“I do, too!”
Uh-oh, rebel in the ranks, Mona thought.
“You do not. Every time Dad tries to get you to eat it, you won’t even try it because it’s green.”
“Well, I’ll put some on everyone’s plates. Green things are good for you.” Mona smiled at her granddaughter. “You know where everything is now, right?”
“Guess so.” She stared at the cat, who stood and arched her back, more a stretch than a defense move, then looked to Mona for attention.
“What made Jakey so terrified of cats?”
“Mah— Our mother did not like cats. At all. One time at the neighbor’s, a cat scratched Jakey because he was rough with it, and she got all upset. She wouldn’t let us go back there anymore.” She reached for the napkin holder on the counter and pulled open the silverware drawer. “Just forks?”
“That’ll work. I think Grampy is going to have to build a stool so you can reach the cupboards.” And then I’ll have it to trip over in the kitchen.
They finished setting the table, and she sent Mellie out to see where the guys were.
Picking up Hyacinth, she stroked the cat’s head so the motor started. “How do we get that kid to like you, huh?” Hyacinth slitted her eyes and upped the purr power. “Well, I can tell you one thing, we’re not getting rid of you; you lived here first.” When she heard the guys coming in the deck door, she patted the cat one more time and set her outside on the step. “Try to stay away from him, okay?”
Hyacinth sat looking out over the yard, tail curled around her legs, the picture of an innocent cat.
Mona raised her voice to the kids. “Wash your hands good.”
Mellie called, “We are.”
When they were all seated at the table, Ken asked, “Who wants to say grace?” No answer. “Mona, how about you?”
“Ah, sure.” She’d been waiting for one of the children to volunteer. They all joined on the amen, but this made her wonder if the kids did say grace before all their meals and that jerked her thoughts back to Steig. How was he? Where was he? He should have flown out by now. To where? Lord, keep him safe. From now on that would be part of grace, including their daddy in the prayers.
Tuning back into the conversation, she heard Jakey ask, “Grampy, when is my daddy coming back?”
“I don’t know, but I’ll tell you as soon as I find out.”
“Do we Skype tonight?”
“No, Thursday. This is Monday.” Mellie could sound mighty grown up at times.
“Tomorrow is Tuesday?” Jakey asked.
“Good for you, little man. So you know the days of the week?”
“I learned it in school.”
“Preschool,” Mellie corrected.
“School!” His jaw set.
Mona and Ken swapped looks. Fortunately, she’d forgotten to put the drinks on the table. “Do you want milk or lemonade?”
Mellie looked at her. “Well, it was preschool. He goes to kindergarten this year, and I’ll be in the fourth grade.”
“Oops, something I just remembered. Your birthday is in two weeks.” Anything to change the subject.
Mellie nodded. “But Daddy won’t be here.” Her voice sounded so matter-of-fact, but her chin quivered.
“Your birthday?” Jakey spoke around a mouthful of bread and tuna salad.
“Don’t talk with your mouth full.” Mellie threw off the order as if she did so every day.
He stuck out his tongue, coated in his last bite.
“Ooh, ick.” She made a face to match. “Graaaammyyy!”
For sure, the honeymoon is already over. Mona shook her head. She had thought it would last longer than this. “Milk or lemonade?”
She brought her and Ken lemonade and the kids milk. “After we eat, you can mark your birthday on the calendar, and we can think about a party.”
“Cookies?” Jake asked when they were done eating.
“Sorry, we ate all the cookies. How about a Popsicle?” At least she had bought a bag of them at the grocery. She’d have to learn to shop all over again, taking the kids’ likes in mind.
“Jakey likes green. I like red.”
“I like banana best.” Ken joined the discussion. “They’re yellow.”
“Grampies don’t eat Popsicles!” Both kids stared at him.
“Why not? I like Popsicles.” He reached for their plates. “Mellie, do you know how to load the dishwasher?”
She shrugged. “Sort of.”
“Well, we are now going to have a lesson on dishwasher loading. Jake, you can learn, too.”
“And then Popsicles.” Mona thanked him with her eyes. “Outside.” Her phone chimed that she had a text. She stood. “I’ll go in the other room to stay out of the way of dishwasher loading. How about wiping the table off, too?” Maybe it wasn’t going to be so bad if Ken really pitched in, too.
Mona was glad she’d not checked the message in the kitchen. Steig. Boarding now. Will let you know more as soon as I can. I love you all. Thank you. No wonder they picked him up so early. She texted back, All is well. Love you back. God keep you, and went out to her favorite room so she could see the river. And let the tears fall.
This was not the way it should be. She and Ken should be on the road halfway up to the ferry to Mackinac Island, where she had reserved a suite with a view of the lake and the mainland for them to enjoy for two whole weeks. Hiking, fishing, taking photos—all the things he loved to do. She was going to take her crocheting and a stack of three books to read and others on her iPad in case she ran out. They would eat out, no cooking for two weeks; visit friends; and possibly even take some classes if interesting ones were being offered. Ken had thought they were going to the cabin where the guys and sometimes the women went fishing on Green Lake. She’d wanted to surprise him again, but this trip was not to be—at least not right now. She would call and cancel the reservations. Tears flowed again.
She wiped them away. “Tears are an absolute waste of time and energy.”
When she didn’t hear any kitchen noises, she headed up the stairs to return the last phone call. While dialing the number on the landline, the only phone set up for business, she reminded herself to smile. The first rule of business calls—smile, even if you didn’t feel like it. A smile made a big difference in telephone communications; she’d learned that lesson well. And taught it to others.
When the woman answered the phone, they exchanged pleasantries, realizing they had met some time ago at a Rotary meeting and Mona had shared her business card, another of those rules she had taken to habit.
“I see congratulations are in order, according to the spread in the paper.”
“Really? We’ve not even had time today to read the paper. Thanks for letting me know.”
“You’ll be impressed. They did a splendid job.”
“Glad to hear that. Now, how can I help you?” Mona listened to the woman with one ear and for the kids with the other. She’d not had to do that for many years—well, not really, because when Marit’s brood came, she got a chance to practice. But when they were here, she was not trying to run a business at the same time.
“We’re starting a nursery/preschool at our church, and we are hoping we can hire you to help us with the publicity and to plan a grand opening. So, I would like to meet with you privately first; then if you will draw up a proposal, we will take the next step.”
“What kind of a budget do you have for this stage of your dream?”
“I assure you, this is more than a dream. Another committee is working with an architect so we can make sure to meet the codes, not as a new facility but as a remodel.”
This was catching her attention. “And you plan to open after the first of the year?”
“Yes. Someone in our church has bequeathed this to the community. They were a highly thought-of couple in business and have laid out specific guidelines regarding budgets for setting this up and then maintaining it. Hopefully our school will be paying its own way before two year
s are out.”
“All businesses hope for that. When would you like to meet?”
“Would next week be all right?”
“Let me explain the ways I work the fee situation. On a project like this, I need to be on retainer with the first month paid in advance and will require hourly payment due on the first of the month for any hours billed beyond the monthly retainer.” Since she’d never anticipated a project like this, she was basically flying blind, but some business advice she’d read had talked about retainers. “Our first meeting will be gratis. What would you like me to bring?”
“Possible suggestions for a campaign and then can we brainstorm? I will e-mail you all the info we have so far.”
“Good. Once I am on retainer, I will gladly meet with your planning committee and go to work. We have basically seven months to make this happen.” She could feel a bubble of excitement starting in her middle.
“I know, but this whole enterprise is a surprise for all of us. Their stipulation was that it happen ASAP. I think that is what we are all committed to. How about we meet at Dorothea’s? Are you available for lunch on Thursday?”
Mona checked her calendar. “That will work. Can you please give me your contact information?” She typed it in as Carole with an e answered her questions. “Okay, I will meet with you on Thursday, May twenty-eighth, at noon at Dorothea’s.”
“I’ll make reservations. Feel free to call me if you come up with more questions.”
After they hung up, Mona sat staring at her computer screen. A great project that would make a difference. Only two questions: Was she capable of handling a project this size?…And the next question left her feeling just a wee bit sucker punched. What about the grands?
Chapter Thirteen
Time for bed, you two.” Mona tried to sound like they’d been doing this for years.
Jake looked up from his Legos. “I want Daddy to put me to bed.” He returned to what he was doing.
Mona and Ken shared a sad glance. If only they were waiting for Steig to return tonight. “Okay, guys, see the clock on the mantel above the fireplace?”
They looked where she pointed and nodded.
“You have ten minutes, big hand from the two to the four. Then I will start the bath running while you pick up your Legos, Jakey, and Mellie, you put your book back on the shelf with a bookmark in it. They are in the drawer here.” She removed one and laid it out for her. “Got it?”
Jake kept on with his Legos. Mellie nodded.
Mona wished she had asked Steig about bedtime procedures. Those two nights as she watched him do it were not enough. Surely he had a routine. He lived by routines. Until Angela left. That thought made her flinch. So many things she didn’t think to ask him. Dreading real confrontation, she was so tempted to just let them stay up until she could see they were tired. She used to allow her kids leeway in the summer. She stuck her crochet hook in the ball of yarn and tucked it into the quilted bag she kept by her chair. Lord, help us. Ken continued reading his book as if nothing was going on.
She thought back to the years when Steig and Marit were these ages. Ken was the one to read to them before bed. Okay, so change of plans. She went to the bookshelf in the family room, then called, “Mellie, could you please come help me choose a book for us to read?”
When the little girl smiled up from beside her, Mona asked, “Your daddy read to you kids, right?”
“When he could. Or our babysitter did.”
“Okay, we are going to have story time before getting ready for bed. See any on there you’ve not heard?” She pulled off Charlotte’s Web. “How about this one? We loved this story.”
“We have the movie.”
“Did you like it?”
She nodded.
“Good, then let’s read it unless you have one you’d rather.”
Mellie shrugged. “We saw it a long time ago.” Together they returned to the family room.
“Look at the clock, Jakey,” Ken said softly.
Jake glanced at the clock and, studiously ignoring his grandfather, continued to search out another Lego and attach it to the structure he was creating.
Mellie picked up her book, bookmark in place, and set it on the shelf. “Grampy said it was time; Jakey, put your Legos in the basket now!” He kept on, as if he couldn’t hear her. Mellie stomped over to him and nudged him with her foot, and not gently. “Come on, Jake, you know what to do. Put them away.”
She sounded so much like her mother that Mona flinched. She looked at Ken with raised eyebrows.
He pushed himself out of the chair and knelt by his grandson. “Here, just for tonight, I’ll help you so we can start our new book sooner.” He started to put some in the basket.
“No, I need that one for the wheel.” He took one of the pieces back out and set it in the pile beside him.
“Jake, it’s time for bed.”
“But I’m not done.”
“You can finish tomorrow. We can work on it together, how about that?”
Jake studied the truck he had half built, testing it by wheeling it along the carpet.
Mona watched the struggle and breathed a sigh of relief when Jakey started picking up pieces and filling the basket.
Ken smiled at him. “Good boy, now why don’t you put the one you are working on right on top so you can go back and finish it?”
Jake hesitated, then dug into the basket for another Lego. Ken snatched it out of his hand, tossed it in the basket, and stood up, bringing Jakey with him. The little boy struggled briefly and gave up.
Ken nodded and carried him away from the Legos. “Let’s go read our story.”
They all settled on the sofa, Mellie snuggled close against her grampy, and Ken picked up the book from the coffee table. “Ah, I remember reading this before, but it was a long time ago.” He settled Jake in his lap and opened to the first page. “‘Where’s Papa going with that ax?’ said Fern to her mother as they were setting the table for breakfast.”
Mona allowed herself a smile. Victory, more or less.
At the end of the first chapter, Ken closed the book and laid his cheek on the sleeping boy’s head. “I say, skip the bath and put him right to bed.”
“I say you are very wise.”
“Wait.” Mellie looked peeved. “You didn’t put a night diaper on him.”
“Perhaps he’ll be fine tonight.”
“No, he won’t. And he’s dirty and his clothes are, too.”
Mona nodded. “You’re right, but we don’t want to wake him up. Come on, Mellie, let’s get you a bath.”
“Can I have bubble bath?”
“You sure may.” Mona held out her hand. “And you get to choose what kind.”
“I never had bubble bath at home. But I like them.” She frowned. “I think I do.”
They walked hand in hand to the bathroom and Mona pulled her bath bottles out of the closet. She was glad now that this was one of her little pamper splurges.
Mellie smelled all three of the bottles, settled on lavender, and Mona dumped in a bunch.
Mellie watched the fragrant foam pile up. “Thank you!”
Mona hugged her close. “You are so welcome. Do you need help washing your hair? You don’t need to if you don’t want to.”
“Tomorrow?”
“And tomorrow we will all get ready for bed before story time. How does that sound?”
“You and Grampy, too?”
“Yep.”
Mellie giggled as she shed her clothes, then felt the bathwater, the giggles floating like the bubbles. “Perfect!” And climbed in.
“I’m going to go get my jammies on, but I’ll leave the door open a bit in case you need me.” Hyacinth met her at the door. She returned to the lavender-scented bathtub. “Mellie, Hyacinth is asking may she come supervise.”
“I never had a bath with a cat before.”
“She doesn’t like water much, and she really dislikes bubbles. But she likes to observe, and if you talk with he
r, she might even answer.” Mona lowered the toilet lid, and Hyacinth jumped up and sat down, watching Mellie as if assigned to her rightful job. “Call me if you need me.”
Mona met Ken in the hallway. “You got him down?”
“I took off his shorts and his shoes; those were the dirtiest. I think he’s like his dad, can sleep through anything.”
“I certainly hope so. I can’t figure out why I am so tired.” She followed him into the bedroom. “We didn’t get our walk in today—well, since the kids arrived.”
“Tomorrow. There’s always tomorrow.”
Sometime in the deepest dark of night, a piercing scream woke them. They both bailed out and dashed to the kids’ room. The screams were from Jake, thrashing in his bed, and from Mellie: “Jake, shut up! Quit it! Jakey!”
“What’s wrong, buddy?” Ken sat on the bed and gathered Jake into his lap. Jake just kept thrashing and screaming.
“He’s not awake. He wakes everyone in the house up, but he doesn’t wake up,” Mellie said matter-of-factly from the top bunk. “Ever since she left us.”
Mona reached up to pat her. “Does he have them often?” She never calls Angela Mommy. It’s always she. That thought was worth thinking about when she was more awake.
“Sometimes. Daddy says it’s night terrors. He says I don’t have to worry, so I don’t.” And she rolled over with her back to them, but she shuddered a little sob.
The screaming and thrashing began to subside.
Ken continued to hold him close. “I’ll stay in here for a while with him; you can go back to bed.”
“Thanks.” Mona returned to the comfort of her pillow, but she could not get back to sleep. Lord, how do we help these children the very best? And then she amended her fervent prayer. Okay, I’m not so much concerned about how best. Now I’ll settle for How Can We Do It at All?
But this time, prayer was not enough. Her brain was racing at freight-train speed, coming up with hideous scenarios and questions.
What if Steig was killed in the line of duty? Or by friendly fire, for that matter. It happened. Her mind dwelled on a casket draped in the American flag and flying home for the last time.
The Second Half Page 12