Tina's Story Chapter 44 Giving Thanks
#17 of Tinas Story
'Morning, Papa.....
Ray awakes to look up, seeing Georgette standing over him. Seems he got up last night, when the babies stirred, and, after tending to them, fell asleep on the living room floor, alongside the cribs. Georgette is smiling, as she finds Ray's devotion to his family charming.
"Look at them" Ray observes "Have you noticed that no matter how you put them down, the girls always turn to face each other?"
"I did....and I don't think it's a coincidence...."
They sat there for a while, watching the babies sleep. Little Stan was unflappable. He slept through everything, while his two sisters were more distractable. After a time, there is a stirring....but not the babies. It is Tina, awake from her slumber....
"'Lo...."
"Hello, yourself. You're naked." Ray said, observing the obvious"
"Nothing you haven't seen before..."Tina replied, shuffling off to the kitchen, tail drooping, but her butt still perky in search of coffee
"Maybe we need to get ready; everyone will be here soon."
Ray was right; this was moving day. Ray and Tina had carefully planned everything out for the move,scheduled for December 1. The birth of the babies threw all their careful planning out the window. In a few minutes, the truck would be there, along with a group of their friends. Colleen and Lydia offered to help, as did KC and Rosa. Ray had a bunch of the guys from IT coming as well. How did they get so many people from the DMV, the day before a holiday? Well, Ray was head of IT, as Colleen was head of Suspensions and Revocations, so they were able to move things around. Besides, as Ray observed "What kind of A**hole goes to the DMV the day before Thanksgiving ?"
At the stroke of 9:00, the van arrived, and the friends and helpers filtered in. First, the last few things remaining to be move were boxed for the trip to the new house Then the things left were ready to be delivered back to Goodwill, where they came from. The living room furniture and bedroom set were among these. Finally, Tina, Georgette and the babies were packed up to go to KC's place, as was Blossom the puppy where they would wait until Ray declared the house ready.
Once the babies left, work began in earnest. It took barely two hours to pack everything up, and broom clean the little apartment. The last thing to go was the giant hammock on the patio. It took four guys to wrestle the giant teak frame down all the flights of stairs. The donations were last loaded, so the trucks first stop was at the donation center. Then it was on to the new house. Ray drove the truck to the new home. He carefully backed it to the curb. Once there, he fished around until he found the keys to the new front door. Opening the door, he noticed that paper paths had been laid over the newly refinished floors and carpet.
It didn't take that long to unload the truck: Much of their stuff had gone to the house weeks before. And Flaymore and Rannigan had delivered the new living room, and the master bedroom suite. Similarly, the nursery items were there, but they were in boxes, not yet assembled.
It was at this point that Colleen took over. She was a natural organizer, and leader of people.
"Guys, over here; girls, follow Lydia to the kitched. Ray will start with the placement of the furniture, then you will deliver each box to it's appointed room....
And on it went. With so many people, and such organization, the work proceeded rapidly. Soon, the nursery was assembled, and in position, and the ladies unpacked things and put them away. Ray understood that Tina would redo everything; that was a given. It was her home, and her prerogative. But, with Thanksgiving tomorrow, Ray wanted to give her a head start, so she could enjoy the Holiday. By six P..M. The work was largely done, and the volunteers were in the backyard, eating pizza, and tapping the keg Ray had brought. Ray then phoned KC's to let them know it was time....
When they arrived, Ray was waiting by the door. He wanted to show Tina their new home himself. Remember, Tina had not been to the new house in some time, and a great deal of the work had been in the last two weeks...
"Ready to see our home>" Ray offered
"Oooooooooooooooooohhh!" Tina replied, rushing in excitedly
Like the child she really is, Tina went first to the living room, where she bounced joyfully on the cushions of the new sofa. Ray then took her to the dining room, where, for the first time,she saw the table and sideboard that would serve their first Thanksgiving dinner. She carefully went over the new kitchen, as the kitchen was completely new. They then went upstairs, and saw the nursery. three little cribs, neatly laid out for the babies. All their supplies were there, all the tiny clothes folded and hanging, ready for their arival. Finally, there was the master bedroom. Tina came to the door, and her jaw dropped..
"Oh...Ray." There in the bedroom, was the bed. It was the bed that Tina fell in love with in Ray's parents home.
"It's .....sooooooooooo perfect!" Tina began to tear..She fell on the bed; enveloped in it's perfectness. She never wanted to leave.
"Ray, how did you....?"
"Took some work....but I think it was worth it" he smiled, "But there's more..."
Ray helped Tina up, and showed her a new set of French Doors, where they had been only a window. It lead to what had been a false porch. It lead to a real porch now, on which sat the huge hammock, as tight a fit as it was at the apartment. On seeing the porch, and the hammock, Tina completely lost it.
"Oh Ray!" she squeeled, before sobbing into Ray's waiting shoulder.
They lingered there a while, before joining their friends for pizza and beer. the party went on a few hours. It would have lasted longer,but tomorrow was Thanksgiving, and there were things to do. By eight, it was Georgette, Ray and Tina. ...and the babies. Tina and Ray tended the babies, while Georgette began preparing tomorrows meal. Periodically, they would hear her fuss about something or other, but they knew she was really happy being there, doing what she was doing. By ten, everyone was in bed, exhausted from the day's activities.
The next morning, Ray and Tina woke to the smell of cooking turkey. The babies were downstairs, fed and dressed. There was a pot of coffee on.
"Wow, have you been up all night?' Ray asked
"Nope. Just got work to do..." was Georgettes reply
In time, Colleen and Lydia arrived, for Tina had invited them, too. Colleen took over from Georgette, orchestrating the diner, much as she managed everything. At twelve, the dinner was almost ready when a call came through...
"Georgette? It's Dr. Goldstein. I think you should get to the hospital immediately..."
They jumped in the car, and rushed to the hospital, never stopping until they reached Stan's room, where they were met by the nurse...
The nurse took Georgette by the arm..
"I think you should be with him"
She assumed the worst, that this was it...the end. Georgete entered the room with great trepidation, pulling a chair to his bedside. She began speaking to him.....
Stan's head leaned toward her voice. Did his eye move?
"What...time is it?
Stan' had been off the ventilator for some time, but was kept in a light coma while his brain was evaluated. Initially, there was no reponse...
"Stan?" she stammered
He smiled, or seemed to, exhausted from the effort of those four words.
Georgette would have stayed from then on, but there were tests to be done. Reluctantly, she returned with Ray and Tina to the house., where Lydia and Colleen had kept the beautiful dinner waiting. Before long, everyone was seated at the table,where Georgette leaned over to Tina..
"What's with those two?"Georgette nodded toward Tina's friends
Colleen and Lydia were laughing and touching each other...
"They gay?"
Tina was flustered, but went on...
"Lydia's marraige just broke up. Colleen is a friend..."
"I think they're a couple fruitcakes!" Georgette harrumphed
Ray took the head of the table..
"I think maybe we should have a blessing before our first meal in the new house"
Everyone went silent,and held hands
"God, you have granted us many blessings this year. May we always be mindfull of how blessed we are, and never forget to share our blessings with those less fortunate...."
With that, Tina and Ray wish their blessings to Tina's extended family, whoever they are, and to furs everywhere..... Have a wonderful day!