Jubilee's Journey (Wyattsville #2)(90)
When she sat the oversized dish on the table she announced, “This is my favorite chicken noodle casserole. I hope you like it.” That’s when she noticed the apprehensive look on Carmella’s face.
“Is something wrong?”
“Well,” Carmella said, “Sidney doesn’t really like chicken.”
Sidney cut in with a loud chuckle. “I used to not like chicken,” he said and scooped a double-size portion onto his plate. He then turned and scooped a like amount onto Paul’s plate. “Eat up, son. You’re a growing boy!”
When Olivia looked across at the two of them, she could swear Paul’s grin was starting to resemble Sidney’s.
Olivia had doubled the recipe so she’d be sure to have enough, but when the conversation slowed and everyone stopped eating not a morsel of chicken noodle casserole was left in the dish. Sidney had not only polished off that first large helping, he’d gone back for seconds. Olivia smiled proudly as she cleared the dishes from the table.
“I’ll start coffee and get dessert,” she said and disappeared into the kitchen.
With a number of conversations going back and forth and laughter rolling out with the words, Olivia didn’t hear the knock on the door.
Ethan Allen did.
He scooted from his chair and opened the door. Anita was standing there, looking ragged and red-eyed. “Uh oh,” he muttered, then yelled, “Grandma, you better get out here!”
The alarm in Ethan’s voice sent Olivia scurrying from the kitchen. Still wiping her hands on a dish towel, she crossed over to the open door. Upon seeing Anita’s face she turned to Ethan. “Where on earth are you manners?” she asked. She then turned back to Anita. “I apologize for my grandson’s manners. Please come in.”
Anita followed Olivia into the living room. When she glanced across and saw the people crowded around the table, she gave a rather pitiful sigh. “I’m sorry if I’ve come at a bad time but there’s something I’ve got to get off my chest, and it can’t wait any longer.”
Olivia grew nervous as to what Anita might have to say. If she was ready to let go of the kids, she’d be smiling. It would be a burden lifted from her shoulders, two less things to tie her down and keep her from the life she was living. Olivia’s thoughts flashed back to the memory of Jubilee crying because she didn’t want to live with Aunt Anita.
Not ready to hear Anita had decided to reclaim the children, Olivia sputtered something about how decisions should never be made on an empty stomach. “We were just about to have cake and coffee. Please join us.”
Anita glanced at the crowd warily. “I don’t know. What I’ve got to say is rather personal.”
Sidney stood and walked over to Anita. “We’re almost family,” he said and clamped a well-intentioned arm around her shoulder. “So come on over here and get yourself a piece of cake.” He looped his arm through Anita’s and pulled her to the table.
Although she allowed herself to be moved along, Anita did not look happy. She had the pained expression of a woman with kidney stones.
Anita sat and Olivia introduced her by name, saying only that she was the children’s aunt. Olivia said nothing about the fact that she was also their only living relative.
Sidney, having positioned Anita on the other side of himself, turned to her, “Sidney Klaussner, the lucky dog who’s still alive because of your nephew.” Motioning toward Carmella, he added, “And this here’s my wife, Carmella.”
“Pleased,” Anita said and gave a slight nod.
At that point Olivia stood and said she was going to get the coffee. Halfway to the kitchen she heard Carmella’s voice saying how she envied Anita for being able to spend time with such wonderful children.
“Spend what time?” Anita replied. “I haven’t spent day one with these kids!”
Olivia turned around and headed back to the table. “Coffee is still brewing,” she said and sat back down. In an effort to change the subject, she turned to Anita and said, “I hope you like chocolate cake.”
“Chocolate’s fine,” Anita answered.
“Why would you not spend time with these children?” Carmella asked accusingly. “They’re wonderful children, some of the nicest I’ve ever met!”
“There’s good reason for me not seeing the children,” Anita said coldly.
“There can be no reason,” Carmella argued. “Children grow up so quickly, you’ve got to grab every precious moment you can with them. Shame on you, ignoring these kids!”
Olivia wanted to reach across and stuff a napkin in Carmella’s mouth to shut her up, but doing it would have only increased the tension bouncing back and forth across the table. With her eyes fixed on Carmella, she said, “I have some wonderful oatmeal raisin cookies if you’d prefer not to have chocolate cake.”
“Chocolate’s fine,” Carmella replied, then went back to Anita. “Looks like you’d be thanking the Lord for these three wonderful kids instead of making excuses for—”
“Wait a minute,” Anita interrupted. “First off, I ain’t even related to that one!” She pointed a finger at Ethan.
He grinned and nodded. “She ain’t. I ain’t even blood related to Grandma, but she took me in anyway.”