LOST AND FOUND - PART I

SURPRISES

Chapter 3

The coach pulled up in front of a huge, gray stone mansion a mere ten minutes later and Adam was out before the driver could climb down to open the door.

He held the door as his family descended and then grinned at their expressions when they took in the house.

Joe was the last one out and he looked up at the house with his mouth open. "Geez Adam, you could use this as another hotel. It's almost as big as Eden House."

Adam chuckled as he closed the coach door and rapped on it to let David know he could drive on. He didn't respond to Joe's comment, just led the way up the front stairs to a double door set with panes of etched glass.

Entering a huge front hall with a raised area at the door, they followed Adam down four steps and when he stopped in the middle of the hall he said, "Cover your ears." Of course, Joe had to ask why.

"Don't ask questions, just do it," his brother replied as he put two fingers to his lips and blew an incredibly loud, ear-piercing whistle. All hell broke loose.

People and dogs came from all directions. A huge black dog of indeterminate breed came bounding down a staircase on the left side of the hall. Two small and equally ambiguous ones followed. The dogs all jumped on Adam and he was almost knocked down, but managed to stay on his feet. After giving their master numerous licks and sniffs, they turned to running around the room and barking like lunatics.

Adam laughed as more people who were clearly domestic help came to stand in the doorways to watch the circus. Two of the staff managed to capture the dogs and they were taken away. Everyone looked up when they heard a high voice carol, "Pa's home!"

A small child, a girl, was coming down the stairs as fast as her little legs could manage. Adam started up, and when he was three steps away she launched herself at him and flew into his arms. He laughed again and shifted the child to his left hip as he walked up to his father.

"Pa," he said with pride, "I'd like you to meet your granddaughter, Annalise."

Ben's eyes were shining as the little girl looked up at him then put her arms out. She closely resembled her mother, but with green eyes. He took the child into his arms and she laughed up into his face as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

Another young voice yelled, "Pa!" and they all turned to see a small boy come running through the archway to their right. He barreled into his father and shrieked with delight as Adam tossed him into the air then caught him. He set the child down and took his hand to walk over to Ben. When the two of them were standing in front of his father Adam grinned, "Pa, I would like you to meet your grandson, Alexander."

By this time Ben was a little overwhelmed. He looked down at the child and was not surprised to see he looked exactly like Adam. The little boy cocked his head to the side and grinned. "Up," he demanded, stretching his arms up to Ben. His grandfather scooped him up with his free arm and looked at Adam, torn between shock and happiness. His eldest son grinned at him and said, "Surprise!"

Ben looked from child to child a few times then looked at Adam helplessly. Laughing he said, "Yes, they're twins," then took Annalise back from his father and carried her over to Joe. As he handed her over to his brother the little girl giggled and went to him willingly. When Joe was holding her she patted his face with her hands and said, "You're pretty!"

Everyone laughed. Joe turned red with embarrassment and looked down into her sweet face. "How old are you?" The little girl held up one hand and folded down her thumb. "I'm this many," she said proudly and wiggled them at her new uncle. Joe chuckled and hugged her close.

Adam went back to Ben and took Alexander, set him down, and held his hand as they walked over to Hoss. The little boy looked up at his uncle and almost tipped over, but his father put out a hand to keep him from falling over backward.

"Gee!" the child piped, "I bet you can see over anything!"

Hoss laughed and went down on one knee in front of the boy. "Would you like to come up and see for yourself, young fella?" The boy looked up at his father, "Can I, Pa?" Adam smoothed the boy's hair back with a hand on top of his head and said, "Sure, but just be careful you don't hurt him."

"Now how could a little bit of a thing like him hurt me?" Hoss scoffed.

His elder brother shook his head with a raised eyebrow, "You don't know Alexander."

Hoss laughed and settled the small boy on his shoulder and stood, one arm holding him by the legs. Alexander giggled with delight then sat there quietly looking around from his new vantage point.

Adam went back to stand in front of his father. "Are you alright?" he said, putting his hands on his father's upper arms, concerned with the shock he still saw there. Ben nodded, but said, "It's all a little much to take in at one time; finding you and getting a daughter-in-law and grandchildren in the space of a few hours. I mean it's wonderful, but hard to take in."

His eldest son put an arm across his shoulders and said, "Then let's all go into my office for a little peace and quiet. This way gentlemen," he said as he steered his father to a door under the staircase with Joe and Hoss, carrying the children, following closely behind.

While the front hall seemed a little cold, being mostly stone and marble, Adam's office was warm and inviting, paneled with golden oak and furnished with large, comfortable furniture. The room was actually huge and bore a suspicious resemblance to the great-room at the ranch.

Joe, Hoss, and Ben looked around and then at each other with raised eyebrows. Adam looked around too then shook his head. "Well, I guess I did remember something after all. Have a seat and relax."

Hoss plucked Alexander off his shoulder then set the child on his lap. The boy looked around at the three new family members with bright eyes for a bit then climbed down. He trotted over to his father and tugged on his hand. Adam stood and the child dragged him over to Ben then looked up at his father demanding, "Who?"

Adam smiled and said, "Alex, this is your grandfather."

"Oh," the boy thought about this for a moment then said, "What's a grandfather?" His father sat down next to Ben on the sofa and plopped the boy onto his lap.

"You know that you are my son, right?" Alexander nodded, "You're my Pa," he said, his eyes never leaving his father's.

"Well," Adam continued, "I am his son."

"Oh," Alexander said and thought about it some more. "He's your Pa?" he said uncertainly. His father nodded, "Right."

The boy then turned his intent gaze to Joe and Hoss, but Adam answered his question before it was asked. "You are Annalise's brother, right?" Alexander nodded. "Joe and Hoss are MY brothers." Alexander looked at the two men and seemed to accept that without much of a problem. "Are they twins, too?" he asked.

Everyone laughed, "No Alexander," his father said and the child climbed down. "Oh, that's too bad, being twins is fun," he said as he went to poke Annalise who had almost fallen asleep snuggled up to Joe.

"Hey!" he said. The little girl looked down her nose at him. "What?" she answered.

"You know what a grandfather is?" The boy was puffed up with his new knowledge.

Annalise sat up with an annoyed expression. Pointing to Joe she said, "Uncle Pretty, Pa's brother." She then pointed to Hoss and said, "Uncle Horse, Pa's brother." Then she pointed to Ben. "Grandpa," she said and looked at her brother again. "Pa's pa." she said with a nod of finality and snuggled back into Joe's arms.

"Oh," Alexander said his favorite word then trotted up to his grandfather, climbed into his lap and snuggled in too.

"They're both very intelligent Adam," Ben said with pride.

"I know," Adam laughed ruefully, "and keeping up with them can be very hard work."

The back door to the office opened then and Thea came in. "I should have known I would find them here," she said smiling.

"Where else would they be?" her husband answered reasonably.

Thea nodded. "Well, dinner is ready if anyone is hungry." They all stood and she took Hoss's hand. "You come with me young man and I'll make sure you don't get lost in this mountain of a house." Hoss chuckled and let himself be pulled along.

Joe went out next still holding the little girl. Ben with Alexander and Adam trailed a little behind.

"Pa, we'll come back here after dinner and talk. That subject isn't meant for little people."

His father nodded, "I agree."

"What's a subject, Pa?" Alexander asked.

"Nothing you need concern yourself with right now," his father said firmly.

"Oh," the boy said, accepting his father's edict without an argument. Looking up at his grandfather as they entered the dining room he said, "I know a secret."

"You do?"

The boy nodded vigorously, "Uh huh, Ma is gonna have a baby in Demember."

Thea clapped a hand over her eyes, "Oh dear Lord," she muttered and fled the room.

Adam bit back a laugh then looked at his brothers. "Don't laugh," he warned them. "She has had enough embarrassment for one day."

Hoss and Ben were managing to hold their laughter back with no trouble, but Adam could see Joe was fighting a losing battle. He rushed up to him, plucked his daughter out of Joe's arms, handed her to Hoss then dragged Joe out of the room and into the next room, and then into the room after that. Just as Adam closed the door behind them Joe gave in and burst out laughing so hard he bent over.

Adam couldn't keep his own amusement back and the two of them laughed until they couldn't stand anymore. They were sitting on the floor when they finally stopped. Adam shook his head and wiped tears of mirth from his eyes. "I swear, that boy is going to be the death of me some day," he said and clapped Joe on the back, knocking him over.

"Oh God," Joe sighed and stretched out on his back, "I like that kid."

"You should," his brother replied cryptically as Joe was shaking his head.

"I just can't believe this; finding you, alive and well. . . with a wife. . . and children. I haven't felt this good in a very long time."

"I'm glad you feel that way Joe, but we better get back before we both end up in deep trouble."

"Alright," his brother said and the two climbed wearily to their feet. "I just can't wait to see the looks on everyone's face when you come home."

Joe was in front of him so he couldn't see his older brother's expression. Adam started to respond, but then stopped. That conversation would be best if left until later; much, much later.