The Second Half by Lauraine Snelling Read Free Book Online

maybe not even that. We can manage six months. Perhaps Marit can take the two while we do that trip you dreamed of, St. Lawrence or Alaska. We could be gone two weeks in July or August.” She didn’t add that they’d need to be home before school started. They both understood that. “Ready?”
    “I guess.” If forlorn had a face, it would look like Ken’s.
    Mona punched the speed dial. It only had to ring once.
    “I’m sorry, Mom,” Steig said before anything else.
    “I know, but life happens, and we will all work together to make this as easy a transition as possible.” She hoped she sounded more positive than she felt. “Now tell me what all we have to do legally.”
    “I will bring all the paperwork. We’ll need to sign those and have them notarized. I’ll bring their medical and school records. By the time I leave, you will be their legal guardians until I return and we go back to normal. Hopefully I will then be stationed at Fort McCoy.”
    “I guess my big concern is what about Angela?”
    “She has signed off her rights to the children. I am the legal guardian, so while I will inform her of what is happening, she will have no legal rights. I can’t see her even being interested, but I am covering all the bases. If something should happen to me, she cannot come back at you and contest for them.”
    Mona felt a shudder start at her feet and work upward.
    “You will be receiving half my pay and full access to medical, the commissary, and any legal issues, not that I can think of any others, but…”
    “And we’ll get all this done by Monday?”
    “We have to. I had a new will drawn up; you and Dad are the beneficiaries as guardians. I have set up a trust fund for their college expenses.”
    One year, Steig, all this is not necessary, one year. “Do we need to meet with our attorney, too?”
    “This is new and unsettling for us, Mom, but the army is an old hand at it. Single parents deploy all the time. They know how to cover all the what-ifs. I know your will names Marit and me, but we might consider an addendum. I don’t see a rush on that, however.”
    “All right. What time are you planning on being here on Thursday?”
    “Depends on what time I can get out of here. Some friends are helping me pack and load the trailer. I am hoping to get out of here earlier on Wednesday, I’ll let you know.”
    “How about if I have Marit sign the kids up for swimming lessons and Vacation Bible School with hers? That will give them something to look forward to.”
    “All those decisions will be up to you. I think it sounds great. Having cousins close will be good for all of them.” He cleared his throat again. “And here I thought I had everything under control. Ha!”
    “We’ll all manage.” Mona said that to make him feel good, of course. Did she believe it? Not really. “After all, six months to a year and you’ll be back stateside and maybe even stationed nearby.”
    “You might expect some pressure from the kids to make contact with Angela. Please don’t.” His voice paused. “Melinda prays for her mother every night.”
    Mona sucked in a deep breath. “But Angela has made no effort to talk with the children or see them?”
    “None. And no visitation rights. At least this way, the kids aren’t being jerked around.”
    No, just no more Mommy and now Daddy was leaving, too. Oh dear Lord, help us help these two little ones. “Call us when you are ready to leave; we’ll all be praying for you.” Was that a snort she’d heard?
    “Thanks, Mom, Dad. Talk with you soon.”
    Mona sat staring at her cell phone as if it might have answers for her. She heaved a sigh and shook her head again. “Life sure can change in an instant.”
    “And as you always say, we don’t have control over it.” Ken reached across the little side table that separated their two recliners, and she laid her hand in his. “Somehow the mess at the university doesn’t seem quite as important as earlier. Good thing