Chuck
Sunday morning, the Fab five and I were up, exercised, fed, and dressed for church early. Before we left for church, I ran to the Bureau office to check on Mark. His attitude was great and he was doing fine. I told him I would see him later and went back home to go to church with the group and Tiani's folks. We loaded up in Frieda's van and drove to Tiani's folks' home where we met Mr. and Mrs. Jackson, and Tiani's younger sister, Michele, whose nick name was "Missile," because she was always going so fast.
After a quick cup of coffee, we went to Tiani's church. Frieda, Judy, Brandy, and I were the only Caucasians in the large crowd, but we were welcomed by all that we were introduced to. The service was long and loud, with some very good hymns and some inspiring vocals. The preacher gave a good sermon about good will toward all men and women. After church, Tiani was busy introducing us to what seemed like hundreds of families that wanted to meet us.
Back at Tiani's house, I was introduced to Edward, Tomas, and Shetekwa, Tiani's older brothers and sister. Edward and Tomas were average height and weight, but Shetekwa and Michele were tiny delicate pixies like Tiani. Both of Tiani's sisters showed the same independence and stubbornness as she did.
While the ladies were getting dinner ready, Edward took the lead in asking me questions about what I did, and what my intentions with their sister were. After he asked about three times, I finally said, "Edward, I'm sure you, your brother, and your dad, all know how single-minded and focused your sister is. I want you to know that I sort of go with the flow with Tiani and her group of five. They are a force to be reckoned with. I'm sure whatever we do will make all of you proud of her."
Tiani's dad didn't look all that convinced, but he had a smile on his face. He said, "Chuck, I think you've met your match with Tiani and her friends, just like I met my match with Tiani's mother. She told me we were going to get married after I finished college, and I didn't even know I was going to college. Well, I did, and we did. Edward came along first because she said it was time for us to start a family. I can tell you that some of my friends say I'm," and his voice got real low, "pussy whipped, but I can tell you I'm happier than anyone else I know. All three girls are head strong just like their mother. None of them are very big, but they are mighty big when they say something. Good luck, Son, I hope you work out with Tiani and her friends."
Tomas was smiling the whole time his dad was talking. He only offered, "Those three sisters of mine have always been able to get their way. It wasn't bad or anything, but when they made up their minds, you might as well go along. Tiani's the strangest of the three, so it's no wonder she brought you home. It's just like her."
I told the girls and Tiani's family that I needed to leave after dinner because I was involved with a case at work and needed to check in and be available as things developed.
When we left, I told Tiani that I thought she had a special family and I was happy to meet them. She was smiling happily and said, "Mom really likes you, as do Missile and Teeky. The girls are planning on coming over to have supper with us at our house, or your house, depending on where we are at the time. It'll be fun."
A little later, when I heard from Steve that one of his friends out in the trailer park was putting together newspaper articles and taping a TV news spot, I called Sarah to get her involved. She showed up at the hotel in time to witness Mark being videotaped, then spent time on the phone coercing the TV channels to use the video as part of their evening and late night news.
When the excitement died down, I was able to go over the evidence the Bureau had, and hear about the confrontation between Mark and Drew Kerrington, the real name of the guy we knew as Steven Barts. This guy was a real jewel, as he had an endless rap sheet of past charges and convictions. How he had managed to escape previously was still in question.
Jan showed me the video of Barts, or Kerrington, trying to hit Mark and how Mark had ducked and pushed his attacker into a door frame. It was a lucky or unlucky push, depending on whose side you were on. Jan also said that Mark's wife was telling all, and said she was really only guilty of being greedy and gullible because she listened to this Kerrington guy.
I was glad this was taken care of. The Marshal Service has enough to keep up with, considering the witness protection program and working the immigration problems we've had lately. We don't need something like this too. Mark would be cleared in court in the morning and that would be that. Personally, my plate was full since Bud was narrowing down who was sponsoring our escapees.
Sunday night, the girls all snuggled with me, and invited Tina and Lisa into bed. While we were kissing and enjoying the feel of our skin against another, I realized the super tall Lena had somehow sneaked into the fray. I pulled her to me and kissed her gently, but told her, "Lena, you are a sweetheart and that's what I want you to remain, my sweetheart. I want you to be my special friend, but not my fucking friend. Please let us just be special friends."
"I suppose I should be happy with seven ladies to enjoy," Lena said, a little melancholy. "You just present something I can't have, so I want it all the more. I'll be good, Chuck, I promise. Hear that girls? Help me keep that promise."
Lisa was snuggled into me on one side, and Brandy on the other, as I fell asleep.
Monday morning was busy as Lisa had an early flight and Tina had an eight o'clock class. I wanted to go to Mark's hearing this morning, but had to make several calls to ensure that Bud and his group were set up in their new quarters. I needed to get my head straight so I could decide on the best way to proceed. A plan was forming, but it wasn't developed yet.
Just after nine, my cell phone rang. Jan was frantically calling to tell me Mark had been shot in the courtroom by the prisoner Drew Kerrington. Mark had hit Kerrington in the head with a chair and had split his skull, killing him. She said that Mark was being taken to the hospital.
I said, "I'm on my way. To what hospital, Jan?"
She answered quickly, "Tampa General was the closest, and they have a decent trauma center. I'll be over there as soon as we get this place cleaned up. You wouldn't believe it. Mild mannered Mark picked up a chair and hit Kerrington smack on the head. The gun went off as he hit him. Kerrington overpowered his guards as they were changing his restraints to regular cuffs for court. We were lucky that Mark acted so quickly, or who knows how many people could have been killed or wounded."
"I'll meet you later, Jan. I'm going to call out to the trailer park to tell the folks out there what's happening. They will probably want to be at the hospital for him."
What a cluster fuck it is to let a prisoner get hold of a weapon, and in court to boot. I want to be sure to view the security video of this one to see how the deputies, acting as bailiffs, let Kerrington get the drop on them.
While I headed to Tampa General, I called Steve's cell phone to tell him about Mark. He said he would be on his way as soon as he went by his house.
At the hospital, I inquired about Mark and was advised he was in surgery. The guy sure has had some problems. A regular type guy, suffering through a divorce, then being charged with child pornography, willingly goes through two days of intense interrogation, has an altercation in federal offices that leaves the prisoner with a bump on his head. Then, the next day, after being cleared of all his charges, he has to defend himself and a whole courtroom full of people by actually killing the man. This will make some news. From hated pornographer to hero in forty-eight hours.
Steve, Mercy, and Samantha, the girl who was doing the video news clips, came in. Steve said that some friends of Mark's had gone through his address book and called his son out in Cheyenne. Steve said the ladies told him Mark's son happened to be in Mobile, Alabama and was going to be on his way here immediately.
Sometime near eleven, they wheeled Mark into a room. I had flashed my badge and we were all waiting in the room to see Mark when he got there. We sat around until almost noon, when Mark started waking up. I went for the nurse and doctor to advise them, and went back to the room.
Mark seemed to be in good spirits when he woke up and was surprisingly alert. He didn't act like he was in pain or very uncomfortable. I guess he was a tough old bird. The doc checked him out, and then the nurse got Mark some broth for lunch. Since Mark ate that so easily, she hunted up some chicken salad that Mark ate with crackers.
It was just about three, when Mark's son, Gene, walked into the room. He was a taller, bigger version of Mark, with the same grin on his face. You could see the love he had for his dad and started making a case to take him home with him to Cheyenne.
The doc came back in to re-examine Mark and advised him that if he could get out of bed and wander up and down the hallway, he would let him go home in the morning. The doc did say Mark would need someone to watch out for him and that he wasn't to be active until he was checked at the doc's clinic.
A major debate erupted when Mark told his son that he wanted to stay here. It took a while, but Steve and Mercy convinced Mark's son that they would take care of him. I was glad this was working out, as Mark had a real case against the Marshal Service for letting the prisoner get hold of a gun. Our liability was huge. If he was satisfied with his situation, he may just let it go.
I left the hospital and called Wanda as soon as I was outside. She told me nothing new had come up, but I needed to conduct some form of training for court bailiffs. I called Sarg and asked him to work out a schedule so we could have some classes for all of the deputies assigned to bailiff duty.
At home, I used up all my pent up anxiety on the treadmill, lifting weights, and swimming as hard as I could. Lisa joined me in the pool and was swimming as hard as I was. The Fab Five showed up right after five, with Nancy announcing her Mom and Dad were coming for dinner. Brandi said that her Mom and Dad were coming also, and would I possibly make my special chicken Marsala. The girls produced multiple boneless chicken breasts that had already been trimmed and sliced in two.
I showered quickly and was in the kitchen with Nancy, Frieda, and Judy helping me. They were getting some asparagus and rice ready, along with making some pudding. I seasoned the chicken, getting it ready to broil, then began making a very large batch of Marsala sauce.
Brandi and Tiani had the big table expanded with both extensions and covered with a white tablecloth. There were nineteen chairs at the table, that's a herd. They were happily making drinks for everyone who was gathering in the family room. John and Wanda, Dennis and Marie, Jan and Don, Lena, Tina, and Lisa were chatting, waiting for the guests.
The pregnant trio were sipping fruit juice, but kept my glass of Beefeaters topped off. They knew I was nervous about the parents showing up. Somehow, I had a difficult time thinking parents were going to accept their daughters joining into a polygamous relationship, complete with getting pregnant.
Just about the time the Marsala sauce was thickening, Mr. and Mrs. Atom showed up. Nancy is not a large girl and Mrs. Atom was not large either, but Mr. Atom was huge, probably six five and big, not fat, just big. He walked in smiling, and as Nancy cuddled under one of my arms, he stuck his hand out and said, "So you're the one my little Nancy has decided on. You're a lucky man. Julie thinks you're special too."
While my mouth was open in awe of his size, I finally recovered and said, "Welcome to our home, Mr. Atom. Can we get you and Mrs. Atom something to drink?"
He smiled broadly and said, "I'm Sam, and Julie wants you to call her Julie. If that's gin you're drinking, I'll join you. Give Julie some white wine or any kind of fancy drink, and she'll be fine too."
Nancy left me to go give her dad a hug, then did the same with her mom. The other four girls crowded around the Atom couple while I quickly got them a drink. I turned the heat for the sauce almost off, then was handing the drinks out when Brandi's folks just walked in the door.
It was immediately obvious that the Atom family and the Carter family were acquainted, as they were hugging and shaking hands. After I greeted the new couple, I checked on the food prep and went out to turn on the grille.
Back inside, Brandi and Nancy were introducing all of our housemates, while Frieda, Judy, Lisa, and Lena were putting salads on the table, along with putting some filled wine glasses to go with the salad.
As the initial excitement of everyone arriving settled down, I suggested we start on the salads. As we sat, Mrs. Atom took the hands of the person on each side of her and asked, "Can you say grace, Chuck? This is a special occasion."
When the eighteen people held hands and bowed their heads with me, I asked for the food we would receive to be blessed. It must have been the right words, said correctly, as both Mr and Mrs. Atom said, "Amen."
While we started our salads, I jumped up and put the chicken on the grille. Perhaps it was too much, but there were forty slices of chicken breasts, so each could have an entire half a breast. We ate our salads and then the Fab five began ladling out asparagus and rice on plates, while I brought in the chicken breasts. Lisa, Lena, Jan, and Marie were picking up the salad bowls and putting them in the sink. I laid two slices of breasts on the bed of rice and Frieda generously spooned out the sauce on top the breasts. We served dinner surprisingly fast.
The conversation was light and happy throughout the meal, with Nancy having to explain how the girls and I were going to work our relationship. Dan Carter gave me a couple of raised eyebrows while Jane, Brandi's mom, kept a confused look on her face.
Sam Atom turned to me, as he wiped his mouth with his napkin, and laid it next to his empty plate, "I'm told you're in a very dangerous occupation. Have you considered how to take care of these girls, and what looks like a bunch of kids, if something happened to you?"
Before I could say anything, Dan Carter said, "You have to stop by the house on the way home. I have a video of one of Chuck's captures. You won't believe it."
Sam turned back to me and looked at me questioningly.
After taking a deep breath, I said, "I am setting up separate trusts for each of the children. I am going to be less active in the field as I do want to be a good dad to the kids as they get older. I'm a little overwhelmed by all this, as you are."
Nancy quickly said, "Dad, Chuck didn't really have a chance to have an opinion. We five girls made up our minds and chose Chuck to be the father of our children. He has four coming, and hopefully a lot more. We'll take care of our children; we will be good mothers and parents."
Mrs. Atom, bless her soul, came to my defense, "Sam, you know these five. When they've made up their minds, that's what happens. They bought that big house on their own, without any of our help, and they've never put the arm on us for a single dollar since they've been employed."
Mr. Atom sat back and looked at me, then the five girls, and said, "So, you girls have picked this guy to be the father of your kids, are any of you going to make an honest man of him?"
Nancy was grinning, "We'll be his harem, Daddy, and he'll have lots of babies to love along with us. We may even add to the harem, just to make sure Chuck is taken care of."
Dan coughed, Jane choked, Julie gasped, and Sam brought his giant hand over his face in an expression of disbelief. The other housemates were all laughing as they had heard this scenario before.
Frieda stood quickly and said, "We have some great dessert. Let's clean off the table, girls, and serve the pudding. Chuck and Lisa, why don't you get some instruments out here and serenade us while we have our dessert."
Lisa looked at me and winked, so we got up and agreed that acoustic guitars would be best for some gentle music. I got out my Blues King, while Lisa brought out her ancient Gibson. We tuned them quickly, then walked into the kitchen.
We sat on the tall chairs at the counter and began playing some gentle jazz. We played "Lullaby of Birdland" first, as we had been practicing that for fun. Then it was time to give them a taste of what we really played. We did "My Baby Don't like the Blues," followed by a Hendrix special "Hear my Train a comin." We traded back and forth singing the lyrics. This surprised everyone in the house, as they didn't know Lisa and I had been playing together so much. We finished with "We Still Got the Blues."
When we finished and looked up, Julie Atoms was grinning and Sam was sitting there stunned, with tears running down his cheeks. Dan had his arm over Jane's shoulders as they both grinned. Nancy spoke up, "See, Daddy, this boy has soul. Now maybe you'll watch some of those videos we gave you."
Lisa and I put our guitars down and sat at the table. Mrs. Atom said, "Just like before, but this time you have help. Honey," she was addressing Lisa, "you sure do sound like that lady who passed away. I can't think of her name."
I said, "You're probably thinking of Cass Elliot, Mama Cass Elliot."
Mrs. Atom said, "That's the one. She kind of has that same soft drawl like Peggy Lee did on her singing too."
The Carters stood and Dan said, "I have a big day tomorrow and we left the twins home alone. We should be getting back. Sam, Julie, come with us. Stop by the house so we can chat about this a minute."
Mr. and Mrs. Atom stood, and Mr. Atom said, "Chuck, the meal was delicious, and the music was special. This has been an enlightening evening. You'll have to come over for dinner soon so we can continue some of these discussions."
There were many hugs and handshakes as the five said goodnight to the two couples. When they were out the door, the five girls began high fiving each other.
I had to ask, "What's that about?"
Nancy answered, "Don't you see, that's three of the parents that have accepted you as our man. Mama always thought I was going to be some gay lady, with only a partner, for the rest of my life. I showed her, I have four partners, and now I have a man and perhaps a couple more partners. All we have is Judy's mom, and if Frieda wants, her folks."
Frieda said, "When I told my mom I was pregnant she wanted me to come home to live right away. I told her I had a home, and I could introduce her to my friends and the father of my twins, if she wants. She said she wants to see me, but she didn't know about my dad. He's the one who ran me off in the first place. We'll see."
Judy said, "Mom is going to love Chuck. She'll probably try to steal him. I'll call her and set something up. Come on, you guys; let's get these dishes cleaned up."
All of the women began on the table and dishes while we guys took some chairs back upstairs to the big apartment and throughout the house. We usually only had ten chairs at the big table.
I turned on the cable news to see what was being reported, now that Mark Robins had been cleared and had become a hero. They had a neat report, complete with interviews with people from out at the trailer park, and some local leaders. Even the judge gave a brief interview, lauding Mark for saving everyone within the courtroom. This was going to work out. Jan was standing with me watching and she said, "The Bureau did their job in finding the true perpetrators. I'm glad it worked out for Mr. Robins."
Later in the evening, my five ladies had me surrounded on the big bed, but Tiani got up and came back in, pulling Lisa and Tina behind her. Tiani said, "Will you please tell them they make us a set. Tina was studying, but she needs her rest too, so will you make love to them and put them to sleep with us?"
I held out my hands to the two girls and they came to be with me. I didn't get a chance to make love to them as the five girls devoured the newcomers. Tiani had shut the lights off and we only had the glow of the bathroom light with some soft jazz playing on the speakers. It is always a pleasure to watch the girls love each other. I know they will remember me in time, but between then and now, I had a front row seat to witness some rare passion.
I fell asleep watching and waiting.
Primary editing by Pepere
Proofing by Sagacious