December Road by Brenda Ashworth-Barry

Author:Brenda Ashworth-Barry
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: vietnam war, ptsd, happily ever after, 1970s, imprisonment, engagement, arch enemy, painful separation, pov camp, test of time
Publisher: Melange Books

Chapter Sixteen

They went back to the porch and were about to sit down when Gram’s voice summoned them. “Beth Ann, Kaylob! Breakfast!”

They pushed each other playfully as they scrambled to get through the door and were laughing when they entered the kitchen, but their laughter died when they saw the table. Gram had gone all out—biscuits, potatoes, eggs and steak with gravy. In the middle of the table was a large bowl of fruit. The presentation looked like something out of a Southern cooking magazine.

When they were all seated, Gram looked around the table and everyone held hands while she bowed her head to pray.

“Dear Lord, thank you for this time to spend with family. Thank you for bringing Kaylob back to Beth Ann and to all of us. By the way, Beth Ann is not mad at you anymore, although she might still be mad about her red hair.” Everyone chuckled. “Lord, help all those dear soldiers still over there fighting, and keep them safe in your arms. With love, we give thanks on this day for the life you have given us, and the love we’ve been able to share with each other. Amen.”

“Amen,” they all said in unison.

The minute Beth Ann picked up her fork to take a bite the phone rang. “I’ll get it.” She jumped up and ran to the phone.

“Hello.” She paused and could hear breathing. “Hello. Is anybody there?” A dial tone told her they had hung up. A creepy feeling washed over her. It could have been someone calling the wrong number. Once she sat back down, she smiled and said, “It must have been someone calling the wrong number.”

Gram nodded and took the cloth napkin from the table, opened it and placed it on her lap. “Tell me, Kaylob, what church did your family go to?”

He sighed and looked nervous. “I’ve never been to church in my life. It’s just something we didn’t do with Dad gone all the time and Mom...” A suggestion of the sad memory finished the sentence.

Gram shook her head. “Don’t worry. We’ll fix that on Sunday.”

She picked up the eggs and passed them around the table. James grabbed the biscuits and gravy, plopping a large amount on his already overflowing plate.

“Mother, not everyone goes to church. Hell, I don’t go to church.”

“James Joseph Rose, hush up now. You’re getting too big for your britches.”

“I’m a grown man, Mother. My britches fit me just fine.”

“Well, that just dills my pickle,” Gram said. “I would have never dreamed you would grow up.”

Kaylob looked at Beth Ann and they both tried in vain to hold back their laughter. Gram grinned at them then glared at James. Ever since Beth Ann could remember, her father had always been on the wrong side of Gram’s wrath, but there were sweet moments between them too.

The breakfast was yummy and Beth Ann could see by the way her dad and Kaylob ate that they agreed. When they were done, everyone helped clear off the table and sat down to finish talking and drinking coffee.

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