Published: 16 Jan 2025

From The Previous Chapter:

But Mr. Ken said that he had something that he wanted Mackenzie to do for him and Phillip. Mackenzie quickly asked him what that was.

“Mackenzie … I want you … to come back to The Cove with me … and talk to your son and tell him why …why he isn’t coming back home with you just yet. … For the last four to six weeks … all your son has thought about is when …is when he would be going home to live with his mom.

“So … so, I want you to come home with me to explain it to him … to explain to him why … why you have asked that he stay with me for the next six to nine months. Mackenzie … your son … he needs to know from his mother … why she made this decision, so he understands it. So … so when his ‘brothers’ … when his friends … when they ask him why he didn’t go home after Labor Day, as he’d been telling them he can explain it to them.”

It was much later when he got back to The Cove than he wanted, but Mr. Ken’s meeting went longer than expected. When he walked into the Kitchen Nook, the boys were all dressed and ready to go and they kiddingly asked him, “What took him so long?”

“Boys … my meeting … unfortunately, it was more difficult than I expected.”

The boys heard it in his voice, and they also noticed it in the way he was acting that there was something wrong. When he walked back to his Study, Robert told his ‘brothers’ that they needed to give their ‘dad’ some time to recover from whatever it was that happened at the meeting that he just came back from.

The boys sat around the Nook’s table trying to think of when was the last time they saw their ‘dad’ acting the way he was, so they could try to figure out what was wrong. For the life of them, none of them could think back to a time when they could remember their ‘dad’ behaving as he was right now.

Even though Billy was the oldest of all the boys, Robert, being the oldest son and who had been here the longest, was the de facto ‘info whisperer’ to the boy’s ‘dad’ to find out what was going on, so he could let his ‘brothers’ know what was going on.

Robert went to the Study to talk to his dad when he heard him on the phone. The Study door was open, and he didn’t want to pry, but as he walked away, he heard his dad say, “… so she decided she wasn’t going to stop by.” And with that, he went back to the Kitchen Nook to tell his ‘brothers what he heard.

Collin was going to drive up to his college house today, because his classes began that Wednesday and he needed to go grocery shopping and to just get settled so he was mentally ready to started his junior year of college.

It was going towards noon and the young man had planned to go to Brunch with the other Covers and then leave from Four Corners, but he didn’t want to get on the road too late. So, he decided to go to the Study and knock on the doorframe and ask his Big Bro if and when they would head out to go and eat.

“Knock, knock, knock,” offered Collin, as he knocked on the doorframe and stood in the doorway waiting for his Big Bro to acknowledge him.

“Oh, Collin, yes, come in, please. What can I do for you?” responded Big Brother Ken.

“Ah … we were wondering when we were going to go out to eat. Remember, I’m going to leave from the restaurant and head back to the college house and get settled as my classes being on Wednesday. So … inquiring minds …,” teased Collin.

“Oh, yes, the Brunch I promised all of you. I … I’m afraid that it is going to have to be delayed for a little while, Collin. I can’t tell you why, right now, but … it will become apparent real soon. I am waiting for someone to arrive, and then … and then I, we, are going to have another meeting. Can you go out to the Nook and please tell the boys that. Please tell them that I am sorry that this is happening, but … but I will make it up to them. I also have to make a few other calls before the person I am expecting arrives. Thank you, Collin,” finished Big Bro Ken.

As Collin departed the Study, Mr. Ken made his phone calls to Dan, Wayne and Dennis. He explained to them why he was delaying their arrival at the shooting range and they all said they understood. He told them that he would first take to boys out to eat at the either the Diner, or a fast-food place, and then they would meet them out at the range and let the boys shoot about one hundred rounds. He added that after that they’d head to the Marina and check it out now that the Grand Opening was in full force.

As Mr. Ken was on the phone, Judy Turner came to The Cove. When the Foyer doorbell rang, and the boys went to see who it was, they were surprised to see Ms. Judy and Eric there. Ms. Judy told them that she was there to see their ‘dad’. Eric spoke up and said he was there to go out with them on their ‘family’ day when they went.

The arrival of Ms. Judy and Eric cause the boys to really speculate as to what their ‘dad’s’ meeting earlier that morning was all about and if they were now getting another ‘brother’. They bugged Eric to tell them what he knew, and all Eric could tell them was that his mom never tells him anything that has to do with the boys and girls in the CPS system and, especially, if they have to do with The Cove.

Judy and Ken talked as to why Mackenzie didn’t want to talk to Phillip about why she was extending his stay in the CPS system. They both had their own ideas as to why she didn’t want to talk to her son, but in the end they were relegated to having to talk to the boy themselves.

They really didn’t want to have to do this, and they talked about holding off until later in the week, but Ken told Judy that the sooner they tell Phillip the better it will be so the boy could begin to deal with the rejection he will undoubtedly feel from his mother.

So, after a few minutes of consultation, Mr. Ken went out to the Kitchen Nook and asked Phillip to come with him to his Study. The other boys began to follow, as they usually did, but ‘dad’ Ken told them that this was going to be a private talk between he and Phillip.

Phillip was now scared. He had no idea as to why he was being called into the Study, and with Ms. Judy there he thought that maybe he was being moved. But then, he wondered why he would be moved if he was going to be going home.

Then the young Cover figured that was why Ms. Judy was there, because she was going to be taking him home, since she was the one who brought him there. That thought put a big smile on his face.

“Phillip … please take a seat,” offered Mr. Ken, who took a chair opposite him, as did Ms. Judy.

“‘Son … this morning, Ms. Judy and I … we had a meeting with your mom and grandmother. The meeting was about you and when you would be going home. As you know, I told you that the judge had told your mother that she had to complete some educational courses and attend some training courses to prepare her to be out it the workforce.

“Well, your mom … she did all of that and she met with the judge last Friday.”

“So, that means I’m going to back living with my mom? When do I get to go? Tonight, I hope!” exclaimed Phillip.

Ms. Judy looked at Mr. Ken and indicated that she wanted to say something.

“Phillip … your mother …after she met with the judge on Friday …she called me … and we talked about when she would be ready for you to go back living with her. That was the reason for our meeting earlier this morning.”

“What did she say? What did she say?” abruptly asked the young Cover.

“Phillip … your mom,” began Mr. Ken, “your mom … she wants you … she wants you to remain with me here at The Cove for another … six to nine months.”

“NO! NO! NO!”, yelled Phillip, who then got up from his chair, and ran out of the Study and up the stairs and presumably to his room.

All of the boys heard Phillip yell, “NO! NO! NO!” and they all came running to the Study and they all saw their ‘brother’ running up the stairs crying, and still saying, “No, no, no!”

“Dad,” started Robert, “can I asked what’s wrong? Why is our ‘brother’ crying and why did he yell “NO! so many times?”

‘Dad’ Ken looked up the stairs knowing he had to go to the boy. But he also needed to tell the boys a little bit about what was happening. So, he decided to give them a very quick synopsis.

“Boys … your ‘brother’ … his mother … she has asked that he stay with us for a little while longer, while she gets her affairs together in order for Phillip to come home. That’s all I’m going to tell you for now. Phillip may tell you more later, but remember … it is up to him to tell you anything more than that. So, if you will excuse me, one of your ‘brothers’ needs me,” finished ‘dad’ Ken, who then walked up the stairs.

As ‘dad’ Ken walked up the stairs gathering his thoughts, the boys began to ask Ms. Judy to tell them more. They asked her if she was at the meeting that their ‘dad’ was at earlier that morning and if she was to tell them all about it.

“Boys … yes … I was at the meeting between your ‘dad’ and Phillip’s mother. And all I can tell you is that Phillip’s mother has asked that he remain in the CPS system until such time she is prepared for him to come home. And as your ‘dad’ has stated … anything more has to come from Phillip himself.

“I know this has delayed the start of your ‘family day’, but rest assured your ‘dad’ … he will make it up to you, I am sure,” offered Ms. Judy.

“Do you know what he has planned?’ asked Matthew.

“Yes, I do. That is why I brought Eric over. He’ a Cover, too,” laughed Ms. Judy.

Upstairs, Mr. Ken walked to Phillip’s room and he looked in and saw the boy crying his heart out on the bed. His own heart went out to the young man knowing how much the boy was looking forward to finally going home to live with his mom, once again.

After knocking on the doorframe and not getting a response, ‘dad’ Ken walked into the bedroom and sat on the bed where the boy was crying. He began rubbing the boy’s back to try to begin calming him down. The boy didn’t move, at first, but as ‘dad’ Ken began to talk to him, Phillip looked up and seeing it was his ‘dad’, turned and grabbed for him and hugged him as tight as he could.

“WHY? Why didn’t she want me to come home, ‘dad’? Why?” asked Phillip, through his tears.

All ‘dad’ Ken did was continue to hug the boy and rub him on his back to get him to calm down some more before he would talk to him about what was said at their meeting that morning.

Phillip continued to ask, “Why doesn’t she want me to come home, ‘dad’? Why doesn’t she want me to come home? Can you tell me why she doesn’t want me home, ‘dad’?” cried Phillip.

“Phillip … when you are calmer, I will attempt to tell you what we talked about this morning. But I need you to be focused, so you will understand what I am saying. OK, young man?” asked ‘dad’ Ken.

Phillip began to wipe the tears off his cheeks onto his sleeve and Mr. Ken went to get him some tissues, so he could clean up his nose which was dripping from all the crying he was doing.

Once the young Cover had composed himself enough that ‘dad’ Ken thought that he could have a serious conversation with the boy, Mr. Ken and Phillip on the bed facing one another.

“Phillip … this is not going to be an easy discussion. I will try to explain to you what your mother told us this morning as to why she wants to delay your returning home to her,” started Mr. Ken.

“But why would she not want me to come home and live with her. Doesn’t she love me anymore?” asked Phillip, who started crying again, thinking about why his mom didn’t want him.

‘Dad’ Ken grabbed the boy and pulled him to him and hugged him.

“Phillip … your mother does love you. That is why she wants you to stay with us for a little while longer. That is what I want to talk to you about. But … I need you to be focused, so you can understand what I am telling you. Now … blow your nose and wipe those tears, young man, and let’s see if we can get through this. OK?” teased ‘dad’ Ken, as he rib-tickled the boy.

The boy did as he was asked and then he sat opposite his ‘dad’ and then ‘dad’ Ken started to tell the boy why his mother didn’t want him home just yet.

“Phillip … your mom … she told us this morning that … that she doesn’t make enough money that she feels she would be able to adequately operate the household. That means she doesn’t think she would have enough money for rent, groceries, gas and clothes and all the other things necessary to keep you both going.

“You mother … she also wants to try to keep up your guitar lessons, once you go back living with her, and to do that she needs to have extra money in the bank. And to do that she wants to try to get a better job and to save the money, so she can give the better things you deserve,” were the little white lies that ‘dad’ Ken told his youngest ‘son’.

After Phillip thought about what his ‘dad’ just told him, the boy said, “There was more, wasn’t there. There had to be. You were gone a very long time. I’ll bet my mom … I’ll bet she’s embarrassed that she can’t compete with what you’ve been able to give me in the short time that I’ve lived here with you. I’m right, aren’t I?” directly asked Phillip.

‘Dad’ Ken hesitated, at first, but knowing he’d told those white lies to the boy, he wanted to be as honest as he could be, so he told Phillip, “Yes, in a sense, that is what your mother said. But you can’t blame her for not giving you what I’ve been able to give you. It was just the luck of the draw that Ms. Judy brought you to live with me and your ‘brothers’.

“You could very well had been taken to one of the many other foster homes that would have been like the place where you came from. There you probably wouldn’t have gotten a guitar and you’d never have gotten brand new clothes,” began ‘dad’ Ken, before being interrupted by the boy.

“And there Rafael would have easily found me and taken me away and I would never have been found. Right?” demanded Phillip.

“Phillip, we’ll never know what would have happened. What we do know is that Rafael Ruiz … that he has been arrested, after he shot it out with Sheriff Deputies, and he is still in jail and is awaiting his trial. But I want you to know that I am happy that you are living with me. You have given life to The Cove. You got to be Chief’s buddy until Collin came back to live here, but he is going back to college today, so she will be back with you very soon.

‘What else did my mother say, ‘dad’? Why else did she say that she didn’t want me home yet?” simply asked Phillip.

“Oh, Phillip … your mother …she is thinking only about you and giving you what she feels is best for you right now. She knows that if you were to go back to the apartment that you won’t have the same type of friends that you now have, the same good school you now attend, and most of all … you won’t have your band.

“Your mother … she knows how much the band means to you. You obviously told her when you talked to her and she listened. She wants the best for you right now, and she knows she can’t give you anything close to what I’ve exposed you to.

“By the way … I did ask your grandmother if she would want to keep you while your mother got her feet back on the ground, so she could save enough money in order to pay for the nice clothes, good food, and other things she would like for you to have. But your grandmother … she said that she was too set in her ways and couldn’t keep you for more than a week, or so,” revealed ‘dad’ Ken.

“‘Dad’ … will I ever get to see my mom and grandma again? And … can we talk about this some more, later? I know I’m hungry, and if I’m hungry; my ‘brothers’ are probably starved,” smiled Phillip.

‘Dad’ Ken ruffled the boy’s hair and told him that they could talk about him visiting his mother and grandmother in the future and about why his mother wanted him to stay there with him. The man then added, but for now he needed to remember that he didn’t have to tell his ‘brothers’ anything about what we talked about unless he wanted to. Phillip said he understood that.

‘Dad’ Ken then told the boy to go drain his dragon and then to change his shirt as it was all snotted up. That made the boy laugh. The two shared a hug and the young Cover thanked his ‘dad’ for talking to him about why he was staying at The Cove.

Mr. Ken walked down the stairs to the waiting boys whom he told to go drain their dragons, because as soon as their ‘brother’ came downstairs they would head out to eat.

Ms. Judy asked Ken if everything was going to be alright with Phillip. Ken told her that he thought it would be and that he promised he would talk with the boy some more when he wanted to.

Ken also told Judy that Phillip wanted to know if he would ever get to see his mom and grandmother. The man told Judy that there was no reason why they shouldn’t get together, sometime in the future, but maybe they should wait at least a week or three.

The two shared a smile about the ‘week or three’ comment and Ken then asked Judy to follow them to where ever they would eat lunch. She agreed to do that, but she said she was not going to join them afterwards.

When Phillip came downstairs, his ‘brothers’ asked him if he was going to be OK. Phillip told them that they had to put up with him for a little while longer. When they asked him how long was that, the young Cover told them, “Until I graduate from college”, then he laughed. Everyone laughed at the supposed joke.

‘Dad’ Ken asked the boys where they wanted to eat. They told him anywhere but the Four Corners Diner as parking would be hard to find. So, they decided on a fast-food place.

Mr. Ken went into his Study to make a phone call to Wayne to tell him where they were going to eat, so he could call Dan and Dennis and the three of them could meet them there, or meet them at the agreed upon place in about ninety minutes.

Mr. Ken had already placed the guns and ammo in the back of the van in a locked compartment, so the boys would have no idea they would be headed to the shooting range after they ate.

To say the Covers were hungry when they left The Cove that afternoon would be an understatement. Even Collin stuck around to learn what the big meeting was all about that morning, and he wanted to learn how it affected his youngest ‘brother’ Phillip.

After he ate, Collin would then head off to his college house to get himself mentally ready for his junior year of college, while the rest of the Covers would go to the shooting range for some shooting fun that they hadn’t had in a long time.

Chief and her brood, on the other hand, were down in the Great Room and would wait for the family to return.

There you have it. Phillip’s story.

Yes, there is more to the young Cover’s story, and you will read more about the latest Cover in future stories, just as you have the other Covers – Collin, Robert, Charles, Kevin, Kyle, Matthew, Billy, and Mark.

I hope you enjoyed reading Phillip’s story. Please let me know if you find any errors in the story, so that I may correct them for future readers.

In the meantime, please remember to read the other wonderful stories from the other authors here at Castle Roland.

ChowHound

This part of the saga of Three Finger Cove ends. Let Chowhound know you are reading his story: Chowhnd at Gmail dot Com

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