Date: Thu, 4 Apr 2002 23:22:59 EST
From: Bwstories8@aol.com
Subject: The Castaway Hotel-book 5  chapter 1

Legal Notice:
The following story contains descriptions of graphic sexual acts.
The story is a work of fiction and has no basis in reality.

Don't read this story if:
**You're not 18 or over,
**If it is illegal to read this type of material where you live,
**Or if you don't want to read about gay/bi people in love or having sex.

The author retains copyright to this story.  Placing this story on a
website or reproducing this story for distribution without the author's
permission is a violation of that copyright.  Legal action will be taken
against violators.

I wish to extend my thank you to Ed for his editorial assistance with this
chapter and to Ataan for his suggestions about the storyline.

If you have enjoyed reading this story, you will find other stories by me
at http://members.tripod.de/wolfslair, in the 'Other Stories' section.

E-mail responses to the stories, story suggestions, or other 'constructive'
comments or advice may be sent to: bwstories8@aol.com.

                  *    *     *     *     *     *     *     *

Although the boys in these stories have unprotected sex, I strongly urge
all of you out there to be smart and protect yourselves from various
sexually transmitted diseases by using condoms when having intercourse.

                    *    *     *     *     *     *     *     *

The Castaway Hotel-Book 5-by BW (Young-Friends).  Copyright 2002 by billwstories
Chapter 1 - Picking up the pieces.                January 2002

During the time I was in the hospital, I was kept sedated so I would have
time to recover and heal.  Therefore, I don't know much of what actually
took place during that time and all I do know of that period are the things
that others told me later.  I suppose it would be helpful if I recapped
those events for you, letting you know what happened after I was admitted
into the hospital, following my heart attack.

I understand the scene at the cemetery was extremely hectic and unsettling.
I was told that the boys feared the worst, especially after remembering the
second part of Graham's prediction about Brent and me.  The adults did all
they could do to keep the boys from becoming completely hysterical,
especially after I was taken away in the ambulance, trying to explain that
I had finally succumbed to the pressure of all that had transpired, but
they suspected I would pull through it and be fine.  Even Graham tried to
comfort his brothers, by explaining to them that the shadows he had seen
around me had never been that dark, which he interpreted to mean that I'd
be in the hospital for a while, but I would survive.  This did prove to be
reassuring to many of the boys.  There was one exception, however.  Due to
his unique relationship to both Brent and me, Kevin was in the worst shape
of them all.  He had just lost his latest boyfriend and now he was fearful
of losing his father as well, which caused him to figuratively fall apart.
It began with his sobbing and screaming when he saw me collapse, but then
he continued to question why all these bad things were happening, wondering
if it had something to do with him personally.  The adults tried to use
logic to calm him down and dissuade his fears, explaining that what
happened to Brent was merely an accident, but what happened to me was
because I had also internalized his death.  They tried to explain to him
that something similar might also happen to him, if he didn't quit blaming
himself or thinking that all the bad things that happened had a direct
connection to him.  They weren't sure how much, if any of this, he actually
understood, but they felt it had to be said.

One of the most impressive things I later discovered was how the maturity
of some of the boys shone through.  Danny, for instance, took charge of his
brothers during that period and came up with a way to get them to calm
down.  He suggested they all kneel and pray, right there in the cemetery,
asking God to pull me through and to give them all the strength to help
each other to get them through this darkest period of their lives.  The
boys followed his lead, and that seemed to be the key to get the majority
of them back in control of their emotions and fears.  After the prayer,
Danny and Brandon took special interest in Kevin, also soliciting help from
Dustin and Nick in the process, and they helped to reassure Kevin that he
was not alone and that they would continue as a family, no matter what else
would happen.  It was Danny and Brandon who convinced their brothers that
Uncle Jake would be true to his word, and he would stay there and keep them
together regardless of whatever else should transpire.  They also spread
word among the boys that Uncle Jake would probably still be there, even
when I did return home, as they thought they recognized something else
growing between us.

It was also that pair who also took over the leadership role in the home,
helping to keep things running smoothly and keeping everyone on top of
things, as I would have done had I been there.  They helped to make sure
that Dustin and Frankie didn't give in to their grief and not go on with
their own future.  They talked the pair into going on to college, even
though I was still in the hospital, explaining to them that I would have
made them do the same thing, if the roles had been reversed.  The duo
helped Dustin and Frankie pack their things, went over their college
information packets with them, and helped to reassure them that everything
would be fine and they'd keep in constant contact with them, letting them
know everything that was happening back at home.  Danny and Brandon also
made sure all the athletes got signed up for their fall sports, not
allowing them to sit out just because I was out of action, and they helped
to organize meals and do many of the other mundane tasks of the home that I
used to take care of.  Jake told me later that he was totally in awe of how
those two managed to stay in control and keep their wits about them, no
matter how unsettled things became or how worried they were about me
personally, and he told me he doubted he could have done much of what they
accomplished without their help.

Danny and Brandon were also the ones who helped console Graham, who still
blamed himself for allowing all of this to happen.  Graham still clung to
his belief that he could have prevented this from happening by being more
assertive and convincing me that Brent shouldn't be allowed to go on that
trip.  Graham not only blamed himself for Brent, but he also felt that my
heart attack was just an extension of that tragedy, and they were part of
the same failure on his part.  The pair reasoned with him, using many of
the same arguments as I would have, telling Graham that if it hadn't
occurred the way it did, then something similar would probably have
happened and we'd still be where we were now.  After discussing this on
several different occasions, they finally got Graham to concede and accept
the fact this what had happened was inevitable and couldn't have been
stopped and the only thing that made him feel more responsible was the
insight he had that the rest of them lacked.  Finally Graham accepted the
logic that he was merely the harbinger, not the author of the tragedy, so
he began to quit blaming himself for everything that had happened.

Danny and Brandon were also the ones to whom Graham went to after something
unsettling happened to him, something he wasn't sure he'd be able to tell
anyone else about.  After thinking it over and debating his options, he
finally went to his new 'father figures' and asked for their guidance.
After debating this all day, he concluded that they were the only ones,
besides me, that he'd feel comfortable discussing this with.

"Danny, Brandon...I need to talk to you alone...about something I saw."
The pair recognized the extreme concern on Graham's face and took him to
their room where they could handle his concerns in private.  Once they were
there, Graham told them what was bothering him.  "I'm not sure if you're
going to believe me, but I saw Brent and he spoke to me."

"You saw WHO?" Danny asked, not sure he heard Graham correctly.

"I saw Brent.  I was in my room alone, thinking about Dad, and suddenly
Brent was there.  I thought I was dreaming, so I blinked a couple of times,
but he was still there when I reopened my eyes.  After I stared at him for
quite some time, he finally began to communicate with me.  He didn't speak
to me directly, but he showed me things and I was able to understand what
he meant by them.  He showed me the wrecked SUV and let me know that he
didn't blame anyone for what had happened, that it was just an unfortunate
accident.  Then he let me know that he was doing well and was just worried
about the rest of us, especially Dad.  He wants me to tell him that he's
okay and that he thanks him for letting him go on that trip, even if it was
the last one he'd ever take.  He told me that he wants me to whisper that
in Dad's ear...in the hospital."

"But how can this be possible?" Danny wondered aloud, still confused.

"I don't know and nothing like this has ever happened to me before, but
Brent is telling me I'll be seeing him a lot from now on.  He says that he
will be my spirit contact and guide, so I can pass messages along from the
other side."  Graham was very serious about this, making sure we knew this
wasn't some sort of a joke, and he told us Brent had been pleading with him
to do this.

"How long have you been seeing him?" Danny questioned him.

"For a couple of days.  At first I didn't want to believe this was
happening or accept that I was able to see him, but Brent is becoming more
and more insistent that I must do this for him."

"But how does he let you know these things, if he doesn't speak to you
directly?" Brandon inquired.

"He shows me things and somehow gives me the impression of what he wants me
to know."

"Dang, this is really spooky!" Brandon exclaimed.

"I know.  I was scared to admit this to anyone at first, or even believe it
was real, but Brent's convinced me that he's not going to let me ignore
him."

"But why you?" Brandon asked him.

"Think about it, Brand," Danny told him, "whom else would he come to.
Graham's always had these special abilities none of the rest of us have or
really understand, so who better to communicate with than the one who
warned everyone that this would happen."

"Yeah, I guess you're right there, but damn, this is spooky," Brandon
concluded.

"Tell me about it," Graham stated, his eyes bugging out.  "How would you
like to be the one who your dead brother decided to communicate with?  I
mean, Brent and I weren't even really that close when he was here.  It's
not that I didn't like him, but he was closer to some of you than he was
with me."

"Yeah, but you're the only one with this gift, this ability to see and
understand things the rest of us can't," Danny told him.

"Gift?  Maybe you think it's a gift, but it sure can be scary and hard to
accept sometimes."

"I know, but God wouldn't have given it to you if he wasn't sure you could
deal with it," Danny added.

"Now you're beginning to sound like Dad," Graham responded.

"Thanks," Danny said with a huge grin.  "That's the best compliment you
could have ever given me."

Graham asked the duo not to tell anyone else about his 'gift' or disclose
what he had told them about it.  After asking their advice as to whether he
should do what Brent had requested, he enlisted their help to get into my
hospital room alone, so he could whisper what Brent wanted him to say into
my ear.  They agreed to assist him and they set about making a plan to do
this.  They thought it best to do this in total secrecy, without having to
explain to the others, including Jake, what was going on.  They devised
their plan, which was kind of appropriate, and determined they would set it
into motion on their next visit to the hospital.  Now that everything was
agreed upon, they just had to wait for their next opportunity to set it
into motion, but that wouldn't take very long.

Later that afternoon, Jake told the boys that they would all be going to
the hospital to visit me.  He had only allowed these visits every few days,
to allow me time to recuperate and regain my strength, but he felt the boys
and I would both benefit by another visit.  He did forewarn them I was
still heavily sedated and probably wouldn't know they were even there, but
they still all wanted to see me anyway.  When they got to the hospital,
Danny and Brandon announced that they thought they should all go to the
chapel to say a prayer for me before they visited, which everyone else
thought was a super idea.  The duo knew this would give Graham the
opportunity to slip away to my room alone, and they hoped that no one would
notice his absence.  Everyone but Graham went into the chapel, as he
slipped away as they entered, but Cole soon realized his brother was
missing and started asking questions.  Seeing their cover was blown, Danny
and Brandon decided that part of the truth might assuage the others.  They
explained they had set this up so Graham could speak to me alone, so he
could come to grips with all that had happened and possibly quit blaming
himself for his inability to prevent it.  The others accepted this
abbreviated explanation, knowing how Graham had been beating himself up
about what had transpired, and they agreed with the pair that this was
probably a good idea.  Due to their acceptance of this less than complete
explanation, Danny and Brandon didn't have to disclose more, so they were
able to keep their promise to Graham too.  They all said their prayers,
asking God to not only help me but to give them all the strength to get
through this rough period of their lives, and this gave Graham his time
alone with me.

Graham came to the room and walked up to the bed.  He stood there looking
at me for a time, before he moved closer.  By the time he bent over to
whisper in my ear, there was a tear running down his cheek.  "Hi, Dad.
It's Graham.  I just came to tell you that I've seen Brent and he wants me
to let you know that he doesn't blame anyone for what happened and that
he's okay. I know, I know, you probably don't understand how this can be
either, but Brent has shown himself to me.  He says that he's going to be
my spirit contact and guide, passing messages on from the other side, so I
can give them to the people they're intended for.  I tried to tell him that
I didn't want to do this, but he told me I have to, because there's no one
else who can do this.  So you're the first one to receive one of these
messages.  He told me to tell you that you're going to get better and that
you have to keep the family going.  He said to let you know that you will
still have some lingering problems from this heart attack, but you'll
survive and you'll be back home soon.  He also says you'll have to
relinquish some of your control over the family, at least for a while, but
Jake and some of the older boys will help you do this.

"He also told me to tell you that he loves you, that he thanks you for all
you did for him, and for letting him go on that trip, even considering what
happened.  He wanted me to also tell you that the time he'd been part of
our family was the best part of his whole life and that you and Kevin
finally taught him what love was all about.  He told me to tell you that he
decided to keep in contact, through me, because of that love, and he would
try to help take care of the family, even though he wasn't there to do it
in person."  Graham said that at this point he saw a tear release from the
corner of my left eye and roll down my cheek, so he knew that I heard and
understood the message.  He wiped the tear from my face using his sleeve,
so he wouldn't have to explain it to his brothers later, and then he sat in
the chair and waited for the others to arrive.  He knew they'd eventually
discover him missing and he had planned to tell them that he just needed to
talk to me alone.

When the first group of others arrived, nothing was said to him, and he
wondered if they hadn't noticed or whether Danny and Brandon had told them
about his secret.  Graham left the room and went to the waiting room, as
there was a limit on the number of visitors I could have at one time, so he
waited patiently until Danny and Brandon returned to the area.  After
gaining a reaffirmation from them that they hadn't betrayed his trust, he
was able to feel good about everything, especially about what he had just
done.  By the time they returned home, he knew he had one more task to
perform, one that was even harder than the one he had just completed.
After everything had quieted down and everyone had gone to their rooms, he
went to Kevin's room alone, to pass on another message from Brent.  Kevin
was surprised to see Graham there, but he patiently listened to his story
about how Brent had come to him and about the messages he'd been asked to
pass on to me from Brent.  After an initial bout of shock over this news,
Kevin finally spoke.  "I knew he'd find a way to contact me," he told
Graham, his face glowing.  "So what did he want you to tell me?"

"He told me to tell you that he loves you, and always will, and he wanted
me to make sure I told you that your last time together was the most
special of all."  Kevin blushed at this comment, not knowing if Graham had
been told that this was because they had made love before Brent went on
that trip, but it didn't matter now.  It only mattered that Brent still
cared.  Graham had seen Kevin's attention drift, so he paused before he
continued, but now he knew he could finish what he had to say.  "He also
wanted me to tell you that nothing could have been done to prevent what
happened to him, that he didn't suffer at all, and that he's doing fine
where he is.  He also wants me to let you know that he wants you to find
someone to take his place, so you can be happy again, though he will be
waiting for you when your time comes to join him."

"He really said that?  He really wants me to find someone else?"

"Kevin, he loves you very much and he wants you to be happy.  If he can't
be here to make you happy, then he wants you to find someone who can."

"He was always so special and so thoughtful.  Can you tell him I'll always
love him too?"

"I don't have to," Graham said, with a slight grin on his lips, "because
he's always with you and he says he'll watch over you until you join him."

"He will?  He said that?"  Kevin was really pleased by that news, until
some other implications about what that would also mean began to sink in.
"Does that mean he'll be with me if I find someone new and make love to
him?" Kevin asked, looking very concerned now.

"No, Brent said he'd give you your privacy at those times, but he'll be
beside you at all times but those."  Now Kevin looked relieved and he was
in better spirits than he had been since we learned of Brent's death.
Maybe now he'd be able to make peace with what had happened and be able to
go on and start over once again.

Over time, things began to settle down for everyone.  After Dustin and
Frankie had left for college, Danny and Brandon took over my job of
preparing meals, doing the shopping, and making sure all those other menial
tasks got done.  Kevin would have probably assisted them in these efforts,
had he not been dealing with so many personal issues, seeing they were the
three seniors and the oldest ones at home.  Fortunately Danny and Brandon
understood all this and never put any pressure on him to help share this
load.  Jake told me later that he had been there physically, so no one
could say there wasn't an adult in the home, but the boys took care of
everything else and he hardly had to lift a finger to keep things running
smoothly.  He told me how he kind of let Danny and Brandon take charge of
all of the household duties, as he wasn't sure he could manage taking care
of that many boys in the first place.  He also emphasized how impressed he
was with how the older boys helped the younger ones through that period,
calming their fears and reassuring them that everything would work out.  He
told me how he often saw them talking to individual boys or working with
small groups, answering their questions, listening to their concerns, or
helping them solve a problem, but he said the most memorable thing he saw
was one night when he went up to check on everyone and he found Sammy and
Andrew cuddled up with Danny and Brandon on their bed.  He said that he was
touched by how the older pair was willing to give up their time alone to
comfort their younger brothers.

Shannon also did what he could to help and he spent a great deal of time
with the boys around his own age, doing whatever he could to maintain a
normal atmosphere.  He and Nick seemed to hit it off almost immediately,
though I'm sure it was just another of Nick's flings, but he also became
friends with Trey and Dion as well.  He and Pat also hit it off, even
though Pat had become much more independent and more of a loner after
having lost his eyesight.  It wasn't that he didn't appreciate the others'
company, but now he didn't seem to have the same need to always have others
around or to be part of a group.  Instead, he threw himself into his
studies and other pursuits, deciding to take advantage of the use of his
good eye for as long as he still had it.

The boys had also made sure that they put Jake in my room while I was in
the hospital, for a couple of reasons.  First they figured he was now the
adult in the home and he should stay in the adult's room, but I think they
also had the ulterior motive of getting him used to sleeping in that room,
so he would continue to sleep there even after I returned.  After all, they
had been trying to fix us up with each other for quite some time, and this
wasn't about to stop just because I had suffered a medical setback.  They
also made sure to talk to him about me, under the disguise of unburdening
their souls, remembering various fond times we had together or reminiscing
about things I had done for them, but they were actually trying to impress
Jake even more about what a great catch I'd be.  Those little devils had no
shame.

By the time my doctors decided to remove me from all the drugs and let me
regain consciousness, I'd been in the hospital almost three weeks.  The
first time the boys saw me with my eyes open and alert, they acted as if
they had just received the Christmas present they had always dreamed of.
Each group of visitors began to jump around all excited, talk at once, and
then interrogate me about when I'd be coming home for good.  I also had to
fight to keep myself from getting overly excited, as it was definitely good
to see my boys again, especially this happy, but I didn't want to risk a
relapse and end up confined to the hospital for an even longer period.
Before each group left the room, we made them promise not to tell the
others of my change in condition, so they'd be just as excited and
surprised when they entered.

Before their next visit to the hospital, the boys decided in advance that
it might be best for all of us if we were to spend a few minutes alone with
each other.  One by one, the boys would come in and spend time with me.
Most began by asking me how I was doing or telling me how much they missed
me, but then we'd get into much more personal issues.  I think the two most
poignant visits, however, came from Kevin and Graham.  When Kevin came in
to see me, I was surprised to see him smiling as he entered.  Not only did
I remember how difficult this had been for him to deal with, some of the
other boys had told me how withdrawn he had become.  When I asked him how
he was doing, he hesitated briefly before he spoke.  After taking a few
deep breaths, he began to tell me what I wanted to know.

"I still miss him, Dad.  I really do and I probably always will, but after
Graham told me that he didn't suffer, that he was all right, and that he
was watching over me, it made it easier for me to accept it and go on.  I
don't know if you know this, but Graham told me that Brent said our last
time together was very special to him, and that's when I knew that what
Graham was telling me was the truth.  That night with him was very special
to me too, and something I will remember for as long as I live."  Kevin had
this glow on his face as he told me this, and I could tell that he was
temporarily reliving those wonderful moments.  After he composed himself,
he continued with what he wanted to tell me.  "I'm sure glad that you're
doing better now, because I don't know if I could have handled losing you
too.  I may not tell you this often enough, Dad, but you mean so very much
to me.  You've been there for me through some of the darkest days of my
life and you've helped me cope with things that I probably couldn't have
handled without you being there for me.  No matter how many bad things have
happened in my life, they'll never add up to equal the most wonderful thing
that ever happened to me, and that's meeting you and becoming part of this
family.  I love you, Dad, and I want you to be around until I'm old and
gray too."

Needless to say, I was quite choked up by his comment and it took me a few
seconds before I could respond.  Once I collected my emotions, I responded
to his comments.  "Well, I don't know if I'll be able to keep that promise,
but I'll be here for you as long as I can.  No matter what you think or
say, I'm the one who has been truly blessed.  You have been a ray of
sunshine for me and we've always seemed to have this special bond, and I
wouldn't want to think what my life would be like without you in it.
Having you and your brothers in my life reenergized me and gave a new
purpose to my life, and I'm just glad I was able to be there for you during
the good times and the bad."  We hugged after that and Kevin gave me a kiss
on the cheek, before he told me that he'd be fine and that I was to hurry
up and get well so I could return home.

By the time Graham got in to talk to me, I had heard so many positive
things about him from the others that I'd began to look at him in a new
light.  His ability to communicate with Brent had seemed to put everyone at
ease, letting each of them know that death was not something to be feared
or continually grieved over.  It also seemed to reaffirm our faith in God
and our belief in an afterlife, strengthening those concepts that we
sometimes seemed to question when things didn't go as we wished.  As he
walked toward me, I flashed him a big grin and thanked him for passing on
Brent's message.

"I knew you heard me!" he exclaimed, sensing that news had helped me to
recover more quickly.  "It was even hard for me to believe, that I actually
communicated with him, but I knew you'd believe me, even if nobody else
did."  His smile spread from ear to ear, and he seemed so proud and excited
that he might burst, and then he came over and gave me the biggest hug I
had received thus far.  As he was squeezing me around the neck, he suddenly
pulled back, a look of concern now covering his face.  I must have looked
bewildered, for I actually was, but then he went on to explain.  "I wasn't
hurting you or making it hard for your heart to work, was I?"

Now I understood what was going through his mind and sought to ease his
concerns.  I smiled at him, pulled him down to me, and returned his hug.
"If anything," I whispered in his ear, "that hug helped to heal my heart
and make it work better."  After hearing that, he hugged me again, even
harder than he had before.  When he finally released me, he looked down at
me and responded.

"Well, I'll come here every day and hug you more, if that means it will
help you get back home sooner."  I responded by pulling his body against
mine, hugging him once more, and whispering words of gratitude as I did so.
After we hugged like this for a while longer, I told him how truly special
he was and that God had chosen very wisely when he gave Graham this unique
gift.  We discussed this in more detail, over the next several minutes, and
I tried to address his concerns about his unusual abilities.  I'm not sure
I ever appreciated how insightful he was prior to this time, or how
philosophically he looked at certain issues, but I was deeply impressed
that this young man seemed to possess a wisdom far beyond his years.  I
promised him that we'd discuss this further when I got home, and this
seemed to be sufficient for him.

I think the doctor actually made me stay in the hospital longer than he
would have any other patient, as he feared the pressures at home were
greater for me than his usual patients, but what he didn't understand was
that the boys actually did more to eliminate such things, than add to it.
I finally was able to convince my cardiac specialist that I'd recover
faster at home with my loved ones and got him to relent, so I was scheduled
to return home, though with many restrictions.  The boys were overjoyed
when I told them the news that I'd be coming home the following morning.

Jake and a couple of the boys were in my room very early the following
morning, and Jake told me that he had to fight with the boys to wait that
long.  They had awakened him between 4:30 and 5:00 a.m., and he wondered if
they'd slept at all that evening, but he explained to them that I couldn't
leave until the doctor made his final visit, and he wouldn't arrive at the
hospital until at least 7:00.  They grudgingly accepted his explanation
about this, but they weren't about to let him go even a second beyond that
time, so they kept after Jake until they walked through my doorway at
precisely 7:00 a.m.  I was actually kind of surprised that all the boys had
not chosen to come to pick me up, but it wasn't until I got home that I
understood why.  As I looked out the window of the van as we drove up to
the house, I could see the banner welcoming me home strung across the front
porch, the balloons tied to the mailbox and the columns supporting the
porch roof, and the giant homemade greeting card attached to the front
door.  Seeing all of that brought the tears to my eyes and created a
humongous lump in my throat.

As the van pulled into the driveway, a wave of screaming young men came
pouring out of the door, racing to greet me as I opened the door.  I swear,
if I didn't already love them so much and wasn't so damn proud of them
already, that moment alone would have been enough to steal my heart
forever.  I was so overwhelmed by their welcome that, when I opened my
mouth to speak, no words came out, and I must have looked like a fish
gulping in water for oxygen.  The boys were excited, yet they made sure
they didn't jostle me and gave me plenty of room, but they were all talking
at once, telling me how happy they were that I was back home.  After
getting them calmed down enough that we could head into the house, it was
then that I got my next surprise, for inside waited the rest of my family,
extended family, and honorary family, waiting to give me their own welcome
home.

Everyone pampered me like some spoiled rich kid who thought the world
revolved around him, and I felt very ill at ease with all the attention.  I
know they were all just doing what they thought was best for me, but it had
always been my job to take care of everyone else and I was uncomfortable
with the role reversal.  Sally sensed my discomfort and came over to speak
to me, telling me that I had earned it and would just have to learn to
adjust.  I smiled at her, letting her know that I understood the meaning of
her message, and then strolled into the living room, where I discovered a
brand new recliner, complete with a giant red bow tied around it.  It was
then that I learned the boys had all dipped into their own money, came up
with the idea for what they wanted to get me, and then had Jake help them
go pick it out.  Jake made sure to let me know that it was entirely their
idea and their money that purchased it, and they came up with the idea
after talking to my cardiac specialist.  I thanked them all, took my place
on the recliner, and then eased back to take it easy and enjoy the
attention.

Aunt Sally, Aunt Mary, and my daughters and daughter-in-law had conspired
to whip up a big meal for everyone, and even made a special meal for me,
which conformed to doctor's orders, and the Spences provided several
different desserts, including a dietary treat for me.  It was a very good
meal, even with all the dietary restriction I had to adhere to, and I had a
wonderful time.  Everyone left early, as they explained I needed to rest
and take it easy, but they promised to all visit again soon.  My older
children and grandchildren were staying over for a few days, but they too
took it easy on me, though my grandchildren took turns sitting with papa.

When it came time to go to bed, Jake told me he was going to go up and
spend the evening with Shannon.  The other boys were already teaming up
with their brothers to open up rooms for their older siblings, but the boys
quickly argued with Jake, telling him he needed to sleep in with me, in
case I needed anything during the night.  Jake was concerned about what my
older children might think, but the boys had taken care of that too, by
telling them that Uncle Jake had been staying there to take care of them
and would be until I got better.  I don't think my older children thought
anything except that Jake was a very good friend for doing all of that for
us.

Jake finally relented to the boys' arguments, sleeping in my room and
sharing my bed, and I was surprised that I enjoyed feeling him beside me,
like I did.  By the time my children returned to their homes and their own
lives, I knew that Jake would be a permanent fixture there from that point
on, and that Jake and Shannon would now be official members of our family.
Whether the boys realized it at that time or not, it was obvious that their
matchmaking efforts had succeeded.

              *    *     *     *     *     *     *     *

If you have enjoyed reading this story, you will find other stories by me at
http://members.tripod.de/wolfslair, in the 'Other Stories' section.
E-mails may be sent to: bwstories8@aol.com.