Bayside Café Chap 5

Finishing the course

OB ward

Ellen is nursing Abby when Michael and doc Wilkins Walk in that afternoon. She quickly pulls a throw blanket up over her breast and smiles.

"Hi guys." She greets them.

"Hi love," Nichael leans over and kisses his wife.

"Ellen," doc adds his greeting. He and Michael sit.

"I need to complete telling you about the surgery. As I told you, the uterus was bleeding severely post-delivery. Our efforts to stop the bleeding rendered the uterus not capable of supporting another pregnancy. In fact, should birth control measures fail, your life would be at severe risk."

Ellen and Michael look at each other. He nods, "That is what the doc told me."

"We decided the safest course for you was a hysterectomy."

Michael raised her hand to his lips and kissed it. "I'm sorry, honey."

"It's ok, babe. We've got a beautiful little girl."

"I've got 2 beautiful girls. Thank God!"

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Ellen and Abby were home in 5 days. Abby was ready for discharge sooner; the nursery was not crowded, so they kept the little girl until mommy was ready to go home.

Grandma and grandpa were thrilled, of course. Ellen was their only child, so Abigail is their only grandchild. They were bound and determined she would want for nothing, absolutely nothing.

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IN REMEMBRANCE

Michael and Ellen had one important but sad task to do. Their baby boy's remains had been cremated. Were they going to bury him? Where? A ceremony?

Given Michael's navy experience they chose a burial at sea. Michael contacted Admiral Greer and one of his staff completed the arrangements.

It was a beautiful, sunny southern California day when PT-109 set out from the Coronado harbor. The refurbished WW-II torpedo launch was used for this purpose. There were 4 families on board, to scatter the ashes of their loved one at sea.

The family of Gabriel Alexander Dixon included his father, Michael; mother, Ellen; sister, Abby; grandparents, David and Margaret; and God-father, Roosevelt Greer.

Ellen was determined to deliver the eulogy for her son. Through tears she read:

"Gabe, even though we never met in this life, your mommy misses you so much. Your daddy, sister and I look forward to meeting you. I know you would have been Abby's protector and best friend. Daddy would have loved to regale you about serving his country on a huge aircraft carrier. I would have told you all about the satisfaction of caring for people in their hour of need – as a nurse. And your grand-parents would have spoiled you senseless. But all that won't happen. So, until we meet in a happier life, a happier time – mommy, daddy and sissy love you!"

She turned and was about to collapse when Michael stepped up and caught her. They sat, and the other 3 families did their part in the memorial service. 3 musical selections were performed: "It is well with my soul", "Amazing grace", and the "Navy hymn".

Each family member was given a small glossina envelope with a portion of the deceased's cremains; in turn they stepped to the rail, said a short, silent prayer and scattered the contents into the blue Pacific.

The trip back to dock was solemn. Afterwards, Admiral Greer hosted the family for lunch at a favorite Mexican restaurant. They thanked him, and returned home after the meal.

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2ND ENLISTMENT

Per the agreement with Admiral Greer ended, Michael reported for duty June 1. He knew the final 13 months of service were going to be tough. Every superior officer he would serve under knew about the very lenient paternity leave that he had been granted. So, each one felt it was their duty to extract a pound of flesh to compensate. And they did.

Michael's duty was to survive, even thrive. And he did. He wasn't going to get a repeat A/C station. Oh, no. He got the assignments nobody wanted. He made the best of it.

Some shore leave was mandatory. Extra? Forget about it.

He did as much Skype as he could; watching Abby grow over a small screen was frustrating, of course. But it was as good as he and Ellen could do.

At one point his father-in-law talked to Admiral Greer. Could the extreme measures be eased any? No.

DISCHARGE

Discharge day was sweet. Ellen and Abby met him at the dock. Abby – now almost 15 months old (BD April 10) – was let down to the ground by Ellen. She toddled over to daddy's open arms, saying dada all the way. He scooped her up, crying all the while. Ellen trotted over and joined the joyous reunion. After they parted, his happy in-laws offered their own welcome home, son!

HOME AND WORK

The young couple decided to stay with mom and dad while the dust settled.

Ellen had a good position in the new ICU of a community hospital. Under the wing of her boss, her mentor, she had advanced to day-shift assistant head nurse. As we have noted, her 2-year RN degree kept her from rising higher. She was content. She was making good wages and knew that she was valued.

Michael found a position as assistant head cook at a small diner in Escondido. A community 30 miles east of
San Diego. He had searched high and low for something closer to home. No luck. The commute wasn't bad; traffic flowed the opposite direction. He disliked the extra time away from family, but for starters it wasn't bad.

The grandparents saved the day. Watching and caring for Abby really wasn't a chore. It was the joy of their lives. To say they spoiled her, was a massive understatement. They cherished her, she adored them. Ellen and Michael were truly blessed.

The one downside in their lives was Michael's parents. While his mother loved and supported the couple, his father was a black hole. And no one could figure out why.

Until one day Ellen's father was talking with Admiral Greer. He happened to mention the situation; he knew that the Admiral knew both of them.

"You know why, don't you?" Greer commented.

"No, none of us can figure it out."

"Jealousy."

"What!"

"Yes, he is jealous of his son. He knows Michael is destined for far greater things than he ever accomplished."

"That's crazy! He should revel in his son's success. After all, a father had a great deal to do with that."

"I know, but he doesn't feel that way."

"What can we do?"

"Nothing, I am afraid."

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What they did do was keep Michael's mother in-the-loop as much as they could. Ellen's dad would pick her up every Sunday and bring her to church. She would then come home with them for Sunday dinner and stay until mid-evening. She adored Abby, as did they all. The young girl loved having 2 grandmothers paying attention to her every move and word.

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4 YEARS OLD

Surprisingly, they did convince Michael's dad to come to Abby's 4th birthday party. Having all 4 grandparents present for an event in Abby's life was a rarity. Even rarer was his behavior. He was friendly, outgoing, talkative, laughing, smiling.

"Something is wrong," Michael whispers to Ellen.

"What do you mean?" She returned.

"My dad. He is acting strange."

"Your dad? I could get to like him, the way he's acting today."

"Exactly. This isn't my dad."

"Oh . . . a body double?" She giggles.

He frowns. "Something is wrong. It's like he knows something we don't."

He does.

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TBC