Part 588
Sarah’s brothers slowly began to appear during breakfast with their wives and the rest of the grandchildren who had been allowed to skip school that day. Mr. Taylor had insisted that the entire family gather that morning for an important announcement.
Mr. Taylor herded the family into the family room and with Stephanie by his side, began, “It is such a joy to have ALL my family here this week. Stephanie and I want to share this wonderful news with all of you. We are getting married on Friday. It’ll be a simple service here at the house and I would like to have my family here with me. Sarah, do you think you could get Jesse here?”
“I guess so, Dad,” answered Sarah looking at Howie.
Howie spoke up, “I’ll call Mami later and make the necessary arrangements.”
Becca was stunned by the news as Mr. Taylor went on to say, “I know that ONE of my sons isn’t really happy with the news.”
“Dad, I think it’s wonderful even if my bonehead brother doesn’t. And just so you’ll know…that same bonehead brother had Howie and me thinking the worst when we arrived today.”
“Sarah, I’m NOT getting better but Stephanie is a tremendous help.”
“’Da’, what about Nana?” asked Rebecca tearfully. “Don’t you still love her?”
Rebecca was sitting with Howie and Sarah and Howie pulled her closer into a hug as Mr. Taylor explained tenderly, “Sure I do, sweetheart, and I think she would be happy for me. This isn’t about my love for your grandmother; it’s about getting on with my life, well, what’s left of it. This is why I wanted all of you here. I don’t know what your parents have told you but I want to tell you myself.”
“Dad, do you really think you should go into this?” asked Rusty.
“Son, I need them to understand too. I know how hard this is on the all of you but I need to do this while I’m still somewhat clear. Stephanie is going to need ALL of you to help her when I can’t function any longer.”
Mr. Taylor took a seat and motioned for the grandchildren to join him. They gathered around him on the floor while the adults got comfortable. Sarah reached over to take Becca’s hand squeezing it reassuringly.
“I have a disease called Alzheimer’s and it affects my brain. Your Nana did her best to keep you from seeing it but I’m getting worse. One day, I won’t recognize you and my only memories will be those in the past. I may call you by another name, someone you remind me of….like your Aunt Sasa reminds me of Nana.” Mr. Taylor looked at his daughter and smiled as she put her head on Howie’s shoulder and tried to hide her tears from him. “I want you to know though that you will always be in my heart. I don’t want ANY of you,” and he looked around the room to include Becca and Nick and all of Sarah’s sisters-in-law, “to EVER doubt that. Each one of you are very dear to me.” Mr. Taylor took a deep breath and reached for Stephanie to join him. “Stephanie is six weeks pregnant with my child and as I deteriorate, she’ll need your help.”
A tense silence gripped the room; the grandchildren not knowing what to say and the adults expecting one of the others to say something.
Sarah was the one to speak up, “Daddy, I think it’s wonderful. We’ve all had ENOUGH sadness and upheaval in our lives. It’s time to have something to celebrate and I know Mama would be thrilled.”
Sarah’s excitement spread through the room and everyone began to chatter happily about the news. The relief on Mr. Taylor’s face was plain and he slipped his arm around Stephanie pulling her to him. The one person’s support he’d wanted was there and it meant the world to him.