Finding My Way Home: Book 2 - Heart And Home

It was only a few days after the picnic that Daniel received his G.E.D., which coincided with Brooke's graduation.  We threw another party, of course, but this time we had it at the Walborn's.  Dan was too ill to leave the house that day.  He had good days and bad days at that point, and he didn't want his problems to hinder the good times that Daniel should have to mark this milestone in his life.  Dan came out of the bedroom for a little while, but he didn't eat much, and he tired very quickly.  He was just about to go back to bed when Beth stopped him.

"Dan, I know you're tired, but if you could stay just another minute, I know you'll want to hear this," she told him.  "Daniel, I have pulled a lot of strings to make this happen this fast, but as of nine forty five this morning, you are no longer Daniel Eric Friebel. You are now Daniel Eric Walborn, Jr."

"Your middle name is Eric, too?" Daniel asked Dan, who was so emotional, he could only nod.

"It was Dan's idea and mine, to add the junior on to that," Karen said.  "We even discussed it with Brooke and Peter."

"You never said a word," Daniel said to Brooke who just smiled happily.  "What about you, little guy?" he asked Peter.  "You're not upset that I'm going to be Daniel Jr. instead of you?"

"Puh-leeeze," Peter told him quickly.  "People named Junior don't get nominated for the Supreme Court."

"Besides if he were named Junior we couldn't pick on him when Grandma Sarah calls him Sweet little Peter," Derek pointed out.  Grandma and Peter both blushed at the comment.

"Honey, I never thought of how Ephraim's horndog big brothers would take that," Grandma told the still blushing boy.  "I promise I will try really hard to think of something else to call you."

"Thanks, Grandma," he told her gratefully.

"Besides, from the bulge you get when you look at Ephraim, it ain't that little anyhow," she added with a mischievous grin.  The poor boy's blush intensified on an exponential scale.  "I think he's so cute when he does that," Grandma laughed.

"Me too," Ephraim agreed.  "Could we be excused for a little bit?" he added as he grabbed Peter's hand and took off for the woods between the houses.

"Stay away from the cabin site," Daniel called.  "There's a crew working there, and they don't need to see or hear anything they shouldn't."

We had gotten together with the Walborn's right after the storm and started planning a new cottage to be built where the old cabin had been.  This time it would be professionally built and insulated with modern utilities and would have a separate bedroom where the original fireplace still stood.  That had been rebuilt and modernized as well, but it had been done using the original stones.  Dan's crews were doing the work, but another reason they were involved is that the utilities had come from their property, since it was closer.  They assured us they had no problems sharing their power and water with the boys.

June arrived at last.  My arrangements for the civil union were made at a gorgeous, rustic style lodge that was situated right on the banks of Lake Champlain.  Our hearts were heavy that Dan and Karen wouldn't be able to attend the civil union in Vermont after all.  Dan was just too ill.  When we had learned of Dan's condition, I had called to try to change our reservations, but they were booked solid through next year.  I would have had to wait over a year and a half to reschedule the ceremony with them.  I could have made other arrangements somewhere else, but I felt like I had gotten to know one of the owners in the time that we had been corresponding.  It felt like going to a friend's house instead of a bed and breakfast inn. 

We were going to change the plans anyway when we found out that Daniel and Brooke were going to stay behind as well. Daniel was needed to care for the business and Brooke to be with both her parents and Daniel.  Poor Peter was torn and it was obvious.  He so wanted to go with us and be part of the ceremony as we had planned it, but at the same time, he didn't want to leave his father's side. 

Finally, it was Dan who made the decision for us.  He insisted that we not wait for him to get better and pointed out that he would rather Peter have good memories from this year as well as the bad ones he was already going to have.  Peter promised to call every day that he was gone and we swore to him that if he needed to come back, then we all would.

We arrived at our destination just before two o'clock in the afternoon.  An enormous bearded man met us in the front hall of the lodge.  He smiled warmly through his immense facial hair, which was showing a good bit of gray.  I knew from my conversations with Todd, the owner, that this would be his life partner, Patrick.

"Welcome to the lodge, folks," he boomed happily.  He instantly grew more serious and added, "My partner, Todd has told me a little about your situation.  I'm very sorry to hear of your problems.  Rest assured that if you are unable to stay for your entire reservation, we will forego the usual policies and only charge you for the time you actually are here."

"That's very kind of you, but I won't put you out of that much money in the middle of the season like this," I insisted.  "Your policy is there because this is your income, yours and Todd's.  If we left early, you might sell some a room or two, but certainly not all of them we had booked.  We will pay for the whole stay regardless."

"If you only knew how desperately I wish more of our guests understood that," Patrick sighed.  He stepped back for a moment, looking us all over.  "Let me see now," he said, as he stroked his long beard.  "You two can head for the basement down those stairs behind you," he told Ephraim and Peter.  "You'll find the game room down there; pool table, video games, ping pong, and a soft drink bar."

"YEAH!!" both boys shouted as they disappeared down the designated stairs.

"You two are next," he said, indicating Brendan and Derek.  "You boys go right back outside and follow the path to the right of the lodge to the beach.  Now make sure you take the right hand path.  The left path leads to our private clothing optional cove off of the main lake."

"Dad, didn't you say you rented the whole place for the week?" Derek asked quietly.  When I nodded, he grabbed Brendan by the hand and pulled him out the door.

"It's a good thing Doc Martin gave Brendan a clean bill of health before we left," Edan mused.

"There are times when it is refreshing to see young people started off on the wrong path in life," Patrick chuckled.  He now looked at Janice and Beth.  "Lordy, lordy, Miss Scarlett, I don't know nothing 'bout birthing no babies," he quoted.  It sounded even more hilarious when heard in a deep bass voice.  "Our local London Cab company is waiting outside to take you ladies…  that's a term of professional courtesy, don't hit me… to the spa downtown for a mineral mud bath.  It is perfectly safe for the baby, I assure you."

After the girls left, he turned his attention to Grandma and Gramps.  "You two will enjoy the path to the right of the lodge outside.  It takes you to a bluff overlooking the lake.  There are some secluded benches along the way for quality time snuggling, and a screened in pavilion at the bluff."

"I thought you said the right hand path leads to the beach," Grandma said curiously.

"I did say that, didn't I?" Patrick admitted with a wink.  "If you were those two rascals, would you rather go to a public beach where you are expected to be good, or sneak away to a private cove where you can be good at it?"

"Point taken," Grandma laughed.

"What if we want to be good at it?" Gramps Reynold asked, sending his new wife into a terrific blush as she shooed him out the door.

"What about us?" Edan asked once we were alone with Patrick.

"You get to carry the luggage to the rooms," Patrick said flatly.

"It figures," Edan announced.

"Just kidding," Patrick teased.  "Actually, you gentlemen have the Royal Suite all to yourselves while everyone else is occupied," he continued seriously.  "I have learned that this is the most stressful time for couples. Straight or gay, the week of the ceremony is the toughest week of your life and we aim to make it a little easier.  You guys go on up the stairs to the third door on the left.  Your room has a sitting area with a fireplace and a king sized bed.  It also has a bottle of very old champagne that was shipped here specifically for you by a man named Tim somewhere in Europe."

"I told him he didn't have to get us anything," Edan said softly.

"He expected that response, and gave instructions for just such an occasion," Patrick said.  "I quote…" with that he reached and smacked Edan on the forehead gently.  I couldn't help myself.  I laughed out loud as Edan grumbled about friends knowing him too well.

The week went better than any of us had hoped or dreamed.  Dan told Peter on three nights that he had actually been at work with Daniel the whole day.  All four boys had a marvelous time swimming either in the cove or the pool in the backyard, and playing in the game room.  We were all impressed by Todd's fabulous cooking.  In the evenings, Patrick would have us in stitches with tales of former guests and their sometimes disastrous ceremonies, such as the couple who had planned for fireworks to go over the crowd of friends and family as they walked down the aisle at the end of the service.  Unfortunately, the boards on which the fireworks had been mounted tipped over, sending the flaming shots directly at the seated guests.  I think the boys listened to him too well, however.

I awoke slowly the morning of the ceremony.  I thought briefly about burrowing back under the covers a bit longer.  A sudden noise from outside changed my mind.  I sat upright as a second clap of thunder confirmed my first truly conscious thought.  It was storming on my wedding day.

"Oh no it's not!" I declared.  "This is not happening.  I checked the weather channel again just last night."

"Cameron, look at the windows," Edan told me.

I followed his gaze around the room.  I saw water hitting the windows that overlooked the back yard and pool.  The view from the side window was clear and showed a beautiful sunrise.  It took less than a minute to deduce that we were being pranked.

"I'm going to kill them," I vowed as I jumped out of bed and dressed quickly.  "I'll kill them all."

"You won't do a thing," Edan scoffed.  "You know they're just having some fun."

"I'll show them fun!" I yelled as I opened the door.  "They're all grounded for life."  The flash of the camera startled me, but only for a second.  I was still able to grab my giggling youngest son by the neck.  "That starts with you," I told him as he squirmed futilely against me.  "No television, no computer, no phone, no conjugal visits from your boyfriend, either," I informed him sternly.

"But Dad, it was Brendan and Derek's idea," he protested.  "They made me go along with it."

"I will deal with them as well," I assured the boy as I dragged him outside with me.  Brendan and Derek started to run when they saw me approaching.

"Freeze, you little punks," I ordered.

"It was just a joke, bro," Brendan started.  "We were only having some fun."

"Let's see how much fun you have at home without your Jeep," I told them firmly.  "Give me the keys, both of you."

"What?" Derek sputtered.  "You're grounding us?"

"I certainly am," I confirmed.  I held my hand out as they reluctantly surrendered their keys.  "It's one thing to play a harmless prank on someone, but to do something so mean, so cruel….  Well, I just have to say I am extremely disappointed."

"It was a joke," Derek murmured.

"What was so bad?" Peter asked quietly as he walked up from his hiding place by the hose faucet.

"Guys, pranks are only funny if the victim agrees," I pointed out.  "I don't think this was funny, and Edan certainly doesn't."  I looked each of them in the eye as I continued.  "He is very hurt that you think so little of him."

"I love Pop," Ephraim exclaimed.

"We all do," Derek defended.

"Well, this is a funny way of showing it," I said seriously.  "Did any of you stop to think how much today means to him?  Did you consider the fact that this is like a miracle for Edan?  He and Randy split up because Randy couldn't make the commitment he and I are going to make to each other today.  Edan has waited his entire life to be part of a real family that would accept and love him for himself.  For that matter so have I."

"Edan was alone, totally alone, for twenty years because he didn't think anyone would ever love him enough to make today possible for him," I continued.  "Then in just a few months time, we all came along.  For the first time in his life, Edan felt loved, and he gave us all of his love in return.  This is how you act on the most important, most meaningful day of his life?"

"You guys are mean!" Ephraim snapped at Brendan and Derek.  "I'm going to tell Pop how sorry I am right now."

"We're sorry, too," Brendan assured me.  "We never meant to make anyone feel bad, especially Edan."

"Do you think Pop will ever forgive us?" Derek asked emotionally.

"Forgive you for what?" Edan asked from behind them.  He had gotten dressed and walked out the front door.

The boys whirled around and Ephraim threw his arms around Edan in a fierce hug.  They all three began apologizing profusely and proclaiming their love for him.  Edan finally caught on and roared with laughter.

"I'm not mad at you boys," he assured them.  "That was a terrific practical joke, a true classic.  I did the same thing to a guy who went to college with me."

"But Dad said…." Ephraim began.

I hadn't gotten three feet away when Brendan nailed me right in middle of the back with the waterhose.  Half an hour later two soggy men and four dripping teenagers stepped happily into the back door of the lodge.  We were met with a mixture of giggles and stares.

"There are towels in the laundry room, children," Patrick said with a gentle smile.

"Hurry and get changed or you will miss your own wedding brunch," Todd added.

"Oh and thanks for watering the lawn for us," Patrick called as we filed into the laundry room, and then headed for our rooms.