Chapter 15: October 1999
Beautiful fall day in the Sierra Mountains outside of South Lake Tahoe. Jesse Hawkes has been living back at his cabin since the spring. He makes his way back to Tahoe to stay with his son and daughter in-law as they wait for the in pending birth of his second grandchild. He is going to spend the winter with them so he can help with his oldest grandchild. He packs up his saddle bags and gingerly gets on his horse. He dropped his horse off at the ranger barn. Then makes his way to Matt and Robin's cottage.
Matt was working at the ranger station and had been especially busy. They got funding for an additional ranger. Robin trained the new ranger until she went on maternity leave. Matt has taken over some of it, but the ranger is independent on the radio.
Jesse walks in, Kelly looks up, seeing Jesse at the door and runs over, "Grandpa! Grandpa!"
Jesse put his bag down and scoops Kelly up. "How are you, my darling?"
"Grandpa, I am so excited to see you. I have missed you," Kelly said.
"Robin, how are you feeling?" Jesse asked.
"I am as big as a house; this kid's foot has been pushing on my bladder and on my rib cage."
"Why don't you take it easy. I brought some fish I caught this morning from the lake I could cook for dinner."
"That sounds wonderful. We have not had fresh fish since Matt and Kelly went up by you a few months ago."
"Just put your feet up. Kelly, why don't you come help grandpa with dinner." Jesse said.
Kelly came over and helped Jesse for about five minutes and she was distracted by something else. Then she came back and helped Jesse some more. Matt came home and Kelly forgot all about helping grandpa.
"Daddy!" Kelly shouted.
"How is my beautiful girl." Matt scooped her up and kissed her. Matt walked up to Robin who was sitting on the couch, he leaned down and kissed her. "Are you doing, okay?"
"So far so good. Your dad has been helpful."
"Oh dad, when did you get here?" Matt asked.
"Couple hours ago. Kelly been helping me make dinner," Jesse said.
"Helping Grandpa with fishes," Kelly said.
"That is my big girl, maybe next year you can help catch them too," Matt said.
"Dinner is ready," Jesse said.
Matt got Kelly washed up and then put her in her high chair. He walked over to Robin and helped her up.
"I hope this baby comes soon or they induce me," Robin said. Matt escorted Robin to the table.
"What did the Doctor say?" Matt asked.
"Nothing is happening yet. She said they will induce me in ten days if the baby does not come," Robin said.
"I am on radio duty the next few days and then I will just be doing administrative stuff until the baby comes."
"Mommy, what is induce?" Kelly asked.
"Induce means they will give me drugs to help the baby come," Robin said.
"Does it taste icky?" Kelly asked.
"They give it in a shot," Robin said.
"Ouchy, no shots mommy," Kelly folded her arms and squirmed a bit.
"It is not so bad," Robin said.
The Hawkes family sat around the table and said grace before they began eating. "Dad, this is really good. It has been a while since I had such fresh fish."
"You need to come up to the cabin more often," Jesse said. "So how is that new ranger doing?"
"Morgan? She is doing just fine. I think she will work out fine," Matt said.
"I still don't understand your brother. Why didn't he apply for the position. All he ever talked about is being a ranger and now he had his opportunity and he just passed it up." Jesse said.
"I think he created a life out there for himself," Matt said. "A decision he and Lizzie need to make together. And it sounds like they have a lot of friends. They are young, full of energy, I imagine they are just enjoying a carefree life with their friends."
"He and Lizzie said they were going to come back here someday. I don't understand why they just don't do it now and then have the wedding here." Jesse said.
"They are young and in love. They probably just enjoying life with just the two of them," Robin said.
"Do you think they are, you know? Or do you think they are living together?" Jesse asked.
"Yes, and probably," Matt chuckled. Matt knew they were sleeping together and knew they spent a lot of time together if they were not already living together.
"I did not teach your brother to be that way with women," Jesse said.
"Dad as soon as he went off to college, he was no longer living under your roof. And he has not lived with you for seven or eight years," Matt said.
"He should not lose his morals so fast," Jesse said.
"We barely made it back from San Fransisco before we did," Robin said. "And we are very happy."
"Dad it is 1999, not the stone ages when you and mom dated," Matt said.
Jesse just gave them a look.
About a week later in the middle of the night.
"Matt… Matt… wake up," Robin started hitting Matt to wake him up.
"What is it?" Matt said as he was waking up.
"I think I am in labor," Robin said.
"How far apart are the contractions?" Matt asked.
"About every twenty minutes," Robin said as she tried to sit up. She screamed in pain.
"Robin, what is wrong?" Matt said with some concern.
"Feels like the baby is coming now. Matt look, please look." Robin said in a little panic.
Matt looked between her legs. "Baby is coming. I can see the head. I think we are having the baby now.
Dad! Dad!" Matt shouted. Kelly was startled awake and was crying.
"Matt what is it?" Jesse shouted from the bottom of the stairs.
"Call an ambulance, the baby is coming now!'" Matt shouted.
Jesse ran to the phone and called the emergency number and told them a baby was coming. Jesse brought the phone up to Matt to talk to the operator. The operator was asking Matt a lot of questions about what he was seeing. Jesse went to Kelly's room to get her settled. Robin kept screaming and she began to push. Jesse went down stairs with Kelly to wait for the paramedics.
Then there was the sound of a baby crying as the paramedics walked in. Jesse directed them upstairs to Matt and Robin. They let Matt cut the umbilical cord. The paramedics delivered the afterbirth, checked the baby and Robin out. Everyone looked good.
"Honey, you did so good," Matt wiped her forehead. The paramedics got her on the stretcher and took her down the stairs. Matt carried the baby down following the paramedics.
Kelly freaked out when she saw Robin on the stretcher.
. "Mommy, mommy," Jesse was holding her, and Kelly reached out to her mom.
Jesse tried to calm Kelly down, "Mommy is okay, she just had the baby."
"Can you give us a second," Robin asked the paramedics. They stopped while they were next to Jesse and Kelly.
Robin reached her hand to Kelly, "Honey, I will be okay. Normally mommies have babies in the hospital. Your little brother just came too fast, and we did not have time to get there. Maybe in the morning Grandpa can take you to the hospital to see us. I love you, honey."
"I love you mommy," Kelly sniffled.
The paramedics carried Robin to the ambulance.
Matt followed behind with the baby. "Kelly, I want you to meet your new little brother."
"Hi baby," Kelly said.
"We will see you in a few hours honey. We need to get to the hospital so the doctors can check him and Mommy out." Matt said. "I love you, Kelly."
"Love you daddy,"
"He is beautiful Matt," Jesse smiled.
Matt brought the baby out to the ambulance and climbed in the back with Robin and the baby.
During the night Jesse spent some time cleaning up Matt and Robin's room of all the blood and fluids from the birth, so the stains would not set in. He also did not want Kelly to accidentally see it and be scared more. From time-to-time Kelly would wake up crying and Jesse would console her.
"There, there darling. Everything is okay." Jesse wiped Kelly's forehead.
"I want mommy. Where is my mommy?" Kelly cried.
"Mommy is at the hospital with your dad and your new baby brother." Jesse said.
"I want to go too," Kelly demanded.
"We will go in the morning darling. Daddy will call and tell us what time is good to go. Just go back to sleep," Jesse said. Then he started to sing a sweet lullaby. And Kelly fell right asleep. A couple of hours later she woke up again. This time she got up and started wandering around the cottage. She walked into her parents' room and started crying harder as they were not there. Then she went downstairs and saw her grandpa Jesse in bed asleep. He was so tired he did not hear Kelly come into the room. She crawled up into the bed and fell asleep next to her grandpa. Jesse woke up hours later with Kelly asleep next to him. He looked at the time and could not believe he had slept that late. He looked at the phone and saw a few missed calls from Matt.
Jesse left his bedroom and shut the door so he would not wake up Kelly but knew she could sleep through anything.
"Hi Matt, sorry I missed your calls," Jesse said.
"Did you have a rough night last night?" Matt teased.
"Well, I cleaned up the mess you left behind. The only way of getting those stains out was to bleach the sheets. Got a lot out of that bed. There is still a stain but not horrible," Jesse said.
"Dad thank you. I had not even thought about that. How is Kelly doing?" Matt asked.
"She kept waking up with nightmares, crying for Robin. Sometime after I finally went to bed, she came down and joined me. She is still asleep. I just woke up myself," Jesse explained. "How is Robin and the baby doing?"
"They are doing great. Robin managed to get some sleep and so did the baby," Matt said.
"How about you, son," Jesse asked.
"I probably slept here and there," Matt said. "Once Kelly is up, dressed and fed. You guys can come over to the hospital. The doctor has already been through, and everything is looking good."
"Will do son," Jesse said.
After Jesse hung up with Matt, he started to fry up some eggs, bacon and pancakes. He left the bedroom door open so Kelly would wake up on her own. Jesse was singing softly when Kelly got up rubbing her eyes.
"Good morning my darling, are you hungry?" Jesse asked. Kelly was still waking up, so she just rubbed her eyes some more.
Jesse picked her up and put her in her highchair and gave her breakfast. Jesse stayed with them enough, he knew exactly how she liked her breakfast. As they ate, she got chattier.
"I am a big sister now," Kelly declared.
"Yes, you are. Do you know what big girls do?" Jesse asked. Kelly just shrugged her shoulders.
"Big girls use the potty," Jesse said.
"They do?" Kelly asked.
"Yes, they do darling," Jesse said. He knew Matt and Robin were trying to potty train her, it just was not going well.
"Grandpa, I have to use the potty," Kelly said. Jesse lifted Kelly out of the highchair, and she ran off to the bathroom. He followed her and helped her get her diaper off. She tinkled in the potty. Jesse pulled one of the pull ups out and put it on her once she was done and cleaned up.
"We should go get you dressed so we can go to the hospital," Jesse said.
"No, I am a big girl, I can get myself dressed." Kelly demanded. She went racing upstairs by herself. Jesse was worried about what type of outfit she would be wearing, but he was surprised when she came down stairs with matching clothes. She went and grabbed a gift from the closet in Jesse's room. "Grandpa, I am all ready."
"Let's get some shoes and socks on your feet," Jesse said. Kelly looked at her feet and laughed.
Jesse and Kelly arrived at the hospital and made it to Robin's room. Kelly was holding Jesse's hand. As soon as she saw her mom she went running into the room, "Mommy!" Matt picked her up and set her on the bed next to Robin. She snuggled up to Robin. "I missed you mommy."
"I missed you too," Robin wrapped her arm around her daughter and kissed her on her head.
"Mommy, I kept having bad dreams," Kelly said.
"You did, what were your dreams about?" Robin said in a soothing voice.
"You kept screaming and I could not get to you," Kelly said.
"Was it because you woke up with me screaming last night?" Robin asked.
"Maybe," Kelly said shyly.
"Sorry you had to hear that. The baby came so fast we could not make it to the hospital."
"Do mommy's always scream like that when a baby comes?"
"Sometimes," Robin said.
"Why?" Kelly asked.
"We will talk more about it when you get older, but I had to really work hard to get the baby out of my tummy," Robin said.
"I am a big girl now," Kelly said, and she slid out of the bed and ran to the bath room. Matt went and helped her, and they could hear some tinkling. Kelly ran back into the room and Matt helped her into the bed.
"Kelly, did you tinkle in the potty?" Robin asked.
"Yes, I am a big girl." Kelly said proudly.
"Dad, how did you do it?' Matt asked.
"Secret of a grandpa," Jesse said with wink and smile.
The nurse brought the baby into the room. "Someone is hungry," Robin raised her arms up to take the baby.
Jesse was little uncomfortable, "I am going to get some coffee." He left the room.
Robin started to breastfeed the baby.
"Mommy, what are you doing?" Kelly asked.
"I am feeding the baby," Robin said.
"How?" Kelly said.
"Well God created mommy's not only to grow babies in their tummy's, but God also gave mommy's ability to feed their babies," Robin explained.
"Did you feed me?" Kelly asked.
"I did. It was a special time between us," Robin leaned down towards Kelly and the two gave nose kisses.
"I think you are the best mommy," Kelly said.
"Oh, thank you. I love being your mommy," Robin said.
Matt just sat back and watched the interaction of Robin with their kids and thought life could not be any better than this. When the baby stopped feeding Matt took him and burped him, so Robin and Kelly could snuggle and take a little nap together. The baby also fell asleep, so Matt kissed the baby on the forehead and put the baby in the cradle. He went and got his camera out and took a picture of his wife and daughter and then his little baby boy.
Matt stepped out of the room and went out in the hall way, and he made a call. "Hi, It's Matt. Please don't hang up. I need to talk to you," The caller on the other end just hung up. Matt tried again and the phone just kept ringing. Matt then made a third call.
"Hi Matt, what is up," Cody said.
"How did you know it was me?" Matt asked.
"I have developed a new skill and have become psychic," Cody teased.
"What?" Matt said.
"My phone has caller id and I have memorized your number," Cody said. "What is up?"
"Robin went into labor last night and had the baby," Matt said.
"You are just telling me this now?" Cody was getting excited. "Tell me details, is it a boy or another girl, come on man I need to know."
"Well, we have been little busy here," Matt chuckled. "Cody, it was the most amazing thing."
"What was? Tell me from the beginning," Cody piped in.
"Robin went into labor after we went to bed last night. She woke me up and we were going to go to the hospital. But as she was getting up, she felt something. When I checked I could see the baby's head was crowning. There was no time. I yelled for dad, he called the emergency operator, and I delivered the baby. Cody it was the most incredible thing. I was in the room when Kelly was born. But being the one to catch that baby when he came out. To be the first one to touch him and to be the first one to see him. Robin was so incredible. I have no idea how she did it. A woman's body is so magnificent. To grow a human life, then to feed that child once they are born and then to forget about all that pain pretty much immediately."
"Wasn't it bloody and gross?" Cody asked.
"No. I mean, yes it was bloody and messy and poor dad I guess cleaned it all up. But guess the difference if it is your wife, giving birth to your child. And he is so tiny and perfect. Hearing that little cry and his ten little figures and toes.
"Matt did you say he? Do I have little nephew?" Cody asked.
"Sorry, yes little boy. His name is Jasper Matthew Hawkes, and he is a perfect baby." Matt said.
"How is Robin and Jasper doing? Cody said.
"Both are doing just fine. Robin is sleeping right now with Kelly and the baby is sleeping in the crib next to them," Matt said.
"How is Kelly adjusting?" Cody asked.
"She heard Robin screaming, so she kept waking up with nightmare. But somehow dad got her to start using the toilet, I have no idea how he got her to do it, we have been trying for months. She very clinging to Robin right now." Matt said, "We promised Kelly that she is the one who can tell you. So, act surprised when we call later. They were all sleeping so soundly, and I wanted to talk to you. So thought I would give you a call."
"Is there something else you wanted to talk to me about Matt?" Cody asked.
"Yes, but it can wait." Matt said. "I got to go man. Remember when we call later, act surprised."
"I will," Cody said. "Bye Matt."
Jesse was on his way back to Robin's room when he ran into Sheriff McBride. "Hey, Jesse what are you doing here."
"Hi Sheriff. Matt and Robin had their baby last night. What are you doing here?"
Sheriff McBride said, "Marco and his crew are back in town. Some of the rangers went by Aaron Basis lodge and they found some of the windows smashed in and some things were broken inside. They had set the barn on fire. The rangers were able to put it out, but I think the barn is a total loss. They got pulled over by one of my sheriffs and shots were fired. The officer will be okay, but there was a shootout with some of Marco's crew and two of them were killed in the process."
"Was Jennifer with them, Aaron's granddaughter? She had been mixed up with Marco before she left for college," Jesse was concerned.
"Oh, I remember her. There were a couple women with them, but she was not one of them," Jesse had been holding his breath and let it out with a sigh of relief.
"Thank goodness. Maybe for once she gotten her head on straight," Jesse said.
Jesse and the Sheriff made it to Matt. "Matt did you hear what happened at Aaron Basis Lodge?"
"Yeah, the rangers are updating on what is happening." Matt said.
"Matt, do you know if Jennifer is involved?" Jesse said.
"There is no reason to think she was. I tried to call her, but she just hung up on me," Matt said.
"She hung up on you. I thought your family was close?" Sheriff McBride asked.
"Last time we saw her, we had a bit of a falling out. I don't think she is involved," Matt said.
Jesse was not listening. "She is a troubled soul; trouble will always follow her everywhere she goes."
"Dad why do you think the worse of her. She is upset with our family because what you talked Aaron into for his will. She won't talk to me as you were so convinced she was on drugs and prostituting herself. You had me confront her about it. All I found was a tired kid who was working herself to death. She said it needed to be goodbye when I last talked to her. It has been a few years, but she still has not forgiven us. I can't worry about her anymore. If she ever comes back, I will do what I can to help her, but I need to go back to my family."
"Matt, I can't believe you. How can you just turn your back on her," Jesse was frustrated.
"Dad, I tried. It is time to let her go. I imagine she is making it on her own. I need to get back to my family. I see Kelly is stirring. Nice to see you sheriff. I hope your deputy will be okay."
"He will be. Matt, thanks and congratulations on the new baby. "
"Thank you," Matt left the two and went into Robin's room.
Robin was still sleeping, and Kelly slid off the bed. She walked up to the cradle where Jasper was sleeping. He was waking up and making little baby squeaks. Kelly was on her tippy toes trying to look into side of the cradle at her brother. Matt came in the room at the right time and heard Kelly talking to the baby.
"Hi baby. I am Kelly, your big sister. I will always take care of you. You are my baby."
Matt walked up to her and picked her up, so she could get a better look at the baby.
In a whisper, "Daddy, the baby is awake."
"He is, but he looks happy."
"I am big sister."
"Yes, you are and you are a good big sister."
"Daddy?" Kelly asked.
"What sweet heart," Matt said.
"What is the babies name? Or is it baby?" Matt said.
Matt laughed, "It is not baby."
Robin woke up and said, "Go ahead and tell her."
"Babies name is Jasper,"
"Hi Jasper, I am your big sister," Kelly was still whispering.
"Do you want to hold him?" Robin asked.
"Can I?" Kelly's face just lit up.
"Why don't you sit in the chair and daddy will pile up some pillows to help you," Robin said.
Kelly slipped out of Matt's arms and ran over to the chair. She climbed int the chair. "Daddy I am ready."
Matt put some pillows around Kelly. "Is that good?"
"Perfect."
Matt put the baby into Kelly's lap. "Hi Jasper."
"You need to be gentle with him," Robin said.
Matt got his camera out, "Say cheese."
"Cheese," Kelly smiled big for the camera. She looks down at her brother and then up at her parents again "He is looking at me." She looks back down to him "I love you baby."
The baby made a big squeal and then started to cry.
"He said he loves you too," Robin said.
Matt picked him up, "Looks like he needs a diaper change." Matt carried the baby over and changed the diaper. The baby just cried and shook.
"Daddy why is the baby crying?" Kelly asked.
"Well, I think because he is cold and wet," Matt said.
"What is that?" Kelly pointed at the baby.
"That is his pee pee. That is where his pee comes out," Matt said.
"I don't have a pee pee like that. Why am I different?" Kelly asked.
"Ah.. ah.. Mommy help," Matt was getting red in the face. He turned to Robin.
"Kelly, come here," Robin said. Kelly went over to her mom.
"That is how little boys and little girls are different. You are a little girl like mommy. And Jasper is a little boy like daddy,"
"So, some day I can be mommy too?" Kelly asked.
"Yes, you can," Robin said.
"I am glad I am like mommy," Kelly said.
"Me too, I love having you as my daughter," Robin said.
"Uncle Toad is like daddy and Lizzie is like mommy," Kelly said.
"You are correct," Matt said.
"Grandpa has a pee pee like Jasper and Grandma has a pee pee like me," Robin said.
Matt slowly said, "Yeah. I think it is time to call Uncle Toad and Lizzie."
"Yay!" Kelly cheered.
"Uncle Cody should be home from work by now, then Grandpa can take you home," Matt said.
"No, me stay with mommy." Kelly demanded. Kelly snuggled more into Robin.
"Are you afraid something going to happen to mommy?" Matt asked in a tender voice. Kelly just shook her head yes.
"The doctors and nurses will take good care of me here I am getting the best care. You need to take care of daddy for me tonight," Robin said.
"Daddy is coming home?" Kelly asked and sounded a bit more excited.
"Yep, then we can come back tomorrow," Matt said.
"Okay, call Uncle Toad?" Kelly asked.
Matt chuckled a bit, he said in the chair next to the bed, called Cody and put it on speaker.
"Hello," Cody said.
"Hi Uncle Toad," Kelly answered. "Is Lizzie there?"
"Hi Kelly, she is here, let me put you on speakerphone so we can both talk to you." Cody said as he put the phone on speaker. "Okay we are here. How are you doing? Anything new?"
"I am a big girl now," Kelly said.
Cody was a little confused, "What do you mean?"
"I use the potty now," Kelly said proudly.
"You do, that is such a big girl," Lizzie said. The two looked at each other, like okay, what is the big deal.
"Very proud of you," Cody could not help but chuckle some and Lizzie just hit him. "Anything else new?"
"Ahhh. You have a pee pee like daddy," Kelly said.
Cody and Lizzie put the phone on mute and started laughing.
Matt and Robin started to scramble, "Kelly you should not say things like that to other people."
Cody took the phone off mute, "Matt, giving anatomy lessons now," He could barely get the words out.
"But daddy, you said he did, and Lizzie has a pee pee like mommy." Kelly was confused by her parents. Cody and Lizzie both busted out laughing even harder.
"I am sorry guys, yes someone got little anatomy lesson today," Matt said.
Robin quietly was talking to Kelly, "Honey, you should not talk about peoples' private parts. It is something most people are familiar with. So, we don't need to point it out to them."
"But he asked what was new. I just learned about it," Kelly said.
"You should tell them about the baby," Robin said.
"Oh….. Uncle Toad, Uncle Toad. I have something else to tell you." Kelly was getting so excited.
Cody got his laughing under control, "What is it Kelly?"
"I have a new baby brother," Kelly said. There was little silence. "I am a big sister."
"Congratulations, Kelly. Mommy had the baby?" Cody asked.
"She did, at home too." Kelly said.
"At home?" Cody questioned.
"Mommy was screaming, mommies have to push hard to get babies out," Kelly said. "When the baby comes out, mommy stopped screaming and baby cries."
"Did daddy deliver the baby?" Cody asked.
Kelly looked at Matt, "Daddy did you deliver the baby?"
"I did," Matt said.
"He did. My daddy can do anything," Kelly said.
"Yes, he can," Cody said.
Lizzie piped in, "Kelly, does the baby have a name?"
"Yes, he does. It is Jasper," Kelly said.
"That is a special name." Lizzie said. "It means treasure. And he is certainly a treasure for all of us."
"Robin how are you doing?" Cody asked.
"I am doing well. Little sore, but he came out so fast. At least it was a quick delivery,"
"I think we will be going home tomorrow," Robin said.
"Congratulations to the whole family," Cody said.
"Thank you, Cody," Matt said.
"Thank you, uncle Toad." Kelly said. "bye, bye"
"Bye," Cody hung up the phone. He looked at Lizzie and they both just laughed some more.