Keeping Katie Ch 21

"Do we have to do all that work again?" Laslo asked.

"No. We're going to have it catered. The fact of the matter is we're having a wedding. Karen and I want to get married and we are having it here in ten days."

"Ten...Don, what are you saying?" Karen demanded.

"I have decided that we need to make us official. So I've set things into motion so we will be a family very soon. I've pulled the strings I told you about. We need to get everything ready and get the invitations out. It's going to be a small ceremony here for just family and friends. I'm taking this over. Karen, is that okay?"

"You're my captain. Of course it's okay." Karen told him with a smile.

"Good. So when Charlene gets here you ladies sit down and start making lists of things we need to get, do and every thing else. Call in anyone you need to and don't worry about the expense."

The look of sheer relief on her face was enough for him. He knew she had enough on her mind and this was something he could do for her. "In the meantime, let's get some homework started and I'll start dinner." Karen said with a clap of her hands.

"Aww, Karen."

"Listen to your mother." Don said. "Karen, what can I do?"

"Did you call her our mother?" BB asked him.

"I did." he affirmed to her.

"Did you...?" she asked.

"No, but now is not a bad time."

"Bad time for what?" Karen asked looking from her fiance to her charge.

"Since... We were talking and..." BB said nervously.

Karen winked at Don. "Take a deep breath and start again. What are you talking about?"

"Since you are adopting Katie, I was wondering if there's any reason you can't...adopt me too." BB said in a rush.

"Adopt you? You want us to adopt you? Why?"

"So I can say that I belong to you. So you'll really be my Mom and Dad."

Laslo was watching them with huge eyes. "You'll be gone in two years." he said.

"I know that. That isn't the point. I want a real Mom and Dad."

"Honey, I'd be proud to call you my daughter. Do you want to make it legal?" Karen said. "You guys talked about it?"

"We tossed the idea around." Don admitted.

"What do you think of the idea? I'd like to have two beautiful daughters."

"I think I couldn't be any prouder. Laslo, what do you say?" Don said.

"I don't want to change my name." Laslo said. "And besides, if you adopt me, you'd lose all your state aid for me. That would make things hard on you."

"I didn't think about that. What would you do? It's already tight here." BB said stricken.

"Don't worry about that. That's not your concern. I'd say gaining a daughter trumps mere money issues. The question is could you stand having parents like us?"

BB smiled shyly. "I think I could do that."

"Then we'll have reasons for another celebration." Don said proudly. "Laslo, we have a few things to do for the ladies. I'm going to need to depend on you to help me get this place ready."

"I can do that." Laslo said pleased.

"Good man. So, Karen, you mentioned dinner?"

"Always thinking with your stomach." She smiled at him. "There isn't much you can do right now. Unless you want to supervise the homework."

"If they need help, I'll be here. I have some paperwork I want to do. I'll sit here at the table while they work, unless I'll be in your way."

"No. I think it'd be nice for us all to be here."

So Don got out his tablet and was working on the tablet while the kids did their schoolwork. Katie was diligently working away on her work. Karens back was turned when the giggling started. In a minute it escalated. Karen peeked over. Katie, sitting next to Don, reached over with her pencil and made a mark on is paper. He reached over and made one on hers and Katie giggled again. Don was grinning and went back to his writing. Pretty soon Katie reached over to do it again. Don moved his tablet away from her just in time and Katie laughed.

"Katie, do your schoolwork." Karen scolded mildly.

"She's not bothering me." Don said.

"No, but she'll never get done if she doesn't do it." Karen said with a smile.

"You're right. Back to work, young lady." Don said.

"You too, big guy." Karen added.

Don looked indignant, but the kids all laughed and he looked sheepish. "Yes, ma'am."

Karen went back to work on dinner. She had to walk around the table to get something. She gave BB a brief hug, a quick caress to Laslos shoulders, several kisses for a giggling Katie and squealed with surprise when Don snagged her and pulled her onto his lap. "Don."

He grinned at her. "I wanted you to see what I'm drawing. And I wanted you to sit down."

"Well you accomplished that well." She reached over and kissed him.

"No kissing during homework time." BB laughed.

"Yeah, not fair." Laslo said grinning at them.

"We're conserving chairs." Don told them with a mock superior tone. "Look at this and see what you think."

It was an elaborate arch with lawn chairs marked in the backyard. All the details were there including a legend for it. "What's this?" Karen pointed to a mark.

"Katies addition to the diagram." Don said with a stern look at Katie who giggled completely unfazed. "That look makes my detectives run, you know." he told her.

"The detectives aren't her age and you aren't their dad." Karen pointed out.

"No respect." Don said with a sigh.

"That's beautiful, love, but how in the world will you get this all done in 10 days?"

"Laslo and I will worry about that. You ladies work on the actual ceremony."

Charlene came in and stopped just inside the door. "Sorry I'm late. What's going on?" she asked seeing the unusual seating arrangements. The kids started talking at once, Katie signing away like crazy. "Conserving seating? I like that." she said with a grin. "So we're planning the wedding at last?"

"Wow, news travels fast." Don said with a look at the two older kids.

"Don't blame them. I've been waiting for this for far too long. What can I do, besides keeping dinner from burning."

"Shit!" Karen leaped off Dons lap and snatched the pan off the burner. "It's ruined."

"What were you making?" Charlene asked.

"I was going to make that mushroom casserole."

"It's better off burned." Laslo said with a grimace.

"Hey, I thought you liked it." Charlene said.

"The first thousand or so times you made it." he scoffed.

"I haven't made it that much." Karen protested.

"Yes, you have." BB said timidly. "It's good, really, but it is getting a little old."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize."

"Never mind. It's good no matter when you make it. I have an idea. How about you ladies go get started on the lists and the kids and I will make dinner tonight." Don suggested.

"You make dinner?" Laslo demanded.

"We make dinner." Don corrected. "But that means that whatever we make you have to eat without complaint."

"If you make it, I'll love it." Karen declared grandly.

"Dog food souffle." Laslo crowed. "You keep threatening us with it." he laughed.

"Only if you want to make it to 17." she threatened shaking her finger at him.

"Do not threaten the cook. You never mess with the cook. Go into the living room and let us cook. Better yet, go out and sit at the picnic table so you won't be tempted to come help."

"We're being kicked out of the house." Charlene said incredulously.

"Only temporarily. Come on. I'll let you use my paper and my pen. Let's go." he scooped each woman up in an arm and shoved them out the door. "I'll let you know when you can come back in."

"Don!" Karen protested.

He kissed her and closed the door firmly in their faces.

TBC