Chapter 11

“Is everything done? Russell and Lucille will be here in about twenty minutes.” Kathy asked.

Carly looked around the kitchen then said: “Yes, Ma’am. I pulled out the roast and put in the buns. The table is set. All that’s left is plating the roast and mom making the taters.”

“You two are spoiling him.”

Carly shook her head and said: “Nope. We already told him. Once the baby is here, there’s likely to be a potato famine for a few months while it gets settled in.”

“What did Kevin say to that?” Kathy asked.

Carly grinned and said: “Grams, I thought that boy was going to sit down and cry.”

“You’re kidding me.”

“No Ma’am. He was so sad. I had to promise there would be lots after. Hey, I’ve got grandpa’s de-horning fluid, ice tea, Mountain Dew and Dr. Pepper and water to drink. Is there anything particular they’d enjoy?”

Kathy thought a second and then said: “That’s good enough. The men will have a nightcap in the study after dinner.” Kathy examined Carly a moment then said: “You seem nervous. Are you ok?”

Carly shifted her eyes away then said: “Yes, Ma’am.”

“Do you want to tell me about it?”

“Not right now, later. Ok?”

“OK.” Kathy turned and walked to Kevin’s room. Meghan was sitting at the desk reading. “Meg, what’s going on with Carly? She seems nervous. When I asked her what was wrong she wouldn’t tell me.”

Meghan shrugged then said: “I don’t know. She won’t tell me either. She’s been like this all day and won’t answer any questions about it.”

Kathy sat on the bed and asked: “Are she and Kevin fighting?”

Meghan grinned and shook her head. “No. She was telling me how he wore her out last night. So, that’s definitely not it. She’ll talk when she’s ready.” She said.

“All right, Carly did say we needed the potatoes.”

A look of irritation crossed Meghan’s face. She turned to face Kathy. There was a trace of bitterness in her voice when she said. “Mom, don’t take this wrong. I know how pretty I am, but I could look like the smashed end of a wrecked garbage truck. As long as I could make him those taters, he wouldn’t give a damn. It’s frustrating.”

“At first, I thought it was cute. The day we met he told me that I wouldn’t believe how serious he was about potatoes. It wasn’t a lie. It’s almost enough to hurt my feelings.”

Kathy nodded then said: “I know. Dad’s great-grandma brought that recipe from Germany. The first time he tasted it he was hooked. It’s been nothing but tater this and tater that for fifteen years. Now, it’s yours and Carly’s problem.”

Kathy got up and lifted her palms toward the sky. “Free at last. Free at last.”

Meghan smirked and said: “Thanks for the encouragement.”

Kathy’s eyes twinkled as she said: “You’re welcome.”

The sound of Carly’s fork hitting her plate captured Ben’s attention. “Carly, what’s going on? That’s the third time you’ve dropped your silverware.”

Frustration filled her face as tears threatened to start. “I was wanting to wait till after dessert, but I’m too nervous.” She got up and went around the table to kneel between Tom and Lucille. “Mr. and Mrs. Gunderson, Kevin, and I found out we’re having a baby girl. May we name her Margaret?”

A slight gasp escaped Russell. He looked to his wife who had started crying into her napkin. Kathy rubbed Mrs. Gunderson’s back as she wept. “Lucille?” he asked.

Mrs. Gunderson nodded and wiped her face as she struggled to calm herself.

He looked down into Carly’s face and said: “Yes, you have our blessing.”

Carly hugged both of them and said: “Thank you. Her name is going to be Margaret Katherine Elizabeth Rogers. She’s named after the three most important women in my life.”

Kathy’s eyes watered a bit as she said: “Thank you, Carly. I’m touched.”

Meghan looked at Carly. “You mean that?”

Carly got up and went to her mother and hugged her. “Yes, Ma’am. I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

Kevin piped up with, “Her nickname is tater.”

All the women turned as one and shouted: “No, it’s not!”

Kevin smiled and said: “Greasy Tater it is then.”

Carly rolled her eyes and turned to Kathy and said: “Grams, where’s the rolling pin? I’m going to wear him out.”

“Let me get my cast iron skillet and I’ll help.”

Kevin’s eyes popped open as he said: “Hey, now.”

Ben jumped in with “Gentleman, a retreat to my study for a nightcap would be in order.”

Kathy said: “Oh no, we have to let the condemned finish his last meal and have his dessert. Proper forms must be followed. Isn’t that right ladies?”

All the women answered: “Yes, Ma’am.” They took one look at Kevin’s reaction and burst out laughing.

Father Scarpino stared at Meghan with grim and calculating eyes. He didn’t move them when he said: “Our meetings are getting a little crowded aren’t they Ben?”

Ben said: “They are and I apologize. As you know, when I retire Kevin will take my place. Meghan as one of his wives will be his assistant. She occupies an important position in the Clan that is equal to or higher than mine.”

Father Scarpino looked away from Meghan despite himself. “Did you say one of his wives?”

Meghan answered: “Yes sir. He is also married to my daughter Carly. She and he will have a public wedding soon. We’d love for you to come.”

Paul shook his head and said: “Ben, you know I love you as a brother so don’t take this wrong. Thank you for not being Catholic. My bishop would shit.”

Ben laughed. “You’re very welcome. The reason she is here today is so you can meet her in a business sense. Kevin will be the contact. But, she will be a tremendous asset to both our peoples as she has a unique skill set.”

“I didn’t tell her about you. She told me about you and the connection between our people. She had seen you exactly once, and that was at Donnie’s and Margaret’s funeral.”

Paul gave Meghan a measuring look. “That’s interesting. You are certain she’s not a plant?”

“I’m one hundred percent sure. I’ve performed extensive background checks on her from her birth till now.” Ben said.

An irritated look crossed Meghan’s face. “I’m sitting right here, you know.”

Ben looked at her with sternness and said in a flat toned voice that was all business. “I understand. What you need to understand is Paul’s life is at risk and if I can’t prove you are who and what I say you are. He’s going to kill you. It’s in the compact. So until he and I settle this sit back and shut up.”

Meghan shrunk back into her chair and stammered out: “Yes, Sir.”

Ben gave a curt nod then turned back to Paul and said: “As I was saying I have the records available for your eyes only. I give you my word as liaison and my personal word as your friend. I’m sure Kevin would be willing to give you his word that she is not any type of plant. And that she is a member of our clan and his wife by the laws of our clan. And that she holds a position equal to or higher than mine.”

Father Scarpino looked at Ben’s son. “Kevin?”

Kevin nodded and said: “I give you my word that everything my father said is true to the absolute best of my knowledge.”

Paul nodded and stood. He shook Ben’s hand then Kevin’s and reseated himself. “Ben, I accept your word. Kevin, I accept your word as well.” He looked at Meghan. “Meghan, I’m sorry that you had to experience this. The cost of another war is too high, and we won’t allow anything that might start another.”

“Oh.”

“Thank you, Paul,” Ben said. “The reason I asked to meet, other than Carly wanted to try her new spaghetti recipe on company, is that Meghan has come up with a plan to help both of us. I ran it past the Chief. We both agree it has merit.”

“I’ll have to ask her for the recipe to give my cook. It was superb.”

Meghan smiled and said: “Carly will be thrilled. She’s been working hard on learning how to cook.”

“Good.” Paul turned back to Ben and said: “What’s the plan?”

“It’s Meghan’s plan. I’ll allow her to explain it. When she’s finished. If you think your people might be interested, you can take it to them. If they agree then all the details will be handled through me. Meghan?”

Meghan sat up and said: “Both of us have problems that could destroy our power bases or cripple them. I have a way we can solve both problems.”

“The clan’s issue is that the feds suspect that we exist and because of a botched assassination they are motivated in their search.”

“Your problem is you are being pushed out of power by a stronger family. It is my understanding that if we assist you all the families would turn against us. Is that correct?”

Father Scarpino nodded and said: “Yes, it is.”

“My solution is that we give you information about the activities the feds are investigating. You use that information to frame the most important members of the stronger family.”

“If you do it correctly, you could cause division and arrange a few accidents or resisting arrest deaths in the process.”

“That gets the feds off of our ass and onto your enemies ass. You get to decimate your opponent all by your lonesome because we took no action at all.”

Paul looked at her with skepticism and said: “How does giving us information to use against our enemies not count as helping?”

“Easy, We didn’t give you shit. You stole it. Filed off the old serial numbers and doctored it up yourself. Once the feds are off of our ass. We’ll ask about it. You’ll deny stealing it. If necessary there might be a token cash payment made for your boo boo against us. At that time we’ll have kissed and made up.”