Ring in Mine #3: Nephi & Jerome: Chapter 50
One of my readers doubted that even in the late 70's and early 80's the police would lose evidence. If you are interested in getting a feel of gay Utah at the time I am providing a link to a recent article in the Salt Lake Tribune, where key evidence has dissappeared from three cold cases involving gay individuals at the time. It is an interesting read.
https://www.sltrib.com/news/2018/10/14/murder-anthony-adams/
http://donate.nifty.org/donate.html
Enjoy Chapter 50
----------- Chapter 50
Grace didn't so much as enter the compound as she blew in like a late summer thunderstorm, unexpected and overpowering.
The family was setting down for dinner. Grace took the head of the table. "If you check the foundation's charter, when Nephi and Jerome are out of the picture, Benny and I joint manage the Foundation. We have some things that need handling that can't wait until they return."
The storm took the family by surprise. "If I seem a little abrupt there was a problem at the hospital that needed my attention. The good news, a Good Samaritan delivered Jerome to the hospital. He should be right as rain in a few days. The better news, Nephi showed a level of responsiveness that has the doctors in a positive mood."
"Grandma Grace, what was the problem at the hospital?" Jared asked.
"There was a misunderstanding about bed assignments and furniture placement. That has been resolved. My grandsons are in the same room and close enough to hold hands. Nephi wrapped his fingers around Jerome's hand."
Grace waited for the excitement to reach a lull. "We will start with the hardest problem first. Mary, ex-wife of my good for nothing son, my one mistake in life, the only good thing he has accomplished in his miserable life was my two grandsons, you have something to tell the family. This needs to be solved first."
"I apologize for my comments this afternoon. You can't live twenty years with evil without some of it rubbing off. Margaret helped me see what kind of stress Jerome is under. He is strong, but a different kind of strength. He needs time to work through things. I hope eventually you will accept me back into the family." Mary stared at the table.
"Mary, you always have been part of the family. In a family people say stupid things without thinking. Who at this table hasn't" Grace made eye contact with each family member. Each in turn shifted their gaze to the table.
"What makes this a family is the willingness to forgive and move on. To take a page from Nephi's playbook, each of us are special children of God. If he can forgive us we have no choice but to forgive each other."
"That's it for the gospel lesson. Clarke would you bless the food?"
Myles leaned into Sean. "Who is she?"
"I am old, not deaf. My name is Grace. I am Jerome's and Jared's paternal grandmother. My greatest joys are my grandchildren, hanging at the pool with my gay friends and facing down an unruly board of directors. You don't have a chance."
Myles compared her to a commanding general not a sweet grandmother.
As dinner finished, the family realized the eye of the storm had passed and turbulence was returning. Grace turned to Kenton and Hugo. "Kenton dear and Hugo would you take the littles to the media room and watch cartoons."
Grace turned back to the family. "I am impressed with everything you have accomplished. Nephi calls me once a week. The Halloween thing needs a name. Halloween at Samaria Farms comes to mind. Put your minds to it. Before we talk about Christmas I want to see the new barn."
The adults loaded into the transport van. No one noticed that Jared was missing. When they pulled into the Halloween area the lights were all on. Grace was impressed and congratulated the family. "What would you think of a couple of lit signs on the way out advertising the Holiday Lighting business?"
The family agreed they didn't want to mix holidays. "Do we want to limit the business to Christmas. How many people with money would love a professional Halloween display in their yard?"
Grace's idea took fire in the minds of the boys. "So, we are advertising for next year." Rafe liked the idea.
Sitting around the table in the barn, Grace was silent. The family was brainstorming on what they could use for Halloween displays. Myles was drawing sketches of metal shapes that could be wrapped in lights.
When the ideas slowed down Grace moved on. "Whose idea was it for the sliding barn doors covering the serving windows on the kitchen?"
Garrick wasn't sure she liked them. Myles had dealt with Graces type in the army. "Garrick drew the plans and I made the hardware."
"Gold stars for both of you." Grace looked around the mostly open barn. "If money wasn't a problem how do you see this building when it is finished. Remember it needs to be multipurpose."
They were off again. Ideas flowed. There were disagreements. When things threatened to break down into squabbling Grace stepped in.
"I may have asked the questions out of order. Not this year, and maybe not the next, what types of events can you see being held here."
Being the new person in the group Tina had been quiet until now. "Finished right, this space could be a money maker. It would be ideal for weddings, civic events, banquets, class reunions, dances, family parties, the list is endless. There isn't another facility this large on the west side of the valley. The kitchen was designed for groups up to four hundred people. It would require tables for eating and display. It would be less expensive to rent linens than purchase."
"How would the space need to be finished?" Grace asked.
Tina described what she called upscale country. It would still look like a barn with rustic wood walls and trims. The family all started sharing Tina's vision.
"You need to sit down with an architect and have him draw it up. I will get one in tomorrow in the morning. What is happening with Halloween at the farm tomorrow?"
"Jerome is the one that has been handling the scheduling." Sariah answered.
Grace pulled out Jerome's calendar she had found in the office. "There are two busses of Kindergarten students at 10 and another at 1 tomorrow. What does that entail?" They listed what needed to be handled and agreed on assignments.
"Jerome has the same schedule on Thursday with kindergarten students in the morning and fourth graders in the afternoon. Thursday night a special discount night is being held as a shared fundraiser for Eve's school. How will we handle that?"
They would need to do the cookies in the main kitchen for the school groups. The barn kitchen would be running by Friday morning.
Grace said goodnight and took Jared's utility truck back to the house as the family worked things out.
"Am I the only one that noticed, Grace didn't really give advice on anything? She asked questions and let us work things out." Garrick pointed out.
"She did announce an architect was coming tomorrow." Sean noted.
"But she had no input on what we tell him. All she did was take charge and ask questions." Myles countered.
When they returned to the house Grace was surrounded by littles as she read them bedtime stories, the vision of the perfect little old sweet great grandmother. Sariah felt Grace preferred this role over the president of the board.
The littles were in school until 9:30 when they helped with the 100 kindergarteners. Jared and Drake ran the two hayride trailers.
Rafe and Zeke played pied piper for the kids in the corn maze. The littles wore Halloween costumes and hid in the corn maze handing out trick-o'-treat candy. Each student went home with a giant jack-o'-lantern cookie `courtesy of Bertram's Bakery' and discount coupons for bringing the family back to the event. There were a couple of students that couldn't have sugar or had food allergies. Special treats were provided for them.
They had time for lunch and they did the whole thing again. When the last bus left the littles had a nap and the big boys were back in the classroom.
"Grandma Grace why are you here?" Jerome was sitting next to Nephi's bed.
"Jerome, it's good to see you looking almost normal. How are you feeling?"
"I have a headache and it hurts to move. Could you really have the hospital replaced with a parking lot?"
"We may never find out, will we? What can you remember?"
"It was getting dark. People are always falling from the falls in Provo Canyon. I got to the first ledge looked out across the canyon watching the cars go past and thought Nephi would love this. It was too dark to climb back down. Sitting there on the edge between life and death I had time to think through the problems at the Foundation. It was almost like Nephi was sitting with me. As soon as it was light enough I climbed down. I needed to be with Nephi. It wasn't his fault, it wasn't God's and it wasn't mine either."
Jerome stopped for a moment. He refused to cry. "There was a semi parked on the street. I had cleared the semi and a bicycle entered the intersection at high speed. It was hit the kid or the fire hydrant. I remember needing to get to Nephi. I woke up here an hour ago. I just finished breakfast." Jerome looked at Nephi's hand wrapped around his and smiled. "He's still in there, Grandma."
"He's still in there. We have to give him time. Are you ready to talk with the police?" Grace didn't want to bring it up but it had to happen.
"Not until I've talked to the lawyers. There are good officers like Chief Thompson and Adam, but I've learned not to trust police departments." Jerome's healthy cynicism surprised Grace.
"When the doctor called this morning, I arranged the lawyers to meet with you this morning. Are you ready?"
"I guess I am. May we meet in here? I'm not ready to leave Nephi."
Using chairs from the break room three lawyers and Grace sat in a circle. Jerome retold the story he had given Grace with one substitution. Jerome had driven up the canyon to ponder his problems in nature's solitude.
Grace pushed Jerome's chair into a conference room.
The State Attorney General and a Highway Patrol officer greeted Jerome. "The Governor asked me to be present today. The officer with me reviewed the crime scene and has interviewed your doctor and yesterday's witness. He has also Interviewed the neighbors. We have been unable to locate your Good Samaritan."
The Highway Patrol officer spoke up. "The police of our fair state can't afford another round of bad publicity."
"Jerome's lawyers are talking to the press as we speak." Grace wanted to be upfront with everyone in the room.
The two officers from the small-town police force in Utah County felt intimidated by the small crowd. Grace excused herself.
The questions began. The officers filled page after page in their notebooks. Whatever they asked, however they asked, Jerome stuck to his story.
"Why did you not slow down for the bicycle? He should have been clearly visible."
"I mentioned the semi parked on the street blocking my vision."
"There was no truck when the emergency crew arrived. Did you leave the scene of the accident?"
"I must have. I remember swerving to miss the cyclist and waking up here this morning."
The officers stood up. "We need to discuss this in private."
The lawyers stood and rolled their client into the hall.
"So, what have you decided." The Highway Patrol representative asked.
"Based on his statements and our investigation we are charging him with reckless driving and leaving the scene of an accident. This group of queers has made the police a laughing stock for the last time."
The state officer explained that according to the neighbors the tractor-trailer was there every night. The neighbors considered bicyclists coming down the hill a hazard. They ran the stop sign on a regular basis. The officer pointed out no one had read Jerome his rights. All the information in their notebooks would be inadmissible in court.
"The media are out front waiting for us to do something stupid. You can do what you want but you will be on your own. They have already talked with the neighbors. They already know Jerome was only semi-conscious with one imperative, to be with Nephi."
The State Attorney General had a final comment. "The county attorney has already agreed not to take the case to court. Now what are you going to do?"
The officers met with the press and explained they would not be filing charges against Jerome and would be looking into the unsafe behaviors of bicyclists ignoring the stop sign at the intersection in question.
Jerome would have to wait until later for the news. With the protectiveness of a mother bear for her cubs, Grace would allow no one to wake her grandson.
Jerome lay next to Nephi. Nephi had wrapped his arm around his partner.
Jerome woke to find an addition in the bed. "Dad I'm glad you woke up."
Jerry took Jerome's hand and pressed it to Nephi's chest. "Daddy Nephi is in there. Can you feel his love?"
Nephi's heartbeat was strong and steady beneath Jerome's palm. The steady rhythm filled him with reassurance. Maybe Jerry was right.
Jerry told his dads all about the kindergarteners coming to the corn maze. "Can I go to Kindergarten next year? I'll be five."
"If you want to go to school you can go to kindergarten next year."
Jerry's conversation switched to plans for bringing his class to the corn maze.
"Jerry, it's time to let your daddies sleep so they can get better and come home." Paula stood at the door. Jerome thanked Paula for bringing Jerry.
"I'd rather be here than Samaria. Grace is watching the festival, and she is carrying a clipboard. I haven't seen this side of her before. She's scary. She can switch from sweet little old lady to business shark in a heartbeat. I wouldn't bet against her ability to have the hospital turned into a parking lot."
Standing on a chair Jerry leaned over his sleeping daddy and kissed his lips. An unexpected blip came from the brain monitor. Jerome grabbed Jerry and swung him in the air. "He is in there."
Jerome put Jerry on the ground, clutched his ribs and fell on his bed. "That's what you get for doing stupid things. Jerry it's time to go."
With a final hug for Jerome, Jerry ran to Paula. "We're going to Uncle Bertram's. Brock is making me something special."
The nurse helped Jerome back in bed. "Why can't you be a good patient like your partner? You don't see him throwing little boys in the air and falling down."
"No, but I would like to!"
The nurse agreed with Jerome as he pushed the beds together so they could hold hands. Nephi's fingers closed around Jerome's. The nurse put a little something in Jerome's IV.
Jerome woke the next morning needing the restroom. Jerome could see Nephi's open eyes staring at the ceiling. There were extra wiggles on the monitor. Jerome wanted to shout. He took Nephi's hand. The fingers closed around Jerome's. Nephi's eyes closed. Was that a faint smile, Jerome hoped.
Jared arrived early with fresh shorts and shirt for his brother. "Grandma can take charge. She watched last night and took notes. She tallied up the takings for the night. Since Rafe and Zeke had invested their own capital into the flashlight business, their profits are theirs. The same thing for Ester's face painting booth."
Jared helped Jerome out of the hospital gown and into the tank top. The IV bag posed a problem. But with the help of Jerome's nurse they succeeded. "Grandma announced Samaria wasn't a slave labor camp and never would be. Chores are one thing but extra work like the festival requires paying us. Tina is hiring extra help in the event kitchen."
Jared gave Jerome the tube of plans for the Christmas Event. "Grandma said get off your butt and do some work. She's worried you will sit around and feel sorry for yourself. She said to talk to Nephi about the notes she made on the plans. Grace thinks this isn't the year for the complete village. If we spent enough money to do it right it would turn people off."
The nurse brought in a folding table that would handle the oversized sheets. Nephi's monitors flattened when Jerome released Nephi's hand. Jerome was fascinated with the suggestions and explained everything to Nephi. As long as Nephi could hear Jerome, Nephi showed increased brain activity, not a lot but more. Grace had penciled in estimated costs.
Jerome studied the plans making his own notations until the nurse interrupted with lunch. The nurse threatened to put a little something in Jerome's IV if he didn't take a nap. Jerome felt confident he couldn't sleep. Jerry woke his dad with a kiss.
"Hi dad, Jared said it was time to wake up before your surprise melts." Jerry retrieved a small to go box from Jared.
"Brock let me do the sprinkles." Jerome hoped there was some ice cream under there somewhere.
Jerry set his book bag on Nephi's bed as he climbed onto Jerome's lap. Jerry opened the first book. "Go Dog Go."
"No dad, I'm reading to you. Go dog, go." Jerome was impressed when a Jerry used voices for the conversations.
"Hello!"
"Hello!"
"Do you like my hat?"
"I do not like that hat!"
"Goodbye!"
"Goodbye."
While Jerry used the restroom, Jerome looked over Jared's shoulder. Jared had papers spread over Jerome's table. "What are you working on?"
"Homework." Jared referred to his notes and turned to his calculator.
"And?"
"It's a competition between Drake and I. We know the cost of supplies and the weather forecast. We have to decide how much to order, how many people to hire, and what to charge. The electricity bill is constant. Last round Drake won because he lost less money than I did. I ordered too much food and it had to be thrown out."
Jared wrote some numbers on a chart while Jerome watched. "This week I am going to cut down on supplies and spend more on advertising."
Jerome was impressed. Mary was really making the pair think. "Whose idea was this?"
"Grandma Grace, she really knows business. This is hard. I'd love a peek in her notebook."
Jerome was puzzled. Jared explained had Grace set up the statistical projections she used to evaluate the projects.
Three books later Jerry handed his dad the book. Jerry Interrupted often giving Jerome suggestions on making the voices better. At a point when Grover was really upset Jerome's performance fell flat on its face. Even Nephi's monitor let out a blipping groan as the line spiked.
"Even dad thinks it was awful." Jerry then reread the passage sounding so much like Nephi that Jerome had to look at his man. The new pattern on the monitor reminded Jerome of a smile.
Jared gathered his papers. "I can't let Drake win two weeks in a row." He informed his older brother he would be picking him up early Monday morning for school. Jared would be pushing his brother around campus.
"What about Nephi? I don't want to leave him alone." Jerome was relieved to learn the family would be taking turns staying with Nephi.
Monday morning Grace, Jared and Ester arrived at 7:00. "I'm glad the IV is gone. Get showered you have school today." Dressed in a conservative suit Grace was in business mode. Grace and Ester were replaced with the cute blond nurse. Dressed in black slacks, and a cream-colored polo bearing the brown and green Samaria Farms logo, Jerome was ready for school.
Sharing stories from a parenting magazine, Ester sat holding Nephi's hand, turning the pages with the other. Jerome had browsed Ester's stack of magazines. He wondered if Nephi would react to the Cosmopolitan and Playgirl magazines.
Ester made it halfway through the second magazine when it happened. She was unsure what to do. She pressed the nurse call button.
"Have a good day at school." Grace hugged her grandsons. Neither grandson was surprised when a young man in a black suit and chauffeur cap opened the back door of a black Lincoln for Grace.
Jared had liberated Nephi's handicap tag from his unused car. Parked close to Jerome's first class. Jerome wasn't pleased, but the doctors insisted he use a wheelchair. The pair were early. Jared handed the teacher the note from the doctor and a letter from the dean of students. Jared claimed a table in the back of the room and spread out his note and calculations. He had made money last round but had run out of product. Checking the results from the previous rounds, he debated ordering more supplies or raising prices.
As the students started filling the room the teacher was looking over Jared shoulder in fascination. He occasionally asked questions. One of the students tapped the professor on the shoulder. "Sir, It's five minutes after the hour."
"One last question, young man what professor assigned the project you are working on?"
"I'm attend high school at Samaria Farms working toward my GED exam in January." Jared answered without looking up. The professor shook his head.
"Would you explain your assignment to the class?"
Jared didn't know how to refuse. He explained the general scope and began filling out a chart on the board. The first column listed the variables, for example, how many caramel apples were made and constants such as hourly wages. He kept up a running dialogue as he listed the numbers from the first weekend. Then the first round where he lost money. The second round where he broke even.
"Who decides the results?"
"Grandma Grace and Uncle Benny used their past experience to create an optimum scenario. They evaluate our decisions and give us results. This is our last round."
"Who are Grace and Benny?" The professor asked.
Jerome spoke up not meeting the gaze of the professor. "Grace Tellerson of Tellerson Financial Corporation and Benny Bingham, CFO of the Bingham Trust."
The professor stared at Jerome. "It's not my money. I help manage a property management and landscaping design company. My partner and I put most of our profits into keeping Samaria Farms running." Jerome waved his hand toward the board. "Donations have only covered capital improvements. That's why we are holding the Halloween festival."
The professor solicited suggestions from the class.
"If we tripled the advertising budget we would have more customers."
Jared explained the principle of diminishing returns in advertising dollars, the need for additional staff, and capacity of the grounds.
The professor never addressed the scheduled topic. Jared promised to ask Grace to look at the class's proposal. He was confident that he would do better than the college students, they weren't looking at the big picture.
Garrick opened the office door for Rebecca. Rebecca handed her Samaria Identification and necessary papers to the school official. "We have a medical emergency and need to check Phil out for the rest of the week."
Chaos seemed to rule the Samaria Event area. Delivery, asphalt, and concrete trucks, danced a finely choreographed ballet with a pair of cranes. The crews had three days to accomplish as much as possible. Thursday evening another school had arranged for a fundraiser. A portion of ticket sales went to the school. Food sales stayed with the Foundation. Eve's school had done quite well and the news had spread.
Jerome sat in the student union sharing the lunch Sariah had packed with Jared. "Is it true? Grandma Grace owns a big company?"
Jerome nodded. "I looked her up in Who's Who. Her company owns parts of many companies. While I had the book on my desk I looked up Uncle Benny. The Bingham Trust is involved in lots of things."
A repeating buzz interrupted their conversation. Jerome checked his belt for the pager. It wasn't there. He had called the pager once to know what it sounded like. Knowing Nephi had regained consciousness, he frantically pulled things out of his bag.
Phil was at a loss why was he being checked out of school. He worried about Ester, had something happened. He stopped by Oliver's room and with the teacher's permission, he gave Oliver the keys to his car. Phil had been working with Oliver on his driving skills and trusted his new brother to take care of his four-wheeled baby.
Garrick stopped by the farm to pick up Jerry. He would be going to the hospital with them raising new unanswered questions. Phil kept asking Rebecca but she didn't have any answers. Ester's message said it was important. Phil and Jerry were needed at the hospital.
At the bottom of Jerome's pack, he found a silent block of plastic. He checked the blank light grey display. He pressed the test battery button. The screen lit with dark black letters identifying the pager's phone number.
Jerome placed his head in his hands. He wanted to cry. The moment's adrenal rush left him in despair. He refused to cry. It hadn't been his pager.
At the end of school Jerome insisted they return to the hospital. He had a nagging feeling that something was happening.
Jerome entered Nephi's room to find Nephi's arm wrapped around Jerry. "Hi dad, I love Daddy Nephi but you can talk back." A monitor beeped a little louder. "That's how daddy answers." It beeped again.
"What happened to Ester?"
"When I have gas, Jared says it breaking wind. How do you break water? Ester did."
Ester must have started labor. Jared turned and left looking for Phil's new baby. Jerome was surprised they let Jerry stay with Nephi on his own. "What have you and Nephi done today?"
"Daddy and I have been watching Disney Channel. Can we get Disney Channel?" Jerry paused. "Kurt brought me lunch and chocolate milk." Jerry pointed to the table next to him. "I had afternoon cookies and juice. There is one cookie left."
"Who's Kurt?"
"I'm Kurt!" A very handsome man in his thirties stood at the door. "I am Nephi's nurse. I've kept my eye on our young men here."
"See dad, I'm a young man. I'm not a little anymore."
"Ester is quite a young woman. She sat in a pool of water, giving instructions. Nurse Molly tried telling her what to do. Ester mentioned `Grandma Grace' and the rest of the staff pulled Molly from the room. Who is Grandma Grace?"
"Have you heard the story of an elderly woman threatening to have the hospital replaced with a parking lot? That is my Grandma Grace." Jerome smiled.
"That explains why I had to sit with Nephi until our young man here arrived and took over. Nephi's brain activity increased as soon as Jerry lay next to him." Nephi beeped again. Jerome leaned over, whispered I love you and kissed his man. Nephi beeped three times.
Jared walked into the room. "How is baby, Ruth?" Jerry asked.
"Phil wants to call her Abby." Jared answered.
"That's not right. Neil says her name is Ruth." Jerry climbed down from the bed and took Jared's hand. "Let's go!"
"Who is Neil?" Kurt asked puzzled.
"Neil is Nephi's child. He should be born early June." Jerome knew that created more questions than answers. Kurt took it at face value and let it drop. Jerome took Nephi's hand and told his lover about Jared teaching his first class. Jerome felt reassured by the occasional beep at all the appropriate times.
Kurt hadn't seen this before in his patients, but the medical field didn't really understand the comatose state, they had ideas but no real proof.
Phil was the next to arrive. "I've been told off by the authority on baby's names. Jerry sided with Ester. `I told you her name was Ruth.' I may never hear the end of it."
"Where is Jerry?"
"Ruth wouldn't stop crying. She had been fed and changed. The nurse was worried. Our little brother walked up to the baby and touched her hand. `Ruth, Neil said you would be scared. I'm your brother Jerry. I will always be here for you.' Ruth stopped crying and stuck her hand in her mouth." Phil stopped for a moment. "Jerry scares me sometimes. He does that with the animals and they settle right down."
"Who does that sound like?" Jerome looked to Phil for an answer.
"Grandma Marie is here. After she sees the baby she is taking me home. Will you read me a story?" Jerry handed his dad the book. Jerome almost got the voices right. He appreciated Nephi's beeps of encouragement. Jerry insisted his dad listen to his prayers. Jerry then returned the favor.
Sitting in the quiet with Nephi, Jerome tried to do his missed assignments. "Nephi, I'm nothing special like you. Are you sure Jerry isn't your boy?" Three sharp beeps answered Jerome's question. "It's hard to argue with you. He's our boy."
Beep.