Love's Familiar Face

Chapter 1-1

CHAPTER 1

George Granger stood in the nursery of his home in Luling, Virginia. He was gazing down on the faces of his infant twins, Cole and Cory. The boys were only six weeks old. There were tears in his eyes as looked at their faces. They looked identical and were the image of the baby pictures of him, his mother had shown off so proudly.

When his wife, Susan, had informed him, a few weeks before the boy’s delivery, she was in love with his business partner in the local gym, Alfred Arnot, and was going to file for divorce from George so she could be with Alfred, he was stunned. The divorce was to be final shortly after the boys’ birth, George had been in a state of shock since being given the news. He had not been aware of any dealings between Susan and Alfred before her announcement.

When she first informed him of the divorce, Susan was asking for custody of the boys. George flatly refused. They argued back and forth. They finally compromised. Each of them would take one of the twins to raise, and George was to sell his interest in the gym to Alfred. Their family home was to go to Susan. George was not concerned about the business or the house, but he did not like giving up one of his sons. Alfred’s family had money and connections and George was afraid if he kept arguing he would lose both boys.

Susan was in the other room and was staying out of George’s way while he was getting Cole. George leaned over and kissed Cory om the head.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered with tears in his eyes. “I hope someday you will understand how much I love you. Be happy my son.”

George picked up Cole, and holding him close in his arms, left the nursery. When he went through the front room to the door, Susan did not rise to say goodbye to Cole. George looked at her hard and kept walking out the door. She watched from the sofa as George left. Susan’s mother, who lived next door to Susan, had been taking care of the twins. George had overheard Susan and her mother talking a few days before. Susan’s mother had been against George having one of the twins. Susan had told her mother to be patient. Alfred had promised to use his influence to regain custody of Cole.

When George had heard their plans, he started making plans of his own. He called his Uncle Jason Stubbins. Jason was his mother’s brother. Susan was not familiar with him. She had never been interested in George’s family. Jason had a ranch in Holcomb Wyoming. When George explained the situation to Jason, he received an invitation to join him on the ranch. Jason promised to have a baby nurse waiting when George and Cole arrived.

George already had his clothes packed in his car when he went to pick up Cole. He. also had supplies to take care of Cole and feed him on the trip. George’s parents had moved away from Luling some years before. George was sure when Susan found out he was gone she would think he had left for Florida to ask his parents to help with Cole. He would call his parents and let them know what was happening after he was settled in Wyoming.

For now, George settled in his car, glanced over his shoulder at Cole, safe in his car seat. Thinking about Cory, he cast one last longing look at the house, then started his car. Wyoming was a long trip, but he and Cole were on their way.

“Hello,” said Jason when he opened his door to George. He gazed down at the bundle in George’s arms and smiled. “You have a handful. Come on in and let me introduce you to my housekeeper, Ruby Newark, and her daughter Alice.” Jason ushered George and Cole inside and called for Ruby.

Ruby and Alice came hurrying in the room. They spoke to George but concentrated on the baby in his arms. Ruby quickly took Cole and sweet talked him as she crooned softly and headed for the nursery she and Alice had prepared when Jason had informed them of the expected arrival. Alice smiled at George and followed her mom.

Jason laughed at the stunned look on George’s face. “You can trust Ruby. She has eight children. Alice is the oldest girl and has been helping with the younger children for years. I think Alice takes care of them more than Ruby does,” he remarked with another laugh.

George nodded and looked around. He had never been to Wyoming before. Jason had always come to them when he wanted to visit family. George was impressed with how warm and homey everything looked.

“Let us get your things unloaded and get you settled in. I have your rooms ready on the second floor. Ruby and Alice have everything ready for you and they have arranged a nursery for Cole,” explained Jason as he helped George take things from his car and led the way inside and upstairs to the rooms.

The door to the nursery was open and George looked in as he passed on his way to his room. He heard Cole cooing and saw him kicking his legs and feet in the air. George smiled. Everything will be alright, he thought.

Jason watched George look in the nursery and when George relaxed and smiled, Jason let out a breath. He had been talking to help George relax and feel at home. He could see how wound up and on edge George was. George had suffered a bad few months. Hopefully working on the ranch would help him and having a loving fuss made over him would be good for Cole. “Time will tell,” thought Jason with a sigh.

“I heard from your mom. She said she had tried to call you, but your phone didn’t answer,” said Jason when he and George started downstairs for another load.

“I threw it away. I didn’t want Alfred to be able to trace me,” said George. “I was planning to call Mom when I settled in here.”

“Well, you will have to wait until she calls. She and your dad decided to move to be with your sister in Australia. They are already on their way,” said Jason.

George laughed. “When Susan and Alfred hear about them moving, they will think I am with them. That is perfect,” he concluded.

Jason looked thoughtful. “I didn’t think of how this would look to Alfred and Susan. They can’t file to reverse custody if you are not in the country,” he said.

“They would not be able to get the judge in Luling to approve a change. He did not like Susan’s attitude. Alfred would have to get his family lawyer to try somewhere else.” George shrugged. “I will have to make sure they do not find out where I am. Since I will be working on the ranch, I will not have to use my social security number. It will be at least five years before Cole has to be registered in school, maybe by then they will have quit looking for us,” concluded George.

Jason laid a hand on George’s shoulder. “I’m sorry about Cory,” he said.

George nodded. “So am I, maybe someday he will understand why I couldn’t bring him with us,” said George.

Jason nodded sadly. “Ruby and Alice have things in hand here, why don’t I show you around and you can see what you have gotten yourself into,” said Jason.

George smiled. “I would like to look around. I need to stretch my legs and unwind before trying to get any sleep,” agreed George.

He and Jason went outside. Jason showed him the barns, the bunkhouse, and the paddocks. There were a couple of workers introduced, but most were out working with the horses. It was almost two hours later when Jason led the way back inside through the back door. Ruby was there arranging the evening meal on the table.

“It looks good, Ma'am” said George.

“None of that Ma'am stuff. I am Ruby. You sit and eat. After the trip you have had, you need some good solid food in your belly,” she remarked.

George smiled and sat. Jason smiled at George. “We don’t argue with Ruby. She is the best cook in Wyoming. We are incredibly lucky she likes it here enough to stay and put up with us,” said Jason teasingly.

Ruby grinned at him. “You wouldn’t know what to do without me,” remarked Ruby.

Jason nodded. “We know,” he agreed. “You are a treasure, Ruby.” Jason turned to face George. “Ruby’s husband, Horace Newark is my foreman. They have a house just past the riding paddock.”

George nodded. “I noticed the house when we were looking around. It looks very well taken care of,” he remarked.

“Thanks,” remarked Ruby. “Two of my sons help out on the ranch. They keep the house looking good for me.”

George looked up as Alice came in the room.

“Cole is sleeping. I think the little guy was glad to stretch out on a real bed and sleep,” said Alice.

“I’m sure he was,” agreed George. “It was a long trip. We mostly stopped at welcome centers to rest and so I could feed him. They had places to warm his formula. The ladies, in the welcome centers, were genuinely nice, and they all made a fuss over Cole,” said George.

Alice laughed. “I bet he loved the attention,” she said.

“He did,” agreed George. “I would see him looking around as if he were searching for something or someone. I think he was looking for Cory.” All the adults looked sad at this revelation.

Jason shook his head. “We can only hope it will get better for him and you. I know it will be hard. Give it some time. Maybe you will get a chance to be reunited with Cory in the future.”

George nodded and blinked his eyes. “If you will excuse me. I think I will join Cole in stretching out and getting a rest on a bed,” said George.

They wished him goodnight. George stopped and checked on Cole. He was sleeping soundly. George continued to his room, next to the nursery. He took a quick shower, stretched out on the bed, and was soon fast asleep. He never stirred when Alice checked on Cole and George before going to her room on the opposite side of the nursery. She left the door between her room and the nursery open slightly so she would hear if Cole stirred. Laying in the bed, Alice smiled as she thought about Cole and George. She was glad Jason had asked her to be Cole’s nurse. Life had taken a turn for the better. She snuggled down and slept.

The next few weeks were spent learning about the running of the ranch for George. He worked hard to prove to Jason he could pull his weight and was not looking for a handout. Even though he was tired from working hard, George made time each evening to play with Cole and let his son know he loved him.

Alice would leave them alone so George could bond with his son. Cole was happy to see his Dad. He would smile and gurgle happy baby sounds, while waving his arms, to let George know he was glad to see him.

To Cole, the most important person in his life was Alice. She made sure he was fed, bathed, and clothed in dry clean clothing. She spent her day with Cole, and she loved taking care of him. Alice adored Cole, and he was fast returning her feelings. Ruby looked on with approval. She treated Cole like he was her grandchild. One of her boys was married and had presented her with a granddaughter. Ruby wanted to bring the children together when they were a little older, so they could have a playmate. She had discussed the idea with George, and he was all for it. He wanted Cole to have friends. He hoped having another child around for Cole to play with would lesson his missing Cory.

Cory was never far from his thoughts. When Cole and Cory were six months old, George used some of the money from selling the gym to Alfred to hire a private detective. He had the detective to check on Cory and see if he was being taken care of properly.

The detective found Cory was living with Susan’s mother and father. Susan and Alfred had married and moved to a more expensive house close to Alfred’s parents and Alfred had started his campaign to run for State Senate. He had included Cory in a news conference to announce his candidacy. Cory had just finished eating, and he spit-up on Alfred. The news people laughed. Alfred did not like being laughed at, so Cory was turned over to Susan’s parents and was not included in any more appearances. Susan did not appear to mind. She was not into motherhood. She much preferred the social life she had with Alfred.