The Ten of Them. Chapter 10

In our last chapter we added Sam to our family, since that felt so good, we continue to add new family members. Alyssa becomes Sam’s adoptive grandmother, Joan and Johnny, Marshall and Misty, her new aunts and uncles, Michelle Collins an aunt, and Judge Thurgood as her great uncle. Of course all the Edwards will be her relatives once Kathryn and I adopt Sam. That is in the back of my mind right now as we begin to introduce Sam to all her relatives.





Sam looks around the room again and then she giggles, “Do they like to swim?”

Kathryn giggles and says, “My sisters, your aunts love to swim there over here every day practically.

Sam giggles, “I will get to swim a lot.”

I chuckle and say, “Just until you start to prune up a little.” Sam begins a beautiful little girl laugh that gets the attention of everyone.

The Coach says with a bright smile, “Oh look Princess Sam is awake.”

I pick her up and carry her over to her new grandpa. I don’t know why I say it but I say, “Samantha Sheridan Meyer I like to introduce you to your grandfather Michael Edwards.”

Kathryn wraps her arm around me kisses me on the cheek then whispers, “Yes, my husband we will adopt our Princess Sam.”

The Coach just like her natural grandfather takes her into his arms and kisses both her cheeks causing her to giggle merrily. Sam asks, “Grandpa you like to swim too?”

Coach chuckles and says, “I love to swim. Why do you ask?”

Sam explains as everyone listens, “Daddy and Mommy are going to teach me how to swim. But I can’t go swimming if I don’t have someone with me.”

The coach says, “You know I haven’t tried out JJ’s pool yet. I think it’s about time that I do. And I can help you learn to swim too.” Kathryn’s eyes go wide remembering how her Dad taught her how to swim. All the Edwards girls are giggling.

Kathryn says, “That’s okay Dad, JJ and I will teach her.”

Sam shakes her head yes and says, “It’s okay, grandpa you can come swim with me.” Everybody laughs.

Still in his arms the coach introduces Sam to each of his daughters and his sons. Then he introduces her to Judge Thurgood, when he uses great uncle George correct him by saying, “Great uncle just takes too long to say, call me Uncle George Sam.”

Sam giggles and says, “Okay Uncle George.”

Sam comes back to my arms and I introduce her to Misty, Marshall, Joan, Johnny, and Michelle Collins. Samantha giggles saying, “I have two Aunts name Michelle.”

Michelle Collins says, “You can just call me M.C. that’s my nickname.”

Sam giggles and says, “Aunt MC do you like to swim too.”

MC giggles and asks, “You’re just trying to be in the pool as much is possible aren’t you?”

Sam giggles and says, “Just till I prune a little.”

MC giggling says, “I like to swim too, so we will go swimming together too.”

Alyssa calls us over to the dinner she made us. Looking it over my stomach growls and so does Sam’s. We all set down at the table unlike normal Kathryn is not in my lap. Sam has taken Kathryn’s lap. I can learn to live with that. I’m not going to be jealous of my daughters taking up my wife’s time or her attention.

Alyssa has prepared dinner and she said it all on the table, there’s a large bowl with mashed potatoes, another with candied carrots, another with sweet peas, she warmed some bread, and platter with her meatloaf. I expected a large flat meatloaf was there is about three inches high by four inches wide by a foot long. It looks like a traditional meatloaf although little larger. From the look on Johnny’s and Joan’s faces us is not one of her normal dishes but one she cooks on special occasions.

Johnny says, “Mom, you made your special meatloaf, I really love it.”

The smells are intoxicating, Sam and my stomach growl in unison. Kathryn giggles and says, “We better make sure everyone gets a piece before these two eat it all.”

Marshall says, “Alyssa, I don’t think you’re going to have to worry about leftovers.” As Marshall’s stomach lets out a loud growl.

Alyssa with bright happy eyes begins cutting the meatloaf, there’s a stack of plates and she begin serving. Each plate she places a portion of each dish and hands the plate to each person in turn. Of course she gives me a plate first then Kathryn, Alyssa continues serving everyone. Showing remarkable patients Sam waits until everyone has food. Then she says, “Daddy, are you going to feed me?”

I get a fork full of mashed potatoes and hold a couple inches in front of Sam’s face and she leans forward and takes them off the fork quickly. I go back and get some meatloaf and Sam takes it as well. Sam gives a very satisfied sigh as she eats the meatloaf. Before she can swallow I get myself a portion as well. It has to be the easiest decision on what’s the best meatloaf of ever eaten at that point. Alyssa’s meatloaf is heavenly, if they serve it at a restaurant a hundred miles away and charge a hundred dollars a plate I would gladly drive there to buy it. I’m not sure how she did it, but there are three layers of meat loaf separated by cheese. The meatloaf by itself is great, but when you add the cheese it’s outstanding.

Sam now little bit impatient for her next bite as I quickly get her another piece of meatloaf. Next are some carrots, and then back to meatloaf. Kathryn is enjoying her dinner and watching me feed Sam. As fast as Sam is eating, I doubt I’ll get any other than just enough to whet my appetite. It keeps going like that would Sam getting three forks full to my one. Fortunately Sam gets full pretty quick and snuggling in Kathryn’s lap she goes right back to sleep.