Chapter 6

At the dinner table Candy was very interested in Aaron Stemple's life. His family had closely worked with the Bolts in the beginning as well. Aaron Stemple the first had gone on to be mayor for Seattle and also a senator for the state of Washington. He had raised his family there in Seattle and was very pleased that his family was doing well. In fact, if he had still been alive, he would have been very proud of his great-great -grandson.

Aaron Stemple was married to Sarah Riley and had two children, both girls. Sarah was on her way with a third child due in a few months. Sarah was the kind of woman who had worked at a small business, ran a small business, and loved raising children. She kept an immaculate house with the help of a housekeeper and her brothers and sisters. They had all gone to the University of Washington and were either doctors, lawyers, teachers, or entrepreneurs. Aaron had gone to UW and then over to Harvard where he graduated with a law degree. His goal was to be a judge on the supreme court.

"Mom, I'm full, may I leave the table?" asked Joshua. Candy looked at him and said.

"Josh, I think you can wait a little while longer until your brothers have finished then you three can go to the den to watch tv. Jeremy heard TV and quickly said:

"I get dibs on what to watch tonight first!" He really liked superhero shows and wanted to watch that since it would be on first tonight and his bed time was usually around 8pm. His brothers had 8:30 and then 9:00 pm. That included all the drinks of water, reading and just plain taking time to get ready. Jeremy's show was on from 7:00 to0 7:30, then Joshua would watch his show until 8 and so on. Each had to brush their teeth, put their pajamas on and be ready to either have a story, drink water or prayer with mom. She had started this since it was a way to give the kids a routine, they had been used to but without their father and a way to be organized so she could get to bed by 10 pm. Aaron listened, Sarah had a system as well, and since she was very often tired, the housekeeper would do the dinner dishes and then go home. Sarah usually tucked their children in bed by 8:30 and then went to bed and was asleep by 9:30. Aaron did not mind. He knew she needed sleep. Tonight, he wanted to talk with Candy some more about Elijah Harmon and what their action plan was going to be for the murder trial.

"Candy, when you have finished getting your boys to bed, will you join me in my home office please. I would like to go over the information you need for your trial and also who exactly Elijah Harmon and his boys are to the Bolt family. It seems they have quite a history going back to the beginnings of Seattle." Aaron asked for Candy while they were at the table. Jason whispered to Joshua.

" Let's let Jeremey have the tv show he wants. I want to sneak down later and here what they have to say."

"Jason, what if you get caught?" said Joshua, who was still waiting to leave the table.

"I won't get caught because you are going to make it look like we are sleeping. When they come to check on us!" said Jason with a twinkle in his eye.

"What are you two whispering about?" asked Jeremy as he took the last bite of his mashed potatoes. Jason and Joshua looked at him and Josh said:

"We are going to let you watch what you want to watch tonight."

Jeremy started to smile then stopped and asked:

"Why? Usually, you two fight over the tv? "asked Jeremy.

Joshua looked at Jason and then Jason said:

"Because, we don't want to upset mom tonight, so if we agree on being 'nice' to each other she will feel better about things." Said Jason, who could if he wanted to get out of anything using words and his imagination. Jeremy took the bait and finished his dinner and they all three asked if they could be excused. Candy was a little surprised about this behavior but didn't really think about it too much. IT was good that they had decided to get along for once.

"I have the den all set up with a sleeping bag for each of you. The tv remote is available and there is a small bathroom off to the side to brush your teeth." Mrs. Stemple said to the boys as they pushed their chairs in. Candy waited for them to respond. When they didn't, she said:

"Are you forgetting something?"

"Oh, Yea!" They said in unison and then they said.

"Thank you, Mrs. Stemple, for dinner and the tv and the sleeping bags!" Mrs. Stemple acknowledged them, and they went to the den. Candy sat for a moment listening for the usual squabble about tv. But there was none. She was happy but curious as to why they were not arguing. Sarah saw the look on her face and said:

"You know Candy, it is probably being somewhere different. They aren't comfortable with their surroundings yet so arguing isn't something they feel they can do." Sarah finished the last bite of her pie and then said:

"I am going to get my children settled. Please have your talk. If you need me, I will be in the nursery." She got up and left. Candy and Aaron were still at the table.

"I am going to check on them and I will meet you in your office in about half an hour? I want to be sure that Jeremy is sleeping before I leave. Josh and Jason have finally learned to handle things on their own, but Jeremy still needs a mother's touch." Said Candy as she got up from the table and left. Aaron nodded to her and took out his cigar and went out on the porch to smoke and think of what he needed to do to prepare Candy for the trial and also what he needed to do about the Harmons' he knew their history and he knew the Bolt history as well.