CHAPTER 31
Steph was waiting for us at Gatwick this time, and of course she had to inspect our rings, and hug, and all the usual little touches that aren’t actually that little in the meaning and emotion they carry.

“Dave tells me Little John was up to his usual standard, or should that be down?”

When we arrived, a welcoming committee was there waiting for us. It was getting late in the evening so we were billeted for the night, fed and generally made as welcome as they could provide for. I think what they were doing was a little like what you would do if you suddenly had to live with a loose cobra for a day — give it everything it wants then stand back, hope it’s happy and that you don’t wake up in the morning sharing your bed with it.

Jem…Chapter 63

Chapter 63

We settle down and I slip to the kitchen for some bottles of water and cans of apple juice, Dad always has it on hand that or tomato I’m okay with either but orange is my favorite.

I check up on the roast and it’s cooking away nicely everything else can wait…the real trick I’ve always seen on TV for a roast like this is sear it and get a crust onto it and then cook it long and slow so it’s juicy and tender. It’s just starting to change smells from the smoke and meat to roasting smoke kissed meat.

I grin at it. This is my first really big roast just like last time was my first big turkey that I’ve cooked. And there is a really feminine pride at me doing this now that I’m able to recognize it.

I microwave us two bags of popcorn too and head back down to the room and they’re all talking tuning again and playing around with words and riffs. Rayne has out this old toddlers chalk board that Dad had put here for us to use and she’s writing sheet music for the girls to play and try out.