Reunion: A Novel

by Lauraine Snelling

  By the time the three of them had finished their assigned stations, the pile of donations was huge. As they filled the black garbage bags, they squeezed the air out so as not to take up so much space. Kirsten and Leah each held loaded bags on their laps on the drive back to the church parking lot, where Hansen’s truck now waited, ramp in place, and men of all ages were hauling loads up and dodging each other on their way to get more items.

  “Bedding,” Leah answered when asked what they had. She looked up into the truck to see cases of bottled water floor to ceiling for about a third of the space. Someone else drove in with a pickup truck filled with more cases of water. “Where do you want the other things we collected?”

  “Off to the side for now. They’ll go in last.” Bjorn had a clipboard with tally marks on it and pencil in hand. “We’re expecting another load of water and then we’ll start with the softer things. We can really stuff them in odd places.”

  “I didn’t bring the supplies from my house yet. What about yours?” Leah asked.

  “Not yet, let’s get them now.” Keira headed for the car, noticing all the other cars filled with bedding, clothes, and sleeping bags that pulled up and awaited their turn to be unloaded.

  When they returned, Keira and Kirsten brought the load so Leah could stay home to work on the dinner.

  “So, are you excited for tomorrow?” Keira asked.

  “I guess.” Kirsten barely nodded.

  “You worked hard for this. Is your speech all ready?”

  “I wrote it earlier and have it memorized. I could take notes up there but…”

  “I am so proud of you.” Keira reached over and hugged her niece. But instead of hugging back like usual, Kirsten stiffened before leaning into the hug. “What’s the matter, K-girl?” Keira leaned back to see tears swimming in Kirsten’s eyes. “Are you all right?”

  Kirsten blinked. “Of course. Just tired, I guess.”

  “Well, we sure will be clapping and cheering for you when you cross that stage.”

  Kirsten nodded and turned to open the car door. “I’ll get the stuff out.”

  Keira stepped out of the car too, and together they added their new bags to the growing stack. Bjorn waved to catch her attention, so she went over to him. “What’s up?”

  “We’re getting this loaded so quickly we might head south after the ceremonies tomorrow.”

  “You won’t be here for the dinner?”

  “Those people need these supplies.”

  Keira probed her lower lip with her tongue. “I guess. But what about José?”

  “He said he was willing. Both he and his friend Brandon. He’s driving Betty’s SUV, so we can load the back of that too.”

  “Make sure you take supplies for yourselves; there won’t be anything available down there.”

  “Marcia is setting up contacts with a pastor there. While the roof of their building is severely damaged, it is still standing. He asked us to bring tarps, so someone is rounding those up.” He looked around at the busy people in the parking lot. “Sure makes me grateful for what we have here. It could so easily have been us.”

  Keira nodded, a lump growing in her throat. She’d not really thought about that. “I’ll get food packed for four.”

  “Thank you.” He turned as someone called his name and headed toward the truck.

  Keira returned to her car to find Kirsten already seated inside. She’d have thought she would have gone to see José and the other kids who were helping to load the truck. Puzzled, Keira slid behind the wheel.

  “I just talked to Lindsey. They’ve gathered four garbage bags of stuffed animals for the kids.”

  “What a great idea. Bjorn just said they’re talking of leaving right after graduation.”

  “I know.”

  “And that doesn’t bother you? It would me.” Did Kirsten and José break up? she wondered. Something is going on here. But Keira, just keep your nose out of it. She’ll tell you when she’s ready. She reiterated her instructions to herself as she drove into the Sorenson drive. “What else needs doing?”

  “I’m not sure, but I know Mom has a list a mile long.”

  “Since the pies are done, I can help.”

  “Uh, Auntie Keira…”

  Keira waited for more, then glanced in the rearview mirror. Kirsten remained in the backseat, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Sweetheart, what is it?” She started to turn around, but Kirsten shook her head.

  “No, uh, please.” She closed her eyes and sat stiffly, as if dreading something terrible.

  What do I do? Keira sent a prayer heavenward. “You want to come up here so we can talk more easily?”

  Kirsten shook her head. “No. I don’t know. Uh…”

  “Okay, would it be easier if I just sit here and stare straight ahead and you can tell me whatever it is that is bothering you?”

  A nod. “Yes.”

  Keira turned to the front and kept her gaze from drifting back to the mirror. “Do you need a tissue?”

  “Yes, please.”

  Keira fished several tissues from the box on the console and handed them back over the seat. While she waited, she pleaded for wisdom and whatever else she might need. What could be bothering her niece like this? They’d had lots of heart-to-heart talks through the years, so how was this different?

  “I-I’m pregnant.” The words fell like a rock in a well, taking a long time to hit and splash.

  Keira pushed out a breath that almost clogged her throat. Not Kirsten. Not their perfect niece. Oh dear God… Say something. She heard the inner command but her mouth refused to cooperate. She sucked in another breath and blinked several times, hoping to catch the torrent before it hit. How could this be? The seconds stretched like hours.

  “Please don’t hate me.”

  “Hate you? Kirsten, I could never hate you. I love you, no matter what.” She wanted to throw open the doors and gather her girl to her heart. Turn back the clock, the day, the weeks, make things all right again. “Listen to me, please. We will do whatever we can to help you and your whole family get through this. Bjorn and I love you like the daughter we’ve never had.” She blew out a cheek-puffing breath and closed her eyes. Pregnant.

  “Will you and José be getting married?”

  “No. I mean, we planned it for someday but not yet. We just took the pregnancy test the other day. I think we’re all in a state of shock.”

  “You’ve told your mom and dad?”

  “Yes, but I asked Mom to keep it a secret, to let me tell you. I was going to wait until after graduation but…” Kirsten blew her nose again.

  Do I tell her that her grandmother went through the same thing? “This is not the end of the world, you know.”

  “I know, but right now it sure feels like the end of my world.”

  They sat in silence for a bit.

  Finally Keira asked, “How can I help you?”

  “I don’t know. I don’t think anyone can help me right now. I’ll get through graduation and try to figure out what happens next, I guess.”

  “Have you seen a doctor yet?”

  “No. Mom asked the same thing. Guess I have a lot of things to do, huh?”

  Oh, poor Leah and Marcus. No wonder they’d been acting strangely. “Your brothers?”

  “I’ll tell them after tomorrow. They couldn’t make it for the graduation but they need to know before the reunion. Besides, I can’t keep a secret for very long.”

  “I know the feeling. And while they’ll be really upset, they’d be more upset to learn it from someone else.”

  “Right.”

  “Can I tell Bjorn?”

  “Yes, please.”

  “Are you sure I can’t help you in any way?”

  “I think you already did.” Kirsten heaved a sigh. “Let’s go see how Mom is doing.”

  Keira waited until Kirsten came around the car and then wrapped her arms around her. “My mother, your grandmother, used to say ‘all will be well.’ Some days
it is hard to believe that, but God can see the whole picture and He has a plan.”

  “My head knows that but my insides say that He can’t clear up this mess. And we brought it on ourselves.”

  “Good thing He specializes in messes, or we’d all be up to our necks in swamp water most of the time.” She locked her arm through Kirsten’s. “Get through tomorrow and let’s keep talking. And praying.”

  “Thanks.”

  The two walked into the house, inhaling the scent of baking turkey as they entered the kitchen.

  “Mom?”

  “In my lair.”

  “Can we come in?” Keira knew that Leah had yet to finish the cross-stitch gift for Kirsten.

  “Of course.”

  Kirsten stopped in the kitchen, but Keira headed on back. She stopped in the doorway. Sunlight cast shadows on the hardwood floor, reminding them that spring had come and the outside wanted to come in. “You done?”

  Leah nodded. “Thanks for taking her with you. I just finished it. I’ll frame it sometime tonight.”

  “You want me to do that?”

  “Would you?” Leah looked up from her recliner with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

  “Bag it all up and I’ll take it home with me.” Keira studied her closer-than-a-sister friend. “What do you need done around here?”

  “We need chairs and tables brought from the church. Marcus was going to do that, but now with this truck to fill and send off, he’s all tied up. I was going to ask José but…”

  “He’s over there helping too. Says he and Brandon are going to drive down with Betty’s SUV so they have more help and more supplies.” Keira crossed to look out the window. “Your yard looks wonderful.”

  “Thank God for perennials. I haven’t had time to plant any annuals yet. Not even the vegetable garden.” Leah stretched and blew out a breath. “I have the tablecloths all ironed, I’ve ordered centerpieces from the floral shop, and the meat will be cooked in another hour or so. I thought to carve it today but I’ll do that in the morning. The potato salad is all made and in the garage refrigerator, and you said the pies are all baked. The ice cream is in the freezer, along with the rolls you made last week. Several other people are bringing salads. Can you think of anything else?”

  Keira narrowed her eyes, thinking hard. “You’re using paper plates, right?”

  “Yes, but not plastic forks and such. Marcus hates those things. Besides, I have enough with the good silverware.”

  “How many are coming?”

  “About fifty, and others will drop by.”

  “Will it ruin the day for Kirsten if José goes with the truck?”

  “Nope, it won’t.” Kirsten, cheese and crackers in hand, wandered into the room. “You want me to call Ansell? We could use him and his truck to get the tables and chairs.”

  Keira breathed a secret sigh of relief. Thank God the real Kirsten was back.

  “That would be perfect.” Leah picked up the pad of paper she kept by her side and checked off one more thing. “When?”

  “Right now.” Kirsten waved her cell. After a quick conversation, she nodded to her mother. “He’ll be right over. Bringing his brother too.”

  “We should wash the windows. I had that on the list.”

  Keira shook her head. “Blame it on the tornadoes. You should see the pile of stuff over at the church. It’ll take some real packing skill to get it all in.” She paused. “I didn’t see Marcus there. Is he feeling better?”

  Leah nodded. “He’s been on the phone all morning. It looks like two other churches in the area are doing the same thing as we are. So more trucks will roll. You know, I’ve been thinking—”

  “Uh-oh.”

  “I keep thinking about that empty truck coming back here and the empty house out there. What if the men brought back one of the families that needs housing for a few weeks. You know, until the cleanup down there is finished or they could find another place to stay.”

  “To stay at the home place?” Keira’s voice rose on the last word.

  “Yes. Some people have lost everything. Houses, cars, businesses. I had nightmares about that happening here in our town. Laid to waste.”

  “Well… I don’t know. Having strangers stay at Mother’s place. I haven’t even sorted all her things.”

  “Keira, what’s going on? You’re usually one of the first people to pitch in during a disaster.”

  “Have you mentioned this to Marcus?”

  “Not yet. I thought I should ask you first.”

  Keira shook her head. “Let me think about it.” But everything within her was screaming no. She gritted her teeth. What kind of a Christian was she, turning down a way to help in a disaster? She shook her head again. “Guess we won’t need the place until near the end of June. Let me think on it. I don’t need to make a decision right this minute, do I?”

  “Of course not. It was just an idea.” But Leah gave her a questioning look before continuing. “I know you’re thinking about the reunion. Maybe this would be a good reason to cancel, like we talked about that time.”

  Keira shrugged, her eyebrows arching. Then shook her head. “Maybe this is even a better reason to have it. Keep our family close-knit in case some freaky act of nature tries to rip us apart.” Even if it would be so much easier on them to cancel, considering all the secrets they were keeping.

  A pickup truck pulled up in front of the house, and Kirsten dashed out to climb in. When the back tires squealed as it took off, Leah shook her head. “Will they never learn?”

  “Nope, kids have been doing that since they started driving cars. It’s a guy thing.”

  Leah heaved herself out of the chair. “Come taste the potato salad. Tell me if it needs something else, maybe more salt.” She led the way to the kitchen. “Get this crisis over with and we can go back to the other—” Leah cut herself off, turning to straighten a dish towel that didn’t need it.

  Keira cocked her head. “Leah, Kirsten told me she is pregnant.”

  Leah sagged against the counter. “Oh, thank God. Keeping secrets is killing me. This one was the worst of all.”

  “She said she wanted to tell me herself.” Keira reached to hug Leah. “We’ll get through this too.”

  “At the moment I’m not sure how, but I am hanging onto trust by my shredding fingernails. Now I can at least talk with you about it. Such a relief. You’ve always been my sounding board.”

  “That goes for both of us. I hate to tell Marcus even more so now. Two whammies like this with his family.”

  “I know, but I think he’s going to be upset that we didn’t tell him right away.”

  “I’ll tell him so you don’t have to. Leaves you off the hook.” She hoped so, anyway. What burdens they’ve all been bearing, but Kirsten’s was the heaviest.

  Leah sniffed and stepped back. “We better get on with the stuff here. Every time I think I have things under control, something else rears an ugly head.”

  Keira tasted the potato salad and added more salt and celery seeds. “Good thing you got the chips early. They say the grocery store is out of most party things now.”

  At least the preparations for the party and the relief truck were distracting them from both Kirsten’s pregnancy and her “unknown father” situation. Still, she hoped that the copy of her birth certificate arrived soon. “How about I take the frame and things home now before Kirsten comes back? Then I’ll come back and set the tables.”

  Leah nodded and left to get the cross-stitch.

  Keira carried the potato salad back out to the refrigerator in the garage. Lord, please make this graduation go smoothly and help me find the information. I really need your help. I need to know who my biological father is. After all, it can’t hurt my parents any longer. Just me—and Marcus. She heaved a sigh. It wouldn’t hurt anyone else in the family, would it?

  Chapter Eleven

  Please, José. I need some time, without you calling me.”

  “But you
haven’t called me and we need to talk.”

  “No, we don’t. Not right now.” Kirsten glanced at the clock beside her bed. “Look, I’m sorry. I’m really tired and everything can wait until after graduation.”

  “Your dad didn’t even say hi.”

  “Don’t feel bad, he’s not said anything to me either. They got all tied up in helping the tornado victims. Anyway, what do you think? That he’s happy about this mess we’re in?”

  José’s tone stiffened. “I’ll see you at the gymnasium then?”

  “I guess. They’ve moved the ceremony inside?”

  “That’s what I heard. Rain predicted.”

  The silence stretched. Kirsten couldn’t think of anything she wanted to say to him. Strange, they used to talk for hours. “Night.” She clicked off and flopped back on her bed. Patches jumped up immediately and padded to her side, her purr already in full force. Kirsten gathered the cat to her and stared up at the ceiling. She should run through her speech one more time but the effort was too great. Lindsey had said she’d call later, but all Kirsten wanted to do was crawl under the covers. She got into her pj’s, stared at her cell phone, and then turned it off. Once she was in bed, Patches curled up beside her, purring enough to shake the bed. With the light off, her mind switched back to her own crisis, but she was too tired to even think on that.

  There was no sense in trying to style her hair the next morning. The mortarboard would smash it flat.

  “You about ready?” Leah paused at the doorway. “You look lovely.”

  “Thanks.”

  “I’ll carry your robe so it doesn’t get wrinkled.”

  Kirsten turned, trying to see the dress from the back in the full-length mirror. All these months she’d been dreaming about this day, her open door to freedom, done with high school and on to her real life. And now—now she had no idea what was going to happen next. Just get through today.

  “Is Dad coming?”

  “Of course. Why do you ask?”

  “Well, I thought maybe he’s so angry he wouldn’t even come.”

  Leah crossed the room and stood in front of her daughter. “It’s, well… he just… I know things will work out, but this time ‘I’m sorry’ just can’t repair the damage. We all need time to talk, to think, to pray, so let’s just get through today and go on.”