He worked all day at the house, in between making appointments with a roofer. When he found out the man also happened to be Ray’s boss, he wasn’t surprised. Blessings was a small town. There was always a connection to someone else here by blood, friendship, or employment.

Later, he contacted a plumber, who turned out to be Billy Younger, a guy he’d gone to school with, and set up a timeline for him to come fix some leaks.

When evening came, he swept up the mess he’d made that day, then cleaned up before going to the kitchen to figure out something for supper. He ate without tasting it, showered, and settled in with a bottle of beer to watch TV. He was unaware the family was gathering at Emma’s house for a meal and wouldn’t have cared even if he’d known it.

* * *

Gordon had rushed home from work to help Emma get the leaf in the table, and then began helping her by heating up food that neighbors had been bringing.

Junior arrived first with a liter of Coke and handed it over as if it were a bottle of fine wine.

Gordon grinned. “Thanks, Junior. Come in. Emma’s in the kitchen.”

“Thanks for having us,” Junior said, and walked past his brother-in-law.

Gordon started to close the door, then saw Ray and Susie driving up and waited in the doorway for them, as well.

“Come in, come in,” he said as they hurried in out of the night chill.

“Hey, Gordon,” Ray said, and then helped Susie off with her coat.

“I’ll take those,” Gordon said and hung their jackets up in the hall closet. “Emma is in the kitchen.”

Susie gave him a quick smile, and Ray took her hand and walked her through the house.

Birdie was the last to arrive, and when the doorbell rang, once again Gordon went to the door.

“Welcome, Birdie. Hope you brought your appetite. There’s a lot of food here.”

Birdie smiled as she took off her coat, then followed Gordon into the kitchen.

Emma was taking plates down from the cabinet when they walked in.

“Hey, honey, I’ll get those,” Gordon said, and took them out of her hands and set them at the end of the counter.

Emma had the food laid out buffet-style so they could fill their plates and then sit at the table.

“I think we’re short a plate,” Gordon said.

Emma turned and looked. “No…that’s it.”

“Hunt’s not coming?” Gordon asked.

Emma frowned. “Hunt wasn’t invited because he isn’t talking to us,” she said.

“Well, with that attitude, the issue will never be resolved, that’s for sure,” he muttered, and set the plates down without further comment.

There was a long moment of silence, and then Ray shifted focus by grabbing a plate.

“I’m starving. Can we eat now?” he asked.