Boswell, LaVenia

by THE DAWNING (The Dawning Trilogy)

  Everyone noticed quickly how Thomas acted as though Tammy was his own daughter, though sadly she wasn’t. He was already making a fantastic father Jennifer realized with a prideful smile at her brother.

  Celeste had to work this weekend or she and Tammy would have come to visit along with Thomas.

  “Tom,” their dad asked with a knowing nod at his son, “when are you two going to set the date?”

  Thomas looked startled for a brief moment, swallowed a little nervously and glanced at his mom before admitting, “We hope before the end of August this year.”

  Jenny knew Thomas wasn’t certain how his mom would take the news of their marriage being this year. He’d shared that with her yesterday when they’d all gone to the movies together.

  Their parents went ga-ga, jumped out of their seats as they laughed and hugged him and each other. Jennifer had tears in her eyes as she gave her big bro a hug and kiss. “You are so lucky Dr. Franks, Celeste is a wonderful woman.” Jenny knew his fiancée was a great lady and her brother a great man. She felt truly happy for them knowing they really loved one another and made a lovely couple. She’d quickly decided she really didn’t want any of her nieces or nephews being called bastards after all. Marriage for them was a good thing she’d decided while they’d talked.

  For the next two hours Thomas happily shared all the plans he and Celeste had made and the ideas they had for a small wedding. Since this was her second marriage, they planned on it being a small affair, which pleased Tom to no end. They both worked at the hospital. Huge student loans and a couple of grants helped them to squeak by, with some revenue Thomas got from his portfolio to even things out. They’d budgeted in all the wedding costs for their small ceremony and a short honeymoon already.

  Celeste would finish this summer but he had until the end of the fall yet to go. She already had a temporary position lined up with a general practioner’s group in Gainesville, he explained.

  Thomas previously wanted to do an additional residency in nuclear medicine here at Shands, but Miami might get him instead. Celeste would naturally relocate wherever he goes, that’s why she’d only consider temporary positions for the time being.

  Jennifer worked on creating a seashell necklace with a sand dollar as the centerpiece to wear to the beach party. Her fingers picked up pink and sea green sparkling stones then some marbled jasper adding smaller seashells as she made necklace links with silver wire. She created link after link of decorated and bejeweled chain until it finally became the length she needed. Next she began working on making the sea shell and stone earrings.

  “Okay, little sis,” Tom stated after their parents left to go bowling with Jason’s parents for an hour or so. “Tell bubba what’s going on in your life. You’ve been too quiet today me thinks.”

  She gave him a nervous smile and sat on the floor beside his chair where she wrapped her arms around the calf of one of his legs. “Oh, Tom,” she sighed with a frown. “Sorry I’ve not been as jubilant as I usually am when you’re home. It’s not you, believe me.” She knew she’d been quieter than usual, well she usually wasn’t quiet at all. Today though she had many things on her mind.

  Looking down at her with concern and brotherly love, he pat her shoulder and asked, “What’s wrong sis?”

  Not wanting to tell him about Scott or any of that situation she shared another bother she’d been concerned over. “I keep getting stupid rejection letters from publishers and agents about my novels. Even a few magazine articles were turned down recently and I’ve never had any kind of problem with those before.”

  Thomas gave her a weak smile, apparently glad it wasn’t anything serious. “Maybe your magazine articles weren’t on topics they need right now. Keep trying, I’m sure they’ll sell.” He knew his sis was talented. She’d been writing and selling articles and short stories almost since grammar school. “Hasn’t anybody been interested?”

  Thinking he was talking about her novel submissions she answered, “Oh, a few are a little interested, but mostly it’s don’t call us or when you get an agent have them contact us with letters. I’m beginning to think they see my age and don’t go further, assuming I can’t write with enough life experience or something. On two where I didn’t give my age they acted interested until I later had to reveal I was still eighteen. Most, I don’t think, actually even read my query letters.”

  She played with her jewelry, finding herself working up into in a good pout. So many other things actually concerned her more. She shocked herself when she heard coming from her lips, “I’ve been miserable lately Tom, really out of sorts, for quite a while now. I’m at loose ends or something. I even tried to spice up my wardrobe making for a bolder, more daring starlet look.” She chewed on her lower lip. “That didn’t work out like I wanted either.” With a snort of obvious irritation she admitted, “Everything turns around and bites me. You know?”

  Looking at her as he always did when she said things he couldn’t comprehend he just stared.

  Deciding to share a little of her deeper emotions and see what he thought she said, “What bothers me most lately is I have this weird kind’a feeling. Like I’m searching for something I need and want real bad, but I don’t have any idea what it is. As weird as it sounds - it feels vital to my well being to find it, whatever it is, but it’s always a little beyond my reach and understanding. I’m even having horrible nightmares about it.” There, she’d shared it with someone. Maybe with all his psych courses and experience he could figure it out.

  Tom patted her on the top of her head and chuckled. “Tell me sis, does a fella enter into any of those things?”

  Jenny looked puzzled and greatly annoyed. “A fella?! Why on earth would you ask that? A man? Huh!”

  “Well, sis, the needing and wanting part . . . I thought perhaps it might be your female hormones or something. You women can get so strange sometimes. Once in a while even young girls, I mean really young, think they want to get pregnant and have babies. Someone to nurture and love, they decide, when it’s them that needs the love and nurturing, from safe caregivers. Hormones do strange things. It’s a gal thing mostly, but guys have bounces in their psyche too. Except, we men tend to keep it together a little better than you girls do.”

  Flustered and angry she jumped up and plopped down on the couch away from him. “Oh yeah, you have it together all right. You guys think everything in the whole world centers around sex!”

  “That’s not totally what I meant, sis.” He scrubbed his face with his hands and tried again. “If it’s not that, then are you unhappy about anything?” swiftly adding, “Other than your rejection letters?”

  Twining the finished necklace through her fingers she thought for a minute and slowly admitted, “Tom, it’s like I’m waiting for this huge, fantastic happening to occur, to fill a void or to make me whole again, complete . . . or something! The feeling of emptiness or having lost something is getting stronger and stronger. I just feel like . . . I need, I need . . . but I don’t know what!”

  His eyebrows shot up and he asked in his doctor voice, “Jennifer, you are being . . . careful, right?” Before she could respond he asked, “Has anything happened that’s been stressful or made you overly unhappy? You know, has any young man caused you harm or heartache?” His face froze. “Aww . . . Jen . . . you’re not pregnant are you?”

  “Oh, for the love of,” she muttered while actually wanting to scream her frustration. “Forget it! I told you it’s not that!” Hitting her palm to her chest she exclaimed vigorously, “It’s in here. I could cry for the want of it, but I don’t know what it is. Haven’t you ever felt that way?”

  With a rather pleased and smirky look on his face he answered happily, “No, not really.”

  Frustrated and cleaning up her beading supplies she mumbled, “Well, I’ve got to get ready. Jason’s taking me to one of his friend’s beach parties, so you can already know, I’ll most likely be bored stiff. They’ll probably play pin the tail on the donkey and J
ason will scold them for using the south end of the donkey.”

  Suddenly they both burst out laughing, knowing it did sound like Jason. He was the most moral prone human being either had ever known, so their laughter eased the tension in the air.

  Thomas got control of his laughter, apparently much relieved her previous conversation was over. “Sorry sis, really wish I could help. I’m afraid I don’t know what to say about how you’re feeling. Sorry you’re yearning for you don’t know what. Still sounds like sex to me,” he said with a laugh and dodged the throw pillow she hurled at his head.

  His face grew suddenly serious. “But, speaking of Jason, give the guy a break, sis. He’s a genuine all around good guy. Got a brilliant head on his shoulders too. Besides, he’s about the only male I know that I can actually trust with my baby sis. Wish I could talk him into medical school, we could have a fantastic practice together one day.”

  Jennifer caught Thomas frowning before he smiled again. He added, “He’s certainly been a good friend to me, with his strange maturity it’s always been like we were the same age. But I hear you and him still are at odds. That’s been going on a while too. Why’s that Jen? What really happened between you two?”

  Jen knew right then her mom asked him to encourage her relationship with Jas. Jeeze. What was it about him that had them all on his cheering squad? Just because he’s a genuine good guy, plus has money and okay his smarts, still doesn’t ring her bell. It takes a lot more. Wish they’d leave things alone.

  She was trying to find a way to answer Thomas when her cell went off. This time it was Scott again. She stopped the ringing.

  Tom noticed her ignoring the call but said nothing. Getting up he stated, “Never mind if you don’t want to talk about it. But know this, I do love you baby sister and I’m always here for you.” He left for his room to get his bags packed to return to Gainesville when their parents return home.

  Glancing at her watch she realized Jason would be there in less than an hour.

  In her room she opened her closet and choose a pair of straight legged jeans. She grabbed an actually brand new pink knit tube top, her first one ever, and a heavy brushed cotton, cream colored button up shirt with long sleeves and pink cuffs and collar. It had her favorite Twilight cast of characters emblazoned on its back. She buttoned the shirt from the bottom to just below her tube top. She double checked to make sure the cuffs were buttoned well, they tended to come loose and she didn’t want the bruises on her wrists visible to anyone. Cream knee boots worn over her jeans along with her shell necklace with earrings completed her outfit. She also picked up a short jean jacket in case the air grew too cold. It was a pretty clear, crisp day out, temps in the high sixties, unusual for their January winter.

  Her wig just required a bit of maneuvering with the curling iron after her shower and shampoo to get the curls just right again, which did require a talent she would have to learn. Her own long hair was strictly wash and wear

  When she came home with the Alice wig, knowing it was all the rage again, she was happy she could now have her long hair and enjoy her Alice look too. She thought it was a safe and easy way to express herself.

  Her wig freaked out her Dad. He didn’t like her new hairstyle one bit and growled, “Your hair had been beautiful before you chopped it all off.” Seeing the angry look on her face he’d added more softly, “But since you’re such a beautiful young lady anyhow, I guess I can learn to live with it. But I liked the long hair better!”

  Like, well, yeah. Then she showed him it was just a wig. Was he ever relieved!

  She waited to hear a car horn when the door bell chimed. She was in the kitchen emptying the dishwasher while Thomas was in the foyer tossing down his duffle bag for his return to the Gainesville hospital.

  Thomas bellowed out, “Well, hi Jason. Been a while big guy.” She could hear back slaps and shoulder punches. Guys were so gladiator physical with one another, she just didn’t get it.

  “So, you and sis are going to a beach bash, huh?” She’d heard this clearly but now they were talking too low for her to pick up on the conversation from the kitchen. Hum, what now? Grabbing the small purse she’d made of layers of cream ruffled lace sewn over pink velvet she decided she better get to them before they had cooked up something, knowing her brother. She was sure and certain she wouldn’t like whatever it was, since she simply didn’t trust men of late. They seemed determined to undermine the very best of her intentions.

  When she saw Thomas had his arm around Jason’s shoulders and they had walked into the great room, head to head talking low, she was stumped. Jason shook his head no several times and from his side view he looked upset, which was a rarity for Mister Cool and always Calm. Neither had seen her coming down the hall or where she’d stopped in the doorway. Thomas apparently asked Jason something and after a long pause Jason pulled out his cell phone, punched it a few times and turned to show Thomas something on the phone.

  Jennifer carefully stepped back further into the hall and peeked around the corner at them. When she heard them both gasping and sporadically giving out low curses, and Jason never cursed, she watched with increasing fear as both men clenched and unclenched their fists. She was afraid, but didn’t know why. It was bad, whatever it was.

  Tom began talking rapidly and even quieter to Jason, as odd as it was, her brother seemed to be calming Jason down about something. Whatever for? Jenny went to her room, trembling slightly, and called out, “I’ll be there in just a minute, I’m trying to find something.”

  Tip-toeing through the hall she peeked around the door again. They were sitting chair pulled up to chair and Jason was patting Tom on the shoulder, like reassurance or something. The roles looked reversed now. Huh? What in the world were they up to? Jenny was about to burst with curiosity.

  Suddenly their voices returned to normal level and they stood up shaking hands. Her eyes widened in complete disbelief as Tom gave Jason a big bear hug. Both guys hugged for about half a minute. For pities sake, Jennifer thought. She couldn’t imagine what was going on. But there was fear in her from seeing their reaction to whatever had been on the phone. She wasn’t certain if she wanted to know what it was all about or not, what with the anger both showed.

  While raffling through her small purse she stepped into the room. “Hi guys.” Looking up she admitted, “Hi Jas, I thought it was you. You could have honked, I was almost ready.”

  Both fellas stood there staring at her. She realized with surprise that Jason looked at least five years older than Thomas. Thomas was nine years older than her, making him twenty-seven.

  Jason finally managed to say, “Hi Jen, uh, what . . . what did you do to your hair?”

  “Got this Alice pixie cut hair style. I just love it!” she answered with a happy grin. Let him stew. She knew most guys liked long hair, how would he feel if he thought her’s was gone?

  He looked over at her brother who shrugged his shoulders, also thinking her hair was cut. She’d worn the wig while he’d been here. He hadn’t even asked her about her hair. Brothers!

  Thomas suddenly grunted as he came stalking swiftly across the room to her. Grabbing her arm he whirled her around and out into the hallway. When he’d oddly marched her halfway to her room he hissed, “Where do you think you’re going with that top on like that?!”

  Irritated and baffled, Jennifer exclaimed, “My top?! Are you crazy? What’s wrong with my top?” She looked down and only now saw that without a bra the tube top tended to outline her form like a second skin and revealed far more than she’d been aware. The worse part was the stretch knit material had also drawn up on itself and actually shrunk while she’d been wearing it. Way over half her feminine assets was now visible. Even her clothes were fighting against her she decided with weary anger. Still it wasn’t nearly as revealing as the bikini she’d bought on sale to wear this summer, it was her very first one too.

  She snorted with irritation a time or two trying to decide what to do. She could insist
on keeping it on and have an all out battle loud enough for Jason to hear, because she got loud when she was angry or she could change the top. She was siding with the battle, just for the principle of her determining her own type of clothing, when Jason called out from the great room, “Uh, Tom, could I speak to you for a moment, please?”

  Casting her a nasty glare Jenny figured was supposed to sear her eye balls out as they burst into flames Tom walked back into the room where Jason was waiting.

  Jennifer was still fuming and snorting in the hallway when Thomas returned. She gave him a look that should have frozen his feet to the carpet. Instead, he walked over and told her to button up three buttons and she could go.

  Refusing to be obedient - he wasn’t the boss of her! She just glared at him.

  “Sis, I love you and I don’t want to see you hurt or for people to get the wrong impression about you. Please, button those few buttons to keep me from worrying so much about you I might wreck on the way back.”

  Well, since he was now asking so nicely and all. She buttoned her blouse to cover the tube top.

  With a look of dire warning he added, “Now promise me, you’ll keep that buttoned tonight.”

  “Jeeze, Louise,” she muttered, but nodded her head.

  Jason suddenly walked into the foyer, went to the front door and held it open for her, acting as though he hadn’t heard every word she and Thomas had said. He should have been an actor, she begrudgingly decided, Players By The Sea would have loved to clone several of him.

  A Friend Indeed . . .

  5 – The FIRST HAPPENING