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Uncle? Aunt?Did I have more siblings I’d never heard of? Maybe they were related to Phil instead. I made a mental note to ask about them once the kids were gone. I had no idea how much they knew about me. Or how Rhonda had explained my sudden appearance in their lives.
“Mom, I’m seventeen. I don’t need a babysitter,” Mark said.
Christopher said, “Neither do I.”
Before the twins could complain too, Rhonda said, “We have business to discuss with Uncle Logan and Uncle Colton.”
“And you don’t want us to hear,” Mark grumbled. “Might as well give it up. There’s no getting out of it.”
Lindsay smiled. “I don’t mind. Aunt Zoey said she was going to let me play piano with her next time. I can’t wait to show her what I’ve learned.”
The boys rolled their eyes, but finished eating quickly. Soon they had all excused themselves from the table, leaving just the adults.
Logan turned to me and said, “I know you must have a lot of questions, and hopefully I can answer them. Rhonda said you wanted to talk about our father. He’s someone we never discuss in front of the children.”
“Rhonda touched on the subject yesterday. I have no issue with waiting.”Just not for much longer.
About thirty minutes later, their phones dinged, in a sound I’d come accustomed to. I almost felt bad for Mark. When I was his age I used to sneak out in the middle of the night with Jack. With this type of security, I’d never have made it down the driveway. Was it really needed? This didn’t look like the type of neighborhood where crime was an issue. Then again, maybe that’s what made it look so appealing to criminals. I’d have to mention it to Jack when we got together for a beer during the week.
“Looks like Bennett is here,” Phil said.
We all went to greet him at the door. He was alone. “You must be Colton. I’m Bennett Stone. Nice to meet you,” he said.
We shook hands and I said, “Sounds like you’re going to have your hands full today.”
“I’m used to this. Zoey loves children and has as many over as she can. I swear she’d have a dozen if I’d agree to it,” he chuckled.
Phil said, “I have four, and I’m not sure I could handle any more than that.”
“Don’t worry, Phil. I’m not planning to have any more children,” Rhonda said.
Phil said, “That word planning doesn’t sound definite.”
“I’m forty-four. It sounds definite to me,” she said.
She hugged all the kids, whether they wanted it or not, and off they went. I half felt bad that they were being sent away so we could talk, but I’d be leaving in a few hours and this was my chance to learn what I needed.
“Where do you want to sit?” I asked.
Rhonda said, “It’s nice out. Why don’t we go sit in the backyard?”
I followed behind them all and once seated, I asked, “I’m not sure where to even start asking questions. Should we talk about Mom?”
Logan said, “I can’t answer any of those questions.”
I raised a brow. “Why?”
He replied, “I never met her. She had passed away before I learned Rhonda was my sister. You can imagine that I was shocked to learn that she has a twin brother, too.”
“So you two only just met recently?” I asked.
“It’s been several years now, but we didn’t grow up knowing the other existed,” he said.
Rhonda said, “I always thought I was an only child myself. But I understand now, why.”
“Does this have to do with our father?” I asked.
Logan nodded. “Yes. He’s been deceased now for about ten years. You are not missing anything by not knowing him.”
