Published: 16 May 2024

From The Previous Chapter:

As the boys headed up to their rooms. Mr. Ken told Wayne that if he thinks of anything that he’d call, but for now, for the Estate Master to just go with the flow.

After he packed, ‘dad’ Ken made a quick stop upstairs to say goodnight to the boys. The only problem he had was with Matthew, who never liked it when he went away. Mr. Ken assured the pre-teen that he was coming back, and for him to help plan some good times for his twin ‘brothers’, for when they visit.

Before long, Mr. Ken was down in his own retreat getting himself relaxed in order that he could fall asleep in order to get enough rest for what was ahead of him in the following days. And before long The Cove was quiet with everyone fast sleep.

When the alarms went off at four o’clock in Mr. Ken’s and Charles’ bedrooms that Tuesday morning neither of them wanted to get out of bed. But they both knew that, in their own way, the reason for them to get out of bed and to get ready for their long day.

Both Covers got out of bed, used the facilities, took their showers, got dressed for their flight and then brought their suitcase and carry-ons to the Foyer before heading to the Kitchen Nook for their one breakfast taco that should hold them over until they got a nice breakfast on the air charter flight back east later that morning.

Their regular limo driver, Derrick, was at The Cove at 4:50 a.m. that Tuesday morning to collect his riders to take them to the Austin-Bergstrom Airport. When the driver rang the Foyer doorbell, Charles rushed there and helped Derrick with their suitcases and carry-ons to the limousine trunk and load them.

The doorbell also announced to the rest of the Cover household that their ‘dad’ was getting ready to leave, so the boys came down to the Foyer to say goodbye to him and their ‘brother’.

“What are you boys doing down here in your underwear?” teased ‘dad’ Ken, as he hugged the boys individually.

Even Chief jumped up to get some behind-the-ear scratches from her first master, before the man departed for a few days of travel.

After a few more hugs and tears, Mr. Ken and Charles walked out of the Foyer and down to the waiting limousine, while Derrick held the door open for them. Then, once the two riders were inside the waiting vehicle, the driver closed the car door and quickly walked around to the driver’s door, got in and before everyone knew it the limousine was headed out The Cove’s Main Gate, and was on its way to the Austin-Bergstrom Airport.

Being it was so early in the morning; traffic was virtually nonexistent and Derrick made very good time on his way to the airport. Charles did fall asleep during the ride and he was surprised when they arrived at the General Aviation services area quicker than expected. The Covers arrived in plenty of time and had to wait for their charter flight in order to fly back east.

The teen’s dad had wanted to talk to his son along the way to the airport to tell him what he expected of him, while he was staying with Jason. But, of course, Charles had fallen asleep as soon as the limo began its long journey to the Austin-Bergstrom Airport, so Mr. Ken never had the chance to say anything to the teenager.

And now that the two of them were sitting and waiting for their charter plane to arrive, Mr. Ken wanted to talk to Charles, but the teen asked his dad if they could hold it until after they had a good breakfast. The teen argued that it was still early and he was still half-asleep and he probably wouldn’t be fully awake until he had a good meal.

Dad Ken smiled at his son and told the boy that it could wait, as the flight was a good three hours long, so he had the time to say what he wanted to.

Charles looked at his dad, then smiled and said, “Dad, you probably just want to tell me to listen to what Jason tells me to do. And for me to be respectful to him, and to help him as much as I can around the house and the park. And for me to stay out of the way and out of trouble. Isn’t that right, dad?”

Dad Ken smiled right back at his teenage son and asked him how he became so smart?

Charles told his dad it is what he would have told his son if he had one, then laughed. The two Covers had a good laugh and then dad Ken told Charles that that was exactly what he wanted to tell the teenager. And then the dad added that the teen should also have some fun while he was there.

Dad Ken then gave his son five twenty-dollar bills for him to use to pay for his meals and any other incidentals he needed. He told him not to make Jason pay for anything he needed. Charles thanked his dad for the money, and he told him that he had brought some money with him, just in case. The two had a good laugh, but Charles then told his dad that he wasn’t getting his money back.

When their aircraft arrived, it didn’t need to top off its fuel load, as it had come directly from San Antonio, which was a short flight away. So, as soon as the passengers and their luggage were loaded onto the aircraft, the pilots radioed for and received clearance to taxi to the active runway, and soon, the two Covers were flying off to their destination back east.

Back at The Cove, the Cover boys got up and had their Momma Maria breakfast. Mr. Wayne was there reading the morning newspaper, just like their ‘dad’ would have, if he had been there.

Phillip talked non-stop about the new sound system Collin had bought him and his band the previous day, and how he couldn’t wait until his band-mates arrived, and they could continue to practice their songs and learn how to adjust the system to make themselves sound even better than they already were.

That last part made Collin, Billy and Robert laugh, but they told the youngest Cover that it was all in good fun and that as he and his band practiced, they will become better by the day and by the end of the summer will be a good band for their ages.

But hearing that his band would become better by the end of the summer made Phillip stop and ask, “But … what if I’m not still here? What’s going to happen to the band and the sound system? My mom… she’s supposed to get released from the rehabilitation center soon and then start the court ordered training and then … and then we’re supposed to go back to living together again. Then what? What will happen to me and … and the band?” softly asked the youngest Cover, as a few tears began to fall.

Billy saw the tears and he quickly got up and went to Phillip and pulled him up and out of his chair and hugged him.

“Phil … let’s wait until we are there. OK?” counseled the teenager. “But in the meantime, you and your band-mates … you need to continue to practice every day, and get better and better and when the time comes … then let Mr. Ken … let him help you figure out what will happen next.

“Phil … listen … it’s only the end of June and your mom … she still needs to be released by the doctors, and then she has to attend whatever training courses the court says she must do and that could take some weeks. So … you could still be here, with us, when school starts around the middle of August.

“So, what do you say? You going to stop thinking of the negative and start looking towards the positive of you and your band-mates playing for Collin and his classmates tomorrow night?” finished Billy with a flare.

Phillip looked up to Billy and said, “You’re right! I know that my mom … that she has to attend those training classes the judge told her she has to go to if she wants us to live together again. So, even if she gets released by this weekend, the classes … they probably won’t start up again until after the 4^th of July Holiday, and who knows how long they will continue?” lamented the youngest Cover.

It was then that Mr. Wayne spoke up to remind Phillip that he had his appointment with Doctor Doug later that morning, and that he should go upstairs, take his shower, get dressed and be downstairs so either he, or Mr. Dennis, could take him there.

Phillip smiled at the Estate Master and then headed up to his room to get some clean underwear and then head to the bathroom to get cleaned up for his appointment, and the rest of the day. The other Cover boys weren’t too far behind him in getting themselves ready for their day.

By the time the Covers were getting ready for their day, Mr. Ken and Charles were getting close to their first stop, Edgewood Amusement Park. Jason Zimms was at the airport waiting for them to arrive, as he was going to host Charles, while Mr. Ken flew on to support Kate in her bid to get Lane out of her and her son’s lives for good.

After the Covers landed, Mr. Ken and Jason took a few minutes, while the chartered plane refueled, and talked about the upcoming Grand Re-Opening ceremony to be held that Saturday. Charles listened in on their conversation, so he knew what he might be involved in while he was staying with the amusement park’s resident operations manager and helping out at the park.

After Jason and Charles headed back to Edgewood, Mr. Ken still had a few minutes before the charter aircraft was ready for him. So, he called Amy Ozarker, Kate’s lawyer, to see if she had any information for him. She did and he was chagrined to learn that Lane’s mother, Evelyn Blankenhart, had called Kate, and chastised her for going to court against her son, and for wanting him to prove that he is Russell’s father.

Amy told Ken that Kate had a recording and that she’s already listened to it. The lawyer recounted that in it, Evelyn told Kate that her son was indeed the father of Rusty. But that when Kate told Lane’s mother that her son had been demanding money from her, ever since he got out of jail this last time, Evelyn went ballistic. Amy went on to say that Kate told Evelyn that Lane was in essence blackmailing her, and she wanted it stopped and proving paternity would do that.

Ken Thomas asked Amy Ozarker to stay on top of that and to try to get her investigator to talk to Evelyn to see if she would help him find what Lane was holding over Kate in order to stop the harassment of Kate, and possibly avoid going to court on Wednesday.

Amy told Ken that it wouldn’t stop the court proceedings. Ken told the lawyer that he realized that, but that the mother might do anything to protect her son. Amy told Ken that he was devious, but thought that it might work. The lawyer said that she would call her investigator and have him stop by the house after Lane left there and talk to Evelyn and see what he could do.

Ken advised the lawyer that he was still scheduled to arrive after one o’clock, and that after he got the rental car, and drove to her office, it could be close to 2:30, before she saw him. Amy told the man that she would be waiting for him.

Phillip returned from talking with Doctor Doug with an upbeat feeling inside of him. He talked with Doctor Jennings about the feelings he had about his band, and then what would happen when he goes back to living with his mother.

And just like Billy told him, Doug Jennings told him that he needed to be positive and to continue to practice with his band, and for him and them to continue to get better. Doctor Doug also asked him to wait and see how things go with his mom. The doctor told Phillip that he supposed that his mother had to successfully complete all of the training courses the judge placed on her, as a condition for her and him to be reunited, and with them not knowing how long the courses are, the doctor told the boy that it could be sometime in August when they are back together again, as mother and son.

Phillip realized, after their talk, that he should just continue living at The Cove, as he had been, enjoying everything he had to do there, and when the day comes that they tell him he will be going home to live with his mom again, he knows that he will be thrilled to finally be going home.

When Phillip’s friends arrived at The Cove, the band members quickly got the sound system turned on and they began playing. The rest of the boys didn’t know anything about the new addition to the band, and when the young boys began playing, the rest of the Cover’s friends all recognized there was something different about the band.

It wasn’t until some of the teens noticed the big speakers and that the boys were now using microphones that everyone recognized that the young boy band was going ‘big time’ with their new sound. And they all liked what they were hearing.

Jason and Charles went directly to Edgewood from the airport. Once there, Jason got the teenager a park uniform to wear. That was so the other people at the park knew he belonged there, as the park was in a ‘soft’ operating mode. That meant that the park was open for business to allow the ride operators to get back into the routine of loading and offloading passengers, and for the food service personnel to get used to preparing and serving the menu that they had decided to serve at the park the rest of that season.

Braxton and Tucker, Jason’s right-hand men, warmly welcomed Charles back to Edgewood. They asked him if he had any questions about the park that he didn’t get answered when he was there a few weeks ago.

Charles asked the two men if they could show him how the rides worked, meaning what it takes to operate the individual rides. The teenager told the men that when they were here earlier none of the rides were operational, and he never got the chance to see how they worked.

Tucker asked Charles if there was any ride in particular that he was interested in and the teen quickly answered, Patches. Tucker asked Jason if he could take their guest over to Patches and show him around, and explain the ride’s operation and how the safety systems would operate, if there was ever a problem on the ride.

The two Edgewood personnel, as Charles was now considered one of them, loaded onto a golf cart and headed over to the wooden roller coaster now known as Patches. There they walked up the Exit and waited until the coaster train entered the station. It was then that Charles received his first safety lesson.

Charles was told that he was never to enter a ride area, any ride area, whether a child, family, or thrill ride, until the ride operator recognized him. Tucker explained that the ride operator was responsible for the safety of the entire ride area, and that if anyone entered the closed area, while the ride was in operation, it constituted an immediate Emergency situation and the operator was to shut the ride down. Tucker told Charles to never go into a ride area before being recognized because once he did that, he would be fired.

Charles told Mr. Clark that he would never do something as dumb as that. The teen added that when he finished with college, he wanted to work in the amusement park field in either planning, building, or operating them. Tucker thought to himself that the teenager has the best ‘in’ with his dad owning at least five amusement parks.

When invited into the ride station, Tucker introduced Charles to the Patches ride operator and told the operator that the new teen would be observing him and the coaster’s operations. The ride operator thought he recognized the teenager and figured he was being secretly observed, so he called over the other two attendants and told them what he thought. The three people were now being very careful as to how they filled, safety checked and dispatched a coaster train.

Ken Thomas finally arrived at Amy Ozarker’s law office at around 2:45 that Tuesday afternoon. Amy was happy to see him and told him that she was sure that Kate would be thrilled that he was there, as it would tell her how much he really cared about her.

Ken asked Amy about the phone call that Kate had recorded and asked if he could hear it. Amy told him that Lane’s mother called Kate late last night to talk to her about the fillings they did on Monday, and to try to talk her into rescinding them.

Ken again asked about the phone call and if he could hear it. Amy asked him not to let Kate know that she let him hear it, as it might ruin what she might want to tell him in the future. Ken promised he wouldn’t tell her.

Amy explained that Evelyn was mightily upset when she called Kate, and that she didn’t pull any punches when she talked to her. The lawyer then played the recording.

And as that was the end of the recording, Amy clicked the STOP button.

“Well, Ken … what do you think of that exchange?’ asked the lawyer.

“Well, one thing’s for sure. Kate is now loaded for bear. It sounds like she is bound and determined to see this through, and damn anyone who gets in her way. She is going to protect her boys, and I bet Lane and his mother are going to come out on the losing end of this,” opined Ken Thomas.

Amy asked Ken if he was going over to see Kate. He told the lawyer that he wanted to check into his hotel first, and then make a few phone calls. He suggested that he wanted to call Edith to see if Kate was working, or was she at home, so he knew how he should proceed. Amy told him to walk softly, but she was confident that Kate would be grateful that he was there for her.

The boys at The Cove were really loving the band’s new sounds, now that they had a sound system. They even had them go through the barbeque line first, so they could go back to playing after they ate. But the band members went and swam some, saying that they needed a break to have some fun, too.

It was that afternoon that Mr. Ken received a phone call from Mackenzie’s doctor. When the two talked Mr. Ken learned that Mackenzie would be released from the rehabilitation center that Friday, and that if he wanted her son to visit with her before she left, he needed to plan for it.

After he was settled in his hotel room, one of the phone calls that Mr. Ken had to make before he called Kate was to talk to Wayne. He wanted to let the Estate Master know that Phillip’s mother, Mackenzie, was being sent home and to make sure that the young Cover got to see his mother, at least one more time, before she was released from the rehabilitation center.

Wayne assured his employer that either he, or Dennis, would call the center to learn when Mackenzie was to be released and they would take him over there the night before, so the two of them could have a long talk.

Mr. Ken reminded Wayne that this would be the beginning of the start of Phillip’s return to his mother, and they would have to stay in contact with Judy to see when the reunion would occur, so they could plan and then have a send-off party for the boy. Wayne said he’d make a note in his cell phone, but he figured that in about six to eight weeks it would be about the time the two would go back to living as mother and son.

Mr. Ken also called Ben to see how ready he was for the Grand Re-Opening on Saturday. The President of TFE told his boss that Rylan was pinging off the walls and ceiling. Ben added that his son couldn’t wait until they got to fly in a corporate jet, as he was telling his friends, and do something special with his dad for four days. Ben then thanked Ken for allowing him to bring his son on that special trip.

Ken did call Edith, Kate’s mom, first to see where Kate was. He also wanted to judge how Kate was handling everything, especially with the court hearing in the morning. Edith was happy that Ken was there. She told him that Kate needed a strong man in her life right now; someone who would be there supporting her and giving her all the encouragement that she needed to push back against Lane, and give him what he has coming to him.

Ken thanked Edith for the quick talk and feedback and learning that Kate was at work, he decided to surprise her there and then ask her out to dinner so, the two of them could talk.

Kate was busy working on some announcements for the properties that she was the listing agent for, and she didn’t see Ken walk in. So, standing in front of her desk, Ken said, “I understand there might be some lakefront properties for sale, in the near future.”

Kate didn’t immediately recognize the voice, and when she looked up, she put on a great big smile. But then she recovered and replied, “Yes, sir, eventually, we will have those, but the owner hasn’t decided what he wants to do with them just yet. So, if you’ll give me your number, I’ll be happy to call you, as soon as they come available.” Then she laughed.

“Kate … can I take you out to dinner? Just us?” asked Ken.

“Let me call mom and ask her if she minds watching the kids,” quickly responded Kate.

It was after five o’clock when Ken and Kate went out to dinner. They found a nice quiet restaurant away from the regular ‘go-to’ restaurants many people tend to gravitate to.

The couple sat in a back corner, since they were essentially the first customers of the evening. After they ordered, Ken asked Kate how she was holding up against all the pressure of tomorrows court appearance. He was hoping she would volunteer Evelyn’s call to her the previous evening.

“Well, Ken … believe me … this hasn’t been easy. If it hadn’t been for Amy … I don’t know how I would have been able to get this far with this. She has been there for me, and she has some great ideas on how we will be able to get Lane to leave me alone.

“You know that Amy …that she filed with the court to have Lane pay back child support and … and that she has asked that Lane … that he prove paternity for Rusty. … And, Ken … I’m sorry I told you not to come here. I was so distraught over everything that … that I wasn’t thinking straight. But … I am very happy that you are here now!” finished Kate, as she reached across the table, grabbed for Ken’s hand and held it.

The two just sat there looking into one another’s eyes. The moment was broken when their server came to their table with some bread and butter along with their drinks, which were glasses of water and ice and some lemon wedges. The two laughed at the interruption.

Ken asked Kate if the boys knew anything about what was happening with her and Lane. Kate told her boyfriend that they had been asking questions, as they sensed something was wrong, but they couldn’t put their mind around it just yet.

Kate reasoned that Rusty and Jessy didn’t need to know until there was a court determination as to what will happen next. She said that if the judge agrees to the paternity test, then Rusty will have to be told, as he will have to have his cheek swabbed, and that will cause him to ask a thousand questions, which she wasn’t looking forward to.

Their salads came next, interrupting their conversation, which Kate was happy for. The two just sat there slowly eating their salads, with the occasional look and smile at one another.

Charles was thoroughly enjoying his afternoon at Edgewood. Tucker let him observe the Patches coaster operation for about a half an hour, before taking him to the other rides, so he could see how operations differ from the thrill, family and children’s amusements. And at each ride, Charles was reminded that he didn’t enter the ride area until the ride operator acknowledged him.

When it came time for dinner, Jason asked his guest if he wanted to stay there and eat, or did he want to head back to his home, get settled and eat out near there. Charles said he wanted to eat there and that he could get settled after they closed the park. Jason laughed at the teenager’s response, and the two went over to the employee’s cafeteria and got in line for dinner.

When it came time to pay, Charles took out his money to pay for his meal. That was a pleasant surprise for Jason, as he was ready to pay for his guest’s meal. As the two ate, Charles thanked Jason for letting Tucker show him around at the different ride operations. Charles admitted that ever since his dad began taking them to all of his amusement parks, he has been interested in how they operated.

Charles confessed that when he goes off to college, he wants to study how to plan, build and operate amusement parks. He told the operations manager that he hasn’t researched where he can get that type of education yet, as he will just be a high school freshman in the fall, but he hopes his dad will let him work at the parks when he turns sixteen, so he can get more experience working at the main functions of a park, like ride operations, food service, park admissions, and maybe revenue.

Jason told Charles that when he turns sixteen, he would be happy to have him back there and let him experience all of those park operations. The man told the teenager that he has the right idea of learning the primary functions and then when he is out of college, he could then learn the inside functions of ride maintenance, commissary control of hot and cold foods and paper products, public relations, worker scheduling and more. Charles smiled at hearing all that.

As Kate and Ken finished their wonderful and very quiet dinner, Kate told Ken that she had something that she needed to tell him. She told him that she had been putting it off all night and that at first, she really didn’t want to tell him this. But she confessed to him that if they were ever to become a couple that they needed to be honest with one another. Kate then told Ken about Evelyn’s phone call from the previous evening.

Kate told him that Evelyn was very upset that she was taking her son to court to have him prove paternity of Rusty. It was then that Kate revealed that Lane was saying that she had been sleeping around with other men at the time Rusty was conceived and that he had proof.

Kate told Ken that Lane had been sort of blackmailing her by saying he would tell everyone that she was a ‘loose’ woman. She also admitted that she had paid him money over time, but Amy had convinced her that she had to fight him, and that if he says she slept around when Rusty was conceived and she knew Lane was the only one she slept with, then she needed to make sure he is the father.

“Ken … if Lane had some sort of proof, it must be that he has … has …” and with that Kate began to cry. Ken quickly went around to her chair and hugged her.

“Kate … I must confess … I’ve always suspected that Lane … that he had something that… that he was holding over your head. I suspected that maybe when you … when he and you had … your sexual tryst … he may have … well, whatever he did to get that so-called proof was underhanded and deceitful,” offered Ken, as he tried to comfort the woman he’d fallen in love with.

Kate just let herself be held in the man’s strong arms. It was something she never felt, even when she had dated Lane, back when they were in high school. She’d fallen for the man back when they first met and, as they continued to talk and then meet, she became enthralled with him and had hoped that they could somehow become a couple.

Kate felt that with Ken’s arrival and his support of her in this fight with Lane, she had this feeling, inside of her, that he was in love with her as much as she was in love with him.

When the check came, Ken paid it and the two decided they would walk and talk some more as they once had. They remembered how much fun that was to be out and about, with no real cares in the world. Tonight, instead of talking about what would happen tomorrow at court, they talked about the boys, his and hers, and what they had planned for them that summer.

When the Covers finished dinner, they met in the Study, as they always seem to do. After taking their seats, Wayne discussed who had what appointments and what was in store for The Cove in the coming days. He reminded Matthew that he would meet with Doctor Doug tomorrow, so he should get ready after he ate his breakfast.

The Estate Master then told the boys that the carnival operator had called and told him that he and his troop would be there on Saturday to start setting up for their two-day run for the 4^th of July Carnival. Mr. Wayne asked the boys to remind their friends that they have to be very careful on Saturday and Sunday, when they are there, and to avoid going wherever the men are setting the rides and games up.

The man told them if he remembered right, their ‘dad’ didn’t allow their friends over during that time, so he was going out on a limb by letting their friends over this time. He asked them to implore their friends not to interfere with the carnival, and if they are going to the cove to swim, use the sailboats or ride PWCs, they should go to the right of the house and then down the driveway to get to the Patio and dock.

Mr. Wayne reminded the boys that Chief would visit the veterinarian tomorrow to get an idea of how many pups she was carrying. He then asked the boys to watch out for her because as the days wear on she would become more and more heavy with her younglings inside of her, and they need to make sure that none of their friends get too rough with her.

He then suggested that Chief might still want to play, but that she really shouldn’t because they needed to protect her litter. He then added that when the carnival is here, he is going to suggest that she stay inside, or only be allowed out on a lead, with one of them with her. The boys talked amongst themselves and agreed with keeping Chief either inside, or out on a lead while outside during the carnival.

Mr. Wayne then asked the boys if they had anything to add. Robert spoke up and said he talked to his dad about their friends who lived out of the areas who, in the previous years, were given food tickets as the rides were free. The teen Cover told the Estate Master that his dad told him that they could give their friends, who lived out of the area, the Carnival Gift Package.

The teenager said that he would get with his ‘brothers’ tonight and figure out who doesn’t live nearby and create a list, then tomorrow he would get with Mr. Chris and discuss how he wanted to handle the additional gift packages. Robert said he and his ‘brothers’ can pass those out any day before the carnival.

Billy spoke up and reminded his ‘brothers’ that Mr. Ken said they needed to clean the Pavilion’s restrooms before the carnival, as many people used them last year. He also said they have to ask Mr. Chris if he ordered the referee shirts, as they will need them by Monday morning.

Matthew just asked if anyone heard from their ‘dad’, or Charles. No one had, and that was the end of the meeting. But as the boys were filing out, Mr. Wayne asked Phillip to stay. Of course, that stopped the boys, and they all came back into the Study.

“Well, this doesn’t concern you, but anyway, Phillip … your mom … she will be released from the rehabilitation center on Friday. The doctor called Mr. Ken earlier today and he called me to tell me to make sure we get you over there. He wanted to make sure you and her can have a long talk before she leaves.

“You realize that once she does leave there you, her and your grandmother … none of you can see one another until your mom completes all of the court ordered training. So, either Mr. Dennis, or I, will get you over there tomorrow or Thursday.

“But seeing that you and your band is playing tomorrow night for Collin, you might want the day to practice and, so, we can plan for Thursday. Will that work for you?” asked the Estate Master.

Phillip was smiling ear to ear, and all his ‘brothers’ saw it. Knowing that his mother was being released from the rehabilitation center meant that they would soon be back to living together again. He had talked to Doctor Doug about that very thing this morning and he knew that he just had to wait until that time came that he would leave The Cove and his ‘brothers’, but he would be ‘going home’.

Phillip thanked Mr. Wayne for telling him that and he agreed that Thursday would be best for him. He asked if he could go before lunch. Mr. Wayne said he’d talk to Mr. Dennis about the time, and that he’d call the center to see if the time would also be okay.

With the meeting over, the boys went upstairs to talk about which of their friends they needed to get the carnival ride wrist bands, the food coupon/vouchers and carnival game tickets for. Phillip had to call all of his friends because he wasn’t familiar with the area.

Ken and Kate walked and walked and the more they did the more relaxed Kate became. She felt so at ease with Ken, at her side, that she wished that the night would never end. And as they walked, they came upon an ice cream store and they went inside, and they each got a sundae and ate it, there at the small tables. They talked about how it made them feel as if they were back in high school again. Only Kate had wished that she had met Ken there and not Lane.

But the evening finally came to an end, and Ken had to take Kate home. The man walked her up to her front door and kissed her goodnight. He told her to sleep well tonight and that tomorrow things will all work out for her. He also told her that he will be in her corner tomorrow at the courthouse. Then they kissed again, and she went inside and he to his hotel.

It was when Mr. Ken got back to his hotel that he checked his text messages that he saw that he had a few from Charles. So, he gave his son a quick call to see if there was anything wrong.

“Charles, I saw you texted me a few times. How are things going there, son?” asked the teen’s dad.

“Dad, this is the best trip ever! Jason … he let Tucker show me all of the ride operations, and he started with Patches. And, no, they didn’t let me operate any of the rides. But it gave me such a better perspective of how the park operates. Also, when Jason and I were at dinner, we talked and I told him that when I go on to college I want to study how to plan, build and operate amusement parks.

“I also told him that when I turned sixteen, I hoped that you would let me work at one of your amusement parks to get some first-hand experience in ride operations, food service, park admissions, and maybe revenue, like park admissions. And you know what, dad? He told me that he would be happy to have me there and he’d train me. Oh, dad, this is what I want to do when I finish college!” finished an enthusiastic Charles.

Dad Ken inwardly smiled and told his son that he was happy he was enjoying his time there at Edgewood, and that Jason was taking good care of him. He then told Charles that they would have to talk about his working at one of the amusement parks when he was sixteen, but, for now, he should observe and learn as much as he could, while he was there.

Charles then asked his dad about Kate. He wanted to know if she was doing alright knowing that tomorrow she was going to court. The teen’s dad told him that when he left her tonight, she was in good spirits and was looking forward to fighting Lane in court tomorrow. The dad added that he would be there with her tomorrow, in court, to support her.

Charles then asked his dad out right if he was going to marry her. Dad Ken chuckled and revealed to his son that for as much as he really liked her, things needed to fall into place for that to happen and for now, this thing with Lane is a big roadblock for him.

Charles read between the lines, which told him his dad would love to marry Kate, but for now he has to wait and see what is the outcome of the court case and if Kate can get that Lane character out of her life.

The father and son, after a few more light moments in their late-night conversation, said good night to one another. Then before Charles hung up, he wished his dad and Kate good luck with the judge tomorrow. Dad Ken smiled and told his son to have fun and listen to Jason.

Then, knowing it was still an hour earlier back home, Mr. Ken called Wayne to see how things were going there. The Estate Master laughed and told his employer that the boys were still alive and hadn’t taken over the estate yet, but they sure are feisty enough. The two had a good laugh.

Wayne then told Ken that Phillip agreed to go and see his mother on Thursday, since he wanted tomorrow to practice with his band for tomorrow night’s gig at Collin’s party with his friends. The Estate Master then mentioned that the carnival would arrive on Saturday to begin setting up. He added that he had heard from Reynolds, who told him that they should be there Sunday late afternoon.

After the two made small talk about what was happening tomorrow around the estate and possibly at the courthouse, they decided to end their conversation. ‘Dad’ Ken then decided not to call any of the boys that night.

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

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