Read Online In the Midst of Tribulation by Mary Griggs - Free Book Online
Authors: Mary Griggs
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sized fireplace to keep the chill away." She indicated the walls of books. "Feel free to borrow anything that interests you."
She walked over to the dining area and leaned against the back of one of the eight chairs. "Looks like we've finally got the perfect number for meals. Oh, and there is a bathroom behind the staircase with a shower and tub and over there is the kitchen."
"Well, we should figure out where everyone is going to crash. Downstairs are two singles, up here are the two single day beds, the two sofas, the double bed and the queen." Jay looked at the silent group. "How about you all talk it over and I'll start dinner?" Without waiting for an answer she escaped into the kitchen.
Stirring the coals in the stove, Jay added several pieces of wood before turning to fill a large Dutch oven with water. She also filled the teakettle while she had the water running. Humming softly to her self, she reached to the back of the counter and pulled out a crock of sourdough starter. She took out a portion and deftly added flour, salt and olive oil to the bowl before she scooped out a cup of water from the pot. She went to the sink to wash her hands and began to knead the bread, stopping only when the kettle screamed.
Tapping her index finger to her upper lip, she decided on mint tea and poured the water into a pitcher with the single bag. Jay returned to kneading until the dough was elastic. She then coated it with more olive oil and returned the ball to the bowl. She set it to the side to rise. Muttering darkly over how few tomatoes were left, she choose several and set them near the green beans. Emptying her mind while her hands worked, she snapped the beans.
She glanced up when Susan came into the kitchen. "Do we have a solution?"
Susan nodded. "Yeah. Martha and I will take the queen. Doris will take the double, Carol and Eva will share the basement and Cody will take a day bed and Piper will take the sofa."
"Great." Jay swallowed. "Uh, Susan?"
"Yes?"
"I really am sorry about what happened up there. I don't know what came over me."
"You were scared, honey. It was appalling to hear your fears put into words." Susan came closer and pulled her ex-lover into a hug. "I believe that if it is at all possible that Harmony will come back to you."
"You really think so?"
"I do. I know that she loved you very much and that she knows that you love her."
"I miss her so much." Jay butted her head against Susan's shoulder. Her eyes burned but she didn't cry.
"I bet you do. You've been alone a while."
"I've been fine."
"It must have been terribly lonely."
"Sometimes. I kept busy. There's nearly always something to do."
"Well, hopefully, we'll be able to take some of the burden off your shoulders." Susan kissed her forehead. "I also want you to know that you're not alone anymore."
"It may be hard to adjust."
"Let us help you." She squeezed Jay tightly and released her.
"Thank you."
"Da nada, chica. We should be on our knees thanking you for letting us stay."
"I meant what I said. The offer is as good as the day I made it. This is your home too."
"Don't think we're not grateful."
"I don't. So, why don't you all get settled in your space? There is time while the dough rises for you all to shower. It's a pretty large hot water heater, so if no one is too greedy you should all get at least a warm shower."
"Sounds divine. I'll tell them."
Chapter Five - Here At Thy Table
Sit at the feast, dear Lord, break Thou the bread;
Fill Thou the cup that brings life to the dead;
That we may find in Thee pardon and peace,
And from all bondage win a full release.
Words: May Pierpont Hoyt. Music: William F. Sherwin, 1877
One of the first ones out of the shower, Cody peered into the kitchen. His dark hair hanging damply over his eyes, he grinned at his honorary aunt. "What can I do to help?"
"You look like a drowned rat."
He looked wounded. "I combed my hair."
"But did you think of drying it?"
"The girls wanted the
She walked over to the dining area and leaned against the back of one of the eight chairs. "Looks like we've finally got the perfect number for meals. Oh, and there is a bathroom behind the staircase with a shower and tub and over there is the kitchen."
"Well, we should figure out where everyone is going to crash. Downstairs are two singles, up here are the two single day beds, the two sofas, the double bed and the queen." Jay looked at the silent group. "How about you all talk it over and I'll start dinner?" Without waiting for an answer she escaped into the kitchen.
Stirring the coals in the stove, Jay added several pieces of wood before turning to fill a large Dutch oven with water. She also filled the teakettle while she had the water running. Humming softly to her self, she reached to the back of the counter and pulled out a crock of sourdough starter. She took out a portion and deftly added flour, salt and olive oil to the bowl before she scooped out a cup of water from the pot. She went to the sink to wash her hands and began to knead the bread, stopping only when the kettle screamed.
Tapping her index finger to her upper lip, she decided on mint tea and poured the water into a pitcher with the single bag. Jay returned to kneading until the dough was elastic. She then coated it with more olive oil and returned the ball to the bowl. She set it to the side to rise. Muttering darkly over how few tomatoes were left, she choose several and set them near the green beans. Emptying her mind while her hands worked, she snapped the beans.
She glanced up when Susan came into the kitchen. "Do we have a solution?"
Susan nodded. "Yeah. Martha and I will take the queen. Doris will take the double, Carol and Eva will share the basement and Cody will take a day bed and Piper will take the sofa."
"Great." Jay swallowed. "Uh, Susan?"
"Yes?"
"I really am sorry about what happened up there. I don't know what came over me."
"You were scared, honey. It was appalling to hear your fears put into words." Susan came closer and pulled her ex-lover into a hug. "I believe that if it is at all possible that Harmony will come back to you."
"You really think so?"
"I do. I know that she loved you very much and that she knows that you love her."
"I miss her so much." Jay butted her head against Susan's shoulder. Her eyes burned but she didn't cry.
"I bet you do. You've been alone a while."
"I've been fine."
"It must have been terribly lonely."
"Sometimes. I kept busy. There's nearly always something to do."
"Well, hopefully, we'll be able to take some of the burden off your shoulders." Susan kissed her forehead. "I also want you to know that you're not alone anymore."
"It may be hard to adjust."
"Let us help you." She squeezed Jay tightly and released her.
"Thank you."
"Da nada, chica. We should be on our knees thanking you for letting us stay."
"I meant what I said. The offer is as good as the day I made it. This is your home too."
"Don't think we're not grateful."
"I don't. So, why don't you all get settled in your space? There is time while the dough rises for you all to shower. It's a pretty large hot water heater, so if no one is too greedy you should all get at least a warm shower."
"Sounds divine. I'll tell them."
Chapter Five - Here At Thy Table
Sit at the feast, dear Lord, break Thou the bread;
Fill Thou the cup that brings life to the dead;
That we may find in Thee pardon and peace,
And from all bondage win a full release.
Words: May Pierpont Hoyt. Music: William F. Sherwin, 1877
One of the first ones out of the shower, Cody peered into the kitchen. His dark hair hanging damply over his eyes, he grinned at his honorary aunt. "What can I do to help?"
"You look like a drowned rat."
He looked wounded. "I combed my hair."
"But did you think of drying it?"
"The girls wanted the
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