First Kiss / Last Breath 10
The birthday week was a whirl of celebrations and people and the birthday trio were in their element. On Monday, there had been cake and family presents for the twins, on Tuesday it had been Frankie's turn. Wednesday had been a cake free day but Thursday had heralded the arrival of the Roberts' family and there had been presents and sweet treats galore! Now, on Saturday morning, the level of excitement on the farm was nearing fever pitch as the start time for the birthday party drew near.
Despite being asked, reminded and nagged to take it easy, Harriet was in the kitchen with Trish and the girls putting the final touches on a range of party foods. Harm's initial suggestion of a pizza party had been discounted when they realised they couldn't keep the volume required hot enough during its transit from the nearest pizza shop opened early enough on a Saturday. Instead, they went with a spring barbeque which Bud, Jimmy and Aidan were getting organised just outside the party hangar.
Harm, Mac, Colin and the Roberts' twins were putting the decorations up while Mattie and Frank had the youngest four corralled in the Rabb Runways office. All were under threat of not attending the party if they misbehaved, so, needless to say, things were very quiet.
"Dad?" Aidan called coming through the side door.
"Over here!" Harm replied from the back of the hangar.
"Uncle Bud wants to know if there's a better place for the barbeque as the wind keeps blowing the flames out," he called and Harm appeared wiping his hands on a rag.
"Well, there's nothing too combustible in this hangar," he said, scanning the area. "So, if he sets it up against the far wall, away from the MOM stuff, it should be good."
"Okay!" Aidan replied before disappearing outside the door once more.
Before long all was ready to go and the party guests had started to arrive. Figuring the twins were in the same class and that there would be a few kids who couldn't attend, given it was the Easter weekend, Harm and Mac had settled on inviting their whole class. All 24 of them. And all 24 were able to attend. And three parents had asked, ever so nicely, if a slightly older or younger sibling could also attend as there were other pressing issues.
Soon, there were 31 kids aged six and under running around and expending considerable energy.
"Do you want me to start the games?" Mattie asked Mac as she labelled drink bottles for their guests.
"Good idea," she replied. "Maybe musical chairs … keep them contained over there for a bit."
"I don't know how their teacher does it," Mattie said. "I get exhausted just from our lot some days."
"Me too," Mac said with a chuckle. "I have a newfound respect for Miss Laura."
There were games and food, food and games and the two hours set aside for the party flew by. It was after the first guests had departed that Frank spied young Jeremiah over by the M.O.M furniture section. It wasn't the first time the child had wandered that way and this time Frank moved over towards him.
"It's a pretty cool bed, isn't it?" said Frank, pointing to the red racing car bed.
"Yeah, pretty cool," Jeremiah replied.
"I would have liked one like that at your age," he said, watching the child's face.
"Yeah, me too," he replied with a sad sigh.
"What kind of bed do you have now?" Frank asked quietly.
"I don't have one," he replied shaking his head. "I used to … at the other house … but not anymore."
"Where do you sleep then?" he asked, fully focused on the child.
"I have a mattress," he said quietly. "I pull the blanket up and sleep on the end where there's no spring sticking into me."
Frank was already considering his next step. What family would have a child sleeping in such poor conditions?
"Where did you use to live?" Frank asked. "When you had the bed."
"In Pittsburgh," he said finally looking at Frank. "Before the trouble."
"What trouble?" Frank asked and Jeremiah
Jeremiah looked up at Frank and shrugged. The young lad, not yet six had a look in his eyes Frank had only see in the old and weary before.
"Just trouble, mister," he said before moving away to play once more.
"What's up, dad?" Mac asked, wrapping her arm around Frank's waist as he watched the youngster.
"What's Jeremiah's story?" he asked, wrapping his arm around Mac.
"Don't know," she replied. "I think he only started after the New Year. Rosie had been talking about a Miah, and I assumed it was a girl but Harry corrected me and said it was really Jeremiah. That must have been late January. Why?"
"Something just seems a little off," he reported but as a loud, collective squeal was heard from behind them, he decided to table the conversation for later.
A little later, Frank watched as a man came to the door. He continued to watch as Jeremiah spied him, smiled and ran over to him. At least, Frank thought to himself, the child seems happy enough in the company of the man. Making his way over, Frank extended his hand to the newcomer.
"Frank Barnett," he said, "Grandpa to the birthday duo."
"Joel Betts," he replied, shaking the proffered hand. "Jeremiah's…"
"Dad," Jeremiah said. "He's my dad."
"Okay," Joel said slowly. "I'm Jeremiah's dad."
Frank's concern showed on his face and as Joel sent Jeremiah to say his goodbyes and thank yous, he decided to go ahead and ask.
"Please forgive me for asking, Joel," Frank said quietly. "But…"
"Yeah, I'm not Jer's real father," he said just as quietly. "He was my sister's boy and we've taken him in."
"Was?" Frank asked and Joel nodded slowly.
"Long story and not really the place," he said as Jeremiah headed back towards them.
"Sorry, didn't mean to pry," he said glancing between the boy and his uncle.
Joel looked around at the M.O.M setup and then back to Frank. "I read about this in the local paper. Is it really just as it says…you know…free if we kinda need a few things?"
"Sure is," Frank replied. "Now isn't the time," he said as he pulled a card from his pocket. "But call me anytime and we can have a chat and set you up with what you need."
"Am I pushing my luck if I come back tonight?" Joel said, his blue eyes filling with tears. "My wife gets back from work about 7:00, I could come once Jer's in bed. Just thought Easter Sunday is about renewal and rebirth and it would be perfect timing to have a few more of the necessities."
"Well, I can guarantee it will be an early night all around here tonight, so what's say we meet back here at eight, we have a trailer we can load up and we'll be in business," Frank said.
"Oh, Mr Barnett, are you sure you're not Santa…or the Easter Bunny," Joel said, shaking his hand.
"Nope, I'm just Frank."
Once all the school friends had departed, Harm allowed the twins to unwrap the mountain of presents they had received. Mac had suggested, to anyone who asked, to generally just buy one gift the pair could share, or, if the child was good friends with one twin over the other, just to buy for that one. However, it seemed few had listened and there had to be at least 50 packages on the table. Some generous attendees had also brought presents for Frankie.
Michael had been giving the job of recording on the birthday cards the present that came with it. Nikki was in charge of collecting any wrapping paper, bags or boxes which could be reused in the twins' classroom. Jess was helping Rosie and Harry while Lily was helping Frankie. Aidan and Jimmy were clearing away the food under Harriet's supervision, while the other adults stood watching the twins.
"You realise you are going to need to build an extension just for their birthday gifts," Mattie said as she leant against Harm.
"Just thinking the same thing," he replied, kissing her head. "Might have to donate a few things to Kenzie's playroom at your house."
"Between you and mom, Colin's parents and grandma and grandpa, I don't think Kenz is wanting for anything," she said, watching as her son started pulling out all the paper Nikki had carefully rescued.
"Oh, I think that tin whistle Harry had before can be left at your house," he said, grinning.
"You do and Frankie will be getting a drum set for Christmas," she laughed.
While the banter and present unwrapping continued, Mac sat down on a sofa next to Frank.
"You've been quiet," she observed. "I saw you talking to Jeremiah's father. Anything wrong?"
"Yeah, a few things, I think," he said, as his eyes remained on his grandchildren. "Joel is Jeremiah's uncle. Things are a bit dire, from what I can gather, he's coming back at eight to have a chat and get some necessities."
"Good," Mac said. "I can come too," she added. "See if he needs other help … legally speaking."
"Thanks, sweetheart," he said, "That would be good."
Dinner that night was assorted leftovers and was done in several shifts around the MacKenzie – Rabb dining table. Everyone Lily's age and younger ate first before they were whisked away into baths and bed attire while Aidan, Jimmy, Nikki and Michael had dinner. When they were done, the boys headed over to Colin and Mattie's to play on the Nintendo while watching over Kenz and Nikki decided she would go to bed with the younger girls and spend time on her iPad.
"Dad, are you eating?" Harm called as Frank looked out the back door, watching as the boys made it across to the other house.
"Um," he replied, looking up at the clock. "No, thanks. I'll eat when we get back."
'Where are you going?" Harm asked, looking at the clock to confirm the time. "And with whom?"
"Aren't they the questions a father usually asks his son?" Frank said with a laugh.
"They are," Harm confirmed. "But I'd still like an answer."
"Frank's taking me out, aren't you, Frank?" Mac said, wrapping her arm around her father-in-law's waist.
"Really?" Harm questioned.
"Just back to M.O.M to meet with Jeremiah's uncle," Frank answered and Harm shook his head, he'd missed something.
"We'll explain it all when we get back," Mac said before considering her next move. "Bud, would you be able to come and give us a hand?"
"It's okay. I can help you, Mac," Harm said but Mac shook her head.
"No, it's alright," she said. "Bud doesn't mind, do you?"
"No, not at all," Bud replied, getting to his feet.
Harm just shrugged and went back to washing the dishes, perhaps someone would fill him in when they were done.
When his kitchen duties were done, Harm brought a tray of tea and coffee into the living room for Harriet and his mother who had been quietly chatting. Taking his mug last, Harm sat in the remaining armchair and both women looked at him.
"Oh, am I interrupting?" he said, moving to stand once more.
"Well, could you maybe give us another few minutes?" Harriet said quietly and Harm nodded.
"Sure," he said, leaving as Harriet mumbled 'sorry'.
So it was, at a time when there was a total of 18 people staying at the farm that Harm had no one to talk to. Rather than wallow in the thought of being left out, he embraced the idea of some time for himself and headed to the school room upstairs with his model plane kit and coffee.
Meanwhile, Joel Betts had arrived and was sitting in the waiting room of the Rabb Runways office across from the hangar with Frank, while Mac and Bud sat in Harm's office waiting for the pair.
"Now, son," Frank started, sensing Joel's nervousness. "You are under no obligation to tell me anything, but if you wanted to tell me about your situation, it …"
"I'd like too," Joel began slowly. "We've been living in Bellevue three months and haven't really met anyone we can talk to … my wife, Georgie, had heard about this set up not long after we moved and had met Mac at school and really wanted to come but there was always something stopping us."
"What was stopping you?" Frank asked, playing with the pen in his hand.
"That we wouldn't qualify for assistance…that we'd be judged … that …I don't know but it's really hard to say you can't provide for your own family even when you're working four jobs between you," He said dropping his head.
"Four jobs? How on earth do you juggle four jobs and a child?" Frank asked incredulously.
"I work at the bakery from 3:00 AM to 2:00 PM and Georgie works at the Bag 'N' Buy from 9:00until 4:00 then she starts her cleaning job and is usually home by about 7:00. She gets every second Saturday and every Sunday off and I work about 15 hours over the weekends and take Jeremiah with me if I have to…and still we can't catch a break," Joel said shaking his head.
"Was it this hard before you took Jeremiah in?" Frank asked and cringed when Joel's tears started to fall and he shook his head.
As Joel told Frank his life story, Bud and Mac were having their own conversation and while general at first, soon turned to the topic of the future. Deciding to take the opportunity presented, Mac took a deep breath.
"Are you still seriously considering retirement?" she asked and Bud nodded. "Have you talked to Harriet about it yet?"
"Yes and no," he said. "I don't want to make any permanent decision until Harriet is 100% healthy but I have mentioned a few times that we should consider some changes in the future. Jim's in 11th grade and the twins are in 8th grade. Won't be long before they're off at college. Might be time to think about what we want for ourselves."
"What do you want for yourself?" she probed quietly.
"I don't mind the life you have here," he started and Mac grinned. "I mean not that we'd move in here but that the move you guys made…a tree-change, isn't that what you called it? Seems the way to go. The pace is more relaxed, the air fresher and, above all, it's about family."
"That it is, Bud, that it is."
By the time Harm realised his uninterrupted time had well exceeded his expectations, his guilt at being anti-social was negated by his displeasure at being ignored by a household of people who were supposed to love him. Opening the school room door, he was surprised by the silence in the house and its darkness. Turning back to check the clock, Harm realised it was nearly midnight and everybody, bar the Easter Bunny, would be in bed.
Taking the two steps across to his bedroom, Harm opened the door slowly and was surprised to find his wife had not gone to bed. Slowly he made his way downstairs and saw her curled up asleep in the armchair by the fading fire, the lamp still aglow.
"Hey," he whispered, caressing her face. "Mac?"
"Harm?" she said with a start. "Where on earth have you been?"
"Upstairs in the school room," he reported as he knelt in front of her.
"Seriously?" she asked. "We got back just after 2130 and no one knew where you were. I've been waiting for you to come home."
"I never left," he said, sitting on the sofa. "No one seemed to want my company so I went to work on my model."
"Sorry," Mac said, moving from the armchair to the sofa. "I just thought taking Bud might give him the opportunity to see the possibilities of moving out here, helping vulnerable families … you know…"
"And did it?" Harm asked, tugging Mac to be sitting across his lap.
'We started a conversation about the future and he likes the idea of a tree-change but wants to wait until Harriet's well before making decisions," Mac reported and Harm nodded.
"Did you mention going into practice or the vacant medical premises?" he questioned and Mac shook her head.
"No, the time wasn't right for that," she said. "But, he and dad took the truck out to Joel's house with the bigger items that didn't fit in the car, and I think they spoke about things in greater depth."
"So, what is the story with young Jeremiah?" he asked and when tears appeared in Mac's eyes, he held her closer so she could tell the child's story.