Family Reunion (89 page)

"Well, would you mind if, I wanted to, go home?" Manny smiled, shaking his head. "Your wish is my command. My strongest need is that wherever we go, we be there together. I understand that you're no doubt anxious to get your new home decorated and furnished."

Lena looked up at him confused a moment. "New home? What new home?" Manny then looked at her confused. "'You were talking about the new mansion I had built weren't you?" Lena swallowed and shook her head slowly as a realization dawned on both of them.

Manny lay back in the bed shaking his head. "Look Lena, I've been thinking. Your father and I have been talking; I don't think it's a good idea to return to Webster Fields."

"That's where I want to go."

"No Lena, not there."

"But Manny-…"

"No! Not there. I've given that a lot of thought. The South is not a good place for us – hell - there are not many places anywhere, but our chances are better in New York if we're careful."

"Manny, can't we be just as careful at Webster Fields? Sandra and I have a plan. Can I tell you what it is?"

"What plan?"

"Sandra will return with us, we kind of discussed this already remember? And…well, naturally…people will see her, you will – take her out to dinner – you know – show your face around…and people will naturally assume, she is your wife…they'd never know, that we are married. Please Manny, please! I want to go home. Webster Fields is home for me. We can travel back and forth to New York, I don't mind…but I want to live at Webster Fields. Please Manny."

Manny lay flat looking up at her, "Sandra? My wife?"

"Just for show."

"What is to happen when she meets someone and falls in love? Then what?"

"She's not interested in men Manny, not since George."

"Well I happen to know there's a man interested in her. Finbar…she's all he talks about."

"He's more than welcome, we have room!"

Manny threw his head back and roared with laughter, "You have all the answers don't you?"

"I've really thought it through Manny, I want to go home."

Manny rolled up and pushed her to her back, looking down at her, he shared a bit of news with her, "You know, your father says I am far too weak with you. He says there is no need for me to give you
everything
you ask for. He says that I need to put my foot down and on occasion, tell you no…a firm - no…where I stick to it."

"Please…I want to go home…please."

"Webster Fields?"

"Yes…Webster Fields. We can make it work, I know we can."

"Okay…you are to listen to me…are you listening?"

She nodded with wide eyes. "The moment I feel that something is not right, we leave. Do you understand? No arguments, no buts, no new plan…have I made myself clear?"

"Yes…loud and clear."

"Very well, get up, let's gather our things! Time to get going."

"To Webster Fields?"

"Yes…after…wait…after I see to things in New York, we see to all matters there, then…then yes, we'll go home to Webster Fields."

"Oh Manny, Manny...I love you so."

"Emmm, because you have me wrapped around your little finger."

Back to Webster Fields…

Even through the veil over her face, Lena could feel the mist on her skin. Though her eyes were closed, she was fully aware of her surroundings, luxuriating in the security and comfort of her head leaning on her husband's shoulder. She could hear the wheels of the wagon as they rolled, crunching on sand and rocks, trenching the road, leaving a trail as they made it through the final leg of their journey. The even, gentle jostling of the two seat carriage and clopping of the horses hooves lulled her sweetly. To her husband's delight, for quite sometime after their departure from Makia, with every glance he turned her way, he was rewarded in seeing a soft smile ever present on her pretty face. Others too, noticed her calm, a peace that seemed to have moved in on Lena's soul and it showed.

She squeezed his arm and snuggled gently against him as he drove their carriage down Okala road. On an evening that was dark and misty, with a heavy chill in the air, Lena thought she would be cold; nothing could have been further from the truth. Precious heat emanated as if providing a shield of warmth around them that she especially be content in their travel, and she was. When the Princess had docked in New York, they had been greeted with an uproarious welcome as they arrived at the new mansion, named by their daughter, to their delighted surprise, -Ramsey Manor.

Manny had been saddened to hear that Charles had returned home to Mississippi immediately following the trial, so he’d been unable to see him there on their arrival, but knew he would see him once they made it to Webster Fields. During the time of their absence many things had taken place. By arriving earlier, due to Sandra's court case, Hope had thrown herself into decorating the mansion, filling it with all the comforts she thought her parents might enjoy upon their return. Manny and Lena couldn't have been more pleased with that, and to hear that their daughter was finally, once again in the family way.

Josephine was there, newly married to the scout Raymond Meyer, and together they watched out for Hope, fussing over her, seeing to her every comfort. To the surprise of Manny and Lena they were not alone in that. With tears in her eyes, Hope had pulled her parents into the kitchen to meet the newly hired staff. For the first time, her biological parents were able to meet and thank her adopted ones. Hope explained that one day while directing the decoration process; one of the hired servants had called to her asking, "Madam, what would you have us say to these gypsies at our door?"

With her heart pounding she’d ran to investigate only to see Alfredo standing nervously wringing his hat, about to ask for employment with them.

Following tears of joy from the
family reunion, Hope had invited them to live there naturally as part of her extended family. Anna and Alfredo declared they were done with charity, they would work for their keep and so Anna ran the kitchen and directed the implementing of a greenhouse where all her knowledge in growing herbs and vegetables could be put to use.

Alfredo was there to assist his wife in whatever was needed. Hope couldn't be happier even though it had broken her heart to hear that they’d woke one morning to find Cornelius gone. No words of goodbye…he'd just slipped away in the night. Of course, having all that unfold, Joe knew then they were there to stay, New York was to be their home, with the option of going to Connecticut if they ever needed to do so. The transformation in the new mansion was amazing with all the people contributing to making it a home filled with family and love.

To Manny and Lena's relief, the home would be well put to use with Hope and Joe, Josephine, Raymond and Cesalia, along with Anna and Alfredo and the soon to arrive new baby. As the job of decorating it commenced, Mike, Leon, and their family arrived. To the happy delight of all, Maria had walked in the door no longer pregnant, but carrying their new born son. Hope was elated, and shared her good news with them. Together they all worked to get the new mansion up to spec for when Manny and Lena arrived on the scene. Mike explained why their new son had no name as of yet, he wanted his mother there before a permanent name was decided upon. When Manny and Lena arrived, it was to stand in the presence of one happy incident after another. The name of the baby was also decided on. So with all the women ooohing and aaahing over it, they collectively came up with his name.

Matthew Roland Erwin Ramsey Milodeatz Anatole Webster!

With her mouth standing open, Hope took one look at her husband, and they both agreed, declaring for all to hear, the naming of their child would remain in the hands of those who made him or her, Joseph and herself. There was no way they would let such a thing happen to their baby.

There had been a bit of a fuss about it, mainly from Lena and Josey who had pouted and grumbled, but Hope held steadfast in that decision. The men could care less what the children were named at that point, as long as they were quiet. Since Mike was the one responsible for the herd, he had been thrust forward by his father and the other men to constructively grant them peace and quiet. Deciding on a strategy, he figured he would start with the newcomer and nip that noise factor in the bud, "Matt! Quiet!"

His deep booming voice had startled the new born infant so he sucked in a wail staring wide eyed at Mike as if to say,
'How dare he tell me 'quiet!'
he then opened his mouth to wail again when Mike had scowled at him, stifling him with a, "Aah! Shhh!" He might have been successful if it had not been for the attack of the women. Slapped by his mother, his hair yanked by his sister and pinched hard by his wife. Manny had roared with laughter, staying out of the way as Mike ducked and ran to stand behind him.

Rory would be staying with his sister until Manny and Lena returned in the spring for the arrival of Hope’s baby. Then he would be going back with them to Webster Fields. In the meantime, they’d learned the outcome of Sandra's trial, it was as Joe had suspected.

Georgia and her husband were in dire straights and needed any and all the money they could lay their hands on. Unfortunately, they'd won as far as Georgia regaining the Sinclair property, they’d even tried to gain access to Sandra's businesses but because they were by then in Manny's possession, they’d failed to get them. Sandra was satisfied with the outcome, giving up the Sinclair home did not come as a hardship to her, it held too many nightmarish memories. She easily removed her personal belongings and happily left them to it. There was also the business of the Boston shipping yard, Manny, Joe, Mike and Lena had taken a trip there to check on it and meet with Gydale Kent and Mailon. Walking through the shipping yard with Gydale and listening to his plans to duplicate it in Lake Charles, near Mike’s place, had satisfied Manny that he had indeed picked the right man for the job.

Gydale and Mailon were free to travel with Mike and his family to their Lake Charles mansion. There Mike would provide a piece of land and a home for Gydale and his daughter as they worked towards establishing a shipyard. After meeting with, and getting to know the yard supervisors, Bailey Wallace and Cameron Sykes, in Boston, Manny had felt no need to change anything as far as their positions were concerned. They were gruff and a bit hard handed with some of the men but they got the job done and then some.

Meeting with them, Manny offered them a bit of direction concerning his personal preference with handling their manpower; they agreed to give his method a try. Happy with that, Manny and Lena had departed, returning to rest up at Ramsey Manor before the trip home, back to Webster Fields. To Lena's surprise, Sandra, who had been staying at Ramsey Manor for the time being, was showing signs of responding to Finbar's attention, Lena had noticed that as the Princess docked in Charleston. They stopped there to rest again with Manny renting a townhouse for them all, while he, Finbar and Gaitsu had procured one of his giant freight wagons.

It was needed to unload all of the items from the Princess that Lena had brought back from Makia and New York. Finbar and Gaitsu would travel on it, taking it to Webster Fields. Sandra had eased the news that she would go with them instead of travelling with Lena and Manny. Her excuse had been that they were newly married and needed that time alone. Lena had grinned with a, "Em hm, why certainly we do…need time alone."

The treasure her father had refused to take back was divided up between them and their children. Each was given an equal portion, with Leon, Mike and Hope taking possession of theirs immediately. While Rory's was set up in an inheritance fund until he was twenty-five. He’d whined and complained a bit but Manny wasn't sure about how he would turn out. He was showing signs of being a bit of a scoundrel and womanizer. It still remained to be seen what kind of business sense he had and whether he would attend a university and complete his education.

Manny was determined that he would earn his inheritance, informing his son, that he could get it earlier than twenty-five if he showed him that he really didn't need it and that he could be self-sufficient without it. That had brought laughter and teasing from Mike to Rory's dismay.

Chapter Nineteen