[[[-IF6-P3.TXT-]]]


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Island Fever 6: Sanctuary
Written by: JeremyDCP@hotmail.com

M/F, F/F and a whole lot more
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Chapter 03: "Matriarch"
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             -*-  Sunday, October 2, 2016  -*-
              -*-  Allentown, Pennsylvania -*-


   "Take another bite of your _Jell-O_, Mom?  Just one more.
Please do it for me."  It was late in the afternoon; the time
was 4:43pm and Devon and I had been here at the hospital
visiting her mother, Eileen, since bright and early this
morning.  For the past four hours, mother and daughter had
been going back and forth on this whole _Jell-O_ ordeal.
   "No," Eileen said for the hundredth time, making a bitter 
face and looking away.  "No more."  The heart attack that 
Eileen suffered seven days ago had put her in a very bad place
emotionally.  While she was of out the danger zone physically,
for the most part, she was not recuperating as fast as the
doctors had expected either.
   "Okay," Devon frowned, setting the dessert dish down in
defeat.  This past week saw Eileen's status upgraded from
critical to fair, and she now rested in the cardiac care unit
instead of the intensive care unit.  Still, it brought forth
its share of challenges.  After she had been taken off of the
ventilator treatment, Eileen had trouble swallowing, a common
side effect of having a plastic tube inserted in the windpipe.
As a result, Devon's mother refused to eat much of anything.
Plus, she hated the oxygen mask that the staff forced her to
wear, and was not too keen on the routine laps through the halls
they made her take.  In fact, Eileen was argumentative, quite
irritable and just plain hateful.  But could anyone blame her?
I often equated being in a hospital bed to a prison sentence.
   "I know you don't like it here, Mom, but the only way
you're going to get out and go back home is to listen to the
doctors and do what they say.  I'm going to lay off of the
eating thing for awhile, but you need to go on a walk soon."
   "It's not that I don't like it here," Eileen said sadly.
Her voice was still incredibly weak from the three whole days
of being on the ventilator.  It took a lot of effort for her
just to speak.  "You're wrong.  I absolutely HATE it here."
   Seeing and dealing with her mother in her current mindset
had taken an incredible toll on Devon.  "You need to listen
to the doctors, Mom, and do what they say," she reiterated.
"Only then when you will be allowed to go home."
   Yet, Devon had been as gentle and kind with her responses
and many suggestions as her frazzled nerves allowed her to be.
This had been a very trying stretch for Devon, obviously, with
her mother being hospitalized, not to mention her gut-wrenching
admission to me some six days ago of being the victim of past
childhood sexual abuse by her father, who was now deceased.
Both she and I were running on very little sleep.  All of our
recent meals had been served on hospital cafeteria trays.
   "No one wants to be in a hospital bed," Devon told her.
"All of us want to get you out of here, and take you home."
   Eileen raised her hand, which was a massive struggle in
and of itself.  "Then let's go."
   "Whoa, not so fast, superstar.  Do you want to sleep, get
some rest?  Denise should be back soon, once her kids finish 
their dinner in the cafeteria."  Devon quickly glanced at her
wristwatch.  "Seth said he will be here around six o'clock.
It's almost five now; Jeremy and I need to go home, and pick
Michael up so he can come visit you, too.  Take a nap, Mom?"
   Eileen nodded, looking so sad and depressed.
   "Jeremy and I will be back later tonight, and we will have
Michael with us," Devon said.  "I want you to take that walk
with me then too, Mom.  It will help make you stronger."  She 
kissed her on the cheek, which brought forth a rare smile.
   "Thank you, Devon.  I love you.  I always have."
   Those words clearly slammed Devon with a jolt of emotion.
She had come very close to losing her mother with the heart
attack.  Plus, they had all those years of separation and
family turmoil between them.  "I love you too."
   "I'm glad you're finally home."
   Devon smiled at her.  "I'm glad too, Mom."

   As was customary for the past several days, every time
Devon and I stepped out of Eileen's hospital room to leave, I
brought my wife into my arms and she sobbed upon my chest.
Nothing loud or overly dramatic; generally just a gentle cry
to help process and cycle through her many emotions.  Devon
was dealing with so many things right now.  She wanted to
help Eileen get better, but was being met with resistance at
every turn.  Everything was upsetting to her.
   During our drive back to her mothers' house, Devon dozed off
twice.  She and I really needed to go to the hotel and take an
extended nap of our own.  But there was no time for that.
Devon insisted on doing Michael's laundry tonight and tidying
up the house, which looked like a tornado had ripped through
it.  It was a mess.  With his mental disabilities, Michael was
no help at all around the house; he depended heavily on his
mother to take care of him, organize his life.  Also, if Devon
and I did not do something about our eating situation, Eileen
would not be the only one in the hospital with heart problems.
   Devon took out her key as we made our way up the walk, but
seemed surprised to find the door unlocked.  A quick glance of
the front yard showed Michael's overturned bicycle, indicating
that he was home and not out for a ride.  Though an adult at
age 22, Michael was incapable of driving a car.
   Devon froze in the entryway and I quickly followed suit,
however, as a series of mouthwatering aromas flooded our
senses upon entering the home.  I closed my eyes and simply
surrendered; dear God, it smelled wonderful in here.  Much
different than I remembered at any point during the past six
days.  The heavenly scent was emanating from the kitchen.  
When I opened my eyes, I was even more shocked to find the 
living room gleaming; spotless and clean from end to end.
   "Michael!" Devon screeched in surprise, as her brother was
actually kneeling next to an end table with a rag and bottle
of furniture cleaner in hand.  Oh my, this place looked like
a palace.  All of the dust and excess clutter, which was
embarrassing for Devon to have me see, was gone.  Soothing,
gentle music played over the stereo system.  Certainly not the
heavy metal type that Michael enjoyed listening to.
   Michael shrugged his shoulders and went back to work on the
end table.  "Don't look at me.  All her doing.  Just touching
up what she did."  He pointed toward the kitchen.
   "Denise..." Devon squealed, clearly wondering how her sister
had gotten so much work done today around the house.  But when?
This morning?  And what was she doing here now?  Denise, as far
as we knew, was still at the hospital with her two children,
visiting Eileen.  She had been there with us since noon-time.  
Denise and her two kids were finishing up their dinner in the 
cafeteria when Devon and I left the hospital.  Or, that was 
what we thought.  How did she make it back here ahead of us?
   Curious as to how Denise had pulled this off, Devon and I
ventured toward the kitchen.  Yet, my appetite was screaming
at my inner senses right now.  That food smelled so good...
   "How did you get Michael to do any sort of cleaning?  He's
never cleaned anything in his life.  And what are you making?
That smells deli..."  Devon froze in mid-sentence as both she
and I now stood there, slack-jawed, in total astonishment.
   Kristanna closed the oven door and turned to look at us.
She seemed to contemplate the question as my mind scrambled
to make sense of the amazing visual.  "A, all that boy needs
is a little direction.  B, standing rib roast, garlic mashed
potatoes, salad and sourdough rolls.  C, you're home just in
time, as Michael said you would be.  Give me five minutes
and you can load up your dinner plates as much as you want."
   "Hi," I said.  It was literally the only word that I had
access to at the moment.  The smile on my face, obviously,
was from ear to ear.  Was this real?  Kristanna was standing
here, like some sort of beautiful mirage, in the kitchen.
She was supposed to be 3,500 miles away on the island with
the rest of our wives, and all of the children.  Yet Kristanna
was responsible for the clean house, the wonderful food?
   "Hi," Kristanna greeted us in return, very softly.  Wow,
she looked amazing, so much so that I still wondered if she
was real.  Yet there my wife stood, fresh faced and together,
in a blue top and black leggings - a vivid reminder that the
real world was still out there even in the midst of Eileen's
sickness and the gruesome details that Devon had shared with
me this past week concerning her father and his inappropriate
actions toward her while she was growing up.  "I hope it's 
okay that I am here.  From everything I've heard over the 
telephone, it seemed like you two could use an extra hand."
   "Oh, Krissy..."  Devon was otherwise speechless.
   "But I'm not alone," Kristanna proclaimed.  "Someone else
wants to say hi, too."  She knocked on the wall that led to
the family room and Kaden, my two-year-old son, came rumbling
in and made a beeline straight to me.
   "DADDY!" he screamed, his first time seeing me in seven
full days, as tears threatened to overtake my own eyes as
well.  I knelt down and Kaden jumped into my arms, wiggling
and squirming frantically in toddler celebration.  What an
unexpected surprise!  "Mommy on ess airopane!"
   "Did you and Mommy fly here on an airplane?" I asked,
deciphering his toddler speech with ease.  There was no way
that Captain Mike and his crew brought them here on our
private family aircraft, however.  I knew for a fact that they
were visiting New York City right now.  Kristanna and Kaden
must have traveled here on a standard commercial flight.  "Oh,
I missed you so much, Kaden!  How are you doing, buddy?"
   "I cannot believe you are here!  WHAT are you doing here?
The house, dinner, it's all just..."  Devon echoed my very
own sentiments, but emotion got the better of her yet again.
Kristanna reacted quickly, pulling Devon to her, wrapping
both arms around her and holding on as she cried.
   "Shhhhh," Kristanna comforted her.  "Everything is going
to be okay.  Your mother will pull out of this just fine and
no one will ever hurt you again.  I won't allow it to happen."
Kristanna truly was the epicenter of all things comforting.  
Leave it to her to show up totally unannounced like this and
instantly brighten what had otherwise been an extremely dark
and torturous trip to Pennsylvania for us.  And she brought
Kaden along with her?  Oh my God; I was completely stunned!
   "Kaden," Kristanna said, still embracing Devon, gaining
our son's attention in the process as I knelt on the floor
before him.  "Kaden, honey, go show Daddy the surprise we
have for him in the next room.  Go show Daddy, okay?"
   "Okay, Mommy," he nodded, taking me by the hand into the
adjacent family room.  And suddenly, my heart melted; Ariel,
my six month old daughter, was staring back at me with big,
happy eyes, her arms and legs flailing as she was in her
portable baby crib.  _She_ was here, too?  "Dada, it Airy..."
   Love and positive vibrations simply cascaded throughout my
entire soul as I picked Ariel up and gently cradled her to
me.  When I returned to the kitchen, Devon wiped her eyes,
smiling at the image of me with two of my kids through the
excess tears.  "Oh, Krissy," she shuddered.  "Oh my God.
How?  How did you get here?"
   "Don't worry about that now," Kristanna told her calmly.
"Dinner first, Devvy, and then you and Jeremy are taking a
nap.  I spoke to your sister, Denise, just a few moments ago.  
They don't expect you back at the hospital until after nine 
o'clock tonight.  Now, go tell your brother to wash up, and I 
will finish up here in the kitchen."
   Stunned herself, Devon nodded her head and ventured back 
out to the living room in search of her brother.  Kaden, 
excited to see Devon as well, followed her and hopped about
like a bunny rabbit.  Kristanna rushed over to me and, with
Ariel between us, offered me an emotional, heartfelt embrace.
   "I couldn't bear being away from you and Devvy any longer,"
she confessed to me.  "Don't worry about the kids, Jeremy.
Kaden has been begging to see you since you left and wanted to 
come here.  Ariel had no issues whatsoever on the flight.
Flying doesn't seem to faze her at all.  They are both fine.  
I... I needed to see you.  See Devvy.  It has been tearing me 
apart inside to listen to everything I've heard this week
over the telephone, and not be here for Devvy when she needs 
me most.  Don't worry about the other girls, either.  They 
told me to come here and lend my support.  Pamela, Lindsay...
all of them.  They all wish they could be here."
   "You're amazing, Krissy," I murmured, being totally honest.
"You pop up, swoop in out of nowhere whenever I need you most.
You've done that since the day I first met you."  I hugged 
her even tighter as Ariel cooed and babbled.  "Oh God, I love
you.  I love you so much.  Thank you.  Thank you..."
   "I love you, too."  Kristanna smiled at me.  "Get a plate, 
Jeremy.  You're not having any pizza or hamburgers tonight."
   I did as I was told and in just a few short moments, I was
enjoying perhaps the best meal of my entire life.  And though
Michael went to his room with his plate, Kaden and Ariel were
in the dining room with us, and Kristanna caught Devon and I
up on the latest happenings back on the island.  The news,
no matter how silly or trivial, was a welcome distraction to
what we had been dealing with since arriving in Pennsylvania.
Never before had one of Kristanna's pranks on Pamela been so
hilarious, or Lindsay's antics so delightful.  Alison had
gone surfing with Trish nearly every single day.  Amy and
Scarlett were working on a _big surprise_ for when we returned.
Piper had drawn several thoughtful pictures of me in crayon, 
all of them with big red heart designs scribbled about as well.
Dani Grace kept wondering where I was, when I would be home.
   I could not help but notice that Kristanna never once
touched on the issues that had been at play here since we
arrived.  It was Kristanna at her most thoughtful, making
things as low stress for us as possible.  Especially Devon.
And while we steered clear of any romance related talk with
Kaden and Ariel so close by, damn it if my libido did not
kick in just to have Kristanna in my presence again.
   Kristanna tore off a small sliver of bread from the roll on 
her plate.  Devon could not help but to smile at the move.  
"What?" Kristanna asked.  "Why are you looking at me like that?"
   "Because no one else in the whole, wide world eats bread
the way you do.  In tiny, miniscule pieces."
   "Oh?  How do you know this?  Are you an expert on the bread
habits of everyone else on the planet?  Everyone worldwide?"
   "I am.  You are the Queen of eating bread."
   Kristanna paused, then a gentle smile touched her lips.
"Queen Kristanna.  I like the sound of that."
   "Well, let's not get carried away."  That earned Devon a
giggle from Kristanna, as well as a roll to the face.  It was
okay.  The mood was light, and we were having a good time.
Thank God for Kristanna.  How could I survive without her?
   "Tell me the latest on your mom."
   Devon took a deep breath, adjusting to the sudden shift in
our discussion.  "She's really depressed.  She wants to go
home so much, but it's getting in the way of her progress.
The doctor said ideally, she would have went home today."
   "Can I meet her?"
   Devon smiled at the mere idea.  "I think Mom would love to
meet you.  I told her all about you yesterday.  Though, I did
not tell her about the other girls in our lives, yet.  You
want to go and see her tonight with me and Jeremy?"
   "Can't," Kristanna frowned.  "Not tonight.  Kaden and
Ariel will be fast asleep by then.  I'll need to stay with
them.  Which reminds me, I need a key for the hotel room
where you two are staying.  But tomorrow?  Yeah, I'd love
to meet your mom tomorrow, Devvy."
   Behind us, Michael entered the dining room and looked our
way tentatively.  "Hey," he simply said.
   "Are you coming back for seconds?" Kristanna asked him.
"If so, Michael, get over here and take anything you want
from the buffet.  Eat as much as you want."  As usual,
Kristanna had seized control of the situation and anointed
herself as the one in charge.  I had no issues.  That was
what the matriarch of the family was supposed to do, right?
"Better yet, why don't you come and sit with us too?"
   "Okay," he said absently, his cheeks blushing.
   "Poor Michael didn't know what to do with me at eight
o'clock this morning when I showed up on the doorstep and
asked if I could come in.  I showed him pictures and videos
of the three of us together, proving to him that I was indeed
your wife, Devvy."  She smiled playfully.  "Kaden offered
Michael a quarter if he would let us in.  Finally, he did."
   "You cleaned up the house and even did all of the laundry,"
I observed.  "Amy would be impressed with you."
   "Maybe," Kristanna shrugged.  "You two finished eating?"
   "I think so," Devon answered, as Michael sat down next to
her and scooped up another helping of mashed potatoes onto
his plate.  "I cannot tell you how much we needed this, Krissy.
Me and Jeremy both.  This meal was off the charts delicious.
At least let me do the dishes so you can relax."
   "You and Jeremy go lay down for awhile and take a nap.  
You look like zombies.  I will clear up all the dishes and
wake you up at eight-fifteen so you can go see your mom."
   "You're really bossy, which I've always adored about you,"
Devon grinned.  "At least let me do the dishes, okay?"
   "NAP."
   Devon giggled and tossed her hands up in utter defeat.
"Okay.  Geez.  No need to use your aggressive mother hen
voice on me.  Jeremy and I will go lay down for awhile."
   God, I missed Kristanna and her attitude, her quirky,
playful demeanor.  I was beyond grateful that she was here
with us now, and brought our two children along as well.
This was exactly the shot in the arm that Devon and I needed
to find our way out of this dark abyss.  And when we drifted
off to a much-needed sleep moments later, I noticed that
Devon had a peaceful, relaxed smile upon her face.

                           * * *

   I stood just outside the door of Eileen's hospital room
early the following morning, along with Kristanna, Kaden and
Ariel.  Devon had gone into the unit first to alert her mother
of the new visitors as Kristanna waited patiently, clutching a
bouquet of flowers she had purchased just moments ago.
   I glanced at Kristanna and smiled at her.  She admitted to
being incredibly nervous, jumping onto a commercial aircraft
and flying from Lima to Miami, and then Philadelphia, with a
hyperactive toddler and a small, delicate infant in tow.
Kristanna knew nothing of the area and relied strictly on her
GPS to get her the 60 miles from Philadelphia to Allentown.
In the rental car, Kaden was not on his best behavior, either,
and it made for a very taxing last leg of the trip for her.
   Yet, Kristanna told us that she felt reaffirmed that
everything was worth it when she saw the astonished look on
Devon's face, as well as mine, when we returned from the
hospital yesterday and saw her in the kitchen.  Kristanna
was here because she wanted to help.  Michael, with his
disabilities, needed guidance without his mother present.
Devon and I needed Kristanna's steady influence.
   Kristanna's surprise presence allowed Devon and I the
opportunity to press pause, at least temporarily, on our
personal week from Hell.  There would be a time in the future
for Kristanna to sit down with Devon and discuss, likely in a
one-on-one setting, what exactly happened between her and her
father so many years ago.  What type of monster was he, anyway?
When we got back home to Norway in a few weeks, Kristanna and I
wanted Devon to seek professional counseling.  But, all of that
could wait for now.  Just getting Devon to smile last night,
Kristanna confided in me, had her senses in overdrive.
   Eventually, Devon emerged from the cardiac care unit room,
her voice low.  "Okay, you can come in now."  She focused on
Kristanna, adding, "Try to be a little bit friendly, okay?"
   Kristanna made a face at the playful dig, but shifted into
a kind, warm smile as she rounded the corner into the room.
I stayed in the entryway as Kaden looked on curiously.  Eileen
was sitting up in bed, smoothing out her hair.  She actually
beamed at Kristanna as she approached.  "Are you the nice,
young lady Devon has told me so many wonderful things about?"
   Kristanna moved quickly once Eileen extended her arms and,
following Devon's instructions, hugged her delicately.  "I'm
so happy to finally meet you, and that you're doing better.
I traveled 3,500 miles just to meet you."
   "Devon has said so many good things about you," Eileen
mused.  "I feel as if I know you already.  She was telling
me how wonderful you and Jeremy have helped make her life."
   Kristanna passed Devon a gracious smile and placed the
flowers next to the collection that was already present.
"Seems as if you have a lot of admirers."
   "I don't know where they all came from!  But I bet you
have plenty of admirers of your own."
   "Not as many as you would think," Kristanna grinned back.
   "Fools, then."
   I looked on, along with Devon, as the two continued their
conversation, amazed by the shift in Eileen's energy level
compared to just yesterday.  Downright astounding, if I must
admit, and Devon could not wipe the smile off of her face.
She was relieved to see her mother in good spirits once again.
Maybe this particular visit was all that Eileen needed, too?
   Later on, it was Kristanna - not Devon - who went on a walk
around the wing with Eileen, and there was no resistance from
her whatsoever.  Just two long-lost friends, or so it seemed,
gabbing away as they strolled.  Devon was utterly amazed.
   But then again, this was Kristanna.  This was who she was,
what she did, what she was capable of.  To me, Kristanna was
a shining beacon of light who brought out the best in
everyone.  Her mere presence, with that outgoing, gregarious
personality and infectious smile, could enliven anyone.  She
knew exactly the right thing to say to everyone, what buttons
to push, when to pull back.  It was a God-given gift of hers;
one that was so rare, so unique, so mystifying.
   Once we walked back to the car late that afternoon, Seth
and Michael having arrived to take our place as company, I
could tell that a heavy burden had been lifted from Devon.
"You really made a difference with her today," she said to
Kristanna.  "Do you know that?  Thank you."
   Kristanna shrugged, deflecting all credit as she often
did.  "Eileen needed to see a less familiar face is all."
   "When is that less familiar face going back to the island?"
   "When you do," Kristanna answered Devon, which brought
forth a smile.  "I'm not leaving here until you do."
   "The nurse was saying that Mom may be able to go home in
two days, if not tomorrow," Devon grinned.  "I hate being
away from the other girls so much; I miss them terribly.  I
miss playing with Piper and Dani Grace.  Maybe once Mom gets
back home and settled in, we can go back to the island and 
finish our vacation.  Seth did say he was planning on moving
back home, at least temporarily, to help keep an eye on Mom 
and Michael until she returns to full strength again."
   "Are you going to be calling, checking up on them too?"
Kristanna wondered.  "You know, Devvy, we could show Eileen
how to set up _Skype_ on her computer for video chat.  I 
think you need to tell her about the other wives that you 
have, introduce her to them.  She will be fine with the idea,
I think.  Eileen will not have any issues with our marriage."
   Kristanna paused and took a deep breath.  "I know you were
incredibly hurt in the past, honey, but your mother, your
sister and two brothers... they were not the ones who hurt
you.  It was... your... father.  I know that you are angry 
that no one in your family had your back in those days, that 
no one protected you or stood up for you... but keep in mind
they were just as scared of him as you were.  I know it is no
excuse, but it is the reason why, something you understand."
   "Your father is gone now," she added, as tears flowed down
Devon's cheeks.  "He cannot hurt you anymore.  Let the rest of
your family back in, Devvy.  They love you.  They want you to
be their sister, a daughter, again.  God, I will be here for 
you, Devvy, holding your hand along every step of the way if 
you want me to.  There are good people here.  Let them in."
   "I will," Devon sighed, nodding her head.  "I will.  We
can set up video chat for Mom like you said.  I... I never 
really cut them out completely, you know.  Mom and I would 
talk on _Facebook_ from time to time, and I shared e-mails
back and forth with Denise every week.  Denise actually knows
about everyone, all of our wives, the kids, already."
   "Why didn't you tell any of us that before?"
   Devon looked horribly guilty now.  "I... don't know.  I 
just... I didn't want anyone to pressure me into coming back
here, to Pennsylvania, for a visit.  You all... you all did 
that enough, every time we took trips to Toronto for Trish, or 
Baltimore for Pamela, Cincinnati for Jeremy, Lindsay, Amy..."
   "Let's bring your whole family to the farm in Norway, for 
Christmas this year, if Eileen is healthy enough for the 
trip," Kristanna suggested.  "How long has it been since you 
enjoyed a Christmas with your family together?  We could get
Captain Mike and company to fly them there in style and..."
   Before Kristanna could finish the sentence, Devon's arms
were around her neck and she was sobbing yet again.  But not
sad tears this time, no; it was cries of joy, love... relief.
In the middle of the hospital parking lot, with people coming
and going all around us, Kristanna and Devon remained in that
embrace for several moments.  To me, everything suddenly felt
aligned.  The world had righted itself again.  Even the late
afternoon sunshine from the heavens high above seemed to
illuminate their skin, their hair, making them appear angelic.
And never before had I seen a more beautiful sight.
   "We can talk about possibly bringing my family to Norway
for a visit - just not now - but in the future," Devon said,
gently nuzzling Kristanna's neck.  "Right now, let's get Mom
set up with _Skype_ and go from there.  One step at a time,
okay?  This is going to be a slow, gradual process for me."
   "Of course," Kristanna relented, pulling back and brushing
a strand of hair from Devon's forehead.  "I just want you to
be happy, Devvy.  I want you to have and experience, enjoy,
everything that life can offer you.  I want you to re-connect
with your family."  She patted Devon on the stomach, adding, "I
want you to become pregnant, for you to be a mommy yourself."
Devon glanced away at that last comment, frowning.
   "What you told me and Jeremy last night," Kristanna said,
"would never apply to you, Devvy.  No way, none whatsoever.
That the real reason you have held out for this long in having
a baby of your own is not because you enjoy being the family 
nanny so much, but rather due to the fact you are fearful that 
you would not be a good enough mother because of the way your
own father treated you when you were younger, the horrible
parenting example he set for you.  Kaden adores you.  Ariel
loves you.  Piper, all of the kids in our family.  They LOVE
YOU because of HOW GOOD you are to them."  Kristanna smiled
and pressed onward, "Personally, I think if you have a baby,
Devvy, he or she will be the luckiest little boy or girl in 
the whole, wide world, simply to have you as a mommy."
   "I kind of agree with her," I shrugged at Devon, grinning.
Why not?  After all, it was the truth.
   "Don't let your father hover over you, cloud your life,
any more than he already has," Kristanna insisted.  "What he
did to you will have no bearing on your ability to be a kind
and loving mother.  I cannot even begin to imagine what life
was like for you back then, Devvy, nor will I guess.  But
overcome it.  Rise above it.  I will help you, hold your hand
along the way.  So will Jeremy, Scarlett.  All of the girls
will if you let them.  We all love you, want the best for you.
We want you to be as happy as being with you makes us..."
   Devon looked skyward to gather her thoughts, but then
shifted her focus toward me.  "When we get back to the island,
Jeremy, maybe you and I should start working on having a baby
of our own."  Kristanna's smile started slow, but spread
quickly, as Devon reached down and ruffled Kaden's hair with
her hand.  "Mom did say earlier that she was looking forward to 
having another grandbaby to love and spoil with affection..."


                <<<- End of Chapter 03 ->>>


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"Island Fever 6: Sanctuary"

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