Ring in Mine #3: Nephi & Jerome: Chapter 35
I hope you are still reading my story and haven't given up on me.
This story is reaching its end. I have an outline for the sequel if my readers are interested. My wife wants me to finish editing the book I've put on hold while I wrote the Ring in Mine series.
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Thank you for your emails. I appreciate hearing from my readers.
Thanks Zach for your editing skills. ---------- Chapter 69
Jerome stepped from Benny's owner suite and found his flight crew hovering over the buffet. Both were wearing the loose cotton clothes provided for the paying guests.
"I hope you are enjoying dinner. How long have you been a couple?" Panic flashed across their faces.
"Look around you. If gay men bothered me, would we be here?" They stopped a moment. Mischievous grins replaced the panic looks.
"Our last employer never figured it out. Our relationship just happened. When my wife left six years ago, I fell apart. My copilot Tommy picked up the pieces and kept me going. He opened his home letting me use his guest room. He supported me in ways my wife hadn't. When I had a fill-in copilot while Tommy attended a family funeral, I realized how much I missed him."
"It had been a rough week at my parent's home, a week of my mom throwing women at me. She is sure I was interested in guys because I hadn't met the right girl yet." Tommy interjected. It was good to be heading home. "The smell of Italian food greeted me as I walked in. Richard's bear hug was even more welcome."
"I was happy having Tommy home again. I knew he loved Italian food, so I had prepared chicken parmigiana. He looked so good standing there, I had to welcome him home. I planned on kissing his cheek." Richard continued.
Tommy smiled as he interrupted. "Richard pressed his lips to mine. Without thinking I ran my tongue across his lips. His parted lips welcomed me in."
"My wife had never been physically demonstrative. If it weren't for our two boys, I couldn't prove we ever had sex. Tommy's tongue on my lips was out of this world. Within moments I was rock hard and returning his kiss. We stopped to eat when the kitchen timer rang."
Tommy winked at his partner. "I can't remember dinner, but the creamy dessert was unforgettable."
"You never forget your first blowjob. It wasn't two kids fumbling in the dark. I had an expert teacher and within a week I had returned the favor." Richard remembered aloud.
"And that is how we got together." Tommy ended the story by kissing Richard.
"We fly back to Palm Springs tomorrow morning. When I have the plane's interior refurbished, would you like a week here as a signing bonus." Their smiles were all the answers he needed.
Jerome worked with the keyboard player from the band that played at dinner way into the night.
Tim visited the owner's suite as requested the next morning with his piercing tools. He greeted Jerome with a hug. Hearing of Nephi's passing brought a tear to his eye.
"He was a special guy. I know you miss him." Tim hugged Jerome.
Jerome wanted the ring back where it belonged, but the hole had grown smaller. Adam would have to deal with it, Nephi and Jerome came as a package.
Jerome's scars startled Tim. Jerome found it was getting easier to tell the story. His therapist said it would.
Stretching the hole hurt more than the original piercing. Jerome's restored foreskin hid the ring from sight.
After the painful experience with Tim, there was time for another rehearsal with his flight crew as an audience.
Jerome thanked his accompanist. "I wish I could take you with me. I will find someone in Palm Springs."
"Tommy could do it." Richard offered.
"I'm not that good." Tommy played down his skill.
"May he have a go." Richard asked. The keyboard player offered the sheet music.
"I don't read music." Tommy watched the keyboard player play through the song again.
Tommy put his fingers to the keys and closed his eyes. He stumbled here and there. Tommy played through isolated sections. He had the keyboard player play three sections again.
"Let's try it." Tommy started the intro. Jerome missed his cue listening to Tommy's version of the music. Tommy started again. Jerome hit his cue, and it was magic. They ended to the applause of the staff that stopped to listen.
"I think we're ready." Jerome gave Tommy a hug.
"When we get to Palm Springs, we have a tight schedule." Jerome promised his new accompanist.
Adam felt guilty. It wasn't Mamá's place to talk about her boss's past. She suggested he call Jared. When Adam mentioned his response to Trace and Josh's jewelry, Jared identified the problem with enough details to make Adam feel a foot tall. How was he going to make things right?
At meals Jerry sat between Mamá and Papá. Jerry didn't ignore Adam but referenced him by name. Adam knew better than to push the issue.
Trace received an assignment from home office to pick up an incognito company official at the airport. Jerry invited his brothers to his borrowed bedroom to play.
"Mamá Garcia have you seen the boys. It is school time." Kimmie hadn't known the boys to skip study time.
"They can study later. Jerry needs to play with his brothers. He is feeling his father's pain. It's time to let them be children. Spend some quality time with Andy. Jerome needs everyone in the great room at 4:00." Mamá Garcia shared no details.
Trace waited at the specified hanger. An unfamiliar plane taxied to a stop. A member of the flight crew disembarked. "This visit isn't happening. Unless there is eminent danger there will be radio silence. If you cannot agree to these terms, your services will not be necessary."
"I do not feel comfortable with radio silence. If I am providing security, I insist on a radio lifeline."
"Our passenger will make other arrangements." The crew member returned to the plane and the door closed. Trace pulled away from the hangar.
"Trace, this is Josh." His precious radio lifeline was active. "You are to return to the villa and pack. The whole team is being reassigned. It was only some fast talking that saved our jobs. My guess is you told the boss no, again. I like working together. Get your sorry ass back on that tarmac and when the boss says jump, ask how high, then give him an extra foot."
Jerome liked Trace and gave him a third and final chance. He grew tired of a constant security presence. They hadn't kept him from being kidnapped.
Jerome climbed into the car. "If anyone at the villa learns I am back before I'm ready you will be out of a job. Is that understood?"
"Josh already figured it out."
"That means Andy knows if his radio is on. For your sake hope it isn't. There is no privacy when you use the radio." Jerome had said his piece. Jerome reassured Trace the car following them was the flight crew.
The first stop was the same recording studio Jerome had used before. An hour and a half later Jerome and Tommy emerged with a single song mixed and recorded in three formats, reel to reel, cassette and the 8-track format favored by the local radio station.
At the radio station the afternoon disc jockey argued he had already pulled the music for his afternoon requests hour. There was no way he could play the tape right after the 4:00 news. A fifty-dollar bill was all it took to change the playlist.
The next stop was Kmart. Jerry was right they should have some toys. Trace thought he saw Agnes in the store. It couldn't be Agnes, could it? She should be in jail. Trace suggested they pay for the toys and games filling the cart. Trace insisted Jerome wait in the car as he put the purchases in the trunk. A red sedan drove by twice. The windows were dark. Did he glimpse Agnes through the windshield?
At 3:55 Mamá Garcia opened the front gate letting Jerome know everyone was in the great room. When Mamá turned on the news, everyone expected a story involving Jerome or Samaria Farms.
"We are starting our request hour with a special song. We have a new cover of the classic, I Think I'm Going Out of my Head."
Andy stood to leave when Jerome's voice stopped him in his tracks. "Oh, I think I'm going out of my head..."
The family realized Jerome was singing to Adam. Adam's smile stretched from ear to ear. Could Jerome be giving him another chance?
"Boys, Jerome needs your help to carry some packages into the house." Mamá announced. With the boys gone Mamá had some pointed words for Adam.
"I hope you haven't talked to Jerome about Nephi for altruistic rather than selfish reasons. It is something you need to do to avoid future situations. I probably know more about life with Nephi after an hour talking with Jerry than you do."
Each boy returned carrying Kmart bags of things to play with. LEGOs and happy boys soon filled the great room. Jerome entered from the back door.
"While the boys are busy, the adults have things to talk about." Jerome suggested they relocate to the dining room.
"The first item on today's agenda is Agnes. Trace thinks he saw her today. Someone hovered around us like a vulture and a carcass. Andy if Agnes is out-and-about you become a liability for the kids."
Adam reminded Jerome that Andy was his security. It wasn't Jerome's call. Jerome turned and left.
"Adam, how does it taste?" Mamá asked.
"Dinner was delicious."
"I'm not talking about dinner. With that cast I'm not sure how you could get your foot in your mouth so easily." Mamá left before Adam could answer.
"What did I say?"
"You cut Jerome off without even listening to him. I can see why he's going out of his mind over you." Trace referenced the song on the radio. "Jerome is only here tonight and tomorrow. I bet you end up sleeping alone. Jerome discussed his plans on the drive from Kmart. Jerome realizes Andy and Kimmie are an item."
The two under discussion moved farther apart.
"Jared's security in San Francisco looking forward to a vacation. Kimmie's summer quarter is about to begin. Jerome wondered if Andy wanted the assignment. It comes with an apartment close to campus. Jerome thought she could finish her degree in time to get a teaching position in the fall. Since it's your call, talk to Andy before you decide his fate." Trace finished outlining Jerome's proposal.
Trace had predicted Adam's sleeping arrangements. Adam no longer had a full-time nurse. Josh helped Adam get into bed. Adam waited for Jerome, but Jerome fell asleep in the recliner watching the news and then Johnny Carson. Jerome got up early to help the boys with the animals and skipped breakfast for a conference call with Home Office.
"Hugo, would you ask your dad if he wants to be part of the conference call?" Jerome asked.
"Dad, Jerome wants to know if you want to be part of the call with Home Office." Hugo pushed Adam's chair into Grace's office.
"Everyone is here." Jerome announced, and the meeting began. Jerome opened the overnight envelope.
They went over the critical topics that might come up in the meeting. Some potential situations would take delicate negotiations.
"Are you sure, Jerome is up to the task?" Adam asked.
"Belinda, we will continue the briefing on Thursday." Jerome stood and walked out.
"This is what I'm talking about." Adam noted.
"Adam, this call was Jerome's idea. He wanted to include you and you questioned his skills. We've been reviewing these situations for the past week. He is more than ready." Belinda ended the call.
Adam called out for a push. Andy arrived. "Sorry, I was in the bathroom."
"Where is everyone else?"
"Jerome came out of the office and announced he could handle taking everyone to the zoo. Papá Garcia is working on the garden. It took two cars, but they're all gone."
"Why didn't they invite me? I like the zoo." Adam asked.
"The van is here. We can catch up with them and talk on the way." Getting Adam ready to go out was an ordeal. Half an hour later they were on the road heading to the zoo.
"I know it is your call, but Kimmie and I would like to take Jerome up on his offer."
Adam didn't feel Andy put the family at risk. Agnes should be in jail somewhere, but he understood wanting to go with his girl. The couple deserved a chance.
After the first few turns Andy noticed a red sedan following them. He drove around the block just to be sure. He tried to identify the driver, but with the baseball cap and dark windows it could be anyone.
The zoo was in the desert on the other side of town. Once out of town the red car tried pushing the van off the road. Andy tried going faster. The red car stayed side by side with them. They neared a crossroad. Andy realized a tractor-trailer coming from the right wasn't slowing. Andy slammed on the brake and stopped just before the intersection. The red car didn't stop as quickly.
Watching the red car shoot into the intersection was like watching slow motion footage. The semi pushed the car across the intersection and into the desert. Andy pulled through the intersection and parked.
"I'm locking the doors." Andy used his radio to call for help. Andy ran to the red car. Gas was pooling on the ground. Most of the damage was to the passenger side. He pulled open the driver's door. Agnes was bleeding from a gash on the side of her head. The bandage on her shoulder was blood soaked. The smell of gas grew stronger.
It would be better to pull her from the car and possibly cause additional damage than have her burn if the gasoline ignited. He carried her a safe distance from the vehicles and went back for the driver of the truck.
He found the driver slumped over the steering wheel. It was more difficult getting the driver down from the cab. It was then he realized the gas was leaking not from the car, but from the tanker-trailer. Andy carried the driver to the van. He unlocked the door and lay the man on the van's floor. Andy retrieved Agnes. Soon they were a quarter mile from the accident. Safely away from the accident Andy had time to wonder why Agnes was not in the hospital or jail. It would be a sorry comment on the judicial system if she was out on bail.
Andy was updating the emergency crews over the radio when the explosion rocked the van. Even at this distance, they could feel the heat from the flames. The intersection was impassable. The ambulances had to go the long way around. Andy breathed a sigh of relief when the two victims left under medical care.
The fire crew struggled to get the flames under control. Fortunately, the news media were concentrating on fire. The police had a thousand questions for Andy and Adam.
"We are more than willing to answer your questions. May we go somewhere, even the police station? We would like to avoid the press if we could."
Andy followed the detective's car to the police station. As Jerome often pointed out there is no privacy using a radio. Trace had kept Jerome informed of the situation. Jerome used a pay phone to call Belinda in New York. A lawyer was waiting for Andy and Adam.
"Do you need a lawyer?" The officer asked. The lawyer explained he represented the security firm Andy worked for. There were liability concerns. He would be a silent audience to the interview.
That left Adam on his own to answer questions. When Adam emerged, Jerome was waiting.
"Why did Andy get a lawyer and not me?"
"You were only a witness to what happened. Andy could be liable for moving the victims." Jerome explained the rationale for his decision. Adam didn't have much choice but accept it. Jerome was right.
A van from the medical center picked up Adam, Jerome, and Trace. They left the car for Andy. The police would keep the rented van with the red paint scratches and new dents as part of their investigation.
Adam took advantage of having Jerome as a captive audience in the van. "Andy and Kimmie want to go to San Francisco. What are you going to do about the boys?"
"I don't want to presume what you and Hugo will do. As for Jerry and Skip, I am taking them home. I haven't been much of a father for my son."
"Why have you excluded Hugo?"
"My original plans included Hugo, but you've pointed out more than once I am making decisions for you and not meeting your expectations."
"Now, you're overreacting. It's time to grow up!"
"I made the choice to return before the board meeting and even tried to be romantic with the song on the radio. I turned the other cheek but wasn't expecting you to slap it." Jerome turned away from Adam. "Stop the van I have some shopping to do."
Trace objected to splitting the group up. "Give me your radio." Jerome held the earpiece to his ear. "I have some shopping to do. Please rendezvous now. Trace you should know there is always a sleeper. There is no privacy with a radio."
Jerome switched to the nondescript car that stopped behind them.
Adam was first transported to the medical center. The doctors wanted to check him over. When Trace pushed him into the house, Jerome was sitting on the floor with the boys.
Jerome had stopped at a toy store. Hugo and Skip controlled the cars on an electric raceway. Jerome and Jerry created buildings along the track using LEGOs. Skip took a corner too fast and his car skidded from the track.
"It's my turn." Jerry put his car on the starting line and the race began again.
"You have a board meeting to prepare for. Aren't you a little old to be driving cars around and around go nowhere?" Adam wasn't sure why he was being so mean.
"I hope I am never too old to play with my boys. As far as going in circles and not getting anywhere it's like our relationship." Jerome turned his attention to the LEGOs and the speeding cars.
Adam watched with envy. "Jerome..."
"Boys, I need to talk with Adam." Jerome interrupted. He stood and pushed Adam into the office.
"Jerome, I'm not sure why I've been so argumentative the last couple of weeks, but I'm sorry."
"You're feeling helpless and that makes you angry. You feel any act of kindness is a sign of pity; any suggestion infers you are incapable of making your own decisions."
"Now you're a psychologist!" Jerome had hit the nail on the head, and it made Adam feel more helpless. Why hadn't he been able to see what seemed so simple for Jerome?
"I am not a psychologist, but Margaret helped me when Nephi was in the same place." Jerome explained. "I'm not in a great position either."
"So, what do we do?"
"We talk more but think about what we are saying. I need to not react without taking time to think about things. I need you to give me that time." Jerome paused before asking his question. "What do you need from me?"
"I would appreciate if we could discuss ideas between ourselves before mentioning anything to the family."
Jerome agreed Adam's request was fair. He debated how to bring up the next topic without revealing he had discussed the possibility with Adam's doctor.
"What would you think of going home? If you like the idea, you'd have to get clearance from your doctor." Had he given anything away?
"My doctor mentioned I could get any necessary x-rays taken at home and have them overnighted to the doctors here. I'm ready to go home."
Jerome struggled to keep his smile inside. "Going home would solve the Kimmie dilemma. Do we go home tomorrow or after the board meeting?"
"Let's talk to the kids at dinner." Adam suggested. "Would I need to fly commercially, or can I manage on your new smaller jet?" Jerome wasn't sure if there was a dig in the `your new smaller jet' comment. Instead of getting hurt Jerome explained reasoning behind the acquisition.
"Grandma Grace was looking for a jet this size before she passed. We more than pay for operating the other jets by providing charter services. The lawyers have been negotiating with this plane's owner for a few weeks. I accepted the latest counteroffer. It was more economical to buy an older plane, and have it refurbished."
"I can't climb into the plane."
"I've watched Josh carry you. With his muscles I think he can handle carrying you up a few steps." Adam's first impulse was to make fun of Jerome for watching Josh's muscles.
"I can see why Trace fell for him." They compared their insights on Josh's physique, laughing. The magic was still there. They needed to nurture it.
At dinner the boys were excited to be going home, but they had important decisions to make.
"Don't you want to leave the LEGOS and raceway here?" Adam's taunt raised a chorus of negative responses.
"Then you had better pack them." Jerome replied. Mamá Garcia provided a box for the toys that wouldn't fit in their suitcases. Anything that didn't fit Mamá promised to save for their next visit.
Suitcases were quickly packed, except for the morning's clothes, and prayers were over.
"Dad, can we talk?" Jerry asked.
"We can always talk." Adam answered.
"Adam, I need to talk to my dad." Adam wasn't sure how to rebuild the bridge with Jerry.
"You can talk with both of us." Jerome responded.
"Never mind." Jerry crawled into bed and turned toward the wall ending the conversation. Jerome checked on the boys before going to bed. Jerry was missing. Andy suggested checking Mamá Garcia's cottage.
"He's not here but I know where to find him. If Jerry doesn't want to call Adam dad, it's not something you can force without pushing him away." Jerome followed Mamá out to the goat barn. They found Jerry under an old moving blanket between bales of straw and his kids.
"You will need to take them home. My guess is he wanted to ask you about getting his own room. Kimmie sent him to his room when he wouldn't call Adam dad. We had a long talk about the crazy lady that burned his house and his race car bed. Other boys on the farm get their own rooms." Mamá tried explaining where Jerry was coming from.
"I thought he wanted to share."
"Jerry talks about living in the basement with you and Nephi like an old person and the good old days." Mamá paused. Did she dare continue? "Jerry blames himself for Nephi's death. Adam commented on Trace and Josh's piercings and you went away. He now associates Adam with Nephi's and your absence."
"How do you know all this? I'm his father." Jerome glared at Mamá Garcia. Mamá returned the stare.
"And I have a Doctorate in Psychology and am a social therapist for Tellerson. When my boys came, I gave up my practice to be a full-time mother. Grace offered me this job when your grandfather was dying, I not only took care of their physical needs, but saw them through the emotional trauma. Afterwards Grace would send employees for a retreat in the desert. No one feels threatened by Mamá Garcia, the housekeeper. When the need arises, I still see patients at the clinic."
"But what's with the goats." Jerome asked.
"Papá has been breeding these little Nigerians for smaller size for years. He does a good business in pets and emotional support animals. Jerry's been caring for the twins as part of his chores and the three have bonded. This is where Jerry turns when he is upset. The twins are disbudded, fixed, and hand raised. Jerry needs them when things get rough."
"Jerry has me. Why does he need a pair of goats?"
"You're thinking about you again. Everyone seems to focus on the needs of the adults. Let's make a quick list. His mother abandoned him. His house is burned to the ground along with everything he had from his mother. Then there is all the drama around a crazy lady that wants to take him away from his dads. I could continue the list. The last item is his dad dying to protect him." Mamá made Jerome feel terrible about what his son had gone through.
"How do I get the goats home?"
"They transport in a travel kennel just like dogs." Mamá answered. Jerome settled under the blanket holding his boy.
"Love you dad." Jerome pulled his boy closer. Parenting just became harder. Nurturing his partnership with Adam wasn't a piece of cake either.
Jerry's shivering in the night woke Jerome. He carried his boy back to the house, stripped him down to his underwear and placed him between his dads to get warm. Jerry must have used the restroom in the night. Jerome woke to find his boy no longer in the middle, but on the outside snuggled with Jerome.
The morning was hectic with no time for chores. "Don't worry boys. Papá's gotten lazy having you do his work. He can manage just fine." Mamá reassured them.
Jerry disappeared at the last minute. He returned in tears. "I wanted to say goodbye to my kids, but they're gone. We've got to find them."
Mamá sat with Jerry. "Now that you're leaving, it's time for them to go to their new home." Jerry ran from the room before Mamá could finish.
"Dad, you can't let them give my goats away."
"Jerry, it's too late. The new owner is here to take them away." Jerome asked Trace to help him carry a blanket covered crate to the van. As the crate settled into the back of the van, Jerry heard a sleepy bleat.
"Dad, what's under the blanket?" Jerry didn't wait for an answer. He picked up the corner of the cover to find his kids lying in a travel kennel. "Dad, my Bits and Chewy are in that box."
"You are the new owner and you're taking them home. Now, go to thank..." Jerry was already gone. Mamá accepted Jerry's hugs. She explained it was Papá's gift. Papá saw the human missile heading his way. He swung Jerry into the air and caught the five-year-old on the way down.
"Mamá's got a book for you on taking care of them. It needs to be your job." Jerry was off again. His sadness forgotten.
The plane's layout impressed Adam. Comfortable first-class seats lined the center aisle, five on either side. Human passengers filled nine of them. The twin's kennel rested on the floor by the tenth. Papá had given the kids a dose of Dramamine to keep them calm on the flight. The seats were wide enough that when they were in the air, Jerry could share Hugo's seat. Hugo was helping Jerry with an occasional word in the goat book.
Jerome realized these goats could get expensive when Jerry presented the book to his dad.
"We need this for my goats." The photo was of a pre-built shed, and a fenced area with wooden boxes for them to climb on.
"Where are you going to put this? Can't they live with the other goats?" Adam asked looking over Jerome's shoulder.
Jerry glared at Adam. "No, they can't! They need to be close so I can visit them every day. They have to have special fences." Jerome tried not to smile.
Jerry addressed his dad again. "We can put it between the house and the garden."
"And how are you going to pay for this?" Jerry, tired of Adam's interruptions closed the book and walked back to his goats and sat on the floor next to kennel.
"Why are you being so mean to Jerry?" Hugo asked his dad without waiting for an answer. He sat next to Jerry putting his arm around his brother. "We'll find a way to buy your goat house."
The three boys made plans for the new kids' home. The kids were indisputably Jerry's, but it wasn't in his makeup up to not share.
Marshall had arranged for a wheelchair accessible van to meet the family. Josh carried first Adam's wheelchair followed by Adam from the plane. Jerome and Trace would leave for New York.
"I'll be back on Sunday. Jerry be good for your dad and Sariah." Jerry bristled.
"I'll be good for you and Sariah." Everyone noticed the omission.
Jerome hadn't found the opportunity to share Mamá's observations with Adam. "Adam the goats are important. I need you to cut Jerry some slack."
The van pulled away as the plane taxied toward the runway. Tears trailed across Jerry's cheeks. Skip hugged his adopted brother. "Dad will be back in three days." Skip understood Jerry's tears. He had bonded with Jerome on top of the Empire State Building. He hadn't spent much time with Adam.
Arriving at the compound Jerry's goats took center stage. It wasn't only the younger members of Samaria fascinated with the tiny pair.
"Where are you going to keep them?" Kenton asked.
Jerry showed Kenton the picture in his book. "That would be cool. It could be in the corner of the yard by the garage."
"I don't want farm animals in the courtyard. Put them with the other goats." Adam insisted.
Kenton looked to Clarke for help. "We'll find someplace for them. For now, we'll put them in with the chickens." Clarke suggested.
"But they'll be scared." Jerry insisted.
"Jerry, they are farm animals, not pets." Adam was in pain and wasn't feeling charitable. "We are not spending money on a special home for two farm animals."
Jerry turned cold inside. He looked at Adam. "I hate you. I wish you were dead instead of my daddy Nephi."
Jerry located a wagon and placed the empty kennel on it. "Put my goats back in their cage. I'll find a place for us." Jerry headed for the garden entrance.
"Jerry get back here!" Adam demanded. Jerry turned and for the first time used the one-finger salute he'd seen Zeke and Rafe use. Skip followed his little brother through the back gate.
"You handled that like a true asshole." Zeke and Rafe followed Jerry's example. Kenton joined the two older boys. Josh turned to follow.
"Where are you going?" Adam demanded.
"You have plenty of available help." Josh motioned to the adults. "My priority is the youngest Mr. Tellerson."
Before lunch Zeke sweet-talked the new kitchen help into packing a picnic for a dozen while Rafe raided the dairy for a gallon of goat's milk. Kenton borrowed a pair of calf bottles from the barn.
At lunch Adam mentioned all the empty seats at the table. "Where did they put those damn goats?"
"There is no need to swear!" Sariah admonished. "I have it on good authority they are dwarf Nigerians, not damn goats."
"The only area with the right fencing is at the area we used for the petting zoo." Clarke offered.
"I'm glad they found a place. I hope they didn't all skip class this morning." Adam wondered aloud.
The two teachers, Adam hadn't met yet, reassured him the children had attended morning classes.
Assured his goats were settling in fine, Jerry attended afternoon classes. His assigned teacher put him on the same tasks as his age group. Jerry grew bored and retreated to his goat book.
"You need to put your book away and work on the math I gave you."
Jerry handed his completed math page to the teacher and returned to his book.
After looking over the page. "What were you working on with your tutor?" She asked.
"Times Table, two sixes are twelve. Three sixes are eighteen. Four sixes are twenty-four." Jerry was done answering the question. He picked up his book.
"What are you reading?" She chose not to suggest he was only looking at the pictures. "I hear you have young dwarf goats. That sounds fun. Would you read to me about your goats?"
Jerry began reading.
—————
`Building a Goat Pen
If you're going to keep goats, you will need a goat pen. Our goat pen is 20 feet wide and 30 feet long. We cleared an area towards the back of our property, behind the garden shed and alongside the chicken coops. A few large trees offer shade from the sun and protection from the rain.
And of course, there is a goat house that they sleep in.'
—————
Jerry had to sound out a few words but impressed his teacher.
"How old are you Jerry?"
"I'm almost six." The teacher shook her head in surprise. Jerry would keep her hopping if she was going to keep him challenged.
After class Jerry helped with chores before taking care of his kids. Jerry made it in time for dinner. He sat not next to Jerome's place, but next to Nephi's unused place. Adam understood the unspoken meaning.
"Jerry, sit with your brothers." Adam requested.
"I want to sit by my dad." The family held their breath waiting for Adam's response.
"Please."
Jerry walked past the vacant place between Hugo and Adam. Jerry compromised and sat on the opposite side of Jerome's place at the head of the table, away from Adam.
Clarke broke the tension by starting the lesson. As dinner ended, Jerry carried his dishes to the kitchen and helped clear the table. He headed toward the front door.
"Where are you going?" Adam asked. "It's too late to be going out."
"My kids need their evening bottle." Josh followed Jerry.
"Why did Jerome let him have those damn goats?" Adam asked.
Margaret found Adam watching a movie with the boys on television.
Adam called out. "Margaret, what brings you out so late in the evening?"
"A therapist at the center in Palm Springs asked me to check on her patient." Margaret looked around the room.
"You could have called. I'm doing fine, except for understanding Jerry." Adam answered.
"You're not the patient. Dr. Garcia asked me to see how Jerry is doing. With the attempt on his life on top of everything else, he's having a rough time. She sent a pair of emotional support animals to keep him centered. I hope they made the trip safely."
"Support animals?" Adam was puzzled.
"She's talking about Jerry's damn goats." Zeke couldn't pass up the chance to rub Adam's nose in his earlier comment.
Rafe picked up the theme. "Jerry is feeding his damn goats. The only place with the right fencing is at the petting area."
"They need to be closer to the compound." Margaret insisted.
"It's taken care of. Benny's crew will be here tomorrow morning. Jerry's birthday is coming up. Rafe made a few calls." Zeke explained.
Rafe continued. "Jared offered to cover the bill. Everyone else is providing something towards the project. Jared said something about a cheap bastard. Benny knows a guy and will keep the costs down. Jerry will have an early goat birthday."
"What can I do to help?" Adam offered.
"Nothing. You had your chance, and you blew it." Zeke retorted. "Jerry and Josh have cots and sleeping bags. I think they are camping out. You saw Jerry at dinner. He would rather skip eating rather than be near you."
"Right now, I don't blame him." Rafe continued. The pair stood up and headed toward their room.
Jerry was still Skip's hero. He told Margaret how Jerry saved him from the crazy lady. "Adam and Kimmie have been picking on him ever since. I don't want to watch the movie either." Skip led a mass migration from the room leaving Margaret with Adam and Hugo.
Adam looked at Margaret. "How am I going to fix this mess I've made?"
"You've taken the first step. You admit you helped create the problem. According to Dr. Garcia Jerry's adults have avoided talking with him about it. Could the wrong person be spending the night with Jerry?"
The next morning as the family headed for morning chores the concrete guys hustled to get the forms in place behind the compound before the cement truck arrived. When they returned for breakfast, they were putting the finishing touches on the quick setting concrete.
Clarke expressed his concern about the size of the concrete pad. Benny's foreman, whom he had worked with before, reassured him that was the specified dimensions.
Zeke delivered breakfast and Jerry's morning assignment to the petting area. Josh would help Jerry with the needed spelling for his illustrated report on Dwarf Nigerian goats.
"I'll bring your lunch. The teacher thought it would be easier to write about your goats if you could see them." Zeke promised. The idea was to keep Jerry away from the construction site.
An electrician ran conduit from the garage sub-panel to a heavy-duty outlet near the construction site.
"Why isn't it wired into the house?" Adam asked from his wheelchair.
"This whole area is under a construction moratorium. We couldn't get a building permit. That's why we are using modular shed construction." The foreman explained. "We can slip it under the radar."
"Why is there a construction moratorium?" Adam wondered out loud.
"There could be a lot of reasons, but it isn't just Samaria Farms." The foreman shared everything he knew for sure.
There was quite an audience as the building arrived on the back of a semi-trailer. A crane lifted each of the walls into position. The walls bolted together. A loft area was placed over a small hay storage area accessible only from the outside.
"It seems a little big for two small goats." Garrick noted as the last piece of slanted roof was bolted in place. A much smaller version of the building was lifted as one piece from the truck into the fenced enclosure. "
"That one is for the goats." The foreman explained.
There was a flurry of activity as the metal roofing was installed, and the pre-wired electrical was connected. Luke arrived in his truck.
"The show's over everyone. Benny wants everyone to see the end result at the same time after dinner." Luke announced.
Dinner was a big deal. Great grandma Marie and Paula stopped at the event area to meet the new arrivals. Jerry relented and agreed to have dinner with his grandmas. Jerry rode in Marie's car to the compound. Josh promised to meet them. As soon as Jerry was out of sight Josh helped Kenton and Clarke transfer the goats to their new home. Marie parked well out of sight of the new building.
The extended family that contributed to the project were all present around the table except for Jared and Drake. If Mario provided dinner, the kids knew Bertram brought dessert. As the last brownie disappeared, the phone rang. Zeke answered, putting the phone on speaker.
"Hi everybody it's Jared and Drake. We hear someone is having a birthday soon."
A red light flashed on the phone. Zeke pushed the buttons, and another voice joined Jared's.
"Hi Jerry, I hear Zeke, Rafe and your uncles have an early birthday present for you. Everyone pitched in and Benny made it happen. Be sure to thank them. Adam and I will celebrate on your birthday next week." Jerome promised he would call in the morning to hear about the presents.
"Jerry, we wish we could be there tonight. Uncle Benny says it turned out perfect and promises to take pictures. We hope you like it. Call us tomorrow." Drake hung up the phone.
"It's time for your early birthday present." Rafe announced. Adam tried to stay in the house feeling left out. Zeke took control of the wheelchair and pushed Adam through the courtyard and out the back gate.
Even blindfolded, Jerry knew the sound of his goats as he neared their new home and his excitement grew. The big red bow attached to the front door of the new building surprised Jerry.
"Don't touch the walls yet. They used quick dry stucco so it would look just like the compound buildings. Tomorrow they should be set." Benny warned everyone.
Rafe took Jerry on a tour of the outside. Near the gate into the enclosure, he opened a pair of double barn-like doors revealing food supplies for the little goats.
"You won't have to carry their food from the big barn every day." Kenton explained. The twins came to the fence. Donny and Micah fed them treats.
Attached to the smaller version of the new building was a card.
"This is a home for your new friends. Happy birthday, Mario and Bertram." It was filled with straw just like the book had suggested. Wooden boxes for climbing bore a birthday card from Zeke and Rafe.
"We built them ourselves." The pair announced. Jerry had a concerned look on his face.
"I watched them." Garrett reassured Jerry that unlike some of their other attempts at woodworking these were safe.
Jared, Drake, Luke, and Benny's name appeared on the card attached to the big red bow on the front door. It was growing cool outside. Inside was toasty warm.
"The baseboard heaters will keep it nice in here." Benny promised.
Inside it didn't look like a barn. It was more like a boy's room without a bed. A split door led into the goat enclosure. Centered in the lower half Jerry found a smaller door just big enough for his goat friends. Items around the room had birthday cards attached. There were posters on the wall, leashes for taking his friends for a walk, and bean bags for reading the books about goats on the shelf. Jerry hugged each person as he read the cards. He sat at the desk looking at all the supplies waiting for him and his kids.
Benny stepped away from the ladder into the loft. "There's one more place to explore."
Jerry scrambled up the ladder. Jerry disappeared behind the safety rail. Adam worried about the silence in the loft.
"Are you all right?" Adam called out.
Jerry appeared at the edge of the loft with a big red card in hand. He wrapped his arms around the fireman's pole and slid back to the floor. Jerry wrapped his arms around Adam's neck.
"Thank you, Adam, it's perfect." Jerry sobbed into Adam's neck. Adam was mystified as to the cause of Jerry's display of gratitude. He caught Zeke's eyes over Jerry's shoulder. Zeke smiled. Sometimes things go exactly as planned.
"Jerry, show your dad the card." Zeke suggested. Adam noticed Jerry didn't correct the word dad.
`Happy Birthday to my Son!' There was a picture of a race car on the card. Behind Jerry, Rafe tipped his head resting on his hands miming sleep.
Adam took a chance. "Do you like the bed?"
"There's two of them. Mine is the red one." It may have been the room Jerry wanted, but he was more than willing to share. "May we have a camp out?"
Adam looked to the other adults. He found only smiles. "Everybody has to brush their teeth and say their prayers first." There was a mad dash to the house. Half an hour later the loft was filled with the younger members of the family.
Adam was still feeling good about Jerry's prayers, especially the part where Jerry thanked his Father in Heaven for Adam. He didn't say dad, but at least Jerry wasn't hating him anymore. Adam realized this couldn't be a onetime gesture. He would have to work at parenting all of his boys.
Jerome returned home on Sunday to find Jerry sleeping in Adam's lap on the sun warmed concrete porch just outside the `goat door.' Bits and Chewy, the twins, played with Donny and Micah. Looking at his son and his partner he appreciated the improved relations between the two. That was one less worry for Jerome. Playtime was over. Monday it was time to earn his keep.