Chapter 4: Unexpected Visiters
It was official, the Allied States of America was at war with the Coalition, which included the United States of America and the Independent Republic of Texas. For the moment the few battles were limited to the Texas/ Cheyenne Boarder. The UN peace keepers had recieved the evidence that Jake and Hawkings had delivered to the Texas government. They initiated an official investigation in the Cheyenne Government. Bombing two countries that had nothin to do with the attack was a serious crime. Unfortunatly the ASA government denied all of it, blocking the real stories from the media. There was little that a farmer from Jericho, KS could do to change government policies. Stanley hoped that Jake was doing more good than they were.
"Why are you so silent? You are usually such a chatterbox!" Mimi said sarcastically, she usually talked alot, while he the silent partner.
"I got a letter from Jake. He didn't say too much in case J&R is monitoring our mail. The letter is dated a while back, but when he wrote the letter, Hawkings was reliesed from the hospital and the 'package' was delivered to our cousin. I think that's code for Hawkings' bomb getting safely to the Texas government for testing."
"Did he say when he's coming back? A certain child will need it's godfather." They had discussed it, and decided to make Jake the baby's Godfather, while Emily was going to be the baby's godmother. Emily had tried to go into Texas to be with Jake over the summer, but they had denied her crossing the border because of her 'connections to criminal activity,' which ment that they were keeping an eye on all of them.
"He said that it will take them some time to get back home. We've got time, the baby's not due until Late Fall. This letter was written a month ago, knowing Jake, he'll show up at the time that we'll least expect." He was interupted by a knock at the front door. "I'll get it honey, you relax."
Stanley opened the door to find a middleaged redhead. "Can I help you?"
"Yes, My name is Mrs. Elisabeth Parker, I am looking for a Mimi Clark, does she live here?"
"Yes, she's my wife, Mimi!"
"Can I help you?" Mimi asked.
"I'm Liz Parker, I'm with a branch of social services dediated to finding relitives for childen who were orphned in the September attacks. Your brother was Willam Clark, married to Virginia Clark?"
"Yes, they lived in DC with their daughter."
"Well, speaking of their daughter, during the attacks Samantha Clark was on a fieldtrip to a farm in rural Virginia when the attacks happened. She's in the car."
"Sam's alive!" Mimi ran out the door to the car parked outside the house. Stanley stood with tears in his eyes. When he had searched for Mimi's family, they must not have had records for all of the orphens that was there since the attacks. He watched at the reunion for Aunt and Niece. Mimi had told him that she and her brother shared the same dark hair and eyes. Well, it looks like those were dominte traits, for Sam Clark was the spitting image of her aunt.
He turned to the woman beside him, "How come you never wrote or called? We would have come get her."
"Well, offically, I am not allowed on this side of the blue line. But we found families and friends for most of the other children under my care. Sam had no other family, and I wouldn't let politics keep a child from being reunitd from their only family. "
"How'd you find us? We're not exactly on good term with the Cheyenne government."
"Mimi saw you're wife's face on a new's broadcast when President Tomarchio was on his tour last month It took me that long to get forged papers to get us across the border. I'd appreciate it if you keep my metheds, shall we say, low profile."
"Don't worry, I'm just glad that Sam is safe. Mimi practically broke down when she found out that DC was destroyed, now we know that a piece of her family survived. We'll keep her safe."
Mimi and Sam came up the stairs onto the porch wearing identical grins, "Sammy, meet your Uncle Stanley."
The little girl giggled, "I can't believe you married a guy named Stanley. Promise me you won't be that cruil to your child!"
Stanley smiled, "Hi Sam, it's nice to meet you." He looked at Mimi, "Why don't we get her settled in Bonnie's old room."
Mimi looked at him knowingly, "You sure?"
"Yeah, I don't think that Bonnie would want us to create a shrine of her room."
"Okay, Why don't you go with Stanley, he'll give you a tour while I talk with Mrs. Parker."
"No!" She said, she gripped tightly to Liz Parker's leg.
Mrs. Parker smiled, "Honey, I know that it's been a hard year, but you are with family now. Go with Uncle Stanley, I will be up with your Aunt Mimi to say goodnight, okay?" She watched as the warry little girl allowed her new Uncle scoop her into arms that was used to caring for a child.
When Stanley was upstairs with Sam, she turned to Mimi, "I'm sorry to spring this on you."
"I'm just sorry that I didn't know that Sam was alive sooner, I would have gone to get her myself."
"That's what Stanley said. Who's Bonnie?"
"Stanley's little sister. Stanley raised her when their parents died in a car crash, he was 18, she was 4. She was killed a few months ago. I can still see the haunted look in his eyes sometimes."
"It seems we're all trying to find our way back from that day."
"So, what are your plans, do you have a place to stay?"
"I have a rental car, I'm taking a plane out of Witchita in the morning."
"You can take the spare room, leave in the morning. I'm sure that Sam will want to see you before you go. What time's your flight?"
"I'm flying out at 11am, I should leave by 5, I don't want to wake Sam up that early."
"Stanley is up that early feeding the animals. Besides, I'm sure that Sam will want to give you a hug goodbye before you leave. She can go back to bed after."
With a nod of agreement, they went upstairs. Mimi smiled as she overheard Stanley talking to Sam, "Her name is Angel, tomorrow we can teach you how to ride her."
"Really?"
"Yup."
"Thank you, Uncle Stanley!"
Mimi came in, "It's nice to know that we're not stuping to bribery."
"I reserve the right to spoil my niece to my heart's content."
Mimi gigged, then her face became more serious, "Sam, we'll talk more in the morning, but I want you to know that your Uncle Stanley and I love you, and you never have to be afraid to bring up any issues."
"How long will I stay here?"
Mimi looked at Stanley, he nodded, in their unspoken agreement, "We are you're family, this is your home forever."
"What about Ms. Parker?"
Liz Parker took that as her key, "Sammy, my job is to take care of children who have no one. We found your family. Now I have to go back and take care of other little boys and girls who are alone. Do you understand?"
The little girl nodded, "Will I see you again?"
"Maybe, someday. Just know that you have two people here who love you very much."
The little girl yawned as she nodded. Stanley chuckled "Looks like someone should be going to sleep soon."
Before they could say anything else she was sound asleep.
TBC...