mock solemnity. “Ursa was over at your place earlier, barking her head off. I thought it was just a squirrel, but…well, it’s been a while since there’s been a sighting….”
Ben frowned. “You know, I think something
was
in my cabin today. When I came back from Asheville and started packing, there was stuff missing. Some food, granola bars and apples, things like that.”
“Probably a raccoon.” Laurel helped herself to more chicken. She flashed a wicked grin at her cousin. “Or maybe it
was
the Skunk Ape. Did you notice a strong smell?”
Ben didn’t smile. “I noticed that my sleeping bag was gone. I don’t think a raccoon took that. Or any other animal.”
“Ben! Are you serious?” Laurel stared across the table, oblivious of the sauce dripping from the drumstick paused in midair.
Expressionless, Ben waited a beat. Then his face relaxed into a smile. “Well, I couldn’t find my sleeping bag. But I did tell Julio a few days ago that he could borrow it for Homero to use. That’s probably where it is. And there
was
some food gone. But the coons or possums are welcome to it.”
It was just what a family meal ought to be, Elizabeth decided, when, after much talk and laughter—and several bottles of wine—they settled in the living room with coffee and hot apple crisp. She felt like a contented mother hen with her brood all tucked safely and happily under her wings—for the moment at least. James established himself in a tight little ball on the sofa next to Rosemary while Ursa lay at Elizabeth’s feet. Molly, after regally presenting herself for attention to Rosemary, Laurel, and Ben in turn, lay beside Ursa, her muzzle resting on the larger dog’s shaggy shoulder.
But too soon, Ben was standing. “I hate to do it, but I need to get to bed. I’ll say good-bye now: I’m gonna leave out at dark-thirty, while you all are still asleep.” He hugged the two girls, then turned to Elizabeth. “Aunt E, I’ll keep in touch. Everything should run smoothly; if there’s any problem—”
She reached up to him. “Ben, we’ll be fine. Tell your mom hi for me. And come back whenever you’re ready.”
His arms tightened around her and his voice was husky in her ear. “Thanks, Aunt E; I will.”
Laurel had returned to Asheville soon after Ben’s departure, saying that she had to help a friend hang a show the next day. She hugged her mother and sister affectionately, bemoaning the fact that she wouldn’t be able to come back out to the farm till she finished an important commission. “Carter Dixon recommended me to some friends of his who’re opening a restaurant. They’ve got two long walls they want murals on, and the work has to be finished in time for the restaurant’s grand opening in November. So that’s going to
totally
consume all my so-called free time this month.”
Rosemary, yawning hugely, had retired to the loft room that she and Laurel had shared for many years. “I’d rather stay there than the guest room, Mum. Nostalgia, I guess. It’s been so good—coming back and just all of us being happy and silly together. I’m going to curl up in bed and read some of my old books for a while. Tomorrow we can talk about what I need to do. But for tonight…I just want to be happy.” And she had climbed the steep stairs to the loft, worn copies of
A Swiftly Tilting Planet
and
Ozma of Oz
tucked under her arm.
Elizabeth switched off her reading light and rolled on her side. The faint Old Spice aroma at once filled her nostrils.
I didn’t think about Phillip all evening, not once. The kids and I were so busy being family and remembering funny things that happened…. I guess he was right not to come, it wouldn’t have been the same. The kids all needed this time together…but things are changing…. Rosie…
Her head nestled into the soft pillow and she drifted away into a Never Never Land of past, present, and future. A smile crossed her dreaming face.
A low
Ben frowned. “You know, I think something
was
in my cabin today. When I came back from Asheville and started packing, there was stuff missing. Some food, granola bars and apples, things like that.”
“Probably a raccoon.” Laurel helped herself to more chicken. She flashed a wicked grin at her cousin. “Or maybe it
was
the Skunk Ape. Did you notice a strong smell?”
Ben didn’t smile. “I noticed that my sleeping bag was gone. I don’t think a raccoon took that. Or any other animal.”
“Ben! Are you serious?” Laurel stared across the table, oblivious of the sauce dripping from the drumstick paused in midair.
Expressionless, Ben waited a beat. Then his face relaxed into a smile. “Well, I couldn’t find my sleeping bag. But I did tell Julio a few days ago that he could borrow it for Homero to use. That’s probably where it is. And there
was
some food gone. But the coons or possums are welcome to it.”
It was just what a family meal ought to be, Elizabeth decided, when, after much talk and laughter—and several bottles of wine—they settled in the living room with coffee and hot apple crisp. She felt like a contented mother hen with her brood all tucked safely and happily under her wings—for the moment at least. James established himself in a tight little ball on the sofa next to Rosemary while Ursa lay at Elizabeth’s feet. Molly, after regally presenting herself for attention to Rosemary, Laurel, and Ben in turn, lay beside Ursa, her muzzle resting on the larger dog’s shaggy shoulder.
But too soon, Ben was standing. “I hate to do it, but I need to get to bed. I’ll say good-bye now: I’m gonna leave out at dark-thirty, while you all are still asleep.” He hugged the two girls, then turned to Elizabeth. “Aunt E, I’ll keep in touch. Everything should run smoothly; if there’s any problem—”
She reached up to him. “Ben, we’ll be fine. Tell your mom hi for me. And come back whenever you’re ready.”
His arms tightened around her and his voice was husky in her ear. “Thanks, Aunt E; I will.”
Laurel had returned to Asheville soon after Ben’s departure, saying that she had to help a friend hang a show the next day. She hugged her mother and sister affectionately, bemoaning the fact that she wouldn’t be able to come back out to the farm till she finished an important commission. “Carter Dixon recommended me to some friends of his who’re opening a restaurant. They’ve got two long walls they want murals on, and the work has to be finished in time for the restaurant’s grand opening in November. So that’s going to
totally
consume all my so-called free time this month.”
Rosemary, yawning hugely, had retired to the loft room that she and Laurel had shared for many years. “I’d rather stay there than the guest room, Mum. Nostalgia, I guess. It’s been so good—coming back and just all of us being happy and silly together. I’m going to curl up in bed and read some of my old books for a while. Tomorrow we can talk about what I need to do. But for tonight…I just want to be happy.” And she had climbed the steep stairs to the loft, worn copies of
A Swiftly Tilting Planet
and
Ozma of Oz
tucked under her arm.
Elizabeth switched off her reading light and rolled on her side. The faint Old Spice aroma at once filled her nostrils.
I didn’t think about Phillip all evening, not once. The kids and I were so busy being family and remembering funny things that happened…. I guess he was right not to come, it wouldn’t have been the same. The kids all needed this time together…but things are changing…. Rosie…
Her head nestled into the soft pillow and she drifted away into a Never Never Land of past, present, and future. A smile crossed her dreaming face.
A low
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