“Four!” cried Millie from inside. “We’ve got four, Henry! And Joe is doing great!” she shouted.
“Hot damn!” Henry said with glee while slapping George’s knee. He looked at his watch and calculated that the births were coming approximately every fifteen to twenty minutes like clockwork. He was relieved that all was going so well, and he wondered just how many more kittens there might be.
The mood was temporarily dampened as the next kitten was stillborn. However, following a short wait, the appearance of a beautiful sixth and final kitty quickly helped spirits to rebound. The realization that Joe had come through it all safely and given birth to a litter of five perfectly healthy kittens was cause enough for jubilation. George retrieved cigars from his car and passed them around. The traditional gesture brought laughter and smiles but since none of them smoked, not even George, the cigars went unused. Following a brief clean up utilizing a couple of the controversial towels, each of the tiny creations was weighed using Henry’s vegetable scale and recorded as Dr. Miller had directed. That way, their growth could be charted and tracked to assure their proper health and development. Joe was spent from her efforts and rested in her box as the newborns nursed for the first time from their mother.
Everyone gathered at the kitchen table to watch and to admire the little family. The runt of the litter was white and appeared to be the only true Siamese kitten amongst them. Henry immediately staked claim to it, and Millie approved wholeheartedly. It was the same kitten that she had instantly fallen for as well. The other four were marked with varying patterns of white and black blotches giving some clue as to what their father looked like. George fell for one that had a completely black head while Anne said that she was fond of another that sported a black tail and one black paw. The two that remained unclaimed were equally adorable. It would be at least eight weeks before any of them could be separated from Joe, so there was ample time to figure out who was going where. In the meantime, Henry called Dr. Miller to inform her of the happy news. Though she was sorry to hear about the loss of one baby, she was glad to learn that Joe had done so well and offered to pay a visit the following afternoon to Oak Forest. She wanted to examine the mother and newborns as well as to see if she could tell Henry and Millie the gender of each kitten. Henry was grateful that she would sacrifice part of her Sunday afternoon for them and gladly accepted.
Meanwhile, Millie threw together an impromptu meal. They all sat around eating and chatting about a variety of topics including Bill’s upcoming visit to Lewis, Millie’s search for her son, Anne’s latest novel, and the new charitable foundation that the Engels were forming. Joe spent the time switching between resting and grooming her litter while Henry looked on proudly as any father would. His world had changed dramatically over the past year and a half, and there was no slowdown in sight. Over the weeks and months to come, there would be new joys and sorrows, victories and defeats. However, along the way, he would be surrounded by an ever-increasing circle of family and friends and would enjoy all of the richness that life’s imperfect journey has to offer.
Just over a year before, Henry Engel was a single man living contentedly alone in a world of his own with no idea what he was missing. Now, he was a husband, father, and a grandfather. Henry was surrounded by those he loved and those who loved him. Soon, he would see his long-lost brother and meet his nephews and their families for the first time. He would help Millie reconcile with her past and introduce her to the son she had given up for adoption. Henry would use his riches to help the less fortunate and change lives. He would watch as Anne fell in love in the unlikeliest of romances and take a husband. Finally, Henry would be forced to say goodbye to a lifelong friend. Laughter and tears awaited him, but he was truly living now and flourishing. Henry never in his life felt happier or more alive, and he awoke each morning with a sense of deep gratitude to embrace the day.
From solitary man to family man. The evolution was now complete. The little stray Siamese cat that mysteriously appeared and then refused to leave had changed it all. After that day, there were far fewer meetings held at Oak Forest. From then on, most of life’s twists and turns were marked by Celebrations with Jake and Joe.
EPILOGUE
Improbable Romance,
Love, and Family.
From solitary man to family man,
the story continues…
About the Author
Roger W. Buenger is an author and entrepreneur who was born and raised in St. Louis, MO. He is an avid numismatist, historian, movie aficionado, and sports fan. These diverse interests serve him well when he is crafting tales and pursuing his passion for writing historical fiction. He is the creator of the Jake and Joe series and his debut novel, Meetings with Jake and Joe, was published in May, 2014. Mr. Buenger resides in St. Louis with his family.
www.rogerwbuenger.com
Facebook– Roger W. Buenger - Author
Twitter- @RogerWBuenger
This book is a work of historical fiction. The characters, places, and events are the creations of the author’s imagination. Any similarity to actual persons living or deceased is wholly coincidental. Furthermore, any and all references to real persons living or deceased, places, or actual events are done fictitiously.
Published by
3RB Enterprises, LLC
Florissant, MO 63034
Book design by Damonza.com
ISBN 978-0-9903080-5-8 (Paperback)
ISBN 978-0-9903080-6-5 (Hardcover)
ISBN 978-0-9903080-4-1 (Kindle)
ISBN 978-0-9903080-7-2 (ePub)
Copyright© 2015 by Roger W. Buenger
All Rights Reserved
Printed in the United States of America
First Edition: January 2016
Celebrations With Jake and Joe Page 28
