The Rainbow
Chapter Eleven

Mitch dined at their table only on weekends now. He rarely put in an appearance on weekdays at all. He did spend all of his free time there on Saturdays; until Carrie was done working, that is. They usually left together as soon as everything was done.

 

Rob and Paula watched silently. Carrie performed her job flawlessly, so they couldn’t complain about her work. Their family time relaxed and almost returned to the ease of years gone by. They both had an uneasy feeling, though. This seemed like the calm before the storm…or perhaps the eye of the hurricane.

 

They were in the arena office together one morning when Chelsea found them.

 

“Can I talk to you?” She came in.

 

“Sure,” Paula nodded, “The boys OK?”

 

“Yes,” Chelsea reported, “I left them working on a chemistry assignment. Hopefully they won’t blow the house up!”

 

“What did you need, Honey?” Rob smiled.

 

“Well,” she sat down, “First of all, I wondered about Thanksgiving. Dutch asked me about our plans and I wasn’t sure…I mean without Grandma…”

 

Rob looked down, trying not to show his emotion at the thought. Paula knew it would be hard for everyone this year. She quickly made a decision.

 

“Well, Chelsea,” Paula answered, “I think we should have it here, don’t you? We’ve got plenty of room and we’re all right here close now, anyway. Do you think Dutch would join us? What does his family do?”

 

“That’s why he was asking,” Chelsea explained, “I guess since his mother died and his sisters have all gotten married, holidays are kind of hard for them. It usually ends up just being him and his father…”

 

“Then,” Rob spoke up, “he should bring his dad along. I know Jack Schwartz, too. He’s welcome to join us.”

 

“I was hoping you’d say that,” she smiled, “Thanks, Uncle Rob. That’ll mean a lot to Dutch.”

 

“Was there something else?” Paula asked.

 

“Yes,” Chelsea grew solemn, “I’m not sure how to say this. I’m not sure I even should say this. I just…you know, I love you both and you make me feel like I’ve always been a part of your family and…”

 

“What is it, Honey?” Rob asked softly.

 

“I’m worried about Mitch,” she confessed.

 

“Tell us,” Rob prodded, “We’re worried about him too. Do you know something?”

 

“I feel like a tattle tale,” she groaned, “But I don’t want to see him get hurt.”

 

“Neither do we,” Paula agreed, “Tell us, Chelsea.”

 

“Aunt Paula,” she reminded, “Remember that talk you had with me when I first met Dutch? I think someone needs to have that same talk with Mitch. I like Carrie, I really do. But I think they’re moving way too fast…Doing things they shouldn’t be doing right now. I can’t say anything. He won’t listen to me.”

 

“You might be surprised,” Rob reflected, “He thinks the world of you, Chelsea.”

 

“No,” she shook her head and tears came to her eyes, “I can’t. He would think I…Well, it would seem like I didn’t want him to be happy. That’s not it at all, though. I do want him to be happy. He deserves to be happy…to be with someone who really loves him and is good to him…”

 

“Of course, he does,” Rob went over and hugged her, “OK, Honey, I understand why you feel like you can’t talk to him…I’m not sure we can either, though. I don’t think he wants to hear what we have to say.”

 

“You have to,” Chelsea pleaded, “She’s practically living with him! But she’s not going to stay! She’s going to hurt him!”

 

“Are you sure of this?” Paula asked.

 

“Yes,” she reported, “I’ve been talking to her when she’s here working. From little things she says, I can tell she’s at his house a lot.”

 

“Why are you sure she won’t stay?” Rob quizzed.

 

“Because she just updated her resume,” Chelsea confessed, “She asked me to read it and see what I thought. She’s sending it out to zoos all over the country. If she gets a job somewhere else, she’ll leave here in a heartbeat. He doesn’t mean as much to her as her stupid job!”

 

Rob sighed and gave Paula a look that said ‘I told you so’. Paula frowned.

 

“OK, Honey,” Rob comforted, “You did the right thing by telling us. Let us handle it from here, OK?”

 

“All right,” she nodded, “Thank you.”

 

After Chelsea left them, Rob sat down and put his head in his hands, “So, now what do we do?”

 

“Rob,” Paula told him, “I don’t think he’d listen to either one of us, do you? I think he’s got to see this for himself.”

 

“So, what?” He threw his hands up, “We just stand by and watch him get hurt?”

 

“No,” she shook her head, “But I don’t think a lecture will do any good. We need a different approach. We need to flush her out somehow. Make her reveal her true intentions.”

 

“You’ve lost me,” he shrugged.

 

“We’ll invite her to Thanksgiving dinner,” Paula proposed, “She’s working here that day anyway. If we drop her smack dab in the middle of our family; surround her with all these people who have common ideas and values and goals…Don’t you think she’ll stick out like a sore thumb?”

 

He looked at her and then slowly started to smile, “You’re sly, Paula. OK, so we’ll give her plenty of rope and let her hang herself.”

 

“Exactly,” she nodded, “Then we’re not the bad guys. Don’t you think it’s worth a try?”

 

“Sure do,” he agreed, “We’ll invite her next time she’s here.”

 

~*~

 

Paula was cleaning a stall the Sunday before Thanksgiving when Mitch came looking for her.

 

“About done?” He asked, leaning on the rail.

 

“With this one,” she grinned, “Want to help?”

 

“Actually,” he sighed, “I want your opinion on something.”

 

“OK,” she stopped working and waited for him to continue.

 

“Well,” he explained, “I’m kind of in a dilemma. And since you know Doc and a lot of his clients…Well, and you’re a woman, too…I just want your objective opinion on the matter.”

 

“I’ll try,” she chuckled, “What is it?”

 

“What do you think about my hair and my beard?” He asked.

 

“What does that have to do with Doc and his clients?”

 

“Doc says I need to cut my hair,” he expounded, “Says the farmers don’t like hippies and that since I started letting my hair grow out, I look like a hippie. He says I should cut the beard too.”

 

“Mmm,” Paula was starting to get the picture, “And my being a woman fits in here how?”

“Well,” he went on, “Carrie likes the hair and beard. So, I’m stuck between doing what Doc wants and what she wants.”

 

“OK,” Paula answered, “First of all, you’re like your father—you could shave your head and put tattoos all over your body and you’d still be attractive.”

 

Mitch blushed at her observation and looked at his feet.

 

“However,” she continued, “the farmers don’t exactly like that look either, so I wouldn’t recommend it. Objectively speaking, I think Doc has a point. Your father got away with his ponytail all these years because he worked in the city and he really didn’t deal with a lot of clients. He dealt with builders like Dutch, who obviously doesn’t have a problem with long hair. Doc is trying to tell you that you are a professional and you need to present yourself that way.”

 

“And what about Carrie?”

 

“I bet if the zoo told her to cut her hair,” Paula supposed, “She wouldn’t even think twice about it.”

 

“Well,” he admitted, “I kind of like her long hair. I’d hate for her to cut it.”

 

“Most men do,” Paula smiled, “But that’s not my point. If she can’t see past your hair and your beard, then she’s not worth having, Mitch. You know, you do work for Doc. I don’t think he’s being unreasonable. When he hired you, your hair was shorter and you had a well-trimmed goatee. You did look much more professional then. It’s not like he hired you with the long hair and beard and then asked you to change.”

 

“Would Dad have caved in if his boss had asked him?” Mitch wondered, “Or would he have kept his long hair because of you.”

 

“Well,” she mused, “I don’t think I can answer for your father. However, if he had come home and told me that they wanted him to cut his hair, I wouldn’t have made him feel like he was betraying me by doing so. Providing for me and the boys is more important than how he wears his hair, don’t you think?”

 

“OK,” he conceded, “I guess one of these days, if I buy the clinic, I can do what I want.”

 

“Right,” she smiled, “That falls under that decision your father mentioned—‘Do I want to work for someone else or for myself?’”

 

“Thanks, Mom,” he started to head out, then turned back, “You really wouldn’t have complained about Dad cutting his hair?”

 

“Honey,” she told him, “I love your father for who is, not how he looks.”

 

“Yeah,” he grinned, “I should’ve known you’d say that.”

 

~*~

 

Thanksgiving Day was beautiful and warm. Rob and Mitch pitched in to help with the stalls, so Carrie didn’t have to work all day. Chelsea helped Paula with the cooking. Because there were so many people, the men had already moved all the living room furniture back against the walls and set up folding tables and chairs for the meal.

 

When they all finally sat down to eat, there was quite a circle of people to offer their traditional thankful reflections. Rob and Paula sat at one end of the table, Jack Schwartz at the opposite end. Everyone else was in between. Without any prior planning, the patriarchal baton got passed to Rob, and he automatically started the procession.

 

“Dutch, Jack, Hazel, Carrie,” Rob started, “We have a tradition in our family that was started by my grandfather. He taught us to all be appreciative of what we have and we remember and honor him by continuing his custom of going around the table and sharing something we’re thankful for on this special day.

 

“I’m thankful to be able to open my home,” he continued, “to each and every one of you and to be able to share our blessings with others. Paula?”

 

“I’m thankful,” she smiled at him, “to have my husband here, by my side, every day of my life.”

 

“I’m thankful,” Jason followed, “to have Dad home with us all the time now.”

 

“I’m thankful,” Keith was next, “to have Chelsea living here with us again.”

 

“I’m thankful,” Kevin piped in, “to get to go on vet calls now with Mitch.”

 

“I’m thankful,” Chelsea was between Kevin and Dutch, “to have the man of my dreams by my side.”

 

“I’m thankful,” Dutch smiled at her, as if he’d done this his whole life, “that Rob needed an arena, and it meant that I met the woman I’m going to spend the rest of my life with.”

 

“I’m thankful,” Jack was next, “That my son has found such a lovely young lady, and a wonderful family to be a part of.”

 

“I’m thankful,” Terry followed, “that my little girl is happy.”

 

“I’m thankful,” Hazel was next, “to have my own place again.”

 

“I’m thankful,” Bill struggled, “not to have to spend today alone.”

 

“I’m thankful,” Mitch looked at Carrie, “that Carrie is here.”

 

Carrie was the only one left. She looked at Mitch, on her left, and Rob, on her right. Then she looked all around the table, as if in awe of the whole crowd and what had just been said. All eyes were on her now.

 

“I’m thankful,” she stuttered, “to…to be invited today.”

 

“Let’s eat,” Rob announced, and they all began talking and eating at the same time.

 

Paula watched Carrie closely, since they were seated on either side of Rob. She was obviously uncomfortable amidst a large family setting. Mitch seemed unaware of her anxiety.

 

As sometimes happens with a large group of people, a sudden silence fell at one point late in the meal. As everyone looked at each other, almost exchanging a private joke, it was obvious that Carrie was feeling extremely awkward.

 

Rob seized the opportunity, “So, Carrie, what about your family? We don’t know much about them, except that your father is a vet. Where are they now?”

 

“Oh, uh,” she faltered, “Well, my parents are divorced now. My dad’s in New York and my mom is in Minneapolis. I have one sister and she’s with Mom.”

 

“What does your mom do?” Chelsea tried to be polite.

 

“She teaches,” she informed, “She’s a high school science teacher.”

 

“Did she teach you?” Jason asked.

 

“No,” Carrie chuckled, “She didn’t teach at my school.”

 

“Bummer,” Keith said, “I can’t imagine if Mom and Dad didn’t teach us.”

 

Carrie gave them an odd look, “Most kids go to real schools, you know.”

 

“Our school is real,” Kevin defended, “We just don’t have to leave home every day.”

 

“Yes, of course, it is,” Carrie blushed, “I just meant that…well, most moms have jobs.”

 

Paula glanced knowingly at Rob, then at Mitch. He was intently watching Carrie and listening to her comments.

 

“That would be really bad,” Kevin told her, “If our mom had to leave us every day. I feel really sorry for those kids that don’t have moms all the time. You’re not going to leave your kids behind, are you Carrie?”

 

“I don’t have any kids,” she answered quickly, “And I don’t plan on it, either. Except for the four-legged kind.”

 

“Never?” Chelsea pursued, watching Mitch grow solemn, “Surely you want children sometime, don’t you?”

 

“No,” Carrie shook her head, “I’m not that domestic.”

 

“You say that like it’s a bad thing,” Dutch jumped in.

 

“Well,” Carrie squirmed, “I just have certain priorities in my life.”

 

“So do I,” Chelsea informed, “And being a wife and mother are at the top of my list.”

 

“You know,” Carrie remarked, “I can’t believe you’d just waste your degree like that.”

 

“She’s not wasting her degree,” Mitch finally spoke, “She’s teaching chemistry to my brothers right now.”

 

“Oh, excuse me,” Carrie rolled her eyes, “I forgot about ‘Little Homeschool on the Prairie’.”

 

“You know,” Dutch remarked, “I remember my mother once said that the greatest contribution a woman could make to this world was to raise her children to know the difference between right and wrong.”

 

“She did a pretty good job of it, too,” Jack smiled, “God rest her soul.”

 

“Well,” Carrie commented, “You can have the babies, Chelsea. I’ll take my career. There’s way too many kids in the world already.”

 

“You know, Carrie,” Terry spoke up, “You remind me of a girl I knew once. She felt that same way. Things kind of got messed up when she got pregnant, though.”

 

“Well,” Carrie smiled wryly, “There are ways to prevent that.”

 

“Only one sure way, that I know of,” Terry reflected, “She found that out the hard way. Worst thing was, the person who suffered the most was her little girl.”

 

Chelsea looked lovingly at her father, knowing full well who he was talking about, “At least her little girl doesn’t plan on repeating her mother’s mistakes.”

 

“Carrie,” Paula finally spoke, “What is your number one priority?”

“My zoo career, of course,” she answered quickly.

 

“What about marriage?” Rob asked.

 

“Well,” she looked at Mitch, “I don’t know. It seems a lot easier to just live with someone these days. Marriage is kind of old fashioned.”

 

“Well,” Bill pointed out, “It would be silly to waste your time on something that’s worked for thousands of years, wouldn’t it?”

 

“Listen to you all,” Carrie laughed, “You sound like the Waltons or something. You make it sound like a crime for a woman to work. It may amaze you, but not all women want to stay home and be barefoot and pregnant their whole life.”

 

“No,” Rob put an end to the discussion, “It’s not a crime for a woman to work. My mother worked. She worked while Terry and I were in school, and she was home when we were home. Dutch’s mom worked. She raised six children. If you don’t think that’s work, then you should try it for just one day. Paula works. She works from sun up to sun down, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

 

“If you don’t want to be a mother and you don’t want to be a wife, then that’s your choice,” he continued, “You have every right to make that choice. However, you don’t have the right to degrade my wife or my niece for their choice. Especially not in my home. Nor do you have the right to mislead my son about your intentions.”

 

“I haven’t misled your son,” Carrie defended, “He knows what I do for a living.”

 

“Let it go, Dad,” Mitch requested, “You’ve made your point. You’ve all made your point.”

 

“I’m sorry, Carrie,” Paula apologized, “We didn’t mean to make you feel like an outcast. We’re just all very family oriented people. You’re quite right. Most women feel like you do these days. Last Thanksgiving, Chelsea was in awe of us, too.”

 

“Yes,” Chelsea laughed, “I was, wasn’t I? Amazing how things can change in a year’s time. And hopefully, in another year’s time, Dutch and I will be expecting a baby of our own.”

 

Mitch smiled, watching Chelsea snuggle into Dutch, “You’re going to make a great mom, Chels. Just like Paula.”

 

“You’ll be a great dad, Mitch,” Chelsea predicted, “Just like Uncle Rob. I know you will…someday.”

 

Carrie looked at Mitch, as if shocked by the thought, “Do you actually want kids?”

 

“Of course, I do, Carrie,” he answered, “I don’t know how anyone could be around this family and not want kids. You just look over there at my dad…and then look at Paula…Look at what they have, and what they are to each other. That’s what I want, Carrie. I want what they have.”

 

“How about pumpkin pie?” Bill broke in, “Aren’t we supposed to have pie on Thanksgiving?”

“Absolutely,” Paula got up, “Chelsea, come give me a hand.”

 

~*~

 

It was late that evening after Terry, Dutch, Jack and Carrie had gone home. Chelsea, Hazel and Bill had retreated to their own quarters. The boys were reading in their room. Only Mitch remained to talk to Rob and Paula. They sat in the living room, which had been restored to its usual condition.

 

“Why do I feel like I was set up today?” Mitch asked.

 

“Sorry,” Rob confessed, “I guess you kind of were. If you’re going to be mad, be mad at me for it.”

 

“You know, there’s something I’d like for you to explain to me, Dad,” Mitch reflected, “Because it really doesn’t make a lot of sense in the scheme of things to me.”

 

“OK,” Rob nodded, “I’ll try. What is it?”

 

“Well,” Mitch reported, “By all accounts, even your own, you were a real jerk when you were young, right?”

 

“So to speak,” Rob conceded.

 

“Well,” Mitch complained, “I don’t think I am. I don’t think I’ve ever been a real jerk. There have been half a dozen girls in my life, including Carrie…And I’ve been to bed with even less. Does that sound like I’m a jerk?”

 

“No, Mitch,” Paula smiled, “No one said you were a jerk, Dear.”

 

He rubbed his face, “I’ve never just used girls, OK? I wasn’t brought up that way. Maybe I wasn’t raised as strictly as your boys, but I was taught to respect girls. In vet school, I had a serious girlfriend, Kim. She and I had all sorts of plans. We were supposed to get married and have a clinic of our own. You know, a husband and wife team.”

 

“What happened?” Paula asked.

 

“Right before we graduated,” he told them, “she got an offer from a clinic in Pennsylvania. I got the offer here. She looks at me and says, ‘Sorry. It’s been nice knowing you, but I changed my mind.’”

 

“So much for the plans,” Rob commented.

 

“Yeah,” Mitch nodded, “I don’t get it. What’s wrong with me? I try to do things the right way…Look at you, Dad. You were a total screw up and you got Mom. Where’s the justice in that?”

 

“That was not justice, Mitch,” Rob grinned, “That was mercy.”

 

“Oh, Rob,” Paula, who was sitting next to him on the sofa, gave him a gentle shove, “Mitch has a good point. From where he’s standing, it looks like you broke all the rules and came out with first prize. He feels like he’s played by the rules and can’t even see the finish line. Am I right, Mitch?”

 

“That pretty well sums it up,” Mitch agreed.

 

“All right,” Rob nodded, “I suppose it does look that way. I did break a lot of rules, and Paula is definitely first prize. But I did have to pay some consequences along the way.  Some of them didn’t catch up to me for a long time, but they’re definitely there. You’re one of them.”

 

“Thorn in your side,” Mitch remarked, “Am I?”

 

“No,” Rob shook his head, “But I can’t possibly explain to you how it felt to face the boys and tell them you were my son. Or what it was like to explain your existence to my parents. Or to meet the look in Paula’s eyes, even though I knew she would understand and love me just the same. And some day, when the boys are older, I’m going to have a real rough time explaining to them why they shouldn’t do the things that they know full well I did.”

 

“Like you’re trying to justify it to me now?” Mitch gave him a wry smile.

 

“Exactly,” Rob nodded, “And I’ll tell you something else. Ever since you showed up, I have walked around carrying the thought in the back of my mind that there could be others.”

 

“Ooh,” Mitch grimaced, “Hadn’t thought of that possibility.”

 

“Well,” Rob told him, “I have. I hope there aren’t any more out there. And I hope no one ever crops up to haunt you, either. You might keep it in mind in the future, Mitch. It’s a rather sobering thought.”

 

“I’ve been careful,” Mitch revealed, “I don’t think I have to worry about that.”

 

“You can’t be too careful, Mitch,” Paula warned him, “Did you hear what Terry said? He was talking about Karen, you know. They were married and she had no intentions of having children. Look what a disaster that all turned out to be.”

 

“Yeah,” he nodded, “Chelsea told me the whole sordid tale.  So, OK, I get your point, Dad. You did pay a price for it. Maybe you’re still paying. But you still ended up with Mom. What about me?”

 

“You mean why are you still alone?” Rob asked.

 

“Yeah,” Mitch threw his hands up, “Why does everyone walk out on me? What’s wrong with me?”

 

“Paula?” Rob looked at her, “Can you bail me out here?”

 

“I’ll try,” she smiled, rubbing his knee fondly, “Mitch, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with you. Look at Dutch, he’s even older than you are. He’s a good man, too. I shudder to think what it’s going to be like for Jason and the twins. It’s society today that’s the problem, Mitch. We don’t teach little girls how to grow up and be women. We teach them to be men.

 

“I’m afraid Carrie is right,” Paula told him, “Most women do want careers instead of families. I think Carrie is a nice girl, I really do. Unfortunately, she wasn’t raised to believe that a woman can be worth anything without a career.”

 

“Chelsea was raised that way, too,” Mitch pointed out, “But she changed.”

 

“She’s an exception,” Rob interjected, “Partly because she realized how her mother deceived her. No, Mitch, Paula’s right. There aren’t many girls who want what you want. It doesn’t make you wrong, just because you’re in the minority, though.”

 

“It’s lonely in the minority,” Mitch lamented.

 

“It’s lonely in a thunderstorm lots of times,” Paula told him, “But when the sun comes out and you see the rainbow, isn’t it worth it? You just have to look for the rainbow, Mitch. Stop settling for storm clouds and hold out for the rainbow.”

 

~*~

 

Carrie came to work the next day and went about her business as usual. She seemed no worse for the wear of the previous day, somewhat a relief to Paula and Rob, although also puzzling.

 

Mitch showed up for dinner, with freshly cut hair and his goatee of earlier days. He came directly to the house, not even stopping to talk to Carrie.

 

“Look at you,” Paula smiled, “You decided to take my advice.”

 

“I’d be a real fool,” he hugged her, “if I didn’t listen to the wisest woman I know. Doc was happy too.”

 

“You know,” she remarked, “He can be kind of crotchety and cantankerous, but Doc’s a pretty wise old soul himself. I’d have to say he was one of the greatest influences in my life.”

 

“Yeah,” he grinned, “He still talks about you like you’re his daughter, too.”

 

“Hey,” Rob walked in, “Who’s this young guy in here harassing my wife?”

 

“You better not go off and leave her unattended,” Mitch laughed, “Somebody will steal her away, you know.”

 

“Excuse me,” Carrie walked in, “Mitch, can I talk to you, please?”

 

He looked at his parents, then nodded, “Sure, Carrie. Let’s go in the study.”

 

“Oh, to be a fly on the wall,” Paula mused.

 

“No, Honey,” Rob shook his head, “I think there are some things we don’t want to know. He’ll handle it. Let’s just hope we’re not without a hired hand again.”

 

~*~

 

Whatever was said, the result was Mitch eating dinner with them on a regular basis again. Carrie continued to work efficiently and the two of them remained cordial when they crossed paths. Both Rob and Paula breathed a sigh of relief.

 

The days grew cold as Christmas approached, but it wasn’t anything like the previous winter. It had yet to snow and most days it got at least a little above freezing. Chelsea and Paula were in the kitchen one day, exchanging ideas of what to get people for Christmas when Carrie came in.

 

“Sorry,” she stepped in, “I didn’t mean to intrude.”

 

“It’s OK,” Paula motioned, “Come on in. Would you like some hot tea or coffee?”

 

“No, thanks,” she shook her head, “I just need to tell you something. I got a job in Cincinnati. I start there at the first of the year. I’m leaving right before Christmas to move up there.”

 

“I see,” Paula sighed, “Well, I know that’s a good zoo. I’m sure you’ll like it there. When do you want to work your last day here?”

 

“This Saturday, I guess,” she shrugged, “I’m sorry I can’t give you more notice. I have to work out my two weeks at the zoo here and I really need a few days to get things packed.”

 

“Saturday’s fine,” Paula smiled, “We’ll be sorry to see you go, Carrie. You’ve done a great job for us. Dancer will miss you, too. You’ll mail us your new address as soon as you can, right? We’ll need to send you your tax information.”

 

“Yes,” she nodded, “I’ll send it or maybe I’ll call. I appreciate you guys giving me this job. You’ve been really good to me…I’m sorry I can’t stay…”

 

“It’s OK,” Paula assured, “We knew it wasn’t forever. Feel free to use us as a reference anytime, OK?”

 

“Thanks,” Carried smiled and walked back out.

 

Chelsea shivered, “And to think of how close I came to being just like her…”

 

“Well,” Paula observed, “You’re nothing like her now. Can I ask you a personal question, Chelsea?”

 

“Sure, Aunt Paula,” she smiled.

 

“You said something at Thanksgiving,” Paula remembered, “about how quickly you and Dutch want to start your family…Are you planning on children right away?”

 

“He wants a big family,” Chelsea smiled, “And so do I. He doesn’t want to wait too long, because he’s already 31. He says he wants to be young enough to still enjoy his children. You think it’s a bad idea?”

 

“It’s none of my business,” Paula shrugged, “but if I had it to do over again…Well, Rob and I thought the same thing and we’d been together for five years before we got married. We did at least have that time for ourselves. You and Dutch haven’t had much time just to be together. Once children come along, it changes everything, Chelsea. You’re young and you’ve got lots of time. Of course, you’ve also got lots of people around to help. We didn’t have that.”

 

“How did you manage with Jason so young when the twins were born?” Chelsea wondered.

 

“Well,” Paula remembered, “Since it was a scheduled c-section, it wasn’t a surprise. So, Rob took his three weeks of vacation when they were born, then Sally came down and stayed for two weeks after he went back to work. By the time she left, we had a pretty good routine down and my mom came over during the day and helped out for a while. It was pretty rough in those days, though.”

 

“I bet,” Chelsea chuckled, “I’m counting on you to help me out!”

 

“You know I will,” Paula smiled, “The roughest part was that Rob and I had no time to ourselves. We were just like a relay team taking turns with the babies. It’s really hard living with someone you love so much and missing them at the same time.”

 

“Did you ever want any more?” Chelsea wondered.

 

“More kids?” Paula asked, “I didn’t have a choice. The doctor said no more, it was too much of a risk for me. Rob wasn’t about to let me take that risk, so there was no argument.”

 

“Oh, I didn’t know,” Chelsea looked sad, “I’m sorry.”

 

“I’m happy with my three boys,” Paula shrugged, “And now I’ve got Mitch, who might as well be my son. And you, Chelsea, are like the daughter I never had. That’s plenty. I guess I’d better go find Rob and tell him we’re looking for help again.”

 

~*~

 

It was late Christmas Day, after all the gifts had been unwrapped and the late lunch had been devoured. Everyone was sprawled around the living room visiting and complaining about having eaten too much. Sam and Panyon both ran to the front door and started barking, just as the doorbell rang.

 

“Who could that be?” Paula wondered.

 

“Oh, Jeez,” Mitch rolled his eyes, “I hope it’s not Mary.”

 

“Who’s Mary?” Dutch asked.

 

“My real mother,” Mitch moaned, “Chels and I are in a contest for nightmare mothers.”

 

Rob had gone to answer the door and they heard a cheerful female voice greet him, “Merry Christmas, Rob! You don’t remember me, do you?”

 

All eyes went to the doorway as a young woman stepped inside. She had shoulder length strawberry blond hair with bangs that were curled. Her face was tanned and sprinkled lightly with freckles that gave her an innocent, natural appeal. She wore jeans and a red down coat over her blue sweater.

 

Rob stepped aside, still looking at her as if trying to place her in his past. She looked across the crowded room and her face lit up even brighter when she saw Paula.

 

“Paula!” She gave a big grin, “Surely you remember me!”

 

“Jenny!” Paula jumped up and ran to hug her, “My goodness, Honey! You’re all grown up now! Rob, it’s Jenny! Linda’s little girl.”

 

“Squirt?!” Rob’s expression changed from concern to joyful recognition, “For heaven’s sake! You are grown up! I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you. Let me take your coat, come on in.”

 

“Everybody,” Paula introduced, “This is Jenny Harmon. I worked with her mom, Linda, years ago at Doc’s. She used to hang out there when she was growing up and even helped us out sometimes. Jenny, this is Rob’s dad, Bill. My mom, Hazel. Our three boys, Jason, Kevin and Keith. Terry…I bet you remember Terry, don’t you? This is his daughter, Chelsea. Her fiancé, Dutch.  Dutch’s father, Jack. And this is Dr. Mitch Martin…He works for Doc now. He also happens to be Rob’s son.”

 

Jenny looked at Mitch, then at Rob, then back at Paula, “Long story, right?”

 

“Right,” Paula laughed, “Come and tell me what you’ve been up to…What brings you to our door today?”

 

“Well,” Jenny sat down and related, “I guess you knew Mom got remarried? We moved to Kansas, you know.”

 

“I heard that,” Paula nodded. Linda’s first husband had died in a fire when Jenny was very young.

 

“Well,” Jenny told her, “After I graduated from high school, I started working for a vet out there. I’ve been living with Mom and her husband, Bob. But now, my grandmother, the one on my dad’s side, she’s getting up there. She really needs some help. I came back for Christmas to visit, but I’m looking for work while I’m here. Grandma doesn’t have anyone else who can come and stay with her, so I’m going to move back here if I can find a job.”

 

“So you came to visit us while you’re here?” Rob asked.

 

“Yes,” Jenny teased, “Don’t you feel special? And you didn’t even remember me! You’re trying to break my heart, Rob!”

 

“Never, Squirt,” he grinned.

 

“I’m going to see Doc after I leave here,” she told them.

 

“He’s not home,” Mitch volunteered, “I’m on call today. He was going to visit his sister down in Branson today.”

 

“Will he be at the clinic tomorrow?” She asked, “I really want to see him.”

 

“Yeah,” he smiled, “He’ll be there tomorrow. Come by the clinic. I’m sure he’d like to see you.”

 

“How’s your mom?” Paula asked.

 

“She’s good,” Jenny reported, “Bob is really good to her. She doesn’t even have to work now. He takes care of her just like a man’s supposed to do. Spoils her, even. It’s about time, bless her heart.”

 

“And what about you?” Rob asked, “If you’re about to move back here, you must be breaking someone’s heart back in Kansas.”

 

“Hey,” Jenny laughed, “I love my grandma, but if there was someone back in Kansas with his heart breaking, I wouldn’t be leaving!”

 

Paula noticed Mitch was watching Jenny closely. He was obviously amused by her bubbling personality. She certainly had the entire room spellbound.

 

“What kind of job are you looking for?” Paula was inspired, hoping Rob would follow her lead.

 

“Well,” she shrugged, “I’m going to start by asking Doc if he needs anybody. Then, I’ll just start hitting the vets around here, I guess.”

 

“Do you like horses?” Rob picked up on Paula’s hint.

 

Jenny looked at Paula and laughed, “He’s kidding, right? He remembers I grew up with horses, doesn’t he?”

 

“We need someone here, Jenny,” Paula offered, “We had someone helping part time but she moved.”

 

“Here?” Jenny’s eyes lit up, “At your stable, you mean?”

 

“It’s not pretty work,” Rob told her, “It’s mucking stalls and feeding horses.”

 

“You could give some lessons too,” Paula added, “I know how well you ride.”

 

“It’s just minimum wage,” Rob explained, “And I don’t think we could even stretch it into full time. But it would be something to help out at first at least. We’d certainly not hold you back if you wanted to look for something better once you’re settled in here.”

 

“I don’t need a lot,” Jenny told them, “It’s just that Grandma lives off her social security and I don’t want to be a burden. I’m coming here to help, not hinder, so I need to be able to pay my own way on things.”

 

“Where does your grandma live?” Mitch asked.

 

“Do you know where the big Angus farm is? The Jenkins place?” She asked and continued when he nodded, “She lives in that little white farm house just to the east of their place.”

 

“I know right where that is,” he smiled, “And listen, I think Doc might give you some part time work, if you’re interested in large animals. I’ve been pestering him to get someone who could go out on calls with me. I bet I can convince him to hire you for that. If you’re interested, that is.”

 

“That’s what I’ve been doing,” she told him, “I like the large animal stuff.  So maybe I could work part time both places. What do you think, Paula? Could we work something out?”

 

“I think so,” she smiled, “But Rob’s the boss. You’d better ask him.”

 

“Yeah,” Jenny giggled, “I know just how much of the boss Rob really is! So, Boss, what do you think? Can you put up with me around here?”

 

Rob narrowed his eyes at her joke, then grinned, “Yeah, Squirt, I can put up with you, if you can put up with me!”

 

“Great!” Jenny jumped up and ran to hug him, “Thanks, Boss! Bet you never dreamed I’d be calling you that, did you?”

 

“Not in a million years, Squirt,” he teased her back, “You want to stay for supper?”

 

“I’d better go,” she shook her head, “I need to get back to Grandma’s. It’s been nice meeting everyone. I guess I’ll be seeing you around here a lot probably.”

 

“You’ll come by the clinic tomorrow?” Mitch stood up.

 

“Yeah,” she nodded, “When’s a good time?”

 

“How about around 1:00?” He asked, “I’ll have him block off some time.”

 

“Sounds good,” Jenny agreed, “Paula, I’ll stop back by here after I talk to Doc and let you know when I can start, OK?”

 

“We’ll be here,” Paula said.

 

Jenny looked back at Mitch and then at Rob.  She winked at Paula, “Maybe you can tell me your long story then!”

 

~*~

 

It was the middle of the afternoon the next day when Jenny came back by. Chelsea and Paula were in the kitchen when she came in.

 

“Well?” Paula asked.

 

“He hired me,” Jenny beamed, “Said we’d work things out between all of us. He said he’d call you and figure out the best way to share custody of me.”

 

“That sounds like something he’d say,” Paula laughed, “Would you like some coffee or tea?”

 

“Coffee sounds great,” she sat down, “I told him I could start the 15^th of January. I need to give notice where I’m at and still have a few days to get moved.”

 

“Sounds good,” Paula poured her a cup of coffee and sat down, “Let us know when you’re here and we’ll set up a schedule.”

 

“Thanks,” Jenny smiled, “So, tell me your story.”

 

“What story?” Paula asked.

 

“About Mitch Martin,” Jenny prodded, “Obviously he’s not your son. Who’s his mom? What happened? I know Rob wasn’t married before! Tell me!”

 

“Oh, that story,” Paula laughed and Chelsea smiled, “Well, it all started the summer before last…”

 

~*~

 

Rob came in just as Paula was finishing her tale of the past two years. It was the first time Chelsea had heard it all in such detail, so she was almost as interested as Jenny.

 

“What are you ladies gossiping about?” Rob pulled up a chair.

 

“You scoundrel, you!” Jenny looked at him and raised her eyebrows. Her eyes were a vivid green and they danced with mischief.

 

“Hey!” He defended, “Is that any way to talk to your boss!”

 

“I’ve been catching Jenny up on who’s who around here,” Paula confessed, “I think she’s referring to your behavior prior to our marriage.”

 

“Oh,” he hung his head, “You mean Mitch.”

 

“That’s why,” Jenny wagged her finger at him in a scolding fashion, “You’re not supposed to do those things! They catch up with you!”

 

Chelsea was chuckling at the way Jenny talked to Rob, obviously extremely comfortable with him. He looked up at Jenny, then Chelsea and Paula. They were all smiling at him and he looked like a little boy who’d been caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

 

“Well,” he remarked sheepishly, “Since Paula found it in her heart to forgive me, maybe you can too, Squirt. What do you think?”

 

“Well,” she pretended to think about it, “I guess since it was before you knew me, I’ll forgive you too.”

 

“I thought I was going to have to bribe you with candy,” he laughed.

 

“Lemon drops,” she laughed, “You used to bring me lemon drops.”

 

“What?” Chelsea asked.

 

“When Rob and I were dating,” Paula explained, “Linda and I worked together on Saturday mornings at the clinic. She used to bring Jenny to work with her and she’d play in the back room.”

 

“I used to drop Paula off and then come back and pick her up after work,” Rob finished, “And I’d bring Jenny lemon drops.”

 

“When Mom would get stuck working late,” Jenny recalled, “He’d sit back there with me and read to me or play games with me. Sometimes he’d play dolls with me. One time, they were stuck there really late for something and he took me to the café on the square and got me a cheeseburger so I wouldn’t starve to death.”

 

“How old were you then?” Chelsea wondered.

 

“I was just a little girl,” Jenny smiled fondly, “I’m 23 now, so that tells you how young I was then.”

 

“That’s why I called her Squirt,” Rob grinned, “Cause she was such a cute little squirt.”

 

“And now,” Mitch spoke from the doorway, “She’s a beautiful young lady.”

 

“Mitch!” Paula looked up, noticing Jenny blush at his compliment, “I didn’t hear you come in! How long have you been standing there?”

 

“I was in stealth mode,” he teased.

 

“I’ll make a note of that,” Jenny smiled at him, “In case you sneak up on me like that at work.”

 

“Speaking of work,” Rob asked, “What did Doc say?”

 

“Got the job,” she informed, “He’s supposed to talk to you and Paula about the details. I start for him on the 15^th, and I’ll be back before then. We’ll get it all sorted out when I get moved in.”

 

“Do you need help moving?” Rob wondered.

 

“Oh, it’s just boxes,” Jenny shrugged, “Clothes, books, things like that. I can get it all in my truck in one trip.”

 

“Well, you can at least give us a call when you make it in,” Mitch offered, “We’ll come and help you unload.”

 

She blushed again, “Thanks, I might take you up on that.”

 

“No problem,” he assured, “Want to stay for dinner tonight? We are having dinner tonight, aren’t we Mom?”

 

“Dinner!” Paula exclaimed, “I guess it is dinnertime, if you’re here, isn’t it?”

 

“Oh my!” Chelsea cried, “Dutch will be here soon! I didn’t realize it was so late!”

 

“Oh!” Jenny cried, “I’ve got to get back to Grandma’s house! I’m sorry I took up your whole afternoon!”

 

Rob and Mitch were both laughing as the three women panicked over the time.

 

“What are you two laughing at?” Paula scolded, “You’re the ones who want dinner ready!”

 

“Don’t panic, Dear,” Rob got up and hugged her, “Why don’t we splurge and go eat at the restaurant in town? Chelsea, why don’t you and Dutch join us?”

 

“May we?” She smiled.

 

“Why don’t you come, too, Jenny?” Mitch invited.

 

“I really can’t,” she shook her head, “I do need to check on Grandma. Thanks for the coffee, Paula…and the story! That was better than a soap opera!”

 

“When are you leaving for Kansas?” Mitch ventured.

 

“Tomorrow,” she smiled, “I need to get back and turn in my notice.”

 

“Well,” he smiled, looking at her in much the same way that Rob often looked at Paula, “I’ll look forward to seeing you when you come back.”

 

“Yeah,” she blushed again, “Me too. Bye, everybody!”

 

“Bye!” They called after her.

 

Mitch watched her walk out and get into her blue truck. His gaze followed her down the drive and as far down the lane as it possibly could. Rob, Paula and Chelsea all watched him, silently.

 

He turned to them and asked, “What?”

 

“Just wondering what you’re thinking?” Paula spoke for them all.

 

He grinned and looked back out the window, as if he could still see her leaving, “Just that she doesn’t look like a squirt to me.”

 

“What does she look like to you, Mitch?” Rob asked.

 

Mitch looked at Paula and gave her a smile that warmed her heart, “I think she looks a lot like a rainbow.”