I’m not sure how this fits in with the theme of “Memories of Kevin” but it ties in somehow and it is really a good story.

In the immediate days following Kevin’s death, Kyle stayed with Linda and me because Debbie still had her hands full with Forrest who was still hospitalized and his doctors still didn’t really know if he was going to slip away any instant or rally. 

For nearly 10 years, Linda and I have eaten breakfast nearly every weekend at a local restaurant and know all the staff by name.  Kyle had been with us enough through the years that the waitresses also know him by name.  A couple of days after Kevin’s death, Linda, Kyle, and I went to the restaurant to eat.  Our waitress walked up to our booth with a smile on her face and greeted us with a friendly “How are you folks doing today?”  Kyle looked at her and said “My dad died yesterday.”  The waitress thought Kyle was kidding and gave him a little punch on the shoulder as she responded “Oh Kyle, you’re such a kidder.”  As she was speaking to Kyle she looked at me and from the look on my face she realized that Kyle was telling the truth.  Her demeanor instantly changed as her eyes teared up.   She sat down beside Kyle, put her arm around him, and said “Kyle, I don’t know what to say but I’m going to share a secret with you that nobody, not even my husband knows.  I saw the doctor this morning and I’m going to have a baby.”  At this, everyone but Kyle was in tears – he had cried himself out in the previous days.

In the following weeks and months, Kyle and the waitress developed a special bond which continues to this day.  Kyle and she exchange home made cards from time to time and Kyle is still putting things into a scrap book she gave him to save pictures of his dad

The baby was born December 1, 1999, a healthy baby girl.