Following the GPS instructions to the town of Blackwood, Hunter pulled into a gas station that time forgot, with faded yellow paint covering a Spanish mission-style store and two antiquated red gas pumps out front.
Climbing out of the motorhome, he stretched his body, cramped by so many hours of driving. Looking around, he spied a small, white, Victorian house nestled among the trees, then, hearing footsteps to his left, shifted his gaze.
“Hi, I’m Bobby. Fill’er up?”
“Yeah, that’d be great,” Hunter answered.
“Where you from?” he asked, flipping open the cover to the fuel tank.
“Back east.”
“Oh, on vacation,” Bobby said.
“That, and visiting family,” replied Hunter, noticing a dirt road leading up the mountain side, wondering where it led.
“Sounds like fun.”
“Hey, Bobby, do you think anyone would mind if I parked over there?” Hunter asked, pointing to the dirt road. “Just for an hour or so.”
“No, go ahead. Nobody uses it anymore.”
“Thanks,” Hunter said, handing over his charge card.
~/~/~/~/~
Hearing the helicopters approaching, Jackson left his study, heading for the great room where Steel and Daniel waited for him. “Where’s everyone else?” he asked, reaching for Daniel.
“Out on the porch, waiting for us,” Steel said, following his mate outside.
“Have you spotted them yet?” Jackson asked.
“No, but they should be coming into view soon,” replied Dylon.
“How many helicopters?” Carson asked.
“Three,” replied Steel.
“Why so many?” asked Cody.
“Well, there’s Mom, Dad, Lizzie, Sofia, Ian’s parents, Logan and Kieran, Colton and Ian, Dakota and Slate,Zane and David, Theo and Norm, and Fionn and Adam,” Steel answered.
“Holy Sh…eet!” Carson exclaimed.
“Look, there they are,” Jackson said, pointing up and to the west. “Daniel, look.”
Clapping his hands, Daniel babbled, “Gaga, gaga.”
“That’s right, your grandparents,” said Steel, kissing his son’s head.
Looking over at Jake and Jessica, Jackson smirked as his brother and Dylon were trying to hold their two wriggling pups who clearly wanted to be on the ground. “Having problems, bro?” he asked.
“Uh, no…maybe,” Cody said, repositioning Jake in his arms. “I have no idea what got into these two today, but I swear someone spiked their milk. Look Jake, Grandma’s here.”
Shifting his gaze, Jackson watched as the three helicopters landed, finally feeling a great sense of relief. He wasn’t kidding when he’d told Fionn the house was too lonely with more than half his brothers gone. And it wasn’t just the teasing and joking that spiced up their lives; he also missed the camaraderie that had been forged in the aftermath of their parents’ and siblings’ death. During those bleak years when they were all facing death, a special bond had evolved, growing stronger as each obstacle was overcome. Suddenly, the helicopter doors opened, and Jackson saw his twin emerge holding a…bird cage? What the fuck!
“Is that what I think it is?” asked Carson.
“Did Logan tell you about acquiring a bird?” asked Cody.
