Silent Rose Library, PaxOku, Homare-jima, Tokuno, Chesapeake (PaxLair Times) – October 17, 2009 – by Tatania Karthina –
The days dragged by for kelin, despite his family’s efforts to keep him too busy to worry about his Da and the Pirates. Unknown to all the children, men were keeping an eye on them. These men, were Pirates in the employ of Chad Steel and were the best of their fellows. These hard men were loyal to their leader but after a time, something about the Steel children warmed their hearts and they guarded and protected them as much for the children themselves as for the coin it earned them.
Tara finally seized something to capture Kelin’s attention when she told the others, “I saw Uncle Earl kissing Pudge last night!” No, really I did! I went down to get some water and there they were.”
Gaius looked stunned. “Our Pudge was kissing our Uncle Earl? She’s our Pudge! Not his!” Gaius looked almost insulted.
Kelin smiles, “But Gai… if it’s true and they get married, our Pudge will be our Auntie!”
Lilly pipes up, “I think it’s wonderful! I hope they do get married.”
“I saw Uncle Earl heading to the kitchen for a snack.” Drago said. “Let’s go see if they’re kissing again.”
The five children hurriedly sneak off to spy on their Uncle. When they arrive outside the door, Kelin pushes it open by an inch and all five move to see through the crack.
Pudge slaps at Earl’s hand, “Earl… not here… not now… My goodness! It’s the middle of the day and someone might see us.”
Earl grins mischieviously to her, “But my love… I want them to see us so we can finally get married.”
He reaches for a cookie and she slaps at his hand again, “Not before lunch Earl… You’ll ruin your meal.”
Earl smiles softly as he looks at Pudge. “You my sweet”, he pauses long enough to steal a kiss, “are adorable when you’re being stern.” Earl laughs as he dodges the spatula she weilds at him. “I’ll see you at lunch. I want to go check on Chad’s men to see if they’ve seen anything out of the ordinary.”
Pudge smiles to Earl and blows him a kiss as he saunters out the back door.
After dinner that evening, Pudge shows the children how to make their favorite chocolate candy. The ingredients are assembled and she helps them out into the large pot. “Uncle Earl likes this candy Pudge.” Kelin says as nonchalantly as possible.
“I think everyone likes this recipe Kelin. You all are sweet fiends”, Pudge replies as all the children watch her avidly for any sign of deception.
“We do” says Tara “but Uncle Earl definitely likes it best.”
Pudge looks at them all suspiciously then continues to instruct them in the art of making chocolate covered nut and marshmellow covered clusters. “While you’re melting the chocolate, every stir is filled with love.” says Pudge. “That’s why you kids like these so much. I love you all and that’s the secret ingredient.”
Gaius starts to speak but Kelin, sensing a trap kicks him in the shinn. “We love you too Pudge.”
Before bedtime, the children go to CHase and Milla to tell them what they know. The entire family, niece and nephew included sit on on Chase and Milla’s huge bed as they talk. Tempest is snuggled in Kelin’s lap and her twin Chasity in Drago’s. The toddlers are half asleep so not squirming as much as usual. Tara tries in earnest to tell her parents what they had witnessed but Chase and Milla shake their heads in unison. “There’s no way” says Chase. “Uncle Earl is a dedicated bachelor and has always said he never wants to get married.”
Gaius scoots off the bed and pads to the window to look out, seeing the couple walking toward the docks. “If you don’t believe us, come see for yourselves! They’re going to the docks right now.”
Chase hops uo and goes to the window, “I wanna go see what they’re saying to one another. Just because they’re walking doesn’t mean a thing.”
So, Chase takes Tempest and Milla picks up Chasity and they all quietly troop out to the docks where they hide behind bushes at the edge of the yard,
“Patrice, I love you and want you to be my wife but I am losing all patience.” He tilts her chin up and wraps a single arm around her, pulling her close. “Loving me is not a crime and you will not lose your job because you are my wife and the children all love you and will love you even more when you’re their Aunt.”
“Earl, you just don’t understand. Before Chase took me in, I had nothing. I just can’t risk that Earl.” Pudgy states as she looks up to Earl. “I love you too much to lose you but I’m scared.” The tears are easily seen trailing down her face in the moonlight.
Earl growls low in his throat. “Just know that you are mine and will be my wife soon. I will tell Chase and Milla myself, soon.”
“Please don’t Earl… Please promise me” Pudge pleads with him.
“I promise Patrice, but only for now. Our secret is safe. I’m not sure how much longer I will wait though.” Earl kisses Patrice roughly then steps back suddenly, runs his hands through his hair then scrubs his face with them. He looks long and hard to Pudge then turns and stalks away.
Pudge watches him stalk away and leans on a piling of the dock and sobs quietly. Chase and Milla quietly gather the children and herd them to the house to leave Pudge to her grief in privacy.
Back in the large bed, the family talks things over, “We can’t let them know that we spied on them yet.” Chase said, “I have an idea that might be amusing to watch and it should make things work out between them on their own.”
Milla looks to Chase with a worried frown, “Your plans are not always so brilliant my love. Let’s hear it.”
“Papa’s plans are alwaaaaaaay brilliant Mama!” Tara beamd at her Papa and Chase actually flushes a bit, knowing Milla is closer to the truth.
“Alright” says Chase, “I’m going to get one of Chad’s Pirates to Compromise Pudge… He won’t even touch her.” Chase adds quickly as there is an instant uproar from his family. “I’ll stage it where they are caught and demand that the pirate marries Pudge… We’ll plan the wedding and Earl should step forward even before the plans are made. We’ll just have their wedding instead.”
“Much could go wrong with this plan Chase” Milla adds.
“There’s nothing else to do and anyway, we’ll not let our Pudge marry anyone else. Did you know her name was Patrice?” Chase finished and looked to Milla and the kids who all mournfully shook their heads.
The next day Chase saw to the plans, set them in motion and was all but jubilant as he watched the pirate swagger into Pudge’s kitchen. Chase watched from outside, looking through the window and when the pirate took Pudge’s hand and pulled her to him, Chase burst through the door. “Pudge! Gareth! What is going on here? Anyone could see you carrying on… What if the kids saw! Pudge! I am shocked at you! Gareth! You will make this right immediately! There will be a wedding tonight! You have compromised Pudge’s reputation and there will be a wedding or you’ll face my sword!”
Pudge stood there shocked, her face burning with embarrasment and Gareth, playing his part well sputtered and carried on, but in the end Gareth agreed to the marriage.
The house was in an uproar when Earl returned from his errands in the early afternoon. Pudge was nowhere to be found and Chase told Earl about the wedding that night. Earl seemed too stunned to speak as Chase told him the details of the hasty wedding and before Earl could get his mind around what it meant to him, Chase was dashing off to do some last minute things.
Earl stomped about the house and grounds in a rare rage looking for Pudge or someone to tell him more of whatwas going on, but mysteriously saw nobody. Finally he found the place where his woman was to marry another, and he roared with frustration, continuining his stalking.
Somehow, Earl had missed the guests arriving and he never was able to find Pudge anywhere. He stalked to the back row of seats and watched in a fury as his Pudge wobbled toward the front in a beautiful white dress. She was shaking from head to toe, he noticed. The local priest welcomed the guests and asked in a voice as serious as he could make it under the circumstances, “If anyone protests this wedding, speak now or forever hold your peace” In the front row, Chase and Kelin snickered and Milla and Lilly elbowed them.
Earl took a deep breath and bellowed, “Patrice is mine I tell you! MINE and nobody else’s!”
He stalked down the isle with his sword drawn and looking at Gareth menacingly. “If you do not get out of my sight right now, I’ll cut you to ribbons.”
As Gareth scrambled out of the way and most of the guests snickered behind their hands, Earl faced the trembling Pudge and announced, “There is no need to stop the service. you WILL marry me NOW and you will like it!” Pudge looked at Earl with wide eyes as his temper broke over her. “I love you Patrice and you will not marry anyone but me. Am I making myself clear?”
Pudge nodded and finally found her voice, “I love you Earl!” then she stepped into his arms and the haven they promised.
Clearing his throat, the priest spoke, “Now that we have the true groom present, we may begin.”
The ceremony proceded among hushed wehispers and many smiles. When it was done the priest annpunced to all present, “May I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Earl Steel. May God help anyone who ever gets between this man and his wife.”
Cheers and laughter broke outas the guests bellowed their congratulations and the children ran forward. Kelin, Drago, Gaius, Tara, Lilly, Chasity, and Tempest arrive to hug their new Aunt and get her hugs and kisses in return. Kelin beams to his Aunt and Uncle and points to the reception tent. “We made the chocolate clusters for the reception and stirred it with love Aunt Pudge. It’s a fine mess of chocolate!”
The Saga of Kelin and his adventures will continue in “The Adventures of Kelin 10 – Chyara’s Sunshine!”, coming soon to the bookstore at The PaxOku Silent Rose Library!
Peace and Knowledge be with you!
Tatania Karthina
17 October 2009