dawn, as well as watching their younger brother’s excitement over the missing chocolate chip cookies and drained glass of milk set out for ole Saint Nick.
David kissed Miriam on the forehead and gave her a sly wink, just as Janice walked into the kitchen. Even though the heated moment had passed, she blushed, as if sensing the sexual tension between husband and wife.
“ I’ve cleaned up the last of the dessert plates, and here’s what’s left of the pecan pie that you love so much, David,” she said, moving over to the refrigerator where she deposited the last few pie slices. She then set the plates in the sink. “I better get going. I want to try to reach Sara before it gets any later. I must say this has been the most unusual Christmas we’ve had together, but at least today has been great. Thanks so much for the excellent dinner and the fun evening!”
“ You’re so welcome, Jan,” said Miriam, moving over to her.
The two shared a warm hug, and then all three walked together through the dining room to the foyer where Janice’s coat hung from the hall tree. It pleased him that the coziness found elsewhere on the main floor had infused the dining room as well.
“ What time should I plan to be ready for you all tomorrow, Mir?” asked Janice, after she bundled up in her parka with her scarf pulled up around her face. The temperature moderately cold throughout most of the day, it had dropped down to the single digits over the course of the past hour. “Would noon give the kids ample time to open presents from Santa and get everyone ready to come over to my place?”
“ Noon at your place will be fine, Jan,” said David, after receiving the ‘it’s up to you’ look from Miriam. “We’re already looking forward to it!”
“ Noon it is, then.”
Janice walked briskly to her Subaru sedan parked in the driveway. Once she started up the engine, she hurried back to where Miriam waited for her at the front door, holding it open for her to escape the frigid night air while her car warmed up. He took this opportunity to check on everyone else gathered in the living room.
Tyler sat in his dad’s recliner with his headphones on, playing a new game for his PSP while rocking back and forth to one of the CDs he received from Janice for Christmas—a metal album she previously asked permission to give him, since it came with a parental warning sticker. Miriam was at first hesitant, until learning that the warning pertained to one song, and consisted of words that she, David, and most adults uttered in the most frustrating moments of life. David agreed their hypocrisy could only go so far, especially since Tyler had been exposed to worse language from his schoolmates and almost never repeated any of it in his parents’ presence.
Jillian and Christopher remained on the sofa with Ruth, who seemed to relish the attention. She presently read a passage to them from the complete Harry Potter collection she’d purchased for them both at the mall yesterday. One of several gifts she splurged on, and the only one intended for both kids. So clearly enthralled, swept up in the allure of Ruth’s genteel southern accent she employed while reading aloud as compared to the Tennessee twang she normally spoke with.
Ruth looked up briefly from the sofa, as did Sadie, while David passed by, surveying the room for anything unusual. He hid behind a smile that wasn’t so much forced as enhanced by the holiday cheer around him. And despite her gracious smirk that met his, there remained a hint of sadness surrounding her.
Auntie’s still affected by what happened yesterday....
He suddenly thought about John Running Deer back in Tennessee. David had tried twice to call him earlier that evening, but couldn’t get through...kept getting the long distance busy signal so common this time of year. He hoped to reach him sometime tomorrow.
Once Janice drove away and Miriam returned to the living room, David nonchalantly ventured
David kissed Miriam on the forehead and gave her a sly wink, just as Janice walked into the kitchen. Even though the heated moment had passed, she blushed, as if sensing the sexual tension between husband and wife.
“ I’ve cleaned up the last of the dessert plates, and here’s what’s left of the pecan pie that you love so much, David,” she said, moving over to the refrigerator where she deposited the last few pie slices. She then set the plates in the sink. “I better get going. I want to try to reach Sara before it gets any later. I must say this has been the most unusual Christmas we’ve had together, but at least today has been great. Thanks so much for the excellent dinner and the fun evening!”
“ You’re so welcome, Jan,” said Miriam, moving over to her.
The two shared a warm hug, and then all three walked together through the dining room to the foyer where Janice’s coat hung from the hall tree. It pleased him that the coziness found elsewhere on the main floor had infused the dining room as well.
“ What time should I plan to be ready for you all tomorrow, Mir?” asked Janice, after she bundled up in her parka with her scarf pulled up around her face. The temperature moderately cold throughout most of the day, it had dropped down to the single digits over the course of the past hour. “Would noon give the kids ample time to open presents from Santa and get everyone ready to come over to my place?”
“ Noon at your place will be fine, Jan,” said David, after receiving the ‘it’s up to you’ look from Miriam. “We’re already looking forward to it!”
“ Noon it is, then.”
Janice walked briskly to her Subaru sedan parked in the driveway. Once she started up the engine, she hurried back to where Miriam waited for her at the front door, holding it open for her to escape the frigid night air while her car warmed up. He took this opportunity to check on everyone else gathered in the living room.
Tyler sat in his dad’s recliner with his headphones on, playing a new game for his PSP while rocking back and forth to one of the CDs he received from Janice for Christmas—a metal album she previously asked permission to give him, since it came with a parental warning sticker. Miriam was at first hesitant, until learning that the warning pertained to one song, and consisted of words that she, David, and most adults uttered in the most frustrating moments of life. David agreed their hypocrisy could only go so far, especially since Tyler had been exposed to worse language from his schoolmates and almost never repeated any of it in his parents’ presence.
Jillian and Christopher remained on the sofa with Ruth, who seemed to relish the attention. She presently read a passage to them from the complete Harry Potter collection she’d purchased for them both at the mall yesterday. One of several gifts she splurged on, and the only one intended for both kids. So clearly enthralled, swept up in the allure of Ruth’s genteel southern accent she employed while reading aloud as compared to the Tennessee twang she normally spoke with.
Ruth looked up briefly from the sofa, as did Sadie, while David passed by, surveying the room for anything unusual. He hid behind a smile that wasn’t so much forced as enhanced by the holiday cheer around him. And despite her gracious smirk that met his, there remained a hint of sadness surrounding her.
Auntie’s still affected by what happened yesterday....
He suddenly thought about John Running Deer back in Tennessee. David had tried twice to call him earlier that evening, but couldn’t get through...kept getting the long distance busy signal so common this time of year. He hoped to reach him sometime tomorrow.
Once Janice drove away and Miriam returned to the living room, David nonchalantly ventured
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