As requested by Tessie we will do a quick recap of who everyone is for our readers.
Spot was injured in a factory explosion about 5 years ago and left Brooklyn rather than face his friends. He and Rae have four children of their own (Sam, age 4, and triplets: Robert, James and Lizzy, about 7 months old) and two children that they adopted (twins: Ann and Andy, age 10)
Chris and his late sister Julie were taken in by Spot and Rae. He caused some problems during his early teens, but has matured quite nicely. He just married Molly Gaines, who has a five year old daughter, Kendra. Molly's brother and his wife, North, and their baby daughter live in Brooklyn.
Marty is an orphaned little girl (age 10) that stayed with Spot and Rae for a short while. She was later adopted by a wealthy Brooklyn couple, but she still stays in touch with Andy, Ann and Ginny.
Mississippi Wayne is a good friend of Spot and Rae. He and his family have remained close to the Conlons in spite of the distance between the two families. His sister North married Molly's brother. He has four brothers (Lee, Johnny, Lonny and Jackson) and five sisters (North, Carrie, Georgia, Ana and Ginny). Jackson and Ginny Wayne are good friends of Ann, Andy and Marty. Sippi is a Pinkerton detective and courting Misha.
Misha is a Russian ballerina who stayed with the Conlons for a while after seeing something that she wasn't supposed to see. When she returned to Brooklyn, she took Ann with her so that the little girl could study the ballet.
The orphan boys: While all six boys are in this story, we realize that it would be impossible to keep up with all of them. So, we will mostly use Jeremy, Joey and Kenneth for this story.
Jeremy - 10
Joey, Jeremy's younger brother - 4
Morgan - 7
Will - 9
Rory - 6
Kenneth, who can't hear or talk - 12
Nick and Noelle Saint used to own the house that Spot and Rae now live in. They have deeded the house over to the Conlons, but continue to stay in the house when they are in town. They spent a lot of time away from Pleasant Valley, but always seem to show up just when Spot and Rae need them most. Unofficial grandparents to the Conlon children.
A NOTE TO TESSIE: If this is the first story of ours that you have read, then it's understandable that you are confused. This is actually the 11th story in what we call the "Pleasant Valley Series." Here is a list of the stories in order in case you haven't read them yet.
1 - Newsie is a Beast
2 - Swiss Family Conlon
3 - The Kringle House
4 - Merry Christmas, Baby (or I'll Be Home For Christmas)
5 - Rebel Without a Cause
6 - Don't Want to Lose You Now
7 - For Love or Money
8 - Gone With The Wind
9 - A Time To Dance
10 - All You Need Is Love
11 - Cheaper By The Half-Dozen
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"When's Momma and Daddy coming back?" Kendra demanded of anyone who would listen to her.
Spot smiled down at her as they set the table for dinner. "Soon. He wanted her to see the cabin."
"I wanna see it," she said with a pout.
"You've already seen it, Kendra."
"Not with them!"
"Maybe they'll take you down there tomorrow."
"When are we gonna move there?"
"Ask your daddy."
"But he's not here," she pouted.
"He will be soon. Why don't you go tell the boys to wash up for dinner..."
"Okay!" Her mood changed instantly as she hopped to her feet and ran from the room.
"Sammy!" she hollered as she ran up the stairs.
"Inside voices, Kendra. Momma's still asleep."
She sighed and slunk the rest of the way up the stairs.
With a faint smile, Spot shook his head.
Kendra slunk into the playroom.
"What's wrong?" Kenneth signed.
She shrugged. "I can't do anything."
Kenneth looked at Jeremy.
Jeremy signed back to him.
Kenneth replied and Jeremy turned to Kendra. "He says that you'll be able to do things soon."
She pouted. "But I wanna do things now..."
"You'll grow up soon enough, squirt."
Still, she pouted.
She was silent for a moment before her eyes widened. "Mr. Spot said to wash up for dinner."
Jeremy smiled and signed the message to Kenneth.
Kenneth nodded and began herding the other boys from the room.
Kendra skipped along with them.
Once everyone was settled in the dining room eating, Spot slipped from the room to check on Rae.
She stirred when he entered the room. He brushed the hair from her face and kissed her forehead.
"Hmm?" she said drowsily.
"Feeling any better?"
She smiled a bit and nodded. "Yes, thank you."
"Want to come eat?"
"I'll try."
He gently lifted her into his arms.
She laughed a bit. "You don't have to do this."
"I want to," he said, kissing her nose. "Besides, you're as light as a feather."
She looked at him. "You're an awful liar, Spot."
"I'm not lying."
She sighed. "Then you obviously haven't taken a good look at me lately. I'm fat."
He sighed. "No you aren't."
"Please put me down..."
With a frown, he gently set her to her feet.
Letting a small sigh escape, she walked into the dining room. Spot sighed as well, following her.
"Daddy?" Kendra asked with a mouth full of food.
"Yes?- And swallow before talking, missy," Chris said.
She swallowed quickly. "Can we move into the cabin tomorrow? please?"
He smiled. "Eager to move, are you?"
She nodded.
"Well, your momma and I will discuss it. We'll see."
She turned to Molly. "Can we please, Momma?"
Molly smiled. "Probably. It all depends on what we still have to do."
"Kendra..." Chris said, a disapproving tone in his voice. "I said that we will talk about it later."
She pouted.
He sent her a look. "Would you like to leave the table?"
"It's okay, Chris," Molly said.
"She's got to learn that pouting isn't going to get things done her way..."
"Just because she's pouting, that doesn't mean we're giving her her way."
"But she expects it."
"She's not old enough to put that together!"
Chris slammed his fork down and stalked from the room.
Molly frowned. "Chris!"
Noelle placed her hand on the girl's arm. "Just give him some time alone, sweetie."
"But...."
Noelle nodded. "Trust me."
Molly sighed and picked at her food.
Spot and Rae exchanged glances. Rae sighed. She had figured something like this might happen.
"Should we talk with them?" Spot asked her quietly.
She shook her head. "I think it's best we let them solve this on their own."
"I suppose you're right," he agreed.
Molly stood and carried her plate to the kitchen, before heading outside.
Noelle shook her head with a faint smile as she cleared the table. "The trials of young love."
"I'm gonna go play with my kitties," Kendra said, dashing from the room.
Spot laughed a little. "Be careful with them," he called out after her.
"I will!"
Rae smiled. "A house full of children and kittens."
Spot reached over and squeezed her hand under the table.
"I'm sorry I snapped at you, Spot," she said quietly.
"You're forgiven," he replied, kissing the side of her head.
She smiled.
"I still think you're beautiful," he whispered in her ear.
She blushed a bit. But this time she didn't argue.
"Your cheeks are red, Miss Rae," Rory said.
She laughed. "Why, I believe I am," she replied, holding a hand to her cheek.
Spot stood. "Noelle, would you mind watching the kids for a couple hours?"
Noelle smiled. "Of course not."
Rae looked up at him. "Why?"
"Because I want to spend a few uninterrupted hours with you."
He then smiled and added, "If that's not a problem."
"Not at all."
He smiled. "I didn't think so," he said playfully.
Noelle shook her head. "Get out of here. Will and Morgan are going to help me with the kitchen."
Spot and Rae smiled. "Will do. Come on Rae."
"Where are we going?" she asked as they left the room.
"I considered locking ourselves in our room for a few hours."
She laughed.
"What do you want to do, my dear?" he asked.
"Sleep?" she said with a rueful smile.
He kissed her nose. "Sleep, we shall."
She laughed. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be."
She smiled. "But you wanted to spend time together... and I suggest sleep."
He kicked the door to their room closed and held her close. "I don't mind Rae...really, I don't."
She smiled. "You're too kind."
"Do you want to take your nap on the couch or the bed?"
"The bed is more comfortable."
Nodding, he led her over to the bed. She smiled. Once she was laying down, he stretched out beside her.
She cuddled up next to him. "It's so nice to relax."
"It sure is," he said, holding her close.
She wrapped his arms around him. "Thank you Spot... for everything."
"Your welcome, sweetheart," he said, kissing her.
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Molly was on the porch for a long time, watching the sun set, deep in thought.
Kendra slipped outside and crawled into her lap. "Mommy?"
She blinked. "Yes sweetheart?"
"Are you mad at me?"
She smiled. "No, of course not sweetie."
"Are you mad at Daddy?"
"Just... a little upset, that's all."
"I'm sorry Mommy..."
"About what?" Molly opened her arms and motioned for Kendra to come sit with her.
"For making you and Daddy mad at each other..."
"Oh honey..." She hugged Kendra tightly.
Chris limped out onto the porch. "Kendra...it's time for bed..."
She sniffled. "Yessir..." She hugged Molly tightly and then went and hugged Chris.
"Night night."
"Night," he said, ruffling her hair.
Molly looked up at Chris. "Hello..."
"Hey," he said, limping across the porch and leaning against the railing near where she sat. She squirmed, uncomfortable with the silence that followed. Chris sighed. "We need to talk about this Molly..."
She looked up at him.
"You know as well as I do that Kendra pouts when she doesn't get her way...and we are both guilty of changing our minds when she does that..."
She sighed. "I know..."
"Come here," he said softly.
Climbing to her feet, she went over to him.
He slid his arms around her and she rested her head against his chest.
"I'm sorry for snapping," he said.
"I am too," she whispered.
He hugged her tightly.
Molly looked up at him. "I'll come to our room once Kendra's asleep."
He smiled. "All right then."
"I love you, Chris."
"I love you too, Molly girl."
He bent down and gently kissed her.
She smiled." We should probably go in now."
He nodded. Together, they headed in. Spot and Rae smiled when they saw the two hand in hand.
"I'm glad to see you two worked everything out," Spot said.
They smiled.
"Thank you," Molly replied
"Chris will you make sure to lock up before you call it a night?" Spot asked.
"Yes sir," Chris replied.
"Night," Spot said, putting his arm around Rae.
"Goodnight," Chris and Molly chimed
Molly followed Chris around the house as he locked all the doors. "Just a few more days and we'll have our own house," she said softly
"I can't wait..."
She slipped her hand into his.
He pulled her close and gave her a quick kiss.
She smiled. "Thank you."
"Let's go check on Kendra." She nodded in agreement. He took her hand as he limped toward the stairs.