The characters and events in this story are fictional and any resemblance to real people is purely co-incidental. The following story may contain sexual or reference to sexual situations. If this is illegal in your area, you are underage or you find it objectionable, do not read any farther and exit now!
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Chapter 5
When Mark arrived, we had dinner. Afterwards, we hitched the horses to the wagon and we all took a tour of the place.
Mark liked our new employees immediately. He agreed that Rachel would be his employee and so they spent most of the evening sitting on the sofa visiting and discuss her responsibilities. We became family that evening.
Marge and I were up before the rest of the group. We had breakfast ready for them when the came into the kitchen for coffee. We all adjourned to the dinning room and Marge served breakfast. It sure was nice to have something beside cereal out of the box and someone to eat with. It had been a long time since I sat down with people and had eaten.
Mark and Rachel left for the office. Marge wanted to clean the kitchen and rearrange it so she could find something on her own. Jack went to the pool area and started giving it some much needed TLC. I went into den and actually took two steps without the aid of my walker. I spent the rest of the morning doing office work for the mill .
Carol called and asked if they could come over. She said that she, Mary, and both families would be there around 6:00 but not to cook anything. They would stop by Papa Murphy's and get some pizzas. I told her to buy enough for 3 extra people. I went to the kitchen and told Marge not to plan on doing anything for dinner because my two sisters and families were stopping by and would bring pizza.
I went to the exercise room and did some leg and arm work. I wanted to do something that I could do sitting down. I didn't want to take the chance of falling and causing more problems. Mark would have fit if I did anything else.
Mark and Rachel arrive and my family shortly afterwards. The women folk adjourned to the kitchen and started cooking the pizzas.
The kids were just about talked Jack's ears off. They were very curious about his artificial leg and were full of questions. Of course, he didn't mind one bit. He didn't have any grandchildren and took a fancy to the children right from the beginning. He had a certain knack and had them under his spell immediately.
We finished eating the pizza and were just sitting and visiting. I was almost dying of curiosity as to why Carol and Mary wanted to talk to me. I knew something was in the works.
"I know that you two are up to something, So out with it!"
"We have a big favor to ask of you. You can say no if you want," said Mary. "How would you like to have five kids for up to 4 weeks?"
"The four of us are going on a cruise to Alaska and then we will take an excursion train trip across the state and will fly to the Artic Circle before we come home," Carol explained. "We will be gone for about 4 weeks."
"The kids wanted to come and stay with you. Their paternal grandparents are much to old to take on five little kids and we didn't want to split them up," added Mary. My next door neighbor told me that the kids could stay with her but would have to go to day care during the day while she was at work."
"Gee, I would love to have them but I am a little cautious since I am in still in a wheel chair. If one of them fell and couldn't get up what would I do. Of course Mark would be here at night and could help. It is during the day that concerns me. I really don't know."
"Herb, you forgot that Marge and I would be here during the day. We don't have any grandkids and would love to adopt these five. We could just spoil them rotten and then send them home for their parents to try to corrected all their bad habits. I would say that between the three of us, I think that we should be able to manage."
"I would love to have the kids. When is this all going to take place?"
"We leave on Monday. So you have three days. We have a letter, saying that you can make any medical decisions for the kids or anything else that may come up. It has been notarized and you will have complete power-of- attorney," said Mary
"What Mary didn't tell you is that they have their suitcases and all their things in the car. They wanted to start tonight, if that is ok." Carol said.
"All I can say is HIP, HIP, Hurray!. Go get your stuff and we can have a slumber party tonight which will continue for four weeks."
"Thanks, Herb! We can rest easy know that the kids are being well taken care of." said Mary."Hey, what are brothers for?"*****Three weeks have passed and I don't know who is having more fun- me, Marge and Jack, Mark and Rachel or the kids. We will all have a long period of adjustment after the kids go home to be with their parents.Fun, Fun, and More Fun!
After three weeks, I received a phone call from the Alaska State Police at two in the morning. Carol. John, Mary and David had all been killed in a plane crash. They were coming back from the Artic Circle and were caught in a terrible storm and the plane went down. The pilot and all 6 passengers were killed instantly. I didn't want to wake everyone and tell them the bad news. I decided to wait until morning. I lay in my bed and cried the rest of the night. I kept asking myself, WHY? Then I knew the answer. There is a season for everything. A time to be born and a time to die. When your time arrives, nothing can change or stop it.
I finally got out of bed and went to the kitchen and started the coffee. I then sat at the table and started crying again.Marge came in. "Man, what is wrong with you? I can tell you haven't sleep all night and why are you crying?"
I told her about the phone call. She just came over and put her arms around me and started crying with me. "Herb, are you going to be able to tell the children or do you want me to get Mark and let him tell them?"
"Who am I telling and what?" asked Mark who had come into the kitchen unnoticed. I couldn't speak so Marge took over and told Mark about the accident.
"Oh, my word. I don't think I will be able to tell them either," said Mark.
"It is my responsibility, so I will tell the children. I would like for the two of you to remain here in the room with me. I am going to need all the moral support that I can get. The younger children won't really know what I am talking about. It is the older ones that I am concerned with."
Rachel came into the room and knew right away that something terrible was wrong. Marge told her and asked her if she would go and get Jack and the kids up. Mark, Marge and I went into the living room. Rachel and the children came in. Jack followed. Each of us took a child and held them on our laps. Through my sobs, I finally told the whole thing. Lori let out a scream, jumped of my lap and ran from the room. Mark was right behind her.
She went into her room and Mark took her in his arms and just held her. Both of them crying very hard."Lori, I am so sorry. I was very fond of your parents and I will really miss them."
"Mark, I know that they are both in Heaven and that I will join them someday. I ran from the room because I have a large envelope that I must give to Uncle Herb. It is here in my suitcase. Joel has one taped to the lid of his suitcase. It is just like the one I have. I will let him get his and give it to Uncle Herb."
"Lori, Let's go back. Everyone must be worried sick now."
When Lori and Mark came into the room, all four of the younger children ran to her and started hugging her."Our Moms and Dads are in heaven now. We must carry them in our hearts until we see them again and for sure we'll see them when we get to heaven. Promise me that every night you will remember them in your prayers. Mark, will you take Joel and have him get his envelope? I wait until you get back to give Uncle Herb mine."
"Uncle Herb, will you let all of us live with you. I want the five of us to be together and be one family."
"Lori, I would like that very much. I will have to go to court and a judge will have the final say. I can see no reason that the judge won't rule in our favor. That will take place sometime in the future. Right now, we will just have to be here for each other. I need another hug and I bet you do to!"
Joel and Mark came into the room and Joel handed me his big orange envelope and Lori gave me hers. My hands started trembling and I began shaking all over. Marge came over and threw her arms around me.
"Herb, take some deep breaths and think of all the good times you had with your sisters. Nothing can take that from you."
Marge did not let go of me. After a minute or two, I finally opened Joel's letter since he had given it to me first and I had put Lori's underneath his. "Marge, Thanks! I don't think I would have made it without you." Slowly, I took out all the papers. I started to read Mary's cover letter. I stopped and almost fainted.
"Herb, remember deep breaths! Read the letter out loud! This will help you get through it and you won't have to tell us what it said afterward, which will be lot harder to do than reading the letter."
I took a deep breath and swallowed hard.
"Herb, since you are reading this letter, something terrible has happen to David and me. Just remember all the good time we had. We will be with you always, even if it is just in your heart. Well be together again some day. Remember I love you. Dont let the children forget us and give the a hug and kiss every day for us."
"We want you to have the children and raise them for us. Carol and I agreed that if something happened to either of us, that you should have the children. Their grandparents are way to old to raise five young children. Their other aunts and uncles already have large families and the kids love you so much. So please, raise the children and give them lots and lots of love."
"We have our wills and everything we own will go to you. It will be up to you to give the children, when they get older. the personal items and pictures that they want. The company lawyers have a key for the safety deposit box. They have been authorized to open it, if need be. You will find all the wills, deeds, and other important papers in there. There is also a notarized and signed letter granting you power of attorney for the kids and a request that you be appointed legal guardian to the children. The lawyers have assured us that you will not have any trouble but you will still have to go through probate." Love you! Mary
I could not read Carol's letter. I couldn't see through my tears. I assume that it would be the same as Mary's. Sure enough it was.
They had given me their shares and holding in the company. I now was sole owner and would have to replace my two brothers-in-laws. I would have to spend a lot more time and effort running the company.
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