The Fremont Saga
by: E Walk
(© 2009 by the Author)
 

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Chapter 47  

The Visitors

I reluctantly woke Timmy.  He stretched and yawned, “Whatcha need, Brian?”

“Uncle Dan Tillison is downstairs with some visitors and he wants to talk to us.”

“Who do we gotta talk to?”

“Morgan said that Timmy and Meredith from the home are with Uncle Dan.  I can’t understand why Uncle Dan is working on Christmas Day.”

When we entered the living room and were settled, Uncle Dan started, “Guys and Meredith. We’ve run into a stonewall with these two.  All they’ll tell us is their first names.  We think that they might have been kidnapped, because they match the reports of numerous twins who have been reported as missing, across the states.”

Timmy went and sat down between the twins, “Why aren’t you talking to Uncle Dan?  He can’t help you if you don’t talk to him.”

Timmy answered, “He’d just send us back to our Nanny and she was the person who arranged for her boyfriend to kidnap us.  He was taking us to someplace in Maine.  We were able to get away from him when we were at the truck stop.  He had to go to the bathroom so bad that he didn’t lock us in the car.”

Timmy asked, “Where is it that this Nanny lives, whom we are not going to send you back to?”

Meredith answered, “She lives in Beverly Hills.”

“Timmy frowned, “O, does she live their alone with you?”

Timmy answered, “No, silly, our Dad and Mother live there with us, when they’re home?”

“What do you mean, when they’re home?”

Timmy tried to stand, “Please get me my crutches, I need to stand and stretch my legs.  They’re getting cramped.  Our parents are both doctors and they seem to be working all the time.”

Timmy had a serious look on his face, “Timmy and Meredith, why don’t I call your house and see if your Dad or Mother are there and you can talk to them?  If the Nanny answers, she won’t know my voice?”

Meredith answered, “The house number is 425-528-6220.  Both Dad and Mother have cell phone numbers, but they don’t answer them if they’re busy.”

I activated the speaker system and dialed the number, “The phone was answered, “This is Blackstone.  If you aren’t calling about our children, please hang up.”

“Doctor Blackstone, this Brian Benson, and what I have to say is very important, and it is about your children, so please don’t hang up.  Your children have been picked up by the authorities, and they are now being housed in a homeless facility for young people, here in Fremont, Nebraska.”

“Can you give me the number of the facility, so I can get in contact with the home and speak to Timothy and Meredith.”

I laughed, “Better yet, Timothy and Meredith are listening, as we speak.  In fact, there are two Timothys and two Merediths who can hear your voice.”

“Mr. Benson, stop playing games; please put our children on the phone.”

“Dad, it’s Tim, Brian was telling you the truth and his brother’s name is Timmy and they have a house guest whose name is Meredith.”

“Tim, how did you get to Nebraska?”

“Helga’s boyfriend stole one the limos and kidnapped us.  He was taking us to someplace in Maine, and was going to make you pay money to get us back.  Helga was going to quit if she didn’t get fired, and meet us in Maine.  Once they got the money, they were going back to Romania.”

“Brian, is anyone from the Home with the children, now?”

“No, Doctor Blackstone, Timmy and Meredith were brought here by the head of the local Children’s Protective Services, Mr. Dan Tillison.”

Uncle Dan moved so he could talk into the phone, “This is Dan Tillison.”

“Mr. Tillison, is there anyway the children can be housed somewhere other than in the shelter.  We’d gladly pay someone to take care of Timothy and Meredith for the night.  I’m going to call the airlines to see how soon we can get there?  What’s the nearest major airport?”

Dad spoke into the speaker, “This is Beau Benson.  The nearest airport to Fremont is the Omaha Eppley Airport.  If you will let me know your arrival time, I can pick you up at the airport, to save time and hassle.  I doubt if you will be able to get here tonight or even tomorrow, without a hassle, because of the holidays.”

“Doctor Blackstone, this is Timmy Benson, Timmy and Meredith can spend the night here at our house.  Timmy is the same size as me so he can wear my clothes.  He and I can sleep in Ben and Grant’s room since they didn’t come home for Christmas.”

“We’ll have to borrow some clothes for Meredith.  She can sleep with our 13 year old sister.  We have lots of food so they won’t go hungry.”

“Timmy, we would appreciate that very much.  Tell your Dad, I’ll call back, when I know what our flight schedule is going to be.  What’s your phone number?”

Dad took over, “Doctor Blackstone, why don’t I give you my cell phone number, in case we’re away from the house phone.  The number is 402- 243-1989.  Doctor Blackstone, do you have a first name, and how will I recognize you?”

“My name is Herschel and my wife’s name is Reba.  I’m rather a large dude with a severely receding hair line, and Reba is a petite red head.  I’ll give you a call when we know our travel plans.”

I had been watching Merry, and all of a sudden, the expression on her face changed.  She had been paying close attention to the conversation until Doctor Blackstone mentioned that his first name was Herschel.  I wanted to ask what the problem was, but I thought I had better wait until younger ears wouldn’t hear.

Uncle Dan asked, “Could someone go back to the home and help Timmy and Meredith get their few things while I fill out the paperwork to get them released from Child Protective Services System and call the police and let them know we have put the Blackstone children in contact with their parents.  I need to get home, so I can spend some time with my family.”

Timmy volunteered, “Tanner, Merry and I will take Timothy and Meredith to get their things.  We need to get back here in time for dinner.  “Brian, you and Morgan need to set the table and see if Mother needs help in the kitchen.”

Morgan complained, “First you tell me I have to clean my room, because I’m going to have a bedmate and now you’re treating me like Cinderella.  I’m going to call my fairy godmother.”

Timmy stuck out his tongue, “If you find one, would you see if you can find me one, too?”

Dad followed me into the dining room, “Brian, what caused Merry’s mood to change.  You don’t suppose she isn’t taking her medications, do you?”

“Dad, I have no idea what happened, it was like a cloud went down over her, when she heard that Doctor Blackstone’s first name was Herschel.  Dad, what is Meredith’s last name.  I don’t remember it ever being mentioned.”

Lauren came into room, “Dad, Mother needs your help in the kitchen.”

I looked at Lauren, “What’s Merry’s last name.  I don’t think I ever heard it?”

Lauren shrugged, “She goes by Meredith Black but the name on her passport says her name is Meredith Blackstone.  You think I’m messed up, Merry really hates her parents.  She never really talks about them.  She didn’t even get a Christmas gift or a card from her father.  The few gifts that her mother gave her looked like pass me downs that her mother didn't like, or want.”

Mother called, “Beau, I need your help.”

Lauren went to see if she could help in the kitchen while Morgan and I set the table, making it look as festive as we could for our two newest guests.

It wasn’t long before the people arrived from the home.  They had taken Mother’s van, so there would be lots of room for Timmy’s crutches.

Lauren came in and announced, “Dinner is going to be served in five minutes.  Everyone needs to get ready for dinner and wash your hands, if you want to eat.”

Timmy took Tiny Tim, as Timmy decided we were going to call him, to the bathroom downstairs while the others went upstairs to take care of their needs.

Lauren and I had put a fruit cup on each of the plates and went to let everyone know that dinner was ready.  When Timmy came into the room, he commented, “Mommy, dinner smells really good.  Daddy, can I say the prayer tonight?”

Dad nodded and Timmy started, “Dear God, those of us around this table have much to thank you for, tonight.  Not only did you give Tanner and me a loving home.  But today you made it possible for Tiny Tim and Meredith to be able to go home.  I think that perhaps you have even found a way to help Merry find happiness.  We thank you for bringing the real Lauren back to us.  We ask that you bless this wonderful food that Mother has fixed, and help it to heal our bodies.  In your name, we pray.  Amen."

Tiny Tim grinned and said, with a totally straight face, "God, bless us, everyone!"  Timmy Giggled.

After the fruit cups were devoured, Tanner, Lauren, Merry and I took the cups to the kitchen.  I let Timmy and Morgan know they should entertain our guests.  We delivered the two gelatin salads:  one was red and the other green, and hot rolls.  I took the racks of lamb that Dad had cut and arranged them on a plate, so the new potatoes could sit in a bowl in the center of the two large racks of lamb.  Tanner fixed the steamed asparagus, while Lauren served the homemade hollandaise sauce.

Timmy asked, “This is something different, what is it?”

Mother answered it is racks of lamb, baked in a mint sauce.  We usually have lamb at Christmas; many people serve it at Easter.”

Needless to say, the meal was a great success even with the visitors and new people, and there sure weren’t going to be any leftovers.

Tiny Tim tried to stand, “Mrs. Benson, that was the best meal that Meredith and I have had in a long time.  Nanny Helga made Dorothy feed us things like goulash and things that she liked.  We never got to eat the neat things that Dorothy fixes for our parents.”

I made a command decision, “Morgan, please take the younger people to the family room, and find a game that you can play without anyone cheating. We older kids can take care of the cleanup.  We’ll probably be falling all over each other. Dad and Mother, you should go relax.  Mother has had a very busy day.  Thank you for the wonderful meal, Mother.”

As we were finishing up the cleanup, Timmy came into the kitchen, “Lauren, someone named Derek is on the phone, wishing to speak to you.”

“Thanks, Timmy, I’ll take it in my bedroom.”

I looked at Merry, “Merry, Dad and I have some questions for you.  Would you mind if Mother and Tanner sat in on the conversation?”

“Why would I mind, I’ve nothing to hide, and you people have shown me what a functional family should be like.”

I motioned for Dad and Mother to follow us into the den or office.  When we were seated, I went for the jugular vein, “Merry, when you heard that Tiny Tim and Meredith’s father’s name was Herschel Blackstone, it was like a curtain went across your face.  Lauren told me that you go by Merry Black, but that your passport shows that your name is really Laurie Blackstone.  Would you care to enlighten us as to what the problem is?”

Merry got red in the face, “Am I that transparent?  For your information, I think that Mr. Blackstone is my father.  I haven’t seen him since I was two years old, when he and my mother got divorced.  Somehow my mother had obtained a court order forbidding him to ever see her or me again.  When I was younger, he used to send me cards and things on special occasions.  My Mother said that he had gotten married when I was about six and there was no more correspondence from him.”

“My mother’s parents had died when I was about five, and Mother inherited a huge sum of money which she said her ex was never going to get his hands on.  Mother was so paranoid that I was changed in and out of schools so often that I was never able to catch up with my peers.  My mother took me to see more psychologists and psychiatrists, and they kept giving me more drugs and Mother had me convinced that I was the scourge of the earth because of the genes that I had received from my father.  How could I not loathe the man?”

Fortunately, Timmy knocked on the door. “Daddy, Mr. Blackstone is on the phone.”

“Thanks Timmy.   I’ll take the call in here.”

Dad pushed the speaker, “This is Beau Benson.”

“Mr. Benson, this is Herschel Blackstone.  We were able to get two seats on Frontier Airlines and we’ll be arriving in Omaha at two o’clock.  The unfortunate thing is that we were only able to get four seats on the same plane back to Los Angeles on Tuesday morning, leaving at six o’clock in the morning.  I’ve made reservations for us to spend the night at the Airport Inn, near the airport, since we have to show up at the terminal at four thirty in the morning.  Hopefully someone will be able to take us to the hotel, tomorrow night.”

I laughed, “This is Brian, we’ll be able to get you to the hotel on time.  We have some big surprises for you, when you get here.  We’ll see you when you arrive, tomorrow.  Have a good night.”

Dad laughed, “Brian, you’re playing mind games with Doctor Blackstone.  He’ll probably call back wanting to know what’s happening.”

“So, let him.  I’m not available to talk anymore tonight.”

Tanner spoke up, “Merry, I was watching you, Little Tim and Meredith while you were eating and many of your features are the same, what if you find out that you and Meredith were half sisters then you would have the same name.  That could create a problem.”

Merry finally laughed, “Tanner, we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.  I need to go take some pills.  I’ll see everyone in the morning, when we go running.”

The young people were in the kitchen, eating Christmas cookies and drinking milk.  After they were finished, we suggested that they get ready for bed. 

To be continued...

Editor's Notes: This situation with Merry and the man who is most likely her father is very complicated, isn't it?

We still don't know why Tiny Tim is on crutches, and I don't suppose we will for a while, I mean, at the rate this is going, I don't expect to find that out for several more chapters, which should take us about half way to New Years.  I wonder if the twins could be allowed to go along on the skiing trip. Imagine Tiny Tim, trying to ski while on crutches. Grin. 

I can hardly wait for the next chapter!

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 11/26/10