Love Refound
by: E Walk
(© 2008 by the Author)
 

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...

Chapter 30

Disaster Strikes

I was feeding Benji when Jeff came in.  “I’ll finish feeding Benji so you can get dressed.  Cole is already in the stable, taking care of the horses.”

I got dressed and went to talk to Cole, “Cole, I’ll meet you at Dr. McGee’s office at ten minutes before nine.”

Cole looked up, “Mr. C., I’m nervous about going to the eye doctor.  What if she finds something wrong and has to operate, or what if she says I need glasses?  I can’t play football with glasses on.  Mr. C., I’m sorry about yesterday morning, but I meant what I said.  Don’t worry, I’m not going to quit.”

I was trying to decide how to respond, but Cole spoke again before I could say anything.  “Mr. C., yesterday was the first time in a very long time that someone has hugged me and it felt so right.”

The conversation was interrupted by Jeff, “Breakfast is ready.  Cole you can change your clothes after breakfast  in my room if you want.”

“Nah, I’ll take a quick shower here in the change room.  My clothes are already there and I can change back into these clothes when I get back from the eye doctor.”

As we were eating, Autumn looked at the two young guys, “Cole, why don’t you take Chef Jeff to the grocery store after he’s finished throwing out everything, so he can restock the pantry and the freezer, since he finds them to be in such bad shape.  Here’s a dollar.  That should cover the bill.  Take my debit card and don’t lose it.”

Jeff started to laugh, “Cole, it sure is easy to see whose going to be the boss in this family.”

Autumn reacted, “Watch it kid or you will be riding your thumb home.  I need to go.  I’ll be so glad when June is over.”

I met Cole in the parking lot at the medical building where Doctor McGee had her office.  Cole checked in and we were seated in the waiting room where he had to fill out a form.  After Cole turned the form into the receptionist, he was sitting on his hands and his knees were bouncing up and down.  “Cole, relax!  This is going to be painless.  It’s just an eye exam.”

Several older patients checked in at the reception desk. Cole looked at me, “Mr. C., I feel so out of place here.”

“Cole, what are you talking about?”

“It’s like this is a place where old people come.”

“Cole, it sounded to me as if perhaps Trent and Trevor have been here. I wouldn’t consider them older people.”

Our conversation was interrupted by a young man, “Mr. Cole Weaver.”

Cole stood, “Mr. C., aren’t you going with me?”

“Cole, there’s nothing that I can do.  Just relax.”

I could hear the two talking while the young man was checking Cole’s vision.  “Cole, I’m going to put some drops in your eyes.  I’ll be right back.”

I heard the young man talking to someone but couldn‘t make out what they were saying.  He reappeared, “Mr. Christiansen, Doctor McGee would like to see you in her exam room.”

I followed him to a room where a middle aged lady was standing looking at a chart. “Mr. Christiansen, I’m Heidi McGee.  From the results of the testing that Dean has done, I would say that Mr. Weaver has some serious vision problems.  I think it would be best if you were in the room while I examine him, since I understand that you’re the person who arranged for the appointment, according to my nephew, Clark.”

I will say Cole had a very thorough eye exam and I was beginning to feel sorry for the people who were waiting.  When Doctor McGee finished the exam, she laid it on the line, “Cole, you have heavy cataracts on both eyes, which is extremely rare in someone as young as you.  I want to see you back here tomorrow morning at 7:30.  We’ll take care of one eye then, and we’ll schedule the other eye for next Monday at 7:30.  You might want to make sure that you have someone with you to drive you home.”

We’ll make another appointment for a total eye exam the following Monday to see if there are any other corrections that we need to make.”

As we were leaving, I paid the bill with my debit card and the receptionist handed Cole a pair of disposable sunglasses, “You might need these; it’s going to be very bright out there.”

When we got to the truck, Cole turned to me, “Mr. C., thank you and I do love you.  I’ll see you later.  I need to get back and take Jeff and Benji grocery shopping.  Don’t worry, I’ll drive very carefully.”

The eye surgeries went fine and Cole could actually see again. He complained loudly but it was fun watching Trevor, Jeff and Trent showing him how easy it was to read.  It was as if a switch suddenly flipped and Cole realized that he could read and he began to read whenever he could.

When July came, Autumn was always complaining because there was nothing to do because the guys had a routine and she was always in their way.  The guys would most times take Benji with them wherever they were going. 

The fence was progressing nicely.  I tried to help but the four guys decided that I was inept as a fence builder.  They were so meticulous and what they had done looked so great that Uncle Howie hired them to do the same thing to his spread.  Of course that led to Leonora wanting her white fence too.

My parents arrived on July 12^th and Benji was taken over by them.  Jeff had moved to the basement so my parents could have the room next to Benji.

Disaster struck on the 13^th. Autumn, Jeff, my parents and I were eating dinner when the phone rang.  Jeff went to answer, “This is Benji Christiansen’s residence.”

“Hi Cole, what’s the problem? … Okay I’ll put Uncle Doug on.”

“Uncle Doug, Cole has a big problem and he needs your help.”

I took the phone, “Cole, what’s the problem?”

“Mr. C., my Grandpa just died.  He had a heart attack or something and keeled over.  My Grandmother is beside herself and I don’t know what to do?  Please come and help me!”

“Cole, I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

I explained what was happening and my Dad, being who he was, said, “I’ll go with you, Doug.  You have never had any experience in dealing with a tragedy like this.  I may not be of much help either, but two heads are better than one sometimes.”

When we arrived at The Shack, Cole was sitting beside his Grandmother.  “Grandma, it’s okay.  Grandpa was just tired and God needed his help for something.  We’ll be okay.”

His Grandmother was almost in a comatose state and wasn’t saying anything.  My Dad went to his car, which he had driven, and got some pills.  I guess I forgot to tell you that my Dad was certified family practice physician.  He maintained his certification but had a very select and limited clientele.  My parents both had gone into semi retirement when I finally got my bachelor’s degree from Harvard.

Enough digression from the story.  When he returned, he handed Cole a packet of pills, “Cole, take your Grandmother home and have her get in bed and give her one of these pills, and then come back and talk with Doug and me.  We’ll make sure that the restaurant is fine.”

The restaurant was busy and it seemed impossible that the people were impervious to what had and was happening. It was as if they were all lost in their own little worlds.”

Cole finally returned, “Grandma is resting.  Now what do I do?”

Dad asked, “Cole, how late is The Shack open?”

Cole took a deep breath, “We close at nine.”

Dad nodded, “We’ll stay and help you close,  tonight.  Did your Grandparents always close the restaurant?”

“No, they usually left after the initial dinner rush and Jim would close and take the money to the bank.  Jim has worked for my Grandparents forever.”

I could almost hear Dad’s mind working, “Cole, why don’t you go get this Jim person, so we can talk to him?”

Cole returned with a middle aged gentleman.  “Jim, this is my boss Mr. Christiansen and his father.”

Jim looked me up and down, “So this is the scrawny man whose son stole you away from us?”

Jim shook our hands and Dad started, “Jim, would you be able to manage the restaurant while Cole and his Grandmother make arrangements for Cole’s Granddad?”

“Mr. Christiansen, I have been running this restaurant for the last three years, ever since Cole’s Granddaddy had his first heart attack.  I have been trying to buy the restaurant from him, but he was a very proud person and thought he was invincible.”

Jim looked at Cole, “Cole, after you make sure your Granddad has been taken care of properly, you need to help me convince your Grandma that she needs to sell the restaurant, to me, of course.  I have worked here ever since your Grandparents opened it.  I started as a busboy and worked my way through college with the tips I made while waiting on tables.  This restaurant is like a second home to me.”

Cole started to laugh, which was a good sign.  “According to Allan, this is your first home.  I suppose you will be wanting to buy the house, too, so you can sneak home and have a quickie when it’s quiet and he can get away from yanking out people’s teeth.”

Jim chuckled, “Now that you mention it, that’s not a bad idea.  It might be good to get your Grandma away from here so the memories of the good years won’t be so vivid.”

“Misters Christiansen, would you please come back in the morning and help me with making the funeral arrangements?  I have no idea how to proceed, and I’m afraid Grandmother isn’t going to be in any condition to handle the problems without some help.”

Dad spoke up, “I’ll be here to help.  I’ll meet you at your house at nine.  Doug, needs to go to work since he is pretending as if he is the big cheese.  Besides, he’s never had to deal with anything like this.  He’d probably blow it.  If things are quiet at the college, he can come and try to help.”

Cole hugged my Dad, “Thank you, Mr. Christiansen.  I realize that your son has some shortcomings, but I really respect him.”

Cole hugged me, “Mr. C. would you and Miss Autumn try to attend the funeral and could you please bring Benji?  Do you think Jeff, Trevor, and Trent would be pallbearers?”

I hugged Cole, “I’m sure we can arrange for Benji to be at the funeral  for you.  As for the guys, you need to ask them yourself.  Some of us will see you in the morning.”

As we were driving back to Summerhill, Dad looked over at me, “Doug, I get the feeling that young man is in love with you, isn‘t he?  You haven’t done anything with him have you?”

“Dad!  I haven’t done anything with him and am not planning to.  Let me explain what has happened.”

By the time I finished recounting what had happened, Dad shook his head.  “Doug, I don’t know what to say.  Just be the best friend that you can be without encouraging him.  You have a lovely wife and a beautiful son.  Don’t risk losing them.  Cole is young and will probably get over the attachment that he has for you and Benji.”

When we got to Summerhill and explained what was happening, my mother took a totally different slant on the matter.  “People, this is the perfect opportunity to make sure that Benjamin will be well taken care of when everyone starts back to school.  Autumn and Douglas, you need to have a trailer moved here so Mrs. Weaver and Cole could live in it.  That way Mrs. Weaver would be here to watch Benjamin. Cole could take care of the horses before he went to school in the morning.”

Jeff had been listening, “While you’re at it, why don’t you have a heated walkway between the house and the trailer so Cole’s Grandmother doesn’t even have to wear a coat in the wintertime?

In fact, you should plan to start building on to the house.  Where are you going to put any extra kids when they arrive?  You’re running out of bedrooms.  Is Benji going to have to sleep in the stable?”

I could hardly stop laughing, “Jeff, why aren’t you with Trevor?”

Jeff was ready, “Because the guys had to go to a meeting with the their parents and your uncle.  If you will excuse me, I’m going to retire to my dungeon.  If per chance Trevor should pop in, send him down.”

My mother looked around, “I hate to say this, but I think that fourteen year old has some good ideas.  You should look at building on to this house.  I can almost envision a wing on either side of the existing structure.  That way when the next children arrive they will have plenty of room.  While you’re doing the remodeling, would you please make sure the guest suite has a whirlpool bath?”

“Mom, our first order of business has to be to assist Cole and his Grandmother with the funeral arrangements.  After that, we’ll look at adding on to the house.”

I knew my Mom and once she decided she wanted something to happen, it was going to happen.  “Douggie, you and your Dad worry about helping Cole and his Grandmother.  Autumn and I will start looking around for someone who can add on to the house and check on getting a trailer here as soon as possible.  I’m not going to have Benjamin going to any daycare facility.”

Autumn and I were lying in bed reviewing everything that had and was happening and Autumn looked at me as we were going so sleep and she dropped another bomb, “Doug, I think I may be pregnant.  I have a doctor’s appointment next Monday.  That may mean that I will need to resign before school is out next year.  I can put in my resignation papers early  so the district could hire a replacement for me to start at the beginning of the second semester.”

I was speechless.  I started to stutter, “Dddo yyyou rrrealize that will mean that we will have two children under the age of one in the house.  I guess we had better make sure that we can get Cole’s Grandmother here to help us?”

“Doug, let’s not say anything to anyone else just yet until it has been confirmed.  I'm almost afraid that your parents as well as mine will go into high gear if I am indeed pregnant.”

To be continued...

Editor's Notes:  I would say that high gear doesn't begin to cover what is going to happen when everyone finds out that Autumn is pregnant.  I think Cole and his grandmother are really going to have their hands full.  All in all, I think that will be a good thing.  It will take their minds off the loss of Cole's grandfather.

This chapter certainly had a lot of activity in it. I am glad that Cole had his operation and can now see better. 

As Always, I am ready for more. 

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 07/10/09