The Peter Charles - 34. Chapter 34

Then came present time, the boys, cleared the table, except for drinks. The boys sat around the table, eyeing the cake, while Nicky opened his gifts. The boys gave him books, pens and Scotty gave him a small painting of The Peter Charles, Travis gave him a small painting of Nicky in the bridge. I thought they were marvelous gifts and something Nicky will have forever. Nicky thought so too as he thanked them with wet eyes.

Mom moved the cake in front of him, he took the knife and was to make the first cut when he noticed the keys in the center of the cake. He looked at Glen and I, smiled, picked up the keys and left the dining room. Glen and I followed, along with everyone else.

He tried the keys in my car, didn’t work, tried the truck, didn’t work. Now he was confused, until Glen opened the garage door. There was the dark blue Smart car with a white bow on it. He just stood there looking, as if he couldn’t believe his eyes. Jamie smacked him on the back, in a congratulatory way, which brought him back to reality. He looked at Glen and I, held up the keys, we nodded yes. That was it, he unlocked the door, got in and started the motor. He waved Jamie over, Jamie got in and they took off for a ride. It would be a short ride or the kids would take back their gifts, there was cake and ice cream waiting. It was a short ride, Nicky was smiling so hard I’ll bet his face was hurting. He gave Glen and I a hug, “Thanks Glen, thanks Kev. This is unbelievable, I can’t thank you enough.”

“Just do well in school and I’ll be happy.”

“Just drive it like you pilot my boat and I’ll be happy.” There was a lot of love that day, besides a lot of cake and ice cream.

The party split into two, boys to the rec room and the rest of us sat around the table, chatting and drinking coffee. Scott had made hot chocolate for those who wanted it. Mom commented on the dinner.

“Glen, I wonder if his parents even knew what a gem they had. His painting is fantastic, cooking is fantastic and as a son he’s fantastic. Their loss, our gain.”

One by one the boys came up and wished everyone good night. Nicky and Jamie helped Frankie to bed. “Dad, I’m driving Jamie home.” We laughed as they left.

“Jamie is a good friend to Nicky, I think that will be a life long friendship.”

“It was your boat that cemented that friendship. Jamie was a friend, like a lot of boys who were friends of Nicky, but working together and spending time together has made them realize the deep feeling they had for each other. Jamie is treated as a brother more than a friend.”

“Bob, there was no way you could pass up that car. I want to see Jamie’s face when he sees his gift.”

“I don’t think he’ll get it. Grace wants to give him her old car.”

“That car drives really nice, I think I’ll buy one for us, of course I’ll expect a discount, Son.”

We laughed, I thought maybe for Hanukah.

Friday morning after breakfast, the boys went crabbing, Glen went to work, and I went and checked out my office and the bedroom above it. Everything was ready, now do I spend the day organizing my office or do I take the truck and go to see Shawn. I called Glen and took the truck. Went to the dock, told the boys, and drove to the hospital.

I didn’t prepare any breakfast, so I went to the Mom and Pop place, picked up breakfast and milk for Shawn and Tom, if he hadn’t eaten. Walking into Shawn’s room, he was chatting away with Tom. They’re becoming friends, which was nice. If you’re going to have someone clean your bottom, it’s nice to be friends. “Good morning, it’s nice to see you being so chipper this morning. Does that mean you are feeling a whole lot better?”

“Yes, Dr. Weaver said I might be allowed to go home this coming week.” Then the sad face, “I don’t know where my home is with Uncle Angus not there anymore.”

“Your home is with Glen and I. You’re in our care now and are one of our boys.”

He smiled, “The boys that came to visit, do they live with you?”

“Yes, and more, remember Peter?” He nodded yes, “He and his brother live there most of the time. They lived with their grandmother after their parents were killed along with their grandfather, but Glen and I are their guardians, and they love being with the boys and fishing, so they spend most of their time with us.”

He smiled, I sat the bag on his table. “We had breakfast.”

“Hospitable food”

“So I guess you don’t want this then since you ate?” Tom, jumped up and grabbed the bag before I could.

“We didn’t say that did we Shawn?” I laughed as they emptied the bag and began to eat.

Glen came at one with lunch for all of us. Don came by and we spoke about his release. “Kev, he’s going to need care for several weeks. There are people who can come to your house and help with that care. I’ll give you a list.”

“Why can’t Tom do it. I could pay him and he’s already knowledgeable about what has to be done.”

“That would have to be up to Tom. He has one more month on his contract, if that is what you want, I can release him.”

Don and Tom left, Glen and I finished lunch with Shawn. We said our goodbyes, “I’ll see you on Monday, we have to fish while the weather is good.”

Leaving, Glen said he was going to go shopping and Stella was getting the food for the boat ready. We switched vehicles, I took the car, Glen took the truck with the chests for frozen food.

When I reached home, I walked to the Wharf, had a beer with the boys. The crabbers saw me, waved and soon, “Dad we’re hungry.”

“Let’s go for pizza.”

That was it, crab pails were placed on the boat, and we walked to the pizza place. “Boys, go and wash your hands, then we’ll have pizza.” It had been a while since we had pizza, it was good.

“Scott, order enough pizzas for the boat, we can have it again,”

“Dad, they are selling spaghetti by the bucket, let’s get that instead.”

“Good idea, make sure you get enough for at least two servings.”

He placed the order, the owner came out and when he saw me, “Take about an hour Kev, I’ll deliver it to your boat.” I paid for everything including the spaghetti. We walked back to the boat, well not all of us, someone was carried back.

“Boy’s, let’s go and get changed” They agreed so we kept walking to get changed, I said we, one was give a ride on my shoulders.