Hardy Boys - More Than Just The Fun Uncle

Here's To Hardy

One week later:

"I thought we were going home." Joe said from the passenger seat of his brother's car. "This isn't the way home."

"I know," Frank replied. Joe noticed him trying to hide a smirk yet failing. "We have to stop at the Morton's first."

"Come on, man. I know you're hiding something." Joe prodded. "You honestly think you can trick me with a look like that on your face?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Frank defended.

"Nothing, really." Joe chuckled. "You are just really bad keeping secrets from me. Even Vanessa could do better! Why couldn't she bring me home from the hospital?"

"Never mind Vanessa," Frank said as his hidden smile turned to a guarded scowl. "She was busy."

"Too busy for me? Gee, you'd think after the harrowing ordeal I've just been through that people might be inclined help me out a little or come keep me company." Joe grumbled.

His last couple of days in the hospital had been less than ideal. Doctor Bates made sure that he was kept occupied in physical therapeutic activities so that he would have his strength when he finally got his dismissal. Even though he had been busy, Joe expected that people would at least come to visit like normal, but that hadn't been the case.

"I've hardly seen any of my family lately." Joe complained. "They haven't gone on and replaced me, have they?"

Joe remained silent as his brother laughed. "Don't be ridiculous, Joe. There isn't a person in the world that could take your place."

"Well," The blond said. "I must say I'm flattered, but it doesn't exactly make me feel better."

"Just relax," Frank said as he turned into the gravel road that would eventually lead to the Morton's driveway. "In a few minutes, you'll forget this conversation ever happened."

It was true, too. Soon, the car pulled up to the Morton farm and Joe was surprised to see a number of other vehicles already parked. The brothers stepped out of the car.

"Daddy!"

Joe looked up to see Andrea and Kitty running out of the front door of the house, followed by some other familiar faces: Vanessa was carrying Elyse and Callie held little Fenton, Andrea Bender stood beside Mr. and Mrs. Morton, Chet beamed at them from the porch swing, and Frank and Joe's parents waved as they descended the porch steps.

Joe smiled as he bent down to give hugs to the little girls. "Wow!" He said once they were enveloped in his arms. "This is quite the surprise!"

"This was our idea, Daddy!" Andrea said. "We wanted throw you a party!"

"And we invited the whole family!" Kitty chimed in.

"Well, you girls certainly know how to make a guy happy." Joe grinned. He looked up to find his wife smiling down at him.

"They both worked very hard to make it happen, but I must say it's worked very well to take everybody's minds off of everything." Vanessa said, placing a kiss on Joe's lips as he rose to his full height. She leaned forward and whispered just loud enough for him to hear. "Andrea has been nightmare free since they first started planning."