Published: 26 Dec 2024

From The Previous Chapter:

Collin was at the top of the stairs waiting for his Big Bro. But all he wanted was a goodnight hug as his ‘brothers’ all received. The two shared a hug and a smile and then the two parted and went to their own rooms.

After Mr. Ken got to his retreat, and got ready for bed, he sat on his bad and looked back at the weekend. The weekends, he told himself, were getting busier and busier, and his life was that way, too. He truly believed what he told the boys earlier that he would try to relax beginning after Labor Day and up and through and until after the Holidays.

It had been a busy weekend at The Cove and everyone was well. A new week was upon them after they all had a good night’s sleep.

With the fall school term started, the Cover boys were now going to school full time, and everything at The Cove was getting back into a routine. Momma was coming in early to fix breakfast for everyone, ‘dad’ Ken was up early to send the boys off to school and then he’d head to the office. The new thing for that fall was Mr. Wayne was coming in, on the week days, and he would be feeding the puppies until they would be sent off to their new homes.

At the office, after his usual Monday meeting of all of his Group Managers, Mr. Ken sat down with Ben and the Architect Group to discuss the new operations building for the Four Corners Amusement Park. The amusement parks owner asked how difficult it would be to relocate the building if he found another building site, nearby.

The question surprised the men, because they didn’t know of any available nearby site. The architect quickly then told Mr. Ken that if they were to ever consider relocating the building, they would have to perform soil testing of the new site to determine if they would need to strengthen the building according to what the soil test results are.

The man also asked if he would still want to go underground, or have both levels above ground as originally planned. But before Mr. Ken could answer the architect explained that by going underground the cost increased significantly. Mr. Ken offered that with the size of the lot he was considering, they might be able to have just one level, as they do at the other parks. Both men now wanted to hear what their employer had to say.

Mr. Ken then explained that for the past five years the vacant lot next to where the restaurant and the amusement park were has advertised that they were going to build a twelve-story office building, but he indicated that they’ve never gotten it off the ground.

Ken Thomas proposed to them that he would trying to purchase the 8+ acre property and if he was successful, it would solve their ops building size concerns, plus it would give them the much-needed employee parking with additional parking for the park’s guests. The men were now all for that proposal.

The owner of the Four Corners property, Ken Thomas, quickly called in his Three Finger Real Estate Group manager and told him what he wanted him to do. He explained for the Realtor to use one of his alternate companies in making the offer to purchase the vacant 8+ acre lot. He also told him that if they wanted him to join in renting parts or all of the office building, he was to tell them that his buyer wanted to own it and develop a building of his own design and that he had potential tenants themselves, who were only interested in working with them.

Now they all had to wait and see if Three Finger Entertainment would be the ultimate owner of the vacant lot. The Real Estate Group Manager told them that the negotiations could take as long as a month, if the owner would even consider selling, and then settlement could take another three to four months before they could take possession. They all crossed their fingers hoping that by the first of the year they could own that vacant lot, or at least have a contract to own it.

At the high school, Billy was asked by all of his friends about the replacement vehicle for the Taurus. Billy explained to them how he and Mr. Ken started out looking at a number of cars and wound up whittling them down to seven. The teen Cover then told them how he had to research their safety rating, fuel economy and repair reliability and then he and Mr. Ken shaved them down to three and after discussing them decided to test drive the 2014 Kia Optima and the 2014 Toyota Camry.

Billy told his friends that after the test drive he and Mr. Ken sat down and discussed the pros and cons of both vehicles and the two of them decided on the 2014 Kia Optima. The teenager then told them how Mr. Ken then got the dealership to throw in oil changes, a tune-up and a front-end alignment for the price of the car. The Cover added that he felt as if Mr. Ken treated him like he was a ‘son’.

The teen clarified himself by saying that his foster dad did the car buying only with him even though Robert tried to get his dad to let him come along. Billy described how Mr. Ken let him be a part of the entire process and asked him for his opinion of all seven cars and then when they pruned the seven down to the final two. The teen Cover told all of his friends that he never had that type of interaction with his stepdad, Jody, and it felt good to be the focus, and not have to share his foster dad with his ‘brothers’ at all.

At Phillip’s school, a few of his classmates were still asking him about the accident and his shoulder. The Cover’s friends told those classmates that Phil had nothing to do with driving the car and that it was the flagger who told Billy to drive on through. They then asked the classmates if they even watched the Sheriff’s on-air explanation of events of the accident.

Phillip told everyone present that his shoulder was healing, but slowly. He also told them that the band was getting better every day they play and that he wished that he would be staying there to see them succeed.

When asked what he meant, the young Cover told them that he was supposed to go back living with his mom after the Labor Day weekend, which meant he would be moving away.

During the week, Mr. Ken called Kate as often as he could. It was usually during the day from the office, as he didn’t want to interrupt her at home and have the boys ask questions. Mr. Ken also kept in contact with Amy Ozarker about the progress on obtaining the clandestine DNA samples from all four men who could potentially be Rusty’s real father.

The man reminded the lawyer that he wasn’t available to go back east to be there when she reveals what they’d been doing for at least three weeks. Mr. Ken explained how he was getting ready for the Grand Opening of his Marina and that he was holding his annual Labor Day Picnic for about 300 people and that beginning the Wednesday after that he was hosting the Annual Fall Meeting of his Amusement Park Operators. He asked her to hold onto the samples until he was available to fly back east, so they could explain their plan to Kate.

Matthew and Phillip did decide to continue to have their afterschool snacks with their older ‘brothers’. Momma Maria was happy to do that as it meant she only had to clean up the mess once instead of twice. The two younger Cover boys also took advantage of the extra time and they went down and played with the puppies some, before going up to their rooms and starting their homework.

Billy and Phillip both had dentist appointments to have some cavities filled that week and Phillip had his regular appointment to talk to Doctor Doug. Phillip needed to talk out what happened to him during the accident that crushed the roof of the Taurus over him and dislocated his shoulder and put him in the hospital overnight.

The Marina Project was also coming along towards it’s official opening day. Mr. Ken and his investment partners met during the week to review the progress and inspect the Marina building, fueling depot and boat slips. Their next decision was to find a licensed scuba diver/instructor who would outfit and operate the space they set aside for a scuba facility that would sell scuba supplies and equipment and service scuba equipment and refill scuba tanks.

With the Marina building finished, the stores’ manager was already receiving inventory and stocking the shelves. He was also hiring full and part-time employees, but any fuel depot operators needed to be at least eighteen.

Essentially the entire project was complete with the exception of the parking lot striping to include the disable parking slots and private parking slots for the Texas Parks & Wildlife Game Warden and the Lake Water Safety and Rescue Team Members who will each have a complimentary boat slip for their emergency equipment at the Marina.

The investors also discussed what they wanted to offer as prizes at the Grand Opening over the Labor Day weekend. They decided on an Igloo cooler, a top-of-the-line rod and reel, 100-gallons of fuel, a depth finder for their boat, 20-lbs of ice/week for the year.

Mr. Ken then asked if they should offer as a Grand Prize, such as the use of a boat slip for a year. He reasoned that with that as a Grand Prize it would certainly bring people by the Marina to register for that big of a prize and that would give them a chance to see what they had to offer, in the bait store and it would give them the chance to hopefully rent out their slips, too. The men were all in agreement as they figured they would never rent out all of their boat slips, since there was a surplus of boat slips on the lake already.

Also, during the week, Collin went back to Wilkinson to talk to his architect to review and approve the final plans for the remodel of the Wilkinson Estate. The young man also selected a remodeler contractor who would remake Wilkinson according to the plans drawn up by the architect.

Collin also talked his Uncle Andy into being his onsite watchdog and inspector of the project. The remodel would take at least nine months and with Collin at college working on his degree he couldn’t very well be running back to the work-site every weekend to check on the progress.

Mr. Chris also received phone calls from the vocational directors of the schools that competed in last year’s Three Finger Cove Christmas Decoration Competition. They all wanted to know what the design was going to be for that year’s Holiday competition. Mr. Chris told all four schools that this year’s competition was going to be a Gingerbread House.

The Estate Master told the vocational directors that they had to decide how elaborate they wanted to make their Gingerbread House and how much they wanted to light it up, too. He also told them that the house should be no larger than 8 x 8 x 10 feet and easily brought to the estate and erected in one afternoon. Mr. Chris told them all that he would forward their initial starting stipend early next week,

During their weekly meetings in the Study, ‘dad’ Ken told Bill and Robert that the Marina store manager was looking for part-time workers and that if they knew of any of their friends who were still looking for jobs they should stop by and apply. ‘Dad’ Ken told them he did not know how many positions were available, but if they don’t apply, they can’t get even be considered.

During one of those meeting, Charles reminded his dad of his orthodontist appointment that he said that he wanted to go to with him. Dad Ken said that he definitely wanted to go as if he remembered correctly that Charles should only have another month or two left before he would have them completely off. Charles smiled that his dad remembered that back in April the dentist told him he should only have another six months before they would decide if his teeth have been totally corrected.

This appointment was coming five months since that appointment and the teenager should have a good idea if he would have the braces taken off permanently the following month and if he would still have to wear some sort of retainer afterwards. Or, he would learn if he would need to have the braces on for another month or longer.

During that week, the high school boys made arrangements with their friends for that Friday night to attend the Alvin York’s home football game. Charles and his friends were the most enthusiastic about going, as this was the first time they would get to go and see what being at the game was all about.

Momma made dinner early on that Friday so the teenagers would have a good meal before they left for the game. Billy, Robert and Charles’ friend’s parents stopped by The Cove around six o’clock to pick the boys up for a seven o’clock kick-off. ‘Dad’ Ken thanked all of the parents for doing that for his ‘boys’. But the parents all told him that for all that’s he’s done for their sons and family this was the least they could do for his ‘sons’.

During the week the puppies continued to grow by leaps and bounds. The Cover boys also got to play with them after school and the pups enjoyed the added experience. Chief was also using the day time to get her brood in line. She would lead them out to play through the doggie door and she continued to train them where she wanted them to do their business.

Chief would also correct the puppy that wouldn’t fall in line with her directions. The other puppies would watch and take notice and understand that ‘mom’ meant business when she wanted them to do something and they didn’t follow her commands.

At the football game, Charles and Cooper met up with their other friends Camm, Asher, Mason, Jacob, Hunter, David, Dylan, Tyler and Richard. The eleven friends walked around together and many people thought they were members of the Freshman football team. The thing was that none of them had ever thought of joining the team.

The eleven freshmen were having a good time being out and doing something they had never done before. They were enjoying their freshman year being at the football game and talking to all the girls and the other freshmen that had met during those first days of school. They hardly ever watched any of the game.

Billy and Robert had their own friends at the game and had done what Charles and his friends were doing, but now they were more interested in sitting with their friends and watching the game and cheering their team on.

Matthew and Phillip felt all alone that Friday night with all three of their big ‘brothers’ gone for the night. And since Momma had fixed dinner early and ‘dad’ Ken didn’t have his usual meeting in the Study they were bored and they told their ‘dad’ that.

So, ‘dad’ Ken fixed their boredom by taking them out to Four Corners and treating them to letting them drive the Go-Karts and then either riding the amusement rides or playing the games. The boys chose playing he games. Even ‘dad’ Ken played the games with them that evening and the three Covers had their own fun, while the other three Covers were at the football game.

When the six Covers finally gathered together that Friday night, they had a good ‘family’ talk down in the Great Room with the seven pups sitting on their laps and enjoying being petted and groomed all the while being watched by Chief.

Each Cover talked about their night and how much fun they had each had at the football game or driving the Go-Karts and playing the games at Four Corners Amusement Park. Then before long it was time to go up their rooms. The pups had to go back to their three-foot high puppy coral that comprised a 10 x 12 foot area full of old blankets plus their whelping box and they weren’t happy, because they loved being pampered and lying peacefully in one of the boy’s laps. But Chief got them in line, and before long the Great Room was quiet.

The weekend was a typical one with the Cover’s friends coming over and Phillip’s band mates playing in the Pavilion garage and the cook team getting the barbeque ready, while the rest of the boys either sat around and talked about school, skated, or drove the PWCs, sailed the boats, or swam in the cove. A few even rode in the three-seat tube and were pulled behind the Sea-Doo.

The following week at the high school the Cover’s friend talked about the football game and about the home game that coming Friday. They all made plans as to who could pick up whom and at what time.

Mr. Wayne, Mr. Dennis and Mr. Chris all got to feed the puppies and they all played some with them. Chris was the most observant about how Chief had been training her brood to go potty in one section of the grass before they went and played with one another. The three men also watched as Chief was trying to get the pups to learn to sit and to lay down.

They watched Chief bark out a command and then show the pups what she wanted them to do. Not all of them followed her command at first, but after a few days of training, all of the pups would sit at her command and lay down, also. The men were impressed that Chief was able to get her family to ‘listen’ to her.

The Estate Master was also working with the caterer on the Labor Day Picnic. It would happen that coming Saturday and begin at about noon and continue until everyone had enough and began to leave. The usual people were invited including the local fire station, who were invited to stop by for their evening meal, as they had been in the past.

Mr. Ken had also talked to Dan and Sheriff Barnes to remind the Sheriff Deputies who were on duty, and in the area, that they could stop by for something to eat. The Deputies who stopped by last year had spread the word that the food was better than they could get at any restaurant and the conversation was worth stopping by for.

Also, during the week, Mr. Ken stayed in contact with Kate. The two talked as much as they could and Ken kept his girlfriend abreast of what was happening at the Cove with the upcoming Picnic and the Grand Opening of the Marina. He also reminded her that he would love to have her with him for the opening night of the seafood restaurant at the marina.

Mr. Ken also talked with Amy Ozarker, the back east lawyer, about the DNA samples she was having her investigator trying to get from the men who could possibly be Rusty’s father. Ken reminded Amy that he couldn’t get back east until after he has his Fall Meeting of the Park’s Operations Managers the weekend after Labor Day.

Ken Thomas and his marina project investors also got together and talked some more about their Labor Day Grand Opening of the Marina. They also did a walk-through of the restaurant which was well underway to being ready for its Grand Opening around the first of October. They had yet to pick a name for the seafood restaurant.

It was during that week that most of the teenagers involved in the Food Court melee where Richard Longger was stabbed went to court. It wasn’t something that was advertised and only Mr. Ken found about it when he read the article in his morning newspaper.

Ken Thomas was surprised at what he read. He hadn’t heard anything from Dan about the pending plea bargain and neither had Charles from his friend Richard. But the man was happy for Richard that one aspect of his ordeal was over. He only hoped that the other two would also accept a plea bargain so that Richard could move forward with his life, and put that whole ordeal behind him.

Dad Ken talked to Charles about what he read in the newspaper about the plea bargain the five teenagers accepted, who were involved in his fried Richard’s attack last June. He wanted his son to know about it before he left for school, just in case he heard anything about it at school, so he could help his friend fend off any insensitive classmates who wanted to know more about the attack.

Also, during that week, Charles and his dad went to the orthodontist to get some feedback on his braces and how well they had worked in straightening out his teeth. The teenager had the current ones taken off and he was allowed to brush his teeth and then the technician did a teeth cleaning and took a full mouth x-ray before the dentist did a complete check.

The dentist told Charles and his dad that everything was as he expected and that they should continue to use the braces for at least another 30 to 45 days, at which time Charles would be relegated to wearing a retainer.

Charles wanted to know how long he would have to wear the retainer. The Dentist told the teenager that the retainer helps keep his teeth in the correct place, so they don’t move. He told him that once the braces straighten your teeth, you need the retainer to keep them that way. The dentist said they would talk about that more when the braces finally come off.

Charles would have to wear the braces one last time and so the colors he chose were orange and brown in celebration of the coming Fall season.

During the week, Bruce Price, Sully’s owner called Mr. Ken and asked him when he could come by and chose his two pups. Mr. Ken told Bruce that the puppies were due to have their first shots that Wednesday and he would rather he waited until the puppies were at least eight weeks old before he removed his two from the brood.

Ken Thomas told Mr. Price that Chief had been doing some training of her own and had the pups going through her doggie door, and, for the most part, using the same area to do their business. The owner of The Cove also told Bruce that Chief had been getting the puppies to begin to sit and lay down at her barking commands.

Mr. Ken added that his employees have been working with the pups during the day and his ‘boys’ had been playing with the pups when they get home from school, so the puppies were getting them used to being around many different people. The man also told Mr. Price that the pups were now totally weened and were eating soft foods.

Bruce Price was a bit disappointed about not getting to choose his two puppies right now, but he also realized that with Mr. Thomas willing to keep the pups for another two weeks they would grow a bit more and he was having to deal with all the mess that seven pups can make.

But the one thing that Bruce Price felt was the best part of Mr. Thomas keeping the pups was that Chief was trying to train her brood some and his ‘boys’ were giving the pups some family interaction that they undoubtedly need to have when they go to their forever homes. So. Bruce agreed to wait another sixteen days before he would stop by and choose his two pups in exchange for Sully being Chief’s sire.

One other important appointment occurred Friday morning of that week and that was Mackenzie Flores, Phillip’s mom, met with the Judge who had originally sentenced her for child endangerment and abandonment when she left her son Phillip home alone for the umpteenth time.

The judge had sentenced her to attend parenting and money management classes and to attend work coaching courses to get some meaningful training in order for her to get a job. The judge had also required the woman to work at a job for at least four weeks, so she could get into a work position which would let her begin to take care of herself and her son.

Mackenzie talked to the judge about her responsibility to care for her son and she wanted to know how soon she had to accept her son back into her home. She explained that she didn’t have a lot of money from the four weeks of work and that she would need to pay rent, buy food, buy gas and clothes for them both, and she didn’t think she could do all of that right away.

The judge told Mackenzie to get in contact with Children’s Protective Services and to talk to them about a timeframe that they could work with the foster family her son was assigned to. The judge then released Mackenzie and told her that she was free to go.

After Mackenzie left the courthouse, she immediately called Judy Turner, because she was the CPS person who handled her son’s placement. The Director’s secretary wouldn’t put the call through initially. That was until Mackenzie explained that Ms. Turner was the person who assigned her son with Mr. Ken and she needed to coordinate with her to get her son back.

When Ms. Judy came on the line with Mackenzie Flores, she learned that the mother wasn’t ready to take her son back yet, and she wanted to know how much time she had before she had to take her Philly back.

Judy Turner was taken aback when she learned that the mother didn’t want her son back right away. Mackenzie asked if she could talk with Mr. Ken about him continuing to take care of her son until, which time, she had enough money that she felt she could take care of them both.

Ms. Judy told Mackenzie that Mr. Thomas was hosting a huge picnic tomorrow, Saturday, with upwards of 300 guests and that it would be impossible for her to set up a meeting with him. Judy Turner explained that Mr. Thomas would be busy with all of his guests and that he wouldn’t have the time to set aside to talk to her about doing what she wanted to do.

Ms. Judy asked if Sunday at about one o’clock would work for her. Ms. Flores asked if she could make it earlier in the day. But Judy Turner told the woman that the man usually takes the boys out to breakfast on Sundays and they wouldn’t be home before one o’clock.

Mackenzie Flores asked if Monday would work then. Ms. Judy told the woman that she would have to talk to Mr. Thomas to see when he would be available, and she would get back with her.

Mackenzie Flores didn’t want to hear that. She was already planning her ‘free’ weekend in her mind and she wanted the man to meet her at her convenience, not at his. But she was now going to have to wait until Ms. Turner contacted her.

Once Judy Turner was off the phone with Mackenzie, she called Ken at his office. Rosemary Martin, Mr. Ken’s executive secretary, learning the call was coming from the Director of Children’s Protective Services put the call right through to Mr. Thomas, telling him who was calling.

Judy told her friend about her just completed call from Mackenzie to let him know what the woman wanted to do. Ken was surprised that Phillip’s mother wanted to delay taking her son back into her home. He told Judy that he wasn’t sure what the boy would think when he learned that his mom didn’t want him home just yet.

The two friends talked about when it would be a good time for Ken and Mackenzie to meet to talk and even better where. Judy told Ken that Mackenzie wanted to meet tomorrow, but that she explained about his picnic and that he wouldn’t be available. Then Judy told him that Mackenzie wanted to have that talk early on Sunday, but Judy said she told her that he usually took the boys out to breakfast on Sunday and wouldn’t be home until after one o’clock. Ken thanked Judy for that quick thinking, as he needed the time to think this through.

Ken then told Judy that he figured if Phillip’s mother came to The Cove to talk about Phillip remaining there for some time to come, the boy would want to know when he was going home, and that would not be the case. After thinking about the situation for a few moments, Ken told Judy it might be best if he and Mackenzie met at the Four Corners Diner Monday morning to discuss her intent and then from there go back to The Cove and have her talk to Phillip about her decision.

Judy Turner thought that might be the best course of action, so the two could talk out the woman’s plan and then take it from there. Judy also told her friend that she would also have to be there since the boy is in the CPS system and their decision will impact how CPS handles Phillip going forward. They decided to meet Monday morning at ten o’clock at the Diner and Judy would handle calling Mackenzie.

Rosemary watched for when Ken Thomas hung up the phone call with the Director of CPS. She knew that her employer was a foster parent, but she was concerned that with the Director herself call and that there could be some problem with one of his foster sons.

So, the executive secretary walked into the office to talk to Mr. Ken, and when she did, she saw the long look on Mr. Thomas’ face and figured something wasn’t right. So, she asked him if there was anything she could help him with.

Mr. Ken sighed and thanked Ms. Martin for her concern. The man then told her that Ms. Turner’s call was about one of his foster sons. The man explained that one of the boys had been looking forward to going back home after the Labor Day weekend, but the boy’s mother just told the Director of CPS that she wasn’t ready for her son to come home just yet, and wanted to meet with him about extending his fostering of her son.

Rosemary was shocked when she heard that a mother didn’t want her son back just yet. Not ever having known someone who had been a foster parent, she didn’t know what to say, other than to tell him that he could count on her if he needed anything done.

Mr. Ken knew what the woman meant and thanked her for the offer. He then asked her not to say anything to anyone at the Picnic tomorrow, as he wouldn’t talk to the boy until after his meeting with the boy’s mother on Monday. Ms. Martin told the man she understood what he was asking of her.

That Friday night Momma Maria again had dinner early for the Covers. That was so the high schoolers could have something to eat before attending the football game later that evening. Robert, Charles and Billy’s friend’s parents again picked them up at the Main Gate just past six o’clock for the seven o’clock kick-off time. ‘Dad’ Ken was at the Main Gate to again thank the parents for taking his ‘boys’ to the game.

And, as he’d done the previous Friday night, when the teenaged boys went to the football game, ‘dad’ Ken took Matthew and Phillip over to Four Corners, and with Collin home, this time he went along, too. The boys, and Collin, got in line to drive the Go-Karts first before that line got very long and then they went over to the amusement park and this time they rode a few of the rides, and ‘dad’ Ken and Collin joined them.

The four Covers had a fun time together and the boys especially enjoyed that it was just them with their ‘dad’ and their oldest big ‘brother’. And after they rode a few rides and played some games, the four went over to Ken’s Kreamy Kone and they all enjoyed a two-dip Sundae before heading home.

That night, as they’d done last Friday, the Covers sat in the Great Room, with the puppies in their laps, and they talked about their night. The puppies enjoyed being stroked and hugged and overall pampered as they lay or sat in the Cover’s laps. Chief was there watching that her brood was being well taken care of.

When their stories were done, the Covers put the puppies back into the three-foot coral that also contained the whelping box, and again the pups weren’t too happy to be off the warm and safe laps. The boys then went up to their rooms and waited for ‘dad’ Ken to arrive to say goodnight to them.

It had been another busy week for all of the Covers and the weekend would start with the Labor Day Picnic. But tonight, all of the Covers needed to have a good night’s rest, so they would be ready to enjoy the busy picnic tomorrow. Everyone slept well, except, that is, Mr. Ken, who was dismayed at the prospect of having to tell Phillip that he wasn’t going home after all.

The saga of Three Finger Cove continues. Let Chowhound know you are reading his story: Chowhnd at Gmail dot Com

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