He didn’t respond, and it was plain to see that his summary of the day would be no different, regardless of her efforts.
“You know what, Beanstalk?” Robert said. It was a nickname from Jack’s first growth spurt. “Just remembered, I got a surprise for ya. Picked up a full-bird colonel for your collection.”
“Wow,” Audra said, “that’s amazing.” Then she whispered to Jack, “I have no clue what a full-bird colonel is, but it sounds very cool. And twice as good as a half bird, for sure.”
Jack’s mouth lifted, a shadow of a smile.
Meredith removed her garden gloves while joining them. “Dear,” she said to Robert, “why don’t you take Jack inside to play, and I’ll throw some snacks together?”
“As you wish, milady.” He winked at Audra and ushered Jack in the direction of the “music room,” a space that produced no music. The piano there, passed down through generations, apparently hadn’t been played since Meredith’s years as a music teacher. Now it sat in a tomb of canvas, retired—like Meredith—and being edged out by a battlefield. Spanning the room, more than a hundred tiny army men held positions behind Tupperware bunkers and bushes of packaged moss, soon to be joined by a full-bird colonel.
“Thanks again for watching him,” Audra told her by way of parting.
But Meredith cleared her throat, expression pulled taut over high cheekbones. Her hair was sleek and short in the fashion of an eagle, with eyes just as penetrating. “Audra, before you go ...”
“Yes?”
“I was hoping we could talk for a minute.”
The intensity of her tone told Audra to sprint for the car. What usually followed were strong “suggestions” of putting Jack in a contact sport, or signing him up for an outdoors camp, or sending him to the Sunday school where Meredith volunteered. However well-intentioned, none of those ideas would keep Jack safe in a world that refused to be controlled.
“I really do need to head out,” Audra said, but Meredith persisted.
“How’s Jack been doing in school lately?”
The detour was surprising.
Then again, Meredith and her husband would soon be watching Jack on Audra’s workdays, same as they did last summer. The status of his academics would be helpful to his progress.
“He’s good overall. His reading’s still amazing, but he could use more practice in math. When school ends in a few weeks, I’ll drop him off with workbooks, so you can quiz him if you don’t mind.”
“That’s all fine. But how’s he doing with everything else? With other kids, I mean?”
“He’s great,” Audra lied. “Everything’s great.”
“The reason I ask is—well, I couldn’t help but wonder. Have kids at school been playing rough with him?”
Audra blinked. He had never mentioned it to her.
Not that he necessarily would these days.
“Why? Did he say something?”
“He didn’t. I just noticed, over in the garden ... I know he tends to bruise easily. But there are quite a few marks on his arms.”
The bruises. From the plane.
Audra had informed Meredith of the basics—that Jack’s “disruption” from anxiety had caused the pilots to turn back; that in the wake of 9-11, it didn’t take much to shake up the crew. Had it been up to Audra, she wouldn’t have shared even that much with her in-laws. But a Port of Portland authority had warned her that if the media pounced, local relatives were rarely spared.
She had little choice now but to elaborate.
“The plane ride might have been more ... involved than I mentioned. When Jack panicked, he actually tried to get off the plane, and some passengers had to hold him down.”
A crease divided Meredith’s brow. “But—that doesn’t fit him. He’s always been so agreeable.” Audra couldn’t argue with this. “Did you explain to him what to expect? About traveling on airplanes? Maybe that would’ve helped.”
With Meredith, every moment offered a teaching opportunity.
“He never seemed worried,” Audra said, “until it came time to board. You know how fascinated he’s always been with those model planes Robert gives him. I thought he’d love it.”
“Mmm,” Meredith said simply.
The woman was problem solving, but her remarks only magnified Audra’s insecurities of parenting without Devon. She felt her defenses rise.
“Doesn’t matter now anyway. They’re not going to let him fly for a long time.”
“Ooh. I suppose they wouldn’t.” Meredith tilted her head, thin eyebrow lifted. “So, does this mean you won’t be moving to Philadelphia? Since you missed your interview?” She didn’t do much to hide her enthusiasm.