Timothy - 108. Chapter 108

We talked to the minister of the church where we had Eva Marie baptized, and he suggested the Sunday before Thanksgiving, which was OK with us.

I told Randy and Ann Marie the dates of the baptism.

Tom wrote and told us Randy struts around like the Cock of the hen pen.

Ann Marie was smiling. Alex said she would like to have a child but felt too old. I told him he should know better, women in the ’40s can still have children, and there is always adoption. “Alex, maybe you need to rethink about her being a mother. Watch her when she is here with our children. You can see the love in her eyes.” I thought, Donnie, I need a push here.

Friday, before Thanksgiving, our house became bedlam. Randy arrived and claimed the cot in the baby’s room. Mom and Dad arrived and would be staying the week. Stephen’s mom and dad came for the day with Gramps. Since they lived closer, they would spend the day and go home at night. Gramps said he should have added a few more bedrooms to the house. I think he was kidding, I hope.

Saturday night, John and Eva showed up with Eva Marie. Now Stephen had a problem. He had two young ladies to entertain. The smile on his face told me we would have more children in the future. Two wasn’t enough for Stephen. John and Eva stayed with Alex and Ann Marie. The spare bedroom in their condo came in handy. I made a mental note to review the drawings of the condo building.

Sunday, we looked like a parade as we entered the church. We took up two pews, and I think there were only two empty pews in the back of the church for the first time. When it was time to baptize the children, Randy and Ann Marie went to the font with Stephen and I following. As the minister performed the rite, I looked at the cross above the Altar, and there was Donnie with the children’s mother. Looking into the eyes of their mother, I swear I saw a teardrop fall on the Altar. I looked at Donnie, and there was that smile again, then they were gone.

Stephen’s dad had arranged lunch at one of the restaurants that rented the building from him. We had to take pictures, and I told Randy I wanted one with the babies on Stephen’s lap and one with Elizabeth and Ann Marie's on his lap. I would have them blown up and framed. Stephen said he wanted one with the babies on my lap. By the end of the meal, we had gone through two rolls of film. Everyone had their pictures taken holding the children, including Ann Marie.

I took the film and said I would see that they were developed. If anyone wants a larger copy, I’ll get them enlarged for them. I knew there were a few I wanted enlarged and framed.

Dinner that evening was held at Stephen’s parents’ home. There were four chefs in the kitchen. Stephen’s mother directed three of them. Eva was helping me with the children when Randy wasn’t trying to get them to laugh.

Stephen came into the conservatory, “I thought you were helping in the kitchen?”

“I was until they told me to get out.” I wasn’t sure about that, particularly when he went and picked up Eva Marie.

Dinner was excellent. There was no question that Stephen’s mother was an excellent chef. I saw my dad asking that the platter with the meat be passed again, and Mom’s eyebrow was raised when he said that. I’d bet Mom will try and make the same roast for him when they get home.

Monday, we resumed our schedule. Gramps closed the plant on Wednesday, so we had four days off before returning to work. John and Eva left on Wednesday. They had promised to have Thanksgiving at John’s parents.

Wednesday evening, the aromas from Mom and Aunt Clara’s baking seemed to permeate the entire house. I could tell appetites were building. Thursday morning, Stephen’s mom and dad arrived, followed by Ann Marie and Alex. Mom had made some breakfast rolls, and we were told to take our coffee and rolls to the basement. All of the men were in the basement watching the game on TV except a very little girl who was in the arms of Randy. Stephen just smiled, but I knew he would have liked to be the one holding Elizabeth.

Donnie was in his bassinet sleeping. When I checked on him, he had what could be a smile on his face. ‘Donnie, behave, he’s too young for you to tell him about the tricks you use to pull on me.’

Aunt Clara came down with bottles for the babies. Stephen went to get Elizabeth, but Randy had the bottle and was feeding her. I picked up Donnie and handed him to Stephen along with the bottle, and I got a kiss for that.

We were called to dinner at 1:30. Beside the dining room table, we needed the buffet to hold all the dishes and desserts. Gramps offered the blessing, and I noticed he included the children as well as Eva Marie, and I thought that was nice.

I couldn’t believe we finished eating at 3:30, a 2 hour Thanksgiving dinner. There was enough food left over to have lunch and dinner for the next two days. Looking at Stephen, I smiled. He was holding both of our babies, one on each leg, with his arm around them. Looking into that face, I knew I was a very lucky man.