Serenity Falls(42)

“They better be here on time, or Mom might blow some shit up,” Wes whispers to me under his breath.

My eyes cut to his over the rim of my coffee cup. The thought of Mrs. Sandy ‘blowing some shit up’ brings a smile to my face. I set my coffee cup down and head into the kitchen to help her. A black and white apron with a pots and pans design covers her denim capris and coral colored T-shirt. Her blonde hair hangs loosely, pulled back from her naturally beautiful face. Flour, spices, eggs, and milk scatter the countertops as Mrs. Sandy rushes around the kitchen frantically. She continuously wipes her hands on the front of her apron, turns the sink off and on rinsing utensils, and opens different cabinets as she looks for things. “Mrs. Sandy, it’s okay.” I lay my hand on her shoulder to gain her attention. “What do you need me to do?”

She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. When her eyes open, she looks more in control. “After getting the plates, juice, and everything else, would you mind washing some of these dishes? I seem to be running out of them, which is hard to do since I have so many.”

I smile at her as I try to contain the chuckle that wants to escape. “Yes ma’am.”

“Thank you,” she says, turning her attention back to the stove.

As soon as I have everything she needs out on the counter, I turn to the sink, rinse the dirty dishes, and soak them in the hot, soapy water.

“Need some help?” Wes’ deep timbre startles me, sending tingles down my spine.

I hadn’t even heard him move from the table to stand behind me. I barely turn my head to look at him. I nod. “Yeah, thanks.” I scoot over making room for him.

“Are you nervous about these next two weeks?” Wes asks as he rinses the dish I just handed him.

“No. I’m more excited than anything. I always have so much fun with the kids.” I smile a genuine smile at him. The soapy water trickles down my arms toward my elbows when I hand him another dish. “What about you?”

“Honestly? A little. I haven’t been around a group of kids in quite a while,” he answers quietly.

Huh, the confident, big, badass, bull rider is nervous and I can’t help but melt a little more for him. “That makes sense, but I know you’ll do fine. Trust me. Is it hard for you to be around… you know… kids with disabilities?” It would make sense, knowing that he and his cousin were so close before he died.

He stares into the sink full of water before he answers. “It used to, but not so much anymore. I’ve come to accept the fact that, even though I miss Colt, I know he’s no longer suffering. I look back now and thank God that I got what little time with him I did.” He shrugs his shoulders while drying a plate.

I do not know what to say, so I just nod. There are really no words of comfort that I’m sure he hasn’t heard. I’ve heard them all myself. I have learned over time that sometimes silence can be just as comforting.

We’re pulled out of our moment when the porch door swings open. Jackie, Liam, Sarah, and a few of the other volunteers wander in, stretching and yawning as they murmur good morning.

“Good mornin’. How did everyone sleep?” Mrs. Sandy asks as she puts the final touches on breakfast.

“Very well. Thank you,” Jackie answers as she gives me a pointed look. I’m taken back by her demeanor. When she arrived on Sunday, she was so excited that we were going to be bunking in the same room again like last summer. The silence that grew between us when I told her I that Mrs. Sandy offered me to stay in the main house quickly became awkward and uncomfortable. After that statement, she’s barely spoken to me. I figured she would have gotten over it after a night of sleeping on it, but I guess not.

“Some of the best sleep I’ve had in a while Mrs. S. Did you get new mattresses this year?” Liam replies as he pulls out a chair from the table and takes a seat.

“Nope, not new mattresses, but I did put those memory foam toppers I’ve been hearing about on the beds.”

“Well, I think they’re awesome Mrs. Sandy,” Sarah replies while walking into the kitchen.

“Good. I’m glad to hear that. All right y’all, breakfast is done. Come help yourselves.” Mrs. Sandy slips her apron off and hangs it on a hook next to the fridge.

In seconds, the kitchen is full of people loading food onto their plates. We all banter back and forth, joke about not taking too much gravy, and laugh about how everyone needs to share the eggs. Wes gripes at Liam for taking too many slices of bacon, and as I reach for the last piece, Wes grabs it up, grins at me, and shoves half of it in his mouth. Two can play at that game. I reach up, snap off the other half, and take a bite. His eyes go wide in shock. I smile sweetly at him as I chew, then turn, and walk away.