Rosemary Martin, Ken’s executive secretary, came over to him and thanked him for inviting her to his estate, and that very special Memorial Day Picnic. She told him that she wasn’t too sure about coming, but now that she was there, she was very happy she came.

The executive secretary told him about getting to meet the people who he surrounds himself with and saw how they can’t say enough about what he has done for their boys and how much they love him. She added that she now has a much better understanding of what he does and an admiration for what he is doing to help out the many foster boys he has, and probably will, well into the future. When she finished, she hugged him, and then she walked away.

Ms. Jackie, Jacqueline Kromiere, Mr. Ken’s Projects Manager, and her family; husband Westley, a Public Relations executive, son, Austin, and daughter, Journee, came over to him also to let him know how much they enjoyed themselves that day. The children told him they were looking forward to the special vacation he was giving them to visit all of his amusement parks and to experience them first hand.

Jackie told her boss she didn’t know how she and Wes were going to keep them grounded until late July when they get to go. Ken told her he has seven going next Saturday and they all can’t wait until school is over. Jackie asked who the other two were. Mr. Ken told her one was Mark, who stayed with him last summer, and the other was Eric who was Collin’s little brother from way back and Robert’s Best Friend. Jackie thanked him for the update and said she’d see him on Tuesday.

One of the people who also came up to talk to him was Mark. The one-time Cover asked him straight out if he meant it, that he could go with them to visit his amusement parks when school was over. Mr. Ken told the youngster that with him being a Cover, like Eric, he could go, but that he had to have his parent’s permission, because he no longer had any official paperwork on him. He told the boy that they would have to give him a Special Power of Attorney (POA) giving him the power to act in their stead in case he was injured, while with them.

Mark didn’t wait for any further explanations, as he ran to his mom and dad to ask them if they’d let him go to with Mr. Ken to visit his amusement parks when school was over. This, of course, caused Levi and Miriam to immediately seek out Mr. Ken to learn more about Mark’s traveling with the Covers to visit Mr. Ken’s amusement parks.

“Ken, what’s this about Mark going with you to visit your amusement parks?” asked Miriam. “He came running to us asking if he can go with you when school is over. Can you tell us more about this, please?”

Mr. Ken told Miriam and Levi that, as a Cover, Mark was welcome to go with him and the boys when they left next Saturday to visit all five of his amusement parks.

Hearing that he now owned five parks, the Goldersons asked the man when he bought the last one. Ken Thomas then gave them a quick rundown on how that all happened. He then told them that Mark could go along, but that he would need a Special Power of Attorney that would legally cover Mark being with him, and his being able to approve any medical emergency care if that ever happened. Mr. Ken said that he’d need POA before they left and that Mark could spend the night next Friday, as they would leave at o’dark thirty Saturday morning.

Levi then quickly asked Ken if he needed any more chaperones. Mr. Ken smiled and told the Goldersons that Judy Turner was going along for the first five days and that Dan was joining them for the last five, and that they would be switching off just as Levi and Dan did last year.

The owner of the amusement parks told Levi that if they go to the parks later in the summer, he’d give him first chance to help chaperone. That put a smile on Levi’s face and he also received a hit on his shoulder from Miriam who told him he was reliving his ‘childhood’.

By then Ben Walthers had arrived with his new Four Corners Amusement Park Operations Manager, Nelson Sanders, and brought him over to Mr. Ken, so the two could talk. They already knew one another, as Ken Thomas had been to his Crystal Lake Amusement Park many times, where Nelson was the Assistant Ops Manager.

Mr. Ken told the man to get something to eat and then Ben could introduce him to the other members of the office staff, who were there at the Picnic. He added that they could talk more about the new Four Corners Amusement Park next week, at the office, after he gets himself settled.

Mr. Ken made a point to find and talk to Chris and Sandra about their adopting one of Chief’s puppies. Sandra told him that she wasn’t too sure about taking on such a big responsibility as a new puppy. But Ken told her to look at how much fun her children were having playing with Chief, and that any puppy of hers will be just as gentle and playful as her.

Mr. Ken added that the new puppy will also give the children a sense of responsibility, and that if they know in advance that they are getting one, they can begin to plan for its arrival and what they will name it. Ken then offered to take the puppy back if the dog didn’t work out. That sealed the deal for Sandra, who agreed to accept the puppy when it was weened.

Sandra then asked when they could expect to receive the puppy. Mr. Ken told her that Chief had mated during the middle of May and he expected the puppies to arrive sometime around the middle to end of July. He told the woman that within eight weeks after that, they could expect to receive their puppy.

Sandra then asked whether they would get to choose a male or female. The owner of The Cove told her that Bruce Price, the owner of the sire of the puppies, would get to choose one or two puppies depending on the size of the litter. That he then gets to choose the next one, as he wants a second dog for the estate. The man then told her that she would get to choose their puppy, after the Goldersons. That put a smile on Sandra Dominions face.

The Picnic moved along just fine that beautiful Saturday afternoon. Many a father and son took advantage of the indoor pool and went swimming. Even the Dodenhoffer’s, Gus, his dad, Ulrich and brother, Gunther, went swimming. The dad and brother were pleasantly surprised at the facility that Gus got to use when he came over every weekend. Of course, Billy gave the dad and the brother the swim test, and after that the three of them enjoyed jumping off rock ledge and swimming while talking to all of Gus’s friends.

Dracken Schwimminger finally saw a chance to talk to his friend Ken Thomas. Their initial meeting was when Collin and his daughter, Hannah, had a big ‘she said; he said’ dispute that caused Collin to call in his ‘Uncle Andy’, Andrew Marshall, who was also his legal corporate counsel.

The daughter and her friend Brittany demanded that Collin pay them each $100,000.00 and take out a full-page ad in the school newspaper and apologize, to them both for what he supposedly did. But in the end, it was the two girls who had to pay Collin after he brought suit against Brittany and Hannah and he won. The girls were made to pay him $25,000.00 each, much to the chagrin of their parents.

Even after that, they had a few other, not so good, encounters. But that all ended when Ken Thomas learned that Dracken’s younger daughter was having sex with an older boy and was planning to have the boy’s baby. Ken called Dracken to tell him about it, and it was then that the two became friends and have been ever since.

This was the first time he’d been invited to one of Ken Thomas’ special picnics, so Dracken wanted to thank him. But after the special blessing he saw Ken receive from the archbishop, he wanted to congratulate his friend on it. Dracken knew what the archbishop did would be known throughout the community before the night was over and his name would be ‘saint like’ forever more.

“Ken,” called out Dracken, as he went up to Ken Thomas, “I want to thank you for inviting us to this Picnic. I can see why you have it. Just about anyone who is anyone in the county government is here. And, I also see there are a number of prominent businessmen here, as well, and they are all talking with one another. And I didn’t see a thing,” laughed the lawyer.

“Dracken, I am glad you could be here. I have this, a Labor Day Picnic as well as my Holiday parties that many of the same people are at, and they seem to get a lot more accomplished here than they can at the office,” now laughed the host, who was joined in by Dracken who understood the ramifications of what the host was implying.

As the day moved on, Mr. Ken tried to talk to all of his guests. The Jackson brothers, who are Billy and the Golderson lawyers against the alarm company, because of their failure to properly repair the alarm after knowing it did not work, told Ken that they were confident that there would be a substantial settlement before the end of the summer. Ken Thomas was happy to hear that for Billy and the Goldersons’ sakes.

Sheriff Barnes, before he left the Picnic, thanked Ken for allowing his on-duty men to stop by for something to eat. He told him that the men really appreciated their being invited to have something totally different to eat than what they would normally have had that day.

It was then that the local fire company came through the Main Gate with their lights flashing. That brought all of the boys and girls over to see what that was all about. Of course, Mr. Ken knew that he had invited the men over to have their evening meal at The Cove, and they were just bringing their equipment in case they received a call while they were there.

Mr. Ken drove a six-seat golf cart over to pick up the Chief and his lieutenant, while Wayne brought over the other cart to collect the other five firefighters. They took them right over to the serving line, so they could get their plate and enjoy the wonderful foods Mr. Ken had his caterer prepare for the day.

The other government movers and shakers also began to depart the Picnic. Judge Barnaby, DA Morris and Judge Richards and his wife Kathleen, to name a few, all stopped by to thank their host for the invite and a chance to talk to a number of people without there being a record of it.

Mr. Ken’s partners did get a chance to talk to him about how they would like to proceed with the land out by his hotel and office building. Ken told them that right now he was spread thin with the opening of his carwash, the boat storage lot and his new amusement park, as well as his planned two week visit to all of his five amusement parks, which would be followed up by finalizing his 4^th of July Carnival. He further explained to his partners that he would not be available to be involved in dealing with them or the County until sometime in July.

Mr. Ken told them that if they wanted to take their urban plan and present it to the county urban planners and get them to accept the concept, he would support them all the way. He also added that with all of his endeavors currently in the works, he would not be able to fund any part of the infrastructure at this time. But he felt that his ownership of the land should be considered as his contribution to the project.

Mr. Ken added he didn’t think the timing was right for the development of the land into small offices with small to medium warehouses, or the light and the heavy industrial uses they had also envisioned. He told the men that if they felt the marketplace could support it, though, he would be open to a serious proposal from them to buy that portion of the land they wished to develop. The men thanked him for his honest answers and said they’d think that over and get back with him. They all shook hands and the partners began to leave the Picnic.

After the firemen finished eating, they asked the boys if they could use their skateboards. The boys readily agreed and the firemen quickly took out onto the Cove Skate Park and enjoyed the smooth surface and all of the obstacles out there. A few of the men were really good and the boys and girls were enjoying watching what the firemen could do with the skateboards.

Billy went over to Harper and asked him if he would do what he did last Labor Day and show who was still there what he could do with a skateboard. The young man begged off and said that he really hadn’t used one much, as he’d been working and going to night school, so he was bit rusty just then. The teen Cover said he understood and thanked him for coming to the Picnic and being their friend. That put a smile on Harper’s face.

The Fire Chief gathered up his men and they all went over to Mr. Ken and thanked him for the invitation and the great foods he had there that night. The Chief said he appreciated their being thought of at times like these, as many people take them for granted.

Mr. Ken told the Chief, and the men, that he respects what they do and that when he has events, like this, they will always be included. Then he reminded them of the 4^th of July Carnival. They all shook hands and before long the fire equipment made its way out of the estate and back to their station house.

The archbishop and his secretary did thank their host for a wonderful day before leaving. The archbishop told Mr. Ken that he wasn’t sure his attending would be fruitful, but he said he was wrong. The holy man said he met the people he needed to know, all in one day, and he now has the faces to put to the names and he also has their personal contact numbers.

As the archbishop shook Mr. Ken’s hand, he told him that he will be forever grateful for what he is doing for Blessed Waters Academy and for inviting him to his Picnic where he made some good friends today. The man then told his host that if there is anything he can ever do for him, that all he has to do is ask, and the archbishop gave him his and the monsignor’s cards. They said that they would see one another at the dedication ceremony of the vocational school later in the summer.

Ulrich and Astrid Dodenhoffer came to Mr. Ken and thanked him for allowing them to barge into his private function. They asked him when he felt they could possibly get together that week. Mr. Ken mentioned to them that he had weekend guests until early tomorrow, and that maybe Monday was the best day for him. Ulrich agreed and said he would call him tomorrow to set up a time. The three shook hands and then the mom called her two boys over and they departed The Cove.

Ken Thomas finally took some time to relax. He sat down at one of the conversation pits where the usual gang, plus some new faces, were seated: Mary Taylor, Judy Turner, Wayne Mitchell, Dan Fischer, Daniel Chassen, Abigail Chadwick. And new to the group were Owen and Nathan, his weekend guests, Harper Young, the medical technician, Dennis Florkert, the Assistant Estate Master and John Henry Ostrowski, the School Board President.

“It’s about time you got off your feet,” teased Judy Turner, with a chorus of agreements coming from just about everyone else in the group.

“Thank you, Judy, it does feel good to finally sit down. Today was a hectic, but a fruitful one, if I do say so myself. I hope you all had a good time here today,” inquired the host.

“Well, we all caught up with one another, as it’s been a year since most of us had last been together,” offered Judy.

“OK, so fill me in on what you’re all doing now,” asked Ken.

“No!” abruptly spoke up Mary Taylor, “you tell US what you’ve been up to. The last we knew you hurried out to Colorado and brought back Matthew, and now you have another foster boy,” spoke up Mary Taylor.

“And, we all want to know about this new amusement park you bought and inquiring minds want to know more about your new lady friend,” now teased one of Ken’s best friends, who had a big smile on her face.

Ken gave them the highlights of his quest to bring Matthew back to The Cove. That in itself was an eye opener for Nathan and Owen. He added that he would like to adopt the boy, but that the mother is due to be released in a little over three years and that she is adamant about gaining custody when she gets out. He added that even though she has sworn that she will kill her son, because he told the authorities about her and Lincoln, he doesn’t know how he can convince the courts that she will actually do it.

The owner of five amusement parks then told the group how after the Edgewood Amusement Park went into bankruptcy, he put a bid on it and then came about owning it and now how he is going to revitalize it. He told them about the Grand Re-Opening on or about the first of July, and that he and his ‘boys’ will be visiting all of his parks starting next Saturday. The man added that Judy was going along as a chaperone for the first five days, and that Dan was going to switch off with her for the last five.

Then switching gears, he told Dan that Kyle and Kevin will be visiting their mother this summer. He told the group that the twin’s aunt called him just that morning about them coming to visit, and that they were looking to come right after school was over. Ken said he told her about their trip and had mentioned the 4^th of July Carnival and that following week might be better because of all of the other things he had going on. Dan told him he’ll be on the lookout for them.

Continuing, that’s when Ken told his gathered friends about his building the carwash, boat storage lot and all about the Marina Project over at Four Corners. The Picnic’s host then told then all about the construction going on between the Go-Kart Track and Miniature Golf Course that was soon going to become the Four Corners Amusement Park, but in miniature.

Ken added that the new Four Corner’s Amusement Park would have a few adult rides, and some family rides, but that there would be mainly children’s rides along with game and food booths and that eventually a train that would encircle both properties.

The group had lots of questions for him and he told them he would answer them after they told him what they were all up to. Abigail Chadwick went first and said that she was going to remain as principal of Alvin York High School, and that she was now working on her PhD. Dan Chassen admitted that he enjoyed being Abigail’s substitute, and he too would continue as the principal at the boys’ school.

Harper Young was one of the new additions to the conversation pit, so he went next. He told everyone how he was able to complete his junior year of college, and then some, and how he hoped he would have his bachelor’s degree in health sciences right after the Holidays. He then, laughingly, asked the group if they knew anyone hiring to send them his way.

School Board President, John Henry Ostrowski, went next. He thanked Abigail and Daniel for their decision to remain where they were, as it made life much simpler for him and the School Board. He told everyone that next fall’s election would be an important one, especially with two seats up for grabs. He asked them to steer any of their friends, who would like to be on the Board, to contact him.

Mary Taylor told everyone how her business had been growing in leaps and bounds ever since people learned that she not only did the interior for Three Finger Cove, but that she also decorated the interior of the Lakeside Hotel and the nearby office building.

Judy Turner told everyone that more and more children seem to be entering the system and that she needed qualified people in her office. She added she’s been trying to recruit Wayne, who has the right degree, but said he told her he was having too much fun working for Mr. Ken, and with all the paid trips, and not having to write reports, he would be crazy to work for that low-ball government salary. All the people laughed.

When Wayne took his turn, he told them what Judy told them was true, and that now with his boss working at the office every day that he seems to have more responsibility, but unfortunately wasn’t making any more money. He then said, “Hint, hint,” to Mr. Ken. There was more laughter in the conversation pit.

Owen and Nathan told the group that their fortuitous meeting with Mr. Ken gave them the courage to be an active part of their community. They explained that they attend school board meetings and parent teacher conferences.

They also said that after the boys showed their friends their picture with Mr. Ken, who took a bullet for Collin, a few years back, and told them that they actually knew him and had been to his home, the boys no longer are teased about having two dads. They added they are always being invited over here and one day they would love to invite the Covers to their home and return the favor, even if it won’t be as audacious as what they have here.

The Picnic wound down and as it did the invited guests sought their host out and thanked him for inviting them again to a wonderful way to start their summer. Many commented on the special blessing the archbishop gave him and told him many good things would come of it.

Levi and Miriam told Ken that if he was sure that Mark wouldn’t cause him any trouble, they would be happy to let their son travel with him. Levi added he would get with their lawyer first thing Tuesday and get him to prepare the necessary POA and then they’d bring it with them on Friday night when they drop Mark off.

Mr. Ken told the boy to make sure he brings enough clothes for twelve days. Mark questioned that and said he thought they were only going for ten and he would bring enough for eleven in case it rained. Mr. Ken said that you never know, but it could rain twice, then laughed. Miriam said she’d make sure he had twelve days of clothes.

While the adults had their conversation pit going, the Cover boys had theirs going, as well. Ryan joined in along with Collin, as did Jayden, Ryder and Chase, and they all got caught up on what had been happening around The Cove that Ryan and the other three boys didn’t know about. There were a number of things that even Collin didn’t know about and, of course, the three weekend guests didn’t know about any of the things that were brought up.

As the caterer prepared to leave, she knew to place the leftovers in the refrigerator in the Pavilion store room. She stopped by where Mr. Ken was and told him how much was leftover and where he could find it. Before she left, the owner of The Cove told her to plan for a Labor Day Picnic. The woman smiled and said she’d get with Chris sometime after the 4^th of July.

As the adults talked, Mr. Ken asked Dan if he could begin his stay at The Cove starting Thursday, so the guards could get used to his coming and going. He added that Chief could then have someone staying with her the whole time they were gone, since Judy was going with them at first. He added that Judy would then pick Chief up after she returns from her portion of the trip. Dan said that he would enjoy being back at The Cove, even if only for a few days.

At the boys’ confab, they learned that Collin had asked his Big Bro if he could join them on their full trip. He also told them that he hadn’t been told no, but that he also hadn’t been told yes. The young man said that his Big Brother was very busy when he asked, so it might take few days for him to think it through.

The younger Cover boys were ecstatic that Collin might get to go and be there the whole time, instead of just one or two days. Ryan wondered out loud if he would be able to go, as he’s a Cover, too. Phillip spoke up and said that Mark might get to go, so he should ask his ‘dad’.

Hearing Phillip call Mr. Ken ‘dad’ surprised Ryan, so he had to be told the story about how that came to be. After Ryan got the gist of it, Billy told him that he still calls his foster dad, Mr. Ken. When Ryan asked him why, the older teen said that it didn’t seem right, just yet, and that maybe sometime in the future it might happen, but for now he will call him Mr. Ken.

Just then, the boys heard over the TV, that someone had turned on, that there was going to be a Special Report. They remembered from last year when the Rocket roller coaster careened off its track at the Edgewood Amusement Park, and they wondered if something like that happened again.

So, the boys all went over to the Pavilion to watch and listen to what the Special Report was going to be. When they saw what it was, they all ran over to where the adults were sitting and it was Robert who told his dad what they saw.

“Dad …oh, excuse me, but there was just a Special Report on the TV just now that … well, that we think you should be aware of,” hastily got out the teenaged Cover.

“OK, son, what was said in this Special Report. Please tell all of us, so we can watch for it later,” answered the teen’s dad.

“Well, someone here at the Picnic, they … they, ahhh, they took a cell phone video of the archbishop … while he was giving you his special blessing and … and they gave it to the television station. Dad … it’s going to be all over the news. Everyone will see it, and you can bet you will be asked about it,” reasoned Robert.

“No good deed goes unpunished,” reluctantly spoke Ken Thomas. “Thank you, son, for letting me know about that. I wonder if Rene Vaughn did that to me, and if inviting her was a good idea?” Ken now questioned himself.

Billy spoke up just then and announced that it wasn’t her. He told everyone that they could see her in the video and she is not holding her cell phone up, so that it had to be one of the other 299 guests, chuckled the teenager.

‘Dad’ Ken thanked the boys for telling him about the video, and told them that he’ll try to see it later tonight, or tomorrow morning. He then asked the boys to go back to where they were sitting and talking.

The adults talked about what ramifications the video will have on him and Ken said he’ll take it in stride, as he can’t do anything about it. He then told the assembled men and women that he really felt honored that the archbishop gave him that blessing. He mentioned that afterwards he felt something inside of him that he never felt before. He added that he hopes the blessing really works, as with all his traveling and taking in foster boys, he could use someone watching over him. It got really quiet as everyone thought about what their host just said.

To break the silence, Mary Taylor decided to leave. She was the first of the adults in their little group to depart The Cove and since Ryan came with her, he had to leave, too. And as they said their thanks for the invite to the Picnic, Ryan asked his Big Brother if he could wrangle an invitation to go along with his ‘brothers’ to the amusement parks, as he was a Cover, as well.

The question caught Mr. Ken off guard and surprised his mother, big time. Mr. Ken honestly told the young college man that he couldn’t say for sure right now, as he didn’t know if the hotels had the space available. He added that Collin asked if he could also go along, and he hasn’t told him if he could, for the same reason. Mr. Ken added that until Mr. Chris comes to work on Tuesday and makes the phone calls and then sees if there is a larger charter plane available, he won’t know that answer.

Mary Taylor asked Ken if adding Collin and Ryan would cause him any problems, since he would already have all of his other boys to deal with. Ken told her that Wayne and Dennis are going along, as chaperones, and that Judy will be there, too. So, he told her he figured that if there are any problems, he’d let her handle them. The rest of the adults heard that exchange and they all laughed, including Judy Turner.

Mary’s leaving prompted Judy and Eric to leave and then Abigail decided to leave, as she would be the only woman there. So, then John Henry Ostrowski decided to leave and then so did Harper Young and Dennis Florkert and Daniel Chassen which left only Ken, Wayne, Owen, Nathan and Dan Fischer in the ‘pit’.

The Cover boys came over and joined them and the first thing they asked was if Ryan had asked him if he could come along with them to visit his amusement parks. ‘Dad’ Ken told the boys the same thing he told Ryan, so they didn’t know if their older ‘brother’ was coming along or not.

Collin spoke up and asked his Big Bro if it was necessary that he and Ryan stayed in the same hotel. The soon to be college junior reasoned that if there weren’t enough rooms at his hotel, they could stay at another. And that Ryan could fly in his plane if there wasn’t a big enough charter available.

“Collin … you make some good points, but to tell you, right now I am tired, and that is something that I do not want to have to think through right at this moment. Can we talk about this in the morning?

“Oh, and Charles … are we supposed to be going out for breakfast tomorrow, or … or is that on Monday? I sure hope it is Monday. I need to sleep in tomorrow,” finished a yawning ‘dad’ Ken

Charles looked at his dad and knew he shouldn’t push the breakfast thing for tomorrow, so he told his dad that Monday would be fine with him and his ‘brothers’.

Billy then said that Gus and his parents were coming over tomorrow. The teenager told his foster dad that he was going to give them the ‘quarter’ tour of the house, and he added that he didn’t promise them that he, meaning Mr. Ken, would be available to talk.

‘Dad’ Ken thanked Billy for telling him that and then asked the boys if anyone else had something they wanted to add. Learning that none of the boys had anything to add, ‘dad’ Ken suggested they check the Cove Skate Park and Pavilion and then shut off the lights and head to the house and relax. Dan decided he’d head to his apartment, since it was late.

When the Covers entered the house, it was now going on ten o’clock and Wayne made a command decision. He told the boys to head up to their rooms. He then told his boss to not worry about the boys and that he should just head to his retreat and go to bed, and that he’d say goodnight to the boys for him.

Ken smiled at Wayne and with no argument, thanked him for doing that. The owner of the Cove was beat and worn out from all that he had done and was involved in that day, and the thought of going to bed early sounded really good to him. It didn’t take him long to get himself ready and to fall into his king sized bed and fall asleep.

Wayne, Owen and Nathan went up to say goodnight to the boys. The older Covers asked the Estate Master what was wrong with their ‘dad’. Mr. Wayne assured them that there was nothing wrong with him other than he was totally worn out from everything that he had to do all day, and with what happened with the archbishop. The man said their ‘dad’ just needed a good night’s rest.

Owen and Nathan said goodnight to their boys, Jayden, Ryan and Chase, knowing they would be staying in one of the Cover boy’s rooms that night and they were tired, as well, and didn’t want to stay around and listen to the questions and answers they knew were coming.

Wayne also told the older boys that their ‘dads’ investment partners in the Marina Project want to proceed on developing his land out by the hotel and office building. The Estate Master explained that their ‘dad’ doesn’t think the timing is right, and he told them that his portion of the development cost will be the land, or he will be open to a reasonable offer on the land and he’ll sell it to them and that they could essentially proceed without him.

Robert immediately figured that the investment partnership wouldn’t last long if they continued to proceed. He told his ‘brothers’ that his dad has a keen sense on these things, and that if he pulls out of that, the men will probably have a difficult time developing that land without him.

The boys also wanted to know what the Estate Master thought about Collin and Ryan’s going with them to visit the amusement parks. Wayne told them that Mr. Chris had been working on planning all of the aspects of this trip for months, and to make major changes, like requesting a larger plane and more rooms, at the last minute, might not be possible.

Wayne told them not to get their hopes up, but that Collin’s agreeing to use his plane is a plus. The major hurdle will be if there are any rooms available and he told them it wasn’t at just one stop, but that it was at five. The Estate Mater then reminded Collin of the problems he had last year with him being under twenty-one and trying to rent a room and that he was still under that magic number.

Wayne left the estate about eleven o’clock that night after talking with the boys about many different things. He hoped that the older boys grasped what he was saying about Collin and Ryan going with them to visit all Mr. Ken’s amusement parks, and why it might not be possible for that to happen.

The Cover boys went to bed with a much better understanding of what was going on with their ‘dad’, and the problems he faced trying to allow not only Collin to go with them on their trip, but also Ryan.

Phillip didn’t understand half of what was being said that night. But what he did like was that everyone was talking about the reason why something could or wouldn’t happen, which was something his mother never did with him. He slept well that night knowing he had a wonderful, loving home to live in and a man he could call ‘dad’ and a dog to play with.

The Cove was quiet all night through. And, as for the owner of The Cove, he slept so soundly that if a bomb went off, he wouldn’t have woken up, he was that worn out tired.

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

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