Published: 25 Aug 2022

From Previous Chapter:

The man saw how they cleaned up after themselves and made sure everyone helped. Then, when it came time for their midnight snack, the boys got out the paper plates, napkins and tableware and made sure the adults had first choice of the available snacks, before they all took their favorite. The man knew when Mark came home, there would probably be a big change in his son from the influences the boy was being exposed to there at The Cove.

When they finished straightening up in the Kitchen Nook, the boys went to their usual sleeping places. Mark and his friends joined Billy and his friends up in the MRS Room. The younger boys talked to the older teens until they all nodded off and fell asleep.

The next morning, Billy, Robert and Charles had their cell phone alarms set for 7:45 to give them an extra fifteen minutes to get the breakfast ready. Eric then went and woke up the three younger Covers, Kevin, Kyle and Matthew, while Billy made sure Mark was awake and ready to help.

Today, Billy’s friends, Lonnie, Jamie and Gabe joined Charles’ friends, James, Cooper and David and they all joined the Covers in getting the breakfast ready for the masses. Mark’s friends also got up when the older boys and Mark did, so they headed up to the Pavilion to see what they could do to help.

Robert and Eric manned the griddle as they had the first two times. They had the process down to a science and this time Cooper, who helped them the last time with reheating the bacon, went right to work and got the precooked bacon into the microwave and ready for eating.

The rest of the Covers and their helpers got the service counter ready with the orange juice, white and chocolate milk, and all the plates, flatware, napkins, syrup and everything else that was needed to serve the pancakes and crispy bacon. They even set up Mr. Ken’s coffee machine so the adults would have hot coffee with their breakfast.

Mark’s friends were surprised at what all was needed to be done to fix breakfast for everyone. But they eagerly helped, and before long, the counter was ready to receive the boys.

Those extra fifteen minutes gave the Covers the time needed to have loads of pancakes ready, and the bacon all reheated and waiting for their friends as they came up to the Pavilion to eat breakfast.

Momma Maria had bought the extra two gallons of batter again, so, again, there were more pancakes for the boys to eat. So, with the pancakes coming off the griddle faster than before, it allowed the boys to take four pancakes each, and they could come back sooner for their second plate if they wanted.

Mr. Ken, Mr. Wayne and Mr. Levi all arrived at the Pavilion as the boys were filling their plates with pancakes and bacon and then getting their preferred drink. Again, Levi couldn’t believe that his host would spend that kind of money to feed that many boys.

And what also surprised him, was that not only were the boys doing the cooking, they were being responsible for keeping the tables clean, the counter filled with plates, napkins and tableware and the Pavilion picked up.

When the adults went through the line, the boys let them take as many pancakes and pieces of bacon as they wanted. Mr. Ken told Levi that he keeps asking the boys to make scrambled eggs, too, but they haven’t gotten the hint.

Kevin heard what his ‘dad’ told Mr. Golderson, so he went over to the men and told them that he asked Momma Maria about doing that, but she told him that if you didn’t know how to cook them, then you would ruin the eggs.

The older twin added she told him it didn’t take long to cook the eggs, and when you cooked them you wanted the people to be there when they came off the grill, otherwise they got cold or could get wasted. The twin said he asked her to show them how to cook them.

It was while everyone was eating that Mr. Wayne’s cell phone rang. It was the Main Gate guard telling him the Med Tech was there to change Mr. Golderson’s dressing. The Estate Master told the guard to send him over to the Pavilion. Mr. Wayne then called Mark over and told him he needed to go get ready for his soccer game.

Harper was invited to have a bite to eat before he changed Levi’s dressing. He begged off saying he’d already had breakfast, but he would appreciate some coffee. Lucky enough the boys had planned on making coffee for their ‘dad’, Mr. Wayne and his guest.

After drinking a cup of coffee and talking with the men, Harper then went and changed Mr. Golderson’s dressings on his two wounds. It had been two weeks since the shootings and the medical technician was pleased with the way the wounds were healing.

Harper Young told Levi that the two areas didn’t show any redness or swelling and the man didn’t have pain in the two areas and he didn’t have a temperature, which were all good signs that he was healing nicely. The man added that his doctor will be very happy when he sees him on Thursday.

Mark came up to the Pavilion all dressed in his game uniform and he went to his dad and asked him if he was going to the game with him. Levi showed him his new dressings and said he was ready; he just didn’t know who was taking them. Mr. Wayne spoke up and said he was.

Mark’s friends came over to him and asked him what they were going to do now. Mark told them he was going to his soccer game, and they could either go with him, or stay there and skate and when he came back, they could swim. A few went with him and the others stayed there.

The game today was played over near Four Corners, so they didn’t have far to drive. And when Mark arrived, he jumped out of the van and ran over to his teammates, leaving the rest of the people in the van to fend for themselves.

Luckily, Mr. Wayne brought a few lawn chairs, knowing it would be a long game, and it would be better to sit and watch it rather than watch it standing up. Mr. Golderson was glad the man had brought the chairs, as he did tire easily and after getting up early, he didn’t think he could have stood and watched the whole soccer game.

Mark and his team did well for their first game, but not having much practice against other players showed in their overall performance. Their coach saw that the few times they practiced against the older boys at The Cove, the boys and girls did learn a few things, but they needed more time to hone those skills. He hoped next week he could work on that, and the older boys would gladly help the team out.

Mark played the entire game. He didn’t score any goals, though, but he did have fun out there. He played a few different positions, as did his teammates, as they all ran back and forth defending their goal and trying to score.

Levi smiled at the enthusiasm his son showed, out on the soccer field. He saw his son look over at him a few times and wave and he waved back. He only wished his wife could have been there to see their son play the second sport that he loved. Baseball being his first love.

The soccer game was two-30-minute halves, which meant everyone who went to the game was back at The Cove around 11:30. Mark’s friends, who didn’t go to the game, rushed over to him to find out how well he did. They were disappointed to learn his team didn’t win.

The weather was calm right then out on the lake, so Charles came over to Mark and his friends and asked them if they were interested in going sailing. Mark said, “What are we waiting for?”, and he rushed into the house to change into his swimsuit. The other boys followed quickly behind.

Charles had the boys meet down at the docks. He told them there were only four sailboats, which meant that only four of them could sail and there were six, counting Mark. The teenager said that two people needed to stay back.

The teen asked Mark to remain, since he had already sailed once, and he could do it again. Charles then asked for a volunteer to sit this one out saying he would try to take them out later if there was time. Dana said he’d wait for later and hopefully get a longer trip.

Charles took Kieran, Brad had Reese, Cooper took Corey and Hunter and Tanner buddied up. They all put on life vests and the sailors explained what they would do and what their passengers would have to do, as they navigated up wind and then sped back to The Cove.

Mark was disappointed that he didn’t get to go. But he understood his older ‘brother’s’ reasoning for him not going that time. He knew Charles would take him out again, and he figured this would probably be the only other time his five friends would be back at The Cove.

Mark also thanked Dana for volunteering not to go. The Cover said he couldn’t help that there were only four sailboats, and that they could only hold two people at a time. Dana said he understood and that he just hoped he’d get to go later.

Mark and Dana watched the four sailboats sail in different directions. He wondered why they did that. He later learned that they didn’t want any of them to crash into one another as they returned to The Cove, so they each took a different angle away from their starting point.

Levi asked Mr. Ken if there was a way he and Mark could go and visit Miriam sometime that day. Mr. Ken asked him to wait until after they had lunch and then either he or Wayne would drive them over to the Rehabilitation Center.

The two men also talked about what they both envisioned if they joined forces and partnered in building the Marina, and then added some additional amusements to Four Corners. Mr. Ken also asked Levi if he thought his investors might be interested in going outside of Texas.

The owner of The Cove told Levi how he was eventually going to be building hotels, motels, sit-down and fast-food restaurants near his Crystal Lake Amusement Park, when the county rebuilt the highway into a five-lane divided highway that passed by the amusement park.

Mr. Ken told Levi that there would be ample opportunity for them to join forces there, as he envisions a new community also being built along the lake. He then added that he has the rights to buy the property all along the lake next to his new amusement park, and he plans to build that into a vacation and permanent resident community.

Since Mark and Dana were sitting out on the dock waiting for their friends to return, Russell went over to them and asked them if they wanted to ride the towing tube. Mark asked him if he could take them out on the lake on the Jet Ski instead. Russell thought about that for a few moments and said he would. Both boys jumped for joy.

Russel had the boys put on life vests and meet him at the three-seat Jet Ski. The eighteen-year-old explained to them what they had to do as they rode out on the Jet Ski. The boys said they would hold on tight, and that they couldn’t wait to feel what it was like to ride on a watercraft.

Russell took it slow as he drove the PWC out of the cove. Then, as he was away from the area, he went a little faster. The teenager didn’t go full throttle with the Jet Ski, but he did go fast enough to give the boys a thrill. The lifeguard even drove by the boys out in the sailboats to let them know that their friends did get to go out on the lake anyways.

Their ride on the Jet Ski wasn’t as long as their friend’s sailing took, but Mark and Dana were thrilled they got to ride on the back of the personal watercraft. Russell then asked Logan to be the spotter as he first took Mark out on the towing tube and then he took Dana. Before long the other boys got their turn out on the towing tube.

Meanwhile, the boys out in the sailboats began returning to The Cove. Russell saw them heading back, so knowing they were under sail, and they didn’t have any power. He gave them a wide berth and he waited until they came into the cove to dock. Once all four sailboats were inside the protected cove, Russell went back to giving the boys their rides on the towing tube.

Around two o’clock, Mr. Ken found Bill and asked him to gather up the boys and get the lunch put together. The other Cover boys hadn’t realized that it had gotten that late, and they all had to quickly change and head up to the Pavilion and get lunch prepared.

The Covers’ friends, who helped that morning, also lent their hands to setting up the lunch. This was the third time the Covers were offering to let everyone build their own sub sandwiches, so they set up the serving counter to make it easy.

Again, everyone had a choice between, bolillo, French, Italian and ciabatta rolls with which to start to make their sandwich. Of course, there was baked ham, thinly sliced turkey and chicken breast, along with salami, pepperoni and roast beef on which to base their sandwich.

Next, they had sliced tomatoes, green peppers, onions, patted dry lettuce, pickles, provolone, Swiss and American cheeses, mayonnaise, pepper grinders and sea salt to finish off their masterpiece. But today, Momma had them add an Italian dressing as an additional flavor enhancer to the sub sandwich. There were also different types of potato chips for the boys to put on the side of the plates to enjoy along with their sub or hoagie.

When Mr. Ken drove Levi up to the Pavilion for lunch, the man was flabbergasted at what he saw. He couldn’t believe the man was providing almost a full sub sandwich shop’s worth of food there for all of the boys, plus the five lifeguards and the three adults.

Levi’s taste buds began to work overtime as he thought about what he was going to be able to build as his own sandwich, and make it as big as he wanted using what was provided. Of course, he would need some help, as he did have his one arm still in a sling. Mark was drafted to help his dad.

As the men ate away from the boys, Levi couldn’t help himself, and he just had to ask his host why he spent so much money on feeding his ‘boys’ friends every day, and not just hamburgers and hot dogs, but with pizza and expensive sub making ingredients.

Mr. Ken chuckled at the question. He then reminded Levi that all of the boys he fostered came from broken homes, where the parents did things that could have demoralized the boys and made them feel that they were the reason for what happened to their family.

Ken Thomas reminded his guest that his primary focus was to make the boys feel like they were wanted and loved. He told his guest the boys needed to know they had a home they could be proud of, and to where they could bring their friends. He also wanted the boys to feel they belonged to a ‘family’ and they had as much of a normal life as possible.

Mr. Ken said that he does go overboard with the trips and treating their friends, but he is trying to make up for what the boys are missing by not being with their biological moms and dads. He added that since Mark was staying with him, he was being treated no differently than his ‘brothers’. Mr. Ken then told Mr. Golderson that he intended to take the boy with them when they visit his amusement parks in a week to ten days, and he hoped that he would go along.

All the boys, as well as the lifeguards, were totally enjoying the third time Mr. Ken provided the sub making ingredients for them to make their own awesome sandwiches. It was a tremendous change from always getting their normal burgers and hot dogs and they all appreciated it.

When the boys were all finished and had the Pavilion picked up and everything put away, the boys and the lifeguards all went over to the adults and they individually thanked Mr. Ken for treating them to last night’s pizza, and for the sub sandwiches today. The boys couldn’t say enough to the man for treating them as well as he had all summer long, and they hoped they could return the favor one day.

Since the boys were all gathered all around him, Mr. Ken reminded them that he and his ‘boys’ would be going away for about nine days just before school began, so they all needed to plan accordingly. He told them they would let them know when they had a firm date, but it could be as soon as next Sunday or Monday.

Mr. Ken also told the boys that he was planning the Labor Day Picnic, probably on that Saturday of the three-day weekend, and for them to tell their parents, so they could plan. He further explained that they needed to play the Pavilion games, so they could crown the individual game champs and then the overall Champion during the Picnic.

After all of the announcements were made, Mark asked his dad if they were going over to visit his mom. Mr. Ken said he was going to drive them there and give Mr. Wayne a break. The owner of The Cove told them to go and get ready and they would leave soon. He then told Wayne that he could take the rest of the day off and tomorrow as well.

Wayne Mitchell was surprised that his employer would let that many boys be allowed to be unsupervised at the estate for such a long time. Mr. Ken told him that he needed to give the boys the opportunity to show him they could be trusted and besides Russell was eighteen and would be there, and there were at least three armed guards there to quell any riots.

Mr. Ken also told Wayne that with him having to be with the boys while he was down at the trial from Tuesday night until Friday some time, he needed some open time for himself. He again reminded his Estate Master that this was a good reason for needing a part-time employee to fill in at times such as this.

Mr. Ken called Bill over and told him that he was taking Mr. Levi and Mark to visit Miriam. He added that Mr. Wayne was going over to his apartment and that essentially, he was being left in-charge. He added that Russel would still be there and that he had the guards to call on, if there were any major problems, and then to call Mr. Wayne.

Robert saw his dad talking to Billy, so he went over to find out what that was all about. His dad gave him a quick briefing on what was happening. He then told both teenagers that since they had a late lunch they would go out to dinner after he returned with Mr. Levi and Mark.

Mark couldn’t wait to see his mom. He didn’t see her yesterday, and he had lots to tell her. When they finally got to the Rehab Center, the boy couldn’t wait to get out of the F-150 truck and into the building.

“Mom, you’re walking!” said a surprised Mark.

“Yes, son, I am walking. And, I have been for some time. And, if it weren’t for your father being laid up, with his own injuries, and the house all shot up, we would all be home living together,” commented Miriam, as she was using her walker to assist her in case she stumbled and fell as she gained strength in her hip and legs.

“But why aren’t we home together now?” asked the boy, not understanding the circumstances as to why they weren’t back together.

“Son, honey … it is because your father can’t take care of himself yet, and because he can’t, he isn’t able to help me around the house either. With my new hip, if I was to fall, your dad couldn’t help me get up,” Miriam tried to explain.

“But I could help,” interrupted Mark.

“But what if you were out playing? And, I don’t think you are strong enough, just yet. So, for now, you and your father are staying with Mr. Ken, and I am here getting my physical therapy. And in a few weeks, when your dad is fully healed, we will all be back together. I hope you understand, son,” finished the boy’s mother.

Mark hugged his mom and told her how much he missed her and loved her and that he couldn’t wait until they got back together. The two hugged for quite some time, while Levi and Ken looked on.

When the two broke their hug, they smiled at one another and then Mark began to tell his mom about what they did the past two days. The woman couldn’t believe that Mr. Ken had a sleepover as Billy told them he had and about all the pizza and the swimming and the movie out on the Patio. Mark was very animated and enthusiastic in his telling.

Mark then told her about the pancake breakfast and how he and his friends helped set up the serving counter and how good everything tasted. Even her husband joined in that telling and added that the boys did a great job of cooking the pancakes and having crisp bacon ready for everyone. He also said that there were no scrambled eggs, but, chuckling, he said that Mr. Ken was working on that.

Mark then told his mom that Charles and his friends, who’d taken sailing lessons, took his friends out on the lake in the four sailboats Mr. Ken had. The boy added that he and Dana couldn’t go because there were only four sailboats, but that Russell, the lifeguard, came over and asked them if they wanted to ride the Jet Ski.

Mark continued that it was a blast to be out there on the Jet Ski, going fast, with his hair blowing in the wind and going past his friends sailing out on the lake. The boy added that after that Russell got the towing tube out, and he and Dana were the first ones to ride it for the day.

Miriam was enthralled by her son’s enthusiasm and encouraged him to continue telling her what he’d been doing at The Cove. The boy told her that he and Billy set out the home plate and the pitcher’s rubber and he did pitch some, but he’s been kept so busy, that he hasn’t even done his exercises.

Mark then told his mom about their lunch today. Miriam couldn’t believe that there were four different breads and six different meats to make their sandwich with. Levi joined in and told his wife they had lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, onions, green peppers, Italian dressing, and mayo and different types of potato chips to add to the side of their sandwich. He told her he built a tremendous sub that no fast-food place could ever match, then he laughed.

Levi then told his wife that he would meet with the contractor on Monday to go over what needed to be repaired in the downstairs. He told her they needed to repair the bullet holes and inspect the electrical system to make sure it wasn’t compromised by any of the bullets.

He also told her that they needed to buy a new king-sized bed and he asked her what type of flooring she wanted in the hall from the entrance door through to the master bedroom and into the closet. She wasn’t ready to hear all that, and the two had to discuss what happened when Bennett shot all those bullets into the master bedroom and their consequences.

They decided on solid wood flooring to replace all the carpet and that Levi would bring some samples for her to look at. They also discussed paint colors and again Levi would bring paint samples for them to consider.

Levi also wanted to paint Billy and Mark’s rooms while the contractor was there. The man did say they would have to replace the bed spread in Billy’s room as the men beat Billy so badly that he bled all over it and it was ruined. Miriam was dismayed over hearing that.

Levi told Miriam that he received the report from Diamond Security on the Panic Button in the upstairs Safe Room. He told her they were going to need to talk to a lawyer when they were both well. He reminded her that the security company that installed the Panic Buttons was supposed to come back and work on the upstairs one, but they never had.

Levi also told Miriam that when he goes over to the house on Monday, he will check their files for the work order saying they will contact them to come back and replace it. The husband said the work order said they were having trouble making contact with the home office through that device and they needed to repair or replace it.

Mr. Ken now knew what was in the letter Mr. Golderson received the other day. He didn’t want to say anything, but he did anyway.

“Levi, Miriam … if you need a good lawyer, I have a firm that does all of my legal work, including their working on a few lawsuits, one of which is still pending against the George Bush International Airport in Houston,” offered Mr. Ken.

“Also, I had asked my friend Lt. Fischer, the night of the invasion, to have his men check why the upstairs Panic Button didn’t work. Mark had mentioned he pressed it, so I felt they needed to find out why it didn’t work that night. This way you may now have two separate independent reports you can use against that company.

“I just need to ask Dan about the police findings. And the good thing about their report is it will be from the night of the home invasion. This way your security company can’t claim someone messed with it afterwards, and then say it wasn’t their responsibility,” finished Ken Thomas.

Miriam looked at her husband with hopeful eyes and squeezed his hand saying they needed to follow through with what Mr. Ken had just said.

Mark sat back and listened to what the adults had to say. He knew what happened to their family was something that wasn’t normal, and that it was more like what you would see on a movie screen and not experience in real life. He was very happy his mom and dad were going to be OK, and they would all be together as a family once again, and soon.

After the two visited with Miriam for about an hour and a half, Mark and Levi said goodbye to her. They shared a few hugs and then they got into the truck with Mr. Ken and headed back to The Cove.

Levi and Ken talked about checking with a lawyer next week to see how strong a case they might have against their security company. Levi then told his son that what he heard them talking about was not for anyone else’s ears. Mark said he understood.

When the three arrived back at The Cove, the boys’ friends were at the Main Gate and were leaving as it was 6 p.m. Mr. Ken stopped to talk with the parents of Mark’s friends who came to collect their sons.

The parents of the other boys were curious as to whom the new parents and boys were. So, that caused a small traffic jam there at the gate as Mr. Ken introduced the parents to one another and explained who Mark was, and that they were his friends’ parents from where he lived.

It took some time for everyone to meet and greet and learn who they were and where they were from. Eventually, Mr. Ken told everyone he was having a Labor Day Picnic and that they would all be invited and they could all catch up then, but for now he had seven boys and a guest to feed and he needed to get a move on. Everyone took the hint, got in their vehicles and soon the traffic jam at the Main Gate was gone.

Knowing Harper Young, the medical technician would be there about 7 p.m., everyone went down to the house and waited for the man to arrive to change Mr. Golderson’s dressings. When the man finally did arrive, he and Levi went up to Levi’s bedroom to change the dressings. The boys patiently waited until they were finished, before they could go out to dinner.

On the way over to Four Corners, Mr. Ken asked the boys if they wanted to eat on the Diner, or the Restaurant side. The Diner won out. The boys told him if they ate at the Diner they could finish sooner and then go drive the Go-Karts and maybe play some Miniature Golf. All ‘dad’ Ken could do was inwardly smile.

The boys all ordered something different than hamburgers. It was something like chicken fried steak, meatloaf, beef tips, chicken nuggets, or even roast beef, but they all got some style of potato, a vegetable, bread and butter and a soft drink. The adults got something similar, but got decaf coffee instead of a soft drink.

During dinner, the Covers talked as they always did. The boys thanked their ‘dad’ for letting them have the sleepover. Even Mark spoke up and gave his foster dad a special thank you for letting him not only be there for the sleepover, but for allowing him to have a few of his friends from home to come and be there for it. He said it will be something he will remember for his entire life. The boy then shed a few tears.

Mr. Ken saw the tears fall, so he got up from his chair and went over to the boy and the two hugged. Levi saw the emotion coming from his son, as he thanked the man for giving him such a wonderful experience, after his foster ‘big brother’ had told him all about it.

As the group ate, ‘dad’ Ken told the boys that tomorrow Mr. Wayne would be off, since he would be staying with them while he, Robert and the twins were down in Bandera county attending the trial. He also said that on Tuesday he would be interviewing five people for the part-time position he advertised that would be assisting him and Mr. Wayne around The Cove.

‘Dad’ Ken told the boys that one of the reasons he wants the added person is for situations like what they have right now. They need three people to help drive Mr. Levi back and forth until he gets cleared to drive, and while he is away next week. ‘Dad’ Ken said that with him also moving his office to the new building he will be away from The Cove, which might necessitate the added person to be available to take them to doctor appointments, or other places like soccer practice.

Then, speaking of doctor appointments, he asked Bill if he had one with Doctor Powers that coming week. The teenager said he did and that it was on Wednesday. The teen added he hoped that Doctor Rick would clear him to ride the roller coasters when they went to the amusement parks in a few weeks. Mr. Ken just smiled.

Mark then spoke up and said he and his ‘big brother’ also had Doctor Doug appointments. ‘Dad’ Ken thanked the boy for reminding him of that and he asked Mark to also remind Mr. Wayne when they talked on Monday.

When everyone was finished eating dinner, the boys asked if they could drive the Go-Karts. ‘Dad’ Ken told them to walk over there, and that he and Mr. Levi would drive over there as his guest didn’t need to tire himself out doing all that walking.

The boys knew to get into line when they got to the Go-Kart Track. A few of the Cover’s friends from school were there, so they all got to talking. Matthew introduced Mark to them as their new ‘brother’, and that caught many of them off guard. Mark told them that he would only be with them until about Labor Day, as he would be moving back with his parents when they both recovered from their gunshot wounds.

Then, as soon as Mark said ‘gunshot wounds’, he realized he said the wrong thing, and he put his hands to his mouth. The friends in line quickly asked him what happened, and one asked him if he was the boy Mr. Ken was seen bringing out of the house a couple of weeks ago.

Billy quickly stepped up and told the kids that Mark was the boy they saw in the news footage, and he was trying to move forward from that bad time in his life. He added that his ‘brother’ was hidden away in the ‘hidey hole’ as the news people called it, and he didn’t see anything during the entire home invasion and didn’t know anything else that he could tell them.

The kids were disappointed they couldn’t hear anything new that they hadn’t heard from the news, so they asked Mark how his mom and dad were doing and if they would be alright in a few weeks. Mark was so relieved that his ‘big brother’ had said what he had, and it was now easy for him to say that his dad was doing well and was living at The Cove with him, and that his mom was up and walking, but was staying in a rehabilitation center until his dad was well enough to take care of her.

Mr. Ken and Mr. Levi stayed outside the Go-Kart Track to watch when the boys got their chance to drive the go-karts. Of course, the owner of the Go-Kart Track went to the manager and told him to add a few extra laps when his group was out there. The man readily agreed.

When it was the boys’ turn, Levi watched his son speed out of the starting gate with Billy right beside him. The man watched excitedly as Mark rounded the corners and slid some and kept going with Billy right there protecting him as a ‘big brother’ would.

Levi was also surprised how fast he thought his son was driving the go-kart. Little did he remember that Mark had already been out on the course once before, so the boy was familiar with what to do and how to handle the kart.

Mark didn’t let anyone pass him, this time around, because, with that previous experience, he knew what to do and how to drive the go-kart and he was able to keep up with the pack. He was out there feeling good about his ability to control the go-kart and he knew the more opportunities he got to drive them, the better he would get at doing it. He was having a lot of fun out there on the race course.

When the race was over, Mark ran over to his dad and asked him, “Dad, dad, did you see how well I did? That was so much fun! We did that the other day too, so today I knew what to expect and to do, and I really didn’t need Billy to run interference for me. I hope we get to do this a few more times before I move back with you and mom,” finished the boy, as he gave his dad a big hug.

The boys thought they would go over to DQ for ice cream, but ‘dad’ Ken said they would go over to his ice cream store that night to check it out. Levi was surprised to see the sign, Mr. Ken’s Kreamy Kone Ice Kream Store.

There was a line outside, and Mr. Ken was pleased to see that. The group got in line, and Mr. Ken told Levi to go and sit down and when they were going inside, he’d come and get him. Of course, the boys knew some of the other kids in line, so they talked to one another as they all waited.

Being a Saturday night there were three employees inside the store, so the line went fairly quick. When it was the Covers turn, everyone, including the adults, got a three-dip sundae with one topping, whipped cream, nuts and a cherry. Mr. Ken had them set aside a double dip of vanilla ice cream for Chief that they would take with them before they left.

Mark was given the honor of presenting Chief her cup of ice cream. The boy knew to talk nicely to the resident pet, and then not tease her, as he gave Chief her cold treat. Levi watched as his son took the ice cream into the Kitchen Nook and called out to Chief, “Chief, come and get it!”

Chief sat when Mark asked her to and, as she did, the boy put the cold concoction down in front of her, she immediately started licking at her favorite treat. The cup moved all around the floor as Chief lapped up the cold treat.

When the cup was empty, the resident pet went looking for Mark and began giving him some cold doggie kisses. Levi chuckled at the dog’s antics, and at his son’s giggles as the dog and the boy interacted.

Mr. Ken then called for everyone to meet in the Study. When they got there, the man told everyone to head up to their rooms and relax some before going to bed and that he would be up there in a few minutes.

Before he and Levi headed upstairs, Levi asked Ken about the trial he and three of the boys were going to. He told his new friend that he heard him mention it a few times and that he was curious what it was all about.

Ken told his guest that it had to do with his ‘sons’ and that he doesn’t discuss aspects of what brought the boys to him with anyone other than the people who are directly involved with the boys like their caseworkers, lawyers, police and doctors.

Mr. Ken told Levi he wasn’t being rude, but it was what he has told the boys as being a Rule there at The Cove. The rule being they don’t tell anyone why they are living there at The Cove and when they do learn from what their ‘brothers’ might eventually tell them, they aren’t to go out and tell anyone else.

Mr. Ken told Levi, that what might have brought the boys to be living there might be very embarrassing to them, and they don’t need people looking at them and judging them because of those certain circumstances.

Levi confessed that he did ask his son what he knew about the upcoming trial, and the man told his host that his son essentially told him that it was private, and that he knew some of what it was about, but he wasn’t supposed to talk about it with anyone other than his ‘brothers’.

Levi told Ken that it was hard to accept that his son knew something, and that he wasn’t going to share it with him because he shared a ‘brotherhood’ with the six boys he was associated with.

Levi also told Ken that he was hurt at first, but then he came to understand that his son was beginning to frame his future self into what type of person he was going to be – one of trust and of keeping secrets. Levi said, with a big smile, that he was proud of his son.

The men went upstairs and Mr. Ken started in Mark’s room, with Levi tagging along. Mark again thanked the man with a hug for everything he’s done for him, since he’s been living there at The Cove.

Mark said he will always remember his living there, as a learning and growing time in his life, that he has never been exposed to so much and he still has a few more weeks before he goes home with his mom and dad. Tears began to flow from the boy because he was so emotional right then because of everything the man has done for him.

Levi Golderson watched on and knew from what his son said, that it had to be true. Mr. Ken had given his son opportunities to do things unfettered from close adult supervision, something he and his wife would have never done, but with all the older boys around, he knew Mark was being watched. i.e., supervised, whether he knew it or not.

Mr. Ken thanked Mark for what he said, and then moved onto the other boys. Levi decided to stay and talk to his son, and try to start a dialogue like Mr. Ken has done with all the boys.

Mr. Ken ended his evening talks at Bill’s room. The man asked the teen how he felt about being back and if things were beginning to settle down for him. Billy told his foster dad that he never thought that he would ever be back at The Cove, and he would be forever grateful to the man for deciding to take him back.

Billy told Mr. Ken he did talk with Kaden while they were in the same Ward in the hospital. The teen told the man that Kaden explained how he got himself way over his head with those men and he didn’t know how to get himself out of it when they began to search him out.

Mr. Ken asked Bill if he would ever forgive Kaden for what he did. Bill said for right now, he wouldn’t, because at any time he could have called the police and said something if he really wanted to get out.

Mr. Ken told Bill that when he took Mark to visit his mom and dad on Wednesday, he walked over to talk to Kaden. And that when he went to his room, he was told that Kaden had been arrested that morning, and he had been moved to the hospital ward in the county’s juvenile detention facility.

Hearing that shocked Billy. He never considered that his ex-friend would be arrested, but from what he knew Kaden did, he realized that was what should have happened. Billy then asked Mr. Ken what he thought would happen to him.

Mr. Ken said he had no idea, but he could ask around and see what Mr. Dan or Sgt. Robert’s or Lt. Matthias had to say. Billy thanked him for doing that for him. The two hugged and as Mr. Ken pulled away, he saw tears in Bill’s eyes.

“Bill … you going to be OK?” asked Mr. Ken.

“Yes, sir, I … I think so. This thing with Kaden is so … I … just thinking of what might happen to him now that he was a part of that home invasion and those men … they … they used him to get at me. And, for what? They … they thought I had something to do with … with ‘Smokey’ getting killed. Then, on top of all that, they … they shot him, Mr. Ken … they shot him … in his back.”

Billy broke down and cried hard when he finished saying what he did and hearing out loud what he had to say. All Mr. Ken could do, was hold on to the teenager and let him work through the demon that was coursing through his mind right then.

Robert heard the sobbing and he came out of his room to see what it was all about. When he saw it was Billy, he asked his dad what it was all about. The man said it had to do with Kaden. Charles also came out when he heard the crying, and so did Matthew.

The three boys joined in the group hug and Billy thanked his ‘brothers’ for coming to him when he was ‘hurting’ just then. He told them that he just learned that Kaden had been arrested, and it dawned on him that someone who he thought was a friend, almost got him killed.

‘Dad’ Ken asked the three boys to head back to their rooms, and to not let what happened to their ‘brother’ disturb their sleep, and to try to put this entire incident behind them.

‘Dad’ Ken then hugged Bill some more and told the teen that he would always be there for him, and that all he needed to do was just ask. Billy thanked him for everything he’s done for him, and that he knew seeing Doctor Doug next week was going to be a good session.

The saga of Three Finger Cove continues. Let Chowhound know you are reading his story: Chowhound at CastleRoland dot Net

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