Author’s Note: This is a story of the romantic love of three couples. There is very little explicit sex in it, so if that is what you’re seeking, look elsewhere on Literotica.
= = =
Saturday, February 6, continued
“WHAT THE FUCK!” David’s exclaimed. “What do you mean, she’s not your sister?”
Larry sighed deeply. He did not want to share family details with outsiders, but David was his really good friend and now Katie had taken up with Maggie. If it could help Katie, he would share what he could.
“I’m not supposed to know this, but she’s actually my cousin. My dad’s brother got his girlfriend ‘in trouble’ not too long after I was born. My grandparents are more Catholic than the archbishop, and they would not allow the life to be terminated. They badgered my parents into accepting Katie as their own. At least, that’s what it was supposed to look like to the outside. We moved to Middleburg right before I started elementary school, so nobody here has, or, had, a clue about her true relationship to my parents.”
“How do you know this, Larry, if it’s a big family secret?” David asked, again indicating that Alan and Rose should remain silent.
“I overheard my parents talking one night a couple of years ago. Something about the money from my grandparents was going to stop once she turned 18. They were arguing about paying for her to go to college. Ever since that time, I’ve tried to be more caring toward her. And then I got accepted up here at Tech, and I’m hours away. I’ve failed her, haven’t I?” His voice sounded like he was choking on his words.
Rose’s hand was covering her mouth. Tears were welling up in her eyes. But she was shaking her head, indicating that she disagreed with Larry’s self‑assessment. Alan just sat there, a look of pain on his face as he considered things.
“I wouldn’t say that you’ve failed anything, Larry,” David tried to console his friend. “If anyone failed anything, it may be your parents or grandparents. I can’t judge them, and I don’t think you should either. You need to know that Katie’s distraught about how your parents have been treating her for the last few months, maybe even the last few years. She needs to know what you know. When will be your next visit home from school so you can sit down with her and talk? She’s certain that everything wrong between her and your parents is her fault. We will continue to assure her that it’s nothing she’s done or not done. I’ll need to talk things over with my dad and Rose about what we can do to best help Katie, and what to do if you can’t come home for a while.”
“You’re a really good friend, David. Thank you for your suggestion. Thank you for caring enough to ask me.” Larry sobbed. “I’ve got to go now, Dave. Please take care of Katie, as much as you can. For me.” And Larry ended the call. David realized that Larry never answered his question about when he would be home next. ‘No answer is still an answer,’ David thought.
David looked at Alan and Rose with genuine pain in his expression. Rose grabbed Alan and pulled herself tightly to his chest. The dam holding back her tears burst. The sympathy for Katie’s situation was overwhelming everybody. Even David was misting up at the injustice.
After a few minutes of cathartic emotional outpouring, and with the help of the box of tissues, everyone got themselves back under control.
“Now for the hard question: what do we tell Katie?” Alan asked.
“The real question is more than that; it’s also: what do we do about it?”
= = =
Johnson’s Jewelers in downtown Middleburg was very busy that Saturday. The increased business volume was due primarily to Valentine’s Day being just a week away, plus the flood of advertising in the newspaper and on the radio. There’s nothing like a 25% off sale properly timed. The experience of the customers far exceeded their expectations.
When the first customers entered, they were very pleasantly surprised by the fragrance of freshly brewed coffee and a hint of hot chocolate in the air. The attractive greeter/hostess directed the customers’ attention to the proper section of the store where two attractive ladies and one handsome man awaited to help. When others arrived, they were warmly greeted and invited to have a seat at a table and enjoy a warming drink while they waited for the next salesperson to become available. Nobody felt ignored, especially when Katie offered to refill their cups while they waited.
Several customers communicated their delight at the experience of the hospitality station and the hostess staffing it. Repeatedly throughout the day, Jack would look over at Maeve and smile and bow his head in acknowledgment of her savvy. She, in turn, would nod her head in recognition of Jack’s spur-of-the-moment decision to ask Katie to serve as the greeter/hostess.
It was to the great relief of all four people when 4:30 finally rolled around. Jack flipped the sign in the door to ‘closed’, locked the door, and everyone gathered in the back room to debrief. Maeve started things off.
“Kathleen, thank you. I believe that your presence helped to make today one of the best business days we have ever had. I don’t know the numbers, but person after person told me that our having a hostess set us so far above their expectations.”
“Indeed, Miss O’Shea, you validated my decision so wonderfully,” Jack chimed in. He handed her a plain white envelope and added, “I trust you will be available to do this again next Saturday? We may be even busier, although I cannot imagine what that would look like. But word of mouth will spread. Maggie, I think we’ll have to keep at least one table out during the week along with the beverage station for self-service.” That drew a grin and a nod from Maggie.
“Now, you two be safe driving home, and we’ll look for you tomorrow morning,” Maeve pulled each girl in, one at a time, and gave each a quick kiss on the forehead. Katie had wide eyes at the loving gesture, so unexpected from Mrs. Johnson. Maggie handed Katie her coat and tugged her hand. Maggie wanted to get home to David, and Katie was her ride.
“Good night, Jack, Maeve. We’ll see you over coffee tomorrow morning,” Maggie called out and they departed.
= = =
The remainder of Saturday afternoon at the Harrison residence was spent discussing what should be shared with Katie in regards to what Larry had divulged. Early on it was agreed to be as caring and supportive toward Katie as possible. Nobody could see a remotely pleasant or calm scenario resulting from Katie learning about her past. There had been enough drama in the Harrison household recently. In the end, the consensus was not to volunteer any information but to try to guide Katie into asking the right questions of the right people, namely her parents. They would not lie, but they would answer a direct question if Katie were to ask.
David had the idea to bring out his family tree for discussion. Knowing that Alan was an only child as well as Alan’s father being one made that side of the tree rather sparse. Discussing Laura’s side could be seen as insensitive to Rose and Maggie, for most previous generations there were multiple children, some of whom never appeared to marry. Rose gave her blessing to this, unable to come up with another way to try to guide Katie’s search for answers.
About 4:00 Rose began to assemble the supper. Soon thereafter, the house began to fill with the delightful aroma of baking lasagna, to which she would eventually add oven‑toasted garlic bread. When the girls walked in the door just before 5:00, their noses began to twitch and smiles spread from ear to ear. They quickly hung up their coats and went to the kitchen to sit at the table and kibitz with Rose while she was occupied preparing the rest of the meal.
“My, Katie, you look very nice this evening,” Rose observed. “Did you have something special going on today?”
Katie looked a little puzzled at Rose’s inquiry. Surely Maggie would have told her mother about Katie’s limited engagement at the jewelry store. Maggie realized there had been a communication gap and it was entirely her fault.
“I’m sorry, Mom, I forgot to tell you last night. I got so wrapped up in Katie’s test results and my Davey being home that it just went out of my head. Yesterday, Jack asked Katie to try out being a greeter/hostess in the store for both today and next Saturday. He hoped our store would be busier than normal, what with Valentine’s Day approaching, and he was spot on! Katie did a fantastic job of welcoming the customers in and directing them to either myself, Jack, or Maeve. And when we were all busy, she offered them a place to sit as well as coffee, tea, or hot cocoa. Both Jack and Maeve were quite pleased with the results. As you noticed, she looks amazing!” Katie was blushing at Maggie’s effusiveness.
“I really didn’t do much, Mags.”
“On the contrary, Kat, you helped to manage the flow of the customers and to help them feel at ease when they had to wait. You made today really happen!”
Katie was unaccustomed to this level of praise. She found that she liked it. A lot. Her smile was positively beaming.
“Okay, girls, go change out of your work clothes, wash up, and tell the guys that supper’s going on the table in ten minutes, please,” Rose requested.
After each giving Rose a quick hug of thanks, the girls scampered up the stairs to change into more comfortable clothing.
Alan heard the girls’ mounting steps and emerged from the living room where he had been reading. He headed for the kitchen and quickly embraced his fiancée.
“Did the girls tell you to get washed up?” she asked.
“Not yet. They were giggling as they went upstairs. Where’s David?”
“I’m right here, Dad,” David said from the stairs to the basement.
“What were you doing down there?”
“Laundry and a little something to give to Tom and Julie when we visit them over Spring Break.”
“Oh?” Rose was curious.
“Well, we all know they’re probably ‘banging like bunnies’ whenever they can, right? So, I thought they could use a sign to hang up in their place, wherever that may be, stating ‘Welcome to the Bunny Hutch’. Tom did not seem amused by the concept, but Julie did, when I mentioned something when we moved them in. I am also doing a portrait of just the two of them from the pictures taken at church before Christmas.”
“That’s very kind of you, David. I’m sure they’ll treasure it,” Alan commented.
“The portrait, or the sign?” David asked, attempting innocence and failing epically.
“The portrait, of course! Now, go wash up for supper. I’ll help get the food to the table,” Alan volunteered.
= = =
Dawn and John finagled their way into staying another night in the extra bed at Tom and Julie’s apartment. They started their campaign by taking their hosts to breakfast at IHOP where they spent an hour and a half lingering over breakfast and multiple carafes of coffee. It was a very convivial time, and Tom and Julie were glad to get out of their small, basement apartment for a while. Before reaching for the check, Tom reached into his hip pocket for his wallet, but Dawn would not permit him to pay for their breakfast.
“At least let me leave the tip then, please,” Tom pleaded.
“Only if John and I may stay tonight in your other bed. It’s MUCH more comfortable than the Twin XL beds in the dorm rooms,” she declared, with a wink.
“Fine,” Tom exhaled and Julie let out the breath she had been holding. “Just come on by when you’re done gallivanting about. Maybe even bring some coursework with you?”
Dawn smiled sweetly in her thanks for his acquiescence, and took John’s hand and led him away.
Tom wanted to return to their apartment as he had work to complete for a couple of classes by the end of the coming week. Julie realized that she had a paper due by the end of the week as well. She returned with Tom and they quickly settled in on their schoolwork.
= = =
The only sounds heard during supper were the occasional request to pass something and the silverware on the China plates. Alan broke the relative silence by pushing himself back from the table and averring, “Rose, my love, my life, that was the best meal you have cooked for us, ever!” That plus the nods and humming from the other three youthful people gave Rose the praise she so dearly loved to receive.
“Thank you, Alan, MY love, MY life. I’m so glad you liked it. Now, would you please help me to clean this up and put away the leftovers? You get three guesses what’s for lunch tomorrow, and the first two don’t count.”
“Gladly, my dear. But first, I need to do this.” He reached into his front pocket and pulled out a key fob with a capital ‘K’ and a key dangling from the ring. “Katie, you have quickly won our respect, our trust, and most importantly, our love. I want you to have this key to our house so that you will know you are part of our family and will always have a place to go.” He handed her the key, and she took it with a trembling hand. Her fork clattered on the plate as her right hand covered her mouth, trying to stifle the sob that was about to accompany the tears of joy suddenly streaming down her cheeks.
Reacting swiftly, Rose got up and pulled Katie to her breast, cooing soft words and stroking her hair just as she did for all her children. Katie’s tears saturated the top front of Rose’s blouse as whole‑body sobs shook the girl. Maggie also got up and wrapped her arms around Katie’s other side. It took a few minutes for Katie to regain some modicum of composure, and when the ladies finally looked up, the table had been cleared of everything.
“I’m stuffed like a teddy bear, Katie. How about you?” With Katie’s head nod, Maggie continued. “Let’s go waddle into the media room, Kat. I want to call Joy and find out how she did on her Trig test yesterday.” Maggie stood, holding out her hand to her friend.
“Davey,” she called, “Would you please join us in the media room? Don’t be too long. You know how Joy loves to see you. What did you do to her at the dance?” Maggie was teasing him, but he still blushed a little.
“What dance was this, Maggie?” Katie asked as they walked to the media room.
“It was my school’s Winter Solstice Dance back in December once classes had ended. Davey came up, and Mom and Alan were there as chaperones. I promised Joy, Abbie, and Donna that they could each have a dance with my new boyfriend. You should have seen how flushed Joy’s cheeks were after her time with David.” Maggie was all smiles at her remembrance as she called Joy with her phone.
“Hi, Joy. Do you have a few minutes for a video call?” Maggie asked. “Okay, I’ll fire it up. See you in a minute or two.”
While Maggie was arranging and activating the video call, David was speaking in low tones with Alan and Rose.
“What do I say if Katie asks if I’ve spoken with Larry?”
“Tell her that you’ve spoken with him and his answers were complex. Then come get us and we’ll surround her with enough love that it should not hurt too badly. But let her ask; don’t volunteer, please,” Rose advised and Alan nodded in approval.
With a mighty exhale, David nodded, then proceeded to wrap Rose in a big hug and whispered in her ear, “I love you so much, Momma. Thank you. Thank you for my Magpie.”
Now it was Rose’s turn to blush, and she kissed David on the cheek and pushed back. “Go, she’s waiting for you.”
David entered the media room just as Maggie connected with Joy over the video conferencing. His face lit up in a big smile of recognition.
“Hi, Joyful!” David had just made that up on the fly. It caught Maggie by surprise.
“Oooh, if it isn’t hunky Davey. Whatcha doin’ home, Davey?”
“Just keeping Maggie in line, Joy. Katie and Mags, Momma and Dad would like to speak with the three of us, just as soon as you’re done with Joyful here. She does seem rather happy.”
“Mags, you won’t believe it! I got a 95 on my Trig test yesterday!” Joy squealed in her happiness. “My dad was so shocked that I did so well that he took us all out for supper last night. My teacher couldn’t seem to believe it either. Then I told him that you were virtually tutoring me, and he gave a big laugh and said, ‘It figures. Well done!’ How did you do on your test, Katie?”
“I got a 92.”
“Hey, that’s a big improvement, too, right?” Joy gushed.
“I suppose so. Maggie’s right, though. We can get 100s with her help.” Katie looked away, recalling why she had made the same mistake as she had done on Maggie’s pre-test. Her expression saddened as she reflected on her relationship with her parents. Which then reminded her about David supposedly talking with Larry.
“David, did you speak with Larry yet, like you promised?” Katie asked.
David felt like a knife was twisting in his guts, but answered, “Yeah, we spoke today. It’s kinda complex. That’s what our folks want to talk with us about. I’ll be outside, waiting for you two.” He stood and headed out the door, forestalling further discussion. Katie stood to follow him but paused for a moment.
Then Joy turned her head and hollered off camera, “I’ll be right there, Mom. Hey, Mags, I’ve gotta go. Are we still on for tomorrow at 4:00?”
“Yeah, sure,” Maggie answered, a bit distracted by Katie’s sudden mood swing and David’s uncharacteristic reticence. “Talk to you tomorrow, Joy.”
“Bye, girlfriend!” and Joy disconnected.
Maggie shut down the laptop and display, then followed Katie out the door. Just outside stood David, Rose, and Alan. Rose and Alan had decided not to await David’s summons and were waiting as well. Rose saw Katie’s expression and took the lead.
“Girls, let’s go sit in the living room where it’s more comfortable, okay?” Rose guided Maggie and Katie to the front of the house and left into the living room, with Alan and David following dutifully behind. The coffee table had been moved in front of the sofa, and Rose guided Katie to sit on the sofa in the middle, between herself and Maggie. David and Alan, wishing to be close to the ladies, gently sat on the coffee table, facing the sofa.
Rose hugged Katie to her once more, and said, “Katie, dear, please look at me.” Rose had tipped the girl’s chin up and turned her head to face her. “David had a brief conversation with Larry this afternoon; Alan and I were both listening. Larry told David that he’d overheard an argument between his parents about you. Something about money. From what he heard, his parents are really your aunt and uncle, not your birth parents.” Katie pulled her chin from Rose’s grasp and dropped her chin to her chest, stunned by the revelation.
“Kathleen Margaret O’Shea, look at me.” Rose gently tugged Katie’s face back up to look at her. “You are safe here and always welcome. You now have your very own key to our home. I want you to keep in mind what Alan said not too long ago about how we feel about you.”
Katie kept her face turned toward Rose, but could not see anymore. Her parents were not really her parents. In some ways, that explained so much. Then her tears stopped abruptly, like someone turned off the water faucet. Anger quickly began to replace her sorrow.
“But I’m still family! You know, kinfolk.” she ground out with her teeth clenched. “Why would they treat me like they’ve been? Why did no one ever tell me?” Katie’s voice was escalating in both tone and volume. “Who else knows about this?”
“Kat,” Maggie interjected, trying to calm things down a little, “it seems to me like there are two kinds of families: the ones we’re born into and raised in, and the ones we choose to have. We don’t have any choice about the one we’re born into. Mom, Julie, and I have chosen Alan, Tom, and David to be our blended family, and Pikachu, we choose you.” Katie flashed a smile at the reference to Pokémon. Maggie continued,” We choose you to be part of our family. Kathleen Margaret O’Shea, will you please be my surrogate sister?”
Turning in her seat, Katie flung her arms around Maggie and sobbed, “Yes, yes, Mags. I choose you all to be my family,” Katie cried yet again, but there were no tears left to be shed at that point. All that remained was confusion and anger about her aunt and uncle and love for Maggie and Rose, her chosen family.
For the next hour or so, Katie sat between Rose and Maggie as Rose related the rest of what Larry had told David. She vacillated between the shock and dismay of finding out her parents were not her birth parents and flashes of intense anger at her relatives who conspired to keep that truth from her. She rightly reasoned that her O’Shea grandparents were complicit, and she could not comprehend how a conspiracy of that magnitude could be kept from the older family members. Perhaps Larry and Sharon were not in on the secret, but her birth parents and her aunts and uncles had to be.
Katie was quiet for the most part but occasionally lapsed into sobs, either on Rose’s or Maggie’s shoulder. She didn’t know Alan all that well, yet, and she still carried a torch for David. She would never allow herself to betray Maggie’s friendship, but she still hoped. So, she kept her relative distance from the men. After a little bit, Alan nudged David’s arm and they stood and left the living room.
David finished folding his clean laundry and brought it upstairs to be ready for Sunday’s return trip and rejoined his father. Alan sat at the kitchen table, texting Pastor John. He informed the pastor that while Katie was related to Brendan and Michelle O’Shea, they were not her birth parents. That information had been made known to Katie that day, and there possibly could be drama at church in the morning. Alan wanted John and Ruth to be aware and ready to intervene if necessary.
“Let’s sit and have a bowl of ice cream,” Alan suggested. While they enjoyed the frozen treat, David waited. His father wanted to say or ask something, and David had long figured out it was best to wait for his father to formulate what he wished to say. So, David tried to eat slowly, savoring the treat.
“David, are you really okay with my selling this place and possibly buying that other house?”
David smiled. There it was: uncertainty on his father’s part. It was a far cry from how Alan usually behaved.
“Yes, Dad, I’m totally certain I’m okay with it. I would have loved to be able to see inside the buildings today, but I think I can see some of the attraction of that place for you. You will be marrying Rose, and she wants a place to claim as her own. She’ll never be able to do that here. You are starting the next phase of your life, Dad. You need to do what you have to do for that to work. ‘Happy wife, happy life’, right? ‘If Momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy’. And from everything I see and hear, you make Momma happy.” David twisted his lips in a knowing smirk as Alan blushed slightly.
“Just like you make Magpie happy?”
“We’re still very new into our relationship, Dad. We both know this.” David snorted, then added, “We’ve not had an argument, yet. Not that I go around looking for things to differ from her about. Part of this is due to my being home only every other weekend. I do wish to thank you for allowing us to share the big bed while I am home, though. It makes it tougher to be away at school, but coming home is so very nice. I can’t tell you how much this helps,” as he held up his right hand and twisted the friendship ring around its finger.
Alan smiled in remembrance of the giving of those rings. “Ah, that reminds me. I wanted to tell you and your brother that when the time comes, both sets of your grandparents’ rings are in a safe deposit box. Are you okay with having whichever set Tom doesn’t select? We both know that time is approaching for him and Jules, right?”
“Right you are, Dad. Yes, I’m happy to let him choose whichever set first. I think both girls might be a bit disappointed, given the rose gold set you purchased for Momma. I would not be able to offer Mom’s rings to anyone, though. That would not be right in my mind.”
“Nor in mine, son. Nor in mine.”
= = =
Eventually, Katie got to the point of yawning mightily. The evening had taken a lot out of her and it was beginning to show.
“Come on, Kat,” Maggie stated. “Let’s get you tucked into bed so you can get a good night’s sleep. Nodding her head, Katie tried to stand but sat back down quickly. Maggie pulled on Katie’s hands and got her standing, albeit totally wrapped around Maggie as she strove to maintain their balance. Rose stood up, gently turned Katie, and pulled the younger lady into her embrace. No more words were used, but a soft kiss on Katie’s temple and a stroke of the hair by Rose, and Katie was being led by the hand up the stairs. At the top of the stairs, Maggie gave Katie a very slight push towards David’s room.
“I’ll get your stuff out of my room and into that one. Go on, make yourself comfy.”
Katie entered the room and inhaled. She was tingling all over. This was David’s room, and it was to be hers for the night! She turned on the light, and yes, this was his room. Obviously decorated for a boy, but that was a very nice‑looking wide bed there. She sat on the edge, just soaking in the atmosphere. Maggie soon appeared with Katie’s clothes, which were hung in the closet on the other side of the bed. Then Maggie explained where the towels and washcloths were in the shared bathroom.
“I know it’s a little early; it’s only 8:30. But you look frazzled, ‘Sister’. Get some rest. Things will look much better in the morning light. Do you drink coffee?”
Katie made a face and said, “Yuck! No, I don’t do coffee. Is there orange or apple juice?”
“I’ll be sure to thaw out some OJ for the morning, Kat. Are you okay otherwise for now?”
“For now, yeah, I think I’m good.” Katie yawned again. “But that bed looks really nice.” Maggie smiled broadly.
“Yeah, it’s pretty comfortable, and I’m sure in your current state, you’ll never notice the pea between the mattress and box spring.” Maggie pulled Katie in for one last hug and cheek kiss and said goodnight. Just before Maggie closed the door, she heard Katie say, “Goodnight, ‘Sister’.” Katie dressed for bed and was quickly enveloped by the fragrance of the detergent the Harrisons used, and was asleep within five minutes.
= = =
“Say, Tom, could we clear some space to dance again tonight?” John asked, totally shocking Dawn, Julie, and Tom with his request.
“I don’t see why not. Certainly!”
“And I’d like to request a little different music, if I may? Some ‘Big Band’ music from the 1930s and ’40s, please?”
“Where have you ever listened to ‘Big Band’ music, John?” Dawn inquired.
“My mom and dad listen to it occasionally. It always seemed strange to me that it had such easy rhythms and flowed so smoothly, yet I’ve never seen them dance to it. Or to any music at all, I guess.”
“Jules, can you find a Spotify playlist that will suit John?” Tom requested as he and John began moving some furniture around to create the dance floor.
“Got one right here. ‘Big Band Playlist of the ’40s.’ Gentlemen, take your ladies.”
Julie and Dawn quickly snuggled into their man’s chest as they slowly swayed and eased around the room and each other. After a couple of songs, instrumentals only, John stopped.
“Julie, could you find another Big Band playlist, maybe one with some vocals?”
“Yeah, sure thing, John.”
She found another one and this playlist’s selections were quite pleasing to everyone. They had even heard two or three of the songs before. The four of them quietly danced the evening away. This was exactly the cheap entertainment they needed on their college student budgets, even Dawn. All four of them went to bed very contented with how the evening had gone.
= = =
Sunday, February 7
The delicious sensation of his morning erection pressing into her backside roused her from her sleep. She wiggled her hips slightly, encouraging him to further display his ardor for her. Her nipple stiffened between his fingers as his right hand gently squeezed her right breast. She tucked her chin down to her body, exposing her neck and inviting him to excite her more, which he did with great delight.
“Oh, baby, yes, yes, YES!” she exclaimed as he hit just the right spot. The overnight growth of his beard gave a pleasing sensation on her neck as she wiggled her rump even harder against his erection. Clothing on their lower torsos was shed and the predictable resolution to their morning playtime crashed upon them like the waves in ‘From Here to Eternity’.
The gentle knock on the door and Julie’s voice came, asking the room’s occupants not to disturb their landlord, please.
“Okay, Jules,” Dawn answered, then returned to appreciating John being in the comfortable Queen‑size bed with her.
Julie returned to her room and closed the door. Tom lay on top of the covers, naked and sporting his own stiff erection. Julie had been maintaining his rigidity for some time before Dawn and John’s antics required her to caution them. That she was also stark naked in her own home did not phase her in the least.
“Now, where was I?” she asked, rhetorically, as her hand sought out his cock. “Hmmm, seems to require some additional lubrication.” She dribbled a few additional drops of lubricant on his cock, and resumed her ministrations.
“That’s it, Tommy. Hold back. See if I get tired… before… you… launch.” Her words were magic, and he erupted, just as she had intended. She continued to stroke and caress him until he softened and conked out. Her left hand was well coated with his spend. She looked over at the clock which read 6:15 AM. Julie got up and cleaned off her hand and a bit of her forearm, then returned with a warm, wet washcloth to clean him up. Then she snuggled up to his side, kissed his unresponsive lips, and lay her head on his chest to doze.
= = =
David was up first and put on shorts and a t-shirt before heading downstairs to start the coffee. Maggie had shared with him Katie’s dislike for the brew and preference for fruit juice, so while he waited for the coffee to brew, he fixed a pitcher of orange juice. Still having some time to wait, he toasted two bagels and assembled Maggie’s mug of coffee, Katie’s glass of juice, and two plates with a choice of butter or cream cheese on the tray from the top of the refrigerator. Carefully climbing the stairs, he opened the bedroom door with his foot. A big smile crossed his face as he saw Maggie’s nose twitch at the scent of the coffee.
“Would you care for butter or cream cheese or nothing on your bagel, my lady dear?” he asked. She kissed him with her answer and smeared some butter on two of the bagel halves.
“I’ll be right back,” he promised and stepped down to his bedroom. He knocked on the door and heard a sleepy, “Yeah?”
“It’s David, and I’ve got juice and a toasted bagel. Are you decent and may I enter?”
The door opened to reveal Katie in a very cute pink cotton nightie showing a lot of leg. She backed up and sat on the bed while he set the tray next to her and backed up.
“What time is it?” she asked.
“7:30ish, Katie. We generally head over to church around 9:00. Did Maggie tell you about the bathroom?”
“Yeah, she told me. Thank you for this. Mmmm. Breakfast in bed. A girl could get used to this sort of treatment,” she teased.
“Too bad for you but Maggie’s got first dibs.” David shrugged his shoulders. “I’m so sorry for having to bear such unhappy news, ‘Sister’. Oh, and I need the tray to bring Momma and Dad’s brews and bagels, please. Maggie’s in her bedroom if you’d like to go talk with her some more.”
Katie quickly smeared some cream cheese on her bagel halves and removed them and the juice glass from the tray.
“You may now continue your rounds, ‘Brother David’,” she informed him.
With the empty tray in hand, David backed away and closed the door, then returned to the kitchen. Where he discovered Alan and Rose sitting at the table already and drinking their mugs of coffee. David finished off the pot into his own mug and asked if a second pot was needed. Alan said he thought they could hold out until they got to church.
“So, what’s the game plan for today?” David asked, leaning back against the countertop. “Aside from church this morning, that is.”
“I had thought about taking Maggie and Katie by the place we’re looking at, but maybe that’s best put off until there’s more certainty with it. We wanted to see it with you this weekend since you were home. We can see it with the girls practically any day,” Alan explained. “I sent Pastor John a text last night to prepare him for possible drama today. I need you and Maggie to stick very close to Katie this morning. Everybody wants peace at church on Sunday morning, especially the pastor. We specifically need to avoid any drama with the O’Shea family before or during worship.”
David nodded in agreement with Alan’s logic. “Sounds sensible to me, Dad. Momma, do you have anything to add?”
Once again, David calling her ‘Momma’ set Rose’s heart a-flutter with joy. Someday, maybe she’d get over that reaction. She thought for a second and shook her head.
“I’ve nothing else to add, David. This may cause a bit of a strain on your friendship with Larry, though.”
“I’ve considered that, and I’m good with the path we’ve chosen to follow. If he knew something and did nothing, then he should not be upset that we did what he should have and let Katie know. If he feels our friendship is damaged, that’s on him. We’ll just have to see what sort of support we need to provide to Katie. Of course, she’s quite welcome to stay in my room, Dad. I won’t be back until the 19th anyway. And when I do come back, I plan to stay with Maggie, so, yeah… Oh, and Momma, I told Dad this last night so I’ll tell you now. I’m good with him selling this place and you two getting a house that is yours and Dad’s. It’s gotta be tough for you with all the stuff of Mom’s influence around here.” He stepped forward and kissed her on the forehead then headed back upstairs to his girlfriend and new sister.
= = =
Maggie rode to church with Katie, so David opted to ride with Alan and Rose. David had discussed, quietly, with Maggie about the need to stay close to Katie and to intervene quickly if the O’Sheas were seen. Katie seemed a bit withdrawn once she emerged and dressed for church. She had packed her stuff away and placed it in her Honda, so she would be headed back to her home once the worship was finished.
Rose had met up with Maeve, Mary, and Susan in the Ladies’ room before heading into the Fellowship Hall for coffee and donuts. She made the other three leading ladies of the church aware of the potential for drama as tactfully as she could. They promised to talk about it on Tuesday morning at breakfast, which Rose had missed last week. Rose then asked Mary to talk for a few minutes after worship. Slightly puzzled, Mary agreed to wait at a bench outside the worship center.
Jack Johnson waved Maggie and Katie over and wrapped an arm around each of their shoulders. “These fine ladies were instrumental to our flagship store having its best sales day ever!” he shared with everyone in hearing range. “And all I’m asking from them next Saturday is unprecedented excellence!” He gave each a quick, grandparental buss on the forehead and released them.
“Thanks, Jack,” Maggie responded, while Katie echoed with her, “Thank you, Mr. Johnson.” Bumping shoulders, the two strode to the beverage center, aware of all the eyes on them, and loving every second of it. It was the pride that Maggie saw in David’s eyes at Jack’s pronouncement that stirred her the most. She felt a twinge of sorrow that Katie didn’t have anyone there looking at her with pride. Then Maggie realized that Rose and Alan were likely doing that precise thing, and she felt better.
The time came for those in the Fellowship Hall to enter the worship space, and David and Maggie made sure to flank Katie the whole way. But like anything else, even the best‑laid plans sometimes go awry. They were just passing the main entryway when a woman’s voice called out.
“Katie O’Shea! How was your overnight with Maggie?”
Stopping and turning to face the speaker, Katie said very precisely, “I had a wonderful time last night, Aunt Michelle. Thank you very much for asking.” Katie then resumed her march into the worship space beside her new brother and sister. Maggie was whispering, “Not here, not now,” into Katie’s ear as they led her around to the right side of the worship space.
The open mouths, impossibly wide eyes, and completely ashen complexions on Michelle and Brendan O’Shea’s faces were a testament to the shock they felt. Pastor John and his wife, Ruth, were almost immediately at their side and pulling them out of the stream of incoming worshippers. Rose and her friends had been about fifteen feet behind David, Maggie, and Katie, and so were witnesses to the damage control efforts. Rose sighed, as this was a portion of the drama she had been hoping to avoid.
“Ladies, I’ll explain in much greater detail on Tuesday morning. For now, please help us surround all of the O’Shea family with support and love,” Rose explained. Reaching for Alan’s hand, she hurried to catch up with the three younger people.
Brendan and Michelle O’Shea were directed to the left side of the worship area, while the Harrisons and Lawsons sat on the right, as usual. With Alan on the aisle and Rose to his right, then Katie, Maggie, and lastly David, Katie was surrounded and safe. When the time came for the Passing of the Peace, Rose, Katie, and Maggie remained at their seats while Alan and David moved around a little. Maggie noticed the one time when Katie’s jaw tightened up, and she followed her line of sight toward Brendan and Michelle.
“Katie, please, this is not the time or place,” Maggie whispered.
“You’re right, Mags. But things are going to change. I promise you that,” Katie replied, equally quietly. She gave one last scathing glare at her aunt and uncle, then turned to greet … Jack and Maeve Johnson, who were sitting right behind her.
The remainder of the worship service passed without incident, and Katie delayed leaving as long as she could. Ruth and Pastor John gave her big hugs and offered their services and support, for which she gratefully thanked them.
Rose spoke with Mary Henderson about the ramifications of trying to get the house whose loan was in danger of defaulting. Mary assured her that there would not be any fallout if Rose were to independently make contact with the family and their attorney and then work out a plan to buy the place. In fact, that was how she and George had gotten their current house.
Rose got up and collected her family to go home. She had a very big smile now that she had gotten Mary’s assurances. Katie was standing next to her car, waiting in the chilly midday air. She rushed into Rose’s arms.
“I’m so proud of you, Kathleen Margaret,” Rose stated. “You were very brave this morning.”
“Thank you, Momma. I have to go talk with them now. If things don’t resolve in my favor …”
“You will always have a home with us,” Rose finished.
Katie got into her Honda and slowly exited the church parking lot, turning to head to her aunt and uncle’s house.
Inside the Volvo, Rose let everyone know that Katie would be confronting her uncle and aunt and, therefore, might be moving in soon. Maggie looked pleased hearing her mother’s words. David gave a small smile and nodded his acceptance. Alan pressed his lips together as he considered this change to the status quo, accepting that it was a matter of when, not if.
A quiet soup and sandwich lunch on the chilly winter day sated their needs, and soon it was time for David to return to school. Maggie wore her coat out to say goodbye to David in private, indicating to Alan and Rose that the leave‑taking might be extended.
“Davey, my love, I’m sorry we didn’t have as much time together this weekend as we had hoped,” Maggie began.
“It’s all right, Maggie, my love, my life. This weekend Katie’s needs outweighed ours. It was far more important that we provided the love and support she so desperately needed. On a happier note, I cannot begin to count the number of times I touch my ring and think of you during a week. I cannot truly express how pleased and contented I am that we got these the last time I was home. It makes our physical separation tolerable, at least for me.”
“I dream of you every night we’re apart, David. And I touch my ring frequently as well. Please drive safely and be sure to let us know when you arrive at school.”
They ‘sucked face’ for a few minutes longer, then David rolled out of the driveway, honked lightly, and headed for school. It was going to be another long two‑week separation, but they would tough it out through their connection via the rings and telephone calls.
= = =
Tom was pleased that Julie was going to church with him. He was even more surprised and pleased when Dawn and John agreed to go with them as well. The pastor at the Methodist church close to the college campus recognized and greeted Tom and positively beamed when introduced to Julie, Dawn, and John. The pastor greeted them with a special welcome for first‑time visitors that did not infer any guilt. He knew full well that external guilt was often the one thing that came between people and God, and he was not going to be a party to that.
“I know we went out for breakfast yesterday,” Dawn began as they left the church, “but I want to buy lunch for us today. Please?”
“What are you thinking, Dawn?” Julie asked.
“A couple of medium pizzas and maybe some beer?”
Tom chuckled and slowly shook his head. “It would be such a college student‑trope to leave church and turn around and buy beer.”
“And pizza,” John added with a cheeky grin.
“And pizza,” Tom agreed. “But we are college students, so why not?”
“If we got large pizzas, we could have that for supper as well,” Dawn pointed out.
They got two six‑packs of some good beer at the grocery store and picked up a couple of large pizzas. The afternoon was spent playing Monopoly, chatting, drinking beer, and eating pizza. Tom was the Monopoly champion that day after which Dawn and John returned to their dorm rooms. Julie and Tom took care of the mundane housework before calling it a day and falling asleep, cuddled together.
= = =
Brendan and Michelle O’Shea were already home from church when Katie arrived. They were seated at the dining table and talking when she walked into the house. Katie glared at them, and all they could do was drop their eyes in shame.
She pulled up a chair to the table, facing them, and allowed them to initiate the dialogue.
“Your father is my youngest brother, Patrick,” Brendan began. “He had a one‑night stand with a girl, Elizabeth Steele, and nine months later you were born.”
“Where are they?” Katie asked.
“Nobody knows. We have tried to keep track of Paddy, but five years ago he totally fell off the map. We don’t know if he’s even still alive. Lisa was going to abort you, but my parents would not permit that. They took her in and cared for her while she was pregnant. Her parents disowned her and moved away. When you were three days old, she signed over guardianship papers to us, and simply walked away.”
“Were they both really young?”
“Paddy was 24, a couple of years out of school. I think Lisa was a senior in college at the time. The whole thing was a huge mess.”
“Why did everyone keep this from me?”
“It’s not everyone, Katie. It’s just us two and my parents …” Brendan began
“And Larry, your brothers and sister, and their spouses,” she snapped back, beginning to get angrier. “Sharon probably knows as well.”
“Larry?” Michelle gasped.
“How do you think I found out? From what has been related, he overheard you arguing about me and money a couple of years ago. The question still stands: why keep this from me?”
“When is ever a good time to relate something like that?”
“Might it not have been appropriate to tell me on my 18th birthday?” She just let that question go unanswered. “Okay, so the cat’s out of the bag. Why does it seem like I’m now persona non grata around here?”
“You’re not …” Michelle began, but Katie quickly cut her off.
“Come off it, Aunt Michelle! Your attitude towards me has really gone down the tubes since around my birthday back in September. It’s gotten a lot worse since the first of the year, too.”
“We still love you, Katie,” Michelle began, but Katie held up her hand, palm towards her nominal parents.
“I’m calling bullshit on that, Aunt Michelle. A walk-in freezer is warmer than this place has become towards me since Larry left for school. But you need not worry about me; I know just where to warm up. It’s all about the money, isn’t it?”
Aunt Michelle hung her head, slowly shaking it, but Uncle Brendan looked at me with some fire in his eye.
“Can you handle the truth? Yes, it’s about the money. The only reason I agreed to become your guardian was that my parents badgered me and were going to subsidize your expenses. Shortly after you turned 18 last Fall, they both retired and now they can’t afford to continue the monthly payments to us. And there’s no way we can afford to send you to college. You’ll just have to get scholarships and take out loans like other kids.” He would have spewed more vitriol, but she stood up.
“Thank you, Uncle Brendan, Aunt Michelle, for the loving environment you have provided for me, out of the goodness of your hearts.” She spun and marched purposefully up the stairs to her room.
Katie couldn’t cry any more. She felt as though she was totally adrift on a raft in the ocean. She quietly packed all of her clothes into two suitcases. Sadly, every stitch of clothing she owned fit into those two bags. She packed all of her school things into her backpack as well. Then she sat on the edge of the bed, and a couple of tears did trickle down her cheeks. She pulled her phone out and texted Maggie.
“Can I come over for a while before our study session?”
Maggie’s answer was nearly instantaneous.
“Absolutely! You are always welcome here, sister. You have a key, remember?”
“I’ll be over between 3 and 4,” I replied.
Katie then made a backup of her phone’s contacts to email, just in case. She looked through the dozen or so photos and decided none were worth keeping. Then she turned off the phone and was going to leave it on the bed, then reconsidered and placed it in her pocket. She did leave her house key on her bed, though, as a sign that she would not be back. It took her two trips to get the three bags of possessions to her car. First was the backpack of schoolwork and her coats and boots near the front door. Then she went back and came down with the two suitcases, one in each hand. Everything she owned was in those bags and backpack. The car was in her name, and the insurance was paid up through April.
Katie stopped in the foyer, set the bags down, and looked into the dining room. Brendan and Michelle were still sitting at the table. It looked like there had been quiet but angry words between them. What followed would not make it any better.
Katie said, “Please thank my grandparents for saving me from being aborted and supporting my childhood. As far as a loving home, I know of a very good one. Please don’t worry about me, not that you have all that much. Please do send my birth certificate, a copy of the guardianship papers, and any other related documents care of the Harrisons. They will know how to get them to me. Goodbye, Uncle Brendan, Aunt Michelle.”
She put on her heavy coat and hat, picked up the suitcases, and left the house. ‘I’m heading home,’ she thought and gave a sad smile.
= = =
Since lunch, Alan had been sitting in his favorite chair in the living room with a book open in his lap. Instead of reading, however, he had been considering the looming scenario of what if Katie moved out of the O’Sheas’ home, either voluntarily or otherwise? The pieces were all lining up, as though someone wanted things to happen this way. David did not require his room as long as he was living at school; when he was home, he roomed with Maggie. By the time the semester was over, they would hopefully be in a new place with more bedrooms. If Tom and Julie came home for a visit before the move, Maggie could bunk with Katie; if David happened to be home, then someone would have to sleep on the sofa in the living room. Maggie needed Katie as much as Katie needed Maggie. Rose had more than enough love in her heart to spread around. And Katie desperately needed to experience being part of their loving and happy family. It was as much of a no‑brainer as anything could get. All he had to do was go along with it.
It was 3:30 when the key scraped in the lock of the front door, even though it was unlocked.
“Momma, Mags, it’s Katie!” she called out after opening the door and stepping inside. The mentioned ladies came quickly down the stairs as Alan stepped out from the living room where he had been reading. Curiously enough, he was the first to pull Katie into a protective and loving embrace. He had been resistant to becoming too familiar with the young lady, but all bets were off now. As had always been his way, he confronted this challenge head‑on.
Maggie and Rose almost collided with Alan and Katie at the bottom of the stairs. It quickly became a massive group hug, and a few more tears were shed although their source was not easily identifiable.
“What’s the word, Kat?” Maggie inquired.
“It’s a long story not suitable for this place and time, I believe. I do have some of my things I’d like to bring in, though,” Katie stated, hesitantly.
“Alan, go fetch Katie’s bags, please, and take them …” Rose began.
“Up to Katie’s room; got it. Katie, is your car unlocked?”
“Yes, sir.”
Alan looked at her out of the corner of his eye, frowning.
“Yes, Poppa?” she squeaked, smiling shyly.
“Much better.” Alan smiled broadly as he put on his coat and headed to Katie’s Honda, which was parked on the street in front of the house.
“Is… is it okay if I stay here for a few days?” Katie asked very hesitantly.
“No.”
“NO?”
“No, Kathleen Margaret O’Shea, you may not stay here for ‘a few days’. You have a key. You may stay as long as you wish to. You may stay with us, just like Maggie or David, until you finish college. You are now part of this family. Am I clear?”
‘Y-yes, Momma.” Katie fell into Rose’s comforting and protective embrace with Maggie gently stroking her back. “Bu-but what about David?”
“What about David?” Maggie asked with her hands on her hips.
“W-where will he sleep?”
“He will sleep where he usually sleeps when he comes home. With me, in my bed.”
Katie’s eyes bulged at that revelation. She wasn’t sure where David had slept last night. She had assumed he was in his room on Friday. She looked at Rose, who nodded in affirmation.
“You and Maggie are both technically adults now, as is David. We won’t treat you like children, but we ask for similar consideration. Let someone know if you’re going to be out late, offer to clean up if you see the need, and hug someone if they seem sad. Those sorts of things.”
“I can do that, Momma.” Then she burst into tears yet again.
Alan came in the door with two heavy suitcases in his hands and a backpack over his shoulder.
“Can someone please take the backpack?” he asked, and Maggie jumped forward to take the burden.
“Kat, what do you have in here?” Maggie groaned under the weight.
“Just all my school stuff,” Katie explained and took the load from Maggie’s hands.
“Would you please follow me?” Alan asked as he mounted the stairs. The four of them proceeded to Katie’s new bedroom, where she had slept last night. Alan lugged the suitcases in, set them on the bed, and looked at the closet and dresser. “I guess we need to clear David’s things out of here first, though. Did I bring in everything?”
“Yes, Poppa, you did.” Katie looked shyly at Alan as she said that. Maggie smiled and Rose looked thoughtful.
“Good. You settle in for a bit. We’ll call you for supper.”
“Maggie’s got a 4 o’clock call with ‘the Posse’. I’d like to be included, if I may,” Katie requested.
“Feel free to join us as you are able. Dad’s right though, Kat. Try to settle in a bit. Here, let me grab these hanging clothes to free up the closet for you,” Maggie offered.
While Maggie was transferring the few remaining hanging clothes to her closet, Alan went to the basement to find a couple of boxes to put the rest of David’s things into temporary storage. Rose remained with Katie, watching her for signs of distress.
“I know things aren’t ‘right’, yet, but are they ‘better’?” Rose asked, gently stroking Katie’s raven hair.
Katie leaned into the caresses and hummed. Realizing the question was genuine, she answered, “Yes, Momma, things are better. Thank you. I’m just surprised how much I feel I can love you, and Mags, and even Poppa already. Why do you suppose that is?”
Rose pushed the suitcases a bit so they could sit on the edge of the bed. She pulled Katie to her and considered her response.
“I think, dear girl, that, for so long, you have not had people willing to welcome and respond to your love. Now you do. Until I met Alan at Thanksgiving, I really had no one to share my love with outside of Julie and Maggie. I think the Beatles had it right. ‘And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.’ It surprises me sometimes how much wisdom there is to be found in the popular media. But you have to pick and choose carefully.”
Katie leaned into Rose with a contented sigh, basking in the warm, tactile contact that she had been missing for so long. For her part, Rose had always enjoyed just holding her girls close. Maggie had returned from her room but hovered outside the bedroom door. She heard her mother’s words and saw her cuddling with Katie. Jealousy flared in Maggie; Rose was HER mother. Then the gracious nature within her quickly overwhelmed any jealousy she felt. ‘The love you take IS equal to the love you make.’
“Hey, that’s my Mom you’re cuddling with!” Maggie declared with a big smile on her face to contradict any negative feelings.
“Yeah, but she is my Momma!” Katie could dish it out just as well as she received it.
“David’s, too,” Maggie replied.
“Now girls,” Rose began.
“It’s good, Mom. We’re just teasing each other. But I need to get the video call set up. Shall I save you a seat, Kat?”
“I’ll be right behind you, Mags.”
Once Maggie had started down the stairs, Katie pulled Rose in tightly.
“Thank you, Momma. Thank you for loving me.”
“Oh, Katie dear, you are so very welcome. There’s no need to thank me for loving you. You are very easy to love, and you deserve all the love this family can share with you. Never doubt that or your place here, okay?” Rose kissed the end of Katie’s nose, then stood to leave. “Oh, and very well done with calling Alan ‘poppa’. Maggie has been calling him Dad since Christmas, and I think he’s starting to actually enjoy it.” Rose gave a wink and headed downstairs, passing Alan on his way back up.
“Would you please just set the boxes on the floor by the door, Poppa? I’ll get to it tonight, after supper, but I want to be part of Mags’ video call now. Is that okay?”
“Sure, Katie. If you need help, all you have to do is ask.”
“Thanks, Poppa!” Katie surprised him with a hug, and then shocked him with a sweet kiss on his cheek. With a little giggle, she pushed past him and headed down to the media room where Maggie was setting up for the video call with her friends. She hoped she would soon be included as one of the girls in ‘the Posse’.
The video conferencing app was running when Katie entered the media room. Big smiles appeared in all the windows on the screen and a refrain of, “Hi, Katie!” resounded from Abbie, Donna, and Joy. Maggie patted the sofa right beside her, inviting her surrogate sister to sit, right beside her.
Donna started things with, “So Joy and Katie, how did you do on your Trig test?” Katie let Joy go first, then followed up with, “Maggie’s tutoring made a huge difference. I made bonehead errors and only got a 92, but that was a major improvement. I’m confident that the scores will improve for the coming tests.” A lot of encouragement from the other girls followed Katie’s admission.
“You are applying to go to State in the fall, right, Katie? I mean, ‘the Posse’ simply has to stay together.”
Katie’s heart seemed to leap into her throat at Donna’s words. She was now considered to be part of ‘the Posse’! Unable to speak, Katie simply nodded and smiled. The adage ‘be careful what you wish for; you might just get it’ came to her mind. For the first time, she felt like she belonged to something larger than just herself.
“I’ve got to go deal with an issue,” Katie said to Maggie, and with her nod, stood and waved at the other three as she exited the room. She found Rose and Alan in the living room, reading. They were both on the sofa, one at either end. Only their feet were touching. But they were actively touching each other. Katie had never seen her aunt and uncle or anyone else in the O’Shea family behave that way. It was a very loving sight that she would remember and later reflect upon.
“Hiya, Katie,” Alan called out. Rose turned her head to look at her. It was the expression of unconditional love from Rose that set Katie off once again. Huge tears welled up and flowed down her cheeks. Rose spun her feet off the sofa and stood to catch Katie before she crumpled to the floor. Alan stood and guided the pair back to the sofa while he moved to his chair. Just then Alan’s phone chirped with an incoming message from David that he had arrived safely at school.
“I’ve been expecting this,” Rose murmured. “Alan, please go fetch Maggie. She’ll want to hear this.”
While Alan was retrieving Maggie from the media room, Rose was doing her best to soak up the tears with the tissues handy Then she added more dampness to Katie’s face by kissing her cheeks and forehead. Katie’s tears stopped flowing right when Alan returned with a very concerned Maggie.
“Okay, dear girl. We’re all here for you. Would you please share with us what happened after church?”
Katie recounted from her angry conversation with her aunt and uncle only the information that had not been learned from Larry. She was the result of a one-night stand between her uncle’s younger “bad boy” brother and a younger college senior. Their names and ages at the time. The young college senior had been disowned by her parents, who then moved away, and taken in by her father’s parents until Maggie was born. No one knew if either of the birth parents were still alive or where they were. That her father’s parents had badgered her aunt and uncle to take her as their child. At least to her uncle it was all about the money they received until his parents retired.
Katie concluded her story: “It has been a painful time, but at least I finally knew what happened and why I was treated as I was. More importantly, I was leaving their house where I wasn’t wanted anymore, but knew I’m heading home.”
It was Katie’s final words, “I’m heading home,” that reduced Rose and Maggie to tears of their own. It was the ever‑practical Alan who came back with, “There will need to be some administrative changes made; none of which we can do anything about tonight. I’m worn out from all of this, and I’m not the one who has been crying. I don’t know how you are even able to stand, Katie.”