Dinner Time at the Taylors (Photostory)

Hey guys.  I've been a little off kilter lately.  You know how it is when your computer is acting up.  I haven't revived my computer yet, but I have a loaner for now.  I'm not able to use my normal photo editing software, but I did the best I could with what I have.  This is just a short story to lead us into the next two stories, which will happen before the weekend.

After the ladies left, Danielle prepared dinner for the family.  As soon as she heard Rod's car in the driveway, she sat his dinner on the table.  She was hungry.  Apparently, Julian was too, because he made his way to the table without being called. 

Jacob was a different story.  He was busy riding his motorized four wheeler he got for Christmas.  

"Did you wash your hands?"  (Danielle)

"Yep."  (Julian)

"The word is yes."  (Danielle)

Just then Rod enters through the garage.

"Mmm, smells good in here."  (Rod)

"Hi honey.  Hope you are ready to eat.  Dinner is ready."  (Danielle)

Before Rod can get his next words out, Julian starts screaming.

"JACOB, STOP!!!"

"What in the world?"  (Danielle)

"Mommy, make him stop."  (Julian)

Danielle looks over and sees Jacob ramming his toy repeatedly into Julian's pool table.  Clearly he hasn't quite figured out the steering system.

"I'll get him."  (Rod)

"Honey, just put him in his seat.  It's time to eat."  (Danielle)

"Whoa, nelly.  Let's turn this off."  (Rod)

Jacob looks at Danielle and laughs.

"Bad Jacob!"  (Julian)

"I don't think he meant to do it.  I'm sure he's sorry."  (Danielle)

Rod washes his hands and takes his seat at the table.

He grabs Danielle's and Julian's hands and blesses the meal.  

"Amen."  (Rod and Danielle)

"Amen!"  (Julian)

"So did you and the ladies have a good visit?"  (Rod)

"Yes, we did.  I got all caught up on all the happenings around town."  (Danielle)

"How was your time with your dad?"  (Danielle)

"Interesting, as always."  (Rod)

"Interesting how?"  (Danielle)

"I'm starting to think he has someone in his life, but he hasn't really opened up about it yet."  (Rod)

Rod turns to take a bite of his dinner.

"Hmmm, seems to be a lot of that going around?"  (Danielle)

Rod pauses.  He's not 100% sure what she is talking about, but he can tell from her tone that it's not good.

He looks up.

"What do you mean?"  (Rod)

"It's just something that Antoinette said earlier today that kind of caught me off guard."  (Danielle)

Rod is clueless.  He has no idea what she is talking about.

"Mommy, can we have ice cream for dessert?"  (Julian)

"I ate the last of the ice cream yesterday, but how about chocolate pudding?"  (Danielle)

"Chocolate pudding is for snack time not dessert time."  (Julian)

"Well excuse me."  (Danielle)

"Eat your dinner and I will find you something suitable for dessert."  (Danielle)

Rod has yet to take his eyes off his wife.  He is racking his brain.  Then it dawns on him.  Maybe his brother Tony told his wife about Melanie.  He's not sure if that's it, and he's not spilling the beans unnecessarily.

"Are you going to tell me what she said?"  (Rod)

"We'll talk about it later."  (Danielle)

Rod knows that look.  His wife is not happy.  He's pretty sure this has to do with Melanie.  They eat the rest of their dinner with very  little conversation.