chapter2

Ed, who was the closes to the pool, jumped in and grabbed Joe as he resurface gasping for air. Joe cradled his arm to his chest. Ed swam to the side dragging Joe behind him. Fenton reached down and grabbed Joe, pulling him up and out of the pool. He carried Joe over to where his wife waited with a blanket wrapping the blanket around Joe and handing Ed a towel she said, "Joe are you alright?"

With a weak smile he nodded.

Ed toweled his hair and placed the towel on the chair he had been sitting in saying, "Before anything else happens I better explain my presence here."

Fenton stood up saying, "We can talk in my office if you like?"

With a rueful smile he said, "And be hung out to dry for dripping on your carpets? I think not, anyhow I think your boys and their friends would like to hear this as well."

Frank sat on the ground at his mother's feet, leaning against her chair. Biff and the others sat in the chairs nearby.

Sitting in his chair he said, "First off my father-in-law sent me to see you. Robert James saying that you're the best."

Hearing his wife gasped, "Did you say Robert James?"

With a nod he asked, "Do you know him?"

Joe snorted, "Of cause she does, he's her father."

Shocked Ed exclaimed, "You're the mysterious Laurie I hear about all the time?"

Looking over at her husband she told him, "I see daddy never forgave me for marrying you honey."

A booming voice exclaimed, "Indeed I didn't."

Fenton groaned aloud when he saw his father in law standing at the gate, Frank grinned saying, "Pops what made you come all the way out here?"

Robert James was a hulk of a man in great shape for a man pushing sixty with gray hair and green eyes. Having had made his money in movies and modeling where he meet his wife who owned the agency he went through. From what their mother told them, she owns the agency with her sister who runs it and sends her share to her. Their grandfather had set up a large trust fund for all his grandchildren and sends their mother an allowance that she puts into trust for the boys. Laura told them that their grandfather disliked their father because he was cop. In his mind that wasn't a job for a husband of his baby daughter and he forbade her to marry him and when she went against his wishes he cut her off from the family for a long time. The only contact they have with him and their grandmother is when Laura and the boys visit them. That wasn't every often especially after a ten-year-old Joe told Pop off for saying horrible things about their father and with their Nan backing him. He never mentioned their father again within their earshot.

A small woman stepped out saying, "Now, now Robbie stop starting that again." Nan, as she was called by Frank and Joe, was a slim woman with blond hair and bright blue eyes. She Was standing to Pops chest, Frank always thought she was tiny compared to Pops, but while Pops was scary he could make grown men shake in their boots but with Nan he was gentle as a lamb, with her. Frank only ever saw one person beside Nan stand up to him and that was his little brother and he was ten at the time.

"Laurie, you're looking great my dear."

Rushing over to her mother she gushed, "What are you and daddy doing here?"

"Making sure that this whippersnapper found his way here." Robbie boomed out.

Fenton glanced over at Ed when he said, "Does he treat you the same as he treats me?"

With a glance at his imposing father-in-law he replied, "Worse he likes to think I don't exist,"

"You've got it good I wish he would leave me along." Ed shot back.

"If you like I'll set Joe on to him for you." Fenton replied back.

With a grin Ed nodded he heard the story of Joe, "Ok it's a deal."

Nan exclaimed, "My how you boys have grown."

Pop glanced at them saying, "Looking good, Joe cut that hair and take those earrings out of your ears you ain’t no girl."

Standing up and walking over to where his Nan was, Joe smiled saying, "Pop it's nice to see you again and Nan it's always great to see you." Scooping her into his arms he gave her a huge hug.

Jumping up from the ground Frank joined them saying, "It sure is Nan,"

Frank shook his Pops hand pumping it he said, "Pop you look great."

"Forget shaking my hand, give me one of your bone crushing hugs." Dropping his hand Frank threw his arms around him and gave him a great big bear hug he was well known for.

Joe smiled saying, "How long are you here for and where are you staying?"

Fenton hoped that Laura would stay with them trying to catch her eye before she offered without success, he moaned as she said, "Here of course."

Robbie closed his eyes dreading what his wife would say, "We would love to, but you know what your father and Fenton are like when they together. It would be a war zone here so it would be wise if we stay at the hotel but thanks anyway love. Anyhow we're heading off soon so this is a flyby visit."

Fenton sighed in relief and catching her eye he threw a smile over at her Nan nodded. She loved Laurie choice. She liked Fenton and she was pleased when Laurie stuck to her guns and married him.

Ed said, "OK you know that I made it Robert, so do you what to sit in as well?"

"You mean, you've been here all this time and not discussed this with him?" Robert boomed.

"It was hot and I went for a swim."

"Excuses, that all you're good for making excuses, if you weren't family I'd fire your ass."

Jumping to his feet Ed yelled, "You've been wanting to fire me for ages so what stopping you?"

Fenton stood up and step between them saying, "Cool it."

"Butt out Fenton this is not your fight." Pushing Fenton out of the way grabbing Ed by the collar.

"Robert this is my house you follow rules just like everyone else. You want to fight take it out of my home." Fenton called out from where he landed.

Nan placed a hand on his arm calmly said, "Robbie, this is not the time or place to handle this."

Robbie looked around and saw the teens watching him and saw Frank and Joe standing ready to break up the fight. His daughter beside her husband, releasing Ed he shoved him from him muttering, "Now you see why I don't like hiring outlaws to handle my business."

Nan said, "You asked Ed to talk to Fenton, since you don't talk to him and that what he doing so he could his time and enjoyed a swim and dinner I don't blame him."

Fenton stood up frowning, "Ok I think it's time for everyone to cool down and for someone to tell me what in the world this is all about."

Laura nodded saying, "Everyone come inside I'll put the jug on."

Robert glanced at his daughter and for the first time he stepped into the house where his baby lived, "Laurie why do you insist on living like this you can living like a queen and take your place in the family business."

"Dad you know where this is going to head so just stop right there. I happen to love living here with Fenton and the boys and I love my job as well."

Frowning at Fenton, he muttered, "Yeah I know you won't dump this Gumshoe."

Fenton glance over at Ed and rolled his eyes.

Joe was fuming he hated it when his Grandfather run his dad down and piped up, "Pop?" Waiting for Pops to look over his way, when he got his attention he carried on, "Remember what I said the last time you ran dad down?"

Robert nodded, he remembered. Hiding his smile, he said, "Yup I remember Joe and you gonna go through with it?"

Joe nodded, "Pop, I don't like it when you say things about dad. He's my dad and I love him and this is our house. Would you put up with someone saying things about you in your home?"

Nan nodded saying, "He's right Robbie, you would have them tossed out of the house for saying what you just said to Fenton and this is his home."

Fenton said, "Joe, it's alright."

"No it's not dad. You raised Frank and I to respect people and you always told us if we have nothing nice to say then say nothing at all, and I know Pops does this to others, but he should respect you in your own home dad."

Pops nodded saying, "I hate to admit it but he's right," Turning so he faced Fenton he carried on, "I should and I'm sorry Fenton for saying what I did just then. I admit you raised them to be good kids even those they have earrings and long hair."

Nan warned, "Robbie!!!"

Callie laughed saying, "Wow, it's never boring here is it?"

Nan looked down at her saying, "Joey is this the one who......."

Jumping in before she could say anything else, "Nan, I'd like you to meet Frank and my friends," Pointing to them he said, "This is Biff, Tony, Chet, Phil and Vanessa who is my girlfriend and Callie who is Frank's."

Nan nodded to them and she said, "Nice to have met you all."

Vanessa stood up saying, "I better head home call me later and tell me what your uncle had to say."

Joe gave her a hug and said, "We, still on tomorrow?"

"Yeah, unless your arm starts hurting again."

Biff laughed, "Van, do you really think that's going to stop Joe from your date?"

"Nah, Night everyone, Nice to met you Mr. and Mrs. James and Mr. Godly."

Everyone called out, "Night, Vanessa."

Grabbing all her things and tossing them into her bag, she faced Callie, "Do you need a lift?"

Tossing her hair over her shoulder, Callie looked over at her saying, "Thanks, but Frank will take me home later."

Frank, who knew nothing of that, asked, "I am?"

With a smile she looked up at him, "Don't tell me you forgot?"

"Must have." Frank replied.

Robert said, "Young lady, don't you mean you forgot to tell him? I know that Frank has a memory like an elephant. He never forgets anything."

Joe hiding his grin, as he threw his good arm around his dad's shoulders.

Fenton smiled over at his son and whispered, "Thanks Joe, for saying what you did to your grandfather."

"Anytime dad." Joe replied, rumpling his dad's hair as he said, "Me think Callie meet her match in Pops, what ya think?"

"Mmmm... me thinks you're right, not many people stand up to him myself included. I'd rather face a room filled of crooks than him."

Frank said, "I'll drop you off later Callie if you don't mind waiting."

"Tough cookies if she doesn't my lad." Robbie glanced down at her. His wife told him some of the things she does to Joe and he dislikes her for it, even before meeting her. No one gets away with hurting his family and gets away with it while he's around.

Standing up, Callie walked over to Frank and wrapped her arm around him saying, "You won't be too long now will you?"

Looking down at her he said, "Maybe, I should take you home now?"

"No can do Frankie, why if she in a hurry to get home, one of these lads would drop her off."

Joe said, "No room in Chet's car. He brought all the lads over here."

"OK then how about Laurie dropping you off. Nan can go with her to keep Laurie company on the drive home." Robbie was determined that she was going home without Frank driving her.

Frank said, "It's OK Pops. I'll run her home and be back in ten minutes, Joe can come with me."

Nan watched Callie as Frank mentioned that Joe come with them. Nan smiled she knew what Robbie was doing and she was going to help him, "Why I insist on Laura and I dropping her off, Frank. Pops needs to talk to you and Joe and it would give Laurie and I time to catch up."

Joe trying his hardest not to laugh, he hid his face in his father's shoulder, as Fenton joined in staying, "Well, I could drop her off."

"Nonsense, Robbie needs you here as well."

Biff with a huge smile said, "She could sit on my knees or Tony's it will be a tight fit but........"

"OK, I'll call my mother." Callie burst out.

"Why didn't we thing of that?" Robbie asked.