A Family To Cherish. Carole Page Gift

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СКАЧАТЬ poised unsteadily in the air for a moment.

      “Eat your peas, darling,” urged Nancy.

      “Don’t like peas.”

      “Janee, your mother said to eat your peas,” said Paul.

      “No!” With a twist of her wrist Janee flicked the spoon away from her mouth, catapulting the peas across the table. Two landed unceremoniously in Mrs. Van Peebles’s cleavage. Dead silence reigned as all eyes focused on the two small green peas nestled in the matron’s ample bosom.

      Harriet stared down in horror at her embarrassing dilemma. “Merciful heavens!” she murmured under her breath.

      Her husband leaned over and made a gesture as if to retrieve the peas, then apparently thought better of the idea. At last Harriet carefully plucked the peas from her bodice and placed them on her plate. “I think I’ve had quite enough peas,” she said faintly.

      “I’m so sorry, Harriet,” said Barbara, her face flushing.

      “It was just an accident,” said Nancy. “Wasn’t it, Janee? You didn’t mean to hit the nice lady with your peas, did you?”

      Janee’s lower lip trembled, but before a geyser of tears erupted, Mrs. Van Peebles again broke into a sneezing frenzy.

      “Barbara, dear, are—are you sure you don’t have cats?” Harriet stammered between sneezes.

      “I’m afraid we do,” Barbara admitted. “Tabby was outside, but somehow she got inside. I’m so sorry.”

      Mrs. Van Peebles looked at her husband with red, watery eyes. “Maybe we’d better go, Clive.”

      Doug shoved back his chair and stood up. “Please, don’t go, Harriet. We’ll find the cat right away and put her out.”

      Suddenly everyone but the Van Peebles was leaving the table and looking for the cat. Random choruses of “Here, kitty, kitty,” rose from the living room and dining room, but there was no sign of the animal. Just when Barbara was ready to admit defeat, Janee came bouncing to the table with Tabby in her arms.

      “I found the kitty,” she trilled, all smiles.

      But Tabby wasn’t happy to be found. The hefty feline wriggled out of Janee’s arms and sprang onto the tablecloth, knocking over a crystal goblet before jumping into the arms of a startled, swooning Harriet Van Peebles.

      The evening ended shortly after that—a near calamity, but not a total disaster. At the door, as Doug helped Harriet on with her fur coat, Clive told Barbara confidentially, “Don’t worry. The hospital will get the money to finish the children’s wing. Harriet already made up our minds before we came. She has a warm spot for kids. And as ill-fated as this evening was, one of these days Harriet and I will have a good laugh over it. And a good laugh is worth a lot when you get to be our age.”

      Barbara gave Clive a quick hug. “Thank you. This means the world to Doug and me…personally.”

      Clive met her gaze with tender, glistening eyes. “To tell you the truth, Barbara, that’s why we’re doing it. And if I have anything to say about it, you know the name they’ll give the new children’s wing. It’ll be named after your little Caitlin.”

      Tears blinded Barbara. The only words that would come were a whispered “Thank you.”

      After the Van Peebles had gone, Barbara dried her eyes, put a smile in place, and went to find Nancy who was in the kitchen rinsing the dirty dishes. “You don’t have to do that, Nan,” Barbara admonished. “Go to bed. You’ve had a long day.”

      “No, it’s the least I can do, Barb. We never meant to spoil your party.”

      “It’s okay. It was a bit rocky there for a while, but no serious harm done. In fact, I think the Van Peebles might actually have enjoyed themselves. At least the night was unforgettable.”

      “Still, I’m sorry for the way Janee behaved.” Nancy looked at Barbara, her eyes shaded with contrition. “She’s not a naughty child, Barb. You know that. Just curious and spunky. You must remember how impulsive and rambunctious a five-year-old can be.”

      The words impaled Barbara. She reeled, wounded, unsteady; she couldn’t reply.

      Paul entered the kitchen just then with a stack of plates. “Nan, be quiet,” he scolded. “You know they don’t talk about that.”

      Nancy covered her mouth, stricken. “Oh, I’m so sorry, Barb. Forgive me. I didn’t mean anything. I just thought you’d remember how it was—you know.”

      Somehow Barbara found her voice. “Yes. I remember.”

      “Which room do you want us in, Barb?” asked Paul, setting the plates on the counter.

      “The large guest room upstairs at the end of the hall. It has a bathroom connected to a small bedroom for Janee. The beds are made, and clean towels are on the racks.”

      Paul brushed a kiss on Barbara’s forehead. “Thanks. You and Doug are the best. What time do you want us up for church?”

      Barbara opened the dishwasher and began loading cups and saucers. “We haven’t been going lately,” she said in a small, detached voice.

      “You aren’t going to church?” echoed Paul in disbelief.

      Barbara turned to face her brother-in-law, but couldn’t quite bring herself to meet his gaze. “You know how it is, Paul. We’re so busy these days. Doug and I hardly have time for each other.”

      “But church? You used to go every time they opened the doors. You got Nancy and me going.”

      “And we’ll get back one of these days, too,” she assured him. She turned back to her dishes, but she could still feel Paul’s and Nancy’s questioning eyes on her.

      Barbara felt a flood of relief when Janee came bounding into the kitchen and diverted their attention. “Look, Mommy, look!” the child cried, bursting with excitement. “See the pretty bear!”

      Barbara whirled around and stared at the familiar brown bear with the scarlet Victorian dress and floppy wide-brimmed hat. How had the child got hold of the irreplaceable Mrs. Miniver? Barbara snatched the bear from Janee’s arms. “Give me that!”

      Startled, Janee grabbed for the bear, but Barbara clutched the stuffed animal possessively to her breast. Janee stared up at Barbara, her large green eyes defiant. “I want it,” she said, jutting out her lower lip.

      Barbara stooped down and looked Janee directly in the eye, her temper rising. She tried to keep the anger out of her voice as she demanded, “Tell me, Janee. How did you get this bear?”

      Janee’s tiny chin puckered. “I got it in the pretty room with dolls and teddy bears.” She turned to her mother and pleaded, “Can I sleep in the pretty room, Mommy? Can I please? Please?”

      “No!” Barbara replied more shrilly than she had intended. She was trembling, her hands cold as death. “You can’t sleep in that room, Janee. It’s not your room. Don’t you ever go in there again!”

      Janee СКАЧАТЬ