One Starry Night

 

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Introduction

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Chapter 1

Rachel Donovan couldn’t believe she was having this fight again. Henry poured himself a drink and thought carefully about his next words, it was barely light out and he already had a whiskey in his hand. Rachel didn’t comment on it, but she longed to.

    “Evelyn is dead, and her kids have nowhere else to go.”

    “There’s a system for that,” Henry spat out disgusted that Rachel would even consider taking in two orphans, “plus she was your step sister.”

    “Henry, I’m taking these children, if you don’t want to. then you know where the door is.”

    “Rachel, you can’t be serious, we live together.”

    Rachel snorted at this, “Live together? You think having one drawer and staying every other weekend is living together?”

    The doorbell rung at the most opportune moment. This meant that Henry couldn’t bring up his old argument of his job being in the city, and Connecticut being so far away and the commute being horrible. Rachel gladly went to the door, swinging her long blonde hair over her shoulder.  

    “I’m Hope Cassidy from Child Protective Services, we spoke on the phone. Can we come in? It’s mighty cold out.”

    The kids weren’t dressed for cold Rachel noted and stepped back. It was fall in New England winter was quickly coming to their small town, but the children were dressed in pants and long sleeved shirts too thin to keep out the cold, neither had hats or gloves. What kind of people who claimed to protect  children couldn’t even put them in a winter coat?

    Henry had left the living room and came back down with his arms full of his clothes. He left his key on the front hall table and Rachel waved to him and gave a condescending “toodles.” he left with his snobbish nose in the air.

    One problem out of her life, now to deal with the one on her doorstep.

“Zachary,” that was the older one right? “You can figure out Netflix okay?”

One dark head bobbed and he helped his younger brother onto the large leather sofa. Rachel watched as he gently tucked him under one of her grandmother’s hand sewn quilts.

Rachel followed the woman into her kitchen so they wouldn’t be overheard by tiny ears.

    “There was an accident, a few days ago, drunk driver.” Hope said wringing her hands, “The kids weren’t in the car, they were home with a babysitter..”

    “I’m glad you called,” Rachel blew out a breath she didn’t know she had been holding, she had been woken by a phone call a few nights before informing her generally what had happened. She hadn’t even thought about it, she immediately agreed to take the boys in. “Evelyn stopped talking to the family, she was my step sister. For a time. We both left the family.”

    “ You are listed in her will, she was adamant about that. That her parents not get the boys. Sean had no family.”

    “Well I can understand why,” Rachel put a cup of tea in front of Hope and considered her options. She knew that Evelyn’s mother had remarried, and who she was currently married to Rachel had no idea. She also know the woman was barely mature enough to care for herself let alone two little boys.

    “I know on the phone you said to bring them, but if you’re alone. If you can’t take them, or won’t,” Hope cleared her throat, “their only option is the system, and most likely apart, Zachary is ten and getting him adopted-.”

    “Ease up on the guilt trip,” Rachel held up a hand, “I get it. I’m their only chance at some kind of home. And some home it would be. Not that buffoon was really father material.” Rachel waved this away, “I want them to stay. We’ll be some kind of family.” Rachel smiled to herself, she could make it work. It had to work.

    She had lovingly redone the colonial and even though it was very homey she hadn’t a clue how to care for two boys, and she had no husband or prospect. Although taking Henry out of the equation was a positive in the long run.

    Did the boys even want to live with her? Did Evelyn maybe have friend who would be better suited? “Zach can you come in here for a minute,” she called.

    Zach came in and clasped his hands in front of him, “yes Aunt Rachel?”

    “Hope said that you guys can stay with me if you want. And it’s definitely fine with me. But I think you’re old enough to have an opinion about this. Do you want to stay with me?”

    Zach shrugged and looked at his feet.

    “That’s not an answer,” Rachel said sharper than she meant.

    “Daddy said you were the wicked witch of the north.”

    He would have been right. Rachel didn’t take offense to the fair characterization. She had been obsessed with making her next dollar for over a decade and a half, all so she could be self sufficient from controlling parents. She had spent too much time worrying about her career and now that she was on top, as far as she could go she had no idea what to do with it. That was why she had bought the run down house six months ago. Now that it was finished it felt empty alone, and Henry hadn’t done much to fill the void. She had wanted to get back to her roots and finding everything about the grandparents she had once loved was beginning to help.

    “He might have been right, but I promise to do my best to be a good guardian to you and Jacob.”

    “They’ll split up me and Jake.” Zach looked down at his feet, “if we don’t stay.”

    “Yes, they might,” and the thought broke Rachel’s heart. Hadn’t these two been through enough? She should have made the decision for him, not put it on a ten year old’s shoulders. In the end she knew what it felt like to be ten and have your family change irrevocably without your consent.

    “But we could stay here? You’d take care of us? Forever? They won’t take us away?”

    “I’ve never been a mom,” Rachel admitted, “I’ve never really been around kids, you’d have to be patient with me, and teach me all of the important stuff. Okay? But if you want this, you and Jake will never go anywhere else. We’ll be a family.”

    Zach considered this, “Jake’s my little brother, and Mommy always said I had to look after him. He wouldn’t be okay without me. We’ll stay.”

    “Okay.” Rachel turned to Hope, “are there papers I sign, is there, is someone handling the house in South Carolina?”

    “I have that all with me,” Hope said, she patted her pockets as if the papers, contracts and gobs of legal legwork would appear, “In my car, I’ll go get them.”

    “How about some hot cocoa?” Rachel said to Zach. He nodded his head furiously, “did you have breakfast on the road with Ms. Hope?”

    “No ma’am.”

    “Okay go get your brother, I think I have some yummy cereal in the house, but we’ll need to go shopping later.”

    Zach brought Jake into the kitchen, the small boy was shivering and had his tiny fist wrapped tightly around a well loved blanket. He held an arm out to Rachel and she picked him up settling him on her hip, okay she could do this. She mentally prepared herself as she made small talk with the toddler. She didn’t have any kids toys for them to play with, or any clothes, but the mall was close. She hadn’t really believed someone would show up on her doorstep with the two children and whenever she saw kids clothes in the store she had absolutely no idea what size they would need, if they needed clothes at all.

    “The school year has already started,” Hope explained, “Zachary was home schooled, and Jake is only three so he wasn’t going yet. Their medical records will arrive tomorrow, via fedex.”

    Hope laid the papers out and started to explain them. Rachel would be getting a guardianship, she could legally adopt them if she so chose, and that was something she would have to talk about with her lawyer. Once she found a new lawyer, having just kicked out her old one.

    “Juice,” Jake declared holding out a fist.

    “Milk first,” Zach admonished going into the fridge. He blushed, “Mom says the juice isn’t good for his teeth so in the morning he needs to drink a glass of milk then he can have a small glass of juice.”

    “That sounds like a good rule,” Rachel said pulling down a cup. She had no kids cups, no plastic. She held the glass that Zach poured to Jake’s mouth and he slurped at the milk. “Do you boys have winter coats?”

    “Not really, it never got cold in South Carolina,” Zach explained.

    “Okay, and since school started, I don’t know how to homeschool.”

    “I can go to a regular school.” Zach poured dry cheerios for his brother and sugary Lucky Charms for himself. He blew on his hot cocoa and sipped it with care. Rachel couldn’t help dropping a hand to his head as she stood by his shoulder. He ate his cereal while offering his brother cheerios at short intervals. Jake refused to be put down so Rachel held onto him. She kept contact with both boys hoping they felt like a unit. Her only goal was to give them solidarity, permanence and guidance. She could do that couldn’t she?

    “We’ll get the paperwork, but Zach should be in fourth grade.”

    “Fifth,” Zach corrected absently. “Mom and I did fourth over the summer.”

    “Okay.” Hope noted it down.

    Rachel could do anything with a plan. She had Zach give her all of the rules his parents had set and put them on the fridge. Zach seemed pleased with that. Like herself he seemed to thrive on structure, she was starting to guess Jake was a loose cannon as he slumped over against her fast asleep. Next she unloaded all of the clothes that had been packed for them and took inventory of what they needed.

    “Jake still wears diapers at night,” Zach pulled them out.

    It wouldn’t always be this easy, she knew that, but maybe she could make it work.

    She had three bedrooms upstairs. “Do you boys want your own rooms?” One had been her home office, but she would be glad to give it up and move it to the main floor if they wanted their space.

    “Want sleep with Zach,” Jake leaned into his brother, still drowsy from his earlier doze.

    Zach didn’t look too pleased but resolutely responded, “I don’t mind.” Ever the brave soldier, Rachel pursed her lips as she thought.

    “Hmm this bed will have to go,” Rachel took in the gorgeous antique bed, it would be such a shame. It was such a nice piece, but storage was always an option, or getting rid of her home office, “but we could get something else in here, maybe bunk beds?”

    Zach’s face lit up, “Really?”

    “I don’t see why not, Zach, you’re old enough to sleep on the top.”

    “Okay,” Zach nodded trying to envision the room. “We have beds at home though, in South Carolina. Those are fine too.” He looked down at his feet embarrassed.

    “I’ll have to go down and see what to do, we can bring some things up, your toys and clothes, but before I can get down there we need to have a room for you here too.” Rachel nudged him gently and said in a whisper, “plus you need your own bed.”

    “I’m going to go throw some clothes on, stay with Ms. Hope okay and we’ll head out to the store.

    Rachel changed quickly into jeans and a sweater. She had nothing warm for the kids to wear so grabbed two sweatshirts. They would be swimming in them, but they would be warm.

    They went out front and Hope went into her car to pull out the car seat, “It’s a loaner, his was destroyed.”

    Jake hid next to Rachel’s shoulder, “We’ll buy him another one at the store, do you want to follow us so you can leave from there?”

    “Sure, Zach you will be okay and if you need anything-,” Hope let that hang and hugged him tight.

    “I have your number Ms. Hope, thank you.”

    Rachel turned the radio on in her range rover as they drove to the closest Target. She figured it was the best place to get everything they needed.

    She pulled in and after helping Hope take back the car seat headed towards the store with Jake on her hip and Zach holding one finger, so Jake knew the rules, not because he needed to. He was ten after all.

    “Zach do you mind pushing a second cart? I think we’re going to need it.”

    “Okay,” Zach pushed the cart sometimes riding on it.

    Rachel went to the car seats first and examined each one. After she googled all of them for safety ratings she picked the one that she thought would keep Jake the safest and grow with him, once he was five she could pull it apart and have a booster seat until he was ten.

    She grabbed two packages of his overnight diapers, they would do for now and she was sure there was a place to get them online regularly if need be.Then they headed to the clothes section. They each had a few changes of clothes, but would need full winter gear. Boots, hats, gloves, and coats all went into the cart.

    Rachel grabbed two plastic inner tubes and added them to the cart.

    “What’s that for?” Zach asked.

    “Sledding, you know the big hill on the back of our house?” Rachel asked.

    “The steep one?”

    “Yeah, come winter it’s the best place to go sledding. You ride the tube in the snow.”

    “Really?” Zach’s eyes widened, “We’ll have snow?”

    “Of course.” Rachel scoffed, “It wouldn’t be Christmas without snow.”

    When Zach’s face fell Rachel knew what he was thinking, she knew he was worrying over the holidays to come without his parents.

    “We’ll make it a good Christmas. And we’ll write to Santa early so he knows where to find you guys okay?” Rachel gave in and gave him a fierce hug, she felt warmth wash over her when he returned it.

    “I miss them.” Zach’s voice was so small, and so sad. It was as if he was finally being the scared little boy that would fit the situation. It almost undid Rachel.

    “Oh, sweetie, I know.”

    “I want mommy and daddy to come back,” and Zach started to cry. Without thinking Rachel plucked Jake out of the cart, and sat on the cold ground, she pulled Zach into her as well and let them both cry in her lap. A man walking by stopped. Rachel recognized him, Keith Baron, he lived across the way from her, he had just moved into the other colonial that needed major work. She had introduced herself to him once, but it had just been in passing.

    “Rachel you okay?” He asked he had dark shaggy hair and wore a heavy LL Bean jacket. He hadn’t shaved in a few daw and was probably working through the winter on his house. He had scuffed boots and worn jeans, sawdust in every line and crease.

    “We’re fine,” Rachel said squeezing both boys, “just having ourselves a good cry.”

    “Big boys don’t cry,” Zach sniffled. He wiped his tears and stood up stealing himself. “I’m Zachary McCade, this is my brother Jacob.”

    Keith  crouched down to try and be everyone’s height and so Zach could tower over him. He took the boy’s hand firmly and looked him in the eye with the same seriousness he was receiving, “Keith Baron, I live just across the street from Ms. Rachel.” Keith knew she had no kids, so he naturally wondered where the two boys with dark hair had come from. They were so different in coloring and looks from Rachel who was fair skinned, blonde hair and blue eyes.

    “Really? The blue house that’s falling down?” Zach said then winced, “sorry that was rude.”

    “No, fair point, it definitely was falling down, but everyday I build it a little bit stronger.”

    “You build houses?” Zach’s eyes went wide, “My daddy builds houses. Built,” he corrected himself looked downwards again.

    “Maybe one day you could come help me work on it,” Keith offered. He saw a little boy hurting and couldn’t leave it be. “and big boys definitely do cry, check his out,” Keith held up his thumb which was black and blue across the nail and an angry red color around the edges, “happened this morning, and boy did I cry.”

“Did you use a bad word? Whenever Daddy got hurt he used bad words.”

“A few,” Keith admitted, “My daughter wasn’t very pleased with me.”

“Where is she now? How old is she?” Zach asked looking for her.

“She’s going to be eleven after Thanksgiving, she’s at her aunt’s for the weekend.”

“Oh, I live with my Aunt now,” Zach said.

Rachel had just stood by keeping Jake occupied while Zach carried on his conversation, “My mama and daddy died.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Keith murmured and Rachel could tell he was. “How about if it’s okay with Aunt Rachel.” Keith knew to preface the request, “You can come over to play tomorrow, Rachel and Jacob can come too. Annabeth should be home around lunch time.”

“Sound fun, Zach?”

“Yeah,” Zach nodded to his aunt.

“We would love too, I’ll bring some lunch for everyone.” Rachel put a hand on Zach’s head, just a little bit possesive that had Keith smirking.

“That is very much appreciated, we don’t have a stove yet, just the fridge and microwave,” Keith said standing to his full height.

“Oh um, any allergies? Vegetarian? Gluten free?”  Rachel asked feeling Zach starting to fidget beside her.

“You make it, we’ll eat it,” Keith replied.

“We’re the same,” Zach pointed to his chest proudly. “I’m a garbage disposal.”

“Why don’t you go look at some warm long sleeved shirts and pick out the underwear you like. But stay close,” Rachel called for he had already dashed away.

“You okay?” Keith asked in an undertone.

“Oh we’ll be fine. We’ll figure it out.” Rachel gave Jake another squeeze. “I was wondering, since you’re here,” Rachel cleared her throat, “I might need some help moving some things, I want their bedroom set up as soon as possible, we’re buying bunk beds. And the in and out of the car, moving the bed already in the room. An extra set of adult hands might be necessary.”

    “Yeah I can help.” Keith dropped the wood glue into the cart that Zach abandoned.

    “Oh I meant you can come over later,” Rachel blushed. “I can take everything apart and have it ready to go.”

    “I know, but I have ulterior motives. I’ve seen your house in magazines, I want to see it in person.” Keith winked and Rachel couldn’t stop the laugh. It felt good to laugh. “Did you really make all the curtains yourself?” The fell into step together moving through the aisles.

    “I craft when I have free time.” Rachel replied, “sewing or crochet mostly. Since I work from home I can carve out whatever schedule I want.”

    “Alright I need your going rate because Annabeth has this crazy princess room in mind, and the tulle and taffeta is boggling my mind.”

    “I could help with that.” Rachel agreed, “now, which bunk bed do we want boys?”

    They picked one with two twin beds and after finding an extra guard so Jake wouldn’t roll out, even from the bottom bunk, Rachel was satisfied with his safety.

    She got baby gates for the top of the stairs not wanting him to topple down them and for the basement.

    “I’m a big boy!”Jake declared.

    “Yes you are, and so help me god if you climb over these little monkey you’ll be grounded until you’re twenty,” Rachel tickled him making him laugh.

    She looked at food trying to decide what to make for lunch and dinner. Zach’s stomach was rumbling but she knew he would never speak up. She needed things for his school lunch as well, and Zach could barely contain his excitement when he got to pick out an Ironman lunch box and matching backpack.

    “Okay, we’re fast fooding it on the way home,” Rachel decided, “we can lament about how unhealthy it is later, but I’ll make a super healthy dinner.”

    Zach nodded, “we like broccoli, and asparagus, and peas.”

    “Seriously?” Both adults said at the same time.

    “Well I’m kidnapping them,” Keith decided, “hey when you meet Annabeth you tell her how awesome those vegetables are okay?”

    “My mom grew them in her garden, they tasted good because they were made with love.”

    Well if that didn’t beat all, Rachel rubbed at her chest where an uncomfortable feeling had set in. Keith too was looking downwards and blinking furiously. “Okay, well we can do a chicken casserole, and for lunch tomorrow with the Barons how about lasagna, and garlic bread with a salad.”

    “Your Aunt is going to spoil us,” Keith told Zach.

    “She and my mom both liked to cook. That’s why Mama wanted her to watch us if anything happened. Once a year on March fifth we’d write a birthday card to Aunt Rachel. Mama would talk about her.”

    Rachel thought of her birthday cards all unopened, she wondered just how many she had from her step sister. How many pictures of her nephews growing up that she missed out on because she had cut off her family.

    Evelyn had reached out to her more than once it seemed, trying to have some bond, just in case. Rachel’s guilt over that wouldn’t abate any time soon. These boys were with her, a virtual stranger and were putting a lot of faith in her.

    Once the boys were loaded into the car Keith helped Rachel move the purchases to the trunk and strapped the bunk bed to the roof. Rachel had turned the car on and music to drown out their voices.

    “How are you holding up?” He asked in an undertone so he wouldn’t be overheard. “This has to be a shock.”

    “Evelyn was my step sister, we got along while her mother was married to my father but when they split we lost touch. She tried, but I just didn’t know it. And now, well, I have her two boys. And I have no idea what I’m doing.” Rachel leaned against the side of the car, resting her head there for a minute, “I literally have no idea what I’m doing.”

    “Clothes that fit, food that’s mostly healthy, brush teeth, wash behind the ears, don’t let them grow up to be an axe murder.” Keith ticked off on his fingers.

    “Quite an extensive list.”

    “My wife made it in the hospital before she passed, she figured if she used small words even I could follow it.”

    “I’m so sorry for your loss,” Rachel put a hand on his arm and meant it.

    “Thank you. Annabeth and I do well, except she’s very into these girly things and I have no idea about ballet or dolls.”

    “Do you have any of your wife’s clothes?” Rachel asked.

    “Um what?” Keith wondered if this was her way of gauging if he had moved on or not.

    “Sorry just a thought that came to mind, something I saw on Pinterest. Guilty pleasure.” Rachel said, “I was thinking when I go down to South Carolina to pack up their house I would bring back some of their parents clothes. Sew a teddy bear or a blanket, pillows for them.”

    “That would be,” Keith looked amazed, “I have a box, do you think, I have a picture.” He pulled out his wallet and in it was a faded picture of his wife holding their daughter who was no more than an infant. “I have this dress still, a few other things, if you made her doll clothes, a blanket. It would mean the world to her.”

    “Of course.”

    “They’re just sitting in a closet and I can’t think of anything better.”

    “Perfect. Well I’ll grab some heart stopping burgers on the way back to my place and we’ll see you there.”

    “Okay I’ll pick up the clothes, do you have tools or should I bring some?”

    “I have tools,” Rachel said scoffing, “of course I have tools I’m a homeowner.”

    Rachel noted what she wanted to bring up from South Carolina for the boys, definitely as many as Sean’s tools for Zach as possible. Whatever she could fit. She wanted some clothes as well to do a teddy bear for each boy from Evelyn’s Pjs and maybe pillows and a blanket from Sean’s work shirts. Her list making in the parking lot slowed her down and when she got back home Keith’s truck was already out front.

    “Thought you got lost.”

    “In a list, sorry.”

    “That’s fine,” Keith pulled out the box of clothes and brought it to the front porch. “Going to be my helper, Zach?”

    “Yes, sir.”

    “You can call me Keith, if it’s okay with your Aunt.”

    “Fine by me,” Rachel ushered Jake in and pulled off the oversized sweatshirt. She turned on the TV in the living room and brought up Netflix. He had a few trucks that Keith worked on getting out of the packaging.

    “Need a chainsaw?” Rachel asked as he used scissors and a knife.

    “Feels like it.” Keith muttered.

    “Go upstairs, second door on the left. I saw Zach steal away with one of your screwdrivers, I have a feeling that bed might be in pieces by the time you show up.”

    Keith handed the toy over and went to work on the bed. Jake had found a show he liked and pointed to the screen until Rachel queued it up. She gave him the trucks she had finally freed and went into the kitchen to put the unhealthly lunch on plates.

    She put the children’s ware that she’d bought in the dishwasher and started the new clothes and sheets. Keith had convinced her to get two mattress covers, just in case there were accidents and three sets of superhero sheets for each bed.

    “Soup’s on!” Rachel called. It felt good to do so, to hear the thundering of feet on the stairs as they came into the kitchen. Keith chased Zach into the kitchen got him around the waist and threw him over his shoulder.

    “I win!” Keith called putting Zach behind him and sitting at the table.

    “You cheated!” Zach retorted sticking his tongue out at him. Keith returned the sentiment.

    “Hey, hands, in the sink, with soap,” Rachel called to the room.

    “Yes ma’am.” Three bowed heads went to the sink and washed up.

    “You grew up in Northridge, right?” Rachel asked Keith as she helped scrub Jake’s hands. Rachel had known that, whenever she was in town people spoke of him, and they spoke well of him. Keith Baron was a fixture in this town, their own golden boy. He had married his highschool sweetheart and had a real gem of a daughter. He was a small business owner that was highly respected. All of the women tended to bat their eyes or fix their hair when he was near.

    “Yes, and came back after Lucy died, a few years ago. I was staying with my parents. Still do sometimes. Annabeth likes heat and hot water.”

    “Can’t blame a girl,” Rachel murmured, “Thanks for helping with the bed, and letting Zach help.”

    “He’s a good helper,” Keith said placing a hand on his head, “he knows his screwdrivers.”

    “And wrenches,” Zach put in.

    “Yes, and wrenches.” Keith helped Jake into a chair and Rachel cut up his food, “If you ever need help, Annabeth and I are just down the street. Don’t be afraid to ask.”

    Rachel blew out a breath, “I’ll need help. I know I will. These boys are wonderful, but I’m in way over my head.”

    “You’re doing good Aunt Rachel, we have winter clothes now, and I’ll start school Monday right?” Zach asked.

    “I’ll have to check on that.” Rachel would need to do that sooner rather than later. “I do need to go to South Carolina, and handle the house and moving, just for a weekend. I don’t have anyone to watch the boys.”

    “And you don’t know me well enough,” Keith guessed, “I get it. I have the number for the school though, I’ll leave it with you.”

    “I don’t know how this works, I don’t have family I can call or friends in the area. I do most of my work out here or travel into the city.”

    “What about your boyfriend?” Keith tried he had seen the man a few times in town, thought it was a pity that someone as vibrant as Rachel was with someone who looked so dull.

    “Oh that ship sailed.”

    “He doesn’t want kids?” Zach asked.

    “No, you guys had nothing to do with that.” Rachel hadn’t even thought of Henry since he left hours before. “You’re perfect and anyone would be lucky to have two such wonderful boys.” Rachel was fierce in reassuring them. “It’s just going to be us. Okay?”

    Zach looked sad but nodded his agreement. It would be hard for someone who worshipped his father so much to not have that in his life. Rachel could only hope Keith was as wonderful as everyone thought and would be willing to guide Zach a bit.

    Rachel helped put the bunk bed together and invited Keith for dinner, “I guess I could stay,” Keith said when he smelled the chicken casserole she’d made.

    “It’s better than a sandwich since you have a fridge and microwave I’ll package up some leftovers for you.”

    “My kid is going to to run away and beg you to feed her. I assure you she is not in need of assistance.”

    “And you think Zach won’t be over there trying to build your house?”

    Keith laughed, “I think it will be good for them. How about Friday you and the boys come with us to my parents for dinner, if you feel comfortable after that I could watch the boys any weekend you needed to go.”

    “You wouldn’t mind three kids under under ten on your own?” Rachel asked.

    “Two nights, we’ll be fine.” Keith shrugged. He was helping her do the dishes while Zach stood by to dry and put away.

    The laundry buzzed, “I help Mama fold and put away laundry, she said when Jake’s older he can help too.”

    “Okay, perfect.” Rachel agreed. “We’ll make a chore chart, and allowance maybe starting at five dollars a week?”

    Zach once again showed his gratitude at the  structure and keeping things the way he knew by nodding vigorously.

    “I might not give him back if he’ll do my dishes,” Keith said watching him run to the laundry room, “And laundry too?”

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Chapter 2

When dishes were finished Keith said his goodbyes. The boys wanted him to stay and play trucks or army men, to watch movies but he knew he had to get back to his own project. He promised to see them tomorrow and found himself going home with a container of chicken casserole. He had Rachel’s number and he had left her with his and the school’s. He told her to call if she needed anything. He would probably eat the casserole standing up at the counter that night while catching up on the work he missed. His parents were at the house doing paint in Annabeth’s room.

    “Thought you went out for wood glue?” His Dad called. It was almost six hours later than their original phone call to set-up a time to work on the house.

    “I did, I sent you a text.”

    Daniel Baron pulled out his old style flip phone and scowled at it.

    “I told you it was beeping,” his wife, Bonnie chastised.

    “Sorry, I should have called that I wouldn’t be back, my neighbor across the street.”

    “The fancy real estate woman?” Bonnie cut in.

    “Yes, Rachel Donovan.”

    “She never participates in town events, she’s been here months now that house is finished. Did she hire local to fix that house? No, brought in a fancy New York crew. Has she ever come to bingo? No. Town hall meeting? No. What could she possibly need you to do on a saturday?”

    “Her step sister and brother-in-law were killed and she just had two boys fall into her lap who need family. She was sitting on the ground at Target with both of them crying in her lap because they miss their parents. She had to start from the ground up, winter clothes, a few toys, school supplies for the older one. She needs to go down to South Carolina to pack up their house and move some of their things north. She offered to sew doll clothes out of some of Lucy’s old things for Annabeth.” Keith said knowing his mother would feel bad.

    She put a hand to her mouth and two tears escaped, “those poor babies.”

    “I invited them all to dinner Friday so Rachel can get more comfortable with me. She may be gone for a weekend so I’ll watch her two boys.”

    “That’s so nice of you,” Bonnie hugged her son tightly, “those poor babies. I should make some brownies and bring them over.”

    “I think Rachel would appreciate that. She’s bringing the boys by at noon tomorrow with lunch and said she would help work on the house. She did a wonderful job on her place so I’m pretty excited for her input.”

    “Good, well it sounds like you’ve got a good neighbor now,” Daniel said opening a beer.

    The house was in shambles, the kitchen was almost finished the washer and dryer had arrived and so had the dishwasher. The oven was late and Keith hoped it would be there by monday. Annabeth had real room with a real bed, the paint would be finished by the end of the day. They only had one functioning bathroom, but the master was next on Keith’s list, after the kitchen was done. Keith was a builder and it paid to have a dad who was a carpenter who shared his trade. He had set the completion time for Christmas, he just hoped he could make the deadline.

    “How old are the boys?” Bonnie wondered.

    “One is Annabeth’s age, the other just out of the toddler phase.”

    “And she has a boyfriend right? The man who drives the Jag?” Daniel asked.

    “He is apparently out of the picture,” Keith shrugged, “she doesn’t seem too broken up about it.

    “What’s that smell?” DAniel asked ever the bloodhound.

    Keith tried to hide the tupperware behind his back, too late. His father snatched it from him and had popped a piece of the casserole in his mouth long before his son could stop him.

    “Wow,” he said reverrantly, “marry her son, she’s a keeper.” And he retreated to the kitchen with the casserole to finish it.

 

    Rachel woke to the sounds of screaming and for a second had no idea where the sound came from. Once she remembered her nephews were asleep in the other room she sprang into action. Jake was crying and calling out in his sleep. Rachel picked him up as Zach climbed down from the top bunk.

    “I want mama,” Jake cried.

    “I know sweetie,” Rachel murmured. “I know.”

    “Sleep with you?” Jake asked.

    “Of course baby, c’mon.” Rachel lifted him into her arms, “Zach do you want to come too?”

    “No, I’m fine.”

    Rachel pretended to be asleep when Zach came in five minutes later, the next morning she pretended not to notice when he left. The poor kid was trying so hard to be strong. Rachel showered and dressed and when she finished Jake was just sitting up and rubbing his eyes.

    “Let’s get some clothes on you, monkey. And some food in that belly.” Rachel scooped him up and took him back to his room. Zach was already downstairs cartoons on the TV and a bowl of cereal in front of him. Rachel placed Jake beside him and went into the kitchen for their breakfast. It was cozy watching Sunday morning cartoons and eating cereal.

    “What will happen to our house? All our toys?” Zach asked.

    “I have to go down and pack some things up. I’ll bring up all that I can okay?”

    “Okay.”

    “Is there anything you really want?” Rachel asked.

    Zach shrugged, his usual non-committal way. Rachel was starting to realize that it meant he wanted something, but didn’t want to ask for it.

    “Well, you’ll probably stay with Keith and Annabeth when I go, so I can send pictures and you can tell me what you want.”

    “It’s just a house,” he told himself.

    Rachel knew that but she wanted him to have some parts of home. After a morning of lazing about in front of cartoons they packed up and walked down to Keith’s house. Annabeth was just getting out of the car. She was a beautiful blonde haired girl with green eyes and a big smile.

    “Hi!” She said waving and running right up to them. “I’m Annabeth!”

    “Zach,” he held out his hand and she shook it, “this is my brother Jake, and my Aunt Rachel.”

    “We brought lunch and told your Dad we would help with the house.” Rachel explained.

    “Cool!” Annabeth said and climbed the steps of the wrap around porch. She burst through the door calling for her father, Rachel and the boys followed. Keith came out of the living room, sawdust in his hair and peppered all over his clothes.

    “Hey you made it, coats off, but it’s still cold so keep the hats on.” Keith instructed.

    “This is hot now and since we don’t have a stove to reheat,” Rachel held up the lasanga.

    “Good point, alright troops to the mess hall!” Keith led the way to the kitchen and pulled out plastic ware. Rachel spooned out food for them and they all sat around the kitchen table eating and talking.

    Zach and Annabeth tried hard to find common ground, she was strictly a Barbies kind of girl, and he was entrenched in the GI Joe camp.

    “How about,” Zach suggested, “your Barbies get kidnapped by the evil lord and the GI Joes come and save them?”

    “That sounds fun!” Annabeth replied.

    After lunch was cleared Rachel followed Keith to the living room. He was painting the walls in this room. He lifted up part of the tarp so that Rachel could see the perfectly restored floor.

    “Is that stone fireplace original?” Rachel asked.

    “Every piece, there were a few loose ones, but I already fixed them up.”

    “Amazing.” Rachel ran her hand over the old stone and wondered about the person who built it with their own two hands.

    “It’s more work that I thought, this place.” Keith blew out a breath, “but the roof doesn’t leak, and one bathroom works so that’s something.”

    They worked until dinner time, Jake had conked out on the couch in what would be Keith’s office.

    “Want me to carry him back?”

    “No no, I can manage.” Rachel bundled him up and Zach said goodbye.

    “It was fun playing with you Annabeth.”

    “You too Zach. I can’t wait for snow so we can go sledding at your house.”

 
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