Free Boswell, LaVenia by THE DAWNING (The Dawning Trilogy)

as he sidled over to their table, still smiling that big smile of his and looking from Jason to Jennifer.  “Soooo, you brought a friend I see.”  Turning to Jennifer and holding out his hand he said before Jason could respond, “I am Father Jose, and I have been informed that you are Jennifer?”
                Shaking his hand, she remarked, “Yes, but how did you know?”
                Jason stood as soon as Father Jose arrived at their table.  They shook hands and Jason allowed her question to hang in air.
                “Oh, Barbara was telling me all about how she is pretty sure she adores you. And I heard that you are a writer too,” Father Jose replied. 
                Even his eyes smiled, Jenny realized.
                “There is also Lillian and Charles,” he stated, “who said they were happy Jason has managed to bring you today, that you are a lovely lady.  They are correct,” he added flashing his pearly white perfect teeth.
                “Thank you, sir,” Jennifer responded, a tad embarrassed.
                “Hope to see you again soon, Jennifer.  Jason is a fine young man who we are all very proud of, and I hope you enjoy your evening here with us,” he remarked with a nod at Jason before he glided away to another table.
                That was the first time in her whole life that a minister had ever spoken to her.  He seemed nice enough.  Very courteous and his smile seemed genuine, she decided, trying to relax again.
                The evening sun was hanging lower in the West as more and more people began meandering into the house, although it had been a weirdly warm day for winter.
                Jason went to grab some oysters off the grill for them to eat before they would all be gone.  He brought back a small bucket of them and a shucking knife, empty platter and a large dish towel.
                “In the shell or out?” he inquired as he cracked opened the first one.
                “In,” she responded as she took the half shell he’d prepared by slicing the membrane that kept the oyster attached to the pearlescent oyster lining.  Sprinkling black pepper on the grilled oyster she enjoyed it as it slid into her waiting mouth. “Hmmmm, hmm, that’s just plain wonderful,” she mumbled with happiness.
                Jason was busy shaking Louisiana Hot Sauce on his when she began to help herself to another.  They both ignored the crackers that had been added to the bucket, the oysters were enough.
                After a little while someone came by, empted their table of all the wreckage from the emptied oysters and wiped the table clean, adding a fresh black tablecloth.
                “Jen, what happened to your poor wrist?” Jason asked in an agitated whisper as he grabbed her arm and pulled it closer for him to look.
                Swiftly drawing her arm back before he could see it better she answered, “Oh, nothing much.  I got into an arm wrestling match and lost.”  She tried to laugh it off.  “Would you mind terribly getting me something to drink?  The salt from the oysters have made me thirsty,” Jenny asked to stop him from staring at her arm with that frown on his face.  He left and she tried to unwind one more time.
                A short while later Jason sat sipping his drink, coffee this time, and looked as calm and relaxed as if he were a king and this was his castle, or so Jennifer thought as she glanced at him.
                She was tense but tried not to show it.  Everywhere she looked this particular group seemed to show money and power - the way so many, though not all, but many, were dressed.  Though she had to admit, it wasn’t just their dress, it was their posture, the perfect skin, the perfect hair, the perfect mannerisms, even their perfect conversations, their