1956: A Kennedy Story

Chapter 115

October 28, 1956

Jackie was in the kitchen when it happened.

Bella was on the floor playing with her unicorn, bunny and another stuffed animal Jack had got her, a giraffe.

While playing with the bunny a bit too violently, it flew across the room. Jackie had moved to get it but decided not to for some odd reason.

Her daughter started crawling but then she unsteadily pushed down on the floor and was soon standing but then, hardly standing for a second Bella fell.

Jackie's mouth fell open. Her daughter had just stood!

"JACK! COME QUICK AND BRING THE CAMERA!" She yelled.

Her husband was downstairs in five minutes.

"What's going on?" he panted.

"Look." Jackie said, and pointed at their daughter, who was now standing wobbily.

Jack stared and his mouth opened wide his hand went limp and Jackie took the camera out of his hand as he stared, open-mouthed.

Arabella dared sneak a glimpse at her parents and giggled when she saw her father and mother standing there looking like shocked-hippos.

"Mama. Dada." Bella said, she took one step forward and said,"Mama."

Jackie felt her heart go out with love. She'd always wanted to be a mother.

Bella wobbled for a bit but then took another step, this time toward her parents,"Dada." She grinned.

Jackie looked briefly at her husband and saw him looking at his daughter with utter love.

Jack squated and put his arms out, Bella was a few feet away.

She attempted to move another step but fell, but Bella didn't cry.

Suddenly the phrase Kennedy's don't cry. popped into Jackie's mind.

Soon enough Bella was up again, only two feet away from Jack.

Jackie snapped a photo, Bella looked ready to cry but Jack distracted her.

"Bella. Bella. Come here sweetie. Come here my beautiful Bouvier." Jack said.

A smile broke out on her daughter's face once more and she took another step.

"Mama."

Another.

"Dada."

Two more.

"Mada."

Jackie gave a soft laugh at the mixture of two words.

One more.

"Bewwa."

And Bella launched herself at her father, landing perfectly in his arms.