Hey ya'll Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! This chapter closes out Book Two. The final (?) book of the Trilogy is titled 'The Girl Who Came To Stay'. In that one Sioux gonna have to battle the 'Mean Girls' of Homer and Seattle and tame her bad boy for good. As always, big thanks to IrishCaptain, wildviolet, wishuy, and the rest of ya for hangin' with me. I can't thank you enough.
Epilogue
The Time Bandit's last trip was a record breaker. Johnathan found the mother-lode of huge clean crab pulling an average ninety crab per pot and working night and day, filled the boat in a record 48 hours. Then it was a mad dash to the off-load and a wild ride through False Pass to get back to Homer, and they docked Thanksgiving morning. The Hillstrand's always celebrated Thanksgiving at Grandma Jo's, but because of their late arrival dinner was moved back to 5 p.m.
Sioux was at Johnathan's house and nervous as a cornered cat. Andy and Johnathan had sworn Neil to secrecy wanting to surprise the family.
'I don't know, I shouldn't intrude. . .I can meet everyone another time. . .I mean. . .'
Sioux stalled as Johnathan was packing up a big box of king crab that was a traditional part of the feast.
Johnathan turned and gave her a long look. She was a study in simple black; demur turtleneck sweater, leather vest, tight jeans stuffed into red snakeskin boots, her hair parted in the middle and flowing over her shoulders, simple gold hoop earrings, looking real close to bolting. He took her in his arms, rocked her, cupped her chin and kissed her softly.
'I love you. Do you love me?'
'You know I do.'
'Do you want anything bad to happen to me?'
Sioux was confused. 'What kind of question is that? You are my life, of course I don't want anything bad to happen to you.'
'Then you are coming with me to this Thanksgiving dinner, because if Mom and Grandma find out I didn't bring you, they're gonna beat my ass to death. Get your jacket and let's ride.' And gave her a rough crack on the ass.
Grandma Jo's cabin always seemed to expand like the Weasley's house in Harry Potter to hold the boisterous Hillstrand clan. Johnathan knew his mother and grandmother would be in the kitchen so he lead Sioux around to the back door. He poked his head into the warm kitchen that was a beehive of activity, delicious aromas, and heaping pots and pans.
'Crab legs anyone?' He grinned.
Momma Joan looked up from the gravy she was stirring on the stove and gave him a big smile.
'There you are! Talk about cutting it down to the wire!'
'Close the door and stop letting the draft in!' Grandma Jo scolded as she sat at the small kitchen table where she 'supervised' the proceedings.
Johnathan looked back at Sioux and pulled her in the door behind him.
'Gotta a surprise for you.' He announced and pushed Sioux in front of him.
Momma Joan looked back over her shoulder, Grandma Jo looked up, and both had the same thought. . .no it couldn't be.
Sioux smiled shyly.
'Sioux!' Both women exclaimed. Momma Joan flew to her, wiped her hands on her apron and took her face in her hands.
'Oh my Lord, it's a miracle!' He eyes filled as she examined the face of the beautiful woman she had last seen as a grieving girl, and hugged her tight.
She looked up at Johnathan who was beaming and scolded as she held Sioux.
'Where? How? Why didn't you tell me? Oh Sioux, you're so beautiful. What a Thanksgiving blessing!'
'Come here girl.' Grandma Jo demanded.
Sioux walked over to the table and knelt in front of her. Grandma Jo held her face in her small hands and searched it as Sioux's lips trembled and her unforgettable green eyes swam with tears.
'Took you long enough, but you made it back.'
Sioux hugged her small body, laid her head on her lap and sobbed as Grandma Jo stroked her hair. Joan was crying as she knelt and rubbed Sioux's back, then Johnathan lost it and bent over and wrapped his arms around all three as they weep in thanksgiving.
Andy watched from the doorway and had to gulp back his hot tears. He shook himself, cleared his throat and blustered in. 'I'm starving! What? Why is everybody bawling and there's no cookin' going on?
They all straightened. Jo wiped Sioux's tears, Joan wiped Johanthan's and he wiped hers.
'As usual you display the sensitivity of a cockroach.' Johnathan's voice was rough.
Andy beamed at his mother and grandmother.
'So you liked our surprise? Wait 'til you hear about Sioux fishing with us.'
Joan was shocked. 'What? You were out there fishin'?'
Johnathan grabbed Sioux in a rough hug.
'Best damn engineer/cook we ever had.'
Neil lounged in the doorway. 'Yeah Ma, they're threatening to fire my sorry butt.'
Sioux hurried over to give him a big hug. 'You're the man Neil, I was just filling in.'
Neil laughed, picked Sioux up and swung her around.
Jo was all business. Dinner was set to start in a half hour, and surprise or no surprise, it would not be late.
'Neil, put that girl down and help your brothers with the crab.' She ordered.
As Johnathan headed out with Andy and Neil, stopped and gave Sioux a hug, kiss on the cheek, and a 'I told you so look'.
Jo and Joan shared a look that spoke volumes.
Dinner had been a blur of food, family, and friends. Grandma Jo had retired at 9 p.m. saying it was past her bedtime and told Sioux to come see her tomorrow for a nice long chat, then told Neil who was staying with her to be sure to lock the back door or a bear might get in. Neil, as if he hadn't heard the same admonishment for the 768,000 time groaned.
'Yesss Grandma.'
Sioux and Joan were washing up in the kitchen and chatting comfortably.
'. . .so you're in the Aleutian bar about to sock Johnathan when Andy recognized you?'
Sioux had to chuckle at the memory of their first meeting.
'Yep. Was gonna sock him good for throwing my stuff on the floor.'
Joan gave Sioux an appraising look.
'He looks good. Happy. Chill as you kids say. And any fool can see the two of you adore one other.'
Sioux hoped she wasn't blushing.
'Ah yeah. . .we uh. . .'
Joan placed her hand on hers and smiled.
'Baby, I've been worried about him. Tonight, for the first time in a long time, I'm not worried.'
Sioux took a deep breath.
'I love him.'
Joan laughed.
'Well of course you do, you always have.'
Sioux was shocked. 'How could you. . .?'
Joan rolled her eyes. 'Kids, always think grown-ups are stupid. Oh, you loved him back then, and he sure loved you. It was the sweetest thing I ever saw.'
Unbeknownst to Sioux and his mother, Johnathan had been lounging in the doorway during their exchange. He entered, leaned over Sioux, held her tight, and rested his chin on her head.
'Love her even more today Ma. Like a grown man ought to love a woman. . .finally figured that out.'
Momma Joan gave Johnathan 'the look' every child, no matter their age, knows and fears.
'Now you listen to me Johnathan Wesley Hillstrand, God doesn't perform miracles like the one that brought Sioux back to you and us every day. Now I'll be praying every day, hard and long'
And poked him hard in the arm with each word. 'That. You. Don't. Blow. It.'
'Ooouch Ma!' Johnathan whined and rubbed his arm.
Sioux was smiling a Cheshire cat grin and teased.
'Ooooh if you act up I'm gonna tell and you're gonna get it!'
Joan then smiled and gave them both a kiss and a pat on the cheek
'You just let me know Sioux. . .just let me know.' And went to join the others in the living room.
Johnathan roughly turned Sioux, and gave her an evil look.
'So you're gonna fink me out to Ma are ya?'
Sioux smile was smug.
'Oh hell yeah! I'm gonna need some big guns to help keep you in line!'
He leaned in closer and whispered with mock menace.
'And who's gonna help me keep you in line Miss 'Subject To Do Crazy Shit'?'
'Ah, I guess that would be my job bro.' Andy drawled as he entered and gave Johnathan a high-five and pinched both Sioux's cheeks.
He shook his head and gave them both a level, hard look.
'You two crazy fools are going to need all the help you can get to make it. . .Lord have mercy on us all.'
The End
Please Celebrate Me Home - Kenny Loggins
Home for the holidays,
I believe I've missed each and every face,
Come on and play my music,
Let's turn on the love light in the place
It's time I found myself,
Totally surrounded in your circles
Whoa, my friends
Please, celebrate me home,
Give me a number,
Please, celebrate me home
Play me one more song,
That I'll always remember,
And I can recall,
Whenever I find myself too all alone,
I can sing me home.
Please, celebrate me home,
Give me a number,
Please, celebrate me home
Play me one more song,
That I'll always remember,
I can recall,
Whenever I find myself too all alone,
I can make believe I've never gone,
I never know where I belong,
Sing me home.
Please, celebrate me home,
Give me a number,
Please, celebrate me home
Play me one more song,
Celebrate, celebrate
Celebrate me home
Please, celebrate me home,
Well I'm finally here,
But I'm bound to roam,
Come on celebrate me home
Well I'm finally here,
But I'm bound to roam,
Come on celebrate me home
Well I'm finally here,
But I'm bound to roam,
Come on celebrate me home
Please, celebrate me home,
Please, celebrate me home,
