The Second Half Read online

  Mona smiled at him. Go ahead and plan; they all know better. “Sounds possible. We’ll have the family breakfast at nine or ten.”

  “We can be back by then.”

  “You want more goulash?”

  “Sure.” He handed her his plate. “So, how was your day?”

  “Let’s just say that my to-do list got rewritten without my permission.”

  “‘Monday, Monday’…Remember that song?”

  “Vaguely.” She reached for another piece of bread. “I should never make this.”

  “I know, so good.” He dropped a bit of bread to be snapped up before it hit the floor. Ambrose wagged his appreciation.

  Mona rolled her eyes. So much for the rule of no feeding the pets from the table.

  When they finished eating, Mona asked, “Inside or out?”

  “Out.” While she took the dishes into the kitchen, Ken picked up the casserole dish and the now-empty salad bowl and followed her.

  “I didn’t get any dessert made,” Mona apologized as she set the coffee to brewing. She put the food away as he cleared the rest of the table.

  “We still have ice cream?” At her nod, he retrieved the mint chip ice cream carton from the freezer and set it in the sink while he got the bowls down.

  “You ready to talk now?” Mona asked when they were settled in their chairs out in the three-season room, the dog and cat at their feet and the quacking of ducks heard from down at the river’s edge.

  Ken shook his head as he spooned up ice cream. “I don’t know; there are a whole lot of office politics involved.”

  “As usual.”

  He half smiled. “As always. Damien feels he is entitled to the job, and I suspect he has visions of climbing the ladder and assuming the presidency one day. But he is very good right where he is, and I wish he would just stay there. He’s a numbers and organization person, not a people person.”

  “If the dean of students doesn’t care first and foremost for the students, who will?” Mona thought of all the hours Ken spent talking with not only kids, but also adults returning to school, vets returning home and into school, foreign students who needed a sense of home. This very house had been that for many through the years. In fact, that was one of her concerns about his retiring; he would no longer have immediate contact with the students.

  “So what will you do regarding hiring?”

  “I don’t know.” He shook his head. “Apparently I am not the final voice. I will interview everyone, narrow it down to two or three, and let my preferences be known. And why.”

  “Your opinion carries a great deal of weight.”

  “I would hope so. I was intending that Wednesday would be my last day, but between interviews and reviews, I suspect that I will still be working into Friday. But I tell you, I will not come home until the reviews are finished and turned in. Just in case Damien does get the job. I don’t want him doing performance reviews.”

  “Why?”

  “He’s too harsh.”

  “And he would say you are too lenient?”

  “Most likely.” He leaned back against the cushion. Ambrose rose and rested his head on Ken’s thigh. Ken patted him automatically.

  Mona heaved a sigh. Ken had worked so hard all these years to build people, not the department. The letters from grateful students that she’d kept in a file proved the value of what he had done. She had hoped to get them all in a scrapbook, but she’d had to pick and choose or the book would have been many volumes rather than one. She and Marit had finished that part of the project the week before.

  Ken scraped the last of his ice cream from the bowl and traded it for his coffee cup, looking out toward the river. “I hope there is a golden boy in that pile of applicants, or golden girl, a candidate who so obviously shines above the rest that the decision will make itself.”

  “Do you know any of them?”

  “I know two. Not golden by any means. I met one of the others at a conference. Not golden, either. If he’s the one I think he is, he’s lead.” Hyacinth leaped into his lap, so he set his cup down, the better to have a hand free for each pet. “Did you hear from Steig?”

  “No. I thought we’d call him this evening.”

  “Are we walking?”

  “Let’s call him first.”

  She tapped five, his speed dial number, and with the phone set on speaker, they both waited. When their son’s voice reminded them to leave a message, they both sighed. “I left a message earlier. He’s not responded.”

  “He might be on the way here.”

  “Could be, but I didn’t expect him until Wednesday night, so Melinda would not have to miss any more school. It’s just not like him to not give me his plans way ahead.” There was that worry ogre again; Mona mentally slapped herself. Stop it!

  “Let’s go walk, and then I’m going to read through those résumés.”

  “Everybody?”

  “Why not? Ambrose, get the leashes.”

  “I’ll go change my shoes.”

  They were nearly home when her cell sang Steig’s song. She handed the cat’s leash to Ken and clicked on. “Are you all right?”

  “Funny you should ask. Is Dad there, too?”

  “Yes; putting you on speaker.” She held the phone so they could both hear.

  “I have some rough news.”

  Mona felt her heart clench. “You can’t come?”

  “No, I’m— We’re coming. But I got my orders.” He paused. “Sorry, Mom, Dad, but I am being deployed to Karachi. Pakistan. Can you keep the kids for me?”

  Chapter Four

  Only one time in her life had Mona been gut punched. Now she remembered what it felt like.

  She handed the phone to Ken and doubled over, trying to get her breath.

  “Give us a minute, Steig.” Ken managed to sound like their lives had not just taken a whole new direction.

  “Is Mom all right?”

  “She will be. I think she swallowed wrong.”

  Mona glared at him. Right now she needed someone to glare at. She sucked in another deep breath and exhaled. All the while her mind screamed unintelligible sounds.

  “Sorry to dump this on you both without a warning, but I thought for sure I was being transferred to a Wisconsin base, just like we all hoped.”

  Mona swiped at the tears that coursed as soon as she heard the desolation in her son’s voice. One time they had talked about emergency actions like this, but back then they had been figuring they would help Angela with the children. Not be the sole guardians.

  “When do you have to report?” she asked after clearing her throat twice.

  “Monday. I would load a trailer with the kids’ things, the mover would put all the rest in storage until…” He cleared his throat. “Until I give them another order.” He paused. “I don’t know anything else to do, Mom. I can’t force Angela to take them, and besides, I don’t want that woman taking care of my kids, especially not against her will.”

  “Don’t worry, son, we’ll work this out. Just give your mom and me some time to talk, and we’ll call you back. But the way it looks, you better start packing.”

  “Thanks, Dad, Mom, you’re the best.” His voice broke. “I—I can’t go AWOL.”

  “I know. We’ll call you back.” Ken clicked off the phone and stood staring over the river, a dog on one side, cat on the other.

  Mona slipped in beside him, and he put his arm around her shoulders. “At least they can share a room for a while.”

  “It’ll be okay. Probably for a year at the most. Maybe only six months before he is transferred stateside again.”

  “I thought the military was making an effort to keep families together, not sending the remaining parent to a hot spot.”

  “Maybe that doesn’t apply to Special Forces. You know he is one of their best.”

  “Right now, I wish Steig was a run-of-the-mill officer, not Special Forces.” She blew her nose and stuffed the tissue back in her pocket. “Let’s get o
n home and call him back.”

  “He knows we’ll take the children.”

  “Are you sure? I feel like I failed him, but somehow I couldn’t even breathe.” She shook her head. “How can we get all the paperwork done by Monday?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I—I’m not even sure I know what I mean. Custodial parents is a legal matter, not just a family one. We have to be able to make all the decisions, health, school…” She shook her head, and it kept on wagging side to side. “This is Monday. He’ll be here Thursday. And he has to report on the following Monday. How in the world…?” Arms linked, they turned and headed for home. “I keep reminding myself that God has a plan. That at least someone knows what’s going on.”

  “And I’m afraid I won’t be much help. I have to get that mess at the college straightened out.” He heaved a sigh. “But at least I will be officially free of all responsibility by the time Steig has to leave.”

  “Probably a good thing my last almost-a-contract fell through.” And thanks to her advance planning, the celebrations were all in place but for any erupting brushfires. “I think we should call Marit and Magnus, so they know from the get-go what is going on, too.” She picked up Hyacinth, who was lagging behind. “Come on, cat, we have a lot to do.”

  While Ken took care of the animals, she retrieved two yellow pads and pens, poured them glasses of iced tea, and settled into her recliner. While waiting for Ken to join her, she called their daughter and explained the situation.

  “How is Steig?”

  “I think in shock like we are.”

  “Not surprising. Ask him if he needs help on that end. Maybe I could fly down and help him for a couple of days.”

  “And who would watch your children?”

  “Right. Magnus has an overnighter starting tomorrow. Tell him to call me when the three of you are done talking.”

  “I will.” Mona clicked off the phone and watched Ken sink into his recliner, sipping iced tea and automatically petting Ambrose, who took up his place at Ken’s knee in the hopes that if there was any food, he would not be forgotten. Ken looked exhausted, and the week had just begun. “You ready?”

  He nodded, his head moving side to side at the same time. “And here I was so looking forward to traveling, seeing more of this country and perhaps a few others. A life with no deadlines, time to do all the things I’ve been putting off. No more school year.” He looked at Mona. “Not raising small children. We already did that.”

  “It will only be for a year and maybe not even that. We can manage six months. Perhaps Marit can take the two while we do that trip you dreamed of, St. Lawrence or Alaska. We could be gone two weeks in July or August.” She didn’t add that they’d need to be home before school started. They both understood that. “Ready?”

  “I guess.” If forlorn had a face, it would look like Ken’s.

  Mona punched the speed dial. It only had to ring once.

  “I’m sorry, Mom,” Steig said before anything else.

  “I know, but life happens, and we will all work together to make this as easy a transition as possible.” She hoped she sounded more positive than she felt. “Now tell me what all we have to do legally.”

  “I will bring all the paperwork. We’ll need to sign those and have them notarized. I’ll bring their medical and school records. By the time I leave, you will be their legal guardians until I return and we go back to normal. Hopefully I will then be stationed at Fort McCoy.”

  “I guess my big concern is what about Angela?”

  “She has signed off her rights to the children. I am the legal guardian, so while I will inform her of what is happening, she will have no legal rights. I can’t see her even being interested, but I am covering all the bases. If something should happen to me, she cannot come back at you and contest for them.”

  Mona felt a shudder start at her feet and work upward.

  “You will be receiving half my pay and full access to medical, the commissary, and any legal issues, not that I can think of any others, but…”

  “And we’ll get all this done by Monday?”

  “We have to. I had a new will drawn up; you and Dad are the beneficiaries as guardians. I have set up a trust fund for their college expenses.”

  One year, Steig, all this is not necessary, one year. “Do we need to meet with our attorney, too?”

  “This is new and unsettling for us, Mom, but the army is an old hand at it. Single parents deploy all the time. They know how to cover all the what-ifs. I know your will names Marit and me, but we might consider an addendum. I don’t see a rush on that, however.”

  “All right. What time are you planning on being here on Thursday?”

  “Depends on what time I can get out of here. Some friends are helping me pack and load the trailer. I am hoping to get out of here earlier on Wednesday, I’ll let you know.”

  “How about if I have Marit sign the kids up for swimming lessons and Vacation Bible School with hers? That will give them something to look forward to.”

  “All those decisions will be up to you. I think it sounds great. Having cousins close will be good for all of them.” He cleared his throat again. “And here I thought I had everything under control. Ha!”

  “We’ll all manage.” Mona said that to make him feel good, of course. Did she believe it? Not really. “After all, six months to a year and you’ll be back stateside and maybe even stationed nearby.”

  “You might expect some pressure from the kids to make contact with Angela. Please don’t.” His voice paused. “Melinda prays for her mother every night.”

  Mona sucked in a deep breath. “But Angela has made no effort to talk with the children or see them?”

  “None. And no visitation rights. At least this way, the kids aren’t being jerked around.”

  No, just no more Mommy and now Daddy was leaving, too. Oh dear Lord, help us help these two little ones. “Call us when you are ready to leave; we’ll all be praying for you.” Was that a snort she’d heard?

  “Thanks, Mom, Dad. Talk with you soon.”

  Mona sat staring at her cell phone as if it might have answers for her. She heaved a sigh and shook her head again. “Life sure can change in an instant.”

  “And as you always say, we don’t have control over it.” Ken reached across the little side table that separated their two recliners, and she laid her hand in his. “Somehow the mess at the university doesn’t seem quite as important as earlier. Good thing we kept the bunk beds up in the playroom.”

  They had turned Steig’s old room into a room for the grandkids, complete with beds; a playpen for when the kids were younger; toys; games; a bookshelf full of books, including those once enjoyed by both Steig and Marit as they grew. Mona had taken over Marit’s room for her office, and a bathroom connected the two bedrooms. The physical arrangements were doable. But the emotional ones? There was the rub.

  Mona blew out a breath and hit the speed dial number for Marit’s cell. She quickly filled her daughter in on the conversation and glanced over to see that Ken had fallen asleep. Good thing someone could sleep. “And that’s all I know for now.”

  “I am so sorry, Mom; I know how you and Dad were looking forward to his retirement. This just isn’t fair.”

  “Since when did life ever promise to be fair?”

  “I know, but…Magnus and I were talking about would it be better if we took the kids?”

  “Steig has it all set this way for now. Let’s not throw any more at him right now. We’ll be fine, and if your dad and I can do a two- or three-week trip before school starts, you’ll have all five, and we can see how it goes. After all, it is only for a year maximum. Perhaps the powers that be will take pity on his situation and let him come home early.”

  “Right. We know how sympathetic the military can be. So, let’s change the subject. Everything is on track for the weekend?”

  “Far as I know.”

  “And you can’t talk because Dad is right
there in his recliner?”

  “That’s right. I’ll call you tomorrow. Oh, would you please register Melinda and Jakey for VBS and swim lessons?”

  “Of course. Have they had swim lessons before?”

  “Good question.” Mona tried to think back to the summer before.

  “No matter. I’ll put them in the beginners, and if they can already swim, it’s easy to shift them up to an appropriate level. If you need anything else, let me know.”

  Mona clicked off, jotted a couple of other thoughts. She needed to clean out the closet in the kids’ room. Surely Steig would bring the children’s chests of drawers. She brought her chair upright, and taking along her pad, she went upstairs to study the room. The playpen could go to the garage, the stuffed animals in a sling across the corner; she’d seen that done before. Bathtub toys could go into a sling, too. Two children here full-time, not just visiting and going home. Two children who had never stayed with their grandparents by themselves; there had always been parents along. Thanks to Angela, the visits had not been often.

  Mona leaned against the doorjamb. How could that woman walk out on her kids like that? She kept reminding herself that they’d only heard Steig’s side of this, but no matter. A mother did not abandon her children. Her husband maybe, but not her children. Maybe it was better she had chosen to not see them again. How had Steig explained it to them? Jakey was too young to understand, but what about Melinda? Dear Lord, how are we ever going to…to what, she wasn’t sure.

  “How are you and Dad ever going to handle raising two small children?” Marit asked her mother the next day.

  Mona stared at her daughter. “Well, moment by moment, the way any other parents manage. It’s not like we don’t have experience.”

  “Raising your own children was a long time ago. And you were younger then.”

  Mona swallowed what she almost said and continued her level stare. “Seems to me we did a pretty good job then, and since this is what God seems to be sending our way, of one thing I am sure. He’s not going to dump the kids and run.”