The Peter Charles - 57. Chapter 57

Monday was another day of work, I wasn’t into it as much any more. My family was breaking up, growing up and I felt that. It’s normal for kids to grow up and assume an adult relationship with their parents. Glen said it was because I got so close to the kids. He’s probably right.

There’s always a balance in life, happiness offset by sadness. Uncle joined my mom and dad. The boys were sad and just like I missed Scuffy, I missed my Uncle.

The years passed, Nicky got married and went to work for his dad, Glen stayed home with me. I retired, they laughed because I was only fifty.

There was a difference now, some of the boys had girl friends all except Adam. He found it hard to leave us, we had to make sure we talked every day and spent every week-end with him. When he finished his education, he went to work with Grace. Every once in a while he would talk about this child or that child.

Scott was becoming a well known artist, thanks to Diane. He now has a boyfriend, who Glen and I approve. Steve doesn’t have a special friend, he says he’s too busy with his restaurant. When we were there, it was busy. He has a French Maitre d’ who I think is very cute and Steve smiles when he sees him. If he and Andre are boyfriends, we’d approve. Actually, we’d approve of any of our kids mates, that’s what loving parents do.

Shawn met a girl in college, they got married, Scottish style. I flew all of the boys over, dressed in kilts, they danced at his wedding.

Charles finished college with a PhD in math and teaches at the University. He married Marie and they had twins. Charles walks around like a peacock, strutting.

Peter wanted to be a marine biologists so he went State University in California. He has met a young lady who shares his passion for the sea. Yes, Gus finally went to lobster heaven. We had to bury him at sea, David gave a blessing, more for Peter’s sake than the lobster.

Sammy went to the Police Academy, with Bob’s guidance, well more like a gentle push, and now works with Bob as his Captain.

It seems my friends have had a significant influence on my sons, David became a priest under the influence of Father Damien. This wasn’t a surprise to me, I always felt he would take to this calling.

Johnathan became a teacher and teaches at the local high school. He has told me, in confidence, that he likes one of the teachers there. Joseph teaches in a school for the hard of hearing. After extensive testing, there was no way to correct his hearing problem.

I was 58 when the first grandchild arrived. He was a bonny Scotsman, so says Shawn. It seemed after that, grandchildren popped up everywhere. Scott and his boyfriend adopted a child, he was six, the same age as Adam was when we adopted him. His parents died of an over dose, his grandmother took him from them afraid they would do something crazy. She could no longer could take care of him, and so Grace mentioned it to Scott, that was all it took. He was a cute kid, and had our hearts as soon as we saw him.

This was the first, and soon along with marriages, there were children.

Mary and Barney retired, I bought the Wharf, and now Robby and his mom run it for me. Mary and Barney went to live close to Mary’s sister.

Don called us from the hospital, he had a young child who was found in a garbage bag. I took Adam and we headed there as soon as I hung up.

“Don, where’s this child?”

“Kev, you need to brace yourself. This isn’t going to be pretty “

We walked into the room, Don was right, she wasn’t pretty, her face looked like it was chewed, her nose was almost gone and she had a lot of cuts that appeared to be healing. I looked at Adam, he was crying. “Dad, she’s ours.”

That was all that needed to be said. “Don, spare no money, do what you can for her.”

Adam was on the phone, I’m sure he was talking to Grace. He came over to me, “I guess you aren’t done yet Dad.”

“We need a name for her.”

Adam thoughtful a while, “Adelaide, we’ll call her Addy.” Don marked her chart, Addy Jaxson.

When I told Glen, he cried, “I guess He isn’t done with us yet.”

We fixed up my old room for a little girl. I think Adam had as much fun as we did. It was several months before Addy could come home to us. The plastic surgeon did an outstanding job, Don said he was the best in the business, world wide. Glen’s mother was over the moon. At last a girl to fuss over and fuss over she did.

With good food and as she grew, the marks on her body began to fade. I thought she was pretty, Adam and Glen agreed.

I didn’t know it at that time, but she was the first. Adam continued to bring children to our attention, some were just ill and their parents couldn’t afford their medicine or treatment. Don would send us a bill every month covering those expenses. A few ended up in our home, we now had two boys and two girls. The boys were assigned rooms in the expansion and the girls had rooms in the house.

When every one came home for the holidays, some had to double up. The boys made cocoons in the rec room. I could imagine the stories that where told. Steve finally admitted that he and Andre are living together, in the apartments.

I looked over my boys, I saw a very happy group. The girls made a cocoon in the living room, copying the boys, the boys stayed in the rec room. There was noise in the house and I was glad again. I couldn’t help smiling.

When everything seems to be going well, something always happens to bring a little sadness in your life. Gram passed away, she was ninety-one years old, I never knew she was that old. The boys inherited everything, Charles wanted to move into that house, he said there were many happy memories, so I had an appraisal done, and gave Peter half of the value. Charles and Marie move in, the bedrooms once again held children. I did have John Adams build an extension on for Marie and Charles. I wondered how long it would be before I had to buy more banks.

Life has a pattern, when things seem to go downhill and you begin to feel sad, something comes along that picks you up and places you on top of the hill.

“Well, Dad, you’ll soon have another crew to go fishing.”

“Yes, only this time we’ll put buzzers on the doors.”