40 years in a Heartbeat

"Ginger, what are you looking at?", Linda asked her sister-in-law & very best friend.

Ginger moved away from the window where she was watching Jeff outside. "Oh nothing, I just can’t believe it has been 40 years since I chased Jeff down on that train & married him."

"Oh, Mom, I think your & Dad’s wedding sounded very romantic," chimed in Susan, on of Jeff & Ginger’s 3 children.

"Yes, well, we caught enough grief about it from both of your grandmothers, that’s for sure."

Linda started giggling as she recalled the reactions of both her mother & Mrs. Szabo.

"They did what?!" both of them had screamed.

Jeff walks in the room. "What is so funny? When did you get here, Suzi-Q?" Jeff kisses his daughter on the forehead.

"I thought I’d come early & help Mom & Aunt Linda with the party preparations. It is the very least I could do with all the work they did on my wedding last month."

Ginger watched her husband talk to their daughter, her face was beaming with pride. Linda nudged Ginger & asked if the boys would be able to make it home for the celebration. "Well, Steve won’t be able to make it, because both Joey & Stephanie have Chicken pox. And Tommy has a ballgame, but is going to come straight here afterwards."

Just then the backdoor opened up. Michael & Emma walked in carrying trays of food. "Good Lord, baby brother, what all have you got there?" asked Jeff.

"Just some food for the party," explained Michael as he set his tray down & took his wife’s out of her hand. Michael went to kiss Linda on the cheek. "How is my beautiful sister doing? Now that you are the Mayor of our fair city, we never get to see you!"

"I know, I rarely get to see my own daughter anymore! That reminds me, Becky sends her love to everyone."

40 years in a heartbeat pt2

Jeff stared at his sister, his conversation with Ginger still echoing in his mind from that very morning. "If you would have told me a few years ago that Linda would ever smile again, Jeff, I would have told you you were insane." "C’mon, Ginger, she can’t mourn Phil’s death forever." "How can you be so insensitive, he was murdered for pete’s sake" "Do we have to talk about this now? You said it yourself, Linda is doing fine. Besides, I want to enjoy the anniversary of the day I became the luckiest man alive. It’s not everyday that a man is forced to marry a beautiful woman aboard a train." "FORCED? Why Jeff Metcalf we can change that on this very day!" Jeff was still smiling, picturing the grin on Ginger’s face as she said that.

"My Mom & Dad will be over to help out as soon as all the boys have called", explained Emma.

"How are all of your brothers, Emma? Your mother must be worried sick with her boys all over the country like that!" Ginger knew exactly how Gina felt, her oldest son, Steven, was 35 now & married with two kids of his own. They lived in Chicago & although her & Jeff loved to visit, they wished they could see their grandchildren more often. Tommy followed in his dad’s footsteps & was playing ball for the Indians. Thank heavens Susan & her husband decided to settle in Riverrun.

"Actually, Dad is more worried about Peter than anything. He left for Italy yesterday. John & Doug are both in California & Billy is living in Maine." Emma sat down in a chair next to Susan.

Linda started thinking about her daughter, Rebecca Anne. Their relationship was very strained. As if she was able to read Linda’s thoughts, Ginger said, " You are thinking about Becky aren’t you?" "Every since Mother’s death last year, she has distanced herself from everyone, especially me. They were so close!"

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