The Jorgansons
3
When Kevin got home the next morning I was sitting in the middle of the floor surrounded by books and crying - I seemed to be doing a lot of that lately between the heat and the baby. "Hey Beautiful, I brought breakfast," he said handing me a tub of chocolate ice cream and a single yellow rose from the vender on the corner before heading into the kitchen to get the bagals and peanut butter. "Okay, what are the tears for this time?" he asked helping me up off the floor. In between the sniffling and bites of onion bagal spread with peanut butter and dipped in ice cream I told him about Mom's call and the dreams she'd been having for months. ***** "You've been talking about wanting to go home and open a clinic every since you finished your residency and we both know I won't be able to go back to work when school starts up in the fall anyway." "She says things are going to get really bad pretty soon and we need to come home early and you've always told me your Mother seems to know things other people don't. Besides, I watch the news and even you've said the number of shootings and knivings have more then doubled and the gang wars are getting out of control." "I want to go home and I want to do it now before something bad happens, I need fresh air and I want our baby born under starlight not neon," I said and the tears started again. "Start packing, " Kevin said knowing I already had. He looked at his watch and figuring Mom was up he picked up the phone. "I'll tell the hospital when I go in." ***** The phone rang while I was having my third cup of coffee and thinking it was probably someone from Kidman's calling to say they were on their way I picked up the phone. "Hello." "Mom it's Kevin did I wake you up?" "Of course not Dear, I've been up for hours; besides I've been expecting you to call" she said. Mom and I talked for about 20 minutes before I said Goodnight and handed the phone to Amy so I could go take a shower and get some sleep. Later that afternoon when I woke up Amy told me everything they had talked about and handed me the list Mom had given her. ***** "Oh, and she said that Tina Miller, the widow of Danny's ex-partner and her children will be coming with him to the Gathering and will probably be staying on too. She's a RN and you're supposed to call and introduce yourself - here's the number. I told her we'd try to be there in time for the Gathering and she said she'd have everything ready for us. She's sending a debit card and a letter of authorization for this place the Goddess has told her to build. They're calling it Sanctuary." ***** I'd no sooner got off the phone with Amy when Joe Kidman Jr called to say they'd be here in about 15 minutes. "Dad said tell you he has a meeting with the bank this morning but will be down when he finishes. He's already spoken to Andy and will discuss the revised plans with you when he gets here. In the meanwhile I'm supposed to find out what you want done first and get the crews started." After I hung up I went in the office and pulled out the three sets of plans I had found and the notes on what the boys and I had discussed. When Joe's crew got there I told him about the windmill and solar panals that needed to be installed and the large barn that we had plans to remodel and enlarge to use as a Community Center with a solar/wind powered commercial size kitchen and space for 300 + people to share meals, hold services and meetings, and just socialize. Then I told him what Andy had said about the windmill and solar and handed him the notes they had made. "Andy and David should be here soon and they're supposed to be bringing a couple of people with them that you'll probably want to talk to; you can get more infomation from them; in the meanwhile use your best judgement." ***** I was in the garden picking vegetables for a salad when David pulled up with Starr and about 6 ladies from the Women's League and started unloading the food for lunch while the menfolk set up the tables and chairs in the yard. By the time I got back to the house with my basket she was barking out orders like some General. She took the basket from my hands and shooed me out of my own kitchen telling me to go work on my book or something, I had done enough. "Okay but you and I ARE going to talk about this Momma Sunflower thing before you leave. Oh - and there's fresh bread and pies in the summer kitchen along with some fried chicken, that is if David hasn't found it and ate it all." I said over my shoulder as I walked towards the office. "Hasn't found what?" I heard as the screendoor slammed. ***** After lunch when we met in my office to discuss everyone's ideas on the work and renovations I pulled out the plans I had found for Blackwell House and spread them out on the desk. "As you can see if you take a look at the original building plans for the house the first floor originally had a huge ballroom and 2 large parlors as well as the library, an office, a summer kitchen and pantry where the stairs are that lead to the wine cellar and cold rooms, also several smaller rooms that were used as the smoking room and other things that were considered necessary in upper class society at that time.There is another set of stairs as well behind the door in the kitchen that the servants used." "Someone had an elevator to the second and third floors installed there when the house was remodeled and wired for electricity that might prove useful if it still is or can be made operational and modified to an alternate power source.That's Carl's field of expertise - his company specializes in alternative power sources and he'll be here until after the Gathering or however long we need him." "I think the wall that was put up to create the dining room and living room can be torn down with no problems which would open the ballroom back up and give us a large enough space for a meeting area and anything else we want to set up after the elections." "I would like to turn the upper floors into areas large enough to accommadate families with small chidren and a few old friends which would clear up a lot of additional living space on the grounds. Also here are the plans from the 1st and 2nd renovations when the electricity and plumbing were added and the drawings of the circuits where Paul had the first floor connected to the windmill." "You can think about this and see what you come up with; I am simply telling you what my guides have shown me. Oh, and Joe don't worry about the expenses; I assure you Sanctuary is backed by all the Blackwell holdings and we are solvant. This should get you started and allow you to hire all the local help you need - David or Andy can give you a list of anyone suitable who needs work. Now if you'll excuse me gentlemen I have some calls to make and will be in my office if you need me." When I left Joe was staring at the certified check for $100,000 that Steven Barker of Barker & Sons, the newly appointed Attorneys for Sanctuary, had brought with him as a downpayment on the work. ***** I was on the phone with Tina when Steve knocked on the office door and stuck his head in. "You got a few minutes Ms Jo?" "Tina get with Kevin and go ahead and order any equipment you might need for the clinic and I'll talk to you in a few days so you can give me some figures. Give my love to Danny and the kids, bye." I said hanging up. "Come in Steve, how's Ilijah liking his retirement?" Assuring me his Dad was fine we spent a few minutes in light conversation and then got down to business. ***** "I spoke to an appraisor who owns an Antique Dealership and Auction House in Denver last night and as you asked I've arranged an appointment for tomorrow at 2:00 and faxed him the sample list Sheriff Gorden sent over. Based on that list he is eager to see the rest and make an offer. He's bringing a van with him in the hopes that the two of you can reach an agreement before he leaves." "Dad as you know is a collector himself; he said to assure you he will be here at 11:00 to help. Between you and me I think he just wants an excuse to visit a while and get first crack at everything you're selling but since I know next to nothing about antiques I'm grateful for his help." "We also went over the contracts the 3 of you signed with Mr Matthews and see nothing wrong with them; basically it just dissolves Blackwell Holdings and turns all assets over to Sanctuary from the date of the final signing which will also be tomorrow since Mr Michaels will be here at noon. Finally Larry hand carried the applications and paperwork for non-profit status down to The Capital and filed them last week thanks to the Power of Attorney you signed." A few minutes later we finished up and went looking for the others. Steve said goodbye and left saying he'd be back in the morning with Mr B Sr. Joe also said goodbye and went off to find Little Joe and tell him to send the men home about 6:00. Andy had left earlier to do his job so David offered to show me what was going on but I declined telling him that was their department and I would wait until I could actually see the work. I walked over to the barn to check on the mare and went back inside to clean the kitchen and grab a snack. ***** The kitchen was spotless and there was a note on the refrigerator for me from Starr. I poured a glass of wine and fixed a plate of cold chicken and a salad then went out to the dining room to eat while I read Starr's note and worked on the ledgers. I looked up when I heard the door slam. "Any of that left for me, I'm starving?" "Sure." "According to Starr's note you've been so busy today you barely had time to get in a snack before lunch and only made it in twice after lunch." "I don't know how you can make it on so little to eat. Hurry, go fix a plate before you faint from hunger." When he came back in the dining room I watched him for several minutes without saying anything; finally he couldn't stand it. ***** "WHAT? What'd I do now?" "Nothing. I was just thinking how lucky you are I feel sorry for you and that I don't put hexes or curses on people anymore or you'd be eating warm flies instead of cold fried chicken." "Starr says the only thing she did was say that every since she'd known me way back in the 70s when I was still calling myself Sunflower I'd been mothering everyone and had this way of noticing things that more people would do well to pay attention to and that the rest of this business is on you, but she hoped I woud forgive you and keep letting you eat here since no one but a rich Blackwell could even afford to feed you. Now what do you say to that, Mr Preacher Man?" I said throwing a paper wad at him. "I'd say------- I'd say, can I have another slice of pie, Ma-am? he said ducking into the kitchen. While he was in there the phone rang. ***** "Yes I'll tell him - he'll be right there." I said hanging up "David, you got to go. There's a fire in town." "I'll call later," he yelled running for the truck. As soon as David left I went in to the room I used for Rituals and lit some candles then began praying to The Goddess for her intervention in keeping everyone safe.
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