. But when your ruled out Tahoe too, I guess I felt kind of rejected in away. Cody and I have always done everything together and here he was doing something without me. Something away from the life we had. Now that I have been here and see your life here. I think the location is perfect. Lizzie's mom was right. Yellowstone is where you should get married."
Christmas time has come. Robn's parents had returned to Sweden and Jesse returned to Tahoe. Matt is at the airport with Kelly, they are at the gate watching as the planes take off and land. Cody and Lizzie get off the plane. "Matt," Matt turns around with Kelly in his arms and sees Cody and Lizzie walk up.
"Cody…. Lizzie. It is so good to see you." Matt walked up to them.
"Uncle Toad," Kelly leaped into Cody's arms.
"My princess, you have gotten so much bigger. I missed you," Cody hugged Kelly.
"I missed you too," Kelly held onto Cody tightly.
"Lizzie, good to see you too," Matt gave Lizzie a hug.
"Good to see you Matt, how is the family?" Lizzie asked.
"Robin is good, enjoying being on maternity leave. Jasper is getting so big already. And I think this little one just stole your fiancé," Matt smiled at this daughter with her uncle.
"She can have him for a while. I will win in the long run," Lizzie smiled.
Matt chuckled, "Yeah, there are things you can give him that she never will."
Lizzie smiled. They all continued to baggage claim and then went back to the cottage where Matt and Robin lived. Kelly insisted that Cody ride in the back seat with her. As soon as they arrived at the cottage. Cody got out of the car and opened the door for Lizzie. Kelly got out of the car seat and slid to Cody's side of the car.
"Uncle Toad." She lifted her arms to him as an indication that she wanted to be picked up.
Cody picked her up and then shut his door and Lizzie's door. Lizzie, Matt, and Cody went to the back of the truck and got the suit cases. They walked in the door and into the cottage. "Welcome home you too,"
"Thank you, Jesse," Lizzie said, she went over and hugged Jesse. Robin came over holding Jasper.
"Is that him?" Cody asked.
"Kelly, do you want tell Uncle Cody who this is? Robin said.
"Uncle Toad, this is my baby," Kelly said.
"Does the baby have a name?" Cody asked.
"Jasper," Kelly shouted.
"Nice to meet you Jasper," Cody remarked.
"Lizzie, would you like to hold him?" Robin asked.
"Absolutely," Robin handed the baby over to Lizzie.
"Hi there little guy. I am your auntie Lizzie," Lizzie said as she rocked the baby. "I can't wait to watch you grow to be big and strong." She leaned down and kissed him on the forehead. Lizzie sat down on the coach with the baby. Kelly wiggled out of Cody's arms and got on the coach next to Lizzie.
"Auntie Lizzie, this is Jasper. My baby brother," Kelly said.
"Nice to meet you, Jasper. I hear your big sister takes very good care of you," Lizzie said.
"I do take good care of him, you have to be gentle with him," Kelly said proudly, but also wanted to make sure that Lizzie knew what to do with the baby, like she was told many times.
"That is very good to know," Lizzie said.
Robin grabbed the camera and took a picture of Lizzie with the two kids. Cody slid in next to Lizzie on the couch and wrapped his arm around her. "You look very natural with the kids."
"Don't get any ideas, young man. We talked about this," Lizzie gave Cody a look.
"I know, but when the time is right," Cody said.
"Absolutely when the time is right," Lizzie leaned over and kissed Cody.
The Hawkes family celebrated Christmas together including Jackie and Pete. Cody could not believe how well his parents and step father were getting along. Or at least in front of everyone. Jackie and Pete were staying at a hotel in town. Cody stayed in the room with his dad and Lizzie stayed in Kelly's room with Kelly. Kelly loved having her Auntie Lizzie stay with her. They would wake up in the morning and Lizzie would read her stories. The two would talk and giggle until it was time to get up.
"Lizzie, will you really be my Auntie when you and Uncle Toad get married?" Lizzie asked.
"Yes, but you can call me Auntie Lizzie now, if you like," Lizzie said.
"I would like that," Kelly said. "Do you think I can ride my pony today?"
"I think that is the plan for the day," Lizzie said.
"Do you think Grandma will come?"
"I am not sure, I think she talked about a spa day," Lizzie said.
"Grandma does not like the cold, but I am happy she came for Christmas."
After breakfast Matt had to go to the ranger station and work. Robin was staying home with Jasper. She was not quite ready to ride a horse yet. Cody and Lizzie are going to spend the day with Kelly. They went out to the pasture and Cody saddled Kelly's pony. He helped her get on the pony and made sure she was properly seated and had all her safety gear on.
"Uncle Cody, let me show you what I can do," Lizzie started riding the horse around the pasture.
"Kelly, you are a good rider," Cody was a bit surprised. He commented to Lizzie, "She is a natural."
Kelly road her pony up to Cody and Lizzie, "Can we go out on the trails now?"
"Yep, let me get the other horses saddled up," Cody asked, "Do you want to ride with me or ride your pony?"
"I want to ride my pony." Cody went and got a horse saddled up for himself and Lizzie. The three went out on some of the horse trails. They were not going to go far. Their plan was to return midafternoon. They rode out to a meadow that Cody likes that was not too far away. They had their picnic lunch.
"Kelly, I am so impressed. You are a good rider," Lizzie said.
"Auntie Lizzie, I could ride my pony every day and not get sick of it."
They packed up their stuff. They were going to ride a little further to a creak before heading back to the ranger station. Cody had just gotten Kelly situated on her pony. He turned his back to her, when suddenly the pony got spooked and tried to buck Kelly off. She was holding on tight and managed to stay on. Then the pony took off running at a fast pace. Kelly was screaming and hanging on tight.
"Kelly! Hang on!" Cody jumped on his horse, kicked the horse hard and took off after them. After a few minutes Cody caught up to them. He grabbed the reins and was able to stop the pony. He quickly jumped off the horse and grabbed Kelly. "Kelly, are you okay?" Kelly held onto Cody tightly. Cody went down on his knees. "Let me check you over, are you hurt at all?"
Kelly had tears in her eyes. "I am okay." At this point Lizzie caught up to them. "Can we do it again?" Kelly asked.
Cody gave a nervous laugh, "Ah… I think that is enough for today. Why don't you ride with me, and we will give the pony a break. I am sure she is pretty tired."
"Kelly, are you sure you are okay?" Lizzie asked as she looked her over.
"Yes, Auntie Lizzie. Why can't I ride my pony home?" Kelly asked.
"It's probably a good idea to make sure the pony is okay before you ride her again," Lizzie said.
"Okay," Kelly pouted. Cody went and looked over the pony, he did not see anything on the pony like any bites or anything that would have caused the pony to act like that.
"Why don't you ride with me, and you can lead us back. It has been a while since I have been here and I might need help getting back," Cody said. Cody lifted her up onto his horse. Then he climbed on the horse behind her. He held onto her tight. Lizzie climbed onto her horse. They road back to the ranger station. Matt was also just returning with Morgan and Izzie from a rescue.
"You guys back so soon?" Matt asked.
"Daddy, my pony is broken," Kelly started to cry. Cody climbed off the horse and Matt went and helped his daughter get off the horse.
"What happened?" Matt asked with a calm, but worried voice. "Are you okay?"
Kelly just sniffled and cried some.
"The pony got spooked and tried to buck her off. Kelly was very brave and held on tight. Then the pony took off running with her on it. She held on tight until I could catch up to them and slowed the pony down. Kelly, do you remember the first thing you said to me?" Cody poked his niece in a teasing way. She shook her head no. "You asked if you could do it again. She wanted to ride the pony back, but I thought we should examine the pony closer. I did examine her but did not see anything."
"Did you like going fast?" Matt asked.
"Yes, but I was scared too," Kelly said. "I was afraid I fall off."
"It is good to be afraid, but sounds like you were real horse woman," Matt said.
"Do you think so?" Kelly asked.
"We will get your pony checked out and then we will get you back out there, okay?" Matt said softly.
"Okay, daddy."
"Why don't you go back to the cottage with Aunt Lizzie and get some hot chocolate. And Uncle Cody and I are going to look the pony over and maybe take the pony to the vet." Matt said calmly.
"Auntie Lizzie, do you want some hot chocolate too?"
"Sounds good to me," Lizzie said and the two walked back to the cottage hand in hand.
Once they got far enough out of ear shot, "So what happened out there?"
"We had our picnic lunch, and we were getting ready to go little further before heading back. I got Kelly situated on the pony and just turned my back so I could get on my horse. And then the pony got spooked or something and started bucking with her on it. Then the pony took off. I think my heart stopped for a second. I jumped on my horse and went after them. I have never been so scared in my life. If something would have happened to her."
"She is okay. I know she is a good rider, or we would not have let you take her on the trail," Matt put his hands on Cody's shoulder. "Take a deep breath, she is okay. Now let's go look this pony over."
The two brothers looked the pony over and still could not find anything. Matt called the vet, and they took the pony over to the vet's office. Vet looked the pony over. After some tests and good dental screening. Found that the pony had a tooth wound that the bridle was irritating. The vet was going to keep the pony over night to repair the tooth and to observe.
A few days later Lizzie's parents came to Tahoe for the New Year Eve Millennial Celebration. The night also doubled for wedding shower for Cody and Lizzie. The party was to be held at the ranger station, so the rangers on call had a chance to be a part of the celebration if it were to be a quiet night. Jackie and Pete were still in town for the party. Everyone's family was invited too. The ranger station was filled with future rangers including Jessica and Liam Avila; Kelly and Jasper Hawkes, and Izzie's little guy Ricky Flowers.
The evening started with dinner with some traditional wedding shower activities and games. The kids were having a blast with the games. They had teams and they created a wedding dress for Lizzie out of toilet paper. They made Cody stand in as her maid of honor who was not there. Cody was a good sport about it and his team won.
Once the shower part ended, the New Years Eve party started. It was a special night, so the kids were able to stay up late, but a few younger ones faded. They set up a room for the little ones to sleep in and they set up a monitor to make sure they were still asleep. The three little boys all crashed. Kelly and Jessica were wide awake and having a good time. Luckily for the rangers it was a quiet night, and they were all able to stay and enjoy the evening.
When midnight came, they shot off some confetti in the ranger station. Each of the couples gave each other a kiss to welcome in the New Year. Everyone went around hugging each other and telling them happy new years.