Hey guys! I can't believe it. It's the final chapter already. Thanks so much to all of you who have reviewed, followed, and favorited. This was supposed to go up hours ago, but I started typing during the commercials to an Ultimate Dodgeball tournament my brothers and I were watching and then got distracted. If you've never seen Ultimate Dodgeball, look it up. It's played in Skyzone buildings and looks really fun!
Dinner was already cooking as Ed and Edna came down. The adults gathered at the table around a computer listing rental houses and whatnot, and the kids sat on the floor surrounded by a giant pile of dumped out lego pieces Kai had bought for Isabelle. It had become their mission to finish all of the sets by bedtime although signs pointed against that.
"Mom, Dad," Jay looked up, "we think we found a rental that has enough room for all of us."
Edna looked to the floor, "Don't worry about us Dear. We'll be just fine. The home Ed was staying at has cottages for couples to stay at on the property that still offers service."
"Mom, it's okay. Really. We want you to stay with us still."
"We can't Jay," Ed began to cry, "not after what happened yesterday. It's my fault. I can't let it happen again."
"No, Dad," Jay began to cry as well, "it's not your fault." Anger towards Alzheimer's started to well up inside Jay.
"Yes it is. I love you Jay. That's why we have to do this. To protect you and your family. Remember that, even if I don't."
Ed and Jay collapsed into a hug.
"I love you too Dad. Don't do this. Please."
"Just remember."
A knock at the door broke apart their hug.
Evin ran to the door and thrust it open as the four other kids followed behind her.
"Hello there. Is your father here?" One of two guys standing on the porch asked, "I'm Cole by the way. I work for your dad. This is my coworker, Lloyd."
"Yeah. Hold on a sec. Dad!"
Not only Zane but all eight adults came to the door.
"Cole, Lloyd. What brings you all here?" Zane asked.
"We heard about the fire yesterday," Lloyd started.
"So we decided to bring these over for you guys," Cole finished.
"Do you two feel alright? This is the first time I've ever seen you two get along," Jay asked as he took a stack of toys for Isabelle and Alex from their hands.
Cole and Lloyd cracked up laughing, "we're fine. We made amends at the mall."
"Well come in please," Zane requested.
The next few minutes were spent introducing Cole and Lloyd to Pixal, Evin, Samantha, Dylan, Nya, Alex, Isabelle, Edna, Ed, Skylor, Kai, and Josh.
"Nice to meet you all," Cole asked. This was going to be a great start to a good friendship.
"Yeah. Mind if we pray over you?" Lloyd asked.
"Of course not. Go ahead," Nya smiled.
And so all sixteen of them joined hands and began falling up.
Whew! Finished! I hope you all enjoyed.
A big thanks to Windy, Titan, KRR, Lila Kay, and the Mayor of Ninjago City for all your amazing support. I could never have finished this without all of you.
I'll have the next book, You Call Me Blessed, up soon. Until then, see ya!
#God's Not Dead!