Chapter : 50
Three Finger Cove Book 7: Mark
Copyright © 2021 by Chowhound. All Rights Reserved.


Published: 29 Dec 2022


From Previous Chapter:

Both Mr. Ken and Mr. Wayne talked to the rest of the boys at different times so the boys had two private talks with the men before bedtime. The boys enjoyed having that one-on-one time with the men and they looked forward to that time to talk about something that might be on their minds, or to just to know they are ‘loved’.

After all the boys had their ‘special’ time with the men, Mr. Wayne went to his apartment and Mr. Ken retired to his private retreat. The Cove then settled down for the night and before long it was quiet throughout the house and everyone inside slept well.


Mother nature finally brought some rain to Central Texas and that Tuesday morning she was making up for lost time. The rain came down fast and hard that morning as the boys were getting ready. They heard the rain pelting their windows and the wind blowing outside and they knew they would get wet as they went up to the bus stop after breakfast.

Even Mr. Ken knew he’d get wet as he went outside for his morning paper. Lucky for him, his paper delivery service would double sleeve the paper to reduce the chance of it getting too wet from the rains. They also knew to throw it on the grass so that way the water couldn’t easily seep into the wrappings making the paper soggy and unreadable.

Momma had Mr. Ken’s first cup of coffee ready for him when he came into the Kitchen Nook. He thanked her for it and then sat down, took the paper out of the plastic sleeves and separated it as he usually did. He began reading it as he drank his hot coffee.

The first set of boys arrived just before 6:30 and Mark immediately took care of fixing Chief’s fresh kibble and water with ice, and then he sat down to a Momma Maria breakfast. As they ate, Charles asked his dad if he’d drive them up to the Main Gate, so they wouldn’t get wet walking up there. ‘Dad’ Ken told the boys to take a hat and light jacket to wear when they got off the bus and for after school. The boys said they would.

Miriam and Levi came into the Nook as the boys ate. Momma told them to have a seat and she’d have their breakfast out for them in no time. As the Goldersons waited for Momma to fix their meal, they told Mr. Ken they would be meeting their insurance man at their home later that morning and hopefully their new box spring and mattress would be delivered while they were there. They then told Momma not to expect them there for lunch.

Mr. Ken asked Levi if everything was set with his investors for their luncheon at eleven tomorrow. He told the banker he had the meeting room at the Lakeside Hotel set aside for them beginning at eleven and they had it all afternoon if needed.

Mr. Ken said he figured they’d make the introductions, do some small talk, maybe get a drink from the bar, eat lunch in a quiet corner and then retire to the meeting room where he’d have the marina plans for them to review. Mr. Ken added that they could talk about the pros and cons of creating an investing group, or partnership, and where they would go from there.

Levi said that sounded like a plan, but he felt the men he contacted were going to want to move forward with the marina project. He added that, from what he assumed from their feedback, he felt they might want to move on to creating some sort of partnership, as he just mentioned, and give the marina project a try. Mr. Ken smiled at hearing that.

At school that morning, Mark met with Preston and Bryson and the two friends told the Cover their parents explained to them why they couldn’t come over after he moved home with his parents. They told him they did appreciate him asking them, out of all of their classmates, to go over to The Cove and enjoy what he has there and they will be there on Saturday. Mark was very happy after hearing that.

When Mr. Wayne came to work that day, he went to talk to Mr. Ken about the decision to purchase all those patio conversation sets, extra chairs, separate tables, and umbrellas. He told Mr. Ken he thought he was making a big mistake by buying all that furniture for essentially a one-time-use and having no place to store it until his next picnic.

Mr. Ken was surprised at his Estate Master’s position now because he didn’t say anything the previous evening during the prolonged conversation. So, he asked him why he was against doing what sounded like a no brainer.

“Mr. Ken … if this was the Memorial Day Picnic I would be totally on board. But to me, by buying all this furniture, now, the timing is all wrong. Yes, for Saturday it would perfect, but after that day, then what? It will sit out in the weather all winter and what will it look like come next spring?

“We won’t even have the new building to store them in until Christmas, at the earliest. Yes, we can buy the covers, but again I think spending all that money to only have the furniture sit and weather for six months is not being cost conscious.

“Maybe you can buy the two five-piece conversation sets, you know, for the area between the Cove Skate Park and the Pavilion and two of the cantilever umbrellas, and the covers, and see how that works out. You’ve already told everyone to bring their own lawn chairs and the conversation areas will allow people to join in some good round robin talks,” argued Mr. Wayne.

As the two men talked about the patio furniture, Mr. Chris came into the Study and sat back and listened to the conversation. He was surprised that Mr. Ken was going to buy as much furniture as was being talked about, and it was going to just sit up at the Skate Park and Pavilion all winter.

Mr. Ken didn’t hesitate to bounce ideas off his two trusted employees, so he asked Chris what he thought about the idea of buying a whole lot of patio furniture, tables and umbrellas for up at the Skate Park and Pavilion areas to offer comfortable seating for his guests when he has picnics.

Mr. Chris smiled at the question and asked one himself. He asked how many people Mr. Ken expected at the picnic that Saturday. When his employer said about three hundred, Mr. Chris asked him if he planned to buy enough for all of them. Mr. Ken got the drift of what Chris was trying to say. He then told Mr. Wayne to just buy the two 5-piece conversation sets, and covers, along with two of the matching cantilever umbrellas.

At the high school, the boys talked about who was going to the football game that Friday night and how they were getting there. The next question was where would they meet. It was decided they would come to school tomorrow with their ride ideas, but they all decided they’d meet as they did last Friday just inside the ticket booth on the right.

Dinner that night was held up at the Pavilion. The weather had cleared up that afternoon, and as soon as Billy came home from school Momma had him help her move much of what was needed to fix dinner at the Pavilion. Momma had gotten Mr. Chris to place the corn, which was still in its husks, in the ice chests up at the Pavilion and pour water and ice on them. They’d been that way since early afternoon.

Billy was smiling ear-to-ear that he and Momma Maria were actually going to do the dinner as he asked her to do. Barbequed chicken, roasted corn on the cob, baked potatoes with all the fixings, and grilled asparagus was still the menu for tonight along with coffee, and whatever sodas, or flavored water, the boys wanted from the machines.

Mr. Ken knew about the dinner going to be up at the Pavilion that night, but it came as a big surprise to the rest of the boys when it came time for dinner. When they were eating their after-school snacks, they didn’t notice the wonderful smells of what they would have for dinner and they had no idea why until they stopped by the Study to ask their ‘dad’ why Momma wasn’t cooking dinner.

Dinner that night was a hit. What Momma and Billy cooked and served was totally different from what the Covers would normally have. The Goldersons loved the ‘Home Cooked’ feel to the meal.

The boys loved the barbequed chicken and especially eating the roasted corn on the cob which they couldn’t ever remember eating before. The grilled asparagus was thoroughly enjoyed by the adults. That too was something that Momma hadn’t ever made for them before, so this was a treat for them, and her.

Mr. Ken had Momma join them for dinner and it was during the meal that she told him she thought she would have cooked up there long before now. She added that it was Billy who had suggested to her that they try this and that he wanted to help and it was he who proposed the menu. Mr. Ken was impressed.

Momma told everyone that it was a simple and easy meal to prepare and that now she knew she could do this, they might have a few more dinners up there before the weather changes and it gets too cool to make it enjoyable.

Dessert that night was a simple orange buttermilk cake with orange cream cheese frosting. Momma also had vanilla and chocolate milk for the boys available, as well as hot coffee for the adults.

Conversation that night was lively and relaxed and no one was in a hurry. With the simple meal there weren’t loads of dirty dishes and pots and pans and everyone felt as if they were at a picnic instead of a family dinner, and they just carried on as such.

When Mr. Ken mentioned the time, the boys quickly helped with the simple cleanup and taking the leftovers down to the house. They all gave Momma an extra big hug that night and they even gave Billy a hug for suggesting they have the barbequed chicken and roasted corn on the cob up at the Pavilion.

After dinner that night, Mr. Ken told the boys he decided to only buy two conversation areas to see how they worked out. He added that everyone was told to bring their lounge chairs, so he felt he didn’t need to buy lots of fancy soft seats. The boys moaned some at not getting all the fancy furniture, but their ‘dad’ told them they’d get over it. They all laughed.

Billy and Robert asked their ‘dad’ if they could go to their football game that coming Friday. They told him that they and their friends were all trying to coordinate transportation and they needed to know if they could go and if they could count on Mr. Wayne, or Mr. Dennis, to take them and pick them, and some of their friends up and take them home this time around.

Mr. Ken told the teenagers they could go, but he couldn’t guarantee their rides as of yet. He told them he needed to coordinate that with Mr. Wayne and Mr. Dennis first. He told them that if this was going to be a regular Friday night occurrence, he needed to plan for it in advance and not every week after week. The boys eagerly told him they wanted to go to every home game. Mr. Ken told them to get him a list of the home game dates.

Mr. Ken finished their evening meeting by telling everyone he had a luncheon meeting with some potential investors tomorrow and that he would not be available from about ten-thirty until he came home for dinner and if there were any problems to take them to Mr. Wayne.

While talking to the boys later that night, Robert asked him about Ms. Kate and if she was coming to the Picnic. All his dad could tell him was he had invited her, her boys and her mom, but she hadn’t accepted and would let him know tomorrow night. Robert told him he hoped she would come. The man hugged his son and continued on to the remaining boys.

After talking to all the boys, Mr. Wayne headed home and Mr. Ken went to his private retreat. Before long The Cove was quiet and everyone slept well.

The boys talked about the previous night’s barbeque dinner at breakfast and Momma Maria was happy that it went over so well. She knew she needed to check her cookbooks to see what else she could cook up there before the weather changed.

Miriam and Levi Golderson came into the Nook before Mark left for school. They wanted to be able to see him off, as they had been doing as if they were at their own home. And by next Monday they hoped they would be.

Billy and Robert came into the Kitchen Nook about twenty minutes after their younger ‘brothers’ had left to catch their school bus. They said good morning to everyone in the Nook before they sat down to a Momma Maria breakfast.

Mr. Ken told the boys he would ask Mr. Dennis to drive them to the game Friday night, but they might consider one of them picking this Friday, and taking three of their friends and the other then taking the next home game.

Mr. Ken said it would be better that way for them and their friends, otherwise Mr. Dennis would only be able to take them and maybe just one friend each. The teens said they’d let him know after school.

After Mr. Ken got ready for his day, he received a phone call from the Assistant District Attorney who had prepared Matthew for his mom’s trial. The man wanted to call him and tell him the outcome of Grace Turnsten’s trial. The two men talked for a few minutes and Mr. Ken learned how the trial went after Matthew finished his testimony. He knew when the boy came home from school, he needed to pull the boy aside and tell him what the jury decided.

Mr. Ken, before he left for his luncheon, sat down with Mr. Wayne and asked him to talk to Mr. Dennis about coming in late Friday and driving one of the teens, and a few of their friends, to the high school football game and picking them up and driving them home. The owner of The Cove told his Estate Master that as all the boys got older, and into high school, there were going to be more and more changes around The Cove and they better be ready for them.

Mr. Ken met Levi Golderson, at the Lakeside Hotel. He had gone ahead to ensure the men who were interested in partnering with Ken Thomas on the marina project were there and ready to meet with the man he’d been talking to them about.

When Mr. Ken arrived, Levi introduced him to all of the men he recruited to possibly invest with him on what was becoming known as the ‘marina project’. The six men met out in the bar area, ordered their favorite beverage and then retired to the meeting room Mr. Ken had set aside for them in order to talk privately about partnering on the marina project.

After about forty minutes of getting to know one another, the small group moved into the restaurant where Mr. Ken had reserved a corner table for the six of them. The men were amazed they had the quiet corner with lots of light and that also looked out, somewhat, over the lake. Then the service they received was more than they ever expected.

When it was apparent that the men were finished with their meal, the restaurant manager came directly over to Mr. Ken and asked him how everything was. He wanted to know how their entrees and service were and if there was anything else that he could do for him. Mr. Ken told the man that everything was as he expected it and he appreciated them holding that specific table for him and his guests.

After the manager left them, one of the potential partners, who didn’t do his homework and learned all that much about Ken Thomas, looked to Mr. Ken and said to him that he obviously had been here a few times, since it was clear the manager personally knew him. The man then asked Mr. Ken if he knew if the manager visited with all of the dining guests, or just regulars such as himself.

Levi sort of chuckled at the question and looked to Mr. Ken to see if he could take the question. Getting the nod, Levi told the gathered men that Mr. Thomas actually owned the hotel and the restaurant manager was probably doing some checking to make sure everything was done the way the owner expected it.

Levi then told everyone that Mr. Thomas also owned the office building next door and almost all of the land around there. Levi went on to tell the men that Mr. Ken had built the Lakeside Water Park for the county, the Lake Water Safety and Rescue Team Headquarters for the volunteers right next door to the Park, and so the volunteers could also watch over the water park, the Four Corners shopping area and was currently building the apartment complex going up at Four Corners.

The men then retired to the meeting room where Mr. Ken had his architect/design group waiting to explain the marina project and answer any of the men’s questions. The construction builder asked why Mr. Ken faced the seafood restaurant so the diners would be facing into the sun as it set.

Mr. Ken said that was exactly why he did that. He explained he wanted the diners to have a nice view of the lake, whenever they ate, and a beautiful sunset view as they ate on the terrace in the evening. He also added that to situate the restaurant on the other side wouldn’t give the guests as nice a view of the lake and it didn’t allow for good traffic flow due to the position of the traffic signal.

The structural engineer investor, who was an avid scuba diver, asked about the size of the Dive Shop in the main building. He wanted to know if they would be a full-service shop. Then he also asked if there would be a room available for the Dive Shop to hold scuba training classes.

Mr. Ken looked at his design group who told him the plans were in the computer and it wouldn’t be anything to add those changes to the building design. But they explained it would add to the cost of the building and probably take at least two, if not three, parking spaces away depending on how much space they were to add.

The investors saw the boat slips on the drawings and wanted to know about the number. Ken told them he had intended to have 250 to begin with and then add up to 250 more if there was a need. The commercial builder spoke right up and told Mr. Thomas he should go for the full number and have the county reduce it.

The two men talked about the sizes of the slips and then the builder suggested they go for a total of 400 slips with 75 to 100 of them for the larger cabin cruisers on the lake. He reasoned that would take up the area the other 100 slips would otherwise occupy. The other men agreed with that reasoning.

The men talked the afternoon away. Some of them couldn’t understand why Mr. Ken was offering to build a public boat ramp, offer free parking for up to twenty of those vehicles with their trailers and, on top of that, public restrooms. Mr. Ken explained he needed to keep in the good standing and good will of the people and, of course, the county commissioners. The men laughed and immediately knew what he meant.

The men also brought up Levi’s mentioning his owning much of the land around there. They asked him if he wasn’t being foolish building out where many people didn’t come. They then asked him what he intended to do with an office building that doesn’t get many tenants.

Mr. Ken inwardly smiled at their own shortsightedness. He told them that he was able to buy the land at rock bottom prices, as no one thought that area would ever amount to much. But he told them that every area eventually will have a need.

He explained that the hotel, even though it is out of the way, is exceeding expectations. He added that, because it is brand new, people want to try it out and they are finding it has a unique view of the lake from its high vantage point above the lake. He added he was going to build access to a boat ramp and begin offering rentals there next year.

Mr. Ken added that the restaurant is often sixty to seventy percent full at lunchtime, as they saw, and at night and there is a waiting list on Friday and Saturday nights. He continued and said the meeting rooms are being scheduled more and more and his two large banquet rooms are also being booked either separately or as a whole for weddings, quinceañera’s, bar and bat mitzvahs and with the Holidays coming, he expects them to be fully booked.

Mr. Ken told the men that he was consolidating all of his enterprises in the office building and they would be fully operational there by the middle of September. He added he would also have an office there as well. He further told them that two whole floors other than what his groups are taking up were also rented out, so he feels the office building will be a success in the long run.

Mr. Ken then told the gathered investors that his long-range plans included him building strip office and store fronts and light industrial warehouses along the main road and larger industrial areas well behind those. He went on and said that further down towards the water park he envisioned park land separating the businesses from different priced housing developments.

The men asked him if they could be included in those plans as well. Mr. Ken told them he already had one builder approach him about buying a portion of the land and building high-end homes. When asked who it was, and learning it was Phillip Meyers, of Meyers Homes, they were surprised he had already made that move.

Mr. Ken told them he didn’t see any houses being built out that way for a good ten years, or at least until the front area of the land by the hotel and office building was built up, developed and bustling. The men still asked to be considered when he decided to build anything out that way.

By the end of the afternoon, they had a few sticking points as to how the partnership would look on paper. The five men had yet to decide what type of partnership they would have and what percentage they each would have in it.

Mr. Ken impressed upon them that he owned the property and the marina project was his idea and all he asked of them was to join with him to help take on the cost and the headaches that come with the size and complexity of the project.

Mr. Ken insisted he have controlling interest in the project and ownership upon its completion. The men said that since this was their first foray into a joint partnership with him and that since Mr. Thomas already owned the property, they were all in with the marina project, so they’d let their lawyers’ figure all that out.

As the meeting broke up, the heavy construction builder went up to Mr. Ken and asked him about the remaining land that the other apartments at Four Corners would be built on later. He asked if he could possibly buy it and build townhomes there instead with a greenspace between the two.

Mr. Ken thought about the question for a few moments and then told the builder that it sounded like a good idea and that in doing so, it would diversify the area. So, he asked him to contact him in about a month when he was fully moved into his office building and they could sit down and talk more in depth about the details. The builder walked away with a big smile on his face.

Before he left, Mr. Ken asked his architect/design group when they planned to submit the marina project to Planning and Zoning. They indicated with the changes they asked for it would be at the end of next week at the earliest. Mr. Ken then asked them about the parking spaces outside his Main Gate. They told him they would submit that project tomorrow and they didn’t expect any push back since the school bus stop shelter is included in the plans.

The boys returned home from school before their ‘dad’ returned from his luncheon meeting. They were disappointed they didn’t get to talk to him after their snacks. But Mr. Wayne told them they’d have more time after dinner now since their homework would be further done by then.

When Mr. Ken returned home, he quickly changed into more comfortable clothes. He then asked Wayne to call Matthew to the Study as he needed to talk to him about his mom and the results of her trial. He told his Estate Master not to tell the foster boy what the talk was about.

When Matthew came into the Study, Mr. Ken closed the door and asked the boy to take a seat. Mr. Wayne took a seat out of the boy’s view.

“Matthew … I heard back from the ADA today … about the disposition of your mom’s trial. As we expected … she was found guilty of all charges and she was sentenced today. That was why he called me.

“Matthew … your mom … she was sentenced to serve ten to twelve years in state prison on each of the charges. She will serve them concurrently which means she will be eligible for parole in about eight to ten years … if she stays out of trouble while she serves her sentence.

“The Assistant District Attorney … he also told me that her sentence can be revisited if she testifies against Lincoln in his trial for essentially the same charges. He told me that if she does, her prison sentence could be reduced by two years,” explained ‘dad’ Ken.

“Wha … what does that mean for me? I mean … what will happen to me, now?” asked a confused Matthew.

“Well, for now, nothing. You’ll remain here at The Cove with me and your ‘brothers’,” quickly replied ‘dad’ Ken.

“Will … will I have to go, you know, will I have to go live with her when she gets out of prison?” asked Matthew.

“Not at first, I would think. She would be on parole, and have no money or a place to live so … so, there would be no way she could afford to live and take care of you, at the same time. I also believe Ms. Judy, as Director of CPS, along with the courts would make your mom prove to them that she has changed her ways, has a respectable well-paying job and can prove to them that she can provide for you both. Otherwise, they won’t allow you to go back to living with her. And, you … you’ll be at least sixteen then,” was Mr. Ken’s honest answer to the youngster.

“Mr. Ken … what about my … my dad? Are they looking for him? And … and if they ever find him … will I … will I have to go live with him?” tentatively asked a teary-eyed Matthew.

Mr. Ken pulled the boy to him and hugged him for a few moments to let him settle down some. When he felt the boy was calmed down, he told him to go back to his seat so he could answer his question.

“Matthew … as for your dad … I think they are still looking for him, but your mom … I don’t think she has been very helpful in helping locate him. And, if he ever does materialize, just as with your mom, CPS and the courts will make him prove he can provide for you both before they will allow him to take custody of you. It will be a long process, and you will be aware of what is happening, so you won’t one day be just pulled away from here,” offered ‘dad’ Ken.

“But … but what if … what if I want to stay here?” asked Matthew.

“Well, Matthew … you are sort of assigned to me until your parents … until they are capable of taking care of you, again. The foster care system … it always tries to put the families back together again, and if your dad … if he is ever found … they will try to bring you both together, just as they will try to bring you and your mom back together, when she gets out of prison, if she has reformed her ways of treating you the way she did.

“Remember … whichever one you will go to live with … they will have to meet the court’s requirements and prove they can adequately care for you by providing a good home environment, food and clothes. And that could take some time.

“But what say we just wait and see until that time, if it ever comes. But, for now, what say we continue as before. Will that work for you?” finished ‘dad’ Ken, as he stood up and pulled the boy into a hug. Matthew melted into the man’s arms and began to cry.

When the two Covers opened the Study door, the rest of the boys were waiting on the stairs. They quickly asked Matthew what the meeting was all about. The young boy looked to ‘dad’ Ken to see if he should tell them. Mr. Ken told him that it was up to him if he wanted them to know. Matthew then told his ‘brothers’ how his mom was found guilty and was sentenced up to seven years in prison.

After dinner, the Covers, and their guests, met in the Great Room to hold their family meeting. Mr. Ken told them about his luncheon and that after the lawyers figured out how the five men wanted to create their partnership, he would have four other men involved in the marina project.

Mr. Ken also told them that the investors were interested in partnering with him when he began to develop the rest of the land out by the hotel into small store fronts, light industrial warehouses, restaurants and houses on the land that he bought out at the lake. He added that one man wanted to buy the land that he planned to build the remaining apartments on, at Four Corners. Mr. Ken said the man wanted to build townhomes there with a green space separating the two which would diversify the area. ‘Dad’ Ken said he was inclined to do just that.

The foster dad reminded the boys that the Labor Day Picnic was that Saturday and they needed to be ready to greet their guests and talk with them. He asked them to make sure they finished the games competition so he could announce the individual winners and then the overall Champion and award the trophies.

‘Dad’ Ken asked Robert and Charles to fly their quadcopters during the day and get some good videos of the festivities. He asked them to get videos of the picnic, as well as any swimming and soccer games if they break out. The boys smiled knowing they had already planned to do just that.

‘Dad’ Ken told them that Sunday was their ‘Family Day’ and for the boys to remind their friends. He added that after Miriam and Levi had their dressings changed, they would go out for breakfast with a trip on the Commander around the lake after they returned. The man then said upon their return they would then help the Goldersons move their belongings to their home.

Levi spoke up right then and told Mr. Ken and the boys that he and his wife had their doctor appointments tomorrow, and that after that they may dispense with the daily dressing changes. He also told everyone they hoped Miriam would get her driving privileges back and if she did, he would drive her over to their home, so she could get her car, before he went on to work. He said she may begin to take their clothes over to their home on Friday.

Mr. Ken then asked Robert and Billy which one of them was being driven to the football game on Friday. Billy said Robert would be driven this time and he would go with his friends and they would switch off for the next home game. Mr. Ken told his son that Mr. Dennis would be his driver for the night and he needed to have driving directions for the man to his friends’ homes, just in case he isn’t familiar with the area, and also to the football stadium.

Kyle then asked if it was true that Matthew might have to go live with his dad if they ever find him. ‘Dad’ Ken smiled at the question. He then told the boys that if they find Matthew’s dad, or an aunt or uncle who is qualified and willing to raise Matthew, the courts, after doing some diligent investigation, would probably assign him to his dad, or them.

‘Dad’ Ken reminded them that CPS, and the courts, always wants to reunite the family, if they can, and then looking at Kyle told him, and thus his twin, too, that they have aunts and uncles out there that could also petition the courts that they want to raise their brother’s or sister’s children and they could be sent away just as Matthew, or even Bill, could.

That answer put a damper on the meeting. Mr. Wayne then stood up and said, “Bill, Kevin, Kyle, Matthew …. as foster boys … you were always only Mr. Ken’s temporary ‘sons’ and you knew that when you arrived. You also knew there was always the chance that someone … that someone in your extended family … an aunt or an uncle … could one day petition the courts and ask to raise you themselves.

“Sometimes … sometimes we don’t want to hear the things that make us feel … uncomfortable, but … but maybe hearing it again … after almost a year might be wise. Kevin, Kyle … your parents … their situation has been decided and now … once the word gets back to your aunts and uncles, they might step up and decide to finish raising you for them. Mr. Ken has nothing to say there. It is all up to the courts.

“The same now goes for Matthew. His mom’s situation has now been decided and today, as you know, Mr. Ken explained it to him. He asked about his dad and if the man shows up, one day, the courts … they could reunite them, after ensuring he could adequately care for his son, and he’s not a mass murderer.”

The boys chuckled when they heard that and Mr. Wayne said that in order to try to break up the seriousness of what he was talking about.

“In the meantime, I know Mr. Ken … I know he wants you to go on living here, at The Cove, like you are his ‘sons’ and you are all still ‘brothers’. Hopefully … the day will never come that you have to leave here, but … even if it does, you will always be a Cover. And I am sure your ‘dad’ … that ‘dad’ Ken will always welcome you back at any time to visit, and I know he will want you to stay in touch with him.

“You all have brought ‘life’ to The Cove and without you The Cove … The Cove is just another house … on the lake. Do not let the thought of ever having to leave here change, in any way, change … how you perceive yourself as a Cover.

“Boys … continue to live life as a Cover. Do the things you’ve always done as a Cover. Study hard. Play hard. Enjoy what your ‘dad’ has built for you and given you and never … and never look back.” Mr. Wayne then stopped talking and sat down.

The Great Room was extremely quiet. No one said a word after Wayne Mitchell made his little speech. The boys looked back and forth to one another not knowing what to say, if anything.

Levi and Miriam looked at one another wondering what Mr. Wayne meant, by what he said, not understanding the ramifications of the fostering system and the children’s potential for going back with their parents or a close relative. Especially these boys, who, after living the life they have, would go back to what would be considered a downgrade in their surroundings, living conditions, travel opportunities, schooling and much, much more.

Mr. Ken was also surprised at what his Estate Master had to say. But he was glad he had said it. It was true to point and something the boys needed to be reminded of and coming from someone other than him might take the sting off of him as the ‘dad’, since the boys aren’t as close to Mr. Wayne as they are to him.

But Mr. Ken knew he needed to say something after what Wayne said, so he did speak up.

“Boys … Bill, Kevin, Kyle, Matthew … Mr. Wayne … he makes some very good points. You are just my foster sons and …. at any time, a relative of yours could come along and … and they could ask the courts to allow them to finish raising you.

“I know that isn’t what you ever want to hear, and to be honest with you … I don’t want to hear that either. But in the meantime, as Mr. Wayne said, you need to continue living like you belong here … like a Cover. None of us can change what will happen, so we need to live each day as we have been … as the Cover ‘family’ we’ve made. Let’s not dwell on that for now. OK?

“Is there anything else we need to discuss tonight? If not, then boys, why don’t you go up to your rooms and finish what homework you have left. Mr. Wayne and I will be up in due time to say goodnight,” finished ‘dad’ Ken.

The adults talked about the boys possibly having to leave The Cove and what would happen to them if they ever did. Mr. Ken told the Goldersons that he’d try to stay in contact with the boys, but if the new guardians put up roadblocks he’d have to abide by their requests.

Levi and Miriam asked about the money the boys would get from the airport settlement he mentioned last week. Mr. Ken told them it would go into a Trust Fund to make sure that the money will be there for them when they turn eighteen and that any guardian who comes to claim them will not have any access to it, ever.

Mr. Ken started at Mark’s room, as he usually did, so the boy’s parents could then talk to their son before they went to bed. Mark told his foster dad that he had mixed feelings about moving home. The boy told Mr. Ken he loved living there with all his ‘brothers’ and with everything he had to do, but he also wanted to live with his parents and be with his regular friends again and go back to his regular school. Mr. Ken told Mark he would always be welcomed there at The Cove and he’d be happy to call him his ‘nephew’. That made Mark smile and the two hugged.

When Mr. Ken talked to his son, Robert, the teenager asked him if he heard from Ms. Kate. The man told his son that they talked and that she really wanted to come to The Cove, but she felt that meeting 300 people would be too much for her first visit, so she declined. Mr. Ken told Robert that she thought that maybe a smaller get together would be better.

Robert asked his dad if maybe Thanksgiving would be a good time. Mr. Ken smiled and told his son they’d talk about it when he saw her in a few weeks. The man said that maybe he could convince her to come for Halloween and their trip to Fiesta Texas. Robert said that sounded like a good idea, too. The two hugged before Mr. Ken left the room to go to the next Cover boy.

When Mr. Ken visited the twins’ bedroom, Kevin asked him if they would ever see his home at the top of his office building. Kyle then asked him if they would ever spend the night there as he promised they would and if they’d get to use his swimming pool.

Mr. Ken told Kyle the pool was only four feet deep and was more like a wading pool to cool off in. He told the twins he’d been so busy, as of late, he totally forgot about doing that. He said next weekend he has the big meeting with all of his amusement park operators and he would be gone for about a week at the end of September, so they had better do that before it gets too cold. The twins agreed.

In Bill’s room, the teen thanked Mr. Ken for what he and Mr. Wayne said about a family member coming to possibly take them to raise them. Bill told his foster dad that he didn’t know of any aunts or uncles, so he figured he’d be able to stay at The Cove, as long as he didn’t mess up.

Mr. Ken told the teenager that he knows he has a good head on his shoulders and a good future ahead of him, as long as he makes the right decisions. The foster dad asked Bill to talk to him, or Mr. Wayne, if he feels he finds himself straying, or in a quandary, and just doesn’t know what to do. Mr. Ken then told Bill that he can talk to him any time, about anything, and for no reason at all, too.

The man then hugged the teen who almost melted into the hug. When they released, the man saw a few tears running down the boy’s cheeks. Mr. Ken told Bill to never be ashamed of his emotions, as they may have been repressed while living with Jody, and that now they are finally coming to the surface and they need to be released. Mr. Ken smiled at the teen and gave him a shoulder hug and left the teenager to his own thoughts.

It had been a busy day for Ken Thomas and he was glad he was finally in his own private retreat. He was ready to end his day by climbing into his big king-sized bed and going to sleep.

The Cove, again, had a very quiet night.


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

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Three Finger Cove Book 7: Mark

By Chowhound

Completed

Chapters: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54