Robbie turned around and was completely red faced. "Have the two of you been drinking or smoking something already?" he remarked.
"Sit down in that chair, boy. We are going to talk and you need to listen good because your life depends on it," Zach replied.
"You asked if this ranch or did I have anything against Hybrids and the answer is nope, not at all," Zach started. "How about you, Ben? Do you have a problem with them?"
"Not me. In fact, I'm perfectly okay with them and I know several and have had them at my home on several occasions," Ben responded. "How about you, Zach? You had any of them critters sitting eating at your table?"
"As a matter of fact, Ben, I had me three this morning for breakfast, so I guess we don't have a problem with them at all."
"Zach, tell me, my friend, do nice big round firm Genman butts still get you hot as that one did twelve to thirteen years ago?" Ben asked.
"Almost, but that butt twelve to thirteen years ago is my favorite one," Zach replied. "You never forget your first one and it doesn't forget you either."
"What is it with you two? Did someone put something in the water? If so, I don't want to drink it," Robbie remarked.
"Since you're almost family now, you need to hear it and that way you can decide your future," Zach began to speak.
* * *
"It was a horrible night—it was storming bad. Nothing had been seen like that since the night the Genmen ship crashed. A young Genman got stuck at the main house and was scared out of his mind. He shook at every lightning strike and the thundering booms that shook the light fixtures. During the storm the lights went off. There I was with this terrified adolescent beautiful Genman youth as he began to Trans. Let me tell you, talk about a rough night—it was unbelievable. We tore the bedroom and bed apart. Both of our clothes were ripped off during his change and the next morning we both were too sore to sit straight for almost a week."
"Nine months later we went through twenty-seven hours of hard labor, but it was worth it because we had the most beautiful baby boy in the world. But things were different then and we couldn't tell anyone he was my child, so since the father abandoned him, the dad was left to raise him alone. But his godfather was always there watching over him and spoiled the kid rotten."
"Then he hit the one year mark in human years—nine in Genman—he was a handful. By the time he went through Trans we couldn't handle him anymore. He attacked his dad several times and was a danger to himself. We made the agonizing decision to find another ranch with a structured program that would help him. If we had known what was really going on there, he would have never been placed there for their 'Treatment Program.'"
"He was knocked out to make the trip to the ranch and we were allowed no contact for one year as an adjustment period. When I finally was allowed to see him, he had a one-year-old and was almost four months into the next pregnancy. It hurt me so bad to see him swollen up and still angry at his dad and me. He found out he was a hybrid and it didn't take him much to figure out who his good old father was. He spent nine years there until we made amends, then there was a family emergency with his dad before he returned home and he brought his three boys with him."
Ben cleared his throat. "The reason Zach told you this bit of history is he is the father and I am the dad. You have met our son and it's up to you what you decide about your life with him." Ben had to wipe his eyes of tears as they streamed down his cheeks.
Robbie's eyes filled with tears as he asked, "Is Luther your son?"
Both men answered at the same time: "YES."
"Now it makes sense the way you two get along with each other and the way you were acting earlier if it was an act," Robbie said.
"Now you have to make a decision," Ben spoke. "But I just bet that you will decide what's best for you and your heart, and I give you my blessing in whatever you decide."
"After watching the two of them on the swing the other night and hearing what I did plus what my son said, I have no doubt he will be waddling around Robbie's house very soon and Willie will get his wish," Zach remarked. "But right now you need to get with Ben and hit the auto cad and that drafting table updating some plans."
* * *
"Ben, did you tell Robbie about the new lunch hour policy for the department yet?" Zach asked.
"Nope, Zach, I haven't had the chance."
Zach picked up his hand radio and called for the shop. They answered, "Go ahead, Boss."
"Where the hell is number two's solar buggy at? And make sure that it's the extended range model—we don't need him stuck in the back forty with a dead buggy."
The radio rang out: "It will be there in five minutes, sir. Last minute adjustments you ordered have been done, sir."
"Good," Zach replied.
Ben took Robbie to the computer. "Pull up the files for resident homes," he told him.
Robbie did what he was asked.
"Good, now start to scroll down until I tell you to stop and then open and send it to the printer," Ben replied.
Robbie was going through the file one at a time when Zach looked at Ben and nodded his head.
"Stop," Ben said.
Robbie sent the plans to the main blueprinting printer. Robbie was impressed at such an efficient and nice home plan. "Who is getting that whopper of a house, sirs?"
"Ben is. We are building it two sections back and a new family will take over his house," Zach replied.
"That's a very well put together plan. I like it," Robbie said.
"Good, because we are building another one just like it in the back and moving the existing to a new location for a new family," Ben remarked.
"Who was that one for, sir?" Robbie asked.
"It's a gift for Luther, you and Willie, and you better get ready to fill up those spare rooms," Ben replied.
Robbie placed his face in his hands and started sniffing as the tears poured out his eyes.