BTW... Never Ever Forget When Your Mother is in your house.
Chapter Twenty Three - Pappy's Home
When they arrived at the depot, it appeared the whole town was out to welcome them home, including the rest of the Barkley family and Connie's parents. She was surprised to see they took time away from the Presidential campaign to be there.
Jarrod's boys stood quietly off to the side by the buggy that had their father's name engraved on it. Landon had one arm around Jack's shoulder and with the other he had a firm a hold on Joey who stood in front of him. Jack also had a hand on Joey so he couldn't run away from them. Victoria had done her best to prepare them for their father's memory lapses before she returned to retrieve Jarrod but it appeared to have scared them.
Nicky and Tommy made their way to the stairs of the train jumping up and down in excited anticipation of seeing their papa. Heath and Bobby Joy held their children back from all the excitement keeping a close eye on Jarrod's sons.
Above all the noise of the many well wishers that came out to welcome home the wreckage survivors, Joey could be heard crying out, "Pappy's Home, Pappy's Home," from the moment Jarrod entered the doorway of the train exit.
Jarrod and Caitlin grinned when they heard him. Caitlin couldn't help but tear up over the out pour from the well wishers that came out just to welcome her husband and brother-in-law home. As they rode out of town person after person hollered out a welcome greeting.
Course Jarrod and Caitlin could barely hear it over their three years old many questions, "Where have you been? Why do you have a thingy on your head? Where is your hat? Did you lose I, I love my cowboy hat? Why are you walking with a cane? Why can't I sit on your lap? Pappy I'm glad your home, are you glad to be home? Did you miss me I missed you? I cried. And Ack missed you too didn't you Ack? How come Monnie stayed and Lan-don came home the utter day?"
Jarrod looked at Caitlin and laughed over the out pour of excitement. Finally Heath who was driving the buggy settled the boy down by offering to let the tyke help drive the buggy.
Eugene and Connie decided to stay in town at a hotel with her parents. They had big decisions to make as well as welcomed complete undemanding peace. At least that is what they told Victoria, but it wasn't long before the two former med students became concerned over Mrs. Harrison's health. She seemed to have developed a really nasty cough, in the last days of the campaign.
That evening after dinner Victoria encouraged Nick and Heath to take their families to their own homes stating she did not want Jarrod worn out. The two brothers along with their wives and children bid everyone a goodnight. Victoria also bid her eldest child and family goodnight retiring to her designated guestroom.
Caitlin tucked the boys into their perspective beds assuring them that everyday their father's memory was improving before heading downstairs. They older boys did not like that their father referred to their mother as "Not Beth". Joey begged Jarrod to read him a bedtime story. So he curled up in the little bed, next to the toddler and read until the baby dropped off to asleep.
Needing to unwind Caitlin sat down at the piano Jarrod gave her on their first anniversary. Although she fought to hide it, she was torn up inside with the reality that the love of her life didn't remember her name. Mindlessly she figured the keys before losing herself in a melody.
Jarrod peaked in on his older sons making sure they were warm enough as the wind howled outside rattling the windows before heading downstairs. He was about to descend the staircase, when he heard the music. Frozen with his hand on the top of the banister, visions of people dancing swirled around in his head. "Oh my God," Jarrod groaned. Hearing the music reminded him of the night he proposed. They had gone to opera and during intermission Jarrod led Caitlin away from the crowd and over to his father's statue on the town square, under the lamplight. There the time felt right so down on one knee he asked her to marry him. She didn't even hesitate, he thought, her face beamed that night as she answered.
With watery blue eyes he rushed to the music. "How could I not know," he thought out loud. Caitlin was immediately concerned when she saw his face as he entered the formal parlor.
"What is it," Caitlin asked stopping the music. "Sit down Darling, are you in pain? Do you need some pain medicine?" She rose to get his medication.
Jarrod immediately pulled her to him. "I love you, Caitlin," he smothered her with a kiss, "And I'm oh so sorry. I, I."
"Shhh," she touched his lips with her finger. They stayed tightly embraced as her tears mixed with his, "It wasn't your fault. You couldn't remember."
He tried to speak again, she shook her head no her hand gentle whisking a tear off his cheek, "It was the injury not you." They kissed again.
"I knew I was hurting you," Jarrod stated, "You looked horrified the first time I called you Beth. I'm so sorry Love. I don't know why you didn't just walk away from me."
"I knew you would come around eventually. I could see the recognition and love in your eyes," sniffing back her own tears. "I never doubted your love. And you know I never have put much stalk in names. I figured if you didn't remember soon we could create a new name for me. Maybe one I would like even better than Caitlin."
"But not "Not Beth"," Jarrod frowned, "I hated calling you that, but everyone refused to help me. I had hoped I would anger you into at least giving me a hint."
"Well…" Caitlin thought for a moment, "I have always said I'm not Beth, and Nick and I came up with some names that would have been much worse." She chuckled in memory, "As long as I still had you with me I resigned to be called just about anything. So I was willing to let you call me Hey You, Not Beth, just about anything. I love you Jarrod Thomas Barkley, Esquire, as long as you never forget that I will be able to handle anything else that comes our way."
They kissed again. "I love you to…Not Beth," he teased with a sly grin. Caitlin rolled her twinkling eyes oh no what have I started, she thought.
Victoria tossing and turning decided a warm cup of tea with milk might calm her nerves down enough to sleep. She was thrilled to be back on the ranch and to know that every one of her children where safe. The nightmare of what could have been played out in her mind causing distress. Hearing the grandfather clock in the foyer chime twice she knew it was very late as she gathered her robe around her waist and crept out onto the second floor landing. Softly she made her way down the stairs towards the kitchen. She was surprised to see a light on in the formal parlor. Figuring Jarrod and Caitlin just forgot about it, she went to turn it off.
As she dimmed the light she heard, "Goodnight Mother," from the other side of the settee. Victoria froze momentarily.
"Jarrod,"
she said confused at first then she noticed her son and his wife wrapped in a blanket in front of the fireplace.
Caitlin buried her redden face in her husband's bare chest. Jarrod bite the inside of his cheek as he fought back
the urge to burst out laughing in embarrassment. Blushing deep crimson, Victoria left the lowered lamp and headed to
the kitchen. Now she needed a hot toddy not just tea and milk. Caitlin giggled as Jarrod whispered how much more
embarrassing that almost was.
