The Kringle House
Chapter 1:
Rae looked across the table at Ann and Andy's drooping eyes. She smiled at Spot. "I think it's bedtime for two little people."
"Nooo," they whimpered, but it wasn't with much force as they were already half asleep already.
"No fussing. It's bedtime." Spot said.
Almost too easily, they gave in. Spot and Rae stood and scooped up each sleepy child and headed up the stairs.
Rae carried Andy into the room that he had used before and tucked him into the bed. "Goodnight, sweetheart."
"Night Miss Rae." He hugged her tightly around the neck and snuggled under the covers.
She smiled and kissed his forehead, before slipping into her old room where Spot was tucking Ann into bed.
"Sleep tight kiddo." Spot placed a kiss on Ann's forehead. "Sweet dreams."
"Good night, Daddy. Night, Momma." Ann whispered.
Rae kissed her forehead as well. "Goodnight sweetheart."
Ann looked around the room. "Are there monsters in here?"
Spot shook her head. "No, I made sure to check for all the monsters. There aren't any monsters in this room!"
"Are you sure Daddy?" she asked.
"Yes, I'm sure. Now it's time for you to get some sleep. You remember what Dr. Trent said."
She nodded and repeated, "Good night Momma and Daddy."
They waited until she was asleep before leaving the room. "Shall we go get the other two settled in?" Rae asked.
He nodded, following her down the stairs.
They found Chris and Julie in the cleaning washing the dishes. "You kids didn't have to do that." Rae said.
Julie shrugged and smiled. "We didn't have anything better to do anyway."
"Oh riiight." Chris rolled his eyes. "She made me do it."
Spot laughed. "Next time I need you to do something, I'll be sure to call on Julie."
Chris wrinkled his nose and Julie grinned.
"When you are finished we need to talk sleeping arrangements," Rae said, sitting back down at the table. They merely nodded and finished up quickly afterwards. "We have one extra room. So one or both of you is going to have to share with one of the twins."
"I don't mind sharing with Ann," Julie offered.
Chris, trying to be a little more macho, replied, "Eh... yeah... well, I guess I can deal with Andy... Kinda taken a liking to the kid..."
Rae and Spot smiled at each other. "Sounds good to me," Spot said.
"Can you show me where my room is? I'm tired," Julie said.
"Me too," her brother added.
"If you will show them to their rooms, I'll lock up for the night," Spot told Rae. She nodded and led them up the stairs. Spot went over to the door and locked up as he had said he would. As he turned and walked around, he thought he saw movement out of the corner of his eye. Whipping his head towards the kitchen, he frowned and went over. He poked his head in and looked around. There was nothing to be seen. "Must be tired or something..." he muttered, shaking his head. He finished checking the locks on the downstairs doors and windows before carrying the last lamp up the stairs, leaving the lower floor in complete darkness.
Rae was already in bed, reading another book. Gingerly, she set it down as he entered the room. "It's about time," she teased with a smile.
He smiled as he walked over and gave her a kiss. "It's been a while since I've had doors to lock."
She stretched out as he climbed into bed. "It's so good to be home."
"It sure is," He said, wrapping his arms around her.
She snuggled up against him, resting her head on his shoulder. "And I never want to go on a cruise again."
"I'll be perfectly happy to keep both feet on dry land for the rest of my life," he whispered, kissing her forehead.
She started to giggle a little. "I guess that means you won't be going out in the rain?"
He propped up on one elbow and looked at her. "Are you suggesting that I'm afraid of a little bit of rain?" he asked, with a smirk.
"Well, rain causes wet land, and you said you wanted to keep your feet on dry land, so naturally one would assume..." She grinned.
He grinned at her. "And you say that I'm horrible."
She giggled, kissing him gently on the lips. "You know I love you."
"I know," he whispered, pulling her into his arms and kissing her back.
"And you know you're horrible," she teased, kissing him back again.
"You better believe it," he said, leaning down to kiss her, but stopped when he heard a soft knock on the door.
Rae sighed, propping herself up on her elbows. "Yes?"
The door opened a crack and Ann stuck her head in, tears rolling down her little checks.
"What's the matter, sweetheart?" she asked, sitting up and extending a hand towards the girl.
"I had a scary dream," she whimpered, creping over to them
Rae pulled the girl onto the bed and held her close. "It's alright, Ann, it was only a dream." she whispered, stroking the girl's sleep-tangled hair.
She buried her face in Rae's shoulder. "But it was scary and real!"
"Want to tell us about it?" Spot asked.
"There was someone in my room. And she was taking things." Ann cried.
"What kinds of things?" Spot and Rae exchanged glances. This didn't sound like a typical nightmare.
"Clothes and some of those really pretty little things on the shelves that you told me not to touch."
Even more odd. "What made it so scary? Did she do something mean to scare you?"
"At first I thought it was Momma, and I called to her, but she came over and kept telling me to be quiet or she would have to hurt me."
"Well, it was just a dream." Rae kissed her forehead. "And dreams can't hurt you."
Ann sobbed and tightened her arms around Rae's neck. "Please don't make me go back to my bed."
"Ann, sweetheart, you need to learn to sleep in your own room," Spot said gently.
"But that mean lady will hurt me if I go back, Daddy." Ann sobbed, looking at him. "Please don't make me go back."
Rae glanced at Spot. "Just tonight?" she asked.
After a long pause, he sighed. "All right. Ann, you can sleep in here for tonight. But tomorrow it's back in your own bed, understand?"
Ann nodded slowly. "Yes, Daddy."
He lifted the covers and let Ann crawl in.
Ann settled herself on the bed between them and was asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. With a sigh, Rae brushed the hair from the girl's face and looked up at Spot. "I'm sorry," she whispered.
"It's okay. I know you feel sorry for her. I do too..."
"What do you think about that dream?"
Spot shrugged. "It was pretty... different compared to all her other dreams."
"Do you think she really saw someone?"
"Nah... I mean, unless Chris, Julie, or Andy walks around in their sleep or something, I doubt it. There's no one here but us."
Rae sighed again and rested her head on her pillow. "I love you, Spot." she whispered.
"I love you too, Rae."
She reached across Ann and held her hand out to him. With a smile, he took it and squeezed it.
* * *
Rae was the first one awake the next morning and remembering Ann's "dream", she crawled out of bed and walked into the girls' room. Sure enough, some of the knick-knacks and Ann had mentioned were gone. Opening the wardrobe she noticed that a few of the hangers were empty as well.
With a deep frown, she walked back to her room and shook Spot awake. "Ann was right; some of her things are missing."
Spot rubbed his eyes and sat up, "I don't see how. I locked all the doors last night."
"I don't know how either, but it happened... unless the kids are playing a joke on her- which I doubt."
"I don't think they'd do that either." Spot said. "Let's just keep an eye out for them. Maybe they will turn up somewhere else."
"Maybe," she echoed uncertainly.
He took her hand. "There's nothing to worry about."
"I don't know... I mean... when we said where we were living, that driver seemed a little... I don't know... concerned... What if..."
"No what-ifs Mrs. Conlon."
"But, Spot..."
He silenced her by pulling her down onto his lap and kissing her.
She smiled through the kiss. "You know... one of these days you are going to have to actually finish an argument with me a different way."
"Why?" he asked. "I kinda like ending arguments this way."
"Because I said so, that's why."
"You'll have to do better than that, Conlon." he said with a smirk.
She grinned. "I do not, and you know it."
"Oh, I don't think so."
"I do think so."
"If you keep this up, Mrs. Conlon, I'll just have to kiss you again." he warned with an impish grin.
"Mm... then I think I will keep it up, Mr. Conlon."
He leaned down as if he was going to kiss her, but stopped about an inch from her. "Nope, I don't think I'll kiss you this time. You're expecting it."
She stuck her tongue out at him. "Fine then, I just won't let you kiss me."
"I'd like to see you stop me," he said with an impish grin.
"Alright then. Try it."
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. "I love you," he whispered, just before he kissed her.
Rae wrinkled her nose. "That's not fair, that's playing dirty. I wasn't ready."
"Whoever said that Spot Conlon played fair?"
"Hmm, you're right."
He laughed and kissed the tip of her nose. "Race ya downstairs."
She grinned. "Well, I'm sitting on you... and I ain't moving... So I guess you can't race, now can you?"
"I seem to recall you shoving me to the floor a couple of days ago..."
"Hmm... I don't seem to remember this incident." She smirked impishly.
"You little rascal."
"That I am," she admitted with a grin.
He kissed her gently. "If you promise to behave I'll let you fix breakfast all by yourself," he teased.
She snorted loudly. "You'll LET me?" She rested her forehead on his. "How about if YOU behave, I'll let YOU fix breakfast... save the whole family from food poisoning."
He snickered. "How about we work together? And I promise not to throw any flour this time."
Rae grinned. "Deal."
* * *
"Spot, didn't Julie and Chris wash the dishes last night and put them away?" Rae asked once they were in the kitchen.
He was busy rifling through the pantry in search of a loaf of bread he thought he had placed there. "Yeah... why? Have you seen that loaf of bread?"
"Because there are a couple of dirty dishes here." Rae said, wrinkling her nose. "No I haven't seen the bread since you put it up yesterday."
"Well... I thought I did... but ... I don't see it..." He left the pantry. "Take a look. Maybe I'm just overlooking it."
She walked over to the pantry. "It's not here. And some of those canned goods I got yesterday are gone too."
"You think maybe Chris got hungry last night?"
"Maybe. I'll ask him later. Let's see what else we can find."
"Or can't find."
Rae sighed and walked back over to the pantry. "I don't think we have much. I need to go shopping today."
Spot peered over her shoulder. "But we did have more than that... I'll have to have a talk with Chris..."
"Spot, we don't know for sure that Chris took the food. Even if he did, he is part of this family; he should be able to come get something out of the pantry if he is hungry."
"Well, yes, of course. But not empty half the pantry!"
Rae turned to face him. "We only got back yesterday and we were gone for a month. There wasn't much in here."
Spot sighed. "I guess."
She smiled at him, "It's no big deal. We needed food anyway."
He nodded. "I'll still ask him though... that was some good bread."
Rae snickered. "You are just looking for a chance to argue with him."
"Of course... you had your doubts?"
She wrinkled her nose. "You're horrible."
He grinned. "Didn't we already go through this?"
"Just thought I'd remind you."
He chuckled, kissing her forehead. "Come on," he said, "let's see what we can put together for breakfast and then you and Chris can go into town and do some shopping."
She nodded, scrounging through the cabinets. "You really should come with me...."
He took her by the shoulders and gently turned her to face him. "I can't Rae. Not yet."
She looked at him sadly. "But you went on the cruise... you went back to Brooklyn..."
"But the people here react differently to me. To them I am 'The Beast'. I'm not going into town."
She sighed gently and touched his scarred face. "But you know that they will continue to act like that if you hide out here..."
"I just need some more time. One day I will go back into town. I promise."
She kissed him gently. "I'll hold you to that promise, Conlon."
He wrapped his arms around her waist. "I know you will," he whispered before kissing her back.
She smiled and went to grab a few apples from a basket. "Well... I found part of our breakfast."
"Well, we have some more canned meat."
She wrinkled her nose. "No more canned meat for a while."
He kissed the tip of her nose. "I feel the same way, but it's all we have until you go get more food."
She sighed. "All right... want to go wake up the kids?"
"Sure," he said, leaving the room and climbing the stairs.
Rae took out a knife and began slicing up the apples.
Spot stopped at the door to the boys' room and knocked loudly on it. "Up and at 'em, you two."
There was a yelp and a thump and a pattering of footsteps before Chris threw open the door, looking disheveled. Behind him, his blankets were piled in a lump on the floor, and he seemed to be favoring his right ankle.
Spot smirked, lifting a brow. "Good morning. Fall out of bed?"
Chris glared at him. "Yeah."
"Now why would you go and do a thing like that?"
"Because the kid wrapped the blankets around my feet."
Spot leaned against the doorframe, laughing. Chris muttered a curse and went to shut the door. He shoved his foot in the doorway. "Uh uh. There are young ears around this household. Watch your tongue. And it's time to get up."
"Fine!" Chris said, attempting to shut the door again.
"Well, getting up usually entails going down stairs and eating some breakfast. Why don't you do that?" He entered the room fully and shoved Chris out. Chris muttered something that Spot couldn't quite make out as he walked down the stairs. Spot shook his head and went over to Andy. "Come on, kiddo. Poke up."
Andy groaned but crawled out of the bed. Ushering the boy out of the room and towards the staircase, he then headed back to wake up the girls. He knocked on the open door to the girls' room, "Time to get up Julie," he said, before heading to his room to wake up Ann.
Walking into the room, he grabbed Ann's arm and gently shook it. "Wake up kiddo. Breakfast time."
She sat up slowly, "Will you carry me, Daddy?"
"Sure kiddo." Spot scooped her up and carried her downstairs.
Everyone was sitting at the table waiting on them when they entered the room. He placed Ann in her seat and sat down next to Rae.
"Not fair, Ann gets carried downstairs and I have to walk?" she murmured to him with a quirked mouth. "I think we know who's the woman of the house."
"You didn't ask," he whispered, leaning down to kiss her.
"I shouldn't have to," she teased, kissing him back.
"Ewww," Andy groaned, hiding behind his hands.
"Are you sure you won't go into town with me?" Rae asked Spot after breakfast.
"I'm positive. Take Chris and Julie. Let them see the town. They'll enjoy it, I'm sure."
Rae sighed and sent him a pleading look.
"You're not going to make me change my mind Rae," he replied. She nodded and turned to walk away. Spot sighed and leaned against the wall, tilting his head back.
Rae walked into the playroom where Ann and Andy were showing Chris and Julie all the toys they had gotten for Christmas. "Chris, Julie, how about going into town with me."
They looked at one another and shrugged. "I guess."
"Then let's go. It's a long walk."
They jumped to their feet and followed Rae out the door. "First thing we'll have to get is shoes for you two. Then some food."
* * *
"Good to see you again Tom," Rae said cheerfully to the clerk when they entered the store.
He gave her a wary look and then stared at the two children with her. "Can I... help you?" he managed to squawk.
"You sure can," she said. "Chris and Julie need some shoes and then I need to do some grocery shopping."
"All right then... Children, this way."
Chris and Julie followed him to the shoe section while Rae walked around the store making a mental list of things they would need.
A few minutes later, Chris and Julie approached her with newly fitted shoes.
Half an hour later they left the store, each carrying several bags.
"My shoes are making my feet hurt," Chris complained, limping, as they left town.
"That's because they are new. You'll get used to them."
"I don't want to get used to them. I don't like them. I don't like wearing shoes at all."
"Well you can't go around barefoot all your life."
"If I lived on a farm, I bet I could."
"No you couldn't. And you don't live on a farm, so get over it."
They walked in silence for a few more minutes before he stopped and took the shoes off his feet. He dropped them into one of the bags that he was carrying.
Rae rolled her eyes. "I don't know what to do with you."
"Just ignore me," Chris offered.
"No, because that's what you want." She smirked and ruffled his hair. Oh well, boys would be boys she figured.
"Couldn't you just try for a little while, Rae?" Chris asked. "You wouldn't miss me that much."
"In your dreams, kid."
He groaned. "This would be easier if we got us some horses. Then we wouldn't have to walk."
"Well we don't have horses, so stop whining," Rae and Julie said simultaneously. They grinned at one another while he sulked.
"Women," he muttered.
Rae leaned against the gate to push it open. "Come on, let's see how Spot managed with the twins."
They followed her through the gates and into a house where the twins were screaming like banshees.
"What's going ON?!" Rae yelled over the racket, stepping over and pushing the twins, who were attacking Spot, away.
Spot looked up. "Oh, hi. We were playing a game."
Rae ignored him and scooped Ann up into her arms. "Come on Miss Ann. Nap time. Besides, didn't Dr. Trent tell you that you weren't supposed to play any rowdy games?"
"But I was having fun Mommy... Andy really let me play this time."
"I'm sorry, sweetheart, but you have to rest." Rae placed her hand on the little girl's forehead. "You still have a fever."
She whimpered, clinging to Rae's neck.
"But I want to play," she whined.
"If you want to get better and play all the time, you have to rest now."
"But I don't want to take a nap."
"Listen to her Ann," Spot said in an authoritative tone.
Ann opened her mouth the protest again, but began sobbing instead.
Rae stroked her hair. "It's okay sweetheart."
Spot put his hand on Rae's back and gently pushed her toward the stairs. "Let's go tuck you in for your nap."
Together they headed up the stairs and put Ann to bed.
"Sleep tight." Both Rae and Spot gave her a kiss on the forehead and then left the room.
Rae turned to Spot. "Next time I leave you in charge, try NOT to give in to a pair of five year olds."
He grinned sheepishly. "I know... But they were bored and whining... and Andy started it... And when he starts... look out."
Rae sent him a look. "He's a five year old. You're the adult. Besides Ann shouldn't have been playing. Trent told us to keep her quiet for a few weeks, to make sure that she gets better."
He sighed. "I know...." He bit back the urge to say 'Yes mother.'
Rae shot him a look and turned to walk away.
He sighed again. "Rae... I'm sorry..." She turned back around and stared at him. Spot stopped and blinked at her.
She leaned against the wall. "I'm the one who's sorry. I over-reacted."
"Well... you had every right to over-react, I suppose.... I mean, you WERE right... Ann was supposed to stay calm..."
Rae lifted her hands to her face and sighed. Spot put his arms around her waist. She wrapped her arms around him and buried her head in his shoulder. "I'm sorry. This whole thing with Ann just frustrates me. I want to help her and make her better, but I don't know how."
"There's nothing we can do... Trent said we had to wait... as hard as that is to do..."
She looked up at him. "I love you," she whispered.
He kissed her gently and smiled a bit. "I know you do... now let's go back downstairs and put everything away... Make sure those kids aren't killing each other."
She nodded and followed him down the stairs.
"Hey kids, want to help us unpack the groceries?" Spot asked when he entered the living room to find the kids playing a simple card game.
"Already did," Chris replied, not looking up.
"Thank you Chris," Rae said. "Can Spot and I talk to you in the kitchen for a minute?"
He glanced up at her. "Um.... Yeah... I guess..."
"Spot has something he wants to ask you about," Rae said, sitting on a stool once the three were in the kitchen.
Spot gave Rae a look and then turned to Chris, who was watching him curiously. "Chris... um," he leaned against the counter, folding his arms over his chest. "You wouldn't happen to... you know... have come down last night and grabbed a bite to eat last night, would you? You're not going to get into trouble or anything, I'm just ... wondering."
"No," Chris answered. "I was asleep almost as soon as I crawled in bed and I don't remember a thing until you woke me up this morning."
"Okay... just wondering."
"Why? What happened?"
Spot glanced at Rae, fully allowing her to explain, if she wished.
"Some things disappeared last night, Chris. That's all."
"Oh... well, all I know is I didn't take it."
"I didn't think you did. We just wanted to make sure. Will you help us keep an eye on things for a few days without letting the others know?"
He nodded. "I guess I could."
"Good. Now get those shoes back on those feet." Rae said with a smile.
"Do I haaaave to?" he whined, much in the style Andy would.
Spot laughed. "Yes, kid, you have to."
He sighed, wrinkling his nose and went to find his shoes.
Rae smiled. "Since that's all taken care of and the groceries are put away, I think I'll go look through the desk in the study again. See if I can find anything."
Spot laughed. "What kinds of things?"
"Maybe something that will tell me why men can be so stupid sometimes."
"While you're at it, look for the book that instructs women how to be nice to their husbands."
"Maybe if my husband wasn't such an idiot about things I would be a lot nicer."
"Maybe if my wife wasn't so mean to me, I would be less of an idiot."
"Your refusing to go into town has nothing to do with how nice I am to you."
"It still doesn't make me an idiot."
Rae growled in frustration and stormed from the room.
Spot rolled his eyes, folding his arms over his chest. What started out as good fun- or so he thought- ended up in yet another fight. Two in one day... how "lucky" was he going to get?
Rae threw herself onto the couch in the living room. Surely he was teasing, right? So why had she turned it into an argument?
After several very long minutes- minutes Spot spent organizing the pantry, organizing dishes in the cabinet, and just plain avoiding going back into the living room, he finally decided to get over it and go. Into the living room, that is.
Andy looked up when he walked in. "Did you and Miss Rae have a fight?"
"No," Rae said as Spot said "Yes." They looked at one another, glared, and looked away. "Yes," she corrected herself as he said, "No."
Chris looked back and forth between them. "Come on, Andy, Julie, let's go take a look at the barn."
"But I don't wanna look at the barn," Andy whined.
Julie took his arm. "Let's go look, Andy."
Andy pouted, but allowed Julie to lead him from the room.
Spot turned to Rae. "What has gotten into you? I thought we were just joking around, and suddenly you're mad at me again?!"
"How was I supposed to know that you were joking around, Spot? You sounded might serious to me."
"I sounded just like you did! You were saying the same kinds of things in the same way!" Rae crossed her arms with a grunt and glared daggers into the floor. "I think you need to go lie down or something."
"Why?" she snapped.
"Because you're in a bad mood that's why!"
"Make me, Conlon!"
He picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder, carrying her up the stairs.
"Spot, put me down," she yelled, beating her fists on his back.
"Oh, you think that will make me listen?"
She sighed in defeat, knowing that he wouldn't put her down.
He patted her leg. "Thanks... that was starting to hurt."
"Must you carry me over your shoulder?"
"Yes... see, I find it helps when your wife wants to soak you."
"If you don't put me down, Spot Conlon, so help me I WILL soak you!"
He set her down, but only because they had reached their destination. She balled her hand into a fist, and seeing this; he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. Still, she whacked the back of his head but kissed him back in spite of herself.
"I should still soak ya," she whispered a moment later when he broke the kiss.
"I wish you wouldn't. What would the kids think?"
"I think they'd be impressed that I beat ya," she teased.
With a grin, he rested his forehead on hers. "So sure are we?"
"Yep," she said, leaning up to kiss him.
He kissed her back. "You take a nap now, Mrs. Conlon."
"Only if you stay here with me, Mr. Conlon."
He smiled. "Well... I guess I could use a nap too... we all could... hopefully Andy, Chris, and Julie will get the hint when they come back."
"Hopefully," she said, crawling onto the bed and laying down.
Pushing his shoes off his feet, he crawled up next to her and settled down beside her, tucking his arm around her waist. "You know... its times like these when I'm glad we're not at the lodging house anymore."
"Oh?" she asked with a yawn.
"Yeah... they're worse than the kids walking in... they just never stop!" He grinned and kissed her cheek.
She rolled over to face him. "You can do better than that, Conlon."
He grinned. "You know me too well." And he gave her a warm kiss on the lips.
* * *
"Where's Momma and Daddy?" Ann asked sleepily as she walked into the playroom.
"They aren't our Momma and Daddy, Ann!" Andy yelled. "They are Mr. Spot and Miss Rae."
"STOP SAYING THAT!" Ann shrieked, hysterical. "They are too Momma and Daddy!"
"Momma and Daddy are gone, Ann, 'MEMBER!"
Ann's face reddened as she screamed, "THEY ARE NOT!"
"THEY ARE TOO!" Andy yelled, lunging at his sister.
With an ear-splitting screech, she took off running down the hall.
"What's wrong, Ann?" Spot asked, scooping her up into his arms.
"Andy's being meeeeeaaaaaannnn!" she wailed loudly right in his ear.
Spot winced. "Quiet down and tell me what happened."
She burst into tears. "He- he's being me-me-meaaaan and he says that you-you-you and m-m-mommy aren't you and m-mommy!"
Spot stroked her hair. How was he supposed to explain this to her?
Just then Rae came from the kitchen, drying her hands on a towel. "What's wrong with Ann?"
"Andy's telling her we're not her Mommy and Daddy and she doesn't want to hear that."
Rae took Ann into her arms and exchanged a look with Spot. "Come on, Ann. You come with me while Daddy goes and talks to Andy." Rae said, taking the girl into the kitchen.
She nodded, scrubbing her eyes dry and latched on to Rae while Spot went off in search of Andy.
He found Andy upstairs in the boys' room playing quietly with some toys on the floor. "What are you doing, little man?" Spot asked, sitting next to him.
"Hiding..." he replied in a very meek voice.
"Who are you hiding from?" Spot asked, picking up one of Andy's blocks and taking a closer look at it.
"You or Miss Rae," he replied, never taking his eyes off the toys before him.
"Why?"
"'Cause..."
"Because why?"
"'Cause I'm gonna be in trouble...."
"What makes you say that, Andy? Did you do something that would get you in trouble?"
He gave Spot a curious look. He had seen Ann run right over to him, screaming and crying... how could he not know what he was in trouble for?
"Answer me, Andy," Spot ordered.
Andy hung his head. "I was mean to Ann and chased her around the house."
"Why did you do that Andy? If she was bothering you, you should have come and found me or Miss Rae."
"She... she... she kept saying you were Momma and Daddy! And you're not them! They're gone!" Tears welled in his eyes. "And she's just a dumb girl anyway!"
"You remember how I told you that she forgot some things because she was really sick?"
Andy nodded, rubbing his nose.
"Well, one of the things that Ann forgot was your Momma and Daddy leaving. She doesn't remember coming here and she thinks that Miss Rae and I are her Momma and Daddy."
"But that's what I'm trying to tell her, that you aren't. Maybe she'll get her remembery back if I tell her."
"Did it help when you told her?"
He sulked. "No.... But one time it might..."
"Let's just wait a while before we try to tell her again, ok?"
He sighed heavily and nodded. "Yes sir."
"Good. Now I think you need to go tell her that you're sorry."
"Do I HAVE to?" he whined.
Spot nodded and when Andy started to argue with him again, he said, "I think you might regret it later if you keep arguing with me."
With a pout, he walked out of the room and went in search of Ann.
He found her sitting in Rae's lap in the kitchen, sobbing on Rae's shoulder.
Hesitantly, eyeing Rae uncertainly, he crept forward under Spot's watchful eye. "Um... Ann... I'm sorry..."
Ann turned to look at him and sniffled.
"And what are you sorry for?" Spot prodded.
"I'm sorry for being mean to you and chasing you." Andy said, hanging his head.
Ann sniffled again.
Spot nudged the boy forward. "Give her a hug."
He pouted. "Do I have to?"
"What did I tell you about arguing with me?"
Andy pouted and went over to Ann, giving her a brief hug.
"Alright, little man, you can go now." Spot said.
He slunk away fairly quickly.
Ann looked up at Spot, "Why did he say that you ain't Momma and Daddy?"
Spot and Rae exchanged glances. Now what? They both seemed to ask. Spot knelt down in front of Rae and Ann. "I'm gonna tell you something, but you have to promise not to get mad, alright?"
She gave him an uncertain look. "Oh.. okay..."
"We are not your real Momma and Daddy. They went away and Miss Rae and I are taking care of you and Andy now."
She stared at them, totally shocked.
"Ann, sweetheart," Rae said, rubbing the girl's back.
Jumping to her feet, she ran from the room, silent as a mouse.
Rae started to follow her, but Spot stopped her. "Let's just give her some time."
"She's hurt, Spot..."
"She still needs time to herself... She probably won't want to see us for a little while."
Rae nodded silently.
He slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her into a hug. "Everything will turn out fine," he murmured into her hair.
Ann ran into Chris on the stairs. He made her sit on the steps beside him, "What's wrong with you Ann?"
She looked at him with teary eyes. "They aren't Mommy and Daddy!" she cried, throwing herself into his arms, crying.
He stroked her hair. "They may not be your real Momma and Daddy, but they love you just as much as your real Momma and Daddy did." he whispered.
She whimpered pitifully. "But if they aren't my real mommy and daddy, what happened to them?"
"I don't know, Miss Ann. Mr. Spot and Miss Rae don't know either."
Sniffling, she clung to him. "I'm scared... I want Momma and Daddy back..."
"I want my Momma and Daddy back too, Ann. But they are gone just like your parents."
"Why do mommies and daddies go?! They shouldn't be allowed to!" she cried.
"I don't know why they go, but you want to know something?"
"What?" She rubbed her nose dry.
"Mr. Spot and Miss Rae don't have parents either. Their parents went away when they were little too."
She whimpered again. "Are they gonna come back?"
Chris shook his head. "Once they go away, they can't come back. That's why Mr. Spot and Miss Rae are taking care of us. They know what it's like not to have any parents."
Her lip quivered and tears rolled down her cheeks again. "What if Mr. Spot and Miss Rae go away too?"
"Then I'll take care of you. If that's alright with you, Miss Ann. But I don't think they are going to go away and leave us."
"You promise?"
"I promise," he said, hugging the little girl.
She hugged him back. "Thank you Chris."
"You're welcome, Miss Ann."
* * *
Rae sat up suddenly. "Spot?" she whispered hesitantly.
Smothering a yawn, he rolled over on his side and looked at her frame outlined in the moonlight that filtered through the lacy curtains they had recently hung over the windows for the coming of spring. "Yeah? What's the matter?"
"I heard something," she whispered.
He yawned hugely. "Like what?"
"Like someone moving around," she said. "Up there!" she added, pointing toward the third floor.
Spot shrugged. "Maybe it's just mice?"
"That was no mouse running across the floor. It sounded like a person walking around up there."
Spot was silent for a moment. "I don't hear anything..."
"I swear I heard something."
The boards overhead made a snapping noise. Quickly, alert now, Spot sat up. Climbing out of bed, he headed for the door. "I'm going to check it out."