Chapter 8 #3
He’d never forget the first time he realized how special Locke was as a brother.
He’d given up everything so that he could be a nurse for Martha when she got into her golden years.
They’d all had jobs and homes, but he’d stayed with her until the very end.
Making sure that she could have her one request granted and die at home.
He’d done that and more for her while the rest of them had gone on with their lives like nothing was in their way.
It wasn’t as if they didn’t love her. They all had and thought of her as the mother figure they’d never had.
But when she’d gotten ill that last year, it had been Locke who had stayed with her night and day to make sure that she wasn’t in any pain when she took her last breath.
He’d done that for her, and he’d never regretted it once.
When Shipley said that she was ready to go, he gathered up the boys and made his way to his brothers.
He would tell them all goodbye, as if he’d never see them again, when they were to have dinner together tomorrow night.
The six of them would meet weekly on Thursday night just to be together.
The wives did the same thing on the same night, too.
On his way home, they stopped for dinner.
While there had been cake and vegetables around, there weren’t enough calories in it for three growing boys.
Their favorite place to eat was fast food; it didn’t matter what kind, and that’s where they went.
He could enjoy a good burger, too, but his favorite was pizza.
He could have that every day and all day if it came from the place on Main Street.
Shipley said that she didn’t care for it and that had gotten her booed by the four of them.
She was only kidding to get them going, but it was fun.
After dinner of burgers and shakes, they went home.
Summer was just making itself known to the area, and he was looking forward to it.
He and the boys would enjoy the pool year-round if it were heated, but theirs wasn’t, so they had to enjoy it when they could.
Most of the warmer months they’d be found outside around the big pool, and that was true of the other homes too.
All of them that didn’t have pools had put one in so that they could have the comforts of jumping in when they were hot and having a good splash.
That night, when the boys were getting ready for bed, he marveled at how big they were getting.
Taller than some of their cousins, he wondered if they’d take after him.
He was just over six feet five inches and towered over most of the other brothers.
The only one that was taller than him was Zander, and he was six foot seven inches tall.
After getting the boys to bed and reading them a story, he went back to his office to finish up what he’d been working on when they’d had to leave for the party at the hospital.
It was the quarterly reports for each of their investments and how much they’d made or lost. There were a few of the latter of their spreadsheets, and he was happy for that.
Printing out the sheets of paper, he knew that he’d give them to them tomorrow night, but they’d not look at them until they got home.
That was their time with family, and he knew no business was discussed while they were together.
It was a good rule that he actually loved and was glad that they all abided by it.
Going up to bed around midnight, Shipley was already asleep.
She really had worked hard today, and he didn’t blame her at all for being asleep before he got to bed.
Crawling in beside her, she wrapped her warm body around his and snuggled up under his chin.
He was nearly asleep when she spoke to him.
“ I’ve been thinking about what we’re going to do this summer with the kids.
I’d love to take them to DC and let them see the places that we’ve been to before without them.
” He asked her if that was a good idea; they were terribly rambunctious.
“ I know, but I’m in the mood to see all the sights again.
We haven’t done that since our honeymoon.
If they get too much out of hand, we’ll drop them off at my sister’s house and go see the sights without them.
You know that she’d be able to handle them without any trouble. ”
“ Yes, but she’s married to the president now, and she might have a bit to do on her calendar.
” They both giggled. Amanda had married Brad Hayden when he’d been vice president, and they were the happiest couple that he’d ever known, with the exception of them.
“ She really does have a lot on her calendar. But I know if we were to ask, she’d clear her schedule and take them for the day.
Can you imagine what the Oval Office would look like with their four and our three?
I shudder to think what the people in the offices might think of us if we were to do that. ”
“ I was just kidding. She would take them, however. Even if they had to go to some party that she and Brad are headed to. I love her to pieces, but there are times when I think there’s something wrong with her.
Who likes to be around that many kids all the time?
” He said that she’d always loved children.
“ Yes. And with her expecting another one, it’s hard to believe that she’s going to be the mother of five soon, and living in the White House.
They wanted a family man in the office, and they certainly got that when he was voted in. ”
“ Yes, I’ll say they did.” He continued to hold Shipley while she laid in his arms. At some point, she must have fallen asleep again and he watched her.
She was the most beautiful creature that he’d ever seen, and he didn’t tell her often enough, he thought.
As she rolled away from him, getting to her side like she liked to sleep, he thought of the first time he saw her and was blown away once again that she was his.
When he woke up the next morning, he was alone in the big bed.
He could hear the kids down the hallway and wondered what they could be up to so early in the morning.
Getting up to get a shower, he knew that he had a few things to finish up before tonight, so he wanted to get a good start on them.
As soon as he made his way to the kitchen, he realized it was much later than he’d thought. It was nearly lunchtime for the boys.
“ I’m making grilled cheese for the boys, sir.
What would you like to eat with them?” He told their cook, Andrew, that he was all right with grilled cheese, too.
And soup. “ Tomato is what is simmering on the stove if you’d like that.
Or I can get you some veggie soup that was left over from the day before yesterday. ”
“ Tomato.” Nodding once, Andrew said he’d get right on that and asked where Shipley was. “ I thought she’d be right here in this mess, as I know she loves grilled cheese sandwiches.”
“ She had to take a call. It couldn’t be avoided.
” It was from the president then, and he nodded.
“ The boys are set to head to their aunt Mandy’s home today.
She has some project for them so that they can work for her.
Then there is the party for their oldest’s birthday.
Mr. Demi is picking them up so that they can be there on time.
He said that you tend to be a little late when you’re busy. ”
“ Good. I don’t have to leave until I’m ready.” Shipley joined them in the kitchen then and had herself two grilled cheeses and a bowl of soup. She said that she was expecting some papers today and would he mind if they came in through his fax machine. “ Forgot your number again, did you?”
Laughing, she said that she had, but it didn’t matter.
His was as secure as hers was, and that was all that mattered.
As soon as the boys were picked up and he was in his office, Shipley joined him.
After getting her paperwork, she was off to her own office to do what she did best. Keep America safe from the bad guys.