Family Reunion

Molly and Isabella The College Years Chapter 3

Note: In this chapter you will meet new relatives of Grace's. Her mother's cousin Rose and her daughters Anna and Catherine. They also appear as Grace's mother and sisters in Meet The Farrells and also appear in Mrs. Pugh's Children in the first chapter. These characters are my own creation and might reappear later on in the story. Mandalicious and I own no characters from Annie.

Thanksgiving time was always a time the Warbucks family looked forward to. This year they were having a big family feast at Toni and Jim Bennett's house in New Jersey. Annie and Molly were so excited to be seeing all their cousins together again for the first time since Molly's graduation party in June.

Molly's birthday was two days before Thanksgiving, Grace's sisters Melissa and Jennifer and their children came up from Boston to spend some time before heading to New Jersey.

"Grace did you get the flyer in the mail about the Farrell family reunion?" Jennifer asked her sister.

Grace shook her head. "Not yet. I'm sure it will probably come in the next couple days. When is the reunion?"

"The Saturday after New Years. Someone named Emily Farrell organized it. I guess that must be an aunt we never knew we had."

"Does this mean we have more cousins?" Annie asked her eyes lighting up with excitement.

Grace smiled at her oldest daughter. "That could very well be the case sweetheart."

"Where's the reunion Aunt Jen?"

"It's at a fancy hotel in Boston called The Parker House. These people who are hosting it sure must be really wealthy. I've heard that place is expensive."

"Can we go too Mom?" Molly asked looking at her sister.

Grace nodded. "Yes, that shouldn't be a problem."

Mrs. Pugh made Molly her favorite cake for dessert when she blew out the candles she made a silent wish that her finals would go well. There were a few classes she was incredibly anxious about doing well in.

On Thanksgiving day as they prepared the appetizers and desserts to bring to Jim and Toni's Grace smiled. It had always been a tradition for her daughters to help Mrs. Pugh prepare the Thanksgiving meal and she couldn't wait until Joanne was old enough to help out too. She noticed that Molly looked forlorn.

"Are you okay sweetheart?"

Molly had tears in her eyes

"It's just that at this time when I'm so happy we have our family all together I think of Jamie and how she must miss Samantha so much."

Annie squeezed her sister's shoulder tightly. "I miss Sammy so much every day Molly. It's so hard to picture my life without her in it but I just think of grateful I am to have known her for the 20 short years that I did. I know you're thinking of how sad Jamie must be but try not to think so much about that and just have a good time with our family today."

Grace went over to the sink to wash her hands and then pulled both her daughters into a strong hug.

"How about we go into the city this weekend and see if Mrs. Erikson and Jamie want to go Christmas shopping with us?"

Annie grinned. "That's a swell idea Mom."

Grace noticed that her daughter still looked a little sad.

"Is something else bothering you sweetie pie?" she asked Molly

"It's just been so hard adjusting to college this semester. I'm really happy to be home but I've missed Roland most of all and didn't get to see him when I was home for homecoming."

"Don't be so glum sweetie. You'll see Roland over Christmas. Would you like to invite him to Lake Placid this year?"

Molly shook her head. "No, actually I think I'd prefer to do something with him alone instead of inviting him to a family function."

"Fair enough. Let's finish these appetizer plates girls. We need to leave for New Jersey in about 15 minutes." Grace kissed Molly softly on the top of the head. "I love you baby girl."

Molly squeezed her mother's hand tightly. "I love you so much Mama."

When the Warbucks clan arrived at Toni and Jim Bennett's house the smell of turkey wafted into the front hallway as Margaret opened the door.

"Hi Everyone. We're just about ready to have wine and appetizers. Let me help you with those platters Aunt Grace."

Grace smiled "Thank you sweetheart."

Mrs. Pugh's children had also been invited to dinner and Grace was excited to see her surrogate mother's children again. She marveled at how fast Marie and Harry had grown up. Marie was only a year younger than Isabella and Molly and would be graduating high school in the spring. Harry was a high school freshmen and was on the junior varsity football team at Hoboken High School.

"How about we all gather for a family portrait before we eat supper?" Oliver suggested.

"Sounds like a fine idea." Jim Bennett said.

Grace smiled as her family arranged themselves for the portrait. She was always so thankful at this time of year for the wonderful family that she had.

At dinner Toni Bennett asked Grace a question

"Grace are Nicole Robert and Patricia coming to Lake Placid this year?"

Grace shook her head. "Unfortunately no. I just got a call from them and they're going to Colorado this year to visit Robert's brother in Vail."

"Will you see them at all before Christmas? The kids have a few Christmas gifts for Patricia."

Grace shrugged. "I actually don't know when the next time we'll be seeing them is. Probably not until after the holidays. I'll be sure to get your presents to her don't worry."

Margaret smiled at Molly. "I'm sorry I missed your play last weekend. There's so much going on with me right with getting ready for finals. They're next week and the week after."

"Don't worry Maggie. I think we'll be getting a copy of the video after Christmas that I can show you. You can come to Queens to visit us."

"I haven't been over your place in awhile so that would be great. How is your first semester?"

Molly grinned widely. "So far so good. I am basically getting all my general education credits out of the way this semester... or at least some of them so I can start taking some education classes in the spring. I may take a few classes the first few weeks of summer too but I'll be home by the first week of June."

"Have you talked to your sister Patricia lately?"

Molly nodded. "Yeah. She came to see my play last Friday night my mom my dad and a few of her friends. She's a freshmen this year at the high school I just graduated from so I saw her when I was home for homecoming weekend in October. She plays on the JV soccer team."

"Did she have any games while you home for homecoming weekend?"

Molly shook her head. "Nope but she's playing basketball this winter and since my winter break is until January 21st I'll go see a few of her games."

Kathryn smiled at her cousin. "I heard you met a new boy Molly. What's he like?"

Molly grinned. "He's super nice. His name is Ryan and he played opposite me in Our Town. He was so supportive of me through the process with helping me to learn my lines."

"Is he in your class?"

Molly shook her head. "No. he's a sophomore. He was in one of my classes this semester though. He's an education major too and is finishing off his gen ed requirements this semester."

"What does he want to study?"

"He wants to be a middle school English teacher."

"Have you spoken to Roland much since school started?"

Molly shook her head. "Nope. I am hoping to see him when we're both home for Christmas. Things were so busy for me this semester I didn't get the chance to go to Harvard to watch him play soccer."

Annie was all smiles.

"Everyone I have wonderful news for you all!"

Molly's ears perked up. "Really what is it?"

"Hector and I are engaged!"

Cheers erupted around the dinner table. Grace got up from her seat and put an arm around Annie.

"We're so excited for you sweetheart! When is the wedding?"

" We're hoping to get married next summer!"

Oliver raised his glass. " To Annie and Hector we're so happy for you and can't wait to journey in the next chapter of your lives with you."

"Cheers!" Glasses clinked around the table in jubilation.

Christmas and New Years went by in a blur. Pretty soon Grace and her sisters were preparing for the Farrell family reunion. Annie Molly and Kathryn would be accompanying Grace Melissa and Jennifer on the outing and they were excited to go such a sophisticated restaurant like the Parker House.

When they arrived at the restaurant they checked in at the reservation table.

"You're here for the Farrell family reunion I assume?" the hostess asked

Grace nodded.

"Right this way ladies."

The six Farrell women followed him to the back of restaurant where there was a huge function room with buffet tables.

"Wow! Look at all that food." Molly's jaw was dropped in shock.

"How will we eat all that?" Kathryn asked.

"Close your mouths girls or you'll attract flies." Jennifer said chuckling.

An auburn haired woman who was in her early 50s approached them.
"Hello, I'm Rose. I'm so glad you girls could make it. I'm assuming one of you must be Grace Warbucks."

Grace grinned. "This place is lovely. Thank you so much for inviting us. You're Mama's sister right?"

Rose shook her head. "No her cousin actually. I am Claire and Emily's youngest cousin. "I have two brothers and sisters of my own. They're around here somewhere."

Grace smiled. "It's nice to meet you Rose. These are my sisters Jennifer and Melissa, my daughters Annie and Molly and my niece Kathryn."

"Rose, do we have any more cousins? We can't wait to meet them!" Annie said excitedly.

Rose grinned "You certainly do! Actually two of them are right over here.. my daughters Catherine and Anna. How old are you Annie?"

"I just turned 23, Molly's 19 and Kathryn's 20... she'll be 21 in March"

"My gracious, the three of you are so close in age. My girls are 29 and 15 so there's quite a gap in age between them."

"Girls why don't you run a long and go mingle with your cousins? We want to sit down and talk to Rose for a little while."

"Sure Mom, we'll see you at dinner." Annie kissed her mother's cheek softly.

Rose smiled . "She's certainly a ball of energy."

Grace grinned "Annie and Molly are the sunshine of my life. Oliver and I adopted them about seven years ago."

"Do you have any other children?"

Jennifer nodded. " My son Jacob will be 15 at the end of March, Melissa's son Christopher will be 12 in June and Grace has 9 year old twins... they'll turn 10 in September."

" Oliver would have loved to come but he had to do something with his brother tonight." Grace said apologetically.

"Who's watching your younger children?"

Melissa smiled "Jake and Chris are having a boys night in with my husband Alex. They're watching the Bruins game on TV. Joanne and Frederick are at home in Queens with Helen Pugh."

"Who is Helen?"

Grace grinned " Helen has very much been the mother figure in our lives since my parents passed away. She was Oliver's cook when we lived at the mansion but she's retired now and lives with us full time. She's wonderful."

Rose patted Grace's shoulder. " I have no doubt that my cousin and her husband would be quite proud of how well your family has turned out Grace. They loved you three very much you know."

"We miss them so much. Uncle Patrick died from a similar type of cancer that Daddy had right?"

Rose nodded. "Yes. What a horrible disease that was. We miss your uncle Patrick terribly."

"So where did Catherine go to college?" Melissa asked.

"BU. She studied event planning and she works at the recreation department in Brighton. She is dating a wonderful young man named Jeffery and she'll be getting married in September. Anna is a sophomore in high school. She'll be starting to look at colleges in the spring. I can't believe how fast she is growing up."

"Does she know where she wants to school?"

Rose shook her head. "It's still pretty early. She hasn't given much though to what she wants to study yet but she's always been good in Math and Science so I wouldn't be surprised if she picks a major in college in either of those subjects."

"So you live in Brighton?" Jen asked.

Rose shook her head. " Cathy lives in Brighton. I live in the Back Bay with Anna. Where do you all live?"

Melissa grinned. "Jen and I live in Cambridge on A Street. Gracie lives in Queens but we're hoping she moves to Boston soon so she'll be closer to us."

Grace squeezed her shoulder. "Now that Molly is in college that could possibly be an option Lissy. I would have to discuss it with Oliver though. We'd love to be closer to you guys and Marlene Pugh."

The evening filled with lots of food, drinks and dancing. Grace was happy to meet relatives she'd never knows she'd had before.