The next morning as he showered and dressed for the day, Robert pondered what Doc Johnson had revealed to him last evening concerning his mother's state of mind. He was still holding out hope that this was all a part of the grieving process, but memories of her behavior when his father passed away just two years ago persuaded him that Nathan was probably right. And while she never favored one son over the other, there was a special bond between her and her elder son; and she adored her daughter-in-law. Their deaths hit her hard. She rarely stopped crying last night and had to be given a sedative when her grief turned into hysteria.

At one point that evening, she started talking about how she was planning to create a new quilt for Matt and Jennie. She detailed the design she planned, punctuating it with her hands. When gently reminded that they were dead, she initially ignored the reminder until Robert stood in front of her and held her hands in his to still their movements. When faced with the stark reality in his eyes, she snatched her hands from his and then started beating his chest, all the while screaming, "NO!" The doctor suggested that Robert have her evaluated to confirm his belief that she was suffering from a mental breakdown. As much as he wanted to deny it, his mother could pose a risk to herself and others; possibly even Lee. How would she react to the little boy when he was the spitting image of Matthew? Would she become violent with him too? he thought. She had been known to swat them when they misbehaved as children. To the best of his knowledge, neither Matt nor Jennie ever laid a hand on their son.

His thoughts turned to his nephew. What was he going to do about Skip? He still hadn't told him about his parents partly because of his mother's condition, and, he had to admit it to himself, he dreaded the look he'd see in the boy's eyes when he realized he'd never see his parents again.

Lee woke up that morning wondering where he was until he recognized his room at his grandmother's house. Then he remembered he had woken up at the Johnson's yesterday morning. He didn't even know how he'd gotten there. He was very confused. Why was he staying at his grandmother's? Why wasn't he at home? And where were his parents? He missed them. Then his mind recalled something else from yesterday. Uncle Bobber was here! He hadn't seen him in so long, but his parents had made sure he wouldn't forget who he was since his last visit. He remembered they had fun together until Uncle Bobber had to leave. He bounced out of bed, hurriedly dressed and ran into the kitchen hoping to see if he was still here. He entered the kitchen and found his grandmother at the stove fixing pancakes.

"Those smell good!" he said with a big grin.

Helen turned around. "Matthew, I hope you washed up before coming downstairs. Tell your brother breakfast is ready."

A look of consternation crossed his face. "My name is Lee, Grandma."

"I don't have time for your games, Matthew. Go get your brother!"

"But, G-gr-andma! My name i-is L-lee!" He didn't understand. Why did his grandmother keep calling him Matthew? He stood looking at her, confusion written on his face.

"Matthew Davis! Enough of your games! Go get Bobby now!" His grandmother was starting to get angry. Before he could move, she grabbed him by his shoulders.

Robert had been in the bathroom, shaving, when he heard her raised voice. He hurriedly wiped his face, and ran to the kitchen in time to see her grab Lee, and shake him. He took her hands from his shoulders gently, but firmly, so she was forced to release a visibly shaken Lee, who had a terrified look on his face. As soon as he was released he bolted from the house, the screen door slamming shut behind him. Robert sighed heavily, knowing he'd have to deal with his young nephew as soon as he calmed down his now hysterical mother. He gently folded her into his arms and ran his hands up and down her back to soothe her. He then gave her a dose of the sedative the doctor had prescribed for her, and encouraged her to lie down for a while. When he was sure she was asleep, he went in search of his nephew.

It had become clear to Robert that his mother needed more help than either he or Dr. Johnson could give her. He would see if he could make an appointment to see a psychiatrist at Parker General after the funerals tomorrow. Then he had to make a decision about what to do with Lee; but now he had to have the conversation he'd been dreading since he first heard the news of Matthew and Jennie's deaths.

"Oh, Matt, you always were so much better coping with these situations than I was. I'm used to giving orders, not contending with emotional outbursts. I never had to worry with you here taking care of the home front. I'm flying blind here. I sure could use some of your brotherly advice right about now," he lamented.

Fortunately, Robert didn't have to look far for Lee. As he suspected, Skip was in the treehouse he and Matthew had built in the front yard when they were young. They spent many hours and shared many confidences there while growing up. Somehow it was fitting that this is where Lee hears of the fate of his parents.

"Skip, are you okay? Is it okay if I come up?" At Lee's assent he made his way up. It had been years since he'd been up there, but it brought back many memories. At the look on his nephew's face, Robert thought some of those memories just might cheer him up, and make the news easier to take. And give, he thought, wryly.

"I was just about your age when we built this treehouse. Dad and Matt did most of the work. I basically just handed them the tools they needed. But we had many good times up here. It was a fort, a pirate ship, even Flash Gordon's spaceship."

"Wow! Did you really?"

"You betcha!"

After a few stories, Lee looked at his uncle. "I miss Dad…and Mom. Where are they? Why haven't they come to get me?" Lee didn't want to say anything; he didn't want to be called a scaredy cat, but he had been having nightmares the last couple of nights. He dreamed that there was a monster in his house. He was calling for his mom and dad, but couldn't open the door he was sure they were behind. In his nightmare, he never saw the monster's face. Whenever he got close to looking up at it, he woke up. He didn't think Uncle Bobber was afraid of anything. Lee decided that his uncle might laugh at him, so he kept quiet.

Robert knew he couldn't stall any longer. "I know you miss them, Skip. I do, too," he said sadly."Do you remember your granddad? "

At first Lee nodded his head, and then he thought about it, and shook his head no. "I see pictures of him at home and in Grandma's house."

"Do you know what happened to him? Why he isn't here with us…with Grandma?"

Lee nodded his head."Dad said he went to heaven and he can't come home to us anymore."

"That's right, but he's watching out for us; making sure we're okay." Robert cleared his throat. He sat close to Lee and put his arm around his shoulders. "Skip, we don't know when it's our time to go to heaven. We don't plan it. Sometimes it happens all of a sudden."

"Like with Granddad?"

"Yeah, like with Granddad. "Well, your mom and dad weren't planning to go to heaven, either. They wanted to stay here with us…with you; but they had an accident, just like your grandfather. They went to heaven, too. Now they are all together watching over us."

"You mean I won't see Mom and Dad anymore, Uncle Bobber?" Lee realized what that meant and began to cry.

Not a man given easily to tears, Robert spoke a little gruffer than he intended. "Hey, now, you're a big boy now, and big boys don't cry. You have to be brave for Grandma. And since you're growing up, I think it's about time you call me Uncle Bob."

At the mention of his grandmother, Lee's face clouded in fear once again. "Grandma didn't know my name. She got angry."

"I know, Skip. But your grandma is very sad, too. She knows she won't see your mom and dad again, either. She really didn't mean to frighten you. She's just sick and that made her think you were your dad. You look so much like he did at your age."

"Will she get better? Will she remember me again?"

A pained look crossed Robert's face. "I don't know, Skip. I don't know. She may have to go to a special hospital to get better."

As Lee thought about what his uncle told him, he realized that there would be no one to take care of him. He asked his uncle, "What's going to happen to me? Where am I going to live now?" Lee's voice was once again bordering on tears.

"We'll work something out." His uncle responded, not yet knowing what that was.