Family Secrets

“That was more a welcome home gift. This goes with that.”

“I hadn’t been anyplace. Why did I need a welcome home gift?”

“No, it was a welcome home gift for me. This really is a birthday present.  Just open it.”

Her aunt Marta always said diamonds and dynamite come in small packages.  This was a small package and she was sure it wasn’t dynamite.  And, every female in America knew what came in a Tiffany’s box.  She cautiously opened it. To her surprise, it contained a pair of diamond hoop earrings.  Like the bracelet, they contained sizable diamonds set in platinum.

Ben laughed.  “Breathe, Red, they’re just earrings.  I told you I’m not rushing you to the altar.”

Not yet, he thought judging from the reaction, she still needed more time.  The other box would have to wait a little longer.  He had stopped in New York last week on his way home and picked up the ring he had designed for her.  He was easing her into popping the question.  It might take a lot more roses, earrings, bracelets, and maybe a necklace, but he could tell she was starting to warm to the idea.

Jess came into the kitchen.  “Nice earrings.  You should go put them in, Mom.”

Lane went to her room to exchange the earrings she had on for the ones Ben had just given her.

“What are you waiting for Bellini, when are you going to pop the question?”

He shook his head.  “She’s not ready yet.”

“You know, I can help with that, but then you’ll owe me.  Again.”

He was laughing as Jake walked into the kitchen.

“Ben just gave Mom some diamond earrings for her birthday.  What did you and Jams get her?”

“I found a teapot when we were in Omaha. Jamie got her a Lladro mother and son figurine.  What did you get her?”

“I got her a wallet to match a Brahmin purse she got recently.  When Jams gets out of the shower, let’s give them to her.  That way she can fuss over us before the guests get here.”

Jake looked at Ben.  “I texted Meg.”

He handed the phone to Ben so he could read what he’d sent. “I’d like to meet Abbey if you want to bring her for brunch - Jake.”  It was a volume in texting lingo.  There wasn’t a response yet.  Ben handed the phone back to him but before Jake could take it, Jess went in for the interception.

“Smart move, texting so she could think about the answer,” she said as she handed the phone to Jake.

“Yeah, it was Ben’s idea.”

“What was Ben’s idea,” Lane said.

“Texting Meg to ask her to bring Abbey.”

“Who’s Abbey,” Jamie said as he came into the kitchen.

Lane walked to the refrigerator and pulled out the eggs, bacon, and ham.

“Meg’s two year old daughter,” Jake said waiting for everyone’s reaction.

“Oh.  Happy Birthday, Mom,” Jamie said as he held out the package he’d wrapped this morning.

“Wait to open it, I want to get mine.”

“Me too,” Jess said. Then the two of them hurried to their rooms.

“Happy birthday,” each Parker Kid said as they put their packages on the breakfast bar.  When they were little, they would have all been clamoring to have their gift opened first.

“I’ll open Jamie’s first since he brought his in first, then in inverse order by age.” She opened Jamie’s gift and tears formed as she found a red haired mother holding a baby boy. “Oh, Jamie, thank-you.  It’s beautiful.” She said as she hugged him.  She wiped at her eyes and opened Jess’s gift. “Oh, my, aren’t you the smart one?”  She held up the wallet she’d told Jess was too expensive.  She didn’t mind paying over $300 for a purse, but paying almost $200 for the matching wallet was too much. “You knew how much I wanted it.  Thank-you.”  She hugged Jess.  Last, she opened the package from Jake.  It held a teapot shaped like the Notre Dame Cathedral with a gold angel as the handle.  She held it up.  “Jake, this is beautiful.  Thank-you.”

The doorbell rang.  “You boys, go put your gifts in the china cabinet.  Jess, put yours in my room.  I’ll get the door.”

Meg Kelly and her daughter stood at the door.  “I thought you might need some help, so I came a little early. This is my daughter, Abbey.  Abbey, this is Mommy’s boss, Miss Lane.”  Abbey burrowed her head into Meg’s shoulder.  “She’s a little shy at first.”

Lane ushered them into the kitchen and smiled as she said, “Believe it or not, Jess was the same way at that age.  I’ll let you all do introductions, but maybe not all at once.  We don’t want to overwhelm Abbey.”

Meg reached into a diaper bag and pulled out a cup, trading a solid lid for a sippy lid; she sat Abbey on a counter chair and handed the cup to her.  “Is there anything I can help with?”

“The Italian cuisine is all taken care of.  I was about to start on the American cuisine.  What will Abbey eat?  I have bacon, eggs, ham, and biscuits.  I was thinking about making pancakes.  Seems like those are good for little fingers.”

“If the pancakes were mostly for her, you can skip those.  She’ll be fine with eggs, bacon, and biscuits and I brought some Cheerios.  As you can see, she doesn’t miss many meals.”

Abbey who was a chubby, blonde haired, blue-eyed cherub was busy at the counter making goo-goo eyes at Jake, Jamie, and Ben.  Apparently, a girl’s never too young to appreciate tall gorgeous men.  Of course, the fact that Jake and Jamie were busy making goo-goo eyes and noises at her may have had something to do with it.  Ben was back at the stove lifting lids, smelling, and stirring.

Lane leaned toward Ben.  “Tell Jess I’ll use the Mikasa Italian Countryside. I have a service for 12 of it and besides, it seems appropriate.  Meg, maybe if Jess washes you can dry, if Abbey will be okay?”

Jess had gone in the dining room and was clearing the buffet preparing it for the chaffing dishes that would hold the food. But, she went to the pantry, got the china, and handed it to Ben who carried it to the kitchen.  Jess also retrieved the silver and the standard glassware.  Since it sat in the pantry until holiday meals, everything needed to have a quick run through some hot sudsy water.

Lane fried bacon and ham, scrambled eggs and baked biscuits.

Jamie and Jake offered to do the dishes since Jess was still getting the dining room ready, which left Meg to sit at the counter and entertain Abbey.  Ben ma

Ben ushered everyone into the formal living room and offered drinks. Lane came in and he introduced her to his Aunt Elena. Brunch was ready and everything was set up buffet style in the dining room.  Lane ushered her guests into the dining room where Jess had carefully set place cards around the table.

After everyone sat, and before anyone went through the buffet line Lane said, “We say grace.  Sunday is my day.  So if you’ll all take the hand of the person next to you.”  She waited, until from youngest to oldest, hands were held.  “Oh most gracious heavenly Father, I come humbly before you today and ask you to bless this food and all of the hands who helped bring it to our table.  For our family and friends gathered at the table to help us celebrate and for those who could not be with us today, may the Lord to bless you and keep you, may he smile upon you and be gracious to you may he turn his face toward you and give you peace.  In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen”

She looked up.  “We’re buffet style, so please help yourselves.  Guests first. Ben will you help your Aunt and Uncles through? I hope you enjoy everything.  Ben was cooking all night.”

Jess stood with Colin while Jake helped Meg. So, Jess was standing behind Zia Elena as she whispered to Ben in Italian.  “La do

Ben responded. “Non cuoco italiano, Zia.”

Jess smiled yes, her mother was a good cook, but Ben was right she didn’t cook Italian.

“Ah, ha spiegato.”

Jess almost laughed.  With Ben around, there was no need for her mother to cook Italian and without Ben; there would be no need to cook real Italian at all.