Nora Ray (Ray Trilogy) (22 page)

She kissed him. “
Jeremy, you are my life. I couldn’t bear to lose you.”

He smiled and thumped her on the nose.

“Stop that, Jeremy!” she hissed at him.

He laughed and quickly stole a kiss, “
That’s my girl.”

Jeremy
crawled in bed and lay there half the night awake tossing and turning. Consequently, he slept late the next morning. Finally he dragged himself out of bed and walked into the kitchen where Samantha was cleaning up the breakfast dishes.

“
Morning, sleepy head,” Samantha cheerily called out.

“
Morning,” Jeremy grunted out.

Knowing that he usually was chipper of a morning, she turned to get a better look at her oldest son. “
Okay,” she said, “You need a cup of strong coffee.”

After fixing both of them a cup of c
offee, she sat down across from him. “What happened?”

He gave a half laugh, “
You always know, don’t you?”

“
I’m your mother, that’s my job. Can you talk about it?” she asked.

He scratched his head, sending his already uncombed hair in worse array. He hadn
’t shaved or took a shower yet. He had on an old pair of faded, baggy shorts that she had intended to throw away but never got around to it.

After taking a drink of coffee and rubbing his face, he said, “
I think I need your help again.”

She smiled smugly. S
he loved it when her kids recognized that. “Tell me about it.”

He looked at her and ducked his head and confessed, “
I went to see Nora last night.”

She nodded and said, “
I expected that. So what happened that upset you.”

“
Nora got upset with me last night. It was the first time that I know of where I made her cry.” He hung his head over his coffee. “I never knew it could hurt so much.”

“
Go on.”

“
She told me that she will be moving to the Tulsa campus for the Spring semester. Apparently I didn’t respond appropriately and she took it that I didn’t want her there until the Fall semester as we had originally planned.” He held up his hands in defense, “Don’t get me wrong like she did. It was that so many thoughts hit me about what I had to do to cope with the situation, she misunderstood me.”

“
What things are troubling you, Son?” she inquired, thinking she could guess but needing his input.

“
Mom, you understand that I need Nora, the same as Dad needs you.” He glanced questioningly at her feeling a little embarrassed. He had never talked to her about anything like this before.

She nodded.

“The problem is that she will be living in the dorm. If I live that close to her, you can be sure that I will be there every weekend. What will I do? Sleep in the car?” he said waving his arms out. “I have some money but not enough to rent an apartment for us or a motel every weekend.”

Jeremy stood up and walked over to the bar to pick up a donut on a platter there. He took a big bite. “
Please understand, I’m not asking you for money or anything. Nora and I will figure a way through this, but you did ask. So I told you.” He grinned, “I guess I’m still a kid at heart. You always seem to make it better just by telling you.”

Samantha stood up and tousled his hair. “
You are my son even thought I have to reach up instead of down to mess up your hair.” She thought
he forgot that he asked for my help. He’ll get it whether he wants it or not now.

Jeremy went back to take a shower.

Samantha called Laura, “We need to talk. When will you be available?”

“
Could we meet late this afternoon?” Laura suggested.

“
Okay. Let’s meet at Pat’s Café for a cup of coffee,” Samantha suggested.

After they had ordered their coffee, Samantha asked Laura, “
Did Nora tell you anything about last night?”

“
No, she moped around the house all morning but she didn’t say much.”

“
Well, here’s what Jeremy told me that happened.”

Jeremy came over for Sunday dinner and they ate left over chicken and salad. Laura made fresh biscuits to eat wi
th honey.

Jeremy held up t
he honey toward Nora and they both got tickled remembering what he had said last night.

“
I have something to ask you, Jeremy?” Nora said coyily.

After last night Jeremy almost cringed, but he smiled kindly, he hoped, and asked, “
What would that be?”

“
Would you be willing to be Santa at the hospital Christmas party tomorrow night?” she asked sweetly. “I was told that they don’t have a Santa this year and was hoping you could fill in for them.”

He let out his breath. “
Well, if I can find a Santa uniform in such a short notice. It might be fun.” After last night if she had asked to go to the moon, he would have asked when she wanted to start.

“
You won’t have to worry about that, the hospital has one that they keep among their Christmas decorations,” Nora smiled triumphantly.

“
I guess we know what we’ll be doing Monday night,” he said with a smile. He really didn’t feel in a festive mood, but he thought he could suck it up and try to give others a good time.

When his brothers found out about Jeremy being Santa again, they wanted to be involved, too. Samantha looked among her Christmas things in the attic and found the elf costumes they wore two years ago but only John and Justin could fit in them.
Jeffrey and Dennis decided to find something else to do. It wouldn’t be as much fun without uniforms.

The charity organizations had kept up the good work and there were plenty of gifts for the patients. The children in the
Pediatrics Ward loved the antics that the Santa and elves displayed to entertain them while they distributed the gifts. Nora followed them around enjoying the happiness of the children. She took extra time to speak to each one and wish a Merry Christmas.

Nora also enjoyed renewing acquain
tances with the nurses and other staff members that she remembered. There was also a small choir of Christmas carolers who broke out in song for the patients where it was allowed.

They all left with a feeling of good will knowing they had tried to make som
e one less fortunate have a happier day.

Christmas fell on Thursday this year. Samantha had invited the Ray family to celebrate Christmas dinner with them.
There was a huge dinner with both families contributing their favorite dishes.

Dennis and Danny wer
e close to the same age and knew each other from school, so they found that they had more in common than they realized. Dennis kept Danny entertained on the drive way with the new skateboards they had received that morning. Justin kept popping in the kitchen trying out new magic tricks from the book that they had received.

All in all the boys in turn kept them entertained as they finished the final preparations to the meal.

Laura commented to Samantha, “You have a houseful of comedians don’t you?”

“
They’re like their father.” Samantha laughed, “Never a dull moment around this house, that’s for sure.”

After the meal, Donald and the boys went to the living room to watch the game on TV.

The three women cleaned off the table, then Samantha and Laura gave a conspiratorial glance at each other.

“
I have some magazines I would like to show you,” Samantha smiled in anticipation.

She began flipping through the pages of a bridal book. She pointed out several dresses to Nora who nodded but was very noncommittal in her
answers.

Finally Samantha asked her, “
Have you thought about your wedding dress? Do you have anything in mind?”

Nora shrugged, “
Not much. The main thing I’ve thought about is how to pass the next test.”

“
Have you given any thought to your wedding? Where the wedding will take place? What your dress should look like?” Laura probed. She shrugged her shoulders, “What is your plan?”

“
The only plan Jeremy and I have,” Nora expressed, “is we want to be together. We know that we have to work it around our school. That’s why we put the wedding after finals in the spring.”

“
That brings something else up that your mom and I want to discuss with you,” Samantha began. “Have you thought about your reputation? I mean…”

Laura cut in, “
Nora, it doesn’t look good for you and Jeremy spending every weekend together. Unless, you are married, of course.”

“
Mom, I have never worried about my reputation. What I do is nobody’s business.”

“
Well, nevertheless, what is proper is proper! Living together is not proper behavior. I’d rather not have my daughter’s name dragged through the mud by wagging tongues,” Laura declared.

Nora shook her head and placed it in her hands, “
Okay, I have already transferred to Tulsa. It sounds like you don’t want me there either.” She felt her heart drop; tears sprang to her eyes.

“
Listen,” Samantha spoke in a soothing voice, “You are misunderstanding us the same way you misunderstood Jeremy.”

“
We want to help you, dear,” Laura spoke rubbing her daughter’s shoulder.

“
I don’t see how anybody can help. I’ve made a mess of things.” Nora raised her tear filled eyes.

“
Absolutely not!” Samantha declared with a smile. “Nothing three conniving women can’t handle.”

Nora wiped her eyes feeling a little hope, “
What do you mean?”

“
I mean, let’s get you and Jeremy married.”

“
You mean, like now?” Nora asked incredulously hardly believing her ears.

She looked at her mom, “
Now?”

Laura nodded her head, “
Like before you go back to school. That way, nobody has a right to say anything about the two of you being together.”

“
What do you think about that?” Samantha said enthusiastically. “We’ll set the wedding up and have you married any day you say.”

“
Do you mind if Jeremy sits in on this?” Nora asked. “I think he should have some say in this, don’t you?”

Nora stepped into the living room to ask Jeremy to come with her.

Samantha leaned over and whispered to Laura, “I think our plan is going to work.”

Laura nodded
conspiratorially as the two walked into the room.

“
What’s up?” Jeremy asked.

Taking the bull b
y the horns, Samantha said, “We have been talking to Nora about the two of you getting married before you go back to school. It could solve some problems, including your reputations.”

“
I agree,” turning to Nora and taking her hands in his, he said, “Nora, I intended to suggest this to you. It looks like our mothers have been working behind our backs.”

“
I promise,” Laura said holding her hands out, “we have not talked to Jeremy about this. Samantha and I have been trying to figure out what we think would be the best thing to do.”

“
I promise, we don’t want to butt into your business,” Samantha declared shaking her head. “Our only intention is to help you.”

“
Nora, when I come to see you on the weekends, I want to live with you, not visit.” Jeremy implored.

“
That’s what I want, too.” Nora turned to their mothers. “It sounds like you want Jeremy and me to set the date.”

Samantha and Laura nodded affirmatively.

“Jeremy, I like January the first. It symbolizes a new beginning. What do you think?”

“
Baby, if that makes you happy, I think it sounds wonderful.”

Chapter Twenty

“Dad, we need to talk,” Jeremy told his dad as soon as the game was over.

“
Sure, Son, let’s step outside for a few minutes.”

Soon they were walking down the driveway. “
What do you have on your mind?”

“
Do you have any idea what Mom’s up to?”

Donald grinned. “
You mean about planning your wedding?”

“
I mean, she has talked Nora into getting married on New Year’s Day.” Jeremy smiled back, “Are you on board with that?”

Donald tried to be noncommittal, “
Uhm, she did mention that it would be a good idea.”

“
So, you don’t mind?” Jeremy tried again.