"Boys … your 'brothers' will be home soon and they'll go to Momma Maria for an after-school snack. If you want, you can go and find Momma and see if she has a snack ready for you or if she'll want you to wait for your 'brothers'. I'll be in my Study if you need me," said 'Dad Ken', after he and the twins entered through the garage access door into the house.
"OK, 'Dad Ken", we'll see if we can find Momma Maria," said Kevin. Both lads then headed into the Kitchen Nook to look for Momma Maria.
Mr. Ken headed to his Study and along the way he bumped into Chris, his Estate Manager.
"I wondered if you'd get home before I left for the day," laughed Chris. "And let me tell you, Momma made an awesome lunch for Dan and me, I guess, to celebrate his departure from The Cove. I know how well she can cook, but today's lunch was out of this world. I wouldn't be surprised if you all don't have the same meal tonight," chuckled Chris.
"Yes, Momma Maria can cook up a storm. Since she's worked for me she never fails to amaze me with some of the concoctions she comes up with. So, tonight I guess, I will look forward to a totally different feast," laughed Ken.
"Hey, Chris … did you ever get to talk to Frank Longger at the picnic on Saturday?" asked Ken, changing the subject.
"Yes, yes I did, Ken. He and I have a lot in common even though he was enlisted and I was an officer," replied Chris.
"Oh, do tell," quipped Ken.
"What I found was … we have almost the same type of injury. We talked, you know, about how we each got hit and then we shared our experiences as we went through the different triage points before being sent back to the States. Ken … the more we talked the more it felt like I found a part of me that was missing. At the hospital … we had to talk to other men who had lost limbs to try to get us over our loss.
"You know … I never could get over my loss. … That is why … that is why I am still seeing my doctors because I haven't been able to accept that I lost my leg. And you already know they are also working with me to work through loud, sharp noises. But, Ken … after taking with Frank it was like … it was like a heavy burden was lifted off my shoulders. Frank and I are going to get together this weekend and talk some more. He told me before he left that he really needed our talk, as well, and hoped we'd get together again.
"Ken … my doctors don't know it yet but our talk … I feel it was the most beneficial thing that ever happened to me. I think it was the relaxed setting, you know, of the picnic and our sharing of our similar experiences that made it so much better for me. Ken … thank you so much for hiring me, but … I want to thank you so much for inviting my family and me to your Labor Day Picnic.
"Being here and meeting Frank I think helped me climb over a plateau that has been my nemesis all this time. My wife, and even the kids, saw me happy for the first time in a very long time. Ken … I have you and Frank to thank for how well I feel right now," revealed a very happy and smiling Chris Dominions.
"Chris … I don't know what to say other than … I am so very happy for you, that you were able to conquer that mountain that was looming before you. It sounds like you found what was missing in your recovery. I bet now you will be able to move forward with your life and that will be a good thing for your family, too.
"I don't see a need for you to stick around. Why don't you get a jump on traffic and head on home," finished Ken Thomas?
The two men shook hands, then a still smiling Chris headed out to the parking corral. The Estate Manager blew his horn as he drove up the driveway and through the Main Gate.
What Mr. Ken didn't know was the twins had come around the corner looking for him, but they stopped when they saw the two men talking. They heard the entire exchange and they had no idea what Mr. Chris was talking about. 'Dad Ken' did finally see the lads after Chris had left the Foyer.
"Boys … I take it you heard what Mr. Chris had to say," spoke up 'Dad Ken'.
"Yes, sir," meekly replied both boys in unison.
"Come," was all Mr. Ken said to the boys, as he indicated they follow him to his Study.
The three all took a seat in one of the comfortable leather chairs and the twins then focused their attention on 'Dad Ken'.
"At the picnic on Saturday, I think you both saw that Mr. Chris and Mr. Frank had worn shorts and I am sure you noticed they both had lost a leg. Am I right?" calmly asked 'Dad Ken'.
"Yes, sir," was the twins dual reply.
"OK, there was nothing wrong with noticing that but … well, Mr. Chris had some difficulty dealing with his loss, but as you heard … just talking to Mr. Frank, who had the same injury, allowed Mr. Chris to continue to work through his loss. There is much more to learn and know about my Estate Manager and I know over time you will each get to know the man a whole lot better. He's already talked to Robert and Charles and their friends a few times about his injury and how he got it so he very well may talk to you two as well. But, please, just don't directly ask him about it. Let him come to you. Ok, guys?" explained 'Dad Ken'.
Kyle looked to Kevin and getting a nod told 'Dad Ken' they understood and wouldn't bother the man about his injury. With that said, 'Dad Ken' opened his arms for both boys to come to him and they didn't hesitate to jump out of their chairs and get into a big hug.
"Boys … while we are talking … I want to tell you we are having a guest tonight for dinner. You may remember Doctor Doug from the picnic. If not, you may have heard your 'brothers' talk about him. Anyway, he will be here tonight to officially meet you two and get to know you a little. The reason I am telling you this is because you both will have an appointment with him. That is so he can help you work through the accident and the injuries your parents received.
"He helped Collin work through the death of his parents and his kidnapping, and he is still working with Robert, but not so much now, and of course, Charles. I hope you'll trust him and I want you to give him a chance. He can help you work through many things that may be on your mind besides the accident. All I ask you is to please let him help you," explained 'Dad Ken'.
It was then that Mr. Ken and the twins heard Robert and Charles calling out for their 'dad' as they worked their way to the Study.
"Where else do you think I'd be when you get home from school," called out a laughing 'dad' Ken, as his 'sons' came through the door.
"'Dad', 'dad' I have to talk to you about something that happened at school today," excitedly said Charles.
"Dad' Ken looked over to Robert to see if there was something to Charles' outburst and getting a nod that there was, the man told the 7th and 8th-grade lads to have a seat. The twins wanted to stick around to find out what Charles was so excited about so they both sat down in an empty chair.
"Ok, Charles, please tell me what has you so hyped up," inquired 'dad Ken.
Charles took a deep breath and began to tell his 'dad' about what happened out in the schoolyard before the first bell. The twelve year old tried to tell everything as it happened, but got confused so he told his 'dad' he wanted to start over again. Charles remembered back to when his 'dad' told him to close his eyes to answer the questions the police asked him about Smokey, so that is what he did the second time around.
'Dad' Ken listened intently to what Charles had to say and when the lad was finished telling his story he looked over to Robert to see if he could add anything.
"'Dad', I heard that something had happened out in the schoolyard just before the second bell rang. I didn't hear anything else until lunch when then the 7th grade kids started talking about all the boys and girls being taken to the principal's office. Charles was one of the kids they named," recounted Robert.
"Oh, yeah, I forgot to tell you that part, 'dad'. Sorry," recovered Charles.
Mr. Ken just smiled at his 'son' and while thinking back to when Robert spent a few times at the Principal's office, he laughed out loud. The lads were all fascinated by the action of their 'dad' and they looked back and forth to one another.
"Sorry, boys, I was just thinking of when Robert had to go see the principal a few times last year, too. And it wasn't long after he started school that he was invited to Mrs. Chadwick's office. Am I correct there Robert?" chuckled 'dad' Ken.
Now all three of Robert's younger 'brothers' were open-mouthed as they looked at him for having to go to the principal's office.
"Hey, guys, I wasn't the bad guy. One time this older student, he attacked me at lunch, and Logan, you've all met him, got beaned by an apple one other time. Sure, both times I had to go see the principal, Ms. Chadwick, but I wasn't the instigator," pleaded Robert.
"Yes, boys, Robert is telling the truth, but at least he told me he had to see the principal. Well, one time I had to go to the school because he was beaten up pretty bad. Weren't you Robert?" teased 'dad' Ken.
"You got beat up at school?" asked an incredulous Kyle.
"Yeah, and afterward I told 'dad' I was going to protect myself from then on no matter who it is!" exclaimed Robert.
"Boys, boys … let's get back on track here. Robert, Charles, Doctor Doug will be here for dinner tonight. Even though he met the twins at the picnic, I want him to talk the twins a little tonight and then set up an appointment for this or next week. Robert, since you see him every other week, he may just want to talk to you for a few minutes to check up on things.
"Charles … Doctor Doug wants to spend your normal time together tonight. Boys … I'll let Doctor Doug decide who he wants to talk to first, so don't go too far away from the Study until he lets you know. OK?" explained 'dad Ken to all four foster sons.
Just then the phone rang.
"Hello, Three Finger Cove, Mr. Thomas speaking. … Oh, hey there Stewart, how can I help you? … … Oh, OK, he's right here do you want to tell him? … … OK, I'll let him know and, before I forget, why don't you plan on coming for dinner Thursday. Then when we are finished eating we can retire to my Study where the three of us can talk. … Ok, well see you around 6 for dinner. … Bye."
The lads listened to the one-sided conversation and none of the boys had any idea of what the phone call was all about, not even Robert who the call was actually about.
"Robert … that was Stewart Russel, your lawyer …" began Mr. Ken.
"You NEED a lawyer? What did he do 'Dad Ken'?" quickly interspersed Kyle.
'Dad Ken' smiled at the twins and replied, "He didn't do anything he needs a lawyer for, Kyle, but he does need a lawyer for the court hearing he, err, we have next week."
"So, you both need a lawyer? Will we have to move away if you're convicted 'Dad Ken'?" now asked a very concerned Kevin.
"No, no, lads, let me explain. When Robert first came to live at The Cove, my household manager didn't take kindly to him and began to do things to him. Then, one day, when he came home from school, she attacked him with this huge spoon. Chief heard the commotion out in the Kitchen Nook and went running. Didn't you girl? Anyway, Chief stopped Mildred before she could do more harm than she already had done. I fired her but she thought she should still have her job and thus she is suing me for her position back.
"In the meantime, we, Robert that is, decided to sue her for what she did to him over the weeks before I fired her. That is why Stewart will be stopping by Thursday and Friday night. He'll explain his and Bill's, that's my lawyer, plans for our defense against her. You met them both at the picnic I do believe. Then, on Saturday, Stew and Bill will both be here to talk more about the court proceedings and whatever material we all need to go over to hopefully win next week," explained Mr. Ken. "So, Robert, plan your nights and Saturday morning, too. Charles will have to be the host on Saturday until we are done."
"Oh, that sounds complicated. Will Charles and us have to go to court with you?" asked Kyle.
"No, just Robert and I will have to go to court starting next Wednesday, that is unless Mildred and her lawyer come to their senses. We've offered her a chance to stop this silliness, but so far … well, she thinks her poop doesn't stink," replied Mr. Ken.
All four lads laughed at their 'dad' when he said she thought 'her poop didn't stink'.
It was then Momma Maria came looking for the boys. She knew they'd be with Mr. Ken as that was where she always found Robert last school year when he didn't come directly to the Kitchen Nook for his snack.
"Sos … I guesses yuse fours niños don'ts wants yuse after skools snacks todays?" spoke up the woman. "Ifens yuse dun'ts hurrys ups eets will ruins yuse dinners. Sos, comes alongs if yuse wants yuse very colds chocolotes milks and somes fresh maddes cookies!"
All four young Covers hurried to the Kitchen Nook for their after-school snack.
After they finished their snack, Robert and Charles headed up to their rooms to start their homework. Kevin and Kyle didn't have homework yet, so they went back to the Study to talk to 'Dad Ken'.
"'Dad', err 'Dad Ken' … can we wait here with you while our older 'brothers' do their homework?" asked Kevin.
"Sure, just have a seat," replied 'Dad Ken', "while I work on a few things. OK?"
The twins nodded and took a seat and watched Mr. Ken work on some papers. After a few minutes, Kyle got bored so he got out of his seat and went over to the man and looked over his shoulder. He saw his foster dad was looking over what looked to him as being some sort of plans.
"'Dad', I mean 'Dad Ken', what is that you are working on?" Kyle asked. By that time Kevin had also come over to see what his twin was looking at.
"Boys … these are the plans for the office building and hotel I am building out along the lake. A few weeks ago we had the topping out ceremony. And now, they are starting to put on the roofs and have started doing the electrical and plumbing on the lower levels of them both. Each page of these plans shows how the work is being accomplished and what the mechanicals of each level of the buildings should look like.
"Tomorrow, when you four are in school, I'll drive out there and talk to the construction foremen and get an update on how things are progressing. I hope we can have the hotel finished out by late spring so I can start having guests check into the new hotel. And, I also have an office building going up, right next door, and I hope to have it finished by the end of the summer so I can begin renting out the different floors," explained 'Dad Ken'.
"Can you explain what we are looking at and tell us, you know, what all these symbols are?" asked Kevin.
'Dad Ken' took the plans for the office building first and went floor by floor and described to the lads what they were looking at. On the first floor, he described how he hoped a Day-Care Center could open and use the one end. He explained he owned a construction and architect business and they would move into the other end. He also showed the lads where the central restrooms would be for both men and women and that he also put in a 'family' restroom.
Mr. Ken then showed the boys what all the symbols on the plans meant. He explained about the electrical lines and how they connected to either lights or electric plugs and also where the central electric panel would be located. He explained how heat and air conditioning ducts would run between floors using central races or corridors where they would distribute whichever temperatures were needed for whatever time of the year it was. He showed the boys where the elevators would be located off the main entrance area. 'Dad Ken' then explained where the smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors were, along with the fire sprinkler system and fire alarms and their controls.
"Boy, there sure is a lot more to building something like that than I ever knew," spoke up Kyle.
"Yes, Kyle, there are many parts and pieces that go into building something this big and then making it all come together. What I didn't show you were the plans for the excavation and then the foundation requirements. Those alone take up another five or six sheets just as big as these are," followed on Mr. Ken.
"Did you make all these plans, 'dad', I mean 'Dad Ken'?" now asked Kevin.
"No, Kevin, I didn't. These were developed by my architect team. I told them what I was looking for in the building and they took my ideas and put them down. Then they presented them to me in a rough draft for me to approve the concept. Once the concept was set, the architect team went about getting more and more detailed plans together before submitting them for final approval by me and the county. But even before my architects put pen to paper, we had to go before the County Commissioners for approval to have the area zoned for mixed-use industrial so I could build these two structures. It is a long process," explained 'Dad Ken'.
"Can we see the rest of the plans for the office building?" asked Kyle.
That asked, Mr. Ken took the lads through all eight floors of the building showing them how things lined up under one another like the structural beams and the electrical, plumbing, and environmental controls to allow for easier installation and to reduce costs. Mr. Ken answered the twin's questions as they went along. It was when they got the topmost floor that the boys saw some major differences.
"'Dad', I mean 'Dad Ken', why does this floor look different than the other floors?" asked Kevin.
"Well, to tell you the truth … when I started to look to build these buildings … I never thought I'd ever get to foster another child, so … well, I decided to build me a getaway place. The top floor is being set up for me as a 'get-away' home, so I can go there if I want to. It could also be a retreat for me to get away from here and enjoy different lake views during the seasons from way up on the 8th floor," was how Mr. Ken replied to the question.
"Wow, there must be a ton of bedrooms in that place," offered Kyle, as he looked at the different labels on the intended rooms.
"No, Kyle, there are only four bedrooms and four and a half baths. This big room, here, is the master bedroom and will look out over the lake. That will be MY bedroom," teased 'Dad Ken', as he pointed the room out on the plans.
"But why would you need so many bedrooms?" honestly asked Kyle.
Mr. Ken smiled at the twins and replied, "Well, one day I could get married and have kids of my own. Now, where would they sleep? And what about Collin? He is a part of my extended family and when he'd come home from college he'd need a place to go to rest and recover from his studies. So you see, at the time I never considered I'd ever get more kids to foster and now I have the four of you." With that said Mr. Ken reached out and poked each twin's ribs and got a squeal out of them.
Kevin and Kyle asked if they could take the plans and look at them on the floor. After getting permission, they took the 8th-floor plans and began to look at them with interest. Mr. Ken watched them point out things to one another as they looked closely at the large sheet of paper.
"'Dad', is this going to be a pool?" asked Kyle.
But before getting his answer, the twin was nudged by his brother who whispered something into his ear. Then Kyle whispered something back. That went back and forth a few times until Mr. Ken heard an "Ok, I'll tell him."
"'Dad Ken' … I'm sorry … for calling you 'dad'. I was so interested in asking you a question about what I thought I saw on the plans that I … forgot," said a somber, head down, Kyle.
"Kyle, come over here, please. 'Son' … it doesn't matter to me that you called me 'dad'. I hear it from Robert and Charles all the time. Even your twin called me 'dad' a few moments ago, before correcting himself. Remember, when you first came to live with me, I told you that you could figure out what to call me and you two decided on 'Dad Ken'. I was perfectly OK with that, but I can see how easy it is for you to just say 'dad'. If you do, I am not going to correct you or even criticize you. We are going to be together for a long time and whatever is easier for you both will be OK with me. Will that be OK with you both?" finished Mr. Ken, as he looked over to Kevin.
Kevin and Kyle went back to whispering between themselves. It took them almost a minute to come to a decision. In the end, Kevin said they would try to remember to call him 'Dad Ken' and if they forgot they were happy he wouldn't get mad at them. Once that was decided, Mr. Ken held his arms wide open for them and both lads ran to him for a big hug.
It was while the three Covers were in a hug that the phone rang. When Mr. Ken answered it he learned that Doctor Doug was up at the Main Gate. The Cove's owner told the guard to let him in. A minute or two later the Foyer Doorbell rang and Mr. Ken and his two new foster sons met the man and welcomed him in.
"Doctor Doug, welcome!" offered Mr. Ken. "These, as you know, are my two new foster sons, Kevin and Kyle."
"Yes, we talked for a few minutes on Saturday, but there was way too much going on for any real chit-chat," replied Doctor Jennings with a smile. "And, Mr. Ken, I want to thank you for my invitation to dinner tonight. You well know it is not often that I get a real home cooked meal and when it is Momma Maria's cooking I know I am in for a treat."
"Yes, I know that, Doctor Doug, but … I have an ulterior motive for my asking you here," replied Ken Thomas.
"Yeah, 'Dad Ken' tells us that you want to talk to us some tonight to get to know us better. He told us he wants us to eventually talk to you about the accident and any other things going on in our life right now like, you know … having to live with 'Dad Ken' and anything else that we might want to talk about," chuckled Kyle.
"Yes, Kyle isn't it?? Or, are you Kevin?" again smiled Doctor Doug.
"Yes, I'm Kyle," smiled back the twin. "The good-looking twin."
Kyle's remark brought on a chuckle from both adults and even Kevin smiled.
"What say we retire to my Study? Dinner won't be ready for another 45 minutes, or so, so that gives us some time to sit down and talk," spoke up Mr. Ken.
The small group walked into the Study and they each sat down in one of the comfortable leather chairs. Mr. Ken started the conversation by asking them to tell him how they saw the Labor Day Picnic. He explained to them he wanted their honest observations about what was good and what could be improved upon for the next time he has such a big gathering.
The four talked about the picnic for about twenty minutes when Mr. Ken excused himself saying he needed to go upstairs to talk to Robert and Charles about their homework. He then asked the boys to talk some more with Doctor Doug, while he was gone, so they all could get to know one another better.
After 'Dad Ken' closed the door, it was Kyle who asked, "So … what do you want to talk to us about?"
Doctor Doug almost laughed out loud at the candidness of the twin. He then told the twins Mr. Ken wanted the three of them to just talk to get to know one another better. The doctor further told the lads that they would be meeting once a week for the foreseeable future and it would usually be one-on-one. Kevin strongly objected to that, saying the two of them always did things together and they would only meet with him if they did.
Doctor Doug immediately recognized that Kevin was the leader of the two. He also detected a strong protectiveness from the lad and knew he'd have his work cut out for him to get the eleven year old to open up to him.
It was Kyle who asked the doctor to tell them something about himself. Doctor Doug then thought back to what he told Charles when that lad asked the same question and decided to use that as an icebreaker between the twins.
"Well, Kyle … that was practically the same question Charles asked me not too many months ago. First, let me tell you I am an only child and I lived in a trailer park growing up. I really liked school as it gave me a place to escape from everyday life. When I was in high school, besides keeping my grades up, I took all the placement and comprehension tests I could. They told me which areas and subjects I was deficient in and what areas I might succeed in life. They gave me an idea of what to study in college. Knowing that, I spent a lot of my free time honing up on those areas I wasn't too good in, by getting books at the library and taking them home to read. When I was finished with those, I took them back to get some more.
"So … now that you've learned a little about me, how about you tell me about you?" finished up Doctor Doug. "Kevin, how about you go first?"
Kevin wasn't expecting to have to tell the doctor anything about him so quick. The older twin looked to his brother asking with his eyes to go first. All Kyle did was shake his head no.
"I … I don't know what to say," stammered Kevin.
"Just tell me some stuff like I told you," replied Doctor Doug.
"Ahh, well I was born first and my birthday is March 14th. Kyle's … his is March 15th. I don't know why they did that to us but … that's what they told us. We live with our mom and dad, well, that is until they were hurt in a car accident last Monday, so now … so now we live with 'Dad Ken'.
"We now have two older 'brothers', Robert and Charles, who are also foster kids, and it has been nice staying here. Our 'Dad', ahh Mr. Ken, that is, has treated us very good. He's bought us new clothes and we each got a new skateboard and we have lots of new friends ever since the picnic. Tomorrow we'll go to school with them and it will be nice knowing kids when we get there," revealed Kevin.
"Ah, Kyle … you want to tell me something about you that Kevin didn't already tell me?" asked Doctor Doug.
"No, I want you to tell us some more about you, first" retorted Kyle.
Doug figured the lad was stalling, so he could figure out what he wanted to say, so he decided to continue his story.
"OK, I'll tell you a bit more about myself. Let's see, oh yeah, while I was a sophomore in college that was when I decided I wanted to help kids. I knew that with what I had to endure as a kid growing up in a trailer park, there had to be kids like me who had to deal with all the crappy stuff that not only happens in the trailer parks but all over, too. So, I decided, after reflecting on my upbringing, I declared my major and I worked hard for the next eight years," revealed Doug Jennings.
"It took you eight years to become a doctor that takes care of kids? Are you a doctor like Doctor Powers?" an astonished Kyle asked.
"Yes, Kyle, it does take a considerable amount of time to become a doctor and to work with kids like you and your brother. And, no I am not a doctor like Doctor Powers. He takes care of people's bodies where I take care of their minds. Do you know the difference?" asked Doctor Doug.
Both lads nodded they did, so the man continued. "When I worked with my first patients in a hospital setting, I knew I had made the right choice. I felt really good after they could see that talking with me helped them see a way out of their problems. Some of them even came back to thank me for helping them look at things from a different approach. … Now, Kyle … how about you tell me something about yourself. What kind of home life did you have? What were your best subjects in school? Your brother, he mentioned you both were in an automobile accident with your parents. Has that affected you at all? Are you mad at what happened?" asked Doctor Doug.
Kyle looked at the doctor for a few moments and decided that he seemed to be as relaxed and easy going as he was when he talked to him at the picnic. He thought about why the man was there talking to him and his twin and that since 'Dad Ken' trusted him to talk to Robert and Charles and his first foster son that the doctor had to be OK. He also figured since Doctor Doug wasn't too nosey about them and wasn't accusing them of anything he decided to speak up.
"Doctor Doug, like my older brother said, I was born on the day after he was. Our parents told us a few times why that happened, but it wouldn't matter if we were both born on the same day because he would still be older than me. But that doesn't really matter to me, even though he continues to tell people he is older. What he doesn't realize is … is that I am still … the better looking one," now smiled Kyle.
Doug Jennings sort of laughed at what Kyle just said and he then looked over to Kevin to see what sort of reaction he would have and was happy he saw he had a smile on his face too.
"What else can you tell me about you?" asked the doctor.
"In school, I get mostly A's and a few B's now and then. I actually like arithmetic and history. Oh, another thing … I'm also the smarter of the two of us" laughed Kyle.
"Hey," began Kevin, in his defense, "I get A's and B's too!"
"Yeah, but I get more A's than you do," Kyle replied back to his twin, as he continued his laugh.
"Well … yeah, you're right there. But who says you are the good looking one? Mom?" spoke up Kevin, with some irritation in his voice.
"Whoa, there boys … there is no need to get mad at one another. As brothers, you'll have some bouts of competition, and I see there is some disagreement between who is smarter versus who is the better looking one," stepped in Doctor Doug.
"Yeah, I guess we kinda do, Doctor Doug," began Kevin. "And, I guess we'll see who is the smartest because 'Dad Ken' has us in different classrooms at school. He told us it would be good for us to meet more of the kids in our class that way. He also said it could also lead to some 'brotherly' competition between us. We've always been in the same class, so this will definitely be different."
"I take it, Kevin, you're not too happy about being separated from your twin?" asked Doctor Doug.
"Well … yeah, I guess, but … that's what 'Dad Ken' wants us to do, so … I can try to work with it," replied Kevin.
"And you, Kyle?" asked the doctor.
"I think it will be kinda fun. I won't have to worry about Kev telling mom and dad what I said or what I did in school," replied the youngest twin.
"Hey, I don't tell them everything," snapped Kevin.
"Yes, you do! Anything that concerns me you tell! Even if it doesn't matter, you still go home and tell them and don't deny that you do it!" now angrily countered Kyle.
Doctor Doug thought there was going to be a shouting match right then and there but before he could say anything there was a knock on the Study door. Mr. Ken and his other two foster sons walked in and another round of greetings began.
"Momma says that since everyone is here we can start dinner a few minutes early. What say we all wash our hands and we all meet in the Kitchen Nook," announced Mr. Ken.
"Up to our elbows?" teased Kyle, as he hurriedly exited the Study.
"You better hurry to get away from me, Kyle. You never know when a tickle attack will come, young man?" teased back 'Dad Ken'.
The boys laughed at 'Dad Ken' as they hurried out first and fast. They wanted to use the half-bath located right outside the Study. The four 'brothers' all went in at the same time but only two could use the sink to wash their hands at a time. When they exited only Doctor Doug was outside waiting. 'Dad Ken' had retired to his own en-suite to wash his hands.
Tonight Momma Maria made a Mexican Casserole. She first served a small salad and offered a number of different dressings. When she presented the actual meal, the boys said it looked like a big baked taco. It was made from ground beef with ranch style beans and tomatoes and a few other ingredients and spices. For dessert, Momma Maria made an Avocado Lime Cheesecake. No one went away hungry from the table that night.
After dinner, Robert and Doctor Doug used Mr. Ken's Study for about twenty minutes. Then it was Charles's turn. The doctor used the entire fifty minutes time for the appointment and when the two exited the Study they were laughing.
Kevin and Kyle noticed how the two exited the Study and wondered if talking to the doctor wouldn't be such a bad idea. Before Doug Jennings departed that evening, he made two appointments for the twins which would be the following week since it was a short week.
The five Covers all shook the doctor's hand before he left and wished him safe driving.
"OK, lads … it's going on 8:15. So, what do you want to do?" asked Mr. Ken.
"Can we look at the plans some more?" asked Kyle.
For the next thirty minutes, or so, Mr. Ken showed the office building and hotel plans to his four 'sons'. He did answer Kyle's question about there being a pool on the top floor of the office building. He further explained it wasn't a pool like he had at The Cove but more of a wading pool that was only four feet deep. Robert and Charles took an interest in the plans but they focused on the hotel and the overlook.
Before long 'Dad Ken' had more questions than he had time to answer before it was time for the lads to get ready for bed and school tomorrow. The man promised he'd sit down with them again soon before sending them up to bed.
All comments are encouraged. You may email Chowhound at: Chowhound