#31
"Clora, how do you think the meeting went. Did I handle the money thing correctly?" Evie was so tired that her 'thinker' wasn't 'thunking' correctly and the normally self assured woman had grave doubts about her abilities.
"I think it went better than I expected. Gram, you were ...may I call it delicate...as you gave out the money. The only thing that bothers me is Brett. We have always been such a tight knit family, and that was a real rude way he bowed out of working with the guys." Clora expressed her opinion very frankly.
"I happen to agree," Sandy chimed in. "Something has really bitten him in the butt, and he's acting like a hemmorid."
"Please watch your language Sandra," Evie reproved with a yawn. "He definitely has a problem, we can wait for him to grow up and deal with it like an adult, or not."
Sandy had bee watching Clora like a hawk. "Tell me, sister dear; what has put the mushy, moony look on your face?"
"I'll be dammed, look at that Grandma; she's blushing like a ripe tomato." Sandy clapped her hands together in glee. "Oh Clora, did you get a kiss?" and she made smacking noises with her mouth.
"Sandra Hanson, do you want your mouth washed out with soap?" Evie tried to sternly reprimand her granddaughter, but lost the battle with her own giggles. "I take it Clora, that your meeting was a success.?"
"Yes," was all Clora would admit. But she had that goofy, dreamy expression that belied her intention.
"I'm going over to sit with Auntie Inga, the chair in her room is more comfortable than this one," Sandy blew Evie a kiss and walked out the door making smoochy sounds, laughing all the way down the hall.
"What a brat," Clora sounded impatient, and then stopped with a sigh. "He sure is handsome Grandma, he's working really hard to get better. I'm OK'd to see him for a few minutes every day." She absently touched her bottom lip, smiling that small, secret smile that happens when a woman is falling in love.
Evie nodded, her eyes closed and drifting towards sleep.
Cassy and Cheryl put the children to bed and then joined the discussion happening around the picnic table. It was safe to say there was disbelief at the amount of their good fortune.
"Wow, I never had a clue," Ev and Wayne said at the same time, each pulling back when the other spoke. "Where in the world did one little old lady get that kind of cash. A couple of years back you guys were poorer than church mice." Ev stated the obvious.
"Hey, I'm gonna let Gram tell you the story, at her discretion." Ben spoke. "I only know bits and pieces of it, but it has something to do with Pete."
Rubbing on the back of his neck, Ben said, "The thing that really interests me, is that paper that we found in Inga's trunk. I've got to get in touch with Jennings and see what has become of that particular item."
Under his lashes, Ben watched Wayne's reaction. Something was bugging Wayne as bad as it was bothering Brett. Ben didn't like lying, but no way was he going to admit that he knew about the money. Grandma had put him in a bad situation, but she must have had her reasons for not including Wayne in the secret. To himself, Ben thought he'd better put some thinking in about that problem.
"I don't know about you guys," Will spoke quietly, "but Cassy and I are going to find a motel for tomorrow night. She need's a little bit of comfort and a secure place to sleep. She's starting to get pretty stressed." He reached for Cassy's hand and placed it on the table. In the flickering lantern light, it was easy to see the haggard lines in Cassy's face.
"Probably not a bad idea," Ev agreed, much to Cheryl's relief. Neither woman had said anything against their living situations, but being inside, on a bed sounded like heaven. Lainey sat leaning against Ben, thinking about a long, luxurious bath and a regular bed and pillow. Smiling, she sniffed the ripe smell of her man, a man that had scooped poop and walked to and from that work. A small delicate cough covered her discovery giggle.
"I'll take first watch," Ben spoke tiredly. "Let's break it into 3 hours tonight. That way we all get a little more sleep."
"Agreed," Wayne yawned.
"I'll take second," Will stated. The camp settled in for the night, Lainey bunking by herself as Clora and Sandy were still at the hospital. She wished Ben would hurry up with his next move, she was ready to get married. Clora had advised her to keep cool and let Ben do the leading, otherwise he just got stubborn and wouldn't budge an inch. Men! she thought as she dropped off to sleep, can't do with them...can't do without them.
Morning started when Brett open the diner with more noise than usual. Ben pulled the sleeping bag over his ears, hoping to shut out the clanging and banging that was floating out the back door of the café. Today they were going to move camp further away from that fat headed jerk purposely making more noise than reasonably necessary.
Ben had spent his night thinking, which, as he rubbed the back of his neck unconsciously was probably a danger to the world.
First of all, it was time to marry Lainey. He finally felt ready. He hoped she was ready, it was going to happen today one way or the other. It felt good to have a completed decision.
That problem taken care of, he cranked his super sharp mind into high gear and burst out of bed ready to change the world.
By the afternoon, the wedding procession walked to the hospital where they were to meet with the Chaplin in Evie's room.