**********
On Tuesday evening, I make a couple batches of chocolate chip cookies, dropping one off to Mrs. Jenner and one off to Maurice. I chat for a few minutes with both of them and then make my way to the bus stop, off to see Mr. Cooper. He's sitting on his porch as usual, waiting for me when I walk up, smiling and greeting me with a big hug.
"Evelyn!" he says, gesturing for me to take my usual seat on the porch swing as he sits down in a cushioned chair. It's a crisp evening and so he offers me an afghan to lay over my legs and I keep my coat on. He has a blanket over his legs as well.
"How are you?" I ask, smiling, placing the cookies down on the small table next to the porch swing and taking the foil off the plate.
He smiles warmly "Couldn't be better. Got a pretty girl to visit with and a plate of homemade cookies."
I smile back, "Take one," I gesture towards the plate and he grabs a cookie. I follow suit.
After a minute he says, "And what's new with you Miss Evelyn?"
I finish chewing before I respond, feeling a little shy, "I'm dating someone," I say quietly.
He looks surprised for a second, probably because I've never mentioned a boyfriend in all the years I've known him. But then he smiles widely. "And who is the lucky gentleman?"
"His name is Jake. He runs a company that does something with X-ray technology," I wave my hand indicating I'm not real clear on what exactly that is, "He's… nice, and smart and handsome and…" I blush, looking down and feeling awkward suddenly.
But Mr. Cooper is still smiling, watching me closely. "Why, Evelyn, I do believe you're in love."
"Oh! No, it hasn't been long at all. I practically just met him."
"Knew the first time I laid eyes on my Mary that she was the one for me. Didn't doubt it for even one second for the next forty three years."
I look at him sadly. I know that the loss of his late wife is still a tender subject for him, even though it's been many years since he lost her.
"Does he know what he has in you, Evelyn?"
I'm not sure what he means exactly but I answer, "He seems to really like me, too. He makes me feel… special." I blush again. It's kinda weird to talk about my love life with someone whom I consider a grandfather figure.
"Good. You are special. I knew it the first time I saw you out in that yard, playing so patiently with those two little demons." He laughs. "Then later, sitting alone on the porch, looking so sad, but always holding your head high. I knew you were hurting, but that you were brave."
I look down, remembering those days. "I was never brave, Mr. Cooper. I was scared all the time as a kid, and then as a teenager, too."
"I know that, Evelyn. But it didn't keep you from showing kindness to everyone I ever saw you with, including me. It didn't keep you from sitting with an old man on his porch just to chat for a minute or two because you saw that I could use a smiling face. It didn't keep you from bringing out a glass of water when you saw me mowing my lawn in the summertime. Even now, you think I don't know that it's hard for you to come near that house," he gestures to my old foster home, "or how long it takes you to bring me a plate of cookies?"
I look up at him, "I love bringing you cookies, Mr. Cooper. I get to visit with you."
"See what I mean?" he smiles.
I look down again, studying my nails, embarrassed. He continues, "You know why I call you Evelyn, instead of Evie like everyone else does?" he asks.
I nod no. I just thought he liked it because he's from a more formal generation and liked using my full name, rather than a casual nickname.
He's quiet for a second, obviously gathering his thoughts, "I don't want to bring anything too personal up, Evelyn, because we've never talked about the circumstances that brought you to that foster home next door all those years ago. But I know that I can't say much for your mama, leaving you there, never coming back. I reckon you probably don't have a lot to say for her either."
I remain quiet. He's right about that.
"But your mama, she did at least two things right. She gave you life, and she gave you a name fit for a lady. And that, Evelyn, is exactly what you are. You make sure that gentleman friend realizes that." He smiles then and I blink back tears.
I tilt my head to the side and say, "Since we're on the subject of compliments, Mr. Cooper, I have something I'd like to share with you, too." I smile.
"Okay,” he smiles.
I pause for a minute as I grow serious and say, "I never had a whole lot of love in my life. Many times, I had a whole lot of just the opposite. But everywhere I went, I seemed to find at least one person who gave me kindness and made me feel special. When I lived here," I gesture to the house next door, "that person was you. You gave that to me and you have no idea what it meant. Thank you."