DAY OF RECKONING
CHAPTER 15

The opportunity that Garrett had been waiting on presented itself quicker than anticipated in the arrival of Kara; Dara's older sister

Kara had phoned and asked about a short visit just after Mother's day. Dara, unable to find a reasonable excuse for her sister not to visit and not really wanting to find one, had asked her husband pleadingly about allowing her to visit.

Lucas, never being able to refuse his wife anything, agreed, deciding that it might do her some good considering everything that she had suffered the past year but never voicing a complaint about any of it.

Around the first of June, Kara and her family, including her two children and husband, arrived. Dara had just finished cleaning the house with Trisha and mama Lucy's help. She was in the process of attempting to feed Ria before giving her a bath and settling her for the night, as well as attempting to contain her other three children's excitement of seeing their aunt and cousins once more.

She had almost reached her wits end, due mostly to Ria's crankiness from the ear infection that had begun a couple of days before, as well as Rinie, Riesa and Alex's constant bickering.

This was something she had not had a real degree of difficulty with from them beforehand. All of her children had always been close to each other, even Caleb, even with so many years difference between himself and the others he still had a close relationship with his siblings.

When Dara had voiced her concern over the matter Lucas had shrugged it off stating, "Darlin, they're just probably a little jealous over Ria and this is their way of acting it out, they'll go back to acting like themselves before too much longer."

That had been almost two weeks ago with no indication of their predicted reformation in sight. At the moment they were running up and down the staircase yelling at each other over some toy. Dara, whose patience was finally at an end of her patience between attempting to settle Ria and the other children's yelling, got up and went to the top of the staircase to issue an ultimatum.

When Dara appeared at the top of the stairs and all three children caught sight of the look of thunder on their mother's face all three froze. Lucas Alexander, Cherice Gwenna and Katherine Lucilla, if the three of you do not stop your yelling and running up and down these stairs this second, the minute your father walks thru that door, you are going to all three get a spanking and if he doesn't do it then I will. Do you understand me?"

All three looked at each other wide eyed, they had rarely seen their mother this angry, but the one thing they knew for certain was that if she called them by their given names they were in serious trouble, not to mention that if she promised a spanking she would definitely go thru with it. Turning back to face their mother they all mumbled in unison, "Yes, mommy."

Dara nodded as she directed, "Good, now either go into the living room and watch television or go outside and play in the yard. And if you watch TV I do not want to hear one argument, do we understand each other?" All three nodded silently as they ventured down the stairs quietly to do as they had been told.

Satisfied, she went back to try and calm Ria, who was crying for all she was worth, finally she managed to get hr quiet and calm enough to fall asleep. Laying her in her crib she pulled the shade over the window and went downstairs to help finish supper. She was about to pass the front door when it opened, admitting her husband who had a dozen roses in his hand.

Lucas smiled at the sight of her as he laid the roses on the table and took her in his arms without saying a word as he kissed her deeply. Lifting his head he smiled mischievously at her as he greeted, "Hello."

Dara looked at him in shock, "Well hello back. What was that for?"

Shrugging as he continued holding her he stated, "How about because I love you, and because I could hear the rowdy bunch in there dealing you a fit when I called earlier."

Dara smiled as she stated, "Well despite the reason I like the greeting, care to demonstrate it again?"

Lucas smiled as he replied, "Gladly." With that he bent his head as he took her in his arms and kissed her deeper.

At that moment the front door opened admitting Kara and her family. Jack, Kara's husband looked at his embarrassed sister in law, then at his wife and asked questioningly, "Now, do you understand how they managed to have so many kids?" Dara blushed profusely as Lucas merely grinned broadly.

Kara nudged her husband as she stated, "Behave yourself please." With that she hugged her younger sister tightly, then her brother in law briefly while Dara hugged Jack and the kids.

Kara had always liked her brother in law but she knew that he simply put, wasn't a man you got very close to. She had always wondered how it was that her sister and this man had such a close relationship when he seemed so distant, while Dara was very outgoing and giving. Shaking the thought from her head she inquired brightly, "So, where are my nieces and nephews?"

Dara looked behind her to the living room door to find all three standing there waiting for permission to enter. Dara nodded her head as all three came running to greet their aunt.

Kara shook her head after having hugged each and watched as they now trooped back to the living room. "I've got to hand it to you Dara, they're the most well behaved kids I've ever seen."

Dara smiled at the compliment as she stated, "Well don't be too impressed, I just had to threaten all three with spankings earlier so they do have their moments."


After everyone was settled into their rooms, Dara and Kara were in the dining room setting the table when Kara asked, "Where's Caleb?"

Dara smiled, "He went to get his girlfriend, Trisha, she's eating with us tonight so that she can meet you all."

No sooner had dara finished speaking then Caleb and Trisha entered the dining room. Caleb smiled broadly as he hugged his favorite aunt, "Hi aunt Kara how are you?"

Kara smiled as she stood back to take in his appearance, she had always strived to treat Caleb as equally as she did the rest of Dara's children ever since Dara had legally adopted him five years earlier, becoming his mother. Looking as the girl who was as small as her sister she stated, "I'm fine Caleb, by the way who's this pretty little thing?"

Trisha blushed at the compliment as Caleb grabber her hand and pulled her forward to be introduced, "Aunt Kara, this is Trisha my girlfriend."

Trisha extended her hand and said softly, "Nice to meet you Mrs. Tanner."

Kara smiled, putting the girl at ease as she shook her head, "Honey in this family you don't have to call us Mrs. Just call me Kara." Trisha smiled feeling more at ease with Caleb's aunt.

Jack entered, smiling at he slapped Caleb's back in greeting; Dara shook her head at her brother in law's enthusiasm as she explained, "By the way Trisha this nut is Kara's husband, Jack."

Jack looked at his sister in law, feigning offense at her words, "Now Dara, why would you say that about me? What makes you think I could possibly be mentally unbalanced?"

Dara smiled as she replied good naturedly, "Two things, that's my professional opinion as a counselor and it's a pre-requisition for admission to this family."

Everyone laughed as Lucas walked in, having heard the last of the conversation and asked in mock seriousness, "Oh really darlin, well how do you explain me then?"

Dara smiled as she wrapped her arms around his waist and answered, "Well we do have to allow a few sane people in for balance you know."

Lucas shook his head as he smiled, relieved to see her in a good humor for a change.


After everyone had eaten and finished clearing the table Caleb had taken Trisha home while Lucas and Dara put the kids to bed, while mama Lucy excused herself to retire for the evening as well.

When they were finished they ventured back downstairs to join Jack and Kara in the kitchen where Kara had made some coffee. Brittany was in her room reading while Jacob was playing with the video game system.

Kara waited until they were settled before she broached the subject she and her husband had been considering for a few weeks, ever since Lucas had called to let them know that Dara had delivered Ria safely, although they knew nothing of Lucas's brother and his various exploits.

Seeing her sister had something on her mind Dara asked, "Something on your mind Kara?"

Kara looked from her sister to her husband and at Jack's nod she explained, "Well yes, Jack and I have been discussing it and well, Brittany is going off for the summer to a college program for a few weeks so we were thinking that with all the problems you had with your pregnancy and the new baby and everything, we were thinking that maybe you two would let us take Riesa, Alex and Rinie back with us for a vacation. That will give you time to bond with Ria and also give you a chance to get some rest. You know that I'll take good car of them."

Dara looked at her sister in shock, then to her husband who seemed just as stunned.

Kara, seeing the look on her sister's face, rushed to offer, "Don't decide right now or even tomorrow, just consider it. I know they've never been away from you or from home before but I really think that this might be good for both them and you."

Dara sighed as she nodded, "All right, we'll discuss it and decide before you leave, fair enough?"

Kara smiled as she nodded her acceptance of her sister's statement.


Later, when they were getting ready for bed, Dara asked Lucas, "Well, what's your opinion about it?"

Lucas climbed into bed as he stated, "I think that they may be right. Maybe we should consider letting the kids go with them for a few weeks." Seeing the look of disbelief on her face he explained in a hushed voice, "Look baby, this thing with Garrett is about to come to a head and to my way of thinking this is a good way to get three targets out of his line of fire. I would like to make it six but Caleb is more or less a man now and has to choose his own way, and you're too damn stubborn to go, not to mention the fact that I don't particularly want you away from me, and Ria is too small to be separated from you. But Riesa, Alex and Rinie, that's a different story. I don't like sending our kids off no more than you do, but I do think it would be a good idea in this case."

Dara climbed into bed and considered his words. Lucas glanced at the look on her face and asked, "Well, what do you think?"

Turning towards him she sighed in resignation, "I think that I'm about to learn the concept of empty next syndrome early." With that she shut the light off and turned to her side of the bed.

Lucas pulled her closer as he kissed her cheek and stated, "I promise that this will be over soon and we wont have to be separated from our kids again."

Dara glanced over her shoulder at him as she replied, "That is one promise that I am definitely going to hold you to." With that she settled against him to find sleep.


Kara was helping Dara pack clothes for the kids when she asked her sister, "Can I ask you something?"

Dara glanced at her hissed and nodded for her to continue, "Don't get me wrong I like Lucas and everything, but he just doesn't strike me as being a man easy to get close to. How have you two managed to have such a close relationship? I mean I know that you love each other and that's what you're supposed to do when you're married, but you two are a lot closer than just a husband and wife. It's like you two are able to communicate with each other without talking and you never have to ask each other anything, you guys just seem to know when the other needs or wants something. How have you managed to be that way?"

Dara smiled at her sister as she continued folding clothes into an open suitcase. "I really don't know how to answer you because I don't know myself how it got that way. It seems like ever since I've know him that he's always know exactly what I was thinking or feeling. Then, when we got married it just seemed to come second nature to me to be the same way with him. I guess it's just something that happens between two people sometimes, and you have to understand something, Lucas and I have been through a lot more than most married people and still managed to come through it all with the same feelings we had before we started."

Kara considered her sister's answer as she inquired, "You don't really mind the kids going back home with us, do you?"

Dara sighed; she knew that Kara would ask that sooner or later. "I would be lying if I said that I like the idea of my children being away from me for a fe3w weeks, but I do think this will be good for them and give them a chance to get closer to you guys. So I guess I'd have to say that I don't really mind them going with you." Dara put the last article of clothing into the suitcase and closed it, sighing forlornly.

Jack came in and took both suitcases and asked, "Now is that everything?"

Dara glanced around, making certain that she hadn't missed anything as she answered sadly, "I suppose so Jack, they have their animals and such downstairs so I guess that's all."

Setting down the suitcases he gave his sister in law a hug as he asked, "You know we'll take good care of them, right little sister?"

Dara nodded as she stated, "I know that you will Jack, it's just the first time that I've been separated from them like this." Jack nodded as he took the suitcases and headed downstairs to load them in their mini-van.

Dara and Kara headed downstairs just as Lucas came in with the kids from the shopping spree at the toy store he had insisted on taking them on, having argued that they needed new3 toys for the trip to their aunt's. All three ran to their mother to eagerly show her their new possessions. Dara smiled as she made the time left with them as special as possible.

Lucas asked quietly, "Are they all packed?"

Dara nodded silently, afraid that she might give the children the wrong impression about going with their aunt. When she and Lucas had asked the children about the trip they had all three eagerly seized the opportunity to spend more time with their aunt and uncle, although they had all voiced solemnly that they would miss their parents and siblings they were still excited to be traveling to a new place.

Lucas reached in his pocket and withdrew his wallet; opening it he withdrew five one hundred dollar bills and handed them to Kara. Kara glanced at him in shock as she stated, "You don't have to give us money to take care of the kids, and certainly not this much."

Lucas shook his head refusing to take the money back as he replied, "I know that they can eat like horses and in case you go shopping or to a park or something. I'd feel better if you took it."

Kara sighed as she looked at her brother in law in resignation, "All right, but this money is for whatever they want, we want to take them for a while."

Lucas nodded as he instructed, "You do with it what you feel best." With that Jack came in and nodded that it was time for them to leave. Lucas knew that this would be the most difficult moment for her when they were out the door but he was proud of how she handled it.

Rinie tugged on her mother's hand as she asked, "Are you going to miss us mommy?"

Dara knelt down and hugged all three to her as she drew back and explained, "Of course I will baby, but I know that you guys are going to have lots of fun with aunt Kara and uncle Jack. And aunt Kara said that she'll let you call me and daddy anytime that you want to and we'll see you in a few weeks, okay?"

All three nodded their acceptance as they hugged and kissed both their mother and father before walking out the door to follow their cousins to the van. Jack hugged Dara and shook Lucas' hand as he went out behind the children. Kara hugged her sister tightly as she stated, "You know that they'll be fine, right?"

Dara nodded as she hugged her sister once more then, pulling back as she was trying desperately to hold back her tears as she begged shakily, "Pleas take good care of them and let them know that I love them every night when you tuck them in." With that she brushed the tears that had started falling and ran back up the stairs to the sanctuary of her bedroom.

Kara watched her exit in indecision until Lucas stated, "Don't worry she'll be all right, I'll go talk to her in a minute." Kara nodded as she hugged him and turned to leave. Lucas watched from the porch until they drove off down the street. Then, turning he was about to go upstairs when his grandmother advised,

"Best to let her alone right now boy. The first time a mother has to let her children go away from her, especially when they're that young is a had thing. Let her work it out on her own."

Lucas glanced back up the stairs and then at his grandmother as he nodded in agreement with her statement before following her to the kitchen.