She opened the cabinet, got nine dinner plates, and placed them on the counter. Ben had gone to the butler’s pantry and gotten a tablecloth, which he unfurled and put on the dining table. Lane carried the plates and the silverware to the table.
“What can I do?” Gabe asked.
“You’re a guest. You can sit and wait for dinner to arrive.” Lane told him.
Gabe laughed. “I’d rather be part of the family. Give me something to do.”
Ben looked at Lane and tilted his head as if to ask what she knew about Jess’s relationship with Gabe. So, Gabe Greer wants to be part of the family. My two youngest brothers have competition. The basketball game tomorrow could be brutal. Good thing there’s a doctor in the family.
“You know as much as I do.” She whispered to Ben before raising her voice to Gabe, “You can get the glasses and bring them in.”
“How many? From what you said, I count nine. Is that right?” He called to Lane as he opened the cabinets closest to the sink. It was where he thought everyone should put drinking glasses.
They heard Gabe opening cabinets. He’d been at the house for less than six hours and he’d made himself at home. Of course, it was what they’d told him to do, wasn’t it?
Gabe walked into the dining room carrying five glasses. Pauli who was carrying the other four followed him. They placed one glass at each place setting.
Gabe looked at Lane. “Surely you don’t use linen napkins for barbeque. Shall I bring in a roll of paper towels?”
Lane looked up at him. “Sure that would be good. When the kids get home, they’ll transfer the food to serving dishes. If they get home first, we’ll wait for Joey and Evie before we sit though.”
As she spoke, the door from the garage opened again and everyone walked into the hall. Joey Bellini was dressed in a variation of the Bellini casual uniform, of khaki slacks and a polo shirt or sweater, wearing black slacks and a black cashmere sweater. He was carrying Evie’s suitcase. Without waiting for the introductions, he walked down the hall toward the bedrooms. He quickly found the vacant guest room and left Evie’s suitcase on the bed before returning to the hearth room where everyone had gathered.
He recognized Gabe right away and walked toward him with his hand extended. “You’re Gabe Greer, right? I’m Joey Bellini.” He said as the two men shook hands. So, this is the friend Jess brought home. At least they were staying in separate rooms; there may be hope yet.
Joey glanced around the room. “Where’s Jess?”
“She and the boys should be home with Jack Stack soon.” Lane responded.
Joey nodded. Of course, a trip to KC wouldn’t be complete for Jess without at least one stop for her favorite barbeque.
The words were no sooner out of Lane’s mouth than the garage door opened again. The Parker Kids (it was impossible to begin thinking of them as anything else) bantered their way into the house, giving the impression that everything was back to normal.
Each of them carried bags of food into the kitchen. They placed the bags on the island, and Jake and Jess began the process of opening containers and exchanging Styrofoam and plastic containers for serving bowls and platters. Jamie carried the food into the dining room as Gabe came into the kitchen.
“What can I do?” He asked.
Jess looked at him and shook her head. “You can take drink orders.”
Gabe Greer was possibly the only actor in Hollywood who had never been a waiter, but he walked around the hearth room asking what everyone wanted to drink.
As he returned to the kitchen, he recited the orders. “I have three Cokes, two iced teas, a coffee, I’ll have a Coke. What will you guys have?”
Jake replied, “I’ll have a Coke.”
“I’ll have iced tea.” Jess replied as she handed him an ice bucket and tongs. “Fill this and take it to the dining room. Then you can go into the garage and get the sodas from the fridge.”
Social norms dictated that Ben escort Evie into the dining room, and Lane should be escorted by Gabe; Evie should take the seat to Ben’s right and Gabe should take the seat to Lane’s right, but this was an informal family dinner. Ben, Lane, and the kids had standard positions at the table. Lane and Ben at opposite ends with the boys on one side and Jess on the other. Tomorrow, for Thanksgiving dinner, Lane would have place cards, but for tonight, they’d improvise. Ben escorted Evie into the dining room and seated her to his right; Jake and Jamie took their seats at the table next to her; Lane suggested Gabe sit to her right; Pauli took the seat on Lane’s left; leaving Joey at Ben’s left and Jess between him and Gabe.
After everyone sat, Ben, Lane and the Parker Kids took the hands of those seated next to them. It was Wednesday, Jamie’s turn to say grace. After everyone had joined hands and bowed their heads, Jamie, who was normally the most eloquent of the Parker Kids, began to pray.
“Most gracious heavenly Father, we come before you this evening with grateful and penitent hearts. We ask you to bless the food on our table and the hands of those who prepared it. We thank you for our family and friends who are here to share this meal with us this evening. We ask you to bless each of us and keep us safe from harm, especially Gabe and Jess during their upcoming travel. In Jesus’ name we pray.”
Everyone said, “Amen.”
Ben, Lane and each of the Parker Kids picked up a bowl or platter and handed it to their left so that the barbeque feast of pork ribs, beef ribs, crown prime ribs, chicken, pulled pork, beef brisket, cheesy corn, coleslaw, potato salad, onion rings, fried mushrooms, french fries, and baked beans began a clockwise journey around the table.
Gabe thanked Jess as she passed a platter of ribs to him. “What’s the difference between these ribs and the other ones?”
Jess pointed at the platter she’d given him, “Pork ribs,” she pointed to the platter Ben had, “Beef ribs,” and then to the platter Jake held, “crown prime ribs. Believe me, you want to try all of them.” She picked up the cheesy corn and dropped a spoonful onto his plate. “And you’ve got to try this.”
Good Lord, lunch had barely had time to digest and now this feast. Did these people eat like this all of time? Gabe thought. There was no doubt about it. He was going to have to find a gym.
As if Ben had read Gabe’s mind, he looked up and said, “Welcome to the Midwest. By the way, our home gym is at your disposal. Jess can give you the grand tour after dinner. Both Jamie and I usually work out in the mornings, but feel free anytime.”
“Thanks.” He looked at Jess and quietly said, “If this is how your family will be feeding me while we’re here, I’m going to need to hit the gym for at least two hours a day.” He looked around the table. “You know what they say, the camera adds ten pounds. Although my father is a DP and he says it’s all about the lighting, I still don’t need to take any chances.”
Jess laughed. “Yeah, like you need to worry.” She looked at the confused faces around the table. “DP is short for the Director of Photography.”
Conversation turned into a comfortable rhythm as they discussed topics from barbeque to principal shooting in Italy. “The production company has rented a villa for Jess and me.” Gabe continued talking, but Joey didn’t hear much after the words “for Jess and me.”
“I understand you speak Italian.” Ben said to Gabe. “How did you learn?”
“When I was a kid, I travelled with my parents when they went on location. I spent a lot of time in Italy when I was in my teens, and I just picked it up. I hope I didn’t offend your father this afternoon when I spoke Italian to him.”
Ben laughed. “No, Papa thought it was considerate and respectful on your part. Besides, in case Jess hasn’t mentioned it, my family tend to have private conversations with each other in Italian. You talking to Papa put us on notice.”