Chapter 4

Ken was moving the last of his stuff into cabin 6 when his stomach reminded him that he had missed lunch while wandering the grounds and that supper was due any time. If he had had any money he would have run into town for Mickey D or something. He would need to keep some ramen or something in his cabin for times like these. There was some food left in his apartment and he would have that tomorrow night, but for now there was no hope but to go to dinner and maybe he could avoid having to talk to Consuela.

While he was making his last trip Marta and Selena were talking to Consuela.

"What happened honey, why did you get angry with Kenny?"

"He said that he wanted to be friendly, I thought that he was just like the boys in school. When I said that to him he backed off and said that was not what he meant, but by then I was already mad and I wasn't really listening. I knew by the time that he left that I had overreacted, but it was too late. I'm sorry Mrs. Horne, but I saw how you and your sister were with him and I know what you have in mind. I wish I could have someone too, but living out here there is no way to meet anyone nice. Every guy I have met for a long time only wants one thing when they find out I have a child."

Selena spoke up then, "I know sweetie, I never did find anyone after my Rafael was killed. The men up here did not want to raise another man's child and I wouldn't take any less. Maybe we should start going to some dances or something to give you a chance to meet someone."

"That might be nice momma. I will apologize to Mr. Jacobs when I see him again, he really didn't do anything wrong."

"I'm glad that is taken care of Connie," Marta said. "I didn't think Kenny would have done what you thought; Marcia says that he was always very shy with the girls at school. From what she says that bitch of a wife he had is the only woman he has ever been with. He was helping her with what he knew was another man's child and the only time she let him sleep with her she complained all through it.

"Yes, Marcia and I intend to have him scratch our itch, but he will benefit from it as well. The boy needs to feel wanted. All he has ever known is derision and rejection. You don't have to be friends with him Connie, but please be polite."

"Yes ma'am, I understand."

When Ken stepped in the door of the main house he was surprised to see Consuela waiting for him.

"I am sorry Mr. Jacobs; I had no reason to be angry with you when you were just trying to be nice. The boys at my school would say much the same thing as you did when they were being nasty to me; but I know that you did not mean it that way."

"That's okay Consuela, I'm sorry that you got upset. Let's just make believe it never happened."

"Thank you sir, you are too kind."

"Please Consuela, I guess I can live with you calling me Mr. Jacobs, but please don't call me sir. I am nobody special, just the maintenance man."

"Okay Mr. Jacobs, if you insist. Shall we go to dinner now?"

Saturday morning Ken was awoken by a polite tapping on his door. When he opened the door he confronted Consuela.

"You are missing breakfast Mr. Jacobs. Did you move down here because of me?"

"I'm sorry Consuela, I forgot to set the alarm in this cabin; it won't happen again. I'll be there in a few minutes. I could have missed breakfast; hell I could miss a bunch of meals and it wouldn't do me any harm."

"Mother and Mrs. Friedman say that if you are going to lose weight you should eat all your meals with us, and not to miss any; it causes your body to hoard calories. You didn't answer my question Mr. Jacobs."

"Yes Consuela, I moved down here to avoid bumping into you all the time. I didn't want to cause you any more distress."

She looked up at him, "You didn't have to do that, but it probably was a good idea. Mother and I get up very early sometimes and we may have disturbed you. Stefan wakes up in the night crying sometimes too and I would hate for him to disturb you."

"I would almost welcome the sound of a child crying Consuela, it would remind me of Mallory."

"Well, it still is probably for the best." She then turned around and walked away.

Ken left right after breakfast and had all of his clothing and what items he wished to keep packed into the back seat of the truck before he had to go to work. The complex manager came by to complain about the large truck being in the parking lot and Ken informed him that he wouldn't be back after that night. Actually it was that afternoon; he had been right about the mall management tossing him out when he gave his notice.

Having no intention of gifting the apartment complex with any worthwhile furniture, Ken loaded it all into the back of the truck and figured that on the way out to Carmel he would drop it all off at Goodwill. He didn't need anything more than what was already in the cabin. His last act on the way out of the complex was to clean out his mailbox. He would submit a change of address at the post office Monday. He didn't even look at the mail until after dinner that night.

Mixed in with the bills and advertising were two sour apples. One was a letter from Belinda saying that his visitation rights to Mallory had been revoked, and he was being reported to the State for not sending support checks. Also in the mix was a notice from the State of California that he was being entered onto the rolls as a deadbeat dad and that garnishment proceedings were underway. Apparently Belinda had told them that he was 6 months behind on payments. He worried about it for a while, and then took the letters to see Marta.

She and Marcia met him in the study. "Is this correct Kenny, are you that late with your child support payments?"

"No way, I have sent her money orders every month since the divorce was final 8 months ago. I am about a week late now, but that is all."

"Do you have any receipts to show this?"

"I have the stubs from all of the money orders. I made them out to Belinda and we should be able to show that they were cashed by her."

Marcia asked, "Why did you use money orders, why not checks?"

"Belinda cleaned out the bank account when she left and once I paid off the bounced checks I closed it out to keep her from accessing it again. Now I have to cash my paychecks at Walmart."

"Get me those receipts Kenny," Marta said. "I'll have my husband's firm take this up on Monday. They have already been looking into your situation, but there hasn't been time for any answers yet. You relax honey; I'll make sure that this is taken care of. On another front, how would you like to accompany Marcia and me to an auction tomorrow? I'm looking to get some new stuff for the cabins. The auction is at a resort that failed. We can use your opinion and strong back."

"Do you want to take the truck?" Ken asked.

"Does the air work in that beast? If it does, then yes, if not we'll take my Mercedes."

"It works fine Marta, I used it today."

The next day they drove up to San Jose to the auction and bought new beds for all of the small cabins. Marta would have to buy new mattresses as well as the new beds were larger than those in the cabins now. The small cabins had always been meant as single person units and were supplied with twin beds. There was room in them for double beds and that is what Marta bought. She couldn't help but think that she or her sister would not be very comfortable in a twin bed with Kenny. There was not enough room for a queen sized bed, but a double was possible. She was also able to buy comfortable recliners for all of the units and some night stands that would look good with the present decor. She wanted some more continuity between units, right now each one was decorated individually and the result looked like a hodge-podge of design. Overall it was a successful day.

They stopped and got some fresh fruit and vegetables on the way back and Selena crafted a fantastic salad from them.

After dinner the sisters had Ken in the family room playing cards with them. Marcia noticed that whenever it was not his turn, Ken was looking out the glass doors. When she turned to look, she saw Consuela and Selena playing in the pool with Stefan.