Chapter 18

All my errands were done by three, and Sammy and I were back at the ranch by four. My ATV's were there, and I turned one over to the guards for their use. I stored the other two, then changed my mind and called the dealer and bought another one for the guards and had them deliver it as soon as it was serviced. One went in the new garage, and the other went into the new hangar.

The guards would likely have one in service pretty much twenty-four seven.

Sammy wanted to go for a walk, so we strolled through the valley, enjoying the early spring sun. The nights still got cold, but every day the sun heated up our little corner of Heaven, and I could feel winter losing its grip and summer making its way to North Carolina.

We walked until Sammy wore himself out, and I called for a guard to bring the ATV and pick us up, so I didn't have to think about carrying him back. He loved being in my arms, and the how I made him the center of attention. In return he lavished affection on me in lots of little ways. It was a perfect relationship. The model Polaris ATV's that I bought were all four-seaters, and the backseats have a little bit of extra space, so Sammy sat on my lap on the ride back to the house.

We hadn't been back in the house more than ten minutes when Thomas and his wife Vicky showed up with Ann Marie, and I showed them to her room and left them to get her settled. Ann Marie promised to get supper on the table within an hour and a half. I told her that I had stocked the kitchen before hiring her and suggested pork chops, pasta, and a good salad. She promised to find what she needed to get right on it. Vicky apologized for not helping more, but as soon as the car was unpacked, she and Thomas were gone.

I suspect they had had all of the little sister that they wanted for the time being. I spent a few minutes making sure Ann Marie could handle driving the Highlander, left her a set of keys, and showed where it was to be parked in the garage.

About thirty minutes later the head of my detail called and said that Colleen Bell was at the gate and wanted to come in to see me. That thrilled me, and I hurried out front to greet her. As I went to the front door, I thought about our conversation and realized she was the delivery she called about. When the rental car stopped by the front door, I saw the she wasn't alone. Millie and Jim were with her.

Colleen looked every one of her forty-eight years. Somehow the last year had aged her quite a lot. Gray was sprinkled liberally throughout her auburn hair. There was a slowness to her walk that was new, and I thought she looked extremely tired.

Millie, at sixty-nine looked as charming as always, and her smile melted away the years. She was as desirable as she was the first time I met her, when she made Beth Ann and me fried chicken at their home overlooking Table Rock Lake.

Jim showed his seventy-two years by his slow walk and deliberate movements. I hated seeing my loved ones age, but that is how the universe works, except for in my case...

Sammy charged the car and demanded the newcomers give him their full attention, which pleased Jim to no end. Colleen kept her gaze on me, and Millie watched Colleen, while Jim played with the puppy.

That's when I knew it was not a social call.

Greetings and introductions out of the way, I lead my family through the house to the kitchen to introduce them to Ann Marie, and then got us settled in the living room, so they could enjoy my view. Ann Marie brought hot chocolate and coffee for everybody and withdrew to the kitchen to do something about scaring up dinner for four, instead of one.

I waited for it, and thought I was ready for any bad news they might be bringing.

I wasn't.

"Rebecca died last week..."

What?!?!?!

"She had a very serious kidney problem and kept it from us. We had no idea anything was wrong until she started dialysis about three weeks ago. Something went wrong after her appointment one day, and that night she simply died in her sleep." Colleen looked like she was going to break down, and I moved to take her into my arms and comfort her, but she held me off while she finished the bad news.

There was more.

Colleen looked at me like she knew her next words would drive a stake through my heart. "Beth Ann is getting married, and Regina moved to Florida to live with her and take care of the babies for them both." I processed those bombshells and tried to keep from reacting. It almost worked, and Colleen moved in for the hug I tried to give her before.

I pulled her into a tight embrace and let her cry. I needed to help her cry.

We stayed like that for so long, my arm started to go to sleep. Colleen, Jim, and Millie said nothing the entire time I held a shaking, weeping Colleen, then seeing that the moment of truth had passed, Jim said, "I know you're hurting. I know we've stayed away from you, not knowing what to do, nor how to deal with your special circumstances, but we've talked, and we need to be a family again.

"Please forgive us for trying to protect the babies from your peculiar gift. I know it had to hurt you terribly. When we flew in to see you in the hospital, the last time that you were in the coma, we sat by your bed and tried to imagine how we would explain you to the children, not to mention Regina. Then we talked about the perils that Beth Ann's circumstances would cause, and decided that we needed to keep you a secret to protect us all.

"Brian, I am so sorry, and hope you can forgive us."

I looked at Jim for a long moment, then smiled at him and Millie. "There was never anything to forgive. You were right all along. My wanting to be with you was all about me, and nothing about what was the right thing to do.

"Rebecca, Beth Ann, and Regina are all gone from us, so we CAN be a family again, can't we?" It made me smile to think that several of the major obstacles were out of our way.

Ann Marie poked her head in and announced that dinner was ready when we were.

Colleen gave me the look, and said, "Is she ... are you two ... what's the situation there???"

It made me laugh for just a minute. "Ann Marie started work here this afternoon. She moved into the back bedroom about two hours ago, and is the new cook and housekeeper. I never set eyes on her before today." The grin on my face told her that I caught her being jealous, and she smiled in embarrassment.

Millie touched my hand and said, "We are so happy to see you, but we had to bring you so much bad news, we haven't asked about you. How are you, sweetheart?" Her smile was priceless, and beautiful.

How was I?

Really?

How WAS I?

"You've met Sammy. He is doing an admirable job replacing Benjamin. He'll never be Benjamin, but I need him in my life right now.