A New Beginning

Chapter 2: And Baby Makes Three

"You kids still clean?" Jesse called from the kitchen where he was preparing dinner. It was getting close to time for Jordan and Linda to arrive and he wanted the young'uns looking good.

"Yes sir. We ain't dirty or nothin'." Luke called from the livin' room where he and his cousin were watching cartoons.

"Luke, will ya answer that." Jesse asked him when the phone rang.

"Yes sir." Luke said racing to the phone and picking up the receiver. "Duke farm, this is Luke." He said imitating his uncle, causing Jesse to smile.

"Can I speak to Jesse Duke, please."

"Yes ma'am, hold on please." Luke said. Laying the phone down he ran to the kitchen door. "Uncle Jesse, someone wants to talk to ya."

Jesse picked up the phone and said, "This is Jesse Duke."

"Mr. Duke, this is Nurse Johnson at Tri County Medical Center. I need for you to hold for Dr. Thompson, please."

"Yes ma'am." Jesse said, his fear growing. There was no need for any doctor to be calling him.

"Mr. Duke?" came the male voice on the other end of the line.

"Yes, what's wrong?"

"I'm afraid there's been an accident. Your brother Jordan and his family were involved in an automobile accident just outside of town."

"How bad?"

"I'm sorry to say that your sister-in-law, Linda was killed instantly."

"And my brother?" he asked, sitting down in the chair.

"Jordan lived long enough to tell us to contact you. Mr. Duke he wants you to have the baby. I believe his name is Bo?"

"Yes… it's Bo. Is he alright?" Jesse asked.

"Not a scratch. His parents were smart enough to have him in a baby seat. He wasn't injured, but the poor little thing was terrified. The nurses are all taking care of him right now. How soon can you come?"

"Be there within the hour." Jesse said.

"That's fine. Oh and Mr. Duke, I'm sorry for your loss."

"Thank you. See ya soon." Jesse hung up the phone and sat there for a moment trying to accept the fact that once again his family had been torn apart. All of his brothers, the three of them and their wives, gone. But their legacies lived on in the little ones they left behind.

"What's wrong Uncle Jesse?" Luke asked laying his hand on the man's knee.

Jesse looked down into the faces of his little ones. "We have to go to the hospital. Your Uncle Jordan and Aunt Linda have gone to heaven to be with your mama's and daddy's and ya Aunt Martha."

"We gotta go get Bo. He's gonna live here with us now, ain't he?" Luke asked.

"Yes, he's gonna come home with us now." Jesse answered him.

"We'll be his family, Uncle Jesse." Daisy said hugging her uncle.

"Yeah, and he can share my room. He needs us. Don't worry I'll look after 'em." Luke added.

"I'm proud of you young'uns. Now let's go and get Bo."