Chapter 8
WRAPPING THINGS UP: SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE.
The day had been perfect. Everyone had gathered at Sara and Gil?s to help them celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary.
As the sun was setting all the parents were sitting on the porch talking and watching the boys toss a football around.
Ryan had joined the police force, the week before the anniversary party Ryan and Misha announced their engagement.
Sara had made the remark that 19 was to young.
This made Gil smile, ?You are just having a hard time letting your little boy go.? he told her.
?She still has a year of college,? Warrick said, ?At least they are waiting till then.?
?Speaking of not wanting to let their little one go,? Sara said looking at Daniel and Rebecca.
Becca and Daniel had become close, the older they got the deeper their relationship became.
?Becca is only 16,? Gil said. ?She is way to young to be involved with anyone.?
Everyone looked at him and laughed.
Daniel had just turned 19 and to everyone?s surprise he had joined the service after high school.
Changing the subject quickly Gil said to Nick, ?Austin will graduate this year. What are his plans??
?He is joining the police academy,? Sophia said.
?He asked Tasha to the prom,? Greg said.
?Yes,? Beth, Greg's wife, added giggling, ?And her Daddy almost said she could not go.?
Greg looked at her. ?She is only 15. If it had been anyone but Nick and Sophia?s boy she would not have gone.?
?Just like I would not have let Marsha go to that dance with anyone but Richard,? Nick told Greg.
?Sophia thought 13 was a bit young to go to a dance,? Beth said.
?Well Richard is only 16,? Greg said. ?It is not like they are getting married.?
All the parents agreed that the children had grown way to fast.
?Speaking of growing to fast,? Sara added. ?Tabby was just appointed to take over Gil?s place at the lab.?
?Now that did not surprise me at all,? Catherine said. ?Gil may not have fathered that child but no one could tell. She is just like him.?
?Did I hear my name?? Tabby asked coming out of the house.
Catherine repeated what she had just said.
Tabby hugged Gil. ?He has always been there for me for as long as I can remember. No one could have asked for a better Dad. I only hope that Rodger is half the dad that Gil did not have to be.?
Two years ago Tabby had meant Rodger Bennett. They were both studying entomology. Last year Gil walked her down the isle, tears of pride in his eyes.
Rodger came from the house. ?Have you told him yet?? he asked.
?Was just getting ready to,? Tabby said.
?Tell me what?? Gil asked.
?Rodger and I have decided on the baby?s name,? Tabby said.
?It is a good thing you did not wait much longer,? Sara said. ?My grandson would be here before you named him.?
Tabby looked at her Mom and smiled.
Gil was smiling too as he thought about a little 5 year girl who captured his heart. Now there she stood, all grown and about to become a mom.
?Well don?t keep us guessing,? Sara said, ?What have you decided??
Tabby looked at Gil, ?There was only one name we could give our son. We are naming him after the most important man in my life ? GILBERT.?
Gil choked back tears, ?You can?t do that to the poor fella. That is the oddest name I ever heard.?
Tabby hugged him, ?I just hope he is half the man you are Dad.?
?That is so sweet,? Sara told her.
?Rodger has decided to go back to school,? Tabby said. ?He wants to become a teacher.?
?That?s great,? Nick said.
The ball toss came to a halt when Austin had to go to the john.
Ryan walked over to where his parents were. ?Mom, I went to see the captain today.?
?Really?? she said wounding what her son was up to.
?Yea, I gave him my two week notice,? Ryan said.
?You are leaving the force?? Gil asked.
?No. Just changing divisions. I have decided to hook up with Carl.?
Sara laughed. Ryan was his father?s child; he looked like him and acted like him. But he had inherited his mother?s love of animals.
Ryan?s best friend Carl Jordan joined what everyone called the Animal Cops.
?I have given it a lot of thought Mom and that is what I want to do,? he said looking at his mother.
?I think it was all those commercials for the ASPCA,? Misha said smiling and putting her arm around his waist.
?Not just that,? Ryan added, ?You know how much I love animals and the thought of someone mistreating then ?? Well it gets under my skin.?
Sara smiled; she knew where his heart was.
That night Gil was laying in the bed, he had a book in his hand but was not reading it.
Sara came form the bathroom. ?Penny for your thoughts,? she said crawling in next to him.
?I was just thinking. Before I meant you I never dreamed my life would turn out this way. Darling, the last 20 years have been ?.. I can?t even think of the words. From the minute you walked into my life everything has gone right. I love you seems so inadequate, but I do.?
Sara wrapped her arms around his waist and cuddled close to him. He lifted her face toward his and kissed her. ?Here is to the next 20 years.?
THE END
