Part 25 If Oak Trees Could Talk!
Welcome back to my video blogs! I can hardly believe how fast the year 2015 has zoomed by! As Christmas is fast approaching, I hope that everyone who has followed my blogs or visited will have a wonderful and blessed holiday!
I want to take this time once again to express my heart felt appreciation for all of my followers and for all of you that have taken the time to “tune in” or read along to my Video Blogs of my Romance/Suspense Novel If Oak Trees Could Talk! I appreciate that even though my reading of my novel is highly unconventional; you continued to “tune in” or read along with me! I also thank you that you have been patient with me as I have fumbled my way through the learning of how to do the videos. Hopefully in the future, as I finish up my novel, I will continue to learn how to do the videos much better!
Today will be a little longer than usual as we will finish reading Chapter 13 The Picnic!
Chapter 13 The Picnic!
She walked up to the house to find her husband and boys sitting on the porch. Robert knew that she was concerned about her parents so he sent the boys around the back of the house to play. There were lots of things that the boys could find interesting back there, Gramps made sure of that!
“Honey, it’s going to be alright!” Robert said as he reached out for Amelia. She sat with him on the swing. He gently pushed the swing with his foot as he held her hand to reassure her.
“I don’t really know what to do? Momma and Daddy have minds of their own. If they do not want to go back to Glenview, I refuse to force them. I probably couldn’t force them anyway, even if I wanted to. When Momma is released legally in a few weeks and Daddy isn’t, he will die. I seriously believe that he will grieve himself so, that he will just give up and die!” Amelia said with desperation in her voice. “I can’t help but wonder if someone told him that Momma was being released? I know Momma asked Glenview’s staff not too, but someone could have told him accidently thinking it was just good news. I don’t know. Why would he just take off all of a sudden? He was doing so much better. Every day I could see such an improvement in him. He actually had that sparkle in his eyes that had not been there since Momma had her stroke. He was coming back to us!”
“He was in such bad shape when he went in. I know he has made a lot of progress! I agree with you that someone must have told him about your Mom accidently. I agree something had to happen.” Robert consoled. “Let’s contact your Daddy’s nurse, maybe she will know what happened.”
“Yes, I know Daddy was coming back to us, but honestly, his improvement wasn’t because of Glenview. I seriously believe it was because Momma was getting well and was able to spend more time with him. I am convinced that is all he needs, is to spend time with Momma without being separated. I know Glenview has rules, but it was so obvious to everyone that Daddy lit up and was more himself every time he was with Momma. I would think that there is an exception to every rule when it comes to married couples in Elderly Homes. They should be allowed to stay together, especially when you can obviously see that they do far better together, than they do apart. Wouldn’t you think so?” Amelia probed for answers.
“I would think so,” Robert agreed!
“If my parents go back to Glenview this will be the only way that they will go and I know that. I will call Nurse Wanda to see if she knows what may have happened with Daddy. Also I will talk to her to see if she knows who I need to speak with to get my parents placed together in one room! I should have insisted on this to begin with and maybe Daddy would have been well by now. I know with Momma, she had to have the therapy, but she could have possibly gotten it at home!” Amelia continued to reason being disgusted with herself that she didn’t do something differently to help her parents earlier.
“Amelia, you can’t sit around and play the “What if” game! What if you’re Daddy hadn’t left Glenview, would you be asking yourself these questions?” Robert asked.
“Honestly Robert, there is not a day goes by that I don’t ask what I could have done differently. I just feel like I failed Daddy by not getting him to where Momma was at the beginning when she was so sick. That’s when he left us all!” Amelia said, this time with tears in her eyes.
“Okay, looking back is not helping anything and will not change a thing Baby. We need to move forward with a solution that will make this family whole again!” Robert said rather firmly as Amelia rested her head on his shoulder. “I am good with whatever you want to do. If you want to bring them home, we will care for them. If you want to continue to let Glenview take care of them, I am with you. We need to consult your Mother and see if she has suggestions. We are going to get through this and your parents will be home and back together again soon! That is the goal, right?”
“That’s the goal Amelia agreed! I love you Robert, with all of my heart. I truly do!” Amelia said as she rested her head on Robert’s shoulder.
“I love you more!” Robert whispered as he pulled Amelia closer.
“I hate to disturb Momma and Daddy, but I really need to talk with her before Eugene comes back in with his lights and siren blaring again! He said he would give me until morning, but I don’t trust him.” Amelia said with dread in her voice.
“Yes, it needs to be done. The boys and I will wait up here. They are really enjoying this time. It’s good being back at their Grandparent’s home!” Robert stated.
Amelia stood to her feet and took a deep breath. She began walking toward the old Oak tree. She could see that her parents were not dancing or swinging any longer. She assumed that they were having their food from Speedy’s Grill and Shake. As Amelia drew closer she saw her parents sitting on the blanket side by side. Her mother must have had some kind of time getting down on the ground. Her Daddy, however, was sitting in a robe with his legs crossed Indian style. He appeared to be perfectly content and at home. She couldn’t help but chuckle at the site. Finally she made her way to them.
“How’s everything going? Is the food good?” Amelia asked to start the conversation.
“Delicious, simply delicious,” Helen answered, but Henry never said anything. He simply smiled.
“Momma, do you think that I can talk with you for a minute?” Amelia asked subtly. She was very concerned as to whether her Daddy knew the seriousness of the situation. She could only pray that because he made his way back home that it meant something good and positive. However, until she knew for sure, Amelia did not want to speak about her concerns in front of Henry because she did not want to upset him.
“Sure Honey, what is it?” Helen asked. “I meant privately Mom,” Helen replied.
“Amelia Dear, Henry can hear everything that you have to say to me,” Helen said directly.
“Well, Momma, I just didn’t want to upset you both, but you know the Sheriff came earlier. He said that Mr. Hodges at Glenview is very upset that both of you left. He also said that Mr. Hodges is considering pressing charges against me for kidnapping if you both do not return to Glenview. I am not concerned about me. I am however, concerned about you and Daddy. How is Daddy? Is he well enough not to need Glenview? What do you think we need to do? Momma, I am prepared to stand behind whatever decision you make. For I know it will be what is best for you and Daddy,” Amelia stated as she looked at her little Daddy sitting there still eating his Hamburger and Onion rings in his bathrobe.
“Amelia, we know that it has been really difficult for you. We are sorry to be big old pains in your…. neck. We’ve already decided to go back Honey. We will go back first thing in the morning. Henry thought if he could just see the Oak tree that he could remember everything. He does remember a lot more, but he is not completely well. Both he and I know this. We will go back until I finish up all my therapy. That should be a few more weeks and then come home. When I come home, he’s coming with me! Agreed?” Helen said rather sternly to stress her point.
“I am totally in agreement with whatever you decide Momma. So you’re saying to me that Daddy is better but not a hundred percent yet? Is he well enough to know that he is going back to Glenview?” Amelia asked.
“Amelia, ask your father, he’s not deaf.” Helen once again said rather sternly.
“Daddy, do you understand what we are talking about?” Amelia asked cautiously. “Will you be okay if both you and Momma go back to Glenview?”
Tears began to fill Henry’s eyes as he looked up at his sweet Amelia who was so concerned about what they needed. He wondered when she became the parent in all of this mess they were in. He became overwhelmed when he considered the burden that he placed upon her shoulders. For the first time, he could really see that it was a lot for her to have to carry.
“My dear Sweet Amelia, come here!” Henry commanded with his arms wide open.
Amelia obeyed and kneeled on the blanket in front of him. He pulled her in close, kissed her on the forehead and gently patted her back. He swallowed hard and began to speak.
“Amelia, honey, I am so sorry. I sure did not mean to cause this much trouble. I see that you’ve really been worried about us. We are fine now. I just had to see if my old friend here could help me. She really did, but I still have a ways to go. When that man that runs Glenview told me that your Momma was on her way out of there without me, I just went into a panic. I cannot live without your Momma close to me! So I came home to see if I could find what I had lost. I found a lot, but I have not found everything I needed to find. I will though, Daughter, I will.” Henry promised convincingly. As Amelia listened to her Dad, she could not believe that he wasn’t totally back with them. He sounded perfectly sound.
“But, Daddy, you act….I mean you sound so much better! Are you and Momma sure that you want to go back to Glenview. Are you sure that you would not want to just try to stay here and see what else you may find? I would be happy to help take care of you both. I am sure we can get Momma the therapy that she needs at home!” Amelia pleaded as she became desperate to convince her parents to stay home. She wanted them home more than anything. She and her boys needed them. Much like her Daddy, she and her family had lost something precious as well, and Amelia felt as though they would never have it back until Henry and Helen returned home for good.
“We are sure dear, all is well. We will be fine at Glenview. We will be home again soon, I promise.” Henry said while pulling Amelia close to him like he used to do when she was a little girl. He kissed her once again on her forehead and smiled. “Tell that husband of yours that we said thanks for the Speedy’s Grill and Shakes. That was some of the best food that I’ve had in I cannot remember when. Wow, getting to have a picnic with your Momma, I would run away every day if I could to do that!” Henry said as he nudged Helen’s shoulder. He then smiled a sheepish grin.
Thank you once again for “tuning in” or reading along with me! It is my hope that you have been enjoying my Romance/Suspense novel, If Oak Trees Could Talk!, for it has been my pleasure to share it with you! As always I would love to hear from you. I want to thank all of you that have begun following my WordPress blogs. Please continue to “tune it” as we are about half way through the book.
If you are interested in obtaining your own copy of If Oak Trees Could Talk or any of my other books, please visit my Amazon Author Page here! Also If you are new to my Video Blogs and would like to catch up on the story from the beginning please check out the archives in this blog or simply subscribe to my Youtube Videos as they are numbered and in order! I am also a weekly contributor to The Lakeview Times. All of my videos are published each week at http://www.lakeviewtimes.com
This recipe for Mama’s DIY Maple Sweetened Cookies would be an awesome Christmas Cookie recipe and a wonderful gift!
Part 24 If Oak Trees Could Talk
Welcome back! I hope that you’ve had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! Mine was special as my two oldest sisters from Ohio and Kentucky came to visit with some of their families! As we gathered around our Thanksgiving feast of abundance, I was grateful and blessed to have this time with them.
If you’ve been following along with my Video blogs, then you already know how important family is to me by listening to If Oak Trees Could Talk! Today we are continuing in Chapter 13 The Picnic!
Chapter 13
The Picnic!
She spread out the blanket on the ground and placed the hamburgers and onion rings inside the picnic basket along with a couple of wine glasses. She also placed the bottle of wine in an ice bucket. She propped the radio beside the basket along with the bathrobe that she found for her Daddy. As she had gotten her Mom’s attention, she pointed to the house and whispered to her that that was where she was going to be if her mother needed anything. Just as she was ready to walk away, a Sheriff’s car came barreling into the driveway with flashing lights and a siren screaming.
Robert walked quickly toward the driveway to meet the Sheriff’s car and Amelia and the boys followed as well to prevent them from interrupting her parents. When they had arrived at the driveway, Eugene Perkins stepped out of the police car.
“Robert, Ms. Amelia, I am sure you know why I’m here, right?” Eugene asked.
“Hello Eugene, how are you? How are your parents?” Amelia asked hoping to change the subject. Helen taught Amelia to be polite and sociable. There wasn’t any reason to be rude; after all, Amelia had gone almost thirteen years of school with Eugene if you count kindergarten. She knew every member of his family and his parents were close friends to hers.
“My folks are fine, Ms. Amelia. Speaking of folks, Ms. Amelia, How are yours doing?” Eugene probed as he looked toward the old Oak tree.
“Well, Eugene, I am sure that they’ve been better, but they’re not doing badly!” Amelia stated.
“Now Ms. Amelia, we’re going to have to quit beating around the bush here, now you know why I am here, right?” Eugene once again asked as he looked Amelia right in the eyes.
“Well, I honestly don’t know why you’re here Eugene.” Amelia answered. “I don’t understand exactly. Are we in some kind of trouble?”
“Well, I guess you can say that Ms. Amelia, I’ve got to take your parents back to Glenview. I had gotten a call from Mr. Hodges, accusing you of taking your parents out of the home illegally. Is this true?” Eugene once again probed as he kept looking down toward the Oak tree. By this time a sound of music was coming from the tree and Eugene became more and more curious as to what was going on down there.
“I didn’t know that I had done anything illegal, Eugene. It wasn’t like they are imprisoned at Glenview. I am the one, with their permission of course, that had signed them into Glenview. I didn’t think it would be illegal to take them out.”
“Well, Ms. Amelia, Mr. Hodges disagrees. He says that your parents are liable for a lot of expenses and that you were not advised by the staff as to whether or not they were able to leave Glenview. I think it would be best if I just took your parents back, and then maybe you do things differently if you choose to take them out again. Mr. Hodges is pressing charges of kidnapping against you.”
“Now, Eugene, you know that is not the truth. You have parents that are getting older, if your father decided to leave a facility on his own accord, mine you, like Glenview, wouldn’t you want to help your mother find him? By the way, do you still live at home with your parents? Amelia stalled.
“Yes, Ms. Amelia I still live with my parents. Do you know how often I am asked that question?” Eugene asked as he obviously was embarrassed.
“I’m asking you as a friend, Eugene, please just give us some more time. Momma thinks that she might be able to reach Daddy so that he will come back to us. Eugene I’m telling you and Mr. Hodges right now, if they refuse to go back into Glenview, then there is nothing that I can do about it but stand by what they want!”
“Okay, Ms. Amelia, I’m going to turn my back on what I’ve seen here today. I will give your mother until morning to see what happens with Mr. Henry. I believe that I can hold Mr. Hodges off until then, but after that, I cannot promise you that I can help you.” Eugene said while cocking his head at a certain angle to look in Amelia’s eyes because the sun was starting to set and was shining right in Eugene’s face.
“Fair enough Eugene! Thank you. We will see what we can do! Tell your parents hello for us.” Amelia said with a sigh of relief.
Eugene got in his police car, and Amelia could hear him talking on his radio. “That’s a negative on Mr. Henry Tyler’s twenty. We’ll just have to check back later!”
He then started his car and sped off.
The sun had gone down rather quickly and it seemed as though the moon was in a hurry to shine forth. When Amelia looked toward the Oak tree she could see the silhouette of two people. She watched in awe as her parents swayed softly in an embrace to faint sounds of music. Amelia sighed once again because she knew that only her Momma could have gotten her Daddy down from the tree without breaking any bones. The radio continued to play softly and she could hear soft laughter coming from her parent’s direction. From a distance everything appeared as it should be. Both of her parents seemed as though nothing had robbed them of their past year’s happiness, but Amelia wondered how it would be if she drew closer?
Amelia loved what she was witnessing. However, she knew that it was going to come to an abrupt end. Although Eugene Perkins gave them a break this time, Amelia knew his reputation of being ruthless at times. He was a Sheriff who thought more of himself than anyone else did and quite frankly he let the job go to his head. He liked to throw his weight around and lord over people when he had an opportunity. Amelia considered the situation with her parents to be an awesome opportunity for him.
Thank you once again for “tuning in” or reading along with me! It is my hope that you have been enjoying my Romance/Suspense novel, If Oak Trees Could Talk!, for it has been my pleasure to share it with you! As always I would love to hear from you. I want to thank all of you that have begun following my WordPress blogs. Please continue to “tune it” as we are about half way through the book.
If you are interested in obtaining your own copy of If Oak Trees Could Talk or any of my other books, please visit my Amazon Author Page here! Also If you are new to my Video Blogs and would like to catch up on the story from the beginning please check out the archives in this blog or simply subscribe to my Youtube Videos as they are numbered and in order! I am also a weekly contributor to The Lakeview Times. All of my videos are published each week at http://www.lakeviewtimes.com
Part 22 If Oak Trees Could Talk!
Hello Everyone, I’ve been out and about quite a bit the past month, but I want to sincerely thank you for your patience and for hanging in here with me as I continue reading and Video blogging my Romance/Suspense Novel If Oak Trees Could Talk!
Chapter 12
No Place Like Home!
Suddenly, the boys came running around from the side porch and frightened her!
“What are you doing, Momma? Are you going in or not?” Dylan asked, as he walked over and lifted up a potted plant to find the house key placed underneath.
“Yes, sweetie, I was just having some wonderful memories!” Amelia whispered.
“We have always loved it here too, Mom, we miss being here. Can we just come over some time to hang out like we used to?” Rob asked.
“Well, I don’t know why we couldn’t! After all this house is like a member of the family, it needs to have life in it!” Amelia stated with a smile. “Now, let’s get in here and get what Gramma needs for her picnic!”
“Gramma’s having a picnic? Will it be in the gardens like we used to do?” Dylan asked with excitement.
“No, I’m afraid not, boys, this is a special picnic just for adults, okay?” Amelia replied.
“Yuck, it’s one of those kinds of picnics. Don’t worry we don’t ever want to go to that kind of stuff anyway!” Rob said with a wrinkled up look on his face.
As the three talked they moved forward through the door of Amelia’s childhood home. Everything was neatly in its place, just as it was when Henry and Helen left, but the house never felt the same. It never smelled the same either. Before Helen’s accident, the home always seemed so warm and inviting and smelled of wonderful scents of fresh baked goods. Helen loved to cook and bake for not only her own family but she was always fixing meals or baking breads, cakes, pies or other delectable sweets to take to neighbors, shut-ins, or even the residents at Glenview Residential Home for the Elderly. It was ironic that she herself became one of those residents!
When her parents were well, Amelia brought the boys over every day to see their grandparents. Henry would take the boys outside into the garage or down by the creek or down by the Oak tree. He was always telling them funny stories and helping them to become who they were going to grow up to be. Helen, of course, always spoiled the boys rotten. She always had fresh baked muffins or cookies with hot cocoa loaded either in marshmallows or with whipped cream with cherries on top. Helen would have the cups ready, the hot cocoa made and waiting for the boys when they come through her door! No greater parents or life could Amelia have asked for.
“Man, there it is!” Dylan let out a shout!
“There what is?” Rob asked his brother.
“That pocketknife that Gramps gave me, I’ve looked all over the place for it! I remember now that Gramps said that he would sharpen it up for me. He always said that a dull knife was actually more dangerous than a sharp knife. He was going to sharpen it so that he could teach us how to carve. Gramps always taught us things like that. I sure do miss his yard trips!”
“What are yard trips?” Amelia asked
“They were trips that Gramps would take us on and we would explore. We never came into the yard that we never learned something new! One time he showed us this big old worm moving through the grass. He said that you could tell if there was going to be a good or bad winter by the color of those worms.” Dylan said as he opened and shut his pocketknife. He checked to see how sharp it was by seeing if it would shave the hairs on his arm.
“Woolly Worms, That’s what he called them! He said they were Woolly worms!” Rob joined in.
“I remember that the Woolly Worm he showed us was browner then it was black and he said that the winter wasn’t going to be bad! He told us if the worm would have been blacker than brown that we could expect a bad winter. He started giggling when he told us about the bad winter. He winked at us and said that if we were to have a bad winter, then that would just have meant that we would have to blow up some tire inner tubes to sleigh ride down to the old Oak tree in the side yard. He also said that it meant that we would just get special treats! He licked his lips and told us to bring on the hot spiced apple cider or hot chocolate with extra marshmallows! Dylan continued, as everyone giggled while picturing Henry’s impish grin.
“Okay, we’ve got to hurry and get what we came in here for! I am sure Gramma is probably wondering about us! Dylan please search in the pantry closet and see if you can find a picnic basket. Rob would you go upstairs please to the linen closet in the hallway, and get a blanket? It doesn’t matter what kind, just a blanket. I will go get Gramma her radio and new batteries.
They each headed off in different directions to get the supplies that Helen had requested that they bring to her. As they met in the living room, each one of them had the same thought.
“Shouldn’t we get some kind of clothes for Gramps to put on?” Rob asked with a giggle.
“Yes, I suppose that we should,” Amelia agreed with a slight grin on her face as well. “I will go and get him something, whether or not your Gramma can get him to put them on will be questionable! Wait just a second boys, I’ve got to go to the wine cellar as well! If Gramma is having a romantic picnic, than they’ve got to have wine. I’ll be right back. We should all go together to give these things to her!”
The boys waited patiently in the living room where they had spent so much of their time. Pictures of their parents and themselves lined a wall that Gramma and Gramps called the “Wall of Fame!” The boys stood staring at the pictures as they told a wonderful story about a happy family that seemed to have everything.
“Man looking at this wall is sad!” Rob blurted out.
“I love looking at all of the old photos, especially of Gramps and Gramma! Even at Mom’s pictures when she was young. Look at that goofy grin. Who poses like that?” Dylan said with a chuckle.
“You do, look at that picture of you! You look just like Mom in that picture, look at you’re goofy grin. Oh wait! Look at Gramps in that picture! I take it back you look just like him with his goofy grin!” Rob said as he became more and more excited while looking at the pictures and stating something that had not really appeared so real to them before.
“Goodness if we look like Gramps when we are young……Don’t even say it!” Dylan ordered. “Don’t even say it!”
Suddenly their humorous revelation of their family portraits was interrupted when their Mom walked back into the room.
“What’s so funny, boys?” She probed as a smile come on her face seeing that the boys seemed happy about something.
“Believe us, it is nothing that we ever wanted to talk about Mom!” Rob answered as he threw a punch into Dylan’s arm.
“No, Mam, me neither.” Dylan agreed as he socked his brother back!
“Well, okay, let’s move it out! Gramma probably thinks we’ve gotten lost like Gramps today! Let’s get this stuff to her!” Mom ordered. “Just leave the door, we will come back up and get it later!” She continued as she walked toward the front door.
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