Published: 26 Sep 2024

From The Previous Chapter:

Collin thanked his Big Bro for giving him some direction for him to follow, as he moved forward. The two hugged and Mr. Ken headed to his own personal retreat.

The weekend was an easy one and Ken Thomas felt relaxed. He knew he would sleep well tonight and then tomorrow he would have his regular Monday meeting of all of his Group Managers. After that he would try to find someone to watch Chief, while he and the boys took their, before school, trip.

The Cove was quiet that Sunday night and everyone slept well.

Monday morning Ken Thomas woke up to a cloudy day. The weather had been hot, as it usually is during July in central Texas, and also devoid of rains, but today he thought that there might be a chance of the wet stuff coming down. But then again, Texas weather was fickle and the clouds could just be a tease.

The owner of The Cove did his usual morning routine, before getting dressed for the day, as he did have to go to the office, since every Monday, he held a meeting of all of his Group Managers to get an update on what was happening in his ‘empire’ of businesses.

The man left for his office building well before any of the boys came down for their breakfast. He did talk to Momma who told him that she would like to plan another dinner up at the Pavilion on either Wednesday or Thursday.

Mr. Ken told her to go ahead and to get Bill to help her, as he knew how much he enjoyed being involved with those things. He also suggested that she let Bill do the heavy lifting and have him go to the store for her and pick up whatever she needed, now that he was a licensed driver. Momma smiled at the thought.

The boys did eventually come down to the Kitchen Nook for their breakfast. It was then that Collin told Momma Maria that he would head down to Wilkinson after he ate and that he wouldn’t be back until the weekend.

Momma told the young man that she had planned a nice evening dinner up at the Pavilion on either Wednesday or Thursday night and she would miss him. Collin thanked her for saying that, but he was sure that he would eventually be there when she did that one more time. That put a smile on the woman’s face.

After the boys ate, Billy went and got his work clothes on and went out to meet up with Lonnie. Phillip had forgotten to check Chief’s bowls, so he quickly ran down to the Great Room and brought the two bowls up to the Nook to rinse them and put fresh kibble in one and water and ice in the other.

When the young Cover brought both bowls down to the Great Room and placed them next to the whelping box, Chief barked out a few “Woofs”. Phillip apologized to the resident pet for forgetting and then went over to her and gave Chief a few behind the ear scratches to atone for his forgetfulness. Chief gave him a few doggie kisses and then went and ate, before going back in her box to then feed her growing brood of seven puppies.

While Chief was out of her whelping box, Phillip noticed that the bedding was somewhat soiled, so he went looking for Billy, because he was the one who usually changed it. But the older teen told him that Robert, or Charles, could also do that and to get them, as he had to meet up with Lonnie.

Robert told Phillip that he’d do that and when he went to do that Chief was feeding her pups and he didn’t want to disturb her. He told Phillip that he’d check on her later and the two went out and up to the Pavilion to wait for their friends.

Ken Thomas had his morning meeting with his Group Managers, as was his usual habit on Monday Mornings. He got their feedback on what was happening in those areas and where they were on their goals for the year. His businesses were making money for him and for that he was grateful.

But there were three areas that he had keen interest in that morning – the carwash, the boat storage lot and the Four Corners Amusement Park. He asked for an update on those three operations, but only Ben Walthers had any information for him on the Four Corners Amusement Park.

Miss Jackie was the one who had been working on and dealing with the car wash and boat storage lot, but she was on assignment, well, on vacation that week and no one else had been assigned to manage those two concerns as his Projects Manager, Jacqueline Kromiere, had fought for after they had both been put on line.

Mr. Ken listened to what Ben had to say about the Four Corners Amusement Park. Ken Thomas was pleased that the park was doing so well, after only being opened for such a short time. Ben Walthers told the owner of the park that that was to be expected, as people all around wanted to see what the park was all about. The President of TFE told Mr. Ken that he expects those numbers to fall off as school begins in about four weeks.

To finish off the meeting, Ken Thomas asked his managers which one of them thought that they should oversee the car wash and boat storage lot. He explained to them the overall operation of both endeavors so they knew how little work was involved in overseeing the two men who ran them. He asked the one who accepted the oversight to keep track of the funds, supplies, the man hours and of course the men’s paychecks.

While the managers thought about it, he asked that the architectural group get him some preliminary designs on the two-story operations building at Four Corners. He then told the Travel Group that they would be responsible for sponsoring the Fall Amusement Park Meeting and Agenda to be held at the Lakeside Hotel the weekend after Labor Day beginning that Thursday with the travel day being Wednesday.

Ken Thomas told them that his Estate Manager, Chris Dominions, took on that task last year, but that was not in his job description. The owner of the Travel Group told them that they were the obvious choice to handle the travel arrangements and they were now responsible for setting up the Fall Amusement Park Meeting and making all the room arrangements and everything involved with the meeting. He told the manager to get with Chris to find out what he did and with a smile told him to do it better. Mr. Ken told the manager he had a partial agenda already started and to see him for that.

With nothing else on his mind, Ken Thomas asked the group if anyone had stepped up to take over the oversight of the car wash and boat storage lot. When none of the managers spoke up, Mr. Ken told the Restaurants & Games Group that they would now be responsible for the oversight of the car wash and boat storage lot.

Ken Thomas told the Restaurants & Games Group Manager to introduce himself as their new supervisor and to get to know the men working those establishments, what their job entails, their needs, etcetera and to talk with Miss Jackie when she gets back for any background on his two newest ventures. Then, with that, the meeting was over.

Those Monday meetings usually take around two hours, and afterwards everyone wants to take a walking break to loosen up their leg muscles, get a cup of coffee, catch up on any messages and return phone calls that came in during that meeting.

That Monday, Mr. Wayne had Billy and Lonnie go back over the estate wall they had just finished. The Estate Master pointed out where the circular cleaning attachment didn’t get in the nooks and crannies, especially around the wall lights, and he had them use the wands to power wash around those and elsewhere along the length of the wall that needed a touch up. It would probably take the teens all morning to fix the missed areas.

At lunchtime, Robert went and checked on Chief’s bedding and seeing that she was out of the whelping box, the teenager moved the puppies to one corner and changed the bedding where he could and then moved the pups to the clean area and then changed the soiled bedding. Robert then added fresh water and ice to the one bowl, so Chief would have that when she came back to her brood.

Mr. Ken was no different at needing to stretch his legs, get caught up on his messages and return some phone calls. He knew Kate was going to be talking to the DA that morning and she was supposed to view the pictures that Lane had taken off the video he also had. Ken wanted to call her to find out if she had seen the pictures, and if she could identify the men who had probably raped her the night that Rusty was conceived.

When Ken called and talked to Kate, they discussed how her boys were handling that revelation about Lane, and if she was talking to them to make them feel as if she was not holding anything from them.

Kate told Ken that it wasn’t easy telling them things that she didn’t think they would understand at their young age. So, Ken told her to just talk with them every night about their day before they go to bed. He told her the night time routine would give her some one-on-one time with each son.

Ken added that it would give them an opportunity to say something to her without their brother knowing what they were talking about, and then they could also ask her questions about things that concern them, that might scare them about Lane and what might happen because of what he did to them.

Kate agreed that she could start talking to them as they go to bed to get caught up on what they were doing. She then said that if they had anxiety over Lane, she could simply answer them without the other one knowing what caused the angst.

Ken was happy that he was able to give Kate some counsel to let her stay in touch with her sons and on top of the situation with Lane. But he wanted to know if she was able to view the pictures and identify the men.

So, Ken mentioned to Kate that she told him that she was going to talk to the DA that morning and he told her that he was curious if she did and if she knew who those men were.

Kate, as embarrassed as she still was about what Lane had done to her and Rusty, told Ken that she did talk to the District Attorney that morning. Kate then told her boyfriend that she looked over the pictures and she felt like she knew who those men were and that she gave the names to the DA.

Kate told Ken that the District Attorney was going to have the detectives talk to the men that she said could be the men who raped her that night, and ask them to voluntarily give them a DNA sample. Kate added that not all of the men are still in the area, and that it will complicate things. Kate also said that if they don’t give the DA a DNA sample then he will file charges of rape and then she will have to testify at their trial. Kate then told Ken that wasn’t something that she wanted to do.

Kate told Ken that she doesn’t want to have to testify and that she told the assistant district attorney that. She added that she wouldn’t press charges as long as she learned who Rusty’s father was. Kate said she didn’t want her boys to know that she was raped by four men and have the trial spread across the news and have their friends hear that and tease them and then know that Lane was responsible for setting that up.

Ken told his girlfriend that he would support her in any decision she would make, as she was the one who had that happen to her. Kate thanked her boyfriend as she was afraid that he would want her to make those men pay for what they’d done to her.

To change the subject, Ken told his girlfriend that he still hadn’t found anyone to stay with Chief and her litter of puppies, and if he couldn’t, then it might just be him visiting his amusement parks the first week of August. Kate told him that something will come up that will allow the boys to go along with him.

After lunch, Ms. Judy called Ken and told him what she learned about Mackenzie Flores and her completing her court assigned requirements before she and Phillip can be reunited. Judy Turner, the Director of Child Protective Services, told her friend Ken Thomas that Mackenzie had finished her parenting and money management classes and was now attending some work training in order for her to get a job that she would need to hold for a minimum of four weeks before the judge will review her case.

Judy told Ken that even if Mackenzie finishes her work training this week, she would then have to go out and find a job, if one wasn’t already included as part of the training. Judy Turner then added that the earliest the judge would review her case would be the last week of August. Judy then asked Ken if he thought that Phillip would be ready to go back to living with his mom.

Ken told Judy that Phillip can’t wait until he can go back to living with his mom. He told her that he just bought new school clothes for Phillip, so his mom wouldn’t have to worry about buying those things when they reunite. But he added that he didn’t know what Mackenzie would have in her pantry for her son to eat and if she was mentally ready for her son to come home after they had been separated for the last five months, or so. Ken asked Judy if a psychological review could be ordered before mother and son were reunited to ensure there won’t be a problem. Judy was non-committal to the suggestion.

At The Cove, the boys did the usual. Phillip and his band played the new songs and mixed them in with the other songs that they’ve been playing all summer. The barbeque team got everything ready for when they cooked at about two o’clock and then they skated or played some of the oversized games that were at the Pavilion.

The rest of the boys either skated, or they sailed the sailboats, rode the PWCs, swam out in the cove and played on the water toys and/or had Jordan pull them on the three-seat water tube.

When it was time to cook and then eat, the main cook went over to the cowboy dinner bell and, using the metal bar, hit the three sides of the triangle multiple times so everyone could hear it, even at the cove. The boys came running.

After they ate, Phillip and his bandmates helped clean up and then they went and changed to go swimming. When the seven band members were out sitting in the warm waters of the Jungle Joe II, the boys talked about what the summer meant to them so far, and how much fun they’ve had.

Phillip started and told his friends that if it wasn’t for his ‘dad’, Mr. Ken, he wouldn’t have his electric guitar nor his lessons every Saturday and his best friends there every day to play together. The Cover added that other than going to his ‘dad’s’ amusement parks, this summer was the best one he’s ever had.

The other boys told one another that if it weren’t for Phillip they wouldn’t be playing in a band and Ty and Westin added that they wouldn’t have electric guitars either. They all agreed that Phillip was the catalyst that gave them the best summer that they’ve ever had, which was their forming a band.

Bryce said that when Phillip goes back to living with his mom, they should do everything they could to stay together as a band. Ty, Jeff, Westin, Preston and Bryson all agreed that being in a band was the most fun they’ve ever had and staying together would help them get through junior high and then high school.

As the afternoon wind picked up, the boys got cold and they went in to change. They all changed in front of one another and they didn’t even flinch when some of the older boys came in to change with them. They had all gotten so used to being naked together in the Men’s Locker Room that when the older teens came in, they didn’t cringe as they would have a month ago.

All the boys skated until it was time to head home at six o’clock. The Covers walked their friends to the Main Gate and then headed down to eat dinner after their friends had all left.

The dinner table was lively with conversation. Phillip told everyone about his and his bandmates’ conversation about their summer, and what they all thought was the best part. He told them they all agreed it was their forming a band.

Billy told everyone that he and Lonnie have completely finished the long wall that separates The Cove from their neighbors. He told them that they have started power washing the driveway and curbs. He indicated that they had done a test cleaning at the bottom of the driveway.

Billy pointed out they needed to see if they would need any special cleaning solutions, as that was where it was the dirtiest, because all the rain water flowed that way, and puddled and it took some time for it to dry up. The Cover teen said that they would start at the Main Gate and work their way to that area.

Robert told everyone that he changed Chief’s bedding at lunchtime, while she was out taking care of her bodily needs. The teen added that he also gave the resident pet fresh water and he added ice to the bowl. Robert told Billy that they would probably need to buy more bedding in a day or two, as he thought that there was only enough for three or four more changes.

Charles told everyone that he was flying his quadcopter for fun, but that he did get some good shots of Billy and Lonnie working on the estate walls, Phil and his band playing and some of their friends riding the PWCs, the water tube and playing on the water toys. He told his dad that he hoped to take it with them when they visited the parks again.

Matthew told everyone that he and his friends were the ones playing on the water toys and riding the water tube behind the Sea-Doo, as Charles was flying his copter. The pre-teen then did say that the cowboy triangle could be heard out at the cove, and then he asked which of the two dinner bells they were going to keep.

‘Dad’ Ken said that he’d totally forgotten that he had Mr. Chris buy two for Phillip and he was supposed to choose which one he felt was the better of them. So, ‘dad’ Ken asked the youngest Cover which one helikedthe best.

Everyone was now looking at Phillip. The boy never figured he’d have to make the decision like that, and in front of everyone. The young boy told his ‘dad’ that he had to think about it.

After dinner, in the Study, Mr. Ken told the boys that he still hadn’t found anyone to stay with Chief and her young pups. He told them that he needed to find that person within the next ten days so Mr. Chris can finalize the air charter and hotel rooms.

Phillip asked if Mark and his mom were going to go this time. ‘Dad’ Ken smiled and told the boys that they were on the list as was Mr. Dan. But, again, ‘dad’ Ken reiterated that unless he finds someone to stay there and watch over Chief it will probably be just him going on the trip, as it wouldn’t be fair if he only took a few of them. The boys were disappointed at hearing that they all might not get to go this time around.

Later, when Mr. Ken visited the boys before they went to bed, ‘dad’ Ken told Phillip what he learned about his mom and she and he getting back together. The boy was all ears as ‘dad’ Ken told him that his mother had completed her parenting and money management course, and was now attending work training.

‘Dad’ Ken explained to the youngest Cover that when his mom finished that work training, she had to get a job and hold it for a minimum of four weeks and then the judge would review her case. The man gave further details on how the judge could delay their getting back together until his mother proved herself to him, plus his mom had to get their apartment ready for him to come home.

Phillip asked his ‘dad’ if that was why he told him that it could be after Labor Day that he would get back with his mom. ‘Dad’ Ken was honest with Phillip and told him that yes that would probably be the earliest. Phillip thanked his ‘dad’ for telling him what he could now expect.

The two shared a hug and then ‘dad’ Ken told the boy not to forget to drain his dragon before going to bed. The man then headed down to his own retreat to get some well-deserved rest.

Yesterday’s clouds were a portent of today’s downpours of rain. A tropical disturbance out in the Gulf of Mexico had been working its way west and upon reaching landfall last night near Brownsville as a category one hurricane with loads of wind and rain it was now responsible for what was now being sent into central Texas.

The area sure could use the rains, but not in the amounts the weathermen were predicting. Ken Thomas knew there was nothing he could do about it. The owner of The Cove just knew the boys would be bummed out that their friends wouldn’t be allowed to come over, as Chief was still nursing her litter of pups, and he wouldn’t want thirty boys prancing through the Great Room to the indoor pool, disturbing her.

Ken Thomas drank his coffee as he read his morning newspaper. The man told Momma that the rains probably wouldn’t stick around much through Wednesday, so having dinner Thursday night at the Pavilion sounded good to him. Momma was happy to hear that.

Ken Thomas headed out to the office well before the boys came down for breakfast. When the boys did, they were all complaining about the rain. They talked about what they would do and if their friends would be able to come over.

Robert told his ‘brothers’ that if it was going to rain all day their friends probably wouldn’t be allowed to come over. Phillip asked even if they were going to stay up at the Pavilion. The teen said that he better call his dad and ask if that would be OK.

When the teen Cover called his dad’s office, Rosemary Martin told the teenager, whom she did not know, that Mr. Thomas was busy and that she would take a message. Robert asked Ms. Martin to have his dad call his son, Robert, at home.

When Rosemary heard that the caller was one of Mr. Ken’s sons, she told Robert to hold. A few seconds later dad Ken picked up the phone.

“Yes, Robert, to what do I owe the pleasure of this call?” asked dad Ken.

“Dad … Phillip wanted to know if his friends could come over and stay up at the Pavilion?” quickly replied Robert.

“Well … if they don’t mind getting wet going to and from there I don’t care. But by no means can any of the boys who come over go swimming. I don’t want all those boys bothering Chief and her puppies down in the Great Room. The pups are only a week old and they don’t need all that noise and disruption. I’m sure you understand what I’m saying, son,” answered dad Ken.

Robert told his dad that he understood and that he’d tell his ‘brothers’ they would have to decide if their friends could come over, or not, and stay up at the Pavilion, and that no one could go swimming. The teen’s dad inwardly smiled at the way his son said that no one could go swimming.

The boys finished eating and then they all went up to get their showers. Afterwards they stopped in Billy’s room to discuss if they were going to call their friends to come over and dodge the rain as they ran over to the pavilion.

Billy told his ‘brothers’ that it was too bad that he wasn’t eighteen yet. He told them if he was, he could drive them all over to The Mall and they could catch a movie at the TheaterPlex.

Phillip asked his older ‘brother’ why he couldn’t do it now. Billy told the young Cover that with a provisional driver’s license he could only have one of them at a time in the car with him.

Matthew, trying to be funny, then asked, “Then why don’t you drive one of us, you know, one at a time, to The Mall, and then we could all go to the movies.” Billy threw a pillow at him, and the pre-teen’s other ‘brothers’ just laughed. Matthew laughed right along with everyone, and then added, “Well, it was just a thought.” He got hit with the pillow again.

The boys did call their friends and told them that they could come over, but that they had to stay up at the Pavilion, as there would be no swimming due to Chief and her puppies beingin the Great Room, and their ‘dad’ didn’t want them disturbed, as they were only one week old.

All of Phillip’s friends decided to come over. They all enjoyed playing and singing and they felt it was better getting a little wet than staying home with their mom and their brothers and sisters. They also told Phillip that they enjoyed the music they made and they hoped they would be able to continue doing that all through high school.

Lonnie didn’t stop by, as he knew he and Billy wouldn’t be able to power wash the driveway. A few of Robert’s friends, Logan, Trevor, Josh and Cody stopped by as they missed coming by since they’d been working so much at the Four Corners Amusement Park.

Charles’ friends told him that they would try to come over, but only a few did make it, Hunter, David, Dylan, Tyler and Cooper. And only a few of Matthew’s friends, Ryan, Greg, Sam, Terran and Max, made it over, as well.

It wasn’t a full complement of Cover friends that day, but there were enough that they could all challenge one another to play the four large Pavilion games, beanbag toss, toppling timbers, connect-four and washers.

Then when it came time to cook, the boys all chipped in to cut up enough tomatoes and pat dry enough lettuce for them, but they decided they’d not cut up any onions. As they cooked the burgers and hot dogs, they called down to the house to see if Mr. Wayne, Mr. Chris and Mr. Dennis wanted to come up to eat. The men did, so the boys added a few more burgers and dogs to the grill.

The three men got a little wet coming up to the Pavilion, but they liked having the time to talk to the boys, as it gave them some insight as to what they were thinking and doing. The big question for most of the Covers’ friends was whether or not their friends were going on their trip with their ‘dad’ to visit all the amusement parks again.

The answer, of course, was that Mr. Ken needed someone to stay with Chief and her little brood and take care of them while the Covers were gone. The boys asked Mr. Chris why he didn’t do that, as he was there every day anyway. Mr. Wayne took notice of that comment, but just sat there thinking.

The rain did hang around all day, and the wind did pick up some which made the day a little cooler than the boys were used to. So, the visiting boys called and asked their parents to come and get them well before the usual six o’clock time that they normally left for the day.

The Covers didn’t stay up at the Pavilion with none of their friends there, so they all went down to the house. They checked on Chief and her puppies. They saw that the bedding could stand to be changed, so Billy asked Charles to change it. Robert told him to move all the pups to one side, then remove the soiled pads and put in some new ones, and then repeat for the other side.

Billy took the soiled towels to the laundry room and washed them on high water temperature and added some Clorox to disinfect them, so they wouldn’t give the puppies any chance of problems from them when they were used later.

While Charles and Billy were taking care of their tasks, Phillip went and refreshed Chief’s water bowl and he added ice to it, so the resident pet had cold water to quench her thirst.

The boys then went up to Billy’s room to watch some YouTube videos from dash cameras showing car accidents. They also watched some police car chases that also had the police car doing pit maneuvers on the driver that they were chasing.

After dinner that night in the Study, the boys told their ‘dad’ how their day went even with all the rain. They told him that the day was fun playing the Pavilion games, as they usually didn’t play them because there was so much else to do. They also asked him if he’d found anyone to watch Chief yet, but he told them that he hadn’t, so far, but that he was still looking.

After asking the boys if they had anything they wanted to bring up at their meeting, and they didn’t have anything, ‘dad’ Ken told them that the meeting was officially over. The man then asked the boys to head up to their rooms to relax and get ready for bed. After the boys had all left, Wayne asked to talk to Mr. Ken.

“Mr. Ken … I was thinking today, and … and I was wondering if you’d be OK if … if I stayed with Chief, while you and the boys went on the trip. I know how much the boys look forward to this second trip of the summer, so let’s not disappoint them,” began Wayne.

“But, Wayne …,” started Mr. Ken, but Wayne stopped him.

“Let me finish, OK, Mr. Ken? Look … you have Dennis, Dan and Miriam going along. And Collin will also be joining you, but if you have Billy, Robert and Charles share the teen’s room all you need to do is have Mark and Phillip bunk in with Dennis and then ask Dan if he would take Matthew with him. If not, then maybe Collin would take him, in his room. So, it would all work out with me not being there. This way the boys … they get to go and you … you don’t haveto disappoint them,” explained the Estate Manager.

Mr. Ken was surprised that Wayne would volunteer to stay back and watch over Chief, and her brood of puppies. He asked the man if he was sure that was what he wanted to do. Wayne said it was and that while he was there, he could get caught up on his laundry, apartment cleaning, bill paying, car washing and just sitting back and relaxing whiletaking out the Commander and PWCs with no boys around to upset the apple cart.

Mr. Ken thanked his Estate Master for jumping up and offering to ‘take one for the team’. He told Wayne that he wasn’t going to tell the boys who was going to stay with Chief, right away, but he would tell them starting tomorrow evening that he did find someone. Wayne told him that he agreed with that and he wouldn’t say anything to them either. The Estate Master then left The Cove for his apartment.

‘Dad’ Ken spent some time with each of the boys that night. The biggest question they had, besides the trip, was about the rain. He told them that it hardly ever rained for more than a day and a half in Texas, unless it was a tropical storm, otherwise it would probably be sunny by noon tomorrow.

After a few smiles and hugs from each of the boys, ‘dad’ Ken walked down to his own retreat. As he sat on his bed, he thanked his lucky stars that he had someone, such as Wayne, who worked for him. It was Wayne, himself, who proposed to stay back and watch over Chief and her litter of puppies and take care of them, while he and the boys were gone visiting the amusement parks, and Ken Thomas didn’t know how he could thank him.

As he lay down, Ken Thomas was thankful for the life he’s had and he hoped that it would continue with the addition of Kate and her boys. The Cove was quiet the night through, even as it continued to rain.

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

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