Kathleen‘s deadline. Steve was
gazing at the food on the table. Lauryn turned her own attention to it, trying not to
drool at the selection.
Kathleen had prepared a feast. If this was just a light lunch, she couldn‘t wait to
see what dinner consisted of tonight or what was on the menu for the reunion
tomorrow. There was regular green salad, pasta salad, chicken salad, and tuna salad.
There was an assortment of bread, crackers and chips to accompany it. The feast was
finished off with a large bowl of fruit salad for dessert. Everything looked delectable.
“I see everyone is here, so let‘s say grace then we can start.”
Lauryn bowed her head and listened to Kathleen‘s heartfelt blessing of the food.
It reminded her of the dinnertimes she had shared with both of her parents when her
mother was alive. Once her mother passed it had been rare for Lauryn and her father
to have dinner at the table together, let alone say grace when they did.
When grace was over, the assortment of bowls were passed around the table.
By the time Lauryn was done she had a little of everything on her plate. She took a
bite of her sandwich and moaned in pleasure. Besides her own cooking and her
mother‘s, she couldn‘t remember having food this good. She looked over at Kathleen
with a smile. “This tastes wonderful.”
Steve nodded in agreement with her. “Yes it does, Mom. I also should tell you if
you need any assistance in the kitchen, Lauryn is the person you want to go to. She‘s a
wonderful cook herself.”
All eyes turned to Lauryn. She had to concentrate on swallowing the bite of
sandwich she had just eaten so she wouldn‘t choke.
Kathleen paused with her fork halfway to her mouth. “I‘ll keep that in mind.”
Thankfully not much more was said, and everyone went back to eating. She
looked up as Matthew, Steve‘s uncle, spoke to her. “Do you like the layout of the
land?”
Lauryn smiled. “I think it‘s beautiful. I was asking Steve earlier how he ever left
this place.”
Kathleen laughed. “Truth be told, he never left. He‘s always down here doting
on us, spoiling us rotten.”
Lauryn could attest to that. He was always spoiling her rotten too. She
watched as Alan leaned over, pulling Kathleen closer to him. “Yep, I have to say my
son gets it from me.”
Everyone laughed. She wondered if Steve knew how lucky he was to have such
a close-knit family. She glanced over at Sabrina. She was reserved, yet very funny.
Everyone brought something to the table, whether it was charm, wit, or humor. She
liked that about them and wished for a family that was similar. But she never thought
she would have one.
Not wanting to ruin the day with sad thoughts, she tried to focus on the
conversation Sabrina struck up. Steve nudged her, making her glance over at him. He
winked at her. She smiled at the jovial action before returning her attention to her
food.
Once everyone was finished with lunch they helped clear the table. Hannah
began to rub her eyes, causing Steve to excuse himself to take her upstairs. Lauryn
had been enjoying herself so much she‘d completely forgotten about Hannah‘s
naptime. Sabrina approached her.
“Hello. Do you mind if I join you?”
Lauryn shook her head, moving over to make room for her. “No. Please do.”
“What do you think about my family so far?”
Gail walked over to join them. “Well, I don‘t know about Lauryn, but I know I
was overwhelmed when I first met you guys.”
Sabrina and Lauryn looked up at Gail. Valerie and Bethany, Steve and Sabrina‘s
cousins, were standing next to her. The three women took a seat where one was
available.
“Well, I think you have a lovely family. Like Gail, I felt a little overwhelmed in
the beginning.” Lauryn laughed. “I still am.”
Gail smiled. “Well, believe me when I say their bark is worse than their bite.
Especially Valerie here; pregnant and grumpy.”
Valerie huffed indignantly.
gazing at the food on the table. Lauryn turned her own attention to it, trying not to
drool at the selection.
Kathleen had prepared a feast. If this was just a light lunch, she couldn‘t wait to
see what dinner consisted of tonight or what was on the menu for the reunion
tomorrow. There was regular green salad, pasta salad, chicken salad, and tuna salad.
There was an assortment of bread, crackers and chips to accompany it. The feast was
finished off with a large bowl of fruit salad for dessert. Everything looked delectable.
“I see everyone is here, so let‘s say grace then we can start.”
Lauryn bowed her head and listened to Kathleen‘s heartfelt blessing of the food.
It reminded her of the dinnertimes she had shared with both of her parents when her
mother was alive. Once her mother passed it had been rare for Lauryn and her father
to have dinner at the table together, let alone say grace when they did.
When grace was over, the assortment of bowls were passed around the table.
By the time Lauryn was done she had a little of everything on her plate. She took a
bite of her sandwich and moaned in pleasure. Besides her own cooking and her
mother‘s, she couldn‘t remember having food this good. She looked over at Kathleen
with a smile. “This tastes wonderful.”
Steve nodded in agreement with her. “Yes it does, Mom. I also should tell you if
you need any assistance in the kitchen, Lauryn is the person you want to go to. She‘s a
wonderful cook herself.”
All eyes turned to Lauryn. She had to concentrate on swallowing the bite of
sandwich she had just eaten so she wouldn‘t choke.
Kathleen paused with her fork halfway to her mouth. “I‘ll keep that in mind.”
Thankfully not much more was said, and everyone went back to eating. She
looked up as Matthew, Steve‘s uncle, spoke to her. “Do you like the layout of the
land?”
Lauryn smiled. “I think it‘s beautiful. I was asking Steve earlier how he ever left
this place.”
Kathleen laughed. “Truth be told, he never left. He‘s always down here doting
on us, spoiling us rotten.”
Lauryn could attest to that. He was always spoiling her rotten too. She
watched as Alan leaned over, pulling Kathleen closer to him. “Yep, I have to say my
son gets it from me.”
Everyone laughed. She wondered if Steve knew how lucky he was to have such
a close-knit family. She glanced over at Sabrina. She was reserved, yet very funny.
Everyone brought something to the table, whether it was charm, wit, or humor. She
liked that about them and wished for a family that was similar. But she never thought
she would have one.
Not wanting to ruin the day with sad thoughts, she tried to focus on the
conversation Sabrina struck up. Steve nudged her, making her glance over at him. He
winked at her. She smiled at the jovial action before returning her attention to her
food.
Once everyone was finished with lunch they helped clear the table. Hannah
began to rub her eyes, causing Steve to excuse himself to take her upstairs. Lauryn
had been enjoying herself so much she‘d completely forgotten about Hannah‘s
naptime. Sabrina approached her.
“Hello. Do you mind if I join you?”
Lauryn shook her head, moving over to make room for her. “No. Please do.”
“What do you think about my family so far?”
Gail walked over to join them. “Well, I don‘t know about Lauryn, but I know I
was overwhelmed when I first met you guys.”
Sabrina and Lauryn looked up at Gail. Valerie and Bethany, Steve and Sabrina‘s
cousins, were standing next to her. The three women took a seat where one was
available.
“Well, I think you have a lovely family. Like Gail, I felt a little overwhelmed in
the beginning.” Lauryn laughed. “I still am.”
Gail smiled. “Well, believe me when I say their bark is worse than their bite.
Especially Valerie here; pregnant and grumpy.”
Valerie huffed indignantly.
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