Chapter Seventy Two. TWO Days Later

Maris was reclining on the chaise lounge in the Springer's sunroom. The doctor has suggested she keep her feet up for a few days. The stressful situation had everyone worried about her safety and her unborn child.

Nick brokered no opposition that she felt just fine but did allow her to come downstairs to meet David and Ximena.

Audra and Heath were playing checkers while Jarrod read the newspaper. Alice and Nate were sitting next to the fireplace waiting for their visitors. They had large, matching, overstuffed leather chairs. They didn't wait long for the butler to announce the guests.

"Mr and Mrs. David Autonberry—and child."

The sunroom members all turned their heads at the last of the introduction.

David and Ximena walked into the room, fashionably dressed with young James on her hip.

"Welcome," Alice and Nate greeted them.

"Thank you for inviting us to your lovely home."

"Yes, the invitation was gracious considering the circumstances we all find ourselves in."

"Coffee?"

"Yes please."

Alice graciously poured everyone coffee. Maris sipped on her lemon water. Nick sat at her side awkwardly.

Ximena and David took their place on the settee. Little James crawled over to the chaise lounge and tried to pull up. Maris pulled him up beside her. She handed him a biscuit and he happily chewed on it.

All the adults were mesmerized watching him for a few minutes. Maris ruffled his black curls.

"James David had the same rosy cheeks in winter." she mused.

Ximena added, "He is so handsome. Such a fine little man."

"I am relieved that Lila allowed us to keep him under the circumstances."

Nick spoke up, "Us too. We felt better that the little fella was safe."

Ximena smiled, "We have decided to call him, Jimmy, for the time being."

David laughed heartily, "Yes my father hated that diminutive but I always liked it at school. I think Jimbo here will do just fine with it,"

"Maris, I hope you are feeling better." Ximena kindly mentioned.

"I am. The doctor cleared me and I am just resting."

"And I am here to make sure of it." Nick laughed.

Maris's pregnancy had become clear as they spent time together barricaded in the courtroom for ten hours.

They shared pleasantries for a few more minutes until Nick brought the conversation around to the reason for the visit.

"We would like to be together, Nick and I on the first visit to James David. "

"I concur. I just don't know if he will ever see me."

Maris smiled sadly, "Nick and I will break the news gently. After the past few days together, we all need some grace. Blood has been shed and that should never be the case. Innocent blood."

"Thank you, Maris. I don't deserve your kindness."

"Just keep James David in all our prayers. He has been through a lot with the death of his grandfather, his step-grandmother's calamity, thankfully Branch was kept away from him all these months—he still has to meet this little innocent chap. Jimmy. His uncle? Oh, this is so much to put into words. And the scandal at school? He said all the boys are talking about it."

Jarrod added, "Yes JT and Chip say the story is running like wildfire but our family's name seems to be out of the fray. Nick and I talked to the boys last night with the barest of details. James David was there too. They now know we were all there upstairs waiting out the hostage situation and the tragedy of the deaths. They were adamant that they didn't want their friends to know their families were involved. We agreed."

Nick continued, "So the boys will arrive at supper and spend the night here since it's Friday. We will finish out the story tonight."

"I am hoping that we will all be together tomorrow here at the Springer's lovely home. They are so gracious to host all of our family. We will send a message to your hotel as soon as we know what the boys want to do."

Nate laughed, "Don't worry Alice wouldn't have it any other way and I will bill Jarrod and Nick for the hours."

"Of course you will."

Maris quietly asked, "David? Tell me about Timothy or at least what you suspect."

He sighed, "I know you must have heard part of our discussion when we thought we were all going to die in that room."

All the eyes turned toward him as he began, "My father and my late Uncle were quite faithless with my mother, his first wife, and my Aunt. They have all passed including my one cousin, Todd. Well, since I was old enough to understand, Timothy was taken under their wing. Sent to a good school and then college. Both my late Uncle and Father had some agreement with his Father and Mother. His mother is still alive and lives with him and his wife and children. He received a hefty pension and home for life as well as trusts for his children. Peterson always employed him as his right-hand man. He's a smart man but I suspect not allowed to make his way in the world. Very smart as you can tell by his documents in breaking this open."

Everyone agreed.

"He believes and I agree—he is either my brother or first cousin. When we were young, we were often mistaken for family. It was not written down anywhere that he could find and his Father died in his early teens. Peterson always had private conversations with his mother. He is uncomfortable asking her the truth at her age. She has always been weak-dispositioned. I am not sure if he will."

"But no matter the outcome, with your permission, Maris, I want him to have a predominant role in Autonberry Assets."

"I think that is a wonderful idea." Maris said, "And I overheard a discussion several years ago where Peterson's wife asked him if his clerk ever suspected. He said yes, sometimes I feel him staring at me with a question but then he shies away from it. I hope to never answer because I can't lie to the boy. Maris and him are the children we never had. They both bring me great joy."

The room went silent with the implications of her words.

Their thoughts were interrupted as Alice's two fox terriers ran into the room and jumped in her lap.

"I am sorry Mrs Springer, they got away from me."

"It's fine. I know how they are. Want a treat?" and she opened a crystal dish with kibbles. They sat obediently for her as she gave them a snack.

The baby was immediately enthralled and Nat brought the boy over to them.

His eyes were big and he kicked his arms and legs. Nate took his hand and showed the baby how to pet the dogs.

He squealed and the dog licked him. He cackled.

David watched with joy, "Well, Jimmy, it looks like a dog is in your future."

Maris quietly added, "JD hated lap dogs. He called them a waste. Thought they were only good for hunting."

Nick laughed, "Yep, the boy will get a dog. Couple of them it will seem"

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