Chapter Five
The next day, Shannon woke up slowly. She had slept well, which hadn’t happened very often lately. She got up, put her dressing gown on, and walked downstairs into the kitchen.
She was surprised to see Anne and Joseph sitting at the kitchen table, eating breakfast. “You two are up early.” She commented.
The two looked at her strangely. “Mum, it’s 11:30.” Joseph said. “This is normal for us.”
Shannon looked at her watch in surprise. “My goodness, so it is. I dad no idea I’d slept so long.”
“That’s okay Mum.” Anne answered. “It’s not like you had to be at work at 6 am or anything.”
Shannon chuckled. “I know. For a change, eh?”
Joseph heaved an exasperated sigh. “Why do you say that? You sound so… Canadian!”
She looked at her son in amazement. “Really? That’s astounding, seeing as how I am Canadian!”
Anne laughed as Joseph rolled his eyes. “I know that. But it doesn’t mean you have to talk like it.”
Shannon put her hands on her hips and faced her insolent child. “I am very proud of my Canadian heritage, thank you very much. And I had hoped that you three were as well.” She looked at the pair of them, considering, for a long moment. “In fact, I think I’m gonna have to do something about it.”
“Something about what?” Thomas asked, walking through the back door.
Shannon looked at his sweaty appearance. “Where were you?”
“I went for a run.” He shrugged and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge.
She shook her head in amusement. “Sometimes I wonder if there are any of my genes in the three of you.”
“Sure there are Mum.” Thomas answered. “Somewhere.” All four of them laughed. “So what were you talking about when I came in?” Thomas continued a moment later.
“Well, your brother was criticizing me for sounding so Canadian, and I realized that you three need some education about your Canadian heritage.” Shannon answered.
Thomas shot a glare at his brother. “How?” he asked warily.
“I hadn’t got that far yet.” She admitted. “But I’m seriously considering sending you to Edmonton for a few weeks for a crash-course.”
All three of her children looked at her with horror on their faces. “You’re not serious, are you Mum?” Anne asked slowly.
“I’m not sure. I’ll discuss it with your father.” She answered seriously, then chuckled. “Oh, c’mon guys. It wouldn’t be that bad.”
A few hours later, Shannon was sitting in the living room once again, reading her latest mystery, and drinking a cup of hot chocolate. She was rubbing her abdomen absently when Joseph walked in.
“Hi Mum.” He said, sitting on the floor in front of her and resting his chin on her knee.
“Hi Sweetie.” She put down her book. “What’s up?”
“We were just wondering if you were up for round two.” He asked.
Shannon grinned. “Sure. Let me just make a quick trip to the bathroom. I’ll be right back.”
When she returned, she found everyone already assembled in the room. “Hi Auntie Shannon.” Dakota said as Shannon sat down on the couch and tucked her feet under her.
“Hi,” she smiled. “You guys want more of this?” she sounded slightly surprised.
“Yeah, your stories are really interesting.” Keanett answered, and Anne smiled at the irony of his comment.
“Let’s go through a different box today.” Shay suggested.
“Alright. Which one?”
One box was selected and opened in front of Shannon. On the top, carefully folded, were the christening gowns that the triplets had worn.
“Wow, they’re so tiny!” Casey exclaimed.
“It’s hard to imagine I was ever that small.” Thomas said, gingerly holding up his gown.
“Yeah.” Anne and Joseph echoed.
“Tell us about their christening.” Kealea said. “Did anything exciting happen?”
Shannon smiled. “Nothing that you guys would consider exciting, I don’t think. But Brian and I had a heck of a time trying to choose godparents for three of you!”
“What do you mean?” Jeff asked.
“Well, choosing godparents is a huge responsibility. Whomever you choose is going to be responsible for your child if anything ever happens to you. It’s quite daunting, actually.”
“Who did you end up choosing?” Kevlee asked.
“After much deliberation, it came about that Anne’s godparents are Drew and Nick. Kevin and Aileen are Joseph’s godparents, and Thomas is the godchild of Brian’s brother Harold, and Jessica.” Shannon listed the names off on her fingers.
“Cool.” Scott said.
The triplets carefully folded their tiny gowns and placed them to one side. Asia reached into the box and pulled out a cassette tape. She handed it to Shannon, who examined it closely.
“Why would you save a cassette?” Thomas asked. “No-one uses them anymore. I don’t even think that anyone owns a player anymore.”
Shannon looked at him with a small smile on her face. “Would you do me a favour, Thom?” she asked mildly. “On the floor of the closet in my office is a tape player. If you could bring it in here…”
Thomas gave his mother a look of amused exasperation, but got up and left the room.
“Why do you still have a cassette player?” Kevlee asked.
Shannon grinned. “Would you believe me if I told you that I was a packrat?”
“You?” Asia said in mock disbelief. “No way!”
“You could never be a packrat, Auntie Shannon.” Shay echoed.
“Yeah, you’re way too organized.” Keanett agreed.
All of them laughed, and were still laughing when Thomas returned with the cassette player. He looked puzzled at their laughter, but shrugged it off as he knelt down and plugged it in, then turned back to Shannon. “There you go.”
“Thanks sweetie.” She said, and handed him the tape to put into the machine.
“What are we listening to?” Dakota asked.
Shannon shrugged. “I’m not sure. I didn’t label it.” She admitted with a chuckle.
“Well, we’re about to find out.” Thomas said as he pressed ‘play’.
There was a moment of silence, then a soft melody began to play. Soon a voice began to sing.
"Even though we’re always apart
You know you’ll still have my heart
No matter what people say or do
Know that, my love, it’s always you
Despite what I may have done
You are my world, the sky, the sun…”
“Oh! I know who that is!” Shannon exclaimed.
All twelve of them looked at her blankly. “Is it Da?” Joseph asked tentatively.
“No, it’s not Da,” Shannon answered. “But you’re on the right track.”
“Is it Uncle Nick?” Dakota asked.
“Yeah, this is Nick’s song. Or, should I say, Drew, Asia, and Shay’s song.”
“Excuse me?” Asia said. “How can this be our song?”
Shannon smiled. “You guys ready for another long story?”