by Rod Carstens
"What are you two talking about?" Kate said.
"You are going to have to stop smoking around me." Karen said.
"I'm sorry. I don't mean to temp you." Kate said reaching over and putting out her cigarette.
"I'm not tempted. I just can't now."
"What do you mean...." Then Kate met Gretchen's eyes and they both broke into a huge smiles. "Of course. I am getting slow in my old age."
Karen broke into a huge smile.
"How far along?'
"Just a couple of months."
"Oh, my God." Kate said.
Karen and Kate hugged for a long time. She could not have made her more excited if it had been her own daughter.
"We've decided to name it Tom if it is a boy." Karen paused and met her eyes said. "Dad and I agreed we want to name it Kate if it is a girl."
That did it Kate took her in her arms again and hugged her tears streaming down her face. Then she turned to Tom. He too had tears in his eyes.
"I could kill you for not telling me." Kate said with a smile.
"I have proven very hard to kill there tough guy."
Kate put her arms around Tom and kissed him again and again.
"No going out for dinner tonight." Kate said. "We are staying in and celebrating. There are steaks in fridge. Which I think would be appropriate and we have all the fixings. Gretchen you have the salad and potatoes. Karen tell Danny to build a fire and get the grill ready we are going to celebrate."
"I am on it." Gretchen said.
"Should we put out steaks for Rachel and Brian?" Kate said.
Gretchen glanced over her shoulder with a smirk meeting Kate's eyes.
"Sure why not. With any luck they will not need the energy. But if she is like her mother we might want to save them for later." Gretchen said laughing.
Kate sat on the recliners arm and put her arm around Tom's shoulder.
"I love you there cowboy." Kate said.
"I've always loved you Kate."
She looked into those wonderful eyes she loved so much. Now they were far from the haunted eyes he had when they met, instead they were filled with love and a happiness born of a life of pain and strength. Kate leaned down and held Tom for a long time. It had all started right here in this place. It was fitting that the future should also begin here. It had come full circle thanks to Mac and Mama Mac and in a real way the 60's, but most of all Jack, dear, dear Jack who loved them all and gave them all so much and taught them how to share their lives. Kate could only hope that she and Tom could come close to giving Rachel, Brian, Karen, Danny and Carri even a small part of what Jack had given them. His love and generosity was being spread to another generation, a whole new generation starting their own journey.
Kate leaned into Tom and thought that they would be there to for all of them, the way Jack had been there for she and Tom. She had no idea if Brian and Rachel would make it but they had Gretchen, Tom, Karen and Danny and she would be there for them too. So they had a better chance than most. No through it all, things had ended the way Jack had hoped it would end. It had not been simple or easy but life was never simple or easy it was what it was. That was all that mattered. It is what you made of it and they had made a good life after all the years and mistakes. Tom looked up at her and said.
"How about some music to celebrate babe."
"You got it cowboy."
Kate walked over to the sound system and put on the Stones "Let's Spend the Night Together". When Tom heard the song start their eyes met. They did not need to say anything.
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