| December 1955 |
| The Hailey house was bustling with activity, Gina was nursing her 3-month-old son, Billy, while Emma's birthday cake was baking. Emma, who just turned 10, was entertaining her 3 other brothers in the family room. Gina could hear them faintly singing ring-around-the-rosy. Just as Billy finished nursing, there was a knock at the backdoor. Gina could see her good friends, Ginger & Linda outside with their hands full. "Hello, girls," Gina greeted her guests. Linda had her new baby girl, Rebecca Anne, in her hands. Gina & Linda had their babies on the same day, but since it was Gina's fifth child she had already adjusted. Where as Linda still looked beat from the lack of sleep. "Let me take her off your hands, Linda, I will just place her in the bassinette with Billy." Gina took Becky and laid her down next to a sleeping Billy. "Thank You, Gina, I don't know how you do it with 4 other children around?" Gina just looked at Ginger & chuckled. Ginger's two kids already went into the other room to play. "Susie is getting around pretty fast now, Ginger." Gina was happy to see her friends, it is hard to get out with 4 small boys. "I know it," Ginger sighed. "I have the most curious 1-year-old around, not to mention my 3-year-old terror." Linda couldn't help looking at Ginger, there was a calmness about her since Stevie came along. "I need to go get the casserole I made out of the car," Ginger went out the backdoor & was back in a few seconds. "I found a stray, in the driveway." Anne Metcalf-Kahn walked through the door behind Ginger, carrying a fresh baked apple pie, Mikey was tagging behind her. "Mikey, Emma & the other kids are in the family room if you want to go in there." Mike left the room to find Emma. "Oh my, Anne, he looks more & more like Al everyday," exclaimed Gina. "Yes, he does, doesn't he?," Anne's face was full of pride, she always looked that way when someone talked about any of her children. "Gina, I was talking to Mrs. Kincaid, from my church. She was asking after Charlie & for the life of me I couldn't remember the ages of all your boys." Gina smiled, "Johnny is 5 now, Peter is 4 & Dougie, 2." "I told her he was fine & had a beautiful wife & daughter & 4 healthy, happy boys." As if on cue, Charlie, Jeff, Hank & Al came through the backdoor. "Hi, honey," Charlie kissed Gina on the cheek, making her blush. "We got the pink bike Emma wanted" Jeff looked at Gina & said, "Remind me the next time Charlie wants to take a quick trip to Cleveland, to just keep my butt at home." Hank & Al couldn't help laughing. Charlie playfully thumped Jeff on the back of the head, "Oh, c'mon, Mutt you had a good time.". |