Laura Ray (Ray Series) Read Free Page B

shoulders. We have to trust them, but that little excursion that they took, shook my faith in them just a little bit. That’s one thing about Nora; she doesn’t worry much about other people’s opinion about her. That can be a good thing and also a bad thing.”
    Samantha smiled, “I think our kids are pretty unique, but you know what? We raised them to be. I’m going to take the optimistic view of it and say that no news is good news.”
    “I’m feeling optimistic about it, too.” Laura agreed. “Just the same, when Christmas comes and I see her little skinny self walk through that door. I’ll feel better.”
    Feeling relieved after hanging up with Samantha, Laura decided to put her mind on her own problems for a moment. She thought about John’s old truck that she had been driving. Probably seeing that Mrs. Nelson at the PTO meeting Laura speculated brought it to mind that she really didn’t like to drive that old truck. Now was as good a time to do something about it as any other.
    Saturday morning Laura drove the old truck to the used car dealership that Mrs. Nelson’s husband owned to see what might be available. A man met her in the front lot with a smile. Three hours later Laura emerged driving a used 1955 Chevy Bel Air, two door hardtop with a 350 V8 engine, four speed transmission, with a/c and heater, and India ivory and regal turquoise in color. They took John’s old truck plus two hundred of her savings and left her with a nice little car payment. She had never had a/c before and she felt good driving it. With her job she should have no trouble making the payments.
    When Danny saw the car he was ecstatic. “Wow! That’s the coolest car! Can I drive it?” He walked around the car admiring it.
    Laura laughed. “Maybe . Some day.”
    Not to be deterred he asked, “Can we go for a ride?”
    “Okay,” Laura readily agreed, anxious to get behind the wheel again.
    She drove all the way to Claremore with the windows rolled up enjoying the air conditioner. Danny kept licking his lips, “Mom, I can almost taste the cold air like a drink of ice water.”
    Laura laughed, what a treat driving this car was !
    Then she thought, why not really treat them, “What do you think about eating at the Hammet House?” She shrugged, “Since we’re here anyway.” She felt like being luxurious, something she had never done before. John always frowned on eating out when she could cook something at home.
    As they were escorted to their table Laura took a deep breath, relishing in the freedom to make her own choices. She looked around at the tables and saw real flowers on the tables. Large pictures adorned the walls all around them. Globed lights hung by a spindle from the ceiling over each table just giving enough light to eat but also providing the right amount of privacy for each set of guests. A waitress came to the table with cold glasses of water and took their orders. Laura and Danny both smiled at each other like naughty children. It was so exciting to eat food that someone else cooked and at the end you could walk out and leave them the dirty dishes.
    Funny , Laura thought after they got in the car and started home, I never felt oppressed by John when he was alive. We had so much love that all we wanted was to be together. Now I wonder what I have missed all these years. She thought for a minute, “Danny, I have never been to the drive-in to watch a movie. What do you think about having Aaron spend the night Friday night and the three of us go to the movies?”
    “Yea, Mom! Wow! This is so cool!”
    Samantha and Laura conferred with each other again later. They both had kept their fingers crossed for weeks waiting for the words that Nora was pregnant. Apparently they protected themselves because neither of them heard anything.
    “I know that Nora and Jeremy will be coming home for Christmas,” Laura stated.
    Laura laughed, “You’re right. All our curiosity will be satisfied then. By the way, I’ve