The Ten of Them – Chapter 14

Adult story: The Ten of Them – Chapter 14

by Hard93

In our last chapter Sam’s nightmare ended. Of course it was with the death of Lester, the man who ended her Aunt Nicole’s life. Who knows what his plans for Sam were? With his past they could not been anything good. The events that put Sam in our life are desperately sad. I would never want Sam to have to go through anything that bad again. Kathryn and I would do our best for Sam, her happiness and wellbeing means everything to us.

We saw last night at Kara’s birthday party the happy end of her infatuation with me. I’ve always worried about hurting her feelings I’m happy it worked out the way it did finally. I think Daniel is going to ask her out this weekend. I will support any relationship that Kara has as long as it keeps her happy. I’ve always wanted the best for my sisters since I’ve decided to marry Kathryn. Of course that was on the front porch swing as I gave Kathryn her necklace, the first day I met Kathryn.

Today after getting Sam up we skipper morning swim to have an early breakfast so we can drive Mom, Alyssa and Johnny to the airport. They will fly to California to handle Alyssa’s divorce.

We say goodbye at the security screening, that is as far as Kathryn, Joan, Sam and I could go without a ticket, there are tears in Kathryn’s Joan’s and Sam’s eyes as they waved goodbye. They will be back in a week or two, and will be here to meet them.

This is the first time actually I’ll be away from my mother more than a day. I will miss Alyssa and her cooking too. We have been eating in a lot more than normal, a few of the restaurants in town I really want to show Joan what they can do. Kathryn informs me that Misty and she will be cooking tomorrow night for us. But tonight we’ll eat out.

Kathryn takes the opportunity to go shopping since were only ten minutes away from the mall she likes. The first stop this time is the mother daughter shop, Sam’s slips from my shoulders and she picks out another red dress with yellow highlights for her the matching dress for Kathryn is another yellow with red highlights, the two dresses go well with the two girls and their jewelry. Sam is constantly in her necklace just as Kathryn is in hers. The two do most everything in them but swim and sleep.

I stop at the computer store and pick up a few things, I looking at the newest tablet, that tablet actually has more power than the first desktop computer I had as a kid. It’s hard to think in ten years what will come out, considering ten years ago if someone told you about a smart phone what would you think. Hell tablets can do everything including what a smartphone will do. I go ahead and buy everything I need to assemble two new computers, along with my software that I will use.

Sam is riding on my shoulders as I take everything out to the SUV. Once it is loaded Sam and I walked back into the mall to find Kathryn and Joan has gone to their favorite store. Sam asks, “Daddy do we have time for a cookie?”

With a chuckle I say, “If you want to share one we should have time.”

Sam giggles, “Okay Daddy.”

It’s early enough that a snack is not going to hurt Sam’s appetite when it comes to lunch in a couple hours. That girl can eat and still not gain an ounce. I should know she rides on my shoulders often enough to be able to tell. I think she will grow taller before she gains any weight. That something I’m actually looking forward to Sam growing into a beautiful woman. I know she makes me proud each and every time she calls me Daddy.

At the cookies shop, I buy dozen chocolate chip, dozen oatmeal cookies, and single chocolate chip to share with Sam now. I also purchased to take home, dozen chocolate, chocolate chip cookies, and a dozen raisin walnut cookies, and a dozen peanut butter cookies for the Coach.

Our timing is nearly perfect today Sam and I have finished the cookie we were sharing as Kathryn exits the store. Sam has chocolate on her fingers so were still busted. Kathryn only giggles and holds out her hand for the bag of cookies. I had them hidden under another bag, but quickly retrieve her bag of oatmeal cookies for her. Joan waves off the offered bag of chocolate chip cookies.

Kathryn slides into my lap as Sam giggles, she loves seeing her Mommy’s face all lit up in a smile. It’s moments like this that makes my life worthwhile, not the millions of dollars that I have. Feeling the love from Kathryn and Sam and sharing their happiness truly is what makes me feel rich.

As Kathryn sits on my lap she mentions about an art gallery, and how she like to add a few paintings to our home. Kathryn wants one in our bedroom for sure, maybe one for the family room and a few other places in the house.

There is an art gallery in town and Kathryn wants to go today, we have more than enough time before lunch, and Joan is interested too. It’s a short drive from here to an upper-class renovated neighborhood. That holds an old store, once abandoned and neglected now renovated and repaired. The art gallery is housed within this old 1930s five and dime store. The store was built with hardwood floors that are obviously been restored. They have made no effort to disguise the patchwork in areas. Some of the old light fixtures now hold modern fluorescent bulbs. It’s very interesting how they took their time and restored the place.

As Kathryn and Joan look about at various works of art. That all have prices are displayed on small tags directly under the artwork. Sam walks hand-in-hand with Kathryn as we look at various styles of the paintings within the gallery. There’s everything from modern Impressionist to the classics style portraits.

As they say beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Good art elicits a response in its viewer. Good art will elicit either love or hatred for it nearly immediately. If you love the message concealed in the painting it’s easy to figure out how you feel about the painting. Some people never truly understand why they feel what they do about artwork. Others immediately know that the art will be a part of their life from then on, and will travel distances, sometimes great to view the art from the same artist.

Some of the art here, I immediately dislike, some I enjoy, but there’s one that I actually love I’m standing in front of it as I feel Kathryn slip her hand into mine. Sam gives me a tug and I’m so used to it I immediately lift Sam onto my shoulders, and then retake Kathryn’s hand.

Sam’s looking at it too. She gives a giggle and says, “Daddy I like it. It feels like sunrise.” I have seen a few sunrises that would remind you of this, a few sunsets too. It does give me the feeling of change, either night giving way to day, or day given way to night. I guess that’s why they titled it Change.

I guess we’re standing there long enough that the owner finally decided to show some interest in us. The old saying the clothes makes the man, apparently applied here. I was wearing blue jeans and a simple button down shirt. Kathryn a similar dressed nothing really fancy. Joan was also in jeans and a T-shirt. Sam dressed in jeans as well and a nice blouse that match Kathryn’s. I’m sure he didn’t suspect he had a millionaire and two billionaires in his store. If he had I’m sure he would have been pointing out several of the more expensive pieces by some of the more popular artist.

I really don’t pay attention to prices on things like this. On art it’s if you love it or not should be the only reason you buy it or not. Even though this art spoke to me its price was so low I’m sure the art gallery wanted to move it just for the space.

As the man approaches, Kathryn gives me a wink letting me know it is fine with her if I buy the art. I bet she even has a place selected for it. The man begins, “If you excuse me, we’re not a museum. If you’d wish to make a selection I may help you.”

I cut him off before he sticks his foot in his mouth and Kathryn drags us out of here. “I’ll take this one. Does the frame come with it?”

He’s almost shocked, but recovers quickly he said, “No, none of the pieces come with frames.”

I smile then said, “That’s good I love the art but hate the frame.” The frame is totally wrong for the artwork. Even the lighting for this artwork isn’t right. Whoever set it up obviously wasn’t trying to or didn’t know how to display it correctly. I’m no expert in it of course.

A reflection from a car on the street strikes the painting bathing it in a warm golden light; it changes the colors ever so slightly. The true beauty in the artwork now revealed. Only for a few fractions of a second but it is enough for me to understand why I was attracted to this work. This particular piece needs natural light or lighting that will give it the appearance of being in natural light.

The owner had left with my check to complete the sale. The look on his face told me he half expected it not to be good. I’ve seen this happen a couple times before a message comes up and he makes a phone call. It usually occurs when I’m buying someplace new like today. The owner is skeptical as he is explaining what I look like to whoever’s on the phone. It only takes a second before his eyes begin to widen in shock.

Some days I truly wish this would not occur, other times like today I find it extremely humorous. Here I am dressed more or less like your average young husband. I can easily pass for someone who only made a few thousand dollars a month instead of a few thousand dollars a minute.

Kathryn and I will easily have over two billion dollars by the end of the year. In December we will retire again we decided to have a class with Alyssa and possibly Sam’s Aunt Michelle and maybe one or two others. When their class finishes it should be early December with us taking more time to support the local charities through the holidays.

Marshall and a few others from the football team helped last year, we should even have more help this year. I have a secret weapon, my Princess Sam. I’m sure with just a little minor coaching Sam is so cute once I tell her what to ask very few people would be able to turn her down.