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Daria's Party Addition – 22 – to Thanksgiving

By Dr T

After the museum exhibition/lab tour and just before classes started towards the end of August, there was a meeting for all those at Raft interested in or required to at least consider going out for field work the following summer. Those expeditions could certainly not be organized overnight, and most were at least partially planned at least a year, and often several years, in advance. After all, there were preliminary surveys to conduct, permits which would be needed to allow digging and removing fossils from the site, as well as all the logistics to plan for (housing, transportation, supplies, and so on).

Daria learned that there would be a number of different expeditions which Raft would be involved with the following summer to some degree. Four, however, would allow Jack to join her for credit with MIT, and so those were the expeditions she knew she should consider. Daria had already had a little time to look into them before the meeting, and of course consult with Jack about them before the actual meeting as well – he would be having a similar meeting at MIT the next week. After a quick look, Daria quickly decided she would only look into three of the four in more detail. The fourth was an expedition to Baffin Island and Daria had zero interest in the rough camping conditions that this expedition would entail. Fortunately, both Jack and Daria only had a theoretical interest at best in the development of tetrapods, which would be the evidence that expedition would be searching for. The other three were more in Jack's area of primary interest, while two were in Daria's.

The other three prospective digs were in the US, and none would really entail having to rough it too much (especially compared to the Baffin Island expedition). At first glance, a summer working at a Permian site in Texas was not appealing. Neither Jack nor especially Daria was particularly interested in in the mid-Permian. Daria was also not interested in returning to Texas. Chronologically, the second site was a Morrison Formation site in Colorado, with the younger half to a third of the formation exposed, roughly between 151/149 million years just at ground level to the 146-million-year end of the Jurassic at the top of the exposure. The final site was a relatively small outcropping of the Hell Creek Formation in Montana. This site was believed to be from the older half of the Formation, roughly 68-67 million years old, the younger half already having mostly eroded away.

Daria's first instinct was to go for the Morrison expedition, although that was for purely non-Academic reasons. At the Hell Creek site, they'd be staying in motor homes near the site, which would require being taken to dumping stations to get rid of sewage, plus of course getting the water tank filled (and therefore limited water use, especially for showers) and picking up other supplies like propane and food on a fairly regular basis. The nearest place for the sewage dump/water pick up/propane refill was about forty miles away, and the nearest place approaching an actual town where they could get other supplies, do laundry, and so forth was nearly as far away in a different direction.

For the Morrison expedition, they would be taking up half on an older motel and there was a small town just a few miles away – a more comfortable, or at least less rustic, experience, and Daria was all for the least amount of 'roughing it' possible. Still, she would have to consult with Jack, not to mention that he might have some other options which she might be able to get credit for if she received permission. After all, the next summer was covered by her internship so she would either have to continue to work in the lab over the summer, go on a Raft-sponsored expedition, or have permission to join a different one. Unless Jack's choice involved tents or other types of really roughing it, Daria knew she'd be going with him, not staying behind in Boston or going somewhere alone.

Daria and Jack would discuss the possibilities throughout the fall. However, they would not have to make a final decision until January at the earliest. In the end, they would decide to go to Colorado.

Daria was relatively pleased with her fall class schedule, although she was far from thrilled to have Advanced Statistics, especially as a MWF class at 8:00 in the morning. Still, she was looking forward to her first two Geology classes and the Short Story workshop. The Gen Ed Health and Gym classes were just classes she was required to take at some point. As disinclined as she was for exercising for exercise-sake, Daria did admit that the Swimming class she chose for the gym credit would help keep her in shape, as this class (like the class she had taken in Lawndale the previous winter) would basically just be swimming laps once she demonstrated she knew the basics. In the end, unlike many starting university students, Daria did not put on any excess weight through her academic career, although summer digs every year would help her stay trim.

Daria watched with interest as her dorm floor filled up the weekend before classes began as well as the following Monday (returning students who didn't need to change their schedules, have problems with financial aid, had their books, etc. didn't need to be on campus until that Monday). On the whole, none of the residents on her floor seemed to be determined party types. The students who had already been with Daria over the summer had shown themselves to be fairly serious students, even if they all had at least moderately active social lives. There had been no parties, no loud music, or any other such disturbances all summer. Granted, since Daria was far from the only one with a partner of some sort visiting on the weekends, there were often some interesting noises that could be heard when passing doorways on those weekends (or, in the case of the one pair of lesbian roommates, many evenings), but it had been otherwise relatively quiet.

Her dorm floor would be much the same during that fall semester, although the percentage of the not-formally attached rose. Daria's particular dorm only had a few Freshmen, all roommates with friends from upper classes, and so all floors were a bit quieter than the dorms with higher percentages of Freshmen. There would be a few weekends when rooms on some of the other floors got rather loud, but on the whole, Daria had lucked into the quietest dorm on Raft's campus. It helped that all the social fraternities and sororities (of which there was a fair number) had houses near the campus and did not have active presences in any of the dorms.

Jack and Daria were both very serious students attending very serious institutions, especially Jack at MIT. They were also very wrapped up in their own relationship. So while they would go to see movies, either new releases or classics shown on one campus or the other a few times, attend two plays, and go to more than a few academic talks (especially when refreshments were served afterwards), neither really established anything more than casual in-class/in-lab acquaintanceships. What they did do most Friday nights was explore some of the more sedate dance clubs in the area. Most of these listed themselves along the lines of a tango club or something similar, even if many of the dances at some places were not tangos.

Fortunately, Daria's floor mates did not see her as 'stuck up' or anti-social in any way. While relatively friendly, she was obviously wrapped up in her relationship with Jack, which they could all understand. During weekday evenings when she was there alone, Daria either had her door at least cracked open part of the time (thus inviting visitors) or occasionally she could be found in one of the lounges downstairs, watching tv. The others in the dorm found her approachable, and often able to help them academically, even outside her field. While the youngest resident in the dorm, Daria was academically more advanced than most of the seniors.

Of course, at the same time Daria kept up with the news from Lawndale from a variety of sources. She and Jane emailed at least every other day, and Daria exchanged emails with Jodie about once a week, as well as the same with both of her parents, usually her father. More surprisingly, Quinn was also writing Daria about once a week, and had been since mid-summer.

Daria was of course happily ensconced in university life, and could only shake her head at some the antics she was missing by not being at Lawndale High. She was enjoying all her classes except the mandatory Health class (which she found boring) and Advanced Statistics (which was held just too early in the morning for a class that advanced).

Of all the Lawndale antics, what stood out the most that semester occurred from mid-September through early October. This was Ms Li's final grand scheme to raise money for her dubious security plans. In this case, it was a deal with Ultra Cola. Jane, Jodie, and Quinn all complained, albeit for different reasons. Jane, at first, because the cost of a soda had gone up ten cents, and the fact that the machines and advertising were in such garish colors ('and the ads are spreading like a quick-growing fungus' she had added the third day after the machines appeared). Quinn of course agreed about the ugliness of the posters, and also bemoaned the disappearance of alternative diet sodas.

At first, Jodie didn't have any complaints. She was glad that the school was likely going to be able to afford some needed upkeep and supplies, plus she was hoping that she wouldn't have to keep hawking things like undersized rolls of holiday gift wrap to support some of her clubs' activities. After the first few emails from the three, Daria was willing to bet things would spiral to some very odd occurrences at the least.

Unsurprisingly, considering Ms Li's past schemes, the whole thing did start spiraling out of control as soon as the following week. The advertising became more intrusive, to the point that in the third week the school colors were replaced by Ultra Cola's, including the football, cheerleader, and band uniforms. An email from Jodie informed her that Ms Li had gotten the football team to over-indulge in soda that Saturday as well, and therefore had lost the game as some players had stomach aches and many had to make quick dashes to the restrooms, some more than once. At the same time, Jodie started complaining that the cola company was trying to make inroads into the classroom instruction.

Ms Li then cut class time to enable more soda drinking between classes (as well as longer restroom breaks as a result those extra sodas). In the end, in mid-October she went off the rails from stress (and caffeine and corn syrup over-indulgence), attacking soda machines, advertisements, and even a few students with a fire axe. Fortunately, no students were injured but that did end the career of Angela Li, as her own security cameras showed her rampaging through the hallways, swinging the axe.

The county officials had to step in. The administrator they appointed got rid of some of the over-the-top security, and even balanced the budget. When the teachers' contract ran out in January, they were given decent raises, if a bit under what they had hoped for.

As all this finished playing out, Daria and Jack studied the layout of Boston between MIT and Raft. They knew they would need an apartment and needed to know the neighborhoods, the auto and rapid transit routes, ranges of rents, and so forth before they actually had to start looking. It also gave them something to do together off their respective campuses each weekend for a few hours that didn't cost much. Jack had a large nest egg and other resources he could draw upon, and Daria had saved a few thousand as well. They knew that considering their ages and as college students, some landlords wouldn't want to rent to them unless they could offer something extra in exchange.

One of the women on Daria's floor approached her in late October. Daria had been open about the fact that she and Jack were starting to look for a place to properly live together, and it turned out that Daria's floor mate was a local, whose uncle was a real estate investor/developer. Fortunately, the uncle thought well of his niece's judgement, and so Daria and Jack met with him near the very end of the month.

After a few phone discussions and a meeting on the last Saturday of October (Halloween, actually), he took the pair to look at an apartment that was in the first stages of being prepared to be repainted and updated. (The previous tenants had just moved out a few days before.) The house was a large Victorian one converted into six apartments (one in the basement, one in the attic, and two on each of the main floors.) They were shown an apartment on the second floor. One large room ran the depth of the building (36 feetx15) plus a three-foot bowed extension, a bow window/window seat combination. That room also now had the entrance to the apartment. There was an additional (15x15) room at the front. In the back, running off a corridor, was the kitchen (which also had room for a breakfast table for two), a large bathroom (which also had a stacked washer/dryer combo), and a 15x12 bedroom. Utilities (other than telephone, plus cable if wanted) were included. There was also one reserved parking space in the back of the property. The house was in a nice, slightly upscale neighborhood, but only a block and a half from a commercial street, which had a grocery and the other stores they would need most often. There was even a station for Boston's 'T' – the subway/bus/light rail network, which would put Daria about a twenty-minute ride from Raft. Jack of course would drive to MIT

The realtor was a bit surprised that although it was clear that Jack understood leases and how to bargain, his seemingly quiet little spouse was even better. In the end, Jack and Daria got what they wanted – first, an extended lease until May 2001. They both knew they would be heading to graduate school, but they were unsure if they would be able to stay in Boston. However, with enough work, they should both be graduating in May 2001. They also negotiated a slightly reduced rent, in part because they would be absent for up to ten weeks over the summer (and so not using the water or much electricity), but mostly because they were able to pay the full extended lease plus the security deposit upfront.

This of course wiped out most of Jack's checking account (even though he had added to it from his savings in anticipation of doing exactly this). The pair wouldn't have a whole lot of cash to furnish the apartment, unless they were given some cash gifts over the Christmas holidays – Jack wouldn't be getting more money from his trust fund until his birthday in the spring. Still, Daria knew she would have enough to get them a good bed, two computer desks and chairs, and a cheap table and pair of chairs for the kitchen, leaving them both some reserves in case of emergencies. After that, they could improvise a household if they had to until Jack's birthday.

While their lease technically would start on December 1, they unofficially took possession the morning of Saturday, November 21st. This allowed them to have their bed, computer desks and chairs, and kitchen table and chairs delivered that day.

Daria had purchased and brought along a blanket, pillows, and two sets of sheets and pillowcases, as well as towels, a shower curtain, and such to furnish the bathroom. They therefore stayed that night in their first apartment. As they cuddled together after inaugurating their king-sized bed, Daria commented, "You know, this is the first time we've slept together properly."

"You mean the other times were improper?" Jack teased.

"We only napped on those hotel and motel beds, but we never spent the night in one," Daria pointed out. "And we snuggled uncomfortably twice in the bunk in the trailer, and precariously on the cots in our dorm rooms. The cabin was a vacation. This is our home," she pointed out, hugging him tightly. "This is finally right."

"I understand." Both knew that they would be revealing their marriage in just a few days, which would change things with their families. Then, if neither family really accepted them, they would be living in the apartment over Christmas, and if at least one of their families did, they would still be living together soon after New Year's. While married for over 16 months, despite how their lives had meshed together since Daria came to Boston five months earlier, they would both need to adjust to actually living together, day in and day out, and completely integrating as a couple. This worried them almost as much as they both looked forward to it.

dp

Daria and Jack drove to Lawndale that Wednesday. As he let Daria out at the Morgendorffers', the two exchanged a worried look, hands clasped tightly. Finally, Jack said, "It will work out somehow, wife. I promise."

Daria managed to return his smile. "Well, we'll at least be together, husband. See you tomorrow. Don't forget the rings."

"I'll pick them up before I go home." They were planning on announcing their wedding at dinner the next day and would of course be donning their rings when they did so.

dp

Unlike Helen, who always ordered complete Thanksgiving and Christmas meals from various stores and/or delis, Dolly Frasier did some of her own cooking, supplemented by what she would buy. In this case, she was cooking the turkey and some of the sides, while other dishes were preordered. She knew a fair amount about wine, and her husband even more, and together they had an extensive wine cellar to draw upon.

There were nine who sat down for the Thanksgiving feast at the Frasiers' a little after 1:00: Daria and Jack; Helen, Jake, and Quinn; and Jay, Dolly, Joan, and Jeffy. Helen frowned a bit when all except Quinn and Jeffy were served full glasses of pink Champagne (those two were served half glasses) along with the salads to start the meal. When the main meal was served (again to Helen's surprise, Daria, even more so than Joan, helped Dolly clear and reset the table), there was a choice between a Reisling, a California Rosé, and a Burgundy.

As dinner progressed, Jay Frasier seemed to be his normal, placid self. In reality, he was closely observing the dynamics around him. Jake seemed to be the only person fully enjoying himself and not noticing the tensions around him. Joan had been unusually quiet since she had gotten home; something was obviously bothering her, and Jay thought it unlikely his daughter would bring up whatever it was this afternoon. Quinn was mostly picking at her vegetables and trying to ignore Jeff, who while trying to make small talk with Quinn for once wasn't trying to flirt.

Jack and Daria were both antsy – something Helen and Dolly had also both picked up on. Jay kept track of his children's spending far more closely than they realized – he was the president of the bank they had their accounts with and where Jack and Daria's safety deposit box was (granted, the box was in a branch location, but Jack was wrong about his father not learning about it and the extra accounts). Jay didn't know the pair was married (although he had wondered) but knew they believed they were together, because of the joint accounts and the deposit box. He also knew that Jack had given a large check to a realtor, and therefore knew the couple was going to at least announce they were moving in together. He had always believed the pair should be allowed to make their own decisions despite their youth, and so had said nothing until recently.

Informed of all this just a few days before, Dolly was hoping they would be announcing their engagement as well as their cohabitation, while Jay reserved judgement on that. It was clear Helen had picked up on some of this background tension, and was likely fearing similar news.
Things had gone on long enough, and wanting at least a chance at enjoying either dessert and coffee or a lovely cheese plate and vintage port combination, Jay decided enough was enough. "Jack, Daria, is there something you want to tell us?"

The two exchanged looks, and Daria said, "As a matter of fact, yes." The two reached under the table, actually so Jack could hand Daria her rings before putting his own on.

"Oh, God!" Helen exclaimed. "Don't tell me…."

"I NOT pregnant!" Daria interrupted, almost snappishly.

Helen quickly recovered, "That's good at least." Helen's eyes then narrowed, and she demanded, "Then tell me you're not engaged, or going to live together or something like that!"

Daria frowned while Jack winced. Now glaring at her mother, Daria stated, "No, we are not engaged. Yes, of course we are going to live together." Daria brought her left hand up and laid it flat on the tablecloth. "That's what a married couple does."

Silence reigned for several seconds as everyone stared at Daria's engagement and wedding rings. Jack then shifted so he could lay his left hand next to Daria's, showing his matching wedding ring. Daria then laid her hand over his, so that all three matching rings were next to each other.

Silence, for several long seconds.

"Oh, congratulations my dears!" Dolly finally said happily. She had wanted to marry Jay almost as soon as she had met him, even though she had just turned 15 at the time and she had had to wait seven years before they had tied the knot. She saw this as fulfilling her teen fantasy, ignoring any possible problems. Jay nodded his agreement to her sentiments. Jake and Quinn were stunned, Joan was just surprised, and Jeffy was a bit confused.

"And just when did you get married? Why now" Helen demanded.

"We were married on the Fourth of July…sixteen months ago, in Utah," Daria stated, startling even Dolly and Jay. "Yes, you could have had it annulled if you had found out before I turned eighteen, but it's too late for that now. That's why we waited until now; you can't interfere with it. However, if you and Missus Frasier would like us to, we'd be happy to reaffirm our vows over the Christmas break…."

Helen held her hand up to stop her daughter. She was obviously both upset and thinking hard. Finally, she turned to Dolly Frasier. "Thank you for a delicious dinner. I…we won't be staying for dessert. If you want to arrange a…some sort of a…ceremony, please be my guest and let us know." She turned on Daria after glancing at her wristwatch. "We will be going to the movies. We will return home in three hours. Please have all your things removed by then. Let your grandmothers and aunts know about your marriage…." Helen's eyes narrowed. "Did Amy know…?"

"No," Daria assured her mother, "she doesn't know."

Helen nodded and stood. "Come along you two."

A still in-shock Quinn stood, but Jake said quietly, "I'll be right out."

Helen gave him a dirty look, but just left the room, followed by Quinn.

Jake looked at Daria. "Do you have your house key?"

Daria nodded, and simply said, "I was afraid this might happen." She stood and gestured to her father to leave the dining room with her. On the way to the front door, she said to him, "Dad…I'm sorry if this hurt you. But please, no matter what Mother does, please come to the ceremony." She placed a hand on his arm. "I really want you there."

Jake was surprised to see how vulnerable his elder daughter looked as she said this, almost pleading with him. He therefore managed a small smile. "I'll be there," he promised. To his surprise, Daria gave him a brief hug, which he gladly reciprocated. Jake left the house in a slightly better mood; Daria returned to the living room.

Jay stood as she entered. "Well, Jeff, let's help Daria and Jack get her packed up and moved here. Dessert can wait."

As Daria had said, she had been afraid this would happen, and had started preparing in May. At least she and Jack wouldn't need to find a motel room for the night. "I actually have basically everything boxed – eighteen boxes in all, or there will be when I close up two more in my…in my former bedroom, plus my suitcase and laundry." She hadn't brought much dirty laundry, but her mother had mentioned the idea so much that Daria had felt obliged to bring some. "Most of the boxes are up in the attic, and none are too big or too heavy." Those had been packed since May. She had opened two of the boxes in her now-former bedroom, looking for a book, and those could quickly be repacked.

"No problem," Jay assured her. "Dolly?"

"Oh!" She turned to Daria. "Jack gave me a set of dates, are these correct?" She showed Daria the list.

"They are," Daria agreed. They had written them out together before leaving Boston,

"Now, I know you're not particularly religious, but we are members of Saint Dunstan's Episcopal, and in fact I'm currently in charge of the bookings. Would you mind a church ceremony?" Dolly finished, hoping Daria would agree.

"No, I don't mind," Daria answered. Jack had already told her this and she was prepared to go along for a number of reasons. "Both of my grandmothers are members of the church, and we went to one in Highland until it closed because the congregation had become so small."

Dolly nodded. "Call me in half an hour or so, and I'll see if I have a date set." That would depend on the parish priest's availability, as she had the booking information for the church and parish hall at hand. She was glad that Daria was willing to go along with a blessing ceremony.

Daria rode quietly with Jack to her parents', while Jeff rode with his father. It was a chilly but dry day, so the boxes Daria had mentioned should fit into the truck and Jay's car for just one trip. Daria pointed to the boxes up in the attic, and while the men started on those, she packed the final two boxes and her suitcase and got her dirty laundry back into the laundry bag she had brought. Then she called Jane.

Jane was waiting for the call. "How'd it go?" Jane asked as soon as she answered.

Daria explained what had happened and what was happening. When she was done, she told Jane to stand by and called the Frasiers.

Dolly answered on one ring. She had caller id, so knew who was calling. "Great timing!" she said without even saying hello. "Since it was one of your dates, I presume the evening of the Twenty-first will be fine? That's the Monday."

"Yes, that will be fine."

"Reverend Goodacre will bless the reaffirmation in a brief ceremony, followed by a reception in the parish hall." Dolly hesitated. "Do you have any idea of what the maximum number of your guests might be?"

Daria thought about that. "Maximum…maybe around twenty to twenty-two, depending on any plus-ones? Certainly under twenty-five."

"That's fine, dear. So how many invitations would you like to cover that number? All twenty-five?"

Daria smiled a bit evilly, knowing that her mother would soon regret not being in on the planning. "Would eighteen be too many? I could probably have a few less…."

"No, that's fine. I will consult with you about the reception, of course…."

"I trust you, Missus Frasier…."

"Daria," she scolded lightly, "if you somehow don't already know, I adore you almost as much as Jack does. You are now my second daughter, and I love you. You may call me Dolly, Mother Frasier, or whatever you're comfortable with, but please, nothing that formal."

Daria smirked, "Mama Dolly?"

Dolly laughed, "I know you're just teasing."

"Seriously, all I ask is that things not be too elaborate – you know what Jack likes, so a simple dinner, a nice cake that says 'congratulations' or something similar, maybe a little dancing, and a photographer. Nothing over the top."

"As you wish, dear. Still," Dolly added seriously, "Jack only has a single bed. Shall we set the two of you up in the guest room?"

"On the one hand, we already have an apartment, and it has a new king-sized bed, but on the other hand, we've been squeezing onto a cot in my dorm room. Jack's bed will be fine for three nights." Daria smirked again. "After all, it's at least a full-sized bed."

"A bit too much information, my dear," Dolly teased.

"I understand…Mom. And Dolly?"

"Yes, dear?"

"Thank you, for everything."

Dolly's eyes teared a little – from Daria's tone it was obvious how sincere she was. No doubt Helen's reaction was starting to sink in, even if it had been partially expected. "You're very welcome, daughter."

Daria smiled and called Jane to give her the wedding date and to remind Jane to have a formal red dress ready to match her green-and-white Cotillion outfit. Hanging up, and determined to make her mother pay for at least one long distance call, she called Amy.

"My favorite relative!" Amy said, glad to have a break from grading papers on a holiday. "What's the news? Eloping with that handsome hunk of yours? I can get a flight to Vegas…."

"Too late," Daria broke in. "We actually got married in Utah over sixteen months ago."

Silence.

"Aunt Amy?"

"Okay," Amy admitted. "You got me. Surely, you're not serious…are you?"

"I am, and yes, we are married. Oh, and don't call me Shirley."

"What has Helen done, assuming you've already told her?" Despite Daria's attempt at humor, Amy knew there would be something, hopefully nothing too drastic.

"Mother dearest? We announced it to both families at dinner. Her reaction? She's kicking me out of the house; well, I have just over two hours more to have all my stuff out before Hurricane Helen returns, possibly to finish sweeping all signs of my presence from her house." Her bedroom had been remodeled, and Daria really hadn't recognized the space. "Still, I need two things from you."


"Whatever you need, Sweetie," Amy assured her.

"Most importantly, we are reaffirming our vows here in Lawndale next month on Monday, the Twenty-first. You'll get an invitation…."

"I'll be there…sounds like you did some planning."

Amused, Daria explained, "Actually, my mother-in-law arranged the place and date in less than an hour after offering. That will leave Mother out of the planning."

"She'll hate that, but she's dealt herself out," Amy said thoughtfully. "What's the other thing?"

"I need Grandmother's phone number."

"Ah, good luck with that."

After talking a few more minutes, Daria called her grandmother, knowing she was hosting Aunt Rita, Erin, and Brian for the day. "Hi, Aunt Rita. This is Daria; may I please speak with Grandmother. It's rather important…. No, nothing is wrong…."

"Hello, Grandmother; Happy Thanksgiving…. No, of course that's not why I'm calling. I do need to tell you something rather startling…. No, but close." Apparently, few would have been surprised if Daria had announced their engagement. "We actually are already married…. Yes, we eloped; some time ago actually, but we waited to tell anyone until now because since my eighteenth birthday passed, it can no longer be annulled…. Well, I'd say Mother is more furious than upset. Right now, my husband and in-laws are removing the last of my possessions, as Mother decreed I must be totally removed from this house before she comes back here in a few hours." Daria liked making that point known.

"Actually, yes, there is more," she went on when questioned. "We are going to reaffirm our vows on the Twenty-first of next month at Saint Dunstan's Episcopal Church here in town, and you, Aunt Rita, and if you think she'd like one, Erin and Brian will be receiving invitations."

Tess was of course surprised by all this. But in the end, after deciding she would be calling her middle daughter in a few hours, she merely asked if there was anything she could do besides come.

"No thank you, Grandmother, unless you happen to have Grandma Ruth's phone number."

"Actually, I believe I do." Tess frowned in surprise. "You have mine but not hers?"

"No, I had to call Aunt Amy first, both to tell her the news and to get your number."

Surprised that Amy had not known about the marriage ahead of time, Tess supplied Daria with the number she had, both hoping it was not out of date.

It wasn't, and Daria's conversation with her paternal grandmother Ruth was similar to that with Grandmother Tess. By now, all the boxes were out of the attic and in the truck, and the group went to work on the final set in Daria's now former bedroom. Jay assured his daughter-in-law that there was plenty of room in his mansion's basement for her things, and no hurry to move them from there. Dolly mentioned teasingly as they unloaded the boxes that Jack's room would have at least a queen-sized bed installed before they returned for the holiday break. The now-extended Frasier family then returned to the dining room for dessert and then some excellent port.

When the other three Morgendorffers returned home a short time later, they found a note next to the phone, with Daria's housekeys (two for the front door, back door, inside and outside garage doors) on top. Helen and Jake were surprised – they hadn't known about the second front door key (which Daria had had made even before the move to Lawndale – making extra keys for the family had been one of the many jobs delegated to her before that move), and neither even knew for certain where their keys to the garage currently were.

Dear Dad, Mother, Quinn:

All my possessions have been removed as Mother has commanded. I called Aunt Amy and both grandmothers to inform them of events. The reaffirmation ceremony, plus reception, is set for the evening of the 21st at St. Dunstan's. My mother-in-law will be handling all the arrangements and will send along the details. We have an apartment already in Boston. I will email the address and phone number once the phone is turned on (scheduled for Dec. 1).

I hope to see you on the 21st, if not before.

Daria, currently still Morgendorffer until the 21st