#markmatthews

SETH- “Penny, we are so sorry, this must be just terrible for you and the kids, but rest assured anything we can do, we will.”

PENNY- “Seth, just allowing us to stay here until we can find a place is more than we even imagined. The kids seem to be doing okay, at least all outward appearances are showing that. Just not sure if they are dealing with it emotionally though. Mark gave us a referral to an amazing therapist so I am sure that will help.”

PENNY- “So do you guys know of anything in the area that is for sale?”

SETH- “Daniel and Ian bought a place over in Founder’s Cove. It is just a few blocks away actually. It was a rehab and they were able to secure a renovation loan I heard there were a couple of other places in the same neighborhood that are available.”

PENNY- “There is no way I could do a rehab, I would need to get one all ready finished.”

MARK- “From what I gather, these places over there come with builders that will do the work for your specifications. They even supply blueprints of what you want. The developer is working with residents to secure financing. You might want to look into it. They are selling these houses at a pretty reasonable rate.”

PENNY- “But how long does the rehab take? I couldn’t expect you guys to keep us up here while they renovate an entire house.”

SETH- “Penny, you take as long as you need. If this would be something that you want and you can save money doing it, our home is yours for the duration. We want what is best for you and your family.”

MARK- “Seth is right. Call them and see what is available and if you decide that is what you want to do, we are here for you guys.”

MARK- Actually she is eleven now, and she will be rooming with you and you will be nice to her.  Do you understand?”

LOGAN- “I understand, and I am nice to everyone, Dad, Really you act like I am a monster. I mean it is temporary, right, maybe a couple weeks?”

SETH- “Depending on how long it takes for them to find a place, it could be longer, Logan.”

LOGAN- “Longer, like what are we talking about here?”

MARK- “Maybe months.”

LOGAN- “FINE!  I will be fine with it. Do I really have a choice?”

MARK- “No, you don’t.”

LOGAN- “We need to get to school. Thanks for the heads up. So when are they coming?”

SETH- “They will be here sometime today, before you get home from school.”

LOGAN- “Please do not let her go into my room until I get home. Can I have at least that?”

MARK- “Yes, we will wait until you get home from school. You two have a great day, now.”

JONAS- “Thanks , and tell Dax to make himself at home when he gets here.”

LOGAN- “Could you be anymore sickening nice?”

SETH- “You may want to take a lesson from him, Logan.”

A lot has transpired in the past eleven and a half years. Seth mother passed, as well as Mark’s father. His stepmother remarried and moved to Del Sol Valley. Seth’s nephew Jackson is playing pro football and lives in Newcrest with his new wife, Liza. Jackson’s father and Seth’s brother, Enoch, fell off the wagon, lost the old Schrieber home and his family. His wife divorced him and her and their two children moved to Windenburg. Peter Lowenthal just recently finished working as the twins Nanny, received his Master’s in Psychology and is opening his own practice in his hometown of Windenburg.

MARK- “Of course Jonas, you can invite Peter. Just because he is not your nanny anymore doesn’t mean we can’t see him, he will always be a part of our family.”

JONAS- “I really do miss him.”

MARK- “I know you do, but once we move to Willow Creek it is only a half an hour drive to Windenburg.”

JONAS- “So he can visit any time then!”

MARK- “He certainly can. But he is also going to be very busy with his new office.  He needs to work hard these first few years and build a clientele and get established.”

JONAS- “I definitely want to be a psychologist like you and Peter, Dad. Maybe we could all three work together some day!”

MARK- “We could, but I hope to retire someday! So, we move in the morning, so you and your sister need to get to bed. We have a huge day tomorrow.”

SETH- “So Logan, who is going to be your special guest?”

LOGAN- “Of course it is going to be Perry.  I certainly am not going to invite another adult!  Plus Perry is my best friend in the world. Well besides Jonas of course.”

SETH- “Your dad is right, we all need to get in bed.  I will call Ian and Daniel tomorrow and make sure Perry can make it to the party. I think I want to invite a special guest too. I will call Auntie Roxie.  I am sure she will want to be there to see you guys turn 13.”

LOGAN- “You mean our birth mom, Dad. It’s okay, we figured it out. And we are fine with that. But if it makes her feel less awkward we will keep calling her Auntie.

MARK- “So, Peter, Seth and I have discussed this, and I shared everything with Seth regarding your brother and what happened, and we both agree that you need to stay on here with us and continue as the twins nanny.”

PETER- “Are you sure. I mean I would understand if---

SETH- “Mark is right, Peter, we want you to stay. I think that over time your brother will realize that what happened had nothing to do with you. And the kids really like you and have grown attached to you. You are amazing with them.”

PETER- “But what if Joseph continues to try and communicate with them?”

MARK- “Once he sees that you have control of the situation and are not going to let anything happen to them, I think he will rest and leave you alone.”

PETER- “So you think he is trying to help me take care of them because he thinks I could allow the same thing to happen to them as did him??”

MARK- “I think you may think that. But you have to realize that you are fully capable of helping us raise Logan and Jonas and that you would NEVER let anything happen to them. Once you realize that, then Joseph will too.”

PETER- “I think you are right. I think he is just worried about them.”

MARK- “I am sure he is, and so we need to make sure he knows that they are safe with you. And YOU need to know that Seth and I trust you and that you will not allow anything to happen to them either.”

Over a period of several months up through the next year, Peter began seeing less and less of his “brother” He also sopped appearing to the children. Regardless if it truly was the ghost of Joseph Lowenthal or not, Peter began to gain confidence in his abilities and in time realized that his brother’s accident was not his fault and Josephs “ghost” finally was able to rest in peace.