How The Family Grows: The Legacy Part III

By Paul Zentmyer

After the turmoil of the past few years, the Nelson family is finally starting to come back together. Jan has opened her bakery, Jack has established his pottery shop, and the toddler twins—Joe and Mary—are growing fast. Jack is realizing, through Jan, how important he is to the rest of his family. Jack’s siblings, Carol and Randy, are both married and expecting babies, which makes their mother, Sharon, very happy. And after his father’s death, Jan’s young cousin Barry is starting to come out of his shell, making new friends at school, and joining Jack in the pottery shop.

Soon another change will be coming for the Nelsons, an unexpected and welcome change—something that will bring the family closer and brighten their lives beyond anything they could imagine. One evening Jack goes for a walk and has an encounter with their neighbors that will change their lives forever.

In this novel, the third in a series, Jack and Jan Nelson take in an eleven-year-old girl whose father has been in an accident, and the choice alters the course of their lives for good.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Archway Publishing
• Release date: Mar 31, 2024
• ISBN: 9781665758017

Paul Zentmyer

Paul Zentmyer has always been an avid reader and wrote many short stories when he was younger. Paul and his wife live in Amherst County, Virginia, where they are enjoying retired life with their two dogs.

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Copyright © 2024 Paul Zentmyer.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Archway Publishing

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Bloomington, IN 47403

www.archwaypublishing.com

844-669-3957

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

ISBN: 978-1-6657-5800-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6657-5802-4 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6657-5801-7 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2024904906

Archway Publishing rev. date: 03/26/2024

Contents

Acknowledgements

Characters

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Epilogue

Acknowledgements

First to my wife who has been my support through this endeavor. Without her I probably wouldn’t have started writing. She has not only read and reread everything I wrote but suggested changes and additions to the story. It is wonderful to have that kind of support. Thank you Pam for being beside me during my writing.

To my friends who have read my story and encouraged me to continue it after the first book; Thank you. I’m happy you enjoyed it. Perhaps I’ll continue the story through one of the other characters. You never know.

Characters

Chapter 1

It had been over a year since Mark’s death. The school year had started a few weeks ago and Barry was starting to talk more but still not as much as he did before the accident. He wasn’t accepting of new friends and even kept some of his present ones at a distance. He would talk when he had to but not much. It was almost like he’d reverted to how he was when younger.

Jillian was getting back to a normal life. She’d gone back to work at Irene’s and was even opening up to people again. Though she wasn’t laughing as much there was more smiling and talking.

Carol’s wedding was in June and the couple was living in his mother’s home. She was preparing to move into a retirement village just south of Lexington and was leaving the house to him and Carol. Randy and Wendy were married the following month. Wendy was now pregnant but only two months along.

Mom was getting involved in the Lexington community, bringing some of her gardening skills to her friends and neighbors. She’d also started a social group for visiting parents of Washington and Lee students and VMI cadets. She was enjoying what she was doing and not as stressed as when in Northern Virginia. Dad spent many of his days in his little shop in the backyard or fishing with Jack.

Jan quietly closed the kitchen door and sat on the steps eating her apple listening to Jack working in the pottery shop. The babies were down for their nap and she wanted to enjoy some quiet time. She closed her eyes and sat there listening to the sounds coming from the shop. So much had changed with them, more so with Jack. He’d gone from aerospace engineer to private contractor to making pottery. But in the time she’d known him she thought this latest endeavor suited him most. Like his grandfather Jack liked working with his hands. The difference between them was that Grandpa preferred gardening.

She thought of Grandpa often. Though he wasn’t her grandfather so many times it felt as though he was. His visits to the restaurant where she worked made her smile. He was a happy-go-lucky sort of guy who would help anyone anytime. He’d helped her more than once in her life and she appreciated each time. She wasn’t supposed to know about many of them but she figured it out without saying anything.

Her grandmother was a recent addition to her family. They’d spent most of their lives apart but Jan could not imagine being without her now. Jillian was another new part of her family. Though they had worked together for a while Jan didn’t know that Jillian was her aunt. They were less than a decade apart in age. Working with Jillian was like working with a sister. They had so much in common. Many people mentioned how much they looked alike. Jan didn’t see it though. Of course Jillian knew of their relationship. She’d taken the job at Irene’s because Jan was working there and she wanted to get to know her. Jan’s father was Jillian’s older brother but she had never really known him. He was away a lot and died when she was young.

All of this was going through Jan’s brain when her phone startled her. She looked down to see who was calling and it was Jillian. Jan chuckled and tapped on the phone.

I was just thinking about you. How’re things going?

Ok I guess. How about you?

Oh, just sitting on the steps listening to Jack work.

I thought you’d be at the bakery.

I took the day off. Besides, the women I hired need a day or two without me.

Would it be ok for me and Barry to come over?

Sure, where’s Grandma?

Over at her house cleaning up after the last tenants left.

Ok, well whenever you’re ready come on over. Want to stay for dinner?

That would be nice. Thanks.

See you in a while.

Jan hung up, stood and walked over to the pottery shop. She waited a few minutes until Jack noticed her. She didn’t want to break his concentration.

What’s up Sweetie? asked Jack.

Jillian and Barry are on their way over and I asked her to stay for dinner.

Ok, how about Grandma?

I’ll call her. She’s cleaning up her house right now.

Well, I’ll keep working. Send Barry out when they get here.

Jan smiled at her husband then stepped away from the door and headed back to the steps to wait for Jillian. Jan pulled out her phone and dialed her grandmother’s number.

It rang four or five times before Grandma answered. She sounded out of breath.

Hi Jan, what’s up?

Not much, how about you? You sound out of breath.

Yeah, I was cleaning under the kitchen cabinets when you called. I had to get up to get to the phone. What can I do for you?

Would you like to come over for dinner tonight?

Sure. What time?

Oh about 5 o’clock. Jillian’s on her way over now with Barry.

Do I need to bring anything?

No, just yourself.

Ok, see you then.

Bye Grandma. Jan hung up and waited for Jillian to show up.

After the accident Evelyn decided to stay with Jillian and Barry to help them out. Jillian was still recovering and Barry wasn’t interacting with people much. With her there it kind of forced him to at least talk to her. Jack had mentioned that maybe she should rent the house in Lexington or at least make it a Bed & Breakfast for visiting parents of students. She liked that idea and made the contacts to get the ball rolling. She’d been operating the B&B for about 5 months now and was turning a pretty good profit. The only down side was that she had to clean it after every rental. But Jan and Jillian were willing to help, which made it easier.

Jack made his favorite meal for dinner, chicken marsala. They all sat at the dining room table talking and enjoying dinner. Afterward they moved to the living room talking about how they were doing, Grandma’s Bed & Breakfast, the bakery and how Jillian and Barry were doing. It felt good to catch up and be involved in each other’s lives. Evelyn commented on how hard it was keeping the house clean. It seemed she was constantly cleaning but at least the profits were good. She was making more money than she ever imagined.

Jack mentioned that perhaps she should hire a cleaning company to take over that task. Evelyn looked at him then nodded her head and smiled.

That sounds like a good idea. That way I can do what I really want to do.

What’s that Grandma? asked Jan.

Work with you at the bakery. Evelyn smiled. Perhaps all three of us can work together?

Jillian and Jan looked at each other and smiled. But what about the kids? asked Jan.

Hire a sitter. Though Jack is here at the house he’s busy too. With a sitter the children are taken care of and Jack is close by in case he’s needed. But not just a sitter, someone who will engage with them, teach them and play with them. They need that in their lives.

Jan and Jack listened to what Evelyn had said and nodded to each other.

Jack looked at Jillian. You know you can have Barry dropped off here after school so the sitter could take care of him too. How about contacting Allison for some recommendations. I know her plate is full but perhaps she knows someone who would be willing to do the job.

That is sort of why I wanted to talk to Jan. I’d like to start working at the bakery with you on my days off from the diner. It’s not that I need the money but rather that I need something to do instead of sitting around the house. I finish my chores early then just sit around for the rest of the day. I need something more to do.

Jan smiled at her aunt and nodded her head. She knew just how Jillian was feeling. She had a slump after her mother died and it was work that helped get her out of it. They sat talking about it and formulating a plan. It was getting late and Jillian had to get Barry home for bed. Evelyn was also tired after working at the house all day.

Jack and Jan walked them to the door and when they pulled out of the driveway came back into the house. They took the babies back to the bedroom and got them ready for bed.

They were sitting on the couch talking, refining their idea for the sitter.

What are your plans for tomorrow? asked Jan.

Well, since you’ll be home I was going to do a little searching along the river for clay and other stuff. Do you need me for anything?

No, you go right ahead with those plans. Enjoy your day. I’ll take care of the kids and just relax here while you’re gone. You’ve done great keeping the house clean while I work at the bakery. I appreciate it. It leaves me more time to enjoy the weekends.

Jack hugged her appreciating her comments. He looked up at the clock and mentioned going to bed. They began shutting off lights, locking doors and setting the alarm then went to bed.

Chapter 2

Saturday

Jack parked the UTV and began walking west along the river. He just wanted to take a walk and see what was further up river. It was a warm Fall day with a light breeze in his face. His sister and brother were now married and bringing new life into the family. Jillian and Grandma are living together since Mark’s death. Barry was back in school now that the pandemic was over. Jillian and Allison had done a great job with his schooling.

As he walked along he kept his head down looking at the ground. You never knew what you’d find along the river bank or in the grass. This area had been settled centuries ago and you could always find some artifact that had surfaced. Like now. Jack looked a few feet ahead and noticed something metallic in the grass. He bent down to look at it but much of it was buried. He started digging around it to loosen the dirt then tugged on it. The ground loosened and soon he was squatting there with an old belt buckle attached to a small strip of dried leather. He turned it over in his hands trying to discern what it was. The buckle looked like a belt buckle but seemed a bit small. Perhaps it was a harness buckle for a horse. He had a small bag hanging from his shoulder so placed the buckle in it. The bag was just for finds such as this. So far he had the buckle, a few small shells and four round smooth stones from the river. He also had a softball size lump of clay, wrapped in a plastic bag he’d dug from the shore of the river. He was hoping to find clay. Though he had a supplier he really wanted to use locally sourced when he could get it for special projects.

Jack continued walking and looking. He was no longer on his own property but wasn’t concerned about it. Most folk around here didn’t mind someone walking along their property so long as they didn’t cause any damage or leave any trash. He never went on these walks without his ‘finds bag’ where he put those things he found and a small daypack with a few tools, a fire-starting kit, first aid kit, raincoat and clothing for the season. It helped to be prepared.

He saw a few trees ahead at the water’s edge and thought he’d stop for a break and a snack. As he was getting settled he heard a scream and looked around trying to locate the direction it was coming from. He heard it again; HELP! HELP! Jack stood up and looked across and up the river. Nothing there. He looked toward the fields and could just make out the head of a horse standing in the field. He gathered his things and started walking quickly in that direction. The closer he got, the more of the horse he could see. Then he saw her. A girl about Barry’s age kneeling in the field crying and looking down. He ran toward her. As he got within about ten feet he could see what was going on. Beside her in the grass was a man laying still. She was crying and when hearing the rustle of the grass looked up and motioned for Jack to hurry. He ran over and knelt beside her.

The man was unconscious. Jack felt his neck for a pulse and found one though it was weak. He noticed some blood on the ground.

I’m Jack. What’s your name? he said to the girl.

Callie. Callie Wheeler. That’s my Papa.

Well Callie, I’m going to see if I can help him. OK?

Callie, what’s your father’s name?

Ted.

Jack could see the tears starting to form in her eyes. He felt along Ted’s head looking for the wound causing the blood. He noticed a rock on the ground nearby and figured he fell and hit his head. After checking what he could see Jack felt, as best he could, under Ted’s head. He felt wetness. Jack didn’t want to move him but needed to at least stop the bleeding. He opened his pack and took out the first aid kit removing a gauss roll and pads and gently began to wrapped it around Ted’s head. Once he had it secured he again felt for a pulse. Still there but seemed to be a little stronger.

Callie, I’m going to call for help. Do you know your address?

She nodded and told Jack her address. He dialed 911 and explained the situation then hung up.

Now, can you go to the road and wait for the emergency vehicles so they know where we are and how to get back here?

Again she nodded and took off running. Since there was nothing else he could do Jack looked around. He saw one horse. Well actually a pony. That must be Callie’s. There has to be another horse around. It was too small for the two of them. Jack stood and took a turn around in the field. Then he saw the other horse, much bigger than the pony standing off about a hundred feet eating grass.

Jack sat down next to Ted again checking his pulse and the wound. He figured it would be a while before an ambulance arrived.

He could hear Callie yelling as she ran through the field. He stood up and saw her running toward him with a man right behind her.

When they stopped beside him Jack noticed the bag the man was carrying. It was one of the medical bags his grandfather had funded with the county EMS. He didn’t recognize the man but stood up and shook his hand introducing himself. The man looked at him as though in recognition then put a serious look on his face.

What happened Mr. Nelson?

I don’t know. I heard Callie screaming for help and found her father like this. I checked his pulse and saw that he was bleeding from a head wound so I wrapped it as best I could to try to stop the bleeding. He’s still breathing and his pulse seems a little stronger. Are you with the county EMS?

Yes, I am. When your call came in I was the closest person to respond. They’re sending an ambulance and other EMTs. Let me look him over.

His name was Brian Benson and he lived right down the road from Callie and her father. He went to work to evaluate Ted. By the time he finished Jack could hear the sirens coming up the road. He stood back with Callie and waited for the ambulance to arrive. It was only a minute or so before he saw the men coming through the field. One of Dan’s deputies was with them.

As the other EMTs helped Brian Jack answered questions from the deputy who seemed to know who he was. When they were finished the EMTs put Ted on a stretcher and walked out of the field with him to the ambulance.

The deputy looked down at Callie and asked her if she’d like to go to the hospital. She said yes but was concerned about the horses. Jack spoke up and said he’d catch them and take them home.

As the deputy and EMTs headed toward the road Jack first took the reins of Callie’s pony leading it toward the other horse. It seemed unconcerned about what was going on so Jack was able to walk right up to it. Probably having Callie’s pony with him helped. Taking both horses by the reins he led them toward the road assuming this was Ted’s property.

By the time he reached the road the ambulance and deputy’s car were gone. He looked up the road, away from town and noticed a house ahead on the left and headed toward it. Fifteen minutes had passed by the time he reached it. There was an open barn behind the house so Jack walked the horses to it. There were eight stalls inside, all empty but two had the doors open which he assumed were where these two horses went. After looking over the stalls he figured out which horse went where and led them inside. He removed the saddles and closed the stall doors. After that he closed the barn doors and started walking back toward the river and his UTV.

After getting home he went into the house and explained to Jan what had happened. When he was finished Jan nodded her head then walked over to Jack and kissed him.

My hero. She said and patted him on the chest with a grin on her face then walked back toward the kitchen.

Aww, shucks Ma’am. Jack replied laughing at his wife.

Two Days Later

Jack was in the shop when he heard tires on gravel and stopped what he was doing to see who had pulled in. He walked out the door and looked down the drive to see the Sheriff’s car coming to a stop. He waved quickly and walked back inside to clean up his hands. As he was finishing at the sink the Sheriff walked in the door.

Hey Sheriff, how are things?

Good Jack. Thought I’d come by to thank you for what you did the other day.

It was nothing Dan. If someone else had been there I’m sure they would have done the same.

That may be so. I have a request of you.

What is it?

Let’s go inside. Jan needs to be a part of this conversation.

Jack nodded and they went in through the kitchen door. Jack called out to Jan and she popped her head out the bedroom door. Jack could hear Joe in her arms. She must have been changing them.

They waited until Jan got finished, Jack pouring them both a cup of coffee and they sat. It was only a minute or so until she came out of the bedroom and sat down with them.

So what’s up Dan. Not use to seeing you this time of day. Said Jan.

I have a request for you that may seem a little odd.

Ok, go ahead and ask.

Jack, the little girl you helped the other day needs someplace to stay. Her father is not doing well and there is no other family around to take care of her. I was hoping you would do it. I don’t want to put her in foster care or any other child services.

Jan looked at Jack then at Dan. Who’s her father?

Ted Wheeler. His wife died a few years ago and he’s been raising Callie alone. Anyway, I instantly thought of you guys. If you can’t do it I’ll understand and sure someone will be able to take her for a week.

We’ll do it Dan. What do you need us to do first?

Actually it’s a little more than just taking care of her. You’ll have to run her out to the house every day to take care of the horses, get her to school and in to the hospital to see her dad. Stuff like that.

No problem, answered Jan, We’ll do it. Where is she now?

At the hospital. She won’t leave her father’s side. I could bring her out if you’d like.

No, we’ll go to the hospital and visit with her and Ted. I know Ted, grew up with him. He’s a few years older. Knew Brenda too. Let me get the children situated then we’ll drive in. Alright?

That’s great Jan. Thank you.

With that Dan stood up, shook Jack’s hand and gave Jan a hug. As Jack walked him to the door he asked about Ted’s condition. Dan told him a little of Ted’s heart condition and how the doctors didn’t think he’d make it through the week. Jack understood and thanked Dan for coming out. He waved as the car pulled out of the driveway then went in to tell Jan what was going on.

That was a quick decision.

Yeah, I know. Sorry to leave you out of it. Like I said I know Ted and the time he’s had raising Callie. They would come into the diner sometimes for dinner so I got to know them a little bit. Ted’s about your age, so was Brenda. He inherited his father’s farm just up the road and has been using it to board horses. He fell into a slump after Brenda’s death and just hasn’t been able to come out of it. She shrugged her shoulders and headed into the bedroom to get the kids ready.

Do I know either of them? asked Jack. Jan thought for a moment.

"Yeah, you know both. Remember that July 4th picture in the photo album? Brenda was the girl who let me hang with you guys and Ted was in the background a bit. I don’t think you spent much time with him. His dad kept him busy