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Post by headlesshorseman on Sept 22, 2017 19:35:56 GMT -6
I must have gotten what you wrote crossed with what my uncle told me sixty years ago.
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Post by cutter on Sept 22, 2017 19:41:10 GMT -6
It was close enough. I just didn't want pbbrown0 to be turning the thread inside out looking for something that wasn't quite there, in case he decided to look for it. I'm close to having the next chapter ready to post. Stacy's inner bad girl came out a little in this one. I'm gonna' have to jerk a knot in that girl's tail if she doesn't behave.
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Post by headlesshorseman on Sept 22, 2017 20:15:10 GMT -6
Go easy on her. getting punched in the eye can leave a bad impression. Guys shake things like that off easier than girls.
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Post by cutter on Sept 22, 2017 20:35:02 GMT -6
That isn't the part I'm worried about. Don't forget, she's a 12 year old that fooled a nurse into thinking she was 16, without trying. Like Erin said, she's a little ahead of the curve for her age group.
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Post by cutter on Sept 22, 2017 22:22:11 GMT -6
Here we go. The group is growing again. This keeps up and the clan's going to need bigger houses, or a bunkhouse, just for all the kids. Enjoy.
Chapter 13
(Marshall fire pit)
“You said you wanted to say exactly what’s on your mind. Let’s hear it.”
“Mark, are you sure about this thing with Bobby?”
“Not quite what I was expecting. I thought you’d be louder and more uh, blunt.”
“Quit jerking me around, Mark. Ever since I have known you, even before you left to live with Jacob, you had a reason for everything you did, everything. Mark, I don’t understand. I don’t understand how you can even think of giving Bobby Jones a second chance. He’s mean, vicious, hateful, and cruel. He picks on the weak, the timid, the defenseless. Mark, he’s everything you’re not. He is the perfect example of everything you have ever stood against in your life. You hate everything about him, everything he is. How can you even think of helping him? What has he ever done in his whole miserable life to deserve that? Help me understand, Mark; because right now, I can’t.”
“Anastasia, I wasn’t jerking you around. I really expected you to blast me. To be perfectly honest, I wouldn’t have been that surprised if you had cut me loose and never spoken to me again. I know Bobby has caused a lot of hurt to a lot of people, including us. What has he done to deserve my help? Nothing, that’s what he’s done. The first decent thing I have ever seen him do is show compassion to Kit for the death of her sister. He finally showed me one thing about him that’s worth something. You’re right, I hate everything about him; but I don’t hate him. That one moment of decency toward Kit is enough for me to give him a chance. I’m hoping that under all that cruelty and cowardice, is a decent man just dying to get out. If I’m wrong, and I might be, I will make him pay dearly. If I’m right, and I can help him set that decent man free, then we’ve gained an ally and made the world a little better place.”
“What was it about Kit? Why did he suddenly decide to be a nice guy, if only for a minute, now?”
“It wasn’t just Kit, but if you want to know, you’ll have to ask Bobby.”
“But you know, don’t you?”
“Anastasia, it isn’t my story to tell. Are you still with me?”
“I’m not going anywhere, and I’m not going to let you go anywhere either. One thing though, the next time you decide to save the world, you damn well better tell me first!”
“I would have told you this time, if I’d had the time. So, are we ok now?”
“Not quite. It’s just you and me here, alone. Everybody else is scared to death we’re about to explode, so they’ll leave us alone. All this crap with Kit and Troy has really gotten in our way lately. I’m feeling a little underloved. How about we take an hour or so and catch up a little?”
“Are you sure we can handle that, with nobody around to rein us in? It’s been a while.”
“I’m sure I want to find out. One of us will manage to stop before we can’t. It’s a chance I’m willing to take. Besides, there’s something I want to try.”
(An hour and a half later)
“What time is it, Lover?”
“A little after one. Lover? That’s new.”
“It’s also true. I can’t tell you how good that feels.”
“All I’m doing is massaging your arms, back, legs, and feet.”
“Yeah, and I’m in Heaven right now. You’ve never had me this turned on before but I’m completely relaxed. I don’t know IF I can move.”
“Glad you’re enjoying it, but we better get back before Kit or the boys start worrying.”
“I guess you’re right. Hook my bikini top back so I can try to get up.”
“I’m half tempted to tell you to turn over before I do that.”
“Ok.” (Stacy starts to roll over)
(Mark puts a hand on her shoulder to stop her) “Anastasia, no. This is as much as I can take; you show me those and it’s all over. I’m sorry I said that about you turning over.”
“I almost did it anyway, before you said anything.”
“Hold still. (Mark hooks her top back together) Now, let’s go back to the house before we get ourselves in trouble.”
“Mark, I’m not going to be able to wait until our senior year; there is no way I can stand it that long. I can’t wait five more years. I don’t want to wait five more minutes!”
“I don’t want to wait either, but we have to. One day at a time and we’ll get there. Let’s go back before I do something I might not regret.”
“At least I’m not the only one.”
“No, I’m right there with you. What I wouldn’t give for us to even be juniors! Come on.”
(Back at the house)
“You two ok?”
(Distracted) “Yeah.”
“Uh oh. Stacy, let’s go to my room; I really need to talk to you.”
(Still distracted) “Ok. (Touches Mark’s cheek) Call Boomer and I’ll be back in a little while.”
(Mark watches Stacy walk into the house then shakes his head and pulls out his phone)
“Boomer’s Fun Zone, this is Boomer.”
“Hey Boomer, it’s Mark Marshall. You got a minute?”
Sure I do. You and that girl of yours are still coming Sunday, aren’t you?”
“Wouldn’t miss it, but I need to ask you a big, huge favor.”
“Whatcha’ need?”
“I need you to let Bobby Jones come to the open house.”
“Why would I want to do that? More to the point, why would you want me to do that!?!”
He showed up at the funeral home Tuesday and again at the funeral Wednesday. He was actually decent and we talked. Boomer, he says he wants to change his ways and I believe him. He’s crapped on a lot of people and is going to need some help. So far, three of us are willing to give him a chance, but he’s gonna’ need more. Without some support, he’ll eventually go back to being just like he was. That won’t do anybody any good. I really need your help here, Boomer.”
“Don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re the damndest kid I ever knew! If it was anybody else, I’d say no, but I’ll do it for you. I’ll give him one more chance. If he screws that up, he’s done.”
“That’s all I’m giving him. He doesn’t want to screw that one up with me, bad things might happen to him. Boomer, I owe you one.”
“Nah, but he does, to both of us. See you Sunday.” (Click)
“Hey guys, will you help me get set up for the fish fry tonight while the girls are gossipin’?”
“Yeah, let’s do it.”
(----)
“Ok, tell!”
“Tell what?”
“You’re glowing and your head’s so far in the clouds that you’re almost walking into walls. What happened after you two worked things out?”
“It was great.”
“You did it with Mark!”
“I wish. He just wouldn’t. I almost didn’t give him a choice. He gave me a massage, arms legs, feet, back. I stayed on my stomach the whole time. He didn’t see or touch anything you can’t see right now; he didn’t even try. I unhooked my bikini top so he could get to my whole back. I did it, he didn’t. He never even tried to cop a feel on the sides. Kit, I’m starting to really hate his self control. It’s been a half hour since he stopped and I’m still about to scream. I think I’m startin’ to understand what Dad does to Mom. The thing is, if it’s any better than this, I don’t know how she isn’t any louder than she is. Kit, we’re never gonna’ make it to seventeen.”
“If you don’t, you don’t. The only things you really have to worry about are getting pregnant and getting caught.”
I’m more worried about getting pregnant than caught. Engagement night sex is a tradition in this family. To be honest, that’s all Mark and I are trying to wait for anyway. He puts a ring on my finger, and it won’t matter anymore.”
“Age of consent in Kentucky is sixteen. You two have a little under four more years.”
“Don’t remind me.”
“Quit your whining; I have four years too, and that’s assuming Troy and I stay together. Are you getting yourself under control now?”
“Barely, but yeah.”
“Well then put your top and shorts back on and let’s go help the boys get ready for the fish fry.”
“Like me in a bikini is going to give Mark any problems.”
“Stacy, he couldn’t take his eyes off you all the way in the house. I think Mark’s about hit his limit too; he just doesn’t show it as bad.”
“Maybe I should do that to him more often then.”
“Wear a bikini?”
“That too. No, a kiss on the neck works as good on him as it does on me. He actually trembled.”
“Nah, he was just cold. And MAYBE you should get a one piece swimsuit. It’s not fair to Mark for you to depend on his self control and then give him every reason to give in.”
“That might be a good idea. I guess we better go see what we can do to help, now that I’m dressed.”
(Sunday, June 4, 3 PM, Boomer’s)
“I’ll say this much, Boomer really knows how to throw a party!”
“I can’t believe the food, the games, even the go carts are all on the house. This party’s costing him a fortune!”
“I’m sure it is Kit, but don’t let him fool you. He’s losing a lot of money today, but it’ll come back to him. This party started an hour ago and I’ve heard Kat’s name at least fifteen times. I’ve lost count of how many times somebody has mentioned at least one of us. A lot of the kids, and a lot of the adults, have been talking about how the town needed this to put us back on track after the attack. Franklin is like most small towns, everybody knows everybody and most will help each other out. This town has never seen that level of violence before. It took a toll. This will help us get back what we forgot for a while. Folks will remember that Boomer helped get that going with this party. A few won’t, but most of the families with kids will come back again, as paying guests. This will help Boomer’s bottom line in the long run. I can live with that; I’m happy about it, everybody wins.”
“That’s not good. Dammit!”
“What’s wrong, Stacy?”
“Over there, Troy just spotted Bobby. Your grand plan may be about to backfire.”
“Not if I can help it. I’ll be back.”
“I’m coming with you.”
“Thanks Sam, I could use the backup.”
(As Mark and Sam head over, with Kit, Stacy, and Skyler following them.)
“Fat Ass, you’re not supposed to be here! Boomer banned you, you piece of shit!”
“TROY! Troy, Bobby’s here because I invited him. I cleared it with Boomer before I did it. Bobby’s trying to start over and be a decent guy. He needs some support to make that happen and we’re going to give it to him.”
(A good sized group of kids has started to gather, with Boomer and several parents at the back of the pack. They are hearing the whole conversation)
“He had his hands on my girlfriend, at her sister’s funeral for shit’s sake! I’m gonna’ give him an ass beatin’.”
“Think you can get through me to do it?”
(Sam steps up) “How about me?”
(Stacy, Kit, and Skyler) “And us, while you’re at it.”
(Billy, Stephanie, and Scott step out of the crowd behind Troy) “Add us to the list too.”
“Are all of you actually defending this asshole?”
“Mark, I promised you I wouldn’t start any trouble. Why don’t I just go?”
“Bobby, if that’s what you really want to do, I won’t stop you, but I will escort you out so trouble doesn’t find you. You have kept your word the whole time you’ve been here. You are here at my invitation and Boomer’s. You have a right to be here. I’ll fight for that right, if I have to. Troy, he did put his hand on Kit’s shoulder, to comfort her; all of us had a hand on her at the funeral, for the same reason. Are you really willing to pick a fight with seven of your friends AND the woman who loves you, over nothing? Stand down.”
“Ok Mark, we’ll do it your way and hope it doesn’t blow up in your face. Kit, let’s take a walk around.”
“Sounds good to me.” (Troy and Kit walk away)
“Come on Bobby, we’ll buy you a Coke and split a pizza.”
“Stacy, ,that stuff’s all free today.”
“I know. Work with us here.”
“I hit you to get at Mark. I’m sorry to both of you for that. I’m sorry I treated you so bad, Stacy.”
“So make it up to me. Keep being this guy and don’t ever be that other guy again. Sooner or later, there’s going to be something that’s worth it to you to fight for. From now on, fight only when you have to, instead of just because you can. Treat people like you want to be treated, until they give you a reason not to. I had my doubts yesterday when Mark told me he was giving you another chance, but I’m thinking now, he may be right.”
(---)
“What was that about?”
“I don’t like him putting his hands all over you.”
“HE wasn’t grabbing my boobs or trying to get in my pants. He was just showing me that he knew I was hurting. He was hurting too, but I don’t know why.”
“I can tell you why; he wants to screw you!”
“No he doesn’t! He’s never made any move on me or even said anything like that! Besides, even if that IS what he wants, so do you! Lord knows you’ve tried hard enough to take me! Dammit Troy, forget about Bobby for a minute. Worry about us! You and I have some real problems! If things keep on like this, there isn’t going to BE an us much longer!”
“Fine, if that’s what you want, I’ll walk away. I thought what we had was real, guess I thought wrong.”
(Kit takes Troy’s hand with tears in her eyes) “I don’t want that. I never want that. I want you, but I can’t sleep with you right now. Troy, I’m a foster. I have nothing. I don’t have money; I don’t have family; all I have to give you, is me. I want to save myself for our wedding. I want to give myself to you on our wedding night, pure and new, unspoiled, like you deserve. I love you, Troy. It’s all I have to give you. My real mother was a slut. She had a lot of men before Daddy. They were married for eight years. When she left him and took us, I found out she had been sleeping around on him the whole time. After she left him, she’d sleep with anything. We never told Daddy any of that because she had hurt him enough. At least, by luck, we really were Daddy’s. Mom had a paternity test done because she wasn’t sure. Troy, I don’t want that for us, any of it. I want you to have me, but I want you to have all of me when you do. I don’t just want to be your lover our first time; I want to be your wife. Please Troy, this is important to me. I’m not asking anything else of you, just to let me be the wedding gift and wife that I want to be for you. It’s all I have.”
“Alright, I’ll do the best I can. Do we still have problems?”
“I hope not. I really do want you; please believe me. I really do love you, Troy.”
“I love you too. You want to go find the rest of the gang?”
“No. I just want to be with you. Feel like shooting some pool?”
“Sounds good.”
(Three pizzas later)
”Love, let’s go do the go karts.”
“I think I better wait on that until I’m healed. You guys go ahead and I’ll watch. Let’s go.”
(Stacy takes Bobby’s arm as she winks at Mark) “Come on, Stud. Grandpa can’t keep up, so show me a good time.”
“Mark, I...I…”
(Mark holds up his hand and somehow keeps a straight face) “I know when I’m beat. Don’t do anything with her that I wouldn’t do.”
“Come on Love, let me have a little fun! Let’s go, Bobby. You can take me for a ride.” (Stacy pulls Bobby away. Sam and Skyler are just sitting with “I can’t believe she just did that!” looks on their faces)
(Mark busts out laughing) “You don’t really think we’re serious, do you?”
“I don’t know what to think!”
“I don’t either. I was waiting for you to get up and kick his ass again.”
“Why would I do that? I know who she’s going home with. Stacy is all mine, unless I give her reason not to be. There’s no way I’m going to do that. Come on, let’s go so you guys can get some laps in. I expect at least one of you to beat him in the race that I know’s gonna’ happen. Don’t disappoint me.”
(---)
“Stacy, what are you trying to do, get Mark to beat me stupid?”
“He’s not going to do any such thing. He knows and understands what I’m doing. Part of this is that we’re playing with each other. I’m sorry that it is at your expense. The other part is that I want us seen being friendly with each other. Most all the kids here know what happened between us before. Seeing us like this should make them understand that we’ve made our peace about it and are friends.”
“Or they’ll think you’re two timing Mark.”
“Just because they think that doesn’t make it true. If anybody believes that out of me, or that you’d do that to Mark with me, they’re stupid and none of us needs them. There is a certain amount of flirting that goes on in our group. None of us mean anything by it except to show we like and care about each other. None of us take it more seriously than that. Mark and I have something special; neither one of us would ever intentionally do anything to mess that up and we both know that. I winked at Mark when I started this. He knew I was playing and played along. Do you really think he’d give up that easy if he thought I was serious?”
“As close as you two are, no. It’s just, this is all new to me. Before, people treated me with respect because they had to. I’ve never had anybody treat me good just because they wanted to.”
“Bobby, that wasn’t respect; that was fear. This isn’t fear; this is friendship.”
“You’re my friend!?!”
“Workin’ on it. Do you mind?”
“Oh Hell No! You want to be friends and do things like this for me just because you can, instead of what you want me to do for you? Sign me up!”
“I think Mark did that Friday. He was pretty dead set on it. We had one of our few real arguments over it. I wasn’t, but Mark thought I was mad enough about it that I might break up with him, and stood his ground anyway. Bobby, even Kit told me off because of my attitude. Mark won’t tell me what you two talked about, but it must have really been something. For whatever reason, you’re important to him. What’s important to him is important to me. I’ll back him for all I’m worth. Now, do you want to take me for a ride in one of these cars, or do you want to race?”
“Would you mind riding with me once? You can beat me in a race later.”
“I’d love to ride with you. When we race, you better play to win or I’m gonna’ be ticked off. If I beat you, I want to beat you on my own.”
“You don’t back down for anybody, do you?”
“Only Mark.”
“What I wouldn’t give for a girlfriend like you. Hell, what I wouldn’t give for a girlfriend.”
“Now I know what it was about Kit that got to you. Don’t worry, I won’t tell anybody.”
“Except Mark, I bet.”
“He wouldn’t tell me anything, but we both know that he already knows.”
“Yeah, that’s one of the things I told him when I was there for the funeral.”
“You can tell me the rest when you’re ready, if you want to. Take me for that ride.”
(8 PM, closing time, parking lot)
“Ok. Sam, we’re going to follow you home so we can bring you and Sherry back after you get your stuff together. Skyler, you’re riding with Stacy and your Mom is going to bring your stuff tomorrow when she comes to work. We’ll see y’all at our fire pit when we all get there. Don’t forget your sleeping bags and your cots.”
“Mark, can I talk to you for a minute?”
“Sure Boomer.” (They walk out of earshot of the others.)
“What’s up?”
“I just wanted to tell you how impressed I was with you and your friends today. You stood up for him and you’re going all out to help him change. You guys are going to change his life for the better. I hope he’s smart enough to see what you are doing for him.”
“Right now, he’s too overwhelmed to see much of anything, but he acts like he appreciates it. We stood up for him because it was the right thing to do. How can we expect him to do what’s right if we don’t. Boomer, I’m sorry there was trouble today. I know how much you hate having trouble here. None of us wanted that fight, but we would have all fought it if we had to. I can’t stop every bully, but I wasn’t going to let Troy bully Bobby. I won’t allow any reason for Bobby to go back to his old ways if I can help it.”
“I’m not sure you have enough fight in you right now, to take that boy on.”
“If it had come to that, the first thing I was going to do was to plant this cane in his crotch as hard as I could. After that, I was going to take it up side his head! Truthfully, I’m glad the others jumped in. One on one, he might have tried me, and I might have lost; eight to one was too bad on odds for him. One of the girls is his girlfriend. On top of that, all four of us boys and two of the girls KNOW now to fight. He knew that if he started that fight, we’d be carrying him out in a bucket.”
“Glad it didn’t come to that.”
“So am I. It turned out more or less like I wanted it to, but I’d rather it had never happened in the first place. Boomer, we all had a great time today. Thanks for this.”
“I did too. I had so much fun that I’m thinking of doing this once or twice a year. You better get going, you have people waiting for you.”
“Thanks Boomer. Hope to see you soon.”
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Post by gipsy on Sept 23, 2017 7:05:29 GMT -6
Bobby has a chance
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Post by papaof2 on Sept 23, 2017 8:43:57 GMT -6
Another good chapter.
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Post by headlesshorseman on Sept 23, 2017 16:54:24 GMT -6
I agree that Bobby has a chance.
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Post by cutter on Sept 23, 2017 17:19:29 GMT -6
A chance at what?
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Post by kaijafon on Sept 23, 2017 18:47:37 GMT -6
Thanks! Not sure if I LIKE Bobby being redeemed... gotta have SOMEONE be the "bad guy" but Troy may fill that spot! hopefully Kat won't suffer for that ...if that happens, that is. thanks again!
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Post by cutter on Sept 23, 2017 23:03:24 GMT -6
Kai, I think you are going to love Bobby like a son before this round is over. I didn't think he had it in him, but as the story is unfolding in my head, he's trying to embody the best traits of both Brian and Larry, and as much of Mark as he can manage. We'll get to that, but it's still on the horizon. For now, a little good and a little bad, and Larry getting hit in the forehead with an eight pound hammer. Oh, and for a little trivia, your post count is now the year of the Battle of Hastings. Enjoy.
Chapter 14
( Marshall fire pit)
“Kit, think anybody’d mind if Sam took me for a walk?”
“Not at all. I’m glad he asked you.”
“He didn’t, I’m asking him.”
“I think it’d be good for both of you. Good luck.”
“Good luck? We’re just friends.”
“But you want to be more than that, don’t you?”
“Yeah, but I don’t think he’s over Kat yet. You know he had a thing for her, didn’t you?”
“Yeah, he told me after the funeral, but that carnation he put on Kat’s casket had already given him away. We talked about it. Skyler, I don’t know if he realizes it yet, but he’s falling for you. Haven’t you noticed how he always wants to be close to you?”
“Yeah, and it’s confusing me. I’m not sure what he wants.”
“He’s confused too. I know what he’s going through, kind of. He had all these dreams in his head about him and Kat, about how great it was going to be with them together. Now she’s gone and all he has left of her are dreams that can never come true. Sam wants somebody to love, somebody to make happy. He’s one of those rare guys that don’t want to waste time dating around; he wants to find somebody and put all his energy into making her the happiest girl on Earth. Skyler, you could be that girl. There’s always going to be a special place in his heart for Kat, even though they were never together; but if he falls in love with you, that’s all she’ll ever be, a cherished memory. He will be yours, all yours. In a way, I envy you. I love Troy, God I love Troy, but he’s not the man Sam or Mark are. He could be, but he’s not right now. Go take Sam on that walk. Be patient with him and you’ll make him your own.”
(Tuesday, June 6, 10 AM, Family court, The Honorable Gregory Phillips presiding)
“It has come to the attention of this court that Larry and Erin Waters wish to adopt the three foster children in their care. Bailiff, please bring Stacy, Jordan, and Noah Matthews before the bench.”
(Noah, trembling and frightened) “What’s he gonna’ do to us Sissy?”
“He’s just gonna’ talk to us. It’s ok, Little Monster.”
“Miss Matthews, please state your full name.”
“Anastasia Elizabeth Matthews, Sir.”
“Miss Matthews, despite the maturity your brothers have demonstrated, their ages disallow this court to give adequate consideration to their wishes. They each will be heard by this court, but it is your wishes that will speak for all of you. Though only a few years older, you are considered to be old enough to make intelligent choices and form reasonable opinions. Noah, we’ll start with you. Do you want Larry and Erin to be your adopted parents?
“Yeah!”
“Noah!”
“Sorry, yes sir.”
“That’s quite alright. You are obviously scared and excited. You obviously have strong feelings for your foster parents. I think we can forgive a minor slip. Tell me, why do you want them to adopt you?”
“They don’t yell at us or spank us or not pay attention to us. They take care of us and help us do good. They love us.”
“Very well. Jordan, what about you? Do you wish your foster parents to adopt you?”
“I wish they would have adopted us the first day, sir. It’s like Noah said, they work hard to help us. They’re always good to us. They really want us.”
“I see. That leaves you, Miss Matthews. Is it also your wish to become Mr. and Mrs. Waters’ adopted daughter? Please bear in mind that once made, the decision of this court cannot be easily reversed. If you express a true desire to be adopted by your foster parents, you will be committing yourself and your brothers at least until all of you reach adulthood.”
(Stacy takes a step forward and looks Judge Phillips straight in the eyes) “Judge Phillips, you have seen our family together. Sir, you have seen how much Mom and Dad love and care about us and how much we love and care about them. Sir, you know very well what the five of us mean to each other. I loved them, but our actual parents never once showed us the love and devotion that Larry and Erin show us every day. Our mother and father never once helped us with anything. They never once considered what we thought or wanted, much less asked our opinion. Judge Phillips, we want Mom and Dad to adopt us, but unless you plan to take us away from them, it doesn’t matter what this court decides. Judge Phillips, in every way that matters, we already are their children and they are our parents; and have been for a long time. Please sir, make this happen.”
“That was quite the speech, Miss Matthews. I think you have made yourself very clear on your wishes. You have also put this court on notice that it’s decision will have only a limited effect on you. I am unaccustomed to adults, much less young people, being so fearlessly honest in addressing this court. Miss Matthews, you showed both respect to this court and admirable devotion to your foster parents. I am greatly impressed, Ma’am. Bailiff, bring Larry and Erin Waters before the bench.”
“Mr. and Mrs. Waters, you approached me directly, in your efforts to foster these children. You sought to provide a home where all three of these siblings could remain together and thrive. You had the unwavering support of respected members of this community. In recognition of those facts, I wrote orders placing these children in your care, in defiance of Kentucky law requiring foster parents to be at least 21 years of age. As your foster daughter so eloquently explained to this court, I have indeed been privileged to personally witness your interactions as a family and observe the growth of your relationships with each other. In all my years as a family court judge, I have too rarely seen such a perfect matching of foster children and foster parents. I now ask you, is it still your wish to adopt Anastasia, Jordan, and Noah Matthews? Are you quite certain you are prepared to be the parents they so desperately desire you be to them?”
“Judge Phillips, when you contacted me to arrange our children’s homecoming, you remarked that I was eager to have them with us. With respect, there are no words to accurately describe the truth of that statement. We want all of us to have by law, what we already enjoy in truth. Sir, as our daughter said, we are already a family; please Sir, make it legal.”
“Mrs. Waters?”
“My husband and my children have already said everything I could possibly say, except one thing. Judge Phillips, when you ordered our children be placed in our care, I don’t think any of us, including you, could begin to comprehend the gift you were giving our family. All that we have become together, we owe to you. Judge Phillips, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for our children.”
“It is far too rare that this court is witness to such joyous occasions as this. I would that this were the norm, instead of the exception. Mr. and Mrs. Waters, it is necessary to offer some deference to our laws. It is the order of this court that you will submit yourselves to the classes that are normally required to foster or adopt. Your background checks and other credentials have already been vetted, so that is all that remains. According to this friend of the court brief, submitted with your adoption paperwork, caseworker Sarah Peters and her supervisor, Valerie Conner, have both volunteered to provide you with the training classes at your convenience and as quickly as you are able to take them. It is the order of this court that this adoption shall be approved. This approval is conditional on your completion of the thirty hours of mandatory training. I suspect that condition will be met in short order. Congratulations, Messrs., Mrs., and Miss Waters. You are free to go.”
“YES!!!”
“I will overlook your outburst this time, young Mr. Marshall; but in the future, please maintain proper decorum in my courtroom.”
“Sorry Your Honor; I couldn’t help myself. It won’t happen again.”
“I hope not, considering you will be here again in two weeks’ time, regarding your niece-to-be’s adoption. I suggest you get your excitement out of your system between now and then.”
“Yes Sir.”
“Good. Now, don’t you folks have some celebrating to do? I have other cases to hear. Get out of my courtroom.”
(Waters homestead, outside, 7 PM, post adoption party)
“I was wondering how long that would take.”
“What?”
“Mark, taking our daughter off alone. I hope they keep control of their private celebration.”
“Larry, Stacy and I have had several very long, very honest talks since Mark got out of the hospital. There is some temptation there, but both of them understand very well what’s at stake. Stacy and I aren’t the only ones having long talks about this. She and Mark have talked a lot. Both of them agree that they aren’t ready yet and really don’t want to mess up. They’ll be ok. You know, Dad, the only thing that changed from yesterday is that she now carries your name. They are the same two people they were before.”
“I know, but I feel different. She really is my daughter now, my responsibility.”
“Love, she really was your daughter yesterday, and the day before that, and so on back to when they came here. You were a good father yesterday; you are the same good father today. Everything will be fine. Really Love, the only thing that changed is her last name; she’s still the incredible woman she was before.”
“I know, but I really don’t want to screw this up.”
“You won’t. You can’t; you don’t have it in you. Stop worrying.”
(---)
“How does it feel, Miss Waters?”
“Oh Mark, I can’t describe it. Me and the boys are finally safe! CPS can’t take us away again! Oh Mark, I’m so happy!”
“I’m happy for you. You and the boys deserved this. You know, this makes us cousins now.”
“Kissin’ cousins, and how is that any different than yesterday? Speaking of kissin’, you promised me a kiss when this was done.”
“Yes I did.” (Mark leans his cane up against a tree and takes Stacy in his arms. He puts everything he has into their kiss.)
(Five minutes later) “How was that?”
“Anything you want Lover, anything at all; just say the word.”
“I just want to hold you.”
“You can have me.”
“When the time is right, I hope you still feel that way. Right now, I just want to feel you in my arms.”
“Then let’s sit down. The easier we make it on your back, the longer I can feel your arms around me. Let me help you.”
(.......................)
(Ring) “Hey Larry.”
“Where are you two!?! You’ve been gone three hours!”
“We’re up at the fire pit in one of the chaise lounges. Stacy fell asleep and I didn’t have the heart to wake her. Let me wake her up and we’ll be down.”
“Boy, you and I are going to talk!”
“Ok, give us ten minutes or so and we’ll be back. You and I can talk then.”
“Boy, don’t you blow this off!”
“I’m not. You think we’re doing things we shouldn’t be doing. You’re wrong, so I’m going to have to convince you. You’re officially Stacy’s Dad now; I was sort of expecting this. Don’t worry, me and Stacy will set you straight. Be down in a few. Bye.”
(Back porch)
“Hahahahah!”
“What are you laughing at?”
“You, Dad. I told you there was nothing to worry about. You wouldn’t listen, so now you are going to end up having to apologize to Mark and your daughter for underestimating them. I’m telling you right now; you are going to have to lose this overprotective Dad attitude. Your daughter is a smart, good woman. Mark is a fine gentleman. Your attitude just now is insulting to them. They SHOULD be insulted. You keep accusing them like you just did, and they will eventually figure there’s no point in doing the right thing by each other. They’ll figure they’re already paying for it, so why not go on and do it. Stew on that while you wait, Dad!” (Erin goes in the house.)
(---)
“Anastasia, wake up Love.”
“Humf? What?”
“Wake up, Love. We need to get you back to the house.”
“I was dreaming. It was such a good dream. I don’t want to get up; can we just stay here tonight?”
“No Love, we need to get you home.”
“I am home. Don’t you want to stay with me?”
“More than you know, but Larry needs you at home, in the house, in your own bed, tonight.”
“What’s the matter with Dad?”
“I think it just hit him that he really is your Dad now. He’s being a little overprotective of his new daughter.”
“What’s his problem? We’re not doing anything we haven’t done before.”
“We know that, but he doesn’t. Go easy on him, Anastasia; from where he’s standing, his whole world changed today. Yesterday, you were his foster daughter; today you’re his real daughter and he’s working without a net. He’s going to need some time to get used to the idea that nothing has really changed.”
“Just what we need, more trouble. Let’s go then. Dammit Mark, when are we going to catch a break?”
“We’ll get one eventually. This is nothing, just a bump in the road. We’ve gotten through a lot worse than this.”
“Mark?”
“Hmmm?”
“I’m sorry.”
“You can’t help it that Larry’s freaking out over nothing.”
“Not that. Mark, I haven’t been doing right by you. I’ve been depending on you to keep us from going too far, but I’ve been making things harder on you with some of the things I’ve said and done, like wearing that bikini and all but begging you to take me tonight.”
“You shouldn’t be sorry. You’re only saying what I’m already thinking. All you asked for tonight was a kiss, that’s all. I gave you a lot more than you asked for in that kiss. I knew what I was doing to you, and I did it anyway. That’s all on me. I wanted you to say what you said to me. I went too far tonight and I’m sorry. I know you aren’t upset with me for doing it, maybe a little for not going any farther, but not for what I did. We both know this is going to be hard. If we’re both honest, we both know it’ll be a miracle if we manage to actually wait as long as we’re trying to wait. Maybe we need to take our own advice and back things down a little. Not everything, just enough to get us back to where we aren’t right on the edge all the time like we are now. I can’t say I’ll like it, but I can accept it, if it keeps us from going too far.”
“We can try. I don’t know how much help I’m going to be to you, doing that. You’re not fooling me. I know you think Troy’s only in it with Kit to get laid. I think you’re probably right. You’re not like Troy. If you would have let me, I would have given myself to you tonight with no regrets. I could have done that because I know for sure that you’d still be here for me tomorrow. You don’t just want to get laid; you want me, all of me. Kit told us she can’t see a future with Troy. That good dream I was just having? I was dreaming about when we have our children. I was dreaming about us, standing before a judge, being told we are the new parents of a child who desperately wants us to be their parents. I can count on one hand the number of times we have seriously made out or made love in my dreams. I can’t count the number of times we’ve laid on a blanket watching the stars, or sat down to a meal around a campfire that we cooked together, or cuddled up in front of the fireplace cradling our newborn baby. It’s so easy for me to want to give myself to you because I can see our future, and it’s good.”
“I dream about those things too. I love you, Anastasia Elizabeth. Our time will come, but right now, your Dad is about ready to kill me. Let’s take you home.”
“Ok. Don’t worry about Dad. If I can’t set him straight, Mom will.”
(...)
“Boy, you said ten minutes. You’re late.”
“Dad, I needed to tell him some things before we came in. Dad, you’ve got this all wrong.”
“Go on in the house, Sweetheart. I have a few things to say to your boyfriend in private.”
“That’s fine. When you’re done, I have a few things to say to you. Dad, Mark’s done nothing but treat me with respect. Don’t you dare accuse him of being any other way with me!” (Stacy walks in the house)
“Mark, I don’t know what you are doing with Stacy when you two go running off in the woods, but if I hear of you disrespecting her, your ass is mine!”
“Larry, we haven’t done one single damn thing when we’re alone that we haven’t done right in front of your face! If you had a problem with any of it, the first time you saw it would have been the time to call me out over it. Don’t be stupid. I’m in this for the duration. Don’t you think I know that if I got her knocked up that you’d make for damn sure I didn’t see her anymore? Well, I wouldn’t see her until she turned eighteen and you couldn’t do a damn thing about it anymore. You think I want that? If that happened, it would be a bigger problem than just you and me. That fight could very well rip this whole family apart! Not just you five, all of us! Yeah, we both want to go farther than we are, but we want to wait, at least until we’re engaged. You can’t say a damn thing against that because I know for a fact you and Erin made love all night the night you two got engaged.”
“Who told you that!?!”
“You did! I can’t help it if you forgot that Stacy and I were sitting ten feet away from you while you two were talking to Brian and Morgan! Quit being a retard! Stacy and I know what’s at stake here! We both know we have way too much to lose if we get stupid! I’m going home before you piss me off any more and I say something I won’t regret! You can explain to your daughter why I didn’t say goodbye, and I suggest you DO explain, because I will tomorrow. Good Freaking Night!” (Mark starts walking for home)
(at the same time, in the kitchen)
“Mom!...”
“I know Sweetheart, Dad’s being an idiot.”
“What’s his problem!?!”
“Damned if I know! I think he just realized that he’s your Dad and is worried he isn’t doing the job right.”
“He was just fine with it until today! Mom, Mark and I don’t need this! And before you ask, no, I haven’t changed my mind about being y’all’s daughter; but we don’t need this!”
“Stacy, I know. I’m on your side. I know you and Mark push your limits occasionally, but you’ve both got your heads on straight. I’ll work on Dad and keep working on him until I get him to see sense.”
“Thanks, Mom. I’ll tell you right now though, if he starts in on me; I’m going to give as good as I get!”
“I should say that you need to show your Dad some respect, but if he does that, he’s asking for it. Be respectful, but stand your ground. If you do that, that way, I’ll back you up. Anastasia, your Dad’s wrong and I don’t understand it. You can bet on one thing though, I’m not going to stop until I do understand, and make him understand too.”
“I’m going to my room. If Dad wants to talk to me, that’s where I’ll be. I’m so mad right now…”
“Sweetheart, it’ll be ok.”
“It better be. I’m not going to change my mind about the adoption, but if this doesn’t get ok, Dad may change HIS mind about it! Mom, I love you, and Dad too. Goodnight.”
(Larry comes in the house, mad all the way through)
“That boy! He walked away from me! I wasn’t done with him yet!”
“You better be glad he did. I didn’t hear everything because Stacy and I were talking, but from what I did hear, you basically accused him of screwing our daughter, and threatened him, and her of being a cheap slut! Stacy’s angrier than I have EVER seen her! She has every right to be! I’d say you best go talk to her and make this right, but you better be real careful what you say...or you may get way more than you bargained for! I’m going to bed; what you do is up to you!”
(Larry opens Stacy’s door and walks in) “Stacy, we need to talk.”
“Haven’t you ever heard of knocking?”
“Excuse me!?!”
“I said, haven’t you ever heard of knocking. One minute ago, I was in the middle of changing into my nightgown. Had you barged in then, I wouldn’t have had a stitch on! I don’t guess it matters; you seem to think I’m showing it all off to anybody that cares to see it!”
“I never said that!”
“‘I don’t know what you are doing with Stacy when you two go running off in the woods, but if I hear of you disrespecting her, your ass is mine!’ That sure sounds like you think I’m just giving it away to anybody who’ll take it!”
“That’s not what I think or what I meant! Stacy, I just don’t want you to ruin your life by getting pregnant now!”
“What, and be like Mom!?! You think we would do that!?! You think I want to be pregnant now, to be forced to have an abortion and bury MY daughter!?! You think Mark wants to risk having to bury a daughter HE fathered, that HE wants, that HE loved? God, Dad! I don’t want to believe you think we could ever be that selfish! Kyle tricked Mom; she couldn’t see it. Mark isn’t like him! Because of Mark and Mom, I have warning. I know what could happen, and it scares the living shit out of me! We’ve buried enough kids in this family; I don’t want the next one to be mine! Dad, I love you but please go. Go talk to Mom, maybe she can make you see sense.”
“Stacy, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have...I just shouldn’t have.”
“Just go, Dad. I do love you, but you’ve hurt me enough tonight.”
(Larry and Erin’s bedroom)
“Damn.”
“You got your ass handed to you by your twelve year old daughter, didn’t you?”
“I really hurt her.”
“Well, what did you expect? About the only thing you didn’t do was clean your shotgun while you were waiting for them to come back in.”
“Erin, she threw Joanna in my face. She thinks I’d make her have an abortion if she got pregnant.”
“Good! Maybe now you realize just how serious she is and just how completely wrong you are about them! DAMMIT LARRY!!! I’ve been where she is! The only differences are that SHE has people that care about her! She doesn’t have Kyle for a boyfriend! HER boyfriend is five years younger but ten times the man Kyle was! I’ll tell you a few other things, my bullheaded husband! I hope it doesn’t happen, but those two are smart enough to see it coming if they can’t wait BEFORE they get there! They’re smart enough to ask for help, to use protection! While I’m at it, I’ll tell you a few things about Mark you should already know! If they fail at everything else and he did happen to get her pregnant, Mark would stand by her! He would give everything he has, work himself to death, to provide for Stacy and their baby! He would do everything, and I mean every single thing, to be a Dad to their baby! You shit on a good man tonight. Don’t...Do it...Again!”
“I’ll sleep on the couch tonight.”
“If that’s what you want, but your place is here, in our bed, by my side.”
“It doesn’t sound like you want me here right now.”
“I do want you here; I always want you by my side, and I want to be by yours. Larry, I’m your wife. I hate doing it, but setting you straight is part of the job. You’re wrong in this, but I’ll not desert you when you need me most; I never have and I never will. Come to bed. Let a night’s sleep work it’s wonders and set about fixing this, tomorrow.”
(As Larry gets ready for bed)
(Phone) “Hey, Erin. What the hell happened over there?”
“Not now, Sis. I guess Mark made it home ok.”
“Yeah, but he is royally pissed off! He wouldn’t tell us why though.”
“Not my story to tell. Best I can tell you is leave him alone and let him sleep some of it off. Fair warning, I expect he’s still gonna’ be pissed off in the morning. If I were you, I’d leave it alone then too, unless he brings it up.”
“Are he and Stacy having trouble again?”
“Oh.Hell.No! He and Stacy are closer right now than they have ever been. I’m telling you Sis, leave it alone. It’ll all work out.”
“Ok, I trust you. Thanks for checking on Mark.”
“Of course. You know, he’s my brother too, sort of.”
“Night, Erin.”
“Night.” (Click) “Mark is really pissed off, but he made it home ok. Everybody’s safe and as good as they’re going to get tonight.”
“At least that’s something. I don’t know how I’m going to do it, but I’ll set this right.”
“Yes, you will. I love you. NIght.”
Lord, I made a terrible mess. Please help me fix it. Amen.
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Post by papaof2 on Sept 24, 2017 0:07:27 GMT -6
Sounds like Larry's been reading too many "So You Want to Date My Daughter" application forms ;-)
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Post by headlesshorseman on Sept 24, 2017 6:36:20 GMT -6
Way to stand up for yourself Stacy.
Thank you Cutter
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Post by gipsy on Sept 24, 2017 7:41:26 GMT -6
Educating parents is such a long task
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Post by kaijafon on Sept 24, 2017 17:55:40 GMT -6
Well here I go and ruin my post count! I guess on to the next "count that means something" lol!
But good addition. Though I hate seeing Larry act like that. After all they've been through, I thought he'd have a bit more trust in Mark and Stacy. But then again, legally becoming a dad is different than fostering... I suppose.
thanks for the MoAr!
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Post by cutter on Sept 24, 2017 18:26:49 GMT -6
He loves his kids and is scared to death he's going to do something wrong. If you'll remember, he said as much in prayer, when he was working his way through how he felt about fostering the kids in the first place. Going from the foster father that still has to answer to children's services to Dad, who more or less answers to nobody but Mom and God, is scary. In fairness, despite the united front they present to the world, you'll notice that privately, Mark and Stacy barely trust themselves on that particular topic.
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Post by headlesshorseman on Sept 24, 2017 18:43:14 GMT -6
He is also young enough to remember being twelve.
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Post by cutter on Sept 24, 2017 20:52:19 GMT -6
Exactly, except he was very much a "gray man" until he met Erin. It was mentioned in vol. 1 that he had never had a girlfriend when he met Erin. The truth of the matter is that he had never even been kissed. Morgan Marshall and Kris were his only female friends at that time.
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Post by 9idrr on Sept 24, 2017 21:56:54 GMT -6
Glad I survived raisin' a daughter. Thanks for the good stuff, sir.
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Post by papaof2 on Sept 24, 2017 22:23:52 GMT -6
We survived two daughters. Now one of them is getting the same experience with her two daughters (both now teenagers).
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Post by cutter on Sept 25, 2017 19:10:27 GMT -6
"Well, Kit and Skyler are now in the core mix and have begun attending "Mark Marshall University, Shool of Hard Knocks". I hope Mark doesn't have the passion I did at his age for things that go burn, bang, and boom. Anyway, here they go again. Enjoy.
Chapter 15
(Wednesday, June 7, 4 AM, Marshall kitchen)
(Reading)
Guys, fresh coffee in the thermos here and second pot is built and ready to perk. I would have made breakfast for you, but it wouldn’t be hot by the time you got up and ready to eat. I’m up in the equipment barn. I need to vent and center. I’ll be back down when I get back down.
Love, Mark
(Brian and Morgan’s bedroom door) (knock)
“Come on in.”
“I’m sorry if I woke y’all up. Mom, I’m worried about Mark. He left this note.”
(Morgan reads the note) “Precious, I don’t know what went on, but something went south last night over at Stacy’s place after we left. Mark walked home and was so pissed off when he got here, he could barely get the words out to tell us he wasn’t going to talk about it. I hope he isn’t overdoing it up there.”
“Would it be ok if I went up to check on him?”
“I think that’s a really great idea. Maybe he’ll tell you what’s going on. Listen, if he’s working out, he may be in the zone. Make sure you get his attention before you walk up to him. He’s just like his brothers, when he gets in his zone, he sometimes reacts badly to being surprised. It isn’t you; he’s just so focused when he’s like that, that he sometimes has trouble shifting out of his combat mindset. You might have to call his name a couple of times, but don’t approach him until he answers you. It isn’t altogether safe until he does.”
“What’s he doing that’s so dangerous?”
“You’ll see. Tell you what, if he’s working out, just stand back and watch him for a few minutes. Don’t say anything, you’ll be impressed.”
“Okaayy. I doubt he ate before he went up there, so I’ll fix breakfast for both of us when we get back. Don’t worry about making enough for us, I owe him a favor anyway for breakfast on our fishing trip.”
“You can cook?”
“Of course I can cook. Kat and I both could, good thing too. If it hadn’t been for us cooking, we’d have both starved and Daddy too! Daddy was a wonderful father, but he couldn’t boil water without burning it. He was totally hopeless in the kitchen. I’m going up to check on Mark. I have my phone. I’ll call you if there’s a problem.”
(Equipment barn, a few minutes later. Mark is dressed only in gym shorts, covered in sweat, and engaging two heavy bags and a speed bag hung about head height. He is moving so fast, he’s a blur of knees, elbows, fists, and feet. He is striking all three bags hard, fast, and often. He is in the zone. He doesn’t hear Kit come in and is completely ignoring the increasing pain in his back.)
(An hour and a half later) “Mark. Mark! MARK!”
“No need to scream.”
“You didn’t hear me.”
“How many times did you call my name?”
“Three.”
“Ok, maybe you did need to scream.”
“What WAS that!?!”
“Kung-fu. Dad taught me, before he was killed.”
“I think I saw a few things you did that almost looked like ballet moves, but you were moving so fast, I couldn’t tell for sure. Will you teach me?”
“Sure, but not today. I’ve about reached my limit. (Mark takes a step to get his towel and goes to one knee) UMMG!”
“Are you ok!?!”
“It’s my back. I’ll be ok.”
“Do you need to go to the hospital?”
“No, I’ve pulled that damn muscle on the left side again.”
(Helping him support his back) “Here, I’ll help you lay down. You just lay there while I get you your towel and a bottle of water...Here, drink this and I’ll dry you off...Ok, I need to turn you over so I can work on your back like Stacy showed me. How do I do that without hurting you?”
“You don’t, but you can make it easier and hurt less. Cross my ankles, left on top of right. Good, now get on my left side and work your left hand under my butt and your right one under me just below my shoulder blades. Yeah, just like that. Now, on three, I want you to lift my butt and back gently and slowly until I’m on my side and hold me there. Lift even so my back doesn’t twist, keep it straight. Ready? One, two, three... Good! That barely hurt. You did a great job. Have you done this before?”
“No, first time.”
“Well, you did it like a pro. Ok, now put your left hand on my hip, enough forward that your fingers can curl around my pelvis enough to keep me from rolling forward and do the same with your other hand, just below my nipple.”
“Stacy would kill us both is she saw us right now.”
“No, she wouldn’t. I taught her this, too. She would know what you’re doing and why. Now, gentle and slow and even, roll me the rest of the way onto my stomach... And you did great, Dr. Kit.”
“Your legs even came out straight. That’s too cool!”
“I uncrossed my ankles myself as you turned me, but crossing them like that makes it easier to keep a patient’s legs under control if you have to roll or lift them with a possible spinal injury. That’s why Billy did it to me in the lunchroom.”
“Ok, where does it hurt?”
“Put your finger on my spine at the waistband of my shorts. Move it up my spine, some more, a little more, stop. Now, move your finger straight to my left about two inches, just a little more, stop, too far, go back. Right there, that’s the center of the spot.”
“It feels like you have a freaking golf ball under your skin!”
“Feels more like a bowling ball with nails sticking out of it to me. Anyway, that’s the spot. OUCH!”
“Sorry! Sorry!”
“You didn’t do anything wrong; it’s just really touchy. Do what you need to and it will start to feel better.”
(6:45 AM)
“You two up here makin’ out?”
(Kit jerks her hands away from Mark’s back) “Stacy, this isn’t what it looks like.”
“Well, it looks like Mark was up here beatin’ the hell out of some punching bags and pushed too hard. It looks like you’re working a knot out of his back like I showed you. Bein’ as that isn’t what it is, (Stacy takes a step toward Kit, looking really angry) just what the Hell are you doing with MY boyfriend?”
“NOTHING! That’s all it was, I swear!”
“Kit, stop. She’s playing with you. Good morning, my Love.”
“It would have been, if Dad hadn’t pissed you off so bad last night that you still felt a need this morning to come up here and take your frustrations out on these poor, defenseless punching bags and hurt your back. Come to think of it…(Stacy goes to the bags and lands a few punches and kicks) That does help. Maybe I should give ‘em hell for a while.”
“Later, if you want. Right now, we’re going to the house. Kit and I haven’t had breakfast yet; I’m starved. I’m going to grab a quick shower when we get back so you guys can stand to be around me. Either you can make breakfast, or I will when I get done.”
“Breakfast is mine. What do you and Stacy want?”
“Mark’s not picky and neither am I. Surprise us. Don’t make a lot for me though; Mom fed me and the boys already.”
“Mark, that ok with you?”
“Just fine by me; you fix it and I’ll eat it. Whatever’s left we an save for later.”
(Over breakfast)
“This is really good, Kit.”
(Beaming) “Glad you like it. What are we doing today?”
“Not near as much as I’d like, since I got stupid this morning. Anastasia and I need to stay close and out in the open too, until her new Dad gets his head out of his ass.”
“What’s his deal with that?”
“He’s acting like she’s offering it up on a plate and I’m bangin’ her six ways to Sunday! He told me last night that if I mistreat her, my ass is his. He has no idea how close he came to both of us ending up in the hospital last night. I don’t care if he is her Dad, nobody talks trash about my girl like that! Even if it was true and we were having sex, I’m standing by my woman no matter what! Believe me, I want to; but that is only a very small part of her. I want the whole package, for life!”
“Mark, only you could say what you just said, as pissed off as you are, and make it sound romantic.”
“What can I say? I’m just too smooth.”
“Love, I’d say you’re full of it, but you really are pretty smooth. So what are we going to do?”
“Y’all want to work or play?”
“Some of both before the day’s over. Let’s go back to the barn so you can start teaching Kit and give me some pointers. I don’t care what Dad says. I don’t see you playing with me while I’m kicking and punching.”
“Sounds kinky. Let’s try that sometime.”
“Love, you just ain’t right.”
“No, if I was, we’d spar. Wait, I know what’ll help. I need four ibuprofen and a glass of water. I’ll go take those and tell Morgan and Erin where we’re going. Why don’t you and Kit clear this up.”
(knock)
“Just a minute.”
“Don’t hurry, Skyler; I don’t need to go. Would you grab the ibuprofen out of the medicine cabinet when you come out?”
“Sure.”
“Thanks. I’ll be in the office.”
(...)
“Mark, you look like you hurt.”
“Oh, I pulled that muscle in my back again this morning. Kit worked a lot of it out, but it still hurts. Skyler’s bringing me the ibuprofen when she comes out of the bathroom. I’ll be ok. Hi Erika.”
“Hey! How’d you pull a muscle already this morning?”
“I’ve been up since 3 o’clock. I went up to the barn and did a workout. I guess two hours was too long.”
“You were at it for two straight hours!?! How much of that was Tai-Chi?”
“Not a damn minute of it. I worked the bags over the whole time.”
“Both heavy bags?”
“And the speed bag for my high kicks and back hands. I think that’s what got my back.”
“You know you aren’t supposed to be training right now.”
“I’m not supposed to have to deal with overgrown retards that know better either, but I am.”
“That was harsh!”
“So was the crap I had to put up with last night. Me and the girls are heading back up to the barn. Stacy said she needs more practice, which she does, and Kit wants to start learning. Erika, you mind if Skyler joins us?”
“Three women!?! What’s the matter, Stacy not enough for you?”
“Ms. Carmichael, that is not one damn bit funny right now. Stacy is always enough for me and more. I would no more do that to her than I would betray my God. Skyler’s welcome, whether or not she joins us is between you two. By the way Erin, does Larry speak for you?”
“Not last night, he didn’t! I bluntly told him that you and Stacy have every right to be angry and insulted. Ask Stacy about their conversation after you left last night. I can tell you that she definitely got her Dad’s attention.”
“I’ll do that. Ask her what she did to Kit this morning up at the barn. You’ll laugh your butt off. See you ladies later.” (Mark leaves)
“What was that about? I’ve never seen Mark be disrespectful before.”
“He wasn’t being disrespectful this time either. Larry had him so pissed off last night that he walked home. He flatly refused to tell me and Brian what happened, but Mark doesn’t usually get mad, especially not that mad without reason.”
“I’ll tell you what happened. Larry went from being normal to being an ‘I’m cleaning my shotgun, boy’ Dad. No, he didn’t actually clean a shotgun to try to intimidate Mark. What he did do is all but openly accuse him and Stacy of having sex and threatening him. He also made it sound like Stacy was a cheap slut. The implication was plainly there. Mark told him he was going home before he said something he wouldn’t regret. I got the distinct feeling that Mark wasn’t so much worried about what he’d say as what he’d do.”
“He’s twelve; what could he possibly do to a grown man?”
“Ruin his whole day. Mark has been studying Kung-fu since age five. He and his brothers were taught by their father, who was a Delta Force special operator. Larry, Brian, and I trained under Sheriff Frakes, who is Larry’s uncle. He was my father-in-law’s best friend and fellow Delta operator. Larry started training about age eight. I have sparred with Mark and Larry both. Larry’s slightly stronger, but Mark is faster and more agile. If it ever seriously came to blows between those two, there would be no winner; both would suffer...greatly. Erika, the whole Marshall / Waters / Frakes clan that Erin, Leslie, and I married into are God fearing, kind hearted, caring, and honorable; but they are willing to go to almost any lengths to defend the lives and honor of those they love. Believe me, they are more than capable of doing so. Pete Larry, and the Marshall brothers are all dangerous, vicious opponents, if they are provoked. The are not easily provoked, but they take ‘taking care of their own’ to a whole different level. You met Bobby Jones at Boomer’s on Sunday. Before his rather miraculous, and surprising, transformation into a decent guy, he blindsided Stacy at Boomer’s with a punch to the eye. Mark called him out. Mark wasn’t angry, just slightly annoyed. That altercation ended with Bobby having a bloody nose and split lip. Mark never hit him. He sidestepped and swept Bobby’s leg twice, sending him face first into the floor. Bobby tried to punch Mark for his third attempt. Mark caught his arm and put him on the floor with a wrist lock. Bobby was a very lucky boy that day.”
“But they were acting like friends at Boomer’s Sunday. Mark even stood up for him!”
“I asked about that. Mark told me he saw something in Bobby at the funeral, something that convinced him to give Bobby a second chance. The whole extended family is like that. We’ll give anybody a second chance; it’s third chances we don’t do.”
“I don’t want to insult you, but if he’s so dangerous, is it safe for the kids to be around him?”
“In the middle of a terrorist attack, with serious injuries, that he understood the seriousness of, he refused help until he was certain 182 students and staff were safely evacuated. The other eleven were Stacy and the students who carried him out. What do you think?”
“I think I’m glad Skyler made me see the light about this bunch. She really is safer with him than without him, isn’t she?”
“With THEM, but yes. Stacy isn’t a foster anymore, she’s adopted; and Kit is soon to follow her, but that group of foster, and now, former foster kids see each other as family. If you let Skyler continue to spend time with them, I’m willing to bet that she too will begin learning how to defend herself, and a thousand other things. That’s something else remarkable about Mark, he loves to teach. Those kids will know everything he knows, given enough time and their willingness to learn. In exchange, he will learn from them, and they will all learn from each other.”
“I’m not about to stop her. He and Stacy brought good things out in her that I had no idea were there. She’s a good kid, but that group has made her better.”
“Mom, where’s Mark?”
“They went up to the equipment barn. They’re expecting you.”
“Thanks, Mom.” (Skyler leaves)
“I’m sure she knows. How mad is Stacy at Larry?”
“He went into her bedroom to talk to her last night and she hit him with Joanna.”
“Wow! She wasn’t screwing around, was she?”
“No ma’am, she wasn’t. I think you and I are starting to rub off on her.”
“God help her, and Mark.”
“No kidding. Come on, Erika has to make some sense of the accounts and you and I have to get started on the Novatec quote. Ladies, we have a busy day.”
(Equipment barn, workout area, noon)
“That was incredible! I’m tired, but I feel great! I also reek! Geez, I smell bad.”
“I can fix that. Let’s go to the house. Boys, we can shower in the main bath. Girls, we’ll ask Morgan if you can use the master bath.”
“I don’t have anything to change into. My blouse is soaked with sweat.”
“Not a problem, Skyler. Let’s go up to my room. I’m a little taller, so the top may be a little long, but I think we can find everything else to fit you.”
“You really wouldn’t mind, Kit?”
“NO! Tell you what though, pack a bag to leave here for next time.”
“Better yet, pack a backpack and take it with you everywhere you go. Let’s all get cleaned up and I’ll show you what I carry in mine while we eat lunch.”
“And Professor Marshall strikes again. What’s for lunch?”
I fixed up stuff for sandwiches and we have chips. Morgan made some mild salsa too.”
“When did you do that, Love?”
“A little after three this morning.”
“You’ve been up since 3 o’clock!?!”
“Couldn’t sleep, had to be good for something.”
“How long did you work out this morning?”
“Two hours, which was probably an hour forty-five too long. My back still hurts after 800 mg ibuprofen.”
“Get your shower and I’ll put one of your patches on.”
“I forgot I had those! What would I do without you?”
“Hurt more. Come on; I’m hungry!”
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Post by papaof2 on Sept 25, 2017 19:51:42 GMT -6
Forgetfulness doesn't just come with age ;-)
Long ago when I volunteered at an elementary school, I saw a perfect example. A kid about 9 came tearing down the hall and stopped abruptly at the Media Center door with that "Why am I hare?" expression.
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Post by 9idrr on Sept 25, 2017 20:34:29 GMT -6
Uh... what were we talkin' about? Oh, yeah, thanks for the good stuff.
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Post by headlesshorseman on Sept 25, 2017 20:39:38 GMT -6
Thank you for the great chapter. Keep them coming.
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Post by cutter on Sept 26, 2017 20:59:40 GMT -6
Chapter 16
(Over lunch)
“Ok, first thing. I carry a full change of clothes from the skin out; that’s shirt, pants, underwear, socks, shoes, even a spare ball cap. I change out the clothes with the seasons. The short sleeves go out and the flannel, long johns, and pantyhose go in for winter.”
“You wear pantyhose!?! I never figured you for a crossdresser. How do you look in heels?”
“Pretty good, as long as they match my purse. Seriously, I wear the pantyhose under the long johns for an extra layer. It’s amazing how much of a difference they make. Pro football players have been wearing them for years.”
“Yeah, I guess that does make sense. When I wear a skirt or dress, my legs are warmer if I wear hose. Will you model them for us?”
“Only if you will, Skyler. Let’s go on to the other stuff I carry.”
“Why’s everything in big baggies; and why are they all duct taped closed?”
“With the zip-lock closures and duct tape, everything stays dry. This bag is supposed to be water resistant, but that’s only for rain and the zippers are a weak point. If I drop it in water, everything not protected is soaked. I carry some extra duct tape too, in case I need to reseal a bag or just if I need duct tape.”
“That one looks like it’s full of bandages and stuff.”
“It is. This is my first aid kit. I switch it out with a different one that isn’t as good when I’m in school. This one has tweezers, a suture kit, bandage shears, and a few other things in it that would get me arrested if I had them inside school. Basically, if it’s sharp or pointy, I can’t carry it there.”
“Tampons, pads, Kool-aid packets? Why do you carry that stuff?”
We’ll start with the Kool-aid. Chocolate and OJ are both better, but Kool-aid will work for a diabetic who is sugar low. The drink mix keeps better. Being sugar high is dangerous over the long run, but being sugar low can be dangerous, or even fatal, real quick. You don’t even have to mix this. Put a little under their tongue and then a little more in a few minutes if they need it. It also will give a quick boost of energy or a morale boost if somebody needs it. The tampons and pads, I carry for two reasons. The pads make really good wound dressings for heavier bleeding. The tampons work for stoppering deep puncture wounds. Neither are sterile, but the ER can deal with that. In the field, stabilizing a victim for transport is higher priority than contamination control.”
“What’s the other reason?”
“Hey Noah, can you and Jordan go get the bowls and chocolate pudding out of the fridge for dessert?”
“Yeah, Uncle Mark!”
“You’re just getting rid of us, aren’t you?”
“Yes, for a few minutes. You’ll find out soon enough. Keep the monster busy for about ten minutes, if you don’t mind.”
“Ok, but you owe me.”
“Sounds fair.” (The boys go inside)
“Skyler, I’m going to just be blunt. I have a reason. Have you started having your period yet?”
“That’s a little personal!”
“Just answer the question.”
“Well...yes, about six months ago.”
“Well, assuming that you aren’t one of the rare women that can tell you what day and time it is by when you start, what happens if we’re out at the back forty and you do start, say a day early? Bear in mind that Kit and Stacy are both in the same position as you.”
“I get it now. Is that really why you carry them?”
“I carry them because they are dual use. Wound care is my biggest concern, but my friend Anja needed one unexpectedly at the park once. I got to save the day, she got embarassed, it all worked out.”
“Mark, most guys either get creeped out about that or get rude and crude. You’re talking about it like it’s just a normal part of everyday life. What kind of a freak are you?”
“Skyler, it is a part of everyday life; it’s a normal function of a healthy female body. Without that cycle, the human race would cease to exist in one generation. I mean, it isn’t dinner conversation; but it’s nothing to be ashamed of or make fun of either.”
“Uh, Love, we’re discussing it over lunch.”
“No, we mentioned it after we ate and are not getting into the details.”
“Stacy, where did you find him?”
“In the house.”
“Did we stay gone long enough?”
“Yup! Perfect timing. (Quietly so only Jordan will hear) I’ll tell you tonight while we’re playing chess.”
“Mark, is this a Bible?”
“It’s just the New Testament, plus Psalms. Our Pastor at church likes to say, ‘there is a lot of comfort in the Good Book’, and he’s right. The BSA has Scout Troops on military bases all over the world. We went on a survival campout once. All the gear I had is in this backpack. I was never so glad I had that book as I was that weekend. The highs were in the upper 40’s and rain. The rain turned to snow that night. I was wet, I was cold, I was miserable. I finally got my shelter built and a fire started. I spent half the night drinking coffee and reading that Bible while I tried to get warm. I learned a lot that night, about survival and faith, and was ready to take on the world again by the next morning. I carry the stuff I carry to make it easier on me if I’m in a bind. Our greatest resource, our greatest tool in a survival situation, is our mind. The more we know, the better our chance of surviving. No matter what we know or have, if our attitude beats us, we’re toast. Three minutes without air, three days without water, three weeks without food, will kill us. It may take reality a little while to catch up, but we’re dead in three seconds if we give up.”
“So, you’re saying we can survive without any gear?”
“Maybe. I’m saying you CAN’T survive without a survival mindset. You have to want to live. Fighting to live might not save you, but giving up will kill you for sure. You do not turn on God. You do not turn on your allies. You do not give up. Past those three, there are no rules. Let me say that again. God, Allies, No giving up. Past those three, there are NO rules. You do whatever you have to do, except those three things, to live. Do I make myself CRYSTAL CLEAR?”
(Five “Yesses”)
“You five just made me a promise. Don’t ever forget that. I expect you to keep your promises to me. We’ve worked enough today. Let’s eat dessert and have some fun.”
“But there’s more stuff in here.”
“Tomorrow, Skyler. To survive life, you have to have a little fun too.”
“Anybody up for a game of Monopoly?”
“That’s my favorite game, Aunt Kit!”
“I know Noah. That’s why I asked.”
“Mark, one of these days, I want to play what I want to play instead of what Noah does.”
“What do you want to play?”
“I want to learn how to play poker.”
“Next campout, you can stay up with the big kids and play.”
“Good enough. I’ll go get the Monopoly game.”
(Office, 3:30)
“Ladies, there is one serious cutthroat game of Monopoly going on outside.”
“I know, they’ve been at it since about one. Who’s winning?”
“Looks like Noah. I don’t think the rest of them are holding back on him either. I think he’s whipping them for real.”
“That’ll teach the big kids to mess with an eight year old. Erika, you want us to keep Skyler tonight or bring her home when they’re finished?”
“She can do either of those things if she wants, but last I heard, I was taking her and Sam to a movie tonight.”
“That’ll be fun for the three of you.”
“Who said anything about the three of us? Skyler made it very clear I was to drop them off and pick them up, no hanging around.”
“Wow! I didn’t know they were a couple.”
“Neither does Sam. I get the feeling she didn’t tell him about the me not being with them part.”
“Does his Mom know?”
“Yup. She said she’s ok with it as long as I am. I’m fine with it. Of course, I’m going to go see a movie too, just not the same one.”
“By yourself?”
(Erika blushes) “Not exactly. Jack and I got to talking at the cookout last weekend. He’s a really nice guy and I couldn’t say no when he asked for my phone number.”
“Alan’s Dad, Jack?”
“That’s him. What do you think?”
“If she wasn’t already married, I’d let Erin date him.”
“Gee, thanks Sis! Erika, Jack’s a great guy and Alan’s a lot like him.”
“Just be patient with him, Erika. As far as I know, you’re the first person he’s asked out since his divorce.”
“How long ago was that?”
“He got divorced about the same time we moved here, so two years?”
“Two years!?! So what’s wrong with him?”
“Nothing’s wrong with him as far as I know. I’m not going to tell you everything I know, but it was an ugly divorce. She didn’t just want to divorce him, she wanted to crush him. Keep this to yourself, but he has full custody of Alan, she didn’t want custody. She also didn’t fare as well in the divorce as she thought she would. I will tell you this; you don’t ever have to worry about him still carrying a torch for his ex, unless he gets a chance to set her on fire with it.”
“That does sound ugly. Maybe I should reconsider.”
“No, she started it. She didn’t just ask for it; she begged for him to despise her. All he did was fight back when he had no other choice. Go on your date and have a good time. Don’t try to force it; just see where it goes. I’ll tell you this too. He’s had at least a dozen women try hard to catch him, but he asked you. Do what you want with that tidbit.”
“I’d say thanks for giving me the lowdown, but I think I’m more nervous now than I was. Oh, I didn’t tell Skyler. I’m not sure how she’s going to take it.”
“Our lips are sealed. We don’t know nuthin’. Good luck.”
“I haven’t been on a first date in almost sixteen years. I’m going to need all the luck I can get just to not make a fool of myself.”
“You’ll do fine. Get going so you aren’t late.”
(Outside)
“Skyler, you about ready to go?”
“Might as well; I have twenty dollars to my name and the little twerp here owns everything between me and payday. I surrender. I don’t want to be late for my date either.”
“Hold on! Date!?! You can’t drop that bomb and just up and leave. What date?”
“Sam and I are going to see a movie.”
“Does he know it’s a date?”
“I kinda’ forgot to mention that part to him. I’m hoping he catches on himself, and likes the idea.”
“Don’t do anything we wouldn’t do.”
“What wouldn’t you do, Stacy?”
“Most everything Dad accused us of doing last night. Don’t go there!”
“Sorry, wasn’t trying to stir anything up.”
“Dad did plenty of that, all by himself. Go have a good time. Go easy on the man; he’s still working his way through.”
“I know. He can have all the time he needs. I’m just trying to make him see there’s still someone who wants him.”
“You’ll do that just fine. Go and have a good time. We expect you to tell us everything tomorrow.”
“Bye guys.”
(---)
“How was y’all’s day?”
“Mine was pretty good, but your husband’s sucked.”
“What happened, Love?”
“More what didn’t happen. Let’s go home. Brian said the kids can stay or he’d bring them home, whatever they want. I want a bottle of bourbon and a campfire.”
“Erin, don’t let him come to work if he isn’t right in the morning.”
“I seem to be a little limited these days about how much ‘letting’ I have any say in.”
“You too?”
“No Love, not me too. I’m just venting a little. You sure you two don’t mind keeping the kids?”
“Not at all. Go home and work this out. They’ve got everything they need here, so don’t worry about anything.”
“Thanks, Sis. See you in the morning.”
(Waters homestead)
“Ok, so what ‘didn’t’ happen today?”
“Oh, let’s see. My daughter didn’t even speak to me this morning. She and her boyfriend didn’t do anything but glare at me when we got back this afternoon. When I asked her how her day was, she didn’t say anything but ‘fine’, and didn’t even look at me when she said it. She didn’t even act like she was even slightly happy to see me. I think that’s about it, unless you want to count that you didn’t seem very happy with me just now either. I need a drink.”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?”
“So now you think I’m an alcoholic?”
“No, I’m just worried that after a few drinks, you’ll be in no mood to listen to sense. Don’t bite my head off; I’m trying to help you here.”
“Fine, I won’t have a drink; but I AM going to sit by a campfire for a while. You’re welcome to join me if you think you can stand it.”
“Love, go start the fire. I’ll put some things together for a meal for us up there. Take a blanket and pillows. I think you need me and the stars tonight. I really do love you, Larry. It’ll be alright.”
“I hope so; it’s killing me that Stacy’s hurtin’ and I did it. See you up there.”
(Theatre, Wonder Woman, a few minutes before showtime)
“You set me up, you know?”
“Are you mad?”
“No, I just don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”
“Sam, what do you want to do?”
“That’s just it, I don’t know.”
“Well, if you figure it out, try it; we might like it.”
“Skyler, is that Troy?”
“Where?”
“Sixth row, fourth seat from the left. Who’s that with him?”
“Oh crap! That’s Jessica!”
“Should we go say hi?”
“Are you nuts? Sam, Kit should know about this.”
“Yes, she should. When are we going to tell her?”
“I don’t know. He’s supposed to go stay with them tomorrow for the weekend. How the hell am I supposed to tell her with him there?”
“You could call her.”
“Sam, she deserves to hear this in person. For all I know, she won’t believe me anyway.”
“I’ll talk to Mark and Mom and see if I can come stay too. You may need some help convincing her.”
(Skyler takes Sam’s hand) “Thank you.” (She lets go)
“Give me that hand back. You did it; but you’re right, I like it.”
(She does) “So do I.”
(---, Megan Leavey movie, 20 minutes to showtime)
“We got the popcorn, the drinks, want anything else?”
“I want an answer to a question. I’m glad you did, but why did you ask me out?”
“Truthfully? My son.”
“Your son?”
“Yup. Alan told me I’d punished myself long enough. He dared me to actually go out on a date. I couldn’t take that lying down, so I asked you.”
“Just like that? I think I’ll ask somebody on a date today?”
“Ha! Not quite. I’ve wanted to date again for quite a while, but didn’t feel right about it. I failed in my first marriage. Kim and I had been married for almost eighteen years. When she left, it broke my heart. I felt like it was my fault and I should pay for it. About four months ago, it finally sunk in that I didn’t do it. A few women showed some interest, but there just wasn’t anything there. When we talked at the cookout, it just felt natural. I wasn’t looking and you weren’t hunting for a man. We just talked, about everything. There wasn’t any tension, no dead air in our conversation, neither one of us mentioned our ex-es. You never suggested I take you out. There was no mention of sex. We just talked. You were the last thought that went through my head that night and the first thought the next morning. For the first time in a long time, I felt comfortable around a woman. I don’t know if this will go anywhere, but I want to find out. Erika, you’re a really special lady. You’re easy to talk to. You’re funny. Alan’s always been mine, but you’re raising Skyler as your own, even though she wasn’t born to you. That says a lot about who you are. I don’t want to sound shallow, but you’re very pleasant to look at too.
“Jack, I’m 38 years old, divorced, my husband left me to play the field, and I have a foster daughter that I’m thinking seriously of adopting, now that I have the means to truly support us. I can’t have children. It took three years for Tom and I to figure that out. That’s how we came to foster Skyler. When he left, CPS let me keep her. You should know, Skyler and I are a package deal. If you want to pursue this, you’re going to have to convince her too and you’re going to have to want both of us. I like you enough and I know enough about you that I could see this going somewhere, but my daughter comes first.”
“Well, since we’re skipping the small talk, I’m 41, divorced, my wife left me for another woman, I have Alan because Kim got drunk off her ass one night and had a one night stand with a guy she picked up in a bar, he’s all I have, and I won’t let anything come between us. So when do we tell our kids that Mommy and Daddy would like to go on a second date?”
“Did you know your ex was bisexual?”
“No, and apparently, neither did she until about two years after Alan was born. She told me when she left that she’d been seeing Tamra for ten years and was tired of living a lie. In hindsight, it makes sense. That was about the time she told me she never really wanted children in the first place. A few months after that, she stopped sleeping with me. I don’t just mean our sex life died. She actually moved her things into what was our guest room and had a lock put on the door. I spent ten years trying to save a marriage that was long gone. Looking back on it now, I did it for Alan. Alan would have been better off if Kim and I had just given up and divorced then.”
“Does Alan know he isn’t your biological son?”
“Yeah, that was Kim’s parting gift to the two of us. She wasn’t expecting Alan to take the view that I loved him even more than he thought because I wanted him anyway. All she managed to do was kill the love he had for his mother. She really did me a favor that day. He asked me if it was true and if it bothered me. I told him it was and that I didn’t care where he came from. I only cared that he came to me.”
“Do you want to tell them separately or together?”
“Alan’s already on board with this. He told me not to screw it up tonight.”
“Well, I didn’t say anything to Skyler, but I’ll be correcting that before the night’s over. The movie’s starting. Let’s finish this conversation after. I do want to finish it.”
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