Hi all,

Welcome to JABB 700!  So hard to believe we've reached this milestone!  Initially, I'd planned for this newsletter to be a more introspective look on JABB's past.  However, I realized that yesterday was the anniversary of a couple of significant things.  So, instead, I ended up writing this little schmaltzy vignette... also as a means of distracting myself as severe weather approaches.  I hope that all of you in the path of dangerous weather stay safe!

God bless,
Jenni



"Hurry!  But be careful!" Andrew shouted as he scooped a screaming Belle out of her bed.

Out in the hallway, JenniAnn was balancing an equally hysterical Evie on her hip while Avi clung to the belt of her robe.

"Come on, babies.  Quick but careful," she urged, trying to keep her voice steady as they moved to the stairs.

A crash of thunder reverberated around them.  The little girls both screamed again and Avi began to cry softly.

"Down we go..."

"Violeta, go down now and get the lights on.  Please," Andrew directed.

Violeta, who was standing at the bottom of the steps with Shelby and the assorted house pets, nodded.

"I think I heard a ballroom window go," Shelby whispered as they hurried ahead.

Violeta grimaced.

"Yikes..."

The lights flickered, causing more screaming.

For a moment, as she reached the bottom of the stairs with the two little ones, JenniAnn froze.

"It's okay, darling," Andrew whispered.  "Just a few more steps."

JenniAnn roused and nodded, making her way to the basement door. 

Soon, the little group was in the laundry room and the sounds of the raging storm were dampened.

"All right...  All safe now!" Andrew encouraged.

"But the animals in the stables!" Belle wailed.

"Little elf...  I'm a little worried, too.  But Daddy and Joshua and Appa and many others worked to make the stables as strong as can be," JenniAnn comforted. 

"We really did, baby girl."  Andrew gave Belle a squeeze then set her down.  "Now, let's go get comfy while we wait this out."

"Sweet baby," JenniAnn murmured as Evie buried her face in her neck.  Silently, she wished that tonight of all nights hadn't been one of the times they were babysitting... 

"It'll be okay, Evie.  You can sit with me on the couch," Avi assured, squeezing his friend's hand.

"A perfect idea," JenniAnn agreed as they moved through the tunnels and into Serendipity's furnished basement.

"I miss Ivy and Sy..." Violeta pouted.

"It was nice spending storms with them," JenniAnn agreed.  "But I'm also glad they're not here.  They've lost enough sleep with Isaiah's teething.  Hopefully it's calmer in New York."

"True..."

JenniAnn got Avi and Evie settled with a blanket on one of the couches while Andrew did the same with Belle.

"What if our castle blows away?" the latter asked, her face half hidden by the blanket.

"That's not very likely, Belle."

"But I saw the pictures when those tornadoes hit Omaha..."

"Those were modern houses.  Houses just aren't made like they used to be.  But the castle is stone.  And that's about as strong as you can get.  There might be some damage but nothing we can't fix."  Andrew winked.  "Good thing your old Dad knows his way around a tool box, hmm?"

Belle laughed.

"Yeah...  But... your workshop isn't stone."

"No.  But I built it once with some help and I could again if I had to."

"So long as we have power, does anyone want to watch a movie?" Shelby offered.  "We moved some good ones down here... just in case."

Avi moved to peruse the selection of DVDs but Evie clung to his arm.

"Belle can pick," he offered.

"Okay, thanks."  Belle hopped off the couch and made her selection.

A few minutes later, Encanto was playing while Andrew and JenniAnn passed out snacks and juice.  By the time "The Family Madrigal" had ended, the kids were all calmed down and focused.  Andrew and JenniAnn exchanged furtive glances until, just after "We Don't Talk About Bruno," Andrew made a move.

The angel of death stepped over to the loveseat Violeta and Shelby were sharing.

"JenniAnn and I are just gonna step back into the tunnel for a moment.  Yell if we need to come back in."

"Okay," Violeta answered without looking away from the TV screen.

Shelby glanced over to where JenniAnn had begun to pace.

"Good call."  She squeezed Andrew's hand.

Andrew smiled at her then approached JenniAnn.

"Laja...  Come with me?"

JenniAnn nodded eagerly then followed Andrew into the tunnel.  As soon as the door was closed behind them, she leapt at him.

"I hate this."

"I know..."  Andrew kissed her hair.  "Hopefully it won't last too much longer."

"That hail sounded huge..."

"Yeah...  I definitely see some roof and window repairs in my future."

"And... and I am worried about the animals.  Yonah... Starbuck... the goats and sheep..."

"About that...  I did a thing."  Andrew withdrew his cell phone.  "I didn't want to bring it up with the kids around just in case but..."

"A security camera!"

"I was installing them this week as part of an assignment and, well, employee discount..."  Andrew hit a button and a video feed of the barn appeared.  He handed the phone to JenniAnn.  "So long as the wi-fi keeps up, you can check on them."

To JenniAnn's relief, nothing seemed to be amiss.  It was obvious the animals were nervous.  The sheep were all huddled together as were the goats.  Yonah was wandering around, seeming to check on the other animals before returning to the stall he shared with Andrew's horse, Starbuck. 

"Sweet Yonah..."  JenniAnn beamed then handed the phone back to Andrew.  "Sweet you...  Always thinking of what we need or want before we do."

"You're pretty good about that yourself."  Andrew sighed as JenniAnn pressed a kiss against his neck.  It was followed by another to his jawline and, finally, his lips.  It had been a long, busy week of assignments who hadn't been very fond of him.  And he and JenniAnn hadn't had much time together.  Now here they were, alone together.  And while the occasion was unfortunate... this was bliss.

JenniAnn rested her ear against Andrew's chest, letting the steady thump of his heart further calm her nerves.

"I've been thinking..." Andrew whispered as his hands ran through her hair.

"Hmm?"

"The storage room down here... we're not using most of it.  Maybe I could partition some of it off for... for us.  When this happens.  Now that the kids are older and easily lulled by a movie... we could have at least a few minutes to ourselves in some place more comfortable than this old tunnel."

JenniAnn giggled.

"A place for Mama and Daddy to calm their own nerves in their own way that doesn't involve Disney movies?"

"Exactly..."

JenniAnn cupped Andrew's face in her hands then stretched up for another kiss.

"I love that idea.  A lot.  Distraction is a good thing.  I wish I wasn't still so phobic of big storms...  I'm afraid I passed that along to Belle."

Andrew shrugged.

"You can't help it.  You grew up in Tornado Alley, after all.  And it's one of the most common, most basic fears.  Clear on back to the first humans."

JenniAnn smiled.

"Which you would know..."

Andrew chuckled.

"Don't make me feel old."

JenniAnn smiled coquettishly at him.

"I do my best to make you feel young, actually.  But I can only do so much."

Andrew's laughter increased as she kissed his upper chest.

"Fair enough."

"What time is it?"

Andrew checked his phone again.

"12:08."

"Oh!  No wonder I'm so keyed up tonight.  It's the year anniversary of the storms in Omaha.  But also..."  JenniAnn buried her hands in Andrew's hair and gently tugged so he bowed his head.  "Happy Promotion Day, my love."

Andrew melted into her kiss. 

JenniAnn gazed up at him lovingly.

"You are the most wonderful angel of death... but an even better dad and anam cara... the love of my life... my calm in the storm."

"Laja..."

They kissed again and Andrew was wondering if, just maybe, they could make a makeshift bed in the storage room when the lights went out and the kids started to scream.

"Darn..." JenniAnn muttered. 

"Yeah..."

Andrew turned on his phone's flashlight and they returned to the basement.

"It's okay.  We're okay," Andrew reassured.  "Let's get the lanterns lit and how about a storytime?"

"Okay..." came Belle's pitiful voice.

With Violeta's and Shelby's help, the couple soon had several electric lanterns glowing.  JenniAnn lit a lavender candle and set it on the coffee table in front of the assorted couches.

"There now..."  She settled onto one couch with Evie on her lap and Avi snuggled beside her.

Across from them, Andrew cuddled with Belle while the older girls remained on their loveseat.

"I know what story I want to hear."  Violeta whispered something to Shelby who began to clap.

"Yes!  Perfect timing.  Andrew, tell us how you became an angel of death.  Please?" Shelby requested.

Andrew smiled.  Violeta and Shelby knew the story well enough to have told it themselves.  They'd not only heard it from him but also Sam and had watched the Touched by an Angel episode multiple times.  But they'd deemed the episode too scary for Avi and Belle had always been a little creeped out by seeing "not-Daddy" as Daddy. 

"You weren't always an angel of death, Daddy?"  Belle asked as she rested her head on his shoulder.

"No.  I've had several jobs.  But back in 1865, I was a caseworker which meant I'd help people deal with various problems in their lives."

"You do that now, Daddy," Avi interjected.  "Mama, too."

"We do, you're right.  In a way, everyone is a caseworker because we're all supposed to help each other."  Andrew tousled Belle's hair before continuing.  "But this particular time, I was assigned to a very angry man named John Wilkes Booth..."

JenniAnn's eyes misted.  She'd heard the story so many times and, of course, was no stranger to "Beautiful Dreamer."  She had swooned repeatedly over John Dye's Andrew with his cute little sideburns... not yet knowing that in only two years she would meet the extraordinary man across from her, the father of her children, her beloved Andrew.  Every time she heard the tale, she longed to walk into those woods and comfort him, to assure him he'd not failed, that brighter days would come.  Her face darkened for a moment, thinking of what was currently going on at the White House.  But still... what President Lincoln had said remained as true as ever.


And her Andrew was as true as ever, as dedicated to sharing the message of God's love as ever.

And they would ensure their children grew up knowing the value of love, freedom, compassion, truth, beauty, and bravery.

JenniAnn let herself be lulled by the sound of Andrew's voice.  No storm... literal or metaphorical... would ever silence it.  He had spoken the truth in the face of hatred 160 years ago.  And he still spoke out against hatred and fear.  The same voice that had chastised Booth and praised President Lincoln now whispered sweet nothings to her and sang lullabies to their babies.  An angel of death still but also the angel at the heart of their family life, their home.

Whatever they faced when they left the basement, Andrew would lead them through it.

"I had always admired what President Lincoln tried to do for his country," Andrew continued.  "He wasn't a perfect man.  None are."

"Except Joshua!" Belle piped up.

Andrew kissed her hair.

"Exactly right.  Except Joshua.  But Abraham was a good man.  And I was so glad when he signed the Emancipation Proclamation because the color of a person's skin is never a reason to treat them badly.  We're all family."

"I'm your family even though my skin is darker," Belle interjected again.

"Exactly, my little elf.  Your Mama's and my baby girl.  Always will be."  Andrew squeezed her hand.  "But, unfortunately, not everyone believes that and Mr. Booth was one of them..."

JenniAnn noticed that both Avi and Evie had nodded off.  Soon, she found her own eye lids drooping.  Just barely, she could hear the rumble of thunder.  But it did nothing to distract her from the soothing tones of her beloved's voice.


The next thing JenniAnn was aware of was the sensation of soft lips on her forehead.  Her eyes shot open and soon focused on Andrew, kneeling beside her. 

"G'morning, Laja," he greeted.  "Sorry to wake you but if you want to see the kids off before their day with Raquel and Nico in El-Chanan..."

JenniAnn blinked then sat up, realizing she was alone in the basement save Andrew.

"The kids..."

"Back at the castle.  I fed them breakfast."

"What time is it?"

"8:30."

"8:30!  I never sleep that late!"

"You obviously needed it."  Once she'd sat up, Andrew settled beside JenniAnn and hugged her.

"The damage?"

"Minimal.  Pretty much everything has some missing shingles.  A handful of broken or cracked windows.  Not anything that can't be easily fixed.  And I've already checked on everyone in the barn.  It was, umm, pretty stinky.  Definitely had some nervous tummies but otherwise unharmed."

"Poor loves.  Poor you." 

Andrew chuckled.

"I managed.  Just be glad I showered before I woke you up."

"But today's your day..." JenniAnn protested.  "I shoulda been doing the cleaning and cooking."

"You do enough.  Besides, what I'd really like is to go shopping and start working on our idea from last night."

JenniAnn blushed as she smiled.

"I think you're gonna make it so I'll actually look forward to storms."

With a grin, Andrew brought one of her hands to his lips.

"That may be part of the plan..."

JenniAnn wrapped her arms around the angel and nestled her face into his neck.

"I love you so much."

"And I love you so much."

JenniAnn released Andrew then got to her feet and entered the tunnel, wincing slightly.

"Getting too old for couch sleeping, I guess."

"It happens to the best of us."

"Ugh.  You too?"

Andrew nodded.

"Sorry.  Are you gonna make some time to pop Home and say hi to Honest Abe?" JenniAnn asked.

"Oh, for sure.  I thought I'd get his thoughts on my plans for our little love nest."

JenniAnn froze on the steps.

"Andrew!"

The angel of death burst out laughing.

"I'm kidding, I'm kidding.  I already checked in while the coffee was brewing... and made no mention of our plans."

JenniAnn laughed, too.

"Thank goodness...  I don't need any presidents in my bedroom... or bedroom-like places, thank you very much."

Andrew halted, his expression aghast.

"No presidents...  Not even the first and only president of Dyeland?"

Still laughing, JenniAnn looped an arm around Andrew's waist as they continued up the steps.

"Okay, okay...  One exception.  But only because he's so good looking and has a rather nice personality to boot.  And because he's handy around the house.  Well and then also the fact that he's old and can't sleep on a couch any more.  Oh and the small, inconsequential fact that I'm madly in love with him."

"Now you're making me blush, Laja..."

"Good, you're especially cute when you blush."

At the top of the stairs, JenniAnn turned to Andrew and took her hands in his.

"But in all seriousness... thank you.  You've weathered a lot of storms here with me and I've always appreciated it.  And I know this week has been hard for you and I'm sorry you had to come back from a difficult assignment to an ultra-nervous anam cara and screaming children but..."

"But," Andrew interrupted.  "I wouldn't have had it any other way."

JenniAnn squeezed his hands.

"I know.  But I hope, if you want, you'll talk to me about how the week went.  I feel like we've been like two ships passing in the night."

"Laja... I would love that."

"Good."

The two embraced then JenniAnn kissed Andrew's check and hurried off to get cleaned up and dressed before Nico and Raquel arrived.

With a teary smile, Andrew watched her go.  It really had been a tough week but he knew JenniAnn would help him sort through his emotions... his calm in the storm.



This newsletter is dedicated to John Dye for giving me so much stuff to do with JABB that it's easy to get distracted.

JABB Portal
JABB TOC
JABB 701

(Photo Credits: The photograph used on this page is from Touched by an Angel and owned by CBS Productions, Caroline Productions, and Moon Water Productions.  It is not being used to seek profit.)