Chapter 6
Kanae was happy that her mother and Randy seemed to be getting along well. They spent the day all together, Kanae caught up in the local news. Cameron McDonald was still the league dart champion, Of all people, Nana was now running the Lenui Inn as the Manager for Rachel. Mayu helped at the Inn, and was content keeping up their house. Rachel was getting older and wanted more time at home since her husband retired. Richie and Roberta still weren't married, but were living on Richie's farm. Her father Kouta was doing great with his trucking, and now storage business and with the hotels and golf course finished, Grampa and Amanda were seeing their investments pay off.
Randy seemed hesitant about telling about his family. He only said his Dad was a mechanic, his mom stayed home and did church work, and yes, he had a sister in high school.
Kanae understood why he didn't elaborate. He didn't have a big family or lots of money. By the afternoon, she could tell Randy wasn't feeling the best. It seemed worse after he got a phone call.
"Randy … Yeah, Kat, I'm coming in tomorrow night. Why are … Yes, I told Mom that … Why don't you talk to Mom any more? …" he frowned. "I'm flying into Broome County, Dad's picking me up … No, Kanae's going home with her mother …" he rubbed his forehead. "I can't believe you asked me that. Even if she was, which she's not, it's none of your business … Kat, I am staying in the dorms, I have no place to put you … Then make up with Mom! … OK, hang on a second."
Randy covered the speaker on the phone and asked Kanae, "Hon, do you want to talk to my loopy sister?"
Kanae paused. Thinking maybe she could talk some sense into the girl, she said, "Aye."
Tentativly, she took the phone. "Kat, right, It's Kanae."
"You talk funny, Dad told me you're from Scotland?"
"Aye, lass. So, how ya doin?"
"Been better. Mom told me if I quit school I have to find a job. If I do that, then my benefits go away! Do you have a place I can stay if they kick me out? I have little Gary here to take care of!"
Keeping her voice even, Kanae said, "You should stay in school, Lass. Bein an unwed mother's hard enough. Ya doan wanna do that bein uneducated too."
"The government will take care of me once I'm 18, I can get enough benefits to get us by and I can stay home an take care of Gary. Not that his father would ever do anything for us!"
Kanae wanted to yell at the girl. "Kat, listen ta me. Nothin's gonna git better lest ya make it better. Stay in school and graduate, pick a good job an learn how ta do it or learn how ta start a buisiness…"
Kat got louder, "You don't understand, and someone like you NEVER WILL! You're just a rich bitch who has no idea how the rest of us live!"
Irritated, Kanae handed the phone back to Randy. "Sorry, I can't talk ta her nay more."
Randy took the phone with a sigh. "Kat, you really need to start listening … OK, you know WHY Kanae and her family are rich? They go out and try their hardest at everything they do … No, Kat, you aren't being put down by anyone but you! … Hello?" Randy closed his phone up. "SHIT!" he spat.
"She doan wanna listen."
"No, she doesn't," Randy said with a sigh. "She's got in in her mind that she's being persecuted, and nothing will change that."
"I'm real sorry," Kanae offered.
"Yeah. Me too." he grumbled. "At times, I really think she's mentally ill."
"I kin see why. Ain't nothin yer parents kin do?" she asked.
Randy shrugged. "Not unless she hurts someone or herself. If she does, they can get police involved and have her taken to be evaluated in what's called a 302."
"Rotten shame." Kanae said. She brightened up and asked "So, Laddy, ya got the rest'o the day wit me an tammara fore ya go. Anything ya wanna go do?"
Randy smirked at her. "You mean besides find a pole to bang my head on?"
Kanae giggled. "Woan help wit that, but I kin git ya an ice pack after."
"No goose egg on my forehead?" he asked.
Casting him a crooked smile she said, "Nay, lest yer a unicorn."
That earned her another grin. She poked him in the shoulder. "Come on, let's take a wander an check this place out."
They decided to take a walk though the gardens. Kanae enjoyed walking along, arm around each other, looking at the flowering plants and a few fruit trees here They even had a cherry tree.
Coming upon a small fountain that had a cherub statue in the middle with water coming out of the horn it had to it's lips and a stone bench encircling the fountain, an older Japanese couple were taking a rest on the bench.
The man looked at Kanae and stared.
"Hi" Kanae offered and waved to them. The woman waved back with a smile. The man just stared, watching her.
"Kaede Nokaze," the man whispered.
The woman glanced at the man, then spoke to him in Japanese. He broke his gaze off Kanae to give her a long reply in Japanese.
The woman frowned, then asked Kanae in English, "Miss, We are Junso and Yuka Nakamura. May I ask your name?"
Kanae could see them man was looking a little scared. "I'm Kanae Kikumura. Me family's from Japan, but we live in Scotland."
The woman smiled. "It has been good to meet you. My husband thought you were someone else."
Kanae grinned. "Nay, I'm me. Who did he think I was?"
Yuka told her, "We was afraid you were this terrible Yokai woman, Kaede, who destroyed the facility he used to work at." She cast her husband a smile and talked to him, then said, "I assured him you're not Kaede, even though you look like her."
"Was this in Kamakura?" Kanae asked.
"Yes, how did you know?"
Kanae shrugged and said, "That was me Mom, not me. I've never been ta Japan."
Yuka's face dropped open. "Your mother?"
"Aye. We live in Scotland. I'm here fer college. Mom an Dad are real proud I'm the first one in our family ta go ta college. I'm in medical school wit Randy here."
"Hi" Randy offered.
Blankly, Yuka said, "That is good. Do your best."
"Aye! we do," Kanae replied. "It's been nice ta meet ya. Have a good day."
"You also," Yuka replied.
Kanae waved to them again, She and Randy continued their walk down the path.
Waiting until they were out of ear shot from the couple, Randy said, "Your mom's known all over the world, huh?"
"Aye, and in some places, not liked very much." she said with a sigh.
Randy shrugged. "You'll have that."
The garden path came out at the other end of the pool. A woman on a colorful raft was floating in the water, and a few kids were in the shallow end playing, their parents in loungers on the side, watching them. Kanae noticed Randy look at the pool with a crooked grin. He glanced at her. "Just thinking."
"Bout'a swim?"
"Midnight swim," he said.
"We doan have suits."
Randy beamed her a smile. "That's why we have a midnight swim."
Kanae giggled. "Yer hopin fer some wet fun?"
He frowned slightly. "They probably got cameras watching the pool. I don't want us put up on the internet."
Kanae laughed. "Nay! Me either." She then cast him an evil grin. "But the shower's good, ain't it?"
"Sure is!" he heartily agreed.
They had a good afternoon. Getting back inside, they stopped at the table where Mike and Amanda were still at and got a sip of the scotch. Ok, more than a sip. Feeling warm, they retired to their room and had another good tumble.
.
Randy was surprise at how fast his two days with Kanae went. Before he knew it, they were packing up to leave, then heading for the airport. Kanae stayed with him as he checked in, got his ticket and headed for his plane. He got a long hug and a big kiss before he boarded. As the plane taxied out, he saw Kanae wave to him, He waved back.
He was really going to miss her.
The flight wasn't long. The little commuter plane landed in Broome County not an hour after they'd taken off. Going in the terminal, He greeting his parents and grabbed his bag.
His father had good clothes on for a change, not greasy ones from work. He asked, "Heard you got a girlfriend?"
Randy smiled. "Yeah, her name's Kanae. She's really special."
"Pretty, huh?"
"She is, Dad. She's also more than that."
"She a witch like her mother?" his mother asked flatly.
Randy eyed her. "Mom, Kanae explained how she does things. She's not a witch."
"No bad attitude then?" His father asked with a grin.
Randy grinned. "None at all," he said. He the let out a snort and added, "But I don't think you want to get her mad at you."
His mother announced, "She's Scottish. Randy, you sure she isn't just being nice so she can get her American citizenship?"
Randy shook his head. "No, mom. She's already a citizen. Her grandfather still has a place in Seattle. She'd got dual citizenship, the US and Scottish. I also met her mother, She's nothing like you think she is. Those people in Japan she killed, she did it to rescue her family."
"Yes, I'm sure," his mother said flatly, not believing it.
"Doing good in school?" his father asked.
"We are!" Randy beamed. "Top of the class, and so far it's been a mass of memory work. It's not easy, but studying together, me and Kanae are doing well."
Getting to the car, his father hit the fob to unlock the doors. "That's good to hear. Just don't get side tracked with parties. Keep focused on your studies."
"Yes, Dad," Randy said with a smirk and got in the back seat. After they all got in he asked, "So what's up with Kat?"
"Same as always," his father grumbled. "She insists she's quitting school. Been trying to talk her into staying in school. She just doesn't want to listen to anyone."
His mother added, "Kat spent a day bitching about your rich girlfriend who wouldn't talk to her on the phone."
"Kanae tried to reason with her," Randy stated. "So did I. She refuses to listen."
"That's Kat," his father said with a sigh. "You join any clubs or sports?"
"No time to," Randy told them. "The only activity we've done besides school with was go out to a restaurant once. That and the last two days we spent in this real nice hotel."
"You took her to a hotel?" his mother asked, turning to eye him.
"No, that's where we met her mother and a friend of hers," Randy explained. "I mean this place was ritzy. Her mother ordered this bottle of scotch, it was 400 bucks! That stuff was real good too."
His father snorted. "They must be rich. Not snooty are they?"
"Not in the slightest," Randy replied. "And even for how good she looks, Kanae actually acts better than most pretty girls. She's not aloof or stuck up like most girls are. She's smart and kinda reserved, but easy to talk to. If I hadn't seen it, I would never believe her parents were loaded."
"What's she look like besides just pretty?" his father asked.
"The best way to put it is Kanae's an albino. Pale skin, long pink hair and eyebrows, red eyes. Slim, but not skinny." Randy then chuckled, "At home she's even got a summer job herding fish."
His father laughed. "Herding fish? How in the hell do you herd fish?"
"She explained how to get close to them slow and get the all moving over the nets. I though she was screwing with me until I saw her swim. Kanae does swim like a fish, she's really fast." Randy explained. "She beat the school's record, and the Olympic record for a lap in the pool. The coach begged her to join the swim team. It's like she's an underwater rocket!"
His father laughed louder.
"Kanae's awesome," Randy stated.
"I can see she has your full attention," his Father said with a grin. "Plan on bringing her home some time?"
"Yeah, during one of our breaks. I was thinking during Spring break. She really wants me to go back to Scotland with her during the Summer break. The way she talks about where she lives, I can't wait to see it."
"Bonny Scotland?" his Dad asked trying to sound Scottish.
Randy grinned. "Aye lad! Up in the highlands, yer sure ta have a wee time'o it!" he said, doing his best to mimic Kanae.
His father chuckled, His mother frowned. "She really talks like that?"
"Yeah, Mom, she is from Scotland," Randy said dryly. "Her grandfather is the Clan Chieftain of the Clan McLeod. From what she told me, most people in the town are related in one way or another. They even got their own clan tartan colors. Kanae has a hat and a skirt in their clan tartan. It looks good on her."
"I thought they were called kilts?'
"When guys wear them. Still skirts when girls wear them." Randy explained.
"Make sure you take a camera with you, we're going to want pictures."
"Sure, Dad."
.
Getting home, Randy saw a sight he really didn't want to see. Kat was sitting on the couch next to a scraggly looking guy while she breast fed Reggie, her breast in full view.
Randy groaned. "Hi Kat, you have to do that down here?"
Kat eyed him. "Oh, if it isn't the guy with the rich snooty witch for a girlfriend."
"Hello to you too," he replied and headed for his room.
"Kat, feed Reggie in your room," his father said firmly.
In his room, Randy tossed his bag on the bed . He had the feeling being home wasn't going to be fun.
"Hey, you're Randy, right?"
Randy turned to see the skinny guy with thick curly dark hair and a beard in his doorway. Wearing his old, wrinkled and loose shirt and faded jeans, Randy was thinking, 'jobless'. "Hi, yes, I'm Randy, Kat's brother."
"Tom," he said with a nod. "You're girlfriend really a witch? Ya know a real, spell casting witch?" he asked eagerly.
"She doesn't cast spells," Randy said firmly. "Kat made that up."
"So, maybe a magician?" Tom asked.
"No magic tricks, either," Randy stated.
"Kat said you're college, Liberal Arts?" Tom asked.
"Medical field," Randy replied. "Both me and Kanae."
Tom frowned. "Ok, hold on, that's a Japanese name. Kat said she's from Scotland."
"Kanae Kikumura. Yes, it's a Japanese name, but her parents live in Scotland," Randy said with a sigh. He decided it was time to unpack his bag. He found something hard inside and pulled out a bottle of 14 year old Glen Finnen. He stared t it.
"Whoa dude, you got whiskey?" Tom asked happily.
"Single malt scotch," Randy replied, eyeing the bottle. He noticed the red heart and 'see ya soon' on the corner of the label. He chuckled.
"Dude, that's expensive stuff," Tom said.
"Four hundred bucks a bottle," Randy replied vacantly. When had she put that in his bag?
"Woah, now THAT's an expensive drunk!" Tom exclaimed.
Just looking at the bottle, Randy could all but see Kanae. Yes, this bottle brought up memories. Memories of sipping out of that water bottle with Kanae in the park. Sitting at that table with Kanae and her mother, He could all but taste it, just by looking at it. "This isn't for getting drunk on," he said absently. "It's for sipping, for making memories. Kanae's right," he said with a smile of remembrance.
"I'd be afraid to drink it, seeing how much it cost," Tom noted aloud. "A bottle of Boone's Farm is a ton cheaper and that does the job."
"I was a bit surprised too," Randy told him. He finally looked at Tom again. "So, you're going out with Kat?"
"Yeah. We're talking about getting a place together. With both our checks, we figure we can afford a small place by ourselves. No parental interference."
Randy shook his head sadly. "You skipping out of school too?"
"No skipping, I quit last year. There was no point in continuing." Tom explained. "I got plans of getting a band together. Got songs swimming in my head I want to get out."
"You're a musician?"
"Gonna be, Gotta have goals, ya know?"
"I do. I just wish Kat did," Randy replied.
"She does," Tom said firmly. "I mean, she's already a mother, and soon as I get things together, Kat wants to help out being the manager. It might take a while, but we'll get there. Right now, it's like that Bon Jovi song, you know, Living on a prayer?"
"Yeah, you will be," Randy muttered. Louder, he said, "I wish you luck."
"Thanks guy! You're not near as bad as Kat makes you out to be." Tom said with a smile and left.
Randy eyed the bottle again. Yeah, Tom thought he was going to be the new Steven Tyler. Right. Keep dreaming guy. Randy figured he'd be sipping from this bottle soon.
.
After the long flight back home, time sped up for Kanae. Instead of being dark, like she thought it should be, Amanda landed them in Glen Finnen in the morning. Of course, now it was the next day. Luckily, Kanae got a good long nap on the plane.
Duncan and Inari were there to meet them at the airport. It was a work day, so most of their family were at work. After the rounds of greetings and hugs, Kanae got in a car with her Mom, grandmother and Amanda. Grandpa took Mike back into town so he could write up his report.
"So how's college?" Inari asked as she drove.
"Great!" Kanae beamed. "I'm getting good grades, an I got a lad. Nearly got in a wee bit'o trouble, but it got straightened out. Best part'o that was the college woan let lads in the changin rooms with the lasses naymore."
Inari gasped, "They were doin that!"
"Aye, had'ta chase a couple out. They turned me in fer denyin them their rights. They wanted ta be lasses, they claimed. I think they just wanted ta git eyefuls'a lasses changing," Kanae explained.
"Yer right ta kick'em out!" Inari said firmly. "How bad ya hurt'em?"
"Nay much, just shoved'em inta a couple walls till they knew they weren't wanted."
"Good fer ya, lass!"
"Ya makin any plans?" Kaede asked.
"Aye. Spring break Randy wants me ta come visit his folks. Summer break, we're comin home so I kind show him where we live an meet everyone."
Inari grinned. "Meetin the folks already? Doan ya think it's a bit too quick?"
Kanae frowned, "Gramma, I talked'bout home an Randy just wants'ta see it."
"Mom, from what I got from Randy, he's a good lad," Kaede said.
"Whell, doan go gittin pregnant in college!" Inari said firmly.
"Gramma!" Kanae cried.
Kaede laughed. "I'm sure studying is on their minds," she offered. "They kin practice that after they study, and graduate."
"Aye, Mom," Kanae agreed. She also got the hint her mother wanted her to keep her mind on her books. She also wanted to make Randy a video to show him some of her home.
.
Randy agreed to 'hang' with Tom for the day. He thought Tom was going to go do something. Well they did. He followed Tom on a walk to a walkway over the stream. There, several rough looking boys were gathered.
"Hey Tom!" Another scraggly light haired boy asked. "We got another member?"
"Naw, this is Randy, My girlfriend's brother. He's in college," Tom explained. "Randy, this here's Joe. "He's gonna be our drummer."
"Hey Joe. You guys are forming a band?" Randy asked.
"Yeah, right now we're getting the money up for some instruments," Joe said with a shrug. "We've been watching the papers for yard sale stuff. So far, we got an acoustic guitar and a keyboard, but it doesn't have a plug and no batteries."
"Cheap stuff is hard to come by," another boy agreed.
Randy itched his ear. "Trying to save money?"
Joe laughed. "Trying to get money," he said with a chuckle. "Parents don't like to give out, you know?"
"What about the recycling center?" Randy asked. "I worked there after school. They always need help."
Joe snorted. "They pay for shit!" he complained. "All that sorting and running around and it's only 9.50 an hour! I do better than that on unemployment!" He then pulled out a small plastic bag with white powder in it. He snuffed some up his nose. "Ahh, that's better."
Randy winced. "So that stuff is cheap?"
"Naw man, it's fifty bucks for a small-assed bag."
"Then maybe if you stop getting that, you can afford some instruments?" Randy asked.
Joe frowned at him. "No way man! I'm not giving this up!"
Randy noticed Tom grab a lit joint from another boy. He sucked in a deep breath of smoke and handed it back. Tom said, "Gotta keep some good stuff in your life."
Randy wanted to get away from these guys. He groaned out, "Awww, nuts! Guys, I just remembered, I was suppose to get something for Kanae. I'll catch you guys later." He waved and walked away as they proceeded to get stoned.
That didn't turn out well.
Knowing he wanted to get presents for his family, Randy cruised some stores and got a bracelet for Kat, a new wallet for his Dad, and a set of speakers for his mother's laptop he knew she didn't have. He even got the presents wrapped. He was leaving the store and a blonde girl was coming in in front of him.
He beamed her a smile. "Julie! How are you?" he asked.
"Hey Randy!" she beamed back. "Heard you're going to medical school?"
"Yeah, I want to be a Doctor. You?"
With a wiggle she said, "Art and media school. I've been told I'd make a good actress, and it's fun!"
"Good for you," he said. "I'm on winter break. They don't call it Christmas break, seeing how they have to be non-descriptive now."
Julie giggled. "Yeah, gotta watch what you say. Don't want to offend anyone." She then help up a finger and asked, "Hey! You doing anything tonight?"
"Kanae said she'd be calling, other than that, not really."
"Good! We're having a holiday party at the bar, Come join us!" Julie beamed.
"OK, About what time?"
"Seven is when we're meeting, see you there?"
Randy nodded. "OK, see you there." Julie went in the store, he headed home.
Walking home, Randy thought about Julie. Nice girl, friendly but also tended to manipulate people. Julie was why he felt so comfortable around Kanae. Julie liked to plead or coax people into doing things for her. Yeah, she was pretty, but also manipulative. With a little teasing, and assuring him he was her friend, she got things she wanted. Randy was in her 'Friend zone'. A friend when she wanted something. He decided he'd skip that party.
Getting home, Randy put the presents under the tree. Seeing no one was on the computer, he logged on and found a video file Kanae had sent him. He downloaded it and called it up.
"Ohhh, something good?" Kat asked as she wandered over to him.
"I'll find out," Randy said and started the video. Kat dragged a chair up and sat beside him.
The picture showed a large partially adorned Christmas tree. Kanae's voice said, "Hey Randy, this is our tree! It's decoratin time!"
Partway up the 12 foot tree, Nana poked her head around. "Kanae, who ya talkin to?"
"Randy! Nana, say hi to Randy!"
Nana drifted around to show she was hanging in the air. She was holding a string of lights in one hand. Finger to her lip, she said, "I doan see'im."
"I'm makin a video for'im. He'll see it."
Nana waved. "Hi Randy. I'm Nana. Randy's gonna be yer husband, Kanae?"
"We haven't decided on anything like that yet!" Kanae's voice said firmly.
A voice off to the side said, "Then nay babies!"
The scene shifted to the side to show a red haired woman who had streaks of gray along her temples. "Gramma!" Kanae cried.
"They all got horns!" Kat said, watching closely.
The woman grinned. "So who's the video fer?"
"I'm takin a video fer Randy." Kanae's voice said.
"I see. Hey, Randy. I'm Kanae's Grandmom, Inari, an Kanae's gonna gimme the camera so ya kin see her." She waved her hand at the camera.
"Thanks Gramma."
The scene shifted to show Kanae in a festive light colored blouse and tartan skirt. Kanae waved, "Hi, Randy. This is the foyer we're puttin the tree up in."
"Nana, ya gotta plug yer lights inta this string," came a voice from the side. The scene moved around the tree to show a dark haired oriental woman.
"An this is Nana and Jeff's mate, Mayu!" Inari announced. "Mayu, say Hi ta Randy!"
The woman looked that way. She waved as she held the end of the light string up. "Hey Randy." A plug snaked down to meet the one Mayu was holding. Higher on the tree, Nana was floating around, stringing her light string on the tree. Kanae rose up to help Nana get the lights into the branches. The camera zoomed in on Kanae's legs.
"Nice hams on'er, hey Randy?" Inari asked.
Kanae looked down then dropped on the floor. "Gramma!" she cried, red faced.
Inari giggled. "Just showin Randy how good ya look."
"He knows, OK? Ya ain't gotta show'im!"
Kat laughed. "I can't believe her grandmother just looked up her skirt!"
Nana called down, "Gramma, Kanae's suppose ta show that ta Randy herself!"
A man's voice asked, "Hon ya pickin on Kanae?"
The camera turned to show a thick, muscled man carrying a box of ornaments and grinning. Inari said, "This is me husband, Duncan, Kanae's Grandpop. Hon, Kanae wants a video fer her guy Randy."
"Aye. Hey Randy. Why doan ya show'im Kanae's 'Princess' beam?"
Kanae groaned and face planted. "I wuz young when I did that."
The camera turned to show a high beam up near the ceiling. Inari said, "Aye! Let's go visit Kanae's play beam!"
"Gramma!" Kanae complained.
Randy thought the picture was zooming in, then the beam was below. He could see Inari's feet as she looked down on the foyer, tree and the ones working on it. Inari explained, "When Kanae was little she used ta play up here, being a Princess like in the story books. She'd color, read and watch over her realm, but Kaede made her go to her 'royal' bedroom ta sleep. We was afraid she'd roll off when she was sleepin an bounce off the floor."
Below Kanae loudly grumbled, "Gramma, yer embarrasin!"
"My job!" Inara called down with a giggle.
Higher on the tree now, Nana looked up and asked, "Ya gonna show Randy Mr. Waiter?"
"No!" Kanae cried in a beg.
Kat was giggling. Randy also couldn't help but grin.
Inari laughed. "OK, no Mr. Waiter. Let's go back down an help wit the tree."
Randy felt a bit of vertigo as the camera fell back down to floor level. Inari did hold the camera on Kanae as Kanae explained the mixing of Pagan and Christmas ornaments on the tree to honor both holidays.
"We got many people of both religions here, so we honor'em both," Kanae explained. Inari behaved until Kanae bent over to get more things out of the box, and zoomed in on her butt briefly.
Randy noted that despite herself, Kat was grinning and watching the video intently. He pointed out Kaede coming in from outside with Uzuki, then Iniari introduced them. Testing her reaction, he said, "I don't think Kanae or her family is a bit snooty."
Kat snorted. "A bit crazy maybe," she agreed. "They do live completely different than we do. How are they floating on the air like that?"
Randy and Kat watched Kanae had the honor of putting the lighted silver pentagram up on top of the tree, then Uzuki plugged it in and the tree lighted up. Randy explained, "They have a very strong telekinesis. That's moving things even themselves with their minds."
"That's amazing," Kat whispered.
On the video, Kanae had the camera back and walked into the large dinning room to get a shot of that, then went into the kitchen to show a hearth with a big pot on an arm. The video stopped.
Kat turned Randy. "That was a real castle! Like, a real old castle they live in."
Randy nodded. "That's what Kanae told me. She said it's been around since the fifteen hundreds. From what I understand, they take care of the place themselves. Grow most of their own food, and do any repairs they need. They even make much of their own furniture."
"Must be nice," Kat grumbled.
"They got a nice life, but then again, they work at it." Randy told her. "What I get is they work hard and spend as little as possible. Duncan has several businesses, Kanae's brother Richie has his own sheep farm, many of them work at the family Inn that Nana now runs, and her husband Jeff has his own truck repair shop. Kanae's mother is a Knight. They work hard and get the rewards."
Kat frowned. "Doesn't seem fair."
"Actually, it is," Randy said in a musing tone. "They do the work and help each other out. One thing they don't do is take drugs or be lazy."
Kat eyed him. "So you think we could ever live in a castle?"
"In the US? Probably not. First thing we'd have to do is move to someplace where the taxes are lower so we'd have a chance to save some money. Doing things ourselves would also make cheaper living."
"If Tom gets his band together, they could make money," Kat replied.
Randy rolled his eyes. "IF they work at it. Right now they are working more at getting high and convincing themselves they are musicians, but don't even work to get the instruments to start playing."
Kat frowned. Hearing her baby cry, Kat got up to go tend to him.
Randy hoped she at least heard some of what he said.