by: Essy Jane

“The bride and groom will now read their vows to each other,” Rosco said.

“Beverly, I love you. Today is a very special day. Long ago you were just a dream. This day like a dream come true. For today, Beverly, you have become my greatest joy, my crown. For sweet heart, you have made me your king. Thank you for being what you are to me. With our future as bright as the sun itself, I will care for you, honor and protect you. I would lay down my life for you, Beverly, my friend and my love. Today I give you all of me and ask that would always accept me,” Cooter said. Beverly’s eyes filled with tears.

“Cooter, I love you and I know you love me. I pledge to you my life as an obedient, faithful and loving wife. I will always stand by your side no matter what. I will remember the love you showed me. Until the end of time itself, I will think of you as my king and my only love. I give myself to you and hope in return you will always love me and think of me as your queen,” Beverly replied.

“A justice of the peace it is my honour to pronounce you two husband and wife, you may now kiss the bride,” Rosco commented. Cooter lifted Beverly’s veil and kissed her softly. Whelp, there you have it. “Oh, the reception is at the Duke farm. Don’t forget to try Bo’s potato salad, the late Jesse’s recipe. Khee.”

At the end of Cooter and Beverly’s wedding reception, they fed each other cake. Huh, I have never seen two faces so messy in my life. Beverly managed to get cake up Cooter’s nose. That wasn’t as bad as the very end. There was a big food fight which Jesse started. Of course Nancy wasn’t too pleased but that was okay.

Anyway, Luke and Bo were recruited to be the official present men. They brought all the gifts back to Cooter’s place in Bo’s truck. Jose drove Tony, Maria and Jo back to the Duke farm in General one. Jesse had the General two for now.

As they were driving along the road, Nancy felt the pains. I ain’t talking about the pain Bo feels in his left toe when there’s trouble. I mean labour pains. “Jesse, change directions, we’re going to the hospital,” Nancy-Lou commanded her son.

“Why, did you eat too much?” Jesse asked.

“No, I’m going to have my babies now.”

“WHAT! No way, push them back in!”

“Honey, I can’t tell them to go back in. All we can do is go off to the hospital.”

“I’ll use the CB.”

“The CB is broken on the truck remember?”

“Ah! Of all days to forget my cell phone! Dang!” Jesse drove as carefully but as fast as he could. Nancy was upstairs before she knew it in a semi private room. She was hooked up to a baby monitor and Jesse was hooked up to the phone.

“Jose, what do you mean the General broke down? Didn’t you put water in the radiator?” Jesse mumbled over the phone.

“Why don’t you try Cooter’s?” Jose asked.

“Because you dork I already did and they’re not there anymore. Mom is going to have a c-section in about three minutes and he’s not here.”

“Dang, you are in a bad way. Look, I’ll try the CB.”

“His CB is busted.”

“No, I mean calling other people on the CB to see if they can get a hold of Bo In the meantime, keep Nancy comfortable.”

“I don’t know what I am doing! I am just so happy I am not delivering this kid.”

“Why? You know how.”

“Delivering a single child is one thing but twins are a whole other story. I ain’t ever dealt with multiple births.”

“Well I should get calling around.”

“You think.”

“Jess, don’t panic.”

“I ain’t panicking!”

“We’re going in now, the epidural is ready,” The nurse said.

“Does it look like I have time for that, Jose? We’re going in now. I am in a surgical gown. I guess I’ll talk to you later,” Jesse commented. He hung up the phone.

A little while later in the surgical delivery room, Jesse was still in there. He held onto his mother’s hand. There were two maternity teams awaiting the twins.

“Can you believe it? I am having twins again,” Nancy said. They pulled out the first baby. It began to cry. They set it down and cleaned it up.

“It’s a boy,” The doctor Henderson announced.

“YES! Another brother,” Jesse said. They continued working and got the second child out. The second maternity team began working on that one.

“Nancy, it’s a girl,” Another doctor said.

“Wait a minute, Nancy, I see another set of arms,” Doctor Henderson exclaimed. He pulled another child out. “A boy, you have a boy.”

“Triplets, you said twins on the ultrasound,” Nancy said in shock.

“He must have been hiding.”

“Bo is gonna die of shock.”

“Three babies, Mom how are we going to do it?”

“Honey, we’re going to be okay.”

Hours later, the family were looking into the window of baby ICU. The three were a little small but they were alright. The nurses just wanted to keep them to make sure they would be alright and they were looking good. A lot better than anyone had hoped they would be.

“What are their names Dad?” Jo asked.

“Well, Mom figured since there were so many dang J’s in the house she would go with all C’s. Our little girl over there is Cara. Son number one is Cameron and the other is Cal,” Bo answered.

“Man, that’s funny. Five kids in the family,” Jose commented.

“No Jose, six including you. Don’t think for one second you’re not part of the family after all, family sticks together right Jesse?” Bo answered.

“You better believe it.”

“I guess I can deal with the thought of Jose as a brother,” Jo said.

“I can too.”

“You know, I used to think of Bo as my brother too. Daisy were always like a sister to me,” Luke added.

“Awe thanks Luke, you have always been pretty close to me too,” Daisy replied.

“What do y’all think? Don’t they look like angels?” Essy asked.

“You better believe it, more Dukes to add to our clan,” Judd commented.

“The funny thing is, everyone is here. How many times have we all been in one place?”

“Not many times,” Coy added.

“You know, it’s so nice to finally be together as a family,” Vance mumbled.

“We’ve better get going though, we’re crowding the hallway.”

“Yeah, you’re right cuz.”

When the babies and Nancy finally came home from the hospital, Bo had already ordered a photographer. The family picture was set up very well. The proud parents were in the front. Jesse, Jose and Jo held the three babies. It was a beautiful picture. Now the Dukes had more to be proud of. For in the words of Uncle Jesse, “Family is the greatest treasure.”