GEN II: Chapter 21

The morning went by fairly quickly, the only difference in routine was that it was remarkably quiet in the house. Every once in a while you could hear a sigh, or a quiet sob coming from one family member or another. They each missed Kenya. The triplets had school this day, and they did attend, though they would have rather stayed home with Hayden, Isabel and Jenni. Hayden told them they had to go in, so the grownups could get ready for the funeral this afternoon.

"We just have too many things to do to have you guys here." Hayden told them. "It would be easier for you guys to be in school too you know."

The boys tried again to get their father to let them cut today and help out. Unfortunately the bus had pulled up and Hayden ushered them on to it before they could really argue anymore.

Hayden waved to his boys as the bus pulled away. He turned to go inside and get ready to leave and passed Jenni on her way out. She was on her way to pick up Chase, he would not come voluntarily.




When Jenni pulled up to his house, Chase was just about to leave. Jenni stopped him. "Where do you think your going?" She asked.

"Uh, I was just going... grocery shopping." Chase answered, with hesitation. Then he let out a sigh. "I just don't think I can come. No one really likes me anyway, she was the life of the family...not me."

"Nonsense!" Jenni argued. "You are my son, and we all love you. Even though you can be a pain. We want you around. Don't think you can just disappear because your wife is gone. You can't. You know Hayden's boys love to hang out with you, you couldn't abandon them. You're their favorite uncle!"

"I'm almost their only uncle. Damien doesn't come around very much you know." Chase said. His words stung Jenni a little bit. He was right, Damien didn't come around as much as she would like. She passed off an excuse on his behalf, something about 'artists are always really busy.'

"Look, your coming. Period. Now get in the car." Jenni insisted. She pulled him by the arm to the passenger seat and drove home.

*Meanwhile*

Hayden had gotten dressed and left right after Jenni did. He was going to the mausoleum to pick up the gravestone they had gotten made for Kenya. He signed some papers stating that she was to be placed in their family cemetery, not in the public yard.

On his way back to the house he thought about his boys. He knew the guests would be arriving really soon, if not already. Making a quick decision and a quick right turn, Hayden went to the school to pick up the triplets. Originally Hayden wanted to keep the kids' sadness at bay, and send them to school to distract them. Now he was considering that they really might want to attend her funeral. After all they knew, and loved Kenya too. Hayden went in and pulled them out for the rest of the day. Then took them home.

At the same time Hayden and the boys pulled into the drive, so did Jenni. Also right then, some guests had been coming in as well. Each had the same expression on their faces. Charlie called it the 'funeral face'. It was a mixture of sadness and pity for the remaining family.

Jenni invited everyone inside.

Jenni made sure to speak with every guest and thank them for coming. She really appreciated them all being there. Chase was pretty allusive, he was not to fond of the crowd of people with them. He would have preferred to keep this with just the family.

Jenni made some dinner for everyone and also tended the bar for a while. Drinks were served and everyone mingled with each other talking of memories with Kenya. Some people were more looking for gossip than just conversation. Hayden heard questions like "Why didn't she have kids?" and "Where is Kenya's husband?" At that question Hayden looked around. Where was Chase? Hayden looked for him, but never found him. He assumed Chase left, which he thought was kind of rude.

Jenni was happy to see that Damien had come as well. She talked to him for a while to see how he was doing. He told her that he was good, and promised to come over a little more often.

By nightfall everyone said their goodbyes, and most of the guests had gone. When almost everyone had left Chase emerged from somewhere to thank Jenni for hosting the service. He appreciated it very much, though he did not show it.

Jenni placed Kenya's headstone in the family cemetery next to some beautiful pink flowers that she knew Kenya would have loved. She stood for a moment and talked to Kenya, and also made a visit to Alan's grave. She told him to make sure Kenya was okay with her new place.

The following morning, Jenni slept in and the boys came down for food. Hayden had his breakfast with his kids and sent them off to school. Isabel made her appearance shortly after, and Hayden sat with her while she ate. Isabel told Hayden that the fireplace was broken.

"For some reason none of the smoke goes out the chimney, it all comes back in the house." She said. "We can't build a fire in it at all."

"Okay, I'll take a look at it." Hayden told her. "Good, it will give me something to do today. I'm feeling kind of restless."

Isabel laughed at her husband. "That's because your getting old. Your brain is trying to deny it's age. It's your birthday today guy, get over it." Isabel gently chided her love and smiled at him. Hayden chuckled and nodded at Isabel, then went off to fix the fireplace.

He finished the repairs, and started a fire for comfort. After he was done, he looked around for something else to keep his hands busy, but found nothing of interest. He would have gone to invent something but did not want to get wrapped up. After all he had promised his wife he wouldn't. The basement did hold an exercise machine though, and that sounded like it was good enough to occupy his time.

Jenni did some laundry, in the newly refurbished laundry room. The family had finally gotten the basement sectioned off and built a separate room for all the laundry things they needed. It was finally organized. While the clothes washed, Jenni practiced her piano skills. She was getting pretty good, but not as good as James had become. He was quite talented. Pretty soon Isabel joined Jenni and had a small jam session, with just the two of them. They enjoyed playing together.

James, Cedric and Charlie came home and did their homework right away. They knew it was their dad's birthday today and had stopped and gotten him a cake on the way home. After finishing their work they set the cake out and called everyone in.



Hayden was honestly surprised. He didn't really think of celebrating in anyway. Almost did not want to, but he did. Each birthday was special, even the ones that make you old. After all, wrinkles are just proof of knowledge and experience right? He blew out his candles, but did not make a wish. He had everything he wanted right there in that room with him. For some reason he thought of retirement. He had not reached the top yet though, so he was not ready to do that. Hayden still had to give it his best, he wanted so much to be that pro athlete his father always said he would be.

Everyone sat down to have some cake, no one had had dinner yet, so they were all hungry. Since it was late in the evening, after the celebration and cake the family got ready for bed.


"Quite and old man you've become." Isabel said to Hayden. "Are you sure you can keep up with your boys in your old age??" She smiled a smile full of love as she joked with Hayden.

"I'll show what old men can do!" With that he scooped her up in his arms and took her to bed. He proved that night that that old man still had the 'old stuff' he had before. Maybe even better now than it was then.