fillings on this trek.
It didn’t feel like we had been in the car for very long. The conversation flowed so easily. I was enjoying getting to get to know the family I hadn’t even known existed. They felt more like family than even Memaw had before our mending a few days ago. I loved it.
Half of our welcoming party left in search of the fish and chips Jamie was so excited about while we got settled into the house. Jamie watched wistfully as the rickety old car pulled out of the driveway onto the muddy road once more, bottoming out as they turned off the driveway. Sparks flew off the exhaust pipe as it connected with the blacktop. I wondered how they had kept the car in one piece this long, even with the liberal amounts of duct tape and bungee cords they’d used.
We filed into the tiny home, tossing our bags to the side of the door. Crossing the threshold, I was bombarded by the wonderful scents of fresh bread, cinnamon, and vanilla. It was like walking into an old, rustic home you would see in the movies. A fireplace was roaring, surrounded by an assortment of mismatched chairs filling the room. Open rafters made of red wood overhead made the eclectic array of furniture feel perfect for the home. It reminded me of a ski lodge.
A woman of mammoth proportions made her way out of the kitchen. That had to be the source of wonderful scents. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was until smelling the wonderful cooking. She wiped her hands on an already overused apron as she walked toward us.
The woman was easily six-foot-three, a solid two hundred fifty pounds. She wasn’t overweight, but completely muscular. It didn’t detract from her femininity, though. Quite the opposite, actually. She looked agile despite her large frame and her waves of red hair framed her angular face, giving her a warm glow.
She pulled off her apron and tossed it across the back of the nearest armchair. “Ah, are these our guests?”
Once again I found myself being crushed in a rib-breaking hug from someone I had no previous recollection of. These people loved their hugs.
“Um, hello,” I said.
She flashed a brilliant smile, letting go after a few moments. “Hello, hello! I’m Theresa, but you can call me Tess. I’m Liam’s mum. You’ll be staying with us.”
Confused, I looked to Jesse for answers.
“There’s not enough room at my place for everyone, so Liam offered for us to stay with him.” Jesse explained, nodding in the direction of Desmond and Issac, who had headed off to begin raiding the kitchen.
“Oh, are the rest of the guys staying with us, too?” I was afraid we would be falling out the windows of this already cramped house if they returned.
“No, they’ll go back to my place. They’re family, but Desmond, Issac, and Liam have offered to show you two a good time. Me too, of course, if you’ll have me,” Jesse smiled, grabbing Tess’ apron and putting it on. He moved toward the kitchen. “Tess, what still needs to be done?”
Tess laughed, smacking him with the mixing spoon she was still holding. “Oh, don’t play that game, Jesse. I know all you want to do is get close to the food!”
Jamie looked frustrated. Confused on what could have upset her now, I turned to her as the rest of the group dissipated into the kitchen. I wanted to follow, but knew better than to leave Jamie in one of her moods. “What’s wrong, sis?”
Brows furrowed, Jamie looked toward the kitchen. “Nothing, I just want to call Mark and let him know we made it okay.”
I hadn’t thought about that. Although I knew Jamie would end up flirting shamelessly with any guy here that would stand still long enough, she would want to check in with her steady boyfriend. Memaw and Mom would probably appreciate an update, not to mention Reese. I had promised to stay in touch, after all.
I called into the kitchen loud enough to be heard over the
It didn’t feel like we had been in the car for very long. The conversation flowed so easily. I was enjoying getting to get to know the family I hadn’t even known existed. They felt more like family than even Memaw had before our mending a few days ago. I loved it.
Half of our welcoming party left in search of the fish and chips Jamie was so excited about while we got settled into the house. Jamie watched wistfully as the rickety old car pulled out of the driveway onto the muddy road once more, bottoming out as they turned off the driveway. Sparks flew off the exhaust pipe as it connected with the blacktop. I wondered how they had kept the car in one piece this long, even with the liberal amounts of duct tape and bungee cords they’d used.
We filed into the tiny home, tossing our bags to the side of the door. Crossing the threshold, I was bombarded by the wonderful scents of fresh bread, cinnamon, and vanilla. It was like walking into an old, rustic home you would see in the movies. A fireplace was roaring, surrounded by an assortment of mismatched chairs filling the room. Open rafters made of red wood overhead made the eclectic array of furniture feel perfect for the home. It reminded me of a ski lodge.
A woman of mammoth proportions made her way out of the kitchen. That had to be the source of wonderful scents. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was until smelling the wonderful cooking. She wiped her hands on an already overused apron as she walked toward us.
The woman was easily six-foot-three, a solid two hundred fifty pounds. She wasn’t overweight, but completely muscular. It didn’t detract from her femininity, though. Quite the opposite, actually. She looked agile despite her large frame and her waves of red hair framed her angular face, giving her a warm glow.
She pulled off her apron and tossed it across the back of the nearest armchair. “Ah, are these our guests?”
Once again I found myself being crushed in a rib-breaking hug from someone I had no previous recollection of. These people loved their hugs.
“Um, hello,” I said.
She flashed a brilliant smile, letting go after a few moments. “Hello, hello! I’m Theresa, but you can call me Tess. I’m Liam’s mum. You’ll be staying with us.”
Confused, I looked to Jesse for answers.
“There’s not enough room at my place for everyone, so Liam offered for us to stay with him.” Jesse explained, nodding in the direction of Desmond and Issac, who had headed off to begin raiding the kitchen.
“Oh, are the rest of the guys staying with us, too?” I was afraid we would be falling out the windows of this already cramped house if they returned.
“No, they’ll go back to my place. They’re family, but Desmond, Issac, and Liam have offered to show you two a good time. Me too, of course, if you’ll have me,” Jesse smiled, grabbing Tess’ apron and putting it on. He moved toward the kitchen. “Tess, what still needs to be done?”
Tess laughed, smacking him with the mixing spoon she was still holding. “Oh, don’t play that game, Jesse. I know all you want to do is get close to the food!”
Jamie looked frustrated. Confused on what could have upset her now, I turned to her as the rest of the group dissipated into the kitchen. I wanted to follow, but knew better than to leave Jamie in one of her moods. “What’s wrong, sis?”
Brows furrowed, Jamie looked toward the kitchen. “Nothing, I just want to call Mark and let him know we made it okay.”
I hadn’t thought about that. Although I knew Jamie would end up flirting shamelessly with any guy here that would stand still long enough, she would want to check in with her steady boyfriend. Memaw and Mom would probably appreciate an update, not to mention Reese. I had promised to stay in touch, after all.
I called into the kitchen loud enough to be heard over the
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