Polly turned to look at Henry to see if he'd seen it, but he was leaning forward. "What do you think, Kirk?"
Kirk shrugged. "I've never worked on anything that’s been stripped down that far. I'm comfortable with the engine work, but those panels? I can't do that."
"I can," Henry said. "In fact, I'm looking forward to getting back to it. Nate and I don’t have the time to work on those Woodies. If you're interested in doing the work, I think there are at least two wives who would be thrilled."
"Who, me?" Polly asked.
"Wouldn't you like to finally have ours restored?"
"Who's going to drive it?"
Rebecca flung her hand in the air. "I will. That would be so awesome. Can't you just see it, Cilla? You and me and Libby and Kayla and Andrew and everybody in the world will fit in there."
Justin's face fell when she mentioned Andrew, but he covered. "I can help, too, Dad. That would be fun."
"Nate and I will help when we can," Henry said. "We had such high hopes. Then he ended up with six children and I ended up with all of this. If we didn't have to wait ten to twelve years to get those babies on the road, it would be awesome."
"Let me talk to Andrea," Kirk said.
She reached out and took his hand.
"No pressure," Henry said. "That's not what I'm trying to do. If you don't want to, it won't bother me. But trust me, even if you say no, and I ever get a few free moments to go out there, I'm taking you along. You have a gift. You shouldn't let it fade away." He closed his eyes and gave his head a quick shake, then looked back at Kirk. "Sorry, man. I'm really not pushing. I was out on a job site the other day and drove past the house where we found those things and started thinking about them again. I feel guilty that they're taking more abuse and cluttering up Nate's yard."
"He doesn't feel guilty," Polly said.
Henry laughed. "He does. Joss has asked when we're finishing those. He's talking about putting up another building to store them and his other cars. Get them out of the main shop."
"That's a huge shop already," Kirk said.
"It was already there when they bought the land. We put a new roof on and did a little renovation on it to bring electricity up to code, but otherwise, it was good to go. He was lucky."
"Sounds like it. Someday I'd like to have my own shop to go to," Kirk said. He turned to his wife. "I guess it will be ten or twelve years when the kids finally leave the house."
"I'm never leaving," Cilla announced. "You are going to have to put up with me in your face for the rest of your days."
"Don't worry," Andrea said, nudging Kirk. "I'll get her out of the house. All I have to do is ask her to clean up after herself and she’ll run like the wind."
"What are your plans, Justin?" Henry asked.
The boy blanched.
"He's the one who’s never moving out," Cilla said.
"Cilla," Andrea snapped sharply.
The girl rolled her eyes.
"Did I walk into something?" Henry asked Polly.
"Just a minor argument at our house," Andrea said. "No big deal. I want him to go to college; he wants to be a mechanic."
"Aren't there programs at the community college?" Polly asked.
Justin shook his head. "I don't need to go to college. If I can get a job, they'll train me. Better to learn from some of the guys who have been doing it all their lives than read it in a book."
"Better money if you get the education and the certification," Kirk said.
It sounded like they'd been through this several times.
"College takes a lot of money," Justin said. Then he shrugged. "You didn't go to college, Dad."
"You want to go into the military?" Kirk asked. "I did different kinds of training while I was in. Some of it will transfer to college credits. And it isn't like I haven't thought about going back."
"I don't know why you guys won't let me make my own decision about this." Justin blew a breath out. "I'm going to go check on the kids. I'll send the girls up to bed."
He left the dining room.
"Well, that was awkward," Cilla said when the back door closed. "I love it when we air the family fights in public, don't you, Mom?"
"Cilla, stop it." Andrea gave a small chuckle. "I'm sorry about that. He's nervous about his future. There was a small college that he figured he'd attend with all his friends and when we moved, we yanked that cushion out from under him."
"Would he go back there?" Polly asked.
"No. They're all moving on with their lives, doing different things. He was the linchpin for that group. Once he was gone, they made new friends and new life plans. It all changed."
"He wasn't that important," Cilla said.
"One more snide word out of your mouth, young woman and you won't be spending the night with Rebecca. You'll go home with us and be up early tomorrow working on those cleaning projects you promised to do."
Cilla clamped her mouth shut, twisted her thumb and forefinger in front of it and sat back.
Polly gave Rebecca a look that she hoped the girl would interpret correctly, and said, "Andrea and I will clean up if you two want to go upstairs."
"They want us out so they can talk about us," Cilla said.
Rebecca took her friend's arm. "Seriously. Shut up. Even I would make you clean a bathroom."
The whole room laughed and Cilla stood. "Excuse my poor behavior. I'm a loathsome child who needs to be reminded of her lowly status." With a small bow, she followed Rebecca out of the dining room.
"I made her," Andrea said. "I fully admit that she's my daughter. Sometimes she wears me out."
"She's kinda fun," Kirk said.
Andrea smiled at him. "That's because you love me so much."
"That must be it."
CHAPTER TWELVE
One of the best things about Cat and Hayden’s ever-present guilt at being unavailable during the semester was that they were willing to stay home with the kids. Joss and Nate had hired Kayla, Cilla, and Rebecca to help with whatever kids came to the party with their parents, but tonight, Polly wanted to enjoy her time with Henry.
They were already in full-blown party mode at home. It had been a good day. Cilla and Rebecca were up at a reasonable hour and Polly got Rebecca to Beryl's house on time. She'd heard from Marie that Jessie was fine and Bill was comfortable enough to let her go back to her own home. Marie had sounded exhausted but at least she'd have the weekend to catch up on whatever rest she lost last night while keeping an eye on her guests.
Henry had been up and out of the house early again. He had a crew over at the salon since they'd lost time earlier this week due to the murder, and another crew was working on the project that he was rushing to get moving. He had promised to be home mid-afternoon, and at three thirty, he showed up. They'd gotten good work done and now he was free until Monday morning.
By free, that meant he'd be in the house. The rest of the afternoon he'd spent in the office.
Polly hated this for him. She did her best not to hate this for herself. She put him through so much all the time; there was no reason she couldn't do whatever he needed from her right now.
Justin had taken the girls out to the Mikkels' house earlier, so Polly waited for Henry. He'd said something about going out to put gas in his truck.
"Are you still here?" Elijah said, running into the kitchen.
"Why? Am I interrupting your plans?"
He sat down on the floor and wrapped his arms around Obiwan. "I'm a good boy. I wouldn't do anything that I'm not supposed to do."
"Of course you are."
"You don't sound like you believe it."
"Elijah, you can be the sweetest boy in the world when you want to be."
"But?"
"But that would get boring, now, wouldn't it?"
He stood up and preened. "That's right. I shouldn't get in trouble when I'm bad, then."
"Oh, that's not what I said. You have to learn how to balance the light and the dark sides."
"I could be Darth Vader," he said, dropping his voice.
"You'd make a much better Han Solo. A little ornery, but his heart's in the right place."
"He's always in trouble." Elijah said. "Just like me."
Polly's phone buzzed with a text from Henry that he was outside and waiting for her. She hugged Elijah. "I love you just the way you are. I always will. Now, that being said, be good for Hayden and Cat tonight. Got it?"
"I'll try."
"Do or do not," she said, patting his head. "There is no try."
Polly was smiling by the time she got to the back door. When she opened it, her smile widened. Henry had brought his T-Bird over from storage at the shop. She'd thought maybe he might do that but didn't want to let him know she'd guessed his surprise. He got out and walked with her to the passenger side, then opened the door and waited while she got in. When he got in the other side, he leaned over and kissed her. "You didn't even protest."
"I'm learning." She put the gift bag on the floor between her legs. "It's been a while since we've been out with no kids."
"We could skip the party and go rent a hotel room somewhere."
"You get to call Joss and tell her that we're not coming," Polly said. "I won't do that for any amount of money."
"If that's the requirement, then neither will I."
~~~
"We're always early," Henry said as they pulled into a nearly empty drive at Joss and Nate's house.
"Is that a bad thing?"
"No. Just observing and commenting."
She pushed at his arm. "I like to make sure that the hostess doesn't need any last-minute help."
"This is Joss we're talking about. I'm sure things are running like a well-oiled machine. Besides, aren't the girls here?"
Cilla, Kayla, and Rebecca were here, but Polly was fairly certain they were managing children. Children who would be ready to burst with excitement.
"No grumpy," Polly said. "We're here and we're going inside."
"When I turn forty, no birthday party. Got it?"
"Oh, like I could stop that freight train," she said.
"Why? I'm my own man. I get to call the shots."
"Uh huh. Tell that to your mother, to your sister, to your kids. Tell that to your employees and your friends. It ain't happ'nin, bubba. Quit'cher dreamin'."
"It was worth a shot. Now, sit still."
She sat and waited for him to come around to the passenger door. When he opened it, she gave him her hand and let him help her out.
Henry didn't say anything, just closed the door and wrapped her hand around his arm.
"I'm really trying to let you be a gentleman." She couldn't help herself. Something needed to be said.
"And I appreciate it."
She pressed the doorbell and moments later, Joss was there.
"Come in, come in," she said. "Nate's in the kitchen messing with the refrigerator."
"Something wrong?" Polly asked.
"Ice maker isn't working. It was fine all day and then twenty minutes ago, bloop. Nothing."
Henry was already moving that way.
"And you let Nate at it?" Polly asked with a laugh.
"It was either him or me."
"Do you need me to go buy some ice?"
Joss glanced back toward the kitchen and twisted her lips. "I think we'll be okay."
"Let me call Andrea. They hadn't left yet so they're probably somewhere between here and there." Polly took her phone out. "What do you think, two bags?"
"That would be plenty. I'll pay her for them."
Polly giggled. "Three dollars won't break the bank." She found Andrea's number and swiped the call open.
"Hey, Polly. Are you and Henry stuck somewhere? We saw him drive up in the T-bird."
"Joss's ice maker quit. Where are you?"
"We haven't left yet. What can we do to help?"
"Pick up a couple of bags of ice? Just the regular sized bags."
"We're on it. Tell her not to worry. The iceman cometh."
"Thanks. See ya." Polly tucked the phone back in her pocket. "She's on it. Anything else I can do?"
Joss shook her head. "We're ready. We'd probably be fine, but better to be safe than sorry, right?"
"We should tell the boys not to spend time messing with the fridge," Polly said. "Next thing you know, you'll have parts all over your kitchen."
"They wouldn't." A look of panic crossed Joss's face and she ran for the kitchen, leaving Polly in the doorway, chuckling an evil laugh.
"I'm a horrible woman," Polly said to herself. She jumped when the storm door opened behind her.
"What were you thinking about so hard that we startled you?" Mark Ogden asked.
"Nothing," Polly said, probably a little too quickly, but he didn't notice.
He stepped back while his tall, absolutely gorgeous wife stepped in. They were made for each other, though it didn't seem quite fair that so much beauty, brains, and decentness landed in one family.
"How are you?" Sal asked.
"I'm good. No kids with you either tonight?"
Mark shook his head vehemently. "No. If we're having fun with friends, we're doing it while the children are safe in their warm beds with dear Mrs. Dobley watching over them."
"What did you do with yours?" Sal asked.
"Cat and Hayden are with them."
"Even Cassidy? I can't believe she let you out of her sight." Sal’s tone was more than a little testy.
Polly scowled. "She's doing much better and she loves Cat. I do leave the house without her sometimes."
"Not very often. Seems like you always have a shadow. These days no one ever sees Polly without Cassidy."
Even Mark looked confused at his wife’s tone.
Polly tilted her head. She wanted desperately to snap back, but saw Sylvie and Eliseo coming up the walk, along with Tab Hudson and JJ Reynolds. "You wanna open the door for them? I'm going to find Henry." It felt weird. Sal wasn't usually one to snipe at someone over and over. It was almost as if she was asking for a fight. And it didn't make Polly feel very good that the first group of people here tonight were the same ones who had decided she needed an intervention yesterday. They had gotten together without her and talked about her failings. She felt tears threaten and gulped them back. This was a party for Nate. Whatever problem Sal had with her wasn't going to be managed tonight.
When she got to the kitchen, she stopped in the doorway. Nate and Henry had the refrigerator pulled away from the wall and Joss was standing at the back of the room, her mouth open.
"No luck getting them to stop?"
"It's like I'm not even here."
Polly stepped forward and touched Henry's arm. "People are here for the party. Andrea is bringing bags of ice. Is there another problem with the refrigerator?"
He looked at her, a curious frown on his face. "Huh?"
"If you can't fix this in two minutes, you need to let it go. You're stressing Joss out."
Henry turned to see Joss standing in place and did a slow nod. "Got it." He moved so he could get Nate's attention. "Bud, we need to let this go. It's going to take tools we don't have here and too much time. It's your birthday. Let's do something other than fix a fridge."
"I thought it would be easy," Nate said in protest.
"Maybe you could try for the easy fix tomorrow when you don't have a house filling up with people," Polly said.
"Yeah. You're probably right." He came out from behind the refrigerator. "Help me push it back into place?"
Joss sent Polly a look of relief and mouthed, "Thank you."
"You have more guests here," Polly said. "I let Sal and Mark in. She’s got the door now."
"I didn't even think. Nate, wash your hands and come out to the foyer. They're here for you."
"Yes, ma'am," Nate replied. He elbowed Henry on his way to the kitchen sink. "They really do run the show, you know. Avoid the fortieth birthday party if you can."
"Man, I tried and got knocked down for
it. Evidently, we have friends and colleagues who think it's important to celebrate our landing on the earth."
"See you out there." Nate tossed the hand towel back on the counter and headed out of the room.
Polly picked it up and hung it in its place, then wrapped her arm around Henry's waist. "So, I didn't tell you that my friends cornered me at the coffee shop yesterday morning to tell me that I was …" She drifted off and sighed.
"You were what?" he asked, turning to look at her. "What's wrong?"
She set her jaw, then said, "It was like I wasn't good enough. They told me that I was too busy and I should be better about asking people for help with my family and with cleaning and with my businesses. I tried to play it off, but it was really weird. Like they thought they needed to be all up in my life because I was doing a bad job of it on my own. And just now, Sal got really snide with me about Cassidy being my shadow." She pulled in a hitching breath. "The first four people out there are the ones who trapped me and I absolutely hate the idea that they were talking about me behind my back, discussing how I needed to be fixed. Henry, do I need to change what I'm doing?"
"I'm so sorry," he said. "I wish you would have been able to tell me about this earlier, but damn it, I haven't been there for you lately, have I?"
"That's okay. I talked to Andrea a little yesterday afternoon. Because, oh yeah, Cat decided to land on me, too. Telling me that I needed to stop trying to be a supermom and I should make the kids do more around the house. On and on. Like I need someone who …" She trailed off again. "No, I said I wouldn’t do that. She has to learn how to live her life and I'm not saying things about her when she doesn't know what real life is like yet. After that, I left the house to her and headed to Andrea's. She gave me Oreos."
He hugged her. "Oreos are always a good idea."
"I was fine with all of it until Sal decided to snipe at me again tonight. They’re probably out there talking about me, being all high and mighty about how I manage my life."
"They probably aren't, you know," he said.
"I don't trust them right now and damn it, I don't want to sit around tonight with them telling me how they have it all figured out."
"You know better than that, right?"
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