Vermont Roots

Vermont Roots

happyhugo

Copyright 07/07/2020

59004 words

Romance

A Brattleboro Story

 Readers score  7.02

The names of Rider, Eaton, and Lewis have been in Vermont since its beginning. Never famous or notable, just people who lived, loved and died there. Vermont, once a country before becoming the 14^th state and it is something to be proud of. I know for I am a Vermonter for all my many years

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Chapter One

 

 

Linda 22, started it all, this story I’m about to relate. She hitched-hiked from New Jersey to Brattleboro, Vermont and was heading for Arlington on the other side of the state to live with her Grandmother. Her roots were here though, long before she was born. That was because Linda was born in New Jersey of parents from Vermont. Some people move away, but then their roots stir and call for them to come home. That’s it… Vermont is home.

I, Stanley Rider, was headed up Route 9 out of West Brattleboro, Vermont to buy a sandwich at the Subway shop. Across from the Dollar General store where I worked, a woman darted through traffic in front of me. I had to slam on my brakes, which kind of pissed me off. She was easy to see because of the backpack she wore. It was of a distinctive color. She went into the woods and started up the bank. I was going to shout at her, but knew it would have been a futile effort.

I had errands to do and it was two hours later before I reached home on Carriage Hill Rd. I had purchased a water hose at the hardware store for an outside water faucet. When I came around the rear of the house, there was a backpack on the ground under the bedroom window. The window was open and not difficult to get through. The cellar bulkhead was directly under the window and if the window were open, a person would have no trouble reaching it and climbing in.

I knew there was someone in my house and I knew it was the woman who had crossed the road in front of me earlier. The backpack was a bright neon green color with red trappings. I had seen one like it only a couple of hours earlier. I picked the pack up and carried it inside by entering the house from the breezeway. I doubted the woman inside would be armed. She hadn’t looked the type, although she was moving fast across the road.

There weren’t many places for someone to hide inside the house and I knew she would have to show herself soon. I laid the backpack on the table and opened it. Just then my cat rubbed against my leg and went back through the living room into the bedroom I used as a computer room and office.

There wasn’t much in the pack but a pair of jeans and two tops. There was some grungy underwear, one snickers bar, a comb, and a decent pair of shoes. It also contained one small blanket. There was a clutch purse and I didn’t hesitate to open it. In it there was a New Jersey vehicle license with a picture of a young woman by the name of Linda Lewis, age 22. The change purse held 47 cents and three folded one dollar bills. There were a couple of letters from her grandmother in there too.

I left all this on a chair beside the table and went about fixing something to eat. The sandwich I had purchased wouldn’t feed the two of us so I put it into the fridge. I didn’t leave the kitchen, just going about preparing a meal. I put potatoes with skins on to boil, took a steam-pack of broccoli and a pack of frozen strawberries out of the freezer at the same time.

I grabbed two big pork chops, dusting them with salt, pepper, and flour. I browned them and they began to cook. I turned the heat up high so the fat would try out to flavor the gravy and still leave the chops tender. I’d mix the drippings with mushroom soup.

Twenty-five minutes later the potatoes were done and I had the chops out of the fry pan, making a flour-gravy from the fat and brown residue stuck to the bottom. It flavored the mushroom soup just the way I liked it. I set the table for two. I filled a pitcher with water and two glasses. Now it was time to see what my guest looked like. I knew the woman trapped in the front bedroom closet was worried how she would get out of the house without being discovered.

I shouted, “Linda, dinner is ready. Bring Porky and let’s eat.” My back was to the living room when I heard Porky, my cat, jump down and yowl. Apparently he had found a new friend. I knew this because always when I came home he would meet me at the door. Today he didn’t so he had to be in someone’s arms. He was the most sociable animal I had ever come into contact with. He loved everyone, stranger or friend.

The first words from this unknown woman were, “Stanley Rider, what right do you have to paw through my personal things?” Linda had poked around enough to know my name. Well, I knew hers after doing some pawing around of my own.

“I consider I have license for whatever when I find someone breaking into my home. I notice my change jar sitting right beside some of your personal items stacked on the table. It was hidden in a drawer when I left earlier. Eat and we’ll talk later.” Linda’s eyes went to the food on the table. I almost expected her to drool.

 Her comment, “That fat gravy is deadly.”

“Maybe, but my Grandpa was eighty-two when he died. He ate it three or more times a week all his life. Don’t eat it if you think it will kill you.” I went about preparing my plate, making sure I left more than half the gravy for her to pour over her potato and chop. The gravy bowl was soon empty. I ate faster than she and when I stacked my plate in the sink, she was still savoring what was still on her plate.

“I’ll make a smoothie with the strawberries while you’re finishing. Save Porky a bite. My donation is on my napkin. Put it in his dish while I’m doing this.”

When Linda rose from the table, I took a good look at her. She was wearing cargo pants and a sweat shirt. Pretty damned trim, especially when she bent over to feed Porky. I knew her bra size from looking in her pack. Nothing exceptional, but adequate.

The strawberries were picked and bagged with sugar and frozen less than hour from the field, trapping in the freshness. I knew this for a fact because it was me who did the picking and processing. The berries were now only half thawed. I added milk and some instant vanilla pudding mix when it all went into the blender. I spooned the smoothie from the blender into tall glasses. It was stiff from being still half frozen.

Just as she took the last spoonful of strawberries, she asked, “Are you going to let me go?”

“Nope. Breaking and entering is a crime. You should go to jail.”

“Not for the first offense, I won’t. That only calls for a fine if I plead guilty and say I regret it and won’t do it again. Save yourself the hassle of going to court.”

“You know the court system pretty well.”

“I do. My father is in prison for breaking and entering, burglary, and resisting arrest, which he didn’t do. My Mom is a working prostitute and is in and out of jail. I know the system all too well.”

“I’m thinking they taught you well and here you are following in their footsteps.”

“No, please don’t think that. This is the first time I ever did anything like this. Honest.”

“So you say. Why then?”

“Hungry, I guess. I was saving my money for my last meal before I was totally busted. It wouldn’t have been much of a lunch either. Christ, you just fed me a twenty dollar meal. I haven’t had a meal like that since before I went on the road heading for Vermont.”

“I guess I had better hear your story before I call the cops. At least you will go into a cell with a full tummy.”

“You wouldn’t do that to me, would you?”

“We’ll see. How is your grandmother going to feel about you being in jail? Will she back you up and pay your fine and go your bail?”

“Oh, you read her letters didn’t you? She won’t know. She has been terribly disappointed in my mother so I won’t tell her and you had better not either. I know you read her letters to me so you know where she lives. Please don’t contact her.”

I ignored her entreaty. “So tell me about yourself?”

“You know most of my problems already about my father and mother. I’ve tried to be a good person and mostly succeeded. Breaking in here was an act of desperation. I was just going to rest in the woods, but then I figured no one would spot me if I broke into some house from their back yards. I tried to enter one when I came out of the woods, but it was locked up tight. Then I saw your window open a crack so I came in.

“Stanley, you aren’t much of a prize either. You have no money, just a pile of bills. You don’t have much furniture in any of your rooms. One bedroom is empty and the other two just have a mattress on the floor. There is no living room furniture except a sideboard and a recliner to sit on. The kitchen has a table and two chairs. The closet I hid in just has a blanket for the cat to lie on. God, I didn’t see him at first and how he made me jump when he rubbed up against my leg?”

“You aren’t telling me much about yourself.”

“I know, but there isn’t much to tell. I mostly brought myself up since I was fourteen. I worked whenever I could find something to do. You know, baby-sitting and stuff until I got older. I lost the last two jobs in factories I’ve worked in and that is within the last six months. Both, because they downsized. I wasn’t warned it could happen when hired that they might. I could find other kinds of jobs, but men want more than I’m willing to give.”

“So, if I said I could have your body and not call the cops, you’d agree?”

“No way! Call the police. I’m not selling myself. My mother does and see where she is? I did fib a little. Mother has never been in jail and Dad never resisted arrest.

“Let me be clear about you? You’d rather spend a few days in a cell than have someone make love to you?”

“That’s what I’m saying. Maybe if it was love I’d do it in a minute, but what you are suggesting isn’t love.”

“I’ll concede that point and I will agree.”

“Stanley, are you working? I found your bank and check books, but you’re almost as tapped out as I am.”

“I am about on the edge, but my prospects are better than yours. I have a job as manager of that Dollar General Store right near where you ran across the road in front of me. Remember the car making a guy slam on his breaks to keep from hitting you?”

“That was you? Hell, you weren’t even close to hitting me. You’ve never lived in the city have you? I’m pretty adept at dodging across traffic.”

“That was me. Tell me where you were heading for? That is if I don’t turn you into the police?”

“I guess I had better stop and look for work. I have promised I would live with my grandmother this winter. She lives in some town up state called Arlington. Do you know where that is?”

“I’ve been through the town.”

“So, are you calling the cops on me?”

“I’m thinking. Don’t push me.”

“You’re not calling the police are you? Oh, I’ll love you forever if you don’t.”

“What are you going to do if I don’t? You’re more broke than I am. This house needs some work I know. You could help with that. To be honest, I’ve just moved here and am not fully moved in yet. Being a store manager isn’t the best paying job either.”

“Stanley, I’d pay rent for one room if I can find work. I’d help you get settled when your furnishings come.”

“Could I trust you? I mean after all …”

“I know, but I promise to never do you another wrong. Can I work where you do?”

“No you can’t. I’m not allowed to hire relatives and you’re a distant cousin living at the same address. But I will give you a good reference if I’m called on. There are several places that serve food and two or three gas stations nearby. There are a couple of other businesses that might hire you for a clerk or saleslady. They are close enough to ride or walk to if that is your thing. Come to think of it, there is a bicycle in the garage you can use.”

“Oh, I get it I’m your pretend cousin. You’ve got it all figured out, have you? So I’m your cousin and I guess I can live with that.”

“Yeah, I figured it out after I went through your backpack.”

“You mean you were never going to call the police?”

“Nope. I don’t believe in kicking someone when they are down. Let’s go find something presentable for you to go job hunting in tomorrow. Your shoes will work, but that’s about all.”

“How am I going to pay for anything new?”

“I have a card. You didn’t find out everything about me. Besides I need your rent money. You can pay me back a little at a time for what I’ll advance you. I expect you to do some cooking too. There is another larger freezer in the cellar that is full of food so we won’t starve for awhile. You aren’t just renting a room, you’re my new housemate.

“Can I take a shower? I want to be clean if I’m trying on clothes.”

“Be my guest. Oops, you already are aren’t you?”

“Can I have one of those robes to wear I saw hanging in your closet?”

“Geezus, did you poke into everything?”

“Sure did. I was looking for money and my dad knows all the places people hide cash. I didn’t find any except your change jar. Is there a lock on my door?”

“Nope, no need for one. If your door is closed, I won’t enter. I would ask for the same consideration.”

“You have it. I’m going to rinse out a couple of things in the bathroom. Would you dry them for me in the dryer while I’m taking a shower?”

“Can do.” Linda snatched her clothes off the chair and went down to the bedroom where she had come through the window. She went into my room and got the robe out of my closet. I saw her next with it on when she brought out her underwear all balled up for me to put into the dryer. Her face was a little flushed. I guess if you are a young woman and handed your intimates to a strange man, you might be a little embarrassed.

Linda had rinsed out her delicates and when they were dry I folded them and took them down to the door of her room and laid them on a towel at the entrance.  She almost immediately came out of the bathroom drying her hair. “Oh you could have put them in the room. You knew I wasn’t in there.”

“Door was closed.”

She stared at me. “What you are telling me is that I can trust you, aren’t you?”

“That’s about it.”

“Thanks, I do trust you.” A few minutes later she came out fully dressed. She was wearing her jeans and one of the tops that I had found in her backpack. Her good shoes were on, too. She looked nice except for her wrinkled top.

“Where are you taking me?”

“We’ll start at the store I manage. Be selective by buying just things you will wear. I’ll wait out here.” I dug out my wallet and handed Linda a $100 bill.

“No, you come with me. Your workers need to know you have a cousin living with you.” Linda smiled as she said this, keeping up the farce of her being a cousin of mine.

I went inside and there were only three clerks scheduled. I said hi and stopped to talk. Kate, my oldest clerk asked after seeing me talking with Linda, “Did that young woman come in with you?”

“Yeah, she is a distant cousin of mine. She will be with me for the summer.”

“She’s pretty.”

“Pretty women and handsome men run in the family. Well all except for me, of course.”

“You’re handsome enough. You’re too young for me, though. Sammy thinks you are a good catch. Watch out Stanley, or she will have you in her bed.”

“That will never happen just because of company policy. No fraternizing among the help. Besides I’m a divorced man and gun shy.”

“Policy won’t stop Sammy and she will think being divorced will make it easier to catch you. I don’t know whether she thinks you are handsome or not, but she has stated she would like to be involved in your life. Maybe it is because you earn more than she.”

“This manager won’t be getting into bed with anyone. As far as my salary is concerned, I’ll bet mine isn’t that much more than she makes.” I circled around the store. The aisles were hard to get through with the carts loaded with goods were waiting to be stocked on the shelves. We didn’t have enough area for storage and we were always dodging the loaded carts. Everyone was working as fast today as they could and I was satisfied.

Linda found most of what she needed and the items were as reasonable as Walmart. I asked, “How are you doing?”

“Fine, I think. Good enough for now. My size and shape is about average so unless things are out of stock I can find what I need in about any clothing store.”

“Did you buy a sweater or jacket? It can be cold here in Vermont in May.”

“I bought a hoodie. There was several times lately when I felt I was freezing to death.” 

“Guess you have it covered. I have to stop at the hardware store for a key. That way you can come in through a door and not have to crawl through the window.” Linda giggled.

I came out of Leader Home Center and handed Linda two keys, one for each door. “There is a spare key in the garage and I’ll show you where it is in case you forget or lose yours.”

“You really do trust me don’t you?”

“The world would be a sad place without trust. I know that for sure. When you put your trust in someone, it hurts if it isn’t there. But then, I guess I lean more to believing in someone until the trust is destroyed.”

“How old are you, Stanley?”

“Twenty-seven.”

“You haven’t told me much about yourself. I didn’t find out too much when I was searching your things looking for money either. Recap your life if you would. Curiosity, you know.”

“Okay, I can do that. I grew up in a small town in the middle of the state. I graduated from Manchester High School nine years ago. I went to the University of Vermont, majoring in business. I was not an exceptional student, but did a little better than average. I met and married a woman named Bonny Dinsmore from St Johnsbury just before graduation.

“Then I went to work for United Parcel Service as an intern so I could move into management someday. Two years later Bonny left me for another man who had better prospects.

“I got drunk, lost my position with UPS, and stayed that way for most of three months. My father straightened me out, but sad to say he didn’t live very long after that. I made a promise to him before he died to straighten up and it made me decide I had better reorganize my life. I took care of my mother Susan, ’till a year later when she went out to California to live with my sister, Betty. I’ve just turned twenty-seven a couple of weeks ago. What else do you want to know?”

“Tell me about your wife?”

“Ex-wife. We did all right the first year we were married, but she wanted to carry on like she was still in college. I was putting in long days and this gave her a chance to be out with her friends. Some of them were wild and then she met some rich guy. I guess I came out of the divorce fairly well. She settled for a third of our assets and I didn’t get hit with alimony.

“If I hadn’t drunk up a lot of what assets I was left with, I would be in good shape now. I’m just trying to rebuild my life. Needless to say, I’m starting near the bottom. Being manager of this store isn’t that outstanding, but I’m making the most of it. It really is a good company and their outlets are spread all over the country. They never will be another Walmart and truth to tell, I think that is a good thing.”

“Did you ever think about having children?”

“Of course.  It will be sometime in the future, though.”

“I take it you aren’t soured on married life?”

“Nope, but I’ll look more carefully at the next woman I fall for before I commit, you can be assured of that.”

“Wow, that really was a recap of your life. You don’t seem bitter about what has happened to you.”

“I’m not. Most of the pain I had I could have avoided if I had been smart and thought things through. That is except for losing my father when I did. I saw I was wasting my life and looked to my father. His choice had already been made for him and no one could do anything about that. A person looks to his parents for values. I think I can say I received some good values from mine.”

“I can’t say that.” 

“You have a grandmother. From what I read in the letters she has some great values, so you aren’t entirely left without someone to model your life on.”

“That’s true. Maybe you can meet her someday.”

“I’d like to. So, you think you would like to stay with me for awhile. We can look around the village and I’ll show you what there is here for work prospects.”

“Would you? I’m in your debt and I have to pay you some way.”

“I guess I could forget that you owe me. You can move on and I wouldn’t say anything.”

“No, it is a dept and I should pay.”

“Okay, I’ll take you up to the edge of the village. There are some farms beyond there. That’s difficult work and I can’t imagine you doing chores. I’ll turn around at the veterinary clinic. They are always busy. That would be good if you like dealing with small animals.”

I turned around in the parking area and pointed out a sugar house next door. “This is mostly seasonal. They sell donuts and maple syrup. I’ve never been inside so don’t know much about it. They do make syrup in season.”

“What is maple syrup?”

“In the spring, maple trees produce sap and if you drill a hole and put a spigot in the tree the sap will run out. You collect it and boil it down until it becomes syrup. I have some at home and we can have pancakes tomorrow morning. Next spring, we’ll visit a sugaring operation and you can learn all about it.”

“I don’t believe I’ll be with you next spring. I’m going to live with my grandmother during the winter.”

“True, but we might become friends and Arlington isn’t that far away. Sugaring happens all over Vermont.”

“I don’t have many friends and I’ll look forward to seeing you.”

“Good. Next, we come to a greenhouse and florist, but again that is seasonal. I’ll buy flowers for my yard there. They have a nice selection and his plants are sturdy. When we get down around the corner, you will see the Chelsea Royal Diner. They do a good business. The diner once was named the Royal Diner and was originally down on Main Street in the center of town. Many years ago, it was moved up here when a bank bought the Main Street property. It is an iconic landmark.

“Across the road is some low income housing. I believe much of it is subsidized. There might be openings in the office or in maintenance. Next is a tool rental store where they rent out small tools, construction and gardening equipment. They also rent out tables and chairs for parties etc. They fill propane tanks for grilling.

“There is the state police unit and then you can see cement ornaments next. I’ve never traded there. I have no idea how well they do. Next there is the filling station. The Subway franchise and convenience store is inside. The Duncan Doughnut franchise has a bakery owned by the same outfit. Across the road is the Cumberland Farms filling station and convenience store.  Sleepy Bed and Mattress is next. Back across the road, you see Dutton’s farm stand and bakery.

“Then there is the New England House, a fine restaurant. I’ve eaten there. Not bad. That is enough for you to remember for now. You know if you don’t find something you like and aren’t hired, there is a dozen and more places going back toward town. There are offices of lawyers, insurance, doctors, and dentists. To eat, there is a pizza parlor and an Asian restaurant. Someone will be hiring.

“I’ll give you a reference, but I’ll have to state that you are a family member. You’ll be trading on my position as manager of a local store. I’m sure you have a work history they could check. I have the feeling that there isn’t anything in it to cause them to turn you down if they find you qualified.”

“I wonder why you have faith in me, but I’ll accept it. I’m sure I can find a job now that I am presentable. Stanley, do you have more bedding for the mattress?”

“There is a blanket chest with bedding and stuff in the cellar. The sheets and blankets may be too big. I think your mattress is a full size and all my wife and I had were queen size beds.”

“That’s better than the other way. I know I will be comfortable. I was in the woods last night beside the road. I think the place was called Bernardston in Massachusetts. I got a ride first thing this morning. Some old lady picked me up. She was really nice.”

“You were lucky. People don’t pick up hitchhikers much anymore.”

“I’ve found that out. Stanley, would you give me the details about your ex-wife and your breakup?”

“Not much to tell. We lived in Burlington renting an apartment. Bonny was recruited by a law firm about the same time I went as an intern for management with UPS. She had plenty of time in the evenings where I didn’t. Her hours were nine to four-thirty. The drivers for UPS work long hours and I was basically learning the business so my hours were determined by where I was needed. Being a gopher comes to mind.

“I don’t know anything about the person who seduced her. I say seduce, but it might have been the other way. I came home at 10:30 one night and found a note. It just said she had found someone who would make her happier than I ever could.

“So I got drunk and stayed that way. Three days later I received the papers suing me for divorce. They were made out by one of the lawyers where Bonny worked. I went charging over there to confront the guy. He wasn’t one of the lawyers that worked with her. It turned out he was a brother to one of the partners she married. I never met him and I never saw Bonny again either. 

“I was a mess and my father lined me up a lawyer. My attorney looked over what Bonny would settle for and he advised me to grab it. I figured if I settled, I would be able to pay her off and still have money to stay drunk for a long, long time. That was the plan until my father stepped in and tongue-whipped me. He made me promise that I would never take another drink as long as he was alive.

“Unfortunately he didn’t live very long and even though his death happened suddenly. I have never taken another drink. I made him a promise and as long as I stay sober, I know I can keep the memory of him with me. I’m afraid if I took just one drink I would go crazy. Now, not breaking the promise is what brought me out of those days and keeping it now is just as important.”

“So what happened to your ex-wife?”

“I have no idea. My lawyer said she was living in Pennsylvania. There was an address on record when the final papers were delivered by the court. He checked.”

“Weren’t you ever curious about her?”

“Nope. I can say I didn’t dwell on her, but I suppose I did. My father said to put her out of my mind or I would be dragged back into alcoholism. Anything he said that would help keep my promise to him was worth listening to, so I did.”

“You loved your father didn’t you?”

“Yes. I hadn’t for a long time, but I needed him and he came through. I had never shown him much respect because he was older and I knew everything until I found out he knew more than me. He was more of a grandfather to me and his life had been hard. We had different values because of the age difference. That changed when I finally sobered up. There isn’t a person that I respect more now than I did him. Even now, I pause and wonder when I have to make a decision if he would approve. I live by that now.”

“Is that why you are so kind to me?”

“Nope.”

“Why, then?”

“Can’t tell you yet, but I will someday.”

——————————

Linda said she wanted to try out my bike. It was top of the line and she had ridden one a lot. “I’m going to ride up to that diner and get a creamee. That will give me an idea how long it takes me to get there and how long it will take me to get up the hill after I come off the main road.”

“That’s Route Nine. There is a bike lane most of the way.”

“I’ll be home soon.” She stopped and looked at me. “You know, I’ve never had a home where I want to come back to it like I do this one. I’m not sorry I broke in and you caught me. You won’t regret it either.” I watched her hit the street and away she flew.

I hurried into the phone and dialed a number in Arlington, Vermont for one Mildred Eaton. The phone was answered by a woman. “Aunt Mildred, this is Stanley.”

“Stanley, I was thinking about you the other day and wondered what had happened to you. You dropped off the face of the earth when your mother moved out west. How are you?”

“I’m fine. I have a decent job and making my way up after I went wrong. I’m living down in Brattleboro and managing a store. I’ve just moved into a small modular.”

“That’s nice. You’ll be getting some of your mother’s furnishings then. They are still in the barn. Those you didn’t cover are pretty dusty, but they are dry and can be cleaned up.”

We spent more than a half hour talking about people we both knew. I had to tell her about my sister and how well my mother was dealing with living in a place other than Vermont. Our ancestors in mother’s family went back to Ira Allen.

Mildred asked, “So, you’re living all alone now?”

“I was up until today, but then I’ve taken on a housemate. She is a woman without a stable home. I’ve been telling her we are distant cousins, just for propriety’s sake.”

“How did you come up with that idea?”

“Because she really is a distant cousin. One I never knew I had.”

“What’s her name?”

“Linda.”

“Is her name Linda Lewis? I’ve given up on my daughter, but I’ve been writing to Linda. She owes me a letter and I’ve invited her to live with me.”

“You hit it. She is your granddaughter. She was headed for you, but stopped off here and needs some money to continue on. She’ll write, but you may see her before she does. I’ll bring her up to see you as soon as I can.”

“I can hardly wait to see her.”

“I know, I read your last letter to her. That’s how I discovered that she was related to me. This has to be a coincidence that I grew up near you and mowed your lawn for several years. Aunt Mildred, I’d like to keep up what she thinks is the farce of being her distant cousin. When we meet, I want a big hug from you when I call you Aunty. I really would like her to stay with me for the summer and get to know her. After all she is family.”

“Has she told you about her mother and father? You never knew them because Wendy ran off when she was seventeen. Too damned headstrong and I couldn’t do anything with her.”

“She told me some, just enough to say that her home life hasn’t been that great.”

“I’ve only seen Linda a few times when she was a youngster and I know she has had a miserable life. I don’t think there is any hope for Wendy and I’ve given up on her so now I’m going to focus on Linda.”

“Linda hasn’t said very much about Wendy and her father. I’m glad you’re going to focus on her. She is going out tomorrow looking for work. She thinks she owes me a favor, but I told her she doesn’t owe me anything. I’m going to suggest that she call you and I’d like it if you didn’t tell her that your mother and my great-grandmother were sisters.” Mildred giggled and assured me she wouldn’t let on.

 “Okay, Aunt Mildred, I’ll be seeing you soon.”

“Love you.”

“Stanley, before you hang up, Linda isn’t any trouble is she? I know her parents haven’t been a good role model for her.”

“No trouble I am aware of. I believe she has been forthcoming with what she told me about herself and that is why I have chosen her for a housemate.”

“I’m thanking you in advance of finding out she is a good person. I wish she was coming to live with me now and not waiting for fall.”

“Maybe she will. She is free to leave me at anytime. I want you to be happy. Do you want me to urge her to move in with you now before she finds work here?”

“No. Living on her own will be a good experience for her. Anywhere away from her mother is good in my opinion.”

“Okay, I won’t say anything. Linda is just coming up the street so I’ll hang up. See you within a couple of weeks. Love you.”

——————————

“Quite a ride up the hill isn’t it?”

“Yeah, but I don’t mind. I’m young and I like to keep trim.” I didn’t touch that one. I said to myself, stop it Stanley, she’s your cousin and she will be living in the same house with you.

“You know Stanley, I think I’ll try for working at the New England House. The tips must be good. The Chelsea Royal is busier, though. I can just see myself dishing up ice cream cones for kids.”

“You won’t get many tips from kids or their parents. Parents take their kids out for treats and rarely have enough to put in the jar for a gratuity.”

“True, but I’ll bet it would be fun. I’d make enough to pay you for my room and what you have advanced me for clothes. A person has to have a little fun in their life.”

“I guess a person has to.”

“Stanley, I get the feeling you haven’t had much fun in your life. I don’t know you well ... just what you have told me about yourself. You went to college and I get the feeling you wanted to do well but had to struggle. Then you got married and were happy, but needed to prove yourself to your wife so you worked hard and didn’t have time to make your wife happy. Even now you worry about being the best manager of Dollar General.”

“Linda, are you analyzing me?”

“I suppose I am. My Mom has taught me a lot about life. You know what they say of bartenders and whores? They listen and know more of life than anyone including some professionals. I guess I don’t know many bartenders.”

“But you do know your mother?”

“You can go ahead and say whore if you want to, for that is what she is. But then she is still my mother and I love her.”

“I’m glad you said you love your mother. That tells me a lot about you.”

“Now who is analyzing whom?” We looked at each other and burst into laughter. Neither of us had more to say in the subject.

Later it was time for supper. “I’ve got some spaghetti sauce. Would you like that?”

“I suppose. Do you eat like this all the time? I’ll get fat?”

“I was brought up on three meals a day. I never got out of the habit. The secret is to just take small portions.”

“As if I could with what you are setting before me. Do you want me to get it?”

“No, I’ll do it. Go let your grandmother know where you are. She must be worried about you.”

“She doesn’t know that I’m hitchhiking. I didn’t tell her so she wouldn’t worry.”

“What if something bad happened to you and you disappeared forever? You have to think about people who care for you.” Linda made up a face at me but didn’t argue. I had a jar of four-cheese sauce and added a pound of hamburger to it to give it more body. I didn’t interrupt Linda on the phone. I heard most of the conversation. There were a couple of fibs and she evaded the question about how we had met.

I didn’t have any garlic bread so I buttered some slices of bread and spread butter and garlic powder on them.

Linda was positively glowing with happiness when she came back into the kitchen. “Gram was the happiest on the phone I have ever heard her. It was like she was bursting with a secret that she wanted to share but couldn’t. Stanley when can you drive me up to see her?”

“I have to work tomorrow, but we could go on Tuesday. Sunday and Tuesday are my days off.  She isn’t much over an hour away. When my furniture gets here I may be too busy.”

“I’m living here too so I’ll be helping.” Linda paused and then said, “My God Stanley this sauce is good. The pasta is too. What makes it so tasty?”

“I just browned the hamburger and put some minced garlic and Worchester sauce in to flavor it. Thanks anyway.”

“Maybe we should start our own restaurant here in town. You do have a knack for making food taste good. Getting back to Gram, it has been four years since I have seen her and I’m pumped.”

“I hope you are pumped enough to do the dishes while I dig up some sheets for your bed. There is just a quilt on it now.”

“Okay.”

I was in the cellar digging around in the blanket chest looking for the sheets. When I came upstairs, Linda was humming a song. I went by her and out into the entrance hall where the washer and dryer were located. I dampened the sheets with scented Fabreeze and put them into the dryer. Linda should sleep well. It was certainly better than in the woods where she snoozed last night.

“I don’t have anything you can put your clothes in. Wait, use the sideboard in the living room. It’s almost empty. No, there is a shelf in the closet you can use. I’ll get a bureau in a couple of days. “

“Why don’t I just pile them on the floor? Don’t make things so difficult.”

“Suit yourself. Uh, I have a radio but no TV. I had a satellite dish installed, but my television is still in storage.”

“How are you going to get your stuff here? You can’t get that much in your car.”

“I’ll borrow a pickup. I have a buddy near where my things are.”

“I’m a lot of trouble aren’t I?”

“No you aren’t. This just wasn’t planned, that’s all. By the time summer is over and you leave to move in with your grandmother it will be all settled.”

“Maybe I won’t want to leave.”

“Maybe not, but think of your grandmother? From what she said in the letter she is looking forward to having you with her.”

“Damn, more complications.”

I laughed. “What would life be without complications?” Linda shook her head, acknowledging I was right.

Linda made her bed. She didn’t need more covers than the quilt. I spent some time in the front bedroom I used as an office, pulling work from my briefcase. Linda was listening to the radio in the living room.

At eight-thirty I said, “I’m cleaning up and going to bed. I open up the store in the morning. I go in early to see that everything is as it should be. You can get yourself breakfast and lunch. Maybe we’ll go eat at the Chelsea Royal for supper. I’m taking that pulled pork sandwich I bought yesterday for my lunch that’s in the fridge.”

“Okay. Can I use any of the food that is in the fridge or the freezer?”

“Sure. My house and what is in it is yours to do what you want with.”

“Thanks.” She looked at me a few seconds and turned away.

That evening, I pulled into the driveway just after six. I was beat. Some days were easy but this wasn’t one of them. I had promised to take Linda out for supper. I wished now I hadn’t.

I opened the door and walked through into the kitchen. Linda was taking a pan of rolls from the oven. “Hi Stan, supper is ready. Wash if you need to, but don’t take long. I found a pot roast in the freezer and an iron dish with a cover to cook it in. I looked in your cookbook and found the recipe of how to cook it. Its funny, but someone had penciled, ‘Mildred’s beside it. That’s my grandmother’s name so I figured it must be good. This must be someone your mother knew. Kind of a coincidence isn’t it?”

“I guess so. The food smells good and I’m hungry. That cold day-old pork sandwich didn’t do much for me. Actually, I was so busy I only had time to eat half of it.

“Linda, you’re no mean cook, that’s for sure. That was delicious. I’ll do the dishes to return the favor.”

“No, you go relax. I went up to the Chelsea Royal and picked up an application. The ice cream job is out. They do have an opening for a waitress for breakfasts and lunch. Tips are better for dinner, but that is full. No one was at the New England house because they weren’t open. I got an application’s at Duttons’ farm stand when I bought vegetables for the dinner, but the job there didn’t appeal to me. Did you know they have a bakery there?” 

“I did and their pies look tasty.”

“I’ll keep looking. Maybe Gram will lend me a little money so I won’t have to work for a week and can find something I’ll like if I’m not hired at the Chelsea Royal.”

“Don’t hit up your grandmother. I’ll carry you for awhile longer. I know you’ll find something soon. You’d do better to call your mother.”

“I can’t do that.”

“Why not?”

“Because of some things I’ve said to her about her lifestyle. It would be difficult to retract the things I called her. She might tell me to go to hell.”

“You know, Linda, I can’t get a picture of your mother at all.”

“I’ll fill you in. I may have been a little harsh from what I said about her and Dad when you asked before. Mom is a beautiful woman and all of this is condoned by my father. Personally I think this is gross and I haven’t hesitated to tell them so.”

“So your father is okay with your mother leaving the house and going out on the street? I think that is gross too.”

“Where’d you get the idea Mom went out on the street?”

“From you. It is you who have been calling her a whore.”

“Well she is, but she isn’t a street walker. She has a clientele. She is a mistress to some gentlemen. Two, most often and never more than three at a time and she never entertains at home. I suppose in a way she doesn’t get rich at it for when she lost the two she had at once, Dad went back to doing what he had been caught at once before. Times have been tough for them this last year. I think Mom is doing okay now because she has a couple of new men.”

“How does she find these men?”

“She has a friend who is a madam and places the men with mother as a favor. These men are usually business men who have wives who either don’t get along with their husband or are incapacitated in some way. Mom fills in. I don’t approve, but I suppose it is a service and she claims it is needed.”

“And you say your father is okay with this?”

“I guess. He avoids the subject mostly. Dad has never been able to get a good job because of his record even though he is a good mechanic. Don’t think my home life has been all bad. At home I suppose we were the typical happy family until I found out about my Mom and Dad when I was fourteen. I stated I wouldn’t have anything to do with either. I found that wouldn’t work and I needed them more than they needed me.

“They did go so far as to set me up by making my room into a mini apartment and letting me use the kitchen. I’m stubborn and they are too so neither of us would back off. So you see I’ve been pretty much on my own since then. Oh, they made sure I had all the necessities. When I graduated, I got a room of my own and found work to support me. I’m pretty proud of myself.”

“Did you ever stop to think you may have been too proud?”

“What do you mean? Are you going to preach to me?”

“What I mean is it seems like your mother and father both needed you at times. When your mother lost her clients maybe you should have been there to contribute a little. Your father might not have gone out and broke into a place and gotten caught and sent away if you had. I’m just pointing it out as something to think about and it isn’t preaching.”

“Sounds like preaching to me.”

“No it isn’t. I’m just a person whose house was entered without permission yesterday and I’m trying to understand you.”

“Why do you care about my mother and father anyway?”

“I shouldn’t, but remember I have taken you on as my cousin. What does that make your mother in relation to me?”

Linda stared at me. Finally, “You mean like if I’m your cousin than she is yours too?”

“Something like that. Come on let’s go for a walk to get rid of all those calories from that incredible dinner you served me.”

“Are you still willing to take me up to see my grandmother tomorrow after doing all the preaching?”

“I am. Remember that would make your grandmother my cousin too and I want to meet her.”

“You’re freakin’ crazy talking about this cousin stuff.” I grinned and shrugged my shoulders.

—————————

I was aware that Linda was restless during the night. I was also, and determined. Yes, I did preach to Linda. That had to be why she couldn’t sleep. I wondered what the morning would bring. Maybe she would pack her things and stay with Mildred. I would be sad if she did, but didn’t regret talking to her.

Not to worry for when I spoke at her door after preparing breakfast, I received, “Stanley, I was going to get up early and make your breakfast so we could get going.”

“It is still early. It will only take an hour and a half to get there. We’ll be there by ten this morning and not have to hurry at all.”

“I’m so excited. Can we leave the dishes?”

“Yes. Your grandmother is a Vermonter and getting up after seven in the morning is unheard of. It is almost eight. Call her and tell her you are coming and that your housemate is driving you. If we were a close family it would be okay to just drop in, but I’m not, so you had better call.”

When Linda hung up she said, “Gram told me to hurry. Let’s go now.”

“You’re acting like a seven-year old.”

“I know, but I can’t help it.”

On the way I asked, “Do you know what house she lives in so I can find it?”

“I think so. The last time I was here was four years ago, we came up the New York Throughway to Albany, went to Troy and then came over to Vermont someplace.  I know about where the house is from the village and even if we have to drive around, I’ll remember what it looks like and can spot it.”

After we had been driving for a half hour, Linda asked, “Are you going to be preaching to me this morning?”

“Nope, I’ve said all I’m going to say on the subject.”

“Well, I want you to talk about it. You gave me a lot to think about last night. I took it you don’t approve of my actions. Tell me how you would have handled if it was you?”

“I can’t do that. Except for losing my father at an early age, my family was always happy. What threw me for a loop was my wife walking out on me. That hurt, but my parents were there for me and that brought me out of my funk. When and what caused you to practically divorce your parents and at such an early age?”

“I heard some friends of mine whispering about my Mom a month before I confronted her. First, I had to find out for sure, so I asked Dad. He wouldn’t talk to me about what Mom did. Mom got real defensive and said she was doing a service for the men who needed her and that Dad understood. She got real pissed off and basically told me to deal with it. 

“Over the next few weeks I found out that Mom had run away from Gram with my dad, and needed support from Gram when she had me. I guess Gram got sick of supporting them and cut them off. That is when Mom took on some men to earn money. I’ll admit I don’t know all the details, because we haven’t had many conversations since I confronted her.”

“Do you have a good place to live?”

“Yes, it is in a quiet neighborhood much like yours. It is a rented four-plex and is as roomy as your place. So what else do you have to say, or more to the point tell me if I should do something or nothing?”

“Linda, you’re old enough and on your own. I’ve stuck my nose into your affairs too much already, but I can’t seem to keep out of them. From now on, I may throw out a statement for you to think about but won’t try to influence you in any way.”

Linda grinned. “Stanley, if I asked you to, you would wouldn’t you?”

I grinned back. “Probably.”

“Okay, give me some of your thoughts. I heard you tossing around last night too. I just know you are aching to say more on the subject of me and my parents.”

“You’re right of course. Okay, the way I see your situation is this. Your mother ran off at an early age and caused your grandmother a great amount of pain. You basically divorced your parents because you don’t like the way they live their life and I’ll bet you have caused them some pain. You and your grandmother are the closest. Wouldn’t it be nice if all of you could be that close to each other?”

I shut up and didn’t even look at Linda. She waited for me to say more but I didn’t. “That’s it?”

“That’s it. Some facts the way I see them. Hey, I’m just a pretend cousin. What do you expect of me?”

“You’re mean.” 

Just then I drove into the village of Arlington. I took a right and drove just a little way when Linda shouted, “That’s the house. That’s Grandmother’s house.”

I pulled into the drive way and Linda was out of the car running up the steps. This was a typical New England house with dormers. There were porches front and back. There was a small red barn in the rear. Of course the house was white with black shutters and trim. I knew how big the lawn was because I had the care of it for five years or more.

Mildred met Linda on the porch. They hugged and kissed. I stood by the car letting them have their moment. “Gram, you have to meet my friend. He is so good to me.”

Mildred came down off the porch and toward me. I brushed my lips over hers and hugged her hard. “Aunt Mildred, you look as beautiful as ever. You haven’t aged at all and it has been a year hasn’t it?”

“I do believe you were here last September and I want to thank you again for the beautiful Easter Lilly you had delivered in April.”

“Gram, do you know Stanley?”

“I do, child. He is my much removed cousin, but he calls me Aunt Mildred. He worked caring for the place when he was younger. He grew up not far from here.

 

"His great-grandma and my grandmother were sisters so that makes us cousins all around. This has to be a coincidence. That sometimes happens in life especially here in Vermont. The Rider roots are as deep in the Vermont soil as the Eaton roots. Look at this place, don’t you feel you have come home?”

She looked expectantly at both of us. I picked it up, “Aunt Mildred, Linda was crossing the street and I almost hit her. We had a couple of differences over the situation, but they are resolved and forgotten now. I want to forget them and Linda does too.”

“Linda?” This was Mildred asking.

And Linda’s answer. “All forgotten.” She then said to me. “We might discuss something else, though. You played me and you knew Gram all along.”

Mildred and I were both laughing. “Stanley called me just before you and I talked the first time so I knew he and you were together. It makes me so happy because I love you both. Actually I know Stan a lot better than I know you.”

“Gram, I love you too and I’m glad that Stanley really is a cousin. He is helping me find a job for the summer and I know I will be coming up to see you as often as I can. It may not be on the weekend because whatever job I get may require weekend work.”

“Sweetheart, I’ll welcome you whatever day in the week it is. You might call if you are coming in case I have company that day.” Wendy said she would.

We talked about little or nothing for a half hour until Mildred asked about Wendy, Linda’s mother. “Gram, I’m so mixed up about Mom. I could be responsible for Dad being in prison according to Stanley.”

“Linda, I didn’t say that. Remember your parents are adult and what they do and how they live is their choice.”

“And your point is, my dear new cousin?”

I was beginning to wonder how to extract myself from things I had said earlier. Linda stared at me and then her face crumpled. “Stan, my whole family is dysfunctional isn’t it? The worst member is me. Tell me how I can make it better?”

“You want me to preach some more don’t you.”

Linda’s head was down. I glanced at Mildred she was puzzled by this conversation. I said, “Linda accuses me of preaching to her about her father and mother. I’m not really, but I am throwing out statements to make her think about her situation from a different perspective. You heard her, she keeps asking for more of my thoughts even though she claims I’m preaching.”

“Gram, I took one of his statements and thought about it. Even you were included.” 

“What did he say?”

“I’ll have to put it into my own words, but the gist of it was something like this. He claims, you and I are close, but I’m not close to Mom and Dad. You are close to me, but you aren’t close to Mom and Dad either. I think he is saying indirectly that we should find a way for all of us to get close together. It makes sense and that is what makes me so mad. He doesn’t tell me how. He claims that would be preaching.”

I was serious, but smiling. “I’ve known Linda for three days. How can I tell her what or how to do something? I certainly can’t tell you either even though I have known you most of my life. It wouldn’t be right.”

Linda broke in, “Well, damn it, throw out one of your statements if you won’t preach.

Aunt Mildred was looking at me and waiting. “I’ll ask a question of the two of you. What would happen if you both got on the phone right now and called cousin Wendy, telling her you two were together and you both had love for her? Linda, you might ask after your father. So think about that while I go out back and see what to take home for furniture.”

“Stanley, you can’t carry much in the car.”

“I don’t need to. My friend Sam is bringing my pickup over before noon. I let him use it for the last year. I’m driving that home loaded and you’re driving the car with some small stuff.”

“Oh, you make me so mad! You never tell me what’s going on. You could have told me you knew Gram and you could have told me how you were going to get your things home.”

“What’s the point? You know now.”

“Child, Stanley is exasperating. You’ve found that out. Come inside and let me tell you about him.”

Just then my pickup arrived and I directed it around to the barn. “Hey, Sam, long time, no see.”

“Stan, the pickup is ready to go. It’s been under cover and I got it out a couple of weeks ago. She is all tuned up. I put this year’s tags on and had it inspected. How are you getting your car home?”

“I met up with a cousin and she will be driving it. You want to give me a hand? I need two beds, some chairs, the television, and two bureaus. We’ll stand the headboards up for sides so everything will fit. I’ll come back sometime and get the couch. I don’t think Linda and I can unload it and get it into the house.”

This was my mother’s furniture. I sold or had given away the things I had when married, Aunt Mildred stored these things for me when Mom went out to live with my sister, Betty. It didn’t take long for us to load up. He had to be somewhere by noon so I drove him home with my car. Aunt Mildred called me in for dinner when I returned.

“Stan, I called my friend where I have been living for the last two years. She is storing my clothes and is going to ship them up to me. She was surprised that I already found a place to live.” Linda paused before continuing. “Also, she said my mother had called her several times asking for me. She did say I needed to know something concerning my father.

“I called Mom.” That is as far as Linda got before bursting into tears. When those subsided, she said, “I know Mom loves me, she was worried about me. She was afraid something had happened to me. She began to cry as soon as she heard my voice.”

“That’s great. I thought you should call.”

“Stanley, would you please tell me what to do and don’t be so damn subtle about it. I could have called when I first got to your place. That was in your mind wasn’t it?”

“It was, but you kept telling me not to preach.” I thought I was going to get slapped and Aunt Mildred was laughing. “Did you find out anything about your father?”

“I did. Dad’s getting out of prison next month. Mom has lined up a job for him which was the main criteria of him getting out early. If it comes right I’m going to be with Mom when he comes out the door of the prison. I didn’t promise for sure, but I’m hoping I can be.”

“That’s great! Did you get to speak with Wendy, Aunt Mildred?”

“I did and she was happy to hear from me. She is so pleased Linda was here with me, but can’t understand why she is living somewhere else. I just said Linda had made other commitments before I saw her. We are discussing Linda being with me this fall and winter. It has been a long time since I told Wendy I loved her. I guess I have been too critical of her in the past. That is changing as of today.”

“Aunt Mildred just as soon as we finish lunch I have to go. I want to get the pickup unloaded and it has to be done today. I have to work tomorrow and I hate to have it get wet if it rains. Linda can stay as long as she wants.”

“Gram, I’ll be leaving at the same time. I want to begin organizing our home and Stan can’t do it alone. I’ll be up next week and I’ll call often.”

“Fine, and Stanley, don’t you be a stranger. You’re my favorite cousin.”

“You’ll see more of us than you have recently, I promise and I’ll take care of Linda now that she has returned to her mother’s roots. She is here and we will see if we can make it permanent”

————————

We waved to Mildred, but stopped in the yard a moment before we got into our vehicles. “Are you returning the same way as we came up?”

“Yes, why?”

“Because I might have trouble getting through Bennington.”

“I can’t believe that. Anyone who can hitchhike alone from New Jersey and arrive in Vermont just has to have luck and I’d say you are one of the luckiest women alive.”

“I consider I am lucky too. Let’s say I’ll be following you and don’t want to let you out of my sight. I’m beginning to think if I lost you, my luck would disappear.”

Before I turned away, I examined the smirk that was on her face. Damn, this was a provocative woman--interesting too. I piled into my pickup and headed south toward Bennington. Linda stayed in my mind all the way home and in my car right behind me.

My ex-wife’s memory was closer to me than Linda was. She was in my head. Bonny used to flirt blatantly. I recognized the woman’s wiles for what they were. I wasn’t going to get caught again, once was enough! I pushed Bonny from my mind. Now, if I could only do the same with Linda. Shit! I had been without a woman to long and my cousin four-times removed was certainly attractive. No, I wasn’t going to go there.

I backed into the driveway first and Linda drove in. I stepped out mumbling. I finished my thoughts, not realizing I spoke out loud. “Stan, what did you say?” I shook my head, not wanting to share. “Stan you were looking at me and said something. What was it?”

“I said we’ll see what develops. Come on; help me get the television into the living room.

“Stan, this furniture is beautiful. Are they antiques or replicas?”

“If they are replicas, they were made two hundred years ago. The bureaus match the headboards. Both have mirrors, but I didn’t bring them. I didn’t have enough quilts to wrap them in. I’ll rent some sometime and go after them. I brought a blanket chest full of bedding and towels. There is a stand for the television. That’s about all the room I had in the pickup. I should have loaded the car with small items, but didn’t think of it.”

“I can go back someday when you are working if you’ll tell me what to get.”

“Won’t you get lost going through Bennington?”

“Keep it up, jerk.”

I put the television on the stand, but didn’t take the time to hook it up. The head and foot boards for both bedrooms went against the wall. I’d put the beds together evenings during the week. We did position the bureaus where they belonged.

“The pickup is really yours?”

“Yeah. The car belonged to Mom and is cheaper to drive so I parked the pickup at a friend’s house. He has had the use of it, but I don’t think he put fifty miles on it. Where my sister lives, there wasn’t room for Mom’s car so she gave it to me. You can drive it to work if you want to.”

“I’ll ride the bike unless it is raining.”

“Suit yourself. It is good that there is room for both vehicles in the drive way. Why don’t you get us something light for supper and I’ll hook up the TV. I’ve done about all I want to for today.

“Stan, how hungry are you? I’m thinking I’d like salmon pea wiggle on crackers. I’ve never seen a single man stock so much food like you do.”

“I just like a good assortment so if I have something I crave, I can just get it. So pea wiggle sounds good and I’ll have just about time before NCIS comes on.”

“That’s my favorite show and that makes us so compatible.” I grunted.

————————————

Wednesday, Linda got a job waiting table at the Chelsea Royal. She had to work weekends breakfast and lunch having Monday and Tuesday off. So I was home alone on Sunday and she was home Mondays while I worked. She thought that was great because she could have my supper ready for me. She went up to see her grandmother on most Mondays and they became very close. Once a month Linda would not go on Monday and I would go up with her on Tuesday.

Chapter Two

Linda had been with me five weeks when she learned that her father was being released on the following Monday. Linda wanted to be there when he stepped out of prison a free man. Linda managed to get a couple of days off and because I had some vacation coming, I was able to travel with her. We arrived in New Jersey just before noon on Sunday.

We drove into a decent section of the city. “Mom lives in the apartment on the right. There is parking in the rear.” There was a little lawn in the front and some around the parking area. There was fencing that enclosed the whole lot. The house looked like it had four apartments.

“Did you live here?”

“I was born here and lived here until I moved out when I was seventeen and went on my own. I hope Mom is home. I didn’t tell her exactly when we were arriving.”

“She’ll be home. In fact unless I miss my guess that would be her that just came out the door. You look much like her.”

“It is. She’s beautiful isn’t she?”

“Yes, and you’re a perfect copy of her.” Linda had time before Wendy reached the car to turn and look at me.

“Stan, that’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.” The car stopped and Linda jumped out to meet her mother. I watched the two hug. They stood where I could compare mother and daughter. I knew Wendy’s age was around forty and Linda was twenty-two. They looked more like sisters. They both had wavy brown hair.  Linda’s had a little more sheen to it and she was a couple of inches taller. Wendy was a little fuller and heavier, but she still was a fine figure of a woman.

I eased out and started toward them as they came to meet me. Wendy stopped and looked at me. “So, Stanley, you’re my cousin I take it? I’ve heard some wonderful things about you. My mother sings so many praises of you if I didn’t know better I’d think you were her lover.”

“I would be if Aunt Mildred would have me. I practically was brought up by her. My folks didn’t live far from her so when I was big enough to ride my bike, I mowed her lawn and did odd jobs for her. I did that until I went away to college.”

“That’s odd she never mentioned you.”

“Maybe because you ran away just before I began helping her. In essence I did for her what you would have done if you hadn’t left.”

“I did run away, didn’t I? I wasn’t happy at home and mother wasn’t very forgiving when I contacted her some time later. When Linda called a few weeks ago, it was the first time I had kind words from mother since I moved here.”

“Not my business, but Aunt Mildred is happier now than she was before you talked. I hope you are too.”

“I am. I’m glad that Linda got in touch with her and asked her to speak with me.”

“Mother, it wasn’t me that made the decision to call and it wasn’t Gram either. It was this cousin that practically ordered us to.”

“Stanley, whatever possessed you to make them call me?”

“First of all, I didn’t order them and it was just a suggestion. I kept hearing about some beautiful cousin that I had never met. I figured if you all forgot your differences and got friendly then I might get to meet this person. I must say, you are as beautiful as I was led to believe and I’m not disappointed at all.”

My beautiful cousin, Wendy stared at me. I knew she didn’t have me figured out and didn’t know how to deal with me. She got out of it by asking, “Why are we standing out here in the parking lot? Come in and be comfortable. I have a lunch prepared. It is one of Linda’s favorites.”

“I hope it is Shepherd’s pie?”

“It is.”

“We went into the kitchen. The apartment was clean and arranged attractively. The furniture looked to be well worn, but, not tattered. Wendy went about setting the table with Linda’s help. “Stanley, I have beer and ale for a beverage. Your choice.”

“I’ll pass, I don’t imbibe. I’ve had a problem in the past with alcohol.”

“So, young man, you aren’t as perfect as I was led to believe?”

“I never said I was perfect. I was married for a time and when it ended, it tore me up pretty badly. I went off track for awhile.”

“That’s too bad. Tell me about getting off track. You know about Linda’s father don’t you?”

“Yes. Sometimes a person has to regroup and begin again.”

“Oh dear, this might cause a problem with the sleeping arrangements I had planned. I had the idea that you and Linda were sleeping together. We only have the two beds.”

“No we aren’t sleeping together, but just for a couple of nights we could. I brought pajamas and I assume Linda did too. I’m sure Linda will trust me not to go animal on her.”

“That may be, but can you trust her not to attack you?”

Linda exploded. “Mom, cut it out. We haven’t even kissed. We’re cousins, remember?”

“Stanley, you must be gay, then. There is enough distance between you two so a little sex wouldn’t matter.”

“No, I’m not gay and I’m not a rabbit either. Linda and I are housemates and if we started fooling around, it would upset the situation. You have a couch, I can sleep on that.”

“Stan, I knew this was going to come up. I just didn’t know how to tell you we might have to be in the same bed. I do trust you and I know we will be just as pure in the morning as when we went to sleep.”

Wendy spoke up. “For tonight then Stanley can sleep with me. My bed is bigger.”

Linda was getting mad. “Mother, I’ve told Stan why I left home and all about you and Father. We can find us a motel if you keep needling us. Stanley will be sleeping with me, so change the subject.”

“Okay sweetheart, I’ve forgotten how touchy you are about your father and mother and how we live. I left Vermont to get away from what I call a bunch of hide-bound old Puritans.

I wasn’t getting into this at all. The air was a little frosty between Wendy and Linda. I was beginning to side with Linda that her mother was a difficult person. I was glad I wasn’t living with her. My heart went out to Linda. I wondered what her father would be like. Tomorrow at ten in the morning I would meet him. 

After lunch nothing more triggered hard feelings. Mostly Linda talked about her grandmother and how wonderful she was. After supper and the kitchen were straightened up, Wendy announced, “I have to go out this evening. I’ll be back early.” She was looking at Linda and seemed to be daring Linda to say something. Linda just turned away.

Wendy waited, and not receiving any comments, went out the door. Linda immediately burst into tears. We were sitting on opposite ends of the couch. Linda got up and came over and sat next to me. Sobbing, she said, “Mom is going out and get screwed. I just know it. Dad is coming home tomorrow and she just has to have once more to throw it in all of our faces. I thought she could at least contain herself until we went back home. I almost wish we could leave right now.”

“We can’t do that. I was looking forward to being in bed with you.”

That got me a wan smile and, “You know just the right thing to say. You do see how difficult Mom can be, don’t you?”

“I can. We’ll meet your father tomorrow and then we’ll head back home. You’ve been happy there haven’t you?”

“I’ve never been happier. You know I’m never coming back to New Jersey again and I’m rethinking about going to live with Gram this fall. Maybe if we promise to visit her a couple times a month she’ll let me out of my promise.”

“We’ll see. There are still a few months before you planned to move, anyway.”

“Stan, I’m pretty close. Would you put your arm around me? I need some closeness.” I could give her that. My right arm went over her shoulders and she put her left arm behind me and then curled her head down on my chest. We stayed this way for a few minutes. “Stan, this is so nice, I could stay like this for ever.”

“Umm, it is nice.” I guess we dropped off because I awoke hearing someone coming in. I had time to nudge Linda and she scooted over to the other end of the couch pretending she was asleep.  Wendy looked at me when she came into the living room.

“Geesus Stanley, I left long enough so you could make love to my daughter. I’m wondering about you.”

“Keep wondering. Linda was crying when you left. She assumed you went out to get screwed one more time before her father got home. It took a lot to convince her to wait and see her father tomorrow instead of going home tonight she was that upset. Was she right?

“None of her business.” She was lying, I could tell.

“Oh, well, we’ll be going back to Vermont just as soon as she sees her father. I’m afraid you have lost any chance of coming together with Linda. It is your loss. Linda has been trying to find some love from you most of her life. I feel sad for you.”

“What do you know about my life?”

“Not much and I have to admit I don’t think I want to know more about it either.”

Wendy looked at me ... and surprise ... she was looking hurt. “Wendy, I have to ask, do want to us to find a different place to stay tonight? I realize I haven’t been a very good guest.”

“No, no, please stay. I’ll think about this after you take Linda to bed. Tomorrow is a big day for all of us ... Mike’s especially.” 

I poked Linda and she pretended to wake up. “Hi Mom, you’re back. I’m so tired I’ll see you in the morning.” She staggered down the short hall to the bedroom.

I washed up in the bathroom, putting my pajamas on at that time. Linda was waiting for me to finish. I got into bed on the far side and lay looking toward the door. Linda came in. She was still looking sad. “Linda, there is a freshness about you that makes you much more beautiful that she. I don’t want you looking sad either. Come to bed and I’ll hold you like I did on the couch.”

Linda crawled in beside me and held my hand. “You really laid into my mother didn’t you?”

“Yeah, and she deserved it.”

“Stan, now you know my mother and you can see what it was like for me while I was a kid.”

“I’m sorry I pushed for you to become friendly with her. I just didn’t know. What about your father?”

“Dad was always under Mom’s thumb. He never seemed to go against her. You know just before Dad got caught, I heard Mom screaming for him to go get some money and she didn’t care how he got it. Go rob a bank or something, she said. That same night Dad was apprehended and put in jail. Before his trial Mother had another sugar daddy to replace the one she had lost.

“We’re going to meet him tomorrow. You father has been in prison for how long?”

“Three and a half years. He told me not to visit prison when he went away. The only contact I have had with him is though mother and some letters. I’m sorry now I didn’t try to see him. I should have when I went to live with my friend.”

“You can make it up to him after today.”

“I sure have a screwed up family, don’t I?”

“I wouldn’t call Gram screwed up and I don’t see as you are too bad. I think you are a keeper if you don’t change that much. Let’s see what tomorrow and your father will bring.” 

Wendy was jumpy and nervous at breakfast. The prison was sixty miles away and we had to be there at ten. Linda told her mother, “After I meet Dad, I’m going to go see Betsy, the friend I lived with. I think I’ll have Stanley drive his car so I can go from the prison there instead of coming back here.”

“Okay, I was going to suggest we take both cars. Are you staying another night?”

“Stan and I have two more days before we have to be home. You can have Dad today and we’ll have him tomorrow to get reacquainted with. Where will we be first seeing him?”

“There is a room provided for those inmates just released. His parole officer will be there and the man who I arranged to employ him will be there as well. This may all take an hour before you can go to your friends.”

“Okay.”

We left for the prison at eight, not knowing what the traffic would be like. We were a few minutes early. The parole officer was there. I sat down next to him and asked general questions about his job.

He admitted that being a felon was a bad situation to be in. “Half of them get into trouble and are back here, often for a more serious crime than what they were originally in for. The best way to help them is support from their families. I don’t hold out much hope for this person. His former wife found him a job and a place to live, but that’s it for him.”

“You mean he isn’t married now”

“No he isn’t. His wife started the divorce several months ago and it was final after six months. How are you related to him?”

“The young lady across the room is his daughter. I’m her cousin and she is my house mate. We live in Southern Vermont. His ex-wife, the girl’s mother, is a strange one, although she is my cousin too. I just met her yesterday.”

“Is there any way the girl can help her father?”

“I don’t see how. We both have jobs.”

“That’s too bad for him. Of course he might not have any problems. As long as he keeps his nose clean by staying out of trouble and reports to me on time he’ll be okay.”

“How long will he have to keep reporting to you?”

“A year. You know he has to call me if he wants to leave the state. What he does is tightly controlled, and there are some things I have to shut him down on. But then I have some leeway too. If you talk to him, impress on him to follow all the rules.”

“I will, but I don’t know what I can do.”

“I’ll give you my card if you have any questions. I’m busy so keep trying if I don’t get your first call.”

“I will.”

Just then the person who agreed to hire Mike came in and began a conversation with Sam Potter, the parole officer. I went over and sat down beside Wendy. It was ten minutes of ten. “Wendy, the parole officer tells me that you and Mike are divorced and you have found another place for him to live?”

“That’s true, but again it’s my business and nothing to you.”

“Mom, why haven’t you told me? Dad must be crushed.”

“He is a little upset, but that man over there in the work uniform gave him a job and Mike is boarding with one of his other employees. That fulfills my duty to your father. I decided to get on with my life. I can’t do it married to a felon. It’s done so get over it. I’ve already moved his clothes to his new home. They may not fit him but that’s not my problem.”

Just then Mike came through the door. He was out of prison garb, but what he was wearing was damned cheap. His eyes went first to Wendy. There was pleading in his voice as he spoke, “Wendy?”

“No Mike, it is all over. I said I would find you a job and I have. The owner is here, but first your parole officer needs to speak to you. He gave me a few minutes to let me introduce Linda’s friend. You of course know our Linda. I don’t think she has given you a thought since you went to prison.”

“That’s not true, mother. I came down from Vermont today just to be with him. Daddy, mother hasn’t changed at all. I’ve tried to be a good daughter to her these last few weeks when I was urged to by my friend. I’ve just found out today it is all for nothing. Daddy when you get your business done, can Stanley and I take you out to a nice place to eat when you finish?”

“Of course you can, sweetheart. I’m so glad you are here. Wendy, you might as well leave. I’ve had enough of you. I can get reacquainted with Linda and her friend without you.”

“Good, I doubt we will be seeing each other and that’s what I prefer.” 

“Okay, it’s for the best, feeling the way you do about me.” Wendy turned and went out the door. Mike said, “Come Linda, and we’ll get me out of here. Linda said your name was Stanley. You might as well hear the lists of dos and don’ts as well, so you’re included too.” 

We were introduced to Pat Huber, the auto mechanic who was going to employ Mike. He hired felons just saying he was one himself once and had someone who took him in hand when he came out of prison. He owned the house where Mike was going to be living and quoted what Mike would be paying for the room. The rent didn’t appear to be too steep even though Mike probably would be working for minimum wage. Mike seemed satisfied.

Sam Potter gave his spiel. “This has to be said, but it is mostly using common sense. I’ve been doing this for several years, so I can usually tell if you are trying to snow me about something. If you do make a mistake, call me first and I’ll see what I can do with your problem.

“Now, as far as reporting in, I’ll need a face to face the first few weeks. After that I may only need a phone call three weeks out of the month. We’ll see how it goes. Remember when a kid if you were in the habit of not minding your mother, you may be in trouble. What I’m saying is that I’m your new mother and you have to mind me. You will have a curfew because of the crime you were engaged in when apprehended.

“I understand this is your daughter who has been living in Vermont. I’m aware that you have been recently divorced from your wife. I gather that your daughter is the only member of your family that is in your support group. Be nice to her because you need her. It isn’t good to be alone since that’s a recipe for getting into trouble.

“Now, I’ve set up an appointment weekly at 11:30 every Monday. Bring a sandwich so that you can get back to work when work resumes at 1:00. Mike, I have faith that you will get through this and be a free man. 

“Your record will always be with you, but don’t let it bother you. Many people are more understanding than you would think. Linda and Stanley, I want Mike to ride into town with Pat so if you want to get together, you might follow his car and find out where he will be living. Linda, do keep connected with your father as much as possible. For awhile you have to be the adult and encourage your father to stay on track.”

“I will. Stanley is good at keeping people on the straight and narrow. He will help.”

“Are you two a couple?”

“No, but we are cousins, housemates, and definitely not in any kind of relationship.”

“So then Mike is Stanley’s cousin or maybe Stanley’s nephew?”

“No such luck. He is cousin to my mother as well as to me.”

I spoke up, “Mike was married to my cousin and still would be if he hadn’t got divorced. I’ll still claim him.”

Mike looked pleased. “Thanks Stanley. I don’t know you yet, but I know I’m going to like you.”

Sam Potter led the three vehicles. I guess he wasn’t worried about a traffic cop for he soon left us behind. We could see Pat and Mike talking. Pat drove the speed of the traffic flow, which I was thankful for. We pulled up in front of a large three-story house. Pat and Mike went into the house, not waiting for us. We were just going up the steps when Mike came back out and motioned to us to hurry.

Pat was standing in the doorway of a medium sized room waiting. I estimated it to be 14x18 in size. It had a single bed, a bureau, a love seat, table, and two chairs. There was an area rug on the floor. Mikes clothes and a few personal items were stacked in the corner of the room to be sorted through and put away.

“Bathroom is down the hall with shower and a tub. There is a kitchen you can use if you care to cook your meals yourself. The five other men living here don’t bother, but eating out takes up a big part of their pay check.

“I expect you to get along with everyone. You’ll be working along side of three of the men at the garage anyway. I’ll start you off on maintenance. That is mostly keeping the place clean. Some mechanics are notorious for leaving shop equipment out on the floor. Your duties will include putting them away at the end of the day. 

“If you want to make a little extra money, you can go over to the car wash and be the towel man. That opens an hour earlier than the shop.  There is the noon hour when it is also difficult to have it manned. That’s yours if you want it. People around here tip well. Mondays you won’t be able to because you have to see Sam at the parole office. If you do work at the car wash, time there doesn’t count toward overtime.

“Other than that, you need to be on time and follow the shop rules. I think this is a good place for you to start to get your life back together. As time goes on I’ll have you doing basic mechanical work. How about a vehicle license, is that up to date?”

“Yes, I’ve kept it renewed.”

“That’s good. If I need a parts run I can use you. Maybe you can use a company vehicle when you see the parole officer rather than use the bus. We’ll see what works out. Now get reacquainted with your daughter. She is a beautiful young woman.”

“Thank you, Mr. Huber.”

“Call me Pat, everyone does.” He turned and went out. It looked like Mike had fallen into a great place to work. If I read things correctly, Mike might come out of this without problems.

Mike turned to us. Linda went and hugged her father. “Daddy, I’ll put your things away. They look like Mom just dumped them here.”

“Probably. Are you surprised that I’m divorced?”

“Yes, and I’m sorry.”

“I’m not and I must say I’m glad she did. I ought to thank the guy who is keeping her. He must want her pretty badly. I was going to do something about her if he hadn’t. Actually, I’m relieved. While I was sitting in court waiting to be sentenced I thought what a damned fool I’ve been.”

“You must hate me for not coming to see you, but you told me not to.”

“No, don’t be sorry. I don’t think I could have stood seeing you and not being able to get close to you. I think somehow after I get done with my parole, I will move to where you are and we can be a family again. Your mother used to scream at me if I showed you affection. I decided that was going to change, but by divorcing me I can show you all the affection I want to.”

“Daddy, I wish you could come to Vermont.”

“I can’t now. I’ve learned to not wish for the now and maybe the future will bring the things a person wants. I’ll be totally out of this mess in a year. I was born a Vermonter and the Lewis name goes back a long way. I think I’ll plan on moving to Vermont as soon as I can. In the meantime, I love you and I feel you love me.”

“I do. Daddy, let me tell you about Stanley and what a great person he is.” Linda shared how we met and how I had tried to get the different parts of the family together and how her mother had acted when we arrived yesterday.

“Linda and Stanley, I’ve given up on Wendy, and to save your selves from heartbreak, you may have to do likewise. I’ll leave it up to you. Now, you promised me a great meal somewhere in a nice restaurant. Let me get the prison stink off me and get into some of my own clothes. They may be a little loose, but that’s okay.  

“What would you like?”

“Prime rib, real mashed potatoes, a salad and maybe broccoli or cauliflower. That is what I’m craving. I think dark chocolate cake and butter-brickle ice cream in a separate dish. To start with, I could use an ice cold brew.”

“You get changed while we look over the kitchen and we’ll fix you right up.” We walked down the hall to the kitchen. It was fully equipped, but didn’t look as it was used much. There was a moldy half sandwich in the refrigerator and no one had cleaned the stove. I suspected that would change.

“Your Dad just came out of prison, but he is a nice looking man. His graying hair and regular facial features make him very handsome.”

“I know. Being tall and thin helps out a lot too. Mom always thought she was the best looking, but with her bad attitude I’m inclined to think Dad is.”

I smiled at my cousin, “Linda, you know, you just someday might end up with a step-mother.”

“Stanley, I might at that. You know you might end up with a new wife as well.”

“When I’m totally over the wife I had, I’ll think about it.” Linda started to say something, but bit it off. Mike came into the kitchen saying he was ready. Yes, he definitely was more handsome than I was. Mike had a favorite restaurant he wanted to eat at. It was quite a distance from his new home.

There was one person on the wait-staff who remembered him and gave us a table in a little nook so we could converse quietly. “Tell me about your life, if you would Stanley?”

“Mike, my childhood was uncomplicated. My father had saved some money and I worked odd jobs all through high school because I wanted to go to the University of Vermont. I worked for Linda’s grandma from the time I was ten until I finished high school. I worked other places too, but I was there when she needed me. Wendy’s father was dead and you left before that. I don’t think Aunt Mildred ever mentioned your name either.

“I went to school and took some management courses. I graduated with a little better than an average score. It was good enough so UPS took me on as an intern for a management position. I was married to a girl named Bonny just before going to work. I buckled down and tried very hard to learn what I could. I was doing well until I came home and found a note from my wife saying she was leaving me for another man.

“Too be honest, it sent me into a tailspin and I developed an alcohol problem with me ending up losing my position with UPS. My father straightened me out and then six months later he passed away. I handled that pretty well and finally landed a job with Dollar General. That’s a national concern. They even support one of the Sprint Cup cars on the Nascar circuit.

“I’ve been the manager of the local store in Brattleboro for a few months now. Five, almost six weeks ago I met Linda and she became my housemate and I took her up to see Mildred a few days after we met. It is really nice to have someone to eat and talk with and we get along quite well.”

“It sounds like you have your life together.”

“I think so and I’m satisfied the way things are going.” Mike ordered a beer and then looked at me asking, “Does this bother you, I forgot your alcohol problem?”

“No, not at all. I made a promise to my father. It isn’t about the alcohol but it would bother me if I broke the promise.”

“Good, I’ve been thinking about this first swallow I’m about to take for years.” He then laughed a little too loud. Linda and I understood. We watched Mike savor every mouthful and swallow. We had ordered the same meal as he and he savored the food, but looked a bit disappointed. It was barely good. He finished the meal. “You know that was different than what I’ve been fed, but I have to say, I could do better myself and I will. I’m cooking at home after I get that kitchen cleaned up.

“What did you do in prison?”

“Worked in the kitchen and saw meals spoiled because the damned company hired a cook who didn’t know food at all. I’m going to write a letter to the corrections commission and have him fired. Maybe this place needs a new chef too.”

 “Dad, what do you want to do now?”

“I guess I’ll get a few groceries. I’m going to cook my own meals. I’ll need some spices, some cereal, milk, eggs, meat, and something I can bake for dessert. When we get back, I’m going to clean up the stove and refrigerator. I’m going to enjoy being with so few people after living with hundreds, but I want to be clean too. This place is typical of a bunch of men living alone.”

We found a large grocery not far from Mike’s house at a mini mall. He shook his head at the prices, most usually buying the cheapest items but not always. He was looking for value for the price. I was adamant in paying at checkout and when we got back to the house Linda and I pitched in to help clean the kitchen. The table was pretty battered and scarred so I went back to the same mini mall and found an oil cloth for it.

Linda found pots and pans in the small pantry. Muffin tins, and stew pots came out. There was a glass eight by ten dish that could be used to bake rolls. “I’ll roast three chicken legs with the chicken thighs. I’ll use the thighs for sandwiches for lunch and I’ll make a stew for tomorrow night with the frozen vegetables and boned legs. I’ll put dumplings on the stew. I might even whip up some corn bread. Chicken can be cheap meat and I’ll watch the sales for red meat.”

It wasn’t long before some great smells were wafting through the kitchen. Mike would make muffins for breakfast and he hoped there would be a break halfway through the morning. “So, I’ll have about eight dollars into all this. That’s enough to feed me tomorrow and muffins and corn bread for the next day. They’ll be stew for lunch that day too.

“I plan on eating well and I can for about two dollars a meal. That’s about fifty dollars a week.  That meal we had today was fifty dollars apiece and I can have meals that taste just as good.”

“Where did you learn all this?”

“In prison. I was in the kitchen for three of the three and a half years I was in. I read cookbooks for enjoyment. I studied them real good after Wendy asked for a divorce. I may be alone, but I’ll eat better than she and for a hell of a lot less.”

“Maybe I’ll have to take lessons from you, Dad.”

I spoke up, “No need because Linda is a good cook already.”

“Yeah, maybe, but I can’t compare to the one you fixed for me the day we met.”

“Linda, you were hungry, that’s all.” The muffins came out. They were delicious. 

“Mike, what did you put in them?”

“Flour, baking powder of course. Some vegetable oil, a half cup of applesauce, an egg, a quarter cup of sugar, some raisins and I spiced it up with cinnamon. It gives me the dozen muffins. I doubt I have more than two dollars in the dozen.”

I shook my head. “Christ I could eat a half-dozen of these at one sitting.”

“Not if you are trying to save money you wouldn’t. It costs about the same. It takes two eggs and the same amount of oil. You can find a cake mix for about a dollar. If you want it glazed, a little powdered sugar, flour, and water and there you have it.”

“You’re right in that.” We sat at the table waiting for the pan of chickens to get done. Linda told Mike about Mildred and how loving she was to her.

“Where are you staying tonight, kids?”

“If mother is home and will let us in, we’ll stay there. If she won’t let us, we’ll get a motel room.”

“I wish I had a place for you to stay.”

“That’s all right, Dad. We planned on a motel anyway.”

“Are you hanging around tomorrow?”

“If you are working, there isn’t much reason to, so we’ll head home in the morning.”

“At least I got to see you and meet Stan. I appreciate you coming down to see me. I didn’t know what I was going to do. I don’t have room to put you up. Course I wasn’t even positive I had a place for myself. Your mother came through for me with that at least.”

Just then a couple of men came into the kitchen drawn there by to smell of food. They both worked for Pat. They introduced themselves. “Pat said he had a new person living here and working for him. You can ride with us tomorrow if you don’t have a car. That’s better than taking the bus.”

“Thanks, I will. Do you want a breakfast muffin? I made them for tomorrow, but I can spare a couple.” 

“Geejus, thanks. They smell great.” 

They began to question Mike so I figured it was time to leave. Mike walked out with us. I handed him a hundred and fifty dollars. “This should go you until your first paycheck.” There were tears in his eyes and a lot in Linda’s as we hugged before getting into the car. Mike said just as soon as he found some way to call, he would let us know how he was. In the meantime, he would write and we assured him that he would hear from us.

We weren’t hungry so we headed back to Linda’s mother to see if Wendy was home and she was. We came into the kitchen. “Well what did the loser have to say about me?”

“He didn’t say much. We went out to dinner and talked mostly about Gram.”

“Gram can’t stand him. She never knew him that well.”

“I know, but we had to talk about something. We couldn’t talk about you. We didn’t want to hurt his feelings and we didn’t want to trash you. Mom, why did you divorce Dad, anyway?”

“I’ve met a man. He owns his own business and says he loves me.”

“Will you be getting remarried?”

“I’m hoping so. He hasn’t asked me yet, but there is no reason why he won’t.”

“I hope for your sake he does.”

“You don’t want me to get back with your father?”

“I don’t see why. Once you walk away from a person, it is better to not try to reconnect. Stanley is in the same situation as Dad.”

“Linda, how do you feel about your father?”

“About the same as I do about you, mother. You’re my parents and I love you both.”

“Your father is a felon. I should think you wouldn’t want to have anything to do with him.”

“Yes, he is a felon and he has to live with it. Mom, you aren’t so perfect either. Let’s don’t talk about it anymore. Can Stan and I use the room again for tonight?”

“Of course. It is still your home.”

“Good, we will be leaving early in the morning. If we get back to Vermont early enough, I might go into work and Stan needs to see how the store is doing.”

“Okay, I’ll say goodbye before you go to bed. I’m going out and will be late. I’ll be celebrating the fact that your father and I are history.” 

Wendy soon left. I looked at Linda. She was near tears. “Well, so much for visiting with my mother. The next time we come down, we’ll get a motel room before coming to see her.”

She sat with her head down thinking. “You know we could leave now and be home for work in the morning.”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Because then I won’t have an excuse for sleeping next to you.”

“Well, we’ll stay then. I want to call my former roommate anyway.”

———————————

We left at four the next morning. We stopped for breakfast at seven and were home by eleven. I showered and headed to the store. Linda stopped in. “Stan, I’m working both lunch and dinner. Someone is out sick and the diner is busy. You can find something to eat when you get home can’t you?”

“Sure, I always have.”

There was a subtle change in my relationship with Linda beginning the first night home. Before this, I had been very careful to keep a space between us. Now we might sit on the couch and if we touched, we thought little of it. We were a lot more at ease around each other in the kitchen and about what we had on. July was on us and I often went without a shirt while working around the house. Linda might have on shorts and a halter.

Linda worked just as hard to make our home look as nice as possible. We might as well have been husband and wife ... except there was no sex. The sun bleached out her hair from the brown to a dark blonde with darker streaks in it. Her body was as near perfect as any woman I knew. She was one damned attractive person!

It was in August. I purchased an AC unit for the living room. It was large enough to cool the whole house with a couple of fans placed in the right areas. One of these drove cooling air into Linda’s bedroom. One night she came out to the bathroom. Instead of going into her room she came into mine.

She poked me. “Stan, can I crawl into bed with you? I forgot to turn the AC off. I’m so cold I don’t think I’ll ever warm up.”

“Be my guest. I have to go to the bathroom and then I’ll come back and warm you up.” I got up and turned the AC off.

I crawled in next to Linda. She was wearing a teddy outfit. I had on my usual jockey shorts and tee shirt. She was cold and shivering. I asked, “So do I spoon against you or do you spoon against me?”

“Stanley, I’ll do the spooning. Turn away from me.” She got just as tight to me as she could. I was warm and it must have felt good to her. I could feel two icicles stabbing me in the back just under my shoulder blades.

We lay there like this for fifteen minutes and Linda stopped shivering. “Stan, my butt is still cold. Could we both turn over and I’ll have you spoon against me?” I didn’t say anything just rolling over when she did. I had a problem immediately.

“Stan, I don’t think this was a good idea.”

“You’re getting warm aren’t you? When you get warm enough I’ll turn away from you and give you some space.” 

Linda didn’t speak for a few minutes. Then, “Stan, I think you still have a problem.”

“Yeah I know, but those things happen when I lay next to a beautiful woman in the middle of the night. You must be warm enough by now?”

“Actually Stan, I went from cold to warm faster than I ever have in the past. In fact, now I’m getting hot.”

“That’s your problem. There just isn’t any way to satisfy you, is there?” I felt Linda go rigid then relax.

“Stan, I didn’t come here to tease you. This is an obvious response to what you just said. I was cold.”

“I know, sweet cousin, and we just unknowingly triggered something primeval. That was on my part anyway. Why don’t I turn over? I would like to have you stay in my bed though. Maybe we can get some sleep and talk about it in the morning.”

“That would be best. Good night Stan.  You’re the sweetest person I know.”

“Good night Linda.” I lay there quiet after rolling onto my back. I wasn’t happy and I knew Linda wasn’t satisfied with the way this ended. “Linda, may I kiss you and then we’ll talk about it in the morning?” I rolled onto my side and her lips came searching for mine. It was a chaste kiss, but we both were aware of our passion that was hidden behind it.

I slept and I think Linda did too. She was smiling at me when I rolled over and looked at her in the morning light. She leaned into me and I received the twin kiss to the one I gave her last night.

“We were going talk this morning.”

“I don’t know what there is left to say. The kiss I just received said it all didn’t it?”

“I was hoping you felt that way. Stan, you must realize I have feelings for you.”

“I do and I have the same for you, but I don’t want to pressure you. After all I’m an old man compared to you. We could start a relationship feeling as we both do, don’t you think?”

“Stan, you do know I didn’t have any ulterior motive last night. I was really cold.”

“I know you didn’t, and I didn’t think that for a minute. I realized suddenly I never wanted to let you go back to the other room because your place was here beside me. That was when I asked you to kiss me.”

“You can’t imagine how happy that made me. Uh, are we going to keep this a secret?”

“Linda, I don’t see any reason to. I think Gram should be told. No problem there.”

“And my Dad has to be told. He really likes you. Us being a couple will make him happy. Do you realize almost two months have gone by and he only has ten more months to go before he has paid his debt to society?”

“I was thinking of that a day or two ago.”

“He is doing so well too. He is the cook for the group that lives with him. He sets down with the Sunday paper and looks at all the sales for the next week. He makes a menu and sends the men out to the stores to pick up what he tells them to. They pay for it all and he gets his meals free for doing the cooking. He doesn’t even have to clean up or do the dishes. He runs a happy household. Pat, his boss has given him a raise and Dad is making enough money so he doesn’t have to work in the car wash for tips before his regular hours begin. I’m so proud of him.”

“I am too. How about you and your mother?”

“I call but rarely can catch her. When I do she says she is too busy to talk long. I’ve written her two letters, but have gotten no response. That’s different than Dad. I get two letters a week, but that’s okay and at least I have one parent who loves me.”

“Hey, we both have tomorrow off from work. Do you want to raise our new relationship to the next level?”

“That’s what I had in mind. We could run up and see Gram after breakfast.  I suspect it will be a late breakfast though.” We both had the same thought.

“It might be. I suppose I have to get up now. Kiss me once more.” Okay, so it was more than one kiss.

We called Gram and told her we would be visiting. “I’ll have lunch for you.”

When we arrived, she made the comment we looked happy. As we were finishing lunch, Linda announced that she wouldn’t be living with her this winter.

“When’s the wedding? That’s the only thing I can think of to change your mind about not moving to Arlington.”

“Gram, we’ve only started this. We haven’t made any plans yet. We want to be sure, you know, not like it was with Mom or Stan’s ex-wife. I’m pretty sure already and Stan is too, but we thought we’d wait to decide until along about Thanksgiving time. You’re invited for dinner that day anyway.”

Gram snorted. “I knew you two were going to get together the first time you came up here. You are just right for each other. Oh, I’m so happy for you and maybe someday you’ll give me a great-grand child.”

“We haven’t discussed children. Linda turned to me, “Stan, do you want kids?”

“I haven’t thought about it yet. Bonny left me before we got that far and that was good I think. I’ll bet if we do, they’ll be cute just like their mother and we do have an empty bedroom. Two if I move my office into a corner somewhere.

“Isn’t he sweet, Gram? I just love him to pieces.”

Gram laughed. “Stan’s trying to reel you in. It proves he loves you too.”

We didn’t stay long in Arlington. We wanted to be home where we felt we could make love if the feeling hit us ... Duh! We were heavily involved when the phone rang. It was Mike. He had news he wanted to share. He had been informed he would only have to appear in the parole office the first Monday of every month. The rest of the Mondays, he only had to make the phone call.

“Dad, Stan I have some news too. We have begun a relationship. We’ve just come back from Gram’s telling her all about it. It is just too wonderful to keep a secret.”

“That’s odd, Linda. I woke up this morning feeling I should call you. If what you tell me about Stan is true, and I feel it is, you should be very happy. It is time you were thinking about marriage. You aren’t getting any younger.”

“Dad, the same goes for you too. You’ll be finding someone someday who will treat you better than Mom did. Pick a younger woman and you still have time to give me a brother or sister.”

“Linda, I’m not looking for anyone yet. I want to finish with the parole office before I do. I do think about it some though. I haven’t had any companionship for a long time.”

“Dad, do you think you can get permission to come for Thanksgiving? We’d love to have you here. Gram is going to be with us.”

“I’ll ask Pat my boss to put in a good word for me at the parole office so it might be possible. I’ll probably take the bus if I can come. I’ve already checked out connections.”

Linda was bubbling over with happiness. “This is turning out to be a great year for me. I think it is for you too. I’m making sure this is a good year for Stan too.”

“Treat him right, sweetheart, a good man is hard to find.”

“I will Dad. Take care and let us know as soon as possible if you can get permission to come have turkey with us.”

Hanging up the phone, Linda turned to me, “Dad likes you. I’m supposed to treat you right. Does that give you any ideas?

————————

Life was great. That happens when a man and woman are in love. I never specifically asked Linda to marry me, but we began to have conversations about being married. I thought it was time to make things more permanent between us. I purchased a diamond ring, buying it on time and presented it to Linda on Labor Day. This done, we had to decide when the big day should be.

“If it was on Valentines Day, I’d never forget what day we were married?”

“Stan, you mean you might forget what day?”

“No, sweetheart, I was pulling your chain. You set the day.”

“The day before the New year.”

“Well, why not the day before Christmas? That’s easier to remember.”

“Stan, you said I could name the day and I named one.” I grinned at her and she grinned back at me and then, “I’ll name one more and be damned if I’ll change that one. Thanksgiving is on the twenty-fifth this year. Our wedding day will be the twenty-forth of November.”

“Okay, that’s the day we get married. I suggested a day far out knowing you wanted to be married before then. I didn’t want to pressure you, but around Thanksgiving was what I had in mind.”

“I’ll call Gram now and I’ll call Dad at work and see if he can get a written waiver to leave the state to travel here for our wedding. I’ll bet they will give it to him.  I’m so thrilled.”

“You could be riding for a fall, you know? I don’t want you more than just a little disappointed if things don’t play out the way we want them do. Let’s just hope and get over it if our hopes aren’t fulfilled.”

“You’re right. I’ve had enough disappointments in my life so I shouldn’t expect things will come together the way I want.”

“Linda, you said not long ago that this was a great year for both of us. The year isn’t over yet. I’ll predict you’ll get what you want. Then if it doesn’t happen, you can put the blame on me.”

“That isn’t fair, you can’t take the blame. Stan, I’m being childish, aren’t I?”

“Nope, let’s just hope and leave it there.” We worried for nothing. Mike got his waiver to come to Vermont for his daughter’s wedding and for Thanksgiving.

Mike and Gram had come Wednesday for the service at the town Clerks office. It had to be in the morning for the office was closed at noon. We went directly home to bake pies and rolls. We were up early. The turkey was done to perfection. Gram and Mike collaborated in making the dinner perfect.

After dinner, Mike and Gram were in the living room, “Mike, sit by me and get acquainted. I didn’t get to know you very well before you and Wendy ran off to New Jersey. I understand that hasn’t worked too well.”

“Mrs. Eaton, it did for the first ten years. Then I kept losing my job and Wendy had to go to work. She picked a job that I wasn’t happy with, but it did pay the bills. Our relationship went down-hill and Linda realized we weren’t happy with our life. It came down to Wendy living her life and me living mine. Linda moved out and there really wasn’t any reason for Wendy and me to stay together. Then we were both out of work. I was doing some breaking and entering and I finally got caught.

“I went to prison and while there Wendy found another man. He could give her more than I could so she divorced me. I’ll give her credit though for one thing. Even divorced as we were, she found me a job and the boss where I work had a place for me to live. That was the best thing that she did for me in all the years I’ve known her.

“She couldn’t have helped me more to be happy and to get on with my life. I’ve written her a letter and I suppose she read it. When I try to call, she won’t accept it. I’ve now pushed her out of my mind. I have my daughter back in my life and she has replaced Wendy in my thoughts and in my life.”

“Mike, I think you have handled your problems very well. I’m glad for you. When you get where you are completely free, you might consider moving to Vermont. We’ll never pry Linda away from Stan or from Brattleboro. I’m sure you will be able to find employment close to them. That would please them greatly.”

“I’ll give it a lot of thought. Linda is my only family member.”

“You have more than that. You have Stanley. He is your son-in-law. You could even claim me still as your mother-in-law and I wouldn’t mind a bit. And don’t continue to call me Mrs. Eaton. Call me Mildred.”

Gram left for Arlington after having a short nap. We weren’t really tired, just full from dinner. Mike spoke up, “I’m leaving first thing in the morning before you head for Boston and your honeymoon. It was great I was able to be here for your wedding. I brought a card and I put some money in it for you. It isn’t much, but Christmas is coming and I’ll come up with a little more.”

“Dad, please don’t. Stan and I are relatively well off considering. Save your money so when you move here you’ll have a little cushion before your first paycheck comes in.”

“You really want me to move here to Vermont.”

“You bet.” 

We went to bed early. The house was empty and we took time to enjoy our newly married status.

Chapter Three

We slept late, had breakfast and were packing for three days and two nights in Boston. The phone rang while Linda was putting our bags in the car.

“Hello, Stanley speaking.”

“Mr. Rider, this is Maurice Cumberland calling from Burlington. Your wife Bonny married my brother Charles, and they moved to Pennsylvania. I’m calling to inform you that they were in an auto accident while returning home after going out with friends. They had dinner at home earlier. Charlie died immediately and Bonny isn’t expected to make it through the night”

“I’m sorry to hear that and I’d like to extend my condolences. Bonny has been out of my life for nearly four years now. Why are you calling me?”

“I’ll try to explain, but first I have to ask, are you married now, or have a female companion?”

“I do. I was married two days ago, but what has to do with Bonny’s possible demise?”

“This will be a surprise to you, but Bonny was pregnant with your child when she married my brother. Seven months after the marriage Bonny gave birth to a boy.  There was some doubt who was the biological father at first so they had tests performed.  You proved to be the father.”

“Your brother must have hated that?”

“He did at first, but he loved Bonny very much and came to love Jim as much as if he was the father.”

“I still don’t understand what you are trying to say?”

“What I’m saying is that you as the biological father will be first in line to take the boy into your home if it is felt you can bring yourself to care for him. I’m the one to decide because if Bonny dies it will be me who administers the estate. The child is of the first and most importance to me.”

“What if I won’t take him?”

“I don’t know. I’m not able to provide for him adequately. He most likely would be put up for adoption? To lend a little more weight to you caring for him, you are named as his biological father. If money is a problem, there are some funds in the estate available to give you some help.

“I wouldn’t take the boy just for the money. Can you hold on a minute and let me ask my wife?”

“Take your time. I’ll give you twenty minutes and call back.”

“Thanks.” Linda had come in and was wondering whom I was talking to. I spoke fast. “Linda, I just found out I am the biological father of a three-year-old boy. Bonny was pregnant when she ran off with the man she left me for. Bonny and her husband were in an accident. She is expected to die within hours and her husband is dead already. Would you consider being a mother to the boy?”

“Where would he go if we didn’t take him?”

“Most likely he would be put up for adoption.”

“Stanley, we can’t let him go into an orphanage. We can give him a good home, I know we can.”

“I was hoping you would say that. When Cumberland calls back, we will tell him so.” Ten minutes later, the phone rang.

“My wife agrees that we taking him would be the best thing for the child’s future. We were planning on having children soon, but we can put it off for a while. How are we going to be able to get him?”

“I have the firm’s jet on standby now. I think the closest airport is Keene NH. Can you get packed and be there within forty-five minutes? We can talk more during the flight.”

“We’ll meet you there. Oh, what is the boy’s full name?

“It is James Rider Cumberland. Bonny named him that with Charlie's agreement. Also, they agreed sometime in the future you would learn you were named as the biological father on the birth certificate. You weren’t to be told until the boy was eighteen, but now under the present circumstances it is compulsory.”

Linda called the Chelsea Royal and informed them of her situation, saying she didn’t know when she would return. For myself, I just informed my assistant I would be gone for a week, explaining that I would return sooner if possible. I wasn’t slated to return until Wednesday anyway. This changed our honeymoon plans. Who knew how this change would impact us? We were waiting on the plane when it touched down in Keene. We bundled into the plane and ten minutes later, we were in the air heading for Pennsylvania.

After greeting, Cumberland said, “This won’t take long. We will land at the nearest airport which is 45 minutes from the home of my brother. I’ve reserved a vehicle to travel from there. Their son is talking and calls me Uncle Maury. I think a lot of him and if conditions were different, I would work to have him with me. If you do take him home with you, I’d like to have the chance to visit often.”

“Of, course you can, Mr. Cumberland.”

“Call me Maury. Charlie and Bonny live in my ancestral home and it will revert to me if Bonny doesn’t survive this.”

“I’m getting mixed signals here. Is there any possibility she will survive?”

“No, not any, but a person can always hope. We should know before we leave the airport. I’ve already made funeral arrangements concerning Charlie for Tuesday morning. Bonny is terrible smashed up. If she passes before tomorrow evening, it will be a double ceremony.

“Who is James staying with now?”

“At home with a lady named, Mrs. Wagner, who sits for them. She has been staying in the house with Jimmy since the accident. He has been told that his father and mother won’t be returning home. He has cried more than half his waking moments. That’ll be the first thing you’ll have to deal with. That is the main reason I asked if you had a female companion. I didn’t think I could deal with my brother’s death and a crying child too. Of course there is Bonny. I loved her like she was my sister.”

“I fully understand.” It didn’t seem long before we were sitting down on the airport runway. We hadn’t tried to keep Maury in conversation. He was feeling terrible about losing his brother. At one point I had seen tears trickling down his cheeks before he turned away. I glanced at Linda. She had seen the tears too and her eyes were moist as well. 

Maury stepped out first and called the hospital on his cell phone. He turned to me, “Bonny passed away shortly after we left New Hampshire. I’ll leave you at the house to get acquainted with Jimmy while I see to funeral arrangements for her. I think it will be a double funeral.

“I will introduce you to Mrs. Wagner who has been caring for Jimmy. Maybe she can give you information how better to take over the care of the boy. Linda, have you ever cared for young children before?”

“I spent six months working in an orphanage. Most were older than Jimmy, though, but I think I will be able to handle the situation fairly well.”

“Good, you have some idea what to expect.” Maury drove fast, but conservatively.  He retired into his thoughts saying little the rest of the way. 

We pulled into the driveway of a large older home. The grounds were immaculately groomed. It looked like it had seven rooms on the ground floor and at least four on the second. It also had a three car garage with a covered breezeway between the two. “How many acres go with the property?”

“Only five now. There used to be more than a hundred. My father sold off most of it, thinking as long we both had made Vermont our home it would be too much care. Father has been dead for several years and the place was getting run down. Charlie brought Bonny here and brought it back to what you see now. It is terrible he isn’t going to enjoy it.” No comment from me was needed. 

We went into the house through the rear entrance. Mrs. Wagner met us there. “Hello Maurice. Have you heard about Mrs. Cumberland?”

“Yes, I called as soon as we were on the ground. She passed a short time ago. Where is Jimmy?”

“He is curled up on the couch in the living room. He is asleep, but he whimpers some, not quite waking.”

“Mrs. Wagner, this is Stanley Rider and his wife Linda. Jimmy will be leaving here and living with Stanley and Linda. Actually, Stanley is Jimmy’s biological father so it is natural for him to go with them.”

“What day will that be?”

“Wednesday, if all goes to plan.”

“Oh, the poor dear. He loses his father and mother and is taken from his home as well, all within a week’s time.”

“I know it is unfortunate, but what else is there to do in this situation?”

“True.” She thought about it. “Nothing I guess.”

I went out and brought in our suitcases and Mrs. Wagner put us into a room next to the one Jimmy slept in. Maury was sitting across the room from Jimmy, just staring at him. I knew he wanted to leave to get the arrangements done. “Maury, why don’t you go now before he wakes up? We can tell him you are coming soon. It would be worse if you speak to him and then you leave. He has had enough of the people who love him leave.”

“You’re right, I will.”

“Mrs. Wagner, would you tell me all you can about Jimmy? You know his likes and dislikes and what upsets him. It is going to be so difficult for him.”

“Of course, Mrs. Rider.”

“Oh, please don’t call me Mrs. Rider. I’ve only been married two days. Call me Linda and then I’ll know to whom you are speaking.” Mrs. Wagner’s eyes opened at this, but didn’t comment.

“Linda, Jimmy is really a good little boy and very intelligent. Bonny has done wonderful in teaching him. He knows some of his alphabet and can count up to fifteen already. It won’t be long before he can read some of the simplest of his books. He also loves being read to. It is kind of frustrating because he is always stopping you and asking what a word means.

“He has been taught to mind and seldom gives any problem in that area. He is just a sweet little child.”

“I babysat when I was old enough. When I moved away from home, my first full time job was working as a nanny, but then the husband started bothering me so I left. The child there was about the same age as Jimmy.” 

I interjected, “I didn’t know that.”

“Stan, there are some things you don’t know about me. I didn’t think it necessary to dwell on it until now. It was just something many girls do to earn money. Now I find I have a skill that I’m glad I acquired.”

Mrs. Wagner asked, “How are you going to approach Jimmy with the fact he will be living with you?”

“I’ll play it by ear. Can you tell me what his mother wore for perfume? If I smell the same, then he will feel that he is still connected with her in some small way.”

“I spoke up, “I don’t remember what it was called, but if I saw the bottle I can point out the right one.”

“Mrs. Cumberland keeps her toiletries in the dresser on the left side of the bedroom upstairs. You should be able find it there. Her purse hasn’t come back from the accident yet that I’m aware of, but if she used the bottle long, she should have a spare here in the house.”

“Thank you. Stan, come with me, we’ll check.”

I paused to look around the room. There were several photos scattered about. Many were with Charlie and Bonny with Jimmy’s images beginning when the boy was an infant.  There was one hung on the wall of stairs that was professionally done of Bonny and Jimmy. Opposite on the facing wall was one of Jimmy with Charlie done by the same photographer.

Linda paused, “Your Bonny was a very attractive woman.”

“Yes she was. I never said otherwise. Sad that she had to die. It looks like she was very happy here and loved by her husband very much.” I poked through the make-up chest and found two bottles of the scent I remembered her wearing. One was nearly depleted while the other was full. I handed them to Linda who took the cap off and waved it under my nose.

“That’s it.” There was a dress of Bonny’s draped over a hamper. I picked it up and held it to my face. “She still uses the same after all these years. She raved over it when I gave her some on her first birthday after we became engaged.”

“Stan, is it going to bother you if I wear it?”

“No, it won’t, not if you like it yourself. I’ve noticed you don’t wear any and it is important to do everything you can to ease Jimmy’s pain. This may be the tipping point to attract him to you and lessen that pain slightly.”

“I was asking if it would cause you pain for yourself and your association with a different woman who wore the same perfume?”

“No.”

I looked around. You could tell that Bonny and Charlie had planned coming home the afternoon they left. There were a few clothes that hadn’t been put away. It suddenly struck me, everything I had seen and that included the house, spoke of wealth far beyond anything I could have given Bonny. Too bad she didn’t live to enjoy it. More than too bad ... more like so very, very sad! I meant that too.

Linda opened the closets and looked at Bonny’s clothes. All she said was, “Your ex-wife dressed well.” I made no comment. When Bonny left me so suddenly she left everything I bought her hanging in our closet. I bundled everything and sent the clothes and personal items to Hospice to be sold. Linda didn’t open any of the bureau drawers. She looked at me. “Stan, you taught me that it wasn’t nice to poke into things. Do you remember?” I nodded.

We went down stairs where we could hear Mrs. Wagner trying to get Jimmy to say he was hungry. He was sitting on the far side of the kitchen table facing the door when we entered. He stared first at Linda and then at me.

Mrs. Wagner said, “Jimmy, this is Linda and Stanley Rider. They are related to you, just like your uncle Maury is. I told you your mommy and papa got hurt so bad they can’t come home. I think you are going to live with Linda and Stanley. Uncle Maury will be here soon and tell you all about it.”

“I don’t want to live with them, I want my mommy.” He ran for the living room and curled up on the couch in one corner.

Linda, said to us, “Let me go in alone to see if I can make friends with him?”

Mrs. Wagner got me a cup of coffee and began telling me all about Jimmy and his parents. “Mr. Rider, how are you related to Jimmy?”

“I’m his biological father. I was out of Bonny’s life although she was pregnant at the time when she married Charlie. Now that both parents are gone, Maurice contacted me to see if I would take Jimmy and raise him. This is sudden and will change the direction of my life considerably, but I’m excited about doing this for the boy. Linda will make a good mother. I will say this is going to take some getting used to.

“I’ve known Linda’s grandmother most of my life. I haven’t known Linda that long, but I do love her dearly. We are in a position financially so Linda can become a full time mother to Jimmy. I’m employed as a store manager which is less than a quarter mile distant from where my home is located. It is in a very good neighborhood.

“That is wonderful. I know Jimmy will be well cared for.”

“Thank you. This will be a period of adjustment for all of us and we will do everything we can to make Jimmy a happy person. I know this will take some time and I expect that. I think if Linda can bond with him it will be easier. Was Charlie close to Jimmy?”

“He was very close. I am very surprised to learn that he isn’t Jimmy’s birth father because Charlie doted on Jimmy and spent most of the time he was home with his son.”

“That pleases me no end to hear that. I certainly will give Jimmy all my attention the same way.”

It was quiet in the living room. We walked in and could see that now Linda was the one curled up in the couch corner. Jimmy was snuggled next to her sucking his thumb. Most children did it at some point in their childhood. Was it any better than running around with a rubber nipple with a ring stuck in his mouth?

Maybe a thumb was more original and a thumb is always available. I was sure Linda would be able to break Jimmy of thumb sucking when it was time. I would guess Jimmy had gotten over this habit already, but had reverted to something he did to lessen his stress.

She smiled up at us. “Stan, Jimmy said he doesn’t want me to leave him if his mommy isn’t coming back. He is going to talk to his Uncle Maury about it.”

Before I could say anything, Jimmy sat away from Linda. “Mr. Man, are you going to live with Linda and me, too?  She said to ask you?”

“My name is Stan, and yes, we will be together. We are going to go on a plane for a long ride and then we are going to get into a car, drive a ways, and then you will see where we live. Your Uncle Maury will be visiting us a whole lot because he really loves you and he is missing your Mommy and Papa too. You can sit with him and talk about them. He can tell you stories about when he and your Papa where little like you.”

“Will I see my Grammy too?”

“I think you will. We will ask her to come visit you in your new home.” I knew Bonny’s mother from when I was married to Bonny. I hadn’t seen her since Bonny left me. I assumed she still lived in Vermont near St Johnsbury, but didn’t really know for sure.

Linda spoke, “Jimmy would you sit with Stan while I help Mrs. Wagner get dinner? I think Uncle Maury will be hungry and we need to get some dinner for him.” The thumb popped out of Jimmy’s mouth and I had his full attention.

“Okay, if you don’t leave like my Mommy did.”

“I won’t leave, I promise.”

I sat where Linda was. Jimmy’s hand came searching for me to hold it. It was just looking for a little comfort because the world as he knew it had been turned upside down. I told him about a wonderful lady, named Aunt Mildred who I was sure he would meet someday. “I did little chores for her for years. I started out mowing her grass with a lawn mower and if she needed something out in the barn or up in the attic I would go up and fetch it for her. Sometimes I was scared because it was spooky.”

“I wouldn’t do that, I’d be too afraid.”

“I’ll bet you would have. When someone is nice to you, you do things anyway just because.” I spoke about how my father and mother had a pony for me because I lived on a farm and could have a place to keep it.

“I’d like a pony.

“Jimmy, I’m sorry, but I don’t live where we could have a pony.”

“I could keep it in my room.”

“I don’t think that would work.”

“But I want a pony.”

“No.”

“I hate you.”

“That hurts me, but you can’t have a pony. Go tell Linda and Mrs. Wagner about how mean I am. See what they say.”

Jimmy went running into the kitchen. He soon came back. “Linda said I couldn’t have a pony. She said you might let me have a kitty. She said you have a cat named Porky. Maybe I can have a kitty too. She said she would help me take care of it if you said okay. Can I have a kitty?”

“Yes and if I’m working, you and Linda can go find one a few days after we get home.”

“This many days?” Jimmy held up two fingers.

I held up three fingers. “That’s after we get to your new home. We have to get you settled in your new home first.”

“Okay.”

Maurice Cumberland drove in and slowly entered the house. He didn’t speak at first. Then he couldn’t for Jimmy came screaming into his arms. “Uncle Maury, I’ve missed you so much. Mommy and Papa went away and aren’t coming home.”

Tears sprang from Maury’s eyes and he grasped Jimmy to him hugging him tight. “I know Jimmy, I know. Jimmy you’ll understand why someday, but for now you just have to remember them and not forget them.”

“I won’t, I promise.”

Mrs. Wagner hadn’t been home since right after the Thanksgiving dinner. Linda and I finished up in the kitchen so she could go home to her husband. Maurice entertained Jimmy while we did this. Then we went in and sat on the couch. Jimmy got down from his uncle’s lap and came over and sat close enough to Linda so she could put her arm around him.

I was watching Maurice Cumberland when this happened. A look of relief passed over his face. Maurice had the responsibility of settling his brother’s affairs. Foremost was Jimmy, whom he loved almost as his own. I knew if Charlie’s death had happened when I was in my alcoholic daze, he would have fought letting Jimmy come to me. The hard assets didn’t matter to him, but he wanted to get it right where Jimmy was concerned.

Maury also might have fought me having the care of Jimmy if Linda wasn’t a part of my life, biological father or no. I mean he was not in a position to take Jimmy, having never married. If I wasn’t married, then he would have hesitated, but I was. I’m sure Bonny and Charles had never imagined that they would die so young and had made no provision for Jimmy in that event.

Jimmy had a trying day and he was beginning to nod occasionally. Maurice spoke, “Would you like to go to bed now, Jimmy?”

“Uncle Maury, would you tuck me in?”

“Of course. Do you want Linda to tuck you in too?”

“Yes. Linda, will you lay down with me like Mommy did when I didn’t feel well?”

“Jimmy, I would love to. Stan and I’ll be sleeping down the hall from you. If you need anything in the night, you’ll come in and wake me up won’t you?” Jimmy just nodded, happy at the thought. 

We all trooped up stairs and Maury and Linda went in with Jimmy. He got a kiss and hug from Maury before getting undressed. I waved to him from the doorway. Maurice and I went down stairs to discuss what the plans were for the next few days. Maury and I returned to the living room

He went directly across to a wet bar that was located in one corner. “Brandy, or something different?”

“Go ahead pour yourself one. None for me. I had a problem with booze when Bonny left me, so I don’t drink at all now. This was because of a promise I made to my father and has nothing to do with Bonny or your family.”

“A man should honor his promises and especially to ones father. How long has it been?”

“Over four years.”

“Stan, whether you realize it or not, the worst hurdle for me to get over when I learned of my brother’s death was what to do about Jimmy. I’m now satisfied that I made the correct decision in contacting you. Linda seems to have bonded with the boy and both of you will come to love him. So that’s behind me.

“Now for the present. How well do you know Jimmy’s grandmother, Loretta?”

“I knew her quite well at one time. I haven’t spoken to her since Bonny left me and she hasn’t tried to contact me that I am aware of. Why?”

“I’ve sent the plane after her and she’ll be here at lunchtime tomorrow. She wants to be at Bonny’s funeral of course and she wants very much to see her grandson.”

“Yes, Jimmy spoke about her.”

“Loretta spent the summers here with Bonny and Charlie so Jimmy knows her very well and loves her.”

“That’s great. When we get back to Vermont, I’ll ask her to visit Jimmy anytime. When he gets older she can have Jimmy stay with her for a while in the summer.”

“I’m sure she would like that. Now I would like to discuss some other matters. As you probably realize with my being an attorney, I dot I’s and cross T’s. I, being older than my brother, made sure that both Bonny and Charlie had wills. They have come into play in a somewhat unusual way.”

“Unusual in what way?”

“I’ll explain. Bonny, of course named Charlie as her heir and if Jimmy was younger than his majority, then a certain percentage was to go into a trust for him until he reached said age. In Charlie’s will, I and Bonny were named as heirs along with a certain percentage for Jimmy much the same way as in Bonny’s will. I am named as manager in both those trusts and I’m to settle the rest of the estate. That’s pretty cut and dried and I will see that the assets are distributed and the trusts set up to comply.” 

“That’s wonderful. That will give him a great start in life.”

“Yes it will, but for you it might be a problem. It will be up to you and Linda as his parents to see that he is mature enough to handle what will turn out to make him a rich young man. Do you think that you can do this?”

I gave this some thought and was silent while I ruminated. “I certainly will try my best. Would you be available for advice? I know I could call on my Aunt Mildred and Mrs. Dinsmore. Both are Jimmy’s grandmothers.”

“Pardon me Stan, Bonny never mentioned any Mildred.”

I laughed. “I’m not surprised. Actually Mildred Eaton is my cousin, but the strange thing is that Linda is my cousin too, and she is a granddaughter of Aunt Mildred. So round and around Jimmy is picking up some great family members when he joins us.”

“Do you have any other close family left?”

“I have a married sister, Betty living out in California and my mother, Susan lives out there close to her. How all this talk of cousins comes in, is that Mildred’s grandmother and my great-grandmother were sisters. My cousin Wendy is daughter to Mildred, and Linda is Wendy’s daughter.”

“This Wendy, then is a grandmother to Jimmy as well?”

“Yes, but she isn’t close to either her mother or Linda. I doubt she will be a presence.”

“Understood. You’re probably wondering how large Jimmy’s trust funds will be. I can’t give you the amount. You see, Jimmy’s trust fund that comes from Charlie is easy to figure, but it gets complicated in settling Bonny’s. That’s because she outlived Charlie by a few hours and she inherits everything of Charlie’s after the other of Charlie’s heirs are distributed. That’s the procedure in the willing of percentages. Charlie’s will has to be probated and then what Bonny received from him is included, the percentage is increased exponentially.”

“I’m glad I don’t have to figure it out. I can see where it could change daily.”

“It won’t be too bad. The laws are clear and I have a lot of leeway as to the distribution. As administrator, I’m going to name you his guardian. You are going to have the total care of Jimmy who inherits from his mother. This is separate from the trust funds that will be set aside before the final distribution.” 

“I don’t see how I should come into any money and I am certainly not asking to share. I think Linda and I can give Jimmy a good life and he won’t be denied anything that he should have either.”

“Forget the money for a moment. Jimmy, as an infant, needs care for several years. It is in my power as administrator to find someone to fill the position of guardian. As biological father you are the most likely person and the court will agree. There are some things of a more personal nature that aren’t found in either will that will tell me this is the right way to proceed.”

“I’m confused. Please explain.”

“I have to tell you about some things that Bonny and I have discussed over the years. The one thing that made her unhappy on occasion was the way she left the marriage she had with you. She bore a lot of guilt over her actions. She never regretted marrying Charlie, but she did think about you at times. Often she would ask about your whereabouts or how you were doing.

“When she deduced that it was you who sired Jimmy, it was almost more than she could bear. Also she felt guilt thinking that she came to Charlie under false pretenses. So you see it was a terrible time for you, but for her as well. I know Bonny would approve if I distributed some of the wealth she inherited from Charlie to you. This is as long as the main portion eventually goes to Jimmy when he comes of age.”

“This isn’t necessary. How would Charlie look at this? You should consider his probable wishes in the matter like he was still alive.”

“Charlie loved Jimmy as much as if it were he who sired him. As long as Jimmy will receive all the money that his will denotes at the time of his death, I feel that Charlie would agree with my naming you guardian and with the way I manage the distribution. What I’m saying is that Jimmy receives all the assets from his parents at the time of their death according to the will as written.

“What I’m doing is making note of that amount named in the trusts and the remainder to be used for his care through naming a guardian. The two trust funds can’t be distributed to anyone other than Jimmy.

I thought this through while Maury waited for me to say something. “Maury, I don’t have much for investments, but I have studied investing in depth. Frankly having a great amount of money under my control scares the hell out of me. I’ll need a lot of expert advice. I never contemplated receiving money from Bonny, and especially now, because on her death. Some of this goes back to some talks and advice my father gave me before he died.”

“Your father must have been a remarkable man. As far as advice in investing, I’ll find some firm in your locality that can help you. That shouldn’t be a problem,”

“Father was and I’m becoming more aware of just how smart a man he was.”

“Different subject than the will’s liquid assets. The property here comes to me and I do get a percentage of Charlie’s estate. Most of the furniture here will stay because there again it originally belonged to my parents. I’m going to have all of Bonny’s personal property sent up to you and Linda. This will include all of Jimmy’s toys and such. You might want to engage a storage container while you sort it out.”

“I’ll be glad to get off this subject and I do thank you for explaining so fully how Jimmy is to be cared for.”

“Listen, I have two years to settle this estate, but I’ll start as soon as the funerals are over working on settling the wills. I’ll give you a check when we get off the plane in Keene. You’ll be losing Linda’s income while you are getting Jimmy acclimated to living in Vermont. It should last you three months. If you need more, I’ll get you more. This is all in anticipation of what is coming to you.”

I didn’t say anything. The money would be welcomed. Linda and I had planned saving part of our earnings, but with Jimmy in the house that would be impossible. “Thanks, we could make do, but if the money is coming anyway, there is no way Jimmy should have to live on less than what he is used to.”

“There are so many adjustments to make when a tragedy like this happens. I was wondering if you would escort Mrs. Wagner to the funeral. I don’t anticipate it being too large an affair, but she has been a long term employee and friend of the family.”

“Of course I will. Linda can care for Jimmy until it is over. What about Mrs. Dinsmore?”

“She’ll be in the front row with us included in the family mourners. There will be a few of Charlie’s coworkers and some friends from the area. I’ve purchased marble urns to put their ashes in. I’ll keep them with me. Eventually when he is old enough, Jimmy may want them with him. If he wants them buried, that will be the time to do that with a small memorial service.

“There is a stone here in Pennsylvania in the family plot already. Mine is set here as well. However, I love the state of Vermont. I may sell the family home and consider becoming a permanent member of the Green Mountain State. I’ll ask Loretta where she wants Bonny to rest. If she says Vermont, I’ll ask her if it is okay to have Charlie and Bonny rest close to her.”

Speech stopped momentarily, “Stan, I have some phone calls to make. I need to inform different friends what has happened. The funeral will be Tuesday morning. After that, the plane is available to go to Vermont whenever you and your family wish. Loretta will be here tomorrow morning and she will have plans to go home sometime. I wouldn’t imagine there would be a reason for her to stay here long. She may even be on the plane with Jimmy. I will have to stay down a bit, but I’ll keep in touch.”

Standing, Maury went to the side board and retrieved a metal box from inside. He handed it to me. “Bonny kept a journal and wrote in it most days. It will go to Jimmy at some future date. I would imagine you will find your name in it. You also might find out why she left you the way she did.”

“Have you read it?”

“No, but I was her boss at the firm and it was I who introduced Charlie to your wife. We discussed her marriage to you before she left you. I came down on the side of Charlie and told Bonny she should follow her heart. I would say Charlie had ninety percent of said heart. The other ten percent was still with you. That is another reason why you are going home with Jimmy.

“For your information, I have a longtime female companion and we would not be able to take Jimmy and raise him at this time. You being his father by blood could have been suppressed by me until Jimmy was eighteen. I had Bonny’s promise that you would be informed about Jimmy someday. Not necessary to keep it from you now.”

This stunned me. How would I answer this information coming to me? Was there even a need too? Silence lengthened.   

Maury poured himself a large drink. I noticed it was scotch this time. “Stanley, this time I came down on your side. Bonny wasn’t the only one who harbored some guilt. It has bothered me since I was the one who told Bonny to follow her heart.” 

Maury was pacing now, back in forth in front of me. Suddenly he asked, “How much will Linda earn this year?”

“I have no idea. I think the diner pays her by check a little over a $100 dollars a week and she makes anywhere from $200 to $300 in tips each week.”

“That would be somewhere around $20,000 a year give or take. I believe the estate would replace that amount and more to have Linda become a full time mother to Jimmy. And for your information, I want to continue to be involved with him.”

“Certainly Maury, you will be welcomed anytime. Also Jimmy can visit you if he is invited. The only way he will have a sense of family is to be with you as often as possible.” Maury was waiting for me to leave him so he could use the phone. I went upstairs to Jimmy’s room. 

Linda’s eyes found me as I looked in on her cuddled up to Jimmy with her arms over him. It was warm and there was just a sheet over the two. Linda slowly eased out of bed and the sleeping boy. She retrieved her shoes, tip-toeing out with me.

“You had a long talk with Maury.”

“Yes and we covered a lot of different things. The box I have with me contains Bonny’s diary. Maury said some of what is in it will give me some insight of why Bonny left me like she did. She talked to Maury and he admitted he told her she should follow her heart when she found she had fallen in love with his brother. He said she did feel some guilt and he feels some guilt in advising her. You know, I still like him quite a bit even now.

“He is a likable person. I like the way he is looking after Jimmy and the boy’s interests.”

“There’s more we discussed. He is going to name me as Jimmy’s guardian. He knows the court will agree. He could have suppressed the fact that I am the boy’s biological father and kept Jimmy with him, but here again, I believe there is some guilt involved in his decision. Maury does have a longtime companion who would not be able to help him fulfill the role of guardian. Knowing Bonny and some of her thoughts concerning me, he decided I was the one to best take Jimmy.”

“Wow, this is all strange. Geez, married two days and I already have a three-year old son.”

“His fourth birthday is soon. Does that scare you?”

“Definitely not. I love the little boy already. It is going to make us have to budget closer than we planned.”

“Maybe not. He asked about how much you earned working. I told him I thought you would earn around $20,000 for the year. He said he would give us a check before returning home to help with the increased expenditure.”

“How much?”

“I have no idea. Jimmy is going to be well off someday because in both his father and his mother’s will there is to be some trust money that will come to him at the time of his majority. In Vermont it is 18.”

“Is it a lot?”

“It must be. We or I, as his guardian is to be paid from the estate to care for him and I have no idea what that will amount to. It will be enough to cover your loss of wages and some more for his maintenance.”

“It doesn’t really matter. He is our son and we will love and care for him. I guess I had better go back on the pill. We were planning our own as soon as we were married.”

“Other couples have another child when the first is age four.”

“You wouldn’t mind?”

“Not if we get the chance to make love before I get to be an old man. This honeymoon hasn’t turned out to be conducive to making babies. I thought we would be in Boston making babies today.”

Linda giggled until she laughed out loud, “Hey, we speeded up the process. We just missed the nine month wait.” 

“Sweetheart, I’m not complaining. I just haven’t got it through my head yet that we are parents with a child. You know it has been a great year and it is about to get better. I just know it. Let’s go to bed.”

“Aren’t you going to read Bonny’s diary?”

“On my honeymoon? No way!”

Tears came to Linda’s eyes and she came into my arms. She hid her face under my ear. I pulled her back and saw she was crying. “Stanley, you make me so happy. I was afraid you would be so tied up with Jimmy that I would become less important to you.”

“Jimmy is important, but you have the inside edge with me. Better yet, you will continue to be.” We went to bed on that note.

———————————

My eyes opened in the morning. I had the feeling someone was watching me. I rolled over and looked toward the door. Jimmy stood at the door uncertain and scared. I smiled and lifted the blankets. I had to beckon to him before he ran across the room and climbed over me so he could lie between Linda and me.

“Mommy.” Linda turned over to face the plaintive plea when he said this. A look of consternation appeared on Jimmy’s face.

“Jimmy, remember Uncle Maury told you Stan and I would be caring for you.”

“I know, but I want my Mommy.”

“I’m sorry, Jimmy, but she can’t come to you.” Jimmy just stared at Linda. 

I couldn’t take it any longer. “Jimmy, Uncle Maury is going to be coming down for breakfast. I’ll bet he is hungry for pancakes and bacon this morning. Could you help Linda make them?”

Jimmy thought about this. “I like pancakes.”

“Okay, let Linda get up and go to the bathroom and put her robe on. You and me will lay here and you can tell me what you want your kitty to look like. Remember Linda is going to help you find one when we get to your new home.” Jimmy started telling me what color he wanted the cat to be. Actually, he couldn’t decide for he started out with yellow. When he got to green, I asked him if he had ever seen a green kitty. He guessed he didn’t want a green cat. By this time Linda returned and rescued me.

“Jimmy, let’s go make breakfast. I think Uncle Maury will be hungry. Stan, why don’t you get dressed? I’ll wait until after Breakfast.”

“Okay Honey, I could use a kiss.” This ended with Jimmy getting a kiss too, and a group hug. He was smiling when he left the room. I climbed out of bed and took a shower. I put on jeans and a sweater. I wanted to walk outside and later on to see what the property looked like.

Maury was up. It appeared that he hadn’t slept much. When I came into the kitchen, Jimmy was sitting on his lap. Linda put some pancakes on Jimmy’s plate and he climbed into his own chair. My chair was beside his.

“Please would you butter me and I want lots of syrup.” I put what I thought was a liberal amount of both on his pancakes. I guess it wasn’t as much as he was used to for “More,” was demanded.

The three of us ate. When we had enough, Maury said, “Linda, sit and I’ll cook your breakfast. I’ll have a second cup of coffee while I’m doing the cooking.” We were sitting on either side of Jimmy who had finished his pancakes and was dipping his fingers in the extra syrup left on the plate. 

It started out with one finger and he licked it. That wasn’t apparently fast enough for he kept adding fingers. Linda spoke, “Jimmy that’s enough, you’re dripping syrup all over the table and you. You aren’t eating, you’re just playing. We don’t play with our food.” Jimmy looked at Linda and then he giggled. He jumped down from his high chair and holding his hand in the air ran for a low stool in the corner. He pushed it to the sink and turned the water on full.

When done there he pushed the stool back into the corner. He came and tugged on Linda’s sleeve and looking up at her, he said, “I’m sorry.” This got him a hug and a kiss on the top of his head.

While Linda took Jimmy to get his bath and get dressed, Maury said to me, “I’m more than comfortable having you two parenting Jimmy. I was pleased that Linda corrected the boy when he was doing something he shouldn’t do. He is doing well with the transition of living without his father and mother and losing them. You and Linda are good at keeping him from missing them so much it will affect his life.”

“I think it will affect it to some extent. We will see it when we both have to be absent from him at the same time. He can’t be certain that we will be returning.”

“There is that, but I think you will be up to reassuring him so after awhile it won’t bother him.”

“We’ll try. Thank God you are present now and for a few days. Just having someone around who is familiar and who he knows loves him and lets him know that part of his world hasn’t disappeared completely.”

Maury went into the den to work on the settling of the estate coming up. Jimmy came out all dressed. “Hey, Jimmy, get your coat and we will go outside so I can walk around. You can show me everything.” Jimmy went running for the coat closet and came dragging his coat and hat for me to dress him.

“Come see my car. It is in the garage.’

I opened the side door. This was a three car garage. One stall was filled with a lawn mower and a roto-tiller. There were tools hanging from pegs on the wall. There was one of those battery operated toy cars along with the tools and a Lexus in the center stall. The third one was empty waiting for the SUV that had been totaled in the accident. Across the front of that stall, there was a 1935 Ford, 3 window coupe. It was green and beautiful. I couldn’t see any obvious restoration. I raised the hood to gaze at the flat head V8 engine.

“Papa said that was my car and he was saving it for me. He only drives it sometimes when it isn’t going to rain. He lets me sit in it and pretend driving.”

“Would you like to do that now?”  Jimmy nodded. We got in and he cranked the steering wheel making car sounds.

“Hey, we were going walking.”

“Okay.” The property was five acres and about half of it was wooded. There was no brush in and around the trees and most of the open land was groomed ... not lawn smooth, but was being mowed.

“Mommy rides on the tractor in the barn. Papa doesn’t do so good as Mommy and when he does it, it looks like hell.” Out of the mouth of babes. I took him back to the garage so he could ride his car, but the battery was dead. Jimmy didn’t seem too disappointed. We spent more than an hour before returning to the house. This was a really valuable piece of property.

Maury had gone somewhere, saying he would be returning for lunch. We heard a car drive in. Jimmy climbed up on a chair and looked out the window. He screamed, “Its Grammy.”

 I looked at Linda. “That will be my mother-in-law, Loretta Dinsmore. I haven’t seen her in four years. She’s a nice lady. I don’t know how she will react to me being here. I don’t know if she is aware that Jimmy is my son either.”

Jimmy opened the door when Loretta stepped onto the little porch. “Grammy!”

“Hi Jimmy, I’ve missed you so. Give me a kiss.” She stepped through the door. There were tears in her eyes. Her eyes traveled around the room stopping at me where I was rising from the kitchen table.

“Stanley.” She began to sob uncontrollably and put her arms out to me. I crossed and took her in my arms hugging her to me.

Jimmy ran to Linda and asked why Grammy was crying. “Sometimes when people haven’t seen someone for a long time they cry. She will stop soon. Let’s you and me go into the living room for a minute. Grammy will be in as soon a she stops crying and give you lots of hugs.”

I held Loretta until she calmed a little. She pulled back and looked at me. “Stan, I never gave a thought that you would be informed of Bonny’s death. You came. I’m so pleased that you have. Was it Maury who called you?”

“Yes. Bonny passed about an hour before we arrived. The woman who is with Jimmy is my wife, Linda. Maury called us to see if we would care for Jimmy through this terrible tragedy.”

“That’s odd that he should think of you. Bonny never would discuss anything about you with me. He must have had a reason for having you come down. I don’t know as Bonny would approve.”

“He did think of me although he took it on himself to contact me. He has convinced me that Bonny would approve and if she could have she would have demanded it.”

“I know I keep saying that this it is odd, but why?”

“Loretta, sit just a minute. Linda will keep Jimmy occupied. Maury called me just as Linda and I were leaving on our honeymoon. We were married the day before Thanksgiving and were leaving on it yesterday. The plans changed when Maury called us. We went to Keene and he picked us up in his plane. I thought I might arrive in time to see Bonny alive, but it wasn’t to be.

“You still haven’t explained why.”

“I guess Bonny kept you in the dark about a situation just as she did me. It became evident before Jimmy was born that Bonny was pregnant when she left me. It couldn’t possibly be Charlie who had sired Jimmy. Later it was confirmed that I am Jimmy’s biological father.

“Apparently the only ones who knew of the situation were Charlie, Bonny, and Maury. She charged both to make sure I was told when Jimmy turned eighteen if for any reason she couldn’t. Circumstances moved that up to yesterday and I was told as soon as it was known that Charlie and Bonny wouldn’t survive the accident. Maury needs someone to care for Jimmy. He asked questions to see if I was in a position to care for him.”

This was a lot of information all at once. I knew what Loretta was going through, because I had gone through it twenty-four hours ago. “So what happens now?”

“Maury has charge of Charlie and Bonny’s affairs and estate. I’m going by what Maury tells me the laws direct. It comes down to Jimmy being the direct heir of his parent’s estate, and because he being a minor, a guardian needs to be appointed. My being the biological father and able, Maury says the court will examine to see if I can fill the role adequately.”

“And can you?”

“I believe so. I have a decent position as store manager of a national chain and I own my own home. I’m married and more than willing to welcome Jimmy’s extended family into my home to share the joys of being connected to him. That would be you and Maury. I understand you both are close to Jimmy and that shouldn’t change. In fact I don’t want it to change”

“Oh, I’m thankful for that. I was worried as soon as I heard yesterday about Bonny’s death what would happen to Jimmy. I worried because I didn’t think I could care for my grandson. Charlie and Bonny must have a sizable estate that will be coming with Jimmy.”

“That part doesn’t affect me much, and I’m glad of that. Other than some bequests and this property which will revert to Maury, the bulk of the estate will be held in trust for Jimmy until he reaches adulthood and that will stay under Maury’s control. I will receive some compensation which will offset Linda’s loss of income while she cares for him. Hopefully Linda and I can influence him and have the ability to handle his estate when he takes it over. Maury thinks I will be able to, but ultimately it is up to the court and him.

“I find Maury open and willing to talk about the situation. Make him aware if you have any reservation about my being Jimmy’s guardian. I am going to be in the boy’s life now that I’m aware he is my son. I won’t want that to change. 

“I wonder if Maury is getting any rest. He has been working on the funeral arrangements and on what he can do about getting Jimmy settled into a new home. He is worried about Jimmy and how he feels over the absence of his parents. So far Linda and I have been able to distract Jimmy for the most part. You being here will help immeasurable. Now let’s go in and you can love him up a little.”

“Stan, I believe you have matured greatly in the last four years. In one way I thought you were too intense about your work and your life. Sadly, I wasn’t too surprised when Bonny left you. It didn’t seem as if you were filling her needs. I saw her happier with Charlie than with you and I could never understand why she wouldn’t talk about you. When your name was brought up, she would say, ‘Mom, he isn’t in my life anymore. Forget him, I have.’ I don’t think she ever did though. I can understand why now.”

“Loretta, I thought I knew Bonny, but I find I didn’t know her at all. I went through a time of intense hate for what she did to me by leaving. My father set me straight so I could go on with my life before I destroyed myself. Seeing all the pictures of her since I came here isn’t all that upsetting either. The only thing I feel is sadness for Jimmy. Linda and I intend to give him a good home and if he comes to love us, then I’m all right with the world.”

“Call on me to help in any way I can.”

“Thank you. Come get acquainted with Linda. It has been a great year, except for this, since we discovered each other. I’ll have to tell you how we met. Talk about coincidences.”

Loretta sat on the couch and Jimmy left Linda and crawled onto his grandmother’s lap. She held him and rocked him. Then he began telling her about how much he liked Linda and how I took him for a walk. Before he paused the tumbling of words from his mouth he exclaimed how glad she was there.

“Grammy, Stan said he has a cat named Porky, but I could have a kitty of my own if I don’t like his. I’m going to be living with him and Linda. Are you going to visit me?”

“Yes I am and you’re going to stay with me sometimes.”

“Okay. I don’t ever ’member staying with you.”

“You did when you were very small, but that was a long time ago.”

Linda got up and said she was going to start lunch. Jimmy ran to hold her hand. “I help Linda. You can help too, Grammy.”

I sat on the couch thinking about Bonny. I thought about how happy I was with her during the last year of college and the short time we made our home together. I was trying so hard to give her a good life and thought I was succeeding. Then came the night I walked in and found the note on my pillow. The first month she was gone, I would have taken her back. The next two months I was well into an alcoholic haze and if she had appeared I may have killed her. I played enough scenarios through my mind to do just that.

From what clues I gathered in the last couple of days about the life she left me for, I knew I couldn’t have made her as happy as Charlie did. I’m sure word filtered back through Maury that I hated her. I certainly said I did enough times in those first months. I wish now I had tried to contact her after my father straightened me out. 

I would have forgiven her, I believe. Too late now, but isn’t that the way of the world? All too often, you put something off and then it is too late. If I did my best to raise Jimmy and have him grow into a man to be proud off, it would have to suffice as forgiveness. Hell, I was getting maudlin. Enough ... I’d go watch my wife put together lunch.

Maury came in, glad that Loretta had arrived. “Loretta, I’ll take a minute after lunch to fill you in on what is happening. I’m done for the rest of today and tomorrow. Maybe we’ll go to church in the morning. Monday the funeral director will get everything organized. The funeral will be held Tuesday at eleven. There will be a lunch in the kitchen put on by the church ladies. Stanley, Linda, and Jimmy will be leaving Wednesday morning for Vermont. If you want you can go with them. The firm put the plane at my disposal through this.”

“When will you be returning to Vermont?”

“Not before next weekend. I have paperwork to take care of at the probate court. Let’s see what else is there? Oh, the will. I’ll read that Tuesday afternoon. It mostly concerns the people here today. Mrs. Wagner will receive something for being so kind. As you surmise, Jimmy is the principal heir. It will be fifteen years before he will come into his own. 

“I’m making Stanley his guardian and I’ll explain what his duties will be and what the remuneration will be. I’m being open about this, more than I have to be, probably. I and you will be his backup in case for some reason Stanly can’t continue until Jimmy reaches eighteen.”

“Maury, I think I will return to Vermont at the same time as Stanly does. That will give me that much more time with Jimmy.”

 “Okay Loretta, I wondered if you wouldn’t.”

I spoke up. “If you do that, why don’t you stay a few days with Linda and me while we get Jimmy settled into his new home. I’ll drive you home on Sunday or Linda can drive you if you want to leave sooner.”

Loretta looked at Linda who responded with, “Please do that, the change will be upsetting enough for Jimmy as it is.”

“I’d love to. Any extra time I can spend with my grandson is a plus.”

We had a day and a half to relax. Mrs. Wagner, Jimmy’s babysitter, and her husband came by. She thought it remarkable that Jimmy was taking the loss of his parents so well. They stayed until it was time for the evening meal and were invited to eat with us. Maury and Mr. Wagner drank steadily all afternoon, but not to access. I remained sober. Jimmy came to me for attention while the women were in the kitchen.

I mentioned that Jimmy should have his toys with us. We spent a long while deciding what he would take. The rest would follow. Maury said that he would have a moving company load up most of the things that he himself didn’t want. I was to rent a storage locker to receive it. All of the pictures and clothes were to be included. “Linda, you are about the same size as Bonny. If you want any or all of her clothes to wear feel free. The rest can go to a charity.”

“Thank you. I’ll look at them and decide. What about your own companion?”

“My companion, uh, well, uh, I’ll tell you about our situation. Cora is a married woman whose husband has Alzheimer’s disease. He doesn’t even recognize her any longer. Eventually we will marry, but that is on hold for the present. I’ve known Cora and her husband all my life and they have been friends for that long.” Maury apparently didn’t want to discuss this so the conversation didn’t continue.

Linda and Jimmy stayed home while Maury, Loretta, and I went to church in the morning. The remainder of the day we just relaxed. Monday morning Maury went to town on business. He came back later in the day saying the funeral preparation had been completed for the morrow.

Maury changed his mind about not having Jimmy attend the funeral. We knew he wouldn’t realize what the ceremony represented. He had entreated the minister to keep the service short. There was no place in it for friends to tell about their friendship with either Bonny or Charles. This was done to spare puzzling Jimmy about why they were talking about his father and mother.

When the short service was over, we were soon down stairs in the church meeting room near where the kitchen was located. The ladies of the congregation brought their favorite dishes and served hot chocolate, tea and coffee. There was soda for those who wanted it. It wasn’t really a large group. Most were there out of respect for the Cumberland name. I surmised Bonny wasn’t a social person so there was only one couple there who said they were close friends.

During the meal, Maury came by and said he would have a short meeting in the minister’s office and to discuss the contents of the will. When we arrived and sat down there were only four, which included myself, Loretta, Mrs. Wagner and Maury. Linda was still watching Jimmy in the church school in the next room.

Mrs. Wagner was the first recipient named in the will. Maury began to speak, “Mrs. Wagner, as a sometime sitter for Jimmy Cumberland it is within my discretionary power to award you the amount of $7,500 for caring for him during these difficult times. Not only that, I want to thank you for what you have done to see that my nephew has been distracted as much as possible from these terrible things that have happened to him.

“I know you have been called on whenever it was necessary for someone to sit for Jimmy and I know Bonny and Charlie had complete faith in you to fulfill that duty.”

“Thank you, Maurice. I didn’t expect anything. Jimmy has been like a grandchild to me and I’m going to miss him very much.”

“I’m sure that Linda and Stanley as guardians of Jimmy will keep you posted as to his progress in becoming a young man.”

“I would welcome that immensely.” There was a pause and Mrs. Wagner realized that this concluded Maury’s business that pertained do her. She gathered her coat and left to meet her husband who was waiting outside to take her home.

“Loretta and Stanley, I threw some figures around to you about what you would receive from the estate. As you know, Jimmy is the only direct heir after myself and Lorreta. The will doesn’t detail how the estate is to be divided or distributed. I had a meeting yesterday morning with the probate judge and we went over what the estate consisted of. Some of what we came up with is at his suggestion, but most of it is what I decided bearing in mind that the best for Jimmy is addressed.

“Here again percentages are involved. Jimmy is to receive half the estate and it will be put into a trust for him. The other half will be divided in this way. Half of that will go to Stanley as guardian who is also named as Jimmy’s biological father. That is actually one quarter of the liquid distribution. Loretta and I will split the remaining quarter.

“Loretta, I’m aware that Charlie advised you on how to invest, so you should be able to handle the investments very well. Stanley, I don’t know if you know much about investing, but you can find a firm to advise you. There will be enough income from the other investments to offset the loss of what Linda makes at present. This is so she can become a full time mother.”

Loretta spoke up, “Maury, you spoke about percentages. Can you give me a ball-park figure of what my share will amount to?”

“A ball-park figure only. I believe yours will amount to about $250,000. The estate as near as I can determine is worth at present about $2,000,000.”

“Wow, I never knew.”

“To be honest, I didn’t either. Looking over Charlie’s statements it would seem he strived to earn at least six percent on his investments. That was the minimum and sometimes as much as 10%. On some of those that didn’t reach that plateau, the investments were placed in portfolios that had tax consideration, so the result was the same.

“Now, until the estate is distributed you can ask me for an advance. Don’t hesitate if there is anything that is needed. My primary concern is for Jimmy’s welfare. In that vein, I’m giving Stanley a monthly check for the dividends he will receive each quarter and continue that until the full 50% of the estate is distributed and then he can invest on his own. I’m also giving Linda a check to replace the wages she would be earning while giving her full attention to Jimmy.

“There will be insurance money. I’ll have to look into that. That will come after the investigation on who was at fault. That money will go into the estate and I’ll probably use the same division of amounts as I do in what Charlie and Bonny had personally.”

I did some quick figuring in my head and estimated that the estate would amount to my being able to withdraw at least $30,000 a year without spending down the capital. What would Jimmy be worth in fifteen years if six percent on a million dollars were compounded over fifteen years? And there was more to come in the future.  My God I couldn’t imagine it!

I asked the question, “Maury, how did Charlie get to be worth two million this early in his life?”

“Charlie was the favored nephew of one of our uncles. That was where the bulk of it came from. Also, Charlie was forty on his last birthday and he has done well with the seed money that came from that uncle. He has had plenty of time to increase his assets.”

I was stunned. Bonny had done well by marrying a man who did so well. Then I wondered if that was the main reason she left me. I would read her diary for clues of why she did leave me.

Maury hadn’t finished yet, “Now speaking about some more personal items. Loretta, feel free to take anything you want of Bonny’s that you covet. I would wish that if it is something that Jimmy would cherish, you leave those items with Linda. You will be visiting Stan and Linda quite often, so they won’t be lost to you.”

“I certainly will do that. There are a few mementos I would like.”

“The last item is the property here. That reverts to me, coming down from our parents. For your information, I do plan to sell the property. I went to UVM and put down roots when I first found work in Vermont. I love the state and have made it my own.

“I suspect over time Bonny would have convinced Charlie to move back to Vermont. The call for him wasn’t as strong as Bonney’s, but the Dinsmore name is quite prominent in Vermont’s history.  They both would have returned at some point in the future. I most likely will have their urns buried there. Outside of myself and Jimmy, the Cumberland name ends with me here in Pennsylvania. The Cumberland burial lots are also full here. I probably never will marry and I’d like to rest next to my brother and his wife Bonny.

 “Okay, that pretty much concludes this meeting. Let’s adjourn to the house where we can figure out what everyone wants to carry on the plane. Remember, Stanley’s vehicle is at the Keene Airport, so what you take will be limited. I would think some toys for Jimmy and some things that will remind him of his mother and father such as pictures and maybe his favorite books.”

Chapter Four

We packed things Tuesday evening since we would be leaving early in the morning. Linda and I had the clothes we had packed for our honeymoon. I knew when we added Loretta’s and the few things that Jimmy could not get along without, our vehicle would be terribly crowded from Keene, NH to Brattleboro. We would make do somehow. The child’s restraining seat would take up considerable room and there was no way we anticipated we would need one when we packed for our honeymoon.

Maury handed Linda an envelope as we prepared to get in the rental car heading for the airport. “Linda, this should be enough to take you through this month. You will be receiving $2,000 a month from the estate to replace your wages. As soon as this quarter ends, I hope I can distribute what Stan will be receiving as his share of what is coming to him.

“I’ll soon be visiting you and Jimmy and can explain more fully what you will be receiving as I gain more knowledge. I do have two years to complete this. As I have stated, I don’t want Jimmy to go out of my life so you will be seeing a lot of me.”

I shook hands with Maury. “Maury, this is so strange. It was a week ago today that I was married. Now I have a son and I am his guardian. Needless to say, I will be trying very hard to become the father that he needs. I won’t let him forget the first father he knew either. That wouldn’t be fair to Charlie’s memory. Linda will do the same with Bonny’s memory as well.”

“Thank you, Stan. I feel I have done right by Bonny and my brother. Please let me know of any problems and I’ll do my utmost to help.” He turned to Loretta and gave her a hug. We could see real affection for each other. We were soon in the air. Jimmy had flown several times before and he didn’t seem that excited about being on a plane. He may have even flown on this one.

We landed in Keene, New Hampshire, and it was a problem getting everything crammed into the car. Thank God I hadn’t purchased the small vehicle yet that I had been looking at for Linda to drive. Thirty-five minutes later, we turned off Western Avenue and headed up my street.

My neighbor from across the street saw us pull into the driveway and she came over to tell us that Porky hadn’t been any trouble. He was always waiting on her when she arrived to freshen the water in his dish and feed him. I thanked her and as I had done the same for her on occasion and a thank you was sufficient.

Loretta stood looking at my house and said it was pleasant. I knew her home had a lot more character than mine, but I was satisfied. So it was just an elongated box with a bow-window in front. I had more plans for it now that I was married. It needed a substantial deck on the rear of the building and someday I anticipated enclosing the breezeway. These things would come. There was even room to add more rooms if needed.

“Come Jimmy and meet Porky. I promise you he will say hello and make you welcome.” I opened the door and Porky came bounding into the kitchen. He paused and looked at what might be an intruder. “Porky, say hello to Jimmy. I’m turning you over to him.”

“Meeyow!” With that he came and rubbed his pelt around Jimmy’s legs. Jimmy immediately dropped down on the floor and when Porky came around in front, Jimmy hugged Porky to him. Porky squirmed and then lost his balance and fell over. Porky then cuddled into Jimmy’s arms and purred the loudest I had ever heard him.

“Guess you have a new someone to love you. All you have to do to keep his love is to love him back.”

“I will. I always will. Can Porky sleep on my bed with me?”

I laughed. “Just try and stop him. The cat has a mind of his own and he won’t change it for anything”

“Goody.”

The bed I had installed in the room where my small office was located was a twin size. Eventually I would exchange it for the bed in the guest room where Linda slept until we began our relationship. That was now to be Jimmy’s room. Jimmy tired early and we put him down without a problem. Loretta went to bed in my so-called office shortly after the room was made up.

“Stan, we are sleeping in our own bed tonight. What a change this last week has brought. Our life has been turned upside down.”

“Do you regret it?”

“No, not at all. I just never expected having a child this soon into our marriage. I thought we would have months of time to go places and see things, and yes, be as noisy as we wanted to in our bedroom.”

I laughed, “It does cramp our style, doesn’t it? We will get used to it. Just think you will be a full-time Mom and that should have its own rewards. I’ll be working but we’ll plan things for evenings and on my two days off we can go do things. I anticipate we will have a little extra money to take in things that Jimmy will enjoy which we might not have thought of going to on our own.”

“It’s a trade off is what you are saying and we’ll be that much better for it.”

“Exactly.”

Loretta stayed ten days before I drove her home on the second Sunday after leaving Pennsylvania. Jimmy hadn’t had any problem with the transition. Much of that was because of Porky. Porky had always slept on a blanket laid on the floor in the closet off the room I called my office. The first full day we were back, Linda told Jimmy it was time for his nap. “Okay, can I sleep with Porky?”

“Of course you may.” Linda and Loretta were talking and not paying attention to Jimmy. He got a drink of water and disappeared. A half hour later, Linda went down to his room to see that he was alright. He wasn’t there. Loretta told me Linda about went wild and ran around screaming that Jimmy had gone out of the house and wandered off.

She was about to call 911 when Loretta went into her room to get a wrap and Porky came out of the closet and rubbed her leg. The cat turned and went back. Loretta looked in and saw Jimmy curled up on the floor. Porky dropped down and cuddled up to Jimmy. Linda called me at work and told me the whole story.

That night when I came home Linda had taken a picture, printed it, and had it sitting by my plate. She had made a caption for it “He who sleeps with Cats.”

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We stopped in Arlington to see Aunt Mildred on the way up to leave Loretta off. The two had known each other when I was married to Bonny and had a fine time getting reacquainted. I invited both for Christmas. I believe all of us were looking forward to the holiday more than usual. I know I was. Linda was looking forward to having Mike with us. Wendy wasn’t answering her phone and Mike didn’t think she still lived at the same apartment.

His words were that he didn’t miss Wendy. I know Linda was hurt by not being informed that her mother had moved and wondered where she was at present. There was no Christmas card from her either. Mike did get a waiver from the court system for the week off from work, so he was with us. I had installed a blow-up mattress in the cellar and turned the heat up on that zone so Mike could be very comfortable with the sleeping arrangements.

Right after Christmas, Linda asked, “Dad, what are your plans after you complete your parole?”

“Linda, I’ve given that a lot of thought. I’d like to move up here somewhere near you. Do you think I could find something in my line of work?”

“I would think so. Stan and I have talked about it and that is why I am asking. He is talking about fixing up a spare apartment in the cellar. There are low interest loans that can be applied for from the town. I would think we would meet the criteria. The cellar is dry and all we need is some walls and appliances along with the wiring. Jimmy needs a grandfather to take him fishing and to the school sport events.”

Mike stared at both of us. He was so pleased he was almost breaking up. “Are you sure? I wasn’t much of a father to you.”

“I agree that you weren’t, but I think I know why. The problem is behind you now and if it appears again we’ll face it together.”

This conversation happened in front of Mike’s mother-in-law, Mildred. Loretta was present as well and neither had any objection. I spoke up. “I think I had better run this by Maurice. If he doesn’t object, then I’ll welcome you.”

“Are you going to tell him about my being a felon?”

“Yes, but I’m going to emphasize that you have paid for your crime. Linda can explain that she knows of nothing in your background that would bar you from being around Jimmy.” With a quivering voice, Mike thanked us all. This was something we could look forward to later in the season.

That evening I had a surprise. My mother, Susan Rider, informed me she was in town and wanted to see her new grandson. “Betty is with me. The kids are home with their father. Shall we get a motel room?” 

“Mom, I guess you will have to. I have a houseful and didn’t know you were coming.”

“No problem, this was a spur of the moment trip.” 

“That’s great. Aunt Mildred is here along with her son-in-law, Mike. Loretta Dinsmore is with us. I’m driving her home Sunday. Linda, my wife, is anxious to meet you. It’s early, come on up and then we’ll call around and find you a room.”

“Give me directions and then we’ll be right there.”

I had to explain to Jimmy that he had another grandmother coming and an aunt would be with her.  He was confused, thinking that his aunt would be an old, old lady like the lady I called Aunt Mildred. “No, Aunt Mildred is Linda’s grandmother so that makes her your great-grandmother.” I laughed about Aunt Mildred being thought of being old, old. She was still in her sixties.

“Okay.” It was more than okay when my mother and sister came into the house bearing gifts. Some things are more important than others to a kid who was almost four years old. Maurice came the same day for a few hours and said he would be back one day the following week. He saw no reason to deny Mike moving here so that was fine.

I was a little worried that when everyone left and Jimmy’s life just went from full attention from several people to just Linda and me, Jimmy would be lost. One thing that came about that was a plus while our guests were here. When they were talking to Jimmy and referred to me and Linda it was your “Mommy and Daddy.” This totally confused Jimmy. It wasn’t long before I realized this.

Linda and I took Jimmy to McDonalds for a happy meal. While there, we explained to him that we wanted him to remember his Mommy and Papa and that was why we had so many pictures of them in his room and around the house.

“Every little boy should have a mommy and daddy. Your Mommy and Papa can’t be with you so we are going to be your Mommy and Daddy. We love you just as much as they did. We want to be a good Mommy and Daddy to you, but if you still want to call us Linda and Stan, then that’s okay too.” Jimmy didn’t respond and he never called us Mommy and Daddy until after everyone had left. That was okay, though. Soon it became a habit and we felt now we were actually his father and mother.

One thing that brought us close was the fact that every day while I was at work Linda would walk through the woods back of the house and down through them to Route Nine. It wasn’t far down the road to where I worked in the store. The doors would open automatically and he would come bursting shouting “Daddy.” We couldn’t at first figure out why this was such a treat for Jimmy.

Then Linda said, “Stan, it is because you leave in the morning just like his father did, but now he can see where you are and can relate that you aren’t far away and he is sure you will be coming home when your day of work is over. He even has learned to watch the clock, once in the morning when it is time for our walk, and of course when it is time for you to come home.”

Winter prevented this most days, but Linda said he called getting into the car to see me, a walk. So we figured it was the coming to see me that was the walk however, you got there.

Linda was a wonderful mother to Jimmy, but then she was a wonderful wife to me at the same time. She kept Gram Loretta and Great-Gram Mildred in the loop. Whenever my sister Betty and my mother, Susan called on the phone, Jimmy wanted to say “Hi” and wanted to know when he would see them again. Whether he knew how all these seldom seen people were related to him was suspect, but he did love to talk to them.

Maurice was of course, his favorite person after me and Linda. Mike was fast becoming a favored person too. Both gave each other something and they talked two or three time a week. Jimmy was counting down the days until Mike would arrive. Mike promised to take Jimmy fishing when he could come to live with us in the summer.

It seemed good to have some extra dollars. I asked Maury if it was okay to use the money that came to me to remodel my cellar so Mike could live with us. “Go ahead. It is your money to do what you want with it. As long as Jimmy is taken care of to my satisfaction, there are no restrictions. If you didn’t, there is no way I could take the money away because it was distributed to you when approved by the court as I fulfilled my ongoing duties of administrator.”

I hired a carpenter to build walls and put up the sheetrock. He got them ready for the prime coat. The below level bath was amazing to me because water doesn’t run up hill. Anyway, the apartment was ready as soon as Mike had time to put the finish paint on when finished with the correction department in New Jersey.

Jimmy was into everything while all of this construction was going on. He was curious and asked a million questions. The carpenter had kids and was careful to call Linda when he was performing any dangerous construction while Jimmy was present. The carpenter had made a deal with the boy that he would answer all his questions if he would leave when asked without putting up objection. It worked wonderfully well.

Christmastime was the last time Mike had been able to visit. We knew that Jimmy would most likely have forgotten what Mike looked like as it was several months before he was released, although they had spoken on the phone dozens of times. Linda took an excited Jimmy with her to pick Mike up at the bus station. The bus was a little late. The passengers got down from the bus and walked around to get their luggage from the storage compartment.

Linda and Jimmy watched from the outside of the car until the half-dozen passenger dispersed. Then they began walking toward Mike. Linda hugged her father and then turned to Jimmy standing at her side. Jimmy stuck his hand out to shake Mike’s hand, “Welcome home, Grampa. You’re going to live with us and you promised to take me fishing.”

“I certainly am. Do you have a hug for your grandfather?”

“Lots and lots, Grandpa. Daddy will be home early and then we are going out for supper.  Grandpa, you have a new room in the cellar, but you have to paint it before you move in.  Mommy said I could help. I had to beg awful hard before she said okay.”

“I’ll bet you had to promise to obey me when I told you to do something and promise to stop when I said you shouldn’t do it.”

“I promised. When can we begin?”

“I want to rest up a couple of days. We have to go fishing remember?”

“Okay.”

Mike was relaxed and happy to be back in a family setting. “I do have to find a job very soon, though.”

“As a mechanic?”

“I guess so. That pays pretty well, but I do enjoy cooking.”

Linda spoke up, “I know someone who is desperate for a breakfast cook. The woman up the street lost the one working for her and it complicates her being with her two kids in the morning.”

“I’ll give it some thought. It wouldn’t be enough to pay all my bills.”

“You know, Dad we aren’t charging you rent to live here. You might just make it on what she would pay. She does own a busy diner.”

“Well, first I’ll see if I get on with an auto repair garage.”

“But Grandpa then you won’t have time to take me fishing.”

“Sure I would. You can fish on Saturdays and Sundays and even fish in the evening when I get home.”

“I su’pose.”

Mike spent two days looking for work. He volunteered that he was a felon when asked about his work history and emphasized he had done his time. Mike did have a glowing letter written by Pat Huber listing his qualifications. I suspected once he mentioned “felon” Mike never had a chance.

When I got home from the store the next night, Jimmy stuck right next to Mike. I questioned Linda if he had been like that all day.”

“Yes, he is right with him every minute. He went with Dad to the paint store. The men on the counter kidded with Jimmy. Jimmy just loves the changes here.”

“Maybe he is lonely, Linda. He has got over you as his new mother and the fear of you leaving like Bonny did. One day she was with him and the next day she was gone.”

“Stan, could be, I guess. At least he seems to be over the worst of it”

“Linda, have you talked to Toni Wynde about employing Mike as a cook? 

“No, but I have set him up. Nothing definite, just mentioning that Mike does cook. She will be walking by when he is mowing the lawn this evening. She will have her two kids with her. We’ll go out and introduce her. I’m taking a Frisbee for the kids to play with while they are talking. You and I can play with the kids.”

“You’re pretty sneaky.”

“I know and sometimes it pays off. I snuck through the window into a house one time and look what it got me.” It worked out just like Linda assured me it would. Toni’s two kids had a few years between them.  There was a six-year-old girl and a boy of ten. Toni had on jeans and a flowered blouse. Her hair as in a pony tail. I had met her a few times, but I doubt I had said a dozen words to her. She looked to be in her middle thirties. Mike was forty-one.

Linda hailed her as she walked by. “Stop and talk, Toni.  This is my Dad, Mike Lewis. We made him an apartment in the cellar and he is here permanently. Jimmy, you toss the Frisbee. I’ll join in a minute.”

Jimmy was glad to have anyone play with him. “Wanna play? I only have my Mom and Dad to play with. Grandpa Mike is going to play sometimes. He is taking me fishing. Do you like to fish?”

“I don’t know, my dad left us alone a long time ago. There’s just us, and Mom works all the time.”

“We’ll ask Grandpa if he will take you with us. You have to ask your Mom if you can go.”  The Frisbee was in the air and conversations stopped with the kids carrying on as only kids can do. Linda and I joined in, racing around. Jimmy was the youngest and the kids made sure the toy could go to him to catch.

Toni said to Mike, “Linda mentioned the other day her father was arriving here to live. Do you like the area?”

“I love the fact that I’m living here with Linda and Stanley and they have folded me into their lives. I’ve been where I couldn’t visit her that often. I made some bad choices a while back and have now finished my debt to society. Some mistakes that I will never make again. Linda and Stanley fully support me and if I’m tempted, they would be terribly hurt. I love both and especially my grandson who loves me without judgment. I will never disappoint him.”

“With that attitude I’m sure you will be happy here. Linda also mentioned you liked to cook?”

“I do. I worked in the kitchen where we fed more than a 700 persons every day. I continued feeding just a few when I left there and now I delight in feeding my family.”

“Would you consider working in a restaurant cooking breakfast?”

“I might take it on temporarily until I can find steady employment.” 

“I am desperate to find someone. When can you begin?”

“What time do you open?”

“Doors are open for patrons at six. The cook should be there an hour earlier. Once orders start coming you won’t have time to find something you forgot to set up. I personally, will be training you for the rest of the week.”

“I will see you at five.”

“I could pick you up when I go by if it would be more convenient for you.”

“It would. What time will my duties be complete? I’ll have Linda come get me. I promised Jimmy I would take him fishing tomorrow. I’ll have to get my license and some bait. Would your children like to tag along and watch? If they think they would like to fish too, we can get them some equipment.”

“Do you really want to watch them?”

“Sure, Jimmy needs some friends and maybe your children would enjoy the outing. Anything different is fun at their age.”

“You’re quite the philosopher.”

“Maybe I just had time on my hands and found it best to reorder what my life was at the time and make a change. I have done that and find myself much happier. I have reconnected with Linda, something I didn’t have a chance to until she found Stanley.

“And then there is Jimmy. He lost the father and mother he knew only as his parents until they tragically died in an accident. Stanley, his biological father, took him and I believe has been as happy with them as the boy was with his mother. I don’t mean that in a bad way, but he was so young. I commend them and they have done much the same for me.”

“Mike, I didn’t know all of this. They have been my neighbors and speak when we chance to meet. I’m sure if when you come to work for me I will know them better. My two children are sure having a great time with them right now.”

“Linda isn’t working because she has been concentrating on making Jimmy happy. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind having them in to play. What are their names?”

“Diana and Dennis. Dennis is named for his father. Dennis, the father, hasn’t been a presence since shortly after Diana was born. He was the one who owned the restaurant. I got the restaurant and he got his freedom to go with a woman I never knew about.”

“That’s sad. I can imagine how you feel.”

“It’s in the past. Hard on the kids though.”

“Well, maybe they won’t mind hanging out with Jimmy until they get older and have other interests.”

“Mike, I’m sure they will enjoy it. I’ll ask and Linda can invite them if she isn’t busy. I’m not going to unload them on her. I have my mother that comes in when I’m working. Lunch and dinner she doesn’t mind, but it is difficult my having to go in early.”

Diana was the first to give up playing and came over to stand with Mike and her mother. Linda and I followed leaving Dennis and Jimmy still playing. Jimmy missed two that he should have caught. He sat down. “I don’t want to play no more. Dennis said he didn’t either”

Linda asked everyone in for a soda. Porky immediately came out for some attention. It wasn’t long before Toni said she had bothered us long enough and stood up to leave. Jimmy wanted to see where his new friends lived, so Mike walked with Jimmy up to the neighbors.”

Linda turned to me. “Toni needs a man.”

“Mike is too old for her.”

“Dad is only six years older than Toni.  I’ll bet the age difference wouldn’t bother either one of them.”

“Well don’t bring it up to Mike. He has to get over your mother. I wouldn’t think he would be looking for a woman yet. Mike is a handsome man so he might not have a choice.”

“Stanley, I’m not into match making.”

“That surprises me, most women are.” Linda stuck out her tongue and I grabbed her.  “I guess I shouldn’t mention anything about age differences. I’m six years older than you.”

“That’s right. I never think about it either. Love conquers all.”

When Mike and Jimmy returned, Jimmy was wired. Mike though, was quiet. He asked, “Stan, are you sure it is okay for me not to pay rent for a couple of weeks until Toni can get someone hired to cook for her?”

“Absolutely! Be a grandfather to Jimmy, that’s what is important. I’m Jimmy’s guardian and the estate replaces what Linda would make if she was working. We’re fine, honest.”

—————————————

Mike ended up working thirty six hours a week. He did at first ride in with Toni for the first week and a half while he was learning the ropes. Monday was the one day the restaurant was closed. Linda drove me to the store after that and I let Mike drive the pickup to work. He would be home for lunch and have the rest of the day with Linda and Jimmy.

Mike never said much about working with Toni. After awhile we got onto the fact that Mike was doing more than cooking.  He worked with Toni in reorganizing her menu to make it easier on the cooks and how to make the diner more profitable for her. After a bit, he insisted on paying room.  Jimmy was in preschool starting in September so his mornings were taken up.  Mike was with him most of the day except on Saturday. My day off was still Sunday, Jimmy was okay with not seeing Mike one day.

Over time Dennis and Diana seemed to be at our house as much as they were at their own. Toni’s mother was glad that she wasn’t depended on to sit with her grandchildren as much. With Mike taking on a larger role at the diner, Toni was seeing more of her own children, but then Jimmy might be with them.

Linda found she had a lot more time for herself too.  She watched the three kids and the interplay between them. At first she began writing down her observations. Then she decided she would write it into a story. She would pass this to me to read while she was getting supper and I was relaxing.

“Linda, why don’t you put all of this into a story and maybe we can find someone to publish it. I think it is good. Keep it as fiction and you can have the three kids having various problems. They come to you and you advise them by asking questions. Pull the problem apart so each can see the situation in a different light. They will arrive at the answer to solve their own problems. The three kids are enough different in age so you can dwell on something that bothers them.

“Jimmy is the youngest and would naturally ask Diana who he looks up to. Dennis is the oldest but can have his own problem.  Either Diana or Jimmy can throw out a bit of wisdom that they have heard you expound on. It must be true because you know something about everything and you are an adult.”

“I could, I guess. I used to draw pictures for my charges when I was babysitting. Maybe I can add some sketches to highlight any actions that take place in the story I’m writing. I’ll have a try at it. What am I going to call this story?”

“How about, ‘Three Kids and me?’ Even how the four of you got together would be a nice intro. I don’t know as I would share this with Toni. She might not like it.”

“I certainly won’t mention it to her. This will occupy my time when the kids are off with Dad. God, is he ever enjoying his life. He has work doing what he likes to do. I’m sorry I wasn’t closer to him when I was the age of these kids.”

“You know it is getting to where you will have even more time when the kids are in school. We talked about having a child of our own. What do you think?”

“I think I would like to. I didn’t want to bring it up because my job has been to bring up Jimmy.”

“But if Jimmy is in school and Mike and I are here too to watch Jimmy, nothing is taken away from him. Besides, he spends almost as much time up at Toni’s house with Diana and Dennis because Mike likes her kids as much as he does Jimmy. I think it is time we should expand our family.”

“Okay, tonight we begin working on making a baby.”

“Linda, I wouldn’t say it is going to be work. I think it will be fun and not work.”  Linda landed in my lap with kisses. Oh the book I suggested never seemed to get off the ground and in another year she had a new baby to care for.

———————

Mike soon was named manager of Toni’s restaurant. He still cooked breakfast, but he spent most of the hours that the kids were in school there at the restaurant. Linda and I wondered how Toni could afford to pay Mike the salary that he was bringing home. I questioned her a month after she raised him to this level.

“Stan, Mike is paying the extra cost for his own salary increase. He has shown me how to streamline my whole diner. He has cut the number of entrée’s. Those were the exotic ones that I had on the menu which I always lose money on. If listed on the menu and seldom ordered, I eventually had to throw the food out. He has cut the salt, pepper, sugar, and ketchup packs by 50%.

“Mike went through my garbage pail and saw that my servings were too large so I have cut the portions by fifteen percent, but if people want seconds after they finish their meal, they get a free portion.  Very few ask and are happy with the size of the portions. So Mike is my manager and when I pay him and at the end of the week, I’m still money ahead. The older folks usually ask and I give them a portion to take home in the doggy bag they would have had when I served the larger portions. It keeps them coming back. No food is wasted and it generates a steady patronage.”

“Mike is working out well for you?”

“I don’t know what I would do without him. The kids look on him as a father figure.”

“And you, do you look on him as husband material?”

“Not really. I’ve been there once and that is enough.” I dropped the subject. Mike now had a good job. He had friends and Linda had her father at hand and we all had Jimmy. Uncle Maury came at least once a month to see him.  Aunt Mildred talked with Jimmy at least once a week and we visited her twice a month. Loretta Dinsmore came down from upstate Vermont quite often to Arlington to visit at the same time. It got so she would come down when we were planning on seeing Mildred and the two became great friends so she would be with us.

Jimmy called Mildred and Loretta Grammy, because in a reality they were. This was Linda’s grandmother and of course Loretta was really Bonny’s mother. He called Toni Mom, as often as not, because that is what Diana and Dennis called her and he was with them almost every day.

It was the second summer when Loretta asked if Jimmy could come visit for the two weeks so Linda and I could get away for a vacation. Mike could too if he would watch Toni’s two children, Mildred said she would go along with Jimmy to Loretta’s as well. Loretta invited Toni’s two to come with Jimmy which made him happy.  Mike was there the first week and came home and back to work during the next week. He went up to get the three children on the following Sunday. The kids had a great time and it became standard for the kids and Mike to head up there when he had a free day.

Linda and I were enjoying the summer to our selves. Maury often went to visit Loretta which was closer to him in distance than having to come down to Brattleboro to see Jimmy.  School began and Jimmy was going into first grade. Aunt Mildred came down one weekend, which wasn’t unusual. She informed us that she was looking to purchase a house near us so she could see Linda more often.

I asked if she really wanted to give up her home in Arlington because she had been born there. “Yes, I do. Also, Loretta Dinsmore wants to see her grandson, Jimmy more often. I want to see you and Linda as often as possible. I will be the owner of record and if Loretta stays with me, she will have a room of her own, much like when you and Linda lived together at first. You and Mike can take care of me in my old age. I still consider him a son to me even though he isn’t married to Wendy any longer.”

“Aunt Mildred, you aren’t that old. What are you, sixty?”

“Stan, something like that, but Loretta and I have been discussing this for more than a year. Think of us being with family living all in the same area.”

“It would be nice and Linda would love to have you near. Jimmy would as well.”

“Well, I’m going to contact an agent. Maybe Mike will help out from a man’s perspective. I’m counting on you and Mike to do any outside work and make repairs if something breaks.”

“That is a given and I know Mike will feel the same way. He could even get out of my cellar and stay with you.”

Linda was thrilled. Her own mother had practically disowned her and she loved her grandmother who was taking her place. Three weeks later Linda and I were invited to see the property she had settled on. There was a short dead-end street off Carriage Hill Rd, so it was close. Mildred set about downsizing her home in Arlington.

Loretta did the same with her home further up the state. I had an uneasy feeling why this was suddenly coming about with the two women upending their lives. It didn’t seem normal that Jimmy as a new grandson should make that much difference. Nothing I could pin a reason on.”

Mike and I helped this come about. I asked him if the two women moving here were for the reason they gave me. “Most likely, but who knows. I’m not up on why women do things.”

“Mike, let me ask you; what about Toni? You love her kids and you work for her. You get along great. When are you going to marry her?”

“Stan, I’m not going to even ask her. I love having Toni for a friend and I love her kids and I’m going to continue mentoring them. Toni and I have talked about it, but I don’t think it is in the cards.”

“Is it because of your record?”

“You mean because I’m a felon?  No, if that bothered her she wouldn’t let me near Diana and Dennis. The closest I’m going to be to Toni is being her manager.”

“I’m sorry, Mike, you and Toni would make a great couple.”

“I suppose, but it wouldn’t work.”  I was disappointed and Linda was even more so that Mike couldn’t find love. It took from September until the winter school vacation to get the house that Mildred wanted purchased. Loretta’s house was on the market, but no one had made an offer, so she didn‘t move … maybe in the spring when the seasons changed. This was a large house and Mildred brought her fine period antiques with her.

Mike still worked regularly at the restaurant. Essentially, he was in charge. He had trained the new breakfast cook, so he was working more normal hours. He did often come home late. “I stopped in to see Mildred,” or, “I had a drink with Toni, and I saw the kids. They are great kids.” In one way I didn’t blame Mike. Living in the cellar with little daylight must be a bit depressing although Mike never mentioned that it was.

———————

Jimmy finished his first grade at the top of his class even though the youngest in that class. Was this something to be excited about?  Not necessarily; Diana often studied with Jimmy, and she helped him a lot. Dennis, not so much anymore because as he got older he was finding other interests. No thirteen-year-old wanted to hang out with a six year old. It didn’t matter to Diana because Jimmy was her best friend, although two classes ahead of him.

The two even preferred being with Linda rather than Grammy Mildred because she could think of more things for them to do. Aunt Mildred would have taken over caring for Jimmy and Diana so Linda could work, but Linda was finally pregnant and wanted to stay active. So, she did something every day with Jimmy and Diana. It was the best of times for all.

Mike seemed to be tied up with late evenings, although he entertained the three children on the weekends. This left Linda and me to enjoy ourselves. Later in hot weather, Toni took a couple of weeks vacation and traveled out to California to visit a woman friend she had before her now failed marriage.

Mike was totally in charge of the diner. It didn’t faze him at all because this was his diner in all but ownership. Jimmy couldn’t go with Toni and her kids on vacation and he missed Diana. Toni was back the week before Labor Day and now Mike had three weeks off. He decided to take Mildred and Loretta on a tour by train across the country following the opening of the original intercontinental railroad track back in 1869. Just a bit of history that Mike had always been interested in.

When they all got home, Aunt Mildred asked that we all meet at my house the first weekend the three returned. “We have a bit of news we want to share. Maurice has been in contact with Loretta and they will be here also. Toni will come with her two. I guess what it boils down to is that anyone connected to you, Linda, will be here with you for the day.”

Linda thought she knew where her mother, Wendy lived, now, but it was more and more seldom she heard from her. Wendy had intimated she might be getting married, but we hadn’t any word of her for a few months. Linda had heard about she getting married before and didn’t know whether to believe her or not. After a period of no contact, Linda’s letters to Wendy’s were being returned. This wasn’t unusual, Sad, Linda said she was putting her mother from her mind.

With Mike when asked, “Wendy has never returned my calls and I have my letters being returned the same as Linda. We’ve talked about having a search done for her, but that would make her mad. Wendy has no interest in me or what I do. I don’t think she knows I manage a diner. I don’t know where I went wrong with her, I just don’t. Mildred hasn’t heard anything either. There just is no love for her family here in Vermont. I don’t think Wendy even knows Mildred has sold her home in Arlington.”

I commented, “Linda doesn’t mention her mother to me at all. I don’t bring up Wendy with her either because it upsets her. Maybe she had word from her that I don’t know about. I wouldn’t think so because we don’t keep secrets from each other. Linda is happy though, especially now that we are having a baby. She loves Jimmy and he really is our child, but a baby we had joy in creating is every couples dream.”

“Stanley, I guess Wendy is gone for good. We’ll live with it as best we can.”

I was able to get the whole weekend off and we looked forward to having our closest relatives and friends in for a day-long blow out. My mother Susan Rider, and my sister, Betty would not be here. They promised to visit for three days, two weeks from this weekend. I suspected they would be here and at least one of their days would be cold. It was getting to that time of year, but Mildred’s house was big and comfortable.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––

It was a late September day that Aunt Mildred had planned for our get together. I awoke and couldn’t hear Jimmy so Linda and I were able to make quiet love. Usually Jimmy was up banging around making us aware he was hungry. What a way to begin a day. This was the first of many things to come before nightfall.

It was about nine when someone knocked on the door. Surprised, I opened it to Maury Cumberland. He asked, “Have you got coffee and a minute to sit down with me?”

“Of course. You are early and Jimmy is in the shower.”

“Good. Linda, a good morning to you. When Jimmy comes out, would you give Stanley and I a little time alone after I say hi to him?”

“I can. How come you here so early?”

“Oh, I came down last night and stayed at Mildred’s house. I brought Loretta down with me. Mildred and she are planning some special eats for lunch.”

Linda looked at me. Maybe a little worried. I wasn’t making much money at the store and I hated to use what had come to me from Bonny’s estate. I had kept up the investments that both Jimmy’s and I own. Often Maury and I discussed these and we had reached the point where I was making suggestions on how to improve the income.

I hadn’t spent much of the income from my inheritance, sticking to my original budget, adding a share or two of stock where I could from the interest income. On paper, I was quite well-to do, but after making sure we had our needs met and having a vacation every year, I just hated to spend the money.

I was basically in a dead-end job and wanted to change to something more promising than what I was doing now at the Dollar General. It was a sure position, but there was no challenge and going higher in the company just wasn’t there unless I wanted to take on a larger store somewhere else in a larger city.

“What’s up, Maury?” Me asking this after we both greeted Jimmy when he came from the shower.

“Let me talk a bit about you and Linda. You have given Jimmy a wonderful home and made him a child to be proud of. You don’t have to repeat this to Linda, but I do believe you two have done better with him than he would have done with my brother and Bonny…But we’ll never know.

“That said, I’ve been watching you too. I’m impressed with how you have managed the money that has come to you. I didn’t really believe you would hold to the budget that I suggested when Jimmy came to live with you. I think it is time you stop wasting yourself in the job you are in at present. I’m fairly close to a friend in an investment firm who once worked in my building. I’ve talked to him a little about you. I asked him if there were ever any openings there for a person to join and learn how to invest wisely.”

“And?”

“I’ve secured you an interview for you becoming a Financial Advisor in the office of the same firm here in Brattleboro. You’ll need a résumé, of course. I’m staying over tonight and will help you with that. So 10:00 a m Tuesday morning just down the street from here, I’ve secured an appointment for you. I have a lot of confidence in you. What do you say? Is it a go?”

“Maury, Thank you. How did you find out I was interested in studying about something such as this?”

“Well, I got into a conversation with Mike awhile back. He told me how you were looking up all kinds of investments for Toni so I knew you were doing the best with your own and Jimmy’s portfolio. You talked and asked questions of me the first few months you had money. I gave you some time to get used to looking at the situation you found yourself in after the estate was settled. I figured you have been long enough at a job that can’t have any challenges left for you.”

“True Maury. About the résumé, I am sick of where I am at. I know there is an art of writing a résumé and did practice writing one when I went after the job with UPS. God, that seems ages ago. I think I can still write one.”

“I’ll bring you up to date on the latest practices.”

“Great.” I  paused and then spoke reluctantly, “Say Maury, before you go, I have something I need to deal with and it concerns you a little. It is about the journal of Bonny’s that you handed me when we went to Bonny’s funeral. I’ve read it and there are some things in it about his mother that Jimmy should never read. I would like to remove a few pages she wrote between the time she fell out of love with me and when she decided she met and was falling in love with Charlie.

“She wrote about what she was doing for about a month. Some of it describes some acts she did that has colored my memory of her and not in a good way. It will do the same to you if you read it. I’d like to destroy five pages. It won’t destroy the continuity at all and they shouldn’t be missed. Someday Jimmy should have the journal. It is part of his history when he becomes curious about his biological mother. Anytime after he is sixteen, I should think. Your thoughts?”

“Was she true to Charlie and loved him as much as she appeared to me to be?”

“These pages were about something she did before meeting Charlie. Yes, it was a good match for both and the love is on display for Jimmy their son.” 

“No need for me to read it then so do what you think best. Hey, I was just out for a walk. I’ll see you this afternoon.” Maury quickly got up and went out before I could say anything. Linda came in and asked me what Maury had to say to me that he didn’t want her to hear.

“It wasn’t you. He didn’t want Jimmy hearing what he had to say. When you get a minute without him, I’ll explain.”

That came a little later. Dennis and Diane came to the door looking for Jimmy to hang out with. “Linda, Maury got onto the fact that I am sick of my job at the store. He has set me up for an interview with an investment firm as a Financial Advisor that is in the old Post Office building next to the new Post Office right here in West Brattleboro.

“He is staying over tomorrow and coaching me in writing a résumé among other things. Someday I may become an advisor where I can sell stocks and bonds and other financial vehicles. It will beat running a store that has no particular future for me.

“Linda, he also thinks we are doing a great job raising Jimmy–you especially.”

“That’s because Jimmy loves us and we love him. I hope our own child feels the same way when it grows up.”

“He /she will with you as its mother.” This was a momentous day for me. It looked like I was going to have an interesting future and I wasn’t worried about acing an interview. Even if I was earning less money while learning, we could survive.

Our back yard was big enough for me to set up the barbeque and picnic. I made a run to the store for a couple bottles of wine, different kinds of soda and ice. Linda and I had everything just about ready when Toni came in with Aunt Mildred. I hadn’t seen Mike yet today so I shouted down the cellar stairs that we had guests arriving. He looked tired and must have come in late. This was a recent habit of his. Maybe he had a girlfriend we didn’t know about.

The three children ran up to him, tickled that he had appeared. I heard part of their conversation and I took it that Dennis and Diana had spent the night with Grammy Mildred, which is something they did often. Mildred doted on these two, much the same as she did with Jimmy.

I also got onto the fact that Maury and Loretta had stayed with Mildred last night too. Maury came down with Loretta in his car. Toni and Mike seemed to be extra close this morning when I looked at them. Loretta came and hugged me and Maury shook my hand although he had been here earlier this morning.

Mike looked a little sheepish for not getting out of bed this morning. “Mike, I have everything covered. Everyone is here. I think everyone was slow getting up. I’m planning to put the steaks on about one o’clock. Linda has been making potato salad. I think she has a couple pounds of asparagus to lay on the grill. I found ears of corn at Dutton’s farm stand. These haven’t seen any frost yet. We’ll have peach shortcake for a dessert.”

“Okay, fine, I’ll put the biscuits together.”

“There won’t be any room in the kitchen. Sit here and talk to Maury.”

The steaks under Mike’s direction were done to perfection. There were also some hamburgers and a few hotdogs. There were no heavy drinkers in this crowd so the wine was enough and then everyone drank soda or ice water. The table was cleared after the main meal before the shortcake was presented. That disappeared fast. The home-made heavy whipped cream on top sealed the deal.

I was sitting next to Linda when Maury stood and spoke to get all the adults attention. “A few words about my life going forward. As you know, my companion’s husband died a year ago. We have found we have drawn away from each other and we decided a few months ago to part ways.  

“You may wonder at me having her as a companion, and I suppose it was wrong in one sense, but the woman and her husband were good friends of my parents. I don’t know as we ever considered marriage but I gravitated to this woman for she was lonely with the burden of caring for her husband.

“However, we talked and decided to not continue our former love making. She has applied for an assisted living suite. We are still friends of a sort, but not close any longer. It was a mutual agreement and she is now living with her own age group

“This left me being lonely at times. You know that Mike, Mildred, and Loretta toured the western part of the country for a few weeks. What you don’t know is that Loretta and I have become friends and more. I joined them at the Albany airport the day they left here. We split from Mike and Mildred so Loretta and I made our way to different places by plane that interested us more than what they had on their itinerary.

“Our intent is to make each other happy for the rest of our lives. I believe marriage is soon to be in our future. For now, being together is enough. Loretta will be making her home with me and closing up her house which can’t seem to catch a buyer. If it looks like our happiness will take solid root, she will still put it back on the market and we will be married at that time.”

Maury and Loretta came together now and brushed their lips. Everyone looked at me for I was the person who had been the closest to Loretta. I suppose Jimmy as her grandson was the closest, but it was for me to speak. “Loretta has been a widow for years, and I’m pleased that she has found someone to love. In my mind there is no one better person than Maury.”

Small talk about Loretta and Maury’s travels together through a different part of the country were related. Then the travels of Mike and Mildred came forth. Mildred said she had never traveled and with Mike to be with her and to guide her, this journey was the high point in her life.

Toni and Mike had moved closer so they were standing next to each other. Every once in a while they quietly said something to each other. Toni gave a last look at Mike and turned to us. “You people know that the kids and I went out to California to see one of my friends. We stayed with her and she entertained Denis and Diana while I attended to some other things. I met with the children’s father and he has lost all interest in the two of them. I’m not happy for their sake, and I tried one last time with their father before deciding it was useless.

“He hasn’t changed at all. I could forgive him, but he is tied up with his new family. He didn’t even want to meet with Diana and Dennis Jr. I met with him finally in a restaurant for lunch. I suspected he wouldn’t come when he found out I had Dennis and Dana with me. He did arrive, but was late and I had a chance to call my friend who was waiting in my car. I asked her to bring the children to the front door and I would steer Denis out that exit.

“He talked with me a total of fifteen minutes, I, in all that time, begging him to see his children. He refused.”

“His comment was that he was supporting them and didn’t need to do more than that. When we came out, I spoke sharply and he halted next to where the kids were standing. He looked at them and they came toward him. They haven’t seen him in over four years

“Hi, you kids have grown a lot since I have seen you. Look, I’m busy and have a meeting. I’m sure we will meet again someday. He walked off, leaving us standing there. Diana asked if that was her father and I said it was.

She said to her Dennis, ‘We don’t need him, do we?’”

Dennis put his arms Diana and replied, ‘No we don’t, we have Uncle Mike.’ The night we returned home, Mike and I talked and he proposed to me. Mike and I went into the Town clerk’s office the next day and filled out a license. We have an appointment Tuesday at two o’clock to be married by the town clerk, Stanley doesn’t have to work and I can get the children out of school. Linda, maybe you can take Jimmy from school on Tuesday too. Loretta said she could stay one more day for the wedding before Maury takes her home.

I looked toward Mike, “Are you okay with this?”

“I’ve been ready for this for months. I hated to go out West on vacation, but the plans were made and I couldn’t cheat Mildred of the trip she had been planning on. I did spend a lot of time on the phone talking with Toni while I was away, though.”

Mildred spoke up, “I tried to get Mike to stay home and tend to his new love. You know I have two men in my life. That would be Mike and Stanley. I’m so fond of them both! This also brings Linda much closer to me. I could never understand Wendy, my daughter, but Linda keeps me from being sad over how her mother treats me. Also, I’m glad to be here with Linda and Stanley, not far away half way up the state with just people my age for friends. I do believe it keeps me young.”

“Gram, you missed seeing me grow from a child until you came to see you the day with Stanley. You love Jimmy when he came into our lives and soon there will be another to love. A girl, I hope.”

“Linda, take what comes and be thankful.”

“Oh, I will, Gram.”

Everyone had enough and it was getting much cooler so our party broke up. There was a lot of hugging and some kissing of cheeks. Congratulations were repeated for the coming nuptials of Mike and Toni, and of course for Maury and Loretta’s engagement.

Jimmy decided he would stay with Grammy Mildred and Grammy Loretta, so that would leave Linda and I alone for the night. Mike was staying with Toni because Dennis and Diana wanted to be with Jimmy at Grammy Mildred’s. Dennis was aware enough of what was changing in his world and Mike staying over with his mother was just a prelude of what was taking place in just two days.

Maury had promised to help me get ready for my interview on Tuesday morning. “I’ll be back and we can work on it.”

“Good, but I’ll work on it before you get here.”

I escaped to the office to go over what I would say at my interview. Linda couldn’t understand why Maury was coming back that evening so I went again through what I had told her this morning. I said he was checking my résumé, and I explained again how he set me up for career change. “Maury thinks I have done great in handling both our money and what came to Jimmy from the estate. I’ve made some suggestions to him about changes in the direction of the portfolio. He has agreed wholeheartedly with my suggestions.

“He was at one time friendly with the manager of the investment firm here in Brattleboro. There is an opening for an intern. So he arranged an appointment on my day off. It comes just right with my interview in the morning with Mike’s wedding in the afternoon. I understand that you and I will be the witnesses for the occasion.”

“Yeah, Dad asked me and you to do that for him. He is a good father and he says we are his favorite people. He said exactly that and then warned me that we might be replaced in his heart by Toni. I said that was the way it should be.” 

Maury did come later and looked at what I had written for a résumé. “That’s good. You have in there that you were terminated from UPS because you had gone off the rails at the breakup of your marriage. Your father soon convinced you to put it behind you and get on with your life. I’m sure that Dollar General will give you a good recommendation when they start checking. You can give more details, but it doesn’t have to be in this. You have worked for them for what, four plus years?”

“Yeah, at least.”  Maury soon left. I probably wouldn’t see him again until Tuesday afternoon at the wedding of Toni and Mike.

Linda and I sat around talking about the afternoon. I observed, “I’d say our life is just about set for a few years. Aunt Mildred will most likely be the first to pass, but she should have a few more years. (I called Mildred Aunt like when I was a youth and Grammy when Jimmy was present.) We are starting a family of our own and that’s not saying Jimmy isn’t our own either. It is just that it was more of a surprise to us that we ended up as his parents. You know what I mean.”

“I do. Stanley, I’ve always wanted children. I will be a better mother to our kids than my mother was to me. I say this because she is out of our lives now.”

“Linda, never say never because she may change her mind and come to miss you someday.”

“She is not coming into my life. I won’t let her.”

“We’ll see. You still have your Dad and now Toni for a mother anyway.”

“It is difficult for me to think of her as my parent. She is more like a sister to me.”

“That’s good. I have a sister. I wished Mother and Sis lived closer.”

“Stan, your mother has talked of returning here to live. Who knows, maybe your sister and her family will return with her. Dad isn’t living with us here any longer.”

“Hey Linda, you know we have five months before the baby comes. I’m going to be spending all my free time with you I can. I’m also promising that I will help you with the baby when it comes.”

“I know you will, because you’re like that. Are you excited about working someplace besides the Dollar General?”

“I’ve been thinking of making a change and I’m ready. Maury says he could see it in me. He has been impressed with the interest I have shown in managing the estates. It is coming together at a perfect time for the change.”

“Stanley, I’m not changing anything. I want to be a good Mom and with you beside me, I’m fulfilled.”

We settled in for the evening and decided we would cuddle in bed for awhile. Okay, it was quite awhile. We then talked again about the day and how the people in our lives were changing direction. Nothing wrong with them and certainly nothing to upset us. My last thought before closing my eyes was a thought about Wendy, Linda’s mother.

I didn’t realized I voiced out loud. “I wonder when we will see Wendy.”

Linda, now more than half-way asleep said, “Some day we will. Vermont roots will bring her back. They are just too deep to keep a person away forever.”

“Uh-huh.”

Fifteen years later: Jimmy Cumberland

James Rider Cumberland was sitting in his father’s office. He was now the intern as a Financial Advisor in the office of his father’s, now answering phones and making appointments until his father and mother returned from their vacation next week.

The phone rang. “Jimmy Cumberland speaking, how may I help you?”

“I was wishing to speak to Stanley Rider. He is my son-in-law. I knew he worked for this concern. I’ve tried reaching my daughter, Linda but my efforts are sent to voice mail.”

“That’s because Mom and Dad are on vacation. Grandma Mildred is with them. You would be Wendy, another one of my many Grandmas.”

There was silence. “I don’t know any Cumberland and am certainly not related to any.”

“Yes you are, if you are related to my Mom, Linda. Dad was married to one Bonny Dinsmore. She divorced Dad and married a Charles Cumberland. When Bonny, my biological mother passed in an accident, it was found that Stanley Rider was my biological father. My Mom, Linda Lewis and my Dad, Stanley Rider were married only two days when this took place. I was almost four at the time.

“My Uncle Maurice Cumberland rushed around and contacted my Dad, informing him of this situation. So I really am a son to Stanley Rider. I’ve kept the Cumberland name because I love my Uncle Maurice and that’s okay with Mom and Dad.”

“I didn’t know all of this. Why didn’t Linda tell me?”

“I think I can answer that. I’ve heard my mother say that you had no interest in your daughter and family. I’ve also heard her say that someday you would come back to Vermont and she would tell you then. You do know you are grandmother to my sister and brother, Rachael and Richard Rider as well? Rachael is a teenager and Dick is twelve.

“I did know Linda was pregnant the last time she sent me a card.”

“That was about the time Mom stopped getting cards from you wasn’t it”

“I guess. I had a new husband with step-children to occupy my time. Linda didn’t treat me very well the last time I saw her. I guess you could say we were estranged.”

“I think that must be it. I know Mom would cry when her cards and letters were returned. Grammy Mildred did the same. You probably don’t know about Grammy Mildred. She lives here in Brattleboro up the street from Mom and Dad.

“I think I was only six or seven when Mom stopped sending cards to you. Grammy gave up for the same reason. Say, I’m curious, how did you come to call here?”

“I did a name search on the internet for Stanley Rider. I found out he was branch manager of a national investment firm. Linda’s search showed she stilled lived here. I got her telephone number from that. Jimmy, do you think they will receive me after all this time?”

“Sure, they have been saying you would show up. You never saw two people more in love than Mom and Dad. Grandpa Mike and Grammy Toni are the same. Mike’s stepchildren, Dennis and Diana are a little older than me, but Toni’s baby Tasha, is a lot younger. Mom thinks it is neat having a baby sister.”

“Mike is married and has a baby.”

“Yeah, you’ll love the baby.”

“I can’t see that happening. I divorced Mike.”

“Oh, yeah, I forgot that for the minute. He won’t hold it against you. He says he wouldn’t have had a life if he hadn’t gone to prison and learned how to cook. I know that is when he was divorced from you. Mom introduced him to Toni when she was having trouble keeping her diner going. Mike went to work for Toni and pretty soon he had her showing a good profit. Two years later they married and had the baby. They live on a street connecting to the same one we live on.”

“You live with Stanley and Linda?”

“I don’t now. Gramp lived in the cellar with them until he married Toni. Gramp and Dad fixed up the apartment and I moved down there when Dicky was born. It was empty for awhile when Gramp moved out. Let’s see what else should you know about us?  Oh, my Grammy Dinsmore and my Uncle Maurice fell in love and they married when I was seven. They live in the Northern part of the state, but they come down and stay on weekends all the time with Grammy Mildred.

“Uncle Maurice was originally from Pennsylvania, but he said his roots dug into the rocky Vermont soil and won’t let him go. I know some of it is because I’m here. Well, and Loretta, too.

“Who is Loretta? 

“Oh I forgot to explain. Dad’s first wife was Bonny Dinsmore. She was daughter of Loretta Dinsmore and my biological mother. The day when my mother died, Uncle Maury flew my now Mother and Dad to Pennsylvania. The plane flew back for Bonny’s mother. Loretta came down to Pennsylvania to go to Bonney and Charles’ funeral and be there for help care for me.

“Mom and Dad who had married only two days before this happened, now had an almost four-year-old son. I’ve forgotten what my real mother was like, and I don’t remember her. You can say Mom became mother to me within days of getting married.

“Technically Dad was my guardian and I never did give up my name. But then I have Rider for my middle name and Mom and Dad told me I didn’t have to change it when I was formally adopted. It has made Uncle Maury very, very pleased. The Cumberland name was ending with Uncle Maury if I had dropped the Cumberland name.

We had been talking on the phone it seemed for hours. “Grandmother, are you in town?”

“I am and I was hoping to stay with Linda, but if she isn’t here to ask, I’ll have to get a motel room. “

“Grammy Mildred has a big house with extra rooms. Do you have funds?”

“Enough for a short while, only.”

“And then what?”

There was a barely audible, “I don’t know. I have no plans for the future.”

“Hey, I think we have talked on the phone long enough. Let’s you and I meet. Where are you right now?”

“I’m parked in a Pizza place in West Brattleboro?”

“Well, stay right there. I’m across the street and up two places. In fact I’m done here and I’ll come down and meet you. I’ll swing around and you can follow my car home. In fact I’ll put you up for the night. You can stay until you decide what to do.”

“You don’t live with Linda and your father?”

“Nope, I have my own house.” Traffic was minimal and I made a u-turn and stopped beside my grandmother’s vehicle. I rolled the window down and she did the same on the passenger side. “Follow me when I leave. It will be the next street on the left.”

“Okay.”

We were able to merge into traffic. I turned onto Stockwell Drive and took a left onto Carriage Hill Rd. I pulled into the driveway of a small log cabin. Grammy Wendy stopped her car beside me. We got out and I asked if she had a suitcase.”

“I do, but are you sure it is okay for me to stay with you?”

“Sure, it is. I’m my own person and I own this house. You are my invited guest so come in and relax. Are you hungry?”

“A little. I had breakfast and haven’t stopped.”

“I’ll show you to a room. It is small, but it will give you a place to rest while I make supper. The bathroom is on the end. There is only one.” I paused and then asked, “What name do you go by?”

“Just plain old Wendy Eaton, the same as I was born with. I took that back when Mike and I were divorced. I’ve never married anyone else, although I kept hoping I would when I had a companion. I sometimes fibbed a little about being married to shut down any questions about my status.”

“Not a need for me to know. Maybe later you can share your life ––or not as you choose.”

“Jimmy, I think from just talking with you, you and I are going to be friends. I tell you I’m about out of friends and very much welcome your kindness.”

I went to the kitchen. This morning before leaving, I had sliced some thin steaks from a top round roast and ran them through a steak tenderizer. Now, I also pulled green salad ingredients from the crisper in the fridge and two seven minute potatoes that would be done in the Microwave. Maybe Broccoli? I pulled a bag of florets from the freezer to be steamed. What for dessert? There was pie in the bread drawer. That would have to do.

I poured oil into a deep fry pan to heat. Then I mixed up two eggs with a bit of milk, seasoning it with salt and pepper. I took two cups of flour and seasoned that with some condiments, putting this into a low sided eight by eleven cake pan. I poured the egg mixture into bowl where I could dip the steak.

Oil was hot and the potatoes were in the micro wave and the florets were steaming in the steamer. I went quickly down the hall and knocked on the door where Wendy was resting. “Would you come out and make the salad please. We’ll eat in about ten minutes.”

“I’ll be there, I have to wash my face.”

I started dipping the steaks in the egg mixture and then pressed each one in the flour, making sure the flour coated the egg dipped steak. I checked the heat of the oil and found it hot. I then re-dipped the steak in the eggs again and used up most of the flour to make a thick coating. The potatoes came out and the broccoli was in a serving dish.

Grandma slathered these with butter. “You forgot to peal the potatoes.”

“I know, but these are new and the skins aren’t thick. It adds to their taste and a good source of fiber.”

“Who said so?”

“Grandpa Mike. He should know, he’s a good chef.”

“What do mean, he’s a chef. Where did he ever learn to cook?”

“In prison. He came out with that for a skill. He couldn’t find work here as a mechanic and went into Toni’s diner to work for her. His step children will be along to see me this evening. I grew up at his house as much as I did with Mom and Dad. I’d kind of like it if you wouldn’t question them about Mike. Save your questions for me.”

“I guess I can do that. You seem to have a wealth of information about everyone. You say Mama is still alive and lives here in town?  She must be about seventy-seven or eight.”

“She is hale and hearty and a lot of fun. Get a glass of wine into her and she is the life of the party. Also for fun, I taught her how to play poker and she has turned into a real shark. Uncle Maury takes the women down to Foxboro, MA and she plays poker while the rest play the slots. Okay sit, and I’ll bring the chicken-fried steak over. I hope you enjoy it.”

“My God son, this is a feast. You couldn’t have taken more than a half hour putting it together.”

“About that. I have pie for dessert. Diana and Dennis bring me leftovers from Toni’s diner on their way home.  I have apple but they may have a different kind with them.  

“And who are they, again?”

“Mike’s step-kids. They are in their twenties. There were in essence my older brother and sister before Pop got busy with Mom and gave me the same. Rachael and Richard, my own brother and sister have always tagged after me like I tagged after Diana and Dennis.”

“Does this Diana always bring you pies?”

“Not always. They sell a lot of pie at breakfast. Toni won’t sell it if it is going to look wilted, but is always tastes okay to me. Sometimes Mike drops their extra pie at the diner before he comes home. That’s what makes the Restaurant and Diner so profitable by keeping the food waste at a minimum.”

“What do you mean, Mike has two places?”

“Yes, Toni had a diner in the center of town where there is a lot of shoppers and people who work in town. Mike went to work as breakfast cook and gave her suggestions so she could consistently show a profit. Three years ago, a fine dining establishment called the New England House came on the market and they purchased that. They just serve dinners there. You had better have a reservation or you can’t get fed. They are full all six days in the week. That’s Mike’s baby. Toni is the manager of record, but it really is Mikes.

“He still does breakfasts at the diner to give Diana and Dennis some relief from handling three meals. Actually both places are so well run they can take time off when they want to do something or go somewhere and the places don’t suffer.”

“This is hard for me to believe.” 

I shrugged. I guess Wendy never knew what her former husband had in him…and it wasn’t his fault at all!

“Can I call you Jim?”

“Sure, or Jimmie, makes no difference.”

“You know you must have been around with your father before I became estranged from my mother and my daughter. Were they trying to keep you a secret from me?”

“Maybe, I don’t know. Ask Mom. She still has the cards and letters she sent you that were returned as non-deliverable. Ask to read them.”

Wendy looked at me and burst into tears. “No Grandma, I’ll ask for them. That way you won’t be humiliated.” I pulled her to her feet and hugged her.

“Come, we have an hour before Diana gets here. Go take a hot shower and lie down. Coming here after being away from family for so long and having to make excuses for losing contact is difficult.

“You have been living in a big city and we are a different culture. Vermont is a place of small towns and most people in small rural towns care about their neighbors. This was difficult for Mike at first and he was a felon to boot. We all cared though, so it took a while for him to open up outside the family, and we will care about you the same way. Don’t you feel as if you have come home?”

“I do, but you are just one person and I have never wronged you like I have the others.”

“It will be only as difficult as you make it. By midnight tonight, everyone of the family will know you have surfaced and are here with me. Diana will call Mom and Dad and Grammy Mildred who is with them. She will call Grammy Rider out in California so Dad’s sister will learn of you too.

“She’ll announce this to Mike and Toni when they come in from the restaurant. I’ll call Uncle Maury and Grammy Dinsmore while you are resting. I’d like it if you would meet Diana tonight, though. She is kind of special to me.”

“How special to you?”

“Grammy, she is that special! I’m so happy you came home to Vermont at this time when some changes in my life are coming up.”

“You keep mentioning Vermont and coming home. What’s so special about Vermont?”

“It is just a feeling. Diana noticed and commented on it. She was reading an article about Vermonters going to Florida to escape the cold weather and how many return to Vermont in the spring. As they age, they may return if they have someone to care for them like their relatives when they are too old to live on their own. Those big percent who die in Florida most always have their remains returned to rest with their ancestors here in Vermont.

“I do know for a fact that Grammy Mildred has a plot for you to rest in when your time comes. This is up in Arlington. But this is close enough because it is home to her and I guess you as well. That cemetery has a lot of Eaton’s buried in it.”

“I didn’t know.” Wendy’s eyes suddenly filled.

“You think this unusual? Uncle Maury, since he married Loretta has had his brother Charlie and my mother Bonny’s remains moved from Pennsylvania to the Dinsmore family plot that is near St Johnsbury.  I remind you that Bonny Dinsmore was my biological mother. She has a nice monument and I make it a point to go up that side of the state before shooting across to Burlington just to pay my respects. Dad, does the same.

“Mike and Toni, I don’t know where they will be resting. Toni has always lived here in Brattleboro so Mike very likely will rest with her, rather than upstate near Manchester where the Lewis family comes from. Dad and Mom will decide whether to rest with either the Eaton’s or the Riders. Both have ancestors in the same area.

“You may have Mom resting with you or she may be ten miles away with the Riders. They are going to decide when Grammy Susan gets here. She is coming to live with Grammy Mildred in about a month. Whether my Aunt Betty ever comes back to Vermont is unknown, but I’m betting she will.”

“There has been many developments within the family since I have been gone. hasn’t there?”

“I’d say so. Life pulls together when there is a void. Tell me what your intent is in returning to Vermont?”

“I had to go somewhere. I was asked by the family of the man I was living with to leave after he died. You know, we had real love, but his daughter couldn’t see it and his two sons didn’t care enough to look into what I had with their father. His daughter suspects there is a will and she wanted me to be out of the way. I’m sure if she finds it, I’ll never know what it contains.”

“So you’re bitter about that?”

“Frankly, no. We had a good life and I loved the man I have been living with the most of anyone of my many companions over the years. We traveled around the world some and a lot here in the United States and that made me happy. I’ll find me a job and a place to live out my years and be okay with that.”

“What about my Mom and Aunt Mildred?”

“They will most likely disown me. They never understood me, anyway. I’m smart enough not to push myself onto them. Of course, there is my former husband, Mike Lewis. It sounds like he has made much of his life after he came out of prison a divorced man. I suspect it is Linda and Stanley who did that for him. I can’t believe he did this on his own.”

“I think you are right. Some of it has to be his returning to Vermont, though. He never would have been able to accomplish this in someplace like New Jersey.”

“What have you got against New Jersey? I lived there thirty-one years and enjoyed living there.”

“Nothing against the state of New Jersey, but Mike’s roots were here and his family, excepting you, were here to support him. That is something he didn’t have there. Over the next year or so, you just might find the same thing if you will only give us a chance. You will have to give us a chance by doing your part, though. I predict it will be worth it if you do. It is you who has to make it happen.”

“And who is this wonder person who is to help me?”

“It could be me. I’ll bet I can rope in Grandpa Mike’s step-daughter, Diana. I’ll make sure Rachael and Richard meet you within a day or two. When Dennis and Diana get here we’ll unload your car. Do you like the room where you are now?”

“It is pretty small. I have the trunk of my car full and you saw how full the backseat is.”

“There is a downstairs to the house that opens out on some woods. There is a bedroom and a den or living room. I’ve never used it because I only bought the house a year ago. There is a stretch of woods behind this house that isn’t too dense. You can look through them to the next street called Hampshire Circle. Gram Mildred’s is directly opposite my house. You could walk through the woods and be at her back door for coffee of a morning. The only problem with the downstairs here is that the bathroom is up here on this floor.”

“May I look at this other room?”

“Sure, follow me. There is the outside entrance too so if you are out you won’t have to enter from above. There are steps with a railing and is safe enough even if it is dark.”

Wendy’s first comment on going down stairs and opening the door to the living area, was, “I love it! How much will you charge me to live here?”

“Gram, we’ll discuss this when you find employment. You are now my housemate and I need someone to keep our house clean.”

“Diana has been doing that, hasn’t she?”

“Nope, wrong deduction. I have been doing it all. She is terribly busy with the diner. You just arrived at the time I decided I didn’t want to do a job that someone else could do better.”

–––––––––––––––––––––

Diana opened the door just as Wendy was giving Jimmy a tearful hug of happiness. He turned and grinned at her. Diana looked upset as Dennis followed her in. Both stared at them. Dennis knew of his sister’s fondness for me and mine for her. I wouldn’t do her wrong.

Dennis spoke, “I’m guessing you are Wendy, You look much like our Linda. Grammy Mildred has a picture of you too. You were one time married to our father. Diana has always said to Jimmy that you would someday return to Vermont.”

“Gram Wendy, these two are Diana and Dennis Wynde. Say welcome to Wendy, my Grandmother. I’ve just made her my housemate for as long as she needs a home. She needs work and to do some repairing of her relationship with the family. I predict that it will happen. I also predict it won’t be too difficult.

“I know Mom and Grandpa have been worried. She hasn’t contacted us for a dozen or more years. She is here now and I intend to ease her back into the family as well as into the state she left so many years ago.”

“We’ll help Jimmy, won’t we Dennis?”

“We will, Diana.”

Chapter Five

Wendy was folded back into the family without any serious problems. Mike did about as we expected concerning his first wife. He would speak to her without recrimination.  He never searched her out to speak alone with, but she was never treated with disrespect. After a couple of months, Wendy approached Toni and said she admired Mike and what he had accomplished since coming back to Vermont. The two never became close friends, but were friendly.

Wendy and Diana became good friends. Wendy absolutely loved Jimmy, her grandson. These two things turned the tide in her favor. She also didn’t push herself forward and her comments about any and all things were pleasant. Stanley often remarked on this when out of her hearing. He was disgusted of the way she had acted the one time he and Linda had stayed with her when Mike was being released from prison, but she had mellowed and was quite pleasant now.

Linda was the happiest to have her Mom return. She now received love from her mother that had been missing when she lived at home after finding out her mother’s lifestyle. Mildred, Wendy’s mother, was a little more reserved, just waiting and half expecting Wendy’s former attitude would return and the family would be again be left wanting.

––––––––––––––––––––––

Wendy found work in Townshend, VT, at the Grace Cottage Hospital working there as the receptionist on the front desk. This was work she had performed at a hospital in New Jersey for two years before moving in with her last companion. She was competent, gracious, and friendly. Soon everyone liked her. There was one older than her person, Cecil Pembrook, who was especially taken with her. He was a volunteer who came in and helped as an Aid. His station was in the corner across the room from the receptionist.

Pembook was a widower three years, and was a retired educator from the Boston Education system. He was several years older than Wendy. His wife and he had bought a small piece of land and built an all season vacation home in Townshend that they had enjoyed together before her demise.

His fondest memories were being with her at the home. This is where he retired to finish out his time before joining her in a plot they had purchased in a nearby cemetery. His lonely days now were assuaged by the camaraderie at the hospital This was raised to a higher level when Wendy joined the staff.

Cecil came to admire not only her looks, but her way of being so friendly to everyone. He tried a few times to flirt with her, but was shut down brusquely and immediately.

“Why won’t you flirt at all Wendy? It is harmless.”

“Cecil, you might think so, but I know better. Buy me a coffee in the cafeteria and I’ll explain.”

Cecil did as she asked and picked a time when the cafeteria was nearly empty. The tables were small and they could sit across from each other without being overheard. “Cecil, I’m going to share some of my life with you. Will you keep it in confidence and not share?”

“Of course, I will. I would be a boor if I didn’t.”

Wendy began to speak without looking directly into Cecil’s eyes. “Okay, a short bio of my life. I ran away from home when I was seventeen. I soon had a baby. I married the man I ran away with and things were okay. Never enough money, but okay. Then my husband lost his job. I had heard about escort services so I applied. I soon found out where the money was if you would, against where you wouldn’t. Believe me, you think you can get rich doing this, but it is seldom possible. My husband took care of our baby, but it destroyed us as a couple.

“My husband tried to add to our income, but was caught in a burglary attempt. He now had a record but escaped being incarcerated. Our child learned of what I was doing when she was fourteen. She moved out and lived on her own when she was seventeen.

“I continued, but I changed the way I found companionship. I would flirt and some of these hook-ups turned into longer term associations. My husband and I continued to have our own home after our daughter left. I guess you could consider me a kept woman, but not necessarily by my husband. Again, my husband attempted to burglarize some places and again was caught and charged. He received three and a half years in prison.

“I was always searching for someone to keep me. I was always honest with any man I hooked up with laying out what each of us expected of each other. I kept my promises, but expected them to end at any time and I had no recourse when the association inevitably ended. Just before my husband was released from prison, I divorced him.

“A few months before he was released, my daughter left the area and started hitchhiking to Vermont trying to reach Arlington where my mother still lived.

“Catching rides in the general direction, she reached Brattleboro. She met a man who knew of my mother and after staying a few days with him, he drove her up to see my mother. She became the housemate to this person who was a distant cousin of my mothers. He had never heard of me before this.

“When my husband was released they came down and stayed overnight with me and was there when my husband was let out. I went to the prison with them and that was the last time I had any physical contact with him and with my daughter and her cousin. They returned to Vermont and my husband still had a year of parole to serve.

“Oh. They tried to keep in contact with me and my ex husband did as well. That was a day of infamy for me. I wasn’t nice to them or my ex husband. I was so ashamed because I had just hooked up with who I thought was a much better man with better prospects. That lasted until just before my ex husband went up to Vermont to be with our daughter.

“Eventually I stopped answering their calls and had their letters returned as unanswered. It was fifteen years before I broke down and tried to contact my daughter’s husband. The day I called his office, I reached his son who was by my son-in-laws first wife.

“I am one lucky person, for the son, now twenty-two with a beautiful girlfriend has taken me in hand. They have gone all out to get me integrated back into the arms of my daughter, my mother, and now even my ex-husband does speak civilly to me.

“You see why I don’t want to flirt with you or anyone. It could drive a wedge between me and my family again, because they would think I was back to my old ways.”

Wendy paused, looking into Cecil’s eyes.“I have to return to my desk now. I’m not stopping you from saying good morning, but there is nothing more we can say to each other.” Wendy picked up the table, gathering the cups and cake plate and returning them to the counter.

She shouldn’t have done that because that kindness made him know he wanted to know this woman better.

––––––––––––––––––

Jimmy spoke to Wendy when she came in from Townshend, “You have a package. It’s from a woman named Gail Pascetti.”

“That would be my last companion’s daughter. I’m surprised she would contact me. I did call her older brother and I gave him my address a month ago. Gail just doesn’t like me at all. We started out okay, but when she found out Franklin was paying me money, she said some mean things to me. We got over it, but it was never the same. When he died, I don’t think she thought my grief was real. I did love him, you know?”

“I think I know you did. There is a certain inflection in you voice when you speak his name. I heard it again just a few moments ago.”

“I was with him for several years. I think his sons felt I did love their father. Let me get my coat off and I’ll see what she sent.”

The package was a fat bubble pack and she used scissors to cut across the top. Wendy up-ended it and bundle of old letters tumbled out. They were tied tightly together with string. In the corner of the first envelope, Wendy’s name and address sticker was visible and it was addressed to a Franklin Piscetti. It was obviously old and worn a bit from being handled. A loose folded sheet of paper also came out too.

Wendy explained to Jimmy, “These are love letters I sent to Franklin when he was persuading me to move in with him. I didn’t realize he kept them.” Wendy picked up the loose paper. It was a note from Gail.

}Wendy, You went through your things when you were packing up to leave, you gave Robert a few mementos you had that I guess Papa had given you. Thank you for returning them. Robert wants to keep the gold pocket watch. Don has asked for the diamond stick pin, and I love the enameled brooch of the little girl that was my mother’s. I haven’t seen it for years. I suspect now that Papa gave it to you. I know you wouldn’t have taken it on your own.

}I am sending the letters back, for you might still cherish them and remember back when you wrote them to Papa.

}I’m sorry now I asked you to leave. My brothers chided me about me telling you to go, Forgive me, please,

}Gail.

“Jimmy after I read these and do a little reminiscing, I’m going to call Gail. I’ll do that this evening. What are we having for supper?”

“Beef stew. I was up to the restaurant and that was on the menu so I brought home a tub of it. Mike said you liked it.”

Tears came to Wendy’s eyes, “Damnit Jimmy, everyone is being so nice to me. I wish those I have hurt in the past would come by and slap me. That still would be less pain than I feel when they are so solicitous of me.”

“Gram, You are turning out friendly and being nice to everyone yourself. Let’s eat.”

Dishes were done and it was time to relax for the evening. Diana would be coming to see Jimmy in another hour. She often now stayed the night. Wendy went down to her room and took the bundle of letters with her. Ten minutes later, hurrying she came up the stairs.

“Jimmy, Jimmy, where are you?”

“Right here, Gram. What’s the matter?”

“Look at this envelope. It was in the middle of the bundle of papers and has never been opened. It has a lawyers name on it and is supposed to be presented to his office. It has a date of three years ago on it. I think it must be the will that no one could find. Franklin never discussed his assets with me and I never asked. I’m going to call Robert. No, I’ll call Gail. It was she who sent these things to me.”

Wendy didn’t wait for Jimmy to say anything, just began dialing. The phone was soon answered, “Hello.”

“Robert is that you? Is Gail there? No, never mind, I’ll talk to you. Did you ever find your father’s will.?”

There was a long pause. “Why would you want to know?”

“Because in the bundle of old letters of your father’s that I just received from Gail, there is a fat unopened envelope that is supposed to be presented to an attorney, named Rudolf Gottlieb. Your father must have placed it there and Gail didn’t open the bundle before she sent them to me.”

“Well, open it and see what it says?”

“I can’t do that. it is stamped do not open. There is some kind of seal imprinted on the back so it would show if it is opened. I was never privy to your father’s affairs and it is too late to begin now. You know, when the post office opens Monday, I can have it over-nighted to you. You will receive it on Tuesday.”

“That would work. I can contact the lawyer’s office and discuss it with them and to expect me to bring it in later in the day on Tuesday. Thank you for dealing with this. I didn’t know Gail was sending any letters.”

“I’m glad she did. I don’t think she read any of them. I said some things in the letters to your father that you three might not want to read.”

“Papa was a Lusty Old Buck and I don’t think we would be too shocked. You’re a bit of Lusty Lady yourself. Don and I used to admire you. Gail was always a bit jealous and that’s why she didn’t get along with you like we did. Look for Gail to call you tomorrow sometime in the morning. It has been a bitch trying to settle Papa’s affairs without a will. We can soon put this behind us and get on with our lives. Goodnight Wendy. Thank you so much.”

Wendy hung up. Jimmy asked, “So?”

“That was Robert, the oldest son. He thinks it must be the will. He told me to open it, but I said I wouldn’t dare. I’ll have you mail it and they’ll get it Tuesday in the morning.”

“You know you might be coming into a little money.”

“It would be nice, but I don’t expect that I will. I promised not to enter into any of Franklin’s affairs and his money was never discussed. I had all my needs met both physical and monetarily. I did come to have a lot of affection for the man.” Wendy gave an embarrassed laugh and then said. “Robert just now called me a lusty lady and he and his brother both admired me. How’s that for an ego builder when I met them at age fifty, give or take?”

“Time for you to begin looking for a companion again, Gram.”

“What will the family say if I do?”

“Gram, you most likely have twenty-five years more of life in you. We’ve discussed you. We’ve concluded it isn’t if, it is more like when. I’m right aren’t I?”

“You are. There is a likely looking man who sat down with me at lunch just today. He’s been trying to flirt with me, but I stopped him. I might see where this goes. That road to Brattleboro will get covered with ice this winter when I’m ready to come home. I might have to accept an invitation to stay the night with someone.”

“There you go, Gram, those Vermont roots Diana talks about are getting stronger and deeper every day.”

“Oh, you!”

“Think about it, Gram. Why did you come back?”

“Mostly to see Linda I guess. Maybe Mother. I woke up one morning wondering if she had died. I had a revelation I guess. I went back over my life thinking what a damned fool I had been by pushing my family away. After Linda met Stanley, Mother and Linda made overtures to get me back into the family.

“I thought about the dirty deal I had given Mike. I never admitted to myself that it very well could be me who had driven him to do something that put him in prison. Mom and Linda are nice to me, but even now I can feel that they don’t trust me and expect me revert back to the way I used to be. Jimmy after you, Stanley is the one who is the most welcoming now that I have surfaced.”

“You do accept that you are better off even with that, now that you are here in Vermont, don’t you?”

“Of course.”

“Do you miss the Piscetti family?”

“I do. Gail and I got along well and then she accused me of being paid for by her father. I denied it because he never gave me more money than I needed to run the household and some inexpensive costume jewelry. He tried to give me expensive trinkets, but I never would accept them because I knew it would make his children upset.

“He was very liberal in taking me places. He liked to travel and I was always with him. We enjoyed our time together and never fought about anything. I never let him know that Gail and I didn’t get along either. I have no idea what she will say when she calls me tomorrow.”

“Don’t worry about it. She’ll be nice. She has already asked for your forgiveness. Plus you sending back that envelope unopened will go a long way to show that the mistrust she had for you was misplaced.”

“Jimmy you make me feel so good. I’m going down and start reading the letters I wrote to Franklin.”

“May I tell Diana about this when she comes home. She’ll be happy for you about Gail asking for forgiveness?”

“Of course.”

Wendy went down stairs and got ready for bed. She smiled when she thought of not having to go upstairs to the one bathroom at night. The first month she was here. She had startled Jimmy and Diana on the couch when she opened the door to the hall and could see into the living room. The next day Jimmy had a plumber in to estimate putting in a stool and washbasin, taking some spare space in where the furnace was located.

Tonight Wendy settled into bed and got comfortable before opening her letter that was addressed to Franklin. It was dated nine years ago this month three days after she had met him. She was between companions and he had lost his wife fifteen months before this. There was an instant connection between them…She felt there was anyway.

They wrote back and forth most everyday and he began inviting her to go out on dates. That was a happy time for her after a period on not having a companion.

The phone rang, “Hello,”

“Wendy, this is me, Gail. Robert has just finished talking about you calling about an envelope you found in the bundle of letters I sent you. That is just like Papa, to hide things and not tell anyone where something was. Robert and I both think it is a will. If it is, I hope there is something in it for you. I’m apologizing again for asking you to leave. I’ve found out about various things that indicate how happy you made him while you were here.

“We did have a lawyer contact us about some things. When he made an appointment to have us come in, we thought for sure he had the will to read, but it wasn’t. There were some letters and things like that that he turned over to us. These letters I sent you were stuck in the corner on the very top shelf in his closet.  I finally have gotten around to clean out the corners of the room after you left. I’m leaving the garage and the cellar for Robert and Don to take care of.

“Wendy, how are you doing? My face gets red with shame every time I think of you.”

“Gail please don’t. You have apologized and I have forgiven you. I’m not looking for anything left to me and never expected he would leave me anything. Franklin and I had a deal, I made it clear that I wasn’t looking for more than a decent home and a happy time with him. He would sometime try to give me trinkets to wear, but they were always too expensive I didn’t want him to spend on me, he should take care of his three children.

“I might even find it noted in one of these letters you were so kind to send me. Tell me what turned you against me so sudden? I looked on you as my step-daughter and then you changed.”

“I was eves dropping on Papa one time and he was discussing his assets with someone on the phone. They were talking about money. I never heard your name mentioned, but he said something about everyone getting something and he had settled that problem years ago. I supposed you were included.”

“That must have been after he retired?”

“It was”

“Honestly, Gail he never gave me any great amount of money and never said he was going to. If this letter I have that is supposed to go to this Rudolf Gottlieb Attorney is a will, I’m sure that it doesn’t concern me in any way. I’m sending it to Robert to deal with anyway.”

“Wendy, I feel you are wrong and I hope it does concern you in some good way. How are you getting along with your family?”

“In some ways, great. The first person I contacted was a grandson I didn’t even know I had. He was a child of my son-in-laws first wife. Linda, my daughter took him into her home at a young age. He owns his own house and invited me to stay here with him. He is getting married in another month.

“My mother lives on the next street over and I can see her house from here. I go there every morning and have coffee with her before going to work. I never treated her very well, but she is warming to me and it just makes me more aware of what a damned fool I have been for things I have done in my life. She is in good health, so I should have time to make amends.”

“That’s great, Wendy. You know, don’t be too surprised that I will get one of my brothers to take me up to Vermont and see you someday. Maybe I can help convince them that you were great with my father in the last years of his life.”

“I’d like it if you would.”

“Wendy. I’ll be looking for that envelope and Robert will take care of it when he gets it. Call me anytime and I’ll call you. Love you!”

“Love you too, Gail. Goodnight.” Wendy turned back to the love letter she had written to Franklin. She blushed at some of the things she had suggested of a sexual nature and glad that Gail had not read these letters. A 50 year-old woman shouldn’t have been that explicit. She was older now by nine years, but it was nice remembering!

––––––––––––––––––––––––

Wendy arrived at work Monday morning and there was a rose lying on her desk. There was a small card that just said, “Have a great day, Wendy!” and it was signed “A Friend” Wendy knew it had to be from Cecil Pembrook.

When he walked by pushing a patient in a wheelchair she said to him, Good morning, Cecil. I see I have a rose on my desk this morning. I love roses. If you should happen to know who gave it to me, let that person know how pleased I am with it.”

“You are really pleased?”

“I am and thank you.”

“Wendy, will be having lunch at the same time today and if you are, may I sit with you?”

“Of course, Cicil.”

“Good, I’ll be there.” This late lunch time the two had, again left them where they could talk. “Wendy, you seem particularly happy today.”

“Some of it is the rose from you. I love it. The happiness comes also from a phone call I received last night. I told you about my being companion to another man who died a year and a half ago. His daughter and I didn’t get along very well the last of my living there. She is being friendly now and sent me an apology and something I valued by mail and then called me later. I went to sleep satisfied that I could look back on that time with fondness for everyone.”

“That’s great for you.”

“Anyway, I realized I pushed you away when you just want to be friends. I would enjoy having you become my friend. I have collected quite a bit of family over the years and I pushed them away in a worse way than I just did you. I told you I’m staying with a grandson I never knew I had before coming back to Vermont. I love him to pieces and also the girl he is going to marry soon.

“I’m going to move in with my mother in a week or two. My son-in-law’s mother has come from California back to Vermont and lives with Mom already. She is a pleasant person and I look forward to living with them. Every one here connected to me are talking about having a yearly reunion in August.  I would be missing so much if I hadn’t decided to come back to Vermont.”

“Thank you. I’m happy for you.”

“Oh, dear, now, I’ve gone and talked all though our lunch. I promise tomorrow it is your turn to talk.”

“I guess that means I can sit with you tomorrow?’

“It does.”

Wendy thought about Gail and the two boys, Boys? Robert was in the late thirties. Don was two years younger, with Gail thirty. Robert would be getting the Priority Express package sometime tomorrow. He was going to check out Rudolf Gottlieb today and see him tomorrow. Then her thoughts turned to Cecil. He was so pleasant seeming. “I could fall for someone like that.” she thought. “No, I had better stick with the family I’m beginning to care for.”

It took awhile for her to get to sleep, but she did and slept too long and had to rush getting to work on time. There was no rose this morning and she was thankful for that. That is until Cecil stopped at her desk and told her to check out her top desk drawer. She looked and found a box of chocolates. “Those are for you to share with whoever covers for you so just tell them that you bought them to have when ever the mood hits you.”

“Thank you, Cecil. You have everything covered perfectly.” Just then, a nurse stopped to say hi. Wendy turned to her, “Would you like a chocolate? I need a pick me up sometimes.”

“Thank you, no. It’s too early in the day.” The nurse waved and moved on.

“Cecil, Chocolate?” He grinned and shook his head, no. Wendy slid the box into her drawer out of sight.

Wendy was getting nervous as the day wore on. By this time, the envelope should be in the hands of Attorney Gottlieb. If anyone asked, she would say she didn’t believe there was anything in it concerning her. In her mind she thought Franklin might have left something for her. But then he had died suddenly and his intent might have been to remember her, but his life was snuffed out so quickly and he never regained his faculties after the stroke that killed him two weeks later.

When Wendy came through the door at six, Jimmy met her, “Robert Pescetti called. You are to call him back. I tried to get details, but he said he would talk to only you.”

“I’ll call him now.”

Robert was waiting for her to call. “Hi Wendy, I talked to Gottlieb. The letter that I took to him wasn’t a will as such. What it is, is a vehicle listing the will and all of Papa assets. Gottlieb does have a draft of the will and a key to a safe deposit box with the original inside. The catch is that you are the only one left who can open the safe deposit box. You are the only one who’s signature is on file at that particular bank. He didn’t even want to tell me that much, but I convinced him to tell me.”

“I’m the person who has been trying to settle the estate without a will and I really didn’t know where to start. Just a list of the assets will help me immeasurably. Wendy, you were closer to Papa than any of us, was he acting senile at all?”

“I didn’t see it, but old people have funny ideas about certain things. After all, Franklin was thirteen years older than me. He did rely on me for many things, but he never mentioned any of this.”

“You will come down Friday, won’t you?”

“Yes, I think so. Just a minute and I’ll ask my grandson to drive me.”

“Jimmy will you go to New Jersey this Friday. We may have to stay overnight.”

“Sure, I can get the time off.  How about your job?”

“I know I can.” She switched back to Robert, “Yes I’ll be down. We’ll meet at your house won’t we and go to the lawyers or the bank from there.”

“Good, Get here at noon and Gail will have lunch prepared. It will be great to see you again. We have missed you. Not as much as when our mother passed, but missed you all the same.”

“Thank you, Robert, that means a lot to me. So, Friday before noon?”

“Right, Good bye Wendy.”

Wendy turned to Jimmy. “In case you are interested, Robert lives across the back lot from his father’s house and has a family. He has children, but I didn’t know them well. I was a kept woman and Robert’s wife didn’t approve of me.

“Gail and Don have been married but both are divorced. Gail dates some and she dresses nice and is looking for a new husband. Don works and watches TV when he comes home. Franklin was high up in some factory before he retired about the time I came on the scene. I overhead him tell Robert he retired under a golden parachute.”

“I’ll bet you will receive something.”

“I never asked for anything.”

“We’ll find out Friday.”

Wendy was distracted during the rest of the week, but didn’t tell anyone why. She did tell her boss that she had to go to New Jersey on Friday and was granted the day off. This was the first time she had asked for a day off.

Jimmy told Stanley that he was taking Gram to New Jersey to wind up some affairs. Stanley didn’t question Jimmy. Diana knew what this was about but she was asked not to share and didn’t. This was at least a four hour trip, but Jimmy said they had better plan on six. They left at 5:30 and were almost there before they stopped for breakfast.

When they sat for breakfast, Jimmy asked how Wendy met Franklin, “It was one of those cases where I would run into him while I was with the man I cared for. The man was hiring me to aid him in his home before he knew he should go into a nursing home. Shortly after the man did become institutionalized, I met Franklin and he asked me for a date. It very shortly became physical and I moved into his house with him. He was living alone at the time because all three of his children were married.

“First Don got divorced and a year later Gail did too. His home is beautiful and it is worth a lot. He asked me if I would manage it, he said he would respect me and we could travel some. We were on the go often and he did just as he said he would. I lived a good life with him and was happier than I had ever been before.

“It had to end sometime and I was sad when it did. This was what I was looking for all my life and I had a little over nine years of it. Now I’m back with my mother and your mom. I’m satisfied working for wages again and I’m slowly making progress being happy with the family and they with me. Different life, of course, but still I’m still living the good life.”

“You sound a little melancholy. Do you wish you were back here with Franklin’s family?”

“No, I’m looking forward to seeing them, but I like being just Wendy Eaton living with her family. That’s enough for me from now on.”

“Good.”

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Jimmy drove down a tree-lined street of beautiful houses in Bloomfield. “We are coming to it. It doesn’t have quite as much charm as some of these houses, but is nice enough.”

“This it?”

“Yes, this is it.”

“I’d say Brattleboro doesn’t have any houses this nice. At one time maybe, but if they were, they are now utilized for businesses, nursing homes, or divided into apartments or offices.”

“I know. There is Gail’s car. Robert’s house is across the back lot next street over. They have a common boundary. His wife isn’t too sociable so he’ll be here.”

Gail knocked on the door and Gail swung it open and hugged Wendy. “Oh, it is so good to see you. Come in. Robert is here. Don will be soon. I have sandwiches for lunch. We are supposed to be at the attorney’s at two this afternoon. That’s in Newark. The Bank is on the same street as his offices. Come into the kitchen where Robert is.”

Gail led us and we followed her. Over her shoulder, she asked, “Who is the handsome man with you?”

We stepped into the kitchen. “Robert and Gail, I’d like you to meet my grandson, Jimmy Cumberland. One whom I never knew I had before I went home to Vermont. In my book, he is the best of all my relatives and that’s including my mother and daughter. The day I reached Vermont, he invited me into his home. Before it was dark, he had invited me to live in his home and I have.

“I never said much, but I have been estranged from my family for nearly fifteen years. It is Jim who has taken up for me and now I’m back in my family’s good graces. I’ve just moved though, because Jimmy is getting married in three weeks. Believe it or not, I’m living with my mother. Something I never thought would happen because of the way I left.”

“Things are good for you now?”

“They are. I have a job I enjoy and I’m making friends again.” My ex-husband is even speaking to me when we are in the same room together. He is married and owns two restaurants. In fact, Jimmy is marrying my ex’s step-daughter. They make a beautiful couple.”

Robert was wiping his hands after cutting up a salad. Finished he came and hugged Wendy. “We’ve missed you. You also know you could come back and live here with us.”

“I’m sorry, Robert, but Vermont is my home now. If I hadn’t gone to Vermont, I probably would.”

“Well let’s eat. The Attorney cleared his schedule and we have a room when we get there. He says there should be no problem at the bank, but you never know. I have copies of Papa’s death certificate. That’s necessary. You have your I.D.?”

“Yes, my driving license and my mother had my birth certificate.”

“Probably you won’t need that. Oh, I just heard Don drive in.”

Don came in and immediately hugged Wendy. “Hi Wendy, I’ve missed you.”

“I know. I miss all of you too.”

“So, you are involved with us again. I have no idea what Papa was thinking. Why didn’t he use his regular attorney, file his will, and not make everyone jump though hoops. Christ, the will could have been lost and Robert never would have gotten everything settled.”

“I know. I can think of a half dozen ways that the will could have disappeared before it came to me. I am giving him some leeway, though. He always wanted to treat you people equally, and often spoke of it.”

“And you, you must be named in the will. He thought so much of you.”

“We got along famously, but he never mentioned he was going to settle anything on me. That was okay, for he gave me a good life while he was alive.”

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Robert owned a SUV and it was decided to ride in the one vehicle to Newark. Walking into the bank, Robert recognized Rudolf Gottlieb sitting in the waiting area. He stood and shook Robert’s hand. “One of these ladies must be Wendy Eaton, I hope.”

“I am Wendy Eaton.”

“Good, you must know that I had cautioned Mr. Piscetti not to make it difficult for his administrator of his assets and property to wind up his affairs when it came time. He wanted to do things in a certain way and I couldn’t change his mind. Also you must understand I didn’t know the deceased well, only meeting him a few times.  That being said, I have the safe deposit box key and Miss Eaton is to approach any teller at the bank who will let you into the room where the boxes are. The teller will direct you to a room and the rest of us will be waiting. I will read the will as written at that time.”

“What is in the box?”

“Miss Eaton, I have no idea other than the original will. When finished, we call the teller and he comes to escort you so you can return the box and get the key back.”

“I’m ready.” Wendy walked up to a teller and asked to get into a safe deposit box.

“Do you have the key, and is your signature on file?”

“Yes, I was in this bank only once and only for that purpose with a Mr. Franklin Piscetti. He is deceased now.”

“Do you have a death certificate and if you do, would you present it to me, please?” Wendy passed it over.  “Please go over to the teller on your left sitting at the desk. I’ll meet you there.”

The other teller looked up as Wendy approached. “Mary, everything seems to be in order to take in Miss Eaton to open her safe deposit box.”

“Yes, I have a note here. Would you please identify who will be in the room when you open the box?”

“Of course. There is Attorney Gottlieb, Robert and Donald Piscetti, sons of the deceased, Mrs. Cummings, daughter of the deceased, and one James, Cumberland, my Grandson and chauffer. He and I live in Brattleboro Vermont.”

“Very good. We have to be careful you know.”

“I would imagine.”

There was no trouble with unlocking the box. There were hundreds of boxes, actually drawers, stacked ceiling high. Wendy’s was a medium sized one, 12 inch square, and when the drawer was pulled out, it was 24 inches long. It had an unlocked cover which covered the top. There was a handle front and back to grasp the drawer and remove it from the bank of like containers.

“I’ll open the door while you carry it. There is a button you can alert me with when you finish.” She held the door, but didn’t enter.

“Thank you, Mary. You have been helpful.” Wendy came in and sat the drawer on a low table.

“Ms Eaton, do you wish us to leave while you open it? I believe there are items in it that are intended for Robert.”

“Thank you sir. No, I will open it.”  Everyone gathered around while Wendy flipped the top back. It was over two thirds full.  Prominently displayed was an envelope that said “Last will and testament of Franklin Harry Piscetti. Present this to Robert, my elder son.” Wendy handed this to Robert.

“Thank God this showed up. I can go about settling the estate now." He opened it and then turned this over to Attorney Gotlieb. “Would you read this out loud, please.”

“I quote. This, the last will and testament of Franklin Harry Piscetti. I am of sound body and mind. This hasn’t been filed with the probate court. Attorney Gottlieb will see to that when it is presented to him by you Robert, whom I have named to administer my wishes concerning the family. There are some details in this of how I want my assets distributed. You will find them at the end of this document. I believe there will be as nearly equal as I can make them between my three children. I trust you.

“Note, I have only one bequest. Any other who should receive anything of my estate, I have taken care of already.

“The main bequest is for Wendy Eaton whom I have had a wonderful association with going on now for six years at this date. The rest of my estate goes to Robert, Donald and Gail, my three children. Here again, Robert, I trust you to see that Wendy Eaton receives what this drawer contains as follows.  Eight envelopes that are eight certificates, and two boxes with her name on them.

“The two boxes are for her eyes only and contain papers and reminisces’ of our time together. She may want to walk down the path again with me if only in her mind. Hopefully we will have a long association together stretching out many years. I’ll add to this occasionally.

“My assets; these I follow closely and there is little need to update them. The amounts may change, hopefully to increase, but not the assets themselves. End quote.”

There was a long list of assets that although without the probable value stated. This definitely was what Robert needed to settle his father’s affairs. Even that ended with a note to talk to his financial advisor if he had questions.

There was a pause and Wendy reached in and picked out the noted envelopes. There were eight of these and each had a maturity date on them. She opened the one with the earliest maturity date and after looking at it said, “This has what will mature on my sixtieth birthday and it is a certificate of some kind. Jimmy, you figure this out.”

Jimmy studied it. Everyone was looking at him. “Okay, I make out that it is a stand alone account for $8,000.00, with a guaranteed yearly seven percent compound interest. It has a maturity date of ten years, which I think coincides on the day you are sixty. That would mean it will be in the neighborhood of a $20,000.00 payout. Humm, there are eight of these in total. They are laddered and the last one matures when you are 67. What it means is when you are sixty-one, you have a payout of eleven years of 7 percent interest compounded.

“I’m guessing this is backed by a bundle of Triple A stocks owned by some insurance company and possible will pay more than the seven percent. That $8,000.00 might generate as much as $35,000.00 payout when the last one matures on your 67 birthday. Maybe even as much as $40,000.00. It all depends on the economy.”

“Franklin did leave me something, didn’t he? I never asked him too.”

Jimmy continued,  “He must have purchased these all at the same time shortly after he met you. I think he wanted you to have something when you were of retirement age. He was older than you and wanted to thank you for making him happy. You will be looking forward to your sixtieth birthday now. I’m happy for you.” The brothers and Gail were too.

Then Robert spoke again, “I’m glad Papa left you what he did. It is little enough.”

“Oh, don’t say that. He treated me better than anyone ever did. You guys have too. Shall we empty this drawer and get out of here?”

Gottlieb had his satchel with him and helped Robert put the large other bundle of paperwork into it that supposedly contained a listing of their fathers other assets and where they could be located. Wendy handed Jimmy the larger box and she hung onto the smaller one along with the note that these belonged to her. She had the envelopes with the stand alone accounts in her hand.

Robert called the teller that they were finished. The teller went with Wendy back to the safe deposit room and slid the drawer into its in place. When the group was together again in the lobby, Robert asked how long before the lease ran out.

“It has been paid up for two more years. Will Ms Eaton still be using it?” Wendy shook her head, no.

Robert asked if he could engage it and use the remainder of the time. “I can put your name on it along with hers. Who ever has the key can open it by just signing their name.”

Wendy asked, “May I have my name removed after Robert has his put on it. Then when the drawer is closed he can have the key.”

“I guess that would be okay. You’ll both have to come to the front desk though.”

Robert looked at Wendy, “We’ll do that. You can wait here in the lobby for us. It shouldn’t take long.”

Later it was awkward walking back to Gottlieb’s office. Jimmy and Wendy dropped behind the others.

“Gram, are you happy how this turned out?”

“It proves Franklin did care a whole lot for me. I wonder what’s in these boxes?”

“Don’t get anxious about sharing with these people. He evidently didn’t want them to know what they contain.”

“That’s true. Are we going to stay the night with them?”

“They have invited us, so it would be impolite to just leave.” They didn’t stop at Gottlieb’s office. He was to bill the Pescetti estate for his time. Wendy was able to put the smaller box and the eight certificates into her bag and Jimmy carried the larger box.

“Right, we’ll stay.” Wendy was shown her former room. Jimmy made do on a day bed off the living room. Robert had gone home across the way, wanting to see what papers that were directed to him contained. Gail set her alarm to make coffee so they could leave early in the morning. They were on the road by 5:30 after a refreshing night’s sleep.

Before leaving, while drinking coffee, Gail asked if it was difficult to reach Vermont because she wanted to visit sometime. They swore to call and correspond by letter. Wendy said, “I’ll just have to get an email account so I can talk to you that way.”

“Oh, please do.” Neither Don nor Robert were present and had said their goodbyes the night before.

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Jimmy pulled into his house. Diana was there. She came and hugged them asking, “How was your trip?”

Wendy answered, “It went very well. They all said they missed me. Gail was especially friendly and apologized again for asking me to leave.

“When we went to the bank, I found Franklin had a safe deposit box and I had everything I needed to get into it. There was an envelope and two boxes that he left for me. The envelopes have some accounts in it to enhance my retirement. The two boxes are labeled personal, but I don’t mind if you know what is in them.”

“Gram, you had better open them and then tell us about it afterward.”

“Well okay, but I wouldn’t mind, I’m sure.”

“Why don’t you give me the certificates and I’ll show them to Diana. You go into the other room and look at the rest.”

The larger of the two was wrapped and had packing tape wound around it. Wendy took a kitchen knife with her to cut the tape. Jimmy and Diana heard Wendy exclaim, “Oh my God!”

“Gram, are you okay?”

“Yes, of course. It is more money. I think it amounts to $75,000.00. They are banded $100 bills in seven packages and one of $50 dollar bills in the last one. Come see. He said there were personal papers in the box in the note he left. This means it doesn’t have to go into his estate, doesn’t it. Do I have to declare this?”

“I wouldn’t say so. I can check.”

“Jimmy, I’m going to open the smaller box. Please won’t you come see?”

Jimmy took Diana’s hand and walked in. Wendy was sitting there with the banded bills spread out on the couch. “I’m going to open the other box. You stand right there and watch me. I suspect there is another welcome surprise for me.”

Wendy slit around the edge of the box and lifted the top off.  All they could see was some gauze laying the whole length of it. She lifted this and then they saw cotton. She slowly peeled this away and a necklace of strung pearls came into view lying around the edge. They were natural, large, and beautiful.  She lifted some more cotton and this held a diamond ring when she pulled the cotton away.

“Oh my God, I think I can tell you what else is in here. There will be a Rolex watch with diamonds covering the face. If I remember correctly this box will contain a beautiful enameled ring of gold. Two brooches, one with an enameled picture of a little girl and a dog, and another one with diamonds. There will be two bracelets.”

“Franklin gave you these?”

“He did and I refused them, telling him they were too expensive. He always did this on my birthday and on Valentines day. I told him to return them and get his money back. We then would go shopping together and I would chose some costume jewelry that was of good grade, but didn’t cost as much. He must have not returned these and planned all along I would have these some day. I still have the other costume jewelry in a box here at home with me. I don’t have much occasion to wear it anymore so you haven’t seen that either.”

“Gram, I think this man thought a lot of you.”

“I know. We did love each other. I guess I can say, I’m not poor any longer.”

“I agree. The watch must have cost $20,000 or $25,000.  You won’t know how much unless you have it appraised.”

“I most likely won’t bother, Just having these things and who they came from is what is important.”

“My father could do the appraisal for you.”

“Stanley does that?”

“He does this because some of our investors buy things like this as investments.”

“Maybe someday.” Wendy paused and then said. “Jimmy and Diana, I’ve shared my good fortune with you, but I wish you wouldn’t share with anyone.” They both said they wouldn’t.

“Gram, what are you going to do with all this you have been given?”

“I thought about this some on the way home. How much are those stand alone accounts worth in total?”

“Well you can’t start drawing on the first one until it matures if you want the full benefit. Then you can take it in a lump sum, reinvest it, or start drawing a certain amount by putting it into a paid up annuity until it is depleted. You will be sixty and at that time and still working. It depends on whether you need it to live on and that depends on the life you are living.

“If you want to, you can even sell them all, but you would be lucky to get back what was originally invested. That was $80,000.00. Off hand if you wait until they all mature they will be worth something over $200,000.00. Remember also you have $75,000.00 in cash right now. My father and I can tell you what would be best options for you at the age you are now.”

“Oh dear, I’ve never had problems like this before.”

“Still a nice problem isn’t it? Tell you what, I’ll give you a receipt for what you won’t be using and I’ll go put it into the office safe tonight. We don’t usually keep any money on hand, but I can make an exception in your case. Save some and put it into your checking account and live a little.”

“I do need a new dress for your wedding and I’ll be able to afford a real good present for you.”

“There you go, although Diana and I don’t expect anything, do we, Diana?”

“No, we don’t.”

“I hope I don’t get robbed going through the woods to Mom’s”

“I’ll give you a ride. I’ll go down to the office right now.”

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Mildred asked Wendy how her trip to New Jersey turned out. “Mom, it went well. I had a few hours with Franklin’s family. I found out he had invested some money for me. I can’t collect it until I’m sixty. It will help my income considerably. I’ll have a little extra to buy Diana a present for her wedding. Jimmy swears he has plenty of money and if I want Diana to have a present, I can give her something to remember me by.

“Mom, I do have a little extra. May I buy something for you for the wedding? Some of your dresses are out dated.”

“No Wendy, I have already bought a nice dress. You have some nice costume jewelry. May I pick something to wear?”

“I have something in mind.  How about a nice brooch”

“My dress is kind of plain, that would go good.”

“I’ll get it in a couple of days. I have some things stored.”

Wendy called Jimmy and asked him to get the enamel brooch from the box that was in Stanley’s office safe. “Get the diamond brooch for Linda and the pearls are what I’m giving Diana for a present. I’m going to let Rachael, your sister, go through my costume jewelry box. She will like that.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“I know, but I want to. It is all family and everyone has been nice to me since I came back to Vermont. I suppose it is in Mom and Linda’s face a little because of how I acquired them, but I don’t think my previous lifestyle will be brought up.”

“No, I don’t imagine it will be.

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The wedding of Diana and Jimmy was small, just those in and connected to the family. Maury had garaged the ’35 Ford Coupe in a ware house that stored antique vehicles and cared for them by starting the engine and checking it over twice a year. Jimmy and Diana took it on a honeymoon tour and managed to put almost 3,000 miles on it. It had a V8 engine, and plenty of power and speed for such a small car. That was their honeymoon.

Nothing of the car had ever been mentioned by Maury and it had escaped Stanley’s memory. He had only glimpsed it the one time when he took Jimmy for their first walk. It was a surprise to Jimmy because he was too young to remember it at all.

One thing he did do on the honeymoon was for Jimmy and Diana to read the journal, kept by his biological mother so Diana could know almost as much he did,  not remembering her but little. He declared he was loved by both mothers he had in his short lifetime.

The wedding over, Wendy went every day to Townshend. Many days she and Cecil had lunch together. They didn’t get closer than that, although the rumors did fly.

Occasionally there would be a book reading in Brattleboro and Cecil wanted to take it in. Sometimes there were other interesting activities and always an  orchestra or band and various singing groups.  There was the Brattleboro Museum with interesting displays.  There were activities at the library and at the stone church.  Many of these went on when it wasn’t possible for Wendy to attend.

Sometimes though, Wendy could arrange it and she and Cecil would attend together. Cecil, before retiring to Vermont with his wife had attended much of what Boston had to offer. As they aged, they hated going that far so Cecil did sample what Brattleboro offered. He soon became familiar with Mildred Eaton, Susan Rider, Stanley’s mother. Loretta and Maury Cumberland, now married, used one of the empty rooms in Mildred’s house and they often stayed over for the night.

Cecil got along with these people very well and thought he might become a mate for Wendy. It didn’t happen, though. She declared, “If I was younger and didn’t have the past lifestyle I lived I might. I’m here now and things are going well with my family. I’m within a few months of being sixty years old and I do believe my fire is out. It may burn again, but I am in no hurry to rekindle a new one.”

Wendy did spend evenings with Stanley and Linda. Their two children, Rachael and Richard, now late in their teens were often out with sports and school activities. Sometimes Diana had to work and this left Jimmy free to walk down to his father and mother’s house with his grandmother. There were many pieces to this family now and it looked like it would continue to be close knit.

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Linda was busy as ever, No regular job anywhere. She had worked at the place where Jimmy went to preschool for a couple of years. Rachael and Richard attended the same school as Jimmy and she worked through their early years. Her little sister Tasha, Mike and Toni’s child, reached her first year of age and again she went back there to work at the same place until Tasha headed for kindergarten. No small children in the family now, she searched around for something to do.

This was when she became serious about writing about caring for young children. She certainly had enough pictures and anecdotes to have it printed and bound privately. She went to a seminar on having books printed for the general market and showed it around. She was advised to have enough copies printed to sell them. There was a write up in the paper and she did sell a couple hundred.

“I wish I had only fifty printed for the family and a few spares. I don’t like to sell books. The competition is too great. Just go into any bookstore and see all the books. Some day I’ll do something that interests me. Until them, I’m just working part time to keep from being bored.

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Cecil Pembrook decided he would move to Brattleboro where there were more activities. He would sell his house and find rooms in the more alive town so he listed it with a realtor. Whenever with Wendy, she would be at her mother’s and he became a good friend of Mildred. He even went to Foxboro Casino with Maury driving when the women went down.

Wendy liked her position at the Grace Cottage hospital and had a good circle of friends so she kept her room at Mildred’s and engaged another one in Townshend, only seldom coming home on weekends unless it was for something special. The Grace Cottage Hospital and the high school, Leland and Grey, were very active in town and what they offered were more of what interested Wendy. Cecil wanted more of Wendy, but she said they would not go further than being friends. Cecil often ended up as an escort for Susan Rider and Mildred Eaton.

Mildred and Susan liked him being around so he took a room there instead of looking for a small apartment. He replaced Jimmy in making small repairs, maintenance, and generally being a good house mate. Cecil also became good friends of Diana and Jimmy and through them became friends of Toni and Mike. He would also declare suddenly he wanted to go out to eat and he would escort who ever was staying at Mildred’s to Mike and Toni’s restaurant.

Gail and Donald Pescetti from New Jersey visited Wendy. She convinced Cecile to open his house for them to stay in for the week. Wendy was working, but Jimmy and Diana came up one evening. The realtor’s sign was out in front and Gail was interested. Don didn’t have much in mind except golf so the next day Cecil came up from Brattleboro and took him to Stratton to play. The next day Cecil took him to Bromley, near Manchester. Dover’s Mount Snow links was on the list as well. Gail was not interested in this sport so she went to Brattleboro and visited Linda and Mildred.

Robert came for the weekend. Selene, his wife came with him with their two boys. They fell in love with the property. It was small, only two bedrooms and they all talked about buying it strictly for a place to get away from the city. They set about planning a way to make room if they all came from New Jersey at the same time.

Sketches were drawn and when Gail decided she wanted to learn to ski next winter, they purchased the property and hired a contractor to enlarge the house. Wendy was always invited when these people she had spent several years with came to stay the day and reminisce. Never a friend of Selene before this, Selene opened up to Wendy and thoroughly enjoyed what she called the North Country. “I always feel smothered in the city. Here I feel free. I might just stay here during the summer and Robert and Don can come up weekends to play golf.”

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It was a Friday evening in the spring and a beautiful day. Wendy had driven down to spend the day with Stanley and Linda. Stanley drove down to Greenfield, Ma. to Bills Restaurant, rather than go eat at Mike and Toni’s in deference to Wendy. She was still not that comfortable with her ex-husband. It was pleasant weather, the meal was excellent, and Wendy had never shared wholly the details to Linda or Stanley about her life style through the years she had been an escort.

“I didn’t do that as much as you probably imagined. It bothered me more than you thought, and after I divorced Mike, I changed. I was looking for long term companionship and I did find that, especially with Franklin and his family. What people thought of me was different than of what people actually knew. I was always a paid housekeeper. I even paid taxes on my wages so I did earn a little toward social security. My best years of course, was with Franklin.

“Linda, have you learned from either Jimmy or Stanley what he left me.”

“I haven’t.

Stanley said, “I don’t know all of it, but I do know you came home after you found the will with quite a sum of cash. Other than that, Jimmy and I have never discussed you. He is your advisor and it wouldn’t be right to share.”

“Stanley, I suspected as much. What he left me is going to make it so I’m never going to be a burden. Franklin invested $80,000 dollars. I have some certificates which which begin maturing when I’m sixty. My income when I retire and counting Social Security is almost doubled. Jimmy put the cash I received into stocks, so I’ll have some dividends or the stocks to sell if need be.

“I suppose I should be paying Mom for the use of the room at her house, but she says no. I’ve offered enough times, but she likes me to come see her. We are mother and daughter now, just like we should be.”

Linda got up from her chair and came and pulled Wendy to her feet. “Just like you and I are now, right Mom?”

“Exactly the same. The way I acted, when I was married to Mike it seems impossible to believe. I stopped to think after Franklin died and Gail asked me to leave, that I didn’t have anything…no friends and no family. I drove up here and met Jimmy first. I love that boy, and I’m giving him all the credit for getting me back into the good graces of my family.”

“Mother, you’ve apologized enough. Hey, we had a great time this evening. Why don’t you leave your car here and Stan and I’ll walk you back to Grams. We’ll take a flashlight and light your way from Jimmy’s house down through the woods. Stan and I love walking at night. Just call when you want your car and he’ll drive it over in the morning.”

“I’d love that.” Stanley walked between the mother and daughter. It just seemed as if the moon was a little brighter tonight.

Wendy eased into the house quietly and saw Stanley and Linda turn and start back up through the woods. She then used the downstairs bath getting ready for bed. Mildred’s room was at the head of the stairs. The door was partially open without anything but a night light on. Wendy pushed it open, intending to say good night to her mother. It was light enough to see that no one was in the bed and it hadn’t been turned down.

Closing the door, she looked beyond the room she used to where Cecil’s room was. Just then the door opened and her mother backed out into the hall. She was naked except for a robe in one hand. Cecil spoke from the room, “Mildred, are sure you don’t want me to wash your back? I’d love to take another shower with you.”

“Been there and done that already tonight. I’ll be in to kiss you good night. and then I’m really going to bed and go to sleep.”  Mildred never saw Wendy standing in the hall as she padded toward the bathroom.  She didn’t even close that door and soon Wendy heard the shower come on.

Wendy walked closer and looked into Cecil’s room. He was pulling up his pajama bottoms. He saw her standing there. “Well, this is a surprise.”

“It is for me too, Cecil. Is this a one time thing or has it happened before?”

“A few times in the last couple of months. I’ve been asking Mildred to tell you and Linda about us. Tonight she said she would and we were planning to tell you this weekend. You know, I thought I heard the downstairs bath flush a bit ago.”

“That was me. I was at Linda and Stanley’s for the evening. They just walked me home.  Stanley is coming for me in the morning for breakfast. I’ll tell him you and Mother are joining us. Hey, I’m going to bed. Kiss Mother for me and I’ll see you in the morning. Good night.”

“Goodnight Wendy. I’m glad you aren’t upset.”

“No, I’m not upset. I think it is great that mother has found some companionship in her later years. This is a perfect solution for both of you.”

“Thank you.”

Mildred did come down to say goodnight to Wendy. “Wendy, are you ashamed of me?”

“No mother, I’m not. At least you have been more discreet than I ever was.” 

“There is the difference between us; I was and you weren’t. I’m not going to admit there were never any men, but several in fact over the years may have been in my bed. Well maybe I’ll admit it to you.  Cecil is the first I was ever found with. I guess I can say he is the best after your father. God, what a life we would have had if your father hadn’t passed while so young.

“Those roots Diana is always speaking about. You didn’t get them from your Dad’s side of the family, those are my roots. I’ll have to tell you more of your great-grand mother someday.  What do you think Linda will say when you tell her?”

“Mom, she’ll take it okay and will as long as she has Stanley to love. Jimmy is just like him. Maybe my next man will be like them. Let us hope so. I am too young to go without a companion for too long. I thought I had gotten too old, but I’m not. What about Susan, does she know? It must be convenient when she goes out to see Betty.”

“I suspect she does know, but she hasn’t said anything. Everyone thinks she went out to see Betty, but actually she is up in Manchester where she used to live, visiting some High School classmates at a reunion.  She also has some friends who live in an assisted living facility in Rutland. She thought she would check it out.

“She is younger than I am by a dozen years. Who knows what you and I have might be catching. Stanley is always kidding his mother about finding a man so he won’t mind if she finds someone. She wants to stay in Vermont, though. I’m going to miss her if she moves away.

“Wendy, I’m not sorry you caught on to Cecil and me. I told Susan when she returns to bring a man with her, but I don’t expect she will. Goodnight sweetheart, I love you.”

“Love you too, Mom.”

The End.