On the Wings of Angels by Dan Verner

Author:Dan Verner [Verner, Dan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: historical fiction, world war II, aviation, war, military
Publisher: eLectio Publishing
Published: 2015-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 24

Gathering Together

November 1955

Otto sat at the head of a Thanksgiving table loaded with traditional dishes. Tom and Susan had arrived the evening before. Otto and Mata had a good time showing them around the airport, and then they came back for an evening of hot chocolate and popcorn. The girls delighted in playing with Hans and when everyone had finished and the girls and Hans had gone to bed, Susan came into the kitchen to help Mata and Betty prepare the meal for the next day. The women talked about Mata’s impending delivery while Otto and Tom went into the living room.

“We really appreciate your hospitality,” Tom said, leaning back in the armchair.

“We’re glad to have you with us. Seems like old times when we had the whole family here.”

“Our Thanksgivings were small with Susan and me and our aunt and uncle. This is very nice, and I know that the meal is going to be great tomorrow.”

“Yes, Betty and Mata are wonderful cooks, and from what I’ve gathered, Susan is as well.”

“She is that. She did much of the cooking after our parents died. We have dinner together most nights unless I’m out of town or she has to work late. She always manages to come up with something really good, even on short notice.”

They sat in silence for a while. Then Otto spoke: “We customarily go to a Thanksgiving service at our church in the morning. We’d be happy to have you join us, or you’re welcome to stay here and relax. We’re Lutheran, being good Germans and all that.”

“We’re Presbyterian, when we can make it to services. We’d love to come with you.”

“All right. We’ll have a light breakfast and then the service is at ten so everyone can get home and fix their big Thanksgiving feasts.”

“Sounds like a plan. We’ll do it.”

The women joined them in the living room, and Betty brought out coffee for everyone. “Wow! This is like a fine restaurant,” Tom exclaimed.

“We aim to please here at Chez Kerchner, home of fine dining,” Otto remarked. “If you’ll just tell your waitress Mata how you like your coffee, she’ll be glad to serve you.” Mata made a face at him and brought the coffee around, pouring carefully. “Do I have to tip you?” he asked her.

“I’ll tip this coffee right on your head if you don’t,” she answered.

“My, such a hostile young woman,” Otto returned. The group laughed heartily.

“So, do you think you’ll have a Thanksgiving baby?” Tom asked Mata.

“I hope it waits until after the meal,” Mata murmured. “At least we have an eight-bed clinic here now, so I won’t have to go very far to deliver.”

“I hope it goes well,” Susan offered. “Do you have someone to help you with the baby?”

“Yes. Betty is a great help and her mother is an angel. And there’s Polly with whom I work and Pete’s sister who is also named Susan. So I’ll have lots of help, which I’ll need, particularly with Hans the age he is.

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