So, do you guys think you can handle another Christmas story from me? If so, here goes!

The Polar Express

Chapter 1

He watched her waddle across the Bullpen to replace a file. He smiled to himself. Although he would never admit it to his very pregnant wife, he loved the way she waddled under the weight of the firstborn child she carried. She had always been beautiful, but the warm glow that pregnancy had given her made her beauty extraordinary. Even at eight and a half months pregnant, she still stirred his passions. He had to fight the urge to go to her, sweep her off her feet and carry her to the nearest, unoccupied conference room and show exactly what she did to him, pregnant or not.

He looked at the weather report he had pulled up his computer screen and sighed. The headline screamed…THE POLAR EXPRESS Is Expect To Steam Into Wisconsin By Christmas Eve. He ran his hands through his dark hair. He needed to try one more time to convince his tenacious wife to postpone their trip until after the baby was born. He knew it was an exercise in futility and that he would be met with the same argument she had given him since they found out the baby’s due date. He shook his head and smiled at the memory…

“Jack, the baby isn’t due until January 7th. We will be back at home before New Year’s. We promised your grandparents we would spend Christmas with them and the rest of your family. Plus, it’s their Sixtieth wedding anniversary. That only happens once in a lifetime. We just can’t miss it. Besides, we have invited Bobby and Tara and Myles and Lucy to tag along. They and their families have already changed their plans. We can’t ask them to change their plains again,” she had argued.

“But there are travel restrictions when you are nine months pregnant, which you will be by the time Christmas Eve rolls around,” Jack had pointed out.

“I have already discussed that with Dr. Reaves. We won’t be able to fly, but she assured me that travel by car would be safe. We will just have to stop every hour to let me walk around and we won’t be able to travel more than five or six hours a day.”

“But it’s a sixteen hour drive to White Lake, Wisconsin. It’ll take three and a half days to make the trip by car.” He knew he was grasping at straws. The look in his wife’s eyes had told him the decision had been made.

“Then we will leave on December 19th, after my next doctor’s appointment. If Dr. Reaves can give us the all clear and we can be on our way,” she had smiled brightly.

Jack had sighed heavily. “But Sue, this is our first baby. You know as well as I do that first babies can be early…”

“Or late,” she had interrupted. He had groaned as she continued with her argument. “Jack, no one except God knows exactly when a baby will be born. Not even if it is a scheduled C-section. Everything will be fine. Besides, your grandfather is an obstetrician.”

“A retired obstetrician,” Jack had corrected. “Gramps is 82 years old, Sue. He has been retired for ten years and it has been nearly twenty since he delivered his last baby.”

“But you trust him, don’t you Jack?”

“Of course I trust him, Sue.”

“Then it’s settled.”

Jack groaned to himself as his mind drifted back to the weather report staring at him from the computer screen. He had lived through Wisconsin winters. Most Christmases had been white, the snow falling softly into soft drifts. The arrival of the Polar Express was another story all together. The winds would howl and the snow would blow in sheets, rendering it impossible to leave the confines of the indoors. If it were to arrive while they were at his grandparents, they would be safe and warm. But if Sue were to go into labor, then there would be no way to get her to the hospital. It was just too dangerous. He loved his wife and unborn child too much to risk it. He would just have to convince her.

He waited until she made it back to her desk, a soft smile crossing his lips as she waddled past. He secretly hoped that this would not be the only little miracle that would grace their lives. However, he knew this was not the time to broach the subject as he watched Sue gingerly lower herself to the chair and gently massaged her back. As he turned back to his computer screen the weather forecast screamed at him… THE POLAR EXPRESS Is Expect To Steam Into Wisconsin By Christmas Eve. No time like the present, he groaned. He hauled himself from his chair and purposefully walked to his wife’s desk.

He sat down on the corner of her desk waited until she acknowledged his presence with a bright smile. He loved that smile. He loved the way her nose crinkled slightly as her lips curled. He loved the way her eyes danced with brilliance all their own whenever she was gazing at him. Get a grip, Jack, he told himself as he took a deep breath. “Sue, sweetheart, about this trip to Wisconsin…”

“Yes, Jack?” She batted her lashes at him and he just about came unglued. He was amazed at just how sexy he found his wife. Just being near her was sweet torture that he hoped to endure every day for a very, very long time.

“I still think we should reconsider. I know everyone will understand…” his words ended as she pressed a gentle finger against his lips. He was relieved he was sitting down as his knees turned to jelly at her lovingly tender touch.

“Jack, we’ve discussed this already. Let’s just wait and see what Dr. Reaves says tomorrow. Better have your bags packed just in case,” Sue teased. She leaned forward and brushed a feathery kiss across his lips.

Her touch was his undoing. He groaned as she leaned back in her chair, taking her touch from him. He would like nothing better than to take her home and hold her the rest of the day, reveling in her gentle curves that held their unborn child. Instead, he settled for briefly laying his hand against her stomach, feeling their little miracle moving gently against his palm. Leaning forward, he kissed her cheek before hopping off the desk and heading back to his own, paper strewn one. As he sat down, he allowed himself one last, lingering gaze at his lovely wife. She was loving, kind, tender, wonderful and infallibly obstinate. He knew it was futile to try to sway his wife once her mind was made up. All he could do was pray that the Polar Express would be running behind schedule this year.

More later
Kim

Me likely this story Kim! I love your writing!

Kim, what a fantastic start! I can't wait to read more!

Jack, I have a feeling you'll remember this trip for the rest of your life

wonderful start, jack give it up you have no chance of changing her mind

cath

Kim, I adore your writing, it's so magical!! I think I can just about stand another story....

Just kidding, I'm so excited!!!

Jen

Well it's official, you've made me late for work. I was supposed to sneak on and print up my catch up stories to read on the way to work but I couldn't resist stopping to read this one here and of course I couldn't just skim it, I had to savor every word and the time slipped by and....ack

kav

very cute start.... i can't wait to find out what happens. I know sue and jack won't get stuck in the storm. just hope the baby will wait till they return to DC.
UPDATE SOon.

wonderful start Kim jack your not going to win
so give it up now but more soon please pretty polease Kim Lin

Yay! Another Kim story! I love the fact that Jack and Sue are already married, but I don't think she'll be able to hang on until after Christmas. She seems ready to pop as it is. I love how Jack still finds her sexy, even though she's a cow. It shows how in love they really are.

Oh, Kim, please post again soon. I can't wait to see what happens.

I'm loving it....perfect....

~laura michelle~

This is going to be soooo good. I love the way Jack describes his love for Sue. I have a suspicion the baby will be born at Grandpa's house!

Kim!!!!! Amazing start! I can't wait for more!

Em

I'm going to love this story, Kim!! Wait a minute, I ALREADY love this story!!!

Joy

I'm ecstatic! I love, love love the description line, Kim. J/S fluff is quality fluff, especially from you!

Great start!

so far i'm really liking it.

luv the story so far and could you post more please

You guys are great! Thank's for reading and commenting. Kav, I'm really sorry I made you late for work


Chapter 2

The heavens were conspiring against Jack Hudson, he was convinced of it. He had sat in the exam room waiting with his near-naked wife for the final verdict on the Wisconsin trip. Sitting there, he had prayed that God would do something to convince the stubborn Susan Thomas Hudson that the trip was a bad, very bad idea.

He had groaned as Dr. Reaves proclaimed his wife the perfect pregnant specimen. “Everything is just fine. The baby has dropped, but there is no evidence that you have dilated. I’d say you have at least three more weeks until junior makes an appearance.”

“So that means we can go to Wisconsin as planned?” Sue had asked. Jack gritted his teeth and tried to smile, hoping he could come up with another plan to sway her into staying in D.C. instead of visiting his family in Wisconsin.

“I don’t see why not.” Dr. Reaves had laughed. “Just let me get a copy of your medical records to take with you just in case.”

So, here they were, heading towards his childhood home. With each passing mile, Jack felt more and more dread entering his body. He just couldn’t shake the feeling that they were making a mistake. He gripped the steering wheel tightly, trying to force the negative feelings away.

Sue sat sideways in the passenger seat, watching her husband clench and unclench his jaw. He had been quiet since they left Dr. Reaves office and she knew why. He was stewing over this trip and what could happen while they were away. She reached over and gently touched his hand. She smiled as she watched it relax at her touch. “Jack. Stop worrying, I’m not worried in the least. Whatever happens will happen. If something were to happen, I trust your grandfather to be able to handle it.”

Sue watched as Jack turned his face slightly so she could see his lips. “It’s not that I don’t trust Pops. I know he can handle anything, he always has. It just…Sue, I could never forgive myself if this trip caused something to happen to you or our baby.” Sue couldn’t hear the tremor in his voice, but she watched as his lips trembled and his eyes misted with unshed tears.

“Jackson Samuel Hudson, you listen to me! Nothing is going to happen to me or our baby. I’m trusting our lives to God. You might not forgive yourself if something happened to us, but I would never forgive myself if something were to happen to your grandparents and we didn’t have the wonderful memories of this Christmas.” Sue knew Dr. and Mrs. Jackson were in excellent health, but they were both in their eighties. Anything could happen. She knew Jack’s grandparents were important to him and she had worked to arrange things in their life so his grandparents could be included. They had planned a spring wedding so the weather would not be too hot for his grandparents. They had married in Wisconsin so his grandparents would not have to travel too far. Now, it looked as if they had even planned the arrival of their firstborn around his grandparent’s sixtieth wedding anniversary. She smiled at how perfect God’s timing was.

She watched as he relaxed a little more, allowing the creases in his forehead to vanish. “I guess I can’t argue with that,” he conceded.

Sue leaned over and kissed her husband on the cheek. “That’s more like it, Jack. Now let’s just enjoy the trip.” She knew he knew she was right. With a satisfied smile, she leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes for a short nap.

More later
Kim

Classic Jack...he needs to have a bit more faith in his wife and God!

Maybe if only Jack had trusted his instincts. I have the feeling that this trip may not go so smoothly. Of course, then we'd have a Hudson baby to welcome into the world, wouldn't we? That's always a plus.

I must agree with you kaci jack does have to have more faith Lin

I have to say that this is a great story you have started here. I can't decide if Jack should have more faith, or if he is unsettled in his spirit for a good reason.

I don't like the fact that Jack is wary of taking Sue to Wisconsin. The English student in me is checking for foreshadowing and tone and word choice...and I don't like the future events the aforementioned English student is coming up with. If only she would shut up so I can read this story in peace!

I can't decide if I should be worried about Jack's anxiety -- premonition? Or laugh and swoon at his over protectiveness. Perhaps I will do a bit of both.

kav

poor jack worrying all the way home... i'm sure everything will be fine. It's only for a few days what can go wrong?
UPDate soon.

Jack uneasy feeling is making me uneasy... I think I'll trust Sue that everything is going to be ok!

Em

Another Kim's story! WOOHOO!




I trust you, Kim!

Ornella

jacks' instincts are often pretty accurate and maybe it's himself he lacks the faith in, should things go pear-shaped

cath

What keeps going through my mind is that Jack knows how the weather can get in Wisconsin!! That alone has me worried!!!

Joy

yeah i don't know either...because mostly when he feels something is wrong...it is wrong hmmm

Chapter 3

Jack glanced at his watch as he pulled into the driveway at his grandparent’s farm. It was almost noon. He breathed a sigh of relief, We made it. The sky was a brilliant blue and the air mild for December in Wisconsin. Of course, it was only December 22. A lot could happen in two days.

So far, it had been an uneventful trip and Jack allowed himself to think that maybe, just maybe the weatherman had been mistaken in his prognostication. The Polar Express was no where in sight and he prayed that it would stay that way. Still, he knew how quickly the weather could change. He had grown up in Wisconsin and he had first hand knowledge of how quickly the sky could turn from a brilliant blue to an ominous gray.

He gazed over at his wife, sleeping peacefully in the seat beside him. He couldn’t help but noticed the slight furrow to her brow. He only hoped it was a bad dream and not the discomfort of the beginning stages of labor that caused the crease. Sue had been restless over the last few hours and he was concerned.

“Don’t worry Jack. It’s just Braxton-Hicks, sweetheart. Trust me, I’ll know when labor hits. Just relax” That’s what she had told him at the last rest stop before gently kissing away any remaining coherent thoughts.

Relax. That’s easy for her to say, Jack snorted. Well, at least we made it here and Sue is still pregnant. He allowed some of the tension from the trip to start to drain away as he unfastened his seatbelt and reached over to unfastened Sue’s. They had arrived at his grandparents’ house. If anything happened now, he knew his grandfather could…Oh No! he groaned as he watched his grandfather come sprinting down the porch steps.

***********
Sarah Anne Jackson watched as her husband scanned the driveway from his perch on the kitchen counter. Whitney ‘Whit’ Jackson was as giddy as a schoolboy. Schoolboy! That’s what Whit thinks he is, a schoolboy. That’s probably why he broke his arm yesterday, thinking he could play football with the great-grans, she chuckled.

She had been married to Whit Jackson for almost sixty years and the man was still a boy at heart. Him sitting on the kitchen counter waiting for the arrival of his favorite grandson and granddaughter-in-law accentuated his boyishness. She remembered the twinkle in his brown eyes that had set her heart aflutter when they first met. Of course, she knew Whit had plans to go to medical school and she had no intentions of getting involved with a man who would be in school that long. So, they had danced around one another for three years, teasing and bantering while trying to hide their true feelings. Finally, it came time for Whit to leave for medical school and Sarah Anne felt her heart breaking. She knew at that moment that her heart had been captured and she didn’t want it back. When he revealed his feelings for her, she had launched herself into his arms and held on. She held on all the way through medical school, all the way through the birth of four children, and she was still hanging on for dear life.

Jack and Sue’s courtship and marriage reminded her of her own. Jack shared so much of his grandfather’s boyishness and speed when it came to a relationships. She knew Jack and Sue had danced around each other for as long as they had. She also knew that it was Sue’s imminent departure for New York that had lit a fire under Jackson Samuel Hudson. She knew that once Jack had declared his feelings for Sue, Sue had launched herself into Jack’s arms, holding on for dear life. She knew that, God willing, they would hold on as long as she and Whit had.

Sarah Anne smiled at the thought of her baby girl’s oldest son. Jack Hudson was the apple of their eyes and he knew it. His wife, Sue, however, was quickly pushing Jack out of the way for favorite “gran” position. Of course, her Jack wouldn’t mind a bit. She knew that Sue was the apple of his eye.

“Yippee! They’re here!” Whit’s enthusiastic outburst broke Sarah Anne from her revere. She saw him jump of the counter and sprint out the door and down the porch steps before the car had come to a complete stop. She laughed and wiped her hands on her apron, removing it before joining her husband with the body of a man and the heart of a boy. He’s such a little boy, she laughed. And she knew she wouldn’t want it any other way.

More later
Kim

Very cool...I love it....


~laura michelle~

they seem so cute!

I already love grandpa and grandma !!!!

I'm just laughing at Jack's behaviour. I could see grandpa deliver the little Hudson.

Jack's grandparents sound delightful.

i love the reflection on their long and happy marriage

cath

Oh-oh if Dr. Gramps is down a hand, who is going to deliver Sue's baby if she goes into labor early?

kav

that was so sweet love granma and grampa Hudson
jack is so much like them very slow in the beging but in for
A very long and happy marrage but im also thinking that
DR gamps may be nedded very soon hope so this is wonderful
and Kim more soon please Lin

I love Sarah Anne and Whit!!!

I'm wondering along with Kav - if Sue goes into labor methinks Jack may have to do the actual delivering with Grandpa Whit talking him through it!!!

Joy

I love Jack's grandparents ... They remind me a little of mine

Em

I can't believe he decided to play football with the great-grand-children. Now he's down a hand... hm... maybe if the time comes, he can show Jack how to do it...

If you laugh and swoon at the same time, do you make a "henyah" kind of noise???

Fantastic posts Kim, I love all their inside thoughts!!!

Jen

that's so sweet

I just catch up with your story and I love it!!
poor jack, looks like these holidays are gonna be pretty stressful for him!!

hahaha.... speed?...

That was so nice how Jack's grandparents danced around each other just like Jack and Sue did. I wonder if it's some sort of family tradition?

Thanks for the replies guys. You guys are right. With Gramps bum arm, things could get interesting. Of course, they may all be in for a lovely, quiet holiday

Chapter 4

Whit Jackson was down the steps and across the yard opening Sue’s door before Jack could exit the car. He gently eased his granddaughter-in-law from the confines of the car then pulled her into a gentle embrace. “There’s my Susie-Q,” he smiled, remembering to keep his lips in Sue’s line of vision.

He placed a gentle hand against the swell of Sue’s stomach and felt the tightening of the muscles and the ardent movement of the little one inside. He started to ask if making the trip had been a wise decision, but glancing at Jack and seeing the concerned etched on his grandson’s face made him hold his tongue. “This little one sure is active, sweetheart,” he said instead.

“Tell me about it,” Sue groaned.

Whit chuckled as he gently led Sue to the house. “Let’s get you and the little one inside.”

“Hey Gramps,” Jack chuckled. “Where are you taking my wife?”

“Inside the house where it’s warm Jackson,” Whit quipped, smiling at his favorite grandson.

“You’d better watch getting too friendly with another man’s wife, Gramps. Looks like you might have had one too many encounters with a disgruntled husband.” Jack smiled.

Whit followed his Jack’s gaze to his plaster encased arm. He gave his grandson a wide grin. “You mean this old thing? This is from an encounter with an unruly bunch of great-grandchildren and a football. If it had been a husband, I’d have come away without a scratch.”

He watched with amusement as Jack’s eyes widened, “You mean Maggie’s kids are here?”

Before Whit could answer, he heard the rumbling of feet running across the weather beaten porch. As if moving on cue, he watched as Jack was tackled to the ground by two young boys and a young girl. He chuckled as his grandson struggled to free himself from the tumbling mass of nephews and niece. Seeing Jack free himself and rub an insulted shin, Whit smirk, “I told you Jack. I’d take an irate husband any day.”

More later
Kim

I love Jack's granddad!

Very cute....


~laura michelle~

I loved the interaction between grandfather and grandson.