The Parsonses
Jane woke up Saturday morning in such a state of excitement she didn’t know what to do first. It was Stroll Saturday!
All her kids were home, Florie was engaged, and most of the ingredients for the Stroll party had been bought and were waiting for Jane and her children, to whisk, slice, and dab into delicious holiday-themed munchies.
Jane had been doing this for over fifteen years, but she always woke full of exhilaration and a small bit of trepidation—what if something went wrong?
More people had allergies than they used to.
She had small cards ready to put in front of some of the platters.
Gluten-Free and Contains Nuts. And the saddest note of all: Contains Dairy.
She could imagine life without bread or nuts, but not to be able to have ice cream or whipped cream?
Now that was a truly cruel stroke of fate.
She showered and dressed, wearing a sweater with prancing penguins and polar bears (and yes, she knew they didn’t live on the same continent, but it was only a sweater, not a geography lesson), slipping in her reindeer earrings and putting on her reddest red lipstick.
Brick Three was still snoring when she left the bedroom, and she shut the door quietly. He didn’t get to sleep in most mornings of the year.
Florie was already in the kitchen, drinking a cup of coffee and checking out bridal gowns on her iPad.
Jane kissed the top of her daughter’s head as she went past. “Where’s Daniel? Sleeping in?”
“Not at all! He’s off for his morning run. He runs four times a week. He says it helps him think.”
Jane poured herself a cup of coffee from the space-age Cuisinart fourteen-cup coffee pot. “I’d better start running,” she joked.
“Mom. You’re already perfect.”
“Right.” Jane laughed. “So now it begins. You’re going to charm your father and me into a fairy-tale wedding so glamorous we’ll have to mortgage the house to pay for it.”
Florie slid down in her chair as she’d done since she was a child. Her head rested on the back of the chair and her legs curled around the chair’s legs. “That’s not true,” she said, pouting.
“Hey.” Jane poured her coffee and sat at the table. Stirring in cream from a pitcher that looked like a cow eating flowers, and adding a sprinkle of sugar, she lightly nudged her daughter’s leg with her own. “Why so gloomy?”
“Oh, Mom, Mabel is mad at me for leaving the island. She says she doesn’t care what I do anymore.”
“Oh, sweetie.” Jane reached over and held her daughter’s hand. “I’m sure she’ll change her mind when the baby comes.”
Florie sat upright so fast she nearly upended her chair. “What baby?”
Jane wrinkled her brow. “She didn’t tell you about the baby?” Putting her hand to her forehead, she murmured, “Maybe I shouldn’t have mentioned it, but she’s told everyone.”
Florie clenched her fists. “Mom. What baby?”
“Mabel is having a baby with Coop Franklin. They aren’t married yet, but the baby is due next June, and they’ll get married in the Franklins’ barn. They just told everybody last week.”
Florie unclenched her fists and sagged. “Mabel is three months’ pregnant and she didn’t tell me? She’s going to marry Coop Franklin and she didn’t tell me?” She looked at her mother with tears in her eyes. “Mom, why didn’t she tell me? We tell each other everything.”
Jane nodded. “I know you used to tell each other everything. But, Florie, you’ve been away at college. You haven’t called or texted her as much as you used to…I mean, Mabel told me that a couple of months ago. She asked me if you were okay.”
“You’re right. I didn’t keep in touch, but I was taking courses, studying for tests—falling in love with Daniel.” Florie’s tears ran down her face. “Isn’t Coop Franklin that old guy who teaches science?”
“If by old, you mean thirty-one, then yes, that’s Coop. And, Florie, Coop is a good guy. Why don’t you go over there or at least call her. I’m sure she’s missing you.”
Florie nodded. “You’re right. I will talk to her.” Florie sniffed back her tears. “Mom, do you ever get jealous of your friends?”
Jane laughed. “You have no idea.”
“You’re such a good mom.” Florie blew her nose heartily and got over herself. “Listen, what can I help you do to get ready for the party?”
Jane stood up. “You know the drill. We’ll get the silver platters out and give them a polish. We’ll need to put leaves into the dining room table and find the long white tablecloth. I have the decorations in a box in the corner of the dining room. And…”
The front door slammed. Lydia and Jari came into the kitchen, their cheeks rosy, their eyes sparkling.
“We’re home,” Lydia announced. “Mmm, that coffee smells good.”
“Good morning,” Jane said, and kissed her daughter on the cheek. “Good morning, Jari. Did you sleep well?”
Jari turned bright red. “I did sleep well, thank you.”
Florie cackled and waved her hand at a chair. “Have a seat, Jari. We’re having a lazy morning. I hope Lydia told you—this afternoon will be a bash.”
Lydia set a cup of coffee in front of Jari and sat next to him. “Oh, he knows. Town is already crowded.”
Lucas strolled into the room. He was dressed in jeans and a red sweatshirt and his hair stuck out as if he’d been assaulted by a hedgehog.
“Hey, everyone,” he said.
Jane cleared her throat loudly, summoning their attention. “Good. You’re all here.”
“Dad’s not,” Florie said.
Jane ignored her. “I’ve made up lists of what I need you to do to get ready for the party. Lydia and Lucas and Jari if he wants—you’ve got to stop by Hatch’s and buy the liebfraumilch.” She handed a piece of paper to Lydia. “Florie and Daniel—where’s Daniel?”
“Here.” Daniel appeared, his hair still wet from the shower. He leaned on the doorjamb, long and lean in jeans and a plaid shirt in Christmas colors. “How can I help?”
Jane poured him a cup of coffee. Florie went to him, gave him a quick kiss, and pulled him down into a chair next to hers.
Jane handed out the lists, and her heart swelled with happiness. Here they all were, her three children and the people who loved them, except for Lucas, who didn’t have a significant other, and Jane so wished he did because he was the one who needed support against Brick Three’s disappointment.
But Lucas seemed happy enough. And Lydia said, “Sit down, Mom, Florie and I will make toast,” and Florie stuck her head in the refrigerator and asked, “Mom, where’s the strawberry jam?” and Lucas, Daniel, and Jari discussed which team was playing football on Christmas Day.
And just then Brick Three entered the room, showered, shaved, and wearing his red Christmas shirt. Jane could tell by the look on his face that he was happy to see his family gathered there at the table, and that made Jane happy, too.