Read Rocket! An Ell Donsaii story #4) for Free Online Page B

holiday meals, but it’s something I actually know how to make.”
    “Oooohh,” Roger leaned close as he took it from her to put it on the buffet, “I love a good mac and cheese,” he said sotto voce, “people in my family feel they have to prove something by making things too fancy, if you know what I mean.”
    Ell’s eyes sparkled and she raised her eyebrows, “I’m looking forward to fancy .”
    From behind her Ell heard Roger’s Dad, “Is this the young lady you’ve invited Roger?”
    Ell turned, “Hi Mr. Emmerit.”
    His eyebrows rose, “Ms. Donsaii?”
    “Yes sir.”
    He darted an accusatory look at Roger, “Roger didn’t tell us he’d invited you to dinner, just kept referring to his ‘mysterious guest!’” Brows lowered, he said “I’ll have to have a word with him about keeping something like you a secret.”
    Ell grinned at Roger, “Well, Mr. Emmerit, I’m probably mostly to blame. Ever since I was kidnapped last year I try to keep my intended whereabouts unknown if possible. He was probably respecting my wishes.” She winked, “I do think he could have told his own family though.”
    “Well, my son is much too rude to offer you a drink but if you’ll come with me I’ll see to getting you a glass to hold.” He winked at Roger as he steered Ell toward the next room. He marveled at how pretty she was. Somehow, she looked even better than she did on video. “I know you and Roger were in grad school together a year ago, but then didn’t you go back in the military?”
    “Yes sir, but I’m back out of the military again now. I’ve moved back to North Carolina…”
     
    Bemused Ell looked around at the swirling menagerie of people pouring in to the Emmerit Christmas dinner. Aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, grandkids and a boyfriend for one of the cousins. Ell had invited Roger to a quiet Christmas Eve dinner with her, her mom and her Gram the night before and he’d countered with an invitation to this veritable feast and celebration. The two dinners couldn’t have been more different.
    Roger’s sister Shelly’s ebullient acorn had fallen closer to the Emmerit tree than the introverted Roger’s. To Ell’s amazement they’d drawn lots to determine who sat where at a huge table which consisted of sheets of plywood on sawhorses. The table had been dressed up with large tablecloths so that its lowly nature wasn’t evident. Ell had greatly enjoyed their small, quiet dinner the night before, but being with this huge, raucous and loving family felt very special too.
    At the dinner Ell found herself seated across the table and several seats down from Roger. Roger was horrified to see that the lottery had placed Ell next to Roger’s Grandmother Emmerit, a notorious snoop. This indomitable lady turned to Ell and said, “And you’re Roger’s guest?”
    “Yes Mrs. Emmerit, I’m Ell.”
    She looked Ell over, frowning. “Aren’t you awfully young for him? How old are you?”
    Ell grinned at her and then over at Roger who, appalled by his Grandmother’s directness, rolled his eyes. “Yes, Ma’am. I’m only nineteen. I do like older men though.” She winked at Roger.
    “Roger,” his Grandmother said turning to him, “How old are you now?”
    “Twenty nine Gramma.”
    “My goodness, ten years. He’s robbing the cradle isn’t he? So tell me, what are you doing young lady? Are you in school? I hope Roger isn’t dating his students.”
    Finding it refreshing to talk to someone who had no idea who she was, Ell said, “No Ma’am, I’ve finished school. I did meet Roger in school but I wasn’t his student.” Ell glanced back over at Roger and, as she did, realized that many of the people in their portion of the table were hanging on every word of the conversation. Some appeared appalled by the way Ell was being interrogated. Others were restraining their mirth at their Grandmother’s ruthless questioning of someone who was relatively famous.
    While the rest of the family