A THANKFUL GATHERING

(The direct continuation of Resolved and Unsolved)

By Atonia Walpole

(Picture creations also by Atonia)

 

PART 1

Two vehicles from the farm were waiting at the airport. Terry drove in his rental and Tom brought the SUV. They were waiting at the gate for Max, Toni and the three children.

Terry heard them before they came into view. Maxi and Rose were both crying.

Max was totally disheveled. He hoped his glasses were in one of the bags. Maxi began crying the moment the plane started to descend. Rose soon followed and they had not stopped. All means of trying to get them to swallow water, juice, gum everything had failed. They both had earaches.

Toni was in front of him, carrying Rose and her diaper bag. Max had their seats and both boys walking in front of him along with a carryon bag. As soon as they hit the ramp into the airport he saw Terry and a flood of relief filled him.

“Hello, old chap,” Terry half grinned and picked up Jacky.

“Never again…not until they are grown will I get on a commercial plane with three children.” He looked around for Toni, who was talking to Tom.

“Hello, Tom. Good to see you.”

“Mr. Skinner…uh, luggage?” He looked from Max to Toni.

“I’ll go.” Max unloaded Rose’s seat onto Terry and beat a hasty retreat toward the baggage return.

“Hi, luv.” Terry gave Toni a kiss. “What’s wrong with the kids?”

“Ears. You would pick up the only one who was quiet.”

“Oh, sorry…he was the only one that belonged to me,” he smiled, put Jacky down and took up Maxi.

“Not so. Right now they are all yours. It was a long flight, Terry.”

“I can imagine. You won’t go home this way. What was he thinking anyway?”

“We’ve flown with Maxi and Jacky without a problem. Three is too much…just too…” She looked around, totally worn out.

Maxi’s tears were subsiding now that he was in a different place and he wanted down. Jacky was still holding on to Terry’s jean-clad leg. He moved them out to a waiting area and found seats so she could sit down with Rose. Terry looked after the boys until Max showed up about twenty minutes later.

“Tom’s got all the luggage in a trolley and is heading for the parking lot. I think we should follow.” He took Rose from Toni and looked around for the boys.

“Terry’s with them.” Toni picked up Rose’s bag and her own and looked at Max with a crooked grin. “How is it we never had a child together?”

He rolled his eyes and herded them toward the door.

Munchie waited on the front porch for them to arrive. She’d timed it right and walked down to see the children. Toni got a hug in before Jacky claimed her and Rose was passed over. She exclaimed over the boys and the little girl that she’d never seen. Maxi didn’t know her at all and hung back on his Daddy’s leg. Max picked him up.

“Can we just…get inside?” He looked toward Toni.

Once inside and rooms sorted out, Max and Toni went downstairs for a cup of tea and a sandwich. It was too late for lunch and too early for dinner but for them it was past dinner time. The boys were fed and let loose. Rose sat in Jacky’s old high chair for her dinner.

Terry had a cup of tea with them. He’d been there for a week, getting reacquainted with the house and grounds.

“Have you heard anything else from John?” Max asked around his tea cup.

“He’ll be down here on Sunday. I talked to him but he had nothing else to say about…the um…”

Max glanced at Munchie, who was feeding Rose. “Good. Maybe there’s nothing to it after all.”

“Anything from Jack?” Toni asked.

“No,” Terry answered. “You know we know when we see him. That’s about all we ever get from him.”

“He could do better about that.” Toni sipped her tea.

“Well, tell him.” Max raised a brow. “He has that Blackberry.”

They all had a chuckle over that.

Munchie finished up with Rose and let her out of the highchair.  It was soon obvious that she thought Max was Rose’s father. Legally, Terry was, but they didn’t correct her in her assumptions. Of course when Jack arrived things might get tricky. Toni knew sooner or later she had some explaining to do.

After tea they went outside for a walk. The boys went along, running ahead down the dirt paths and roads. Rose stayed with Munchie and wasn’t too happy about it.

“We’ve missed the best of the leaves.” Toni looked up under a shower of falling leaves.

“There’s still some color,” Terry replied. It’s been really nice there this past week. I got reacquainted with my horse, Singe. It’s a good idea about the riding school. No need for all this to go to waste.”

Max took Toni’s hand. “It’s not an advertised arena but we do allow riding the trails and it exercises the horses. I liked this place from the first time I saw it. Something here reminds me of the House of Four Seasons without the magic. Not that the house is anything like it.”

“Well, you do know this place came about after the House. I’m sure my grandmother and grandfather had something to do with it. They were at home at the House of Four Seasons and here, too. The house is old but was redone inside.”

“I miss it, don’t you? The House of Four Seasons. I’m not talking about the season but the House and grounds. It was perfect.”

“Yeah, but perfection isn’t real. It was never real, Max.”

“Real enough.” He trudged on through the leafy path. The chateau is real and we’re only a step or two away from the demolition man. Always something needing repairing or propping up. That’s something I always liked about the House. It never needed work. Seasons came and went and never any wear and tear. If you wanted a room, as I did with the library, wish it and *poof* it was there.”

“You were the only one that felt that way about the House.”

“I’m not sure that is a true statement. Biebe always wanted to experience four seasons.”

“You never did, did you, Terry?” Toni asked.

“No. I mean I loved the House when we were there but I was more than ready to leave it.”

“Let’s don’t go there,” Max said.

“We aren’t.” Terry turned to him. “I’ve never heard Jack express any longing to be there.”

“I think for Jack it was different. It was a place where we were together but it had nothing to do with him or his life. He never got into the fabric of the place. Maybe because it was modern and he’s not. The House accommodated him and loved him but I’m not sure it was returned. The little cottage he’s bought is a totally different thing. There he’s a part of the place,” Toni offered.

Max and Terry exchanged a look.

“Well, speaking of Biebe, have you heard anything else?” Max asked.

“No. He or Donna, one or the other, has mentioned the House. This woman is interested beyond common curiosity. She’s digging around. He’s afraid she’s going to mention him in Gloucester.”

“So what if she does? No one there can tell her he came from a magic House,” Max stated.

“We were always very careful about that. We never gave anyone our street address because there wasn’t one. He had a post office box and we used the Boston address a time or two.”

“Your grandmother’s?” Max asked.

“Yes, and now that house has been sold so there is nothing there to connect to us.” Toni walked between them.

“Even if she got bold the House would not be visible to her. She won’t find it.”

“Once Jack and I were pretty far out in his sailboat. We could see the light house and then the House. It was a little misty and he said nothing was visible to anyone except the light house. And I thought about the House and all that was there for us and no one else to see. John and I arrived at the gates once in a taxi and the driver was reluctant to let us off. The gates are there for anyone to see and the wall but beyond that is nothing but wilderness.”

“Was that the time we had to rescue you and John over the wall?”

Toni grinned, “Yes. How worried we all were. You scaled the wall and brought us over.”

“It was a scary time because John was in danger of disappearing and you wouldn’t have been able to get back into the House.”

“We’ve come such a long way since then,” Toni mused.

“I’m not sure we’re any smarter,” Max smiled.

“Smart…maybe not, but we’ve been damn lucky.”

“How can you say that knowing what you’ve been through, Terry?”

“I’m still alive but the thing is we’ve not been detected. We’ve been able to live out in the world like everyone else.”

“Luck does play a part in that, I agree,” Max said. “I am especially grateful for whatever magical cover is thrown over me. And I truly believe that there is one. La Siroque has been around since the 1500’s. How fortunate that the previous owner was named Skinner. My life follows the movie so closely as far as the Duflot’s, the vineyards and myself go.”

“Not quite. There wasn’t a Fanny Chenal,”  Terry grinned, “and aren’t you glad.”

Max smiled, “I was very upset over that when I first came to the chateau. I was rather lost and alone. I didn’t have Toni to help me through the transition. Fanny would have been a nice find.” He raised a brow and winked at Terry.

“We don’t mix with the locals and are known as that English family.  During tourist season we rarely go anywhere unless it’s out of the country. They come looking for Max and the chateau,” Toni sighed.

“Thanks to Peter Mayle…or not.”

“Well, you wouldn’t exist at all if not for him. Maybe you should pay him a visit.”

“Perhaps I should and shock him into next week. That should teach him,” Max grinned.

They laughed and kicked through the leaves. The boys were ahead, their high pitched voices on the breeze, laughing and talking.

“I’m glad we decided to come here this year,” Toni remarked. “Every time I’m here I wonder why I left. I really love this place.”

“It’s home to you,” Terry said.

“My home is in France but…yes, this is my childhood home.”

“I remember when I first saw it and thought how grand it was and that I wasn’t the right sort to live here. It’s not that sort of place at all. Nothing stuffy about it.” Terry took her arm.

“You could still live here. All your equipment is still here.”

“I know. I’ve used it, too, this past week. I suppose I should bring Jacky over more often. It will be his someday…unless you change your mind.”

“Why would I change my mind? Yes, it will be his.”

“I don’t know. I just thought with Maxi and Rose that…”

“Maxi will have Chambord. That’s already written in stone. I don’t know about La Siroque. It may be left to both of them, Rose and Maxi. I think Jack will have some say about that.”

“Here we are divvying up our kingdoms and we don’t even know what the future holds,” Max said.

“So true.” Toni leaned on his shoulder. “I’ll be glad when John gets here. Whatever possessed him to run for public office?”

“Same thing that possessed Max to go back into banking and me into the field. We were the best on screen. I felt I had to prove myself…oh, not to you, Toni, but for my own self confidence. I’m sure Max had similar thoughts.”

“I knew I could do it. I had within me the expertise and as Sir Nigel so gently put it, balls. I had no fear when I walked out on the floor. John knew he could win. He knew he WAS the sheriff, not just playing or acting, but he was, in fact, the sheriff of Belfast county. Now he is legally. What this may hold for him personally is yet to be determined. Public figures are usually prime targets. I’m just glad it was Belfast and not Bar Harbor which gets considerably more attention in the media.”

Wails ahead on the trail sent Toni at a trot to get the boys sorted out.

“We can do what we can for him but I’m not outing myself to save his ass,” Terry said.

“Neither am I. We’ve too much at stake,” Max added with a look to Terry.

 

Part 2

John arrived late Sunday afternoon with his family and  the rear of his Escalade packed full of luggage.

Max was helping unload the car. “Bloody hell, John!  How long were you planning on staying?”

John glanced in the back. He was unbuckling Claire from her seat. “A week but with five of us…”

“I understand,” Max chuckled. “ There were five of us, too, and we flew.”

“You’re a braver man than me. Here, I’ll take some of that.” He grabbed a couple of bags and called Claire to come with him inside.

Donna was already inside with the boys and she and Toni were greeting each other. Toni heard John in the hallway and she wanted to run past Donna and be caught up in his arms. But she couldn’t do that and so she smiled sweetly, commented on how the boys had grown and then Claire, who she picked up for a hug. Claire wanted down. She needed to find Jacky and Maxi.

Tom appeared and took the luggage upstairs then went to park John’s car down by the garage.

Finally John and Toni reached each other, their eyes meeting in the crowded hallway. He wanted to take her in his arms, too, but couldn’t.

“Let’s get out of the hallway,” Max said and moved toward the den. He glanced at Toni but her eyes were for John. He smiled a little to himself and engaged Donna in conversation about John getting shot.

First chance John grabbed her and kissed her. “Good to see you, baby.”

“You, too. What are you doing getting shot?”

“Ah, wasn’t my idea. I’m okay. I’ve got a war wound now.

“I hope that’s the last one. Now I’ve got to worry about you.”

“No, you don’t,” he grinned a little. “I’m a big boy.”

“I know how big you are.” She ran her hands up his arms. “You’ve made yourself a target.” She kissed his lips softly.

“You’re hanging too much on this. Nothing changed since I took office officially.” He looked down the hall. “Let’s go outside.” He led her out the back door and through the hedges where he could talk privately with her.

“Not sure how to begin…” He held her eyes with his. “You know that I told on us. Well, on me. I told a woman who I was. I’m not sure now why I did it. She’s, ah, an attractive woman and, um, very compelling.”

“You were sexually attracted to her?”

“Yeah,” he grinned crookedly. “Sounds strange coming from me, I know. There’s never been anybody but you outside of Donna. I thought I could trust her because she seemed so understanding and accepting but now I’m not so sure. Right now she’s digging around Salem. She is a very intelligent woman, born and raised in the area there in Maine. I don’t think I ever left anything in Salem but Gloucester is another matter.”

“You were hospitalized once in Salem. I don’t know what kind of digging she’s doing and for what? What is it she wants to find?”

“How I came to be. Donna let the House slip while I was in hospital. Just…House…then she clammed up after saying there were other people involved.”

“Well, honey, if she does find out something it’s only that you played hockey for  awhile. We never gave an address to anyone. She won’t find the House of Four Seasons.”

“I know that but I don’t want to cause trouble for the rest of you. You in particular, Toni. You were known in Gloucester and Salem.

“And Boston. My marriage to Terry is filed in Salem. I really don’t understand her. What will she do if she does uncover something? There’s nowhere to go with it. For one thing, it’s preposterous and unbelievable. She’d be laughed out of town if she told. You know, once Jack and I were in the tavern on the corner in Gloucester and this old guy recognized him. Asked his name and Jack told him he was Jack Aubrey. He told him the truth and the guy laughed because it couldn’t be so. Jack took a chance but Lucky Jack came through.”

“Well, see, that’s what I thought would happen when I told Tess who I was. I mean she had the DVD right there with the cover staring me right in the face. I couldn‘t say no that ain’t me when clearly it was.”

“What does she really want, John? Does she want you to take her to bed?”

“I…I don’t know. I had those thoughts so I imagine she did, too.”

Toni could hardly believe this coming from John, old straight and narrow John. She gave him a strange look and turned away, gazing over the hedge toward the fields beyond. “All this time, all these years have passed by. I have thrown myself at you and you backed off. Now some stranger comes along and you’re thinking extra-marital.”

“It was just a fleeting thought, not something that I would have done anything about, Toni.”

She glanced over her shoulder. “You don’t have to tell me. If you had done something…that’s up to you.”

“I haven’t and don’t be trying to hand me that BS. You’d be mad as hell at me and I wouldn’t blame you.”

“What’s up with you? Getting an itch?”

“No, not really. I don’t know where it came from. It was just a thing that came into my mind. She’s  a strange woman, different. Sweetheart, if I had an itch I know who I’d want to scratch it. Don’t worry about that.”

“But you told her…I still can’t believe you’d do that. You could have made up anything to get you out of that situation.”

“I’ll handle it if something more comes along.”

“Yes, you will. Max and Terry are not coming forward to bail you out. I won’t allow it.”

“You are angry with me.”

“Yes and….no.” She turned to him. “I love you, John. I worry about all of you out here in the world. But you have lived quietly and under the radar and now all of a sudden you’re public property. You should have thought of what could happen.”

“I did think of it. I know the people in Belfast and they know me. Tess is a…a recluse and already thought of as strange. Nothing she comes up with will draw attention. Who would believe it anyway?”

“She did,” Toni replied.

Max had been hanging back to see what was going on. They’d been out there for a while. He heard the last of their conversation.

“So far so good,” he said, moving up beside Toni. “Let’s don’t spend our holiday worrying over something that has not happened and may come to nothing in the end.”

“I agree with that.” John looked at Toni.

“I can’t say I’m not going to worry because I will. I’ll try and not be a nuisance to the rest of you. Besides, I’ve got my own little problem. Jack is Papa to Rose. When he arrives she will go to him and call him that. Munchie thinks you are Rose’s father, Max.”

Max raised a brow. “Rose is an infant. If she calls Jack Papa, so be it. She can’t say uncle anyway and he isn’t and I’m not playing games.”

“That’s right. There’s enough of that going on as it is,” John added.

“Fine!” Toni tossed her hair back. “Fine. I may blow the lid off her world.” She widened her eyes.

“Do you think that wise?” Max asked.

“Obviously you don’t.”

“Let’s just leave things alone,” John said

Toni glared at him and walked away.

“What’s wrong with her?” Max asked John.

“She’s mad at me.”

“Hm, I see. Come inside and have a drink.” Max glanced after Toni and steered John inside. He’d left Terry entertaining Donna. The kids were everywhere.

Toni walked along the edge of a plowed field down toward the stables and barns and other various outbuildings. Her tears had dried now and she wondered at herself for releasing them.  They came from deep inside and that place rarely saw daylight.

Fifteen minutes later Terry came looking for her. He came out of the door with the boys, theirs and John’s. Tom was taking them down to the stables. He saw her red scarf near the field and walked after her.

“Hey, slow down!” He called as he neared.

Toni stopped and shielded her eyes from the sun. “Terry, what is it?”

“That’s what I wanted to know.” He looked into her eyes, noticing the tear tracks. “What’s up with you? Why are you angry with John…aside from the obvious.”

“Oh…I’m not…I’m okay.” She shook her head slightly and stuck her hands in the pockets of her jeans.

“No, you aren’t. Talk to me, luv.”

Her eyes filled again. “It’s…silly…I shouldn’t…no.”

“Toni…”

She bit her lip. “The reason John told that woman…Tess, about where he came from is because he was sexually attracted to her. He thought about it…he thought about it.”

“He hasn’t acted on that thought.”

“Given the right circumstances he will. How could he…all this time?”

Terry got it then and he put his arm around her shoulders and hugged her against him as he began walking them down the path again. He could wring John’s neck. He thought about Rome and John’s outright rejection of her. Max had jumped into his shit then. Maybe it was time they all had a heart to heart with John. How blind could he be? How could he tell Toni he was attracted to another woman? Terry cleared his throat. Yeah, a talk was coming.

“Did I tell you how much I enjoyed my week here?  Lots of changes in the neighborhood. Remember how far we used to have to drive for anything? Well, if you go right when you leave the driveway and down to the crossroads, there’s an old time general store. Kind of cutesy but you’ll like it.”

“Really…oh, well, I’ll do a recon…take Donna with me.”

“That’s a good idea and leave all the kids with us.”

“Of course,” she smiled up at him.

“Oh, ah, I had to explain a few things to Munchie about our present circumstances. I simply told her that you and I had some problems and separated. Max stepped in after his wife died and has made you very happy. I said we are all on good terms with each other.”

“Well, thank you, Terry. I was wondering why she hadn’t peppered me with questions, not that she won’t yet but I see now why. I’m wondering a little about Rose. Max said not to worry. Rose was a baby and if she called Jack Papa so be it. Papa doesn’t necessarily mean father.”

“I think you can trust Jack to charm her into silence on that subject.”

Toni leaned on his shoulder. “I can trust you to do a little charming yourself.”

Terry grinned and gave her another hug.

 

Part 3

Jack arrived quietly on Monday afternoon. Quietly because he appeared on the front drive and walked to the house carrying his bag. He was wearing jeans and a blue shirt in the warm sun. These were clothes Max and Terry bought him the year they spent Christmas in Virginia. He had his story should anyone ask. He’d gotten a ride from the airport. Of course only Tom or Munchie would be interested in how he got there.

Tom did meet him on the drive a little closer to the house. He was raking leaves and using a blower on the drive.

“Well now, where did you spring from?” he asked good naturedly.

“I got a ride from the airport,” Jack smiled and looked up at the huge old trees lining the drive. “I believe I’d let them all fall before raking. You’re making several jobs out of one.”

“True that, but they only gets deeper and harder to manage.”

Jack threw up a hand and walked on toward the house. The front door flew open and two boys came out in a run and scattered in the shrubbery. Soon two more smaller ones came out and ran down to the shrubbery. Jack thought they must be playing a game of some sort and mounted the steps and walked into the open door, closing it behind him. The house smelled of spice.

Munchie was in the hallway with a large wooden spoon, shaking it with some effort and talking to someone in the den. He approached and heard the TV going with some sort of sports event in the background.

“Oh, Captain Jack!” Munchie caught herself up.

“Good afternoon, madam.” Jack gave a small bow.

“Did you see ‘em?” she asked him.

“Boys?”

“Yes.” Her mouth formed a line in her much lined face.

Max rolled off the sofa. “Hello, Jack.”

Terry stood up from the recliner. “Hey, bro.”

John fought his way out of the other recliner. “The boys just gouged holes in her pumpkin pies.”

“Yes and they did.” Munchie’s eyes creased. “Everyone of them got a hole in it now.”

“Well then, we may assume that they have had their share and will get no more,” Jack said and set his bag down. He gave Munchie a little hug.

“It’s good to see you here, Captain,” she replied and, finding the spoon still clutched in her fist, she stuck it under her arm and left him with his brothers.

“It smells delightful in here,” he said.

“That was the pies,” Terry answered.  “Did you just, um, appear?”

“I did, down at the end of the drive. Good thing, too, because I encountered Tom on the drive. So I got a ride from the airport.”

“How are ya, Jack?” Max shook his hand as did John and Terry.

“Very well, well indeed. Is this a bachelor household today?”

“It is right now. Toni and Donna have gone shopping for Thanksgiving dinner.”

“Ah,” he raised his chin and looked toward the TV. “This is it?”

“Suits us.” John reached for the jar of nuts.

“What have you got in mind?” Max fished out a slim cigar.

“You’re not smoking that in here.” Terry looked hungrily at the smoke.

Max grinned and walked past him with it stuck between his teeth.

Jack followed him outside. “Brilliant sky, always so very blue this time of year.”

Max looked up. “Yes, clear skies without the heat of summer. It was a hot one in France this year.” He lit the smoke.

“I see you haven’t given up smoking.”

“Not entirely. I don’t smoke as much as I used to. It’s not easy to find the time with a house full of kids and I don’t want them to see it.”

“House full of kids,” Jack grinned. “Somehow I never thought you would end up that way.”

“Neither did I. I kept the London flat but we rarely get the opportunity to go there alone. The truth is, Jack, I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“I thought as much. I caught a glimpse of the boys. Where are the girls, Rose and Claire?”

Toni didn’t want to leave Rose so Donna took Claire, too.”

Jack hid his disappointment quickly. “It’s been awhile since I was here.”

“It was Christmas about three years ago, if I’m correct.”

“It was four years ago. Much has happened since then but I do remember that Christmas and what fun it was. That is until Terry was sent to Bolivia.”

“It was fun. Maxi was a newborn…and Connie was…”

“Do you miss her, Max?”

“I do think about her sometimes. Little things bring back memories, especially over at Chambord.”

“It was a tragedy and a terrible loss for you.”

“Yes.”

“In spite of what you’d planned to do.”

Max looked over at him. “That never happened and so I will never know what I would have been able to do and not do. You have not heard the latest about John.”

“John? No, I have not.”

“He told a woman in Belfast that he was, in fact, a movie character come to life through magic.”

Jack chuckled and looked at Max. “You…aren’t kidding?”

“No. You know he’s in public office now, the official sheriff in Belfast County. He ran for office and was elected. One of the residents had a copy of Mystery Alaska and wrote a letter to the editor of the local paper. John read it and it was heavy into  ‘mystery’ so he went to see the writer. It turns out to be a woman and he tells her the truth. Doesn’t deny anything and claims magic.”

“I cannot believe he would be so foolish.”

“Believe it and now the woman is digging around in Salem looking for more. Somehow she is aware of a house.”

“Well, the House is protected well enough but, alas, we are not.”

Max finished his cigar. “He’s on his own as far as I’m concerned, and I’ve too much at stake to jump into his mess.”

“I see. I shall have a talk with the sheriff.”

Max saw the little boys, Maxi and Jacky, caught up with John’s older ones headed down toward the barn and thought they needed someone with them. “Excuse me, Jack.  I’m about to avert disaster.”

Jack smiled and nodded his head. He looked across the fields, plowed and waiting. They planted feed for the horses and cows and that had been harvested in neat bales. It was a good farm and, sadly, without a master at the helm. It was all waiting for that blond-headed little boy running ahead of Max. This would be Jacky’s farm.

Terry left the den to get a beer from the fridge in the kitchen. John could hear him talking to Munchie. There was some tension in Terry and he didn’t know where it was coming from but he could feel it. It occurred to him that he’d not seen his boys for awhile and he got up and went down the hall to the back door. As the land sloped slightly down from the house, he could see Max had them all in hand.

“Hey, Jack.” John stepped out of the back door onto the patio.

“John…I’ve just heard the most disturbing news from Max.” Jack fixed him with a look.

So that was it. “Yeah,” he grinned a little. “I guess I screwed up.”

“More than that,” Jack answered.

Jack had listened patiently as John explained how it came about that he told the secret of his origins. They were seated at the patio table over coffee Munchie had brought them.

“I’m sure you’ve been told by your brothers what an unfortunate choice you made, a choice that could eventually put us all in jeopardy. This woman is in Salem, you say. Well, there are papers filed in Salem. Terry’s marriage is recorded there…witnessed by my own hand. You also have ties to that area, do you not?”

“A little farther up the coast…Gloucester.”

“Yes…we’ve all been in Gloucester at one time or another. Should this woman be a fan of the actor who brought us to life then it is only a matter of time before we are found out. You see…this is not just about you. It reeks of vanity, John.”

“Vanity? What the…where did that come from?”

“You had an income provided by Max and his investments on your behalf. It was not necessary for you to work at all, even less for you to put yourself out there publicly. To risk your name and your family’s safety for…what? Glory?”

“Now wait a minute! I ran for Sheriff. I have to work, Jack, and that’s the kind of work I do. I’ve been living there for a long time. I know the people and they know me.”

“Ah, but they did not know you…not really. They know what you allow them to know. There is a crack in your armor, John. You have made yourself vulnerable and through you so are the rest of us now.”

John looked at him for a moment. “You don’t have to worry about anything. I’m not saying anything else and if I have to…if it comes to it, I’ll take whatever hit is coming. I may lose everything I’ve worked for in Belfast.”

“The world is larger than Belfast. Where do you think you could hide if the truth comes out? I’ve lived in this world enough to know how information is processed. This thing called ‘media’ is a terrible weapon to use against a man but I have seen it done. This woman has already written to a newspaper. What do you think she will do with the information she finds in Salem?”

“I don’t know.”

“No…you don’t but it will be too delicious a morsel for her not to share it. She’s only to research the names on that certificate, Toni Stanley, Terry Thorne and John Aubrey and we are laid bare.”

Part 4

Toni put Rose down and ran into Jack’s arms. He gave her a good hug and a chaste kiss on the cheek. “Later,” he said under his breath and his eyes told her more.

Toni was so glad to see him. Always seeing him in modern dress was a shock but it illustrated to her how he could live in this age. Lots of men wore their hair long. Rose had found him now and came running over calling, “Papa!” Toni stood up and let her have him for awhile.

Donna waved to him and let Claire down out of the vehicle. Shyly she walked over to them, too. Terry and John came out to help with the groceries.

“The women always flock to Jack, don’t they?” John commented to Terry.

Terry grinned, “Must be the hair or maybe it’s the extra weight. You’re half way there, John.”

“Right.” John closed the back of the vehicle and hefted up his bags. “I’ll get me a bottle of hair dye and give him some competition.”

Jack had Rose and Claire perched on his arms and walked around the side of the house with them. Toni glanced at Donna and saw a look in her eyes that she recognized. Feeling sisterly she went over and linked her arm with Donna’s. “He’s gorgeous, isn’t he?”

Donna grinned, “As always…yes. Well, let’s go make sure we got the right stuff for Munchie.”

Toni was feeling close to Donna. She’d opened up about this woman Tess and the threat she felt. It wasn’t exposure so much as losing John. Toni had agreed that a woman’s instinct in this sort of situation is dead on. Tess wanted John and might use whatever she may turn up to that end. Toni had sided with Donna and vowed to help in any way she could.

They did a very American thing that night. Terry cooked hamburgers and hotdogs on the grill. The kids loved it and it gave Munchie a break so she might concentrate on Thanksgiving dinner.

Toni had a large garbage bag, going over the patio picking up paper plates and discarded drink cups. “You’re a real grill master, aren’t you, Terry.”

“I don’t get the opportunity to do any grilling now.” He closed the grill, having cleaned the racks.

“You should make this place a part of your life.”

“Yeah…Jacky would love it, but for me…it's lonely here without you. This is where we began our life together. I think…well, it doesn’t matter anymore.”

“What?”

“We should have stayed here.”

“Yes…it might have been different. I know you wanted London, though. That was the life you knew.”

“Partly correct. It was the life I had known.” He bent down and picked up some paper napkins under the table. “I was a newborn babe.” He straightened and grinned. “You could have done anything with me.”

Toni looked down into the bag as he tossed in the napkins. “And I didn’t,” she said and bit her lip. “I didn’t realize the responsibility I had. I was clinging to you. Well,” she looked around, “I think that’s it.”

He took the bag from her and kissed her rather soundly but tenderly. “Cling to me anytime you want to.”

“I do.” She touched his lips with her fingertips. “Think about it…I do cling to you.”

He caught her to him and kissed her again, a deeply sexual kiss. It left them both feeling they’d been intimate without satisfaction. “We could do it out here…over there…I don’t think it would take long,” he whispered breathlessly in her ear.

‘Crazy…” she whispered back.

“We always were…a little.” His hands were at the waistband of her jeans.

Toni followed him to the outside door of a utility room. It was a room built on to house the electrical connections for the house, fuses and breakers. Inside it hummed. Against the wall and he was right; it didn’t take long.

She clung to him, legs around his waist. “Oh, Terry…”

“Shh, don’t say anything.” He pressed her against the wall and kissed her again.

A few minutes later she was dressed again. They giggled softly with each other at their brazenness and walked out of the utility room and Terry took the garbage bag out to the cans. Toni walked to the patio and saw John sitting at the table. He must have seen them come out of the utility room.

“John…”

“He-ay,” he replied.

“Did they run you out?”

“Sent me out to find you. I did.”

She stared back at him. “Yes…you did.”

“Max needs help getting the boys to bed.:

“Thank you.” She went past him into the house.

Terry came back around and saw him. He slowed as he came to the table.

“You’re a real son of a bitch, Terry.”

“Don’t start with me, John.”

“ A regular fucking tomcat with no morals or scruples at all.”

Terry looked away for a moment. “Maybe that’s true but I do have one thing you don’t, balls.”

“Now that’s something to be proud of.”

“Damn right it is. I’ve never left her crying in a hotel room.” He left John sitting at the table.

John rested his head in his hands. He would never get past that…never. While he was sitting there, his cell phone rang. He didn’t even look at the number. “Yeah, Biebe.”

“I need to talk to you. I need to see you,” the deep, throaty voice said.

John looked up. “Where are you?”

“What’s come up?” Donna asked.

“I’m not sure but I gotta make a quick trip back. Just an overnighter…I’ll be back for Thanksgiving.”

“You had this week free…that’s why we came.” Donna looked him in the eye.

“You can never count on completely free…you can’t.” John looked back.

“When are you going?” Jack asked.

“Um, tomorrow and come back the next morning…maybe even a red eye if they have them available.”

John, with Donna at his heels, went upstairs. Jack and Terry looked at each other.

“This stinks,” Terry said.

“I agree. All is not as he says.”

“He never said exactly where he was going.”

“That is easy enough to determine. We shall take him to the airport and follow him to his gate and see him on his plane. I do not trust him right now to tell us the truth.”

“And then what?” Terry narrowed his eyes. Jack was on this.

“I can easily enough transport myself to wherever he lands.”

“Yes, but then you’re stranded. You can’t drive. You can’t follow him.”

Jack considered this. “We could prevent him from going.”

“This time, yeah, but what about next time? He’s up to something.”

“Could it be this woman…she has perhaps discovered something?”

“Most likely it is or he would have explained if Belfast were calling him.”

Much later the house was quiet and the lights were nearly out except the one in the kitchen. Max came down the stairs in his robe and pajamas to find Jack and Terry at the kitchen table with drinks.

“Oh, what are you two hatching out?”

They told him about John leaving the next morning and about their suspicions.

“Why didn’t you ask him point blank?” he said, pouring a glass of milk.

“We didn’t get a chance. He went upstairs with Donna and hasn’t come back down,” Jack replied.

“Donna may have him pinned to the wall,” Terry said and took a sip of his cognac.

Max pulled out a chair. “The next step is?”

“We’re going to follow him. Once we find out where the plane is going we can transport there and wait and see what develops.”

“Oh, this is ridiculous. You may end up in Canada or Bangor, Maine. You have no idea how this transport thing works, Terry.”

“Jack knows.”

“Right, the last time he tried it he ended up at Ashgrove with Toni.”

“No so, my brother. I ended up at the end of the drive here.”

“I say we pin him against the wall ourselves in the morning and make him tell us what’s up. If he’s up to something foolish with this woman then he needs his arse whipped,” Max frowned.

“I agree with that,” Terry said.

“All right but if that does not give satisfaction then we let him go and follow,” Jack added.

“Agreed.” Max downed his glass of milk. “Now to bed. We have to be up early in the morning.”

Part 5

What the fuck?” Max was out of the bedroom in a flash after the door nearly came off the hinges down the hallway. “What are you doing?" He came at John.

“Sorry.” He passed by with a jacket in his hand.

Max caught up with him. “Wait a minute, John.”

“I don’t have a minute. I’ve got a plane to catch.”

“You’d better lose that attitude here and tearing the door off the guest room won’t do either. What’s the matter with you?”

“I have a plane to catch. Donna is not happy that I’m going. I’m sorry but…I can’t talk right now.” They reached the bottom of the stairs.

“When can you talk?” Terry asked, appearing  out of the front parlor with Jack at his side.

John frowned, “When I get back…we’ll talk.”

“Where exactly are you going?” Jack asked.

“I’m…flying into Boston.”

“And then what?” Jack continued. “If you take her to the House…you’re done.”

“I don’t know what you are talking about. How dumb do you think I am?”

“Well…” Terry let it hang.

“Do you want to lose everything…do you want us all to lose everything? Is that where this is going?” Max asked.

“No…no nobody loses anything. It’s Tess. She’s got a list of all of Crowe’s movies. She’s been to the records office in Salem. She’s found the marriage certificate. She looked up Toni Stanley and went down to Boston, finding her former employers. I don’t know what else she’s found.”

“You can bet she’s bought a couple more DVD’s. Well…” Terry looked at Jack.

“You are about to do something stupid, John. I feel it here.” Max clutched his stomach.

“I’ve got to stop this and I think I know how.”

“What…how are you going to make her forget all she knows?” Jack asked.

“I’ll…think of something.”

“She’s found Thorne and Aubrey’s names, is that it?” Max asked.

“So far she doesn’t know about you. Probably only a matter of time.”

“I have no ties here in this country but should she go abroad…”

“I gotta go…” John again started for the door.

“No you don’t!” Terry grabbed an arm and Jack grabbed an arm and they escorted him into the parlor and set him down on a love seat.

“Now then, John,” Jack began, “tell us exactly where this woman is and what is to transpire in…Boston.”

It took awhile to get all the information they needed but once they had it they told John he wasn’t going anywhere and left a very angry John with Max. They went outside on the front porch and disappeared.

Max had never seen John this angry. He could somewhat understand that being manhandled by your brothers and told this and that and made to sit down like an errant schoolboy and tell all, but there was something else with John.

“There’s, um, coffee in the breakfast room,” Max said.

John got up without speaking and went down the hall toward the kitchen where the breakfast room adjoined. Max followed him. He’d been told to keep an eye on him.

“No, I don’t understand, John, so perhaps you might enlighten me. What is it with this woman…have you fucked her?”

“No…no, I haven’t.

“You…want to?”

John glanced at Max and picked up his coffee from the sideboard.

“Ahh, well.” Max sat down with his, watching John. “That explains it then. The reason you were so hell bent on going. You know, I find that very strange. All these years you cleaved to Donna…cleaved…I like that word…cleave. But now you…um.”:

“Nothing has happened, Max. Nothing.”

“Nothing yet, you mean.” Max sipped his coffee. “ I always thought out of the four of us you were the most moral man. I admired your commitment to your family…steadfast, faithful, dependable, trusty  …”

“Give up.”

“But you aren’t any better than the rest of us. I, at least, confined myself to my wife and then to Toni. Doesn’t make me a better man, just makes me comfortable with myself. You always seemed comfortable with yourself…never straying, not even with Toni. Oh yes, I remember your sanctimonious piousness in Rome and how you turned her down. A slap in the face was that.”

“Leave me alone, Max.”

“You’d like that. Well, it isn’t going to happen. Here we are years later and a stranger comes along, a particularly dangerous one, thanks to you. Is Donna aware of this?”

“Yes, she is.” Donna stood in the doorway. “It’s pretty sad, isn’t it. He thinks he’s being so…but he isn’t. I’ve known from the beginning. Women know these things. I knew she was a threat. I’ve been civil to her and she’s acted like she was my friend but I was never taken in by that. I was a way to John. I’ve got too much at stake here to let anything happen to our marriage. We’re no longer a part of Mystery, Alaska. You pulled us out of the world we knew. There is no way I will allow you to abandon us in this one.”

“Oh, Donna, I would never abandon you and the kids.”

“When I first found out what the real story is and about the House and Toni I thought then that there was a special bond between you and Toni. I figured it would continue some way. I didn’t especially like that idea but …then it didn’t. We were normal people and I got pregnant with Claire.”

“He abandoned Toni. I don’t think you have any idea what that did to her. You, John, were her first love. The sun rose and set in you. Remember the day you showed up with Maximus? She was in such an emotional state that day over the magic and it’s cruel side that she was going to close the House down. It was her love for you that changed the magic and allowed you to come back with your shared memories. That allowed me to come to her because it was my season.”

“Yeah, I remember.” He looked down into his cup.

“You are the reason we are all here right now. For years I knew I was second best.”

“I wouldn’t say that. You were summer. After that first year she couldn’t imagine anyone else. You spent more seasons with her than anyone. You were never second best. The second year Terry joined us and it was spring that gave her a problem. You know, I think she knew after that first season that it was Jack but she screwed around with it.”

“She knew she couldn’t have him, not like she does us. He would never wholly come out into this world and somehow she sensed that. But she loved him. Are you reminded now of that love that held us all together?”

“I never forgot it.” He looked up at Max.

Donna sat down at the table with them and reached for John’s hand. “It was the final rejection. He tried to cover it up, block it out…everything, but he was hurt. I knew what was going on. I knew what was wrong with him. He won’t admit it…won’t admit that anything could hurt him.”

“Ah, Donna.”

“See?” She looked at Max. “I think he believes if he can attract some strange woman to his bed that that’s gonna boost him up, make him feel like he’s a man, desirable man. I don’t do that for him anymore, I guess.”

“That’s pure unadulterated shit, Donna.”

“I don’t think so. You see, Max, that’s the reason he hasn’t kept a relationship with Toni because she rejected him at the end. I’m glad she did because I would have been in the movie loop for the rest of my days.”

“Well, join the crowd, John. Some of us had to be rejected. She couldn’t take us all out. You know we’ve just been through a rather emotional time back home over this same thing. I was rejected also in rather a cruel way but it’s all over now. Terry and I have buried the hatchet. You suffered rejection but do you remember what you did to her? Left her for the whole winter season on her own.”

“Not the whole season, two months. I know it was a coward’s way out but I couldn’t stay, knowing. Every day knowing this is the last time that I’d do this or that. Jack came and rescued her, as usual,” he sighed.

Max looked at Donna. “We have evolved since those days. But it was his love for you and his boys that got to him. He couldn’t give that up. In some ways Jack is the same. He couldn’t give up his family and life as he knew it, either, but he loves Toni and so he lives in both worlds. It must be very hard to be Jack.”

“I couldn’t live in both worlds. Toni deserved more than that. Besides, she was under Terry’s spell when I got there. I sensed that right away…something was different.”

“So why are you still punishing her, five years later?” Max asked.

“I’m not…I don’t know.” John rested his head in his hands.

“It’s hard for him to forget and forgive…I know,” Donna said. “But this Tess is something new and I think she is dangerous in more ways than one. She has some credibility as the mayor’s  sister but then she’s known to be kind of weird. I’ve talked to some of the people around town that I know well enough. One even said she was a witch. Kids won’t go trick or treating around her place. She’s very intelligent, evidently, and very talented but she’s different and a little scary to me.”

“She’s not a witch,” John said. “I’ll admit she’s different but…”

“Have you ever met a witch? How do you know what she is? She’s got you interested, poor gullible you.”

“I don’t like that description. I’m not gullible. I’m interested to know what she’s up to, that’s all.”

“Right.” Donna got up and took her cup to the tray on the sideboard.

Max smiled a little to himself. Donna sure had his number. He imagined she knew how many times a day John farted. He could see how John might want to slip out for a treat but of course this ‘Tess’ was the wrong kind…definitely the wrong kind.

“Well, I think I’ll go up and wake Toni. We might get breakfast before the kids roll out.” Max smiled and set his cup on the tray. He looked John in the eye before he left. “Don’t do anything foolish. I’ll know.” John nodded.

Toni sat in the bed with her knees drawn up while Max filled her in. He lay across the foot of the bed.

“Well, well,” she said and reached for the cup of coffee he’d brought her. “John feels rejected…that is a two way street.”

“He’s aware of that. I told him.”

“You did…oh, Max.” She reached down and squeezed his hand. Another sip of coffee. “Now where did Jack and Terry go and what’s going on there?”

“We’ll wait for that, Toni. They were going to Boston, to the airport to meet up with Tess. They are going in John’s place. So that should be interesting.”

Toni’s worry light came on.

Part 6

“I distinctly remember saying I wasn’t going to get involved with this. I was not going to expose myself for John,” Terry said as they walked through the airport. Miraculously they came in near the gate where John’s plane would have expelled its passengers.

They had appeared in a crowd of people and no one had noticed.

“Yes, but this should be a bit of fun, Terry.”

I noticed you were right on it…is that…could that be her?”

Jack stopped and looked at the woman dressed in a long plaid cape with the hood up. “Got to be.”

As was usual with Jack when he was out of uniform, he didn’t shave. He had a two day beard going, which helped to disguise him in modern times. He didn’t hesitate.

“Excuse me, Madam, might you be Tess Robinson?”

She whipped around and looked at him closely as was her way. “Who might you be?”

Jack smiled,  “Aubrey.”

She squinted her eyes and pulled her glasses attached to a chain around her neck out of the cape. “Hm, yes, I see the resemblance. What do you want? I’m waiting for someone.”

Terry took this cue. “I’m afraid he won’t be coming. Terry Thorne…at your service.”

Her eyes widened and she looked from one to the other. Realization dawning…she had two of them. “Come with me,” she said and led them quickly thought the airport . Over in the parking area she had brought her car.

Excitement was building as she wove though the crowds. She saw her hand shaking as she punched the button to unlock her car. She must settle down.

Terry got in the front passenger side and buckled up. “Where are we going?”

“I have a surprise for you,” she smiled smugly and pulled out into the traffic. Down through the downtown traffic and finally into the residential areas. She zoomed along the roads, causing Terry to glance over at the speedometer several times.

She pulled into the parking lot of a Hilton Garden Inn. “This way,” she said breathlessly. Her hood had dropped back now and her mane of salt and pepper hair shone in the lights from the elevator. Heavy, thick hair.

Terry was taking all this in. She had good skin and the most startling eyes. Her lips appeared naturally red. He could see why John was attracted. He looked over at Jack, who raised a brow at him. Yes, he’d noticed, too.

Through the rabbit warren of hallways she stopped at a door and slid the card in to open it. There asleep on one of the beds lay Alex Ross.

Terry and Jack stopped and looked at each other and at her.

“There! Aren’t you surprised?”

“What have you done with him?” Jack asked.

“Only slipped a little sleeping potion into his drink. I found him downtown and brought him here. I wanted him to meet with John Biebe but this is even better. I wonder if he will know who you are.”

“What kind of game is it you’re playing, Tess?” Terry asked.

“I didn’t know when I started. I only knew I’d found a magic man. He said it was magic and I do believe him. I’ve got a list and have been buying up DVD’s. I don’t know how many of you there are. This is so exciting.”

“I can assure you it’s not exciting for us. He’s not going to be excited when he wakes up. He’s going to be angry with you. He’s a newspaper man and a sometime private eye. He may come after you,” Terry answered her.

“What is it you plan to do with him?” Jack asked.

“Introduce him to you, of course.”

“And then what?”

“I…I’m not sure.”

“You’ve been digging around in Toni’s life and mine. I want you to stop.” Terry looked at her directly.

“She’s your wife.”

“Yes, she is.”

“And you know her?” She looked at Jack.

“I know her.”

“Of course and you all know John Biebe. Did he call you and tell you about me?”

“He did call,” Terry answered.

She clapped her hands. “This is more…so much more than I had hoped for!”

“What exactly were you hoping for?” Jack asked.

She moved over to him. “You look slightly different out of uniform. The beard.” She looked into his eyes. “You are…different from the others.”

Jack didn’t answer her.

“Yes…there is something different. I feel it.” She clenched her fist to her breast. “Even better.”

Jack sat down on the side of the bed and looked at Ross. He was the youngest so far to come out at thirty-one years of age. He was also of a period, the late forties. A former Marine and a writer. He nudged  him a little and he turned over on his side. He’d be awake soon.

Tess had moved over too and stood at Jack’s side. “John doesn’t know him yet. He’s lovely sleeping.” She bent over Alex’s head.

She’d removed her cape and was dressed in a long black jersey dress that clung to her in soft folds. She wore black suede boots.

“What is it you want from us?” Jack asked softly.

She looked at him through her curtain of hair and smiled a little. “I want to be impregnated by one of you. It doesn’t matter which one. You are all the same. I want a magical child.”

“It won’t be magic,” Terry said. “The child will be normal, nothing magical about it, no different than any other child.”

“But you see…I am. I’m not like anyone else. I have certain powers and mixed with you…it will be.”

Jack sent Terry a silent message. This one’s on you.  A twinkle in his eye and a smile about his lips.

Terry turned and looked at him. Nuts! was his reply.

They both looked at Alex. “Wake-up, sleeping beauty.”

Alex stirred again, a hand to his face over his mouth. His eyes fluttered open and then he was aware. He started to sit up but his headache caught him mid-movement. “Oh, Christ!” he said and grabbed his head. “What the..?” He looked around at Jack and Terry.

“Hello. Ross,” Terry said. “I’m Terry Thorne and this is Jack Aubrey, better known as Captain Jack Aubrey.”

Jack nodded in his direction. “You have been given a drug by this woman, Tess. I believe she wants to have your baby.”

Alex’s eyes got wide and he looked from one to the other. “She didn’t…I mean…she couldn’t?”

“Not yet,” Terry grinned.

Alex looked around for his jacket. “I need to get out of here. What time is it? My wife will be worried.”

“You are very strange. Here I have brought more of your kind and you have nothing to say to them?” Tess looked bewildered.

Alex looked up at Terry and Jack. “Are we a ‘kind’, some special species?”

“I believe she thinks so,” Jack answered. “Are you all right?”

“Yes. I want to go home.”

“Why don’t you let him go?” Terry asked her.

“But…I may need him.”

“You don’t need him. You have us,” Terry responded.

Alex stood up and the resemblance to Terry, in particular, was more pronounced. They were of the same size and both clean shaven.

“How did you get here?” Terry asked him.

“I was…she picked me up and said she had some information I might be interested in. Went on this long explanation about magic and brought me here. She made me a cup of coffee and that’s the last I remember.”

“Was that this morning?”

“Yes, it was this morning. I expected John to come…where is he?” she asked.

“With his wife and kids,” Terry said. It was time for something to happen. He looked at Jack and Jack blinked then dropped his head a little.

“Okay, let’s get you out of here. I’ll find you a cab.” Terry took charge of Alex and with a last look over his shoulder at Jack he whisked him out of the room, shutting the door against her protestations.

Down in the lobby Terry explained Tess to Alex.

Alex ran a hand through his hair. “I’m glad to be out of there…gosh.”

“Yeah. I’m afraid I’ve dumped on Jack but no doubt he’ll get back at me somehow.”

“You guys are friends?”

“We’re brothers…you’re one of us, too, just once removed. There are four of us…bound together as I know there are four of you. One of us has met the airman.” He smiled a little.

“You’re all out here?”

“Yeah. It may happen someday for you, too. Your brothers are there if you need them. I was the one that Toni took out. A lot has changed since then but one day I needed to talk to someone and Jack appeared in the fog of London and walked and talked with me. Soon after, Max appeared and later John. Now we are all out except Jack, who still claims both worlds.”

“It’s amazing, isn’t it?” Alex felt for a cigarette and walked out of the lobby with Terry.

The hotel had called a cab for Alex. When it arrived he shook Terry’s hand. “I don’t know what to say. This has been crazy. I’m glad I met you and Jack.”

“Me, too. Nice to know you. Take care, Alex.” He closed the car door for him. “Don’t let any strange women pick you up again.”

Alex chuckled, “No way.”

Back in the bedroom Tess turned to Jack. “It’s you.”

Jack pulled her against him and disappeared with her.

Terry went back up to the room but without a key he couldn’t get in. He knocked a couple of times and then went back to the elevator. He was hungry and decided to go down to the front desk and find out where he might get a meal nearby.

Part 7

Because he could, Jack transported her to his world. Wrapped in a cocoon of magic, he had her aboard his ship. The sea was rough and the mist never lifted. She was on deck with him, clutching his arm. He was now in uniform. He was Captain Lucky Jack and he hoped his luck would hold. He had several thoughts about her. He could have transported her back to his world and left her somewhere obscure and out of the way. However if she did indeed have certain powers she would find him eventually.

He decided to give her what she wanted but she would not bear fruit.

On the lockers of his cabin he lay her down. Her eyes were wild.

“Are you a siren?” he asked against her ear. “Be you a witch?” He brushed her lips with his.

She ached for him and pressed herself against him. “I am only a woman,” she said, finding his mouth and kissing him.

He smiled against her lips and entered her. She was good. It was not an unpleasant thing for him.

Later, with her beneath him still, he said, “You must promise me a thing. Promise me that you will never tell a living soul what you know.”

“I promise. I would promise you anything.”

“No…not anything. This thing in particular. Will you? If you do not and you do tell, then there will be no child. People will think you mad…do you understand?”

‘Yes, yes!” She would have said anything to have him stay inside her.

He withdrew and once they were dressed he brought her back to the hotel room. He was once again in his modern street clothes. She lay down on the bed and asked him to do the same.

“No, I must go now. Sleep for awhile.” He gently kissed her forehead.

Down in the lobby he found Terry reading a newspaper. He walked over and kicked his shoe sole.

“Hey! Ah, it’s you, back from…where did you go and what did you do with her?” He folded the paper.

“You should have stayed around instead of pushing me into it. I really did get…into her.”

Terry grinned. “Yeah, how was it?”

“It was good…she’s very good. I asked her if she was a witch and she said she was only a woman and so I treated her as such. I also told her if she told a living soul there would be no child.”

“Wow! I’m proud of ya, Jack. Do you think?”

“In any case, there will not be a child. It’s rather sad, really. She’s, how do you say it...?”

“Bonkers?”

“Yes.”

“Attractive, though…you really did it and it wasn’t bad. That’s good.”

Jack smiled and gave him a look.

“I mean if it was good for you then…oh, bleeding hell! It’s coming!”

“In spades.” Jack stood up. “Let us get out of here and go back to Virginia.”

 

Jack made a detour on the way back to Richmond and dropped Terry off on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Then he transported himself home to Toni and Rose, who were in the kitchen with Munchie. He came in sedately through the back door and into the room.

Toni’s eyes flew wide and she went to him. “Jack, are you okay?”

“Very well but sharpset. I don’t think I’ve eaten a thing today.”

Toni led him into the breakfast area. “What would you like?” she asked.

He looked around for a moment and pulled her face to his. “A good helping of you.” He kissed her.

Toni smiled. Rose was pulling at her leg and she picked her up and handed her to her Papa. “I’ll find you a substitute.” She touched his head and left for the kitchen.

Terry kicked the ground. “Bloody bastard!” He’d been asking where they were seeing trees as they landed. Jack immediately disappeared and so he had no idea where he was, what country or anything else.

He closed his eyes and tried to concentrate but he was so angry he couldn’t. He gave up for awhile and walked out onto the road. Finally he began to laugh. Okay, it was payback. He would have to watch him, for this wouldn’t be the end of it. He found a lay by and moved to the rail. It was late in the afternoon with darkness threatening deep in the mountains. He tried again, this time with a clear head. He concentrated on the house in Virginia. He felt the pull and still kept the vision in his mind. He plopped in the shrubbery in the back yard.

“He took the long way around,” Jack explained to Toni while he ate his meal of Virginia ham, baked sweet potatoes and Munchie’s special broccoli casserole.

“Well and did you figure out what was going on with her?”

“Yes, she wanted a magic baby.”

“Ah hah! Donna was right. She  was after John’s body.”

Jack looked up and grinned. “How nicely you put it.”

“Well, it’s true. I’m glad you’re back.”

“So am I.” He looked into her eyes. "I am where I want to be.”

Toni rose from her chair and kissed the top of his blond head. A noise from the hallway and she looked out. “Oh, Terry! Did you get lost?”

He walked into the breakfast room, still brushing leaves from his clothes and looked at Jack. “Well done.”

"And to you,” Jack smiled and forked a piece of ham.

John was playing video games with the boys in the den. His knew how to work everything but he had to help Jacky and Maxi. He looked down at their heads, blond Jacky and brown curly-headed Maxi. Toni’s Jacky and Max’s Maxi. He never got to spend any time with them. They were good boys and smart, easy to teach. He felt a lack in his life. He should know these boys and they should know him. It was his own fault and he knew it.

“Terry.” Toni took a step toward him. “Okay?”

He smiled and gave her a thumbs up. “I’m good, Toni, luv.” He wasn’t sure how much of this she needed to know and so he kept his mouth shut. He noticed Jack was doing the same.

“Food? How is it you have food?”

“I asked,” Jack answered.

Toni made sure they were both fed and after awhile she went to find John and Max. Max was in the front parlor, asleep on the sofa. Video games drove him crazy.

“Hey.” She knelt down on her knees by the sofa.

“Mmmm.” He came alive.

“Jack and Terry are back.”

“Hmm, really?” A hand came out around her neck and pulled her to him. “Love you.”

“Me, too, you. Wakey. I’m sure there’s important things to know and they aren’t talking to me.”

Max sat up on the sofa. “What time is it?”

“Just going six o’clock.”

“Long day for the travelers.”

“Yes, and you need to get in there and find out what’s what and tell me.”

Max grinned. “You think I will, do you?”

“I know you will.” She kissed him. “There are rewards and punishments.”

A slow grin, “Not sure which I prefer.”

Donna came downstairs with Claire fresh from the bath. She went into the kitchen to see about a plate of food for her. Voices from the breakfast room and she stuck her head in. “Everything go okay?”

“Ah, yes, it went well,” Jack answered. He was finished with his meal and got up from the table, leaving Terry still making a meal from his plate. He found John in the den with all the boys.

With their charm in the forefront, Jack and Terry avoided all questions until the women finally went up to get the kids to bed. Jack, Terry, Max and John all made trips up the stairs to say good night or tell a short story or whatever it took.

They found it too cold on the patio and gathered in Terry’s office.

Jack and Terry recounted their day with Tess and Alex.

“Alex…it’s hard to imagine him there in Boston,” Max said.

“Well, he is and he’s working for the paper. I brought this back.” Terry had torn out a column by Alex.

“Using his own name, too.” John took the paper.

“He’s a cool character. He didn’t get excited, kept his head. I can’t say he was glad to see us but he didn’t let on that it was a major surprise to him. He was a nice guy. We talked for awhile. I kind of let him know what he could expect and what was available to him.”

“Tell us about Tess,” Max asked Jack.

“Well, after Terry left with Alex I transported her back to the Surprise. We were wrapped in magic so no one could see us. I took her to my cabin and…took her.”

“Just like that?” John asked.

“I could give you the details…” Jack cocked his head. “She has been warned that if she tells what she knows then there will not be a child and she will be thought mad. Of course there will not be a child and she is mad so I cannot see this being a future problem.”

“What did she say to that?” John asked.

“She agreed. However, I think she would have agreed to anything at that point. Still it will come back to her. She talked of us as though we were some sort of exotic bird or something.  A collectible, a different species. Alex noted it and so did we. She claimed powers but in the end she was a woman.”

“You think women don’t have powers?” Max asked.

“I am well aware of their powers, Max. She claimed something extra but I asked and she answered truly. I do believe she did.”

“What happened when she found it I wasn’t coming?” John wanted to know.

“Well, she’d got two different ones, hadn’t she? She took us to meet Alex, whom she’d doped. He was asleep. Perfectly innocent. She’d told him some story about magic and something she had for him to see. Drugged his coffee and he was out. She didn’t abuse him that we know of. He was glad to get out of there, poor kid. I spent some time with him waiting on a cab. He’s okay,” Terry said.

John looked disappointed.

“She wanted a magical baby by one of us and it didn’t matter who it was. I got Alex out of there.”

“And yourself,” Jack looked at him.

“Yes…well, you were in a better position than me, Jack,” Terry tried.

Jack looked at Max. “I would prefer if you do not tell Toni all the details.”

“Right." Max looked sideways.

“Same goes for you, Biebe.” Terry looked at him.

Toni and Max were in bed. “Imagine finding Alex Ross on the street.”

“Well, she knew who she was looking for.” Max pulled her against him.

Toni’s hand went to his shoulder and down his arm. “He sounds nice. I’m glad he’s out. But he won’t be a part of our lives.”

“No, he’ll have his own circle…if he chooses.” Max found her hair to play with.

“It was nice of Terry to play big brother with him.”

“Well, it sounded as if the kid needed a clue.”

“I want to know who took this woman to bed.”

“That is none of your business.” Max began pulling up the edge of her sleep shirt.

“Why isn’t it?  I want to know.”

“Too much knowledge.” He found her ear to nibble.

She found the waistband of his pajama pants and played with it. “It’s not fair, you know, to keep secrets from me.” She gave them a tug and he accommodated her.

Her sleep shirt was now up under her arms. She stretched and he tugged. “Well, my love, I’m afraid you are just going to have to punish me. I’m sworn to secrecy.”

She punished him severely.

 

“So it’s all over with?” Donna asked John.

“I hope so.” John settled in bed.

Part 8

Back of the country store that sprung up at the crossroads they were having a turkey shoot. You paid your money and shot a target. If you won then you get a side of bacon, a ham, or a frozen turkey. There was a boiled peanut stand set up and doing good business. Fires were built in oil drums for folks to gather around. There were cold beer and soft drinks. You had to be twelve to shoot a real rifle but they had an area for children with air rifles attached to a stand and pointed at a target.

Terry, Max, John and Jack were there with all the boys.

“Come on, Jack,” Terry urged

“I am not familiar with that type of gun.” He looked at Terry. “You should be glad.”

Terry twisted his mouth. “Still mad, are we?”

Jack walked over where the boys were playing about.

It bothered Terry that Jack might be holding a grudge against him. Really, in his way of thinking, that had been the only thing to do. Let Jack take care of the woman. He cut a more dashing figure anyway. John was up now and Terry stepped back. Dead on. He glanced at John.

“I have to qualify, you know,” John shrugged.

“I’ll remember this should I need backup.”

Terry aimed and enlarged the hole John made.

Max had a beer and was keeping an eye on Maxi and Jacky. They were fascinated with the air rifles. Jacky more so, he noticed. Like his father. Max smiled

Terry and John had their arms full. “Bringing home the bacon,” John laughed as they loaded up the SUV.

“What do we want to do now?” Terry asked.

“Just drive,” Max answered. They were in Terry’s vehicle.

He pulled out of the store parking and onto the country road. This was all agricultural land here, hay bales and plowed fields. Cows and horses filled the fences. There was still enough color on the trees to catch your eye. Jack sat in the back seat. Jacky beside him and Michael, John’s oldest, on the other side of him.  He was enjoying the scenery and decided Virginia was a good place. He pointed out barns and animals for Jacky’s benefit.

In the back John sat between Maxi and Josh. This arrangement avoided any fighting and wailing. They stopped once at a roadside stand and paid the $5 for the boys to go through the hay bale maze the farmer had arranged. They bought apples and cider. Terry turned around in a school parking lot.

“What’s that?” Jacky wanted to know

John supplied the answer. “School buses, big yellow school buses.”

“I’m gonna ride a school bus!” Jacky declared.

“Not sure they have school buses like that in France or England.”

“I wanna ride a yellow bus.”

“Can’t ride a yellow bus, Jacky. We don’t live here,” Terry answered him.

Jacky sighed. “We don’t live anywhere.”

Max turned around and looked at him. “Yes, you do. You have two houses.”

Terry looked at Max and made the turn down another road.

They came to a narrow bridge with a creek below flowing over large rocks. Terry pulled off the road so Jack could take a piss. They all got out and let the kids out, too. They went swarming down to the water.

“This is your gig,” John said to Jack when he got back from the shrubbery.

“It’s only water. They’ll dry.”

“It’s cold to be playing in water.”

“Well then, call them out.” Jack gave John a look.

John looked back but kept his mouth shut. Jack was in a mood today. He’d been mostly quiet the night before and not very talkative that afternoon. He figured it was because he had to clean up after him. Now looking back, he wondered how he could have been so stupid.

Jack sat on a fallen tree by the creek, watching the boys jump from stone to stone. Max with the little boys throwing stones in the creek. Terry decided to bring it out and put an end to it.

He walked over and sat down on the other side of the tree trunk. “Okay, you want to talk to me?”

Jack looked over. “Not really.”

“I think we need to get it out.”

“What do you have to get out, Terry?”

“What happened yesterday?”

“I took a woman who is bordering on madness and probably pushed her over the edge. I’m not proud of that. She may have been up to some mischief regarding John…but was it worth it? She was living and coping on her own before this. When she recounts her tale of transportation and movie characters coming to life and having sex with one, people will take notice but not the truth, for it is unbelievable. I gave her warning should she speak of any of the things that she knew there would not be a child and people would think her mad. There was never going to be a child but madness…often there lies a fine line between brilliance and madness. I’m told she was intelligent and talented.”

“You think you have destroyed her?”

“Yes…yes, I do.”

“You were on this from the beginning. You wanted to be involved and instigated the whole take down.”

“Perhaps I was wrong.”

“She had Alex…who knows what she may have done to him? She was going to expose John.”

“She wanted John’s baby. I don’t call that exposure. Had he been of right mind he could have handled it himself. He cannot be that naive. Alex is not a child but I do admit it was unfortunate that he was involved.”

“I’m sorry, Jack, sorry that I pushed you into it. I shouldn’t have done that. I just thought you being the more dashing, romantic figure, you’d make more of an impression than me. I was wrong. I didn’t think about your feelings or the aftermath.”

“And neither of us thought about the woman, Tess.”

“You gave her what she wanted, Jack.”

“I did not. She wanted a child. It is a sad business. The more I thought about it last night the worse I felt. What did she do when she awoke? She was far from home and perhaps she was not as stable as when she arrived.”

“I can call Alex and ask him to see if she’s still there at the hotel.”

“He’s not to contact her.”

“No, no, just check the motel. He gave me a business card.” Terry fished out his wallet and found the card. “I’ll call him now.”

Jack watched him walk off with his cell phone. Yes, this was a dirty business and it left him feeling tainted.

John was down pulling Josh out of the creek. Out of all of them he was the one who missed his rock and went in, soaked to his thighs, John stripped him from the waist down leaving him in his Toy Story underwear.

“I don’t think they feel the cold,” he said to Max.

“Obviously not. I think we’re ready to go anyway.” Max picked Maxi up with one wet shoe and grabbed Jacky’s hand before he had another go.

“He’s going to call back.” Terry pocketed his phone and looked over, seeing the boys being loaded in the vehicle. “Jack, I’m very sorry.”

Jack gave him a quick nod of the head and brushed off the seat of his jeans before climbing into the vehicle. Perhaps he was making too much of it but he couldn’t deny what he felt and was finding it hard to shake it off.

They stopped again to buy drinks and snacks for the boys. John slipped the wet jeans back on Josh along with his shoes. They sat at an outdoor picnic table under a leafless tree. Terry had an opportunity to tell John what was going on with Jack.

“I figured as much. I hate it that both of you got involved.”

“Not just us. She found Alex and had him souped up for something. I shouldn’t have put this on Jack.  I don’t think it would have affected me the same way. I’m colder…heartless.”

“That’ ain’t so, Terry, but you might have handled it better. It’s all my fault. I gotta go home and deal with this woman in Belfast.”

“You may not have to now.”

“Doesn’t make me feel good about it.”

‘No…there is no feel good associated with this.” His phone went off. Alex reported that she’d checked out of the hotel.

The house smelled of gingerbread when they got home. That was the purpose of getting the boys out of the house. Toni, Donna and Munchie had made gingerbread cookies. Claire did the cutting out but Toni and Donna did the decorating. Rose was quite happy with plastic cookie cutters and spoons and a pot to play with. Toni and Donna had bonded at last. Toni was not one to make friends easily. She and Connie never did quite jell but then there was Max in the mix. Now there was John but as far as Toni was concerned, he’d left her a long time ago.

John hurried up the stairs with Josh before Donna saw him. Maxi walked in with one shoe wet and the other dry. Now it was all about a cookie . Munchie made them sit at the breakfast room table and brought them milk and cookies. Toni was released from domestic duties for awhile. She went in search of Max but found Terry.

“Why so down?” she asked.

“Sorry.”

“No need to be sorry. Has something happened?”

“Ah…no.” He was leaning on the front porch side railings.

“Wrong answer. You know I won’t give up now.”

He took her hands. “Some bad decisions were made yesterday.”

“More…go on. This is about your trip to Boston?”

“Yeah. I don’t know how much Max told you.”

“Not very much. He was intent on distracting me from questions and it worked.” She grinned slightly.

Terry smiled, “Good old Max. The thing is, Toni, we may have destroyed someone’s life yesterday. Tess Robinson. You know she was a little eccentric, maybe a little …off. She may be way off now.”

“But, Terry, she was intent on destroying some lives, too. It was getting a little too close to home when she’s calling my former employers. And to have drugged Alex, for cryin’ out loud! No, she was planning something big.”

“She wanted a magical baby. She said she had certain powers and she wanted to be impregnated by one of us. In the end it didn’t matter which one so John was not that special to her when she found Alex. She was ready to find us all.”

“So who impregnated her?” She looked him in the eye.

“She’s not…there will not be a child. She doesn’t know that yet but…she’s not pregnant.”

“It was you?”

“It doesn’t matter who it was. At the time it seemed like a good idea. Give her what she wanted and simply blow her mind away. Now that it’s done we’re beginning to feel a little ashamed of ourselves. She hadn’t any powers; she was just a woman…maybe a little mad.”

“There really is no reason to think this is over, is there? I mean she could do some damage yet.”

“I’m afraid, luv, any damage from here on out will be on herself.”

“I see.” And she did. They had a conscience and it had caught up with them. “You’re not bad guys. None of you have black hats. You did what you thought you had to.”

“You should talk to Jack. It’s hit him pretty hard today.”

“Where is he?”

“He didn’t come in the house when I took the car around to the garage. He may be in the stables.”

“I’ll find him. Let Max know where I am.” She leaned over and kissed him softly.

Terry watched her leave the porch and wondered if she would ever know how much he loved her.

 

Part 9

Jack was waiting for Tom to saddle a horse for him. He would have done it himself but Tom was already in the stable. He’d been out riding himself. He heard his name and turned around.

“Toni.”

“Are you going riding?”

“I think so when Mr. Tom says I’m ready.”

“Mind if I come along?”

“Not at all.” His eyes lingered with hers for a moment.

“Not that long ago I was in your stable. Times might change but the smells are the same.”

“Something real and earthy and pure about horses and their smells. They don’t change no matter what happens.”

Toni looked up at him and was quiet. He was deeply troubled about something.

She rode Tom’s horse since it was already saddled and they went across the fields and down into a meadow. An old dirt road led down to the James River. There used to be a boat ramp there but it had been a long time since boats were launched here. It had grown up in vines now. They tethered their horses and made their way through the vines to the edge of the ramp. Large boulders looked inviting and so they climbed up there and sat, Jack with his arms around Toni and she leaning her back on his chest. He was afraid she’d slip into the river.

“I’ve been swimming in this river,” she said over her shoulder.

“But not today.”

“No. Jack, talk to me.”

“What would you like to talk about?”

“You and what it is you are carrying around today.”

He buried his face in her hair. “Only you.”

“That’s not so. I talked to Terry. Look…I know you guys would go to the ends of the earth to protect what we have. I realize just how fragile it is when one person can positively identify one of us. John should never have admitted it as he did. He flirted and enjoyed Tess’s attention, according to Donna. He set us up. Somebody had to stop it. Who knows what she might have done with Alex if no one had gone to Boston. She was not a good person, Jack.”

“She was verging on madness but at least she was able to take care of herself and work her craft. She never married, for whatever reason I do not know, but she wanted a child. She was convinced that she had some sort of magical power herself. That helped her understand that she was different from other people. She discovered John and began to think of a way to have his child. She believed it would be magical. Terry explained to her that it would not be a magic child but she wouldn’t believe him. Alex came around  and he was a complete innocent in this. Terry got him out of the room and into a cab.”

Now she realized what had happened. Terry left Jack with Tess. She felt for his hands at her waist.

“I can, on occasion put on a good theatrical show and I did so for her benefit. I took her back to the Surprise wrapped in a cocoon of magic. There was a moment when I asked her if she was a witch and she said she was only a woman and so I treated her as a woman. I asked her afterward to tell no one and if she did there would not be a baby and she would be thought mad. She will tell because it is just too good to keep to herself. I’m afraid she will go over that edge then and lose reality completely. I’m responsible for that. I’ve always considered myself an honorable man. I find this hard to swallow.”

Toni turned in his arms and hers went around his neck. “I’m so sorry, Jack. You are an honorable man. There is no question about that, none at all. We can keep up with her and see how she goes. Oh, darling.” She held him tightly.

“It was a deliberate act on my part to try and drive her over the edge of sanity, to make sure nothing she ever said about us would be taken seriously.”

“I’m not sure it would have, anyway. How fantastic is it?” She took his face in her hands and smoothed his brow. “Don’t take this on yourself. I love you and  no man I could ever love would be deliberately cruel. I know you weren’t because I know you, Jack.” She met his lips in a feverish kiss that moved over his face, his eyes, her neck and her face.

He looked from the rock to the riverbank. It was obscene but then he was obscene.  He made love to her on the riverbank amongst the wet leaves. “Forgive me.” He rested his head on her breast.

“I forgive you anything, everything, because that’s how we are, you and I.” She laced her fingers through his hair. “We trust, we love, we believe, because we must. How else are we to survive without each other?” Tears ran down her cheeks and she held him tightly. She felt his weight for he had not moved from her.

Finally he rested on his elbows and brushed her hair away from her face. He looked into her eyes and then kissed her. Awareness began creeping over him with the cold air across his bare bottom. The sun was going down. “We should get out of the leaves and go home.”

“Yes.” She searched his face for any lingering doubts about himself. She saw it soft in love and nothing more.

They spent some time brushing each other off, adjusting their clothes and finger combing leaves from their hair. Mounted on their horses, he circled around her once and took off, leaving her to chase him to the barn. She caught up on Tom’s horse just as it came into view. It was a good ploy and gave their flushed faces reason to be rosy.

“Exhilarating,” Toni grinned as she dismounted and looked at Jack over her horse.

“Yes, it was, just what I needed.” He smiled and busied himself unsaddling the horses.

Toni went toward the house.

She met Max in the hallway carrying Rose’s sippy cup. “There you are. Thought I might have to mount a search party.”

“How do you mount a search party?” she asked him and grinned.

“Hm…not sure but that’s the way it’s said. Are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

“And Jack?”

“He’s going to be okay, Max.” She kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”

“Terry filled me in. Damn rotten business, this.” He went into the kitchen with the cup and refilled it with milk. “Kids are having their ‘tea’. John’s found a movie for them to watch, nothing scary.”

“That’s good.” She looked around. “What are we doing about dinner?” Munchie didn’t seem to be about.

“Well it’s church night, you know,” he mocked Munchie’s voice, “so we’re on our own with a casserole of something in the oven."

“Oh, that’s right. I’ve forgotten what day it is. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving.”

“Turkey and TV.” Max made a face and headed back to the table.

Toni laughed after him and went to check the oven.

“Hey, Toni,” Donna joined her. “I was wondering where you got to.”

“I went riding with Jack. Kids fed?”

“Oh, yes. The guys are fantastic with them. I’m so used to John slipping in and out but Terry cooked.” She raised her brows.

“He has to if he wants to feed Jacky. They are good, all of them,” she smiled and took the lid off a Dutch oven. “Umm.”

“Is Jack okay? I haven’t seen much of him today.”

“He is now. All he needed was a canter across the fields.”

Donna bubbled up in laughter. “Right!” She bent close to Toni. “Well, if he ever feels like a trot and you aren’t available, tell him to look me up.”

Toni half grinned, “Are you serious?” But Donna found something to do in the fridge. “Rice, we want rice with this.”

“What is it?”

“Gumbo.” 

Part 10

It was late in the evening. The kids were all upstairs in various stages of sleep. Toni went to the den to pick up after them and straighten up a little. She knew Max and Terry were busy getting the boys ready for sleep and Jack was sitting with Rose until she went out. That was a treat for Claire to have in their room.

John came into the den and saw her bent over a table, looking at something. “Did you find it?”

“Find what?” She straightened up.

“I don’t know. Looked like you were onto something there.”

“Just looking at the DVD cover. How are you?”

“Toni…do you think we might just…talk.”

Toni closed her eyes a moment. “Of course, John.”

She went into Terry’s office with him and closed the door. “We probably do need to talk,” she said and found a seat.

“Toni, we got too much history between us to be separated like this.”

“I’ve tried to close that gap on more than one occasion. I know how you are and that’s okay. But I’ll tell you this, when I heard you were itching to get between Tess Robinson’s legs it totally did piss me off. It told me something about you. When you left me at the House you really did leave me. You cut it off. I don’t have to go to bed with you. I’ve been to bed with you. I don’t need to be hurt by you.”

“No you don’t and I’m not going to hurt you. We’ve both suffered, Toni. You say you were rejected by me...well, I was rejected by you. Out of the blue because I had no idea what you were doing with Thorne. I did the only thing I could.”

“I don’t want to go back over that.” She moved up close to him. “You won’t bed me but you will a stranger.”

“I didn’t…I didn’t, Toni. There hasn’t been anybody except Donna.”

She turned away and he caught her arm and pulled her back. “We were once in love…so in love that you and I both cried like babies. When we married, I meant what I said. None of that is gone, Toni. We don’t see each other but a few times a year. We’ve got spouses and kids between us…that’s what’s separated us, that and space. It’s a long way to Provence. When we got here Sunday I couldn’t wait to get hold of you.”

“I felt the same."

“All right…where did it go?”

“With the whole thing you did in Belfast. You put us all at risk. To save your ass and possibly the rest of us, Terry and Jack and Alex, for cryin’ out loud, had to deal with Tess. Terry did what he could but it was…Jack and it’s not fair to him. It’s not fair.”

“I was fully prepared to go myself.”

“They couldn’t trust you.”

“They don’t give me credit for having any sense at all. I wouldn’t have done anything to put you at risk.”

“She was already mining my background for information.”

“I know…I know and I regret the whole thing. I honestly do, Toni. Obviously I’m not as good as I thought I was when it comes to judging character. Maybe I just got a little carried away with myself. I won an election…I was fucking Superman.”

“That robber didn’t have a silver bullet.”

“Yeah, that should have told me something. I’m not infallible but I’ve learned one thing. You don’t ever tell where you came from. I won’t ever make that mistake again. I know it’s been worrisome for the rest of you. I wasn’t as upset about it because I was there. I never got excited about it.”

“Neither did the rest of us until our marriage certificate came up and my maiden name became interesting. It became serious, John.”

“I know, believe me I know. I’ve had three brothers explaining the facts of life to me. Now aside from that crap…where are we?”

Toni leaned against a desk. “I don’t know, John. I don’t know where we are. I remember what we had and I didn’t think anything could ever shake that. You shut me out after you left. You chose Donna and your boys over me and that’s understandable if I’d been you and with a family…yeah, I would have done the same thing. But we never got it back. I was off limits to you for some reason.”

“I was…I was always a very married man, if you know what I mean.”

“Yes, I do and I respect that but I also know who we are. I know who you are. Do you think it might be different if we lived nearer to each other and spent more time together? You know, somehow I don’t think that would make a difference.”

“Probably not. We have evolved. I heard that this week. So maybe that applies to us too. Me, I’m just a family man now. I’ve never claimed to be any great lover or anything special.”

“I always thought you were very special.  Me…I’m a wife, mother, lover…woman.”

“You are too much for me now.”

“Try it.” She moved to him again. “I’m not a threat to anything.”

He did try it. He pulled her to him and kissed her for a long time.

“There were four of you…four seasons. I’ve been feeding off of three for a long time. I’ve missed you, John.”

“I’ve missed you, too.” He said against her lips. “Oh…Toni!” They enjoyed each other for a little while and it was Toni who broke it up.

”I need to go upstairs and see if my kids are in bed or what. I knew it was still there. She kissed him again. “Let’s stay tapped into it.”

“Yeah, tapped. I love you, girl.”

“I know…me, too, you.” Toni slipped out into the hall and ran into Donna. John she knew was trying to tame himself before he came out.

“Toni, have you seen John?”

“Yes, he’s in there. I’ve been in there with him, kissing him.” She raised her brows and moved past her.

“What?”

“Horse trot,” Toni replied and started up the stairs. She could hear Donna’s laughter and low voice speaking to John.

Part 11

“I’m not sure I want to get up.” Toni rolled over in the bed. “I have to eat all day.”

“Stuffed turkey is always a mystery.”

“I know you don’t like it…be kind.”

“I always eat it, love.” He turned over to her. “One good thing, after we feed everybody today they will begin moving out tomorrow.”

“Yes, and then we’ll have two whole weeks of nothing.”

“Hmm.”

“Hmm?”

“Yes.

“Why?”

“What will we do?”

“Why we’ll get reacquainted with this place. We’ll ride and…and.”

“Yes. Well, I’ve all ready done that with the area. I ate something vile called boiled peanuts down at the crossroads while the locals had a turkey shoot.”

“Did you shoot?” she grinned.

“No. With Terry and John armed I didn’t want to show them up,” he grinned back.

“You are a snob, do you know that?”

“I am not. I do love this house, darling, and the land but it’s not home to me. It’s good for a few days or a week, but after that. Well, we’ll see.”

“Yes, we will.” She kissed him.

“We’ll have breakfast in here and then at 4 we’ll have dinner so you’d better eat up this morning because there’s nothing until dinner,” Munchie was telling them as she set the table.

“Is that supposed to be bad news?” Max asked her.

She gave him a look.

There was a different mood in the house. Toni could feel it as she moved from room to room. Once she and John settled things between them it all seemed right again.  Jack was smiling and kidding around with his brothers. She and Donna cleaned up after breakfast and then went upstairs to make beds and straighten up. John and Donna were leaving early in the morning so she was trying to get their things together.

“I think the children have really enjoyed this week,” Donna said.

“So do I. It’s good for them to know their cousins.”

“And their fathers,” Donna smiled.

Toni laughed a little. “The children belong to all of them.”

 

“I sure hope this rain holds off.” John looked up at the cloudy sky.

“What rain?” Max looked up.

“The rain that is coming, probably within the hour,” Jack said.

“Nasty driving in that going home tomorrow,” John said. “When are you leaving, Terry?”

“Saturday. Jacky and I have a flight out Saturday morning. Fly with us, Jack. You can spend a few days in London.”

“I may do that.”

“We’d love to have you.”

 

Jack was off by 30 minutes. The rain held until they’d walked the kids down to the stables to help feed the horses. Now they were confined to the house and only allowed in the den or on the front porch. Munchie was very strict about holidays. Toni remembered that. Tradition ruled, no matter that the tradition was begun at a much earlier era. Things were still done as her Grandmother would have done them. At three they went upstairs to change clothes. Toni had a new black dress that she’d bought in London and never worn. The skimpy one that Max liked was left in the flat. She bathed and dressed Maxi and Rose in their best. Rose had a little band around her head with a flower she kept trying to pull off.

Terry dressed Jacky in his little suit with short pants. The men wore suit and ties. The women wore dresses. By the time they all got back downstairs there was fifteen minutes for a sherry and juice for the children before the dining room doors were opened.

The table was lovely with an heirloom lace tablecloth layered over an old starched white linen cloth. The best china and crystal and gleaming sliver. White napkins tied with pale blue ribbons. The children were awed and quiet as they should be. Special chairs  and  bumper seats were set around for the little ones.

The old sideboard was loaded. Munchie stood back until they all found their seats and had time to appreciate the dining room and then she began taking plates and serving from the sideboard. Once they all had a plate before them she slipped out of the room.

“A thankful blessing,” Toni said, looking around. They joined hands around the table.

Dear Heavenly Father

We come together today as a family to offer thanks for the blessings You have bestowed upon us.

We thank You for our lives and for the love we share.

There have been many changes since we last shared Thanksgiving together. Our trials have made us stronger. Our weaknesses have made us more determined than ever to strive for a life of grace and thanksgiving.

Thank You for the children that we love and care for in Your light.

We ask that You bless this table and those around it as we give thanks to You.

Amen.

It was every man for himself now. Now and then Munchie appeared in the room. Toni knew she was trying to appear invisible but her bulk prevented that. She refilled glasses and plates, whisked away empty bowls and trays and replenished as needed. Finally it was down to dessert. Fresh coffee was brought in and the cakes and pies, some with strategically placed dollops of whipped crème.

Those that could still stand did so and waddled away either to the den and the TV or the front parlor and a comfortable chair or sofa. Even the children were moving slower than usual.

John and Terry went to the den where a football game was playing on the TV. Both were asleep within ten minutes. Max lay on the sofa in the front parlor and slept. Jack found a stool for his feet, settled into a comfy chair and then he was out.

Toni and Donna had donned aprons to clear the table and help Munchie load the dishwasher and put away all the leftovers. Toni fully intended to go upstairs and fall across the bed for a nap as soon as they finished. She took Rose with her and removed her fancy dress. Rose took a nap with her mother. Toni had no idea about Jacky or Maxi.

Donna also went to her room and fell across the bed. Claire stayed with her for awhile and then climbed off the bed to find the boys.

Michael Biebe figured he was in charge of the kids. They played on the front porch for awhile and then came back through, thinking they were going out the back door but found Munchie watching them. She found some board games for them and some old things Toni had when she was a child. They were confined to the breakfast room. Munchie had her comfortable chair and footstool in a corner of the kitchen. She turned on the little TV and turned it so she could see what old movies were playing.  And so went the rest of the rainy Thanksgiving afternoon.

Late they began waking up and moving around. The kids were put to bed except for Rose, who was now wide awake. Toni put her in a high chair with a snack. They were all rummaging around for something, some with coffee and desert again and others making sandwiches.

“I was just thinking about the first Thanksgiving dinner I ever made. It was at the House of Four Seasons that first year I was there. John came early. We kept finding these things appearing on the kitchen counter that I was supposed to cook. I really had no idea.”

“We did, though; we stuffed that bird,” John grinned.

“It wasn’t bad,” she smiled.

“I remember one year I was there. Toni cooked Thanksgiving dinner for me but the day she came into the kitchen and saw that frozen turkey, she tried to pick it up and it went across the room and hit the floor, I thought she’d fallen or turned something over in there. Scared me to death.” Terry smiled a little.

“One year we had lobster in town for Thanksgiving. I guess we weren’t very traditional, were we, Terry?”

“You made turkeys,” he said.

She was remembering now when she’d dropped that turkey. She’d looked at a calendar and realized his season was nearly over. Best not to mention that in front of John.

“I never got a turkey,” Max said.

“Neither did I,” Jack added.

“Turkey holidays don’t happen in spring and summer,” John said.

“I wonder why that is?” Max frowned.

“Well, darling, you aren’t particularly fond of turkey.”

“Maybe it's a seasonal thing? Plant ‘em in the spring and harvest fall and winter,” Terry offered.

Donna laughed, “I’m picturing this field with turkey feathers coming up.”

John giggled, “Turkey patch,”

Toni laughed and soon they were all adding a bit and laughing. She leaned against the doorway and wiped her eyes. Oh, this was good.

They all had such a good sense of humor

A good man needed that.

They were all handsome.

A good man needed that

They were all sensitive and kind (despite what had happened in Boston).

A good man need that.

They were all successful, capable and intelligent, dependable.

A good man needed that.

Earth, Water, Wind, and Fire.

A good man needed that.

Here it took four to make that man.

A good woman needed that.

 

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