You Married Who?
(or In-laws and Outlaws)

By

Boots Byers

The Gage and Desoto families had always been close. When John and Elizabeth's son Randy was born Roy and Joanne were the baby's Godparents. This was not so much a religious act, but one of respect and honor.

Two years later when Joanne Royce DeSoto was born John and Elizabeth were asked to be her Godparents. Chris and Mary both felt that they were the logical choice for their daughter. John had been a part of the Desoto family for just over eight years now, and to Chris, John had been “Uncle Johnnie” most of that time.

From the time they began working as partners there had been a special chemistry between Roy and Johnnie. At times it was as if they knew what the other was thinking. Whether it was all from being intuitive or just being trained professionals people were amazed by how well they worked together. As a team there was synchronicity as if they had one mind with two sets of hands.

Their special bond reached beyond the job into their private lives. Many times Johnnie's free spirit would get him carried away. It would be Roy's calm demeanor and level headedness that could help John look at things in a different way and then bring him back to earth.

For Roy they were more than friends. It was like he had finely found his long lost brother. Being a husband and father of two he considered his personal life to be close to perfect although routine. Through Johnnie's impulsive and whimsical escapades Roy was able to experience some level of impromptu excitement. Johnnie and his antics also kept Roy on his toes.

Chris and Mary Desoto had invited the whole Desoto family and Johnnie Gage over one Friday night. Their daughter Joni was coming home and wanted everyone there.

For the past 2 years Joni had been attending college in San Diego working on a degree as an interior designer. Also living in San Diego was Johnnie's son Randy; he had been with the San Diego Fire Department for almost five years now.

Tonight the kids were going to literally drop a bomb on their families. Chris, Mary and Joanne already knew what this was about and they agreed to support the children and try to help reason with Roy and John if necessary.

All of the family was setting in the living room talking when Randy and Joni arrived. John and Roy both seemed surprised to see them.

“I didn't know you were coming home this week end.” Johnnie told his son.

Randy was the spitting image of his father. He had Johnnie's slender face and high cheekbones, and even the same crooked smile. Randy was tall and lanky with dark hair just like John was when he first met Roy Desoto. The only noticeable difference was that Randy had his mother's green eyes.

Randy looked over to Joni and then to her parents, trying to get the courage and support he would need then his father heard the couple's news. “Well, actually we asked Chris and Mary to get everyone together. We have some good news to share with everyone.”

“Great we can always use some good news.” Roy answered with a smile.

“Ah. Who's we?” Johnnie cocked his head and asked.

Taking Joni's hand in his Randy answered. “Joni and I. We got married last week.”

“You're kidding right?” Roy asked as if in shock. “This is a joke, isn't it?” Not getting the answer he was hoping for Roy added, “Joanne Royce Desoto, what were you thinking?”

Joni had been named for her grandparents, Joanne for her Grandma Desoto. The Royce was for her Grandpa Desoto; it wasn't really his name but who ever heard of a girl named Roy. Any time anyone in her family used her whole name Joni knew she was in trouble, but she had expected it with this news.

Joni's Aunt Jennifer had been invited also; with her were her husband Mark and their 8-year-old twins Dakota and Cheyenne. Right now she was just sitting there smiling. She was really taking pleasure in this.

John Gage's free spirit was nothing compared to Jennifer Desoto's. As she grew up people would swear that John was her father not Roy. The Desoto's had brought their children up to be open minded and accepting of others.

But with Jennifer it was more than that, she became a crusader for the acceptance and rights of others. If she had been born several years earlier she might have become a “Flower Child” or “Love Child”, proclaiming what was wrong with society's ancient, archaic values and ideals.

Jennifer had always loved to hear Johnnie talk about his heritage. In the summer between her Junior and senior year of high school Jenn had the opportunity to go to Tuba City, Arizona and help with the summer school program for the children there. It had been a hard summer but Jennifer had felt so fulfilled by the work she did there she knew why she had been put on this earth.

In the summer before her first year of college Jennifer had returned to the reservation to help with the summer program again. When she was there she met a young man from the reservation named Mark Chee Mark had been lucky enough to get a full scholarship for his first two years of college. He wanted to continue his education so he worked two jobs to help pay his tuition and now was only one year from getting his Masters Degree in Social Sciences. That summer he had come back home to help his parents. When Jennifer and Mark met there was an immediate attraction. It would be four years later before they would marry, but they both knew it was worth the wait.

While Roy was confronting Joni, Johnnie was laying into Randy. “Are you nut's? Of all the hair brained stunts. You were supposed to be the smart one in the family” Then without thinking he said, “Your mother is probably rolling over in her grave.”

By his expression you could tell that the comment had hurt Randy, but once words are spoken they are difficult to take back. In Randy's heart he hoped, no he believed that his mother would be happy for them. After all she too had loved Joni like she was her own.

Chris and his mother tried to calm the angry men. To her husband Joanne said. “Roy, give the kids a chance to explain.”

Chris looked at Johnnie. “Please Uncle Johnnie just listen to them.”

“That's the problem, we're family.” Johnnie looked at his son “Roy and Joanne are your uncle and aunt. Chris and Jennifer were like my own nephew and niece.”

“You two were as close as a brother and sister.” Roy shook his head in disbelief. “This just isn't right.”

“But Grandpa we aren't brother and sister.” “We've known each other for years, really for our whole lives. We've been friends all that time and it just developed into more.” Randy told their families.

“What do you mean it developed into more? What did you do to my granddaughter?” The tone of his voice and his angry expression worried even Joanne.

“Grandpa!” Joni reasoned. “Nothing like you're thinking ever happened.”

“No sir I would never take advantage of Joni, because I do love her.”

Johnnie looked at his son “And what makes you think you know about love? You're just kids.”

“Dad, Joni and I have been dating now for about 2 years, ever since she moved down to San Diego to go to college.”

Roy looked from Chris and Mary to his wife Joanne. “You knew about this, didn't you? Did you encourage this insanity?”

Joanne thought now was the time to let the men know her take on all of this. “Yes, I knew. What is really wrong with this? The kids are right, they aren't related, so what's the problem. Really there are some advantages, they already know their in-laws.” Joanne smiled, trying to use humor to defuse the situation.

“Joanne, I don't see anything amusing about all of this.” Roy told her.

Jennifer finally joined the conversation. “Ok, they have known each other for years! That means they have had a long time to get to know all about each other and grow to love each other. They aren't going into this blind and ignorant like a lot of young couples” Now looking at Johnnie she said “And we can't say they are too young to know about love, after all Mom and Dad met in grade school. And look at Chris and Mary, they were married at 16 and are still together. People find the love of their lives when the time is right for them. Some find it early while others don't find the right person for a long time, like you and Elizabeth.”

Now it was Joni's turn to speak. “Please try to be happy for us. We knew this was what we wanted for quite awhile now.”

“You say we've been like family all our lives. Well now we are.” Randy added. John got up and stormed out of the room. Stopping at Chris' refrigerator he grabbed a beer and headed to the back porch. Sitting down on the wooden steps that lead from the deck to the yard he pulled the tab on the can and took a large gulp.

Mere moments later Roy appeared and also sat down on the steps, a single can of beer in one hand and a six-pack in the other. For a long time the two men sat in silence trying to come to terms with the “great news” the kids had just shared with them. Roy and John both knew the kids were right. Thinking back to times they had seen Randy and Joni together, the way they got along, the way they looked at each other. Heck why hadn't they realized it before now? Taking another can from Roy Johnnie finally spoke.

“They're right aren't they? We're the only ones with a problem ‘bout this.” “Yeah, guess so.” Roy replied. “But… But it just sounds so wrong. Damn it, it even feels wrong to me.” “Ya know everything they said was true.” Johnnie told him. Talk about a role reversal, here was Johnnie being logical while Roy struggled with his opinions. Looking out over the yard instead of at Roy, “Remember last Christmas when they were both home? They were inseparable.”

“Come to think of it they have been acting like that for a longtime. Why didn't we notice it before?”

Taking some time to get his next thought together. “Maybe cause the idea of them being in love was the last thing we would ever consider.”

Worried about the men and hoping they had enough time to come to terms with the situation, Joanne went out to the step and sat down next to her husband.

Both men finally resigning to the fact that the only thing that could be done was to accept Randy and Joni's decision. Looking to Roy and Joanne the only thing that Johnnie could think to say was “Ya know Pally; this is going to get real confusing when they have kids.”

Roy was setting there; nervously he ran his fingers through his hair. Then he closed his eyes and quietly added “I don't even what to think about it right now.”

All the men from the old Station 51 A-Shift still remained close after all these years, their families getting together regularly. One such occasion was a backyard barbeque at the DeSoto house. As the wives sat and talked under the shade at the patio, the men were all standing around the grill doing the same. Today's main topic of discussion was the resent union of the Gage and DeSoto families.

Chet and John had always had a rather unique friendship; one minute fighting like cats and dogs, the next willing to put everything on the line for the others safety or reputation. “Now let's see if I can get this right. Johnnie your daughter in law is Roy's granddaughter, and Roy's grandson-in-law is your son?” Chet started. “Hey Gage since Chris always called you Uncle Johnnie doesn't that mean your son married your great niece? If they have kids are ya going ta be a grandpa or an uncle?” Mike and Marco just stood there shaking their heads, while Roy took a bid swig of his beer. Sometimes even those who had known Chet for years had a hard time believing he could come up with some of the stuff he did. “Har, har, Kelly,” John replied “Oh that's it, make it sound even worse.” Oh Chet was really having fun now. “The way I see it only someone named Gage could screw something up this bad.” Those comments got Chet a slug in the arm from Marco and a look that could kill from Mike. Cap even smacked Chet on the back of the head. “Kelly, shut up you twit.” “Boy Gage, I'm just glad he didn't marry my daughter.” Chet teased, grinning like a Cheshire cat. John just shook his head. “So am I Chet. So am I.”