Everyone Loves Karen

   Everyone Loves Karen

 happyhugo

A Romance

45,147 Words

Copyright June 13, 21

Readers score  7.62

 

 Jump Break

Jim Cummings lost his mother when he was fifteen. He missed her terribly and he turned to the girls in his class for solace. His father Charlie, turned to other women and did the same after only six weeks. And then there was Karen and her unwed mother, Caroline. Also there was Ramona who rented an apartment to Caroline and took Jim under her wing.

Chapter One: Jimmy meets Ramona

I lost my mother when I was fifteen. She had been sick for awhile. I loved her very much and I thought my father did too. Both Mother and Dad claimed they were soul mates and I remember both saying so. The period following her death was difficult for me. I missed her terribly and Father drew away from me.

Father rushed into dating within six weeks after her death which was difficult for me to understand. I hated him when I first found out that he had forgotten Mother and moved on so soon.

I was left to my own devices, with only the housekeeper and the cook in the house with no parent to guide me, I went wild myself. My lessons took the hit and my marks dropped. The thing of it is, I liked school and didn’t skip any of my classes just my homework. Soon with me having more time on my hands from blowing off my homework, girls found me interesting. Me, I developed a new hobby of seeing how far I could get with these girls. I found there was no stopping me and they weren’t stopping me either.

The habit of finding a sexual partner with those of my age didn’t last long. The housekeeper, Rachael, happened to know the second girl I brought home and notified my father what I was up to.

 “Jesus Christ, you could go to jail for fucking these youngsters. I might even go to the same jail for allowing it to take place here in my house and there is the problem. If you’re going to start screwing around, at least make sure who you are tapping is old enough. That puts the onus on them, not on you or me.

“You need to do some work around here. If you need to get laid, here is some money for that. I’m giving you $250.00 a month to check on things around here and to make the things that need repairs get done.

"You seem to need sex and that I understand. Contact this woman whose name and phone number I’m giving you and she’ll fix you up. She’ll set you up with someone who is of legal age.”  

He handed me five one hundred dollar bills.  He finished with, “It’s against the law to screw a woman who is too young. Any one of age, you can fuck if you are man enough. You could even check out our housekeeper.”

He looked at me and grinned, “Well, I guess she is safe, she doesn’t even tempt me. Tell you what, I’ll increase your allowance so you can pay for some pussy. It should be enough if you plan it right. You ought to able to get some good pussy with that amount a couple times a month.

Then it was chore time. “The housekeeper and the cook both have credit cards to pay for the repairs you find that need doing. Use either one of their cards. I don’t expect you to do the work yourself, just see that it is done. Winnie will have a good idea what I’m talking about and has a list of the services I use.” 

 No problem, I lived here and I did have pride in the home I lived in.

My thoughts returned to what we had been speaking about. I would guess this woman Cynthia, whose name I was given, would be someone my father knew at one time previously and some arrangements could be made to get me laid. I would use my father’s name when it came time to contact her. I was hesitant in calling this person, so I went looking to see what was out there before using her name. I waited awhile before I screwed up my courage to contact this person whose name I carried in my pocket.
             
In the interim, our house keeper and the cook mothered me until I became friendly with this person who guided me. Winnie, the cook, was the woman who became my surrogate mother for awhile. She also helped me in several other ways. I would finish high school and would never ask my father for advice. I was hanging out everywhere but at home during the day until evening and I only came home to eat and sleep. I also was never questioned by Dad about my life.

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My way of life actually began when Father slammed me for bringing home a girl my age for sex. It was a stroke of luck, but I didn’t know how big a stroke of luck it was at the time. I was now sixteen, out looking to get laid with money in my pocket, I looked for a section of the city where I didn’t think I would get robbed or have the cops question me.

To tell the truth, I was some scared and very shy about approaching the women who I suspected would sell themselves for sex. Some weren’t what I wanted to stick my dick into, either. I guess I was spoiled by the young girls of the age I had shared my earlier sexual experiences with.

And there were the homeless people, old and young, male and female sitting on the sidewalk that I stepped around. One man spoke as I walked by, me ignoring him. “Hey kid, I’ve been watching you coming up the street. What are you up to? You look the women over and ignore the men. I figure you must be a queer and never have tried some ones butt.”

I was shocked at this man’s idea of me. “God no, I just want to get out of here. I’ve got turned around and I’m lost. I saw one cop, but he would want to know what I was doing down here in this section of town.”

“You still haven’t told me anything.”

“Well, my old man caught me screwing a classmate. He gave me money to go get laid by someone eighteen or older.”

“You mean, he just handed you some money?  He didn’t find you someone to stick it into for you? Someone old enough and safe enough? I’ll tell you, I don’t think much of your old man.”

“He gave me a woman’s name to contact for sex, but I wouldn’t know how to talk to her.”

“What was the woman’s name? I’ve been kicking around here for awhile.”

“The name is Cynthia Ramona Prentiss.”

“I know a Ramona Prentiss. She used to be a madam until she was shut down, fined, and had to do community service, but that was years ago. She doesn’t even use her name of Cynthia any longer. She runs a straight escort service now. Same thing as before, but no sex. You have a phone with you?”

“Of course.”

“Do you want me to call her? I may know her better than I let on. I’d like to touch base with her myself on a different matter.”

“Would you call?”

“I would if you’d buy me a burger and a beer. There is a bar up on the next corner. If anyone should ask, my name is Matt Hagar. I used to trade stocks and stuff until I lost everything. That happened when I didn’t have money to buy the financial papers I needed to keep up with the market. I had to give it up.”

“Libraries have Computers and Newspapers.”

“Yeah, but they aren’t open the hours I need them. I never could keep up with the computers and that is some of what sunk me.”

“I know computers. I think the Wall Street Journal has a financial section and of course Barrons. Dad has those papers delivered to his business and sometimes he brings home a copy. I’d like to have you show me how the stock market works.”

“I’ve got no way to show you. The stock market is good, but if you really want to get into it, I can teach you everything about trading commodities. That’s on the CBOT (Chicago Board of Trade) in Chicago.

“Well, okay, but I’d like to contact the woman I have a name for first, though.”

“Let’s get that burger. I’m pretty hollow.”

I was guided into a bar and across the room to some a booths in the corner. “Give me some money. You want something to eat? Ten bucks will be enough.”

“No, just a coke will be fine.”

I dug out a hundred dollar bill and handed it to him. Matt shook his head. “That the only bill you got?”

“The only one and that’s breaking into my pussy allowance.” I received an audible laugh at this. He was soon back with our drinks and his hamburger. He handed me the change. He began eating slowly and savored every mouthful. He sat back and took a sip of beer.

“So Kid, tell me what your name is before we call this woman. Will she recognize it?”

“I’m Jimmy Cummings. She wouldn’t know it, but she must know my father’s name or he wouldn’t have given me hers. His name is Charlie Cummings. You might tell me how you know this Ramona?”

“One of those coincidences in life I guess. A few years ago, I used to trade in the market for her. She has a brokerage account and I would call it in. Either him or one of his team would deal with it and confirmation would be sent to my computer. I had a few bad picks and she dropped me. Okay, forget that, hand me your phone.”

I laid the paper with the name, phone number, and address on the table before Matt. He called the number and said in an aside to me, “Someone answered, she’s coming to the phone.”

I might have chickened out if Matt hadn’t offered to call for me. How would I have explained myself? I waited, wondering how much he was going to explain about me and my situation. First, I had to listen to half the conversation between them. I took it this woman was glad to hear from Matt, both asking each other what was going on in their lives.

Finally he said, “Hey, listen Ramona, I have a kid with me who was down in this area looking for sex. He got lost and I’m trying to help him out. He was actually looking for you because his father gave him your address and a fist full of money. His name is Jimmy and his father’s name is Charley Cummings. Do you know anyone by that name?”

Matt listened a minute and handed the phone to me. I answered, “Hello.”

“So you’re Charlie’s boy. I went to school with your father about nineteen years ago. We had a thing going together for awhile. The last time I saw him was at our second school reunion. He had his wife with him… probably your mother. She was pregnant if I remember right. Tell me what your problem is and why you’re looking for me. This is a name from my past and I haven’t thought of Charlie for quite some time.”

I told my story and ended up with having Matt guiding me to her building. I questioned Matt in the cab on the ride to Ramona’s about trading commodities. For some reason it seemed interesting. He stayed with me because Ramona wanted to talk to him after talking to me. I thought my money was leaving at a considerable rate. It wasn’t that far and it was on the same side of the town closer to home.

Ramona was Dad’s age and for ten minutes, she asked about him. She was sorry that I had lost my Mom. I was immediately comfortable with this woman. She was lightly made up with lipstick applied. She had on a grey dress with a top of matching color that was open but little and the wings of it were drawn over her breasts. Her hair was light brown and I couldn’t see any grey.

Then she shared a little of why she lost contact with my Dad. “I was at the school reunion and I could see your Mom was pregnant. I did have three girls working for me in the business, and I was myself. I offered to take your Mom’s place when she had to shut him off because of the baby being near term. He acted insulted and I have never seen or heard from him since.

“Quick recap of my life was I got busted and had to pay a hefty fine. I had purchased this building already so I wasn’t broke with the rents coming in and all. I took a couple years off and was bored so I took on a couple of young women and opened up a straight escort service. There is no sex involved. The law still checks me out sometimes which keeps me honest.

“I have six young women for escorts now, and I dress them well to go out on dates. Some of them work regular jobs and they hang around here when they have the time. Most of them like to cook and read and talk about relationships. There are two who worked for me in the past who found husbands with the men I matched them to. I receive a fee for each match I make.

I hadn’t asked any questions, but I was happy listening to this charming woman who knew my dad at one time in the past. “So Jimmy, what did you have in mind for yourself?”

“Well, sex is on my mind a lot. Dad has shut me down and was upset when I was caught having sex at the house with one of my classmates. He upped my allowance to go get laid, but not by someone who is considered jail-bait if discovered. He didn’t tell me anything about you and I am curious so I screwed up my courage to come meet you. School is just out for the summer and I’m at loose ends.

“I do watch over the house with the house keeper and the cook. I actually don’t have to do any of the work and Dad would prefer me not to, but it is on me to tell the workmen what work needs doing.

“I’m not one for lying in bed, and I usually play tennis for an hour in the afternoon. I need to be home by six in the afternoon for dinner. Dad pretty much ignores me and I the same with him. I also don’t have any bad habits, either. Of course, I’m only sixteen and not fully developed in the sins of the world.”
 
Matt, sitting across the table from me said, “Except for sex, that is.”

“You’ve got that right. But what Dad would give some money to his kid to go get laid rather than deal with the problem, himself?” We all laughed.

Ramona sat thinking, then came out with, “Okay, son, I’ll see if I can help you out and find a way to fix this problem of yours. You do have to keep your mouth shut about this.”

She paused and then turned to Matt. “Matt, tell me about yourself and what’s been happening.”

“Not much. I’m living mostly on the street panhandling. I go see my ex-wife occasionally, but we’ll never get back together. Ramona, you know about that part of my life. I wasn’t thinking straight with the divorce and with all these upgrades on the computer that I couldn’t keep up with. I’m terribly sorry I lost so much money for you in the past. I’d like to make up for the mistakes I made, especially with you.”

I butted in, “What was your problem with computers?”

“You tell me. Look I’m used to looking up the details I need in the newspapers, but most everything is posted in different financial indexes on line. I get confused or frustrated, I suppose. I made more mistakes in a month than I ever did in the previous year after I bought a computer. Then I got hit with a divorce. Anyway, I was out of the market. I would like to get back in. I just need someone to help me figure this all out.

“It looks like there is no chance of me getting back in. I don’t even have a phone, a computer, or money to buy the papers I need to keep track of the direction the different contracts and futures or where they are heading. Understand, day-old papers from the trash just doesn’t cut it. I also don’t have a broker’s account.

Again, I spoke up, “Matt, I have a powerful computer and I am pretty good with it. It is fast enough to play action games on. The monitor is only a nineteen inch flat screen, but that should be big enough. You’d have to tell me where to search for what you need. There must have to be applications out there that we could buy. I have the summer off and this seems like it would be interesting. My old man hasn’t even asked what I was going to do this summer.”

Ramona spoke, “Your father isn’t that old. He is the same age as I am.”

“You look a lot younger than he does.”

“Oh, I can see how you could make the girls happy. You probably can charm their panties right off them.”

“Maybe at one time but I found out it was against the law.”

“Did it stop you?”

“Mostly.” I grinned, not admitting there was little on the horizon except for maybe someone she could find for me to hook up with.

Ramona turned to Matt. “Matt, do you think you could get back into the market if you had the more modern equipment and a minimum amount to start?”

“If I had the facts and details I need to make the decisions before me, I believe I could trade at the same level I did before I went off track. It shouldn’t take too long for me either with someone like Jim here for me to explain my moves to.”

Ramona asked, “Jim, could you rent us your equipment and stick with Matt until he re-acquired his former expertise?”

“I’ll teach Matt everything about computers I know if he would do the same for me about trading.”

“Kid, you ain’t going to learn this overnight. Full time this summer is good, but you’ll be going back to school in the fall.”

“Okay Matt, but you could run through the days happenings in the evenings for me, couldn’t you?”

“I could, Jim.”

Ramona asked, “Matt, where are you living? I have a couple of rooms in the attic you could live in. It will be handy if Jim comes here in the winter to keep up his learning without a break from one day to the next.”

I asked, “Hot up there in the summer isn’t it?”

Ramona did know a little about computers “It is, but I’ll spring for a small AC.”

“That’s good. Computers don’t like too much heat. Can I bring my stuff over tomorrow? We’ll need a phone hook up and internet connection. Who pays for this? I mean my money is limited and I still want to meet a woman and I may not have enough to get what I need.”

“Jim, your dad sent you here for that. He probably thought you could get it from me. You’re a little too young for me so give me a couple of weeks and I’ll arrange something. We’ll talk about it later.  Matt and Jim, I find it is exciting to watch the market and see if a person can make money at it. It has been a couple of years and I still have some money, but I can always use a little more. I’ll finance Matt with what he needs to start if you will work with him.”

“That would be great.”

“Okay, that’s it then. Jim, I’ll pay for the setup. You have the equipment we need and Matt, with some help from you on the computer, will get back to being a commodity trader again. We’ll have to start off slow because my funds are also limited, but if I remember correctly I have enough to get started.”

“Ramona, I have a little money and I’ll give you what I have.”

“No, I can’t take your money.” She changed the subject. “I saw your mother when she was pregnant with you. Were you close to your mother?”

For some reason this tore me up and I turned away. I managed, “Bathroom?”

“Down the hall on your right.” What a baby I was!

It took me ten minutes to get myself together. When I came back into the room, neither Matt, nor Ramona looked directly at me. I asked, “So Matt, you will be in the attic tomorrow?”

“Yes, I’ll be up there. My stuff is all over at a neighbor’s house near where my home used to be. With Ramona letting me stay here, I can move here with what few things I still own and make do nicely. I told you the bus stops up on the corner and it should put you right at your door.”

I asked, “Do you need help moving in?”

“No, I have it covered.. I have a feeling, meeting you is the best thing that has happened to me in the last two years.”

“You know, I feel the same way. Here Matt, supper for you.” I stuffed a twenty into his shirt pocket.

“Thanks.” He went out and down the stairs.

“I guess I’ll be leaving, too.”

“Before you go, Jim, let’s talk about what you came here for. I hate to ask this of you, but I have standards. Would you go into a clinic and be examined for any sexual diseases?”

“I will. I’ll go tomorrow afternoon. I know where there is a walk in one. If my father finds out, it will make him mad, but he will see the sense in it.”

“Jim, you’re all right. I’ve got an idea how I can satisfy your desires, but it will take a little while to put together.”

“Good, I’m in no particular hurry now that I have this thing going with you and Matt.”

“Jim, I don’t think trading in commodities compares to as much fun as sex is, but it can be exciting.”

“Ramona one thing, would you hold onto some money for me? It’s my pussy allowance, but if Matt needs a few dollars, give him some of it.” I handed Ramona, four-one hundred dollar bills.

“Why don’t you want to give it to him?”

“I think he was a little ashamed to ask me to feed him because I’m just a kid. He knows you, so you are the one he knows who will give him some and he won’t feel guilty asking.”

“Jimmy, you’re a strange person. I think I’m going to be very glad to know you.” I beat it up the street and caught a bus going by my home.

When I reached home, Winnie, our cook, asked me what I had been up to. I told her that I had been visiting. “It is with a man who needs some tutoring on a computer. I’m packing mine up and seeing him tomorrow. Would you drive me into the city in the morning? His landlord is installing a phone and internet service. I’ll be home everyday early enough for dinner and that won’t change.”

“These people aren’t taking advantage of you, are they?”

“There is always the chance, but I trust them. The person I’m helping had a business and he was laid off after the mistakes he made using a computer.”

“Sure, I’ll drive you. Are you going to tell your father?”

“No, He doesn’t care what I do.”

“I know. I’ll see you at dinner. Your father called to tell me he would be a no show again, so it is just you, me, and Rachael in the kitchen for dinner.”

I worked at getting my computer boxed up. I always saved the empty boxes in the storage room that was down the hall from my room. I smiled when I pulled the boxes. There were several other empty boxes in the cupboard. This was the first time I had ever needed the ones I had saved. The PC didn’t weigh much, but the flat screen and the printer were heavy. I was glad I had Winnie to truck them for me. No way could I have managed them on a bus.

The next morning I waited until Dad had gone to work and I went down and ate breakfast. It was nearly nine when I had every thing packed up, I went in and had a coffee. Winnie told me as I put the cup in the sink that she was ready. When we reached Ramona’s apartment building, she insisted that she meet Ramona.

Ramona was waiting for me. “Matt is upstairs. He found some tables and cabinets down in the basement so he has been getting things organized.” I introduced Winnie to Ramona and went back for the monitor. The two women were having coffee. I hadn’t realized it but Winnie brought a bag of fresh scones with her. I shouted up the stairs to Matt. “Hey Matt, there is a fresh made scone here if you want one.”

I went back down and brought up the printer. There was one scone left and I told Matt to eat it since I had a couple for breakfast.

Ramona said that the phone and internet were going to be installed at one this afternoon.

“Great.” I took the monitor and headed for the attic. I didn’t open it because I would let Matt put it where it would be most convenient. I was only gone for ten minutes. In that time, two pretty women whom I had never met, were taking off their sweaters.

I was introduced to Nicki, tall, with dark hair and a generous chest. Edna also was tall, blond, and only two inches shorter than Nicki. She had more modest proportions front and back. Both were dressed in black slacks and white blouses.

I stumbled over my “Hi, I going to walk Winnie down to her car.” Matt asked if I had everything from the car and I said I had.

When we reached the side walk, Winnie asked, “Who were those two girls?”

“I think they work for Ramona. Ramona was a madam back when Dad saw her last. He snubbed her, but she has liked him since high school. Ramona said her escorts are not allowed to engage in sex with the men who she sets them up with.

“Matt verified what she told me. They’ve been friends for years. He is a trader in commodities. He has been out of the market since he was making some serious mistakes. That’s where I come in. I furnished the equipment and he is going to teach me to trade too. He said it would take me a long while, but that’s okay, I’m not going to have any money to trade with until Mom’s estate is distributed when I’m twenty-one.”

“Whose money is he using to trade with now?”

“Ramona’s. She owns this building and all her apartments are rented so she tells me. I think she has money from when Matt traded for her before. She certainly wanted him to start trading again.”

“Jimmy, keep me posted on how you make out. It is too bad your father doesn’t take more of an interest in you.”

My standard answer, “I don’t care.”

I went back up stairs and then up to the attic. Matt helped me position the equipment and hook it up. I needed the internet connection in to make sure I had it right.

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I was getting very nervous because this afternoon I had promised Ramona that I would get checked for STDs. I’d have to put on my brave face, although I was scared, I’d ask Ramona how to go about it. I double checked with Matt and he said he could have the phone company make sure he had things hooked up before he left. It was noon when I went down, hoping Ramona was alone. She wasn’t.

Now, there were four pretty women in the kitchen. I signaled to Ramona and she came out. “Ramona, tell me how to go about getting tested?”

“I’ve made an appointment for you at Planned Parenthood. You can give your name to the receptionist. She’ll call someone to interview you. They’ll tell you all about STDs and give you some literature. There’ll be some forms to fill out and then you will be in the system. Some of this will be because you are a minor.

“When they finish they will send you either to a doctor or the clinic. That covers the minor part. If you see a doctor, you may have to fill out more forms. Most likely not. At the clinic you will see a sign stating outpatients, here. There, they will ask about insurance and verify your stats of address, birth date, etc.”

“I don’t have an insurance card.”

“That’s covered through a grant at Planned Parenthood and will be coded in on the order that is sent to where you will have some blood drawn when you get there. I’m an advocate for youth in a special program this state promotes. Just another way to keep our young people safe.

“Do you want some lunch before you go? I can make you a sandwich. I can’t make much because those four girls in the kitchen are trying to make scones like what you brought this morning. They will be some when you return, but I don’t know how good they will be.”

“Winnie’s scones are hard to beat. No, I’d probably upchuck if I ate, I’m that nervous.”

“You’re doing well from what I’ve seen of you so far. You’ll put this behind you and if you keep doing things the correct way, you’ll never have to go through this again.”

“God, I hope so!” I tried to calm my nerves as I headed for the bus stop. When I was seated, I looked around, wondering if people were thinking, “That boy is going for a STD checkup because he has been screwing underage girls and he thinks they are free of any STDs.” Nope, people were into their own thoughts and I couldn’t see anyone interested in me.

I spent more than an hour in the Planned Parenthood office. They kept telling me to calm down. I don’t think the woman who took my blood pressure was ever to get a reading she could put on a form. I don’t think she had to take it in reality, but because my heart was racing so fast and I was in a cold sweat, she worked at it.

Finally, I was out of there and up the street and had to go across into a medical building. I walked in and down to the outpatient section. I answered what my name was and verified my address and birth date. “Go left when you leave this room and find a seat. Someone will be right out to take you in.”

A cute little nurse’s aid was at my side before I sat and she said to follow her. Again, my name, birth date, and address had to be verified. I sat in a chair with an arm rest and she put a plastic wrist band on my wrist and gave me a rubber ball to squeeze. She put two glass tubes on a little shelf and looked for a vein in the hollow of my elbow. She wiped the spot with alcohol and stuck me with a needle and drew blood into one of the glass bottles attached to the needle. She removed that bottle when it was full of blood and inserted the other bottle.

She took a cotton pad and pressed it on the needle where it went into my arm, pulled the needle out and told me to hold the pad in place. She then took some sticky tape and went around my arm, holding it in place. “Okay James, you’re done. Have a nice day.” I was in the out patient office all of nine minutes.

When I returned to Ramona’s, I took the tape off my arm and made sure I wasn’t bleeding, and put the tape and pad into my pocket. Who would be aware of what I had gone through in the last two hours?

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I went up to the attic. Matt was there already searching the internet. “Hi Kid, we’re in business. You sit here and I’ll tell you different things to search for. You might as well print the pages out if you’re still interested in learning this stuff. I’m on the Wikipedia site. It’s pretty good for searching for information and I’ll print out some of what we need. You can study it tonight and thereafter.

“This will be a slow process for you. We’ll get a chance to talk it over and we’ll prioritized it. This will help you because your computer and printer are here. If you finish your school work it will be right at hand to look at.

“By the end of the summer, you’ll at least know what I’m talking about. How much you are able to give it in the next two years depends. By the time you graduate and are eighteen, we can get down to business and you can make a little money.

“You say you have some money coming when you reach twenty-one. You should have learned all you can by then and have a full time work career ahead of you if you stick with this. By starting now, you won’t have to go to college and I’ll almost guarantee you will make more money than anyone else that you know.”

“It will take that long to learn this?”

“You want to do it right, don’t you?”

“Yes, I do. It will be like going to college except I’ll have to combine it with finishing high school at the same time.”

“That’s about it, but it will give you a great start in life. Oh, Ramona sent up some sandwiches and soda. She wants to get your cook in to give the escorts lessons on making scones. The ones the girls made today aren’t even acceptable pig feed.”

“I’ll try one. I missed lunch.” I gobbled up the two chicken sandwiches and tried a scone…If that was what it was supposed to be. I sat down beside Matt and asked him what charts and graphs he needed to work from. I typed in what he said and what newspapers he had worked from before. They were still there. Some were free and most were not. What I saw he was looking at when they came up was something I had certainly never looked at before.

“Matt, I can’t help you much. I’m too young to have a credit card without my father’s consent.”

“Yeah, I know. Let’s go down through the ones I’ll need and see if Ramona will come up with a card we can use.”

“Ramona, is holding some money for me, but it won’t amount to much.”

“You gave her your Pussy money, didn’t you.”

“Maybe. We can make a list anyway of the different charts and graphs you need. Dozens seem to have a brief description. Of course they may all be alike.”

“Not necessarily. The facts should be the same, but those analysts and Investment Gurus who are predicting how a contract is moving in a particular direction is something they have to defend. Too many misses will make them lose credibility. That is some of what happened to me. I didn’t have the access that is as widespread as this is. I wasn’t working on equipment like this is either. Two years out of the market has changed things quite a bit, so I’m not planning on rushing into this.

“We’ll find a site we can download where we can do some fake buying and selling. Not really trading, but a way to learn. This is called shadow trading. No, I don’t want you concentrating on this. I want you to learn all there is about Commodities past and present. The Commodity Exchange was formed in the 1840’s in Chicago and was the first in the world and is still located there. Learn what indexes there are from around the world. I hope your memory is good.”

“I’ll do my best” I was totally consumed with the idea of getting rich without my father learning of it.

I was used to going to the nearby park where there were tennis courts. I had always been active and this was my way of getting exercise. That was the first thing that was usual in my life to go. I didn’t have the time this week. For the next week and a half, I was with Matt as long as he was at the computer. I did go home for dinner every evening, but I took charts and packets of information about the trading at home, and spent hours in my room.

I missed my computer, but I bought a smaller used one on line and put together everything that went with it. Walmart had a sale of basic printers and I purchased one of these for $34.95.

—————————————

It was a few days after I had gone to Planned Parenthood, when I received a letter from there that I was free of any disease. I stared at it. Christ, sex had been replaced in my mind by the thought of being a commodity trader. I took the letter the next day with me and showed it to Ramona. “Jimmy, I just knew you would be clean. I also wanted you to learn how serious having sex outside of marriage is.

“I have a person in mind and I will approach her with the suggestion you two meet. She is somewhat troubled because she is an unwed mother not much older than you. Her child is a sixteen-months-old and she is still nursing. She is heavy from carrying her child. She does keep her apartment spotless, so she has the potential to straighten out her life.

“Another thing, her father pays her rent and gives her a decent allowance. The only problem is, he won’t let her come home and never asks about the baby. They do keep in touch by phone, so I believe there is quite a bit of love still between them. Is this someone you would think is okay for you to meet?

“I’ll let the two of you work out about having sex. I think you should guard against falling in love with each other, but still this should be thought of. She is three years older than you, but looks about the same age as you are. I told her I would bring you down today about now. I didn’t mean to spring this on you this morning, but when I talked to her earlier, she was agreeable.”

“I will meet her. The problem for me is that I don’t know anything about babies.”

“You won’t have to worry about that. The child is a little girl and will grab you right by the heart. One thing Caroline mentioned is she doesn’t want you to hand her any money. We discussed this and so I’m the one who she will be dealing with.”

“Thanks, Ramona, I wondered how to broach the subject. I don’t want her to feel uncomfortable if we get that far.

“You’ll do with that attitude.”

Chapter Two:  Caroline and the baby

“Well, Jim let’s go introduce you to a friend. She has the small apartment on this floor at the end of the hall. Her name is Caroline Fanning and the baby’s name is Karen. As I said, Caroline knows you are meeting her today. She is pretty nervous about it.”

“Nervous, hell, I just broke out into a sweat.” Ramona laughed and led me down the hall. She knocked softly on the door. I heard it unlock and it swung open slowly. A girl about five-feet-six inches was holding the door. Her hair was long and brown with a bit of natural wave in it. Her breasts were large, but not overly so, and she had a poochy tummy. She also was thick through the thighs. Overall she wasn’t bad appearing.

“Hi, come in. Ramona, I’m a bit nervous.”

“That’s fine Caroline, Jimmy is too. His name is James Cummings. Is the baby sleeping?”

“Yes, but she may wake up at any time when she hears your voices. Can I get you anything?”

“No, I’m not staying. Jimmy I think, just wants to talk and get acquainted.”  

“Okay, come sit on the couch and tell me about yourself. Bye, Ramona.”

“Thank you Ramona. I’ll stop by before I leave.” I looked at Caroline. “I have to be home by six for dinner. I always make it if I’m on the five o’clock bus.”

“You can leave whenever you need to.” Ramona backed out as Caroline shut and locked the door.

“I’m in the habit of locking the door. When I moved in, I had never lived alone before and was scared to death. I have never had a bit of trouble, though. Have you known Ramona long?”

“Umm, maybe a month. Ramona has an oldish man living in her attic. I lent him my computer if he would teach me what he does with it?

“What is that?”

“It is trading commodities. I still have two years of high school to get through, and I was just hanging around somewhere this summer so this is interesting and I may make a career of doing something such as this.”

“It’s wonderful you have something to interest you. I have my baby and she’s my whole life. I’m not complaining really, but I sure screwed up years ago. My boyfriend left me when he found out I was pregnant. I had dropped out of school to live with him before that. My mother is dead and my father kicked me out of my home. I don’t blame him much. You can say, I felt I knew it all back then.”

Jimmy sympathized, “My mom is dead too. That happened a little over a year ago. I don’t get along with my father at all. I do live at home, but we rarely speak. He has a business that takes all his time. I usually have my dinner before he gets home. Sometimes I’m in bed before he comes home as well.”

Just them, I heard from the other room, “Mommy, get me!”

“Baby’s awake. That kind of shuts down any intimacy’s that could have developed.

“That’s okay, we can still talk, can’t we?”

“Of course. I’m glad you aren’t leaving yet.”

Caroline disappeared into the other room where I could hear a crib rattling impatiently. Karen, the toddler, came out into the room and I couldn’t see how she could keep her balance. She stopped suddenly when she saw me. She stared at me and never made a motion or blinked.

“I think it is your deep voice that got her attention.” She was laughing at her baby, “And wow, she sees there is a strange person behind the voice.”

What should I do now? She was such a tiny little thing. A thought came into my mind about when my mother used a song to show that everything was okay. I dropped to the floor so I was at Karen’s level and began to sing the song, “I Don’t Know Why I Love You, but I Do.” Karen edged closer and closer to me. I opened my arms and before I finished all the verses I remembered, I had the baby in them looking up at my face.

She squirmed a little to be held tighter. I glanced at Caroline. Tears were coursing down her face. “Karen has never gone to a stranger so quick. It is like she has been waiting for you for ever.”

“What do I do now?”

“I think she wants you to kiss her.” Caroline laughed, “I think I’m going to have competition. I hope you don’t mind?”

“I don’t. Hopefully I’ll find time for both of you. Honestly, today for me is better than I expected.”

“It is for me too. Hold her while I put coffee on. I’ll take her as soon as I do.”

“She’s fine right where she is.” Before I left, I taught Karen to say my name. It came out as “immy” because J’s weren’t possible for her to say.

When I figured I had stayed long enough, I said I had to go.

“You will come back won’t you?”

“That you can count on.”

“Jim, I’m looking forward to seeing you again. I can see where Karen is going to be a problem, but I don’t know what I can do about it.”

“Do you have a stroller? We can go up to the play ground and get her tired out. Will she sit in the stroller quietly? We can play tennis and she can watch. I usually pick up someone who plays. I just look around and if I see someone there with a racket, I just ask if they want to practice a little. I’ll bring an extra racket if you want to learn.”

“We can try it. I don’t know anything about tennis.”

“It’s fun and I use it for exercise.”

“I’ll try it. Won’t you mind being with me with a baby?”

“Hey, let people think what they want to. You could be my sister or my wife or cousin or something.”

“Karen’s father wouldn’t be seen with a woman and a baby.”

“His loss. Was he older than you?”

“Seven years. He was getting free loving without any cost to him when all along I thought he loved me. I was having second thoughts about him when I turned up pregnant. Change the subject, would you?”

“Caroline, we do have to talk about us sometime. I mean how long we are going to stay as friends and so forth. I don’t know as I would be very good as marriage material. I’m just so young.”

“One thing to think about is that my father has banned me from coming home until Karen goes to school. He thinks he can handle the situation at that time. As far as I know, I can be your friend until then. That is about four years from now.”

“I guess that would be about the time when I will have my future sorted out.”

 Caroline looked at Karen. “Do you realize you have been holding the baby and she has gone to sleep while we were talking?”

“Nice.” Caroline took the baby into the bedroom and shortly came back. I was standing near the door ready to leave.

“Jimmy, you don’t seem too upset that you didn’t get what you came for.”

“I’m not and I don’t know why. Maybe it is because I know sometime soon we will have a chance. I can see you are a great mother and I believe we will have some memorable times together. May I kiss you?”

Caroline, laughed, “Just like my daughter?”

“Just like Karen. You both are so sweet.” Caroline came into my arms then. It was steamy, but controlled and even more, it foreshadowed what was to come when the time was right.

——————————————

Two days later after calling I arrived at her door. The stroller was stored down at the first level on the enclosed back porch. I met Caroline and Karen there and we went through the alley to the street. It was a beautiful summer day. “Do you want to run first or push Karen?”

“What do you mean?”

“Hey, we’re out for air and exercise I’m going to run and then I’ll walk until you catch up with me. Then I’ll push the stroller while you run.”

“I’ll try a little bit. Let me go first.” Caroline didn’t run far, maybe a hundred and fifty yards. She was puffing loudly when I reached her. Some of it was because she was laughing at the same time.

“Baby’s going to have milk shakes for supper tonight. I need to get a support bra. My breasts were swinging so hard from side to side, it was throwing me off balance. Maybe I should try jogging.” That was worse.

“We are near the play ground. They have a track around the perimeter. I’ll run and wait for you there.” I took off and enjoyed every bit of the exercise. I made two laps around the small track, and stopped beside her when I came around the second time. I wasn’t even breathing hard.

I felt a little guilty and asked; “I pushed you into this, are you upset?”

“No, but I think I will walk more now that I have been up here and see they have a track. Look at Karen smiling, she likes it out in the air and sunshine. I know it isn’t much, but I think we should head back. Baby will sleep as soon as I feed her.”

As soon as we reached the apartment, Caroline handed Karen to me. “Hold her while I shower.”

I played with the baby, making her giggle. She began to get fussy, so I sang, “Up Here in the Attic Talking to Your Memories Again.” Another one of the songs my mother sang to me. Karen was almost asleep when Caroline came out with a robe on. “I’m going to feed Karen. You can watch if you wish.’” Caroline’s breasts peeked in and out of her robe when Karen attacked looking for a nipple. She was tired and didn’t feed long before she was asleep.

“I’ll take a shower too while you burp Karen. I won’t be long.”

“Don’t be. Right after I nurse the baby is when I get the horniest. It has been so long since I’ve been loved, I really need you.”

I returned to the living room. Caroline had three blankets spread out on the floor. “We can’t use the bedroom because it will wake the baby. Is this okay?”

“Of course. Is there a position you like the best?”

“I like someone spooned against me from behind.”

“I have done it that way. I haven’t had much experience, so I’ll let you teach me.”

“What I know isn’t too varied and I’m willing to try different ways. Shall we take everything off, now? My body isn’t too pretty.”

“What ever you are comfortable with. Maybe we can kiss and hug to start.”

“I’ll leave my robe on then to begin.”

Caroline got down on the blankets and I kept the towel around me. I followed her to the floor, lying beside her. She turned her face to me for a kiss. I was cautioned about manipulating her breasts, which disappointed me somewhat. I mean, what boy/man didn’t want to use these babies to promote excitement?

I forgot about this disappointment when she described other things she enjoyed, like when I manipulated her with my fingers. We discussed oral sex which I had never attempted before today. I was a neophyte as far as man on woman for this type of sex. I had of course heard of it but I had never been asked to perform. It definitely was going to be part of my love making from now on. We finished up in the standard missionary position.

She ended up our session, which didn’t take long with an apology, “After I wean Karen and if we are still doing this, you can play with my tits all you want to. For now, Karen owns them, but there is always hope for you.” She then laughed and gave me a smoldering kiss.

We cleaned up with material Caroline had thoughtfully provided. This was the first I had seen her totally naked. I didn’t make note of her shape out loud. I think she wanted to get trim again, but had been putting off doing something about it.

Caroline made note of my body when I stood, though, “You have a beautiful form, just like a Greek God. You must be five inches taller than me and good looking with muscles and a deep voice.”

I cut her off, “Maybe, but I’m also very young compared to you and you don’t realize how much I am honored to be with you today.”

“Don’t say that. I am the girl who dropped out of school three years ago and moved in with a man I thought I loved. I was knocked up when he wouldn’t take precautions. I could have got something deadly because he wasn’t true to me. I thought having his baby would bind him to me and we know how that worked out. He was gone almost before I finished telling him I was pregnant.

“You may think it terrible that I’m living alone and raising my child. My daddy set these rules. But he must still love me. He said when my little girl began first grade I could come home. That’s the bad part for me, not being home, I mean. My daddy does pay the rent and gives me enough money for me and Karen to live on. He knows Ramona and he knows I am safe here. Ramona set me up with you so I know I’m safe with you.

“She tells me you are a good person and would be good for me. After only two meetings, I know you are going to be good like she says. Actually, I’m thrilled to be with you. You are smart and generous and so kind to Karen. You inspire me and I’m going to get back in shape, so you won’t be ashamed when we walk or run together.”

“Great! I don’t know as I am that smart. I let my studies slip this last year. I was always an A-plus student. This last year I got mostly B’s. I am going back to studying harder and get my marks back to where I know they should be.”

“You’re too rough on yourself. I hardly ever got any B’s.”

“Are you going back to school?”

“How can I at Karen’s age? I need to be with her.”

“Do want more of an education?”

“I suppose it would be nice, but I’m pretty dumb.” We were getting dressed as we were talking.

“There must be some classes online that you can take. Maybe you could take some classes in night school. Different schools have classes all summer and that way there might be a high school girl who would babysit Karen and needs to earn money for something. Ask your father for help with this. I think there are standardized tests to get your GED when you think you are ready.”

“Oh, he would be so happy and I’d be doing something to improve myself.”

“You know I have only a couple of hours a day free. I could help you sometimes. My time has run over today since I’ve been with you three and a half hours, but that’s okay. It would also be good so people wouldn’t think we were doing something we shouldn’t be doing. I’d be your excuse and you would be mine. What years of school do you need?”

“I had better start with the sophomore year again. It’s been a long time since I did any studying. I will ask my father to research how to do this?”

“We’ll think about how this is going to work. Talk it over with Ramona. You said she knows your father. I won’t be here tomorrow; I’ll have to catch up with Matt Hagar in the attic tomorrow on what I’ve missed with him.” I stood there by the door. “Caroline, I had a great day. Karen was great and you were exceptional in all ways.”

“Jim, hug me hard enough to get me though until you can come again.” I had to run to catch my regular bus. I was flustered when I arrived home. Winnie noticed, just commenting on it. Dad, just glanced at me, but didn’t ask questions if he noticed at all. Getting into bed, I lay there thinking over the day’s happening. Today I had added a sexual move to the few I had acquired before this. How could I have done this? … and I was promised lessons to become more adept. This had to have been one of the best days of my life.

––––––––––––––––––––––––

Caroline was older than me by three years. I did feel I was more mature than she was, though. I thought of her body. Not turned off by it, but feeling if she tightened up and did something with her hair like the escorts that were hanging out in Ramona’s living room did, she would be as beautiful as they were. Too bad I couldn’t play with her breasts.

I wondered about her father and why he treated Caroline the way he was doing. Must be when her mother died, she was lost and lonely like I was when my mother died. I went off the rails and that must be why she did. At least I hadn’t got trapped with a baby like she was. Well, her father had given her some discipline. He must still care for her for he arranged it so she was safe. It was a crime though to treat Caroline and especially Karen the way he had. If he ever met his granddaughter Karen, he would have a change of heart, I do believe.

My father was different and I didn’t know how to approach him or talk to him. I would try being a little more friendly tomorrow if I saw him at all.

I got out of bed when I heard him below. I went down. He was sitting at the kitchen table. “Hi Dad, how‘s it going?”

He stared at me. “What the fuck do you want? What do you need, more money for pussy?”

“Nope, I’m good and just being friendly. He snorted. I poured my coffee and took it back upstairs to my room. I swore to myself that this was the last friendly overture I was going to make to my father.”

I didn’t get along with my father, but the housekeeper (Rachael, the one who squealed on me to my father) and I became more friendly. She worked hard keeping the house clean and dusted. She washed the inside of the windows, and there were many of these.

“Rachael, you don’t have to clean every bit of the house every week. Do some one week and the rest of it next week.”

“Thank you, Jimmy. I was afraid you would tell your father I was shirking my duties.”

“Nope, I’m not talking to him much.”  

“What about me telling him about you and young Janet, your classmate?”

“Believe it or not, that turned out great for me and I have found someone. I can see her where I’m working. She is just a friend and we do enjoy just talking.” I added, “And she is a young adult.”

“That’s nice, you’re too young to get too heavily involved.” I knew Rachael wanted to retire in a few years. Winnie told me Rachael had bunions. I didn’t ask what those were, but it had to do with feet. More and more I was talking to Winnie and Rachael and found that I enjoyed connecting with them. I was taking more interest in them since they were with me everyday.

And Winnie, she was my father’s age of thirty-eight. She could understand my side of  home life and I could talk things over with her. She sometimes gave me a ride to Ramona’s. Matt loved her scones and he had gotten so he would come down from the attic to visit with her. He claimed he would never get close to another woman, but more and more I doubted his words.

I religiously kept to the schedule I set for myself in learning the business of trading Commodities. During the summer this year, I worked mornings and until the time I used to go play tennis at the playground. I still did that, while Caroline and Karen were on the side lines. We would leave Caroline’s apartment and run with Karen in the stroller up there and around the track for the first hour.

Caroline was also walking mornings with the baby in the stroller. After just a few weeks, it began to show her efforts by her becoming trimmer.

Father knew I lived at home, but he ignored me and I did the same to him. He wasn’t aware I found interests outside of his sphere, either. I did use what I called my Pussy Allowance, but it wasn’t exactly the way he thought I would. Caroline and I continued our program of being together when I wasn’t busy with Matt in learning the trading business.

–––––––––––––––––––––

The first two years were great in the summertime when I wasn’t in school. Winters were much harder to get through. I was with Matt every day when the market was open. I would go directly from school to the attic and we would go over the days trading. I’d look at all the moves he had made that day. I would ask why he made such and such a move; He was a great teacher for he explained it all to me until he knew I had it lodged in my mind.

At the end of our sit-down, I would give my take on what had been done that day and we would talk about what might be the adjustments to be made for the next day. I spent much of my time with the charts and the trends. A good trader could read these almost automatically for they had been studied and there were guide lines for all situations and positions that seem to hold true.

If we made a move where he thought he should sell, he would make the call as the market opened the next session. I say call, but it was all done on the computer to the broker. Often he would just move the stops. If the market went down and the stop asked for an automatic sell, it was almost always high enough so we made money. The same was done if the market rose and he was nervous that it would retreat. Either way we were covered.

Caroline and I were able to get together for sex at least twice a week. If Karen interrupted our intentions, it didn’t bother us duly, for there was always tomorrow. I never expressed out loud to Caroline that I loved her, but I was certainly open in telling her how much I loved Karen.

All this occurred in the first two years. The last few months of that, Matt was often asking my advice on what we should pick for options on what commodities. We would talk and defend our positions. And after awhile, My defense was equal to Matt’s.

My eighteenth birthday was coming in June the summer I was eighteen and I graduated from high school, Matt encouraged me to make some moves on my own without checking on me that closely.

My Birthday was on June one and I graduated with honors on June eleven. Now I could settle down and really get into trading. Ramona, Matt, and I hadn’t discussed my being a partner. It was brought up, “Kid, we started out with you providing equipment and knowledge to search on the computer for details to make educated facts to trade and provide a return on Ramona’s investment funds.

“You were a joy to teach because you got up to speed within a few months. After that, it has been getting the experience you need to become an effective trader. I believe you have a natural instinct for this.

“You know trading is about 95 percent knowledge and 5 percent gut feeling. I believe you will abide by those figures, cautious as they are. When I went under, I was only performing at about 65 percent using knowledge and 35 percent gut feeling. This is a recipe for disaster and it was!

“We started from scratch with Ramona’s money which amounted to $45,000. I’m glad to say she has had her investment money returned. I, myself, now have the same amount in our Broker’s money market account. You have been so dedicated she and I have decided that the extra $25,000 in the account for this year is yours.

She agrees with me that if we keep all of this together in the same account, by next year we can have a much greater amount in the broker’s account to work with. At the end of the year we will make you a full partner.  We will decide how much we need to trade with and split what is the profit three ways.

“Ramona should take out her $45,000.”

“You miss the point, Ramona has taken out that amount all ready. Our trades have done so well she could take it and she has $45,000 left in the account the same as I have. We have earned the same amount so I could take the same as she has. We are working with a pool of money of $90,000 now to trade with.  

"I think you have done well. You have your high school education and you have what amounts to a college education, developing a career, plus $25,000 while learning a trade. You certainly have worked hard enough at it. I do think it would be wiser to stay together as equal partners by next year than for you to go out on your own.”

“I agree with that. I haven’t even considered leaving. You know, I haven’t had much home life since my mother died. I look on Ramona as a mother figure. You have been the best friend a lonely kid could ever have. I don’t want to break up what has given me a life to replace what I lost.”

“Shut-up, Kid, you’re going to make me bawl. I know Ramona feels the same way.” He looked down at the floor and then asked, “What are you going to do about Caroline and the baby?”

“Matt, I think we will keep on the way we are and see how this full year of trading goes. In my mind, I want to ask her to be my wife and make Karen my child somewhere around my nineteenth birthday. Caroline knows my intentions, for we have discussed it. Caroline will be finished with her schooling in another couple of months and have what amounts to a high school diploma.”

“Tell you something, Kid; when I first met Caroline I thought she was just another dumb kid who got knocked up and had wasted her whole life with no education and would have a crappy life ahead. If we get to trading more than we are doing right now, we could bring her on board to keep track of all the paperwork. Ramona has been doing a lot of it, and she shouldn’t have to. None of us should have to if we can afford to hire someone.”

“I’ll talk it over with Ramona. She has been a mother to Caroline just as she has to me.”

For my eighteenth birthday, a thousand dollars was in the card I received from my father. He received an invitation to attend my graduation from me and I could have three seats for guests. Dad said he would be out of town that day so I could invite anyone in his place. I asked Winnie and Matt. He refused. Winnie was thrilled so I asked Ramona to go. Rachael refused also on the plea to soak her feet. “What about Caroline?”

“Do you think it would be okay?”

“Who is to know if she isn’t related to your Aunt Winnie and your Aunt Ramona? I’ll be disappointed if you don’t invite her. One of the girls will watch the baby. They can stay at my place. Matt will come down and play with her too.” My heart was full! This was the first time the two of us were out together in such a public setting.

Did I have a good time? Not really. I had been so tied up with my out side interests, it seemed I knew few of my classmates. I wasn’t one to brag about what I had accomplished and I had cut back on some of the school activities during the last two years. I was asked by the school counselor when we met as I was coming down the school steps what the plan for the future was before me.

“Sir, I have been interning for the last two years to become a commodity trader, I have a good handle on it and by the end of next year I will be a full partner with the ones who taught me."

Afterward, Ramona had a little party for me to celebrate and many pictures were taken. She made sure that Caroline, Karen, and I were paired in many of them. Matt and Winnie went up to the attic to print them out. They were gone a long time. Caroline let Karen stay up late and she went right to sleep when we went down to Caroline’s room. I was later than usual getting home that night.
.  

Chapter Three: Jimmy buys a car and meets Kim.

I had been borrowing Winnie’s vehicle to take Caroline out on a Sunday afternoon. She would come to Ramona’s while I took Caroline some place for an hour or two, maybe to just go for a drive. A couple of times Winnie wasn’t with Ramona and I was told she was upstairs talking to Matt.

A couple days after the graduation, Father asked me what I wanted for a graduation present. This surprised the hell out of me and yes puzzled me as well. Was the old man going soft on me? I told him I had been driving Winnie’s vehicle and asked if I could buy one.  

“Buy a junker up to $2500 bucks. Keep it in the garage if you are home with it. I don’t want it in the driveway where anyone can see it.” Dad handed me a twenty-five hundred dollar check two days later. I deposited it into my money market fund where I put the money for my special allowance. It had check-writing capabilities.

Caroline and I, with the baby in the back seat, were out looking for used cars. I hadn’t found what I wanted at the price places were asking at the car dealers I stopped at. We were out of the town by twenty-five miles on a Sunday afternoon. There were cornfields with corn up two feet and more on both sides of the road. If these fields were owned by the same owner, it was a huge farm.

We came to the farm buildings. There was a car parked on the lawn. It had about a quarter inch of dust on it. There was a man with grey hair pounding a hand lettered sign into the ground by the bumper. “Car for sale”

I stopped and backed up. “Caroline, I’m going to check it out. It looks like it has been stored in a barn for awhile.”

“It’s awful dirty.”

“I know, but whoever owns it may want to get rid of it cheap.”

I walked up and spoke, “I see you want to sell that car.”

“Yeah, Mom is in a home and told me to sell it. I need room on the barn floor to store a couple of tons of chicken feed. The car got damaged sitting there last winter. A bag of grain slid off the pile and hit the passenger side door. The car still runs pretty good. I drove it out here a few minutes ago.”

“What year is it?”

“It’s a 1999 Toyota Camry. Look it over if you want to.” I started walking around it. Caroline got out and was holding the baby, looking at the car.

“This is Caroline and her baby named Karen. I’m Jim Cummings.

“You’re a couple, I take it.”

“Yes and no. For now we are just friends, but hope to get married a year from now. This car I’m driving isn’t ours. It belongs to the woman who cooks for us at home. My father gave me some money for my graduation so we are out looking.”

“Before you look too closely, the passenger door has a big dent in it and the window won’t go down. A hundred pound bag of grain slid off the pile next to the door and pushed it in. Other than that, the car is in pretty good shape. The millage isn’t bad, only thirteen thousand over a hundred thousand miles.

 I continued walking and talking. “What are you asking for it?” I opened the driver’s door. It wasn’t exactly clean, but it wouldn’t take much to polish and to vacuum the interior.

“Well, I want to get rid of it. I was going to put a price of a thousand on it.”

“That’s not too bad. You must raise a lot of corn. Did you sell last year’s crop?”

“Most of it is contracted for, but I don’t have contracts for what I have left. I wish the price would go up a little.”  

“When are the contracts for?”

“The last week of September.”

“Price per bushel should rise by then.”

“How would you know that?”

“I’ve been studying for the last two years to become a Commodity Trader. I was made a Junior Partner the first of this month. That’s why I’m not getting married now. I want to make sure I can make a living at it. Who knows some of this corn may help me. Look, I’m sure you watch the price of corn. Why I say it will go up is that they had a lot of floods early out in the corn belt this year, which will drive the price up. And then rains kept coming and farmers just couldn’t get onto their fields. If they do get a decent crop, it will be late in the season.”

“It sounds like you know your subject. Tell you what, you get in and start the car and look it all over as much as you want to. I’ll drop my price to eight hundred.

I wanted this car badly. “We don’t have much money with us. I do have a blank check to draw on The City Bank against my money market account. If I could leave the car here until I get tags for it, would that work?”

“It sounds like a plan.  By the way, my name is Terrance Tyler. Come up to the house and meet my wife, Betty. I’ll get the papers out and I will take your check.”

There were several people in the house for they had come for Sunday dinner. All were either family or extended family. One of his sons went with him to his office. “That’s where the Registration is.” The son didn’t return with him. Betty Tyler sat us at the kitten table and put chocolate cake before us. Caroline and Karen had orange crush for a beverage and I had a coffee. Terry questioned me about myself and how I came to take up learning how to be a trader in Commodities.

Betty wanted to know all about Caroline and Caroline shared parts of her life and what kind of person I was. I caught a occasional word of what she was sharing. We did the paper work while we were talking. When we came out the kitchen door, the Camry sat in the yard all washed. Terry had his son bring the car from where we had left it and power washed it.

“Jim, if Caroline has her license, have her drive your car. I’ll leave my tags on and you can drive it home. It is insured so no problem. You can bring the tags back tomorrow.” Needless to say, we were very happy over this arrangement. The Camry shone; I guess it had been garaged most of its life in the barn because the paint hadn’t faded at all.”

It was getting to be late afternoon and we headed for home. I pulled into my driveway and Caroline pulled in beside me. Winnie came out, saying she was going into town and saying she would take Caroline and Karen home. I suspected that Matt had invited her out for dinner somewhere and I had made her late. Caroline didn’t get out and Winnie bailed in with her and left.

I started to get the license tags off the car when my father pulled in. The first thing he saw was the damaged passenger door. He started cussing me for buying a piece of shit (his words).

I kept on doing what I was doing. I finally said. “There is enough left of what you gave me to get it fixed, licensed and put a year of insurance on it. It isn’t going to cost more than what you handed me…And Dad, I’m being honest here, I want to thank you very much for giving me the money to purchase this. From all indications this is a good buy and I appreciate your thoughtfulness.”

By this time Dad had walked around the car and opened the door to see the interior. He looked at the millage. “What year is this?”

“1999. The average millage figures out to about 5500 miles a year.”

“Yeah, I should believe that. I suppose she was a little old lady from Pasadena, too?

“She is a little old lady. I had coffee with one of her sons who sold it to me. I met his wife, his brothers, and several of the woman’s grandkids.”

He turned away and headed for the house. Over his shoulder, he said. “I hope you are right. The car looks fine except for the door. Maybe you did all right.” I wondered what he would have said if the car hadn’t been washed.

 I was beginning to feel like an adult now that I was of age and Caroline could face the world as an adult with an education. I didn’t want to take the time off from trading very often, showing Matt and Ramona I was dedicated to the job I had worked so hard to become a partner. Caroline was friends of all the escorts and they supported her and the baby, often taking care of Karen while Caroline studied her lessons. In two weeks, Caroline would be getting her diploma.

Caroline and I had continued to exercise when the trading was light in the early afternoon and we took the two hour break at this time. Other things occurred at this time as well. Karen was now 3 years, 3/4 years old and we couldn’t really have sex in the small apartment with her there so she would be taken to Ramona’s apartment by one or more of the escorts. Somehow, I always was available to visit Caroline when this occurred.

Caroline never mentioned as often that she was just waiting to be told she could return to her home to live. She had gotten onto during conversations with her father that he had a companion who sometimes stayed over. Caroline accepted this mostly because she was happy with the status quo with her and I being so close with the love and affection I had for Karen.

I went to the DMV the next day and registered my car, having had it insured by the same agency that had Winnie’s insurance which was next door. I was given a paper plate to affix to show the vehicle was registered. I knew I wanted the damaged door repaired and I stopped into an Auto Body repair shop the next day to have it estimated.

The car was looked at by Tim and he came up with, “Unless you want to spend a lot of money, I can push the dent out and you will hardly notice it. There might be a ripple up near the top and down near where the door frame is on the bottom. The window support inside should go back to where it should be and will work just fine.

“Otherwise if we have to take the door apart and get inside to remove the ripple and hammer out the place near the door bottom. This would mean grinding off the paint and then repainting everything. That’s going too run up the cost more than a car this old should warrant.”

“What is the difference?”

“I’d say about three hundred dollars. Tell you what, why don’t you let me try what I can without tearing the door apart? If I’m not successful, and you not satisfied, you can go with the other.”

“When can you do it.”

“I’ve got a few minutes. I can do it right now.”

“Really?”

“Really. I take it this is your first car. I hate to see you spend a whole lot of money you don’t need to. I’ll be right back. I can work on it right where it sits.”

He went into the shop and returned with a suction cup about ten inches across. He also had a hammer with a flat face which he put some tape on.  “That’s so I don’t mar the paint when I tap the crease on the top of the panel. Now I’m going to put this suction cup right on the center of the panel. You hang onto the handle and pull straight out.”

I did as directed and he began tapping lightly where the crease was at the top and then told me to pull hard. I did and suddenly the panel popped into its original shape. I was amazed.  There were a few little dipples in the metal where he had tapped it with the hammer, but not very noticeable. Then he leaned down and tapped the crease at the bottom of the door. “Okay, there you are.”

“Tim, how much do I owe you?”

“Forget it. If you ever need any bodywork done, remember where this shop is.” I opened my wallet and gave Tim twenty-five bucks for a pack of good beer. He was happy and I was ecstatic.

Dad spotted that the door of the Camry had been fixed, not believing the repair had happened so soon. “Having that fixed must have cost you more than what the remains of the 2500 dollars I gave you?”

“Just a pack of good beer Dad, there are a lot good people in this world.” Dad stopped and stared at me and then shaking his head, saying nothing, went into the house.

Caroline was so happy with the Camry. It shone and I left it in the lot behind Ramona’s for her to take Karen for a short rides. She kept it clean and polished and would sometimes go down to the Tyler farm to visit.

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Life was good! Matt and I were picking up options and only kept the reserve that was needed with the broker. When Caroline’s Diploma came, all the escorts, Matt, Ramona, Winnie, Rachael the housekeeper took Caroline out for a celebration dinner. There was some money left from purchasing the Camry. I wanted to show Caroline how much I cared for her, so I presented her with a friendship ring, which she immediately put on her ring finger.

“Okay?”

“Of course, Sweetheart.” I was eighteen and Caroline was twenty-one. We considered ourselves engaged. Neither one of us considered we were free from our fathers. Karen was in preschool, but Mr. Fanning said Caroline couldn’t come home until her baby was starting first grade. He was still paying for a place for her to live and giving her an allowance to do so.

I was in nearly the same situation. I was living at home and still receiving an allowance. Difficulties could arise between Dad and me at any time. He might growl at me and to keep my respect in my self, I would growl in return. Maybe I was ashamed I was living on his bounty. I could see the end though. I planned on being free of my parent when I reached nineteen.

The three of us partners could see that we would be able to draw salaries soon from our profits which were climbing steadily. I was producing at nearly the same level as Matt was.  We would decide what to do at the end of the quarter in September.

Caroline and I visited Terry and Betty Tyler at the farm a few times where we had bought the Camry. Terry and I talked corn and the market every time we visited. I was aware that he still had corn that hadn’t been contracted for still in his silos. The corn price was up because corn was so late being planted this season.

I spotted some news on September 24 that I believed would be common knowledge within a day or two. Matt and I discussed this. It was a Canadian commodity forecast that would be posted tomorrow. It was an obscure small company that advertised they had “The Scoop.” I found it usually did have credible news.

I talked this over with Matt. He said, “Call your friend and pass it on. I wouldn’t advise him just say this ‘The Scoop’ was most often credible.”

“Matt, I think I’ll print this out and just hand Terry the forecast. If the US is buying corn, from Canada, that will probably be at a better price than what is on the market here. It just might lower what is for sale here and our farmers will lose out because there is that much more corn available.”

“Do, it. We’ve never done this before, but I think you are right in your assumptions.” Ten minutes later I was on my way. I went to the house. Terry wasn’t there, but Betty called him on the phone to come in. I was drinking coffee and was having a piece of the inevitable chocolate cake.

“Terry, I thought you might want to read this. I’m not telling you what you should do, but I thought you might be interested.”

“This is interesting. I’m about ready to empty the last silos, anyway. I’ll see what I can get.” Terry went into his office and we could hear him on his phone.

He soon came out. “Okay, my silos are going to be empty. I sold everything I had and didn’t mention why. If the price goes up a few more pennies, that’s fine. I’m selling quite a bit above cost already. If this news is credible, the price may drop below what it cost to grow it. I’m sure it will go up again when this season has been harvested, but won’t ever be this high again this year with the Canadian corn coming into the mix.

Terry asked me, “Are you and your partner into selling short?”

“No, we decided it was too risky.”

“Betty and I have the same idea. How come you don’t have Caroline and the little girl with you?”

“Truth, I didn’t think of them after I read that forecast.”

“Well, bring them out to dinner this Sunday. We’ll know by then if this was a forecast with credible facts.”

“I will. I’m headed back to work. I hope it comes out in a good way.”

“Don’t worry about it. This is just part of raising corn.”

Two days later, I received a message. “Jim, your tip was right on. There must have been other farmers who had seen that forecast for the Market was crazy. It even went up between the time I had the sales drawn up and when they were confirmed. Before the market closed that day, which I’m sure you are aware of, the price has been dropping. I made some money and I damned sure saved a lot when the corn price tumbled. I want to thank you and I think you have learned the trading business very well.”

I printed this out and someday I might show it to my father. Someday when he told me I was a freeloader and that I was worthless.

On September, 30, I received a check in the mail for $15,000 with the note that read this was the amount the market had climbed when he put his corn in his silos to the buyers and when it was confirmed. “That was up 2 cents a bushel which is great. Enjoy!

I showed it to Matt. He asked, “What are you going to do with it?”

“We are going to use it to trade with. This will be close to the amount each of us started with. You can run it by Ramona if you care to.” I was told to hang onto it by both Ramona and Matt.

On October, 4, Ramona came up where we were working. “Listen up, Matt and Jim. I’ve been going over the books for the first Quarter of this year. We are going to be pulling in over $200,000 for the year if the first quarter is any indication. I suggest we each take a salary of $20,000 a year, and maybe a good-sized bonus next June when the year ends.” I was now gainfully employed.

——————————
 
It was a week before Christmas. Caroline was feeling homesick although she hadn’t been home for almost four years. Not only that, Karen was four years old and Santa Clause was very, very, important.

“Hey Caroline, does your father keep any keys hidden out side his house so you can enter?”

“I do and I have been home just a few times walking through the rooms remembering when I was Daddy’s little girl. I was only 12 when my Mom died. Going there helped me when I was really down and lonely.”

“Did you have lights and all the Christmas things out when she was alive?”

“Oh yes. She loved Christmas. Why?”

“I was thinking some day when you knew he wouldn’t be home, we could go inside and decorate the house.

“It would take a long time.”

“We’ll get some help. There are escorts hanging out here many days. They’d be tickled to do something like this. I could ask Winnie to help as well.”

“Let’s do it. I’ll bet Mom’s decorations are stored up attic under the eves just like they used to be. Daddy calls me on Thursday. I’ll try to be subtle and find out if he is working Friday or going someplace Saturday or Sunday.” She found out that he was going to be gone on Saturday.

Caroline spoke to Karen as she opened the door to her former home and walked in, “Honey, this is where Mommy lived before you were born. My Mommy died when I was 12. I missed her a lot and I wasn’t happy again until I had you. When Jimmy and I met, I became even happier. I don’t believe I will ever return here even though your grandfather still lives in the house.”

“I don’t know him do I?”

“No, not now, but maybe someday. Let’s go up stairs to the attic and see if there are some Xmas decorations.”

There was a lot of Xmas stuff and Caroline had it all come down. Winnie pulled in with three of the Escorts and then one more came in the Mini. Boxes and bags were opened and laid out to be examined. Caroline remembered where some of these were placed when she was a child.

Everyone got busy and within less than an hour, the living room and dining room glowed with decorations. I needed an extension cord so I went into the hall and looked in a small coatroom at Caroline’s direction. There were a couple cords on the shelf over the hung up coats. As I was reached for them, I caught a whiff of a sent I recognized. I stood back and hanging there were two women’s dress coats I had often seen.  They belonged to Ramona! I would have to talk to Caroline about this before we left.

Everyone was nervous about being in someone else’s house without being invited by the owner so all soon left except Caroline and I. “Jimmy, would you get the package that is on the back seat of the car. I’m going to place it on the dining table so Daddy will know who invaded his house.”

I brought the package in and Caroline opened it. It was an enlarged picture of her and Karen in a nice frame. There was also an older picture of a snap that she had enlarged of her father and her mother. Her mother’s hair had been worn short and during the previous week Caroline had gone to a hair dresser to have her and Karen’s hair styled the same way. I loved it and had admired it when I had seen it.

Caroline placed the pictures end for end, touching so when you looked at it, it looked like a elongated family picture. “Let’s get out of here. I think this was a mistake because I am feeling awful sad.”

I put up my hand, “Caroline I know it is poking into other people’s business, but would you go into your father’s room and look in the closet. I saw something in the hall closet that makes me wonder about something.”

Caroline looked strangely at me, but did as I directed. It was ten minutes later when she came out. “Caroline, I heard drawers opening and closing. You did more than look in the closet, didn’t you?”

“I did. I recognized who the dresses and clothes belong to. There are intimate things like Teddy’s and under clothes in one of the drawers. It is like Ramona is spending her nights here.”

“Must be. I have often wondered where she goes after dinner at night. She is always home though, when I come to work in the morning.”

“Jim, do you think Ramona is to blame for Daddy driving me away and not allowed me to come home?”

“I don’t know, but if she did, I would think it was she saving you from a worse fate.”

“Ramona has been awful good to me. Better than I deserved, maybe. I was just existing until she brought you to my door.”

“Yes and look at you now. You look and act better than some of the Escorts.”

“That’s not on me, that’s on you.”

I couldn’t tell how Caroline was feeling, but I knew she was upset. “It doesn’t seem fair that Daddy should have someone to sleep with at night when Ramona cautions me about letting you stay over and sleep in my bed. We have honored that caution just because we were afraid I would be tagged as a whore if you did. She’s the whore!”

“We don’t know that. She has been a mother to me when I didn’t have one and I certainly needed one. Think about it; we are talking about marriage next Labor Day. We are going to get married because of the love we have for each other. Maybe it is the same between your father and Ramona?

“I guess so, Jim. She has been the same to me. Actually, longer than for you. I came to the apartment right after Daddy found out I was pregnant with Karen. Do you suppose there has been something between the two of them for that long?”

“I’d almost bet on it.”

“Me too. Are we going to ask either one about it?”

“I think we should ignore what we have found out. Hey, we subscribe to two of the local papers. If you can figure out approximately when Ramona had her trouble with the law, you might find some news about her. Search for articles with your father’s name as well.

“Okay.”  

Karen had crawled onto the couch and was sleeping. I picked her up and carried her out to the car. Caroline was silent on the way back to her apartment. Still asleep, I carried Karen into her bed and tucked her in. She roused up enough to say, “I love you, Jimmy.”

I came out, “Jimmy, do you want to try the floor today?”

“I’d, like to hold you close and then we’ll see.”

We had graduated to a blow up mattress a year ago. We stripped to our underwear and cuddled. Both of us fell asleep. More than half asleep, we felt Karen come out and lift the covers and push us apart so she could be held by the two people whom she knew loved and adored her.

Caroline’s father called that evening before I left. “I didn’t know you had a key. I didn’t think I had the correct house when I turned the lights on.”

“Daddy, I got sad thinking about when I was a child. Sometimes I don’t feel like I had a childhood at all. Mom was here and then she was gone. You were working all the time and you hired some awful women to supposedly care for me. One of them even whipped me. I went looking for affection and that ended terribly. Then I got pregnant and you wouldn’t deal with it at all.”

“Hey, I got you an apartment and you’ve had an allowance for years.  You are Twenty-one now and it will have to end soon.”

“I know and I thank you for everything. I just didn’t get the love I needed from you. Ramona has helped some, acting like a part-time-mother to me. I don’t know how she could have done more. If you ever find someone, I hope she is just like Ramona.”

“Marriage hasn’t entered my mind.”

“Well it should. I’m going to be married to some nice guy someday. I have a past and a child for baggage, but I know my man is out there somewhere. I am a lot wiser than I was at fifteen.” Caroline changed the subject, “Do you like the decorations?”

“They are much I like I remembered them back to when your mother was here to put them up. Ah, your child doesn’t look much like a baby. How old is she?”

“She had a birthday last month and was four. I guess I’ll hang up now. I have dishes to do. Goodbye, Daddy.”

Caroline turned to me, “My Father should damned well know how old his granddaughter is. I get pissed at him sometimes.”

“Come, give me a hug.”

“Jim, Karen is in bed and asleep. I need some love. I know it is late, but you had some sleep this afternoon.”

“You don’t have to ask. I’m here for you.”

We were waiting for Ramona to mention the Christmas display at the Fanning house, but she didn’t. Christmas came and went with both of us receiving a check. It was comical in a way; both checks came two days after Christmas. I thanked my father and he grunted. Caroline wrote a thank you note and mailed it to her father.

Spring seemed to fly by, I imparted to Winnie that I planned getting married on Labor Day weekend. She gave me some major news too. “I’m giving my notice in late August. Rachael will be retiring right after Labor Day so she is giving notice too.”

“Winnie, what are going to do after you leave, you are too young to retire?”

“I’ve got my eye on a store front in a decent working neighborhood. I’ve got some money because your father has been paying me very well.”  

“What about Matt, you are close to him?”

“He and I are a couple. I don’t know if we will get married, though I would like to. He had a bad experience with his first wife, so I don’t blame him for not liking the idea.”

“Is it alright if I push him a little on the subject? We talk a lot while working.”

“Okay, but be subtle about it.”

A conversation came up between me and Caroline about working. She had been helping with the filing keeping track of different things that we printed out for a hard copy. She didn’t appear too thrilled with the job.”

“Jimmy, I have found something I would rather do after we get married. You know Winnie has been teaching me how to bake in Ramona’s kitchen. She is talking about having a bakery of her own and suggested I might like to work for her.”

“That would be great for both of you. Winnie has been a great friend and after Mom died, she helped me get through losing Mom. She treats me just like a son even though I’m eighteen, soon to be nineteen. I’ll help her getting set up if she needs me.” Caroline told me later that some of the escorts, past and present would take care of the customers out in the front of the Bakery where there was to be a coffee shop.

My nineteenth birthday was coming up soon and I was going into this year as a full time Commodity Trader. I had two years of summer instruction and time during the rest of those two years that wasn’t taken up with my high school work. I had the last year with one full year of trading and the tutelage working under Matt Hagar. Matt said I was ready!

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

I was ordered to join my father to a dinner at a club he belonged to hosted by him, touting his very successful year in business. It was a disaster for me and from father’s point of view figuring I made a perfect fool of my self.

Later that evening I was accused of hitting on one of his guests, me not realizing she was the young wife of an older business associate of my father’s. That was what father saw. While Dad as speaking to some other guest, two of the guests, Edna and Frank, whom I had been introduced to by dad, were standing alone. I walked up to them and Edna came into my arms and we hugged, then still with my arms around her I leaned back and laughed into her face and we broke apart.

Father didn’t know it, but I had known the wife, Edna before she married Frank She had been one of Ramona’s escorts. Frank was a frequent guest while he was courting Edna. Frank became one of the in crowd immediately. Father was livid. and Frank laughed when he saw my father was upset.

At home, Dad ranted for nearly two hours and listed all the mistakes I had made in my young life. “You damned fool, years ago I gave you the name of a person who was supposed to teach you something. I’m disgusted, and more, I’m disappointed in your actions.”

I came back at him; Let him believe I was an ignorant fool! “Fuck you Dad. I see you maybe on a Sunday and maybe you are here for one or two evenings during the week. You’re supposed to be my parent. In your opinion, all I have are whores and housekeepers to show me how to act. It is not on me how I act, but on you. Mom would have been terribly disappointed in you.”

Father slammed out of my room and I didn’t see him for several days. I received a message on my cell Friday afternoon. “Be home for dinner this evening. Dress for company.” I wondered if my father was cutting me loose or did he have something else in mind?

The table was set for three when I entered the dining room. There was a place setting half way between the ends and I sat down there. Father entered with a woman on his arm. He guided her to what had been my mother’s place and pulled a chair out for her to sit. He took his place at the head of the table.

This woman appeared to be older than I was, probably thirty, plus. “Son, meet Kimberly Donaldson, of the family Donaldson’s. She has been working as my secretary since she lost her last place of employment. She will be living here for awhile. She will be teaching you how to conduct yourself in all aspects for the future.”

Father was obviously patronizing me. Christ, I was an adult and had mostly been on my own since I was sixteen. He continued, “She will also help you decide what to do with your life. I’m speaking about you finding work and what you need to know to make you successful in whatever that is. You’ve wasted years of your life and I have been abetting it. Kimberly, you may start anytime.”

“Mr. James Cummings, you may address me as Miss Donaldson. Your lesson might as well start immediately. When I entered on your father’s arm, you should have stood and waited for him to seat me. That is the protocol for the situation.”

I was pissed. “So noted, Miss Donaldson. For your information, please address me as Jim or Jimmy. I don’t have enough stature in this family unit to be addressed as James. I also would prefer when you lecture me if you would do so without anyone else present. Other than you and me, of course.”

She surprised me. “So noted, Jimmy.”

My father spoke, “Jimmy, I’ll talk to you a bit after dinner. I have a few rules I insist you follow concerning Miss Donaldson.”

“I’ll listen, that is all I will promise. I know without an active parent for the last three years there are many things I don’t know. Besides, I’m intrigued with the thought of a pretty woman staying here with us.

Father’s face blossomed! “Jimmy, you will show Miss Donaldson respect in all ways. She is not a woman to be trifled with.”

“Does that go the same for you, Father?”

“Gentlemen! You both are being boorish. Please have dinner brought in. This discussion is over until later.”

Dinner was mostly silent, no chit-chat coming forth. We arose from our seats at the end of the dinner. Our serving lady/cook (Winnie) came out to clear the table. I put my hand on her shoulder as she went past. “Great dinner, Winnie, I can always count on you to provide something good. The beef was excellent.”

“Thank you, Jimmie. Will you want a snack later?”

“No, I may be going out.”

I turned to Kimberly and Father. “Who is speaking to me first?”

“By God I am. Meet me in the study.”

We headed for the den. Father went all the way in and then turned to me.”Now you listen to me, you little bastard. That woman has been transferred here by me to teach you some manners. She is my own private secretary and someday she may become your step-mother.” (Little Bastard, I stood two inches taller than my father) I also doubted me being a bastard.

“So what am I supposed to do? Am I to sit around and just listen to her?”

“You two work it out. Mostly, when you and I go out for a meeting, I want you acting like my son and not trying to pick up somebody’s wife right in front of them. You might take a little interest in my business so you can join in the conversation and not act like a fool.”

“Dad, I can do that, but it will cost you. I’ll need more in my clothing allowance.  If I’m going out, you might up my pussy allowance a bit, and I’ll settle for a thousand. I’ll have to take Miss Donaldson out to practice all these things she will be teaching me. What would people think of your friend if they saw her in my old model vehicle?

“I suppose, but I want your solemn promise not to hit on her and you be respectful to her. I mean it. If you don’t obey my rules, you’re going to be out on the street. I may have been a little remiss and neglecting you, but I am on to you.”

“You don’t know shit, Father. But to keep the peace, you have my promise. By the way, how much are you paying Kimberly to teach me how to behave?”

“Not your business.”

“It is too. What if she leaves before I’m trained into something you can be proud of?”

“Okay, I’m paying her thirty thousand a year.”

“That’s no where near enough. She’ll want more than that to be happy here. I’ll bet you have only half-way promised her marriage and she is putting out for less than any whore in an escort service makes in a year. You had better raise her salary up to at least fifty thousand.”

“Thirty thousand should be enough unless you are a hopeless case. How do you know how much whores make?”

“Think! Remember you’re still providing an allowance for a certain purpose. That’s so I don’t tell whom you are tapping. You’re a typical capitalist. Pay your help pennies and get rich on their efforts.”

“Jesus, is there no end to you being a bastard.”

“Probably not, but remember, I’m your bastard.”

“Get to hell out of here. Go see Miss Donaldson. She has some rules for you. Oh, next Saturday, the three of us will be attending a dinner and a concert. I want to see some improvement in the way you act.”

Chapter Four: Connecting with Kim

I walked back to the living room expecting my meeting with Miss Donaldson would take place there. Winnie met me instead, with a message. “Jim, Kim will meet you in her rooms.” I went upstairs and knocked on her door.

Faintly I heard, “Come in.” I opened the door to her small ante-room.

I was directed from another room, “Please sit. I will only be a minute.”

Kimberly came out in jeans and a tee shirt. I didn’t get time to examine her as much as I would like to have and I kept my eyes on her face. Maybe she would move around while speaking and I could see more of what she looked like.

“I changed so we could talk comfortably. Here in my rooms you may call me Kim.”

While she was saying this, I rose up out of the chair. “Kim, you said we should talk. I think I’m the person most unknowing about this situation. Why don’t you tell me how you came to be here and some about your life?”

“I was going to do the questioning first, but I can talk about myself. First, I have been working for your father only a few months. I think he likes me and likes what I have been doing for him. I have had a good education, but on completion of it, I found myself without family and I thought I would have funds enough to have a life of ease. That hasn’t happened. Three days ago, your father came into work sputtering about you and how crude and obnoxious you were at some gathering he took you to. Were you?”

I grinned. “He thinks I was and I’ll tell you why not after you finish telling me how this came about.”

“Fair enough. Not knowing you or what really happened, I starting quoting some book on proper behavior and how it should have been handled. He offered me the position of straightening you out and teaching you how you should behave. After tonight and meeting you, I don’t think I am up to the task. You seem to be sharp and a bit ahead of me. I suspect I won’t be working here long and I will have lost my position in your father’s office as well. I do like working for your father and I am going to miss being in his office.”

“That would be a shame and most likely would be my fault for you losing your position. I won’t be responsible so maybe we can work together and keep the old man happy enough to keep you on. Has he had you in his bed yet? If he hasn’t, I believe he intends to. That would set you up for life.”

“Not a question I’ll answer. It would be a major turning point in my life and I’m not sure I would enjoy that way of living. Why don’t you tell me about your life? It is obvious that you and your father don’t get along. Do you want to tell me why?”

“Sure, since it is so obvious. I thought Dad and Mom were totally in love. And I thought it broke his heart when she died. That was about three years ago. He was bringing home bimbos within six weeks of her passing. I was young and couldn’t forgive him for letting her go and then so soon turning away from the happy home life we had.

“Before Mom died, she told me all about love and how wonderful her life was for her with Dad. Someday, she said, and I quote, ‘you will find the love of your life just like I have. It is just so sad for your father that I won’t be here with him. Now, you be kind to him when I’m gone. He is a good man, and I trust you two together, will get through this.’

“Kim, it didn’t happen.”

“It seems like both of you were looking for solace from someone and neither of you found it. You should have found it with each other rather than these other persons.”

“I guess. On a different subject, did Dad tell you that next Saturday the three of us are going out for dinner and a concert?”

“No, he hasn’t mentioned it.” Kim was distressed and began pacing around the small room. I had the chance to observe her that I had wished for. “Oh dear, I don’t have a thing to wear.”

“I can help you there. Let me make a phone call.”

I pulled out my phone and dialed. “Ramona, I have a problem. Dad brought home a woman to teach me how to behave, and possibly, she will become my step-mom. Kimberly needs to go shopping for a dress. She could stand more than one. Nicki could help her if she is in tomorrow.”

“Why Nicki?
"Because Kim is about the same size as Nicki. The dress size possibly will be a tall size seven or eight. She should have all day so maybe the alterations could be made while she waits. Besides that, Nicki knows where I live. She can pick Kim up and drive the Mini.”

“I’ll see that she does. Maybe Sarah will go with them. What time?”

“Kim, what time, can you be ready?”

“I like to shop early when the stores open.”

“Have Nicki pick Kim up about eight thirty here and she will be ready. I’ll have Kimberly Donaldson’s name added to my card before she needs to use it. I’ll be in my office by seven anyway and do it when I reach there.”

Kim asked, “What have you just done?”

“Well, I want my soon to be new Step-mom dressed nice when we go out as a family unit the first time. I just arranged it. You’ll love the selection they have where Nicki is taking you. Dresses aren’t too costly, either. As for using my card, I’ve done this for female friends before. And no, I didn’t bed them either.”

“Nicki, or none of them?” I shrugged as if ‘what could I say?’

“Look, Nicki is a great person about your age and size. By the way how old are you?”

“Jimmy that’s a no, no. You shouldn’t ask a woman her age.”

“Let’s see, you look about thirty-two, but you take care of your skin, so I’m betting you are about thirty-five.’ I laughed, “Oh, forget I asked.”

“You’re an irritating individual.”
 
“I can be. Back to Nicki, you’ll be laughing all the while you are together with the girls. If Sarah is with her, it’ll be just that much more fun. Besides, rather than me telling you about me, you’ll be finding out for yourself what your soon-to-be-step-son is like.”

“I don’t think that my being your step-mom is going to happen. How come you have enough money to buy clothes for me?”

“Because it is just one of the cards I have. Dad is putting money into it tomorrow if he hasn’t done it tonight. I do get a liberal allowance.”

“Name the cards.”

“I have my business card and the card I use if something needs fixing here at home. The one I handed you is used for my entertainment.”

“I have the feeling you have some pet denigrating name for the card and it has to do with sex.”

“You could be correct. I just don’t want to be accused of being a boor twice in one night so I’m not divulging the name I use.”

“Jim, what is your business?  Does your father know what you do? He said you didn’t do anything. You’ve just graduated and he is concerned you will fritter your life away while he pays for it.”

I grinned at Kim. “Please don’t tell him otherwise. If he would open his eyes, he would see how much work I do here at home. Every week with a home of this size, it always needs someone to do the upkeep. I direct what needs doing inside and out. Look outside when you have time and see how I’ve kept up Mom’s flower beds.

“I don’t do the work physically, but it is all under my direction. I work with Rachael, the housekeeper, on this. She tells Dad when she needs money for upkeep. I play tennis to keep in shape afternoons, and I have been studying a certain subject since I began getting my Pussy Allowance and met the woman I just called for a car. I’ll get a chunk of money distributed from Mom’s estate in another two years. I know my subject already, and I’ve started full time.”

“Wow, I think I just woke up a sleeping giant. I also just learned two things about you. You are the busiest person I know and I know the name on the card is Pussy Allowance.”

 “I don’t really call it that any longer. I was just a kid when Dad first gave me some money to go get laid. I’m of age now and I don’t look at life so foolishly.

“Look, Kim, I think we have talked enough tonight. I’ve shared much more than I intended too. I also think your work here will be a little more enjoyable and less difficult than you thought at dinner this evening. So, I’ll see you when you stop into my office tomorrow afternoon. Okay?”

“Okay, Jimmy. Goodnight.”

Father was waiting down stairs when I came down. “Did Miss Donaldson give you some instructions on how things are going to be, now that she is living here?”

“We talked and I listened. I told her you were planning on taking us out to a concert. She said she didn’t have a dress to wear. Arrangements are made already for her to go dress shopping tomorrow. She is all set.”

“You treat her nice tomorrow while with her.”

“I’m not going to be with her shopping, although I’m to meet her late in the afternoon so we will be here in time for dinner.”

“Who will she be going with?”

“A couple of women I know. I’m sure she will have fun. Goodnight, Dad.” I turned once to see my Dad still looking after me. Needless to say, I didn’t get much sleep. The many things that I had never shared with my father, I was afraid were soon going to be out in the open. How much he found out from her would depend on Kim.
–––––––––––––––––––––––

I reached the city just a little past my usual time. I went upstairs to Ramona’s. Nicki was there hunched over a cup of coffee. “Who is this woman I’m supposed to take dress shopping?”

“She is someone my father hired to give me culture and couth. I went to father’s club on his demand not long ago. I was pissed of having to go. I made an ass of myself in front of his crowd.”

“I doubt that. What did you really do?”

“I was talking to our Edna who just happened to be with her husband, Frank, Father’s friend. You went to their wedding. Father made more of it than what it was.  Frank was laughing about it, but didn’t correct Dad. This is his way of payback.” I paused then, “Actually, I think there is some idea in Dad’s mind of Kimberly being my Step-mom. She didn’t seem too excited about it, though. Anyway, she is off limits to me and to keep things from exploding, I agreed.

“Nicki, thanks for making coffee. I saw the Sunday papers and things are happening in the commodities market. I’ll have a busy day today.”

“Before you go, Jimmy, tell me what this woman of your father’s is like?”

“I know very little about her. I’ve had only one conversation with her. I think she likes my father well enough, but is a little afraid of not living up to what he has charged her with doing concerning me. I take it she is living paycheck to paycheck and is afraid of losing her position.

“The one conversation without my father being present showed me that she is intelligent. She’s not unattractive, tall, thin and carries herself well. She does exude an air of being upper crust so I’m guessing she was from a family who had money at one time and ended up by losing everything.”

I was anxious to get to the day ahead of me and excused myself. I walked up the stairs and into our small, cramped office. Matt Hagar was typing up a list of commodities he would advise me to look at. I would do this and then decide what trades and adjustments I would make after looking up the trends, bits of news, and op-ed stories that were relevant concerning these commodities. I would give this list back to Matt who would contact our broker Monday who would make the trades.

We had a system that I developed after we met. Matt had some short-comings, and of course, I started out three years ago with no knowledge about trading in any market. Hell, I didn’t even know what the market was he referred to.

Matt was good at this. Next week I would be the one calling the broker because I would be nineteen on Monday, the first day of next week. This was the deal I made with Matt three years ago when I first got some money to go get laid. Father knew I lived at home, but he ignored me and I did the same to him.

Three years of this, Ug! These thoughts came into my mind as they often did. I guess Dad thought if he threw some money at me, he was being a good parent. I was careful not to go to the well too often. And from now on––I wouldn’t have to go at all!

It was beginning to get busy because end of the year would be on the last day of the month. Contracts were to be filled by that day. Matt and I were selling out many of the options we were holding. Today, we were taking a break and would be downstairs for a late lunch. I knew that Caroline was in Ramona’s kitchen making sandwiches for us. Karen was there from preschool and serving us.

Just as we sat down, Nicki and Sarah came in with Kimberly. Kimberly was all smiles so I knew she had found something to wear. She had. “Jimmy, I bought the most beautiful gown. I also got a wrap to complement it. Together they didn’t cost more than a decent dress at J C Penny. I will pay you back from my next paycheck.”

“Whatever, take your time. Did you have fun?”

“I had a blast. I’m going to do all my shopping at the Warehouse from now on. I have never heard of that place and have lived here all my life.”

“You do understand that what they have there are recycled, don’t you.”

“I do, but everything is just like new.”

Just then Karen came out with our sandwiches.  “Mommy wants to know if everyone wants sandwiches. She has enough fillings to make more.”

“I could eat one.” The two others said they could too.  

The door opened and Edna stood there. “Hi gang. I have a few minutes and thought I would stop by. Hi Jimmy, has your father gotten over his snit of you talking to me at the club the other night?”

 I started laughing and turned to Kim, “Kim, Edna is the lady who caused Dad to be so upset with me. Dad thought I was hitting on her. I’m friends with her and Frank, her husband. I knew Edna before she married Frank, meeting her when I first came here to Ramona’s. Edna, this is the person who Dad has hired to teach me how to act out properly in public.”

Nicky, Sarah and Edna all began laughing. Edna spoke, “You’re going to have an easy job of teaching Jimmy how to behave. We women have taught Jimmy how to act in all kinds of situations. You’ll see if you stay around long. I wish Ramona was here so you could meet her. She is the person who has taught us all. In a way Jim’s Dad had it right to give Ramona’s name so Jimmy could get laid. As far as we know he hasn’t gotten laid yet, but has learned a lot since he came.”

“I don’t understand?”

Just then, Caroline came in and placed a plate of sandwiches on the table. “Hi girls.”

The three women said hi to Caroline. I introduced Caroline to Kimberly. “Caroline is a long term tenant who lives in the back apartment. Karen is her daughter. She and I are close. Close enough so that we will be marrying on Labor Day weekend. I don’t know which day yet. I fell in love with Karen first before I did Caroline.”

“Jimmy, does your father know this?”

“I haven’t told him yet. I wouldn’t think he would be interested.”

“He would be. You know he wants the best for you but doesn’t know how to show it.”

“Let’s not discuss this now.”

“Okay.”

Karen had been sidelined by all the discussion. “Jimmy, sing me a song. I’m sad and lonely.”

Caroline said, “Not now, Karen.”

Nicki and Sarah objected. “Caroline, let Jimmy sing. If anyone wants to see love, this is love on display. Let’s go into the living room.” The plate of sandwiches sat on the dining room table, forgotten.

Matt and the four women arranged themselves on one side of the room. Caroline came in and sat on the couch next to me. Karen said, “Jimmy, sing me the song when you are thinking of your mommy.” She sat on the floor facing the others while I sang, “Up in the Attic Talking to your Memories.”

When I finished the song Karen got up and cuddled into my arms while I sang “I don’t Know Why I love You, but I Do” When I finished this song. Karen was sleepy and I hugged her as tight as I could and she kissed me and I kissed her on her cheek. I picked her up and took her down the hall to Caroline’s apartment. Nicki followed me in and said she would stay as I laid Karen on her bed and covered her up with a light coverlet.

“Jimmy, you are one in a million. Caroline is so lucky to have you.”

“It goes both ways.”

“That’s what she said.”

“I’m going to run Kimberly home now and come back and see Caroline for supper tonight. I’ll be back in an hour.”

“I like Kimberly. She is really a nice person.”

“I think so too, even though I don’t know her at all well yet.”

Kimberly had gone up to the attic with Matt and Caroline.  “Kim, I have just time to run you home. I have to return, so I may not be at dinner tonight. You can tell Father about the day except for the fact that I’m planning on marrying Caroline and that I’m working and receiving a salary. You may tell him other than that about all the people you have met today.”

“Okay.” I kissed Caroline right in front of Matt and Kim and we came down to the Camry.

“Wait before you start the car. Jim, tell me what your average day is like. You seem terribly busy.”

“I am busy and I have been for the last three years. I finished High School and learned enough to earn a small salary starting last September. I should be getting a bonus at the end of this month. Ramona said there would be.”

“Who is this Ramona that everyone seems to revere?”

“She owns the building and is the third partner in our business with Matt and me. She furnished the money for Matt to begin trading again. I went along for the ride until I learned enough to do it on my own.”

“What is she with all the beautiful women who hang out here?”

“The beautiful women as you call them are escorts. Ramona makes sure they behave themselves. She has a high class male clientele and she provides these women to go to parties and the like. Edna was one of them until she fell in love and married Frank. That is what all of them hope for.”

“They don’t have sex with the men?”

"They are not supposed to and most don’t. If they do, both the men and woman are dropped from Ramona’s Client list. Caroline has never been. She has just a tenant since before Karen was born.”

“There must be a story about her?”

“There is. It is her story to share if she does, not mine. Okay, I have to get you home. Did you really find what you went after this morning?”

“I did and it makes me almost as beautiful as the younger women you surround yourself with.”

“I have nothing to do with that. They just like me, that’s all.”

“I’d say they do, all of them envy you and Caroline. So what are you going to do when you get married?”

“Just follow my plans. I’ll move out and find place to live with Caroline and Karen.”

“That will leave just Winnie and Rachael with your father.”

“And you, I hope. I think you are what Dad needs. Talk to Winnie and Rachael; they may have something planned and will be leaving as well as me.”

“The house is big enough for all of you to live there.”

“I know, but too big. I know for me, it is time I left the memories of my mother behind. I think maybe the same for Dad. Both of us have lived there and for days wouldn’t see or speak to each other. With me, now with Caroline, I want her and Karen right close to me so the only answer to that is find a nice small house of our own.

“Here we are. I’ll drop you off and not come in. I want to finish up the days trading.”

“Jimmy, I think you are an exceptional young man. Are you coming home tonight?”

“Of course, I never stay over with Caroline. In fact I have never slept in her bed.” I didn’t shut the car off and Kim reluctantly got out. I’d guess she had a preconceived notion of what I was like and was surprised to find me an adult in most instances. I smiled as I headed back to work.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Caroline had a hot meal for me when I cleaned up after the day of trading. I brought up the subject of letting others know we intended to marry and when.

“Jimmy, I’m so happy about you wanting to marry me. I think back to before we met and how discouraged about what my life was. I think you were so smart in the way you went about getting me to improve. You never told me what to do other than making subtle, sensible ways where I did them and amazed that I was better and smarter than the month I was before. I have at least a good, though basic education. My body shape is at least as good as the other women we are associated with.

“My one regret is that I am no closer to going home than I was when I was asked to leave my father. What and why is the reason he treats me so?”

“I don’t know sweetheart. We could go ask him. After all, I have to ask him for your hand in marriage. If I obsess over asking, I’ll never get it done.” We sat looking at each other.

“Jimmy, you have a suit upstairs in Matt’s closet, don’t you?”

“I do. I have a clean shirt up there too.”

“Go put them on. We’ll do it tonight. Seven isn’t too late to call on my father. I’ll slip into a nice dress and meet you downstairs by the car. Karen is watching TV which she shouldn’t be doing. She’ll be excited to go for a ride.”

“Can you manage her by yourself?”

“Of course.”

The die was cast. A half hour later, we pulled in behind Ramona’s vehicle. “Caroline, I don’t know if her being here is good or bad.”

“I’ll go to the door and you be right behind me and we’ll find out.”

We didn’t think that the door bell was going to be answered for we stood there several minutes. We had seen a curtain pulled cautiously aside. Finally, Ramona came to open the door. “What on earth are you doing here?”

“Ramona, I have some questions to ask Daddy. Jimmy has a question for him too. May we come in?”

“I’ll ask Roy.” We stood another five minutes and then Ramona swung the door wide. She took Karen from my arms and kissed her. She got kisses in return and a happy child in her arms. We walked through the kitchen and dining room to the living room.

Mr. Fanning said. “What are you doing here, Caroline?”

“I have some questions and there are some things you should know about that is new and that is happening in my life.”

“You should have called, not just coming to the door expecting me to let me in.”

“Would you have invited me?” He shrugged and didn’t answer. He did watch Karen in Ramona’s arms. We knew he had seen pictures of his granddaughter but this was a first, having her near enough to see.

Ramona looked at Caroline and asked, “Are you surprised to find me here?”

“No, Jimmy and I knew that you were living at home daytime and living with Daddy night times since Christmas of last year.”

Caroline’s Dad almost shouted, “Caroline, I could have had you arrested last Christmas. You broke in here and poked around. That’s at the very least is an invasion of my privacy. Forget that, why have you come here with this man?”

“I brought him here to have him ask you for my hand in marriage. We are just beginning to plan our wedding and Jimmy thought it best to ask you formally.”

“Okay, okay, he has my permission. Anything else from either of you before you leave?”

“Daddy, I have always wondered why you have treated me like you have. I know you hated the man who is the father of Karen. You banished me and I have lived in a two-room apartment for almost five years. Would you explain, please?”

“It just seemed for the best and recently you haven’t appeared to be unhappy.”

“May be, but I have grown into an adult and am beginning to think like one. This is all because of Jimmy. I even read newspapers now. I see your name in the local paper sometimes. I never knew what you did for a living before. Jimmy and I have discussed what we read. We found out you are the Mayor’s right-hand assistant in the city administration. We also have found out that you and the Mayor have a long history since you two went to college together.”

“So what? I have a good job in the administration.”

“You do, but newspaper articles going back when you were on the way up making your way in politics showed us a few things that you couldn’t bury completely.”

“Caroline, who put you up to this?”

“Jimmy got to wondering why you kicked me out of our home and have kept me out. It was me who wanted to know why, so he showed me how to search the back newspaper files. I found something that is tied into why.”

“And that is?”

“The name of the Mayor’s wife. There was a bio on her when she and Rutledge became engaged. I read it and I’m positive it is connected to you banishing me from home. It just so happens that, the Mayor’s wife had a son from a previous relationship before she met the Mayor.

“It’s there in black and white. Karen is granddaughter to the mayor’s wife and so that makes her granddaughter to the Mayor. You’ve been covering up for the Mayor, and all this time, it has been me who has had to suffer for it.”

“So what are you going to do now? Are you and your boyfriend going to try to shake the mayor down for a bunch of money. I tell you it won’t work. Rutledge is too powerful.”

“Must be, and you would know about that. What has he holding over your head? Is it something to do with Ramona? I found a few old articles about the city and its clean up of the vice within its borders. Ramona’s name appeared. Not so prominently as others, but was there just the same. You and the Mayor were featured as leading the clean up long before he had aspirations of becoming Mayor.”

“Caroline, you’ve made a lot of accusations. Admitted some are true. I think you had better leave. This is the first face to face we have had in a long time. I really am pleasantly surprised how you look, carry yourself and most of all, you speak so well. I have a lot of thinking to do and someone I have to speak to. I’ll ask you over in a few days.

“Oh, young man, you have my blessing to marry my daughter. Ramona, would you let them out.” Karen was sitting on the couch with Ramona. He stopped and looked at the child. Karen looked up at him and said “Hi” with a big smile. How to melt a heart!

Ramona had just a few words, “You kids just turned Roy’s world upside down.”

I was concerned for this woman who had mothered me when I needed it the most. “Ramona, are you okay with what we did, digging around in other people’s past?”

“Caroline has the right because of the way she has been treated.  Thinking about this Caroline, you can understand why your father isn’t the Mayor. He is more of a follower than a leader.”

“Is that why you aren’t married to him?”

“That’s not the reason. I love him so much, I would marry him anyway I could get him to the altar. I’ll come around to your apartment and tell you even more than what you two have found out. Some of it isn’t pretty. Now go along and I’ll see both of you tomorrow.”

We got into the car and slowly drove away. “Caroline, are you sorry we came here tonight?”

“No. It’s odd but when you are a baby you adore your father. And then something happens, like your mother dying and your father isn’t there for you. Then you make some bad mistakes on your own and he isn’t there for you when you need him the most. It gets worse when you are really in trouble. You are happy that he helps to some extent, but the restrictions he puts on you to get that help hurts a lot. I guess mostly because you don’t know the reason.

“Jimmy, I think the bad person here is Mayor Rutledge. Maybe he doesn’t want his wife to know that her son was such a loser.”

“Caroline, maybe she does and it is she who is paying to keep you contained in the tiny little apartment you’ve had to live in. Let’s wait for Ramona to talk to you. She must know more than we do.”

“Daddy said he was going to meet me again so he hasn’t shut me out entirely. Jimmy, don’t come up tonight with Karen. I can carry her if she doesn’t wake up. You need your sleep.”

I thought about Caroline all the way home. Maybe we should just forget everything we had learned and put our efforts into planning for our marriage three months from now.

When I reached home, Father had gone to bed. Kim was sitting in the living room reading. “Sit a minute, Jim. I had a good time today and I have a lovely gown to wear, thanks to you. Are you serious about Caroline?”

“Very. Our plans are set and I went to meet her father tonight to ask for permission to marry and got an okay.”

“When are you going to tell your father about your plans?”

“Probably at the dinner Saturday evening. Do you think he would object if I brought Caroline? He might be more accepting if she was present.”

“That is a good idea. I’ll make sure it is okay. She is a lovely person. Jim, I’ll be going into work with your father in the morning. Every morning actually, and afternoons I’ll be here learning more about how the house is managed from Rachael and Winnie. They haven’t given their notices yet.”

“They discussed this with you?”

“Yes. It is a terribly large house for two people. Maybe Charlie will sell it after you all leave.”

“That would be wise. I don’t want to be involved, though.”

“Just an observation, Jim, You should take it upon yourself to open up to your father.”

“That is what Mom suggested, but kind of late for that, but I’ll try. Maybe with him meeting Caroline he will ask about her and how I met her. He had better treat her better than he treats me though.”

“There is still that chip on your shoulder.”

“I guess. Good night, Kim.”

“Good night.”

Chapter Five: Karen meets her grandmother

Luck wasn’t with me in the morning for Father and Kim were at breakfast. “Where are you off to this early? Don’t tell me you are gainfully employed?”

“I am father, and have been for awhile. It is a salaried position searching for information on the internet. I’m hoping it will turn into something bigger after awhile.”

Kim spoke. “Charlie, I saw him in an office yesterday doing just what he told you.”

“Father, you planned taking Kim and I out to dinner Saturday. I’d like to bring a young lady as my guest. If you can’t get tickets for the concert, maybe I can get one from some scalpers.”

“I’ll see what I can do. You probably will not like the concert anyway. If you don’t think you will enjoy that kind of music, you may bow out. What is the young woman like?”

“I can answer that Charlie. I met her yesterday and I liked her very much. She is a charming individual and will make a nice dinner companion.”

“Christ Jimmy, I don’t know anything that is going on with you. Kim knows more about you than I do and she has only been here a couple of days.”

“Calm down Charlie, that’s what you brought me here for. Jimmy has opened up to me and he is trying his best to do the same with you.”

“Dad, I told you I would listen to Kim.”

“I guess you are.”

I gobbled up breakfast and headed for work.  Again, I thought about being more or less on my own, trading commodities after my birthday next Monday.

I worked intensely all morning. Caroline came up to the attic and reminded me that Ramona was going to talk to us after lunch. “I can come down now. Nothing is cooking I can’t leave.”

“Good, you can play with Karen. She is fussy.”

“I’ll close this down, then. Is Ramona here?”

“Yes, in my apartment with Karen.” Matt never paid us any attention so I touched him on the shoulder and made the motion I was leaving. When we reached the back apartment, Karen came running to me, all smiles. I sat at the kitchenette table and Caroline made me a coffee with my sandwich Winnie had made and given me. I shared with Karen, as usual.

The three of us went in and sat on the couch. Karen flopped down on the floor, looking at a book that Ramona had brought with her.

Ramona began talking, immediately, “Caroline, you wanted to know how I became involved with your father. Roy was heading up the committee that was looking into the vice racket in our fair city back a couple years after I graduated high school. I was well established with myself and five other girls in a call girl business. Some were in my class in school. We were careful to keep safe and healthy.

“Our clientele were well-to-do business men so we thought we had the world by the tail. The only problem we had was a couple of other women had set up a few months before I did. They were jealous for one thing, and the clientele they serviced was a rougher crowd. Two of my girls were beaten badly so that is why the city started looking at the problem.

“I and my girls were hauled in. Roy, your father, is the one from the committee who interviewed me. There was an immediate attraction between us.”

Ramona stopped speaking. I had a feeling she had done something she wasn’t proud of.  I hoped it wasn’t something to do with Roy. He was married to Caroline’s mother.”

 She continued after a bit. “Understand, the sex activity didn’t shut down entirely. Women were just that much more careful. But then one sex worker was found dead less than a month after the committee was formed.

“The committee chairman charged Roy with finding a person to go under cover to discover just how bad this segment of society was. Roy contacted me and I agreed. To prepare me for this, I was charged and fined in open court. I was advised how to go about my undercover work. Was it dangerous…of course it was. I was successful though. Short of two years, I worked at this before I had identified the worst culprits. I was also lucky to escape from being fingered as a spy.

“I wore a wire, but never used it when being one on one with those I was targeting. I did turn it on when I was in a meeting with others and was able to identify who said what later from the information I gathered. My main and most effective efforts were scoping out the places where the higher ups who controlled the sex industry met. I turned this information over to Roy and he was able to have cameras and audio installed in these places which were very successful.

“I had to have one more court appearance before I was released from the committee. This time I was ordered to perform hundreds of hours of community service rather than jail time. I was quietly given the option to choose where this service was to be performed. Jimmy can guess where this was served.”

I spoke up, “It is Planned Parenthood isn’t it?”

“That’s correct. I did my service and have continued being an advocate to this day. As far as the crime in the sex industry was concerned, the person who had the young woman killed was charged and is still in prison. What illicit sex there is now is usually just separate individuals making enough money to live on.”

Caroline spoke, “Ramona, you haven’t told us about how you and Daddy got together. Did this happen before my Mom died?”

“No, it was years after her death. I would run into Roy occasionally, but we never had a long conversation. We didn’t connect in anyway again until you went wild and Roy wasn’t paying attention to his wayward daughter. In the years while you were growing up motherless, Rutledge and your father moved up and into the city government as Mayor and Roy as his assistant.

“Rutledge married a widow with a son from her previous marriage. Roy became concerned when you moved out of your home and in with Jacob Horner. A year later Horner was informed that he had impregnated you. He ran, first to his mother, Erin Horner Rutledge. She tried to convince him to man up with his responsibilities. He agreed long enough to get several thousand dollars from his mother and then ran from both you and her.”

“He never gave me any money.”

“We know. Rutledge found out about this, and was pissed at Jacob his stepson, and upset with his wife, Erin. That isn’t the only one who he was upset with when he found out that it was his assistance’s daughter who was the one pregnant. He had a meeting with Roy and Erin and told them to straighten it out and hide it because he didn’t want the newspapers to get a line on it and damage his reputation in the administration.

“Roy came to me. He was to hide you from sight until the child, if it lived after being born, for a period of years. Erin Rutledge has been providing the money to pay for the apartment. It is Roy who is been giving you the money for your upkeep to live on. All I have been doing for Roy was to find the apartment. I had one open at the time so you immediately was able to move you into it where you still are.”

“The attraction Roy and I had for each other back to the time of the Committee slowly developed when he would ask me how you were handling being a pregnant unwed mother. I have to say, I didn’t begin to have any affection for you until Karen was born. Understand, I couldn’t have children because I had a procedure performed when I decided to make my life being a sex worker.

“As Karen developed into a pretty, happy child, I wanted more for you than what I could see in your future. By this time, Roy and I were occasionally sleeping together. Suddenly there was a young man at my door, actually a kid, who was looking for one thing.

“Caroline, I discussed him with you, and you agreed to meet this young man. I think you thought because Jimmy was so much younger than you, you could treat him like Jacob treated you. By this time, I could see that Jimmy was very ambitious and both of you needed what the other could provide. It hasn’t worked out like I thought it would because he treated you as special and wanted to make you better than you ever thought you could be.” Ramona, grinned. “Caroline, tell me this isn’t better than expected?”

I answered the question, “It has, Ramona. You have guided both of us and have been the stable adult in our lives. I hope you will continue to be.”  

“Thank you Jimmy, I love both of you.”

“Ramona, I’m going to get on Daddy’s case and tell him to man up and marry you.”

“I was hoping you would feel that way. Roy really is a good man, he has just been overshadowed by Richard Rutledge, the mayor.”

I was ready to go back up to the attic. Ramona took up her handbag, saying, “Jimmy, I have something you gave me four years ago.” She handed me an envelope. It felt empty. I looked at it and it was sealed. It had my name on it. “Open it.”

I did. There were four one hundred dollar bills when I them spread out. “Ah, my Pussy Allowance. Ramona, you never gave these to Caroline did you?”

“I didn’t have to. A woman always feels better if she can give herself, to a man, rather than charging money. That is if the man is of a decent sort.”

Caroline certainly found no fault with this, “You’re wonderful, Ramona.”

“Thank you, Caroline. It is something I learned long ago. It was true then and it is true now with your father and me as an example.”

––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Leaving, I received hugs from Ramona, Caroline and, Karen, I made my way back to my computer and the business. I played catch-up on what had gone on in the market for most of the day. It was four-thirty and the settlements were coming in.

Caroline came in quietly behind me and leaned down and whispered to me.”Daddy called me. He asked if you could get away from here tomorrow afternoon between one and three. You are to go home and he will arrive with a personage who has a vehicle that is well known. That’s why he wants the meeting on the outskirts of the City. Daddy will be the chauffeur. He is going to pick up Karen and me to ride out with him. It would be nice if you have a room where we can speak privately.”

“Tell him I can provide the privacy and I can have Winnie and Rachael stay in the kitchen. I’ll have you come in the front entrance. I’ll even have it so you can pull the vehicle into the garage and close the door if necessary.”

“I’ll tell him. It seems pretty foolish to me though.”

“The option is there if that is what is needed.”

“Okay honey. Love you.”

When I got ready to leave, I told Matt that I was going to be out again tomorrow between one and three. “That’s okay kid, you have a lot going on. For all of that, you don’t shirk on your work. Sometimes I wonder how you do it. Things may get busier for me outside of work before the summer is over. You can cover for me at that time.”  

“Great Matt. Things are looking up for both of us.”

I arranged things with Winnie and Rachael to stay in the kitchen area tomorrow afternoon. I was going to have a meeting of sorts in the study with a person who wanted to remain private.”

Winnie asked, “What about Kimberly, she may be here too?”

“Well, shanghai her and relay my request. She should respect my wishes. I may be able to get her aside tonight and do it myself.”  (I didn’t see her and couldn’t get her alone in the morning.)

When I reached Ramona’s in the morning, Ramona spoke to me about what was happening this afternoon, “I’ll be in the car and come out to your house with Caroline and Karen. Roy will be driving Erin Rutledge’s town car and it is easily recognizable being well known in the city. Erin wants to keep this meeting as quiet as possible.”

I gave directions to help keep this fact a secret. “Well, you had better have Roy drive in off the street here. Remember Karen has to be in a car seat and it takes a few minutes to install.”

“Okay I’ll tell him. I’m surprised that I was asked to be included. I have never met Mrs. Rutledge, although we have talked on the phone several times about Caroline and her well being. I have never been to your Dad’s place, but I was curious enough to drive by to see where you live. Your house is huge and you have kept it up nicely.”

“Yeah, I have. That’s Father’s excuse for paying me such an big allowance. I do have pride in my home so I don’t feel bad about taking his money. He thinks all along I just use it to pick up women.”

“Jim, you are going to have to become friendly with your father.”

“I know Ramona. I find it easier with Kim living with us. We actually have a conversation together. I laugh because she tells Dad to behave just like she tells me.”

“You like her don’t you? I haven’t met her yet, but I’d like to.”

“Ramona, I do like her, she has some of the same qualities my mother had.” I charged Caroline and Ramona to tell me everything that occurred and what was said until they reached me at home. One of them should have a chance to fill me in.

I left shortly after noon and had time for lunch in the kitchen with Winnie and Rachael. I wondered how Caroline and Ramona were making out.

———————————

In town, Roy pulled to the curb, jumped out, and installed the car seat. Erin Rutledge was sitting behind Roy, Caroline got in behind Ramona who sat in front with Roy. Karen crawled into the car seat and was buckled up. She immediately turned to this unknown person.

“Hi, my name is Karen. What is your name?”

“My name is Erin. I like the name Karen. In fact Karen is my middle name.” There were tears showing a little bit in the elder woman.

Erin looked over Karen and asked Caroline. “How did you come to name your baby, Karen?”

“Jacob told me that your middle name was one time. I had no real connection with you before she was born, and I have never met you. I just thought someday I should meet you.” Caroline grinned, “It would give us an opening about something common and give me a few points if we didn’t get along. As far as Jacob is concerned he is out of my life even though it was him who donated his sperm for Karen.”

“I take it you don’t want to know what happened to my son or any information about him?”

“No, I don’t.”

“Even so I’ll pass this on. I haven’t seen anything of him since he left you. I actually gave him quite a bit of money to make sure you were taken care of, but he just abandoned both of us. I have had him tracked down and know where he lives, but I haven’t tried to contact him personally so he is out of my life as well. He is a big disappointment to me.” She paused, “To tell the truth I gave Roy money for you as well when I came to the conclusion Jacob wasn’t going to be a father to the child. I told Roy to help you but I didn’t want to know you at all.

“Roy called me yesterday and told me you were planning on getting married and that I could stop the money I was providing by Labor Day. I decided I should meet you and your baby.” While Erin was speaking, she opened her hand bag and took out four little dolls about four inches high, She lined them up on the tray on the front of the car seat. They had bases so they were standing.

“Caroline, I am ashamed I haven’t contacted you personally, although I have often wondered what the child was like. Now that I have met Karen, I think I’d like to make myself known to her and to you. There is some paperwork that needs cleaning up and that is the reason we are meeting today.” This left Caroline hanging on that subject.

Erin went on, “Have you had adequate housing and care?”

“I guess. Daddy said I could not live at home until Karen goes to school. That will be this fall. She was enrolled in public schools in prekindergarten. She is smart and I’m hoping she can start first grade instead of Kindergarten in the fall.”

“You must have her evaluated so as not to have her struggle to keep up.”

“I know.”

“Have you had a good place to live?”

“If you call two rooms, with a friendly environment, I have. Ramona, who is sitting up front has me in her smallest apartment. I have missed living in my own home with my father. I haven’t minded lately. I have been helping my fiancé Jim, who works in the same building, so I might as well wait until we are married. We are planning to find a place of our own to live.”

“Can he support you?”

“We think so. He actually is younger than me. He is going to be nineteen this coming Monday and I’m three years older than he is, but he has a good job.”

“Dare I ask what kind of job?”

“Sure, he won’t mind. You’ll be meeting him in just a few minutes because we are almost to his house. He trades commodities. He does well, doesn’t he Ramona?”

“He is exceptional for a man his age.”

“Nineteen, he is still a juvenile.”

“Roy, have you met this young man?”

“I have, once. I took him to be intelligent and very ambitious. I gave him permission to marry Caroline. Sometime when we have a few minutes, I can tell you what he as done for Caroline in the last few years. It is amazing.” Caroline thought she would repeat to Jim what her father thought of him.

Roy pulled into the parking space just as Kimberly was exiting her car. Erin asked, “Isn’t that Kimberly Donaldson? I haven’t seen her in years. Speak to her, Roy, I want to say hi.” Caroline was laughing to herself.  So much for the secret meeting this was supposed to be.

I came out of the house and took Karen. Roy, came and stood by Caroline. Roy looked disgusted. “Erin was the one who wanted this kept quiet. Who is the woman she is talking to?”

I answered, “That’s my father’s friend, Kimberly Donaldson. She has rooms upstairs, She has only been here a week. I kind of like her. She should be good for my father. Maybe she will stay after I leave. Come on, let’s see if I can break this up. Ramona, you haven’t met Kim either, so I’ll introduce you and Roy to her. Maybe we can find out what Erin is going to do.”

Karen recognized Kim, so she ran to her and put her arms up. “Kiss me.”

I made a beeline for Karen. “Come, Karen the people are talking.” I reached for Karen, but before I grabbed her from Kim, Erin leaned toward Karen.

“I could use a kiss from a sweet little girl.” Karen stopped and looked at the woman. By this time, Caroline was next to us. “Karen, have you thanked the lady for the cute little dolls she gave you?”

“I will kiss you, you don’t have to kiss me. Thank you for the dollies.”
                
“You’re a very sweet little girl.”

“I know.”

I broke in. “Ramona and Roy, this is Kimberly Donaldson, A friend of my father’s. She has rooms here and works in his office.

Roy, said, “Pleased to meet you.”

Ramona said about the same, “Jimmy told me about you coming here to live with him and his father.”

“Yes, and I like it here. Charlie said he was having trouble with his son. I have found in just the few days I have been here, that Charlie has his son all wrong, and I find him an amazing young man. He is quite accomplished and just the opposite from the way Charlie portrayed him.” Roy and Erin turned and looked at me.

I wanted to get on with this. I spoke to Kim, “Kim, we have a small meeting planned. Would you be so kind to have Winnie fix just a snack for us and have it ready in a half hour or so?”

“Certainly I will. Do you wish for me to care for Karen, I’ll bet she will enjoy getting into Winnie’s kitchen.”

Caroline suggested this to Karen and she took Kim’s hand ready to go. Erin, asked, “Kim, when is the best time for us to get together?”

“Most any afternoon. Can you come here?”

“I can, may I have your phone number so I can call first?” She took out her phone and copied the number to it. As soon as that was done, I led the way into the house and on to the study.

Caroline whispered, “You did that well. We could have been standing out there forever. I want you to hear from me about Jacob. I know Jacob and how badly he has treated his mother.

I pulled my father’s chair away from the desk and indicated that Erin was to sit there. The rest of us were in chairs close by. “Mrs. Rutledge, I assume it is you who asked for this meeting?”

“Call me Erin, please. You are correct. I have one question for Caroline, which is: Did my son Jacob, father the child?”

“Yes, it was his sperm that fertilized my egg. I was a virgin when Jacob talked me into having sex with him. He was the only one who I had sex with until after Karen was born. My fear is that you will try to take Karen away from me.”

“Why would I do that?”

“Well, I have basically been hidden from sight for five years. If you tend to force me to recognize Jacob as the father, I will fight it.”

“But you just told us you were a virgin.”

“I did, but Karen’s birth certificate says she is a child of an unwed mother with the father unknown. Karen will have Jim for a father within the next three months. Jim and I want to keep it that way with no interference from anyone.”

“I believe I am Karen’s grandmother. Are you going to keep me away from the joy of seeing her grow up?”

“No, of course not. You will have access to see her any time it is convenient for us, her father and mother.”

I asked, “Is it possible for your son to state that he at no time made Caroline pregnant.”

“I had Jacob investigated where he was at the time when this pregnancy could have occurred, I was afraid that this unknown young woman might sue for maintenance.  Jacob contacted me, afraid that Caroline would sue him for support after the baby Karen, was born.

“I hired a private investigator and the investigator gave me two reports—one with dates that it was impossible, so it is a false report He told me this which is what I wanted. And—one where it is not possible that Caroline’s pregnancy can be attributed to Jacob. The true report signify that he is the father.  You will want a DNA report both of Karen and of Jacob’s DNA and I have those as well. Roy managed to get Karen’s DNA from Ramona after Caroline moved to her apartment. The DNA’s are certified by a well known laboratory. The true report would be handy in case Karen has a medical event. The false report, I should think can be disposed of any time.

“I know Karen is my granddaughter and this I will swear to it and as I have met my granddaughter, I will come down on the side of the child and the side of the mother. Roy has his seal with him and there are plenty of witnesses here to swear that it is my signature. I am ashamed that I haven’t done more for the child and its mother before this. I have provided for the child’s welfare, but laid terrible restrictions on Caroline. Today, I feel horrible to have denied myself the joy and love of having the child not grow up in my presence. It certainly is my loss.”

Roy took some of the blame, “Much of the blame lies on me and I was the cause of some of the restriction I laid down to Caroline and to Erin. I do apologize to all involved.”

Erin looked pleased as she spoke again. “At some time, I may want to gift Karen with presents, and she should feel free to accept or reject them. I understand also that one or both the child’s parents would want to be with the child when I am with her. Roy has his seal with him so let’s get this out of the way. Jacob abandoned the fetus and that should be enough to protect the child and her mother.”

Caroline, turned to her father, “Daddy, is all this legal enough so Jim can adopt Karen and he will become her father?”

“Yes.” This brought smiles to Erin’s face and mine as well.

Erin now spoke, “I guess this just about covers everything I am concerned about. I will continue Caroline’s payment of her apartment and the maintenance allowance that I have provided until she weds.”

“Thank you Erin. We will be marrying during one of the days on Labor Day weekend.”

“I guess that’s it, then.” This was Ramona speaking.

Everyone looked at each other agreeing except me. “I have a question to Roy and Ramona. Ramona, what is the reason why you have never been able to marry Roy? You certainly love him.”

Roy answered, “It goes back seventeen years when Richard, the now Mayor and I created a vice committee to fight sex crimes in the city. Ramona was gathered up in the crackdown that followed. Richard has always pushed back against Ramona and I getting married because she has a court record dating back to that time. He thinks it might come up every time he wants to run for Mayor again.”

“Erin, why I’m interested is because when I met Ramona, I was only sixteen with no parent to guide me. Ramona is the person who has fulfilled that role. She also has provided money so I could follow my interests in becoming a commodity trader. Monday, I am becoming an equal trader in our three person partnership. I would like to see her able to marry and be happy. Is there anyway this could come about?”

Roy answered, “Richard is firm on this. I have asked repeatedly. I’m sorry for myself and for Ramona.”

“Jim, you must have thought about this some or you wouldn’t have brought it up?”

“Caroline, I have. The chore needs someone, like a power behind the throne, to take some action such as having records that are on the books, expunged. I admit any information that was published in the newspapers could still exist, but if the records were deleted, it should stop the old newspaper publications from reprinting something that can’t be backed up.

Erin asked, “What was Ramona charged with?”

She answered, “Solicitation. I received a large fine and two hundred days of community service. It took me a year to complete them.

“That’s a misdemeanor, not a serious crime.”

Roy defended this. “The serious fine and community service was for her own protection because she went undercover for the committee. She eventually received a commendation from the committee for her work in helping us break up the lawless element.”

“Roy and Ramona, I’ll look into this and get back to you. Jim, would you go get Kimberly to witness my signature on the paper as promised so you can adopt my granddaughter when the time comes? Roy has his seal in his briefcase.”

“Gladly! Hey, rather than have a snack here, why don’t you all come along to the kitchen. Some of you know Winnie. She’ll have something to serve us. She is exploring the idea of setting up a bakery. My other partner besides Ramona is Matt Hagar, and he is dating her. It’s a great match in my opinion.”

“How many partners do you have?”

“Erin, that’s it, just us three.” We trooped to the kitchen.

Karen was helping Winnie put cookies that had just cooled into a box. “Mommy, I helped bake cookies so you could have one with your coffee. Can we take some home?”

“We’ll see. I think she baked them for these other people.”

“That’s okay, Jimmy will give me his to take home.”

Erin had taken a sheet of paper from Roy satchel and wrote out what was going to come to me and Caroline. Caroline and I got alone on the far side of the room and read what she had written. Roy asked Kim to sign as witness to our signatures. He placed a seal and embossed it with his stamp. It certainly looked legal.

Coffee was served. Rachael and Winnie didn’t enter the conversation at all and the rest of us had little to say. Erin and Kimberly talked, sharing what they had been doing the last few years. It came out that Kim’s parents lived next to the Horner family before Erin’s first husband also passed away. Kim wasn’t aware that Erin had remarried to Richard Rutledge. Next week they made a date for Erin to come back here for another visit.

Karen had enough of this and wanted to go home, so Caroline and I got her ready. I put the car seat in the trunk of my car because I had one already in mine. “Jimmy I am so proud of you. You think of things all the time. You are going to be able to adopt Karen. I thought of it, but didn’t think it possible. Not only that, you have Erin’s sworn promise she won’t interfere with our being her Father and Mother.

“You take care of your friends too. What you hinted to Erin about Daddy and Ramona being able to marry will get done, I just know it will. It seems to me Daddy doesn’t do for others like you do. The Mayor said he can’t marry Ramona and he accepted it. Going back further, he told Daddy to hide me and Daddy went right along and did it.”

“Hey, let’s not go there. You love your father for all of that. Just like I love mine.  Just maybe in your father’s case, Erin will break him loose from her husband and he can think on his own. Roy looks on you as still a child. Maybe you should stop addressing him as Daddy and change to calling him Father or Dad.”

“I’m an adult now aren’t I?”

—————————

“You sure are. What did you find to wear Saturday to Dinner?”

“Ramona found me a red dress. It’s tight fitting with a slit up one side. My butt is nice and with the flat tummy that comes from the diet my boyfriend coached me into attaining, I look pretty damn awesome. I’m not showing any skin above my tummy, but I have a bra that is going to shape my boobs. I’m going to have my hair done Saturday afternoon. I even have a wrap so I will look good going to the concert. I promise your father won’t be ashamed of me.”

I laughed, “You know I think Kim will make sure he behaves. When she found out how he came down on me when I talked and laughed with Edna which he thought not appropriate, she straightened him out. He apparently thinks a lot of her and listens to everything she says.”

“Jimmy, I have wondered about you and me. When did I become more to you than a girl to have sex with? I know you always claimed that you fell in love with Karen before you fell in love with me.”

“It wasn’t long after I met you. I know just when it happened.”

“Tell me.”

“It was the day we first took Karen out in the stroller. You tried so hard to run. You gave it your all. I was impressed and then you said to Karen that her supper was going to be milk shakes because your boobs had bounced around so much. There was no complaining about what you had done and you have kept right on exercising. You turned into a beautiful young lady. When did you fall in love with me?”

“The first day when Ramona brought you into my apartment. I knew you came to me for sex and I didn’t see how it was possible because Karen woke up and stayed awake until you had to leave. You didn’t complain and excepted it. Jacob would have put Karen in the playpen and taken me to bed. There isn’t one time you have been so rough with me as he was. I feel so loved being with you.

“There were other things that have made me love you. You asked me how far I had gotten in school and I was so ashamed when I hadn’t gone back to school after having Karen. Here I was sitting in my apartment with all the time in the world just looking at television. I was still fat, dumb and very unhappy. I know I will never be your equal, but I will never make you ashamed of me.”

“I couldn’t ask for more. As far as you not being my equal, I’ll dispute that. I made the choice not to go to college. I have had an excellent teacher in Matt Hagar so I have a way to make a good living to support a family. I’d like to have a nice house. Not one to show off like my father’s, but a comfortable one to live in. Winnie tells me you are on the way to becoming a good baker so you will be contributing to the family as well.”

“Jimmy, can you stay late tonight? I feel the need to celebrate what has happened today.”

“I was going to suggest that I do.”

Chapter Six: Jim’s Father Meets Caroline

Saturday came. I was pretty excited. I would be double dating with my father––not for that reason, though. Karen was with her mother getting her hair done and I would leave Karen with Winnie. I knew Matt was coming by later and would help with Karen’s care.

This would be the first time I had squired Caroline to a dress-up affair. I hadn’t seen what either of the two women would be wearing. Kimberly talked to Caroline and I was to bring her home and she and Kimberly would help each other dress. I guided my date through the kitchen and up the back stairs, telling her where Kim’s rooms were.

I showered and dressed in my tuxedo. I couldn’t get my tie correct so swapped it for one that had a elastic to hide under my collar. Finally, I went down to the living room and sat waiting for Father and the women.  He came in just as Kimberly and Caroline stepped in the other door. They paused and Dad stared at the two.

“Kimberly, you are a vision, what a beautiful gown. And this young lady is very pretty. Your dress becomes you extremely well. Son, would you introduce me to your friend?”

“Father, this is my Fiancé, Caroline Fanning. Caroline, my father, Charles Cummings. I’ve known Caroline for three years, and friendship has developed into love. We’ll be getting married in a couple of months. We haven’t set the exact date yet.”

“Welcome to the family, Caroline. As lovely as you are, I’m sure you will make a good addition to it.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Just then we heard a scampering of little feet and Karen burst into the room. “I heard Jimmy talking. Where are you Jimmy?”

“Right here Sweetheart.” Karen had a pink dress on with a petticoat under it. She ran toward me ignoring everyone else. I caught her and picked her up.

“You didn’t kiss me when you left me with Aunt Winnie.” I kissed her on the lips and she struggled down and went to Kimberly. “Kim, kiss me.” Her arms came up and Kimberly leaned down and picked her up, kissing her. Again, Karen was down and Caroline caught her.

“You were supposed to stay in the kitchen”

“I know, but I heard Jimmy. I wanted to say goodbye before he took you to dinner.”

Karen turned and looked at my father. “Who are you?”

“Well, little lady, I’m Jimmy’s Daddy. May I have a kiss too?”

“Not tonight, but next time you may kiss me. Okay? I have to go back to Aunt Winnie, now. I just wanted to see Jimmy again.”

“I’ll look forward to seeing you again, very soon.”

“Okay.” Caroline put Karen down and she ran out of the room.”

After she had got out of sight, Charlie looked at Kimberly. “Kim, did you know Jimmy’s fiancée had a little girl?  Jesus, where have I been? I know from nothing about what is going on around me and in my own home too. Hell, I didn’t even know he had a girlfriend, say nothing about a pretty lady who he has known for years.”

“Charlie, look at your son. He is a man grown and I’ll bet you didn’t know that either. I keep telling you he is an amazing young man.”

“Okay, okay, I’ll look into him more. We’re going to be late for the Dinner reservation if we don’t get going.”

Father was driving his Escalade. I had to pick Caroline up and place her in the back seat because her dress wouldn’t let her step up decently. Father hadn’t waited and had gone around to the driver’s side. I did the same for Kimberly. Father, said, “Sorry” for not helping his date into the front for the same reason. (One point for me!)

Kim asked “Where are we having Dinner?”

“At the hotel. The concert is in the hotel theater. I told you, you don’t have to stay if you don’t care for the music.”

Kimberly spoke up, “Charlie, the same goes for you. I asked you to get reservations for dinner and look at the theater card. I don’t know as I would have picked this orchestra to listen to, but it might be okay. We’ll be seen and that’s half the experience of going to the theater.”

I held Caroline’s hand. I leaned close and whispered.” Dad was trying to impress Kim.”

“I know.” Other than that, it was a silent journey.

Father was asked if he had a reservation as we entered the dining room. “Yes, Charles Cummings, a table for four.”

“Sir, that has been changed. You are to dine tonight with Mayor Rutledge. His wife, Erin called and made the arrangement. You will have a little more privacy because you will be seated in an alcove. They have arrived and I’ll escort your party to his table.”

“Thank you.” The hostess stalked off ahead. “Does anyone know what is going on. I have never met the mayor.”

Kim answered. “I think the Mayor’s wife Erin, probably arranged this. I saw her a couple days ago.”

Caroline and I looked at each other. My father was backed into a corner. He was going to have dinner with the mayor. Someone who he often railed against, him and his administration. I was curious to see how he handled this.

No one had been seated yet. Roy Fanning was there with Ramona. Dad was going to meet the father of my intended, and another of his class mates whom he had snubbed at one time.

Erin was the first to greet us. “Mr. Cummings, so glad you could join us. I had a conversation with Kimberly and knew you intended dinning here this evening. Would you join us.” She didn’t wait for an answer. “Please meet my husband, Richard Rutledge. Do you know Roy Fanning and his lovely friend, Ramona Prentice? I think she was a classmate of yours.”

Father did me proud. “I do know Ramona, but never have met Roy.  I have often seen you on the local TV station your Honor. Call me Charlie.” He shook the Mayor’s hand. “Mrs. Rutledge, Thank you for inviting us. Kimberly hasn’t gotten around to telling me she knew you.”

Erin now turned to Caroline and me. “Richard, this is the young couple who I was telling you about. James Cummings and Caroline Fanning. They are planning on being married at the end of the summer.” Hands were shaken and then Erin came and air kissed Kimberly and Caroline.  

“Let’s me explain so we all get familiar. I’ve known Kimberly Donaldson for ages. I was close friends with her parents. I’ve met Ramona. I met Jimmy and Caroline and her little girl the same day I reconnected with Kimberly. I must say Jimmy is an amazing young man.  He graduated with great honors from high school and while carrying that load, he has learned how to trade in the commodity market. Ramona is one of his partners.

“Not only has Jimmy done that, but has coached Caroline in what she needed to know and from what she missed after dropping from school to care for her daughter. She now has a certificate to put on her wall after she did make up what she missed.

“I understand she also works in the Ramona, Jimmy, and Matt partnership doing research. Charlie, you are so lucky to have a son like Jimmy. Caroline will be a credit to your family when she marries into it. Let’s sit now and order drinks. Caroline, sit beside me and tell me more about Karen.”

There were two empty seats left and I wondered if they would be filled. They were, Edna and Frank came in, saying “Hi” to every one. Charlie knew Frank from his club. The only person he didn’t know that well was Edna. I got up and pulled a chair out for Edna. She leaned into me and brushed my cheek with her lips. “Charlie, I’ve known Jimmy longer than you have known me. You should have talked to me before blaming him for something you thought was inappropriate.”

“Edna, I know that now when I didn’t before. Kimberly sure set me straight.”

“Frank had a good laugh at your expense.”

“Edna, deservedly so. I’ll admit I haven’t paid enough attention to Jim these last few years. I’m finding out I have a son to be proud of. I also, am quite impressed with the young woman he has chosen.”

“You’ll be even more so when you know Karen. She is such a sweet little child.”

Erin was curious, “Kimberly, where did you find such a beautiful gown?”

“It was at a warehouse down near the docks. Charlie said that we were to go out to dinner and the theater tonight. This was a week ago and the first time I had dinner with Jimmy and Charlie. Later when I found out what Charlie had planned, I declared to Jimmy that I didn’t have anything suitable to wear.

“Jimmy reached for his phone and called two young women to take me to this Warehouse to look for one. I didn’t have enough money shopping for a gown so Jimmy lent me his credit card and this is the result. It was an adventure for me. Two girls arrived in a Mini Cooper and away we went. It was like being in college again. You should try the place. Granted this is a recycled item but it is just what I wanted. The price was less than a good dress you would purchase at J C Penny.”

Edna spoke up, “The two girls must have been Nickie and Sarah. They are friends of mine too. I hung out with them at Ramona’s until I met Frank. We still go there sometimes. Jimmy works upstairs. Winnie, Charlie’s cook, goes with Matt Hagar and she brings in goodies she bakes when she visits.”  Everyone at the table had stopped to listen to this exchange.

Erin turned to Caroline, “Aren’t you jealous of Jimmy being around all these women?”

“Oh, no. I could have been if Ramona and her young women friends hadn’t helped me so much to straighten my life out. Dad has a benefactor who pays for my apartment and gives me an allowance. He knew Ramona and she had an open apartment and that is how I ended up living there. I lived there two years before Jimmy came on the scene and I have now known him for three more.”

Caroline, laid her hand on Erin’s which was on the table.  “All in all these have been good years.  My father, and whom ever is my benefactor, Ramona and her friends, Jimmy, who is my love, and most of all Karen, my child have made them so.”

“Well Caroline, I think your life is positioned to be happy.”

“I know it will be. Thank you for saying so.”

Drinks came. Caroline and I had ordered Ginger ale with lemon. I wasn’t old enough and Caroline had never drank. Our glasses didn’t look any different than those that had alcohol in them. We ordered dinner.

The mayor took over the conversation, telling us of a few things about the city that he and Roy were working on. Charlie asked if the road down Factory Row was going to be re-surfaced this year and found it was.

Ramona was asked about her work with Planned Parenthood. She complained that the government was withholding funds. “It gets less and less every year.”

“That’s a federal program, although the state administers it. I take it you have been in it for awhile?”

“I have, it is the main program we have for our women here in the City.”

“Ramona, I’ll look into it.”

“Than you, Richard.”

Erin asked “Has Roy cleared the way for you and Ramona to marry? The holdup was brought to my attention and it came from an advocate, one of whom is also in our party tonight. It was a brilliant suggestion and I should have thought of it myself.”

When it came time to order dessert, Ramona spoke.

“In honor of Jimmy’s nineteenth birthday which is Monday, let’s let him order for all of us.”

 “Thank you. I see they have carrot cake. Would it be possible for the baker to whip up a rum flavored hard sauce to pour over it?”

“Certainly, sir. Do all of you wish that?”

“Make it eleven. One is for me to take one home to a little girl I promised a treat.”

“Beverage?”  

“Coffee for me.”

Frank asked, “What does Charlie give you for your birthday every year?”

“Usually he ups my allowance. I hope it is a lot this year. This will be the last time I expect an allowance, because I will soon be out on my own with a wife and child. Some gracious lady has made it possible for me to adopt Karen.”

Kimberly turned to father, “You never told me, Jimmy’s birthday was Monday.”

“Kim, Dad has never forgotten my birthday.” I knew Dad had forgotten this one. I guess I was feeling generous, or maybe had some feeling for him that was coming to the fore. Also there was a hidden message in that last comment for Erin, the grandmother of Karen.

Erin asked Caroline who was caring for Karen.  “Winnie is at the house. Matt came out and we will be going back to Ramona’s house with him so Jimmy doesn’t have to drive in.”

“Caroline, are you going to the concert with Kim and Charlie?”

“No, I don’t think so. I don’t like Karen to stay up too late.”  

“How are you getting back to Jimmy’s then?”

“The bus I guess. Mr. Cummings thought he might meet someone who would give him a ride and then Jim could drive his car.”

“Richard and I could give you a lift. We aren’t going to the concert.”

I answered this. “That would be great. You could stop long enough to say hi to Karen.”

“The thought was in my mind. I want Richard to meet with her as much as possible.”

The Mayor spoke. “You know I have a box. If Frank, Roy and Charlie would like to sit there instead of down in the crowd, you are welcomed to use it. Erin, call and arrange it, would you?” Erin had her phone out.

–––––––––––––––––––

“Mommy you were gone a long time.”

“I know Sweetheart. Jimmy brought you a dessert. You may just have a little piece tonight and the rest tomorrow. Look who is with us?”

“Hi, you gave me some little dollies and I just love them.”

“That’s right, I did. This man with me is my husband. His name is Richard.”

“Hi, Richard.”

“Your name is Karen, isn’t it?”

“Yes and did you know Erin has a middle name of Karen?”

“I did. Her mother’s name is Karen too. She is an old lady. Some day you may meet her.”

“Oh.”  (Not interested) Mommy what did you have for dinner?”

“Jimmy and I had baked macaroni and cheese. We had a side dish of steak tips. And a side dish of stuffed mushrooms and we shared. First, though, we had a salad which was very good. We all had cake just like you have. Jimmy ordered it special just for you.”

“Jimmy is special, isn’t he?”

“He is very special. Honey, we are going to ride home with these nice people.”

“I have to say good bye to Aunt Rachael and Aunt Winnie. They played cards with me. Is Jimmy coming too?”

“No, this is his home. He will see you tomorrow. The day after that is Monday and he has a birthday. We’ll have a party when you get home in the afternoon from preschool.”

“I like parties. Where is it going to be so my friends can be there?”

“It is going to be at Ramona’s. Jimmy has to work in the morning. Maybe Erin would come if you asked her.”

“Erin, would you come to Jimmy’s party? He is going to be nineteen.”

“I can’t promise, but I will call and let you know.”

“Okay.”

I turned to Richard. “I have a car seat in the back of my car. It only takes a minute to install. Caroline will remove it when you get to her place.”

“You wouldn’t take a chance of letting Erin cuddle her in the back seat?”

“No. If she isn’t in a seat, she doesn’t go. She too precious to take a chance with.” I finished installing it when Caroline, Erin and Karen came out.

“Thanks, for offering my father the use of your box at the theater. Caroline and I enjoyed dinner and meeting you again.”

Erin said before she got into the car, “I need a hug.”

“Erin, I am so pleased we saw you again so soon.”

“I am too. I may see you as soon as Monday. Karen is such a little treasure.”

“I feel the same way. Good night to you sir. I suppose theoretically Karen is closer to you and Erin than I am at the moment. She is a treasure for sure.” Karen waved as Karen’s grandparents waved goodbye.

I turned to go back inside. “Wow Jimmy, the Mayor, no less. You’re coming up in the world.”

“Winnie, Karen is tied to a whole bunch of people and Ramona is too. Kimberly knew the mayor’s wife when she was young. I think Ramona and Caroline’s father are to be married soon. I guess you can say I’m going to be soon as well.”

“Jimmy, my lips are sealed.”

“I know and that is why I have told you this much. Oh, the woman, Edna was at our table and Father got my supposedly flirting with Edna settled once and for all. Dad took it well, being laughed at, I mean.”

“Good for you.”

“Matt didn’t come to visit and help with Karen?”

“Oh, he is here. He thought it best not everyone knew that he is. He’ll ride in with you tomorrow. You will be going in, even with it being Sunday, won’t you?”

“Of course I will.”

Sunday morning, I was having coffee in the kitchen. Matt had surfaced so he was with me. We were waiting for fresh scones. Kim came in and I asked, “How was the concert.”

“Ask Charlie. He, Roy, and Frank gave up and went to the hotel lounge. It is a good thing I could drive Charlie’s car. I had trouble getting him out of it and almost woke you up for help. The last half was a lot better than the first and I’m glad I stayed for it. It was pretty nice that the Mayor lent us his box.”

“So are you going to let Charlie order tickets for the next time he takes you to a concert?”

“Over my dead body. I’ll give your father credit for trying, though.”

“Good enough, then. Will you be seeing more of the Mayor and Erin; because of Karen, I mean?

“Most certainly. He came late to marriage and Erin didn’t want more children after how Jacob turned out. I could have driven Caroline and Karen home last night, but they wanted to have a little more time with Erin’s grandchild so I suffered dealing with the car seat. Yes, I think we will see a lot of the Mayor.”

My father was a real bear when he came from his room late morning. “Jimmy, remind me to never take Kimberly to a concert again.”

“Dad, just let her get the tickets next time. She will have an idea of what you will enjoy. That is if you are going to become a couple.”

“I’m hoping we are a couple already. Ah, how did you make out with the Mayor?”

“Great! He is quite taken with Karen, Caroline’s little girl.”

“How in hell is he connected to her? It makes no sense.”

“Sure it does. I haven’t said much about it, but Caroline is an unwed mother. She was abandoned by the father of Karen when told Caroline was pregnant. That person was the son of Erin which makes Karen, Erin’s granddaughter.”

“And you plan on marrying Caroline?”

“I am. Karen looks on me as her father already, and I look on Karen as my daughter.”

“Okay, I guess. She is a cute little girl. It’s your life. Are you planning on having more children?”

“Of course. Just think you are almost a grandfather yourself.”

“When is it you are getting married?”

“This Labor Day weekend. How would you like to be my best man? I asked my partner, Matt Hagar, but he refused. I don’t know if you have met him.”

“You’d have me for best man after all our contentious relationship?”

“I would now that we are on the same page. We have never understood each other very well until Kimberly moved in. If and when you ask her to be my step-mom, I’d like to be your best man.”

“Well, it will be awhile. I want to get to know her much better.”

“Dad. I always knew you were a smart man.”  

“You never showed it.”

“That was then, this is now.”

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

My birthday was quiet at Ramona’s. Anyone would have thought that it was Karen’s birthday, rather than mine. I was the only male amongst all the women of Ramona’s. Erin made an appearance. Winnie, and Kimberly were there when I came down from work upstairs. Father had sent a card with Kimberly that had a check of $2500.00 in it. “Better save this, for you are going to have a family soon,” was written on the opposing page.

Caroline and Winnie made the cake. Winnie announced that she had made an offer on a closed down bakery with equipment. It wasn’t far from home and right at the beginning of the road where all the factories were placed. It contained an apartment on the second floor where she and Matt were planning to live. The bakery was a building near where there were several small shops and stores that catered to the workers of the factories. Father’s factory was only two lots down the road from there.

Erin got me alone for a few minutes to talk. “Jimmy, Richard has spoken about you to Ramona and Edna. I have talked to him more at length. He couldn’t believe you are only nineteen. I don’t suppose we know it all about what’s between you and your father, but what ever it was you seem to be handling it well. Better than he is.”

“I don’t feel that I have done that much alone anyway. Think of all of the people who have been there for me? Too many to count, actually.”

“What started you in this direction of going with Caroline?”

“Oh, I have thought about that time and time again. It is quite a long story. If I told you about others and you too, many whom I know won’t be too happy with my conclusions.”

“Well tell me what my part in this that is so wrong in your mind. You wouldn’t mention my part in this if it wasn’t the case.”
 
“It looks as if Karen is holding court so we may have time. Question: How do you feel about lesbians?”

“Not much feeling about them. I like sex with a man. I don’t think I could have more than a kiss on the cheek with a woman without being bothered. Why, what does that have to do with me?”

“Nothing really Erin, but have you ever heard what a man would say when he saw two women kiss on the lips and find out they were gay? I had a friend all though school until I was fifteen. She was pretty and was getting prettier. I liked her a lot. Some time early on we kissed, just fooling around.

“Then she began to develop. One particular day after she had grown some breasts, I tried to kiss her and she had always let me before. ‘Jimmy, we won’t ever be kissing again. You see, I’m gay and from now on I will only be kissing a girl.’”

“I thought, ‘What a waste,’ something I had heard men say when two attractive women were known to be gay, kissed.”

Erin started to say something and I raised my hand for her to stay silent. “The first day when I went to Caroline’s apartment, it was set up where we might be intimate. She was clean and her apartment was clean and when Karen woke up she was clean and I could tell well cared for.

“But, she had Karen fifteen months before this and Caroline hadn’t slimmed down from the weight she had gained. We talked and she told me she stayed in her apartment and watched television unless she was so bored she had to get out so she would come down here and chat with Ramona and whoever was here at the time. I thought to myself that this was such a waste and what was in the future for this woman and her child.

“Ramona had set me up with her for me to visit because she was so damned lonely she would do anything to abate it.  At once, I fell in love with Karen, the infant, wondering what her future was to be going forward, as well as Caroline’s.”

I had to complete my thought. “I met Randi, my gay playmate a couple of weeks ago up in the park with her mate, another happy fine looking woman. There was a little boy in a running stroller. I decided there was nothing wasted in that union. I don’t believe there will be anything wasted in Caroline’s and my union, either.

“So you had sex with Caroline just to relieve her loneliness?”

“Erin, you miss the point. Sex doesn’t enter into it. What if I hadn’t come along and there wasn’t ever a Jimmy in their lives. That happened three years ago. Her father hasn’t done that much for her. You who have been providing the money, which I commend, but only as a way only to get rid of some of the guilt you felt when your son abandoned this young girl. Money was there but no help to keep Caroline from looking for companionship. Where would Karen be if I hadn’t come along?”

“Jimmy, what you just told me, hurts.”

“I told you it would. But I welcome you into our life now that you are here. You know, I think you have the makings of a great grandmother. I think Richard is interested too. Roy, and now Ramona, will feel they can do more for their daughter, now that we are tying the knot. Karen has been gathered in on my side of the family, with her being so cute and vivacious, so we are good there as well.”

“So you are saying I started doing well by Caroline making her safe with a place to live and providing funds enough to provide food, but should have done more by entering into her life even though it was my son Jacob, who did her wrong?”

“Something like that, but she isn’t as needy now as she was five years ago and you are here. I do know she has never blamed you and is thankful for what you did provide for her. She never blamed you for Jacob abandoning her either. I think you are going to have a great relationship with the mother of your granddaughter.”

“You’re a little weird. You tear me down and then you build me up.”

“Erin, are we still friends then?”

“Jimmy, I think we will always be friends and Caroline and Karen are so lucky to have you.”

Chapter Seven: Jim purchases a home
 
Erin would often stop and pick up Caroline and Karen after lunch. She would drive out to see Kimberly at my home for the afternoon. The car seat, shiny and new, was a fixture in the back seat of Erin’s vehicle. Winnie and Matt were finalizing their plans for getting married. They planned on the first of August for a wedding date.

Matt and I were flush with extra money because Ramona, who kept track of the partnership’s finances, said that some of it could be used as promised for a bonus. “You don’t use $60,000 of it to trade with. You and Matt both want to buy a house. I’ll tell you what? I’ll give you each $25,000 and that leaves $10,000 extra still with the broker. When that builds backup, which should be before the summer is over, I’ll take my bonus then, Okay.”

I asked, “Aren’t you and Roy going to get married about then?”

“We are, but we won’t be moving so it isn’t a problem when I take mine.”

“Ramona, you’re a peach. You know I still have that $15,000 that Terry Tyler gave me for cluing him in about selling his corn last autumn. It’s in a separate account but you two told me to use it when I went out on my own. I don’t want to break up this partnership. I’d like to have things stay just as they are.”

“Jimmy, you could put more down on any house you buy. Have you more than those two amounts you could use if need be?”

“Ramona, I do. Hey, I’ve been living at home and getting an allowance. My car has been my only expense. I’ve have a few thousand squirreled away.”

“You’re pretty much all set then. Caroline might chip in some. I think Roy is planning a large wedding present for you two.”

“You may need that yourself.”

“No I won’t, trust me.”

–––––––––––––––––––

Caroline and I began looking for a home for ourselves. I was through keeping my father at bay and out of the loop. I talked over looking for a house with him. I could tell he wasn’t to terribly happy with the idea when he said, “You could move in here with me and Kim. The den is on the side of the house you have your room. There is the extra bedroom on the second floor. With the other bedroom on the first floor and the den, it would make a nice home for you and your family.

“I would have about the same on my side of the house and we would share the kitchen, dining room, and the living room.”

“Dad, it won’t be long before I hope that the size of my family will increase. We are looking at modular homes. There is one model with almost 2,000 square feet we like. We would be the second owner in an established neighborhood in a good area with lots of young people our age having children.  It isn’t far from where Winnie is planning on purchasing a diner and bake shop. Winnie has promised Caroline a job there.”

“Winnie said she was leaving soon. Rachael told me she was retiring. Who is going to manage this place? It’s too big for Kim and me.”

“Sell it and move into the same development as I am. Your kids could grow up with mine.”

“Christ, I’m too old to begin another family.”

“What does Kim say about that. She is still in her early thirties. Have you even asked her if she wants children?”

“No, we haven’t got that far about talking marriage.”

“Dad, I’ll bet getting married to a younger woman would keep you young longer. Me, I’m marrying an older woman.”

“What do you mean older woman. Caroline isn’t older than you is she?”

“Yes she is by three years.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“It’s the truth. You told me to go get sex from and older woman of age and that’s what I did. Caroline had turned eighteen when I first met her. Basically, she robbed the cradle, however I think I was more mature at sixteen than she was at nineteen. We are well matched now, though. So, would you like to walk around the house we are looking at this evening?”

“I guess so. How are you paying for this?”

“I have $40,000 I can put down on it. I have a few thousand above that from my wages and what you have given me over the years. Enough to insure and pay taxes the first year, anyway.”

“Where in hell did you get that amount of money and why am I still paying you an allowance?”

“Dad, I have been working since I was sixteen to learn a trade. Last fall I gave the farmer whom I bought the Camry from, a tip when to sell thousands of bushels of corn. He put it on the market and from the time, he did that, and when it sold, the price rose two cents and he gave that to me. That was $15,000. The other $25,000 is a bonus from the trading I received June 30th at the end of this year.”

Father just looked at me, speechless. “You’re receiving a paycheck as well?”

“Yeah, it isn’t too much. I think at the end of the first quarter, rather waiting on a bonus, Matt and I will start to receive the projected years bonus amount in our paychecks. That should raise me to about $40,000 a year. I can well afford the house I want which is when the raise will kick in.”

“You must have some bills. What about the cost of learning the trading business you are in?”

“No cost there. I put in some long hours learning because I was still in school. I just piled it on top of the school work and stuck with it. Ramona is the one who let me use her money while I was learning. That’s why she has a full share in the partnership.”

“You know what Ramona was in years past don’t you?”

“I do, but she changed and turned out to be a heroine for some things she has done for the city. You don’t think the Mayor and his wife would rub elbows with her if she wasn’t straight, do you? She is even marrying Roy Fanning, the Mayor’s right-hand administrative assistant.”

“Well, I hope her past doesn’t catch up with her.”

“Steps have been taken to prevent that happening.”

“You act like you know something?”

“Just trust me on this. Give her a pass Dad. She was there for me when you weren’t, although you did what you thought was a good idea when you gave me Ramona’s name. For me it turned out to be a great idea. Remember also, she is soon to be my mother-in-law.”

“Okay Jim, Kimberly thinks you are smart and right in all things, so I’ll have to go with what she says.”

Father didn’t have anything for or against to say about the house that evening. Kim volunteered, “This is a nice house and not too expensive. If you can pay for it, it should do you well.”

––––––––––––––––––––––

Winnie and Matt were married on the first of August. Winnie had stopped working for my father, but he said she could stay in the house until she and her husband finished doing the renovating in the building where she was opening the bakery/ coffee shop.

It was different for me working alone while Matt took a few days off and I was often unsure of some moves I should make in trades. Also, I was watching the options for Matt that were in force while he was off for the week. On my own, I double checked my facts before putting in a buy or sell to our broker and I moved the stops so I didn’t lose any money. I just needed more confidence which I knew would come with time and experience.

I didn’t have the time to do anything but work. Caroline and Karen would come and spend time with me in the attic. That was at first, but then Ramona thought the partners should have offices near where Matt and Winnie would be living. Ramona had opted to rent some rooms two doors down from the bakery.

I was a worried because every move I made cut into the money I had put aside. Our new house closing would be three days after Labor Day. If there was any glitch in this, Caroline and I would be homeless. That is unless Father would let her live where I was now. I had confidence he would. I mean if he was my best man at our wedding, he wouldn’t turn me out would he? I thought not.

It was on August twelve, Ramona called me. “Jimmy will you be seeing Matt and Winnie tonight?”

“I will.”

“Good, Roy and I are going to be married this Friday in the judge’s chambers at the Town Hall. Richard and Erin will be standing up with us as witnesses. That’s at 3:30. The judge agreed I could have two more couples to view the ceremony. I’d like to have you and Caroline, and Matt and Winnie there as well. It should be fine if Karen is there too. Would you invite them? We will have an early dinner at the same hotel where we all met for that concert.”

“Are you going on a honeymoon?”

“No, not as such. We will be going to Philadelphia to visit my parents for a couple of days. Also, definitely no presents. Roy and I have everything we need and we are staying right in Roy’s home. One other thing, you might ask Charlie and Kimberly to meet us for the dinner at the hotel.  It will be in the same alcove as before. This is more casual than when we dined there last time. Dresses for the women and blazers for the men.”

“Happy?”

“Jimmy, don’t ask. I have hoped for this for more years than you know. I fell in love with Roy back when I went under cover for him and the committee, but I never imagined it would happen. Looking back, I think my luck changed when a scared kid of barely sixteen came to my door looking for me to set him up with a woman.”

“Ramona, you aren’t the only one who has had good luck from that day. Look at me and the way my father looks on me now. I soon will have a wife and a child I adore. Some wonderful lady invested in me when I took up the career of commodity trading. That has paid off beyond my fondest dream. Before I start choking up, Congratulations! I’ll see you this coming Friday.”

“Jimmy, I made a decision early in my life where I couldn’t have children. I regretted it until I met you. Believe it or not, in my mind you are the son I didn’t have.”

“Mother Ramona, that’s the highest praise I could have. I love you.” I waited for more, but could only hear a little sniffling and then the phone went dead.  

When I asked Father and Kim about going out for dinner when Ramona and Roy married, he was all for it. “Jimmy, I like the crowd you associate with. You seem comfortable and not intimidated at all. Christ, I was intimidated when I learned I was to meet the Mayor.”

“Dad, I was a little intimidated before I met Erin. Then I thought about her son doing Caroline wrong when she became pregnant. We didn’t figure we needed her to be in our life and she wouldn’t be if she wasn’t so thankful we were okay on her being grandmother to Karen. Erin is the type of person you can get comfortable with because she doesn’t patronize those she comes in contact with. I think she is the power in the mayor-wife relationship now. Ramona said the Mayor was different when she first knew him.

“Roy was until we first met. I mentioned to Erin that Ramona and Roy wanted to marry and she straightened it out within a few hours.”

“Different subject Jimmy. When are you going to decide on that house you showed me?”

“Caroline and I have decided to see if we can buy it. I have an appointment with the bank to see if I can get financing. I have never done anything like this before and I am a little nervous about it.”

“Do you know what your credit score is?”

“I do. The lowest I have is 780 at one of the bureaus. The other two are 810 and 813 respectively. I don’t have any unpaid bills outstanding, either.”

“Would you like to have me with you when you approach the bank?”

“That would be great if you would. It is this Wednesday afternoon at 2:00. I’ll meet you there.”

“Who is your realtor?”

“Her name is Maggie Bolster at the City and Country Realty. She is the one who set this up with the appointment at the bank. I tried for the Friday before Labor Day to take possession, but she couldn’t get the paperwork done until afterward.”

“I’m surprised you are able to get it done as soon as you are. What have you signed for papers so far?”

“Caroline and I are going in this afternoon to sign my final offer. Maggie insisted that Caroline sign it too.”

“I don’t know, Jim. It seems like there is a rush to get this done. May I go in with you when you make the offer?”

“I guess so.  We really like the house and don’t want to lose it.”

“Give me the figures you are working with. I might be able to save you a penny or two.”

“Dad, they agreed to a $4,000 reduction on the house price. I think that’s pretty good.”

“And what was the selling price?”

“$199,000.” Houses in the development range from $185,000 to $240,000. Those figures come from the tax assessor’s office.”

“Jim, if I can save you a thousand dollars will you give me half of it?”

“I would. What would you do with it?”

“Give it to Kimberly to flesh out her wardrobe.”

“You mean you have a pussy allowance like I used to?”

Dad started laughing, “Yeah, something like that. That phrase stuck in my mind when I gave you money. Now the table has turned.”

Dad turned serious, “Jimmy, You know I thought for years you were a loser. You never complained. I put you to taking care of the upkeep on our home. I never checked on you and never gave it much thought that you were working that hard at it. I took a walk around a couple days ago. You’ve done a great job. I’m thinking I might sell. It won’t take much to get it ready for the market. I mean I’m the only one who will be living here.

“Winnie and Rachael will be gone. You will be gone. What in hell am I going to do with an eight bedroom house? I’m going to ask Kimberly to stay with me, but she isn’t going to want to help take care of the place. I don’t either, so I’m thinking a nice condo someplace near the factory. I’ll be near you and your family if you decide to buy the house you are looking at.

“Your mother will be gone four years and I still miss her. I guess I never gave you any indication that I have missed her and I certainly haven’t shown you that I did. I went pretty wild after her death and I was trying to replace her. It just couldn’t be done. By that time I had alienated you and I didn’t know how to fix it … So I did nothing.”

“Dad, I still resent how you acted, but I’ll accept your explanation. I feel we are getting somewhere and getting closer all the time.”

“Good. To continue this, I want to help you until you are settled in your married life coming up. Put the purchase of the house you want to bid on into my hands. I know nothing about trading commodities, but I have bought a few properties in my time.”

“Go ahead and see what you can do. I do want to put what I have for cash down and finance the remainder. If you can whittle the asking price down more than the four thousand I did, be my guest. I know I can’t afford to finance more than the $160,000 which is in my plan.”

“Okay, I’ll see what I can do. Now when I begin negotiating, keep quiet, and don’t butt in. I’ll be offering some far out proposals, and I know I can do better for you than the $4,000.”

“Okay, I promise to leave it in your hands.”

There was a glitch when it came time to collect Caroline. She didn’t have anyone to take care of Karen so she would be with us. I told Caroline about having my father do some negotiating on my behalf. I also said that I promised not to butt into the conversation in anyway. She was skeptical.

We were early to meet the realtor Mrs. Maggie Bolster, before going to the bank.  She came out to get us right after another client exited her office. “Come in Jim and Caroline. I see you have your little girl with you.”

I answered, “Yes, but one of us will take her out if she gets sick of being inside while we are talking. Maggie, this is my father, Charlie Cummings. He is going to be asking questions about the property and may be doing a little negotiating for me.”

“I know who he is. My husband works in his factory. But to business, I thought we agreed on the price, already? You are here to give me your down payment and to sign the papers.”

“I am, but Dad is going to hear what the offer is we have talked about. I’m only nineteen and he wants to make sure that I made a good deal.”

“Jim, if you are backing out of what you agreed to, you may lose the property. The property is well worth the asking price.” I looked at my father, in essence telling him to go ahead.

“Mrs. Bolster, tell me about the property.”

“It is a modular, built twelve years ago. There are three bedrooms, kitchen, dining room, and a large living room. There is a breezeway to an attached one car garage, so there are 2200 square feet counting the garage. The one third acre is standard for these lots. All the amenities are installed and all working.”

“How long has it been on the market?’

“It was listed in February.”

“Who owns it, I mean is it bank owned, someone who wants to flip it or the original owners of record for the last few years? You must have a sheet that would give me this information. Past owners, taxes when sold within in the last few years, etc.”

Maggie looked in her sheaf of papers and passed it to Dad. “Understand, Sir, I didn’t set the price for this particular property?  I’m just a sales associate.”

“I understand. Let me study this for a few minutes?”

I had no idea what Dad was studying. He took a small pad from his pocket and jotted down some figures. Finally, he tore off that page which plainly listed some figures on a new page. “Mrs. Bolster, please take these figures into your boss. This is a cash offer. My son is just starting out in life and isn’t making too big a salary yet. Please impress on your boss that this is cash, payable today if necessary.”

Maggie looked at the figures and said, “This will never fly. It is much too little. You must come with me to explain.”

“See if your boss is free. I’ll talk to him anytime, within the next two hours.” Maggie returned after ten minutes. We had heard loud voices coming from the boss’s office. It wasn’t Maggie who was doing the shouting. I had tried to get out of Dad what he had offered, but he said I promised not to butt in.

“Follow me, Mr. Cummings, the boss will see you now.”

“Jim, you can come too. We may get this house bought and you said you had money to purchase it. I’m bankrolling the rest of the price if we make a deal. I’ll straighten it out with you later. It won’t be as much as you would have to finance at a bank.”

We entered the office. Mr. Walton’s face was red and he looked angry. “I’m not even going to accept that offer or anywhere near that low.”

“Okay, I can see I’m wasting your time. You’ve had that property on the market for six months. Taxes are due on the fifteenth of September. I’m guessing you have had over a hundred thousand dollars in capital tied up for that long. Those figures I gave you leaves you about a five thousand dollar profit after you pay all the bills for the six months and pay Mrs. Bolton a reduced commission.

“The best of this year’s selling season is about over and if you can’t sell it, you will be stuck with it, maybe for the winter.”

“How in hell do you know so much about my business?”

“The word is out on the street about your Realty. You’re always trying to flip property and often you lose. I’m giving you an out on this particular one.”

The realtor caved. “You said cash, today?”

“That’s what I said. I’ll call and have the bank let us have a room at 4:00. My attorney will be there. Can you have the sales papers ready by then?”

“I can just about make it.”  

We gave the realtor the particulars for the papers. We would do the signing at the bank. Caroline wouldn’t have to sign. I would add her name to the deed after we were husband and wife.

Dad called his lawyer to meet us at the bank to look over the deed. Dad would have the lawyer make out a mortgage deed for Caroline and me to sign at his leisure. I was driving Dad’s vehicle while he was doing all this arranging.

I questioned, “How much am I putting up? You haven’t said.”

“$31,500. I told you I could save you a little bit.”

“That’s a lot, and how much is my mortgage going to be?”

“I saved you a little bit there as well. I think you can handle $102,500.00 can’t you?” I was speechless.

I looked in the mirror at Caroline. She was adding in the air. “Jimmy, that’s $134,000 That’s $ 66,000 we won’t have to mortgage. Talk about a wedding present, that’s huge.” Mr. Cummings, you’re wonderful!”

“Hey, you two deserve every bit of what I can do for you. Finally, Jim and I are back together just like his mother wanted us to be. It took me a long time to come around. I am so happy Jim is so receptive to my efforts.”

When we returned very late that afternoon, it was well after dinner time for Karen and she was fussy. She wanted to go home. Finally, Dad said to her. “Karen, do you want to see a pretty room where you can sleep tonight if you want to?”

“I guess so, Will Mommy be there?”

“She can be. It will be up to her and Jimmy. Come take my hand and I’ll show you.”

Dad took Karen up to my room. The nursery where I was a small child was through a door. Dad had arranged for a small bed to be installed. There were colorful blankets and a few of my toys scattered around for effect. “If your Mommy and Jimmy stay here tonight, you can sleep here and wake them up in the morning. Would you like that?”

“Can I, Mommy?””

“Let me talk to Jimmy?”

I was all smiles because this was going to be a first. I looked at Dad and walked over and hugged him. Caroline did more than that. Dad got both a hug and a kiss. Not to be left out he got a hug and many kisses from Karen.

Karen didn’t last the night sleeping alone in the youth bed in the next room. She came and asked if she could crawl in with us. “It is too quiet here. I can’t sleep cause I can’t hear any noises.” Caroline lifted a blanket for her to crawl in between us.

Chapter Eight: Jim and Caroline are married

Wedding plans were being made for Caroline and I and I had little say in the matter. Too many women had inserted themselves into our business and I complained. Caroline didn’t feel this way. “Jimmy these people have been so good to me and to you. They want to see our ceremony and our reception. What did you want for our wedding?”

“Something along the lines of what your father and Ramona had.”

“Oh no, that won’t do at all.  Your father and Kimberly are planning on twenty people at the rehearsal dinner for us. Most everyone we know want to be at the ceremony and the reception party is a must. The weather should be fine to have both out doors. Kim has been watching the weather forecasts for a week. Charlie and Kim said they want it in your back yard behind the house. I think Charlie wants to brag about how well you have kept the property and grounds since you were a teenager.

“It is odd that he is promoting you now when before you were ignored for so long. My father is paying for the reception. Well, Erin is paying for some of it. Dad and Erin went round and round. She said it was her right because I gave her such a beautiful granddaughter. Dad and Ramona gave in finally and said okay. I wonder sometimes who this party is for? Karen seems to have more going for her than I ever have.”

“Jealous of your daughter?”

Caroline grinned, “No, but you have to admit a lot of the decisions being made concern her.”

“Honey, we soon will be married and living in our own home. Things will change and we will have total control of our lives.”

“Don’t bet on it. We are involved in a certain group of friends and relatives. I don’t seeing it changing that much. Ramona’s escorts still need a place to hang out and I’ll wager it will be with us. Erin will be here more often than not. Even the Mayor loves the child.”

“True, but remember when we get settled into our home, Karen will have many children her own age who will be playing with her. That is why we picked this place to live. We’ll be widening our own circle of friends as well. I suspect Dad will be selling the house and moving to some place where he and Kim will have a new circle of friends their own age and interests. All this is exciting for me.”

“Me to, I guess. It will be different for all of us, that’s for sure.”

––––––––––––––––––––––––

Ramona was getting Matt’s and my new office quarters ready to move into. That would be finished when Caroline and I returned from our honeymoon. We took a time finalizing where we would go. Karen would be with us, of course. We made reservations at a bed and breakfast in the Amish country in Pennsylvania.

The house we had purchased didn’t need much done to it because it was in good shape. We would be changing some things but all could be done after we had moved in. I would be mowing my own lawn though, rather than have a service do it. Caroline wanted to try her hand at planting different arrangement of flowers. This would be all new to her. She had no chance to do this because she had been banished from her father’s home and contained in the small apartment in the city.

The appliances weren’t too old in the house so they would do. Much of the furniture in my home was quality and Dad said I could take anything I wanted from the wing I lived in. “If I marry Kimberly, I’ll buy new for her. If I purchase a condo, I’ll buy new as well. What do you want to do with the nursery furnishings that are here?”

“I’ll take everything that I don’t use now and store it up over the garage. We are planning on children soon. What if Kim is looking to have a baby?”

“I haven’t asked. Too soon to go there, anyway.”

“You should go there before you propose.”

“I’ll have to make up my own mind about it first. Right now I’m not thinking of having kids.

“Dad, I believe when everyone moves out of the house and you and Kim are alone, she’ll bring up children.” Dad grunted, but didn’t say anything more on the subject.

-–––––––––––––––––––

I would be walking to work because the office was only two streets over from our house. Caroline would be going into work at Winnie’s bake and coffee shop. Her hours would be from five am until noon. The shop will open at six in the morning and be open until seven in the evening. I would be the one to make sure Karen was up and off to school on time. Her needs for school would be laid out the night before when Caroline was at home.

I was mowing the lawn the first time after taking possession. I looked up as someone came around the corner of the garage. It was Maggie Bolster, the agent who had shown me this property and almost had a sale before Father had injected himself into the negotiation. I shut the mower off and waited for her to come up to me. “Hi, Maggie.”

“Hi, Jim, how is the new home owner?”

“Great. We love the place. We don’t have the place fully furnished yet, but it has only been a week. I’m taking some furniture from my dad’s place and Caroline is getting some from her father. He is going to move it in while we are away for a few days. How are things going for you?”

“There has been a change for me. I’m working at the Ace Realty now.  C&C fired me the same day you took possession here. I had been looking around for a change anyway and it happened the next day. I didn’t even get the commission I should have from this sale even though it was I who showed it to you.”

“That’s terrible.”

 “I know, but I didn’t expect to, knowing who I was working for. I just stopped by to see how you and Caroline are doing and to leave my new card in case you knew of someone who was buying or selling.”

I thought a minute, “Does your new agency have any condos or town houses in this area?”

“Half dozen of each, I think. Why?”

“My dad and his lady friend may be looking. It won’t be until after I’m married in ten more days though.”

“How much are they thinking of spending?”

“I have no idea. It is just something my father has talked about. Tell you what; run off copies of what you have listed. Probably Dad would be looking at something in the $300,000 and up range. If you sold him something, that would make up for getting cheated out of the commission on this place.”

“In a way it was worth losing it. I’ve still laughing about your dad walking all over my ex-boss. He even accused me of telling your father the situation he was in.”

“Did you?”

“No, I didn’t, but my husband works for your father and I discuss everything with him. Enough said anyway, I’ll get the condo and town house listings back to you in a day or so. Jimmy, enjoy your new home. I’m glad you didn’t have to pay the asking price due to the intervention of your father.

 Maggie turned away. “Thank you. Goodbye. Mrs. Bolster.”

Caroline felt awkward about staying over at my house and facing my father in the morning. So she often stayed in her apartment. She did go and help Winnie getting ready to open the new coffee shop. Karen was able to be there with her mother. We had two hours together in the afternoon. This was after Matt and Winnie returned.

Sometimes if Ramona was at her new home with Roy, Caroline and Karen would spend some time with them until I got out of work. I had the option of staying with Caroline at her apartment nights as well.

–––––––––––––––––

It was a week before our wedding when Caroline came up to the attic as I was winding up for the day. She was concerned and pushing Karen ahead of her. “Jimmy, a car with out of state plates was parked across the street from my dad’s when I got ready to leave. It pulled in behind me real close and followed me all the way to here. I’m a little scared about it.”

“Is it still out side?”

“I don’t know. Would you check out if that the car has gone? The only person I know who would do that is Jacob Horner.”

Matt asked, “Do you want me to go down with you?”

“Nah, the car is probably gone.” I stepped out and the car was parked right behind where Caroline had parked. I guess whoever it was had done this on purpose to prevent Caroline from coming out and driving off because she had parked close to Matt’s car ahead of her, this effectively blocking her car in. I walked behind the strange vehicle. It was a man and the driver’s window was open with the driver slouched down.

I grabbed the door handle and found the door was locked. I reached through the window opening and unlocked the door. “Hey, what are you doing?”

By this time I had opened the door and grabbed the guy’s shirt, pulling him from his seat, dragging him from the car. He was a small man and I recognized him as Caroline’s ex from the pictures she had showed me one time. “My wife says you were stalking her when she left her father’s house. What’s your name, anyway?”

“I don’t have to tell you squat. I’m calling the cops for attacking me. I’ll have your ass in jail for this.”

“Call them then, or I will.”

“Well maybe we can settle this without the cops. So you are married to a woman with a bastard child? That’s my kid.”

“Then you must be Jacob Horner. I don’t think the child is yours. In fact I know it isn’t.”

 “That doesn’t prove anything. The birth certificate says it is mine.”

“I’ll settle this. Give me the keys to your car until I can get someone to bring a copy of the birth certificate.”

“Okay, but you’re wrong.” I was handed the keys and Jacob got back into his car. I went behind his car and called Erin to bring a copy of the birth certificate.

“Where are you, Jimmy?”

“I’m at Caroline’s apartment. Your son has been stalking her and I managed to get his car keys. We are in the street.”

“Jimmy, I’ll be there in twenty minutes. Are you having any trouble with him?”

“No, not really. I figure you are the one to stop him, though.”

“I guess I am.”  

“Jacob, someone is bringing papers that you aren’t the father.” I then went and sat in my car ahead of his. Ten minutes later two police cars came. One parked opposite and the other one pulled in back of Horner’s vehicle. Neither cop got out, but Horner did and came up to ask me about the police.

“I didn’t call the police, but maybe your mother did or maybe Caroline did. She was really worried when she got here.”

“I wouldn’t hurt her. I love her.”

“She doesn’t love you, she loves someone else.”

It was fifteen minutes more before Erin’s car pulled up. She didn’t park, she just stopped it in the street and rolled the passenger’s window down. “Jacob, get in here.”

I was out of my car too. “Hey, don’t forget your keys.” I tossed them to him. Erin drove away after Jacob got into her car. Both police vehicles started their engines and pulled away.  One of them followed Erin’s car.

I looked up at the windows above me. Caroline and Matt were looking down at me. Caroline motioned for me to come up. “What did Jacob say?”

“Not much; He wanted to see you and tell you he stilled loved you. I told him you had put him into the past and loved me now. He also wanted to claim Karen. That’s when I called Erin. I asked Erin to remind Jacob that he had abandoned Caroline and the fetus.

“I asked her to bring a copy of Karen’s birth certificate. I suspect she did bring the other paper that she and Roy had created, stating Jacob had long abandoned any claim to Caroline’s possible pregnancy. But I don’t know and we may never know. We’ll just have to wait and talk to Erin now. Erin must be feeling abandoned just like you were.”

“I know.”

 “But, I suspect, knowing the kind, generous person Erin is, she will buy her son off again to protect Karen.”

“I agree.”
                                        –––––––––––––––––

Caroline had news about Karen being not able to enter first grade this coming year.  It wasn’t a surprise because Karen was two months too young even with the waiver Caroline had asked for. I was secretly pleased, for I knew in my mind that Karen had to gain much more in her social interaction with other children. She also had been living in a small apartment alone with her mother and adults who doted on her because she was so cute and lovable. Living at our new address should be a good remedy for that.

Matt finished up and left. I had closed the window. “Caroline, give me a half hour and we’ll go along to Dad’s house. You might as well spend the night there with me.”

“Okay. I’ll take Karen with me tomorrow because I’m working at Winnie’s place. She is almost ready to open. I almost wish we were getting married before the opening so I could be here for it. Matt is going to be working alone in your new office until we get back as well. We just didn’t plan for all the changes.”

“Hey, we had our plans first. Winnie, Matt, your father, and Ramona made their plans after we did.”

“I know. I don’t mind really. Being able to be with you all night and getting up with you in the morning is as good as I anticipated it would be. The first night when your dad made the offer to stay the night is when our marriage began as far as I am concerned.”

“Wow, I’m acting being married and wasn’t aware. I’ve wondered these last few days why I’m so happy.”

“You certainly know how to make me happy with words like these.”

––––––––––––––––––––

We were hoping to hear from Erin  how the meeting between Erin and Jacob turned out and expected her to inform us.

Erin didn’t call that evening and not the next day either. Should we call? I decided not to. It was her business and I was positive she would handle Jacob and keep him away from bothering Caroline again. More importantly, she would keep him from having any contact or claim to Karen.

It was evening of the second day when Erin did call.  She and Richard were going to stop by to talk to us. The Mayor was with her and he brought Karen a doll with him. We met at Dad’s place. Richard was in the same room, but was being entertained by Karen while the discussion about Jacob went on between me, Caroline, and Erin.

Erin had a satisfied look on her face as she opened the conversation. “Caroline, I think I have done something to block Jacob from bothering you again about Karen. First of all, when he told Jimmy that he loved you, that was just to see if Jim would buy him off because he is broke and was looking for money. With him, it is always about money.

“I believe I had enough paperwork so he never can claim Karen as his child. He could see where he would need to spend money to hire a lawyer to further that claim so it would be pointless for him to continue.”

I asked, “You say he has given up?”

“That’s correct. I did give up something to convince him though. First, I said I was dis-owning him as my son so he couldn’t claim me as his mother any longer. That hurt him, which surprised me so I do have some regrets of taking that action. But then, my future happiness lies more with Karen than it does with him.

“I can truthfully say my disappointment in him started long before he had gotten together with Caroline. He didn’t handle the death of his father well and I did everything to help him at that time.”

“Erin, I have the feeling you did a bit more than disown him?”

There was silence before she answered and she didn’t look at either Caroline or me. Finally she looked up, “I did. I have kept some of what was his father’s estate separate of what was left. I never told him about it, figuring he would mature by the time he was thirty years of age and I would turn it over to him at that time. He was twenty-nine this year. I arranged to have it distributed to him today.

“Most of it is in stocks and bonds with not much in cash. If he would work and use the income from it, he could live well, but I don’t have much hope of him living that way. His problem now, for I have washed my hands of him.”

Erin looked sad and Caroline got up and pulled her into a hug. I looked at Richard across the room and he indicated I should hug her as well. He picked up Karen and brought her over and handed her to Erin when I backed away so Karen could hug her too.

The Mayor spoke to us, “Jimmy and Caroline, Erin looks on you two, along with Karen, to take Jacob’s place in her heart. I’m in favor of this as well.”

“Thank you, Richard.  We promise to always be here for both of you.” I thought to myself that the mayor and Erin were regular people, just like Caroline and I were.

–––––––––––––––––––––––

Ramona and Erin took charge of putting on our wedding. Caroline was more distracted and was almost unable to get her mind together enough to answer questions put to her about what she wanted. Finally, Ramona began coming to me with the queries. “I always answered, “I believe Caroline would like this,” and made a suggestion of it.

The same caterers were putting on both the rehearsal dinner and the wedding reception. As the day got close we were worried about rain.  Two days before the happening, the weather cleared and promised to be fair until late Saturday afternoon. It would be great for the rehearsal Friday evening being warm and fair.

Caroline asked me what should we do if it rained on Saturday, “We’ll have it anyway. It will be something different to remember. I’m feeling we are married already and have been for a long time.”

“Yes Jim, just an old married couple in love and with a child almost old enough to go into first grade. We have a lovely home we can afford and we both have work to make the payments on it. We have a ton of friends. The dark days are behind us. I think we should make the rehearsal tonight into the real ceremony. This way we will be married and not have to worry if it rains tomorrow.”

“Great idea, Caroline. We can move the crowd inside Dad’s house and move the chairs and table out of the way and dance in the dining room.

“Jimmy, Erin and Kim will be upset. Ramona will think it good fun, but you’ll have to be the one to convince them. For some reason they always listen to you. Tomorrow we’ll go through the motions for the rest of the guests and they won’t know about it unless it rains and then we’ll tell them.”

“Okay I will and I’ll see if the minister will go along with it. You talk to your father, mine, and the Mayor. I think they planned on doing some celebrating after the rehearsal. I guess I had better make sure the photographer takes a lot of pictures of the rehearsal tonight as well.”

“What are you wearing for this?”

“I’ll put on my dark suit that I am leaving for Pennsylvania in.”

“I’ll wear my rose dress then. If it rains tomorrow, you and I will get dressed up in our wedding clothes and we can stand on the wide staircase for pictures. That’s a great place and wide enough for most of the pictures we’ll want to remember of our wedding guests.”

Those who were involved in the rehearsal came and Charlie invited them into the garage for a drink. He had a bar set up in there. “When everyone is here, we’ll go out into the backyard and get the show on the road. Jimmy and Caroline are getting dressed up a bit. For the rest of us, I’m glad you are wearing casual attire.”

I talked to the minister when he arrived, catching him before he came into the house. “Pastor, tomorrow’s weather report is getting worse. Caroline’s and my plan for the wedding ceremony looks in doubt at three. If we change it to an earlier time, some of the guests will miss it. I suggest we have the real ceremony tonight instead of the rehearsal this evening.

“Tomorrow if it doesn’t rain, we’ll hold it just as if you hadn’t married us already. If it rains, we’ll all come inside and have a party with all the guests holding the reception, with pictures, and dining along with dancing and so forth. Caroline wants to leave early so we intend to escape and head for Pennsylvania. Dad can party as long as he likes after we leave. I’m speaking to him now.”

“Sure, I can accommodate you. Go ask your father.”

I found my father. “So, you are telling me you want to have the real ceremony tonight and tomorrow just the reception. For me, I’d say that isn’t a good idea. These things are done a certain way and I don’t see any reason to change the order of the wedding. If it rains tomorrow, we’ll just have it inside. In my opinion, there is no good reason to change. I see Caroline talking to Ramona and Erin. I’ll go along with your idea if the women tell your bride it is okay but I’m betting they feel the same way I do.”

I didn’t say anything back to Dad and just walked away to see what the women had to say. Dad was right, they were adamant against the change. Ramona asked, “What did Charlie say?”

“He feels there should be no change, so I guess we’ll have the wedding inside if it does rain tomorrow. Is that okay with you, Sweetheart?”

“I guess so. We can postpone the start of our honeymoon until the next day if we have to.”

“I’ll inform the preacher that we won’t have the ceremony until tomorrow.”

The preacher laughed, “Usually the bride and groom have little say in these things so I’m not surprised at your family’s reaction.”

––––––––––––––––

This was a small gathering for the wedding rehearsal, just the people who were connected to Caroline and I. Guests who were invited for the wedding wouldn’t be present until the ceremony tomorrow. Roy and Ramona were here as the bride’s parents. Charlie and Kim of course were here as my parents. Rachel and Winnie were here since this had been their home. Matt Hagar was here as he was partner with me and now husband to Winnie. Erin and the Mayor came because they were  grandparents to Karen and wouldn’t be left out.

Ramona’s escorts, who were going to act as ushers for the wedding itself were not here tonight. As escorts for men, each had reservations for this evening at other venues so they were not present, but would be tomorrow as ushers.

Those in the house were waiting on the caterer to set up outside. They had laid a floor for the table. The table would be removed after tomorrow’s meal so people could dance. Maybe people would even get a dance in after the caterers served the food.

The rehearsal was scheduled for seven. The bartender for tomorrow came and Charlie had him open the bar long before the rehearsal began. The preacher was imbibing freely and I wondered to Caroline if he would last ’till we formed for the rehearsal. Everyone was having a good time.  

Dad had engaged a band to play tomorrow at the reception. They were men who worked in the factory for him. He hired them at different functions that the factory put on. He told them to stop by this evening because the drinks were free. The brought their instruments with them. I grinned to myself, this was going to be a party.

Tonight the meal planned was to serve hot dogs, hamburgers, and boned chicken thighs. Potato, and Jello (two) one with fruit and one with small bits of carrots, small florets of cauliflower, and the same of broccoli, both salads having pieces of walnut meat. There was sour cream to top these if desired. Tomorrow the meal was to be steak and grilled salmon. The dessert was cold rice putting.

Maggie Bolster arrived with her husband. She had some listings of condos I thought would be in Dad’s price range. I told her to give them to Kim because Dad was holding court at the bar. Maggie was a little embarrassed to find us occupied. However, her husband was the one who insisted it was okay since Charlie had invited him to stop by with the band from the factory.

“Jimmy, I’ll be glad when we are married and can be by ourselves. There is just so much going on and a lot of it doesn’t concern you and me.”

“I know, Sweetheart, I feel the same way. That was the main reason I wanted to have the ceremony tonight.”

“Jimmy, I was wondering, are you going to be able to take a break afternoons like we have been doing for years? We will be here to love Karen when she gets out of kindergarten and I’ll be home. Next year she won’t need us so much and we will have an hour or so to our selves because she’ll be getting home later in the after noon.”

“I think I can keep to those hours at least for three days in every week, anyway.”

“That should be enough.” I grinned, because I could read her mind.

Finally, the pastor told us to take our places. Erin and Kim were the ones to direct where everyone was to be placed. It was a beautiful evening, warm, with just a light breeze. I was wearing a pink shirt and black trousers. I slipped into a suit coat. I knew Caroline was putting on a nice dress.

Dad and Roy, our fathers, were under the arch. Tonight, I walked down between the rows of chairs, many empty, rather than appearing in front. The reason was Karen. The women thought it would be nice if Karen would come behind me as the flower girl and sing her favorite song. “I don’t know why I love you, but I do.” Tomorrow she would do this alone by herself, walking down the aisle preceding my bride without my support.

It did become overcast and it felt like rain was soon to drench us. Hurrying, we picked up the chairs and put them in one of the garages when it was decided we would have the dinner tonight inside. The grill was moved to the covered patio to cook the hamburger, chicken and hot dogs, The salads and desserts stayed in the kitchen and everyone served themselves, finding a seat where they could. Many sat on the wide stairs.

The seating for tomorrow was discussed. It was decided for tomorrow the escorts would serve from the kitchen, since there was no reason to have ushers. Dad would open what he called the library and there was a long table where people could be seated. The dining table had extensions and there were extra chairs that went with the dining set.

“Maybe we should move this to some place where everyone could sit together?”

I voiced this. Erin answered, “No, first you will never find a place at this late date and second, this is a lovely home and a great place for the wedding. Caroline can join Jim at the head of the stairs and they can come down together. Karen can be between you two singing the sweet song she loves. It will be different, but really lovely.”

All went well and although slightly disorganized, it was decided that this would work as well tomorrow.  Finally, the people that were in the rehearsal started to break up to leave. When the first ones exited, they exclaimed that it hadn’t rained at all and the promised band of storms had changed direction and tomorrow would be of free of inclement weather.

—————————————

Caroline and I went upstairs to bed along with Karen. She was to sleep in the little room next to us. Before Caroline and I had a chance to talk over how the rehearsal had gone, Karen came and announced that she would be sleeping between us just for tonight. I lifted the covers and she crawled over me. “Nite, Mommy and Daddy.”

“Night Sweetheart.”  Ten minutes later, after getting comfortable Karen was asleep.”

Caroline stated, “I’ve never allowed her to sleep with me, and I’m not going to allow it in the future.”

“Tonight is special and Karen knows it.”

“You are a softy. I guess it is okay tonight, but it isn’t going to be a habit.”

“I agree. Just on a special occasion we will we allow it.”

“Okay.” I awoke in the morning and Karen wasn’t in bed with us. I looked at my soon to be wife and asked if she had moved Karen.

“No, she was awake and asked if she could go back to her bed.”

I remembered then of hearing the exchange between Karen and Caroline.

“Mom, it is too hot sleeping between you two, I’m going back to the other room. I heard her kiss you and then I felt when she kissed me.”

“Daddy is still sleeping. He keeps saying that today is a special day. I think it is too. Is it special for you, Mom?”

“More than you know sweetheart. It is my dream come true. For a long time I was unhappy and then Jimmy came along and made us both happy. We have a million friends.  They are happy because we are happy. It can’t get better than this.”

“Mom, I know. I hope I don’t mess up singing our song.”

“You won’t. Just think of Jimmy singing it to you and the words will come.”

“I’m going in and sing the song to myself. You can go back to sleep, Mom.”

“No, you sing the song loud enough for me to hear.”

“Okay, Mom.”

“Jimmy, she did sing it and she has it down perfect.”

“Caroline, I did hear all of this and she sang the song perfect and that’s because she is perfect.”

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Caroline piled out of bed, showered and I heard her when she went down stairs. For some reason I didn’t feel like getting up. I lay in bed and thinking about my life and the people in it. Caroline, and of course, Karen. Dad and Kim. Kim wasn’t my mother, but she was good for the father who I had disliked for the last few years. Dad, he was at least being human to me again like he was when my Mom was alive.

He had mentioned recently that he had loved my real Mother more than anything, but had gone off the rails when he lost her. He said that Kim would never be to him what Mother had been. “Son, I apologize for not being the father I should be to you when you needed me the most. In spite of that, I’m damned proud of you and what you have accomplished when I wasn’t there for you. Are we good?”

“Dad, I was so sorry for myself and couldn’t see what you were dealing with by losing Mom. Dad, we are good now. If you and Kim don’t make it together, don’t go back to the way you were, that’s all I ask of you.”

“Jim, I think Kim and I will make it. I do listen to her, so I have that going for me.”

“I think you will too.”

I thought of Ramona and what she had done for me. She had done so much. She was almost as close to me as Mother had been. I don’t know as I would have picked Roy to make her happy. Most of my resentment of Roy was the way he had treated Caroline. Christ he has a lovely granddaughter and hadn’t even got to know her until she was four years old. I would cut him some slack the way he was making Ramona happy though for now, and Caroline would as well.

Erin, I like her a lot, but I had some of the same problems with her that I had with Roy. Both supporting Caroline with money, but sending her off to live alone. Okay she had provided the money to house Caroline and then Karen, but she came up short much the same way Roy did and abetted it by keeping Caroline and Karen from any sort of normal life through the years when those two needed it most.

Always my thoughts swung back to the woman who within hours would become my wife. Caroline had been resigned to her fate for two years before I came into her life. With my subtle examples, she had changed until now she was my equal. She had educated herself, remade her own physical image, and cared for her baby, all the while living with the situations that she had been forced into.

Jacob, who was the biological father of Karen. He was a loser, and Erin kept paying him to stay away. I doubted no matter what she said, he would be around again for more money when he was destitute. Erin again would give him some more and that would not last very long. I wondered if Richard knew she was still giving Jacob something every so often. I had the feeling he could and would stop it when he found out. Not my business. Okay, I was a little sad for Erin. How would I feel if Caroline and I had a son and he was like Jacob?

I went on to Matt and Winnie. They were a good pair and Matt had given me an education. I would be ever grateful! Winnie had too except in a different way. She and Rachael had made my life okay and I had real affection for both. With the responsibilities of keeping up the house under their guidance, this taught me a lot even though I was ignored by my father. Also they had instilled a sense of pride in me by taking care of the home where we lived.

I laughed about Rachel and she telling Father what I was doing that set the tone of my life. I think she would be going out of my life for she was planning on living with a niece. Um, I’d have to remember to always keep in touch with her. She would like that and brag about telling on me when I was sneaking my classmates into the house. She might never know, but that had started the change in me becoming what I was today. Yes, I would keep in touch.

The Escorts. I wished for them the same happiness that Edna had found when she found love and married Frank. Yes, I wished them luck as well as happiness.

I looked at my watch. I had thought these thoughts before and here again I had wasted another half hour. Just then, Karen came in and jumped on me. “Ha, ha Daddy, I made you sound like a dog when you went woof. Come on and get up. Today is a big day, Mom said so.”

It did turn out to be a perfect day. Six beautiful women ushered the guests to their seats. Karen sang us to the Alter. Caroline and I were married. The dinner was remarkable and we headed west to Pennsylvania that evening with my wife by my side and our daughter singing songs in the back seat.  

The End

     Everyone loves Karen