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Post by cutter on Aug 28, 2017 22:08:02 GMT -6
Book 2, Chapter 1. As requested. K, this one's for you.
Chapter 1
(Wednesday, May 24) (PHONE)
“What’s up, Morgan?”
“I have been calling you for the last half hour! Is Mark there!?!”
“Not that I know of. Isn’t he with you?”
“Look for him! He left an hour ago. He said he was coming over there to try to make things right with Stacy!”
“Hang on! Wait, Morgan, he has to be here. Your gator is here, I just noticed it. Hold on, I’ll check in the house.”
“He made it there, so I know he’s ok. When you find him, tell him I’m gonna’ kick his little ass! He was supposed to call me when he got there!”
“If he was coming to see Stacy, he had more important things on his mind than calling you.”
“Then I might stop after an hour or so! Have you found him?”
“Morgan, he and Stacy are both asleep on her bed. They’re holding onto each other like their lives depend on it. I guess they worked things out.”
“Then I’ll let him live for Stacy’s sake. That little shit just scared me to death! If you hadn’t answered when I called you this time, I was coming over. I tried calling him and his phone started ringing in his room.”
“Sorry, I’ve been working outside. I had to go to the bathroom and then Junior decided to tell me if I didn’t feed us, he was going to eat me. I left my phone outside. I guess Mark slipped in while I was in the bathroom. I never heard him.”
“I know, he’s the sneakiest kid I ever met! He startles me all the time. I never know he’s there until he’s right behind me. Brian used to be the same way. If you’re ok with it, let ‘em sleep. Don’t plan on fixing supper tonight. I need your help over here fixing supper for all of us.”
“What’s the occasion?”
“Mark and Stacy. Mark’s homecoming is this Saturday and your graduation is Friday. I think those two working things out is as good an excuse as any to start a week long celebration. Lord knows we need one.”
“Sounds good. I’m about finished with the Munson electrical bid. I’ll e-mail it to you in about ten minutes.”
“Cool. Sis, we gotta’ get some more help! They were nice about it, but I’ve had two supply houses call me today about payment. I’ve been so busy, I just forgot.”
“Want me to see if I can find anybody?”
“If you think you know somebody who will work and can pass a drug test, call ‘em.”
“I’ll see what I can do. Let me get off here so I can finish this bid.”
“K. We’ll talk about tonight, later.”
(Sending text) Erica, give me a call first chance you get. I need to talk to you.
“Ok, finishing touches on Munson, and send. That’s done. Write the kids a note so they know I went to pick up the boys……and I gotta’ get a move on!”
(On the way to school, phone rings)
“Hi, Erika!”
“Oh, Erin, it’s you! I never programmed your number in. I didn’t know who it was. What’cha need?”
“Didn’t you tell me you have some accounting experience?”
“Yeah, I did accounting, inventory, and payroll for Miles hardware until they closed three years ago. Now all the businesses think you have to have a college degree to add and subtract, so I’m working here. Yay, me.”
“I know of one business in this town that none of the employees or owners have a college degree, though some of the guys have professional license. Would you be interested in a job working in an office doing accounting and probably some other things?”
“What, and leave the fun filled world of stocking shelves at Walmart? Watch me run out of here, screaming like a little girl, and never look back! So who’s this job with?”
“Us. Since we expanded, Morgan and I are swamped. We can’t keep up and need some help. Are you coming to the cookout Saturday?”
“Oh yeah!”
“Well, if you think you can survive all that shelf stocking fun till then, we can do your interview at the cookout.”
“I’ll dress up.”
“I wouldn’t. It’s hard to put your pants on over your shoes. Seriously, it doesn’t matter if you show up in a bikini; we will be discussing the job, not your fashion sense. On second thought, two of the owners are guys, so a bikini might score some points. Saturday is for fun and some much needed healing. It just so happens that Morgan will be there. She’s the office manager, so she’s the one you’ll be working for. She’ll do the interview.”
“What time do you want us there?”
“We’re all early risers, so you can come anytime after dawn if you like. You show up before that and you’ll be helping cook breakfast. We won’t start setting food out until about eleven.”
“As much as Skyler has been chattering about it, I think she’d be just as happy if we showed up now.”
“That’s ok too. It might be camp cots, but we can manage someplace for y’all to sleep.”
“That actually sounds really nice, but we better wait till Saturday. Anything I can bring?”
“Just you and Skyler, your swimsuits and towels if you want to swim, and a good appetite.”
“Swim?”
“Yeah, there’s a pond on our place and we let the kids swim. Larry and one of the others hang there to look after the kids so nobody gets hurt. None of us have ever done it, but adults are welcome to swim or sunbathe too. There’s also usually a group that goes fishing on the back side of the pond. Y’all are welcome to do that too. We have fishing gear if you don’t.”
“Erin, do y’all have these cookouts often?”
“We’ve been having them every two weeks or so, but I expect we’ll eventually slow down to once a month, weather permitting, if life ever calms down for us. The first one, Larry and I threw when we moved into our home. After that, they became a way for us to unwind from all the trouble we’ve been having and to celebrate things like the kids coming to live with us. They have kind of snowballed into a general gathering for everybody we know who wants to come. We’ve made some good friends and gotten closer to existing ones.”
“I don’t want to sound pushy, but I hope you invite us to more of them. It sounds like a lot more than a person can experience in just one visit.”
“It is, and like I told you, you and Skyler are always welcome, for a cookout or just because it’s a day that ends in Y.”
“I think I’m looking forward to it as much as Skyler. How’s Kit doing?”
“Good, for now. I think she’s going to have a hard time with the visitation and funeral next week, but I also think she’ll be ok.”
“Mind if we come to the funeral? It’s on her foster parents’ place, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, it’s here at Brian and Morgan’s homestead and I think it would be really great of you two to come. I can safely say that all of us adults would be grateful to you two for being there for Kit and I know Kit would be.”
“What time?”
“Visitation on Tuesday from Noon to eight at Booker-Gilbert with the funeral service at the family cemetery here at eleven on Wednesday. We aren’t having a funeral service at the funeral home, just a service at the graveside.”
“I’ll arrange the day off or just call in. I gotta’ go, my break’s over. Thanks for thinking of me. I’ll try to make a good impression.”
“You’ll do fine. You’re part of the foster group. I know it’s weird, but I’m kinda’ seeing our group as an extension of our family. You better go, the shelf stocking fun awaits. See you Saturday.”
“Oh Joy! See you Saturday.” (click)
“Hi guys! How was school?”
“Ok, but I’ll be glad when Thursday gets here so we can start summer.”
“Mom! I got all the words right on my spelling test!”
“That’s great!”
“Teacher said I’m doing lots better now I got glasses. I can’t wait to show Sissy!”
“She was asleep when I left, but I think this is a good reason to wake her up. We ready?”
“We’ve been ready all day! Let’s go!”
(Driving)
“What’s that book you’re readin’, Noah?”
“Robinson Crusoe, Mark gave it to me. I guess I oughta’ give it back.”
“Why?”
“Cause he doesn’t wanna’ see me no more.”
“That’s not true, but you won’t believe me, so you can just ask him yourself when we get home.”
“I’m not callin’ him!”
“You won’t have to. He’s there with Sissy right now.”
“What’s he doin’ at our house!?! I thought he didn’t like Sissy no more!”
“You can ask him about that too.”
“Mom, is Mark really there with Stace?”
“Yes, they were taking a nap together when I left. Neither one of them got any sleep last night; they were both too upset.”
“Maybe we better make Noah leave ‘em alone so they can sleep.”
“No, maybe we better let Noah wake ‘em up so that maybe they can get this straightened out between ‘em.”
“Ok, Mom. I just don’t want ‘em to be hurtin’ again.”
“Jordan, it’s never going to get good again if they don’t get through the bad.”
“I hope you’re right, Mom.”
“So do I Honey, so do I.”
(Waters homestead, 4 PM, charging into Stacy’s room)
“Sissy! Sissy! I got all the words right on my spelling test! LOOK!”
(Sleepily) “What? Spelling test? I’m sorry, Noah. What?”
“My spelling test! Look!”
“That’s great, Noah!”
“Can I see it?”
(Noah grabs his test and sits down at Stacy’s desk, across the room)
“NO!”
“Come on, Noah. I want to see how good you did too.”
“Then come over here and look!”
“NOAH! That’s cruel!”
“Anastasia, he needs this. Let it be.” (Mark struggles to his feet, takes four steps and falls)
“MARK!”
“Anastasia, stop!”
“Are you ok, Mark!?!”
“I’m ok, Jordan, I just tripped over my own feet. Get my walker for me, please?”
“I’ll help you up.”
“No, Jordan. Noah needs me to do this by myself to see if I’m serious about wanting him. Get me my walker, please.”
“What happened? Oh my God. Mark!”
“Erin, stand your place! I’m ok. Jordan’s getting my walker and I’m going to get up and go see Noah’s spelling test. Jordan, my walker, please. Thank you.” (Mark struggles up off the floor. Walks the rest of the way with the walker) “Sorry it took me so long to get here, Little Monster. Now how about you show me that spelling test you’re so proud of? I’d like to see it so I can be proud of you for doing so well.”
“I didn’t think you’d do that for me.”
“Tell you a secret. I didn’t know if I could, but I had to try, for you. I’ve missed you so much. It broke my heart that I hurt your feelings. Can you forgive me?” (Crying, Noah jumps up and wraps his arms around Mark in a tight hug) “Easy on my back, little monster, it still hurts and you’re really strong!”
“Sorry. I’m really sorry, Uncle Mark. You want your book back?”
“Are you finished reading it?”
“Nuh uh. I just started readin’ it when the words weren’t fuzzy no more.”
“Do you like it so far?”
“Yeah, it’s really cool.”
“Then why don’t you keep it. I gave it to you; it’s yours.”
“Really, Uncle Mark!?! You ain’t mad at me no more?”
“Really. I never was mad at you. I don’t know how to be mad at you, but I know how to love you. I’m sorry I kept Sissy away so long, but I really needed her. Thanks for lettin’ her help me. Wanna’ go watch a movie before Mom and Sissy get all mushy and start cryin’?”
“What ya’ wanna’ watch?”
“You like Transformers, don’t ya’?”
“Yeah!”
“How about the four of us watch that. You and Jordan go get it started. I’m a little slow right now. I’ll be there quick as I can.” (Noah and Jordan leave)
“Are you really ok. Love? You fell really hard.”
“I imagine I’ll pay for it later, but it was worth it. I’m ok.”
“Stacy, go help your brothers, please. I need a minute alone with Mark.”
“Ok, Mom. Do you think Noah is really over it now?”
“I think so. Go on.” (Stacy leaves. Erin kisses Mark just like she did the first time they met.)
“What was that for!?!”
“It was for being so good to my children, all of my children; but it was mostly for me. Larry is a great man and the love of my life. You are a great man too. I can now say that I have kissed two truly great men. Mark, you are the best brother I could have ever asked for and more. You’re a hero to me and a blessing to my children. Anastasia couldn’t have chosen a better man for her boyfriend. Thank you. I’ll get you and Stacy pillows and a blanket so you can maybe sleep a little more while the boys are all wound up in the movie.”
“That obvious, huh?”
“No. Is that why you suggested the boys favorite movie?”
“It crossed my mind.”
“A great man and sneaky too. I like it. Go on. I’ll be along in a minute.”
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Post by papaof2 on Aug 28, 2017 22:21:23 GMT -6
It's about time! ;-)
No I haven't been waiting here for hours. I had just posted Chapter 12 of JAV and saw that there was a new thread.
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Post by cutter on Aug 28, 2017 22:31:01 GMT -6
Gimme' a break! My mortgage company has absolutely no sense of humor. And I have to catch up on JAV.
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Post by darkwolf on Aug 28, 2017 23:03:27 GMT -6
Thanks, the DTs were just about to start. Now I will be able to relax.
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Post by kaijafon on Aug 28, 2017 23:24:04 GMT -6
yahooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! thanks!
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Post by pbbrown0 on Aug 28, 2017 23:33:33 GMT -6
Whew! I was about to turn blue holding my breath!
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Post by headlesshorseman on Aug 29, 2017 5:20:45 GMT -6
Thank you for your effort. An excellent story.
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Post by udwe on Aug 29, 2017 5:48:06 GMT -6
Waiting for more!!!!!!
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Post by biggkidd on Aug 29, 2017 6:16:30 GMT -6
Thank You!!!!!!!
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Post by gipsy on Aug 29, 2017 8:42:01 GMT -6
Cool beans
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Post by catspaw65 on Aug 29, 2017 12:29:06 GMT -6
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Post by 9idrr on Aug 29, 2017 19:09:49 GMT -6
yahooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! thanks! Hey, K, he said this one's for you, so I'll thank you both. P.S. Whatever you're doin' to inspire this, keep it up.
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Post by kaijafon on Aug 29, 2017 19:11:43 GMT -6
I don't know if I'm the "K" or not but I'm not sure what I'm doing if so.
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Post by boomerweps on Aug 29, 2017 19:37:57 GMT -6
Thank you for continuing a great story.
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Post by cutter on Aug 29, 2017 19:56:21 GMT -6
I don't know if I'm the "K" or not but I'm not sure what I'm doing if so. You said you wanted to know if Noah ever got straightened out. Well, he did, and it only took Mark doing a header into the carpet to get it done. Good thing it wasn't hardwood, splinters are a bear. Maybe I should have said Kai instead of K.
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Post by 9idrr on Aug 30, 2017 15:41:15 GMT -6
I don't know if I'm the "K" or not but I'm not sure what I'm doing if so. You said you wanted to know if Noah ever got straightened out. Well, he did, and it only took Mark doing a header into the carpet to get it done. Good thing it wasn't hardwood, splinters are a bear. Maybe I should have said Kai instead of K. We know you're the one, and from now on, if he posts as often as we'd like him to, we'll thank you. If he starts slackin', then, well, I gots me this-here voodoo doll with a great, big "K" on the front, and about a thousand straight pins... so ya better keep him writin'.
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Post by cutter on Aug 30, 2017 16:33:05 GMT -6
Leave her alone, or the next time the Fates come to visit this bunch, I'll send them to you.
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Post by kaijafon on Aug 30, 2017 16:48:56 GMT -6
hahahaha! y'all are so silly! oh yeah, btw, I'm impervious to voodoo dolls as I've found this out due to having one made "for me" then didn't work. No matter how much I rubbed that dolls feet, my feet never got rubbed!
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Post by 9idrr on Aug 30, 2017 20:55:09 GMT -6
"Curses, foiled again." Weren't those the immortal words of Snidely Whiplash? Okay, K, you're off the hook.
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Post by cutter on Aug 30, 2017 21:21:03 GMT -6
And here's the next installment. Enjoy.
Chapter 2
(Phone)
“What’s up, Erin?”
“I have good news and bad news.”
“Of course you do. Heaven forbid any of us just have good news. Let’s hear it, bad news first.”
“Ok, Mark’s going to be really sore tonight, so you might hold off on kicking his butt.”
“What happened?”
“Noah aced a spelling test today and was really excited to show Stacy. I don’t know what happened between him going into Stacy’s room and when I came in, but I heard a thud and yelling. I walked in on Mark, on the floor about five feet from his walker and about halfway between the bed and Noah. He told me to stay put. Jordan got his walker and he dragged himself up off the floor and managed to get to Noah. Best I can tell, Noah was testing him and Mark was proving he cares about Noah. Mark landed hard from the sound of it and he looked like he landed badly. He looked like he was in some serious pain, but I think he and Noah patched things up. That’s most of the good news, by the way. The rest is that the four of them are in the living room. The boys are wrapped up in watching Transformers and Mark and Stacy are cuddled up on the couch pretending to watch, but really, they’re getting a little more sleep.”
That’s more good than bad. Mark tried to walk to Noah without his walker?”
“Looked like it. At least he has his back brace on like the doctor told him.”
“Good thing, or we might be on our way back to the hospital right now. It’s a really good sign that he tried to walk unassisted though. While I have you on the phone, when do you want to get together for supper?”
“Let’s do supper about seven. I’ll come over about six and have Larry bring the kiddos. Never mind, we both know they’ll want to ride the gator back with Mark. Larry can follow and bring them back tonight.”
“Sounds good. See you about six.”
“See you then. Bye.”
(Elsewhere in Franklin)
(phone) “What’s up, Troy?”
“Sam, do you have Billy’s phone number?”
No. What’s up?”
“I need to talk to him about Kat Johnston.”
“Hey, what hospital is she in? I want to call her and see if she wants to go get a burger or see a movie with me when she gets out. I hope she’ll go out with me.”
“Sam, maybe you better sit down.”
“Why? Does she already have a boyfriend?”
“No, Sam. Sam, Kat died last Thursday. I’m sorry.”
“NO! She can’t be...dead. She was hurt, but she was alive when Skyler got her out. She looked right at me, she even smiled a little! She can’t be gone; she just can’t be!”
“I’m so sorry, Sam. I didn’t know you liked her, or I would have told you sooner. She’s going to be at the Booker-Gilbert funeral home Tuesday from Noon to eight and we are going to have a funeral at her grave on Wednesday at eleven. We’re burying her at Mark’s place in their family cemetery. Sam, it would mean a lot to me and Kit for you to be there, if you can come. It sounds like you could use some friends close too.”
“Troy, I wanted to ask her out ever since Christmas, but I never had the nerve. I was still hangin’ around with fat ass Bobby and she hated him. When I finally wised up, I think she started to like me. I saw her looking at me a couple of times. I wish now I had gone on and asked her.”
“I wish you had too. She wanted to go out with you, but was afraid you’d say no. Kat told me that herself. I wish now I’d pushed her harder to talk to you.”
“I’ll be there. If Mom won’t take me, will you?”
“Either I will or I’ll find somebody else that will. Kit’s gonna’ need me close those days. Kit’s new dad knows my folks. He already worked it out for me to stay with them Monday night through Thursday. I’ll be bunking with Mark. My folks are both coming to the funeral home, but they can’t get off work for the funeral.”
“Thanks, Troy. My sister is friends with Lisa. I’ll have her tell Lisa to have Billy call you.”
“Thanks, Sam. I’m trying to get in touch with as many of the kids that were there as I can. I’m hoping most of them will come to the funeral. It would help Kit a lot. She doesn’t know I’m doing this and I want to keep it that way.”
“I never got to tell Kat I liked her, but maybe I can do Kit some good. I’ll call everybody I know who was there. I’ll tell the Troop guys, they ought to know how to get in touch with a bunch of ‘em. I’ll tell ‘em to make sure everybody knows to keep it quiet from Kit.”
“Thanks, Sam. You’re a helluva’ lot better guy than you were when you were hangin’ with Bobby. I think I might like to call you a friend.”
“I’d like that too. Thanks, Troy. Let me get off here and get Sherry to call Lisa, then I’ll get busy calling everybody else I can.”
“Sam, I really am sorry.”
“So am I.” (Click)
“Damn! That really sucked! It’s hard enough telling people Kat’s gone, but that! I hated that!”
(7PM, Marshall firepit, combined Marshall/Waters clan)
“What are these, Aunt Morgan?”
“We call ‘em hobo dinners in the Troop.”
“That’s what we call them too. They’re easy to make and have almost zero cleanup. They’re good and reasonably good for you too.”
“Yeouch! And they’re hot! Try this again, a little more careful this time. Oh wow! What all’s in this thing!?! I see potatoes, onions, carrots, is that celery?”
“Yeah.”
“Celery, what looks like a really big hamburger, what are these long green things?”
“Asparagus spears.”
“I’ve never had ‘em.”
“I know. Give ‘em a try. If you don’t like them, don’t eat them. We also put in about a heaping teaspoon of real butter to keep everything from drying out and a touch of crushed garlic give it more flavor. Season it to taste and add some shredded cheese if you want. Here’s your corn on the cob. It’s really hot too, so be careful.”
Thanks. So it’s like a mini pot roast except with hamburger instead of a pork or beef roast.”
“Yeah, and the best thing is, when we’re done, all we have to wash are forks, glasses, and the cooking utensils. We’ll recycle the foil and take it to the scrap yard with the next load we haul off.”
“These are just too cool! Mark, we could make these up before we go on our next campout and most of the work for supper would already be done.”
“That’s why we eat ‘em in the Troop. Simple, easy, cheap, and sleazy.”
“Sleazy?”
“Yeah, they make supper so simple, it’s cheating.”
“Boy Scouts don’t cheat!”
“We do when it’s time to make supper after hauling all our gear on a ten mile hike! Give it a try sometime and see how much you want to cook from scratch, for thirty people!”
“I see what you mean. This asparagus is good.”
“You want to spend the night, Stacy? I have my own bedroom now, with an actual bed and everything!”
“I’d love to, but I’m goin’ home with the boys tonight. I want to spend some time with them; I’ve been away long enough. There’s always Friday night. Me and the boys are staying here so Mom and Dad can do some “plumbing” in private, to celebrate Mom’s graduation after they get home from the party here.”
“Anastasia Elizabeth Matthews!”
“Well, at least I didn’t call you Chipmunk.”
“Larry, she’s your daughter!”
“Yes Ma’am she is! Good girl!”
“Keep that up and you’re on the couch, for a year.”
“I seriously doubt that.”
(Todd and Sarah’s, 11 PM, bed)
“Belle, we’ve been practicing for our honeymoon, but there’s a problem.”
“Haven’t we had enough problems?”
“This one’s easy to fix. We never decided where we’re going. Where do you want to go?”
“Nashville.”
“That’s an afternoon trip. Don’t you want to go somewhere special?”
“This is special. I haven’t been to the Grand Ole Opry since I was a kid. I checked their schedule. Two weeks after our wedding, they’re playing at the old Ryman Auditorium. Let’s get a room at the Opryland Hotel with a balcony that overlooks the arboretum for the weekend. We can enjoy that and go see the Opry on Saturday. We can just play it by ear for the rest of the time. I’d really like that.”
“You’re right, that does sound special. I haven’t been since I was a kid either. When I was ten, Mom and Dad took us. I got to meet Miss Loretta. She actually took a minute to talk to me before she went on stage. When she did, she told the audience that her first song went out to Todd Marshall. She sang Coal Miner’s Daughter. I gotta’ tell ya’, I was IN LOVE! I’ve been a Loretta Lynn fan ever since. She just had a stroke early this month, so she isn’t performing right now, but I’d love to see her again.”
“I don’t know if I could hold my own against an old flame, especially a rich, talented, and very beautiful one. She might just take you away.”
“Not a chance and you know it. Let’s get some sleep.”
(Friday, May 26, 2017, 4AM, Graduation Day, Marshall homestead)
“I wish I had talked to Sam. I would have really liked to have gone out with him.”
“I know, Kat. I’m sorry, for both of you.”
“It’s ok. Nothing can hurt me anymore and Sam will fall in love with a really sweet girl. They’re gonna’ make each other very happy. He’ll eventually move on, but he’ll never forget me. I’m happy for him. You’re starting to wake up. I have to go now. I love you Kitty. I’ll stop by to see you in your dreams once in awhile. You’re gonna’ be ok.”
(Feeling the bed beside her) “Kat? Kat? (sigh) It was a dream, but it was a nice one. (Kit gets up and opens the window. Looks out) “Kat, I wish we’d been here instead of the Oller’s. You would have loved it here so much. Who is that in the yard?”
“Dammit!”
“It’s Mark! He fell!” (Kit rushes downstairs, barefoot in her nightgown)
(Kitchen) “Kit, what’s wrong!?!”
“It’s Mark! He’s outside and he fell!” (Morgan follows Kit out)
“Mark, are you ok!?!”
“Yeah, I just tripped over my damn feet again. That’s the fifth time this morning!”
“Mark, it’s four in the morning. What are you doing out here?”
“Falling down mostly. I was trying to do some Tai-Chi. It usually helps me center and I thought it might help my back. Boy, was I wrong. Why are you both out here in your nightgowns, not that I’m not enjoying the view.”
“Kit came tearing through the kitchen saying you were outside and had fallen. We were worried.”
“A dream woke me up and I was looking out the window. I saw you fall and holler dammit.”
“Yeah, that’’s quickly becoming my new favorite word, at least my least offensive new favorite word. I couldn’t sleep so I came out to try this. I think I’ve had enough falling down though. Help me up and let’s go back in the house.”
“Ok, up you get. I ought to tell Stacy what you said about seeing us in our nightgowns.”
“Go ahead, Morgan. Who do you think pointed Kit out to me? Turns out, there’s a lot more to Kit than a hot body.”
“Like?”
“Ask Troy, he knows what I’m talking about.”
“I think I will!”
“You got coffee on, Morgan?”
“You’re kidding, right?”
“Good, I could use a cup or ten, and ibuprofen, four of them.
(Meanwhile, Waters homestead)
“Morning Love, how’s my favorite senior?”
“Good, and I better be your only senior.”
“You are. I’m gonna’ dump my other four girlfriends. They’re too quiet, bad for my ego.”
“Smart ass.”
“Seriously, are you excited?”
“Not all that much. After all we’ve been through, graduating high school just doesn’t seem like a big deal.”
“It’s a huge deal! You’ve worked for twelve years to get here!”
“I suppose, but I’m looking forward to the celebration afterward more than the graduation.”
“I swear! You’re as horny as a cheerleader!”
“I WAS a cheerleader. Believe me, there wasn’t a single girl on my squad that could hold a candle to me right now. Good thing I’m already pregnant, or we wouldn’t be stopping tonight until I was.”
“Fix a lot of breakfast. I’m gonna’ need my strength.”
“You bet your ass you will, Stud!”
“Do we have enough pillows?”
“Tonight, I don’t care if they hear me all the way to Stamford. Tonight, you’re mine Boy!”
“Keep it up and you’re liable to have twins.”
“I got two spigots; I can handle it. Now get ready for work. (Evil grin) If you’re late, I have to wait. You don’t want me to have to wait.”
(Marshall homestead, 7AM)
“Erin, I just got an email from Munson. We got the job.”
“I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. Morgan, we don’t have the manpower!”
“We’ll sub it out if we have to. Brian has cultivated relationships with a few contractors around here for just this situation. Communicare wasn’t really our job. Short Electric subbed it to us because they couldn’t staff it.”
“Short Electric, really? That’s a PR nightmare!”
“Nope, that’s his name, Jerry B. Short.”
“That’s even worse!”
“Jerry is almost six foot six. He went to school with Brian’s Mom.”
“It’s still a terrible name for an electrical contractor. So, what do we have?”
“First quarter payroll audit. I already have it up on the computer.”
“Oh for…! Morgan, this file is huge! I’ll be so glad when we have somebody to handle payroll for us!”
“We have to find somebody first.”
“You are hiring her Saturday.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Erika Carmichael. She has accounting, payroll, and inventory experience, but no fancy college degree. She’s a stocker for Walmart right now supporting herself and Skyler. She will be at the cookout. If she wears a bikini, Brian will hire her if you don’t.”
“Any idea what she needs to afford to switch jobs?”
“Nope, that’s why you’re the office manager.”
“You start on payroll and I’ll run some numbers on what we can offer her.”
“Sounds like a plan. Any idea what the kids are up to?”
“Mark’s taking them all to the back side of the farm. He’s got something up his sleeve to do back there. I have no idea what it is, but he talked to Brian about it before he got hurt. I made sure he has his phone on him this time, and Kit too!”
“Stacy has hers too, so we ought to be able to raise one of them if we feel a need.”
(Combined farm, forested back forty)
“Kit, drive up in there, slow. Right here, that’s good. Shut it down.”
“This place is cool!”
“Yeah it is, Jordan. What do you think, Noah?”
“Can we come camping here?”
“I get a little stronger and so I don’t need this walker anymore, we may be spending a lot of camping time up here.”
“COOL!” (A deer bolts from the bushes) “What was that, Uncle Mark!?!”
“You spooked a deer. Guys, if we can keep it down to a quiet volume, we might see a lot of animals today. Ok, let me tell you guys what I have in mind and see what you think.”
“Hahahaha! Here he goes again. You’re definitely getting back to normal, Love.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“He’s gonna’ work us half to death is what it means.”
“Don’t act like you don’t like it, Jordan. Kit, until he got hurt, Mark was forever teaching all three of us stuff. You know how he taught you to drive the gator just now? He did the same thing to me the first week we were here, Jordan and Noah both know how to drive it too. Cooking, camping, trees, flowers, plants, first aid, Kung-fu; you name it and he’s probably taught us something about it. The Saturday we had his birthday party, Mark and I took a walk in the woods between our two places. I had to kiss him just to shut him up for five minutes.”
“You kissed Mark for five minutes straight!?!”
“Yeah, I would have gone for ten, but he took my breath away. He had me so wound up, I was about to scream!”
“You gotta’ teach Troy how to do that!”
“There’s no way in Hell I’m teaching Troy how to kiss!”
“Ok, I guess I’ll have to do it.”
“Oh no you won’t! Stacy, the idea is for him to learn how to kiss ME that way! You teach him and he might not come back!”
(Stacy looks down at her chest and then at Kit) “He’d come back. He likes yours better.”
“Um ladies, can we get down to business here, please?”
“Ok, Love. Let’s hear it.”
“Grab that notebook and walk with me. I can’t carry it and use the walker at the same time. I want to put the firepit here. I want to put the wood pile here. We’ll have to cut some wood and stack it every time we come to build it up to where I want it. Now here, I want to build a corral, nothing fancy, just a place we can turn out the horses if we ride up. I haven’t gotten that all thought out yet because we have to have feed and water for them in the corral. Now here’s where I want the big project. I want to dig a root cellar here and build a line cabin next to it big enough for all of us and a few more. It’s gonna’ have to be big enough for bunks for everybody and room for us to be able to eat and relax if we can’t go out. We’re gonna’ need to build a fireplace in it too or try to come up with some kind of wood stove for heat. We can cook on it too if we want to. I’m thinking I want to build a covered porch on the front too, but I don’t know about that yet.”
“I can see the cool factor, but why do you want to do all of this? That’s a ton and a half of work when we can just use a tent.”
“Stacy, do you realize how long it took us to get here? We were almost an hour getting from the house to here. We had to cross the creek. It hasn’t rained much since I got back, but I have seen that creek five feet deep and flowing fast. If a heavy enough rain rolled in upstream and dropped enough rain, we couldn’t get back across, maybe for a couple of days. Tent camping in winter can be fun, but you can also freeze your butt off. This way, we could do our weekend in the woods thing and be comfortable. The root cellar is multi-use, but it gives us someplace safe to run if we’re back this way and one of our occasional tornados comes through. Just for fun, do you know which way the house is?”
(Stacy points) “That way?”
“(Mark points about forty-five degrees to the right of where Stacy did) “It’s that way, but there’s a ravine and waterfall in the way, so you have to go this way and then hang a right.”
“I hear a lesson on reading a map and using a compass coming.”
“At least you know what a map and compass are. That’s a good start. I need to teach you to navigate at night by the stars too, and how to find North from which way frogs face when they croak.”
“You can’t do that with a frog! You’re fulla’ crap!”
“Yes I am, Jordan, about the frogs. You can navigate by the stars. I just wanted to see if you were paying attention.”
“You’re as bad as my teacher this year was, but the stuff you show us is way cooler!”
“Glad to hear it. Now, what do you guys think?”
“I think you forgot the guerrilla garden.”
“Where did you hear that?”
“Mom and Dad. They said you’d be looking to plant a few around here.”
“They’re right. We’ll talk about that later. It’s almost eleven, what say we head back? I got PT at two.”
“Yeah, we didn’t bring anything to eat anyway and I’m getting hungry.”
“Actually, we did, but it’s for emergencies.”
“And there’s another lesson. Let’s head back before the professor here decides to turn summer vacation into school.”
(Marshall Homestead house, 11:30)
“Erin, were you expecting Eric today?”
“No, why?”
“Because he’s here.”
“Can you go talk to him? I’m up to my ears in this payroll thing!?”
(Door) “Hey Eric! What brings you out here today?”
“Is Erin here?”
“Yeah, come on.”
(Office)
“Hi Eric, what’s up?”
“Erin Denise Waters?”
“What’s with all the formality?”
“Here you go, Mrs. Waters. You have been served.”
“What!?! Served!?! What the hell’s going on, Eric!?!”
“You have been served a summons for you and Mr. Waters to appear in court before a judge.”
“What is this bullshit!?! Ordered to appear...with foster children...June 6th...Judge Phillips...OH MY GOD!”
“What, Erin!?!”
“We have to appear before Judge Phillips for an adoption hearing!! We get to adopt the kids!!! OH PRAISE GOD!!! (Erin starts bawling)
“You knew what was in that summons, didn’t you Eric?”
“Yeah, Colleen told me when I picked it up this morning to deliver.”
“You are one sadistic son of a bitch! You had her so wound up, she was about to launch into orbit!”
“You should be careful, Mrs. Marshall. You just cussed a law enforcement officer. It was funny as hell though, wasn’t it?”
“Yes it was. You done good, Eric!”
“Oh guys, this is going to make the kids so happy, me and Larry too! They’re really going to be ours, for real!”
“Congratulations, Erin. You, Larry, and the kids have all earned this. It’s things like this that make my job worth doing. I have to go. I have to serve some less pleasant summonses to some much less pleasant people. Kris and I will see y’all tonight, and tomorrow. Hell, this keeps up and we might just pitch a tent and live here!”
“There’s always the ranch hand’s room in the barn. It’s small, cozy, and aromatic, but it’s private and nobody lives there right now.”
“Think I’d rather have the tent. See y’all later.” (leaves)
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Post by papaof2 on Aug 30, 2017 22:03:47 GMT -6
Ranch hand's room in the barn. The smell there would be worse but otherwise not much different from where I slept when all the family was here for the holidays and my wife's mother shared the master bedroom with her.
(Do you have room to sleep 7 adults and 2 kids without putting anyone on the floor?)
I got the ANCIENT hide-a-bed in the basement - but I did have my own private full bath. A previous owner had finished the plumbed and studded bath in the basement using cheap (wood grain printed on paper) "paneling" and bargain basement fixtures. No one else would use the bath because it looked so bad. However, it was fully functional. After being here for a number of years, that bath came to the top of my honey-do list. And more than a year after I started the remodel, it was finished. Just had to allow time for rotator cuff surgery and months of PT plus corneal transplant and cataract surgery and weeks of healing.
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Post by headlesshorseman on Aug 30, 2017 22:20:47 GMT -6
Keep up the good work. Another ten million words will be welcomed. I like these kids.
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Post by gipsy on Aug 31, 2017 7:56:34 GMT -6
Cool update. Thanks
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Post by kaijafon on Aug 31, 2017 19:17:11 GMT -6
AWESOME!!!
and I'm gonna have to try the frog joke on my students.
$10 to nuthin, 75% or more believe it!
hehehe!
thanks! a MOST exCELLent chapter!!
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Post by cutter on Sept 1, 2017 22:10:20 GMT -6
Sorry it took so long, I was writing this one with no road signs. Enjoy.
Chapter 3
(Marshall Homestead, 4:30)
“You’re late, Love. Something happen?”
(Brian winks at Morgan) “Hey, Kit! I found a stray and brought him home for you!”
“TROY!!!” (Kit launches herself at Troy, arms and legs wrapped around him. He catches and holds her easily.)
“Hi Sugar. I’m guessing you missed me.”
“And we thought we needed a crowbar to separate Mark and Stacy. We may need the jaws of life for these two.”
“Watch this. Hey Kit, want to go to The Bistro for some creme brulee?”
“Yeah! Carry me to the truck, Troy. You’re comin’ with me.”
“Oh for pity’s sake! Brian, go get the jaws of life.”
“Ok, Mom, ok. Troy, put me down. What are you doing here anyway, not that I mind.”
“Brian called and asked Mom and Dad if they’d like for me to come on and stay the weekend too, so they could have a weekend getaway. They are driving to Gatlinburg as we speak. It’s good for them. They haven’t had much time alone since they took me in. They promised to bring Brian back a bottle of Ol’ Smokey blended whiskey. He seemed excited about that.”
“It’s really great stuff, just have to go easy on it. It’s so smooth, it sneaks up on you. Ok guys, listen up! We have to be at the auditorium by six, so we need to get a move on. Troy, grab your stuff. Mark, take Troy to your room. Let’s get moving!”
“Kit, remember to stay in your room until I call you. This is gonna’ be fun.”
“I wonder what Troy will say.”
“I’ll be surprised if either one of them can manage to say anything.”
“That’s the idea.”
(5:30)
(phone) “Kit, you ready?”
“Mom has the boys in Mark’s room. She’s in on the plan. Come straight up to my room. She said for us to come down the stairs together.”
“On my way.”
“Ok boys, you can come out now. Come on in the kitchen so your ladies can make an entrance.”
“Oh Hell!”
“What?”
“Just wait Troy, you’ll see.”
“You know something I don’t?”
“Oh yeah! Come on, never a good idea to keep a lady waiting.”
(Kit’s phone rings once)
“That’s Mom. I hope Troy is impressed. Let’s go.”
(As Stacy and Kit appear on the stairs)
“Gentlemen, I give you the Lady Kitty Elaine Johnston and the Lady Anastasia Elizabeth Matthews.”
(Mark starts forward with a gigantic smile on his face while Troy stands dumbfounded)
“Troy. Troy! Troy, come on, it’s proper for us to meet them at the bottom of the stairs to escort them. Wipe that stupid look off your face and move!”
(The boys meet the girls at the bottom of the stairs. The girls each take their man’s arm.)
“I thought you’d react more like Troy did.”
“The shock value is wearing off, which is good. It’s a lot easier to appreciate the whole view.”
“Troy, what do you think? Do you like me like this?”
“I’ll let you know as soon as I CAN think. Just Wow! Kit, is that Kat’s…?”
“Yes. She couldn’t be here, so I’m taking a part of her with me. I will never take this bracelet off as long as I live.”
“I think that’s the right thing to do. Are you ready?”
“I think all of us are.”
(Marshall Homestead, after graduation party)
“Mom, why weren’t you the one giving the speech? You showed me your grades, they were better than his were.”
“Sweetheart, he worked really hard to get where he was tonight. I had private tutors. I had classes with a lot less students. I had all the advantages, he didn’t. He earned his place on that stage tonight, all on his own. I couldn’t bear to take that from him, even if I’d wanted to. Tim Cowgill is a great man, a talented man. He is respected and loved by his fellow graduates and he deserved to be the valedictorian. I asked Mr. Martin to keep it to himself when he told me my scores put me at the head of the class. My fellow graduates belong here. They grew up here and have had a part in making Franklin what it is. I was a transplant, an outsider. I have my place in this community now, too. My school achievements are from my old life. My place here, I earned here. Besides, being a valedictorian is no match for being the mother of three incredible kids, with another on the way, the wife of a truly great man, husband, and father, or being a part of this family. I have my reward. I’m looking at her right now. Sweetheart, I have more reward and more blessing right now, in this one moment, than everybody I graduated with tonight have had all together in their entire lives. It was better for everybody this way.”
“Mom, I hope I’m like you when I grow up.”
“Anastasia, you’re more grown up than you realize and you are already better than me. What I am about to tell you stays between us. When I was your age, I was a spoiled, self centered bitch. I was hateful. I was cruel. I was selfish. I only cared about myself and Morgan. She was the only person in the world I loved. Grandma Porter had already passed away, so Morgan was all I had left. My Mom never was much of a mother to me. She’s my sister and my friend, but I still look up to Morgan like she’s my Mom. Dad was the most evil, vicious, hateful person I have ever known. You know what he did to Mason and Joanna and Mom. He was always like that as far back as I can remember. Morgan tried, but I was more like Mom and Dad than her. I used people. I played with their emotions and their feelings to get what I wanted. Everything I said, everything I did, I did for what it would get me. If I had been Mark’s girlfriend, and like I was when I was your age, I might have called him, once, while he was in the hospital, but I would have never wasted my time going to see him, much less staying at his bedside round the clock. It wasn’t a waste of time for you. Your place was at your man’s side; it was where you belonged. That was by your choice. You belonged there because you wanted to belong there. You moved mountains to save Kit’s life. The way I was back then, I would have let her die and gone to the mall. I’m not like that anymore, thanks to all the people right here who love me and claim me as their own. Anastasia, I’ve known you are the better woman ever since I met you. You may not understand it, or even believe it, but you are the woman I’m trying to become. I’m so ashamed of who I was, and I’m so proud of who you are. Don’t ever lose who you are right now, and don’t ever believe it isn’t good enough.”
“M...Mom, I don’t know what to say.”
“Say that you love me.”
(Stacy hugs Erin tight) “You might not believe me. I had to show you. And I still want to be like you.”
(---)
“You sure you can handle this? It’s not too late to run away.”
“Run away from what!?!”
“All this family. You were an only child of only children, this has to be overwhelming for you.”
“It is, and I love it! Todd, I always wanted a big family with lots of brothers and sisters. I still do. When I marry you next month, I’ll have it.”
“The wedding is just an excuse for the government to steal more of our money and stick their noses in our lives. In every way that matters, we’re married right now, and have been for some time. We’re already your family.”
“I know. When you make an honest woman out of me, I hope we make this family bigger, a lot bigger.”
“I think we can arrange that. Just wondering, you work for CPS, will they let you foster or adopt?”
“If they know what’s good for them, they’ll let me do both! I know of no laws or CPS policy that says I can’t do either one just because I’m an employee. If they have a problem with us fostering or adopting because I work there, I won’t work there for much longer.”
(---)
“Morgan, look over there.”
“I know. He hasn’t stopped touching her since she came down those stairs, except for long enough for her to change clothes when we got back home. He hasn’t stopped holding her since we came up here to the firepit.”
“I get the feeling we’re going to be seeing a lot of Troy this summer. That makes me very happy.”
“Me too.”
(Later Friday evening)
“Guys, we gotta’ go home. We’ll be back in the morning. Have a good time and don’t give Brian and Morgan any trouble.”
“Do we ever?”
“No, I guess you really don’t. Just make sure you tell them when you spend the night up here.”
“Hehe. We’ll remember. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
“There better be a lot of things we do tonight that you wouldn’t do.”
“Ok, don’t do anything I won’t do after I marry Mark.”
“Gettin’ a little ahead of yourself there, aren’t you?”
“Nope, just planning ahead. We won’t be twelve forever.”
“Sweetheart, you and I need to have a long talk, later.
“Yeah, we do. I have a bunch of questions.”
“I hope I have the right answers. See you tomorrow.”
“I’ll be listening to see if y’all have fun. See you tomorrow.”
“Larry, YOUR daughter is at it again.”
“And? She’s just telling the truth. You don’t want your daughter to lie, do you?”
“Take me home and give me a reason not to beat the both of you.”
“Who says I’m gonna’ wait till we get home? Let’s go.” (Larry and Erin leave)
“Sissy, what were you guys talkin’ about?”
“Noah, I promise, I’ll tell you, when you’re twelve.”
“Fine. C’mon, Uncle Mark said we’re cookin’ marshmallows!”
(Saturday, March 27, 8AM, Marshall firepit)
(Whispering) “Mark, you awake?”
(Whispering) “I’ve been awake since dawn. How’d you sleep?”
“I always sleep like a baby in your arms. I’ve never felt like I feel when I’m in your arms. I could stay with you just like this, forever. How did you sleep?”
“Really well, after Troy and Kit fell asleep.”
“What’d they do to keep you awake?”
“Look at ‘em.”
“Oh shit. She’s still got her bra on, but they’ve both got their shirts off. I see what Kit was talking about now. We better wake ‘em up before Brian and Morgan come up here and catch ‘em.”
“Troy, hey Troy, wake up.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing yet. If Brian comes up here and catches Kit half undressed, you’re screwed.”
“Shit! I didn’t think about that last night!”
“Buddy, I know exactly what you were thinking about last night. I can’t say I blame you, I was thinking about the same thing.”
“About Kit!?!”
“I’d enjoy that view, but no. I was thinking about Stacy, when I was in the hospital.”
“I’ll wake Kit up and we’ll get dressed.”
“One other thing, don’t do that anymore when the boys are around. They’re too young and we have to set a good example.”
“Sorry, Mark.”
“No need to be sorry. I’m just looking out for you and the rest of my family. No sense borrowing trouble.”
“(Quietly) “Were you really thinking about seeing me in my underwear last night?”
“I haven’t stopped thinking about it since I saw you in the hospital. The time will come when we’ll see each other without anything on. The time will come when we’ll do a lot more than hold hands and kiss. We’re not ready for that yet. Let’s get up and start packing stuff up. We’ll give Troy and Kit a few minutes, then we’ll wake the boys up. I have to be at PT at 10, so we need to get moving.”
(Waters homestead, 11:30)
“WE’RE BACK.”
“Hi Love, welcome home, well sort of. Listen, I still have to help get the rest of the food out. You look tired. Why don’t you sit here on the porch. I brought you a cup of coffee and a piece of apple pie. Maybe it’ll give you a boost. I’ll be back as soon as I’m done.”
“You made this pie yourself.”
“What makes you say that?”
“You’re the only one in the family that puts cinnamon and honey in your apple pies.”
“It’s the way you like it best. I like to do things that make you happy.”
“Go on and get done what you need to do. It’s a little lonely sitting here by myself.”
“I’ll tell Jacob and Emily to come sit with you.”
“I want you.”
(Quick kiss) “Then I’ll hurry!” (Stacy heads back to the kitchen)
(..)
“Hey Mark, how’s it going?”
“I’m a little tired from my PT, but mostly good.”
“What are you eating?”
“Stacy’s homemade apple pie.”
“It looks delicious!”
(offers his fork) “Here, try it. You’ll like it.”
(Skyler takes a bite) “Oh Geez! This is incredible! What’s that I taste in it?”
“Cinnamon.”
“This is so good! She baked this herself? What in the world ever made her put cinnamon in it?”
“When I lived with my brother Jacob in Germany, we went on a sightseeing trip to a little town in Rhineland called Cochem. We wanted to see the architecture. We found this little place called Gretta’s Gasthaus. I swear, the woman that owns it must be two hundred years old, but she’s full of mischief. Anyway, we got lunch and had a piece of apple pie each for dessert. It was still warm and she made hers with cinnamon. I happened to mention to Stacy that it was the best apple pie I ever had and she tried making it that way. It took her a couple of tries, but she finally made one that tasted just like Frau Gretta’s. I have to admit, this one’s even better. She also uses honey instead of sugar.”
“That’s so sweet, Love. So you did get to taste it?”
“I’m sorry, Mark! I didn’t mean to eat the whole thing!”
(Stacy and Mark both laughing) “Yes, I got the first two bites. It’s ok. I bet there’s more where that came from. If there isn’t, I’ll ask Anastasia nicely to make me another one. I’ll say please and bribe her with flowers.”
“There’s plenty, I baked four of them. I also baked four cherry, four peach, and a rhubarb pie. And you don’t have to bribe me. I love cooking for you. It’s nice to watch you enjoy my cooking so much. You eat like a team of clydesdales.”
“What’s rhubarb?”
“It’s a plant. It’s kinda’ like a cross between celery and poke, it’s purple.”
“What’s poke?”
“Never mind. Start hangin’ around with us more and Mark will show it to you, and a million other things.”
“Is it good?”
“Yeah, it’s great, after I put about a gallon of honey in it. The only reason I baked it is because Dad likes it for some strange reason.”
“I like it too; I just don’t eat it very often.”
“Want me to make you one?”
“You make it and I’ll happily eat it, but I like your apple pies better.”
“We got everything set out. What do y’all want to do?”
“Where’s everybody else?”
“Jordan, Noah, and Tabatha are swimming, no surprise there. Lisa can’t get her cast wet, so she and Bobby went fishing with Pete. Brian’s sitting in the shade, talking to some of the Ruby guys. Morgan and Erin are interviewing Skyler’s mom for a job with Rubycon. Larry, Eric, and Kris are playing lifeguard. Billy and Stephanie are on the dance floor with Judge Phillips and his wife, learning to dance. Jacob and Emily are trying to get Swifty to come to them so they can pet him. Troy and Kit are cuddling at the firepit, with their clothes on, and we’re here. Oh hey, I meant to tell you, Sam and Alan came too! Sam’s mom is here and Allan’s Dad came too.”
“Where’s Todd and Sarah?”
“They’ll be here a little later. They went into town for final fitting of Sarah’s wedding dress.”
“Let’s go up to the firepit. We can keep Troy and Kit out of trouble and watch the dance floor.”
“Let’s go!”
“Love, you and Skyler take the gator. I have to go to the bathroom; I’ll catch up.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah. Keep him out of trouble till I get there.”
“There’s no keepin’ him outa’ trouble. You’re his girlfriend; you know that.”
“Well, at least try. I gotta’ go!” (Stacy goes in the house. Skyler and Mark head to the firepit and dance floor.)
“I can’t believe she trusts me alone with you.”
“We’re hardly alone. Why would you even say that?”
“Are you kidding? Mark, you really don’t know just how great a guy you are, do you? If I was Stacy, I’d be scared to death some girl would always be trying to take you away.”
“Are you?”
“NO! Damn Mark, that was cold. You and I are good friends, I don’t want to ruin that. I could never do that to Stacy. I just wish I could find a guy who would look at me like you look at Stacy. I want somebody to hold me like you do her, like they’ll never let me go.”
“He’s out there. You’ll find him. Who knows, he may be here now.”
“Who!?!”
“I don’t know, Skyler. Stacy walked into my life out of nowhere. I never saw her coming. It took her all of about three seconds to wrap me around her little finger. Now, I can’t imagine life without her. There’s a guy out there somewhere that will make you feel the same way.”
“I just wish I knew where somewhere is. I’d go hunt him down.”
“My bet is that he’ll find you when you least expect it. For all I know, you know him already.”
“Who’s the old people on the dance floor?”
“That’s Judge Greg Phillips and his wife Kate. They have a real thing for Patsy Cline and they’re really good dancers. Stephanie is their granddaughter.”
“Billy and Stephanie aren’t doing bad either.”
“Hey Munchkin, how you holdin’ up?”
“Not too bad, Brian. Hey, do you have Glory of Love by Peter Cetera?”
“Yeah. You know how much I like his music.”
“Can you put that in the cue?”
“Sure.”
“Don’t put it up next, maybe so it’ll play in fifteen minutes or so.”
“What are you up to?”
“I want to dance with Anastasia.”
“You sure you’re up to that?”
“No, but I’m sure I want to try.”
“Ok, try not to fall on your ass.”
“But it’d be so much fun to watch.”
“I’ll put it in the que. Good luck, you’re gonna’ need it.” (Brian goes to put the song in the rotation.)
“See, I want a man that will do that for me.”
“Just don’t tell Stacy. I want to surprise her. Hey Sam! Come on over!”
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