Chapter 7: The Tamber's

Part 1

I took in the two story cottage, its brick walls, and glass windows that were covered with vines and beautiful bloomed white flowers. The more closer I got the more I began to smell something I could not identify, but it smelt appetizing!

Jonnie and Jennie just ended their conversation about where Jonnie had been these past four months; I did not have to listen for the expression on Jennie's face was enough evidence for me.

Thelma reached the door but stopped as she noticed I was not moving anymore, she sighed.

"Erik, nothing is going to happen."

Still what she said was not comforting me.

Thelma looked at me and knew what I was feeling; she cursed, opened the door and rushed inside shutting the door in my face.

I frowned tremendously at her actions.

I heard a few movements here and there, some gasps and stomping.

As I drew my ear near the door it suddenly flung open. I quickly took a step back. It was Thelma at the door. She gently gave a smile then grabbed my collar and pulled me in.

Furiously I grabbed her writs and pushed her back but making sure she did not fall I did not release my firm grip. Realizing what I was doing I let her go; she just smiled and rubbed her writs.

"Looks like someone is getting there strength back."

She's right I am getting my strength back, after two weeks of trying to help around on the ship has built me up just a bit. Finally maybe instead of hearing her boss me around she will think differently.

Jonnie walked in already kissing Jennie as if there were no tomorrow. Thelma quickly separated them.

"Your so called manners Jonnie are really starting to test my patients, now hurry up, go home and see your father." She said pointing to the door; Jonnie gave a quick kiss to his love and ran out the door. Jennie watched him leave; she staggered a bit then turned to Thelma.

"Um…I'm going with him." And in a flash Jennie was gone.

Thelma sighed then looked at me.

"Alright mother is fixing up dinner in the kitchen, come on Erik, time to meet the family." She said as she grabbed my arm and led me to the kitchen.

I walked slowly next to Thelma. Taking a deep breath with every step I took. The door to the kitchen was only seconds away. Here we go.

I entered the warm room were the appetizing smell was coming from. I closed my eyes and took in the sent, it was still unfamiliar but it made my mouth wet. Then suddenly, my stomach made a growling noise, I opened my eyes in embarrassment. Then suddenly I heard a sweet country voice ahead.

"Oh my, it sounds like you're…" the woman stopped as she turned around and looked at me. Scared just like all the others I see. But then her stare of fear vanished and a look of concern came.

"When was the last time you've eaten?"

The woman was well in shape; her apron was dirty from the cooking I bet. Her chocolate brown dress went smoothly to the bottom of her ankles. Her blond hair was in a messy bun, leaving small strands on her face. Her cheeks were a rosy pink, her lips were just like Thelma's and her eyes were bright blue like Jennie's. The wrinkles on her face told me she was at least somewhere in her late thirties or early forties.

"This mourning Madam." I said answering her trying to ignore her eyes. The woman just laughed.

"Well at least you're eating. What did you eat?" She asked walking to some cabinets and talking out a small pot.

"Some apples Madam." I responded low. The woman stopped dead in her tracks and looked at me seriously, then to Thelma.

"Thelma Crystal Tamber! What sort of ship are you running?" she asked placing both hands on her hips.

Thelma looked at her and simply said.

"A good one."

"Absolutely not! If your breakfast on that ship is just my fresh apples you and your crew mates will grow thin as a toothpick like this poor man!" She said referring to me.

"Is that all you've been eating sir?" she said walking in front of me. I tensed up. I looked at Thelma asking her through my eyes if I should lie and say I had a few good meals.

But there was no need for that since Thelma stated the truth for me.

"Tell you the truth mother; this man has not had a good meal since I'd say about two weeks ago." Thelma said making her English accent sound like her mothers country one.

"Longer then that actually." I whispered to her, Thelma quickly corrected herself.

"Longer then tha…really?" she said looking at me surprised. I nodded.

"Well it's a good thing y'all came tonight. I'm making turkey with a side order of mashed potatoes with some beef gravy!" the woman said triumphantly!

"Oh please tell me there are peas with that!" came in a voice. Though this time this voice was a masculine English accent.

The woman gave a big smile, moved to the side and kissed the man on his cheek.

He was a tall strong looking man; he had brown working pants, and a dirty white shirt with a black vest. His short black and gray hair was wild from probably the work he done outside. He was slowly growing a gray beard, which looked like he had shaved many times. Thelma must have got her accent from him. He must be at least in his late forties or early fifties.

The man with a big smile on his face kissed the woman once again then looked at me. Once his brown eyes were set on me his smile disappeared. This is starting to get annoying!

The man looked at Thelma then back at me, he cleared his throat as if he was trying to get someone's attention.

"Um Thelma?"

"Yes?" she answered gracefully.

"You never told us you finally found a lover." He said smiling greatly. Thelma quickly took action.

"No father he is not my lover, he is just a friend I made back in Paris." She said trying to hide what seemed like a blush.

"Oh pity." The man known as Thelma's father said with dolefulness.

I found it odd when he said finally found a lover. A woman such has Thelma should have dozens of men chasing after her with nothing but love in their hearts.

"On no wonder he kept calling me Madam." The woman next to her husband said going back to cooking. Thelma cleared her throat.

"Well anyways, mother this is Erik." She said pointing to me. "And Erik this is my mother Dolly Tamber." She said pointing to her mother.

Mrs. Tamber walked up to me and offered me her hand; I took her soft hand in mine. I would have kissed her hand, but thought since Jonnie got upset I don't think it's such a good idea for this man was much more capable of beating me.

I released her hand and stepped back.

"Father this is Erik, Erik my father Dean Tamber." She said making the same gestures.

He stepped forward then offered his hand, I took it. The feeling of shaking this man's hand was surprisingly welcoming. I did not expect it. When I shook the others hands indeed I was glad they did not shun me, but this man, as I shook his hand it's like he was welcoming me into his family. For once I felt a hint of warmth in me.

"Nice to meet you Mister…" he said pausing.

"Oh um, father Erik doesn't have a…" Thelma began.

But I quickly interfered with the first thing that came into my head for I knew that a kind man such as M. Tamber would think that a man with no last name would mean some sort of sign that I escaped form somewhere.

"It's Munoire, Monsieur. My name is Erik Munoire."

Thelma looked at me, she knew right away were I was going so she didn't make any sort of expression to make her parents suspicious.

"Well Mister Munoire…"

"Please call me Erik, Monsieur." I said quickly.

"Alright then Erik, you can call me Dean." He said with a polite smile.

"Yes and before you keep calling me Madam or Mrs. Tamber, you can call me Dolly." Said Mrs. Tamber turning to me then back to her cooking.

"Certainly." I said responding to both.

There was only a second of silence before Thelma spoke.

"Well now that we have that settled…wait a minute. Where are Bunny, Tommy, Noah, Jennie and Dreama?" Thelma asked perplexed.

Just then I heard footsteps from behind, I turned around cautiously to see Jennie looking at everyone puzzled.

"Someone call me?" she asked.

Thelma shook her head faintly.

"I was just wondering where you were at. Where are Tommy and Noah?" Thelma asked bewildered.

"Oh um…I think there down at the lake." She responded walking in.

"Well then where is Dreama and Bunny?" she asked cocking her head.

"There upstairs." she said quickly walking up to her mother."Um mother...I was wondering if I can have dinner at Jonnie's house tonight. And before you say no, you know I have every reason to go tonight."

Dolly set down the wooden spoon she used to mix the gravy and sighed with irritation.

"Alright name these reasons of yours Jennie." She said turning to face her daughter.

"Well one he's my lover, two I haven't seen him in four months, three it would not be fare for I have been utterly depressed these past four months, and…"

"Alright! You've proved your point go ahead." Dolly said waving her arm and going back to cooking.

Jennie gave a smile and rushed to her mother and gave her a big warm hug, then one to her father, one to Thelma, and then an apology to me for not being able to stay and get to know me better. I accepted her apology then she ran off.

"Supper is coming up, why don't you get your brothers?" Dean said abruptly.

Then suddenly the door was swung open to reveal two boys running in. One was a dirty blond with brown working pants and a white shirt; he looked to be about seventeen or eighteen. The other had brown hair, with a white shirt and work pants. Everyone seems to be wearing white shirts and work pants. This one looked to be about the same age.

The two boys looked as if they were racing for they were pushing each other out of the way to try and reach the kitchen first. The brown head suddenly pushed the other to the floor and ran to the kitchen; he raised his arms in triumph and began to laugh.

"I win!" he shouted laughing.

The other entered and accused the winner of cheating. Dolly quickly interfered.

"No fighting in the house!" she said with serious eyes. This caused the boys to stop arguing and stand straight to their mother.

"Sorry mother." Said the brown head. He then suddenly looked at me and gasped.

"Whoa!" The boy jumped back into his brother, the brother looked at me and made the same reaction, both boys ended up bumping into Thelma. I took a few steps backwards then quickly turned away with my hand tightly covering my face. It was bound to happen sooner or later.

Everyone's eyes were on me and the boys. Thelma slapped the two men in the back of the head. All they did was look at her and say.

"What did we do?"

Dolly and Dean stepped in.

"You two know better then that!" Dean said standing tall.

"You think I screamed because of this man's defect?" Said the blond suddenly.

"Honestly you call yourselves our parents?" said the other standing with his brother.

"It was rude to do that!" Thelma shouted.

"Well how would you react if there was a complete stranger in your house and was standing right behind you?" said the brown head. I glanced at Thelma, and immediately could tell she thought about this and with just a look at her eyes you could tell she understood her brothers.

I closed my eyes and sighed.

I felt a hand on my shoulder; I slowly turned to see Thelma and her brothers.

The brown head suddenly walked up to me and held out his hand.

"Sorry there, you just gave me a scare that's all. No offence I hope." He said giving a smile. I could tell he truly did mean it; he never looked away from my eyes.

"None taken." I said slowly yet suspiciously taking his hand.

"Noah Tamber." He said greatly.

"Erik Munoire." I said retrieving my hand. After Noah stepped back his brother came forward and offered his hand with a big smile.

"It's always nice to have a newcomer in Arthur Barstool. I'm Tommy Tamber."

"It's nice to meet you." I said shaking his hand. Tommy nodded and released my hand.

My emotions on the outside were just relief that they were not afraid of me. But my emotion in the inside was more then that, when I first came here all I expected was people fearing me. But they did not fear me. They are actually accepting me. This was all too good to be true. Eventually something was going to happen, someone will question my face and find out my past and take me in back to hell.

"Alright everybody supper's ready." As soon as Dolly said this everybody ran to the table, but Dolly stopped them before anyone could even reach a chair.

"No one is eating anything unless their hands are washed!" she said strictly. Everyone quickly hid their hands and stated that they had washed their hands before entering the house. I smiled as I noticed Thelma doing the same thing. Dolly was obviously a smart woman.

"Y'all get to the wash room and clean those hands right now or you'll be eating outside!" Dolly Tamber must be a serious woman, for when she said this, everyone quickly left the room to wash their hands. I was now the only one in the kitchen.

"Erik, have you washed your hands?" she said sweetly giving a beautiful caring smile.

"I'm afraid not Madam." I said kindly to her. She smiled at me.

"Well there is a rule in the house and that is to wash your hands before you eat, I don't want you to get sick now do I?" she said placing her hands on my shoulders and turning me around.

"Upstairs make a left then go straight, it should be the second door." She said pointing to the wooden staircase.

"And call me Dolly!" she said reminding me. I nodded.

I began to make my way up the stairs, as I did Noah and Tommy ran right by me back down stairs. It looks like they were in another race. But just then I heard Dolly's voice.

"Don't even think it! Go back up there and wash them right!" Tommy and Noah ran back upstairs past me again.

As I neared the top of the stairs something caught my attention. It was music.

Defiantly a violin, an instrument I haven't heard in a long time. I followed the sound to a closed door right at the end of a hall. I placed my ear on the door to listen to the music.

The song I have never heard of but it sounded as if it was for a beginner. And indeed it was, I would here this person struggle on some of the notes. Suddenly a second player came in. He would join in every now and then, he certainly knew what he was doing; he was truly into this song, he was no beginner. He must be teaching someone how to play. I listened to the hollow song until it ended.

Dolly's voice suddenly came, my eyes opened and traveled down stairs.

"Bunny! Dreama! Time to eat!"

Suddenly the door holding my weight gave away and I fell through falling on top of someone. I cursed at my silliness and quickly sat up. I then looked down to see who I was on top of.

To my surprise, it was a woman.

Hey everyone! sorry I haven't updated in a long time, my computer is beyond messed up! So i have to use my dad's computer. But anywaysI hope you liked this Chapter, Part 2 should be up soon, then you'll meet the rest of the family, don't worry its not Cheaper by The Dozens or anything, there is just, and I'm going in order of oldest to youngest ok? Thelma, Tommy, Noah, Dreama, Jennie, and Bunny. Jonnie is from a completley different family. Well yes please review, i need to know what I am doing wrong, I know i'm doing more then one thing wrong so pretty please review oh please review!

ok sorry for the begging.

Crystal A.