The ‘den’ Triplets
by: E Walk
(© 2009-2010 by the Author)
 

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Chapter 13  

The Phone Call

I looked at Jacob, “Do you want to answer the phone or do you want me to?”

“Mr. Naylor, my stomach feels like there is a cow inside kicking to get out.  Why don’t you answer the phone?”

I put the phone on speaker, “This is Mike Naylor.”

“Mr. Naylor, this is Marissa Seymour.  I have the results of the DNA tests for you.  Mr. Jacob Stocker and Mr. Daniel Howard were indeed brothers.  They are also the fathers of Nina and Tina DeLuca.  Would you like to know which girl is the daughter of whom?”

“No, Ms Seymour.  I think it is best if we not know.  In fact I think it would be in everyone’s best interest if that information were to be sealed to preclude problems at a later time.  I’ll take care of the paperwork to have the information sealed.”

“Thanks a lot Mr. Naylor.  That means that everyone will be after me to tell them the results of the tests.  I feel a severe case of dementia coming on.”

After I had hung up, Jacob pounced on me, “Mr. Naylor, you made it impossible for me to ever know which of the two girls is my daughter. I guess I’ll have to go to my grave wondering.”

“Jacob, if knowing which of the girls is your daughter is so important, then I’m not sure that you’re ready to be a parent.  In any case, you may never have the opportunity to know the girls.  Just because you permitted your hormones to control your action does not mean that you and Antonia should get married.  If you go into a marriage because the two of you made a mistake, then I can almost guarantee that it will be an unsuccessful marriage, and the two girls will be the ones who ultimately pay.  Just relax and let things progress at their own rate.”

Jacob frowned and looked at Todd, “Todd, what would you do if you were in my place.”

Todd started to laugh, “Well, that ain’t likely to happen since I was born gayer than Romulus and Remus.  I don’t have a straight bone in my body.  Well, perhaps there’s an organ that sometimes has a mind of it’s own and becomes erect.”

Jacob started to chuckle, “Todd, that makes no sense at all.  What do Romulus and Remus have to do with Tina and Nina?”

 

Todd shrugged his shoulders, “I don’t know, but it sounded reasonable.  The boys are stirring.  Hey, we have three of us to take care of the boys at the same time.  We‘ll be done in no time.”

I watched as Jacob changed and fed Kaden.  He was going to be a good father if anything ever developed that he and Antonia were to get married.  I had a sudden impulse, “Jacob, if you were to marry Nia, would you be able to keep your pecker in your pants if other opportunities for sexual activity with different people were to be available?”

“Mr. Naylor, I’ve been asking myself that same question.  In light of what has been happening, I may have to reevaluate my activities.”

Todd changed the subject, “Jake, you mentioned that you made porn films for six months.  What kind of porn were you doing?  Are there any DVD’s that people would be able to buy where you would be recognized.  You have made yourself susceptible for blackmail if you were to marry Antonia and settle down here in this small city.”

“Todd, you sure shove a lot of questions and opinions in one small statement.  I made both gay and straight DVDs.  Of course they are going to be available on the market.  I get some money from each one that sells.  In fact there will be three films coming out in the next several weeks in which I was featured.  I never thought about someone trying to blackmail me.”

I interjected, “Jacob, in today’s world, people are out to make any easy money they can.  If you are straightforward and upfront, then people are less likely to be able to make you look bad.  The important thing, if anything should develop, is that Antonia already knows of your activities while you were gone.”

All of a sudden Jacob bent over laughing.  He started to sputter, “I can see it now.  My adopted father would have a heart attack when the headlines appeared that read, ‘Son of Prominent Preacher Admits To Being a Porn Star’.  It would pay him back for how he treated me.”

“Jacob, don’t be to hard on Reverend Stocker.  He and his wife did, after all, raise you.  Perhaps not in the way that you would have preferred, but give him a little credit.”

Jacob stood, “Mr. Naylor, you’re asking a lot.”

“Jacob, please stop calling me Mr. Naylor.  You’re making me feel like an old man.  Please call me Mike.  We need to go bed.  The boys have no regard for those of us who are used to sleeping through the night.  We’ll see you in the morning.”

“Mike, aren’t you going to call the others and tell them what Ms Seymour told you?”

“Jake, they can wait until morning to find out the results of the tests.  There is nothing they can do tonight, anyway.  I would have thought that someone would have called by now to see if Ms Seymour had called with her findings.  Being that Ms Seymour works for District Attorney Howard, I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if she hadn’t at least called the Howards.  Let’s see what happens in the morning.  By the way, my Mother tends to come and go as she pleases, so don’t be surprised if she’s here when you get up.”

After we put the triplets to bed, Todd made sure that Jake had all the toiletry items he needed before he crawled into bed.  He rolled toward me, “Mike, I think Jacob is doing some serious thinking about what he should do. I’m glad I’m not in his shoes.”

“Todd, I’m glad I’m not in them either.  I can’t imagine being a porn star.  Of course, I never thought I would turn up in a gay relationship, either.”

Todd propped himself up on his arms, “Are you sorry you are in a gay relationship?”

“Heck, no.  Let me show you how much I regret it.”

I was awakened by voices.  One of them was definitely a feminine voice.  I reached out and Todd was still in bed beside me.  I looked at the clock and it was eight o’clock.  I climbed out of bed thinking, ‘Mother is going to be all over our asses for neglecting the boys.’

When I arrived in the kitchen, Mother and Jacob were eating breakfast with the three boys sitting quietly in their seats.  Mother was asking, “Jake, did Ms. Seymour call last night?”

“Yep, and it’s as you suggested.  I’m the father of one of the girls and Danny was the father of the other.  Your son has made it impossible for anyone to ever find which of the girls is my daughter.  He’s going to have the evidence sealed to protect the girls.  He seems to think that I shouldn’t rush right out and get married.”

Mother sighed, “Finally my son is using his head.  Jake, I completely concur with my offspring for a change.  You need to get yourself mentally prepared to take all or nothing.  By that I mean that you need to totally commit to Antonia and the two little girls.  Any less on your part would negate a meaningful relationship.  Fortunately Nina and Tina are still too young to have any concept of what is happening.  I suggest that you and Nia maybe have some meetings together, so that you could be around the girls, in the event you and Nia decide to get married for the right reasons.”

“Mother, you’re an obstetrician, not a psychologist or a psychiatrist.  Besides, I’ve already told Jacob the same things.  Perhaps not so eloquently, but Jacob needs to do what he thinks is right.”

The four of us were finishing breakfast when the first visitor arrived.  It wasn’t any of the people who I thought would be coming to ask what the tests showed.  It was the Reverend Stocker. 

Todd ushered him into the kitchen.  I looked at Reverend Stocker, “I’m surprised to see you again, so soon, Reverend Stocker.  What can we do for you?”

“Look Naylor, you know what I want.  I want to know if either of the DeLuca girls is my granddaughter.”

I got out of my chair, “Reverend Stocker, as a matter of fact, one of the twins is Jacob’s daughter.  As Jacob mentioned last night, that doesn’t automatically make her your granddaughter.  With the way Jacob feels about how you treated him, you may very well have a difficult time ever receiving the title of Grandfather.  There is no way that anyone will ever know which of the girls was sired by Jacob or Danny.  I’m going to have the information sealed to protect the girls.  If you want to be part of the girls' lives, that is up to Antonia at this point in time.”

“But information like this deserves to be expounded on in church as an example of the prodigal son.”

“Reverend Stocker, I don’t like what I’m hearing coming from your mouth.  You are determined to get involved in the case of the ring and make a splash for yourself.  If you continue to interfere, you could very well jeopardize our case.  I suggest  that you go back to your church and pray for divine help to see that the authorities are more than capable of making sure that justice is served.  As a matter of fact, patience is the virtue that will be the most useful.”

Reverend Stocker started for the door, “Mr. Naylor, I get the feeling that you are trying to make sure that you receive all of the credit for solving the case by yourself.”

Todd was serious, “Mr. Stocker, that wouldn’t be too far off.  It seems that Mike is the person responsible for exposing the ring.  Let him handle the case as best as he is able.  If things start to look bad, then perhaps it will be time for outsiders who know all the details to step in and take over the case.  I think I guarantee you that your help will not be required.”

As Reverend Stocker was getting ready to leave, the doorbell rang.  I went to answer and Diane Howard was standing there. “Come in, Mrs. Howard.  Reverend Stocker was just leaving.  What can we do for you, this fine morning?”

“I came to take Jakey bonding.”

Jacob looked up, “Mom Howard, what are you talking about?  Where are we going bonding?”

“I called Antonia and asked if we could come see your daughters and my granddaughters so they won’t be afraid of us.  Besides, I’ve never been a grandmother before.  I’ve always looked forward to spoiling my grandchildren.”

Mother spoke up, “Diane, I wouldn’t go buying them a car just yet.  I can see it now Tina and Nina are going to be even more spoiled than Aiden, Jaden and Kaden.”

After Reverend Stocker, Mrs. Howard and Jacob had departed, I excused myself, “I need to make a couple of phone calls and then I’ll be ready to do whatever needs to be done.  I’ll be in the den if you need me.”

It was almost noon and I realized that the house was as quiet as a tomb.  I went to see where everyone was.  There was a note on the kitchen counter.  ‘Took the boys to the grocery store so they could get some fresh air.  We’ll bring lunch back with us.  T.’

When Todd and Mother arrived, he brought Aiden Kaden and Jaden in and sat them on the counter, “Here, you undress them.  They probably need to be changed and they’re starting to fuss.  I’m guessing their getting hungry.”

I did what he said as all of the conditions mentioned applied.  After the boys were settled, we had a sandwich and a dish of sherbet to hold us until dinner.  We were doing the dishes when the front door opened.  I figured it was Jake since I didn’t know anyone else who would just walk in.

“Hi, it’s Jacob.  I have David and Jeff with me.  They need to talk to Mr. Naylor, or so they claim.”

Mother yelled back, “Keep the noise down.  You’re disturbing the triplets.  We’re in the kitchen.”

The triplets were still awake when the three guys came into the kitchen.  Jeff started, “Boss, we just came from a meeting with Pastor Miller and some of his clergy friends.  We set up a meeting at the church for tomorrow at two o’clock in the afternoon for the victims of the prostitution ring.”

David took over, “We’ve had a difficult time convincing some of the victims that they should come.  They’re afraid that you’re going to identify that they were used by the ring.  We’ve assured them that that is the last thing that you want to have happen.  I went so far as to suggest that you would probably prefer that they not be in attendance at the trial so they couldn’t be implicated in any way.”

Jeff resumed, “We set up a second meeting tomorrow evening at the youth center in a private room for you to be able to talk to the victims who couldn’t make the afternoon meeting.  We figure that once the word gets out that you are doing everything possible to protect their identities, more young people will step forward and tell their stories.”

“Guys, you’re way ahead of me.  Have you told Aaron Shoemaker what’s happening?”

Jeff nodded, “Yes, and he said he would be there as will Tim Patrick.  Sheriff Patrick sent the information on two of the people who were in the holding cell the night the officers wanted Aaron to be defiled.  He said he thought they would cooperate and plea bargain to get off on other charges.  One of them is in jail for robbery, as we speak.  The others in the cell that night with Aaron were transients and the sheriff doesn’t know their whereabouts.”

“Guys, you’ve done some wonderful work.  I need to get my bottom in gear and finish putting my case together.  I wish I knew who the opposing attorney and the judge were going to be.  Jacob, how did the bonding session go?”

Jacob got a big grin on his face,  “I think Mom Howard was trying to make sure that I would fall in love with the girls and therefore dive in and marry Nia.  Nia and I talked and we’re going to make sure that we are compatible before we go any further.  She and her parents are old fashioned and I would be expected to ask her father for permission to marry her.”

David and Jeff started to laugh. Jeff finally was able to speak, “I’m sure glad that I’ll never have to lower myself to ask for David’s hand.  His Dad and Mom voluntarily said, ‘Take him, he’s yours.  We’ve been trying to think of a way to get rid of him.’  They pushed us out the door and have a sign on the front door that reads, ‘Visitors are greeted by reservations only.  David and Jeff, don’t even bother to call.  Send money instead.’”

Todd looked perplexed, “You guys have got to be kidding.  David, how long has it been since you’ve seen your parents.”

David shrugged his shoulders, “I guess it was about two hours ago when we had lunch with them.  They get lonely for us and they’re afraid Jeff’s parents aren’t feeding us properly.”

Mother shook her head, “You people are all a bunch of kooks.  I need to go see some sane people.  I’ll see you in the morning at church.  Put the triplets in the nursery so they don’t disrupt the service.”

“Yes, your highness. Will you be joining Todd, the triplets, Jacob, if he accompanies us, and me for lunch?  It’s Dutch treat so you know to bring you purse.  See you later.”  

To be continued...

Editor's Notes:  Well, I doubt that Rev. Stocker is going to give up trying to get himself weaseled into the thick of things.  I also think that he has certainly underestimated Mr. Naylor.

No matter whether Jacob marries Nia, I think he should do his best to be a father to the girls.  I mean, he will be the only father either of the girls will have.  I know he is only the father of one of them, but he is uncle to the other girl, and it really shouldn't matter which one is which.   He needs to love them both equally.  The other father is no longer in the picture, so there shouldn't be any issue there.

Under no circumstances should that filthy preacher be allowed to become involved with the lives of any children. He is a menace to all living things.  I am afraid that I am not very fond of him.

I am ready for another chapter.

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 12/03/10