Chapter Seven
It was about a year ago when I had first met Neil Fortier for the first time. That was the time I was looking for a contract to secure a stable supply to enlarge my pig feed operation. I wasn’t even married at that time, but I did propose that night.
I thought about all of the changes that had taken place. Four marriages and four pregnancies and all of these women were my friends and that included my ex-wife. I had earlier made plans to make my business in the warehouse improved and to buy the building within five years. Now I was almost moved out of it and was starting production in another old factory building owned by my three kids and I was working for them.
My kids had grown and matured beyond belief. They actually were working hands-on in an apartment house tending to ten apartments. They were interested in my use of the remaining space that they owned and I was leasing. I loved all three tremendously, but it was Sandy who was special. She had started on the road to doing three years of schoolwork in two. I was surprised by the way she had taken hold. I think she had more discipline than I would have given her credit for and for being so dedicated.
Yes, and we were going before the authorities to ask for permits to start the reconstruction of eight old factory buildings. This was to be the first of its kind in this part of the city and we were counting on our presentation to encourage more of the same with other empty factories. I was going to be part of this along with Neil. The paper work was ready and it was down to the oral question and answer period.
For that, we had brought back Christian Stone to relate what he had done in the east. George Caruthers and Mindy Evans had drawn pay for several months and were more than ready for this. There was Elizabeth’s fine hand in organizing both the content and the order. She opened the first meeting
“My name is Elizabeth Fortier. Neil Fortier is my husband. Gentlemen, and I see one lady present on this board. Mrs. Theobold owns these buildings. We are hoping to get permits to rehab them. She is the former Mrs. Frank Fortier. For those of you who do not know the history of the old factory complex, hear her tell about herself and how she came to own them. Please give her five or ten minutes.” Elizabeth sat down.
“I was Molly Fortier for twenty-seven years. Frank picked me off the streets when I was fourteen. I was an orphan at the time. My first memories were of a Catholic Orphanage. That closed and I was moved to another when I was five. That home lasted three years and then there was a fire.
“It burned up all of my records, so right now I don’t know who I am or who my family was. I was given the name of Baker when I was placed for adoption, but I am aware that is not the name I was born with. I was placed in different homes by social services, but that life is hell for a cute little girl as I was at the time.
“I won’t go into that, but I’ll tell you I learned a lot of things that no child should hear about, and to say nothing about having to perform. I took it until I was twelve and I figured I was safer on the streets of this fair city than I was in the places the Social Services lodged me. I took to the streets and two years later, I solicited an old man for money for food. He took me to his home, cleaned me up and within a few days loved me.
“He loved me enough to give me a child and he loved me enough to hire people to come in and educate me. I returned all of his love fourfold, I do believe. When it was his time to leave eleven years ago, he left me an extremely rich woman owning some old empty factory buildings that would someday fall down.
“A year ago my son met a man who was looking for a contract to supply the business he had established in the smallest of the factory buildings which was the warehouse. My son was impressed with this person and spoke to me about him. I met him and after listening to him suggest some possible uses, I hired him. These old factory buildings before this were always more baggage than an asset to me.
“All of the paperwork you have before you is the culmination of this man’s vision. I believe you will find it complete in every way and all problems addressed. This includes financing and all of the environmental concerns. The only new construction will be where the warehouse now stands after it is demolished. This is being replaced with a parking garage as high as the tallest of the old factories.
“There is a list here of all of those stores and businesses that have inquired about leasing space when the project is completed. This is just a sample of those who are already willing to sign on the dotted line.
“It has been verified that the public transportation authority would be glad to extend their route to this complex. There will be many school-age children living here, and that has been addressed to some extent. The latest new school that the city built could certainly handle this increase in its number of students. This permit request could have been presented two months ago, but we wanted to have all of our facts verified for accuracy.
“I will not be taking questions, because those will be answered by those within their area of expertise that are here tonight. One other thing before I sit down. I have turned boxes of papers that had been collected and stored for several years over to Mrs. Pamela Waters. She has compiled a history of the Fortier family and the factories the buildings were built to house. You may pick up a copy of an outline as you leave. What she has done on it so far is interesting reading. Thank you.”
All I could think of as Molly resumed her seat, was that Frank Fortier had certainly educated this woman. She was eloquent beyond belief. With what he had started with, only love could do as fine a job.
The meeting lasted late into the evening. I was not asked one question although my name was mentioned several times. Before the meeting ended, they all knew I was the one who had first talked to Neil Fortier and then his mother, Molly. Now all we had to do was wait to see if our requests for permits were rejected or passed.
Six weeks later, we had the permits. Two months after that Christian Stone signed the contract to start the renovation of seven factory buildings and for the new construction of one parking garage. It was projected to take three years to complete.
I was still a consultant. I spent about one and a half days a week looking at the progress and going over some of the paper work. Was this necessary? Christian Stone was the contractor, but there were dozens of subcontractors under him. I was just one more set of eyes to make sure the work was done correctly. Other than that, I spent my time at the kid’s apartment house and on my own business of processing pig feed.
———————
Johnny Junior Rheingold arrived right on time. He was going to be John Sebastian Rheingold Jr. until I objected strongly, so Johnny Junior it was. I wondered sometimes if the little tyke would know who his real mother was. Elizabeth, Molly and Pam at first, seemed to live at our house. It was claimed Shelly needed the support. Molly would be the next one of the four women to have a baby.
Molly put Ronnie to constructing a day center for four in her home. He had four months at least before the arrival of Ted and Molly’s baby. I believe all four women got together every day at some point to mother Johnny. I insisted I wanted to see my son every night for a few hours with just his mother and me in attendance. I had missed much alone time when Jimmy was little. He had often been in the care of a nurse so I could escort Elizabeth to many of the doings she would not miss.
Sandy was busy studying. She fully intended to skip eighth grade. She was now in sixth. I do believe she was as fully prepared with Jimmy’s seventh grade lessons as he was. If she wasn’t studying from her books, she was on the Internet looking up things that she thought could be related to either her lessons or Jimmy’s.
In essence, she was taking two courses in one year. If she continued at the same pace when she reached her seventh year, she would know it already and could concentrate on the eighth grade lessons. This was the grade she intended to skip and go from seventh, directly to the ninth. We left her alone with Kathy and Jimmy to study, which seemed to be the best course of action. When she asked a question or needed an answer the three
didn’t have, we were there to help her.
It may have seemed that the three were playing at being owners of the apartments and my business space, but that was not entirely the case. I made them a small office next to mine. On Saturday mornings, they opened the office and held regular hours from 9:30 until 11:00 for the tenants to meet with them. They would listen to any new complaints. Then they would discuss with me if it was something I should be informed of as their manager.
This was more often than not just a social hour. To me they were learning all of the time how to interact with adults and it gave them a business sense that would carry them through life. Several of their tenants were elderly and this gave those people a chance to interact with the younger set.
Sandy was usually the spokesperson, but this time it was Jimmy who approached me while the girls looked on. “Pop, I think we should invest in something that will improve the quality of life for our tenants. Sandy and Kathy both think so too. It will come under long-term capital improvements and the government will give us a break on our taxes.”
“What is it and how much will it cost?”
“It is an elevator. Some of our renters on the third floor have a hard time managing the two flights of stairs. The ones we have looked at will hold two people at a time and is limited to 630 pounds in weight. If we installed one, we never would have to worry about any of our apartments being empty because of the easy access.”
“I asked about the cost.”
“We can’t answer that. We do know the range is between $20,000 and $65,000. I am thinking one with a 20-year warranty is what we want. We can get an excellent one for $30,000. Mr. Waters, Sandy’s dad, could install it in about two weeks. He would give us a break on the cost of installation. We think it could be purchased and installed for less than $35,000.
“Now that you are leasing space for your business, we can afford this and can have the elevator paid off in ten years.” All three were looking at me intently to see how I was receiving their suggestion, “The three of us as owners are directing you to investigate the exact cost and feasibility of having an elevator installed. When we have that, we will go to our tenants and bring it before them. We think they will agree to a $5 a week surcharge just for the convenience. Your business will not be charged anything because you will not be using it.”
“This sounds like it is a good plan and very well thought out. Consider this, though, it is possible your tenants could shoot you down. They might not want to pay the added cost.”
“We know that, but when it comes around time for rent increases, I’m sure we will have it covered.”
“Jimmy, you’re only thirteen. You did not think this all up by yourself. You couldn’t have.”
I got a grin from him and giggle from the two girls. “We spent a few hours with Mom and Uncle Neil last weekend. Mom has been studying on how to manage real estate. She had just finished reading a section on how to raise the rents and how to have your tenants pay for increased services.”
I looked at the three kids in wonder. Not in wonder at them, but because of my ex-wife. If my life with Shelly wasn’t so wonderful, I would be upset with Elizabeth. She could have worked with me like this when we were married. “I’m surprised at your mother. I feared she gave you a piece of property and it would all be on me to guide you in making it work. I see she is really taking an interest. That is great.”
“We think so too.”
———————
The years flew by. Christian Stone completed the rehabilitation of the Fortier project just short of four years from the time we had received the permits to begin. This was a huge undertaking and many agencies were involved. The politicians flocked around and at the project ribbon cutting the governor was there to give a speech.
Elizabeth dove into managing the whole operation. She had a larger staff than what I thought was needed, but she said if she wanted to go on vacation she wanted everything to go forward while she was gone. She was no lightweight either and was in the office most of the time. That is if Frankie Fortier-the-second did not need anything at the moment.
Neil was in charge of all the legal ramifications that came up constantly. I was still involved. I had an office in Elizabeth’s management company. I suppose it was quasi-official. My duties were of a policy nature, to answer the questions as they came up.
Shelly was involved with Molly and Ted’s personal finances, but was not involved directly with the complex. Pam was writing the history of the Fortier family and their ancestors. She does write some copy for the complex if she thinks it promotes the forward thinking of the reconstruction and if it could be transferred to a like set of other buildings.
Ronnie had completed renovating all of the three buildings where Molly lived. They were of showcase quality and had been written up in several magazines. Ronnie’s fortune was made as he looked around for like residential buildings and the people who wanted their homes now done by him. His biggest problem was which home of many to choose to rehabilitate.
Molly had a daycare facility constructed in her home and hired staff to work with her. By the time the Fortier complex opened seven children populated it. Johnny Rheingold was the first, soon followed by Molly and Ted’s baby, Theresa Theobold. Elizabeth and Neil’s baby, Frank Fortier the Second arrived next. Pam and Ronnie Waters’ baby, Richard, came a few days later.
Molly declared that she was all done. “Getting one in is great fun, but coming out it was too fuckin’ painful.” Elizabeth’s Nathan beat Pam and Shelly for our second one by two months and then Pam and my wife had their second child on the same day. This was less than two years after our first round of children. Elizabeth had two boys, Pam and Ronnie had a girl and a boy and we had Johnny Junior and Rachel.
Molly spent most all of her day with the children in the nursery. These were her kids and she claimed them all equally. The kids as they got older knew and recognized their own parents, but would still go to Molly with their first smile. This was a day nursery and closed every day at five. Each child needs a mother’s and father’s love and that could only be found in their own home.
When Kathy received her vehicle license, she would shout, “We’re all going over and play with the babies.” By this time, Jimmy and Sandy were in the ninth grade together and Kathy was a year ahead. Yes, Sandy’s plan to skip a grade bore fruit. She passed the eighth grade tests required with an 82 score. This was more than enough to make her a ninth grader.
There was some setback for her when she became a freshman. Remember the kids in her class were a full year older than she was. She became quieter and a little less outgoing. Not quite as confident as she was before. She certainly had not lost any intelligence. She had gotten into the habit of double studying and this part of her life carried over. She was soon in the top 5 percent of her class, and then started working on her social skills for her age group
We first saw her uncertainties when both she and Jimmy were picked to be in the same play for school. In the play, Jimmy was the groom and Sandy was the bride. Sandy was fourteen and hadn’t been allowed out on a date with a boy as of yet. Kathy at sixteen years, and well developed, had of course. Shelly and I believed she had been kissed well and often, but we trusted her.
The script called for a very chaste kiss at the end of the wedding ceremony. The teacher had cautioned that just a bare touching of the lips would be all that was condoned. The two were rehearsing at home and Kathy was making comments about how the wedding should go. Sandy was nervous and Kathy said, “Let me show you how.” Now understand this was a comedy and the vows each had to repeat were outrageous.
She had us all laughing and when it came to the kiss, she hammed it up even more. She grabbed her brother by the ears and gave him a real kiss. I suspect he may have got a little tongue in the process. “That’s nasty Kathy. Sandy wouldn’t do that to me. Mom, find the actual ceremony for us. I don’t think this is something to joke about. I will do the play, but I want the real words to co
mpare. I remember when you and Pop were married and Mom and Neil.”
“Okay, I’ll find them.”
All three looked to me to read these solemn words. Before the evening was over the two actors had their speeches and their words down pat. The kiss as rehearsed, I’m sure would pass the acceptable kiss test in school for the play. “Kids, I’m pleased that you take the real service seriously. I am sure as you go forward in life you will look back on tonight and remember the real one. Comedy is satire and I don’t think this play is really appropriate for your age group, but you have been chosen as the actors, so do your best.”
We all went to see the play. Sandy wasn’t nervous that night. She was the star. The kiss was just a little more than rehearsed, but not enough to bring down the wrath of the teacher. It was little known that Sandy and Jimmy were brother and sister. They had different last names, which made it easier to forget they were.
Before the year was completed, Sandy was back to her old bright self, and now socially confident. Kathy had been in charge for the year, but Sandy resumed her place at the head of the trio again.
“Mom and Dad, I have a science project. I’m supposed to collect some DNA from three different people and it is going to be sent to a laboratory somewhere. When the results come back, they will be discussed in class. It is a blind test and no one from the school will know whose DNA it is. Who do you think I should get it from?”
“Well if you want to use people you know, use yourself and maybe Molly. She will let you use hers. You can’t use your dad because of you and you cannot use Neil because of Molly. Use Pam, I’ll bet she would let you.”
“Okay. Kathy would you drive me over to see Aunt Molly and then we will go see Pam. I’ll tell them I need to do this for a school project.” Shelly and I were so pleased that the three kids were as close as ever. Kathy drove and dated. In two months, Jimmy would be getting his license and would be dating on his own. What would happen then? ‘I worried about it.
A few weeks later, Sandy called from school, “Papa, I’m in trouble. Can you and Mom come to school and tell them I did just as I was instructed to do.”
“What is this about?”
“It is about the DNA laboratory test that I was involved in six weeks ago. The results from the samples came back and the tests show two of the people are related. I was supposed to pick unrelated people and I swear I did. They won’t believe me.”
“Let me find your mother and we will be there within the hour.”
Shelly and I sat in the science teacher’s office. “Please explain what the problem is?”
“I asked Miss Waters to get three unrelated samples. Two of the results have come back as being real close of one family. You explain how she could have made a mistake such as this.”
“What we know and why we advised her who to take the samples from. She took her own. She took her stepmother as a second sample. She is unrelated by blood there. The third came from a woman who did not know either us or her stepmother before six years ago. We couldn’t conceive that Sandy could make a mistake choosing these people to agree to have their DNA submitted.”
“Please tell me about what you know about the three persons and their histories?”
“Sandy Waters. Her father is Ronald Waters. He was married to my wife, Shelly at one time. They divorced and Sandy became my stepdaughter when we married. That should be enough about Sandy.”
“I’m sure it is. The stepmother. Tell me about her.”
“I met her when she was thirty-five. Pamela Johnson Waters is now forty-years-old. And has been married to Sandy’s father for four years or more. I have met her mother, a Mrs. Johnson. She is a widow and has been for several years.”
“Was Pamela adopted, do you know?”
“No, I don’t believe so.”
Shelly spoke up, “I do know Mrs. Johnson had a child before she was married. She gave it up for adoption. She searched for her for years, but couldn’t find a record of her anywhere. It was as if she disappeared into the system and then lost. Later Mrs. Johnson married the father of their illegitimate child and had Pam. Does these two people’s DNA in question show up in the samples as sisters?”
“They do.”
“What does this mean, Mom?”
“It means that Aunt Molly and your stepmother Pam are sisters. The child your grandmother has been looking for has to be the one you call Aunt Molly. You would agree with this wouldn’t you?” Shelly was questioning the teacher.
“I would say so. It certainly points that way. You should contact a lawyer and find a way to approach all three parties, the mother and the two women.” He looked at Sandy. “Well, young lady, it looks as if your mistake has turned out much differently than we expected. I hope this is a good thing and all parties will be happy.”
“They will. Pam is one of Aunt Molly’s favorite people.”
“May I have permission to use this as an example of what DNA can turn up unexpectedly? I won’t use any names. We are specifically barred from that anyway.”
“I think I will withhold permission until I contact the son of the older woman. You will hear in a day or two.”
“Fine.”
“Papa, can I be the one to break the news? It was me who discovered it.”
“We have to talk to Uncle Neil first. We will call him to come over this evening. In the meantime you may tell Kathy and Jimmy.”
Neil and Elizabeth came in after dinner. “What’s up, John, you sounded serious on the phone?”
“Neil, something came up at school today. It was about a project Sandy was working on. The results she received can be classified as something at the least as unexpected or at most, unbelievable. I’ll let her explain.”
“Uncle Neil, did Aunt Molly ever want to know who her father and mother were? Would she be happy if she found out?”
“She would be so happy. Not knowing where you come from and who your parents are, leave a big hole in your life. Don’t tell me you found them?”
Sandy was bouncing up and down in her chair nodding yes. “Not only that she has a sister who she even knows very well. I wanted to make you guess, but I am telling you my step-mom Pam, is your own aunt and Aunt Molly and Pam are really and truly sisters. Grandma Johnson is the mother of Aunt Molly as well as Pam.”
“Are you serious?” Neil looked closely at Sandy and then looked at us. He could tell by our expression that it was so. “Please explain how you found this out? No wait, I think we should get Pam and Ronnie over here and you tell all of us together. We will have to figure out how to tell my mother and Mrs. Johnson. Pam should do that.”
While we were waiting for Pam and Ronnie to arrive, we dug out some pictures that were taken at their wedding. Molly and Ted were in several of them with Ronnie and Pam. Not once though were Pam and Molly standing beside the other. We had some duplicate copies so we cut two up and placed the two together.
The most striking feature was the curly brown hair. Both had the same color hair, and on the day of the wedding, it was about the same length and style. Pam was at least three inches taller than Molly. Molly was just a little heavier, which was understandable being that she was six years older. We couldn’t tell from the snapshot, but we remembered that their eyes were the same shade.
Sandy wasted no time when her step-mom arrived. “Mom. I know that Grandma Johnson has been sad because she gave up her first child. She told me about it. I have found your grandma’s long-lost baby and she is your own sister.”
“You can’t have. Who is she?”
“It is Aunt Molly. She is your lost sister. We even have DNA proof. I know because I almost got in trouble over it.” Pam’s expression was one of disbelief. “Now we have to break it to Grandma and your sister Molly.” It took awhile to explain fully how this discovery came about.
Before everyone went home that night, more decisions were made. First, though, Pam called Sandy to her and kissed her. “My mother is going to be so happy. Not just now, but for the r
est of her life. You will be right with me when we tell her who her long-lost baby is. It is not so much who, but that she is alive and well. She will be so grateful.”
Neil planned to ask his mother to come for a family meeting at his house on Sunday. It was big enough for all four families and Mrs. Johnson. “John you and Sandy will have the pleasure of telling my mother who her mother is. She trusts you even above me. She’ll probably start swearing when she finds out, but I’m positive it will be from happiness.”
Pam called her mother and asked her to come for a visit this coming Saturday. She could stay over with her and go to the Neil Fortier’s to visit on Sunday and see the small children. She could play with her grandchildren. Sandy, Kathy and Jimmy will be there along with Junior and baby Rachel, the Rheingold little ones. It was to be a special family day. Neil and Elizabeth’s two little ones would also be there.
“Will that nice Molly Theobold be there as well?”
“Yes Mom. Neil is inviting his mother and his tiny baby sister, Theresa. Everyone that is connected to the Fortiers will be there.”
“I don’t know. It will be noisy with all the babies and little kids. Couldn’t I stay at your house while you and Ronnie go?”
“No, you have to go with us. Neil and Elizabeth asked for you special. You can hang out in a different room with my step-kids if it gets too raucous.”
“Okay, I guess I can stand one afternoon with so many people. How old is little Richard now?”
“He is three and a half. The baby will be two next month. We will talk when you get here. Mom, I love you. I’m promising you a great weekend.”
“That’s a funny thing for you to say.”
“You just wait and you’ll see what I mean.”
———————
Molly asked as she and Ted came in, holding Theresa by the hand, “What’s the occasion? We usually have these get-togethers at my house. I’m all set up in the nursery for the little ones.”
“Molly, my mother is here and she has never seen the inside of Elizabeth and Neil’s home. We just thought it would be a change. She has visited at John and Shelly’s house before. Besides, Sandy did something in school and she wants to tell her Grandma about it. We’ll eat first.” It was a normal meal, but there was an underlying something most of us felt.
Molly was the perceptive one. “What’s going on? You all act as if you are hiding something. The only one normal here is Mrs. Johnson. Don’t tell me you are all going to have more babies?”
“I’ll tell you right after dessert, Aunt Molly.”
Molly looked at us. “It had better be good. It ain’t right keeping secrets from this old lady.” We laughed for Molly was far from looking or acting old.
Just then, the four of the oldest small kids started parading around the room shouting something. Johnny Junior led the parade, then Richard Waters followed by Frankie Fortier. Little Theresa brought up the rear.
Molly’s face turned red. Mrs. Johnson asked, “What are they saying?”
Neil answered, “I would guess it is my mother’s chosen swear word of the week. My little sister has the biggest vocabulary of expletives you have ever heard. Luckily, they do not remember many and they certainly don’t know what they mean. Mother, tell us what they are saying?”
“I think it is s-h-i-t. There I spelled it out. How come they pick up these words anyway?”
“That’s because you swear all the time.”
“Guess I had better watch my language, hadn’t I?” This was a joke. Everyone who knew Molly had reminded her not to swear in front of the kids.
Finally, the floor was turned over to Sandy. Pam and I had subtly moved Molly placing her beside Mrs. Johnson. I took the chair on the other side of Molly. Pam had the chair beside her mother.
“Molly, how about holding my hand? You hold Mrs. Johnson’s hand and Pam will hold her mother’s hand. This will show us all as friends and maybe more.”
“You guys are certainly acting crazy. Shelly, where is your camera? I want a picture of me holding your husband’s hand. I offered him a quicky one time, you know, but he wasn’t having any. That was the same day he pointed me at the man I have come to love above all else.” She beamed at Ted, who was across the room.
“Sandy, I guess you can start.”
“Okay Papa. Grandma Johnson, you told Mom one time you had a baby before you were married to Pam’s dad. Tell us what happened?”
“Sandy you are fifteen. I guess I was a little wild at that age and objected to the way my parents were bringing me up. There wasn’t any such love in my family as I see between everyone here. Anyway, I turned to Pam’s father, and we weren’t too careful. He was fifteen the same as me. We had a baby. There wasn’t such a thing as legal abortions for us back then in this state.
“We gave the baby up for adoption and I never saw my little baby girl again. Later I married my boyfriend and six years after I gave up my first child, I had Pamela. It has made me terribly sad and I often wonder what has happened to her. I’m hoping she has had a good life.”
“That is so sad, Grandma. May I kiss you?” Kathy and Sandy went up and kissed their step-grandma.
Sandy directed her attention to Molly, “Aunt Molly, you have often said your early years weren’t very happy. Would you tell Mrs. Johnson about them? We all know your story, but she doesn’t.”
“Not much I want to remember. I grew up in a Catholic orphanage, but it closed and I was placed in another facility. I hated it there, but it was much worse for me after the place burned. I lost all of my things, even the papers that said who I was. I’m not even positive how old I am. Social Services took me and put me into different homes to stay. I was treated horribly.
“Finally I couldn’t stand the abuse and I ran away and took to the streets. I suppose I was abused there as well, but I did make some friends, and some of them watched out for me. Sure, I had to do certain things, but it was no worse than what I had been forced to do by some of the people who I was placed with to supposedly care for me.
“Then one night I approached a man on the street and asked him to buy my favors. Frank Fortier took me home and you can say the rest is history. I can say that except for Frank passing away when his time came, I have had a good later life. What’s this all about?”
“Aunt Molly and Pam, remember I asked for your DNA for a school project? I got into trouble because I was supposed to pick three unrelated people. I used my own DNA. When the results came back, two of the people were closely related, and I wasn’t one of them.”
Sandy paused here, waiting for the facts to be assimilated. No one said anything. “Mom, leave Grandma for a minute and go give your sister a kiss. Grandma, what I’m trying to tell you is that Aunt Molly is your long-lost baby and I have the papers to prove it.” Molly had put her cheek up for Pam to kiss. It still would take a minute to sink in.
Molly sat there staring at Sandy. Then she looked at Neil. She was squeezing my hand as hard as it had ever been squeezed. Neil nodded and got up and sat beside Mrs. Johnson. “This makes you my own true grandmother. Little Theresa is my sister and your grandchild the same as I am. Frankie and the baby Nathan are your great-grandsons. Even Jimmy Rheingold comes in as related, because he is my step-son.”
Mrs. Johnson was in shock. She turned to Molly. Molly had a relapse, “Well fuck me, I think I got me a mother and I got me a sister.”
Mrs. Johnson looked at Molly. “Young lady, you’re going to have to clean up your speech. I don’t want my grand-kids swearing like you do.” Just then, the four kids got up from the floor and ran around repeating Molly’s expletive. Everyone was laughing.
“Okay Mama, I promise.” For once, I do believe she was serious about not swearing.