Chapter 29: Choices

It was busy at the lodge when they returned. Percy's kids were thrilled that Angela had accompanied Percy back home. They were happy at first until they learned the reason for the visit. Dr. Jim was probably the most upset. Percy had replaced the father he never knew in his life. And now there was a chance he would be forced to choose, Percy or his mother.

Angela did everything she could to adapt to country life. She shopped at the local Wal Mart, visited with the small shop keepers, and rubbed shoulders with the guests. One day while hunting season was in full force, she saw her first kill. A hunter staying at the lodge got his buck. The buck was hanging in the large cooler off the kitchen when Angela decided to get some meat for dinner out of it.

Percy later found her curled up on their bed crying. He climbed in bed and just held her. It was almost noon the next day before the two of them came downstairs. Angela did not leave his side for the next couple of days. Now she knew what this all meant.

These hunters took pleasure in killing some poor defenseless animal.

Percy felt her sorrow and knew that she would never accept his lodge as her home. She knew what its purpose was now. It was at this point, he decided that they would leave for her home in Philly at Christmas.

Percy was sitting in his "Chief of Police" Office in town when the phone rang.

Before he could speak a very excited voice on the other end spoke, "Percy? We've got her!"

"What?" Percy asked.

"We found out how she got the gun to your lodge."

Percy listened to the NYS Police CSI explain about finding a bag buried in her back yard. The bag had traces of a gun oil her late husband used after his pistol.

"The best part is that we were able to prove she bought the bag 'after' she reported the gun stolen."

He went on to explain that she and her boy friend were spilling the beans on each other.

"Percy you'd have loved it. They couldn't rat each other out fast enough. It seems that the boyfriend joked one night in bed that if the husband died, the two of them could be together all the time. That planted the seed in her mind. She planned and executed the entire murder."

Percy thanked him for the heads up. He asked the dispatcher to have Dean stop in his office at shift change. When Dean reported in, Percy explained the outcome of the murder.

They stopped for a beer with the team. It was a time to celebrate.

Christmas was rapidly approaching. Thanksgiving was celebrated with hunters who were staying with them at that time. Angela did not join them for dinner but stayed in bedroom. Every time she saw any hunters she withdrew further into her shell.

Percy and the family put up a huge tree in the den. Percy, Dean, Todd and Dr. Jim played the great lumberjacks and felled a fresh one in the woods. They returned with it back to the lodge and after much trimming, erected it in the den. The women were assigned the task of decorating it.

When it came time to put the angel on the top, Tara handed it to Percy and said, "Dad, please put Mom on the top. That way she'll always be with us."

It got quiet in the room.

Percy put the decoration on the tree. When he finished, Angela reached over and took his hand. There were tears in her eyes. "She and I both love you," was all Angela said.

Later that night the children started bring all the presents for under the tree. And there were a lot of them. If anyone looked under that tree, they would never believe that there was an economic slowdown. Just because they lived in a small town, somehow everyone found the way to get some great gifts.

Or at least it seemed so.

The lodge was closed for the Christmas holiday. It was only their family for Christmas Eve dinner. They were putting the food on the table when a car pulled up to the door. In walked Ray, Angela's father.

"Dad!" Gramps!" was all that was heard. Ray was grinning from ear to ear. "Well is somebody going to invite me in?"

Angela's father had taken it upon himself to join us for Christmas. Now you must remember that Ray did not travel alone. His entourage numbered 8 people. A couple of them very hard eyed men. Ray's people unloaded a second SUV full of presents for everyone.

It looked as if it was going to be a very good Christmas.

After we got everybody fed and settled into rooms we all met in the den by the tree. We all got reacquainted and updated each other on our lives since the wedding. There were snacks, drinks and a few carols.

We had a very old fashioned Christmas.

Percy noticed that the "hard eyed" gentlemen were outside patrolling the grounds. He brought them hot coffee and sandwiches. While their eyes never softened, one of them remarked, "He's not bad for a cop."

Christmas morning everybody met for breakfast. There were eggs, bacon, waffles, toast, pan cakes and of course fruit. That was a bunch of very full people who eventually gathered in front of the tree.

We were adults so the presents were opened in an organized fashion. Yeah Right! We were just like a bunch of little kids, wrapping paper and boxes all over the place. But what the heck, it was Christmas.

In front of Jenny and Dean were a bunch of large boxes tagged for both of them from Angela and Percy. Percy had no idea what was in them because Angela had purchased them. The first box they opened contained a baby carriage. The second box contained a crib. The rest of the boxes followed along on the same them. Angela sat on the floor by Percy's feet grinning from ear to ear.

"Anything you'd like to tell us?" she asked.

Jenny blushed and Dean beamed like the proud father he was going to be. They both shook their heads "No."

No one believed them and all the questions started. "When are you due?" What do you want?" etc. Jenny finally broke down and answered all the questions.

"I guess I'm, going to be a grandfather," Percy concluded.

Tara and Dr. Jim started on their presents. The first present they opened contained a night gown for a new born. Tara and Jim both gave Angela a funny look.

"Mom! How did you know? We just found out last week," Tara exclaimed.

"Angela just beamed and said, "We mothers always know first."

Ray reached over and put his hand on Percy's shoulder, "I'm gonna get you for this, I'm too young to be a great grandfather." Then he just broke into a huge smile.

Percy gathered the kids around the fire after the new baby talk quieted down. He handed each of them an envelope, "I have had my attorney split up the ownership of this lodge between each of you. I will no longer be involved here. It's all yours."

It was a rush to see who cried first Jenny or Tara. "Why Dad? We don't want this," they asked.