Ruperts was becoming quite a success. Not that it was that much of a
surprise. Between Abe and Gloria Davis' winning personalities and their even
better cooking, there was no way it could fail. It had been a risk to open
up seven days a week, but it was paying off. And the Davis' could not have
been happier.

It was late one evening after a long day at Ruperts that Abe and Gloria
returned home and received the news that was about to make them even happier
than they could have imagined.

"Mother, there's a letter from Robert and Pirette."

"Abel Davis, did you open that letter without me? I better not walk in that
living room and see you reading a letter."

"Woman, do I look crazy to you?"

She leaned down, kissing him on the cheek and using the slight distraction to
grab the letter from his hand.

"Well then, what does it say mother?"

"I'll read it to you. 'Dear Mom and Dad, Things are going fairly well still.
School is great. I've been doing very well in all of my classes. But
Pirette and I miss you two and grandma very much, so we've decided to pay you
a visit as soon as I finish this semester. We've got some exciting news,
which we want to share with you in person. See you both soon. Your loving
son, Robert.' Oh, Abel, you don't think--"

"Now, mother don't get ahead of yourself."

"Our first grandchild. Lord knows it's gonna be a difficult load for those
two children to bear, but a baby! What a blessing! And how sweet that they
want to tell us in person--"

"Gloria, it might not be that--"

"Abe Davis, are you tryin' to spoil my good news. Because I'm not gonna let
you."
I just think we should wait to hear from them before we shout it from the
rooftops. Let's see…it's the beginning of May, so his school ends in two
weeks."

But Gloria wasn't paying any attention. She was running around the house,
mumbling something about having to get a crib for when they visited.
"Oh, Lord, how am I gonna live with this woman for two weeks?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Linda lifted the last of Ginger's boxes out of the car and lugged it up the
front steps. She, Ginger, Gina, Judy and even little Emma had spent last
night packing everything Ginger could possibly need for twelve lifetimes into
boxes and now Charlie, Ginger and herself had moved it all over to the
Metcalf home. All in all, it wasn't Linda's idea of a great way to spend a
Saturday. She pushed open the door to the house.
"Ginger, where exactly do you think you're gonna put all of this stuff?"
Charlie was yelling when Linda entered the room. He sank down onto the
couch, surveying the piles of boxes now cluttering the Metcalf's living room.
"When exactly did you become such a sourpuss anyway?" Ginger said, carrying
three tall glasses of lemonade into the living room and handing one each to
Charlie and Linda and then sitting down on the floor amidst all of the boxes.
"I know that marriage to Caroline was no picnic and probably made you a
grouch--"

"Hey! I am not a grouch. Besides it was busting my hump moving all of your
boxes that put me in such a mood."
"Okay, okay you two. Let's just settle down and cool off a bit," Linda said
calmly. "Ginny, have you decided where you're going to put everything?"
"I told you before Linda, I just would not feel comfortable in your mom and
Al's room and I know Jeff wouldn't be either. So we'll just stay in the
attic for now."
"So now we have to lug this stuff up two more flights of stairs?" Charlie
exclaimed.
"Well, we don't have to do it all now. In fact, we probably shouldn't. I am
going to go up and make some room--"
"Some room?"
"Very funny, buster! I'm going to clean up and then we can just gradually
move the boxes up that way."
And with that Ginger jumped from the floor and bounded up the stairs to her
room.
Charlie and Linda remained on the couch, staring after her.
"I don't know if it is being married, finally or being out from under her
mother's house, but Ginger has entirely too much energy for me," Linda said
with a yawn.
"I agree. I believe a nap is in order, Miss Metcalf."
"As do I, Mr. Hailey." Their laughter filled the air as they got up from the
couch and headed for the stairs. "Maybe we should grab a box or two now?"
They looked at each other, then over at the boxes. "Nah!" and headed up to
their respective bedrooms.
To be continued...