Published: 19 Mar 2026

From the Previous Chapter:

‘Dad’ Ken didn’t spend much time in any of the boys’ bedrooms that Wednesday night. He told each of them to get a good night’s rest and that he’d see them at breakfast in the morning.

Ken then walked Kate to her bedroom where they hugged and kissed before she went inside to go to bed herself. Ken then went down to his own retreat where he got ready for bed, too. He then sat on the edge of his bed hoping and praying that tomorrow’s Thanksgiving Dinner would be a big success.

The owner of The Cove then turned off the light, and before long the entire Cove household was fast asleep. The household was peaceful and quiet throughout the night.

As Ken Thomas, the owner of The Cove, woke up that Thanksgiving Day, he could smell the wonderful aromas of Thanksgiving Dinner being prepared. He went ahead and got himself ready and when he left his retreat he was shaved, showered and dressed for the day.

Upon entering the Kitchen Nook, Mr. Ken found Momma, Sophia and Isabela cooking up a storm preparing Thanksgiving Dinner for nineteen people, as his first foster son, Collin, was visiting Jasmine’s family for the Holiday.

Momma told Mr. Ken to have a seat and as he did, she brought over his favorite coffee cup and then filled it with some of the freshly hot brewed drink that he loved so much. Then, after taking a sip, he raised the cup in his usual salute to the woman for doing such a great job for him.

The man then went ahead and unwrapped the morning newspaper from the protective plastic sleeve and separated it, as was his habit, before starting to read from Section A, World News.

Mr. Ken hadn’t been reading for very long when he heard, “I always loved the smells of Thanksgiving Dinner being cooked. Good morning, my love!” added Kate, as she came over to her fiancé and kissed him in front of the three women who were preparing the meal for later in the day.

Momma had a great big smile on her face, as she brought a coffee cup over to Kate and then filled it with the same hot brew that her fiancé was drinking. Kate thanked Momma for the coffee, as the woman walked away with the same big smile on her face.

“Ken … what are the ladies talking about?’ Kate asked, as the three women were lightly talking amongst themselves after Momma walked back over to her amigas.

Ken smiled and told Kate that was why she needed to learn Spanish once she moves to Texas. He added that way she won’t be left wondering what she hears the Latinos, or Spanish speaking people, saying to one another.

Kate asked Ken again what were the women talking about. And this time Ken told her that they were talking about how good it was to see two people, who are in love, kissing and carrying on in front of strangers. The woman’s fiancé added that they were talking about how they did that back when they were our ages. That made Kate smile, but then she told Ken that she would take Spanish classes once she gets settled after moving into The Cove.

“Whose taking Spanish classes?” asked Edith, as she entered the Kitchen Nook. And then she added, “Boy, that Thanksgiving Dinner sure smells so good. I can’t remember a year that I wasn’t making it. Now I know what everyone was smelling, as I was cooking it.”

Seeing Edith enter the Nook, Momma had the woman take a seat and then she broughta coffee cup over and the hot coffee and then filled the cup for her. Momma then told the three adults that they would serve breakfast once all of the boys were down.

The eight boys were all down in the Kitchen Nook close to nine o’clock. Rusty and Jessy again fixed Chief and Sarge’s morning meal, with Matthew and Darrin supervising, and when they finished, the four boys went and washed their hands.

As soon as the four came back to the Kitchen Nook, Momma asked the eleven to go into the Dining Room, where she and her amigas would serve them their breakfast. But Kate balked and told Momma that they could just as easily eat right there and that way she wouldn’t have to clean up another room.

Momma Maria looked to Mr. Ken with a question on her face that asked him, ‘Who ran the kitchen’. Ken understood what she was saying with that look, so the owner of The Cove told everyone that Momma ran the kitchen and what Momma says goes and that everyone should make their way into the Dining Room.

Edith saw the potential for future conflict between Momma Maria and her daughter, once Kate moved into The Cove. She figured that she would pull Ken aside, later, and ask him about that to see what he plans to do before the two women have a big disagreement over the running of the kitchen, and he has a major problem right off from the start.

The three amigas had scrambled eggs, pancakes, crispy bacon, brown sausage links and hash browns along with hot coffee for the adults and the three different types of milk for the boys, as well as orange juice for anyone who wanted that.

There was plenty for everyone to eat, and as they ate, they talked about what they were going to do today. Mr. Ken reminded everyone that they should talk to all of their guests and that maybe they could play some games after they ate.

Robert asked if they could watch a movie later. Rusty and Jessy liked that idea and asked which movies did Mr. Ken have that they could watch. Kate even asked about the movies and Robert told her that he would show her the movie library and then she could select something she felt was age appropriate for her sons. Kate and Edith both smiled after hearing that.

‘Dad’ Ken then told the boys that after they got their showers and were dressed in school clothes, they should make themselves busy until their guests arrive, which didn’t include going up to the skate park and getting dirty. The boys just chuckled upon hearing that. Jessy then spoke up and asked Phillip if he would continue to show him how to play his guitar, until the people arrived.

While the boys were upstairs getting ready and Kate was getting her two cleaned up and dressed for the day, Edith decided, since no one else was around, it was the best time to talk to Ken about what she saw in the Kitchen Nook at breakfast time.

The older woman found Ken in his Study and she knocked on the doorframe.

“Yes, Edith, what can I do for you?” asked Ken.

“Ken … can I talk to you about something that I … well, that I foresee happening once Kate moves here,” asked his fiancée’s mother.

“Yes, by all means, Edith. Anything that will help keep me from making any mistakes early on will be greatly appreciated. Come on in and let’s sit in the leather chairs and talk,” offered Ken.

After the two sat opposite one another, it took Edith a few moments to get her thoughts together. Then once the woman had decided what she wanted to say she began.

“Ken … I hope you will not take this wrong, or … or look at me as a mother-in-law who is butting into the way you will want to run your household,” began Edith.

“No, Edith, whatever you have to tell me I definitely want to hear. You have years of experience and insight that I could never have in my short time here on earth. So, what is it that you want to tell me?’ eagerly asked her future son-in-law.

“Well … what I saw earlier was … well, was what I foresee as a potential for a major problem is … is when Kate … when she finally moves in here. … The problem I foresee is … is that it is going to happen between she and Momma over … over who really is in charge of the kitchen.

“Ken …will … will it be your wife, Kate? Or … or, will it be Momma, who has run your kitchen, I guess, from the start? Which one will be in charge of the kitchen?” finally finished Edith.

Ken smiled at what his future mother-in-law perceived as a potential problem between Kate and Momma Maria from what she observed earlier at breakfast. He figured Kate hadn’t told her mother about their conversation yesterday so, he decided to explain what they had worked out.

“Edith … thank you for coming to me about what you observed earlier, at breakfast, between Kate and Momma. What you don’t know is that Kate and I … that we had a conversation yesterday about what you just mentioned to me about there being a potential problem over who runs the kitchen.

“Edith … Momma … she was afraid that she would lose her job when Kate came to live here. And so, I talked with Kate and I explained that I would like her to be involved in learning and eventually be involved in my many businesses.

“And, so you know, I had also asked her to learn Spanish, as that way she could communicate with many of the people who work for me and that way she would also know what the Latinos are talking about as she passes by them, or hears them out and about.

“But, as for who will run the kitchen? Kate … she agrees that Momma … that Momma Maria will run the kitchen and pantry, as she always has. Kate … she knows that there is no way she could cook and maintain that area for all of us, especially if she wants to be involved in my businesses, and that’s where I would want her to be.

“Mr. Chris … he will also stay on as the Estate Manager and manage all of the contracts and maintain The Cove’s schedule and continue to do the many other things he does around here. And Wayne, he will also stay on as the Estate Master and fill in for me when I am not available. There is no way that Kate could begin to fill in doing all of those jobs after moving in here and I really don’t want her to.

“Edith … I also asked Kate … I asked her to consider becoming a foster parent like me and Wayne. That way she could make decisions for the boys when he and I aren’t available. Plus, the boys … they need to know that she has the authority to act if they get hurt, or if there is trouble that she can step in and work the problem.

“To be honest, those were just a few of the things we talked about yesterday. And we both know there are going to be hundreds more questions like those that will come up before and probably after we get married.

“And, Edith, I really do appreciate that you aren’t afraid to speak up and say something, especially to me. Please believe me when I say that I will never be offended by your counsel. You have so much more experience than I that I would be a fool not to listen to what you have to say. What do they say, ‘Been there. Done that. Got the t-shirt!’, which I feel that you definitely fill that bill.”

Edith just sat there stunned by what she just heard from Ken. She thought that he would be mad at what she told him, or at least be upset. But here he was thanking her for telling him what was on her mind, and that he would be a fool not to listen to what she had to say because of her experience.

“Ken … you surprised me. I thought … well, I figured that you would be mad at me for what I said. But … well, you thanked me instead and then … and then told me that, essentially, that if I had other thoughts that you’d listen to what I had to say. Of course, you didn’t say that you would use it, but saying that you would listen, is refreshing. And it’s because I’ve had the years of experience that you don’t have just yet is why you’d want me to speak up.

“My daughter … she is so lucky to have found you, Ken. I know that thetwo of you will make a beautiful couple,” offered Ken’s future mother-in-law.

The two then stood up and hugged, and Edith had a few tears in her eyes.

After the boys were showered and dressed for the day, they got themselves busy either reading or talking to their friends. Jessy went to Phillip’s room to ask his big ‘brother’ if he’d continue to show him how to play the guitar.

Phillip liked it that Jessy was interested in learning how to play. So, the Cover had the boy sit down with the acoustic guitar and show him what he remembered from what he showed him.

Jessy smiled and then began playing the notes as Phillip taught him. Then he played the scales. After the young boy showed Phillip that he remembered what he was taught, the young Cover showed Jessy how to play some chords.

After a while, the young boy showed that he could play the four chords, so Phillip showed him a simple song on his computer screen that used those same four chords and had him slowly play the chords and follow along with the song. The song was Let It Be by The Beatles, and as the young boy strummed the guitar, Phillip and Jessy slowly sang the words.

When they finished Jessy was ecstatic that he could do that. Phillip praised his ‘little’ brother, but cautioned him that he needed to practice, practice and practice some more. The Cover then asked Jessy if he wanted to surprise his mom later by playing it for her and his grandmother.

Jessy wasn’t sure that he could do that so soon. But Phillip told him that he would print out the song and all he had to do was follow the sheet music and take his time. Phillip said that they could sneak away from everybody and that he would help him practice it some during the afternoon. Jessy then thought about it for a few moments and then said that he’d like to try to do it.

The first guests to arrive were Ms. Judy and her son, Eric. They were quickly followed by Mr. Wayne, Mr. Dennis and Mr. Dan who all brought bottles of wine with them. All of the Covers, including Chief and Sarge, were at the Foyer Door to greet them all.

It wasn’t long after the first five arrived that Mary Taylor and her son, Ryan, came to the Foyer Door and the Thanksgiving greetings were exchanged once more. The last person to come to the Foyer Door was Nelson Sanders. He apologized for being fifteen minutes late, but Mr. Ken told him that it didn’t matter, as they wouldn’t be sitting down to eat until around two o’clock.

Everyone had gathered down in the Great Room and there they talked about anything and everything. Rusty and Jessy, being young and curious, weren’t afraid to talk to the people they weren’t too familiar with, like Ryan, Mr. Dan, Mr. Dennis, Ms. Judy and Mr. Nelson.

They knew who they all were, but they didn’t know too much about them. So, they asked them to tell them more about how they knew their soon-to-be step-dad. They asked them to tell when they met Mr. Ken, how long they’ve known one another, and are they good friends.

Ryan, Dan, Dennis, Ms. Judy and Nelson looked over to Ken Thomas who smiled back at them and recommended that they tell the boys what they were comfortable with. The host did remind them that the boys would become permanent residents of The Cove in about nine or ten months, and that they would eventually learn more about them from their big ‘brothers’, or their new friends.

Ryan went first and told the two newest, soon-to-be Covers, that he met Mr. Ken back when he was thirteen and began working for him by taking pictures and videos of the house, while it was being built. The college junior told them how he and Mr. Ken met Chief and then how he took care of the resident pet, when a fanatical guard attacked her, until she was well enough to come back and watch over the estate. The college man then told the boys about how he had his own bedroom to use when he stayed over and then how he took care of the beach and boats and then became Collin’s best friend.

Dan Fischer went next and he conveniently left out how they first met, to which Ken Thomas was grateful. But Dan did tell the boys how he was shot during a gun battle, with some bad guys, and Mr. Ken had invited him to recover there at The Cove.

Dan told the boys how much fun he had taking Charles and a few of his buddies to Six Flags and then Robert and Charles and some of their friends to SeaWorld. The Sheriff’s Lieutenant explained that he wasn’t married and doing that let him know what he was missing.

Dennis just told the boys that he was a retired military man who had lost his wife and had needed something to do. So, he had responded to an ad in the newspaper about a part-time job there at the Cove and he was hired to help Mr. Wayne corral the boys and do whatever else Mr. Ken needed done.

Ms. Judy told Rusty and Jessy that she was the woman who worked in the office who assigned the boys to live with Mr. Ken. Upon hearing that they asked if she was responsible for their big ‘brothers’ living at The Cove. Ms. Judy said that she was and the two went up to her and hugged her and thanked her for giving them the best big ‘brothers’ they could ever have.

Seeing, hearing and watching Rusty and Jessy do what they just did brought tears to Kate and Ediths’ eyes. Ms. Judy wasn’t too far behind them.

Nelson Sanders was the last person who told the boys about himself. And all he told the boys was that he once worked at one of Mr. Ken’s amusement parks, so he knew him as an employer, but not as a good friend. Nelson then explained that when Mr. Ken built the Four Corners Amusement Park, he needed someone with experience to operate it, so he was brought in to do that.

Rusty and Jessy then recognized Nelson as the man who got them on the rides the other day without waiting in line at the park and they thanked him again for doing that for them and their mom and grandma.

It was then that Momma Maria came to the glass banister and called down to Mr. Ken and told him that dinner would be ready, as soon as everyone washed their hands and sat at the Dinner table.

There were nineteen people for dinner at The Cove that Thanksgiving Day. After saying a prayer, Momma and Sophia set the 22-pound turkey in front of Mr. Ken, so he could carve it.

Actually after Mr. Ken cut off about six pieces of white meat from the breast, the two women took the cooked bird away and finished cutting the turkey up, while Isabela began setting out the accompanying dishes.

As the ladies had cut up the turkey, they placed two large plates of white and dark meat on the table, while Isabela had added a carved 8-pound ham, copious amounts of mashed potatoes, bread stuffing, as well as cranberry sauce, baby carrots, a green bean casserole, gravy, a creamy corn casserole, candied yams, creamed cucumbers, rolls and butter.

The platters were passed around and people took what they wanted. Kate made sure her boys got a little of what she figured they would eat, which didn’t include the candied yams, creamed cucumbers, or the green bean casserole.

As the large group ate, they raved over the flavors they were eating. They also thanked Mr. Ken, again, for the invitation to share that wonderful meal with such awesome friends. And as they ate, they also talked about other Thanksgiving meals they’ve had in the past.

There was some talk as to how they were missing Collin that Thanksgiving. But Mr. Ken told everyone that the young man was beginning to spread his wings, as he builds, or defines, his new life. The host explained that his first foster son was sharing Thanksgiving Dinner with his young female friend, Jasmine, and her family, and he wished him well with the experience.

As the dinner wound down, the three amigas brought out dessert. That afternoon there were pumpkin pie, apple pie, pecan pie along with fresh whipped cream topping or vanilla ice cream to go with it all. Of course, there was hot coffee for the adults and the three different milks for the boys.

There was so much food on the table that the people present didn’t think that even with their large numbers they could put any appreciable dent into eating it. But in the end, when they left the dinner table, they were wrong.

As they left the dinner table, everyone thanked Momma, Sophia and Isabela for their hard work in making the Thanksgiving meal a tremendous success. The boys also gave each woman a hug for making them a wonderful meal that they would remember for a long time.

The hugs made Sophia and Isabela blush, as they weren’t used to receiving such warm thanks from the children, as they didn’t ever receive them from their own families for what they do for them.

Everyone then gathered in the Great Room where they talked about the wonderful meal, they all experienced. Nelson was the most appreciative, as he was not only still single, but he felt he was still in a strange area, as he had been spending all of his time getting Four Corners up and running and hadn’t taken the time to familiarize himself with what was around him.

Mr. Ken asked him how his training his assistant ops manager was going. Nelson told the owner of the park that it was going slowly as there was so much for the man to know. Mr. Ken told Nelson that when the park closes after the New Year, he needed to take some time off and away from the park, and to let Ben run things for him, while he was gone.

Hearing that Four Corners was closing after the New Year was news to just about everyone there in the Great Room, which Mr. Ken now had to explain. The park’s owner told them that the weekend after the New Year the park would close for routine maintenance, for the train installation to finish and the railroad terminal to be completed along with general cleanup and whatever else needed to be done. He told them that the park would reopen around the 8^th of April.

The boys then asked if they could go and watch a movie. Kate said that she wanted to see what was available before she would allow her boys to join in doing that. Robert took her back to the movie library and there she saw movie such as Kung Fu Panda 3, The Jungle Book, The Angry Birds Movie, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, Finding Dory, Ice Age: Collision Course, Trolls and Sing. All of which she felt would be appropriate for her two young boys to watch. Out of all of those titles, Kate chose the 107-minute Sing.

The adults went back to talking amongst themselves. It was while they were talking that Dennis and Edith sat close to one another and talked. Both of them were single in the later years and they talked about what they’d done and were doing now.

Ms. Judy was telling everyone how much better her new puppy, Riley, was doing ever since Matthew had trained him. She said that he was even more attentive now that she and Eric pay attention to him and how he enjoys doing his tricks for them. She added that she can’t wait until he is settled down a little more before she can take him to work with her.

Mary Taylor had to explain to Nelson that she was an interior designer and had decorated the interior of The Cove for Ken, as well as the office building, that he owns. She told the man that his ‘boys’ even had her help them chose the new paint colors for their bedroom.

Hearing that explanation reminded Ken that he needed her to help him pick out new bedspreads and window coverings for the boys’ rooms. He told her that he wants to give them as Christmas presents to the boys. That made the women laugh that he would go that low to give those things as presents.

In his defense, Ken said. “You try to decide what to buy for six boys, aged eleven to sixteen, for Christmas, and see what you will take as a gift, any gift.” That made everyone laugh.

Nelson then thanked Mr. Ken for the invitation for Thanksgiving Dinner and said that he was going to head on back to his place. The man then said his goodbyes to everyone and before long the group was down one guest.

As Mr. Ken walked back down the stairs to the Great Room to the rest of the adults, after seeing Nelson to the Foyer Door, he was carrying a box. Wayne recognized it and figured his employer was going to pass out the new coins. But when Mr. Ken sat down, Wayne was surprised that he just placed the box to the side of where he was sitting.

But Ken did pull out two coins and then got Kate and Edith’s attention. He passed the coins over to the two women and asked them to look them over and tell him what they think they were.

Edith told Ken that they looked like commemorative coins for Three Finger Cove, but she had no idea what the estate was commemorating. Kate had no idea other than they were slightly heavier and thicker than a standard sized fifty-cent piece.

“Ladies … what you are holding … are the next generation of a personalized security device that my manufacturing company has developed. I’m showing you these as I am going to pass them out to the boys in a few minutes. But I wanted to explain them to you so you understood what they were, as I want to give them to Rusty and Jessy, too. But I won’t activate theirs,” stated Ken getting the women’s attention.

Ken Thomas then explained the coins to Kate and Edith and how they worked. He and Wayne showed them their original coins and then Ken gave them examples of when the original coins were used and how they made a difference to their users.

Kate wanted to know why he was going to give them to her sons. Ken told his fiancée that she would be getting one as well, and once the boys began living there, he and she would sit down with them and explain to them the importance of the coins and then activate theirs.

Ken did indicate that he would activate Kate’s today. He told her it was because she was very important to him and he wanted her to have this device with her in case she was ever in a situation she needed help, as the people in his examples had.

Kate and Edith then asked Judy and Mary if they knew about the coins, and both women said that both of their sons have the original ones and hoped that they would get the newer ones today too. Kate then asked Dennis and Dan if they had one. Dennis said that he did, but Dan said that he didn’t. Ken told his best friend, and soon to be Best Man at his wedding, that he was going to remedy that today.

When the movie was over, the boys made their way out to the Great Room complaining that they were hungry. Mr. Ken told them that there were leftovers up in the Kitchen Nook refrigerators, but that he had something he wanted to talk to them about first, so he asked them all to have a seat.

After the boys were all settled down, Mr. Ken then pulled out the new coins. The boys immediately knew what they were. All that is except, Rusty and Jessy. The man then passed the coins out according to a chart that he had with him that identified which coin went to whom.

When Rusty and Jessy got their coins, they immediately showed their mom and grandma what they got. Mr. Ken then told the other boys that they could put their other coins away and, as of today, their new coin would be active.

Mr. Ken then passed out coins to Wayne, Dennis, Dan, and Kate. He then asked Judy, Mary and Edith if they, too, wanted to have an active coin in their possession. All three women said yes, to the question. Ken then pulled out a coin, wrote the name down against a number on a chart and then passed them over to the women.

For the next few moments everyone was looking and comparing their coins, with one another, that had the Three Finger Cove design, from Robert’s keychain on the front, to an outline of the estate house on the obverse, or back.

Robert then asked his dad if all of their friends were going to get a new coin, as well. But the teen’s dad told him that, for now, he hadn’t planned to do that. The dad explained that the cost of each coin is considerable and that passing out another forty to fifty coins wasn’t in the budget.

‘Dad’ Ken then asked the boys not to go out and call attention to the fact that they now have a new coin and their friends don’t. He told them to down play that fact if their friends ask them about it if they see the new coin.

With the coins being passed out and any questions answered, food in empty stomachs was next.

The group went up to the Kitchen Nook and the ladies looked in the refrigerators and pulled out the Thanksgiving leftovers and began heating those things that needed to be warmed up and making turkey sandwiches to go along with the reheated foods.

The meal was another reason to have good conversation between the many varied personalities, education levels and work experiences there in the Kitchen Nook that special day that brought them all together.

It was while they were eating that Phillip asked Jessy if he wanted to show his mom what they’d been practicing. Jessy wasn’t too sure, but after some coaxing, he agreed.

Kate saw her son and Phillip leave the Nook and go up the back stairs and return a few moments later with the acoustic guitar, a music stand and a sheet of music. She was curious as to what was about to happen.

“Ladies and gentlemen and, oh, you too, boys,” teased Phillip. “Jessy … he has been practicing something that he wants to show his mother and the rest of you. Please remember that he is just learning how to play the guitar, so it is not ready for the recording studio, just yet.”

Jessy had set up the music stand and placed the sheet of music on it, then sat down on a chair and began to strum on the guitar. He was slow to start and he didn’t sing at first. But as he began to go through the song a second time, Phillip joined with the young boy and the two sang the Beatles’ song, Let It be.

Everyone was focused on what the very young boy had learned to do over a very short time. And as the duo sang the song, Kate joined in and then so did Judy and Mary and before long just about everyone was singing Let it Be, by the Beatles. And even Jessy was strumming quicker as he got more confident with everyone singing along.

When the boy finished to a loud applause, Kate went to her son and hugged and kissed him for what he had accomplished. Grandma Edith followed and did the same. The boys then congratulated Jessy for what he’d done, too.

Ken went to Kate and asked her if a guitar was in Santa’s bag for under the Christmas tree this year for Jessy. He told her that if not at her home; there would be one there at his. Kate punched her fiancé on the arm and laughed and told him that they’d talk about that.

After everyone had eaten, the foods were put away and the Kitchen Nook was cleaned up, Dan, Dennis and Wayne all thanked their host and decided to leave The Cove. Ken walked them to the Foyer Door and thanked them for coming and he told Dan to take care and that he’d see him again, soon. He then told Wayne and Dennis that he’d see one of them on Saturday, as he was riding with Kate and family to the airport at ten thirty.

When Ken joined the rest of the group down in the Great Room, he found the women were all together and they were talking about what Kate needed to do for her wedding. Ken also heard Judy and Mary tell Kate that since the wedding was going to be back in her hometown, they were going to schedule a local reception for all those who couldn’t attend the real thing. Ken just put on an, ‘I told you so smile’, as he looked over at Kate.

The boys were bored, so they decided to go swimming. Mr. Ken thought that was a great idea, so he went and put on his swimsuit and joined them. The boys were all happy when they saw ‘dad’ Ken come down to the indoor pool.

As the boys played in the water, the ladies were in the Great Room giving Kate some awesome ideas for her wedding. Edith appreciated Judy and Mary’s insights as to what they should begin doing as soon as they return home.

The two women recommended that Kate’s first consideration would be when to have the wedding and if her church was available at that time. Then she needed to locate a venue to hold the reception on that date and who would cater it. Next was the wedding invitations and the sooner she knew the first three items the easier it would be for her to send out the announcements.

As the women wound down their talk, Judy and Mary told both Kate and Edith to call them at any time if they had questions or concerns over the wedding announcement, reception or what to serve to their guests.

While the boys were swimming, Ryan pulled Mr. Ken aside and he quietly asked him if he ever showed the boys where the hidey holes were. Mr. Ken kiddingly told the college man that he could have ‘killed him’ when he mentioned them the other time.

The owner of The Cove added that he hasn’t and he doesn’t feel there is a need to tell, or even show them about the special places in the house where they could hide, or find their way out of the house if it there ever was a home invasion.

Ryan told his Big Bro that it would be fun to show the places to them, especially letting them climb the ladders in their closets up to the attic and make their way to the garage and then down and go out the fire escape at the end.

Mr. Ken smiled at the thought, but he told Ryan that with all the fire power he has in the 24/7 security guards, he doesn’t feel there is a need to let that ‘genie’ out of the bag right now. He continued that he was also concerned that the boys might go exploring and they could injure themselves and no one would know that they were up there.

Ms. Judy and Ms. Mary came looking for their sons to tell them that it was late and it was time for them all to head on home. The boys knew not to argue with their mothers, so they went and changed and as they did, so did the rest of the boys. Rusty and Jessy, though, headed up to their mom’s bedroom to change into their pajamas.

The Covers saw the Turners and Taylors off at the Foyer Door and with hugs all around they thanked them for sharing their Thanksgiving Day with them. The Covers and their house guests then headed down to the Great Room where ‘dad’ Ken held an impromptu meeting.

The man just told the boys that tomorrow, Friday, they should enjoy the day with their friends and to watch Rusty and Jessy on the Skate Park. He told them that he and Kate would continue to talk about their wedding plans and that they may even go out shopping, without them.

‘Dad’ Ken continued and reminded the boys that Kate and her family would be leaving The Cove at ten thirty Saturday morning. He added that he would be riding with them to the airport, and for them not to expect him to return until about two o’clock.

‘Dad’ Ken also reminded Phillip that he was scheduled to play at Four Corners on Saturday, so he needed to be rested and ready to leave The Cove by five thirty. The man then told the boys that after their friends leave at six o’clock, they would go out for dinner.

With that done, ‘dad’ Ken asked the boys to head up to their rooms and relax by reading or playing on their computers and that he would be up later to say goodnight to them.

After the boys had gone, the three adults, Ken, Kate and Edith, talked about the day and what fun it was to have so many people there to talk with. Edith told Ken that she enjoyed talking with Dennis and she really appreciated Judy and Mary’s inputs on Kate’s wedding. The older woman expressed how they gave both her and her daughter loads of ideas of what they needed to do as soon as they got home and then right after.

Kate, who was snuggled up next to her fiancé, told him that his friends were so down to earth and friendly. She added that she had met them before, but today she got to know them better and she knows when they move there, she will have friends she could call on if need be.

Ken loved what he heard from Kate. It told him that his fiancée was going to move there wholeheartedly and not begrudgingly, which will make life for both of them so much better.

The three continued to talk, not only about Thanksgiving Day, but also about the entire week and what they could do better the next time they were there.

Ken then looked at the time and reasoned that he should go up and say goodnight to the boys. Edith agreed that it was time for bed and as Ken walked to the stairs, the older woman decided to take the elevator. Kate laughed that her mother was using the elevator, but she caught up to Ken and walked with him up the two flights of stairs to the second floor.

As Ken started to say goodnight to the boys in Billy’s room, Kate went to talk to Rusty. ‘Dad’ Ken then continued saying goodnight to Robert, then Charles, Matthew, Phillip and finally Darrin, but he didn’t stay long in any one boy’s room.

Mr. Ken did make sure that he also said a special goodnight to Rusty and Jessy, but without Kate there listening. He wanted each boy to have that special one-on-one attention, which he would continue when they permanently moved to The Cove sometime next year.

Kate had waited outside the bedroom where her son, Jessy, was staying, and then she and her fiancé walked hand-in-hand over to her bedroom. The two talked some more about the boys, the wedding and the possibility of them returning for the Holidays. But Kate wouldn’t make any commitment at that time. The couple also shared a few kisses and hugs before Kate said goodnight to Ken and then went into her room.

As Ken walked down to his own retreat, he was thinking of a way that he could convince his love to return to The Cove for Christmas and the New Year’s Eve celebration. He knew if they were there that year’s Holiday parties would be so much better.

The owner of The Cove, after he got himself ready for bed, sat on the edge of his bed, as he’d been doing recently, thinking of what transpired during the day, or even the week. But tonight, his only thoughts were of Kate and how he could persuade her and the boys to join him and his ‘boys’ to be there for the Holidays.

Knowing he couldn’t do anything about it right then, Ken Thomas turned off the lights in his bedroom and crawled under his blankets. It didn’t take him long to fall asleep, and as he slept so did everyone else and it was peaceful and quiet night in the house that Thanksgiving night.

The saga of Three Finger Cove continues. Let Chowhound know you are reading his story: Chowhnd at Gmail dot Com

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