With No Warning (Romance/Inspirational)(Complete)

CHAPTER 9: Family Blessings

CHAPTER 9: Family Blessings

Thanksgiving Day dawned sunny and cold, but as each hour passed, the temperature raised a couple of degrees. Evan had invited Dakota to share the holiday with his family as had Lora. When Dakota had thanked Lora for the invitation, but went on to say that she had decided to spend the day with Evan, Lora had grinned a knowing grin.

     Dakota’s mother had called also during the days before the holiday, and although she understood the drive was too far for the short time allowed, she had expressed her wish that they would all be together. It just wasn’t right, she insisted, with one of her girls hundreds of miles away with her career, and another with her family at the Poconos. Dakota understood. More than a pang of loneliness had already set in knowing she would be away from her family. Christmas, she told her mother, and reminded herself was only weeks away. On Thanksgiving morning, as she dressed, she phoned her parent’s house, where the family was already gathering and spoke with them all sending her love.

       Turkey and all of it’s trimmings were shared at Mark and Jolee’s modest country home, with a few other relatives. Their father had passed many years ago and their mother, Margo had remarried. Margo was an attractive woman in her sixties, who was doted on by her husband Harry, who was younger by a few years. Also, present at this noontime feast were an aunt, uncle and two cousins. One of Evans cousins came with his two preschool aged children.

       Introductions were made as guests arrived bearing covered dishes, and food was carried to the dinette table, where it would be served buffet style. Margo beamed when Evan introduced Dakota to her. “I have heard so much about you, it’s wonderful to finally meet you.”

       With her own smile, Dakota returned the warm greeting in like manner. Struggling to use a memory game to remember all of the names as she met them, she tried to make herself useful setting the table. Jolee was intent on making Dakota feel welcome, and kept up a chattering conversation. Once the food was prepared and completely laid out, Margo’s husband said a blessing, and they began to heap their plates.

       When they had taken their seats in the den, where Mark had arranged extra chairs, and folding pine t.v. tables, Dakota found herself between Evan and his mother. Margo asked the usual polite, getting to know you questions, and Dakota found herself enthralled by the older woman’s vivacious personality and bright outlook on life.

       In summing up her family life, and career, Dakota made wry mention of the tornado which had practically blown her into town.

       “Wasn’t that just awful? You poor dear, Evan told me you were just terrified.”

       “That’s putting it mildly.” She joked, while swinging a mildly irritated glare Evan’s way. Though it was true that she still cringed through a thunderstorm, she didn’t particularly care to be made out as the damsel in distress.

       “And your car, it made the news you know. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

    For the first time in a very long while, she let her thoughts turn to that day and the days immediately following. The photograph of her car had been in newspapers and on news broadcasts, along with extreme pictures of the most damaged areas. She had clipped the picture and mailed it to her parents. As for herself, she had made a brief comment for one local paper, but had declined a newscast. Bernie had given an interview, with the rubble of his store behind him.

       After lunch, Dakota worked along with Jolee in the kitchen, washing and rinsing, while some of the others cleared the table. Jolee was extremely friendly, but Evan had been right when he had warned her that his sister-in-law’s inquiries would be more pointed.