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“Do we want them all the same color?” asked Teddy, staring at the train cars he was painting.
“No,” said Nine. “I say we do every color we have. I asked Elizabeth, and she said kids are stimulated by colors. Whatever the fuck that means.” Teddy nodded, laughing at the man as he continued to paint the wooden cars and trains.
“You know, I had a toy like this when I was a boy,” said Teddy. “It had all these tracks it sat on and little buildings and houses alongside the tracks. It was still sitting on my dresser when I got home from World War II. It was blue with shiny silver wheels.” Nine smiled at him, nodding.
“Yea, my old man worked his ass off to make sure I had everything I wanted. One year, I was desperate for this set of plastic soldiers. You know, the ones that have like fifteen men, plastic guns, tanks, everything.” Teddy nodded, chuckling. “They weren’t that expensive, but it was a lean year. I’m not sure how he got that set, but it was under the tree on Christmas morning. I played with that thing for years. Even when I was a teenager, I would arrange the men on a table, prepared for whatever battle they were headed into.”
“Strategist even back then,” smiled Teddy.
“I guess,” he nodded. “I don’t think I ever got the chance to thank my old man for all he did for me, Teddy. I’m not a man that lives with regrets, but that’s one that haunts me.”
“He knows, Nine. We all know. Now, my son was a piece of shit, but my grandson damn sure made up for it. That boy doesn’t miss a day to tell me he loves me or that he thanks me.”
“When Ellie was born, we didn’t think we’d have any more children. I nearly lost Erin, and I wasn’t willing to risk her life to try for another baby. But I guess God had other plans for us. Cam came along, and suddenly, I was the father to a daughter and a son,” he smiled.
“I did so many things wrong those first few years. I was gone more than I should have been. I left Erin to make some tough decisions about them both. It’s a miracle she’s tolerated my ass all these years.”
“It’s not a miracle,” said Teddy. “All of you were meant for one another. Each of you was meant to find the other. First, as friends, as brothers. Then as friends finding their wives. I’m with Irene. I don’t think there is any such thing as coincidence.”
“We got all the dolls into the storage unit,” said Miller, walking toward them. “Hey, those are looking good. I had a whole set like this when I was a kid. We all did. We also had those blocks with the letters on them. I guess that’s old-fashioned, but they were cool.”
“Maybe we could make them with some sort of electronic piece to them,” said Teddy.
“How so?”
“I don’t know. With the trains, it could announce the next station or make other announcements. For the blocks, maybe they could make it so if the little one spelled something out right, it would pronounce it. Like if they lined up the blocks for d-o-g, it sounded out ‘dog.’ You know, like it was congratulating them.”
“Fucking great idea,” said Miller, nodding his head. “Let me get with Ryan and see if it can happen.”
“How are we on the bikes?” asked Nine.
“We’ve got about half of them. Still trying to figure out how we’re going to get the rest. We’re buying shit up everywhere we go. Antoine is looking for some used bikes that we can refurbish and make look brand new.”
“We should have started earlier,” said Nine.
He heard the sounds of hammers and looked across the bayou to see Grant’s team working furiously to improve the shacks. They already had new roofs on each of the homes. The floors had been replaced, insulated, and secured. Now, they were working on filling the cracks in the walls and running electrical and plumbing.
“You’d think Ray’s grandson would be happier since we’re upgrading the houses for them,” said Teddy. “That boy looks mad as a hornet’s nest all the time.”
“Or scared,” said Miller. “He’s got reason to be pissed. Alec said his Mama and Daddy left him with the old man about five years ago. Just walked away and never came back. He seems respectful to the grandfather. Doesn’t appear to break any rules.”
“Well, it was a smart idea to put part of the storage on the Halo Island. We can’t leave everything here in case it floods, but some of this, we can. We’re gonna need a damn big sleigh to deliver everything on Christmas Eve.”
“What are we gonna do about Mama’s Christmas Eve ball?” asked Miller.
“Good question,” frowned Nine. “I suppose we do what we’re good at. Sneak around.”
“Ted is putting together a list of sizes for the boys to get some new clothes. They’re all out at the Sugar Lodge, enjoying a larger space. Less privacy but more space. They’re gonna love the facility when it’s finished. Grant and his team are doing amazing work over there.”
“He must have ten crews working with him right now,” said Miller. “They’re working on the boys’ home and those shacks over there as well, plus something for Mama and them.”
“Those shacks are gonna be amazing when he’s done with them. They’ll still be small, but everyone who lives there is either couples with no kids or singles. Ray and his grandson will each have their own room. It won’t be big, but it will hold a double bed. A new double bed.”
“We’re going all out, huh?” smirked Miller.
“Why the hell not? We’ve got the time and the money. We’ve ordered new appliances, furniture, everything for them. When it’s all said and done, those four hundred square feet of hell are going to be eight hundred square feet of warmth, modern comforts, and homes to be proud of. All thanks to your father,” said Nine.
“He’s something else, isn’t he?” said Miller, shaking his head. “It’s like he sees no end to the giving. I mean, we have the money, don’t get me wrong, but I worry sometimes that he’ll be taken advantage of.”
