New Addition

Chapter 13

“Don’t you dare turn this around and make it about me!”  His finger pointed at his older brother, Luke leapt to his feet from his place at Emma’s kitchen table, almost knocking over his chair in the process.

Reid had, up until now, refrained from intervening but he was getting closer by the minute.  He was just glad the babies were upstairs with Emma, Ethan, and Natalie.  The three had taken charge of dressing the infants for their Christening while Luke dealt with Aaron.

“When you visited we spent hours together talking about fatherhood and the fact that I’d finally get the opportunity no one thought would ever happen.”

“Obviously you didn’t spend enough time keeping your brother occupied.”  Reid knew the moment he let his thought slip from his lips he had made a mistake.

“Reid, you’re not helping, so either keep your mouth shut or leave the room.”

Raising his hands in surrender, Reid then stuffed a homemade muffin in his mouth to keep it occupied.

“How dare you criticize me?  You’re the judgmental idiot who's changing his mind about me being a godparent to those kids because of one mistake.  When did you get so holier-than-thou, Luke?”

“When I decided to take responsibility for my actions.  Or how about when I became an adult and decided to act like one rather than acting on instant impulses to have my every need met.  That’s what children do, Aaron, not grown-ups.”

“Well excuse me, Mr. Grown-up.  I guess we all can’t be as perfect as you.”  Aaron glared at Luke.  “So who’s usurped my rightful role in the lives of my brother’s kids?”

Luke glanced at Reid.  He wisely continued to remain silent, deciding not to open his mouth unless asked to do so.

“Reid and I have four godparents selected who we think would be able to take care of the children should something happen to both of us.”

“I guess, with a sea of people far more mature than me to choose from, it was easy.”  Aaron’s expression was stern as he continued to glare at Luke.

“No, Aaron, it wasn’t easy.”  Luke’s voice softened.  “It was damn hard because it wasn’t something I’d ever thought to consider.  Why couldn’t you just leave Allison alone this one time?  Haven’t you two been through enough to know that when you get together it never works out well?”

“Sometimes the passion of the moment just carries people away.  It’s not always easy to stay completely in control.  Maybe you and the good doctor here have never experienced that but--”

“Whoa!”  Reid wasn’t going to let Aaron go any further with that train of thought.  “Your brother and I have been carried away many times, sometimes in places that surprised even us.  Just because we don’t actually screw around, doesn’t mean we don’t, and can’t, get lost in the heat of the moment.  It’s just with each other rather than someone who’s already taken.”

“It wasn’t as if Allison wasn’t a willing partner.”

“That makes it even worse.  Casey’s my oldest friend and you and his wife slept together and are having a kid together now.  Why couldn’t you leave your past with her where it belonged, in the past?”

“Obviously some things are meant to be, Luke.”

“Neither of you seem to be all that happy about the outcome.”

“I’ll admit the pregnancy was somewhat of an unexpected surprise, but it is my child, so I will be what you don’t think I am, that is, mature, and accept my responsibilities. I fully intend to be part of his, or her, life.  Hopefully, if my family welcomes me, I’ll stay in Oakdale.  Otherwise, Allison can move to Seattle.”

Shaking his head, Reid looked at Aaron.  “Romeo, you do realize that if she leaves her internship part way through it won’t be easy for her to get her medical license.  She’ll be taking ten steps, maybe more, backward.”

“Damn, I forgot she was on the way to becoming the next Dr. Stewart.”

Luke eyed his brother.  “It seems there’s a lot you forget when you’re in the mood to screw around.”

“Am I still invited to my niece and nephew’s Christening?”

“Of course you are.”

“So, when are you going to tell me who took my place?”

“You’ll find out later,” Reid chimed in.  “Romeo, you’re coming alone today, aren’t you?  Casey is going to be here and we don’t want him to be uncomfortable.”

“Since he’ll be here with a man, don’t you think he may well already feel uncomfortable?”

“Not if his ex isn’t in the vicinity.  His family seems to be pretty damn supportive considering the surprise and the circumstances.”

“Fair enough, doc.  No Allison at the Snyder farm today.”  Aaron stood up from the table and approached Luke.  “He’s pretty damn protective of you and your friends.”

Gazing at Reid, Luke smiled.  “He’s pretty damn protective of anything or anyone that has to do with me.  It can be one of his biggest faults, but I consider it one of his greatest attributes.”

“I never thought you’d be the one with the once-in-a-lifetime relationship.  I always figured it would be Abigail or Natalie.”

“Maybe our sisters will be equally as lucky.  Let’s just hope they don’t find men like you.”

“Ouch, that hurt, little bro.”

“Good.”

“Come on, one hug for your big brother before the invasion starts.”

Reid watched Luke’s hesitation as he finally gave in and hugged his brother.  Reid hadn’t realized Luke and Aaron had spoken casually about him becoming a godparent.  It made the confrontation all the more painful to watch as the two brothers had to start dealing with the consequences of Aaron and Allison’s affair on the day their kids would become a part of the fold.

Uninterested in formal religious practice, Reid could care less about these public displays, but he figured if it was important to the Snyders, then as an Oliver-Snyder he had better cooperate.

After Aaron left the room, Luke returned to his seat next to Reid at the table.  “Are you sure we made the right decision about the godparents?”

“I know you get worried about this kind of thing, especially because of your parents, but it’s more of an honor than a life contract.”

“It feels like both, Reid; and I know you don’t like to think about it, but there’s still my kidney.”

“Which is in perfect working order thanks to a donation from Jack, so we will not have to deal with that before these children are eighteen.”

“I hope you’re right.”  Luke sighed.

Reid realized he still had trouble facing the possible negative outcomes in the future regarding Luke’s health.  As far as he was concerned, he was the older of the two and would die first, of complications from some condition brought on by old age.

“About the godparents.  Are you really happy with our selection?”

“It’s a little late to reconsider now, isn’t it?”

“I know you had issues with our final selection.”

“I may have had issues, but I also see the reality of the present versus my reflections from a past long behind us.”

“So, we’re all set?”

“Luke, if you ask me one more time I’m going to flag down four people on the road and ask them to be the godparents.”

“Okay, okay.”  Luke pressed his lips to Reid’s.

Before Reid could take the opportunity to deepen the kiss, Emma opened the door leading from the second floor into the kitchen.  She was carrying their youngest son, and Faith was carrying their daughter.  Parker was behind, keeping his own small children out of the way so the women wouldn’t trip.

“Come on, boys.  These little ones are fast asleep and bundled up, ready for their special outing.”

Faith slowly walked to the table where Luke pulled a chair out for her so she could sit.  “We watched from the window upstairs.  Everyone’s making their way to the pond and the minister arrived with Grandmother, John, and Miriam.  Talk about an overdressed and regal threesome.”

Parker glanced at the group sitting at the table.  “We also saw Aaron head in that direction.  We were kind of pleased to see he didn’t end up getting into his car and taking off.”

Ethan looked from Parker to Reid to Luke.  “He’s our brother.  He wouldn’t screw today up for Luke, Reid, and me.”

Luke smiled at Ethan.  Reid was glad the two had retained their relationship as brothers, despite the unusual dynamics in their home.

“Let’s bring these little crying monsters to the pond so the minister can do his thing and the godparents can get their moment in the limelight.”

Faith stood up again, still holding one of the babies.  “Thank you for asking me to be a godmother.  These children mean the world to me.”

Wrapping an arm around his sister, Luke kissed her on the cheek.  “Just like you meant the world to me when Mom and Dad brought you home.  I really thought of you as mine more than theirs.”

For a moment, Faith rested her head on Luke’s shoulder.  Then she and Parker led the way toward Snyder Pond.

As they approached the waiting crowd, Reid saw the minister standing near the pond with a raised water basin.  It looked like a bird bath, but Reid wisely kept his snide remarks to himself. 

At the front of the group, Reid spotted his mother and Lucinda.  He marveled at how well the two powerful women got along.  Just behind them, standing in a small group were Bob, Kim, Margo, Tom, Chris and his children, Casey, and Jason.  Although it was still big news, Casey’s choice of new partner seemed to be going over better than Reid had expected, considering he was served up with a big side order of shock for all.

Reid still had mixed feelings about their choice of godfather to replace Aaron, but he was willing to accept the sense it made in the grander scheme of things.

When Luke and Reid took the babies from Emma and Faith they moved to their place next to the minister. 

He immediately began the ceremony.  “Would the four godparents please come forward?”

Watching in wonder, as he realized how important each of these individuals had become in their lives, Reid smiled.  Faith and Katie stood closest to the minister, and Mark and Noah stood just beyond them.  Having Noah included in the group might have been a difficult decision, but there was no doubt Noah would love Luke’s children as if they were his own should the worst case scenario arise.

“Ladies and gentlemen, family, and friends.”  The minister spoke in such a way as to masterfully get everyone’s attention without yelling.  “Today we gather to celebrate two new members to our community.  It will be my pleasure to welcome Robert Holden Oliver-Snyder and his sister, Miriam Lily Oliver-Snyder.”

Reid took the opportunity, as the babies were handed to the godmothers, to glance at Bob and his mother.  While Reid’s father and he never had much of a relationship, Bob Hughes made up for that lack in both his actions and deeds from the moment they met.  Reid had initially thought it silly, but Luke insisted they name the children after their parents, ensuring their first names would always bring smiles and their middle names honor those lost tragically years earlier.  This seemed to fit the bill.

As the minister continued the ceremony, Luke laced his fingers with Reid’s.  The two stood together proudly sharing this special moment.

It wasn’t until the ceremony was about to end that Reid noticed Aaron looking away.  Following the track of his brother-in-law’s gaze, he spotted Allison slowly approaching.  He shook his head, hoping the reception in the house wouldn’t become a war between Casey and Allison, neither of whom had been dealing amicably with the other over their impending divorce.

[TBC]

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