Recovery of a Hero Ch. 15

Uncle Dar perked up at that and asked, "How much? Cash price."

"$56,000 and no negotiating," said Bobby. That's as low as I can go already. I have to get rid of it so I'll let you have it for that."

"How bout a test drive for my chauffeur?" asked Uncle Dar.

I looked at Megan. She looked like she was going to start drooling.

Bobby went to his office and got a set of keys and came back. He used one to unlock the glass door in front of the van and opened it then got into the van and drove it out.

After parking it, he went down to the lot gate and opened it.

Uncle Dar said, "OK, lets load up and see what this baby can do. You drive, Megan."

We got in and pulled down to the gate. Uncle Dar rolled down his window and said, "Well I guess we're going to have to take you home and feed you, so call Trish and have her come in. Don't tell her why, just get her here. We'll be back in a few minutes."

He looked at Megan and said, "OK driver. Drive."

Megan looked at him and grinned then pulled out onto the road and headed north. She drove us into down town Everett and turned back toward the lot.

We got back and unloaded. There was a woman there when we arrived that Uncle Dar started wheeling himself to as soon as he was in his chair. He yelled out, "Trish!" and stood up.

The woman looked at him and came running up and grabbed Uncle Dar in a hug so tight I thought I heard a rib crack.

"Oh my god," She said. "Dar you bum. How many years has it been? Three?"

"A bit over," said Uncle Dar. "Grandmothers funeral. I heard about Uncle Al but I couldn't get here."

"We got your card from Iraq," Trish said. "I understand why you couldn't come, but you were missed."

"I really tried but I had a job going that I couldn't stop and couldn't turn over to someone else," said Uncle Dar. "I'm really sorry about that."

"Well your back now," she said. "How come the chair?"

"I forgot to duck when a mad husband came home," Uncle Dar said.

Trish laughed and said, "Well your going to have to come over for dinner and tell me about it tonight."

"I can't tonight," said Uncle Dar. "I need you and Bobby to come with me instead. I don't want to drive my new van in the traffic yet and I need Bobby to drive the other one home. That woman over there would kill me if I didn't give her a chance to drive it home." He pointed at Megan.

Trish looked at her and said, "Oh my god," again. She let go of Uncle Dar and ran over and grabbed Megan in a hug.

"Angel, Angel," she said. "Why haven't you come by lately?"

Megan hugged her back and said, "I've been a bit busy the last couple of months with my Cheerleaders squad and a sick bum. Your cousin got an infection in his leg a while back and kept me tied up. I also had my favorite kid get hurt on me and that kept me busy too. Tomorrow she's back on the team and I'll be busy with that. If you want to see me so bad, you can come by."

Trish said, "OK, I'll do that. Give me your schedule and I'll come to one of your practices."

Megan said, "All right. I'll give it to you at dinner." She looked at me and said, "You better let Janny know that we'll have two extras for dinner tonight. Tell her that they're Dar's cousin and her wife. She'll want to meet this one anyway."

"Don't I get a say in this?" asked Bobby.

Megan and Trish said "No" at the same time.

Uncle Dar said, "I warned you about that a long time ago. The only choice you get is easy or hard with the women in my family. Be smart and don't argue with this one or her friend. She's almost as bad."

"I want you two to meet some special people now," he said. He waved us over and said, "These girls are real special so treat them like it."

He pointed at me and said, "This one tried to give up her summer to help me when I got out of the hospital. Her name is Sally Brandt."

Trish walked over and hugged me and said, "Thank you for taking care of my little cousin."

Uncle Dar pointed at Shelly and Sandra next and said, "When I talked Sally into going to her Cheerleader tryout, these two started helping too. They're Shelly Miller and Sandra Robinson."

Trish walked up to them and gave them each a hug with the same thank you.

Then he pointed at the cousin twins and said, "These two started after the tryout and after loosing their parents, I adopted them. My daughters Ellen and Nancy. Just to really confuse you, they're first cousins through their mothers and fathers."

Trish gave Uncle Dar a strange look for a second, and then went to them with hugs and a thank you for each of them.

She walked back over to Uncle Dar and said, "OK, out with your joke and explain how twins can be first cousins through both parents."

Uncle Dar chuckled and said, "Their mothers were twins. The found themselves two brothers and married them. Now to confuse and confound, the cousins that look like twins are also sisters."

"You are a sick man, Eldarin DeShade," she said.

Uncle Dar smiled and said, "Genetics. And you share from the same gene pool."

Trish laughed and said, "OK. Bobby drives Megan's van and follows the rest of us. I'm riding with you guys for the conversations. That sound OK?"

"Only if you ride inside with us instead of on top," said Uncle Dar.

He looked over at Bobby and asked, "How soon before you close for the day?"

Bobby said, "I'm only here to do paper work. The sales man was at lunch when you got here and is mad at me for selling the Beast as we call it. He wanted that commission."

"Did you tell him what you really made off of it?" asked Uncle Dar.

"Yes, and I didn't make a dime for myself. I sold it at the lowest price that my boss said he'd take. I didn't do any work for the sale any way, so I'm not worried. Besides, I'm the boss for this lot so I get a salary. I don't need the commission since I get a cut on all sales."

"OK, then lets do the paper work and go get dinner," Uncle Dar said. "I'm hungry and we have kids to feed as well. They might dry up and blow away if they don't get their ten pounds of oats every night."

I don't know who punched Uncle Dar first, but we all got him for that. Even Trish slugged him and she wasn't gentle.

She said, "Don't pick on these innocent darlings. I'll tell my kids about it if you do and tell them where you live too."

"Really?" asked Uncle Dar. "Will they bring their mobs over too?"

Trish glared at him for a second and then laughed and said, "You haven't changed. You still tease and you still make me laugh."

Uncle Dar said, "That's my job. Someone has to keep the family laughing. You'd all be a bunch of lemons otherwise."

Bobby laughed at that and said, "Yes, but we love them anyway, don't we?"

Uncle Dar said, "Yes we do. They may be sour grapes and lemons, but we love them anyway. Even the women."

Trish just shook her head and said to Megan, "Now you know what I go through. Only two comedians in the family and I made the mistake of marrying one of them. Now the other has turned up like a bad penny."

She and Megan laughed at that.

Sally pushed Uncle Dar back into the office with Bobby while the rest of us stayed outside chatting with Uncle Dar's cousin. She was quite a bit older than him, but talked like she was a lot younger. Best of all, she treated us girls the same way Megan did. We weren't just a bunch of kids to her.

I realized that all of Uncle Dar's family and friends that I'd met were like that. They even treated little kids like that instead of ignoring them or talking down to them.

We'd been talking for about a half hour or so when Sally pushed Uncle Dar back out and Bobby followed them. He waked up to the van and opened the back door and put a temporary paper license in the back window then closed it. He took the dealers plate off and took it back inside and came out.

Another man followed him out and walked down to the gate. "OK, we're ready to go," He said

He asked Megan for her keys and went and got into her van while the rest of us loaded up into Uncle Dar's van. Megan drove us out to the gate and signaled Bobby to follow. After getting on the road and making sure that Bobby was keeping up, she headed to the freeway and got on it.

I called Janny and told her that we were on the way home with two guests for dinner that were related to Uncle Dar. She said that she had plenty and to come on home.

When we got home, Janny, George and Erica were waiting at the door. That's when I got the biggest surprise of the day.

Trish got out and Janny turned white and asked, "Trisha? Is that really you?"

Trish turned around and saw Janny and said "Jan. Oh my god, Jan." She took off running and grabbed Janny and said, "I don't believe this. First I find my lost cousin and now my daughters best friend is taking care of him. I just don't believe this."

Janny didn't say anything but she hugged Trish back.

I looked at Megan and whispered to her, "Did you set this up?"

Megan whispered back, "No. I didn't know that Dar knew Bobby and I sure didn't know that his wife knew Janice. I'm as amazed as you are kiddo."

Sally pushed Uncle Dar up to the porch while the rest of us followed them.

Uncle Dar said, "Well I see it was a good idea to invite you for dinner for a change, Trish. Now I'd like to go inside and your blocking the door.

Trish looked at Uncle Dar for a second and said, "You know, you really are a pain sometimes."

Uncle Dar smiled and said, "Yes, but I'm a good pain. I'm also hungry so move over wench."

Bobby said, "Yea, Trish. Besides, it's my turn to hug Jan. I haven't seen her for a long time either."

Trish looked at them for a moment and then said, "OK, but only if I get another later."

She moved out of the way and we went inside.

I asked Janny, "How do you know Uncle Dar's cousin?"

"Her oldest daughter was Erica's and my sitter before you were born. When she got married and had her first child I babysat for her for awhile. We've known each other for years. I just haven't seen them since George and I got married."

"Wow," I said. "Small world, isn't it?"

"Yes," said Janny, "it is. What is truly amazing is that Uncle Dar is related to them. I've known them for years and never heard about him."

"He isn't that close of a relation and we don't hear from him often," said Trish. "Even with that though, we love him. I just don't like most of the rest of his family much. I loved his father and I still love Cousin Dee but I don't like the woman that Jack married and I don't like Dar's brothers or sisters much."

"I don't have much to do with them any more," said Uncle Dar. "I haven't seen my mother or brothers or sisters for years. Tabbie's gone now though. She passed away last year in the spring. The rest I don't see."

"I'm sorry to hear that," said Trish. "I don't wish any of them ill, I just don't like them much. I'm truly sorry about Tabbie though."

Uncle Dar said, "Loosing her is part of the reason I don't see my family. They told me I would be unwelcome at her funeral and won't allow me to see her daughter. They don't even know I'm back in country now because of that. I don't want to see them and if you should, I'd be grateful if you didn't say anything about me."

"Deal," said Trish. "Now all you have to do is come to dinner soon. I'll get the kids over so you can meet their kids."

"Deal," said Uncle Dar. "I don't know how soon, but if you give me your phone number I'll call as soon as I can. As long as the invitation includes all of us that is. I have my two foster daughters and their friends, plus Janny and her husband and Erica. All or nothing for this. They're my family as much as you now."

"OK, I can handle that if you come over early and help with dinner. That large a crew, I'll need a few extra hands and Aunt Doris always said that you were good in a kitchen."

"Not me right now. I can't stand that well yet on this leg," Uncle Dar said while pointing at the left leg. Bullets make holes that take a bit to heal. How bout I get you the ones that do most of the cooking for me?"

I said, "I'd be happy to. I like to cook."

Trish looked at me for a second and said, "Hired. If Dar says you can cook, I'll take you."

I said, "Ellen and Nancy are good too although they don't do much fancy stuff. I make a good Lasagna though."

Trish laughed and said, "I bet your getting Dar fat then. He loves a good Lasagna."

"I noticed," I said. "I never have to worry about left overs when I do mine. He even sneaks out at night to raid any left in the fridge."

Trish laughed and said, "I bet he does. He did that when my mother made hers that summer he spent with us. She finally just started making two. One for him and one for the rest of us so we could have more the next day."

"Trish," said Uncle Dar, "she makes one at least as good as your mothers."

"Really?" she asked. "Well, you'll just have to make a big one and bring it over when you come," she said to me.

I said, "OK. Let me know the day before and I'll make it that night and lock the fridge to keep Uncle Dar out of it."

"Great," she said. "Set up a date soon Dar. I want you to come over for a visit. I've really missed you over the years."

"OK Trish," said Uncle Dar. "I'll do it as soon as possible. I'll even bring that stranger over their," he said while pointing at Megan.

"You do that Dar," Megan said. "But I get to drive and we use your van."

"Nope, my turn to drive," said Uncle Dar. "I bought it I get to play with it. My Beast and my turn. You'll just have to settle for being a passenger for once and go for the ride."

Megan laughed and said, "OK. Just this once I'll be a passenger."

"OK," said Uncle Dar. "You have to behave though. No throwing things and no spit wads in my van."

That one got us all laughing as we finally went inside.

I could smell the food and my stomach started rumbling as we went into the dining room. I looked around the table and saw that the best china was out. Janny had set the table and had a large roast waiting with all the fixings.

I went to my place at the table and started to pull out my chair when someone took it. I looked back and Uncle Dar was standing there holding it out for me. I smiled and let him seat me. He went and did the same for his daughters and Sandra then Nancy.

Although he still had a limp, he walked well now.

Once he'd seated us and George and Bobby had seated their wives, Erica and Megan, Janny said grace. She said the normal one for our meals then added, "And we thank you for the presence of Eldarin for the joy he has brought us and for our friends Megan, Bobby, and Trish being here today."

We all said, "Amen." George carved up the roast and we all started passing the various dishes around. I loaded up my plate and looking at Janny, I said "Thank you for the wonderful dinner, Janny. This is great."

Janny smiled and said, "I had a bit of help from your sister. She kept George out of the way and made the onions and cheese sauce."

I said, "Really? Oh goody. She makes the best cheese sauces in the world."

Erica blushed and said, "Thank you sis."

"For what?" I asked. "I'm only telling the truth. You make a great sauce and I love it."

Everybody tried the sauce and agreed. Uncle Dar said, "Your right, Sally. This is good. Almost as good as mine." He tried some more and said, "Maybe even better."

Still blushing, Erica thanked him too.

After that we chatted as we ate. It was a wonderful meal. Even better than the one we got at that fancy restaurant that Uncle Dar had taken us to, I thought. Janny is a wonderful cook when she wants to be.

That was a great dinner and a wonderful night for all of us. Uncle Dar had found another one of his family that he liked and Janny and Megan had found an old friend that they hadn't seen in a long time.

It had been a wonderful day for all of us.

This ends Chapter 15. Chapter 16 will continue with Sally and Eldarin telling the story.