Read Online Find Wonder In All Things by Karen M. Cox - Free Book Online
Authors: Karen M. Cox
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Elliot rose from his chair, folded up his pocketknife and laid the half-finished walking stick against the arm of his rocker.
After a brief introduction to Mrs. Elliot, James took a seat next to Laurel at the round, oak table in the kitchen. Several mismatched chairs surrounded it, and the table was set with dishes of various designs and patterns. Huge bowls of mashed potatoes, green beans, cornbread and a plate of fried chicken graced the middle.
The younger Elliots descended on the table like hummingbirds around a birdfeeder. The twins piled their plates high and shoveled the food into their mouths.
“Boys, slow down,” their mother admonished.
“We’re going fishing after dinner,” Dylan muffled through a mouthful of food.
“Gotta hurry,” Crosby added.
Mrs. Elliot sighed. She took a sip of water and watched the newcomer at her table with wary eyes. “So, James, how do you like working at the marina?”
Laurel’s elusive mother certainly piqued his curiosity, and he had to force himself not to stare at her. Beverly Elliot was tall like Laurel, but that was the only physical trait they shared. Her hair was a mousy brown, streaked with gray and pulled back into a severe ponytail that reached down her back. Her nondescript hazel eyes had a flat, empty look to them, and her mouth was drawn into a thin, humorless line. James wondered how this woman could have birthed the beautiful, colorful creature sitting beside him, covertly holding his hand under the table. He tried to formulate what he thought Mrs. Elliot would deem an appropriate answer to her question. “I’m grateful for the work, ma’am. It will help me a lot with school expenses.”
Mrs. Elliot simply looked at him.
“James is going to the University of Dayton, Mama,” Laurel explained patiently. She gifted him with an adoring smile. “He’s studying business.”
“How do you study business?” Mrs. Elliot looked genuinely confused. “Business is something you do” — She cast a fleeting look at her husband — “or not, as the case may be.”
Mr. Elliot seemed not to notice his wife’s subtle criticism. “Education is a fine thing for a young person to pursue, Beverly, as long as the knowledge gained is used to better the world.” He put a forkful of chicken in his mouth and chewed for several seconds while the others waited for him to finish his thought. Finally, he went on, “I think I saw a copperhead today — didn’t get close enough to tell for sure though.”
Dylan and Crosby clamored to hear all about his close encounter with the snake, and much to James’s relief, the conversation shifted away from him. Over the next several minutes, he discovered that in this family the threads of discussion changed with startling rapidity due to Mr. Elliot’s abrupt introduction of obscure topics. James sometimes had trouble keeping up although Mr. Elliot seemed content to pontificate without anyone responding. Laurel chimed in on occasion, and Spring sat looking at her empty plate, listening but saying nothing. She was a chubby little thing with mousy brown hair and hazel eyes like her mother. Mrs. Elliot eyed James blankly throughout the meal. It was almost bizarre — the way she was there but not really there. It was impossible for James to tell whether she liked him or not, or whether she even cared who her daughter had been dating all summer. He understood now why Laurel had taken so long to bring him home with her. He hadn’t thought it was possible, but her family was even stranger than his was.
After dinner, James took his plate to the sink because his mom always complimented his friends when they did that. Dylan and Crosby took off on their fishing expedition, and Laurel and her dad washed up the dishes, declining his offer to help. After trying several times to start a conversation with Laurel’s mom, he sat in silence on the couch. Mrs. Elliot was working on some knitting, but in a few minutes, with an agitated sigh,
After a brief introduction to Mrs. Elliot, James took a seat next to Laurel at the round, oak table in the kitchen. Several mismatched chairs surrounded it, and the table was set with dishes of various designs and patterns. Huge bowls of mashed potatoes, green beans, cornbread and a plate of fried chicken graced the middle.
The younger Elliots descended on the table like hummingbirds around a birdfeeder. The twins piled their plates high and shoveled the food into their mouths.
“Boys, slow down,” their mother admonished.
“We’re going fishing after dinner,” Dylan muffled through a mouthful of food.
“Gotta hurry,” Crosby added.
Mrs. Elliot sighed. She took a sip of water and watched the newcomer at her table with wary eyes. “So, James, how do you like working at the marina?”
Laurel’s elusive mother certainly piqued his curiosity, and he had to force himself not to stare at her. Beverly Elliot was tall like Laurel, but that was the only physical trait they shared. Her hair was a mousy brown, streaked with gray and pulled back into a severe ponytail that reached down her back. Her nondescript hazel eyes had a flat, empty look to them, and her mouth was drawn into a thin, humorless line. James wondered how this woman could have birthed the beautiful, colorful creature sitting beside him, covertly holding his hand under the table. He tried to formulate what he thought Mrs. Elliot would deem an appropriate answer to her question. “I’m grateful for the work, ma’am. It will help me a lot with school expenses.”
Mrs. Elliot simply looked at him.
“James is going to the University of Dayton, Mama,” Laurel explained patiently. She gifted him with an adoring smile. “He’s studying business.”
“How do you study business?” Mrs. Elliot looked genuinely confused. “Business is something you do” — She cast a fleeting look at her husband — “or not, as the case may be.”
Mr. Elliot seemed not to notice his wife’s subtle criticism. “Education is a fine thing for a young person to pursue, Beverly, as long as the knowledge gained is used to better the world.” He put a forkful of chicken in his mouth and chewed for several seconds while the others waited for him to finish his thought. Finally, he went on, “I think I saw a copperhead today — didn’t get close enough to tell for sure though.”
Dylan and Crosby clamored to hear all about his close encounter with the snake, and much to James’s relief, the conversation shifted away from him. Over the next several minutes, he discovered that in this family the threads of discussion changed with startling rapidity due to Mr. Elliot’s abrupt introduction of obscure topics. James sometimes had trouble keeping up although Mr. Elliot seemed content to pontificate without anyone responding. Laurel chimed in on occasion, and Spring sat looking at her empty plate, listening but saying nothing. She was a chubby little thing with mousy brown hair and hazel eyes like her mother. Mrs. Elliot eyed James blankly throughout the meal. It was almost bizarre — the way she was there but not really there. It was impossible for James to tell whether she liked him or not, or whether she even cared who her daughter had been dating all summer. He understood now why Laurel had taken so long to bring him home with her. He hadn’t thought it was possible, but her family was even stranger than his was.
After dinner, James took his plate to the sink because his mom always complimented his friends when they did that. Dylan and Crosby took off on their fishing expedition, and Laurel and her dad washed up the dishes, declining his offer to help. After trying several times to start a conversation with Laurel’s mom, he sat in silence on the couch. Mrs. Elliot was working on some knitting, but in a few minutes, with an agitated sigh,
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