JQ:HRA VALENTINES

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"The Gift of Flowers"
by Debbie Kluge

SLAM!  Race Bannon slapped the receiver back into the cradle on the
telephone in the family room and stormed into the kitchen.  He crossed
the room, yanked open a cabinet door, grabbed a coffee cup and slapped
it down on the counter.  As he yanked the pot off the warmer it sloshed
hot coffee all over his hand and he dropped it.  It shattered as it hit
the floor.  He closed his eyes, holding his hand, and it was obvious he
was counting to himself.

Benton, sitting at the table with a newspaper, looked from Race to the
mess on the floor and commented, "Talking to Estella again, were you?"

With clenched teeth, Race snarled, "That woman is the most . . .
unreasonable . . . pigheaded . . . stubborn . . . high-handed . . . " 
He seemed to run out of adjectives.  He stepped over the mess and went
to get a broom out of the closet.  " . . . FEMALE . . . I have ever met
in my life!  Is it so much, asking her to take Jessie for a few months? 
Just so the . . . the . . . whateveritis . . . between her and Jonny can
cool off a little?  But, noooo, she won't have any part of it.  Says
it's my problem, not Jessie's or Jonny's.  Says I need to grow up . . .
GROW UP! . . . I ask you . . . and get accustommed to the idea that my
daughter isn't a little girl any more and that things like this are
going to happen!  THINGS!  Says she won't be a party to driving a wedge
between me and my daughter."  He opened the garbage can and hurled the
glass shards into the container.

Benton noted carefully, "Well, she is trying to preserve your
relationship with Jessie.  And I also seem to remember more than once
when she said the same things about you.  You always used to find a way
to work them out."

In the distance, they both heard the doorbell ring and Jessie's voice
came drifting in, "I'll get it!"

Race just shook his head, "I can't seem to reason with her anymore."

Benton grinned, "As I recall, 'reasoning' was not what the two of you
had in common.  I believe you told me once you simply *swept her off her
feet.*"

"Oh, Dad, look!"  Race looked up to see Jessie standing in the doorway
to the kitchen.  Her expression was stunned, her eyes bright.  In her
hands she held a huge vase full of red roses.  "They're from Jonny!  For
Valentine's Day.  Aren't they beautiful?"  As Race watched she set them
carefully on the kitchen counter and then said, "I'll be right back." 
She went running out the back door and down the path through the snow to
the lighthouse.  She didn't even take her coat.

Race watched his daughter as she disappeared into the lighthouse and a
slightly sad smile curved his lips.  He shook his head, sighed and moved
toward the family room.

Benton called after him, "Where are you going?"

"What can I say?  I need to send some flowers."  He looked at Benton a
little defensively,  "Well, after all, it is Valentine's Day . . ."

A WinnieWorks Production
Created February 13, 1997

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