The Ten of Them – Chapter 12

Sam’s form continuously improved, her Grandpa although not good at initially teaching someone to swim turned out to be a good swim coach for Sam. After Sam got the very basics down he helped her a lot with the finer points. Sam took to the water like she was part mermaid. In two weeks Sam was swimming ten laps, and knew three different forms of swimming very well.

After our morning swim one day I asked Sam what she wanted to do and learning to swim laps. Her first answer was, “So I can do it with you Daddy.” Then she said, Grandpa told me the youngest person to swim the English Channel was only fifteen. That gives me ten years to learn to swim that far, and then I will be the youngest person to swim the English Channel at fourteen.”

Kathryn giggles and says, “Don’t let your Grandpa talk you into doing something you don’t want. We’ll love you anyway Sam, even if you never swim the English Channel sweetie.”

I pick Sam up and look straight in her face and say, “That’s right Sam if it’s something you want will help you with it, but don’t let anyone talk you into doing something you don’t want to.”

Sam asks, “So I don’t have to?”

I say, “That’s right my beautiful Sam.” Kathryn can get away with calling her little but I can’t, she hates it when I do.

Sam asks “If it’s something I want to do you will help?”

I shake my head yes. Sam smiles and gives me a kiss which is my signal to let her down. Setting Sam back down on the ground I scoot her off to the showers saying, “It’s time to get ready to make breakfast Sam.”

Every Saturday morning Kathryn Misty Marshall and I make breakfast for our family, MC gets up and sets the table and helps wherever needed. Sam always is on my shoulders as I cook the pancakes she’s excellent at knowing when to flip them over.

Uncle George arrives, coming up the River on his bass boat he and Grandpa Michael had been out fishing early this morning. The two old friends had begun spending more time together, and it was an excuse to be around here. Alyssa’s divorce although not final didn’t stop the two of them from dating. Although no one could ever say it was more than just friends spending time together. It seemed to be good for both of them and Alyssa was as happy as I’ve ever seen her and Joan and Johnny would agree with that. According to Marshall his father had more life in him too.

We always make sure Alyssa had plenty of free time on the weekend or whenever she needed, telling her we couldn’t live without her now that she’s here. But still not fair to make her work twenty-four seven, I want you to have a life as well. So Saturday night she would usually spend with George out to a movie or sometimes they would take the afternoon and head off to the city to spend some time together but was always back fairly early.

I purchase a new car for Alyssa after talking to her to find out which one she wants, of course I didn’t get the exact one she wanted I ended up getting the top of the line for the model she asked for. She grinned realizing I did that on purpose. Like I always do, I spoil my girls.

Joan asks she could drive it and Alyssa says, “When you have a real driver’s license.”

Joan grumbles for a second then realizes she says, “When I have a real driver’s license I will have my own car and not need to use yours.”

Alyssa giggles and says, “I know that sweetie.” She gives Joan a hug as the room breaks out in laughter. It was Saturday morning and everyone was there, after a second Joan laughs too as she hugs her mother back.

George and Alyssa take Joan and Johnny off to the city to spend some time together, a movie, and lunch at a good restaurant a little shopping and then back home, maybe dinner in town or Alyssa make something here for them.

Alyssa and George are beginning to get closer and closer, Marshall is happy about it as well as Joan and Johnny. As far as I know the only one who doesn’t know about it is Edward, Alyssa’s husband, and the man lost his right to say anything when he filed for divorce.

That Saturday in the mail comes a notice for Alyssa from California and late that afternoon after they return she sets down at the dining table and opens it. It has the court date and it’s only two weeks away, Edward even asks, for alimony now that he no longer has a job, and Alyssa is still working for me. Jokingly Alyssa says, “JJ if I quit, would you make me move out?”

Sam answers for me, “Daddy would never make you leave Grandma Alyssa.” I give Sam a kiss on the cheek having to lean over because Sam is in Kathryn’s lap.

Then I look at Alyssa and say, “Well you heard my daughter, as long as your family and that’s not changing. You always have a home here whenever you want or need it.”

Alyssa stands and comes around the table once she reaches me she pulls me into a hug and gives me a soft kiss on my cheek is tears run down her cheeks.

Joan and Johnny join their mother, they both give me a hug but Joan gives me a kiss too.

Joan then tells her Mom, “Mom you know JJ is helped me make so much money that he would be easy to buy a new house or have one built. All we need to do is find some land near here. I don’t want to move too far away from my brother. Besides that I had too much fun with my niece.”

Uncle George pulls Marshall over to the side and asks, “Would it be all right if I sold some of the land we have to Joan?”

Marshall chuckles and says, “I would prefer you give it to my sister, I know Joan will be sooner or later.”

Uncle George only raises an eyebrow and gets a wide smile and says, “I guess I can make it so cheap is practically would be given it to her.”

Alyssa asks, “What are you two talking about?”

George smiles and says, “You wanted to buy some land near here, just so happens I have some land that’s very close if you like to see it.”

Joan asks, “Really, you willing to sell some land?”

Marshall says, “The land is partly mine, so it would be me and Dad selling it to you.”

Joan says, “I don’t have a problem buying land as long as you are willing to sell it.”

Uncle George says, “Okay hop in the car and we would drive you to it.”

Michael stops me from getting in my car to follow them, Kathryn has a wide grin on her face and I wonder what inside joke I missing. Michael pulls me down to the fence line, as Uncle George drives down the driveway. At the end of the driveway he stops in Marshall jumps out, on the other side of the fence line Marshall opens the gate and the judge drives through as Marshall closes the gate behind them. The slightly overgrown roadway is just the opposite side of my fence line. Uncle George pulls up to where we stand before stopping.

Uncle George gets out and says, “Howdy neighbor.”

I say, “Uncle George when you say close you weren’t kidding.”

Misty says, “Hey Marshall you think we have enough money to build a house too.”

Michael says, “You know my crew built JJ’s house and wasn’t all that expensive once you pay for the solar cells, other than that it cost about the same as any other house around here per square foot.”

Joan asked, “So what did it cost you for your house JJ?”

“Well cost have gone up a little bit in the last four years, so probably 3 million would cover it.” The coach shakes his head yes.

The Judge looks at me not realizing I’d paid that much for the house, Joan and Misty both realize they have more than enough money to cover that easily, and could make that much money next week probably five times over. Marshall just looks at Misty and says, “We’ll need to get an architect to help figure out the floor plan we will want.”

Joan says, “I want the land here, please.”

Marshall says, “We have eight hundred acres on both sides of the river right through here. I’m sure I can afford to sell you had unbelievable low cost enough land for a house seat.”

Joan says, “Excuse me Misty while I hug your boyfriend.” And she does giving Marshall a big hug.

Jokingly Marshall says, “Now the question is do you get land on this side of the river or the other. I am pulling for the other side of the river.”

Joan asks, “Why you want me on the other side of the river?”

Marshall pats his stomach and says, “That way I can put in a toll bridge and charge one meatloaf a month from your Mom.”

Alyssa giggles, “My meatloaf is that good to you? You know I’m teaching Misty and Kathryn how to make it.”

Marshall says, “I plan on being invited to whoever’s house who has meatloaf on the dinner menu, and especially yours Alyssa please.”

With a chuckle I say, “Marshall we will trade invitations, okay?” Misty and Kathryn punch each of us for our little joke.

MC coming to see with all the fuss is about and ask, “Could you knock a thirty acre piece off for me too?”

Uncle George chuckles and says, “Michelle what would you do living out here?”

MC says, “Once I retire, I think I will become a novelist. I love to write and a few stories about a local hero have given me quite a bit of inspiration. The stories may sound like fairytales but I think a lot of people need to hear them now that times are so tough.”

I jokingly say, “Only if you change the names, to protect the guilty.”

MC says, “Only if I get to exaggerate just enough to make people believe it.”

Now little more seriously I say, “I won’t have any problem as long as you don’t try to make me a saint, Lord knows I’m not quite that, I haven’t done my number of miracles required yet.”

Marshall chuckles and repeats, “Yet. He says looking like he is planning on doing them.”

Now chuckling I say, “I got a give Michelle something good to write about don’t I.”

MC giggles and says, “It would be better than me making up the last half of the book.”

Sam asks, “Aunt MC, am I going to be in your book?

MC giggles and says, “Of course Princess Sam, at least three chapters is going to be all about you.”

I pick Sam up and with a chuckle I say, “I’ve already been told that us adopting you sounds like a fairytale, maybe someone should write a children’s book about Princess Sam.” I get a kiss before setting Sam back down.

MC says, “That’s not a bad idea there JJ. I can use a Pseudonym and author it without hurting my credibility for more serious works.”