Published: 25 Jul 2024

From The Previous Chapter:

The two hugged and even Chief was there wanting to get into the act. But with her being heavy with her litter she couldn’t quite get up and join in the hug, so, the two men got down and hugged her and the resident pet, in turn, gave them some of her dogie kisses.

Ken Thomas was tired when he went to bed that Saturday night, almost Sunday morning. He looked back at that full week and knew he was doing the right thing by his ‘boys’ and the twins. The man knew that when he finally laid down, he would fall right to sleep.

The Cove was quiet the whole night through and everyone slept a peaceful sleep.

When Ken Thomas entered the Kitchen Nook that Sunday morning, he met with Momma and told her that he, Kate and her boys were leaving to go to the airport soon, and that they wouldn’t be there for dinner.

The owner of The Cove also mentioned that the Parchsons would be going out and doing some sightseeing, and so they probably wouldn’t be there either. He told her that after breakfast that she and her amigas should just take the rest of the day off.

Kate and her boys joined Ken for breakfast at the Nook’s table, as they would be leaving for the airport around ten o’clock. Kate said she needed the extra time to finish packing the boy’s bags.

It was while those four were eating breakfast that the Cover boys came into the Kitchen Nook. Momma told them that she would have their breakfast ready when Collin and the Parchsons were there and they would be eating in the Dining Room.

Phillip went over and took care of Chief’s bowls, while he waited to eat breakfast. The Cover boys talked with Kate and told her how much they enjoyed having her and the boys there and that they would see them when they visited their ‘dad’s’ amusement parks again in August.

Rusty and Jessy thanked Billy, Robert and Charles for helping them on their skateboards and that they couldn’t wait until they came back again. Kate and Ken both laughed at the boys, and how much they loved being there with their ‘big brothers’.

When Sylvia, Reynolds, Jaxson and Alani came into the Kitchen Nook the adults told Kate that they enjoyed meeting her and her children and they wished them a safe and pleasant flight back home. Sylvia told Kate that she hopes that they would meet one another here again next year. Ken Thomas just smiled at hearing that comment.

Collin had entered the Nook, while the Parchsons talked to Kate, so Momma asked everyone to go into the Dining Room, so she and her amigas could start serving them their breakfast. While they were getting seated, Mr. Ken went into the Dining Room and told everyone that he would take everyone out for dinner, as Momma and her amigas wouldn’t be back after they finished serving breakfast.

Mr. Ken then explained he was riding with Kate and her boys to the airport, and that he wouldn’t be back until later that afternoon. He told the boys that either Mr. Wayne or Mr. Dennis would be there around one o’clock, and that he would take everyone out to dinner at six. He then asked the Parchsons if they thought they could be back by then. Reynolds said he’d call if they thought they couldn’t make it.

After breakfast, Kate finished packing her and the boy’s things and took all of the bags to the elevator, so it would be easier to take them down to the first floor. When all of the bags were down in the Foyer it was close to ten o’clock and they were all waiting for the limo to arrive.

It was then that the boys remembered that their skateboards were up at the Cove Skate Park and that they needed to go and get them. Mr. Ken told them not to worry and that he would drive them up there in the golf cart, so they could get them.

When the three arrived at the Cove Skate Park, Mr. Ken asked the boys where they left their skateboards. Rusty said they always gave them to Billy. So, Mr. Ken called the teenager to ask him where he had placed them. Learning where the skateboards, pads and helmets were kept, Mr. Ken and the boys walked over to the storage room. When the boys saw their equipment, they quickly grabbed their boards, pads and helmets and then smiled and hugged Mr. Ken.

The limousine arrived just as Mr. Ken and the boys where driving down to the garage. Derrick was loading the bags, as the boys ran over to their mom. Mr. Ken came over and asked the boys to go inside and use the bathroom, as it was a long ride to the airport. He then went inside and did the same.

Ken, Kate, and the boys, started out to the Austin-Bergstrom Airport at 10:10 that Sunday morning. They weren’t in a hurry, as the charter flight wasn’t scheduled to leave until 12:30 that afternoon. The drive would give the adults time to talk some more about what they had discussed last evening.

After they finished breakfast, the Parchsons told Kevin and Kyle what their plans were for the day, and they asked them to go with them. The teens did their twin talk and then told their aunt and uncle that they would go with them. The twins had decided that the man and woman were their guardians and they should do things with them as a ‘family’.

Collin sat back and watched how things changed so quickly there at The Cove. He knew that with five boys in the house there was always a chance that one of them would have a need greater than the rest. The twins were no longer a part of The Cove, but in a way, they were, for the time being, but their going with their guardians, that afternoon, would change the dynamics at The Cove that day leaving the other five ‘brothers’ on their own, again.

Collin, after what he told his Big Bro last night, was even more aware of what his former foster dad was dealing with by having five boys in the household. He wondered to himself what it would be like, for him, if the twins were still living there.

After observing the happenings at The Cove this past week, the young man knew he had to try to handle as many of his problems by himself, and ask for suggestions, or help, when he was in a quandary over a situation, and only as a last resort should he call on his Big Bro to come to his aide.

The Parchsons left The Cove around 11:30 for Natural Bridge Caverns, leaving Collin, sort of in charge, until either Mr. Wayne or Mr. Dennis stopped by. The movie screen rental company was supposed to stop by later that afternoon to pick up the movie screen, and anyone could release it as long as they got a receipt.

The Cover boys, after they took their showers, all went up to the Cove Skate Park to skate and wait for their friends to arrive for the day. Phillip couldn’t wait until his bandmates arrived so they could continue to play and hopefully start learning some new songs.

The lifeguards arrived at twelve noon, as they usually did, and headed down to the cove to check everything out for when the boys did come down to swim. That was also when the Cover’s friends began to arrive and the cooking team got right to preparing the onions, tomatoes and lettuce for the barbeque later.

The day moved on as it usually did. The boys skated, had their barbeque, then they went swimming. Some of the boys took the PWCs out on the lake and even a few took the sailboats out. Phillip talked to Charles about teaching him how to sail, but the teen Cover told the youngest Cover that with him playing with the band all the time, that he was never available to go out on the lake and learn. Phillip was disappointed when he heard that.

Kate’s flight was on time and she hated to have to return home. But she knew that she had to return there to get things straightened out with Lane and learn whether or not he was Rusty’s father. And if he wasn’t, she had to figure out who was the boy’s real father, and get that straightened out too, before she did anything else, like marry Ken Thomas.

Ken and Kate shared a loving kiss before she and the boys walked out to the waiting charter air flight. The boys hugged the man and thanked him for letting them come to his home and see their ‘big brothers’. It was a tearful send-off for sure for everyone.

Mr. Dennis stopped by The Cove that afternoon. After he got settled, he asked the boys to return all of the patio furniture to where it was before the movie. It didn’t take the forty, or so, boys long to place the chairs and sofas back to where they originally were.

Phillip and his bandmates did talk about trying to learn new songs. They looked at their cell phones to find the songs and then they attempted to replicate what they heard. They knew, though, that the best method to learn the song was to have the sheet music in front of them. The only question was, how could they get them. The boys decided that they would talk with their parents when they went home, later.

After they ate, the band went swimming. They all went into the Men’s Locker Room to change and just as they did yesterday, when they changed after they swam, the boys just nonchalantly dropped their shorts and underwear and slipped on their swimsuits without batting an eye. They then placed their clothes in a locker and went out and put on a life vest and enjoyed the lake’s cool waters.

Mr. Ken returned to The Cove a little after two o’clock and then went directly to his Study. Mr. Dennis and Collin saw him return and they both went down to the Study to talk to the man.

“Bro … can I talk to you?” asked Collin, when he knocked on the Study doorframe.

“Sure, Collin, Dennis, come on in and have a seat,” returned the young man’s Big Bro.

“Boy, this place sure was busy this past week. These boys … they sure are lucky to have you as their dad and foster dad. But … well, that’s not what I wanted to talk to you about. Bro … I’m … I’m going to go back to Wilkinson tomorrow for a few days. I want to check on where the architect is on the final design drawings and then get them in for approval with the county. I hope we can start the remodel by the end of the summer,” advised the young man.

“Well, we’ll miss you. When do you think you’ll be back?” asked Mr. Ken.

“Well, I hope to be back Thursday late afternoon. I hope you don’t mind, Bro?” asked Collin.

“No, no Collin, that won’t be a problem. I told you that you can stay with us, and come and go as you need to, as you’re getting Wilkinson remodeled. The project will be at least a nine- to twelve-month project, so just plan on making The Cove your home for that long, OK?” replied a smiling Ken Thomas.

Mr. Ken then asked Dennis if there was anything he needed to know. Dennis told his employer that the movie rental company came and picked up the movie screen, and that he had the receipt. The Assistant Estate Master then placed it on the desk. Mr. Ken said he’d make sure Chris got that.

Later that afternoon, Kate called Ken to let him know that she and the boys were back home, safe. She thanked him for the wonderful week she spent with him and for everything he and his ‘boys’ did for her boys. They talked some about them and then Kate brought up what could happen at the court in ten days.

But Ken told her to try to not to think about it. What he did do was to tell Kate to talk to Amy and to try to remember the names of all of Lane’s friends from back when they were in high school. She asked him why, but Ken asked her to give the names to Amy and let her try to see where they were now. Kate agreed and they decided that they would talk later in the week.

When it was close to six o’clock, the Cover’s friends began to go home. The Cover boys knew their ‘dad’ was going to take them out to dinner, so they all headed down to the Study to see when they would be leaving. Once they were there, Charles asked his dad if he’d heard from the Parchsons. Just then the phone at the man’s desk rang. It was Sylvia Parchsons, as Reynolds was driving.

The Parchsons indicate that they were on their way back to The Cove and would be there in about thirty minutes. Mr. Ken told Sylvia to have Reynolds stop at the Four Corners Diner instead of coming all the way back to The Cove, and that he and the boys would meet them there. Mr. Ken then asked Dennis if he wanted to join them. The man did.

The group met just outside the Four Corners Diner, as the Parchsons, and the children, weren’t really dressed for the restaurant side after being at Natural Bridge Caverns all afternoon. Mr. Ken had called ahead and had them set aside seating for fourteen, so when they all walked inside, they had tables ready for them.

The adults sat together, Collin included, while the nine kids split up into two tables. The Covers had been there often enough that they knew what they wanted, but Jaxson and Alani needed time to look over the menu.

Sylvia and Reynolds, as did Dennis, also needed time to look over the menu. As they all looked over the menu, they also talked about what they saw at the Natural Bridge Caverns.

The twins mentioned that they went down 180 feet below the surface and that they had these large formations with different names like The Castle of the White Giants and the King’s Throne. Jaxson said that there was this one formation that was over 100 feet high.

Then the boys told everyone that they also had a 60-foot-high ropes course with four levels that included vertical ladders and double beams. The twins said it was different than what they had on their Carnival cruise ropes course.

Alani said that she liked that when they went through the ropes course, you could also go onto to one of the zip rails. She told everyone that when you did that you flew over the entire thing. Jaxson said that the rail system was almost 700-feet long.

Alani then told everyone about the maze they all walked through. She said it was hard and when you thought you were lost you could walk up one of the towers to figure out how to get to the end. Everyone laughed that she couldn’t figure out how to get through the maze without cheating.

The adults listened to how the three boys and one girl talked more about the fun they had playing on the added attractions than they did in seeing the stalactites and stalagmites and other beautiful formations as they wandered through the natural caves.

Everyone had a nice meal. It wasn’t as formal as it would have been if they had eaten in the restaurant, but the food was just as good. The conversation was equally enjoyable, as they also talked about the previous week and what they had planned for the coming days.

After dinner, the boys, of course, convinced their ‘dad’ to let them drive the Go-Karts. They also talked Mr. Dennis into driving against them, as they told him that he made it a challenge the last time he drove against them. Collin and Reynolds also joined the group as the father wanted to see how well he could drive against his son.

When it was their turn, Mr. Ken told the course manager/operator that only his group would be on the track. He explained that there was twelve of them, Alani also wanted to drive, and they would fill all the Go-Karts

The man knew exactly what Mr. Ken wanted. So, when the green light was lit the Go-Kart manager/operator knew to let that group have extra laps. Reynolds, Jaxson and Alani were in the last three karts, with the twins just ahead of them, since they hadn’t driven anything like that in quite some time.

The rest of the Covers were all up front and as soon as the green light was lit, they all sped out of the starting block as fast as their kart would go. There was no telling how that race was going to end as, with Mr. Dennis in the mix, he was going to give Billy, Robert and Charles a run for their money.

The wild card in that mix was Phillip, who had somehow gained a lot of confidence out on the track, especially after he had won a race against Robert. Matthew was holding his own out on the track, but he never seemed to push himself to try to beat his ‘brothers’, as the other boys did. Collin was just out there having fun with his ‘brothers’.

Mr. Ken and Sylvia watched the race from the outside viewing area. Mr. Ken was interested in seeing how well his ‘boys’ did against one another and Mr. Dennis. Sylvia, on the other hand, was interested in watching her family drive the Go-Karts, and to see how well they did against one another.

There were only three main contenders on the track that night: Billy, Robert and Mr. Dennis. Phillip was holding his own, and was right behind them, but he didn’t have a chance to win as the three front runners were constantly passing one another, whenever they had the opportunity.

Mr. Dennis was putting a lot of pressure on the two older Cover teens and they were enjoying the race, as they had to run the perfect race to stay ahead of the man as well as race their ‘brother’. Phillip stayed behind them knowing that they were going to make a mistake, and then he would take advantage of it and slip right in and take third, or maybe even second.

The twins and Jaxson were racing one another and Reynolds was staying right behind them. He saw that the three boys were having a good time racing one another, while Alani was just driving her kart around the track and enjoying the experience.

Billy and Robert knew that it was at the turns where they would make their mistake, and that is where it happened. Billy went a bit wide at a turn and Robert thought he could go inside to pass, and when he did Robert’s left front wheel hit Billy’s back right wheel and they both lost control for a split second.

But that miscue was enough to allow Mr. Dennis to take the lead and Phillip to take over second place and smile the whole time as he passed his big ‘brothers’. Mr. Dennis knew the two older teens would race each other hard and make that mistake and he’d be the ultimate winner. Mr. Ken laughed at what happened, and how the youngest Cover, Phillip, was now in second place.

The race went on longer than a normal race would have, so Mr. Ken told the manager to turn the yellow light on. Mr. Dennis was still basking on the mistake that Billy and Robert had made and when he saw the yellow light, he slowed his kart up thinking the race was over.

But that was where the Assistant Estate Master made his mistake. Because that was essentially only his second race, he didn’t understand that the yellow light meant that it was the last lap. And by the man slowing up his kart, Phillip raced right by him and became the hands-down eventual winner.

“Way to go, Phillip,” offered the boys foster dad. “You beat Mr. Dennis and your older ‘brothers.” Now laughed Mr. Ken, as the rest of the Covers gathered around the youngest Cover.

“I didn’t know the yellow light meant it was the last lap, otherwise I would have raced to the finish,” complained Mr. Dennis. The boys all laughed.

Mr. Ken asked everyone to head back to The Cove. But they didn’t go there right away. They all stopped at Mr. Ken’s Kreamy Kone for ice cream. The Parchsons didn’t know the man owned that store, and they were surprised when they went inside and were greeted by the store’s night manager, Conner.

They all got large sundaes and ate them there outside at the store’s table and chairs. Sylvia and Reynolds then got the 411 about the store and more about the Four Corners Amusement Park that their host was building across the street, and was geared to open that coming weekend.

When the group arrived back at The Cove, since there were so many of them, he asked everyone to go to the Great Room for his normal evening meeting. There he explained to the Parchsons that he usually had an evening meeting with the boys to talk over what happened during the day, and what was planned for the next few days to a week or longer.

“Ok, it’s been a while since we had one of these meetings, but I figured it was time we started them back up again. To start, Kate and the boys arrived home safely this afternoon. She does have an important court date on the nineteenth of this month. Boys … just so you know …I will be going there for that court date. That means I will be gone for at least three days.

“Continuing … Collin tells me that he is headed back home tomorrow for a few days to check up on his remodel of Wilkinson, but that he will be back by the end of the week.

“Sylvia, Reynolds and their kids, the twins included, are also headed back home on Tuesday. They have an early afternoon flight, so they will be leaving here probably after breakfast. So, make sure you say your goodbyes beforehand.

“Since I’ve been away from the office all of last week, expect me to be spending a bit more time there this week. Also, the Four Corners Amusement Park is scheduled to open this Friday, as I last understood it. I’m not sure if it will be a ‘soft’ opening, or if we are going to have a big Grand Opening. I suspect the former until we have all the kinks worked out.

“And boys … don’t forget that Chief … that she is due to birth her pups later this month and possibly while I am gone. Keep a watch on her, and if you see her panting and walking about her whelping box be ready for her to give birth.

“And lastly, Billy, Robert and Charles … I have that career assessments profile scheduled for Thursday morning. Robert, make sure Eric knows. I will drive you to where they will administer the career assessment. It will take as long as it takes you and there are no right or wrong answers. It is designed to measure your likes, your strengths and what interests you. They’ll explain it to you when you get there.

“Now, does anyone have anything for me?” finished ‘dad’ Ken.

“Dad,” began Robert, “is it true that … that you’re going to get rid of the Miniature Golf Course and put the operations building there?”

“Oh, you heard about that did you?Well, the answer is, yes, but not right away. And that isn’t something that you are supposed to go out and tell everyone about. As the Four Corners Amusement Park gets established it will operate just as all of my other parks do, and they will need an operations building, which will include all of the necessary departments. So, it was either take parking spaces away, or the miniature golf course. Do the math. Any more questions?” asked ‘dad’ Ken

“Do you really have to go to the court with Ms. Kate?” asked Matthew.

“Yes, Matthew, I have to. There is something going on back there that I promised her that I would be there for her for moral support. I can’t tell you what is going on, but trust me … it is important to her, and to me, that this gets resolved. Any other questions?” finished ‘dad’ Ken.

After sending the boys up to their rooms to get settled before going to bed, and Sylvia and Reynolds sent their two children over to the guest house, the Parchsons stopped Ken to talk to him. They wanted to know how did that evening meeting come about and did it actually work.

Ken told them that the meeting came about when his foster boys had questions about what was going on when they were caught off-guard by things happening around The Cove. He told them that he figured that at night they would sit down and talk about what was going to happen, so they knew in advance. Mr. Ken told them that he’s done it ever since, and the boys know it helps them plan when things are going to happen around The Cove.

The Parchsons said that they might try doing that when they get home. Ken told them that Kevin and Kyle were used to it and if there were a number of things going on with them it would help everyone stay on track with what’s going on with everyone.

When Mr. Ken went upstairs to talk to the boys, he teased Bill about what happened on the Go-Kart track. But Bill explained that it wasn’t his fault. The teenager blamed it all on Robert, who ran his tire over his and they both lost control.

Robert took the blame for the miscue out on the Go-Kart track. He told his dad that he thought he had enough space, but he obviously didn’t when the tires connected. The two hugged and then ‘dad’ Ken went over to Charles’ room.

“Well, Charles … what do you have to say for yourself?” teased the teen’s dad.

“I didn’t do it and I don’t know who did,” laughed Charles.

“Dad … the twins … are they really happy where they are?” seriously asked the teenager.

“Charles … it doesn’t matter what we think. The courts … they have awarded the family members the opportunity to raise Kevin and Kyle for their parents, and we can’t interfere. Why do you ask, son?” the teen’s dad wanted to know.

“Dad, it’s … it’s just that they seem so … so alive here. They told me that … that they would rather be here than with their aunt and uncle. They told me that their aunt and uncle treat them good and all, but that … that they miss us, and that there just isn’t as much fun there as there was when they lived here,” the teen revealed.

“Charles … son … we sort of spoiled them with everything there is to do here. But as long as they are being treated well, have nice clothes and good food to eat … well, there is nothing anyone can do to change what has been done. Ms. Judy will tell you that CPS is charged with keeping families together, and Reynolds is Parker’s brother and he requested to raise his brother’s sons.

“That is why when Matthew’s mother … when she gets out of prison, she can petition that he be returned to her. But we will fight that until he turns eighteen, and by then he can decide where he wants to live. And you are not to tell him what I just told you. You understand, son?” emphasized the teen’s dad.

Charles told his dad that he understood. He also told him that he wished that there was something they could do for the twins. The teen’s dad told his son that since Sylvia and Reynolds told him that they could have more contact with Kevin and Kyle, and that they could go with them on their trips, that might help in the long run. The two hugged before the man went to Matthew’s room.

Matthew again asked his ‘dad’ if he really had to go away again. ‘Dad’ Ken sat down on the bed with the pre-teen and again he explained to him that the boy had to get over his fear of his going away. Matthew told his ‘dad’ that he’s talked to Doctor Doug about that, and he knows he should, but it’s just that he feels that he needs to have him close by.

“Dad’ Ken told the pre-teen that he can’t adopt him unless his mother agrees, and that she is adamant about them getting together when she gets out of prison. Matthew asked his ‘dad’ if there wasn’t a way that they could use what she did to him in that storage room to keep her from getting him to live with her again. ‘Dad’ Ken told the boy that he’d have his lawyer, Stewart Russell, look into that, but that he wasn’t going to make any promises.

‘Dad’ Ken’s next stop was going to be Phillip’s room, but he was waylaid by the twins, Kevin and Kyle. They asked him into their room to talk to him. The big question they had for him was whether or not he thought they should go and see their real dad.

That question took the old foster dad for a loop. But he figured it was because Reynolds and Sylvia told them that if they wanted to see Parker that they needed to give them a good reason to do so, and not just that they wanted to.

“Boys … why are you asking me that question? Shouldn’t you know whether or not you want to see your dad or not?” was Mr. Ken’s way of putting the question back on the boys.

“Well,” began Kevin, “we asked Aunt Sylvia and Uncle Reynolds to take us to see him, but they … they told us that they would … if we could give them a real good reason why we wanted to see him.”

“But we can’t come up with a good reason,” finished Kyle.

“Then maybe you shouldn’t go and see him,” argued the twins former foster dad.

“Well, we did go and see our mom,” reasoned Kevin.

“Boys … just because you went and saw your mom … it doesn’t really mean that you have to go and see your dad. Maybe … just maybe … it’s just too soon to go to see him. It’s been less than a year since he was sentenced, and you were moved to live with your aunt and uncle. So, maybe, just maybe, you need to give it more time before you decide to go and see the man.

“Have you even thought about what you were going to say to him?” asked the twins former foster dad.

The twins looked to one another and did their twin talk, and then a few seconds later Kevin said that they really hadn’t thought that out. Kyle added that they figured that they might not get back here again, and that they wanted to see their mom and dad while they could.

Mr. Ken opened his arms for the boys, and they both jumped into them. “Boys … your aunt and uncle … they are going to allow you to travel with us, and even visit us more. So, with that, there is no rush for you to want to see your dad just yet.

“Your dad … he will be in that prison for years and years to come. And when you are older … and have been able to process everything that has happened to you, then and only then, I think, is when you should decide when you should want to go and visit your dad.

“So, what say that tomorrow … that you go with your aunt and uncle, like what you did today, and enjoy doing things with them, as you once did with me and your ‘brothers’. Make new memories with them. They are your new family, now, do things with them and move forward.

“You will always be Covers and your ‘brothers’ and I … we will always be here for you, as your extended family, but that is what we are now. We all love you … and we will see you on our trips, and when you vacation with us,” offered ‘dad’ Ken, as he hugged the boys close.

The boys cried as they hugged their former foster dad, the man they also called ‘dad’. They agreed with their ‘dad’ that now wasn’t the right time to go and visit their real dad. After a few moments, ‘dad’ Ken gave each of the boys a kiss on their foreheads, and then he went over to Phillip’s room.

“I thought you’d never get here. Being the last boy here makes them have to wait and wait,” teased the youngest Cover, who leaped to his ‘dad’ for a hug.

“But that means I get to spend the most time with you then, Phillip,” said a smiling ‘dad’ Ken.

Phillip asked his ‘dad’ if he knew if his mother was starting her court ordered training that week. He then asked his ‘dad’ if he knew how long those courses would take, and when he thought he and his mom would be able to get back together again.

‘Dad’ Ken laughed and told Phillip that he’d have to ask Ms. Judy to see if she had that information, and if she didn’t, to ask her if there was a way, she could get it. ‘Dad’ Ken did tell the youngest Cover that he should figure that there were at least two courses, parenting skills and money management, and that they could be anywhere from one to two weeks long.

‘Dad’ Ken then reminded the boy that his mother has to get a job and keep it before the judge will release her from his conditions. Hearing that made Phillip look down. The boy then told his ‘dad’ that if that is the case then he’ll never get to go back with his mother, because she doesn’t want to work. The boy added that he heard his mom tell his grandmother, one time, that she liked getting the free money, and not having to do anything for it.

‘Dad’ Ken told the young boy that he’d look into it and get back with him, but in the meantime, he needed to practice his lesson for next Saturday. Phillip smiled at the inference and then elicited a hug from the man, who then told the boy to sleep well, but not to forget to drain his dragon first, before heading out of the room. Phillip laughed at the ‘dragon’ joke and walked out of the room when his ‘dad’ did to make sure he did drain his dragon.

But out in the hallway, Phillip had one more question for him. The young Cover told his ‘dad’ that the band was talking about learning new songs, but that they needed sheet music. Phillip then asked his ‘dad’ how could he get some money, so he could buy some sheet music for the band. Mr. Ken told the boy that they would have to talk about it later, and then walked away.

Mr. Ken made the turn to go down the stairs, but he was stopped by Collin. “Hey … you forgot one,” laughed Collin.

The two, Big Bro and Little Bro, talked about Collin’s remodel of Wilkinson and how he needed to handle the architect to get him to speed up the final design plans and get them to the county for approval. Collin then needed to put them out for bid. Collin’s Big Bro told him to get Uncle Andy involved and have him threaten the architect with a lawsuit if he didn’t hurry it up. The two then had a good laugh over getting Uncle Andy involved.

Mr. Ken gave Chief a few behind the ear scratches before heading down to his retreat to go to bed. As he got ready for bed, the man thought about his conversation with the twins. He was glad he had it and got them to reconsider seeing their dad until they were, hopefully, older when they might be able to handle the hurt, they will undoubtedly feel when they finally confront him over what he did with Kevin, and how it affected his twin brother, Kyle.

The Cove was quiet the whole night through.

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

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