Part 33 (2/2)
”At least he knows we care,” Erin laughed when they talked about it earlier that day.
”Yeah.” Kari grinned. ”The girl has no idea.”
She finished setting the table while Erin and Ashley helped their mother in the kitchen. Already the delicious smells of her mother's cooking were filling the house: savory roast chicken, fresh steamed vegetables with basil and rosemary, and her mother's famous whole-grain bread. This was the kind of meal they'd grown up with-designed by their mother to be both healthy and delicious.
”Foods affect the way we feel, the way we look, the way we act. Even the way we love,” Mom always said, and no one doubted her. She had a master's degree in nutrition and had 300 worked part-time as the hospital's meal planner for a decade before she got sick. ”It's part of my job to make sure you all know how to eat right.”
Kari's stomach growled, and she patted her swollen belly. Guess you like Grammy's food too, huh, little Jessie?
Her father got home from work and took a seat next to Tim, who was watching a basketball game on TV. Minutes later Brooke and her family arrived, and the conversations around Kari grew louder. These were the sounds Kari had missed since leaving home, the sounds Erin would miss if her husband took the out-of-state job he was considering.
Luke walked into the kitchen and tossed his backpack on the floor near the table. ”I told you about Reagan, right? She's coming by for dessert?”
Kari watched her mom stop stirring a pot of beans and stare at the backpack.
”Take it to your room, please.”
Luke grabbed the bag. ”I told you, right?” ”Yes, Luke. We'll be on our best behavior.”
Kari saw Ashley roll her eyes as she drained the steamed vegetables. ”Don't worry, Luke. We'll make sure our masks are in place.”
”Don't start with me, Ashley. Maybe you can be gone when she gets here.”
Elizabeth sighed. ”Really, you two. You might try to be nice to each other. It's Brooke's birthday, after all.”
”Fine.” Ashley kept her back to Luke.
Kari watched and wondered if their changed relations.h.i.+p hurt Ashley as much as it hurt Luke. She's too angry, G.o.d. Show me how I can help her.
Luke shrugged and flashed a smile at Kari. ”At least my other sisters will be nice to Reagan.” He left the kitchen with his backpack and jogged up the stairs.
”Hey, Brooke, check out this play.” It was Peter calling from the next room as Brooke strode into the kitchen, out of breath and frowning.
301 Brooke glanced at the television screen in the next room and nodded absently. ”Mom, where's Cole's ibuprofen?” She grimaced. ”Maddie has a fever again. We almost didn't come.”
”When did she get sick? I heard from Thelma across the street that three children were hospitalized with strep throat just last ...”
The conversations continued until dinner was ready. Then all ten of them-everyone but Maddie-gathered around the table. ”Let's pray.” Their father bowed his head and waited until the room was quiet. ”Lord, we thank you for this family, for letting us gather together, and for Brooke's birthday. Thank you for creating her to be among us, and let this coming year be one of blessings and discovery for her and her family. Bless this food that it might nourish our bodies. In Jesus' name, amen.”
The talking began almost immediately. ”Pa.s.s the chicken.”
”Mom, you did it again! Everything smells delicious.” ”No one can make bread like you.”
”Dad have you heard anything more about the grant the hospital's trying to get for a new wing? Supposed to be another forty rooms.”
”Ashley, your old tennis coach is going to our church now. He said to tell you hi.”
The discussions took place simultaneously, yet everyone seemed to understand and be able to partic.i.p.ate in all of them. There was talk among Elizabeth, John, and Ashley about an art course she was taking. Erin's husband, Sam, wanted to know how many weeks were left until Kari's baby was due, and Erin shared a story about one of her kindergartners who brought a frozen fish into cla.s.s on pet day.
When the laughter died down, Luke filled in by giving them a blow-by-blow report of his debate team's recent victory.
It was a meal Kari knew she'd remember fondly in months to come, when she was busy taking care of a newborn and learning 302 how to be a family with Tim and the baby. Before long, dinner was over, and dishes were being cleared when the doorbell rang.
”Must be Reagan.” Ashley tossed a contrived smile at Kari and the others.
”Everyone put on your mask.”
Erin and Brooke giggled, and Luke nodded at them. ”Thanks.” He narrowed his eyes at Ashley before pus.h.i.+ng back from the table. ”She can sit by Kari.”
Kari looked at Ashley and c.o.c.ked her head. ”Come on, Ash, be nice. How often does he bring a girl home?”
Ashley leaned over the table and whispered, ”I am being nice. I'm just saying let's be on our best behavior.” She leaned back and raised her eyebrows. ”After all, not many girls can live up to Luke's perfect standard.”
When Luke and his new girlfriend entered the room, the discussion stopped and the table fell silent. ”It's a blizzard out there,” Luke said as he tossed Reagan's coat on a chair and brushed the snow off her head.
All eyes were on Reagan. She was tall and athletic looking, bigger boned than most of the girls Luke had dated. From the easy way they looked at each other, Kari could tell they had been friends for a while. She wondered if this was the girl her brother would marry.
Luke made introductions; then he and Reagan sat down next to each other as far away from Ashley as possible. When everyone was seated, they sang ”Happy Birthday” to Brooke.
”Thirty-five, is it?” Luke teased her. She'd already opened her presents, and Luke's had included a bottle of vitamins for seniors.
”Thirty, thank you very much.” Brooke lifted her chin and smiled.
Peter leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. ”Though you don't look a day over twenty-one, my dear.”
”Oh, please ... I hope that's her birthday gift.” Ashley shook her head and winked at Brooke. ”No one deserves a compliment like that, even on her birthday.”
303.
Reagan said little, just watched and listened, responding to Luke's whispered comments with a sweet smile.
John was the first to draw her into the conversation. ”Tell us, Reagan-how'd you get mixed up with this crazy guy?” He elbowed Luke, who was sitting beside him.
Reagan laughed, and Kari decided she liked her. She seemed at ease with the Baxters, and something in her eyes looked genuine, solid. Mom and Erin began serving pie.
”Well,” Reagan looked at Luke, and Kari saw it. However long the two had been dating, their relations.h.i.+p was more serious than any of them had known. The look in the girl's eyes was unmistakable.
She was in love with Luke.
Reagan continued, ”Luke was playing a pickup game at the school gym, and I walked in with my basketball. They were short one person, but-” she cast Luke a teasing look-”someone in the group didn't think I could play with them.”
”So anyway, Mom-” Luke raised his eyebrows and dug his fork into the pie in front of him-”have I told you what a good cook you are?”
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