In our last chapter Kathryn gave birth at the same time as Misty, actually, Misty delivered Marshall Junior or MJ ten minutes before Kathryn delivered Amanda. As we shared our first breakfast together with the newborns, Misty’s father had finally come to accept Misty and Marshall’s marriage. To say he was a little surprised at finding out about his daughter’s wealth would definitely be an understatement.
Misty’s parents had struggled all their lives. Carl did not want to see the two go through the same trials as he and Sarah had done. I can understand that, no parent would like to see their child struggling to put food on the table, and barely managing to keep a roof over their head.
The Ten of Them Chapter 28
Written by Hard93.
Shortly after breakfast, Mom finally managed to make it up to our room. The first thing she did was take Amanda into her arms. I see the love and joy that shined from her face as she held her granddaughter, it was easy to recognize because she had that same love and joy when she held Sam and Crystal for the first time.
I noticed Sam and Crystal watching and I pulled them into my lap. Whispering into their ears I say, “See how your Grandma Maggie loves Amanda. She looked at you the very same way the first time she held you.”
Sam and Crystal’s faces turn to look into mine. I can already see the tears of joy beginning to flow. I shake my head confirming what I have told them. The two girls throw their arms around each other and me as we hug with their faces against my chest.
Kathryn giggles, comes and sits beside us she says, “Can I get a little of that too my beautiful little princesses.”
Giggling the girls move so they too can hold Kathryn in a hug that brings joyful laughter to my family. Across the room, Misty is hugging her father as he holds MJ for the first time. Sarah is hugging Marshall, as Uncle George followed by Alyssa and Johnny, finally makes it to the room as well. The rest of the family that had been helping in the kitchen quickly follows them.
Kara coming over to us rubs Kathryn shoulder and ask as she looks at her mother who now holds Amanda, “You think it is going to be like this for me?”
Kathryn giggles as she stands to hug her sister, looking into Kara’s face she says, “No.” Kara’s face shows her shock at her sister statement. Kathryn quickly says, “You are having twins, both Mom and Dad will have their hands full.” That begins the two sisters laughing as they hug each other.
Karen sliding into the hug with her sisters after rubbing Kara’s belly says, “I am going to have so much fun spoiling my nieces, and possibly a nephew or two.”
Kara giggles, “I guess I better behave myself when it comes to Amanda. Kathryn, I will probably need your help after all you will have a little more experience dealing with the baby.”
Michelle giggles, “You mean you do not remember us diapering her ass.”
Maria has been away at college and just managed to return, she is paused outside the doorway listening for a moment. Maria giggles coming up to her sisters says, “Michelle that was mostly me and you. You have to remember Kara was only three years old at the time.”
Michelle turns to hug Maria, the other three sisters quickly followed. The four surround Maria until they all back off from her. Michelle is the first to complain, “Damn, Maria you are cold.”
Maria looks Michelle in the face and replies, “You walk from the airport and see if you are not half frozen.”
Her sisters quickly strip her coat off and hug her again, as Maria still shivers. Joan quickly returns with a cup of hot coffee for Maria. Joan says, “This should help warm you up, it is black but we could get sugar and cream for it.”
Maria takes the cup, taking a long sip before she thinks Joan, “Joan thank you. It is perfect because it is hot.”
Helen comes to her daughter who is just arrived from college wrapping her in her arms she says, “Maria, I love you. I am glad you managed to make it in, now I can stop worrying about you. You could have stayed at college perfectly safe.”
Maria looks at the baby and her father’s arms and says, “What and let you and Dad be the only ones spoiling my baby niece, speaking of which where is my nieces?”
Sam excitedly says, “I am here Aunt Maria.”
Crystal becoming excited as well says, “Me too, Aunt Maria.”
Maria hands her mother the coffee as she extends her arms to her nieces. Both girls jump from my lap into their aunt’s arms. Maria pulls the two close kisses each on their cheek and says, “I missed you two something awful.”
The two girls hold tight to her and reply, “We missed you too.”
Cindy, Sam and Crystal had become close to Maria over the Christmas break and her them. I think she identified with Crystal the most being the second daughter. It was very hard for Maria to return to school. Maria would often Skype the girls. They would chat for quite a while.
Cindy breaks away from Daniel and moves to Maria as well, Maria letting go of Sam and Crystal, takes Cindy into her arms. “How is my oldest niece doing?”
Cindy giggles before she replies, “I am doing great aunt Maria. I started homeschooling like Sam and Crystal. It is a lot of fun hanging out with them, but I do miss some friends from school. I do not miss the bullies. I just started the third grade. Sam and Crystal are helping me catch up.”
Maria turns to Sam and Crystal still holding Cindy, “I am proud of you for helping each other.”
The three girls smile and say simultaneously, “We are family.”
Maria smiles saying, “Yes we are.”
Coach has given Amanda to Alyssa who has definitely fallen in love with my third daughter exactly as she had with my older two. Coach comes and pulls Maria into his arms saying, “I missed you something crazy.”
Maria giggles in her father’s embrace looking into his face she says, “Me too Daddy.”
As Kathryn’s hand slipped into mine, I could not help but think what a lucky man I am. The Edwards came into my life and showed me what family is about, the ten of them living and loving each other. In that same moment of realization I realized my father had saved ten lives when giving up his. According to our premonition, Kathryn would become pregnant ten times. Now I knew why I always considered ten to be my lucky number. Another connection to ten, so far we had helped seven of our close friends become millionaires, three more were soon to join us making the total ten.
I disbelieve we would stop with the first ten that we help, but possibly ten times ten over our lifetime or more likely the next ten years. Those that we have helped, continue doing the same so in a matter of decades who knows how many will come to have a better life.
Our friends Bobby and Mary along with others, now that I think of it eight more, would be in financial ruin if it were not for Kathryn and me. Moreover, so many more with my family’s help have come to have a better life, their businesses now more profitable. Not claiming that we did anything extraordinary, we simply helped where we could. What was the odd thing, we helped others to stand, only to find ourselves standing higher. Our small town has turned around in the few months since we began to help. I know now that some of the people we assisted are helping others either directly or indirectly.
Later that morning Kathryn released, we pay the $2,604 and make a doctor’s appointment for next week. That amount of money seemed a little high for the short amount of time Kathryn was here. However, we had certain things that we required that most families would not opt for having. The two thousand six hundred and four dollars hard for most families to afford was rather easy for Kathryn and I.