Published: 13 Aug 2026

From the Previous Chapter:

Once he was down in his own retreat, Ken Thomas got himself ready for bed and then he went and sat on the edge of his king-sized bed. As the man sat on his bed, he thought back on the day. He was so happy that Kate was there with him, and everyone who met her that evening was as captivated with her as he was.

The owner of The Cove knew that tomorrow’s party was the more important of the two, but he knew if his neighbors were fond of Kate tonight, his special guests tomorrow will fall as much love with her, as he has.

The owner of The Cove then turned off the lights in his bedroom and got under the covers. It wasn’t too long before he was fast asleep as were the other residents and their guests at The Cove. The home was peaceful and quiet throughout the night.

Early Saturday morning, Momma Maria and Sophia arrived at The Cove to begin preparing breakfast for the residents and their guests. Momma did stop and pick up the morning newspaper for her employer, and took it in with her when she and Sophia entered through the garage.

Sophia told Momma that Chris told her where he got that fingerprint reader lock from and she intended to get one after the Holidays for her own home. Momma’s amiga told her that it was a bit pricey, but she figured it would make it so easy for her to get into her home and she could also set it for everyone she wants to have access, without having to get extra keys made for them.

Momma smiled at Sophia’s reason for getting the special lock. She herself didn’t think that she needed one, at least not just yet. But her amiga did make some good points about having one and Momma told herself that when that time came there might be an even better lock available.

While the ladies were arriving and starting to get breakfast ready for the people in The Cove, Ken Thomas was waking up and getting himself ready for his day. The owner of The Cove knew he needed to go to the bank after breakfast and he had promised Kate and Edith that he’d take them out to get them a nice dress for the New Year’s Eve Party, so he needed to be ready.

Once the man was out in the Kitchen Nook, Momma took his favorite cup and a carafe of freshly made coffee over to him. She poured her boss a cup of the hot beverage and then the man did his usual routine of taking a sip, after blowing on the hot coffee, and then lifting it to the woman in salute.

Mr. Ken then did his other normal routine which was the unwrapping of the newspaper and then separating it before starting to read it from Section A: World News.

And just like yesterday, Kate came down to the Nook early, so she could talk to Ken. Upon seeing his fiancée, Ken got up and hugged her and then they shared a kiss that made Momma and Sophia giggle when they saw it.

The couple sat down next to one another and then Sophia brought over a cup and the carafe of hot coffee to pour Kate a cup of the hot brew. She thanked Sophia for doing that and then Kate and Ken talked about him taking her and her mom out to buy a dress.

Kate told him that buying them a new dress wasn’t necessary. But Ken told her that just like when he bought that other dress for her, this was just as important for her and her mother to have a wonderful wardrobe to wear at the New Year’s Eve Party. Then Ken told her that he would take them out as soon as he and Bill returned from the bank.

As the couple were having a discussion about going out for new dresses, Edith arrived in the Kitchen Nook. The women fixing breakfast saw her enter and Momma quickly brought over a fresh cup and the carafe of coffee in order to pour her a cup of the pick-me-up that most adults need the first thing in the morning.

“Don’t stop on my accord,” chuckled Edith, who then took a sip of the hot drink. The older woman then added, “So, what time should I be ready, daughter?” teased Kate’s mother.

“Mother … Ken … he doesn’t need to buy us new dresses,” argued Kate.

“But my daughter, if the man wants to buy us new dresses, I’m all for it. What woman doesn’t like to go shopping, especially for a new dress? And maybe we can get a clutch to match,” continued mom Partlunds, as she continued to drink her coffee.

“Mother, you’re no help,” offered an exasperated Kate.

As the adults were talking, Phillip and Jessy came into the Kitchen Nook and Phillip said that he had his guitar lesson in thirty minutes. Mr. Ken asked Momma if she had anything ready that the two boys could have as Mr. Bindy would be there soon, and they needed to eat something before then.

Momma asked the boys to sit at the table and she’d bring them something to hold them over and then they could join the family after the lesson. But Jessy spoke up just then and said that everything would be gone by then. Sophia told the youngster that they would hold something back for them in the warming oven. Both boys smiled upon hearing that.

The rest of the boys joined the first two not too long after they had begun to eat some breakfast. Darrin and Matthew went ahead and fixed Chief and Sarge’s first meal of the day and when they were finished, Momma asked everyone to walk into the Dining Room and be seated, so they could serve breakfast.

Phillip and Jessy were finished by then and those two cleaned off the Nook’s table, and then they headed to the Great Room to await Mr. Bindy.

When Mr. Ken heard the Foyer doorbell ring, he excused himself from the Dining Room table so he could talk to Mr. Bindy about Jessy sitting in on Phillip’s guitar lesson.

“Merry Christmas, Mr. Bindy,” offered Mr. Ken, as he opened the Foyer Door and invited the guitar teacher into the home.

“Would it be alright if my future step-son sat in and observed Phillip’s guitar lesson? Phillip has been showing the boy how to play his acoustic guitar, and I believe you’ll have a new student come next summer,” explained Mr. Ken.

Mr. Bindy said that he had no problem with the young boy sitting in. He then told the boy’s ‘dad’ that there would be no lesson next week, and with that the man then went down to the Great Room to begin Phillip’s lesson.

Jessy was excited that he was allowed to watch his big ‘brother’ during the guitar lesson. He watched as Mr. Bindy had Phillip go through what he asked him to practice from the last time and then the two played some together, as they changed chords and sang to the music.

About half way through the lesson, Mr. Bindy mentioned to Jessy someone told him that Phillip had been teaching him how to play the guitar, and he asked the boy if he wanted to show him what he learned. The young boy got a great big grin on his face and he eagerly took the acoustic guitar from his big ‘brother’ and he got himself ready.

When he saw the youngster was ready, Mr. Bindy asked Jessy to show him what he knew. Jessy then started to play the chords that Phillip had him learning. The boy would change chords as his big ‘brother’ had shown him and Mr. Bindy seeing that the boy knew those few chords began to play with him.

The man didn’t play fast, as he encouraged Jessy to change chords as he did. As the two, the novice and the master, played Jessy got a great big grin on his face because he was actually playing with someone else, who was also giving him pointers about his playing.

Mr. Bindy was impressed with what the youngster already learned from the few lessons he’d gotten from Phillip. He saw how much confidence the boy had in his playing and when they stopped playing, he told Jessy to continue to practice, practice, and to practice some more.

As the man was getting ready to leave, Mr. Bindy told Phillip that there would be no lesson next weekend. Jessy, then, thanked the man for playing the guitar with him, and showing him a few things, that Phillip had yet to do.

After the two boys accompanied Mr. Bindy to the Foyer Door and saw the man out, Jessy ran to the dining Room to tell his mom what he’d gotten to do during Phillip’s guitar lesson.

“Mom, mom,” called out Jessy, as he ran to the dining Room. “Mom, mom you’ll never guess what I got to do during Phillip’s guitar lesson,” eagerly stated the young boy.

“No, I guess I wouldn’t. So, tell me. What did you get to do, son,” said Kate.

“Mom, Mr. Bindy … he, he gave me a lesson, too. He had me show him want my big ‘brother’, Phillip, what he had been showing me and then … and then we played together. Mr. Bindy … he then told me some things that Phillip hadn’t yet.

“Mom, it was awesome! I had no idea that he was going to do that. And, and I had so much fun playing with him. I want to take guitar lessons when we move here. Can I, mom, can I?” eagerly asked Jessy.

Kate looked over to Ken and when she saw him nod, the boys’ mother told her son that as soon as they move there and get settled, she’ll make sure that he can take guitar lessons. Jessy hugged his mom with all his might upon hearing that.

And even though everyone was eating dessert, Sophia brought in what she told Phillip and Jessy that she would put in the warming over for them, so they could have what the others had for breakfast.

And as the two youngsters ate those wonderful flavors the women had imparted into the foods, all of their ‘brothers’ were talking to them about the guitar lesson and asking Jessy how he enjoyed the experience and playing with the man.

While the boys were talking to Phillip and Jessy, Mr. Ken asked Bill if he was ready to head to the bank. The older Cover teen said that all he needed to do was visit the restroom. Mr. Ken asked him to do so, and that he’d meet him in the garage in about ten minutes.

Ken told Kate that they should be back in about an hour. The two hugged and shared a kiss and then Ken went to his retreat and used the bathroom there. When he was finished, he headed to the garage to meet up with Bill.

Bill drove to the bank, where he had the rest of the money that he’d receive from all of the lawsuits he was a part of. The two talked, as the teen drove along, and Billy asked his foster dad when would they sit down and plan out some investments that he could put his money into.

Mr. Ken promised the teenager that after the Holidays, and after he got Darrin’s situation straightened out, he will have his financial advisor sit down with them and discuss where he could safely place his money where it could grow, as he finishes high school and works his way through college. Billy thanked his foster dad for agreeing to do that with him.

When the Covers entered the bank, Mr. Ken asked for the head teller. He didn’t want just anyone dealing with the sums of money the two of them were going to deposit today.

The head teller took the two Covers back into an office where she was able to deposit both of their checks into their appropriate accounts. Mr. Ken had his check split into both his savings and checking accounts, but mostly his checking account because right after the Holidays, the bills would begin to arrive and Mr. Chris would need the money in there to pay them.

With his money, Billy thought about buying a one-year Certificate of Deposit, which was paying the best rate of interest at the moment. Before he did, though, Mr. Ken asked him if he hadn’t asked him about investing that money, after the first of the year, in long term investments.

Billy had to think about what he wanted to do. Did he want to get the one-year- Certificate, or wait to see what kind of investments he could get into after the first of the year. The teenager decided to place his money in his money market savings account, which paid better interest than a regular savings account.

But the teen did decide that he wanted to take $700.00 cash with him. He told Mr. Ken he wanted to give $600.00 to Mr. Chris for the next three months, April through June, for his mother’s prison account, since he’d already him money for the first three months of the new year, and that the other money would be for him to have, as they visited his amusement parks.

Mr. Ken smiled at what the teenager wanted to do, and told Bill that he had no problem with him doing that with his money. Before the two departed the bank, Billy did ask the teller for an accounting of all of his accounts. The woman asked the young Cover if he wasn’t getting any of his bank statements sent to his home.

Billy told the woman that he just opened the account in late October, and he hasn’t seen anything come to The Cove for him yet. The lady checked the computer to ensure that they had the correct address and learning they had, she printed out an accounting of all of Billy’s accounts that he had in their banking system.

The teenager looked at the printout with surprise, and then he showed it to Mr. Ken. The teen told the man that he couldn’t believe that he now had that much money. Billy then said that if it wasn’t for him, he wouldn’t have any of it, and that he owed it all to him. The teenager said that he didn’t know how he would ever be able to repay him for giving him that second chance.

When Mr. Ken looked over at the teenager, after hearing what Bill had just said, he saw tears in the teen’s eyes. They hadn’t fallen yet, but they would have if the boy hadn’t wiped them with the back of his hands just then.

When the Covers returned to The Cove, Billy went immediately up to his room. He wanted to hide the printout. He didn’t want his ‘brothers’ to know how much money he now had. He felt ashamed that he had so much and that they might not have even a tenth of that.

When Mr. Ken arrived back at The Cove, he went looking for Kate and Edith. He wanted to take them to The Mall to get them a fine-looking dress for them to wear at the New Year’s Eve Party. Kate was still against doing that, but Edith was all for it and before long the three of them were head out the Main Gate and driving to The Mall.

While his ‘dad’ was at the bank and he was waiting for his friends to arrive, Phillip gave Jessy another guitar lesson. The young boy was like a sponge, and he was soaking up everything the young Cover was presenting to him. Jessy was loving learning to play the guitar.

When Darrin’s friends arrived, they all got out on the Cove Skate Park and began to skate. As the skated they talked about last night’s Holiday Party. As that was the first one Darrin had ever been to, the Cover asked his friends to compare the previous ones to last nights.

They told Darrin that there really wasn’t anything different from last night’s Holiday party other than who got what present and that they got to see some newer animated Christmas decorations on the lawn.

The Cover asked his friends what they liked about the party and the new animated decorations.

Sam quickly spoke up and explained that last night with Ms. Kate there the receiving line went really slow for the people to get inside. He said he figured all the people wanted to congratulate Mr. Ken and get to talk to his fiancée, too.

Terran, Sam’s good friend, and who’d been at probably as many Three Finger Cove Holiday parties as his friend, said that as the boys change at The Cove, so does the conversation around the party. The teen explained that many of the neighbors come just to see if the boys Mr. Ken is fostering are still here, and if there are any new ones.

It was Blake’s turn to speak and he said that he heard a few of the neighbors talking about him and Phillip being the ‘new’ boys. They were also talking about when Mr. Ken gets married that he’ll be adding Rusty and Jessy, so that the house will really be full of boys then.

Landon asked Darrin where Rusty and Jessy slept and what did Mr. Ken plan to do when the two boys move in next summer.

Darrin told his friends that Rusty stays with Matthew and that Jessy stays with Phillip. The teen Cover then told his friends that Mr. Ken showed them the space over the garage and told them that after the Holidays and before Rusty and Jessy move to The Cove, he was going to have four bedrooms, two bathrooms and a storage area constructed over the garage.

Darrin also told the boys that instead of the bedrooms being for two boys, as they are now, these would be for just one person and that Billy and Robert have already told his foster dad that they had dibs for two of them, when they are finished.

Jody asked what type of bathrooms would Mr. Ken build. He asked if they would be like they boys have now or different. All Darrin could tell him was that they will have to wait until the architect comes back with the drawings and then they start construction.

The boys skated until it was time to help with the barbeque.

Phillip and his friends did play some music today, but they were the ones who weren’t playing at Four Corners that Saturday. And before Phillip’s friends arrived, the Cover showed Jessy how to play on his electric guitar. The guitar was much heavier than the acoustic guitar the young boy had been practicing on, so Jessy had to adjust the way he played.

Phillip’s band mates saw Jessy playing when they arrived and they teased Phillip by asking him which band member was the boy going to replace.

Phillip heard them joking with him, so the young Cover told his band mates that when Jessy starts living at The Cove next summer, and he gets as good as he believes he will get, one of them will probably have to go.

The band members looked at one another wondering if Phillip was teasing or joking with them. Then they saw the smile on Phillip’s face and then they knew he was just pulling their leg.

As the band played, and talked between songs, the Cover did tell them that Mr. Bindy gave Jessy a mini-lesson today, and was surprised at how much he already knew. Phillip also told them that his ‘dad’ was going to have Mr. Bindy give Jessy lessons after he moves there sometime next summer. The Cover added that at his age he’ll probably have to form his own band. All the boys laughed at the thought.

The band played until it was time to help with the barbeque.

Mr. Ken and the ladies did walk throughout The Mall looking for the right dress for the women to wear at The Cove’s New Year’s Eve Party. They shopped at a number of different stores, and finally the women decided on something they each liked, but were at different stores.

Kate didn’t want her fiancé spending all that money on those two dresses. But Ken told her that what good was having all that money if he couldn’t spend it on the people he loves. He teased Kate that she needs to let him enjoy what he has, and for her to go along for the ride.

Edith stood back and listened to how her daughter tried to keep her fiancé from spending the amount of money he was going to on the two dresses he was buying for both of them. But in the end Kate relented and took home the dress that she really loved. The women also got matching shoes and clutches to go with the lovely dress ’d picked out.

As they walked out of The Mall, Edith thanked Ken with a big hug. The older woman then suggested to him that he will have a difficult time getting Kate to spend his money after they get married. Ken said as long as she buys what is needed, when it is needed, he will be OK with her being frugal to a point.

The three adults arrived back at The Cove around the time the boy’s friends were departing at three o’clock. They were glad to see that, so the boys will get a chance to rest some before getting ready for the night’s Holiday Party.

The boys did indeed rest up before the big Holiday Party that Saturday night. The four Covers who’d been to other Holiday , like the one tonight, Billy, Robert, Charles and Matthew, told Darrin and Phillip how important this party was to their ‘dad’.

The ‘original’ Cover boys stressed to their two newest ‘brothers’ that they needed to be ready to talk to some very important people who deal with their ‘dad’ in his business. So, all the boys made sure they’d get a good rest. Even Rusty and Jessy took a nap before getting up to get ready for the party.

Around five-thirty, the eight boys, plus Collin, were down in the Study with ‘dad’ Ken. They all waited on Kate and Edith to arrive and when the two women did arrive the boys really took notice.

“Mom, you really look beautiful in that dress,” observed Jessy.

“Yes, mom, you do, and so does grandma. You both look awesome,” added Rusty.

While the boys were telling the women how lovely they were in their new dresses, ‘dad’ Ken had gone over to his fiancée and the two hugged and kissed. The man then shooed two boys out of their chairs, so the women could sit down.

“OK, just as we did yesterday, we’ll have the receiving line with Kate next to me, then Collin, Robert, Charles, Bill, Matthew, Phillip, Darrin and then Rusty and Jessy. Those who had radios will have them again tonight.

“Tonight, we’ll let the receiving line go to about six-thirty, and then you boys can go out and mingle. And boys, remember … these people … they aren’t anything like the neighbors that were here last night.

“They are some of the more important people in government, like judges, commissioners, prosecutors and defense lawyers. They are also my partners in developing my property out by the Lakeside Hotel and they are some of the primary owners of major manufacturing companies, and their top executives. Some of them also work in real estate, major equipment suppliers. I think you get the idea.

“And Phillip, what was it you told people the first time you were at a big event like this?” asked ‘dad’ Ken.

Phillip thought about the question for a few moments, and then he said, “Oh, yea, now I remember. I told them that I got here as fast as I could.” All the boys laughed at the revelation.

“Edith … do you want to join us on the receiving line tonight, or … do you want to observe as you did last night?” asked Ken Thomas.

The older woman sat there for a few moments and then offered, “Ken … I’d prefer to watch, and besides, the receiving line … it is way too long, which was why the line moved so slowly last night.

“Maybe the line tonight … maybe it should only be you, Kate, Phillip, Darrin and then Rusty and Jessy. These people tonight … they have probably already met, or know, who Collin, Robert, Charles and Matthew are, so keeping them off the line could help let the line move faster tonight,” finished Edith.

Ken sat there thinking of what Kate’s mother offered. He mulled it over for a few moments and then he decided that he’d follow Edith’s advice. “OK, change of plans. We’ll do what Edith suggested. At the Foyer Door will be Me. Kate, Phillip, Darrin, Rusty and Jessy. The rest of you can talk with the people you already know, like Judge Richards, Ms. Taylor and Doctor Jennings. Any questions?”

When it was about six o’clock, Mr. Ken opened the Foyer Door and the receiving line was set up. But there were no guests ready to walk inside. Kate asked him if he got the date right. Ken laughed and told his fiancée that this happens every year. He continued and added that no one wants to be the first to arrive. He told her that they see it as being too eager, or it was looked at as if they were trying to impress their host.

Kate smiled at the explanation and then went over and sat down in one of the chairs in the MRS Room. It was about fifteen minutes later when Phillip called out that he could see someone was voting for the Gingerbread house. And with that, Kate quickly came over to Ken, whom she kissed, and then everyone got in line.

After the first guest arrived, it didn’t take long before more and more guests began arriving. Ken happily introduced his fiancée to everyone, many of whom didn’t know the man had gotten engaged back about a month ago, in November. Everyone congratulated him and Kate and, of course, they all asked when was the happy occasion.

The question of when was the wedding ceremony had come up before, but not as much as it had that night. After they left the receiving line, Kate and Ken quickly talked that they do need to set a date, so that everything can be finally scheduled and their friends can plan to come together for that time. Ken agreed that they will do that tomorrow.

As the Holiday Party moved along, the boys who’d been there the past few years knew many of the faces, if not all their names, but they talked to the party goers as if they knew them all.

Darrin and Phillip were the new faces at The Cove, and many of the party goers made it over to them to make small talk with the boys and to try to garner some information about them.

Both new Cover boys were a bit reserved at the questions the people at the party were asking. Phillip, especially, didn’t want them to know why he was in the CPS system. He didn’t think that it was important that they knew that it was his mother who was responsible for his living at The Cove.

So, the young Cover just told them that his mother had been attacked, which was true, and spent almost three months in the hospital and then she had to relearn how to talk and walk and was slowly getting her life back together.

As for Darrin, he told people about the fire and how he lost his entire family. Hearing that sort of put a damper on some of the people’s questions, while others were interested in what was he planning on doing now. Darrin did tell a few about the pending court hearing and that he hoped that he could stay there at The Cove, as he felt that he had found a forever home.

Ken and Kate made the rounds of the party goers. Ken made sure Kate knew who the more important people were, so she would understand the reason why he leaned in one direction or the other.

Ken also made sure Kate met the men he was partners with on the lakeside development project. All four investors, Jasper Bentson, Damian King, Bentley Cooper and Miguel Sanchez were happy for the engaged couple.

Of course, all four wanted to get with Ken after the Holidays to discuss their moving forward with their plans to develop building strip office and store fronts and light industrial warehouses along the main road.

They began to explain how they have met with and worked with the Design Group and had the land fully drawn out with everything they discussed, including roads, traffic lights, sidewalks and side streets as far up as to where the office building was located.

They men were going to explain how they wanted to move forward to the Planning and Zoning Commission, and then on to the Commissioner’s Court to try to get the project moving forward, but Ken asked them to call his executive secretary to set up a meeting for some time after the New Year.

Ken Thomas told the four that it would be best if they could all sit down together and do a complete review of the Lakeside development project with the fully drawn-out plans and to make sure everything was what he was expecting before they moved forward.

The four men all knew that Ken Thomas wasn’t too keen on developing the land just yet and had essentially told them they could move forward with the project and his only contribution to it would be the land, which they needed to actually start. So, the only thing they could do was to make the appointment, and see if they could change his mind to fully participate in the project.

This Holiday Party for his most important contacts wasn’t any different than the others that Ken Thomas had held at The Cove during the Holidays. The live music was mild and in keeping with the season. The foods that evening, though, were much more high-end than what was served the previous evening.

Ken and Kate did go out and have something to eat as they continued to talk with the party attendees. They also looked around to see what the boys were doing, and Kate was happy to see that Rusty and Jessy were with their older ‘brothers’..

Kate also noticed that people at the party were talking to her sons. She only wished she knew what they were asking and how the boys were responding. Ken saw his fiancée looking in her boy’s direction and he put his arm across her shoulders and pulled her to him.

“Honey, your sons … they’ll be OK,” offered Ken. “They’re with their older ‘brothers’ and they’ll make sure they don’t say the wrong thing. The people are only interested in where they live now and if they’re looking forward to moving here. And, you can always go over to them and ask them how they are doing.”

And after eating what she had on her plate, Kate did go over and talk to her sons.

“Hi, Rusty, are you enjoying yourself?” asked the boy’s mother.

“Yeah, mom. I’m meeting lots of people, mom, and they all seemed to be very friendly,” replied the almost ten-year-old.

“So, what do you talk about?” now asked Kate.

“Oh, nothing really, just where we’re from and if I’m looking forward to living here after you guys get married. Some have asked if we like having so many big ‘brothers’. I told them mom that it was really nice, as they’ve been teaching us how to ride our skateboards better,” answered Rusty.

Ken looked to Kate with a ‘I told you so’ face and then he hugged her. The two then walked away to talk with some more of their guests.

As the couple walked around, Darrin came over to Mr. Ken and asked him if he was going to introduce him to that judge. Ken had totally forgotten about his promise to Darrin to do that. So, he apologized to Kate that he was going to do that now and he and Darrin walked away looking for the judge.

“Judge,” called out Mr. Ken, as he and Darrin approached the man. “Judge Adam Richards … I would like you to meet my newest foster, Darrin Rossman. Darrin, this is the judge that I was telling you about. He was the one who approved Robert and Charles’ adoptions.

“Judge … Darrin … he lost all of his family in that house fire back at the end of October,” said the owner of The Cove.

“Darrin … it is always nice to meet Mr. Ken’s foster sons,” began Judge Richards. “I hope he is taking good care of you,” teased the judge.

“Yes, sir, he is. I only wish … well, I wish that I could stay, you know, here after my hearing at the beginning of January,” answered Darrin.

The judges’ eyes raised up at the mention of a hearing. Mr. Ken then told the judge about the insurance companies wanting the courts to assign the victims insurance assets, since both of the teen’s parents and his older brother had perished in the fire. He told how the other judge has called for the teen’s uncle to come to the next hearing on January fifth and explain if he could take care of his nephew.

Judge Richards wondered why that case wasn’t transferred to his court. Upon hearing that Darrin’s own eyes brightened with the hope that maybe this judge could help him.

“Judge … Bill … he was trying to have the custody portion of that hearing moved to your court. But with the Holidays the request … it probably got mired in the secretary’s inbox. Hopefully, we can get it moved to your court. And I have warned Darrin, here, though, that the outcome … that it could still be the same, with his uncle being awarded custody of him.”

Darrin thought that he better speak up and defend what he wanted, so he said, “Sir, judge, my uncle … I haven’t seen him in many years, and … and he’s told Ms. Judy, that he doesn’t have a lot of money right now that … that he could adequately take care of me. And that was why he didn’t come to get me after the fire.

“And I …well, I am really happy living with Mr. Ken and all my ‘brothers’. I’d much rather stay here where I have lots of things to do. I know if I have to go with him, I … I know I will be bored, especially if he doesn’t have any money.”

Mr. Ken further explained the reason for the hearing on the fifth of January to the judge. The judge told his host that he’ll look for that paperwork next week and he’ll get with Bill. Mr. Ken thanked the judge, as did Darrin, and the three went their separate ways.

Around eight o’clock Santa Clause arrived with his sleigh bells ringing. The jolly old elf came in through the Kitchen Nook, across the walkway in the MRS Room and then down the stairs. His chair was already set up and waiting for him and with a, “Ho, Ho, Ho!” Santa sat down.

And just as he did last night, and at all of the other Holiday parties, Santa Claus began to call out names to come to him to receive a gift he took out of his red bag. Tonight, though, instead of boys and girls getting their names called, it was the ladies and gentlemen who were attending the party, who were being asked to come down and see Santa Claus.

Rusty and Jessy were standing with their mom and Mr. Ken as Santa called out the names. “I hope he calls my name,” spoke up Jessy, to no one in particular.

And as the young boy said that, the four of them heard Phillip’s name being called. The young Cover was then seen going over to Santa and sitting on his lap. The jolly old elf took out a fairly large package from his red bag and handed it to the youngster.

Phillip quickly unwrapped the package only to find he had another package inside of that one. He quickly unwrapped it and he found that there was another wrapped gift inside of that. The people watching laughed.

“Santa, is there really a gift in here?” asked an exasperated Phillip.

“Why don’t you unwrap it and see, young man?” offered Santa Claus.

Phillip ripped the wrapping off the package and then he looked inside. The youngster was surprised to find he had a full set of guitar strings that he knew he could always need. The young Cover hugged Santa and ran off to show his ‘brothers’.

More adult names were called and then Billy heard his name. The older teenager went up to the man in red, but he stood there in front of Santa. Santa smiled at the teen and then pulled him into his lap. The crowd erupted in laughter.

“Now, young man … let me see what I have in my red bag for you,” spoke Santa, as he searched the red bag for the teenager’s gift.

After picking up a few presents and putting them back, Santa finally said, “Here it is.” And then the jolly old elf handed Billy the package.

Billy looked at the square package and wondered what it could be. As he looked it over, Santa told him to go ahead and open it. The teenager ripped the wrappings off the package only to find a nondescript box that he had to tear the tape off to get inside. Then once inside the teenager found a brand-new dash camera.

“Santa … how? Why?” was what Billy said.

“Young man … not too long ago, it was a camera … just like this one that saved you from a serious accusation and a load of heartache because they said that you disobeyed a flagger’s instructions. So, … well, I decided that you needed a newer, better one for when you are out driving around. Use it as well, as you did the one that Momma Maria gave you,” explained Santa.

The people attending the Holiday Party knew exactly what Santa meant, as they were all aware of what happened on that fateful day back in July. They also knew that the teen’s foster dad had sued not only the construction company, but all of the news media who had wrongly reported and accused the teen and then disparaged him and his foster dad.

When he got off Santa’s lap, the teenager went directly to Mr. Ken and thanked him for the new dash camera. But the man feigned, with a smile, that it wasn’t he who gave him the gift. But the two hugged anyway, and the teen went up to his room to put the gift away.

This Holiday Party lasted much longer than the previous evenings. It was almost eleven o’clock when the last person left the house. And, just as he did yesterday, as they departed the home, Phillip asked everyone if they had voted for the best Gingerbread house.

With the last person gone, the Covers and their guests sat in the Great Room talking about the Holiday Party that just concluded. Edith told Ken that she enjoyed that one much more. She explained that the conversation was more mature and enlightening, and that she learned so much more about Ken and his businesses.

Kate agreed with her mother. She said that the people that she met were more refined and that she did learn more about what her fiancé was involved in. She said, tongue in cheek, that she’ll really have to watch over her man’s finances if he keeps spending as he has. When she finished, everyone laughed.

Ken just hugged Kate close to him when she finished, saying what she did, knowing she was just kidding. He then told everyone that was what he hired Chris for. There was more laughter in the Great Room.

“So, what do we do tomorrow?” now asked Jessy.

“Well, young man, you sleep in, but no later than nine o’clock, as Momma and Sophia will be here to fix us breakfast. As for dinner, we’ll have tonight’s leftovers. Then tomorrow evening we’ll have the gag gift exchange” offered Mr. Ken.

“What’s a … a gag gift exchange?” now asked Rusty. “I don’t remember going out and buying gifts for anyone.”

Robert then told Rusty and Jessy what the gag gifts were all about. The teen told the two younger boys and Darrin and Phillip, of course, that it will be fun tomorrow night when they see what funny and corny gifts their ‘brothers’ get.

Rusty and Jessy wondered if they were going to get any gag gifts. Mr. Ken said that they were and they shouldn’t be offended by what they get. He told them that they were ‘gag’ gifts that were meant to be funny and for everyone to have a few laughs before Santa arrive later that night.

Kate notice that her two sons were yawning, so she told everyone that it was time for her and her sons to go bed. She said her goodnights to everyone and the three of them began walking up the stairs. Ken told his ‘boys’ that it was time they all went to bed, as well. He told them that he’d be up there in a few minutes.

Mr. Ken then walked Wayne and Dennis to the Foyer Door and thanked them for all their help. He told them to relax tomorrow and that he would see them Monday afternoon around two o’clock for Christmas dinner. They all shook hands and then the owner of The Cove headed upstairs to say goodnight to the boys.

Mr. Ken didn’t spend much time saying goodnight to the boys, and Collin, although Billy did thank him again for the dashcam. The foster dad told the teen that after seeing what he bought for the other men, he decided that he should also have one. Mr. Ken then said that he bought one for the other Cove vehicles, as well.

Rusty loved that Mr. Ken said good night to him. The youngster told the man that even though his mom started to do that with him, and that he liked it because they got to talk without his brother being there, that he liked this better when he did it. The two shared a hug and Mr. Ken moved onto where Jessy was.

Jessy told his future step-dad that he also loved it that at night he and his mother talked before he went to sleep. But the youngest boy told Mr. Ken that when he gets to talk with him, he feels so different, and so much better talking to him. The two hugged and then Mr. Ken went looking for Kate to say good night to her.

Of course, Kate was waiting out in the hallway and she heard what both of her boys told her fiancé. She told her fiancé that she didn’t understand what he did differently than she did. But all Ken could tell her was that maybe it was because they saw him talking to all their big ‘brothers’, and it made them fell as being a part of them, too.

Kate accepted that explanation, as the two walked to her guest suite. The two hugged and kissed outside her room and then they said goodnight to one another.

Down in his retreat, after getting ready for bed, Ken Thomas could feel how tired he was from the past two days of parties he held at The Cove. He told himself he was looking forward to a restful Sunday around the house with his fiancée. He also told himself not to think about what was going to happen until he awoke tomorrow, as he truly needed to get a good night’s sleep.

And with that said in his mind, Ken Thomas turned off the lights in his bedroom and the man got under the covers. But even though he told himself not to think about the coming next few days, his mind still wouldn’t stop doing that. So, Ken Thomas laid there trying to relax his mind, so that he could finally fall asleep.

The owner of The Cove wasn’t sure when he finally fell asleep, but by the time he ultimately did the rest of the residents and the guests of The Cove had been asleep for quite some time. And with Christmas just around the corner, The Cove was quiet throughout the 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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