Story Starting Over ... and Over and Over

[Kathy in FL]

Chapter 77 (Part 1)

As I drive, trying to get where I’m needed, it feels like it has been forever since Christmas, but it has only been a couple of weeks. Clean up from the holiday wasn’t easy. It was almost like being hung over. Or perhaps carb-crash is more appropriate descriptor. The Estate, similar to the traditional in my family, didn’t take Christmas decorations down until the first week of January, close to Epiphany. That doesn’t mean that some clean up didn’t occur. New Year was as good a time as any to start the year off right by organizing and pitching or donating what was no longer useful or needed.

I took the time while the corner of the attic was empty of all the boxes of decorations to do more rearranging and organizing up there. And yes God help me, I found still more dishes and glassware and geegaws and whatnots and antiques and photo boxes stuffed full and … and, and, and ad nauseum it seemed. I also found more junk, some of which had deteriorated to the point that it was unrecognizable what it started out as back who knows when. Every time I tried to approach Clint about what to do with what I was finding he would suddenly find something to do on the other side of the Estate. I finally cornered him one night and gave him no choice but to take a look at it all.

He looked and then shrugged and said, “Do the same thing you’ve been doing. Keep, repair or repurpose, or sell.”

Not wanting a repeat of what occurred only a few months back I asked, “What about the Aunts? Reave? Shouldn’t they have something to say about …?”

I never even got to finish. “No. And I mean no. I told everyone that if this junk was so all fired important to them then they could get their butts over here and help. I don’t know about you, but I haven’t seen any volunteers.”

“Well …”

“Deep subject. Now stop worrying it to death Sweetheart. Just do what you can with it. Just get it out of my hair. I’m tired of having it on the endless list of things that never get finished. And once this project is over I need to come in here … when we can actually move around and see what we’re doing … and see if the roof has any problems that can’t wait.”

So that’s what I did. Or at least what I did for a bit before the work wasn’t worth the return. I mean I continued to clean and make it so the roof could be checked, but selling items petered nearly to a stop. The rooms I’m using to organize and store items in are quickly filling up; one or two of them have started to overflow. Online sales have slowed down now that the gift buying season is over. And I’m not the only one affected. I heard from Julie and Aunt Daffy that online sales of Estate products plummeted as well, even more than in years passed. Early-reservations for cabins and camping spots are up so no one is panicking yet, but some of the businesses were dependent on the online sales to float them between seasons, so it looks like the belt-tightening is here to stay for the foreseeable future much to the chagrin of many. Clint had a thing or three to say about it, not all of it kind where some of the family’s commonsense is concerned. He also was getting sensitive to some of the economizing that I was doing as his male pride was affected. We had near-tiffs about the strangest things.

“You don’t have to make all of the cleaning supplies from scratch anymore,” he complained one day when he went to get some glass cleaner for his truck’s windshield and couldn’t find what he was looking for.

I walked into the closet where I keep such things and pulled out a spray bottle I had put a homemade label on that clearly said “WINDOW CLEANER” in fat, black permanent marker.

“I thought we talked about this way back. I make our own from scratch because its better, lasts longer, and doesn’t leave the house smelling like a chemical spill. The closet is just a little messy from where someone went in and used some of the bottles but didn’t put them back where I had them.”

He made a face knowing he was that guilty party. But rather than admit it he asked, “You sure? ‘Cause …”

“Yes I’m sure Clint,” trying to head off yet another discussion on finances and budgets. “I’m not pinching pennies just to pinch you. The homemade versions really do suit things around here better. The only thing I really need, and I just put it on the list this morning, is more peroxide and a large box of baking soda or powder … or both, I need to look at what I wrote down.”

“Get ‘em both and don’t knit-pick it,” he ordered like a brigadier general before taking the spray bottle and heading to his truck. I counted to ten and gradually I’ve had to up the count to twenty and more. I’m not being stubborn for the reasons he thinks. I’m just … particular. It is how Mom and Gran raised me to be … at least about cleaning supplies. What hurts is some of the “discussions” we’ve had have started to sound too much like some of the arguments Kirk and I had. It made me doubt myself and wonder if I was the problem all along for all of it. It was tough to let that go on some days, and the economic forecasts in the news haven’t helped.

I heard by way of Carra that there are lots of adults applying for the seasonal positions. I asked Clint about that one.

“Adults? Welllll … yeah. Most of the college kids are also adults … technically anyway. We’ve gotten a few Vets applying this time around however and that’s new.”

“Vets? You mean veterans?! How old are the applicants?”

“Nah. Not career types or retirees, more like the type that went in for four or eight years and now aren’t quite sure what to do with themselves. Wounded Warrior program called Grady wanting to know if he’d put a word in for a couple of men as well. The family was agreeable to giving it a try on a probationary period so one of the men will work with Randall in the stables. He has experience as he spent summers working for family that had a horse farm. Cal is going to take the other guy on. Cal understands the guy’s struggles and hopes he can teach him some techniques he had to learn the hard way. If this works out I’m not adverse to continuing working with the Wounded Warrior program. Or at least a similar program. Grady is giving a couple of men from that program a chance at the hotel. We’ll see how it works out.”

I nodded, agreeing in sentiment if not in authority since on those matters I had none. “Carra made it sound like a lot of applicants were adults this time around … significantly older than the college kids I mean.”

“We’ve certainly gotten more than usual. And some of them actually have the experience we’re looking for. If their backgrounds check out then some of the kids that thought they had a revolving summer job may find out they need to make new plans. The kids from the Estate School are going to take some of those slots anyway. The Hen Club is already going over last year’s employment roster to see who they are definitely willing to cut and just as importantly, who they aren’t. The apprentice program looks like it is going to be a winner for all of us. No more inherited jobs, competition has come to Haines Estate the same as it has come to every other place.”

I know it sounds heartless. I would hate to be one of those college kids that thought they had a summer gig in the bag only to be waiting on a letter than never arrives. But as the State makes employment and insurance requirements stricter, the Estate doesn’t have any choice but to require more of the staff, including seasonal staff. Clint says they are looking at having to cut one or more positions just because the minimum wage increase is expected to pass in the Spring. The Estate may have escaped last year’s troubles through luck and ingenuity, but there is a new round facing them … us … this year.

Clint had no sooner talked to me about some of the economics of the coming year when he asks me if I’d go to Bryson City with him for New Years … and stay the night in a hotel. Together. Alone. Carra was going to stay the night with Lindy with Cody’s blessing. Unlike a lot of other things recently, he didn’t take my acceptance for granted so it made it easier to say yes. His broad grin of pleasure at my answer was my reward and I’m glad now that I said yes without bringing anything else up.

Dinner, dancing, a party at the hotel and then after midnight we “retired to our room.” I was prepared to … well I came prepared but Clint said he was satisfied with what we did do and since we hadn’t set a date, while the temptation was certainly there, his refusal to risk an unplanned pregnancy was still stronger. Was I disappointed? I’ve waffled back and forth. At the time it made me love him all the more. It made me respect him all the more as well. The last few days though I’ve wondered – and for a while thought I had cause to wonder – if it was more of a control issue than one of temptation and desire.

The day after we returned Aunt Florence cornered me and as Gran would have called it “started to kick up a fuss” about the example Clint and I were setting and a few other things. I was forced to let her in on the fact that what she was most worried about was not happening. At her surprised expression all I could do was blush and stutter. “Clint and I both have … reasons … for wanting to make sure history doesn’t repeat itself. I’m sorry if there has been some concern we haven’t addressed. I’ll speak to Clint and …”

“No! Er … no Dear, that isn’t necessary. I should have realized that Clint would be sensitive to the possibility. He was just so … reckless … as a younger man. And now with all his responsibilities it is even more important that things run smoothly and more in line with the correct family traditions we want to foster. I’ll explain to the others who’ve been every bit as concerned as I have. You understand.”

I did. That didn’t mean that I wanted to talk about it with each and every Aunt and assorted other family members, nor was I comfortable not telling Clint about the conversation. Unfortunately I didn’t have to make that choice.

“Dammit Shanna! I deserve a little privacy doncha think?!”

Since those were the first words he flung at me upon entering the house it took me a moment to recover and figure out what he’d been talking about.

When I didn’t immediately respond he went on some diatribe about Julie nonchalantly bringing it up and saying the Hens were all happy they have one less thing to worry about. However he made a wrong assumption. He thought I’d been gossiping with Julie. I set him straight on that front.

“No. It wasn’t Julie.”

“Then who the hell was it?!” he snarled.

I tried counting and gave up. “Well Clint, how about you tell me how you would have handled if it had been you that Aunt Florence cornered in the pantry with a lecture on the birds and the bees and how distraught she was at the very thought of history potentially repeating?! I mean it isn’t like they all must suspect I have neither commonsense nor morals – unless avarice is driving me to ‘catch’ or force you into marriage rather than destroy the family name.”

“Er …”

“And you they are sure are susceptible based on the large number of women and girls you’ve consorted with previously.”

“Now wait just a damn minute. She didn’t …”

“She might as well have. And apparently they’ve all been worried all along and now they are so relieved to know that you … YOU … have things in hand and won’t disappoint the family, what with all of your responsibilities and all and it is up to me to be understanding and accept that’s just the way it has to be. Because of course I wouldn’t come to that conclusion on my own for my own reasons!” I slammed the pan in my hand down – before I dropped it or threw it – and went to go for a walk. The problem with that was I didn’t have a jacket on and the rain that had been threatening had arrived and was like walking face first into a Slush Puppy. “Argh!”

So despite my feelings I decided to use some commonsense rather than court pneumonia and return the way I had come and headed to my bathroom to dry off.

“You finished?” Clint asked carefully.

“Drying off or throwing a hissy fit?”

“Either or.”

The look I shot him warned him that he was treading dangerously close to the end of the patience and manners I was struggling to lay claim to.

“Shanna … I just wish you hadn’t said anything.”

“And I wish I hadn’t been forced to defend us from their concerns on the subject. But you weren’t here and not even you would have been able to tell your Aunt to shut up and leave us alone, that we know what we are doing, and it is none of their business. And if you say you can, I’d like to see it so I can have a good example for next time something like this happens … because you know it will.”

He was silent for a moment and then said, “It will.” I turned to leave and go back to putting dinner onto plates so he and Carra could eat … because I was no longer hungry and had a stomach full of acid on top of it.

“Shanna …”

“What?”

“I … shouldn’t have tore into you like that. I know what the Hens can be like.”

I shook my head and said, “Shoulda, coulda, woulda. It happened and I’ll deal with it. Do me a favor and stick your head in Carra’s door and call her for dinner on your way down the hall to wash up. She has those Bluetooth things in again and she won’t hear you unless you are right on top of her.”

“Why isn’t she down here helping instead of sitting on her butt listening to music?”

“Because this is my job and her job is to finish her homework now that school has started back up. She has a big science project that must be finished before MLK Jr. day since she is going to spend that weekend with Keller.”

“Great. More traveling and more gas and wear and tear on your car.”

 

[Kathy in FL]

Chapter 77 (Part 2)

I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from saying something snarky like thanks for asking if I could be the one to take her to Asheville. At least I was off the hook for picking her back up. I explained to Clint, “Keller said he would bring her home himself, that he wanted to talk to you about something.”

“It better not be about changing the custody arrangement ‘cause that ain’t happening.”

I nodded but gave him something to think about. “Between you and me I don’t think that it is that at all. I think he actually wants to make sure that …” I stopped and looked around to make sure Carra wasn’t lurking. “Between the little bit that Keller mumbled and a few things that Susan has let slip Jocelyn seems to be doing much better but the doctors have warned Keller that it is going to take time before she is ready for a blended family setting … and that it wouldn’t do Carra a lot of good either. Robert has already nixed the idea of changing custody on his end in case you were wondering.”

“Frankly don’t give a damn one way or the other. I’ve got my own buttload of problems but Carra isn’t one of them. The girl has been steady as a rock and gets better each day now that she isn’t being pulled this way and that. I’m NOT going to put up with any of the crap Keller used to pull so he better damnwell have her back on time … or else.”

Alrighty then was all I could think and let it go. Clint and I were officially engaged but that didn’t mean that there still weren’t areas I had any business treading. Things calmed back down the next day and peace was restored. Good thing because we needed the lull and I needed to stay on top of the things that were my business.

Between cleaning and everything else going on I tried to do a little more foraging but there wasn’t much of it to do. There was sassafras and dandelion roots, onion grass, field garlic, bittercress, honey locust pods, and turkey tail mushrooms. But the best of the best were the rose hips coming in all along the front hedge. There are … or were … some left and maybe I’ll have a chance to get more.

The rugosa roses are for all intents and purposes a living fence. After Lacey took charge of their initial pruning and cleaning up, they quickly grew to nearly six feet tall and nearly as wide in some places. You walk by them and they’ll reach out and slap you if you aren’t properly respectful. In addition to that they bloomed like mad and as a result there were a ton of hips in glorious red. After one experiment in making rose hip tea, all I had time to do was clean the hips and put them in the freezer. I had planned to spend more time taking the time to figure the best process and recipes out but the promised “couch potato” season never materialized.

The second week of January a lawyer tracked me down through Clint. That was another glorious (not) day when Clint came sailing through the door with guns a blazing. It took nearly an hour for me to calm him down enough to figure out why he was in the mood he was in.

“We need to talk.” The four most awful words in the English language and I immediately wondered what I had done this time.

“Let me turn the oven on to preheat and …”

“Forget about dinner. I’m not hungry. And I sent Carra to stay with Lindy for the night. C’mon.”

Really getting scared I followed as he marched to his office. “Sit down.”

“Clint?”

“Have you been getting calls from the Jackass and not telling me?”

“What?!”

“Have you been getting calls … from … you … ex?”

“No! Why on earth would you ask?”

That’s when he drops a bombshell on me. Some lawyer from Florida called Clint … on his personal line no less … and said there are papers that I need to sign. It has to do with some inheritance money … from Kirk’s side.

“Stop. Just … stop. I haven’t got the foggiest idea what you are talking about. And even if I did Kirk and I are divorced and the judge divvied up all of the assets or whatever you call them.”

“Your name is still on the paperwork.”

“What paperwork? We’re divorced. And he has remarried. Even has a child with the woman from what your pet detective found out.”

“My …?!”

“And why would he be calling?! I don’t want to hear from him! Or anyone else involved in that mess my life was! I don’t! This must just be some trick! It is just like Kirk to try and spoil … ruin … oh my God I should have known he would try something!”

Then it was Clint’s turn to start calming me down. Kirk has that effect on me … or did. That’s over with and good riddance.

He quickly sat beside me and put his arm around me. “Easy Sweetheart. It’s … legit. At least so far as Reave has been able to find out.”

“Reave? You talked to him before you talked to me about this?!”

Clint sighed. “I wanted to make sure …”

“That I wasn’t screwing around?!”

“Hey! Not that! And … at least not from your side. I thought maybe he was making a play to get you back.”

Then it hit me. “With money?!”

Clint was uncomfortable but honest when he said, “It sounds like something he would do.”

“Well how about thinking about what I would do … and wouldn’t do … for money. I’m no whore.”

“Wait! That’s not what I said … or thought. That’s just …”

“No it isn’t. First your aunts and now you. How many times and in how many different ways do I have to say I’m with you because of you, not for what you can give me?”

My feelings were hurt on top of the panic I was still feeling at the mention of Kirk and some lawyer combined into the same sentence.

We both calmed down and finally discussed it rationally. That time anyway. I called Reave and asked my own questions since I didn’t know what “inheritance” the lawyer had been talking about.

Kirk’s uncle passed away overseas and was buried there. He wife’s family had kept it quiet because they didn’t want to give up his military pension and benefits as an American ex-pat. The government over there found out and reported it the US Department of State and it finally trickled down to Kirk who tried to handle things quietly only the woman he married after me has a damn good divorce lawyer. Apparently she’d asked around and had wised up sooner than I had and had also learned some lessons from my mistakes. Or that was the hypothesis Reave came to after asking some questions of his own. I then asked him to check if I could sign the papers in front of witnesses on the Estate or at his office. If not, I was inclined to let them fight it out without me as I had no interest in whatever they were fighting over.

Clint was calm until three days later when they somehow found the phone number to several offices on the Estate including the Big House and would not stop calling. I was terribly embarrassed. First it was Kirk’s sister. Her husband had been forced into early retirement due to a heart ailment and they were in dire straights and needed their share of the estate. I told her the same thing I had told Clint and Reave; find a way for me to sign the papers out of state and I’d post them to the Law Office myself and they could squabble to their hearts’ content. She said she was going to call the lawyer immediately and do that very thing.

I thought the matter handled until more phone calls and this time it was Maria on the other end and she was hysterical.

“Shanna, you have to!”

No hello, sorry I called you a slut, please do me this little favor and I’ll leave you alone. Oh no. Nothing like that. Straight out of the chute I’m having to separate hysterics … Spanglish hysterics at that … including gut-wrenching sobs and pleas for help into something that made some appearance of sense.

Good Lord, it was a mess. Clint was sitting there and the sounds even touched his heart, hardened though it was on the entire situation and the people down in Florida involved in it.

Seems Maria found herself pregnant at Kirk’s insistence that he wanted a child he was sure was his. I wanted to ask her why she agreed to such a thing if he was still married but knew the answer. She was completely in Kirk’s thrall. He always needed a back up and she’d been his for too long. She was never going to escape on her own. And now there was a baby involved and Maria’s family could be nuts about things like that. She was probably catching it from both sides.

The only other thing she said that made a little sense was that Kirk said he couldn’t marry her as planned without his share of the inheritance because the divorce from me was so expensive … people continued to believe I had taken him to the cleaners … and his current wife was doing the same thing. Bully for her I wanted to say.

Just to get off the phone I told her the same thing I’d told Kirk’s sister adding that I was willing … and desiring … to forego any claim to any of it. Anything more than that I would think about. That last part was a mistake. Clint was furious.

“What do you mean you’ll think about it?!”

“What else was I supposed to say? She’d just call back if I didn’t give her something.”

And around and around it went. And it finally came out again. It was the money that bothered him. That he thought this was some ploy to get me back under Kirk’s thumb. Clint wasn’t exactly being rational either even going so far as to claim he’d read up on narcissistic personalities and Kirk was a classic and that he would never let me go completely if I didn’t cut him off.

“I have! We’re divorced! Have been divorced for a while now! I left in the dead of night to escape and cut him out of my life if you will remember!!”

“Exactly! You’re still afraid of him. He still takes up room in your head. He’ll exploit that and …”

 

[Kathy in FL]

Chapter 77 (Part 3)

Oh my Lord. We were at it hours. Just to get it to stop I capitulated as much as possible but still felt like I was walking on eggshells. The next day I took Carra to Asheville and dropped her at Robert and Susan’s but couldn’t stay long. Susan wasn’t looking well. They’d made the difficult decision to stop all fertility treatments so not only was she strung out emotionally, she was strung out hormonally. I was relieved when Keller showed up and took Carra and I could get back on the road myself. Not that I got all that much calmer. Clint wanted to know what took me so long to start back and then informed me he had to go on a business trip the next day and that he couldn’t find the ties he wanted and both the shirts he wanted had missing buttons.

I got home and got everything Clint wanted and collapsed for the night without even getting undressed. I was barely compos mentis the next morning and trying to make sure I cooked Clint’s eggs on the right side of the skillet when I hear, “He WHAT?!!”

The egg I was about to crack fell to the floor and I was trying to figure out whether to clean it up or run to see what was wrong when Clint storms into the kitchen, already dressed to leave but with his hair standing on end. “Do you know what that ass has done?”

“Er … which one?”

“Which one?! Keller!!”

“Is Carra all right?!” I yelled immediately thinking the worst.

“Oh she’s just fine and dandy. Daddy Warbucks has her tucked up in the Marriott on the beach … in FLORIDA!”

“What?!”

It was Robert that called. He’d gone over late the preceding afternoon to check on his father and sister and low and behold was told they’d left hours earlier and were traveling to Florida by private jet. That Jocelyn’s doctor had ok’d it and that since he hadn’t gotten to see Carra at Christmas the trip was a late Christmas gift to her as well. And while Robert wasn’t happy, he didn’t think anything strange about it either. His father had taken Carra on similar trips in the past. That’s why he waited until the morning to call Clint.

It was like Hiroshima tripled. Then Reave called and said that the judge in the inheritance case, due to other irregularities that had been exposed, refused to grant the motion that would allow me to sign the papers either digitally or via a courier. Additionally he’d found out that because Kirk had tried to hide things until he figured out a way to keep the income to himself without anyone else knowing, the clause that would turn the estate over to the State of Florida had been triggered and there was barely 48 hours to get things signed or everyone would lose the money … and it was more significant an amount than had been revealed to that point. I was willing to let Kirk lose it all but that’s when Reave said that the will was such that if I didn’t sign then no one got anything from the estate.

I don’t know what got into me. I simply became convinced that signing those papers would get me out from under Kirk once and for all. And it would also prove to everyone else that I wasn’t the mercenary hag that Kirk had made me out to be, thus destroying the friendships I’d once had … not to mention my former career and reputation. Even if it didn’t give me a clean slate, it would certainly provide one empty of anything claimed by Kirk.

Clint came unglued and for the first time we both ran up against the other’s completely and totally non-negotiable. I won’t repeat some of the things that were said. Neither one of us behaved our best. And I think we were both wondering just what we’d gotten ourselves into with the other person. Then like everything else, real life reared its head and Clint had no choice but to leave on his business trip. Thank goodness he wasn’t driving. Steam was coming off him he was so angry.

“I have to go. I have to make sacrifices for THIS family, not some two-bit comedy act like you have down in Florida!”

“They aren’t my family. They …”

“You sure as hell are acting like they are. What other reasons could there be? You’re picking them over me.”

“What?! No. This is just one last bit of unpleasantness then I’ll be free.”

“Will you? Well you can just think a think on this. You better damn well be back when I get back or you can have ALLLLL the freedom you can handle. And you damn well better understand that is a solid, gold FACT. We have A LOT of talking to do and you better believe it,” he yells as he slams out the door.

I knew in that moment I had a choice to make. It wasn’t exactly Kirk all over again, but I wasn’t going to live in fear for the remainder of our relationship either. I was beginning to wonder if I had misplaced my trust and a lot of other things that I shouldn’t have had to wonder about. And I knew I couldn’t just sit around waiting for Clint to come back, nor could I do the kind of thinking I needed to do here on the Estate. I needed space and objectivity.

I was packed in under thirty minutes. It honestly took longer to clean the kitchen and close down the house than it took to get ready to leave. I vaguely remember calling Sylvia Crocker and asking her to let the Haines family know that Clint had gone on his business trip and that I had a business trip of my own to make, that I’d be back as quickly as possible.

Thank God for all the years my brother so faithfully kept up with the maintenance on the Old Clunker. I made it to the Florida border before I even realized I was barely paying attention to what was going on around me. I shook myself and told myself to stop being a fool and to be careful. For many reasons I didn’t want to wind up in a car accident, or worse.

I was starting to recognize my old stomping grounds before I got the courage to make an after hours call to the lawyer’s office. No, I told the answering service, I would not be giving out the hotel I was staying in but that I’d call again in the morning, to please have the papers ready because I was only going to stop for as long as it took to sign and then I’d be leaving.

Finding a hotel was not easy. In fact, it was impossible so I was looking at sleeping in my car which was not at all what I wanted. I was fast closing in on an anxiety attacked when Maria’s brother Amando calls.

Hesitantly I answered, “Yes, this is Shanna Field.”

“Shanna. Finally. Someone that will help straighten this out.”

Suspiciously I asked, “And … you are?”

“Sorry. This is Amando … Maria’s brother. Look, I know it is a lot to ask but I need to speak with you. Maria has gotten in trouble.”

“I … heard.”

“Did you?”

“Er … yeah. Although I didn’t hear when the baby is due.”

There was a brief silence and then he said, “Oh. That. Sorry, that’s not what I meant. I’m talking about that sociopath you were married to. I had to have him trespassed off the property today and got a temporary restraining order against him. Maria stole some money from the business and gave it to that hombre loco.”

Despite myself I was surprised. “What?!”

“Yeah, and he claimed to not know what she was doing. He thought we were generously supporting him during his time of difficulty or some mierda like that. The accountants caught some discrepancies and it all came to a head when they called the police last night. So yeah, my sweet, stupid sister is in a lot of trouble.” He sighed. “I know it is a lot to ask but could our lawyer send you a courier to get a deposition on some things I’ve found out? And … and I’m sorry I believed the stories that were being told about you. You’re out of state, you don’t have to give your address. You can pick the time and place and …”

“Uh … actually Amando I’m on the other side of town from where your grandparents used to live. I … I came to town to sign those financial papers.”

“What papers?” he asks and then after my brief description he asks to meet at his aunt and uncle’s restaurant and maybe bring their lawyer who is also a family member who’d I met a few times growing up riding horses on Maria’s family’s property. Not having any other prospects I agreed though I was adamant that I didn’t want Maria there.

“Don’t worry. That chica is under lock and key at home. It is the only way to keep that cabron away from her. We even had to take her phone and block every number he keeps calling from.”

I don’t know if I was smart, or stupid and got lucky. At the restaurant we had a room to ourselves though an austere woman I remembered to be a cousin of their father or something like that stood by as chaperone. An hour into answering all of their questions they ask if it is all right if they call the new wife’s lawyer and by that point I just wanted it to be over with so I agreed so long as Kirk wasn’t told of my whereabouts. The soon-to-be ex’s lawyer readily agreed to my stipulation and we sat in that room until well after closing. In fact the meeting lasted long enough that we had an early breakfast the next morning as the lawyers and a couple of paralegals they’d called in finished typing up my deposition as well as some motions they were making as soon as the courthouse opened.

I’m vindicated. Or at least I think I am. Supposedly both lawyers are going to make sure that word gets out and around correcting all the stories Kirk has been telling. Whether others believe it or not I can’t control, but at least people will hear my side of the story. What really blew everyone away is that I was able to prove that his stories about me fleecing him are completely false, especially that I didn’t have a lawyer nor about there being alimony or anything else. I could tell the lawyers in the room wanted to give me a lecture. Everyone else thought I was stupid. I accept that because it was true.

I was glad that I’d kept a copy of the file that Clint and Reave had made … I’d scanned all of the documents onto a thumb drive and I’d brought it with me. It’s the one thing I didn’t tell Clint about. Maybe I should have. A few times I caught myself pulling it out and reading it, like a form of self-torture. I wasn’t happy about sharing its content, but it did go a long way towards giving the lawyers some areas to dig into. And I gave them the contact information for the PI Reave had hired.

I found out that people had been questioning Kirk’s version of the story after I left town so suddenly. It wasn’t a lot of people, but it was enough that when Miranda – the name of the soon-to-be ex – had gone looking she found a couple that were willing to talk to her and answer her questions. And that’s when her family started doing some fact-finding of their own and come across the rumors that Kirk was saying Miranda’s child wasn’t his. It had been a lie all along. A blood test had proven paternity early in the pregnancy – there’d been some genetic problems being ruled out. For instance, I didn’t know that Kirk’s mother had fertility issues or that there’d been a brother that died in infancy. So my fertility issues might actually have been Kirk’s. Because to my horror I’d found out he’d lied about that as well. The proof was some paperwork that the soon-to-be ex found while looking for evidence to prove that it was Kirk being unfaithful and not the other way around.

I was running on fumes but was still mentally awake enough to know that I’d done the right thing coming and that I wouldn’t shy away from seeing Miranda … or Maria … who would also be there while I signed the paperwork to keep it all above board and to prevent anyone from saying any of us did not understand what was going on. And that’s when I find out something that the lawyers both assumed that I knew. Not only was my name on the paperwork, it was on the paperwork because I was the beneficiary of a specific portion of the entire estate. And furthermore, that I should have been receiving a generous “allowance” from the trust all along. When the lawyers for the Trust fund found out I hadn’t, there was a huge bruhaha.

The number of zeroes was staggering compared to what I’d been told. Oh, it wasn’t millions but there were plenty of thousands. And then I stopped and thought about what Clint would think. I tried to call him but there was no answer. I’m not sure whether it was intentional or not on his part but that left me making all the decisions on my own. And I’m not convinced that is the way it was meant to be.

Maria and Miranda were both in tears, scared for their babies and how they’d be able to support them. Miranda having just come to terms about Kirk and Maria only just beginning to wake up to reality. I asked to speak to the trust lawyers alone making everyone nervous, but for the first time in a long time there wasn’t even a shade of anxiety trying to plague me. When people found out what I had done they were floored. Including Kirk who had shown up with his sister, trying to put on some kind of show. I found out that she wasn’t buying it, but she’d been unable to untangle herself from him coming along.

Of my own free will I put the portion of the inheritance that was meant to come to me alone into a trust fund for Kirk’s two children … Miranda’s and Maria’s. The money would be doled out by the lawyers who’d been handling the original trust and could only be used on certain things like educational needs or health care. The principle of the new trust would be untouchable until both children were twenty-five years of age. I figured by then they’d either be mature enough to handle it or not, but it was no longer my responsibility or care. The rest they’d have to figure out on their own. I did take an amount equal to the stipend I never received and to me that is fortune enough and something that I can justify as alimony I never received. I also still had an idea in the back of my head that I needed to build a nest egg for myself in case Clint and I couldn’t repair whatever was going wrong. It wasn’t a huge amount after the tax attorney’s took a bite for the IRS but it was more than I was comfortable putting in my purse despite that being where I wound up carrying it before cashing some out and transferring the remainder into the account I had set up when I’d gone to work for Clint. I did this at a branch of the national bank the Estate does business with so there would be fewer questions.

As for Kirk, when he found out he came unglued. There is no other way to describe it. It looked like he was having a breakdown. It was frightening but at the same time he couldn’t touch me, not anymore. I’d seen this side of him towards the end of our marriage but no one else, including Miranda, had seen him this bad. I was just over it. All of it. While Kirk screamed and yelled, looking like an oversized toddler throwing a tantrum, I took my leave of the lawyers and calmly walked out, passing several security guards running in the direction of the offices where I’d left them all. For the first time I felt well and truly free of Kirk and whatever becomes of him or any of the others is no longer of any interest to me.

After the bank I stopped at a fruit stand and picked up a lot of citrus and some produce that was out of season on the Estate. I realize what I’m doing and then admit to myself that I’m not ready to give up on my relationship with Clint even if it comes with some serious learning curves for both of us. I call Clint but again there was no answer so I leave a message on the house phone telling him that if he got home before I did, not to give up on us yet and that I was soon to be on my way but needed sleep first. And that yes, we needed to do some serious talking.

Into my empty trunk went oranges, grapefruit, guavas, mandarins, okra, papayas, passionfruit, green peas and pea pods, pommelos, limes, tangerines, tomatillos, and three crates of tomatoes, and a fifty-pound bag of potatoes. Then wondering if I was being silly, I bought nearly a full stalk of green bananas and a bunch of ripe ones as well as a bunch of nearly ripe plantains.

I drove to the nearest rest stop and did my best to wash up and try and decide what to do about getting the sleep I would need to make the drive back to the Estate. I didn’t know what to do but I knew what I wanted and that was to put some flowers one last time on the family graves. I know none of them are in the ground there, they’ve all found their Reward, but as I thought about the issue of respect, something I think Clint and I need to talk about at length so we both understand what the other needs to feel respected, the thought came to me it was just something I needed to do before I left.

I was an hour making sure the graves hadn’t been vandalized by copper thieves as happened way too often these days, and trying to find a hotel room with no success. I was going to have to go two hours north to find one that would book without a credit card. I had just put my hand on my car door when my phone rings and it is Carra. She was hysterical and I’m not sure I believe what I am hearing but I do know one thing; she’s alone with the baby and needs me … and I’m going to go get her.

 

[Kathy in FL]

Chapter 78

I’m still on the road and eating bananas and drinking some of the most gawd awful coffee I’ve ever tasted. But anything to stay awake. I must. I cannot afford to sleep just yet.

When Carra called I really didn’t understand her level of panic. And I honestly gave some thought to the fact that she was exaggerating. She can be quite the drama queen at times. She was going on and on about wanting Clint but I had to tell her he was at a business meeting and I couldn’t reach him either. She moaned. Yes, moaned, then asked why not and I explained. When she found out I was within driving distance she begged and pleaded enough that I knew that something real was up and she needed me even if it was Clint that she truly wanted.

I’ve since been able to piece together some of what scared her and I’m very sorry that I hadn’t given her more credit. Jocelyn was fine, even fun and happy, when their trip first started. Carra says if she’d known her dad had left without saying something to Clint or Robert she would have called but she didn’t think and had been having a blast and thinking happy thoughts of maybe things working out with a young step mother after all.

The first day and then that night were fine. They did the family dinner thing, went for a walk on the beach together, bought a few hokey souvenirs; all normal family vacation type stuff. The next morning, this morning … no, yesterday since it is after midnight … things started to change. Maybe the day before, my days are all running together and lack of sleep isn’t helping.

The nanny service that was supposed to help with Kelly cancelled at the last second. Kelly had trouble latching on to the bottle they’d brought for her because her mouth was sore from the thrush she was recovering from. That started her crying and things went downhill from there. They briefly evened out when Carra volunteered to watch Kelly while Keller and Jocelyn went for a walk to get some air but when they came back to the room Carra said it was obvious they’d been arguing.

“Dad was a funny pale color and looked tired and sad at the same time and Jocelyn had been crying and wouldn’t even bother fixing her make up. When she just kept going Dad said he needed to lay down and Jocelyn decided to order room service and take a bubble bath. Only as soon as dad was asleep she comes out of the bathroom dressed to kill and says she’s going out and not to bother Dad cause she won’t be long, she’s just going out to get him a surprise to say she’s sorry. And I bought it. Dad told me not to be upset about that but … but …”

“Carra your … er … Jocelyn has some very real issues. The fact that she was able to manipulate you doesn’t make what happened your responsibility.”

“But Jocelyn never came back and then Dad left to go look for her and he didn’t come back. And now … now …” Carra broke down crying again and I can’t even pull over to comfort her. Things are too insane.

When Carra called the first time she explained that neither of them were in the hotel though I hadn’t really understood she’d meant they’d both been gone so long. I did know that the baby was out of diapers and formula and Carra said she couldn’t reach the front desk to get any help and she’d been afraid to leave the room because there was a lot of noise in the halls. I thought the noise was just someone having a beach party.

I stopped at a Walgreens and picked up diapers, wipes, and formula before heading to the hotel and I’m glad I did. I’m also glad I threw in some bottled water to mix the formula with as well as the type of high energy drinks I used to drink to make it through a double shift or after I was on my own and terrified of sleeping in some of the places I’d had no choice but to live. Had I not done those things Lord only knows what straights we would be in.

It was the odd, manic behavior of the store clerks that caught my attention. It was taking forever for the girl to count back my change. All of the clerks were huddled in the front of the story and they kept glancing at someone’s iPad they’d set up behind the register. I finally asked what was going on.

Looking at me like I was a few fries short of a Happy Meal she said, “You haven’t heard?! There’s riots breaking out all over the US in retaliation for some terrorist leader getting killed over in them foreign parts. They’re calling it jihad.”

“Excuse me?” I asked not sure I’d heard her correctly.

“See for yourself,” she said turning the iPad so that I could get a view of the screen. That’s when the ticker going across the bottom adds the area that I was heading into to get to Carra was experiencing violence in some of the hotels and was starting to spill out into the street.

“Oh my God. I’ve got to go. I’ve … I’ve got to go.” I grabbed the bags, left the cart in the store, and hurried out to the Clunker praying but not really knowing what I’m praying for except everything and Someone Bigger Than Me to fix the crazy. He must have heard me because while the crazy-level didn’t drop it does seem that I managed to get through an area right before they blocked it off multiple times. Then Carra called again and she’s really crying this time and I could hear the terror in her voice even over the screaming of the baby. They’re evacuating the hotel because it is on fire and her father and stepmother are still missing.

“Go! Just go Carra! Get out right now! Call me when you get downstairs and out! Go!”

I’m fighting my nerves but it isn’t an anxiety attack praise God. I’m fighting to stay calm and not let my anger take over. All I could think was that when I got my hands on Keller and Jocelyn that they weren’t going to come out unscathed. God help me. I’m glad I didn’t say anything like that to Carra.

Next frantic call I get was Carra saying she’s running from the hotel. That she has the baby in a stroller, a diaper bag and her suitcase and the baby’s backpack and doesn’t know what to do or where to go. Everyone is running around in a panic and the cops haven’t even shown up yet.

“What do you see around you? Try and pick the biggest lit sign you see.”

Without hesitation she says, “Bubba Gump. It’s where we ate dinner when we got here.”

“Good, I know where that is and I’m not far. Can you get there? How bad are the roads?”

“People are like clogging the street they’re … oh my gawd!”

“What?!”

“The … the top of the hotel … it’s … it’s like a torch. Stuff … stuff is falling! Oh my God, I think a person jumped!”

I fought to stay calm as I needed to be. “Carra listen to me. Start walking fast. Try not and run unless you must but start walking as fast as you can. I need you as far away from the hotel as it is tall. Do you understand what I’m saying? I want you at least that far away. Bubba Gump isn’t far enough. If glass starts shattering it could blow out in that direction. But you need to stay in a lit area.”

“But the lights are going out all over!”

I was witnessing that myself and that included the traffic signals which had already become as useful as a string of Christmas lights with a short in the wire. “Okay, try and stay calm for me Sweety. I know this is awful, but panicking isn’t going to help. What else do you see?”

“There’s … there’s the big slide and putt-putt golf place but there’s not …” She screamed.

“Carra?!”

“Something just blew up. Please come get me Shanna. There’s smoke and …”

“I saw it happen. I’m three blocks down. Dammit people need to move!”

“Are you honking your horn?!”

“Yes!”

“I can hear you!!! Oh my gawd I can hear you!!!!”

A sudden break in the crowd and I saw her. I cut across the lane and jumped the curb all the while screaming for her to just throw things in the back seat and climb in.

She’s crying and I’m cursing like a teamster and growling and it takes forever but I finally reach the bridge and make it off the island and onto relatively less chaotic streets only to be pulled over by a cop who angrily asks what I’m doing out on the streets when everyone has been ordered off.

“Trying to get my niece out of that hell hole. Her father and stepmother are missing and there’s a baby and …”

I get directed off the main drag and into a parking lot where the authorities are setting up some kind of emergency aid station. We’re stuck there for hours before they let us go and what we learn in the mean time … what I learn and am forced to tell Carra … dear Lord. I hope I haven’t scarred her for life.

“Ma’am?” a police officer says getting my attention after we’d been there three hours. Carra and the baby are both in a restless sleep in the back seat so I get out and expect to have to answer more questions and show my ID. Instead she asks me a few questions that confirms my identity then says, “I’m sorry ma’am but … Mr. Keller …”

“Oh no, tell me he wasn’t in the hotel or didn’t go back looking for Carra and Kelly.”

“No ma’am. Mr. Keller was just identified as a man who was killed in a bar fight last night. He was airlifted to the hospital but died in route. They’ve been looking for next of kin to notify.”

I’m in shock and I turn to find that Carra woke up and was staring at the officer like nothing she said computed. I turn back and say, “What about Jocelyn … his wife?”

“She was at the scene but left before authorities arrived, that’s all I can say at this time.”

I glance back at Carra again and then say, “I can’t … this … I need to get them home. Carra needs to be with her uncle and brother. The baby …”

“That’s what I was coming to tell you. You need to leave. We’re about to shut down this station and move to a central command post. There’s another riot heading this way. I’m going to give you some directions and you need to leave immediately.”

“I’m from around here so I’m familiar with the streets, just tell me which ones aren’t closed.” She looks a little relieved not to be dealing with another stranded tourist and puts the map away and tells me the routes that are still open.

The streets she names may have technically still be open, but her directions were nearly useless. I fight my way to some back streets that I know and finally get out of the city and heading north. As the sun comes up the smoke is as thick as fog in some places from all the fires. I hear sirens but otherwise the streets have become eerily quiet.

I’ve tried calling Clint multiple times but can only leave messages of what our location is and that I have Carra and Kelly. The more I call the more often I run into dead air or a message that the lines are busy and to please try again later. Strangely enough on the first try I reach Robert.

“Thank God! We can’t find Carra and …”

“Robert! Listen, I don’t know how long this connection is going to stay good. I have Carra and Kelly but … I need you to sit down. I …”

“I know about Dad.”

That’s when I find out the authorities had managed to contact him but they hadn’t known – or there had been some confusion – about Carra and Kelly’s location. I ask him to please let Clint know that I’m bringing them home. He tells me to head for the Estate because Asheville is under martial law as there was an attack on the Asheville Regional Airport.

“Stay safe and …” then the phone made a squeal and I was unable to get a signal that gave me anything other than the emergency broadcast signal sound, the sound that hurts my back teeth and that has always made me think of the Titanic and mushroom clouds for some reason.

I absolutely must stop for fuel before much longer. I’m nearly sucking fumes as it is. I see a sign ahead and I pray they are open for business. If not I’m not sure what I’m going to do.

 

[Kathy in FL]

Chapter 79

I tell you God is looking out for us. There’s no other explanation. The stars were aligning way too often. I had no sooner pulled into the gas station on the other side of the Florida border than the interstate system gets shut down. I hurry into the minute market because the pumps aren’t accepting credit cards. The woman behind the register inside the store tells me that I’m lucky. Her manager just called and ordered her to shut down the pumps and the store and to drop the security shutters and go home. A minute later and I would have been too late. So I fill up my tank as well as the last two ten gallon spare fuel containers she has on the shelves. I was also prepared to spend a wad of cash on more water, some more energy drinks, and several sandwiches from the small the deli.

“Don’t worry about the deli stuff. It would just spoil anyway as the coolers are likely to go down. And I don’t see any baby supplies in your arms,” she said facetiously. “So just keep walking and get going. I got grandbabies and I’m praying my daughter is at the house when I get home. I’m pulling the emergency breaker as soon as you hang up the fuel nozzle.”

When I briefly hesitate, she orders me to go and my get finally kicks in. It was a lesson in not looking a gift horse in the mouth. The Clunker is full of fuel and I have spares as well, something a lot of people weren’t going to be able to say in the very near future. Carra and I take care of Kelly as I try and think what will be the best route to take because the GPS is out on my phone. In fact, my phone has become nothing more than a fancy paperweight since nothing is working … phone, texting, or apps.

Georgia wasn’t as bad as what was behind us, but it wasn’t a cakewalk either, especially as the weather starts to deteriorate. There are flashing road signs all over the place telling people to stay off the roads, but I no can do. In addition to the radio news reporting on the continued and spreading violence in most major cities, they are saying some kind of unexpected weather event is building and temperatures are going to drop precipitously and there’s going to be snow in places that normally don’t experience it. I look back at Carra and she is already shivering as all she had on was a pair of shorts and a tank top. I tell her to put my jacket over her and Kelly and I’d try and think of a solution to yet one more problem I hadn’t anticipated.

I’m worried about more than the weather. Carra is listless and in shock. She hasn’t really reacted to the news about her father. She’s barely uttered any more sound than absolutely necessary when I force her to respond to a question. Then I see a Dollar General ahead and make a beeline for it. I had to park on the grass because the parking lot was full. I told Carra to lock the doors and not open them for anyone, including a cop, while I run inside.

It was worse than an after Christmas sale at Macy’s in NYC. Dear Lord, I got backhanded and nearly shot because I wouldn’t give up the two blankets and beach towels I managed to grab while everyone else was panicking over the water and canned goods. Even with that, and the scare Carra got when she saw my bloody lip, am I sorry I stopped? No. Had I not we would be in much worse straights than we are now. It is sleeting and the roads are icing up … and now it’s pitch dark on top of everything else.

I know the Estate gates can’t be too much further. I pray they aren’t any further. Even using the two spare jerry cans of fuel the Clunker is wheezing its last. Please God, just help me make it a little further.

 

[Kathy in FL]

Chapter 80

I’m … not well. There. I admit it. Mom used to say something strange that I think I’m finally willing to say myself. “The last few days have been cloudy with a chance of meatballs.” It comes from some bizarre movie series that was around when she was a kid. I watched it with her a couple of times and never did totally get why it was so popular, but it does leave an impression. “Cloudy with a chance of meatballs.” Yeah, that’s how feel.

The last truly cognizant period of time I can remember previous to this is when I finally spotted the Estate gates in my headlights. I barely could make them out and almost went through them before braking hard enough to skid, stopping only inches from the cast iron posts. The rain coming down caused close to zero visibility and the only thing that saved us (and the gates) is that the Clunker gave its last gasp on the last fume of fuel and was rolling to a stop anyway. When I hit the brakes I stalled what power was left and couldn’t get it restarted. Not even the lights would come on. And with no power and no electric the heater went off as well. It took less than sixty seconds for the cold to find its way in and I knew Carra and Kelly wouldn’t last. Nor would I for that matter.

No horn either to attract attention so I was forced to get out of the car in the pouring sleet to try and get the attention of the people in the guard shack. Only there wasn’t anyone it the guard shack. And the gates were chained closed. I climbed the fence and found the guard shack was locked up tight as well. I’d hoped that I’d at least be able to get Carra and Kelly into a space that would retain our body heat but the switch had flipped and all my good luck started turning bad.

There was no other choice. We’d have to walk to the small shack up the road that was sometimes used during horse trails. I also remembered seeing the stack of a Franklin stove protruding from the roof and I knew wood was supposed to be kept at each such stations in case of emergencies … and we were in an emergency situation.

I climbed back over the fence, this time nearly falling on my head and then scampered back into the car and explained things to Carra as I swaddled Kelly in beach towels and threw some things into the backpack to carry us over until someone from the Estate arrived to help.

Carra was unusually compliant with my plan. She didn’t really understand what I was asking of her, all she thought was it was going to get her closer to the Big House where she’d be safe and Clint would make the bad things go away and tell her everything was going to be okay. Yes, she was very bad off. Kelly had stopped crying as well. That scared me as much as Carra’s apathy did. I would have done anything to keep from having to take them out in the weather but the danger posed by staying in the car outweighed the danger posed by walking a few hundred feet to four solid walks, a roof, and a way to get them warm.

After swaddling the baby I told Carra to wear my good winter coat. I was already soaked anyway as I hadn’t had the brains to even grab a blanket before trying to get into the guard shack. I attached the baby carrier to her and then secured Kelly in it. They looked like two potatoes tied together. For good measure I tore a hole in one of the blankets and put it over them like a poncho and a plastic bag on their heads like hats. It wouldn’t keep much rain off them for long, but it at least protected Carra’s legs and head for most of the hike.

I did the same to the other blanket and made my own poncho. Tied some of the towels into a plastic bag knowing we’d need something to dry off with and then had to take the poncho off to put the back pack on as I’d forgotten about it. Finally we were as ready as we were going to be and as a last bit of smartness I grabbed my bag of road emergency car stuff.

To say that walk was cold is an understatement of huge proportion. But we made it and I cried to see there was wood and there was at least a box of dry chunks inside the small shed to match all the wet in the lean to outside. I wondered whether I was going to have to use a flare to start the fire in the stove until I spotted a box of firestarters, tinder, and matches on a shelf on the opposite wall. Thank you Jesus.

I got the fire going but knew it wasn’t going to last. The wood was dry … too dry … and was catching and burning as quickly as I fed the old Franklin. Then I remembered I had a lantern in my car bag that doubled as a kind of emergency beacon, the kind bright enough that it would let traffic know there was a problem ahead. And the batteries were practically brand new so it would last a while. Back out into the cold and wet I went to hang the lantern on a hook on the corner of the shed normally used to let others know the station was occupied.

I refused to let the girls go to sleep even if that meant dealing with a screaming baby and a close to hysterical Carra that simply wanted to escape the emotions she subconsciously knew she would have to start dealing with soon. I wasn’t much better. Days without sleep had my world unfocused and listing at weird angles as I tried to walk around to keep warm and awake.

Then I saw lights and realized it wasn’t my imagination but came from the headlights of one of the Estate’s 4x4’s. I ran out trying to make sure they didn’t pass by and nearly got run down.

“Missus Field?!”

“Bernie! Oh Bernie … thank God! Please … p…p… please you have to get Carra and Kelly to Mr. Haines!” They say I collapsed right after that, but I don’t remember. In fact, I don’t remember much but half-formed nightmares for quite a while.

I woke up coughing and disoriented. When I shivered – more from fear the disorientation and nightmare caused than being cold – I felt something that turned out to be a quilt being pulled over me.

I panicked. “No! Carra!” But my voice was all but gone and trying to yell started me coughing again.

“Shhh. It’s okay. Sunshine is right down the hall.” It’s Clint’s tired voice and I finally recognize my surroundings enough to realize I’m in Clint’s bedroom and there was a fire going in the fireplace.

“We … we got here?” I ask.

“You brought them home.” Clint is very emotional. I found out that Carra had told him what we had gone through.

“Home. Is it still my home? You got here before I could.”

“Damn me anyway,” he said, scrubbing his tired eyes and grizzled, unshaved face. “I … wish you’d just forget about that Love. Just … just pretend those words never came out of my mouth if you can. If … if you can’t at least forget about them for now. You … you need to let me take care of you. I need you to let me take care of you.”

“Carra … Kelly … are they …?” My throat is on fire and I’m wheezing but I can’t let go of the idea that something isn’t right. And then I remember. “Keller …”

“Easy there. Carra … is fine. She’s still a little shell-shocked – we all are – but she’s coping. The baby … look, Robert, Susan and the boys are here too. Asheville has been partially evacuated and Ollie and some of her staff are staying with Aunt Florence in her guest house. They knew each other when they were girls and … look, just don’t worry about it for now. Everything is going to be okay.”

It was too much to stay awake for long and without meaning to or getting all the answer I wanted I fell back into a fitful sleep that lasted the clock around once again.

Next time I woke up I still felt like a zombie but not quite like a three-quartered decayed one. It was Carra that was there that time.

“Uncle Clint is taking some reports or something like that from the family. The ice took down some big trees across the road which is why we haven’t seen more people at the gates demanding a space in the campgrounds. A few got in before things shut down but they’re in RVs and seem to know how to deal even without power and water hook ups.”

“Carra …” my voice is still barely above a whisper.

“I don’t want to talk about it.” She looked away and added, “At least not right now. Everyone has been making me since we got here and … and I’m talked out. Okay?”

Willing to capitulate due to the look on her face I said, “Okay. So long as you know if you need to talk, I’m right here.”

She gave me a concerned look and said, “Uncle Clint says everyone is to leave you alone. I think you scared him bad. I know you scared him bad. You scared me bad. You … you wouldn’t wake up and you were coughing even in your sleep and that still didn’t wake you up. I think even Dr. Perkins started to freak out a little.”

I was too tired to be embarrassed and could barely find the energy to shrug. “Everyone can just deal. Do me a favor and help me get to the bathroom. Maybe if I wash up I’ll feel human and won’t worry your uncle more.”

When I finished I nearly shrieked when I stepped out of the bathroom because Clint was right there before the door was barely a crack open.

“Easy Sweetheart. Let me help.”

His helping meant playing Rhett Butler and carrying me, but I was in no mood to complain. I’d been wondering how I was going to walk the miles back to the bed so I could lay my aching head back down. We walked in to find the sheets had been changed and there was a tray with a pitcher of blackberry shrub sitting on in. My body picked that moment to realize it was thirsty and hungry at the same time, nearly embarrassingly so.

“Thank God,” I heard Clint breathe.

“For what?” I asked.

“For the fact that you aren’t … aren’t …” He shakes his head unable to continue.

I pat his hand and say, “It’ll be okay.” I think I surprised him because he just stared without saying a word.

 

[Kathy in FL]

Chapter 80 (Part 2)

“Well … maybe okay isn’t the best word,” I tell him thinking his expression portends something I wasn’t ready to think about. But knowing that hiding isn’t going to help I ask, “Can you tell me what’s been going on? I’ve seen Carra and … yeah … she’s grieving but seems to be about as well as I was at her age when my grandparents started passing. And … and the rest of it too. I can’t … I can’t create a sum if I don’t have the numbers to add together.”

“You don’t need to do this right now. You need to rest. Perkins said you are on the edge of a collapse and …”

“Mental or physical?”

“Er …”

“First off … I’ve decided I am no longer … fragile, or whatever the latest catch phrase for it is. I also refuse to be on the edge of collapse.”

“Now Sweetheart, Perkins said …”

“I know the man means well and … and maybe I’ll always have the occasional issue I need to be on guard against … but I’m not like I was and I’m not going there again.”

Slowly he sits on the edge of the bed and says, “Maybe you need to tell me what happened in Florida so I can understand.”

“There’s not a lot to understand Clint. I told you I went down there to get rid of the last of whatever was hanging over me … and I did.”

“Yeah, but what happened? Was the Jackass there?”

“Only for the tail end of it. And I didn’t even talk to him or him to me, not really. Quite frankly he made more of an impression on the lawyers and security guards than he made on me.”

“What the Sam Hill does that mean?” he asked while obviously trying to stay calm. So I explained and I think I surprised him by my choice every bit as much as I’d surprised the others.

“You … you signed that money over to those kids?!”

“I had to make a choice. I never knew about the money or that I was supposed to have had the use of some of it. I had no intention of getting entangled with Kirk on any level. It was just the last bit of ending of the end of what was the marriage. It is also the end of the end of other relationships down there. My life is now fully my own to do with as I will with nothing holding me back. And I choose you.” A little more realistically I add, “Assuming there is something left to work with. If not … well I’ve decided I’m strong enough to survive it and you won’t have to feel guilty about …”

“Whoa. Don’t even go there. Because if we gotta cover this right here and now I don’t want to do it with you thinking I want to end it … or anything even close.”

“But we do need to talk.”

He opened he mouth to deny it but then said, “We do. But not right now.”

I gave it a few seconds of thought then nodded. “We both need to be on more even footing and right now I’m sitting in your bed swallowed up in a flannel gown I don’t recognize and trying not to have a headache and you … you have the inevitable responsibilities of being head of the Haines family. So we’ll talk … but not right this second.”

“Yeah,” he agreed quietly.

Trying to avoid any potential landmine I carefully asked, “Can you at least do what I asked and tell me what has been going on? I feel … like I’ve been away for ever and … and …” I wasn’t nearly as calm as I was trying to pull off and I think Clint knew it and sympathized. He didn’t look so good himself.

“You said that Robert and his family are here somewhere. And that Aunt Ollie is here too?”

“Yeah. They were on their way to Florida to … to take care of Keller’s body and all the legal stuff when the interstate system was shut down and there weren’t any hotels available. Those that were open were full and there were quite a few that had simply closed down … and locked down. When Robert called asking to crash here for who knows how long it was the first time I got a real message from you.”

“What?!” Then had to stop to let the congestion settled back down or risk coughing myself into a migraine. “I called numerous times but it always went to voice mail. I left a message on the house phone here as well.”

“Yeah and that’s the only thing that saved my sanity but it was garbled and full of static. I had been trying to call you as well and your voice mail wouldn’t even pick up, the phone just rang and rang. We’re getting a new phone provider just as soon as I can arrange it.”

His face was an open book are disgust and anger covering the fear that he didn’t think I could see.

“Fine. Whatever you want. But what’s happening? If Robert’s here, what do you mean for who knows how long?”

“Can … can I hold you? I’ll tell what I know but I … Shanna I need to hold you. I haven’t been able to. Every time I moved you you’d start hacking up a lung or having a nightmare.”

I nodded, not averse even if I was nervous to see what we had to work with.

“Even had Robert made it to Florida there’s nothing that is going to get done right now. The entire state is under martial law. They aren’t the only state doing that either. The White House says they are thinking about calling martial law at the federal level because of the international terrorism element in everything going on. Things are falling apart and people are calling for the US military and National Guard troops to be deployed to round up the jihadis and those giving them support and cover.”

I didn’t know what to say to that. It was one of the scenarios we’d discussed, but it wasn’t one that we’d put much faith in occurring.

“They’ve closed the stock market and only online banking is still up … and only for some banks. At the same time folks are only wanting to accept cash and it has created a lot of problems all over. Some states are trying to force businesses to accept debit and credit cards even with their systems down but that has backfired as a lot of places have simply closed their doors rather than be put in that position.”

That’s when I remembered all the stuff in the car and sat up causing another coughing fit that drained a lot of the energy washing up had returned.

“Easy Sweets. Bernie and Reggie brought your car in the same night you arrived. Trees have been coming down left and right and they didn’t want your car to be under one when it went.”

“I’m not sure. I know I ran out of gas but there’s something else wrong with it.”

“Battery and battery cable. But you aren’t going to be driving anywhere in that thing for a while even if it is a tank. And draw a line through you next worry. All the produce is still in the cooler. Lacey even mashed the bananas and I put them in the gas freezer and they’ll last for a while yet.”

“Thank you,” I said, meaning it. I laid my head on his chest and though his arms shook for a moment he drew me into a hug and I could feel us both relax just a little more.

“Have they found Jocelyn?”

“Er … yeah. Her lawyer had her remanded to a lockdown psychiatric facility. They’re trying to keep her from having to go to trial.”

Well that confused me and then Clint explained. She’d gotten distracted from getting a “I’m sorry” gift for Keller and tried to score some illegal drugs to self-medicate. She’d been in a situation of her own making … tabletop dancing for tips to pay for the drugs … when Keller found her. A fight ensued and Keller forgot his age and the man he was trying to rescue his wife from was a foreigner from a culture that couldn’t believe a man would even acknowledge having a wife that was doing what Jocelyn was doing much less try and save her. The man is trying to defend himself based on his own cultural norms and the religious laws of his land but it is falling flat and hard given current circumstances.

“They’re trying to avoid a trial because the way the law is written in Florida, if Jocelyn is considered an instigator she is going to be held just as responsible for Keller’s death as his attacker is. And with Jocelyn’s previous record, she’s looking at mandatory sentencing.”

Knowing the laws in Florida I nodded my understanding and asked, “And Kelly? What happens to her?”

“Susan …” Clint shook his head. “It’s a damn hillbilly soap opera. Robert and Susan have agreed to sue for custody if Jocelyn’s parents don’t agree quietly. If they do agree to their custody, they’ll get generous visitation rights. If they don’t … if they don’t all bets are off and Robert will get as nasty as necessary, and Ollie has promised to help.”

“Uh …”

“Yeah. I told Robert it was his business and only his business so long as Carra isn’t hurt. If someone tries to drag her into it they ain’t going to like where I take it, Aunt Ollie or no Aunt Ollie.”

“Good. Just tell me how to help,” I agreed surprising him yet again.

“Er … you aren’t doing this just to pacify me are you?”

“I thought we agreed now wasn’t the time to talk about things.”

He sighed and scratched his head. “Fine. Maybe I need to talk a little bit but I’m not going to force anything on you.”

“No. You’re not.” He blinked and I continued. “I came back of my own free will Clint. I never planned on staying gone, only cleaning up the last bit of mess from my previous life so being here could not be mistaken for anything other than my own free will. I’m not capitulating just to pacify you because of whatever reason you are thinking. I’m not that weak and scared woman anymore. And in part I have you to thank for giving me time to find the woman I used to be … or maybe be the woman I could have been all along … or even someone better. I don’t know what might have been, I can only say what is right now. What I do know is that I’d rather compromise when we disagree and not just capitulate all the time.”

“Soooo … you really do agree about staying out of Robert’s business?”

“Yes. So long as his business doesn’t interfere in ours where Carra is concerned. He does have some rights as her brother and shared guardian. I know they love her. But a lot of their time is going to be taken up with this … I guess calling it a baby project is crass but I hope you know what I mean. And as such it means that we’re going to be the primary ones that Carra needs until she is older and can decide a few things for herself … including what kind of relationship she wants with Kelly … and Ollie Keller.”

He kissed the top of my head and gave me a light hug. “I … I can get behind that.”

“Good.”

We were both silent and my eyes were drifting closed when Clint started talking again. “I really didn’t mean what I said Shanna. I … regretted it as soon as I calmed down enough to hear what had come out of my mouth. I was on the plane and couldn’t call right then and when we landed … things started going ninety to nothing and it was night before I realized it and when I tried to call … there wasn’t an answer on your end. I think I … I might have died a little bit. I kept thinking that you’d be here when I got back and when I didn’t see your car … I won’t tell you what I was thinking, cause I wasn’t. There wasn’t anything but a black cloud in my head. I was home a couple of hours before I thought to check the phone and … and then all the light came back on and I was so damned relieved and then the fatigue from not sleep hit and …” He sighed. “Then the world came off the rails. It’s been almost five days since you got back and I’m still not sure I’m not imagining all of this from wishful thinking.”

“What?”

“I said …”

“No. I mean … Wait. Did you say it has been five days?!”

“Nearly. And where do you think you’re going?”

“There was stuff in the coolers when I left. The powers been off. Oh gawd, and I’ve just been laying here?!”

I started coughing and couldn’t stop for some minutes. Despite my earlier words I was ready to start crying thinking of all the waste and ruin.

“Oh no you don’t Girl. You are staying right in this bed where I put you. Nothing spoiled. Nothing ruined. Lacey comes by every day to check on things. She’s the one that made up that shrub you’ve been sipping on, telling me to trickle it down your throat a couple of times an hour to keep you hydrated. Perkins was thinking about trying to fix a IV but none of his needles were the right size. And won’t we be fixing up the medical supplies around this place as soon as we can pull it off. You’re going to stay in this bed and let me take care of you long enough that we’re sure you don’t wind up with pneumonia. After that you can go back to being Wonder Woman.”

His outrage was real but there was some fear in there as well. I saw it again even though he was trying to hide it. Carra hadn’t been exaggerating, my condition really had “scared him bad.” I suspect it is going to complicate whatever compromise we come to. I know he groaned and was ready to beg when I said that I’d get up in the morning and fix waffles. “No. Just … no. Let me at least get to the point I can believe you aren’t going to evaporate into a mist and float away like a dream.”

That was a rather more romantic turn of phrase than I was used to from Clint and while I was trying to puzzle how whether he’d really said it I fell back to sleep.

 

[Kathy in FL]

Chapter 81

“By the power vested in me, I pronounce you man and wife. Allow me to introduce for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Clint Haines. Or I will as soon as they stop kissing.”

I vaguely heard the laughter by everyone present, but it was still a few moments before Clint and I came up for air. And despite our desires it was definitely worth coming up for. It was a beautiful day on the first of June and the area around the Big House was decked by Mother Nature like she was showing her approval. The scent of the rose bushes filled the air and competed with the zinnias and marigolds to splash color everywhere you looked. Even the woods were bedecked as my daylily idea had really proven successful. I was dressed in a 1920s vintage formal dress that could have come straight out of Great Gatsby thanks to one of the last trunks I emptied up in the attic. Originally white the dress had aged to a lovely tea-stained beige. My bouquet was made up primarily of the last of the Mother’s Day hydrangeas that Lacey had been nursing along as she said “of a purpose ‘cause they make the prettiest bunches to fill your arms up.” She was also thrilled to be one of my bridesmaids and had her own vintage dress on of pale lilac that had Reggie staring so hard he ran into and entire row of chairs and nearly broke his neck. Bernie just laughed knowingly and helped the younger man to his feet and told him to keep his eyes in his head and be less likely to trip.

As for who gave me away I asked Clint if he minded if I asked Mr. Crocker. He had no objection and I bashfully asked the man and was surprised by his ready acceptance as well as the sniffs and claim of spring allergies while he wiped his nose with a handkerchief. My other three bridesmaids were Stacey, Carra, and Julie. Together with Lacey they threw a family bridal shower that I will never forget … it was a lingerie party. Oh my Lord. I didn’t know whether to laugh at some of the gag creations or sink under the table I was setting at from some of the real ones. Clint certainly had a few things to say about the ones I let him see. Again … oh my Lord. His words caught me off guard just as much as his hurry-up-itis had a couple of weeks earlier.

It was a month ago and I was up to my elbows in ramps when Clint ran into the house and decreed he was tired of waiting on the world to right itself, that we would right our own world and hang the rest of it until they found enough commonsense to catch up. “Marry me woman and make me the happiest man on the planet.”

Teasing a bit because I thought he was fooling I said, “You said you were the happiest man on the planet last night.”

He grinned and then picked me up and spun me around and gave me a kiss. In the background I could hear Carra groaning, “Eye bleach! Remember the eye bleach is on back order along with everything else! Do you want to scar me for life?!” The fact that she took off running upstairs laughing told me she was only partially serious. But at least she was laughing … she doesn’t laugh or smile nearly as often she once did. She’s getting better but there are days her grieving is hard.

“I’m serious Sweetheart,” Clint said regaining my attention. “If we’re waiting on things to fix themselves we’ll be waiting forever.”

“Clint …”

“And no, it isn’t because of the new tax laws either.”

“I would never think that much less say it!” But I did wonder if it had something to do with Robert and Susan’s visit the preceding weekend and all the children underfoot and the comments about he wasn’t getting any younger from his aunts. I also wondered if it had anything to do with our last counseling session.

After returning from Florida I was closer to a “collapse” than I wanted to admit … or understand at first. I wasn’t much better after a second week and Clint insisted on taking me to town to the Clinic. It was walking pneumonia. A nasty type that required heavy doses of expensive antibiotics. I became depressed at the cost, Clint and I almost had another argument about it, and that’s when Aunt Daffy stepped in and made the quiet suggestion that a counselor might be in order. Not just for me but for Clint, for our relationship. She recommended a man that pastored a local church that she’d heard good things about. We managed to barter his services by allowing his family and congregants to join the cooperative garden the Estate was growing in a fallow field not far from Aunt Daffy’s compound.

For whatever reason, perhaps providence, both Clint and I liked the man immediately and found we could talk to him both alone and as a couple with no hesitation. He didn’t preach at us and the examples he used of married couples working together, both in the Bible and other more non-traditional resources, helped us to shed some of the last of our personal stereotypes which in turn made room for us to build our own ideas of what we wanted and expected of a marriage partner. Just as importantly we worked on what we expected of ourselves when it came to being a marriage partner. Both Clint and I were amazed at just how practical the man was in his counseling. Yes, he did raise Biblical topics and cited Biblical scripture, but it was all in conjunction with things that affected us today and not just historical practices that were difficult to impossible to completely impose on ourselves in today’s world. Especially in today’s world.

The banks have reopened but it is only recently that the withdrawal limits have been lifted. There are a lot of new restrictions in place, but few are complaining since they are more grateful than not just to have the other restriction removed. Martial law has come to an end but there are groups pushing through a new, much stricter application of the National ID laws that will extend what is already temporarily in place. Every facet of life seems to have been affected by the blasted “jihad.” If that was their goal they won the battle … but they haven’t won the war they’ve tried to start. Turnabout is fair play as some have said, and they’ve basically made it much harder on their own country and people as every time a religious figure backs the “jihad,” that country is given a week to recant or they lose all funding from the US and the immigrants in this country from that country are put on a fast track for deportation. Judges and lawyers who tried to fight that order were summarily dismissed by the military tribunals that were instituted during federal martial law. There was rampant shock in the legal and activist communities until some people started “kindly” explaining the realities.

There was a lot of the “jackbooted thugs” talk bandied about but people learned – sometimes the hard way – to keep it to a minimum. Protests were still allowed (First Amendment) but they were orderly and non-violent … or else. Surprisingly or not, more was accomplished by those types of protests than the ones that tried to get out of hand. And weren’t some West Coast celebrities surprised when there was no revolving door upon their arrests at various events, and furthermore zero sympathy from the masses who were dealing with their own crapstorm and didn’t have time to feel sorry for their entitled, show-off antics. More than a few were shocked at just how heavy the fines were being levied against them in lieu of jail time … assuming that offer was made. And celebri-butts as Carra and Lindy occasionally called them better hope their taxes (both state and federal) were paid up at their time of arrest or they quickly found themselves losing assets for their bad debts.

I kept my opinion to myself on most days … Clint not so much. At least not on the Estate. He mostly agreed with the hardline approach being taken concerning the jihadis but didn’t agree with everything that was taking place. Some of that was political and some of it was simply anything can be taken too far and there were some at the time that became a little overenthusiastic with their expression of the authority that had been invested in them. Things are better now but I wonder if they will ever be quite what they were before.

Certainly terrorist attacks continue to happen, but only on very small scale and monthly rather than daily. There is so much suspicion now directed towards those of that religious persuasion that more now leave the country than enter it. Or they are caught betwixt and between having gotten used to the freedom they found in this country and not wanting to give it up, but not wanting to fully give up their affiliation and identity with the country they moved here to escape.

All the financial incentives for immigration have been summarily removed. Unless you are a US citizen – born of citizen parents or naturalized at least five years – you will not receive any entitlements. The issue of “anchor babies” are now nul and void as of April 1st. No such title now exists. If you are born in this country of immigrant parents who have not naturalized then you are also just an immigrant that will have to choose whether or not the gain your citizenship as an adult. For several hours people thought it was an April Fool’s Joke. It wasn’t. The government is not preventing private charities from assisting immigrants, but all such assistance must be reported to a federal clearinghouse and be attached to a valid greencard and/or social security number. Charities that do not do this will (not may) immediately lose their non-profit status and will be taxed accordingly. A few were even raided for their records and widespread arrests of members of Boards of Directors were made for failing to follow the new laws. Some churches even lost their non-profit status shocking certain communities. When they say they do not want cash awards going to people without any accountability, they mean it with a sharp and pointy exclamation mark. As a result, a lot of churches have stopped utility assistance and scholarship funds. It is hurting some people that weren’t in the target populations, but I suspect that was in the works even before the world had its latest nervous breakdown.

And how did it go from just being our country to being the world? As I said, you either recanted the jihad or you lost assistance coming from the US. That didn’t only mean federal dollars in assistance. It meant that all money transfers originating in the US were stopped, even from private individuals as well as banking transactions to private individuals and businesses. One of the unintended consequences of that were that missionaries and missionary groups felt the pinch, but then again many Christian missionaries were pulled out of countries supporting the jihad, especially after groups thought it meant open season on any missionaries that weren’t of their religion. In addition to financial assistance, the US cut off agriculture contracts and trade agreements were hosed. A lot of people called this inhumane but that more than anything seems to have created the desired affect. Most countries are much less inclined to host people and groups that threaten the US. Unfortunately the mandates have caused some economic hardships in this country as well.

Thank goodness Cody Clark is on our side. Between him and Beech, Roe, Lacey, and a few other staff members the Haines family will weather all the storms; those that have passed and the storms still brewing on the horizon. The talk of war has calmed down quite a bit. Especially when a certain General told the UN General Assembly they could pound sand and if they tried to send troops on our soil he’d have bulldozers on hand so fast and fierce it would look like the National Headquarters had never existed and they could find some other country to pay the bills so they could sit around throwing hissy fits like two-year-olds from there on out. He put a period on that proclamation by turning off the water and electric for nonpayment of services and started deporting certain members of foreign staff that seemed to use their diplomatic immunity as an excuse for massive asshattery. People entering and leaving the UN property and attached embassies are now also required to go through a TSA-like experience each time and have a specific day-pass to even go out and buy a bottle of water. Emphasis on “day” as there is a curfew in much of NYC that precludes any nighttime activities for all but the most official necessities. The mayor made threats … until pictures of his son having dinner with several unfriendly to the US nationals made it into the hands of the news media. The governor never made a peep on recommendation from his personal legal representative … his daughter and wife were also identified in those pictures.

The news was rife with rude commentary on that until editors and broadcast company bigwigs started being interviewed and put on notice. Anti-government commentary and editorials were allowed … incitement would get people cut off at the ankles withing 24-hours or less. Trust me, word got around. And the social media monopolies have also been busted apart. It happened so quickly you know this had been discussed in several back rooms for some time.

Like I said, some of it has eased and is supposed to ease some more by the end of the year, but only if the threats and attacks ease. And the attacks aren’t just happening in the big cities. A span of the Blueridge Parkway was sabotaged killing and injuring several people during Spring Break. When that happened Clint did his own line hardening and if you leave the Estate you better have a good reason and be back within fifteen minutes of the time you say you’ll be back or he’ll send out the troops and you better be laying bloody on the side of the road and not simply goofing around and losing track of time. He fired six seasonal staff people after such a stunt and told them they could find their own way home … and not bother coming back … ever, not even as a guest. They’d all signed the new ironclad contracts he and Reave had written and implemented whether the Aunts had completely been comfortable with them or not.

Groceries – those we can’t produce ourselves – now come by way of bulk purchases delivered to the campground side of the Estate. The shortages and backorder lists grow longer every day and by necessity other members of the family have had to learn to make do with staple ingredients, as many as possible from local sources. That went over like a lead balloon at first, but it worked out. Clint had required every family group to participate, he offered the Staff the same deal. They put in so much per person per month and they’d get it back at the end of the month in shares from whatever deal he could broker. Those families who refused to participate would have to go out and acquire everything on their own, no more charging anything to the Estate. The ones that tried to do it on their own quickly changed their tune. People were still free to acquire specialty items on their own but most “specialty items” are hard to come by these days as the pipeline has emptied and new items are not being imported from hostile entities.

A Sunday at the end of February it was Clint’s turn to host a family get together of Board Members and their immediate families. There was nearly a fight when the accusations started flying that he wasn’t following the same Draconian rules he was setting for everyone else.

“What the hell are you all talking about?” Clint snarled at those making the most noise.

“You’ve got gourmet coffee and tea. And this isn’t salt and pepper on this fish. And you ain’t give up your cheese and that’s a fact!”

I nearly dropped the pan of homemade rolls I’d brought from the kitchen. Uncle Vern took one look at my face and smiled mischievously asked, “How’d you pull this one off Little Gal?”

I looked at Clint and he said, “Go on and tell ‘em. It’s not like I’ve had time to hear about what in the hell all that mess is you’ve been doing.” The previous day hadn’t been a particularly good one and he had a foul headache that turned into a foul mouth.

Stuck with everyone staring at me I stuttered through an explanation. “Um … that’s not coffee. Or not all coffee. It’s a mix of chicory and dandelion with some Café’ Bustello mixed in to give it a little kick. The tea is a mixture of lemon verbena and chamomile Lacey and I grew last summer. And … er … that’s just … just homemade birch syrup some of your kids helped to harvest and boil just last week during pioneer week at the Estate School. Uh … the … the cheese is queso blanco I made from powdered milk.” Then in a short burst of panic after looking at Clint’s face I all but begged them, “And please don’t bring up the cheese thing. I’m running low on block Velveeta and Clint will probably have to do without pimento cheese spread sooner rather than later and he’s grieving a bit.”

Clint growled, “Damn right I am so nobody better push me on it.”

I was forced to prove my words and the discussion that ensued lasted through the meal and for several hours afterwards. Did Clint and I convince everyone to follow our lifestyle choice? I couldn’t say yes with a straight face if my life depended on it. We did get a few to think, and few more to do more than think and make some changes, but it was another month before there was true capitulation on the issue of how groceries were ordered and used in individual households.

And now I’m Mrs. Clint Haines with a piece of official paper with a raised seal to prove it. And maybe … maybe some time next year there will be a little someone that will grow up to call me Mom. Clint and I aren’t going to bother with birth control like he’d thought about back when I’d first started helping him along this planning journey. As he said, if we waited for the perfect time to try and have a family it would never arrive. The world is too bent on self-destruction for anything to ever be perfect. But so long as we can be responsible parents and provide life’s necessities without having to first take them from other people, there can be a right time. And as the Aunts have said, neither one of us is getting any younger.

 

[Kathy in FL]

Chapter 81 (Part 2)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

(seven months later)

“Clint! Clint! Oh my Lord, are you okay?!”

The doctor called for a nurse to help her get Clint off the floor and into a chair.

He finally stutters, “There’s … three? There’s three of them?!”

I’m in my own bit of shock. The fertility drugs worked … fast … and well they worked fast and did what they were supposed to. And a little more besides.

The doctor said, “I did warn you there was a chance of multiples when the fertility specialist recommended assisted reproduction technology.”

“Yeah … twins … since they’ve shown up a few times in the family tree. But this sure as hell isn’t twins! There’s three of them!!”

Worried I looked at him. “Clint? Are … are you …?”

“What the hell Sweetheart?! The Hen Club is never going to let me live this down. What am I talking about? Carra will never let either one of us live this down.” He groaned and started to list to the side but suddenly shot up and yelped, “My gawd … the grocery bills!”

I didn’t know whether to giggle or cry. This appointment wasn’t going anything like I expected. We’d come in to get the results of some blood work only for me to be told to hop up on the table and let the nurse do a sonogram. I was scared that they’d found another cyst … or two … like they’d found not long after we’d gotten married and my periods had become irregular … we thought it was happening again and we were both worried. Instead the nurse calls in the doctor and after reviewing the screen she turned to say, “Congratulations. In about five months you’ll be the proud parents of triplets.” Clint’s knees had buckled and he’d hit the floor.

Then the real panic set in for Clint. “What about my wife? Is … is she okay?”

“Yes. And we’ll keep her that way by following some instructions I’m going to give you. The first of which is to stop at the pharmacy down the street and get a big bottle of prenatal vitamins and start taking them.”

As my own shock slowly set in Clint’s seemed to abate and he was making notes fast and furiously and asking about books he should read. We finally left the office loaded down with a welcome to being pregnant gift bag that Clint was already reading the contents of and making notes on.

When he started eyeing me like a heifer on the auction block I asked, “What?”

“I’m wondering how long we can hide this from Carra and the Hen Club.”

“Hide it? You … you don’t want the family to know?”

“Of course I do … just not right this second. Not until we get a few things hammered out.”

“Like … like what?”

“Like a plan for enlarging the garden. Getting one of those washers from over at the dorms … the ones that do industrial sized loads. And we’re not letting the Hens name our kids so we need to come up with some options to head them off. You’re going to need stuff and … and my gawd … we’re going to need three of everything. Woman we have some planning to do.”

And then I saw it. The look on his face. The big goof was enjoying this. He was excited. And in his element now that he had a goal to reach.

“Oh Clint,” I was finally able to laugh. “I do love you.”

“I love you too Sweetheart. To the moon and back. What do you think the Hens will say if we name the kids Huey, Dewey, and Louie?”

“Stop worrying what your aunts will think and start worrying what I’ll think if you even pretend to be serious about those names.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right. Especially since two of them are girls.” Then he blinked. “I’m going to be outnumbered to perpetuity.”

“You know you love it.”

“Yeah … yeah I do,” he said with a huge grin. “Let’s celebrate over grilled cheese sammiches. These papers say you are going to need to up your calcium and cheese is high on the list to do that. I love you being pregnant already.”

I have a feeling I’m going to be hearing what’s in those papers well into the night and over the next five months. Life is about to get a whole lot more interesting at the Big House. Happily ever after to us.

 

[Kathy in FL]

The End.

Sorry about it taking so long to get this pasted over here. I honestly thought I had. Sigh. Teach me to assume.

 

[seraphima]

Thank you. good to have more of your stories here, as they are an essential sanity prep for many of us.

 

[Lake Lili]

Thanks Kathy!

 

[ydderf]

Thanks Kathy. I'm a bit sad I was expecting another 50 or 60 chapters.

 

[Siskiyoumom]

Congratulations! So glad you checked on the story.
Thank you Kathy.

 

[john70]

GREAT, JUST GREAT

 

[Kiwibutterfly]

Wonderful story, well....all.... of them are!!!... Thanks so much

 

[teedee]

I just finished this for the third time. I had not remembered that this was the first one you wrote after your 2 year hiatus. You dear lady are an absolute treasure! Thank you!
You know that the author is talented when you know the destination but the journey is still enjoyable.