“Wow, look. She’s got real stuff growing back here.” Scotty’s voice was filled with amazement.
“I’m hoping you’ll help me with my gardens when you come over.”
“That would be fun.” Scotty plopped into a chair. “I could do that. Mom says I’m a good helper.” Silence descended on the three of them and Scotty sat still in his chair, staring at the garden. “Mom’s going to get better soon. I bet she’d like to see your garden. Maybe we’ll come visit you again after Mom is all better.”
“I think that’s a great idea.” Becky Lee fought to get the words out and the tears hidden. She cleared her throat. “I’ll go get the lemonade and tea.”
She returned with their drinks and a jigsaw puzzle she had on hand from the last time she’d watched Bella’s boys. “You like puzzles?”
“Yep.” Scotty opened the box and dumped the pieces on the patio table. He carefully started searching for the edge pieces.
She and Cal sat and watched Scotty work on his puzzle. An awkwardness hung in the air between them. They made mindless chitchat about the weather and how quickly the afternoon storm had passed through leaving in its wake a cloying humidity. She was used to the mugginess, but she could see Cal wipe his forehead with a handkerchief and press the cool glass of sweet tea to his face.
“I better go in and finish up dinner.” She stood up.
“Let me help. Scotty, you okay out here finishing up your puzzle?”
“Yep.”
She and Cal went inside and he seemed grateful to be in the air-conditioned kitchen. “Not used to the humidity, I see.”
“I better get used to it since I start the construction job on Monday.”
“This is quite the heat wave we have going right now. Hopefully, it will break soon.”
“Hope so.” Cal looked around the kitchen. “What can I do to help? I have to admit, I’m not much of a cook. At all.”
“How about getting more ice out of the freezer and filling the glasses on the table?”
“That I can do. You know, TJ used to say I’d starve if I didn’t come by for dinner now and again. She’s a great cook.”
“Is she? I tried to teach her basics when she was growing up, but she never seemed very interested.”
“Well, she must have learned, because she’s an awesome cook. She’s really into healthy eating. She’d be appalled at the food Scotty has been having.”
“I’m sure she’d understand that you’re doing your best.”
“I’ve always moved around a lot in the last ten years or so. Never really had a place to call home, so never had more than a pot or pan to my name. I can just load up my car and move to a new place. I eat out. A lot.”
“Well then, a home-cooked meal should be a welcome change.” She pulled the lasagna out of the oven and set it on the stovetop to cool. She popped some homemade rolls in the oven to heat then pulled the salad from the fridge.
“This looks like a feast to me.” Cal looked at all the food with an appreciative and hungry gaze.
Becky Lee laughed. “Go call Scotty in for dinner and I’ll feed you, you poor starving man. Though I’m well aware of the amount of food you put away at the cafe at lunchtime.”
He grinned at her. “We growing men need our nourishment.”
~ * ~
They ate dinner while Becky Lee spent most of the meal asking Scotty questions. If the boy was curious about why this lady was asking so many questions, he didn’t show it. Cal was glad to see Scotty talking and enjoying the meal. It almost seemed… normal. Only nothing was normal at all anymore.
“Can I be excused? I want to finish up my puzzle.”
“You sure may. We’ll have some cookies for dessert in a bit.”
Scotty pushed back from the table and started to leave.
“Take your dishes over to the sink.” Cal nodded at the dirty plates, glad he’d remembered that TJ had always made Scotty clear his own place at the table after each meal. He was going to have to remember more of the rules of parenting. He didn’t want to mess things up.
Scotty took the dishes and placed them in the sink, then went back outside to his puzzle.
“He seems like a good kid. Nice manners.” Becky Lee watched the boy head out the door.
“He is. You should have seen him before. So full of life. Quick laugh. He and my brother… they were inseparable. My brother thought Scotty hung the moon.” Cal paused for a moment to collect his thoughts. Or his feelings. Or control the overwhelming wave of loss that pounded him. But why shouldn’t he feel sorry for himself? He’d lost a brother and Scotty had lost a father. And at this point, the boy had to feel like he’d lost his mother, too.