Make The Way

By Kathy Bridges

What won't they do for family and Friend? How much can one family do to prepare for the worse? Is there a line that shouldn't be crossed? Did Phil Sr.; Phillip Jr.; or Pelgrin cross that line? Read all the books: A Drink of Life (1st book) Classic gets Jazzed East of Sunday Make The Way Are we ready? (latest book)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jul 17, 2021
• ISBN: 9781300283577

Book preview

Chapter 1

As Pelgrin had warned, the city is abuzz with activity. Hoards of people moving in and around the city mostly in the vicinity of the old Trump International Hotel where the U.S Government has taken over and filled every floor with their operations and living spaces - for top officials that is. Presidential offices and staff cubicles fill every floor except the floors reserved for the private residences of high ranking officials and hotel space for dignitaries. Ex-Presidents are welcomed, but not required, to take up residence there as well as a way of centralizing protection.

While they have long ago accepted and settled into their spaces, the city is still adjusting. Adjusting to street closures, increased population, housing for many staff people and school accommodations for the beginning of fall, although Pelgrin reserved many residential spaces for staff to live close to work some still prefer to live elsewhere in the city and surrounding suburbs.

. The girls are out of school and enjoying the summer with their cousins and their New York grandparents still living in their house.

Chris has been assigned other projects that keep him busy while Phillip continues to work with smaller clients - what client can be as large as the U.S. government - some of which are a direct result of the big D.C to Chicago move.

The building, the one where the Wallock’s – both senior and junior -, Sheryl and daughter Clare and step daughter – in theory - Mari, Kathleen, Molly and Chris and his family and even maybe one day either or both of Phillip’s sisters will reside, is very near completion.

The front walk, circular drive, and garage entrances have been paved and heated by design with an undetectable tilt towards the curb for drainage directly into the sewer system. The front entrance is outfitted with a huge coat and boot closet on both sides of the lobby and high backed leather seating directly in front of the closets for putting on or taking off boots, shoes, etc. The elevators are located midway the building in the center and staff quarters are located on the other side of the elevator bank. There is a hall leading to staff quarters on the left side of the bank of elevators and to the garage building on the right side. All elevators may be accessed from either side of the receiving desk. The amount of glass on the lobby level is minimal and clear, no design, glass brick blocked. The first front door is complete glass where no one would be able to hide. The inside door is solid mahogany with bronze pull handles. However, the door opens automatically when the proper code is keyed at the inside key pad or by buzz if a guest is visiting. In case of electric failure, the key works on both doors just the same. While there is a receiving desk, we expect that — in these uncertain financial times— it will only be staffed to receive large gatherings. The moms (Martha and Kathleen) are reviewing the final public area decorations before occupation.

On the upper floors, the elevators open into an inner hallway on each floor. The residence floors have access by key code only. Phillip and his father each designed their units uniquely with Sheryl and Martha. All other units have the same standard design.

The top floor is designed and intended for premium entertainment and is child safe. Complete with patios, four custom built-in grills and four fire places, two wet bar areas with full sinks, refrigeration, and gas stove and all shielded from the elements by a clear hard retractable plastic roof and side panels that slide into place at the touch of a button. It should be a very comfortable family and guest only entertainment area. The brave may enjoy a winter football game. The sliding roof and sides with fire places blaring will make for a fairly comfortable setting even at 20-40 degree outside temperatures.

Twelve stories tall Senior Phil and Martha have the ninth and tenth floors as the eleventh floor is reserved for the future gym and youth recreation room. Sixteen thousand square feet may seem a bit much for a couple with all adult children (whom are all anticipated to live in the same building soon) but they entertain often and with many of their friends still in New York it should come in handy. His son Phillip and Sheryl occupy the seventh and eighth floors (also a total of sixteen thousand square feet) with their two girls. Their unit has two master bedrooms with walk through access to each other. Each master bedroom has its own private study - facing the front of the building -, separate dressing area, bath with soaking tub and a fire place. The girls each have their own en suite bedroom and no longer have to share a bathroom. The other side of the upper level has all six guest en suite bedrooms, a walk-in linen closet to supply both family and guest bed and bath rooms with clean linens and toiletries, a laundry room with folding tables and drying racks for delicates, ironing boards and steam presses, and another supply and linen storage room. Next to the laundry room is an arts and crafts room for the children’s drawing, painting, and any other messy activities that is best contained in one easy to clean location.

On the lower level is the formal living room, glass enclosed dining room, music room, library and two private offices for Sheryl and Phillip, a chef’s kitchen with butler pantry, a media room and study room for the girls.

Directly underneath Phillip and Sheryl – on the sixth floor - are Kathleen and Molly content to share one half of the floor while Molly is still in transition from last year’s move from New York to Chicago but 4,000 square feet of space should prove adequate for the two of them. On the other side of their floor is expected to be one of Phillip’s sisters; first come first choice. Chris, Sharon and their boys Michael and Lonnie will have half of the floor below that, floor 5, with the other half reserved for the last of Phillip’s sisters to come on board.

In the unit that Sheryl and Phillip will occupy the walls have been painted the color deserted island with thunder cloud grey silk floor to ceiling drapes with black tie backs. All the windows in every unit have rolling shutters in the event of inclement weather. The kitchens of both Wallock units are each outfitted with four built-in sub zero upright freezers and two refrigerators, an eight eye range, trash compactor, self contained apartment size compost, garbage disposal and garbage shoot to one of two available rolling dumpsters located in the basement service area for bi-weekly removal by yard staff, and four sinks (two on the center isles and two within the counter top). A recessed wall mounted television monitor is located at the six setting kitchen table. Heavy duty plastic is on every inch of floor space to protect the floors from the arrival of furniture and the workers delivering it. Most of the current furniture will move in under the watchful eyes of both Kathleen and Martha while Sheryl and Phillip are busy with their businesses and the children.

Where are you having the wedding, asked Kathleen as we walked towards the garage of the building. There is a church nearby that I’d like to consider.

Are you a member there?

I’m not but I may like to be one day, so we’re thinking about it. We want to go slow and be really sure before committing.

Well, are you having a large or small wedding?

Small. Very small. Maybe 100 guest with family.

That is small.

Yes, but I’m in no hurry. We still have so much to do with the building and unit. I don’t want us to be cramped any longer than necessary.

All the furniture is coming. All the decorations are finished. What more do you have to do?

Well, you know, we still have to make sure we can survive through most anything that happens.

You all are still thinking about that? You have so much food and necessities in storage already.

I know. But I have to take a serious look at everything we have and figure approximately how long it’ll last. And then I have to get you and Molly in shape too.

What do mean get us in shape?

You two have been kind of complacent about being prepared. We need you both self sufficient also. Otherwise, my plans and approximations may mean nothing.

Not planning to share is that what you’re saying?

I’m saying that I’m planning to not have to share.

Well, why can’t you finish that long term stocking after the wedding?

I just don’t want to have to think about it any longer than necessary. The wedding can wait. This can’t.

Is there something you’re not telling me?

Yes.

Well shouldn’t I know?

Yes, but I can’t tell you anymore than I have because Phillip can’t tell me anymore. But I’ve come to trust his judgment and based on things that have already happened I know we are not wasting our time. He really can’t say more about it and I won’t press him to but we can’t afford to become complacent. It’s just too important. Don’t say anything to Molly or the girls. Molly really won’t believe it and the girls shouldn’t worry.

That’s easy. I don’t think I know enough to tell anyone anything anyway. But do you really think Martha hasn’t been told? You know what she said about the two Phil’s being like two peas in a pod. So what’s the overall plan?

"The plan is to be able to live inside the building for years without needing to go out?’

Is that even possible?

We’re going to make it possible.

But the girls must go to school.

I know. I’m working with the school to plan secure interaction between the teachers - at work or home - and the students via the web for class work, after school activities, and play dates.

What about fresh air, sun and just being outside?

Mom, I really don’t know. We have excellent air and water filtration on the entire building. Even the roof can be closed off completely and there’s enough room to make really large and interesting recreation areas for all of us. But I really can’t predict how every possible situation may challenge us.

Those men did a wonderful job of planning and getting this building up in such a short time. Is this thing happening soon?

I don’t think so. At least I hope not. I think their urgency was to get back to his business projects. There are so many requests on their time now. I rarely get to see him and the kids never do.

That’s not good.

We just have to work through this. And pray for the best.

Walking back into the old house, we are greeted by Martha.

I know what you all are doing and I need to help. My girls may have to live here with their families and I think it’s only fair if we see to it that it works out for them too. You two have enough to do to plan and prepare for your own families. I’ll take care of my daughters.

How do you want to help?

Well, I know our shopping should go unnoticed so I developed a plan to accomplish that. First, we’ll only use cash. We’ll use the RV. There’s plenty of room in there. We’ll divide the shopping into three categories and visit six of your Whole Foods stores. That way we each will get two passes at each category. We’ll need large coolers for the meat to stay cold while we do this and I think we can be done with the food part in a couple of weeks. We’ll have to call in advance and place orders for the meat. They surely won’t have such large quantities on hand if we don’t. So, we’ll give them a notice on the first trip that we will return for more next week. If anyone asks, just tell them that we’re planning a large neighborhood event. They always buy that one.

Sounds like you’ve done this before.

Sheryl, I’m many years older than you and I’ve lived through other scary times in previous decades. Not only that, My mother shared many depression stories that I always thought when she was telling us that I’ll never let that happen to my family. I intend to keep that promise to myself. Here, I made a list of all the things and quantities we should have but the cuts and variety of meats you’ll have to decide. So get to work customizing your list and let’s plan to get started in the morning.

Where’s Dad?’

I don’t know Mari. What do you want, now?

I want Dad. I haven’t seen him in days.

He’s here somewhere.

Mom, where’s Dad? Mari yells as she enters the room.

He’s working Mari. What’s going on?

I just want to talk to him that’s all. He’s been missing for weeks. You keep saying he’s working but I never see him come or go or even eat anymore.

He’s been eating in his office. But he’s usually here only after you’ve gone to bed. You just haven’t seen him. Come on let’s take you and Clare to visit.

Clare says, I don’t need to see him. He’s not really my Dad.

Clare, I think he’d enjoy a visit from both of you. Let’s go.

A knock on the door goes unanswered. The door is locked from the inside. Mari knocks next a lot harder. Just a minute a voice calls from within. Two maybe three minutes pass and Mari knocks again with a little tear in her eye this time. And the door opens with Phillip in the doorway and his dad, Phil, sitting in front of one of the many computer monitors in the room. Chris is at another desk just as engaged with his screen. Papers are stacked between each of the desks knee high. The window shutters are closed, piles of plates and glasses and coffee cups liter the table.

Hey guys. What’s up?

Mari starts talking, Why are you always in here? You never come to be with us anymore and I never see you or hear you. You, Gramps and that man are never in the house anymore. Not the part of the house that we live in. Why do you work all the time, Dad, says Mari shaking her head with eyes squinted and moist in disbelief.

Mari, we have a lot of work that has to be done right now. So, while I miss you, all of you, I just have to get this work done. We’ll go on a vacation when it’s all over, okay.

Well, when will that be? I need to put it on my calendar.

Since when do you keep a calendar?

See, Dad, you don’t even know what I’m doing anymore.

Clare pokes her, Shh, Mari that can be a good thing.

Sheryl rolls her eyes at Clare.

No, Clare it’s not a good thing but while I’m working I know that you are in good hands with Sheryl. So, I don’t worry that you’re being taken care of. That doesn’t mean I don’t care or that I don’t want to be there with all of you but I just have to get things done. It’s really important for all of us.

Just then, the office phone rings and Pelgrin’s name comes on the screen. Now, Sheryl is rolling her eyes at the phone. Senior answers and puts him on hold as Phillip kisses the girls and returns to answer the phone.

Mari protest, Mom, its Sunday night. It’s family time, right?

Yes, Mari, you’re right but we’ll get better at family. We just need a little more time, okay?

Yeah, that man said my dad was too busy with stuff.

What man?

The man on the telephone just now, Mari said looking puzzled.

What telephone? I didn’t hear a phone ring.

That’s because he called on Clare’s cell phone and asked for me. He told her that you said to talk to me this time.

I looked to Clare and nodding her head she confirmed Mari’s analysis of what happened. Knocking on the closed bedroom door again got Phil to open it as Phillip was still talking to Pelgrin. We waited inside the room which is large enough for a private guest bedroom but way too small for three working men and now three guests. Phillip puts the phone down and looks at Sheryl in amazement that she just doesn’t understand how busy he really is. Sheryl explains what Mari just shared and he asks the girls more questions and asked Clare to get the phone.  The display simply says private caller.

You answered a call that said Private?

I thought it was Mickey. He says he’d get in trouble with my mom if she found out he was calling on the cell phone again. So I answered it but this man asked for Mari because he said Mom had told him to call her. So I gave her the phone. What did we do wrong?

Catching himself before letting his thoughts explode and frighten the children any more than they already are he simply says: Just never answer any phone when you don’t know who the caller is. Come and get one of us if you think it’s important. And the only ones that should have your cell number are me and your mother. That’s it. So, I’m going to have this number changed and don’t give the new number out to anyone. What’s Mickey’s last name.

Clare hesitates at this request explaining that she doesn’t want Mickey to get into any trouble. Phillip assures her that he’s not after Mickey, just yet. But he needs to make sure that he isn’t in any danger either.

Well, what do you mean by just yet?

I mean I don’t think Mickey intentionally did anything wrong but he still has to understand and follow our rules if he wants to be a friend of yours.

Clare shares Mickey’s last name and Phillip just looks at her a little disturbed not