Date: Fri, 7 Apr 2023 05:15:01 +1000 From: max dowling Subject: Kasey with a k / chapter 60 Adam 60 Maxieplus Sam, Kasey, and I slept on the floor because he was so excited and he said he will now hear Joe moving about in the morning, he didn't want him to forget him. I didn't mind and neither did Kasey, he still got his good night loving. I was showered and ready by the time Trish called out. There were cars in the car park again and I guess my son will come and say goodbye before he leaves. A full head dye and a good cut was my first client, a local lady who makes wind chimes. I had seen her work at Rhoda's and they were top-notch items with a top-notch price to go with them. She was telling me it's not the locals that buy them it's the tourists and weekend trade. A very nice up to date style for her, one that didn't get in her eyes all the time and she was very grateful, we ended up with a wind chime on the porch which tinkled in the small breeze. Sam had rushed in and wanted his farewell kiss, he had his gum boots on and he also had Buddy in his backpack. Joe insisted he will be safe and he may even throw in a horse ride if they have time. Kasey looked excited but I think that's because he was kissing me farewell. I had dragged him into the garage to do that, and Trish and Joe did the same while our clients waited patiently. I had no worries he wouldn't be well looked after so I went back to work and collected my next victim, a gorgeous-looking woman that wanted pink streaks in her long blonde hair. "Temporary or permanent Jan?" "Temp please Adam, I like to change the pallet every now and then, and can you do my split ends?" "Coming up my lovely, your hair is in great condition." "It has to be well kept Adam, I run a spa over near Joe's dairy. First impressions and all that." "I hear you." "Tell me about the spa, is it a day one or holiday type one?" "Day Adam, it's not busy at the moment but come summer we can get quite busy. I should incorporate you into it, do you need any more business?" "No thank you Jan, but thanks for asking. Trish and I are only doing this because of the locals, hopefully, it will settle down to a once-a-month thing." "You don't need more business, how very strange." "We have three salons, two in Brisbane and one in Melbourne. They do very well, this is for our local friends, mainly the kids." "Cash too." She giggled. "Exactly." I smiled. I liked this woman I liked all the people that have been in here. She looked fabulous and left some brochures on our small counter, I will try and throw some business her way if I get the opportunity. I know in my head Sam is having a ball at the farm, I can almost hear his screams from here. Trish went to find something to eat and I did the next client, another beautiful lady who has very good dress sense. "Good afternoon Linda what are we doing for you today?" "My daughter was in here yesterday I would like something like her style, something more manageable I think." "Your daughter is?" "Chloe, Joe's sister." "So your Joe's mum?" I almost giggled. "Yes Adam, and may I say a couple of things right from the start, that son of yours is awesome. He wanted to lay on the bed with all Joey's toys, all day he said. But when I left he was talking to the house cow and giving her advice on what cartoons to watch. Is it possible for a stranger to fall in love with a little one instantly?" "If you are talking about Sam, yes it is not only possible, it's compulsory." "Well, he's adorable. The next thing is a thank you for looking after my daughter, she came home with a new attitude and a beautiful hairdo, is Marko trustworthy?" "Very, he's a beautiful soul Linda you will have no trouble with him." "Good because she couldn't stop talking about him, is he gay? She said he was." "Yes and in a relationship." Just as I said that Trish came in with buns and a few of yesterday's sandwiches Kasey hadn't eaten "Mrs, Merchant I didn't know you had a booking today." "Trish, nice to see you again. I booked under my maiden name last week but I have already met you and now it seemed pointless." She laughed. She handed Trish her keys and said. "There are fresh sandwiches on the back seat, I didn't know what you had for lunch but that looks a bit tired, fresh is best." Trish went off to grab the very welcomed fair. "This is wonderful thank you," I said. "Call me Linda, your man Kasey said you both will be hungry so I took it upon myself to make a few." "Thank you. We eat first then attend to you, okay?" "Fine with me, and Trish what did you do to my daughter yesterday, what's your secret?" "She's grieving and wants to be the centre of attention all the time, a good job maybe will fix that." "I have tried everything, a job, with holding money, threats. Doesn't work on my daughter, but to tell you the truth she's very intelligent, but non responsive, especially with her brother." "I get that they are clashing. I may step over the mark here but Joe should be treating her as his beloved sister not taking on the father role with her. Now I have said too much." Trish smiled. "Never, you do what you think you should, the other one was useless and dragged Joey down so much I thought he would never get up again." "Hopefully I can fix that." Linda smiled at her, I think she likes my Trish, but she can't have her. They talked a lot while Trish did her hair, no charge today. I didn't know what she had in mind for Chloe but I am sure she will tell me when she nuts it all out. Joe, Kasey and a very loud kid came back while we finished Linda off with a touch of makeup. Sam screamed into the salon, his face said it all. The chatter started and he didn't stop until his tired eyes closed for his afternoon nap. Horses, chickens, cows, doggies, kittens, ducks, and lots of bears. Milk lots of milk chocolate strawberry banana and a carton of each was produced by Kasey who had missed me. "I guess he had a great time." "The best baby, he hasn't stopped but he is getting pretty tired." "Mum?" Joe's jaw dropped. "Son your back, how did it all go with the little one?" "Very well, mum you look gorgeous." "Thank you, son, and thank you, Adam and Trish." She smiled as Sam thanked her several times, she hunched down and hugged him. "You come up and see me anytime baby, and I want to see your forest one day but for now I have to get back home." We got hugs and some special winks, she took her platter and left passing the extra sandwiches to the boys. "What was she doing here?" He looked at Trish. "Her attempt to meet me undercover, but a big fail on her part." She laughed. "She made an appointment under her maiden name but we had met the other day so she went through with it anyway. And she needed a new look." "Now Sammy from the start tell aunty Trish all about your day." "And look daddy look what Joe gives me look." He pulled a teddy out of his backpack and brown one this time. "That's mister brown, he's tough and ready to fight isn't he uncle Joe?" "He is certainly the toughest bear at the farm Sammy, he likes you." "How do you know?" "He's smiling at you." "Oh, yes so he is." My boy has had one of the best days in the world today, but he is tired. "We can lock up Adam." "Are you sure?" "Yes I only took bookings until two, I knew we would be tired. Come on Sammy we will continue this conversation inside." She took his hand and Kasey helped me clean up. He pulled me into the garage and tried to have his way with me, but I was too quick for him. My legs buckled and I was on my knees instantly unzipping his jeans. Sam was still talking when we got back inside. I listened to his stories and when he ran out of them, he started again. Trish had been stroking his back and mid-sentence, he went into a deep sleep. I took him and placed him on our bed, and Kasey covered him up. I don't think he has used his room yet I guess he's getting around to it. We sat and discussed our day, Kasey had automatically opened his laptop and had started reading his emails, but he was listening to our stories. Trish was saying we should get Marko and James up the following weekend to help, or Tim he is always good to go depending on what the commander is doing. "So Trish what have you got in mind for my darling sister?" "You shouldn't be so hard on her Joe, she really does adore you." He blushed. "Well we were always best friends but when dad died it's been an uphill battle to get her to settle down again." "Maybe you are right Joe, but I suspect the old girlfriend had a hand in it also. Anyway she only needs some sort of direction, something she can call her own, and I don't mean working at the salon either Adam. And Joe, you could start by not trying to fill your fathers boots and be a brother again, find out what the real problem is." She winked at him and I restarted our talk. "I don't mind having her at the salonTrish, but there's nothing there for her to do except Lynne's job and I don't think she is going to give it up." I smiled. "You are correct, but you do own other interests I think she would be perfect in. If that excitable personality can be toned down a little, she would be perfect. But, and it's a big but, we have to consult Jimmy and the museum first, then approach Chloe." "So it's about Adele's museum then." "Yes Adam, I cant believe you didn't see it?" "See what?" She shuffled around and grabbed her phone. "This is a photo of Chloe, I think it's quite lovely. Have a really good look at it." She passed it over and yes it was a great photo, Trish had taken it after her hair was finished. Joe took it and looked, and my Kasey did also. "So what are we looking at?" Joe asked. "Adele, she's almost the spitting image of a young Adele." "Brilliant idea, Trish," Kasey said not taking his eyes off the computer screen. "What?" I almost yelled then took the phone again and gave Kase a stare in the bargain. "My god." My hand went to my throat, she has well and truly shocked me now. It was Adele looking back at me eye shape and all. I looked at Trish who was grinning, Joe was confused. "Will I tell them, or do you want to mister Kasey?" "It's your idea Trish, you shock them." "Thank you, with a little bit of trick hair and makeup, and a wonderful Adele creation on, plus some gorgeous jewellery, Chloe would make the perfect hostess maybe twice or three times a week at the twilight museum. She can talk about her experiences with people cameramen couture houses, and her life under the spotlight. Essentially Chloe will be Adele, and will be playing a role, a dress-up role in a big play." I sat back and she went on telling us how it would be a big hit. "She could ditch the tour guide bit, and the museum could have a night with Adele Banks, selected sit-down audiences maybe, big money." She grinned. "The prospects are endless." I started laughing so much I had to walk around to settle down I then turned to Trish and said. "Tammy and the bachelor." "Tammy?" Joe asked. "There's a scene in the movie where she starts telling the guests about her time at the plantation a hundred or so years ago, genuine pure-hearted Tammy. She was playing a role in that movie and had gathered up a crowd." "Adam, she's no Tammy," Joe said. "But she can be Adele, she will have to be Adele she will also have to know everything about her, live and breathe her. That's what she needs, she needs to play a role, an important one for us. It will occupy most of her waking hours and she will be the centre of attention. Kasey can write a script of two and we dress her up and she works for us, brilliant sister." I slapped Trisha's hand. We had watched that Tammy movie years ago when we binged on old movies, not her best one, but it stuck in my head because of the tour scene, brilliant. "We have all the information we need but we have to get the museum and Jimmy on our side." She's a stunning girl that Trish. "Do you think she will go for it, Joe?" I asked. "Probably not, she's so self-indulgent she probably will think it's beneath her." "Don't be so cynical Joey, she's bloody perfect." Kasey is throwing his weight into the conversation. Joey? "How so mastermind?" "She loves being the centre of attention, she loves to talk we all know that, and she loves you, Trish, and Adam." That threw Joe for a six-er. "She was always very good in the school plays I saw." "There's your answer then, we now have to convince Jimmy." I looked at Chloe's photo again, I couldn't believe I had missed that one, and with a little tweaking of her hairstyle shes was a perfect ringer for my dear friend Adele. We started making plans, Joe wasn't to say anything to anyone at the moment and we thought it best when something is to be said Trish should be the one. Another notch on the sister-in-law belt for her. I started making a few notes in my head as I rummaged around in the kitchen. "What are you doing Adam?" "Going to start something for dinner." "Oh, I like pizzas," Kase said. "Very well, I might have some lasagna instead, there are other dishes on the menu you know. "Kasey, Sam, and I will have pizza, what about you my lovely clever lady?" "I think I will have lasagna with Adam, but for now I have to go shower am feeling a little dirty." "Want me to scrub your back?" "If it's not too much trouble Joe." I nearly threw up. They both scuttled off to do their thing and I sat down with a glass of wine and started making another pizza order, I will have the lasagna, maybe I will order two for me, Kasey likes it too. My leg lifted and settled into his crotch and I said. "Joey?" He started laughing and said. "His mum calls him Joey, I thought it might get you going." "Well it certainly conjured up a few images baby, are you sure he's straight?" "He's in the shower with Trish how straight do you want him?" I smiled. He got up and grabbed my hand and led me into Sam's bedroom, I was up against that wall christening it with my cheek as he ripped my jeans down and greased me up. Sam was in front of the tv and he had mister brown and Buddy beside him. He had found some biscuits and I made him a small sandwich. I sat with him as Kasey typed away at the table, he was watching us with one eye. "So you had a big day baby, did you thank uncle Joey?" I looked sideways at his poppa. "Yes daddy he is very smart he knows lots of things I don't." "Good, because I like it when you learn something new." "Daddy, can I go again?" "Of course, you can. Maybe next weekend poppa will take you, daddies salon will be working again." He let his breath out and looked at me. "I know I work too hard." I laughed. I picked up mister brown and looked at him, he was a very smart-looking bear, and good company for mister buddy, or is that Mrs Buddy? His ears pricked up and I heard kids screaming his name, so he kissed me and ran out to meet them. "What has got you all interested today Kase?" "I was looking at the delegation from Iraq, they are in Canberra at the moment." "I see." I walked behind him and looked, there were three men shaking hands with our prime minister at an official meeting they just had. I have no idea how the land lies over there and why they were here. Trish and Joe returned looking like they have just done a week at a relaxation spa. I winked at Trish she winked back, I think she wants more. She made coffee for Joe and poured us a vino. I took the opportunity to count the day's takings. She took them off me and started entering them into the book she always carries. She passed a few hundred to me and then smiled. "A very good day Adam, this salon will pay for itself in no time." "Not if you are ripping it off all the time." Joe smiled. "You don't rip off your business Joe?" "No, I do it all by the books." "I see," Kasey replied, then he said something strange. "That will change very soon." Joe smiled at him and confirmed that something was going on between them, and it's not sex. Sam flew in the door with the kids, he was going to show them mister brown, his new family member. Kasey had stood up and started walking towards the bathroom, it was innocent but profound when Sam scanned the table as he ran by. He stopped dead in his tracks, the kids bumped him as they passed by. The violent shaking started about then as I stood up to grab him, he looked like he was going to collapse on the spot. I got to him just as his legs buckled. "Sam what's wrong baby, you look like you have seen a ghost?" He didn't answer me he was fixated on Kasey's screen. That photo was still up and I picked him up and nestled him into my arms, the shaking was still evident. I have never seen a kid do this, and it started to worry me, maybe he's maybe having a fit or something. I called out to Kasey to get back here, he almost ran into the room and with one look at Sam he pulled his phone out and rang June to ask her to come over. "Baby tell dad what's happening, do you feel okay or are you unwell?" His head buried itself into my neck and shoulder so hard it hurt. "I have no idea what's going on baby tell dad please?" June arrived in a big panic, she took one look at Sam and said. "He's terrified, something has scared him, get a blanket Kasey to keep him warm he may go into shock." She tried to look at Sam's face but he held firm the onlookers were just as shocked as us. "Come on Sammy papa will fix you." Kasey went to take him off me but he started kicking and screaming and his arms held fast around my neck. "Okay Adam, take him into the bedroom and cuddle him, this maybe has something to do with things he can only tell you." June said. I pleaded with my eyes at Kasey to let me do this, he touched Sam's hair, once again he screamed and kicked him. "Go away, liar." He yelled. I heard him ask Trish what happened as I took our son into the bedroom. "He ran inside and stopped suddenly then it started, he just stopped dead looking at your laptop." I closed the door behind us and gently laid on the bed, his arms were not going to let go anytime soon, so I gently spoke to him while he calmed down. I felt him relax a bit and was glad I got some relief, he's a strong little kid. "Baby look at me. I'm your daddy and you are safe with me. Please tell me what's wrong I can't help you if you keep secrets." It took him a few minutes to say. "He a liar, he lies to me, I hate him very much. Don't let him near me daddy please can we go home, I want to go home." "Who is a liar?" "Poppa, daddy, he's a big fat liar he lies to me and I hate him." "I don't think your poppa lies to you son, he loves you more than anything." "He lies, he lies all the time at Sam. I hate him daddy," "Now let's roll this back a little." He had finally let me go but was still nestled into my neck. "When did poppa lie to you?" "I do not say, but he a liar." "All right son, he's a liar then, what did he lie to you about?" It was then Kasey came in with a warm milo for him. He screamed at Kasey so loud I thought my heart was about to burst. "Go away you liar, you lie to me all the time, get out of here go away." The shock on Kasey's face said it all, he was dumbstruck. Finally he sat on the bed and tried to get Sam to look at him but he still was unresponsive. "Baby I never lied to you ever, please tell poppa and he can fix it." "Liar, go away. Daddy makes him go away." "Was it the man on my computer, do you know him?" "Liar he's your friend he's a very bad man. You tell me you made them go away you liar, they are still there and you like them because you have his picture." "Baby I didn't know there were any more bad men, we had them rounded up eventually and they were put in jail. The picture is just something that popped up on my computer, they are not my friends" "Liar liar liar," He jumped off the bed and ran for his life. I heard the door slam and he disappeared into the forest. June had taken the others home, thank god they didn't witness much of this. Kasey looked furious, he didn't know what to do, and Trish and Joe sat there helpless to say something. I skulled my wine and poured another which I also skulled then I went after our son. I knew exactly where he would be, keeping safe in the hippo's belly. Kasey had tears and he also had skulled his beer. "Let me talk to him first please Kasey, I have to calm him down somehow." "I don't like it Adam, I want to talk to him too." "It's too upsetting Kase can you please give me five minutes?" "You got five." he gritted his teeth. I haven't seen him this angry since he tracked me to a hotel room where I was hiding from my abuser, many moons ago. I walked down the pathway and knew when Kasey said five minutes he meant it. I stopped at the hippo's hind and took a deep breath. "Knock knock is Sam Casey my beautiful son in today?" I heard him shuffling. "Sam, I need to talk to you about your poppa, can you listen to me please?" No answer. "Sammy, daddy did have all those men arrested and they stood trial. He thought he got them all but even poppas make mistakes baby, he loves you so very much, and if one of those men in the photo is bad he will fix them up for you. But you have to talk to him about it. He doesn't know which one, and if he got away then you have to tell him, please. Sam, it's just one of those misunderstandings we talked about. Your poppa loves you and would not hurt you for the world." "He lie." "He didn't lie to you baby, he though he got them all. You know deep down your papa doesn't lie to you, he just did not know about the others and you never told him." "Well he should know, I think he knows everything." I got a whisper. "Not everything son, even I don't know everything. I didn't know about the bad man, I didn't know he would be involved where you used to live. If he is a bad man I will fix it, I cant fix everything that goes wrong in your life but I can fix this. Sam come out and we will discuss it please?" Kasey was behind me, so I moved over, my short five minutes was up. "You lied to me." "I am sorry you think I lied baby, but I didn't know about any more bad men please baby. I love you very much let me help you?" There was a big pause then the hippos hind dropped open and Sam was pulled into Kaseys arms, both were crying both were mentally exhausted. I left them there because it was too traumatic for me, his heart breaks and so does mine. I went back inside and got another wine. I also apologised to Trish and Joe who both hugged me, they knew what was going on with Sam, there was nothing they could do about it or me. I watched them come up the pathway, Sam was so flushed but he was smiling, which is a good sign. He wanted me when he saw me and I took him and cuddled him. "Are you feeling a little better baby?" "Yes daddy I am sorry I get upset. I know my papa isn't a liar but he should have tell me he didn't get them all." "Honey, he didn't know about this one only the others, and you have to accept there is probably more bad men out there that were involved." "Sammy, can I hold you for a minute I have something to tell you." Joe asked, Sam nodded yes. Joe sat him opposite him on the table so they were face to face. "Remember at the farm, Jake and Mark were calling the cows in for milking?" Another nod yes. "Well do you remember what happened, all of the cows came into the shed except three, they didn't want to go in remember?' "Yes uncle Joe they ran off." "Well Jake and Mark tried very hard to get then in but they did run off and hid in another paddock." "Yes it was funny." "Well understand this, it doesn't matter how many bad men there are, there is always some one or some people that escape, like the cows." "Like they don't want to be captured?" "Yes kiddo, and your papa looked very hard for those men that got away, but even he couldn't find them. Jake and Mark did find the three cows but very much later on, they were playing in the bottom paddock, but the important thing is they found them." "I know poppa will find them and I am sorry uncle Joe for being a baby." "Your not a baby Sam, your a very brave little boy and I love you very much." "Do you?" "I certainly do, and I am going to name the next calf we have on the farm Sam, after you and maybe I might give him to you to keep." "Really?" His face lit up he was nearly back. He wanted Trish then and Kasey called me into the bedroom. "He has to look again and point out the bad man that hurt him." "Hurt him?" "He always kicked him away, and he said the man would come to the camp every month and take one of his friends away. He always hid very well when he came there, but one by one the little girls were leaving with this man." "Oh my god, what do we do, for Gods sake Kasey how do we finish this?" I started to panic. "Calm down Adam, I have to talk to him once more and he has to point out the one he knows." "Do me a big favour Kasey, talk to him like a father not his commander. Hes a little kid he needs cuddles and nice words." "And you are telling me this, why?" "Because underneath all that exterior theres a very angry military man, don't let him get in your way." He kissed me then went back to our guests. June and George knocked and I went to answer it. They only wanted to know if Sam was okay. June said she had to get the boys out of here so we had more space to talk to Sam. I sat them on the cabins balcony and told them the full story of how we ended up with Sam, their jaws were dropping. "Welcome to my world neighbours. I try to pretend everything is normal but as you can see, ugly heads rise up every now and then." "Adam if theres anything we can do please let us know, this is terrible. Never in our wildest dreams did we think Sam is the product of abuse, hes such a happy little kid." "Mostly he is, if Kasey hadn't left that photo on the screen he wouldn't have been so upset, but now we have to deal with it." "How do you do that?' "I leave it to Kasey, hes Sam's hero and wont let him down." "Will the bloke be arrested?" George asked. "Leave it to Kasey, he will have a plan already forming if I know him." I invited them for dinner but they had to get back to let the kids know Sams okay, they were just making sure he was all right. I saw them out and Kasey was up to his neck in the computer. Trish and Joe were amusing Sam on the sofa and I ordered dinner. "Sammy, pizza or lasagna?" "Pizza daddy please." Hes back. More wine and a beer for the boys, Joe sat with me as Kasey started printing off stuff. "Hes a bloody wiz with that computer." "Quantum, not on the market yet, he has access to just about everything that goes on in this world, he will find something." I smiled because I know by the look on Kasey's face he already has found what he was looking for. The pizzas arrived and Sam was now back on Kasey's knees, they were playing a card game on the computer. Trish handed them out and she and I grabbed our lasagna. "This is just the best Adam." "It certainly is, I must buy up on them and freeze them." "Good idea, I will too." "You don't have a freezer Trish." "I will use yours, its always empty." "Girls behave." Kasey said, as Joe laughed. "Are you winning Sammy?" Joe asked. "Yes uncle Joe, are you really giving me a small cow?" "You have my word Sam, we will keep him at the farm and you can look after him when you are here." "Yeah!" He yelled. His trauma earlier on wasn't completely forgotten, but he looked a lot better after he had eaten. We sat and watched another spiderman movie and Kasey was deep in thought, he had a plan. Sam slept with us in our bed that night, he didn't want to sleep alone and I think he felt a little bit guilty telling his poppa off. They snuggled up and I got the dregs tonight, I fell asleep almost immediately I was so exhausted. School day today for the boys, and Sam and them had one more play before they had to leave, we will leave later this morning. We had a visitor around ten when we were packing up the car, Chloe. "I wanted to come by and thank you again for my new look, and to say goodbye to Sammy." Joe was at the ready but I doubt he will see that spoilt brat again, she had calmed down a lot, and now she is back to being a beautiful member of her family. To be honest she likes Trish and us I think she was expecting something different to what she got and its thrown her a little. But she was being very polite and said she will be in town Thursday she wanted to see where Trish and I worked. "Just behave your self Chloe, no going off your head." Joe had to say. "I love you tooJoey, thank you for bringingTrish, Marko and Adam and this little sweet one into my life." She kissed Sam he blushed. She left in a flurry and I looked at Joe. "She does love you Joe, cut her some slack, be a brother not a father." "I will keep my guard up for now if you don't mind Adam." "You do that, and while your doing that do you think Trish is right and your ex had a lot to do with her feeling left out of your life, and maybe it wasn't all your dad?" "What do you mean Adam?" "Well after your dad passed, who was she going to turn to, her brother? You were busy with a lady who controlled you, Trish doesn't control you, Chloe likes her for that. In essence, she needed you when your dad passed, she is trying to talk to you Joe she couldn't before because you had so much shit in your life, she felt she had lost you too." "I see what you mean Adam, I will talk to her then." "Once again, be a brother not a father." He gave me a funny look again. "Joe we deal with Chloe's everyday at the salon, we are confidents, psychologists and hairdressers all at the same time, thats our job." "I get that, I just don't get how someone like you can be so earthy." "What do you mean?" "Well, all the shit you put up with. Sam was dealt with superbly by you yesterday. I knew you were upset but you kept on trying regardless of his and your pain." "A bit like you and Chloe Joe, she hurts when you hurt and vice versa. We are about to fix that, I think." He shook his head and then pulled me in for a man hug, it took all my will not to grab his ass. I silently thanked dad for my upbringing, he was my absolute rock when my life would hit a bump in the road. Donations to Nifty are always gratefully accepted