Summary:  Gary and his family finally go on a vacation together where he can relax from the paper and just enjoy his family and not have to worry about anything, because his parents are taking care of the paper for him, and his friends are watching the bar
for him.

Standard Disclaimer Applies

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A Hobson Family Vacation
by Lori Anderson

Chapter 1

At lunch time, Toni and the twins entered Mc Ginty's to have lunch with Gary as she
promised earlier. "Hello everyone!  We're here for lunch.  Is my husband around?," she
said smiling at everyone.

"I thought I heard my wife's voice from my office.  Hello sweetheart," Gary replied
coming from his office.

"Hi handsome.  It 's lunchtime, and we've got two very hungry children who want to have
lunch with their father. They kept asking me when we would go eat when we were in the
mall, and it almost drove me nuts."

Gary smiled at his wife and at his children.  "I've got a booth just right for all of us.
Follow me."

He lead them to a nearby booth, and helped set his children in one side, and then, waited
for Toni to get in on the other before he slid in besides her. "We have a children's menu
that I know you'll like," Gary told his kids.

"I want a hamburger with french fries and a glass of milk," Jeff said.

"Me too.  That sounds good Daddy," Rose told her father.

"If that's what you want, then you'll have it.  See anything you like honey?," Gary asked
Toni.

Toni looked at  menu and nodded.  "I'll have this," she replied pointing to a chicken lunch
plate.

Gary nodded.  "Sounds good to me.  I'll tell April when she comes over here with our
water."

April came over to their table, and Gary gave her their orders handing her the menus.

"Coming right up Mr. Hobson," she said smiling at her boss and his family.

Gary waited unti after April had left before he asked Toni if she had gotten the brochures.

"Yes I did.  The travel agent gave me four of them for us to look at.  She told me about a
family package that some trips had, and I told her that we didn't want that.  I've know
friends of mine who took the package, and returned from their trip saying that they wished
they'd never taken the deal.  I wasn't going to let us ruin our vacation by taking the same
thing," Toni replied sipping her coffee.

Gary looked at each of the brochures that she had laid out in front of him trying to decide
where to go.

"It has to be someplace that the kid's will like and can have fun at. Someplace that's
enjoyable for all of us. We agreed on that point when we were dicussing the vacation
plans," he said.

"I agree.   What's your verdict?  Has one of them caught your eye more than the others?"

Gary sighed and sipped his own coffee.  "Two of them sound good, but doesn't have a lot
to offer for kids. The other two I'm not sure about yet.  I have to give them a real good
look before I decide."

"Show me the ones you declined on, and I'll put them back in my purse."

Gary handed her two brochures, and Toni put them back in her purse.

Their lunch arrived, and they decided to wait until afterwards to look at the last two
brochures.

After lunch, they all went in his office to look at the brochures and decide where to go.

"They both look nice and has something for kids, but the total cost is what bothers me.
The hotel, the airplane fare, and other things are really high according to the price list,"
Gary told his wife frowning at the brochures.

Toni looked at the price list and narrowed her eyes.  "I agree with you honey.  The prices
are too high."

"Wait a minute!  I've got it!  The cabin in the woods by the lake.  The one I stayed at
when I first got the paper, and didn't want it anymore.  It's still there under my name, and
it's the perfect place for a vacation.  It won't cost us anything except paying the man on
duty at the gate, but the kid's will love it.  They can go swimming in the lake, we can go
fishing, take a walk if we want to, and just enjoy the quiet of the woods.  How does that
sound everyone?  No one will bother us, and we can do what we want without worrying
about returning a car to the airport, and other things like that."

"Gary, you're a genuis!  You just solved the problem of where to go.  It sounds great to
me."

"Our own cabin!  Oh boy!," Jeff said excited, and Gary smiled at his son's ethusiam.

"I love to swim Daddy.  That sounds okay with me," Rose told her father.

"Then it's settled.  We'll pack our suitcases and start our vacation this weekend at the
cabin."

"I think we should stay there for two weeks.  That'll be just enough time for you to relax
from everything that you've been through, honey.  You know what I mean," Toni said.

"Yeah.  I know what you mean.  How were the kids in the mall?"

"Pretty good, except Jeff kept eyeing a baseball glove in the sporting goods department
we passed by. He wanted me to buy it for him so that he and you could play catch later
on. I told him that when he was older, I'd buy him a glove and he said that was fine with
him.  Rose saw a doll in the toy department that she wanted, and asked me if she could
have it, and I went to see how much it was.  I told her there was a nicer doll that didn't
cost so much somewhere else, and I'd get her one.  We came here after that."

"We can get her one before we go on the trip, or you can get her one before we leave.  As
for the baseball glove, I have one that Jeff can use when I was his age, and it's still in good
shape."

"We'd better let you get back to work.  I'll return the brochures to the travel agent, and tell
her that none of them were what we decided on, and that we made other plans.  I'll see
you at home later."

"Okay.  I'll see you all at home later.  Have a good afternoon kids."

"We will Daddy," they both promsied.

Toni kissed Gary good bye, and he kissed her back.

He walked them to the door, and watched them get in Toni's car to go home.

 Chapter 2

Gary told his friends where he and his family were going on their vacation when he went
back to the bar. "I still have the cabin in the woods by the lake, and we're going there for
two weeks," he said smiling.

"That's great Gar!  No worries about having to return a rental car, no reservations to
make, and all the other things you have to do when going on vacation.  I wish I had a
cabin for Amber and I to go to," Chuck said.

"Why don't you look into it sometime Chuck?  It's going to be great to get away and just
enjoy my family like I've wanted to do for a long time now. No paper to worry about, and
that's one thing I'll be glad to get away from."

'Yeah.  You deserve some time away from that thing Gar before you get worn out."

"Don't worry about this place Hobson.  It'll be in good hands with Marissa, Fishman and
myself.  You just go and enjoy yourself and spend some quality time with your family.
None of us will tell anyone where you are, or give out your number," Crumb told Gary
wiping out a glass with a towel.

"Thanks Crumb.  I'm not giving out the number there anyway.  If I want to see how things
are going, I"ll call from the cabin.  I'd better give you the number in case of an
emergency."

Gary wrote down the cabin's phone number, and asked that it not be shown to anyone.

"None of the brochures you looked at were any good places for you to go to?," Marissa
asked.

Gary shook his head.  "No.  Two looked nice, but had nothing much to offer children the
children's age right now.  The other two were too expensive by way of cost to consider.
The cabin was the only solution that was right for all of us, and it  won't cost us anything
expect getting supplies for the two weeks."

"That's good Gary.  Just relax and forget about Chicago for those two weeks."

"I intend to Marissa.  Oh by the way, don't let Chuck make any crazy decisions while I'm
gone."

"I won't let him make any decisions without checking with me first.  That I promise you."

Chuck sighed.  "It sounds like you don't trust me Gar, and that hurts."

Gary smiied at his friend. "I do trust you Chuck, but in the past, some of the decisions
you've made have cost me some good employees, and almost put me in jail for tax
problems."

"I heard about the time the FBI lady used my mistake to make you cooperate with her in
her investigation. I would never do anything to hurt you or put you in jail Gar.  I wonder
what happened to those two old men."

"Last I heard, they were in Los Vegas relaxing and enjoying theirselves," Marissa replied.

Toni had returned the brochures to the travel agent telling her that all four of them were
not for her and her family.  "My husband looked at all them during lunch, and found that
two had nothing much to offer our children, and the other two were too expensive for us.
We're going to a cabin we have for our vacation," she told the lady behind the desk
smiling.

"That's quite alright Mrs. Hobson.  How long are you and your family going to be on this
vacation if you don't mind me asking?  I'm not being noisy, I'm just curious," the agent
replied.

"Two weeks.  My husband really needs this vacation.  He's been through a lot recently,
and needs to get away from it all for a while, and this is exactly what he needs to rest."

"Sounds like your husband's a hard worker Mrs. Hobson."

"You might say that.  Thank you for the brochures, and have a nice day."

Toni took her children outside to their car, and as she was putting them in the back in their
seats, she saw Paul's Armstrong's wife, Victoria, coming towards her with her daughter in
her stroller.

"Hello Victoria.  Pauline," Toni said smiling at her ex-boss wife and daughter.

"Hi Toni.  I see Rose is looking more like Gary everyday, and Jeff looks a little like you.
What brings you downtown today?  Planning a vacation?," Victoria asked.

"Yep.  I was just returning some brochures that Gary and I had been looking over to see
where we would go.  None of them were what we were looking for, so we're going to our
cabin for two weeks."

"Wonderful!  No hassels of the usual vacation to worry about.  I wish I could get Paul to
take some time off."

"I know.  He's a workaholic at times.  He was that when I worked with him. Keep on him.
Let him know that he can't work all the time.  Make him realize that he needs to spend
time with you and Pauline too."

"I will.  I'm not giving up until he gives in, and we start planning our vacation.  Oh by the
way, Paul asked me to give you and Gary a message."

"He did?  I hope it 's nothing bad."

Victoria shook her head.  "Just the opposite.  He said to tell you that he says hello, and
that he wants to invite you two over to the house somenight for dinner.  When you get
back from your vacation of course."

"I'll tell Gary about it.  It was nice seeing you and Pauline.  I've got to get home to start
planning what to take for the vacation.  Tell Paul that I said hello."

"I will.  Have a nice vacation."

Toni nodded, got in the front seat, closed the door, and drove away from the curb.

She smiled thinking how nice it was that Paul and Gary were friends, and that he wanted
to invite him over for dinner one night after they were back from vacation.  She'd tell Gary
about Paul's message later when he came home from Mc Gintys.  She wondered what he'd
say.

 Chapter 3

"Use that number only in an emergency if you need me.  Otherwise, I don't want to have
to come running back here unless I have to.  This vacation is something that both Toni and
I have been looking forward to for a long time, and nothing, expect an emergency, is
going to keep us from enjoying it," Gary told his friends, and gave Chuck a look that said,
"Don't do anything stupid that Marissa has to call me to come back."

"Don't worry Hobson.  We can handle anything that comes up.  You just enjoy yourself
and your family, and forget about things here for two weeks," Crumb said smiling at Gary.

"Thanks Crumb.  I know I can depend on you and Marissa to handle things here."

"Hey!  What about me?  Don't you trust me to help run the place Gar?," Chuck asked.

Gary sighed.  "It's not that I don't trust you Chuck.  I do, but I want your promise that you
won't make any rash decisions without checking with Marissa first.  I want to hear you
promise me that, now."

"Alright Gar.  I promise you that I won't make any decisions without checking with
Marissa first.  I also promise not to do anything to ruin your vacation."

"Thanks pal.  I just wanted you to understand how important this vacation is to me and
my family, and that's why I asked you to promise me what you just did.  "

Chuck nodded.  "I understand Gar.  You just go have a good time with your family."

"I want you to come back refreshed and relaxed Gary," Marissa told him.

"I will Marissa.  It'll feel good not to have to get up at 6:30 every morning for two weeks,
and check the paper to see who needs saving.  My parents will have it for the entire time
I'm gone."

"Have you told them yet your vacation?"

"Not yet.  I'll call them when I get home and tell them."

Chuck smiled.  "Knowing Berine, he'll be happy to take over for you while you're on
vacation."

"Yeah, and I'm going to ask Mom to make sure he doesn't get into any trouble with it."

"The last thing you need is for you mother to call you at the cabin and tell you that your
father's in jail or worse."

Gary nodded.  "That's why I'm going to ask her to make sure he doesn't get into any
trouble."

Marissa took a sip of her coffee.  "You didn't hear what he said about you while you were
stuck in the catwalk inside the old movie house that one day he was here," she said.

Oh boy, Gary thought.  Knowing my dad, he could've said just about anything.

"Okay, tell me what he said Marissa."

"He said that he that you probably went out with a girl and lost track of time.  It wasn't
until Lois bailed him out of jail and told him what really happened to you that he knew
what happened. "

"He said that I had probably went out with a girl, lost track of time, and forgot to check
in?  Oh bother.  Why does that not surprise me somehow?"

"Lois didn't believe it Gar.  Do you know your mother's scary when she's angry?  I've
never seen her that way before, and boy, was she ever angry at your father for not telling
her about the paper when he found out."

"I didn't want them to know it, but now that they do, it makes things a litttle easier for
me."

"What happened to those four brothers anyway?  DId they finally get the reconition they
needed in order to help their village?," Marissa asked refering to the Caparthian Brothers
who had saved Gary once. (Spolier Information: The Fourth Carparthain).

"I think so.  I remember seeing their picture in a magazine once."

"To me, they're better than any circus act I've ever seen," Crumb said.

Chuck nodded again.  "Yeah.  From what you told me about them and how they saved
Gary, I could see why you'd say that Crumb.  Amber and I saw them on a show once, and
they were really good."

 Chapter 4

Gary drove home from work in the van glad that he had everything covered at the bar,
including making Chuck promise not to do anything rash without checking with Marissa
first.  He trusted Chuck, but not his decisions. When he arrived home, Gary saw his
children playing in the yard and smiled wishing he had a camera. He got out of the van,
and went over to them.  "Good afternoon my children. I see you're having fun," he said.

"Mommy said we could play in the yard as long as we still within sight of her," Rose told
her father.

"That's a good idea honey. It'll be time for supper soon, and I want both of you inside
before it gets dark. Make sure you wash your hands real good, okay."

"Okay Daddy," Jeff replied smiling at his father.

Gary turned and went inside his house.  "Honey, I'm home!," he called hanging up his
jacket.

Toni came out of the kitchen wearing an apron, and smiled at her husband.

"I saw you with the kids outside just  a minute ago.  Welcome home handsome. How did
the rest of the day go for you at Mc Ginty's?," she asked giving him a kiss.

"It went okay,  I told my friends not to use the cabin number unless it's an emergency, and
I also made Chuck promise not to do anything rash without checking with Marissa first.
Some of his decisions in the past haven't been good ones as you know, and I didn't want
him doing anything that would make me have to come back and ruin our vacation," Gary
replied kissing her back.

"Did he promise and mean it?"

Gary nodded.  "Yeah, he did.  He thought I didn't trust him, and I told him that  I did, but
I didn't want him to make any rash decisions without checking with Marissa first like he
did one time."

"Good.  When we came back here after having lunch with you, the kids wanted to play
outside since it was so nice, and I told them they could as long as they stayed where I
could see them.  I've been making a list of what to take with us when we go this weekend.
By the way, I ran into Victoria and Pauline today in town."

"Oh?  What did she have to say?"

"We said that Paul is inviting us to come for dinner one night at their house.  After we get
back from vacation, that is.  Pauline looks just like her dad a little.  She wishes she could
get him to take some time off so they can have a vacation like we are."

"Hmmm.  I guess that'll be okay.  We can work it out later when the right time is to go.
What's for dinner?"

Toni laughed.  "I knew that would be coming once you got home.  How does steak,
mashed potates, salad, and rolls sound?  We're having pie and ice cream for desert."

"Sounds good.  I'd better call my parents and let them know we're going on vacation for
two weeks, and ask them to take the paper during that time for me."

"You go call them while I go back and finish fixing dinner."

Gary watched her go back to the kitchen and smiled.

He reached for the cell phone and dialed his parent's number in Hickory.

"Hobson residence," Lois said answering the phone inside the house.

"Hi mom.  It's me," Gary told her from the phone in Chicago.

"Gary!  It's nice to hear your voice.  To what do I owe this call?"

"I've got some news for you.  Toni, the kids, and I are going on a two week vacation
starting this weekend at our cabin by the lake.  I'll give you the number in case you have to
get in touch with me for something.  Anyway, I wanted to ask you and Dad if you'll handle
the paper for me while I'm away during that time."

"Of course we'll take care of the paper for you honey.  I'm glad you and your family are
going on a vacation. I was just telling your father that I think you all go on a vacation and
relax from everything you've been through."

"Thanks Mom.  Do me one favor please:  Make sure Dad doesn't get into any trouble.  I
don't want to hear that he's in jail for something, or he's in the hospital because of the
paper."

Lois laughed.  "Don't worry about that.  You have my word that he won't get into any
trouble.  You just go enjoy yourself and your family, and come back refreshed and rested."

"You sound like Marissa with that last part.  She told me the same thing earlier."

"She's a good friend to you Gary."

"I know Mom.  She, Crumb, and Chuck are going to watch Mc Ginty's for me while I'm
away.  I had to make Chuck promise not to do anything crazy without checking with
Marissa first.  Last thing I need is to hear that he did something stupid that'll make me
come back home and ruin the vacation."

"Good for you son.  I'll tell Berine about your vacation, and that you want us to handle the
paper for you."

"Good.  Well, that's all I had to tell you.  I'll let you know how the vacation went after I
get back.  I love you guys."

"We love you to.  Give Toni and the kids our love."

"I will.  Good bye."

Lois hung up her phone and smiled.  She was glad that Gary and his family were going on
a vacation.

After everything that they had been through recently, they needed some time to relax.

 Chapter 5

Gary went into the kitchen after hanging up the phone to see if he could help Toni with
anything. He saw the dish towel hanging on the rack and suddenly got a mischievous look
in his eyes. As he started to reach for it, Toni turned and saw what he was about to, and
frowned.

"Don't even think about it handsome!  You snap me once with that towel, and you'll find
yourself handcuffed to the bed tonight.  I still have my old handcuffs from the police force,
and I'll use them if I have to," she warned.

"Okay.  I won't snap you with the towel.  I thought you handed those things when you left
the police."

"Yeah, but I still have a pair that I forgot to turn in.   I'd use those if you went ahead and
did it.  What are you doing in here anyway?  You're supposed to be talking to your mother
about our vacation."

"I just got off the phone with her, and thought I'd see if you needed any help with
anything."

"You go tell the kids to come in and wash up for supper.  I can handle things on this end."

"Yes my love.  You look cute in that apron by the way."

"If we do any barquing at the cabin, you're going to be wearing a cook's apron
sweetheart."

"That's what you think."

"That's what I know .  Go call the kids will ya."

Gary smiled and went to the window that looked out into the yard where his children were
playing.

"Time to come in and wash up for dinner!," he called out to them.

The kids ran towards the back door from their swing set to obey their father.

"Go wash up for supper you two, and make sure you do a good job," Gary told them.

"Yes Daddy," Rose said going to the bathroom to wash her hands with her brother
following behind her.

Toni handed the salad bowl to Gary.  "Take that out to the table please."

Gary took the salad bowl to the table and set it down on a empty place.

Toni came over carrying the hot rools in their basket in her hands covered with kitchen
mittens.

"Don't say anything, or you'll be using these the next time," she told him setting it down on
the table.

"I wasn't going to say anything about them.  Honest."

"Yeah, but I could tell you were thinking about it.  Lois warned me about your little jokes
you like to play."

Before Gary could reply, the children came from the bathroom showing their parents their
clean hands.

"Good job you two!  Okay.  Take your seats," Toni told her children smiling at them.

 Chapter 6

After dinner, Gary went into the living room to sit down and read his paper while his kids
watched television. He was so proud of the way that they had both finished everything on
their plates so they could have desert. "Don't watch what we told you not to, okay.  We
told you what was okay to watch, and what wasn't," Gay told his children looking up from
his paper over towards them.

"This is a nature show about monkeys that we're watching Daddy.  It's really interesting,"
Jeff replied.

"Good.  Something like that is good for you and educational too.  You'll learn something
from it."

"I'd like to see monkeys in a zoo someday Daddy," Rose said looking at her father.

"I promise I'll take you and Jeff to the zoo one day.  Has mom told you what you need to
pack for the vacation?"

Jeff nodded. "She said she'll help us so we forget anything."

Toni came out of the kitchen having finished with the dishes from dinner.

She walked over to the sofa and sat down on the side close to her husband's chair.

"Don't sit so close to the television children.  You can watch it just as good from the
sofa," she said.

The children went to sit besides their mother on the sofa who put her arm around them.

"No, we are not going to have a money as a pet, so don't even think about asking your
father and I about it."

"Are you a mind reader honey?  How did you know they might ask us that question?,"
Gary asked.

Toni smiled at her husband.  "I just had a hunch that they would ask us that while they
watched this show, sweetheart.  If they want a pet, it'll be a dog.  Monkeys are a no no,"
she replied.

"That goes for snakes and anythng else that you might want as a pet that's not acceptable."

"Can we have a dog daddy?," Rose asked her father.

"We already have a dog Rose.  Ottis."

"Which reminds me, we'll have to have someone take care of him while we're on
vacation."

"How about your mother Toni?  You could ask her if she wouldn't mind watching Ottis
while we're on vacation."

Toni nodded.  "Good idea.  I have to tell her about our vacation anyway, so I'll ask her to
watch the dog."

She picked up the phone, and dailed her mother's number.

"Bregratti residence," Martha replied answering the phone in her house.

"Hello mother.  It's Toni," Toni said from the phone in hers and Gary's living room.

"Hello Toni.  It's nice to hear from you.  How's everything with you and your family?"

"Just fine.  We're planning on going on vacation for two weeks starting this weekend."

"Really?  That's wonderful honey.  I know that after everything that you and Gary's been
through recently, you really need to get away for a while. Where are you going?"

"To our cabin by the lake.  I'll give you the telephone number so you can call in case of an
emergency."

"Let me get a pencil so I can write it down.  Okay,.  I'm ready."

Toni told her mother the cabin's phone number and Sylvia wrote it down.

"Got it.  Is there anything else you want me to write down?"

"No, but there is something I want you and Dad to do for us while we're gone."

"Okay.  Tell me what it is you want us to do for you, and we'll do it."

"We want you to get our mail for us, and take care of Ottis, our dog for the time we're
away.  We don't want to put him in somewhere that he wouldn't be free to run around like
he does here.  Is that alright?"

"Consider it done Toni.  We'll get your mail and take care of Ottis for you while you're on
vacation."

"Thanks Mom.  I knew I could depend on you."

"Anytime Toni.  Give Gary and the kids our love, and I'll tell your father about your
vacation."

"Will do Mom.  Good night."

Toni hung up the phone and turned to Gary.  " She said that she and Dad will get our mail
for us, and take care of Ottis while we're on vacation.  She also said to give you and the
kids their love."

Gary smiled again.  "Glad that's settled.  That'll make the kids happy to know that Ottis
will be looked after while we're away.  I want them to enjoy theirselves and not worry
about anything."

Rose laughed at one of the monkeys doing something on the television.

"Look at  that funny monkey trying to reach that branch," she said pointing.

"He'll make it honey.  Monkey's are natural climbers and swingers," Toni told her
daughter.

"Swingers?  You mean they like to swing from a tree by their tails?," Jeff asked.

Gary laughed.  "No Jeff.  They swing from tree to tree alright, but they don't swing by
their tails.  What your mother meant is that monkeys use their hands to swing from one
tree to the next."

"Oh.  Now I understand.  Thanks Daddy."

"You're welcome son."
 
 

Chapter 7

"Let's see the list that you've made for the vacation honey," Gary said looking at Toni.
Toni didn't want to get up from the couch where she sat with her children just to get the
list for him.

"I'm too comfortable right now sweetheart.  You can look at it later," she told him.

"Just tell me where it is, and I'll get it myself."

"I said you can look at it later, and I mean it.  RIght now, just forget about it until the kids
go to bed."

"You're sounding like your old marshall self again when you said that."

"Please don't remind me about those days.  You have no idea what lousy pizza I had to eat
where I was at."

Gary smiled.  "I know .  You told that to Crumb and I that one day in the alley."

"You were in an alley with Mr. Crumb daddy?,"  Jeff asked looking at his father.

Toni sighed.  "Your daddy was helping Mr. Crumb with something that day, and
somehow they ended up in an alley.  Some crazy person with a car tried to hurt your
father, but it didn't happen.  That's all that needs to be said about that. Please don't ask
anymore questions about that, okay."

"Okay Mommy.  You think Daddy and I will be able do some fishing on our vacation?"

"Of course.  He's even going to buy you your own fishing pole for the trip."

"I want to go with him to pick it out."

"Okay Jeff.  When I go to the sports store, you can go with me to get your fishing pole,"
Gary promised.

"Rose, you can go with me and we'll get what you'll need for the vacation."

"Okay Mommy.  Daddy said you were once a marshall.  That must be have been exciting,"
Rose said.

'I was a marshall once, yes, but it wasn't all that exciting at times.  I'm totally happy being
your mother and married to your father.  I don't want to be a marshall anymore or
anything else."

"Is that how you met Daddy?"

Toni smiled, and looked at Gary with love in her eyes before she replied.

"I wasn't a marshall when I first met your father.  I worked in the police department as a
detective, and your father was a witness in a very important case I was working on.  It
was my job to protect him from bad men who wanted to make sure your father didn't
testify.  I felt something towards him, and I think he felt the same way.  It took a while,
but we finally dated and got married.  Someday, when you and Jeff are old enough, we'll
tell you the whole story.  You're too young right now to understand.  After this show is
over, I want you both to go get ready for bed.  I'll be up to give you your baths, and help
you with your pajamas."

"Don't splash water on the floor.  It makes the floor a little slippery, and someone could
get hurt," Gary said.

"That's right.  You can enjoy your baths without making a mess on the floor."

When the show was over, Toni and the children went upstairs to the bathroom where the
chidren were going to take their baths, and get ready to get ready for bed.

An hour later, dressed in their pajamas, the twins came into the living room to watch some
more television before bedtime, and they got back on the couch as Gary watched from his
chair.

Toni sat down on the couch after picking up the washclothes and towels that she had used
to wash her children in the bathroom in the bathtub.  She had washed Rose first, and then
Jeff.

"Okay, you can watch one more show until bedtime.  Then, it's off to dreamland," she told
them.

"Okay mommy," they both said.

While the kids were watching their show, Toni went into the kitchen to get a glass of tea,
and  took the list she had made for the trip out of the drawer she had it in.  She would let
Gary look it over after all.

She came back into the living room and handed Gary the list as she sat back down on the
couch.

"Go ahead.  Look it over.  Tell me later if you think of anything else we need to take that I
haven't listed."

"Okay.  I'll look it at when we're alone."
 
 

Chapter 8

After the children were in bed, and Gary and Toni were alone in the living room sitting on
the sofa, Gary checked the list that Toni had made for their vacation, and nodded his
approval. "Everything you've written looks fine to me.  How am I going to take Jeff
shopping for his fishing pole when you know I have to work tomorrow at and the next day
at Mc Ginty's?," he asked her.

"You can take him during your lunch break honey.  You promised that you'd take him
shopping for his fishing pole, and you're going to keep your promise.  You can take him
tomorrow during lunch while Rose and I go shopping for what she needs to take for it,"
Toni replied sipping her coffee.

"I suppose you're going to bring him down right at lunch time."

"You got it handsome.  We've got three more days to get things ready before we leave.
There's no reason to wait until the last minute.  That's one thing I hate: waiting for the last
minute to do things."

"Okay.  You bring Jeff down to the bar tomorrow around lunch, and I'll take him to get
his fishing pole. Then, we can all have lunch after you and Rose get done and come back
."

"Sounds like a plan.  You two are going to be the only ones doing any fishing.  I'm not
touching any worms."

"Do you still hate fish like you said that one day in the police station?"

Toni shook her head.  "No.  I like to eat fish, but not catch them.  We are not going to
have a lot of fish to eat during the vacation either.  A couple of times is okay, but that's it.
I think our children will prefer other things to fish too, like hamburgers and hot dogs to
eating fish part of the time."

"That's what I love about you.  Always thinking about our children and what they should
eat."

"That's what a mother's for.  Oh, we're going to have such a good time on this vacation.
Just the four of us with not worries to interupt and ruin it."

"Yeah.  I'm  really looking forward to this vacation.  I have a feeling I'm going to have to
have that talk with our children one of these days.  You know what I'm talking about, the
one about the birds and the bees."

Toni smiled again. "I didn't think they'd ask us so soon how we first met. We have to tell
them when they're old enough to know and understand. "  She leanded in closer so Gary
could put his arm around her.

Gary kissed her on the forehead.  "You really like it when I put my arm around you.  I like
putting my arm around you, and pulling you close to me too.  Maybe we can talk a walk
together while we're there."

"Mmmm.  I'd settle for just sitting outside on the porch or whatever at night just the two
of us with the kids inside the cabin asleep in their beds.  That's romatinc enough for me
sweetheart."

Gary checked his watch and saw that it was getting close to nine oclock. "We'd better get
upstaris ourselves.  We've got a busy day tomorrow with the kids."

Toni sighed and put her hand on his knee.  "Let 's wait for a few more mintues, and then
go up. I'm so comfortable right now that I don't want to ruin ths monment."

"Okay.  We'll wait for a few minutes more."

 Chapter 9

Meow.  Thump.  There were the familair sounds that Gary was used at 6:30 in the
mornings. He was glad he was not going to have to worry about the paper and the cat for
two weeks as he reached over, and shut off the alarm clock.  Not wanting to wake Toni
who was still asleep, Gary quietly got out of bed.

"I'm coming.  Be patient will ya," he said as he made his way to the door wearing his black
robe. He opened the door just a little, and gently slid the paper off the cat knowing that it
can't come in. "Three more days and I won't have you bothering me anymore for a while.
You're going to someone else to take care of while I'm away enjoying myself, and if you
do show up, I won't get the paper," he told the cat. Smiling, Gary shut the door and
walked to the kitchen to pour himself a cup of coffee to read the paper.

"I see you have the paper honey.  I hope you don't have anything too serious in it today,"
Toni said coming into the kitchen wearing her cotton terry robe that she had put on after
getting up.

"I thought you were still asleep sweetheart.  I didn't want to wake you, so I got out of bed
quietly."

"I can sleep in when we're on vacation.  Do you want some toast and eggs?"

Gary nodded as he opened the paper to read.  "Yeah.   You know how I like my eggs."

"Coming right up handsome."

Gary didn't find anything on the front page and turned to the metro section.

"Oh boy.  You're not going to believe this honey."

"What is it?  Someone you know you have to save today, or don't want to?"

"In a way.  "Mrs. Doris Roberts was attacked by an unknown person while she was
walking in the park. A unknown man jumped out of the bushes from the walking path and
attacked the lady at nine o clock, calling her names, and then, ran off before someone
called the police.  Mrs. Roberts was taken to the hopsital where she is listed in serious
condition following the attack".  My ex-mother, and I'm going to have to save her."

Toni buttered Gary's toast and put it on a plate before she replied.  "You know you have
to save her from being attacked honey.  As I recall, she doesn't hold any grude against you
like her husband does."

"Don't remind me.  I'll save her, and hopefully it'll be the last time I have a run-in with any
of my ex's family."

Toni put his toast in front of him and went back to see how his eggs were doing.

"Your eggs are almost done.  I'll bring Jeff down to the bar around noon today like I
promised."

"Do me a favor while you're shopping today, don't buy the store out please."

Toni laughed as she went over to his plate to put his eggs on it.

"You men always say that when we women go shopping.  Don't worry lover boy. I won't
buy the store out."

Toni kissed him on the cheek and went to pour the orange juice for their children for
breakfast.

Five minutes later, both twins came into the kitchen wearing their pajamas and yawning.

"Morning mommy.  morning daddy," Rose said getting into her chair at the table.

"Good morning sweetheart.  How did you sleep last night?," Gary asked smiling at his
daughter.

"I slept great daddy.  I was dreaming about going swiming at the lake."

"That's a dream that'll come true very soon Rose."

"I dreamt that I was playing in my first little leauge game and it was my turn to bat.  There
were two guys on base, and we were losing by one run.  I hit a home run and we won the
game," Jeff told his father.

"That's my boy!  You're going to be a great slugger one of these days," Gary said smiling
at his son.

"You two get a specail treat this morning.  You can have toast with your cereal," Toni
told her children.

"Oh boy!  Can we have grape jelly with it mommy?," Rose asked.

"Of course.  Just don't make a mess with it."
 
 

Chapter 10

Gary sighed as he finished the last of his coffee with the last bite of his toast as he sat at
the table. Why does it have to be my ex-wife's mother that I have to save today, he asked
himself. It wasn't that he didn't like the lady, he just thought once he and Marica were
divorced that he'd never have anything to do with her family again, and now, he has to
save her mother in the park. "Well, I guess I'd better get going.  It's going on eight now,"
he told Toni getting up from his chair.

"Good luck honey.  I'll see you at Mc Ginty's at noon with Jeff," Toni said kissing him on
the check.

Gary kissed her back and promised to have a specail lunch made for them when they were
done.

He told his kids he'd see them later, and grabbed his jacket heading for the door to leave.

Gary got in the van and drove out of the driveway, turning it towards the street.

Lucky for him, the traffic was light that time of the morning, and he made it to the park
around nine.

Gary parked the van in a parking space, got out, and ran towards the walking path looking
at his watch.

Sure enough, dressed in her jogging outfit, was his ex-mother-in law .

"Mrs. Roberts!  Watch out!," he yelled running towards her, and pulling her out of the
way just in time.

The man jumped out of the bush and Gary stood between him and Mrs. Roberts.

"Get out of my way!  That bitch deserves to be hear what I have to say to her," the man
told Gary.

"First of all, she is not a bitch, and you were going to hit her while calling her dirty names.
What has she done to you that you feel you need to inflict personal harm on her?," Gary
said.

"It's none of your business mister!"

"The lady happens to be a friend of mine, and yes, it is my business. Answer my question
please."

The man wondered how Gary knew what he was going to do to Mrs. Roberts.

"She's rich for one thing.  People like that have no feelings for the normal people who
work for a living."

"How do you she doesn't care for people who work for a living?  Maybe she does."

"I most certainly do care for people who work a living mister!  I may be rich, but I don't
flaunt it like my husband does which I hate everytime we go somewhere," Mrs. Roberts
finally spoke up in her defense.

"I wish some of you would show it more often.  I'm sorry I called you a bitch, but it tickes
me off when some rich people think they can snub the working class and get away with it."

"Mister, I will always care for the working class.  I know how it is, and since I'm wealthy
doesn't mean I haven't forgotten how I got that way.  I work for a living myself, and I
understand what you and others are going through. Not all rich people are snobs.  I'd
leave a room if any of my friends or family ever snubbed anyone."

The man smiled for the first time since Gary had prevented him from doing harm to Mrs.
Roberts.

"Okay lady.  It's nice to know that people like you don't act like all high and mighty."

He turned to Gary.  "I'm sorry for what I was about to do.  How did you know what I was
going to do?"

Gary smiled.  "Let's just say I had a hunch.  Next time, try to remember that not all rich
people act like they don't care about working class people before you accuse someone of
that," he replied.

"I will, and thanks.  Have a nice day both of you."

The man turned and walked down the way he had came down the path, his anger
completely gone.

Doris turned to Gary.  "Thank you for defending me like you did, and getting me out his
way before he could do me any harm.  I read about your marriage in the paper, and then
about your twins later on.  I'm so happy for you Gary.  You deserve to be happy after
what you've been through," she said.

"Thank you Mrs. Roberts.  Toni and I are very happy," Gary told her.

"When you showed up at the wedding that day even though you didn't have to, I thought
to myself that you wanted to show there were no hard feelings about what had happened."

"She didn't tell you what she did."

"What are you talking about Gary?  Is there something about my daughter I should
know?"

Gary nodded, and took a deep breath before he replied.

"Yeah.  She threw my things out the window the day of our anniversary when I came
home with flowers and a box of candy for her.  Then, she tells me she's marrying Prichard
just to sprite me.  This is after I had to quit the market because I wasn't making my quota
for the man.  After I smashed his nose in the squash game and something else happened
that I got put in jail, she bailed me out to appologize to him so they could marry.  I did,
but the marriage didn't happen.  Then, she comes into the bar a few weeks before my
marriage to Toni, and tries to tell me that she never meant to hurt me with the things she
had done.  She had no idea how it hurt to hear that she was marrying Prichard.  Again, it
was like I was never good enough for her and your husband.  When I told her that I was
marrying Toni because she didn't care for money and power, Marica couldn't believe it.  I
asked her to leave the bar and not come back.  I had to go in my office to do some
paperwork, and told her that she'd better be gone when I came out.  That's the whole story
Mrs. Roberts."

Mrs. Roberts frowned.  Marica had treated Gary like dirt and didn't care how much it had
hurt him.

"Gary, I am so sorry for all that she put you through.  I always liked you, and knew you
had to put your dreams on hold just to please her.  She's a spoiled brat I admit, and I
intend to tell her that she's gettintg payback for all the hurt she put you through.  Thank
you for telling me what she did.  She never mentioned it to me or her father.  I also have a
few choice for my husband when I get home.  Again, thank you for what you did, and I
am happy for you and Toni.  I have to finish my workout.  Have a nice day Gary."

"Same to you Mrs. Roberts.  I've got to get to work."

Doris took off jogging and Gary went back to his van to go to his bar to work.
 
 

Chapter  11

Gary smiled to himself as he drove to his bar wishing he could be in the house when Doris
tells Marica and her husband off after hearing what he had to tell her how he felt about
how Marica had treated him. "Good morning everyone," he said to his friends as he
entered the bar after parking the van outside.

"Morning Gar.  You seem chipper this morning for some reason," Chuck told Gary
noticing Gary's smile.

"Ever wish you could be in a room to hear someone tell someone else off Chuck?"

"Lots of times.  I take it this has something to do with a recent save earlier?"

Gary nodded.  "Yeah.  Marica's mother."

"Marcia's mother?  When did this happen Gary?," Marissa asked curious.

"Just a while ago in the park.  She was out jogging, and some man with a beef about rich
people almost assaulted her.  I prevented it of course and defended her honor a little.
Then, I told her how Marica had treated me while we were married and everything else,"
Gary replied.

"I bet she wasn't pleased to hear what you said."

"No she wasn't.  She did tell me that she always liked me, and was sorry for what Marcia
put me through. She even admited that her daughter is a spoiled brat which was a shock to
me.  She wished Toni and I the best, and told me that she was happy for me to finally have
what I've always wanted."

Chuck smiled.  " Mrs. Roberts said that Marica is a spoiled brat.  Now she knows what
everyone else knows about her daughter and how she treats people. I wish I could be in
the room when she tells both Marica and her husband off after taking in what you told
her."

"Sounds like your ex-wife was a user to me Hobson," Crumb said pouring Gary a cup of
coffee.

"You got that right Crumb.  She was a user alright.  She used me and treated me like dirt."

"Those kind of people don't know the meaning of the word "respect" when it comes to
marriage."

Marissa decided to change the subject.  "So, are you and Toni almost packed for your
vacation?"

Gary nodded again.  "Yeah.  She's taking Rose for some last minute shopping, and I"m
taking Jeff to buy his fishing  pole during my lunch hour.  Then, we'll come back here and
have a late lunch together."

"I thought Toni hated fish Hobson."

Gary sipped his coffee before he replied.  "She hates to catch them Crumb, but likes to eat
them. She told me that Jeff and I will be the only ones who'll do the fishing since she and
Rose will not touch any worms.  She made that point very clear the other day when we
were talking about it."

Crumb laughed.  "Most women don't like to put the worms on the fishing pole when they
go fishing Hobson. My wife was the same way whenever we went fishing together."

Chuck sipped his own cup of coffee.  "Amber told me that she'd cook any fish I caught if
we went fishing, but refused to touch the "sliming creature" refering to the worms when
we talked about it once."

Marissa even laughed then.  "Can you blame us?  Emmit wants to take me fishing
sometime, but said that I didn't have to worry about putting the bait on the hook for him.
I told him I'd cook the fish, but he would be the one who would catch and clean it," she
told the others.

"Speaking of your husband, where is he?  He usually comes in to see you before
lunchtime," Gary asked.

"He'll be here.  He had a meeting at ten he had to go to, and promised to take me to
lunch."
 
 

Chapter 12

Around noon, Toni came into the bar with Rose and Jeff just as she had promised she
would. "Here we are just like I said.  Your son is so excited about going to the sports
store with you to get his fishing pole," she told Gary smiling at her husband, who smiled
back.

"I can tell by the look on his face that he's excited.  You ready to get your fishing pole
Jeff?," Gary said.

"Yes Daddy!," Jeff replied excitement in his young voice as he looked at his father.

Gary laughed.  "Okay.  Let's go it then."

He took hold of his son's hand and headed towards the door telling the others he'd back
soon.

"Dad, do you have to hold my hand?  I feel so silly," Jeff asked feeling a little embrassed.

"I guess not.  Stay close besides me, okay.  Don't want you to get lost," Gary replied.

"Okay Daddy.  Mom said that you and I are going to be the only ones who are going to
catch the fish."

"I know.  She told me the same thing the other night when you and your sister were in
bed. Do you have any idea of what kind of pole you want?"

"Not really.  I'm just excited about picking it out with you."

"Maybe the clerk can help us find just the right one for you once we get inside the store."

They found the sports store and went inside.

"Excuse me sir.  My son is three years old and would like his first fishing pole.  Do you
have anything that's just right for a kid his age here?," Gary said smiling at the clerk behind
the counter.

The clerk smiled and nodded.  "I believe I have just the thing he's looking for.  Follow me
please," he replied.

He lead them both towards the fishing poles in the back, and showed them small sizes in
fishing poles.

"These are perfect for a boy your son's age.  Let him hold one in his hands just to get the
feel of it."

Gary took one off the rack and handed it to his son.  "See how this feels Jeff," he said.

Jeff held the pole in his hands and pretend he was catching a fish which made both men
smile.

"I like it!  Can I have it dad?  Please," he said looking at his father with a big smile on his
face.

Gary nodded pleased that his son had found what he wanted.

"Let's go pay for it.  Be careful with it.  You'll need it for the trip," he replied.

They went back to the counter and Gary paid for the fishing pole.

After telling the clerk to have a nice day, Gary and his son left the store and walked back
towards the bar.

"I hope Mom and Rose don't take too long shopping for what she needs.  I'm hungry," Jeff
said.

"That's why I don't go shopping with your mother.  Besides, we men sometimes get stuck
carrying most of the packages that they buy.  We went shopping on our honeymoon, and
she made me carry three packages," Gary told his son and hoped that Toni wouldn't find
out that he said that.

"Don't worry daddy.  I won't tell mommy that you said that."

"Good.  Because if she found out, she'd give me a dirty look and tell me something I don't
want to hear."

They returned to the bar and Jeff proudly showed the others his new fishing pole.

"You should have seen him in the store with it.  He was pretending he was catching a
fish," Gary said.

"That must have been cute," Marissa said smiling at the picture in her mind of it.

"He was practing for the real thing Gar.  That's a nice fishing pole Jeff," Chuck told Jeff.

"Thanks Uncle Chuck," Jeff said beaming.

"Go find a table for us and I'll put your fishing pole in my office so that no one trips over
it," Gary said.

"Okay."

Jeff went to find a good table and Gary put the fishing pole inside his office out of the way
of the customers.

Five minutes later, Toni and Rose came inside all done with their shopping and ready for
lunch.

"Well, did he get his fishing pole?," she asked Gary who nodded.

"Yep.  It's in my office for now.  Can't have people tripping over it during lunch.  Ready to
eat ladies?," he replied smiling at both his wife and daughter.

"Let's go sit down somewhere first.  Your daughter almost had me chase her through the
toy department earlier of the store we were in.  I'll tell you about it later."

Gary looked at Rose and Rose knew that her father only looked at her that way when she
did something naughty that he didn't like.
 
 

Chapter 13

Gary looked at his daughter with his mud puddle eyes and Rose knew she was in trouble
with her daddy. "We will discuss what happened after lunch in my office.  Your mother,
myself, and you.  Your brother will not be part of the discussion as he will be out here
with Marrisa and the others, young lady," he told her.

"Yes Daddy," Rose said already feeling ashamed for what she had done in the toy
department of the store.

Gary led his family towards where Jeff was waiting for them at the table he had found in a
corner spot.

Gary pulled a chair out for Toni, waited until she had sat down, and then gently pushed
her up to the table.

Rose took her seat besides her brother who knew something was going on, but didn't
know what.

"We have good kids meals here in case you're interested,' Gary told his children.

"I think that'll be a good idea for them honey.  Let's see what's on the menu," Toni said
looking at it.

"I want a hambuger with fries and a glass of milk," Jeff said knowing what he wanted.

"Good choice son.  Rose, what would you like to eat?," Gary asked his daughter.

"The same thing that he's having Daddy," Rose replied.

"Okay.  Now, let's see what your mother and I want for lunch."

The waitress came over to take their orders, and Gary told her two number five kid's meal,
and two steak and fries for him and Toni.  "The kids will have milk, and my wife and I will
have coffee," he said.

"Yes sir.  Two number fives, and two number fours.  Two milks, and two coffees."

After writing it down, the waitress went to the kitchen to give the cook the orders.

"I can't wait to try my new fishing pole at the lake," Jeff said.

"You're going to be a good fisherman Jeff.  I'm going to teach you what my father taught
me about fishing when I was your age," Gary said smiling at his son.

"Lois told me about that.  She said that when Berine handed you a worm to put on your
hook, you almost got sick.  You wanted to put it back in the can with the others, but he
made you put it on," Toni told Gary.

Gary sighed.  "That was the first time I went fishing with my father.  I wasn't like that the
next time."

Their drinks came, and Rose took a sip of her milk wishing that she could hide.

After lunch, Gary, Toni and Rose went into his office, and Jeff showed the others his
fishing pole again.

"Alright, what did she do in the toy department that you had to almost chase her all
over?," he asked.

Toni looked at her daughter who was sitting in Marrisa's chair feeling like she wanted to
cry.

"I told her that she could pick out one doll to take with her on the trip that she wanted and
that was it. Her coloring books and crayon were coming with us, and so were some of her
other toys.  We went into the toy department to get her doll, and wouldn't you know it,
the minute we start down the isle, she sees something else she wants.  I reminded her that
she was only getting the doll she wants, and nothing else.  We found the doll, and went to
pay for it at the counter.  I thought she was behind me, but when I turned around after
paying for her doll, she wasn't there.  I started going down the isles looking for her saying
her name, and where do I find her?  In the doll isle again looking at a doll house with a
doll family inside.  I grabbed her hand, and took her out of the store intending to tell her
that what she had done was wrong and something could've happen to her if I hadn't gone
looking for her when we were alone.  We got the clothes that she needed and that I
needed, and started walking towards the door to the car parked outside.  Once we got
inside the car, I told her that she should've stayed behind me at the counter and not gone
wandering off like she did.  I also told her that I was going to tell you what she done when
we get to the bar for lunch," she replied.

Gary turned to his daughter.  "Well, young lady, what do have to say for yourself?"

"'I'm sorry Mommy.  I didn't mean to make you worry about me.  I saw that doll house
with the family inside, and it reminded me about us.  I was curious about it, and wanted to
look at it.  If I made you mad at me, I'm sorry.  I promise not to do it again.  Honest,"
Rose replied looking at her parents as a tear came to her eyes.

"Oh honey, don't cry.  I didn't know where you were, and I was worried that something
might have happened to you.  Next time, you tell me where you're going, and I'll go with
you.  If anything happened to you, your father and I would be very upset and worried.
You understand what I'm saying?"

Rose sniffed and nodded.  "Yes Mommy."

"Good girl.  Tell your father what we brought for you today."

Rose turned to Gary and smiled.  "Mommy brought me a brand new pair of sandals for me
to wear at the cabin.  They're really pretty Daddy.  They're blue."

Gary smiled back at his daughter.  "I can't wait to see you in them Rose.  I think you're
learned your lesson today.  Just remember your promise not to do it anymore, okay."

"Okay Daddy."

"That's my girl."

"We'll see you when you get home later honey.  I know you've got some work to do, and I
've got somethings to do at home myself.  Rose, give your father a kiss."

Rose kissed her father on the cheek, and Gary kissed her back.

"See you at home.  Have a good afternoon."

"Same to you sweetheart.  Don't work too hard."

"I won't.  Tell Jeff to be careful with his new fishing pole.  He needs to save it for the
trip."

"Don't worry.  I'll make sure he's careful with it."

Gary walked his family towards the door of the bar and watched them get in Toni's car.

 Chapter 14

Gary finished his paperwork around five and decided it was time to go home, and relax.
"I'm leaving now Marrisa.  I'll see you tomorrow morning.  We're leaving Saturday
morning for the cabin, and I want to get everything done before I leave," he told his friend
and business partner.

"Go on home Gary.  I'll make sure things are locked up before I go home with Emmit,"
Marissa said.

"Thanks.  Have a good evening."

Gary left his office and walked towards the door saying good night to Crumb and Chuck.

"Fishman had to leave early Hobson.  He got a call from his wife and he said to tell you
that he'll see you tomorrow morning.  He said that Amber didn't feel good, and wanted
him to come home earlier than he normally does.  I told him that I'd tell you and that you'd
understand," Crumb told Gary.

Gary nodded.  "Sure.  No problem.  Amber's going through the same thing Toni had.
Have a good night Crumb.  I'll see you tomorrow morning."

Gary went outside to the van, got inside, and drove towards his house.

When he arrived, Ottis came running towards him barking his hello in greeting making
Gary smile.

"Hello boy.  It's good to see you too," Gary said patting his dog and keeping him from
licking his face.

After patting the dog, Gary went to his door, opened it, and entered his house.

"Toni, I"m home," he said taking his jacket off and hanging it up on the hook.

Toni came out of the kitchen wearing her apron and smiled at her husband.

"Hello sweetheart.  The kids are washing up, and everything's on the table," she told him .

"Good.  I'm hungry from doing all that paperwork in my office."

Toni kissed him on the check.  "Go sit down, and I'll call the kids."

Gary kissed her back and went to the table to sit down at his place.

"Kids, dinner's ready!  Your father's here," Toni called knowing her children would hear
her in the bathroom.

Rose and Jeff came running out of the bathroom with their hands clean ready for dinner.

"Mommy helped me pack what I'm taking on the trip in my suitcase this afternoon
Daddy," Rose said.

"She did?  That's good.  No sense in waiting until the last minute to pack," Gary told his
daughter.

"That's what I thought which is why I had them pack their clothes today. They were
asking when we're leaving as they were packing their clothes.  I told them that you'd tell
them when you came home," Toni said.

"When are we going to the cabin daddy?," Jeff asked as Gary put a little piece of meat on
his plate.

"Saturday morning.  As soon as everyone's ready, and breakfast is over with."

"Oh boy!  I can't wait!"

Toni put some vegetables on her daughter's plate as she said, "That means both of you will
be going to bed early Friday night so you can get enough sleep for the trip the next
morning."

"Okay mommy," Rose said taking a bite of her meatloaf.

Toni turned to her husband.  "I forgot to ask you who it was you helped today at the park
went."

Gary smiled.  "Let's just say that it was an experience the lady won't ever forgot."

Toni got the message.  She would wait until later to ask him for the details when the
children were in bed.

They had both decided that they wouldn't tell their children about the paper until they
were old enough to understand and keep the secret.  Right now, both Rose and Jeff were
better off not kowning about it.
 
 

Chapter 15

That night, after the children were asleep in bed, Toni and Gary were sitting together on
the sofa listening to the radio and just enjoying the quiet time they had at the monment.

"Okay.  The kids are in bed.  How did your save with Mrs. Roberts go today?," Toni
asked him.

Gary sipped his beer.  "It went fine.  Some guy who had beef against rich people was
going to take it out on her, and I stepped in between them just in time.  He called her a
dirty name, and I defended her honor so to speak. He said that some rich people snubbed
people like him, and he used her husband as an example. I asked him how did he know
that she did  that?  Did he ever ask her how she felt about the working class people like
him?  You should've heard Mrs. Roberts speak up for herself.  She said that she did care
for working people because she was once one of them, and didn't like the way that her
husband had flaunt their richness when they went somewhere.  The man apologized and
went on his way.  She thanked me for saving her.  I finally told her what Marica had done
to me and how she and her husband had treated me.  Marica's mother was very mad at
what she heard me tell her.  She said that she had always liked me, and was sorry for what
Marica had put me through.  She told me that when she got home she had a few choice
words for them both.  I can just imagine how it went," he replied.

"So can I honey.  I hope your ex gets a real good earful from her mother tonight."

"Let's not talk about her anymore.  Tomorrow afternoon, I'll come home early from work,
and we can start putting the luggage in the truck of your car for the vacation.  I'm going to
give Crumb the keys to the van. I don't trust Chuck with the van.  He might get in a wreck
or something with it."

"Good plan.  Fisherman driving your van is something no one wants to see on the road.
Crumb will take good care of it.  Did he finally get his memors written like he was doing
that one time?"

Gary shook his head.  "Not yet.  He's still working on them he told me. He's doing good as
a detective."

"Mmmm.  I love this time of night.  Just the two of us listening to the radio and drinking
beer."

"You'll enjoy it  more when we're inside the cabin sitting in front of a nice fire."

"I'll have you to keep me warm."

"That you will sweetheart, and I'll love every minute of it just as I am right now."

Gary leaned over and kissed her on the mouth and Toni shut her eyes to really enjoy it.

She kissed him back and leaned back against him as his arm went around her once more.

"I saw the fishing pole Jeff has.  Did he pick it out, or did you do it for him?"

"I asked the salesman if he had one made for kids our son's age, and the man said that he
had. He took us to where they were, and I told Jeff to pick out the one he wanted which
he did.  He pretened he was catching a fish in the store with it, and did the same thing at
the bar later."

"He's so proud of it.  He's going to be a good little fisherman when you go fishing."

"I know.  That's one of the joys of being a father, you get to take your son fishing with
you.  Speaking of which, Chuck had to leave earlier than he usually does today.  Jade
called him at the bar and wanted him to come home Crumb told me.  Said that she didn't
feel good."

Toni smiled.  "She's going through what I went through when I was pregrant with our
children."

 Chapter 15

Friday morning came, and Gary sighed as he reached over to shut off the alarm for the last
time. After today, I won't have to get up and get the paper for two weeks.  Thank
goodness, he thought to himself, as he put on his bathrobe and went downstairs to pour
himself some coffee in his mug .  After taking a sip of the hot liquid, Gary went over to the
door, opened it, and gently slid the paper out from underneath the cat. Without saying a
word to it, Gary shut the door, and walked into the kitchen to sit down and read the
paper. "Looks like it's going to be a easy day today for me so far.  Nothing in the paper
about someone needing saved.  Maybe I won't have to worry about it anymore for a while
starting now," he said smiiling.

Toni came into the kitchen wearing her blue robe, and saw her husband reading the paper
as usual. "Do yourself a favor my love, and throw it away right now.  You don't need it on
your mind with everything else that we've got going on today," she told him pouring
herself a cup of coffee in her cup.

"I wish I could honey.  After today, I won't have to worry about it for a while anyway.
Have you and the kids got everything packed and ready to be put in the car this
afternoon?"

Toni nodded.  "Yeah.  The suitcases are all packed and ready to be put in the trunk.  You
still have to finish packing yours sweetheart.  Anything in the paper this morning that
needs your attention?"

Gary shook his head.  "Not so far.  Maybe there won't be anything for me to do today."

Toni sat down besides him at the table and took a sip of her coffee. "That'd be great for
you."

Gary sipped his coffee and turned to the metro section to see if there was anything there
for him.

"Oh boy.  Listen to this honey:  "Two shop owners were arrested for causing a
disturbance at ten this morning outside their shops.  They were reported fighting over
whose store was better for customers, and it turned into a shouting match that alerted a
nearby policeman who promptley took the two into custody."  I guess competetion today
is getting bad to the point of people trying to outdo each other more and more."

"Just go there and stop the fight before it starts.  If that's all you have to do today, then the
rest of the day should be easy for you.  Don't forget to come home earlier than usual so
we can put the suitcases in the trunk."

"I won't forget.  I have to put a few more things in mine anyway."

"I better get your breakfast started.  The kids will be coming in for theirs in a while."

Toni got up, and went over to the stove.  She put a skillet on one of the burners, sprayed
it with a nonfat spray, and went over to the refrigator to get out what she needed to fix his
eggs the way that he liked them.

"Scarmbled eggs coming up.  Want some toast with it?"

Gary nodded.  "Sure honey."

"I was thinking that we should get our supplies for the weeks we're going to be there on
the way there tomorrow morning.  That way, we won't have to worry about getting them
down the line."

"Good idea.  It'll save us time getting to the cabin."
 
 

Chapter 16

Gary found the two shop owners standing outside their shops already aruging at nine
thirty that morning. Knowing they'd be arrested at ten for causing a distrubance, he
quickly went over to the two men. "Hey, cool off guys,  Do you realize that there's a
policeman standing not too far from here, and if you keep yelling at each other loud
enough, he'll come over here and arrest you both for causing a disturbance? If you go to
jail, who's going to run your shop for you?  Your clerks have enough on their hands
without having to worry about  taking care of the shop for you.  It seems a little silly to
me that you'd be fighting over something so trival as to whose shop is the best for people
to go into.  You both have good shops, and shouldn't be fighting over whose is better.
You don't see the other stores owners doing it, and you shouldn't either.  So, why don't
you shake hands and quit while you're ahead," he told them.

"I don't want to to jail over this stupid thing.  Okay, I'm stopping my part of the
arguement right now.  Thanks mister for warning us about the policeman and what might
happen if we didn't quit," the first man said.

"Yeah, thanks mister.  I don't want to go jail either.  What's your name anyway?," the
second man agreed.

Gary smiled.  "Hobson.  Gary Hobson, and you're welcome."

"Thanks again Gary Hobson.  You and your family are welcome to come into my shop
anytime."

"We might take you up on that later.  Have a nice day."

Gary headed towards his bar glad that he successfully prevented both men from going to
jail.

He told his friends about it when he was inside Mc Ginty's an short time later.

"I told both of them that if they didn't stop their fighting, they'd be arrested and taken to
jail by the policeman I saw standing not too far down the street.  When they realized what
would happen if they went to jail, they quit their arguing, shook hands, and went back
inside their stores."

"Great save Gar.  Competition shouldn't be to the point of where both parties are shouting
at each other in the street,or outside their stores where people might hear them," Chuck
said sipping his coffee.

"How's Jade this morning Chuck?  Crumb told me that you went home early yesterday."

"She's a little better.  Just had a touch of what women go through when they're pregrant,
and needed me there in case she got another craving attack.  You alset for your vacation?"

"Yep.  All I have to do is get everything in the car for tomorow morning. I'll be leaving
here earlier than usual so that I can go home and get everying loaded in the car ready to
go.  Crumb, I'm giving you the keys to the van. I know that I can trust you with it," Gary
replied handing the keys to Crumb.

"I'll take good care of it Hobson.  There won't be any scratches or dents on it," Crumb
told Gary.

"Good.  I have to finish some of the paperwork around here before I leave for two
weeks."

"You have a good time with your family Gary," Marrisa said smiling at him.

"I intend to Marrisa.  I am really looking forward to just sitting back and relaxing.  Doing
a little fishing with my son, and just enjoying my family. We're going to have a terrific
vacation."

Chuck felt hurt that Gary didn't trust him with the keys to the van.  He was a careful
driver.

"Why did he gvie Crumb the keys to the van, and not me?  It hurts that he doesn't trust me
to take care of it."

"Maybe he's afraid that you might wreck it or something.  Gary wants to make sure that
the van's in the same condition that he left it in when he gets back from vacation, and he
knows that Crumb can take good care of it since he was policeman who drove a patrol car
and knows how to treat a car right. You've had some bad experience's with cars in the past
Chuck, remember," Marissa replied.

Chuck sighed.  "Alright, alright.  You've got a point there Marrisa.  No need to bring up
what happened to the last car I had.  I don't even want to remember what happened that
time."

"I'm so happy that Gary's going on a much needed vacation.  He really needs it from
everything he's been through recently, and this is his chance  to finally relax without
anything to interupt him."
 
 

Chapter 17

Gary finished his paperwork around four, and decided it was time to call it a day. He
yawned, checked his watch, and pushed himself out of his chair ready to go home to his
family. Grabbing his jacket and putting it on, Gary went out of his office and into the busy
bar. "I'm going home now Marrisa.  I've got all the paperwork I needed to get done,
done," he told her.

"Okay.  You go on home and I'll help take care of things here.  Give Toni my love,"
Marissa said.

"I will.  I'll see you all when I get back.  Have a good evening."

"Have fun Hobson.  You deserve to have some time off to have some fun," Crumb told
Gary.

"Thanks Crumb.  Bye Chuck.  Marrisa."

Gary went out the door and was surprised to see his wife waiting for him with their kids in
her car.

"Get in the car handsome," Toni said with a smile on her face.

"I thought you were at home helping to get things ready for tomorrow," Gary told her as
he got in.

"I was.  Our children wanted to eat out for supper tonight, and I thought that since the
resturant we're going to is close by, I might as well come and pick you up from work."

Gary smiled.  "I see.  How did this come about?"

"They were playing in the yard with Ottis and I called to them from the window not to get
too dirty because you'd be home soon for dinner, and they'd have to wash up.  They came
inside, and went straight to the bathroom. I heard water running so I knew they were
washing their hands from playing with the dog.  They went into the living room to watch
television, and I asked them what they wanted for dinner.  They looked at me and I knew
something was up by the way they were smiling at me.  I asked them again what they
wanted for dinner, and that's when they said that they wanted to eat out.  I was surprised
when they said that.  I asked them why they wanted to eat out instead of eating at home,
and they said they wanted to eat out because they wanted us to have fun tonight.  So, I
told them to put something nice on, and that we'd go pick you up from work on the way.
It's nice really, because it gives me a night off from cooking."

Gary turned around to see his children sitting in the back seat smiling at him, and shook
his head in awe.

"Pretty smart children we have back there.  Must get it from me."

"Don't be taking all the credit sweetheart.  They get some of it from me as well.  Oh, I
called Mom earlier, and told her when we'd be leaving, and that I'd leave the mailbox key
and extra house key inside the mailbox for her. She said she'd get our mail for us when
we're away, and keep an eye on the dog."

"I gave Crumb the key to the van, and finished up most of the paperwork before I left.
So, there's nothing that's going to ruin and interupt our vacation.  When we get back home
from having dinner, I'm going to start putting the luggage in the truck so we'll be ready to
go right after breakfast tomorrow."

They came to the "Family Table" resturant's parking lot, and Toni found a space for her
car close by.

They went inside, and told the waitress they needed a table for four.

"Follow me please." the waitress said leading them to a  table towards the back of the
room.

She handed them each a menu and asked them what they wanted to drink.

"The children will have milk, and I'll have an ice tea please," Toni told the waitress.

"I'll have the same," Gary said refering to the ice tea.

'That's two milks, and two ice teas.  Got it.  I'll be right back."

"They have some pretty good kid's meals listed here.  You see anything you like?," Gary
asked his kids.

Jeff nodded already having decided what he wanted to eat.

"I want the number five meal daddy," he said showing his father what he wanted.

Gary looked at the number on his own menu.  "Hmmm.  This has a hamburger and an
order of fires.  Is this what you want to eat Jeff?  I want to make sure before we tell the
waitress when she comes back."

"I'm sure daddy."

"Okay.  Rose, have you decided what you want to eat?"

Rose nodded.  "Yes daddy.  I'll have the same thing Jeff's having," she replied.

"Two number fives.  Good.  As for me, I'm going to have the steak dinner."

Toni looked to see what it included, and decided it sounded good to her too.

"Good choice honey.  I'll have the same thing," she said.

The waitress came back with their drinks to take their orders.

"Two number fives kids meal, and two steak dinners.  We'll have coffee too please," Gary
told her handing her the menus smiling.

The waitress wrote it all down on her pad.  "Got it," she said, and went to the kitchen to
give the orders to the cook to fix.  She liked customers who knew what they wanted
without taking too much time to decide.

 Chapter 19

After a hour and two of driving, Gary finally came to the road that lead to his cabin in the
woods by the lake. Smiling, he drove down the road straight to the cabin, and parked the
car right outside the main door. "There it is family!  Our own cozy cabin complete with a
lake nearby for swimming and fishing," he said.

"Oh boy!  Daddy, it's great!," Jeff said excited about seeing the cabin for the first time.

Gary nodded.  "I knew you'd love it once you saw it up close.  Well, let's get the car
unloaded."

Toni unbuckled her seatbelt, and got out of her seat to get her children out of their seats in
back.

"I'll get the children unfastened and inside while you unload the car honey," she told him.

"Hold it.  They can carry their own luggage inside the cabin to their room."

"Listen handsome, you bring the luggage inside and set it inside for us. I've got to get
them out of their carseats, and inside the cabin before they can carry their suitcases."

"Okay.  Okay.  You get them inside, and I'll set their luggage inside for them to carry to
their rooms."

"That's better."  She unfastened Rose's seatbelt first, gently picked her up, and set her
down . Then, Toni did the same thing to her son after going around to his side of the car.

"Oh daddy!  It's so nice here," exclaimed Rose when she the trees and the cabin.

"Come on children.  Let's go inside and let Daddy get the rest of the luggage out of the
car," Toni told her children leading the way to the door of the cabin, using the key Gary
had given her to unlock it.

She pushed it  open, and ushered the children inside.  "Wait here.  I'm going to help your
father."

Toni turned and walked towards the rear of the car where Gary was getting another
suitcase out of the truck.

"I'll take mine in and the kids.  You can take yours in, and whatever else there is to carry
in," she said.

Gary smiled as he handed his wife her suitcase and  the small bag that held the children's
playthings.

"You take yours in, and I'll bring in the rest.  I can handle three suitcases," he told her.

"Whatever you say."

She turned, and walked back towards the door carrying her suitcase and the small bag.

Gary took out the last suitcase, shut the trunk lid, grabbed his and the children's suitcases,
and headed for the door.  Toni held the door open for him so he wouldn't have to set
anything down to open the door.

"Alright, kids, come get your suitcases please," he said smiling at his children.

Rose and Jeff came towards their father to get their suitcases to take to their room.

"Okay.  I'll show you where your rooms are.  Follow me please."

He lead the way down the hall towards a room at the end .

Gary opened the door and said, "This is your room Rose.  Jeff', your's is the next one
beside it."

Rose took her suitcase inside her room, and her smile was almost as big when she saw it.

"Daddy!  I love it!,' she told him happily,

"Good.  Now, I'll get your brother settled in his room, and then, go to the room I share
with Mommy."

Gary opened the door behind Rose's and said, "This is your room son.  Go on in."

Jeff took his suitcase inside his room, and Gary smiled at the way his son approved of his
room.

"What a neat room daddy," he said smiling at his father.

"Glad you like it.  I"m going to let you get aquainted with your room while Mommy and I
get settled in ours."

Gary returned to where Toni was waiting with her suitcase on the floor besides her.

"Now, it's our turn.  Come with me sweetheart," he told her leading the way to their room.

Using his key, Gary unlocked the door and pushed it open wide enough for them to enter.

"This is our room honey.  What  do you think?," he asked.

"What do I think?  I love it, and you!  Come here you handsome man of mine," Toni
replied.

Gary put his suitcase down and came over to his wife, and embraced her.

He kissed her on the lips, and she kissed him back.

"Maybe we can work on having another child while we're here," Gary suggested.

Toni punched him on the arm.  "Uh uh.  Two's enough.  Sit down on the bed with me for
a minute."

Gary did and Toni looked into his mud-puddle eyes with love in her own eyes.

"I'm going to make this a vacation you're not going to forget my love.  This is what I've
been wanting for so long, for us to go on family vacation where we don't have anything to
worry about, especailly you.  Now, you can let go of anything that might bother you, and
just enjoy these two weeks with the kids and myself."

 Chapter 20

Toni started to massage her husband's shoulders with her hands to ease some of the
tension away. "You looked a little tense in the shoulders for some reason," she said
smiling at him.

"Ah!  That feels so good.  Keep it up honey," Gary told her enjoying the touch of her
hands on his shoulders.

"I will, but not to the point that you'll fall asleep my love.  That can wait until later.  We
still have things to do before we can both unwind and relax."

Gary smiled.  "Okay.  That's enough for now.  Let's get things unpacked."

"You can show Jeff around while Rose and I go to store in the car and get what we need
for the time we'll be here.  I've already made a list of what we'll need, food wise that is."

Gary nodded as he finished putting some of his clothes away in his drawer of the dresser.

They left  their bedroom and saw that their children were sitting together on the sofa in the
living room.

"Rose, you and I are going into town to the grocery store, while Jeff and your father take
a walk," Toni  told her daughter, who hopped off the sofa and came over to her.

"Okay Mommy," Rose said smiling.

Toni grabbed her purse and promised Gary that they'd be back in a while.

"Jeff, you and I are going to the lake.  I want to show where we'll be fishing and
swimming while we're here," Gary told his son after his wife and daughter were on their
way to town in the car.

"Okay daddy," Jeff said getting off the couch.

He and Gary went outside and took a walk around the cabin with Gary showing Jeff the
different trees that were around their cabin, and went to the path that lead to the lake.

"This is it son.  This is where we'll be fishing and swimming at while we're here.  Not at
the same time, though. I know just the spot where we can go fishing at too," Gary said
pointing at the lake.

"It sure is a nice lake Daddy," Jeff said impressed by what he saw.

"It's all ours while we're here.  Just the four of us, and no one else. Come on.  Let's go
back to the cabin. Your mother's going to be wanting me to help her carry some of the
grocies in when they get back."

Meanwhile, Toni and Rose were in the local grocery store shopping for the family, when
she overheard someone saying something about her daughter that she didn't like.

"Listen lady, Rose is my daughter and the apple of my husband's eye.  We may not be rich,
but  we have our love and each other which is more important than anything that you
could ever have.  I hate snobby people who look at people with the look that you just
gave us, and if I was still a detective on the force, I'd give you a warning right now.  We're
on vacation, and I won't have anyone upsetting my family.  Please keep your remarks to
yourself unless you have something nice to say.  Rude people like yourself turn me off,"
she told the lady.

The clerk , who had been listening from the next isle, came over to add her two cents to
the discussion.

"Mrs. Hobson is so right!  This store is for people to come in and get what they need in a
friendly enviroment. I've gotten three complaints from customers about you Mrs,. Stoner,
that I am about to report you to my boss. Just because your husband struck it rich doesn't
mean you can look down at those who are honestly working for a living.  Money can't buy
happiness, and it doesn't impress anyone," she told the woman.

Mrs. Stoner was shocked by what she had just heard from the clerk and Toni. No one had
ever talked to her like that before.  "I am so sorry Mrs. Hobson. I meant no harm, honest.
I had almost forgotten how it was before my husband struck it lucky with that one well.  I
aploogize to both you and your daughter," she said.

"Apology accepted.  Now, if you'll excuse me, we have to finish shopping and get back to
our cabin."
 
 

Chapter 21

Toni paid for the grocies and pushed the shopping cart with Rose sitting in the child's seat
out to her car. She opened the back door, gently picked up her daughter, and carefully put
her in her carseat. After Rose was securely fastened in, Toni started to put the grocery
sacks inside on the other side. "There.  Mommy will be right back honey.  I've got to put
the cart away," she told her daughter. Toni shut the car door, and took the cart to the
cartstand that was a few feet from her car. She went back to her car, got in the driver's
seat, fastened her seatbelt, and drove out of the parking lot. 'Let's not tell Daddy what
happened in the store, okay.  I can just see his face when he sees all the sacks we have
when we get back to the cabin," Toni said smiling.

"Daddy will probably smile when he sees how much we have Mommy.  I love the way his
eyes look when he smiles at you," Rose said from her carseat in back.

"That was one reason I fell in love with your father.  His eyes are just like puppy dogs
when he smiles."

They got back to the cabin, and Gary came over to help carry the groceries inside.

"Six sacks of groceries!  Honey, we're not feeding an army , just ourseleves," he said when
he saw the sacks.

"I got what I thought we needed for a while is all.  Quit complaining handsome, and start
carrying some inside the cabin," Toni told him getting out of the driver's side.

Gary reached in the back and took out two sacks.  He carried them towards the door of
the cabin.

Toni unfastened Rose from her carseat, picked her up, and gently put her down on the
ground.

"Go hold the door open for Mommy please," she said, and Rose went to hold the door
open for her mother.

Toni picked up two sacks and walked towards the door of the cabin as Gary was coming
out.

"I'll get the last two sacks," he said as he passed his wife on his way to the car.

Toni nodded, and went inside the cabin going towards the kitchen.

"Rose, come and help Mommy put the groceries away please."

Rose left the door and went to help her mother in the kitchen.

Gary and Jeff walked towards the cabin door, and Jeff opened the door for his father to go
inside.

"Thank you Jeff.  That's a big help to me," Gary said smiling at his son as he went inside.

"You're welcome daddy," Jeff replied following his father inside the cabin.

Gary put the last sacks on the counter, and smiled as he watched his daughter help put the
food away.

"You've got a good helper there honey," he said to Toni.

"She likes helping me.  I only give her things to put away that she can reach," Toni replied.

"Daddy showed me the lake while you and Rose were at the store mommy," Jeff said.

"He did?  That's good.  Maybe one of these mornings you both can do a little fishing."

"He'll probably do better than me at fishing."

"I know you'll both bring back a fish for me to cook.  You're going to be the one that
cleans the fish."

Gary nodded.  "I know.  You've already told me that before."

"Just remember it sweetheart."
 
 

Chapter 22

Toni could already see the change in her husband as the evening wore on by the smile on
his face. Playing with the children and hearing his laughter coming from the living room,
made her smile too. She walked into the living room to see what they were laughing
about, and almost laughed herself when she saw that her children were having their father
pretend like he was a horse for them. "Okay, that's enough.  Get off of Daddy now.  Who
wants ice cream?," Toni asked.

"Ice cream?!  Oh boy!  I want some Mommy!," replied Jeff a grin on his face.

"Me too Mommy," Rose said climbing off of Gary's back.

"Go sit at the table, and I 'll put some in your bowls."

The children ran into the kitchen to sit at the table at their places for their ice cream.

Gary groaned and slowly got up from his position on the floor.

"That wasn't my idea of playing horsey with them honey," he told Toni walking over to
her.

"I know.  You've had some problems with your back before.  I'll tell them that you can't
play horsey for a while.  You want some ice cream sweetheart?"

"Yeah.  That sounds real good."

"Let's go in the kitchen then.  You did a good job of cooking the hamburgers on the grill
tonight."

Gary smiled.  "Thanks.  You made a good salad too."

They entered the kitchen, and Gary sat down at his seat at the table.

Toni went over the frezzer door, opened it, and took out a carton of chocolate ice cream.

"Chocolate ice cream coming right up," she said opening the box and dipping the scooper
inside.

Gary looked at his children.  "Daddy can't play horsey with you anymore for a while," he
gently told them.

"Why Daddy?  Did we hurt you?," Rose asked, her eyes filling with tears.

"No, you didn't hurt me Rose.  It's just that I've had some problems with my back at times,
and I don't them to come back while I'm enjoying myself."

Toni put her daughter's dish of ice cream in front of her.  "Daddy's pulled something in his
back a few times during his work at times, and that's why he can't play horsey anymore
with you and Jeff. It really hurts him when that happens.  Eat your ice cream."

Rose smiled and began to eat her ice cream as Toni filled Jeff's dish with ice cream.

"Here you are Jeff.  Just the way you like it," she told her son smiling setting it down in
front of him.

"Thanks mommy," Jeff said, and started to eat his ice cream.

Toni put some ice cream in Gary's dish, and some of hers before she put the box back in
the icebox.

She carried the bowls over to the table, and put her husband's in front of him.

"Look at our kids attack their ice cream.  They sure do love chocolate ice cream," Gary
said.

"I know they do.  That's why I brought a couple of cartons of it at the store," Toni replied
taking a bite of her own ice cream with her spoon.

Gary somehow knew that something had happened at the store with her and his daughter
earlier, but decided to wait until Toni was ready to tell him and not bother her about it.
He took a bite of his ice cream.

Toni could see by the look in her husband's eyes that he sensed that he knew something
had happened with her and Rose in the store earlier, and that he wanted to know what it
was.  She also knew that he would let her tell him when and if she was ready, and for that,
she was grateful.  She'd tell him later when the kids were asleep in the beds, and they were
alone.  No sense in upsetting Jeff about what had happened, she thought.
 
 

Chapter 23

Later, after the children were in their beds and asleep, Toni and Gary were sitting in the
living room by the fireplace drinking coffee watching the fire enjoying the quiet of the
night.

"Alright, now that the kids are asleep in bed, and we're alone, tell me what happened at the
store earlier. I can always tell by the look in your eyes when something has happened,"
Gary said looking at her.

Toni sighed.  "We were in the snack isle buying what we needed for here, and I overheard
a comment some lady made about Rose which I didn't like coming from the other isle.  I
wasn't going to let her get by with it, and I went over to tell her about it.  The lady was a
rich one, and her husband had just struck it rich with a oil rig somewhere he was working
at.  I told her that Rose was the apple of your eyes, and that we were on vacation, and I
didn't want anyone making my family upset.  I also told the lady that if I was stll on the
force, I'd give her a warning, and that people like her turn me off.  The clerk heard what
was going on, and I guess she had a couple of complaints about the woman from other
customers.  She told the woman that just because she had became a rich woman, she
shouldn't say nasty things about other people.  She warned the woman that she would go
to the manager about the complaints if she had to," she told him.

"So what happened after you told her off?"

"She aplogoized.  She said that she had almost forgotten what it was like to have to work
to get where she was at the time.  She said that she didn't mean any harm by what she said.
Her name is Mrs. Stone."

Gary sipped his coffee and smiled at his wife.  "I can just see you telling that lady off in the
store."

"When it comes to you and the kids, I won't let anyone say anything that'll upset my
family.  Let's drop the subject, okay.  When I heard you laughing earlier, I could tell that
you were already feeling relaxed."

"Yeah.  The kids wanted to play, and I said okay.  I told them no roughhousing.  I don't
know which one of them suggested it, but there was I, suddenly being a horse for them to
ride."

"When I came in to the room and saw Rose on your back, I knew it was time to make
them stop.  How's your back feeling honey?  I hope it doesn't hurt."

"My back's fine sweetheart. Thanks for asking though.  Come a littler closer."

Toni slid closer to her husband, and  Gary put his arm around her .

"I could fall asleep just lying next to you like this," she said.

"Save it for the bed honey.  Let's just savor the monment for right now."
 
 

A Hobson Family Vacation Chapter 24

The morning sun was coming up and was begining to shine in through the bedroom
window of the cabin. Toni watched her husband sleeping peacefully, and decided she'd let
him sleep a little longer before she called her family together for their first breakfast in
their cabin as she got out of her side of the bed. Putting on her robe, Toni quietly walked
out of the bedroom and towards the kitchen to start breakfast. She hummed a little tune
she knew as she got out the pan she'd use to make the eggs. Let's see, Gary likes his
scrambled and so do the kids.  I guess we can all eat the same kind today, Toni thought to
herself as she went over to the refirgator to take out the carton of eggs, and the bread for
toast. She turned the radio on and kept the volume down enough that it wouldn't disturb
anyone still asleep.

"Good morning mommy," Rose said coming into the kitchen wearing her pajamas having
just gotten up.

"Good morning Rose.  Want some orange juice?," Toni asked her daughter smiling at her.

Rose nodded.  "Yes please.  Is Daddy still asleep?"

"Yes, he is, and I want you and your brother to be quiet playing until he gets up.  Your
father likes to sleep in when he can, and I want him to do for a while until breakfast is
ready."

Toni poured her daughter a glass of orange juice and put it down at Rose's place at the
table.

"Is your brother still asleep in his bed?"

"Yes mommy.  I just passed his room on my way here and his door was still shut."

"I'll pour him a glass of juice too so he can drink it when he gets up and comes in here."

Sure enough, a few minutes later, Jeff came into the ktichen rubbing the sleep from his
eyes.

"Good morning Mommy," he said smiling at his mother as he sat down in his chair.

"Morning Jeff.  Here's your orange juice.  I'm fixing us all scrambled eggs and toast for
breakfast."

"Sounds good honey," Gary said smiling at his wife and children from the ktichen
doorway.

"I thought you were still asleep in bed," Toni told her husband going over to give him a
kiss.

"I was, but I couldn't sleep anymore, so I thought I'd get up.  Coffee ready?"

Toni nodded. "Yes.  Sit down, and I'll pour you a cup."

Gary sat down at the table and Toni poured him a cup of coffee and brought it over to
him.

"How'd you sleep last night kids?," Gary asked his children taking a sip of his coffee.

"Just fine daddy.  I didn't have any bad dreams or anything," Rose replied finishing her
juice.

"That's good.  How would you like to go swimming in the lake later ?"

"That'd be great daddy!  I can't wait to try my new fishing pole out too," Jeff said.

"We can do that  when no one's swimming in the lake Jeff.  Nice day out today."

Toni nodded.  "Yes it is.  It's going to be a beautiful day today."
 
 

Chapter 25

Later that day, as he promised, Gary took his children swimming in the lake after Toni had
put sunscreen on them so that they wouldn't get sunburned inside the cabin before they
headed for the lake. "Wow!  You look great in your bikni honey," he said smiling at his
wife noticing her new bikni she wore.

"You don't look so bad yourself in your swimming trucks sweetheart," she told him and he
almost blushed.

"Let's go have some fun.  The kids have been looking forward to swimming ever since
breakfast."

Toni couldn't help noticing how much at ease her husband felt without having to worry
about the paper and the bar.  This is what she had wanted to see him be for a long time
now, and it made her so happy.

"Don't swim out too far kids.  We don't know how deep it is way out there," she told her
children.

"Don't worry honey.  I'll keep a close eye on them.  Hey!  No splashing," Gary said and
laughed as his children tried to splash with some of the water by using their hands to
splash it on him.

"It's been a while since I've heard you laugh like that."

"It has?  Well, you're going to hear more of it from now on I promise."

"I should take a picture of you and the kids in the water with my camera.  I think I'll just
do that.  I'll be right back."  She turned and walked back to the cabin to get the camera so
she could take their pictures.

She came back five minutes later, the camera ready to focus on her family having fun in
the water.

"Okay everyone.  Smile!  This is going in the picture album I'm going to start later."

Rose and Jeff showed their big smiles, and Gary flashed his famous smile that always
melted Toni.

Toni took two pictures, and smiled back at her husband to show him that she loved his
smile.

"Everytime you smile like that, you melt me.  Now, you take one of me and the kids."

Gary went over to her and took the camera as she went to stand besides her children in the
water.

"Okay, smile everyone!," he said, and took their picture when they smiled.

He turned the camera on Toni and took her picture.  "This one is just for me."

"Put the camera down, and join us honey.  Look at how your daughter's enjoying herself."

Gary watched Rose splashing around in the water and smiled.

"She could almost be a mermaid.  Did you pick out that suit for her?"

Toni nodded.  "Yep.  Do you like it?"

"Yes.  She looks nice in it as you do in yours."

"Keep it up, and we'll both be blushing lover."

"That was a compliement honey. "

"I know it was, and what I told you was one too.  It makes me glad to see you so happy
and having fun."

"I've got you and our kids.  What else could I want?"

"You know what I mean.  You haven't had too much fun lately with things being crazy
recently."

Gary nodded again.  "I know what you meant, and let's not talk about it, okay."

"Okay.  Don't you even think of splashing me.  I can get you back just as good."
 
 

Chapter 26

The change in her husband made Toni very happy during their vacation with their children
at the lake. Taking two weeks away from the paper and everything else had been a good
idea, and she could see a little of the tension leaving him each day as Gary played with his
children, and went swimming with them.

"Mommy!  Mommy!  Look at what Daddy and I got in the lake!," Jeff proudly shouted as
he and Gary walked back from the lake where they had been fishing for most of the
afternoon trying out Jeff's new fishing pole.

Toni saw two big fish on her husband's fishing hook as Gary carried it in his hands walking
towards her.

"There's four of us, and you caught only two fish.  How is that going to feed all of us?,"
she asked.

Gary smiled.  "Our son put his fish that he caught in the basket not wanting to carry them
and have his hands smell like fish.  These are the two I caught.  Jeff's two fish are inside
the basket," he replied.

"I don't blame him.  Who wants their hands to smell like a fish?  You two clean the fish
off, and the other stuff. Then, bring them in, and I'll cook them for dinner.  We'll have that,
salad, rolls, and ice cream for desert."

Rose wanted to touch the fish, but Gary shook his head.

"Don't touch the fish honey.  Go inside and help Mommy while Jeff and I clean these fish,
okay."

"Okay Daddy.," Rose said, and followed her mother inside the cabin.

"Rose, get Mommy's camera please.  This is one picture I have to take, otherwise, no one
will believe when I tell them that your father actually cleaned a fish that he caught," Toni
told her daughter.

Rose smiled and went to get the camera from the desk in the living room for her mother.

"Here you are Mommy," she said handing it to her mother.

"Thank you Rose.  Stay right here while I go take Daddy's picture."

Toni  went outside and over to the picnic table where Gary and Jeff were cleaning their
fish.

Jeff saw the camera in his mother's hands, and Toni motioned for him not to give her
away.

Jeff hid his smile so that Gary wouldn't know something was up.

When Gary looked up for a minute to wipe the sweat from his forehead, Toni snapped his
picture.

"Hey!  Put that thing away!  I don't want my picture taken doing this dirty job," he told
her.

"Too bad sweetheart.  I'm not passing this opportunity up," Toni said almost laughing.

"Yeah?  I'll just wait until you go back inside to finish cleaning the stupid fish."

"Afraid you'll be embrassed when your parents see the picture?"

"No, I just don't want my picture taken while I'm cleaning the fish is all."

Toni took one more picture of him in the apron that he wore to keep his clothes from
being ruined.

"Nice apron you have on.  I have what I wanted on flim.  I'll go inside now."

Gary sighed and watched her go inside the cabin wondering what he could do to get back
at her.

"You should've warned me she had the camera with her, Jeff," he told his son.

"I wanted to Daddy, but Mommy told me not to," Jeff said smiling at his father.

"Let's finish cleaning the fish son.  You can throw away the pieces we don't need."
 
 

Chapter 27

Gary and Jeff washed their hands of the fishy smell in the bathroom sink when they came
inside the cabin. "You did a good job catching fish today son.  You're going to be a great
fisherman someday," he told Jeff.

"Thanks Daddy.  You showed me how to bait the hook and how to cast it way out to
catch the fish. Maybe we can play a little baseball sometime too while we're here," Jeff
said smiling at his father.

"Maybe when you're older and can catch the ball without dropping it.  I promise we'll do
it, but not just yet. I know you want to, but right now, there's still a lot about the sport
you don't know that I have to teach you. Someday, we'll go to a Cubs game together.
Would you like that?"

Jeff nodded as he wiped his hands on the towel.  "Sure!  That'd be great!"

Gary and his son went out of the bathroom and into the living room to sit down before
dinner.

"Dinner will be ready in a few minutes guys.  Just finishing cooking the last two pieces of
fish," Toni told her men as she set the salad bowl on the kitchen table.

"Okay honey.  The fish sure smells good," Gary said smiling at her.

"It'll taste even better."

Toni turned and went to check on the last two fish that were cooking in the oven.

"I'm going to get her for taking that picture of me earlier,"  Gary said as he looked in the
kitchen.

Rose went over to her father and showed him a picture that she had colored for him.

"Do you like it daddy?  I made it just for you," she asked.

Gary smiled at his daughter and nodded.  "Yes, I like it.  Thank you Rose. You're a good
colorer."

Rose beamed.  "I like to see you happy daddy."

Gary picked up his daughter and set her on his lap.  "You, Jeff and Mommy make me very
happy. You're all I could ever ask for as a family, and I love you all very much. Why don't
you take the picture in the kitchen and show it to Mommy?  It's a real good picture."

Toni carried the plate with the four fish fully cooked to the kitchen table, and set it down.

"Come and get it!"

Rose and Jeff got in their places at the table, and Gary held Toni's chair for her.

"Thank you honey.  Do you remember the first time you ever did that for me?," she said.

Gary sat down in his chair and nodded.  "Yeah, I remember, and this is not the time to
discuss it."

"I agree.  Let's eat.  We can talk about it later."
 
 

Chapter 28

Gary and his family took a walk down one the paths from the cabin one afternoon to see if
his children could identy the flowers and trees they saw.  "Don't you both shout it out
together when you see a flower or tree you recongize, okay.  Whoever spots something
first, can tell your mother and I what it is," he told them. Rose and Jeff nodded, and
looked for any flowers they knew and birds in the trees too.

"Daddy.  I hear a bird in the tree up ahead," Rose said pointing at the tree ahead of them
in the path.

"Good girl Rose.  Do you know what kind of bird it is that makes that noise?"

"No daddy.  It sure is a noisy bird, though."

Toni laughed at that.  "I agree with you honey.  Those kinds of birds are real noisy.," she
said.

'Daddy, there's some flowers by the maple tree," Jeff told Gary pointing at the dandylions.

Gary nodded.  "Good eyes son.  Those are dandylions, and they're pretty to look at."

Toni nodded.  "Yeah, out here they are, but not in our yard at home.  They make a mess
with their pedals."

"Are you hinting that our yard needs mowing when we get back my love?"

"It could use a little mowing sweetheart.  I don't want it to look too shabby."

"Okay, I promise to mow the yard when I get a chance when we get back."

They walked along somemore, and the kids kept picking out flowers, birds, and trees they
saw.

When they got back to the cabin, Toni decided to make some lemonade for everyone to
drink.

"I'm so proud of you both.  You really know your birds, flowers and trees," she told her
children.

"I agree.  You did really good during the nature walk we took," Gary said sitting down in
a chair.

"Daddy, could we go swimming again later on?  Please?," Rose asked.

Gary nodded.  "Sure honey."

"I can't wait to tell grandpa that I caught a fish with my fishing pole," Jeff said.

"I know what'll he say when you tell him son:  That he taught you all he knows about how
to fish."

"Which isn't true by the way.  Your father is the one who showed you how to fish," Toni
said as she came into the living room with a tray of four lemonade glasses in her hand
from the kitchen.

She handed Rose a glass, Jeff one, Gary one, and took the last one for herself as she sat
down on the sofa.

Gary went over and sat besides her on the sofa.  "It doesn't get any better than this," he
told her.

Toni smiled as she sipped her lemonade.  "Who could ask for anything more? We have the
children and each other.  We don't need anything else.  How's your lemonade?"

Gary took a sip and licked his lips.  "Mmmm.  Good.  You know how to make good
lemonade honey."

"Even our children like the lemonade.  Look at them drink it."

"Don't drink so fast kids.  We don't want you getting sick."

"Okay Daddy.  The lemonade's good Mommy," Jeff told his mother smiling.

"Thank you Jeff.  You can have some more for dinner later tonight.  Your father is going
to cook the hotdogs on the grill.  We're going to have a little outdoor picnic tonight."
 
 

Chapter 29

The rest of the vacation passed very fast, and each day, Gary was feeling more and more
relaxed. Gone was the tension from the paper and the bar that he had for so long inside.
He was grateful for the chance to have gotten away for two weeks to forget about any
problems and spend time with his family. "I can't believe how fast the vacation has gone
by.  It seems like we just got here, and we're leaving tomorrow. Since the kids are asleep
right now, let's take a little walk just the two of us," Gary told Toni.

"Alright, but not too far honey.  We have to be close enough to the cabin so that we can
hear the kids if they need us for something.  What a beautiful night to take a walk
outside," Toni replied.

They went outside closing the door softly so it wouldn't wake their sleeping children in
their rooms. Holding hands, Gary and Toni started walking down a path that lead from the
cabin to the lake. They came to the lake, and stood there on the sand looking out at the
blue clear water.

"You know something, I'm really glad we took this vacation.  I wish we didn't have to go
back, but I have the bar to run and the paper.  I'm not going to let the pressures get to me
anymore.  We should do this every year," Gary said putting his arm around his wife and
holding her close to him.

"I agree honey. Oh, I"m so glad to hear you say what you just said.  I could tell as the
days went by that you were feeling more and more relaxed, and that makes me very
happy.  I wish we could live here, but I know you have your business to run, and friends
back home," Toni told him hugging her husband.

"Well, I think we should go back now.  We have a lot to do to get ready before we leave
tomorrow."

They walked back to the cabin holding hands and decided to get some sleep theirselves.

The next morning, Toni fixed a specail breakfast letting her husband sleep in late and her
kids too. They had told the kids before they went to bed the other night that they'd be
going back home today. Both Rose and Jeff were a little sad at first, but they accepted the
fact and promised to be ready. Toni fixed toast, scrambled eggs, and bacon, and poured
coffee for both her and Gary, and orange juice for their children.  She'd have everything
ready when they got up. "Breakfast is ready!," she called an hour later having put the
drinks on the table.

Rose and Jeff came out of their bedrooms in their pajamas, and Gary was coming out of
the bathroom.

"Morning Mommy," Rose said smiling at her mother as she went to take her seat at the
table.

"Good morning Rose.  How did you sleep last night?," Toni asked as she her daughter's
plate in front of her.

"Just fine Mommy.  Daddy's taking a shower, and Jeff's behind me."

"Daddy's right here.  Good morning sweetheart," Gary said coming into the kitchen.

"Good morning handsome.  Your coffee's ready, and your breakfast is coming," Toni told
him kissing him.

Gary kissed her back, and sat down at his place at the table.

He took a sip of his coffee, and smiled at how good it tasted.

Jeff came into the kitchen and went over to his place at the table. "Good morning
Mommy.  Daddy," he said taking a sip of his orange juice.

"Good morning son.  Did you sleep well last night?," Gary asked.

Jeff nodded.  "Yes Daddy.  I wish we didn't have to leave.  I like it here,"

"I know Jeff, but I have my business back home to run, and friends to see. I promise we'll
come here every year for vacation.  Are you and Rose alset to go home after breakfast?"

"Uh-huh.  We packed everything before we went to bed last night."

"That's good.  Saves us time.  Here's your breakfast," Toni said putting his plate in front of
him.

They ate their breakfast talking about how much fun they had, and an hour later, they all
got in Toni's car for the trip home.  Gary drove because he knew the way, and Toni had
the map ready just in case.

The radio was on, and the news came on which the kid's didn't want to hear.
 

"Resident Lucy Knight Carter, wife of Doctor of John Carter of Community General
Hospital, will be a hostess at her grandmother-in-law's mansion for a charity benefit to
help raise funds for some needed equipment for the children's ward at the clinic where she
works at parttime.  Those scheduled to attend are Dr. Mark Green, his wife, Doctor
Elzabeth Green. Doctor Doug Ross and his wife Carol, head of nursing at the hospital, Dr.
Carrie Weaver, Dr. Peter Benton, and other hospital staff," the newsperson said.

"I know Lucy's mother.  She was so happy when Lucy and John got married," Toni said.

"Well, maybe sometime, you can go visit them when we get back home," Gary told her.

Little did he realize that he and Toni would be involved with Lucy and the others in a way
that none of them expected.
 

Email the author: lori@maplecity.com
 

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