Legacy of the Dreams

Chapter 50 - Brothers and Caves

"You can help yourself to the sandwiches when you get back to the bottom of the shaft," Susan told Jessie, Kelly, Zack, and Jenny, who were the first to be ready to leave the glowing cavern at the end of the cave.

"We will," Jenny said. "We'll wait for everyone there."

"We should probably go next," Mr. Simms said. "I'm going to need to gather my strength before climbing back up that shaft."

"I'll go with you, Bobby," Ruth said.

And the pair set out the way they came, with Ruth carrying their chairs.

Lisa and Amber set out not long after Ruth and Bobby. The two sisters walked together, leaving plenty of space between themselves and the pair in front of them.

Susan and Melody left not long after they did, walking with Cindy and Olivia. Rosemary and Greg decided to walk with them, hurrying to catch up in order to help with the babies.

Although Stephen and Chris lingered longer, the promise of lunch waiting for them at the bottom of the shaft prompted them to leave as soon as the lights from the flashlights of those ahead of them began to grow dim. That left only Neil, Alan, and Julie in the glowing cave.

"What do you think?" Neil asked his stepbrother and sister.

"I think this is an amazing place," Alan said.

"I think it's phenomenal you and Dad managed to find it," Julie said.

"Absolutely incredible," Alan agreed.

"You've heard us talking about it," Neil said.

"Yes, but I had no idea it would look like this," Alan said.

"And the fact you know all about it ... you understand what we are seeing and what caused it to form here ... I'm impressed, Neil. Truly," Julie said.

"Wow," Neil said.

Julie arched a brow at him in the dark.

"I didn't think I've ever done something you approved of," Neil said honestly.

"Of course, you have," Julie said.

"Not really, Julie. You and Elliot ... you have this perfect life. It took me so long to find Rosemary ... I wasn't sure I'd ever have that," Neil said.

"I wouldn't look at that too closely if I were you," Julie said.

"Trouble in paradise, Jules?" Alan asked.

"Let's just say that for me, living with three men is difficult," Julie told them.

"Oh yeah?" Alan asked.

"Yeah," Julie said.

"I don't see how that's so different from that summer it was you, me, Neil and Dad living at his house ... the year Madeline went to spend time with her sister," Alan said.

"It isn't," Julie told him. "But that wasn't easy either."

"No, it wasn't," Neil agreed. "I'm not used to having brothers. I never had any before I acquired you."

"No?" Alan said.

"No," Neil told him. "Isn't it the same for you?"

"We've acquired two more brothers and a couple of sisters since we spent that summer with you," Alan reminded him.

"You mean Susan's kids ... and Jessie and Melody," Neil said. "But that's not the same ... is it?"

"It's more the same than you might believe," Julie told them. "Neil, I'm not sure what they are to you, but we all are family ... all of us. And if Matt and Zack aren't your actual stepbrothers, maybe you should consider them honorary brothers, like I do."