Julie was a little cautious at first about all these boxes and what she was going to do with them. There were at least a dozen boxes, all of them labeled, ranging from infancy to early teens. There was simply so much stuff packed away neatly inside each one. From clothes to toys, there was something from each year of this woman's children's lives. Finally, she had to say something about it. There was simply no room in her small residence and if she had to move again, all of this stuff would just be left behind, gone to waste.
"I'm sorry, Dr. Bartley. I appreciate the offer, but I simply don't have the space for these things. Maybe one or two items for the children is okay, but more than that is just going to be in the way."
"Oh, I think we can come up with a solution for that." Vivi smiled mysteriously. "For now, why don't we set these aside until after dinner?"
Julie could only accept the temporary stay on the boxes of children's things.
In the living room, Artemis was seeing signs of advanced intelligence in all the children. Including the infant who was crawling around and playing with some of the older children's toys, such as a puzzle meant for a three-year-old. His babbles also were starting to sound like words, and he couldn't be more than six months old. Undernourished or not, these children could very well be excellent candidates for tertiary gender testing based on his observations alone. This could be a whole family of sigma tertiary genders completely flying under the radar.
Liona was nearly done with dinner by this point. With Erik to keep her company, it felt like time was flying by. She almost didn't want dinner to be done, because that meant after the meal, he would go back home and she would continue her confinement to school and home until graduation day, in a week's time.
Erik was content watching Liona cook. She didn't know what she was making, only that it smelled good. Dinner would be here before long and he would have to say goodbye to his love once again afterwards.
A little over fifteen minutes later, with Leon finishing up some preparations in their spare room, dinner was announced by his daughter. At the dinner table, where once again their children's old booster seats were in use, as well as one of their old high chairs for the baby of Mrs. Norman's family were arranged neatly around the dining table.
Food was heaped on it, in the center, with serving spoons in each wonderful dish Liona had made tonight. From the looks of things, she had made a pot roast, with all the fixings, a couple of deserts, one being a fresh marionberry pie and the other a bread pudding. Liona had outdone herself in tonight's dinner preparation. Tonight's dinner was on the simpler side of their typical meals, but no less loved by him and their family. Leon had to wonder if this choice was so that the Norman's could be at ease just that much more by a familiar type of meal. When everyone had been served, and the baby had some homemade baby food, also prepared by Liona, the discussion begun.
Every argument that Mrs. Norman tried to provide about Erik staying with them, but was countered and when it came time to discuss her much needed upgraded accommodations, both Vivi and her mate wouldn't take no for an answer.
"Mrs. Norman. As I see it, I can either report you for overcrowded housing with your children and their undernourished state, or you can accept our help. You really don't leave us much choice in the matter." Leon was firm.
"And pray tell, how in the world am I to pay for this accommodation? Did you stop to think that not everyone has a cushy job that makes millions of dollars a year?! How in the world would I pay for food? Schooling related costs? Even clothing and transportation?!" Julie was winding up for a huge row.
"What my mate has failed to mention in his suggestion is that this is all being provided to you at no cost. You and your children will live in one of our unoccupied real estates for visiting persons of importance. Your children will be enrolled in the private school where my children attend for the coming year. All health related things will be provided at no cost under my personal charity program. As for food, we work with a charity farmer group that provides produce that can't be sold at market at no extra cost to those in need. Any transportation will be covered by us." Vivi laid out her argument.
"Last, as part of this deal, I would like Erik to stay with Vivian and Leon, at least over the summer. His current records indicate he is not currently eligible for graduation because of missing credits. Unfortunately, his previous schools could not provide an answer to whether he had taken the appropriate courses or earned those credits via other means, such as supplementary college courses. While he stays with them, he will be enrolled in a supplementary summer program at the Montessori school while he earns his missing credits. He will undergo advanced placement testing and health related testing to ensure he is given the best opportunity to thrive as a young adult. If he completes this testing, he may be eligible for a grant or even a full scholarship to higher education." Artemis added his bit.
Julie was stunned. All of this out of her son being battered by a fellow alpha? She wasn't going to be reported to the authorities if she accepted all of this charity? Where was the downside? The catch? Would she be given a bill at the end of her stay with them?
"The only thing we are going to stipulate that will disqualify you from this charity is that if you do not remain employed, or if you decide to move away from this city. Can you do that?" Leon asked with the expectation that he would receive an answer right away.
Still not quite believing this, she would just have to accept and then wait for the other shoe to drop when this family tired of her and the children. "I-I guess I have no other choice. I accept your terms."
"Good. After dinner, you will be provided the paperwork to sign and will be provided digital and physical copies for your own records." Vivi smiled. She was sure that most of this conversation had gone over the kids' heads. Her own younger children had opted to spend time with their grandparents, who were visiting their cousins for the weekend as part of a larger get together they sometimes hosted. Since Liona was still grounded, she wasn't able to attend, which she had grumbled over until she found out about this dinner.
So it started. The ball got rolling on all the finer details about when and how the move was to take place, as well as where Julie would be staying. The move would begin on the last day of school for the younger children, so no one was disrupted from their education.
Liona could hardly believe her ears as she heard Erik was going to spend the entire summer living with her. It was hard to contain her excitement over the news, but she kept most of the grin off her face. Her parents had discussed none of this with her in advance, so it was all a great big surprise.
Erik was just as stunned as his mother must have been at this news. He and his siblings were going to get all expenses paid medical and educational care for at least the next year. Even if this opportunity for him was only for the summer, it still mattered greatly to him that his family was going to be given such a huge chance at a better life. Moving to this city must have been what fate decided for them. After all, he had met his beautiful mate and her wonderful family here. He just hoped that they continued to be wonderful when they found out that he and Liona were fated for each other.
Nikki understood every word of what had transpired over dinner. She was skeptical at first, but as the adults talked, the more she felt at ease. It mattered to her that Erik be able to see Liona again. She hated her brother had become so depressed when his mate had been grounded. Despite their squabbles now and again, she loved him. He had been the one that practically raised her while their mother worked or when their deadbeat dad skipped town again. A new school for her and her younger siblings, along with a new house that would have as many bedrooms as they needed and no having to share bathrooms anymore! The excitement was almost palpable between their mother, her, and Erik.