Book 3- Annie Adams-College Years

Annie Adams-College Years

                                                                                       Chapter 10

                                                                           Charles Jones is found

Annie and her friends had two weeks off for Christmas vacation, which gave Annie plenty of time to celebrate her good news with them.  The day after she told Len about their baby, she invited, Beth, Trish, Patti, Harmony, Zack, Jamie, Pat and Eric to Christmas dinner.  They all accepted, each one saying that the celebrations with their families were being held on Christmas day.

     Len had to work for most of the holiday, but he had Christmas Eve and Christmas Day off.  So everyone gathered at six o'clock on Christmas Eve for Ham, Mashed Potatoes, Candied Yams, Chestnut Stuffing, String Beans, and Pumpkin Pies with Whipped Cream for dessert.

     After everyone was contently full from their meal, they all made themselves comfortable in the living room, where the lights of the Christmas tree twinkled merrily while making rainbow prisms on the walls and the candles' glow created a cozy atmosphere all around them.  Annie wasted no time in telling, she and Len's friends their wonderful news.

     "Oh Annie!  That's fabulous news!"  Harmony squealed.  "Our kids will grow up together and be best friends!"  Annie hugged her tight and said, "I'm tickled about that too."  "I'm so happy for both of you!"  Beth said, hugging both her and Len.  Then all the others gave their heart felt congratulations.

     "That is just great!" Zack said with a big grin on his face.  "You have to call Katie, Charlie and the others at Seminary and tell them," he encouraged.  "Let's do it now," Len said, beaming at his wife.  "Why not?"  Annie agreed, taking her cell from her back pocket.  Beth rolled her eyes and said, "I can't believe you still keep that thing in there."

     Annie giggled and faced her friend, cell in hand, "You can't take the "Tom Boy" out of the girl even though she's an upright married lady."  Everyone laughed heartily, while Annie punched the right key.  "Hey Annie!  Merry Christmas!  How are you all?" Katie said.  "Merry Christmas!"  Everyone on Annie's end hollered.

     In turn, everyone on Katie's end Yelled "Merry Christmas to You all too!"  They "chimed" their message so perfectly,  Annie thought they must had planned it that way in the few seconds they had to do so.  Annie and Katie laughed together and then said almost in unison, "Sounds like the gangs all there!"  the two of them laughed again along with everyone else.

     "These speaker phones are great aren't they?"  Katie said, still giggling.  "Well....now that the greetings are over, I have some news,"  Annie announced.  "What is it?"  Katie asked in a gleeful voice.  She could tell by the way her friend said it, it was good news.  "Here goes," Annie started, "Len and I are having a baby!"

     Everyone on Katie's end, Katie, Charlie, Daphne, Bobby and Johnny whooped and hollered and then shouted, "Congratulations!"  "As you heard, we're all so happy for both of you,"  Katie told her, tearing up.  "There's something else too, Annie added,  "We have all made a new friend here.  Her name is Harmony Jones.  And she's having a baby too."

     Katie and her gang shouted "Congrats" to Harmony, for which she said a soft "Thank you," that Annie related back to Katie and the others.  "We all miss you all so much," Katie said, trying to hold back the tears, just as Annie was attempting to do.  "Hopefully y'all will get some time off soon to come visit," Annie told her.

     "We should get some time off one of these days," Katie told her.  Annie thought her voice sounded odd.  But she reminded herself that Katie was no doubt emotional too.  "Well Hon.  I hate to have to go so soon, but our dinner's on."  "We understand," Annie told her.  "We'll talk to you soon.  We love you all!"  Annie said with a catch in her throat.  "We love you too!"  Katie said, while the others shouted the same.  "See ya,"  Annie ended, wiping a tear away.  "See ya," Katie told her, and then both girls rang off.

     "They sound like a great bunch of people," Harmony told Annie, and handing her a tissue.  "They are," Annie and the others chimed.  "Hey!  Who's up for some Pumpkin Pie?"  Len asked.  "I could handle that," Zack said, rubbing his stomach.  Trish mussed her boyfriend's dark hair and said, "You're always in the mood for pie."

     Annie started to get up along with the other girls.  But Len put his palms down to let the girls know they should stay seated.  Then he gave Zack, Jamie, Pat and Eric a look and raised his eyebrows.  Zack picked up on Len's look quickly.  "Uh, yeah ladies, we'll get the pie."  The other guys gave their girls weak grins and then nodded in agreement.

     Annie, Harmony, Beth, Patti and Trish gave each other a stunned look as the boys followed Len into the kitchen.  "He's whooped," Zack whispered with a slight grin at Eric.  "Oh yeah,"  Eric agreed.  "Yep,"  Pat and Jamie echoed.  Len, who had excellent hearing, just chuckled to himself.

     Christmas Day brought with it about six inches of snow; a little more in some places.  So Len and Annie decided it was a good day to stay inside wrapped up in a soft blanket and watching "A Christmas Carol" on T.V.  And after enjoying a breakfast of eggs, ham, toast and coffee, and exchanging gifts to each other, that's just what they did.

     They were just to the part where James Stewart's character George Bailey is about to find out what life would be without him, when Len's cell rang.  Annie quickly put the movie on pause and turned to look intently at her husband, hoping that one of his deputies wasn't calling to ask him to come into work.  

     Len seemed to be listening hard to what the caller was saying, because his face was screwed up in concentration.  "They found him where?" Len asked.... "A warehouse in Portland?"....  "Okay.  Let me know when he gets here.".... "Oh really?"  Len's voice was suddenly more cheerful.  "Well, that's good news.  Well, both are good news.  But the second is more of the "Happy" sort, you know." Len said with a chuckle.

     ...."Alright.  See you later."  Annie cocked her head at him with a questioning look on her  impatient freckled face.  Len laughed once at her expression, then turned to face her and placed his hands on her shoulders.  "The Portland Police found Charles Jones.  They are bringing him home."  Annie immediately bit her lip.

     Len knew what that was about.  "Yeah, I know.  We have to tell Harmony."  Annie just nodded sadly.  Wanting to cheer his wife up, Len said,  "There is something else,"  Annie's eyes were now wide with curiosity.  She knew from the smirk on his face that she would like this news.  "The Police also found our "Cooing Dove."

     "That is good news."  Annie said with a small grin.  "Beth will be as happy as we are.  She loves that painting."  The news hadn't help that much.  Annie's face suddenly became sad again, and her voice a monotone.  Len could tell she was just putting up a brave front for his sake.  He sighed and took her in his arms.  "Honey.  We just have to trust God that everything will work out for the best for Harmony....and Charles," he said, kissing her forehead.

     Annie gave him a genuine smile now and told him, "I'm so glad I have you to remind me of things like that whenever I need them," Len said grinning.  "Sometimes it's you reminding me," he said, kissing her head again.  Annie grinned wider.  "Well, I guess that's the way love's supposed to be," she said, turning the movie on again and snuggling up closer to her husband.  Len chuckled and told her, "It certainly is."

                                                                             End of Chapter 10