Patchwork Family

by Bonnie Tharp

  “The clerk said I could use the last four numbers of my home phone with a different prefix, so that’s what I’m going to do. It’ll be easier to remember.”

  “Peggy, could you do that, too, use part of our phone number?”

  “Ah, Gram. I wanted my own number.”

  Looking over Megan’s head, Regina stared into Peggy’s eyes, willing her to read her mind.

  “Well,” Peggy stammered, her cheeks coloring. “Okay, Gram, I guess that’s a good idea. It’ll be easier for all of us to remember.”

  Annabelle squeezed her granddaughter’s shoulder. “Thank you.”

  Regina nodded toward Peggy, who turned away in defeat. Her rounded shoulders soon straightened as the sale was being completed.

  “Oh my,” Annabelle said. “It’s almost time for my appointment. We need to get going.”

  “Not a problem, I’ll activate your numbers while you settle the bill,” the clerk said.

  Chapter 16

  REGINA FELT STRANGE being alone back in her dim old room with Sam and Sugar just down the hall. Thinking of the dog, she wondered where Sugar had slept. Had she stayed all night with Tad, or left in the wee hours to patrol and finally bunk with Sam? When Regina couldn’t sleep, Sugar would keep her company on the living room sofa, lying on her stocking feet or with her big head in Regina’s lap.

  Time to get up and get moving. Coffee is first, then getting the Sunday paper before anyone else.

  Sam was an early riser, too. They often sat in companionable silence enjoying their first cup of the morning, content to appreciate the heady aroma.

  I can’t wait to get back to those mornings . . .

  It wouldn’t be long before the thundering children would interrupt. She felt she did better with the kids in small doses and had struggled to get used to the twenty-four-seven occupation. It won’t be for long, she promised herself, just until Annabelle is back to one-hundred-percent or maybe ninety-nine-point-nine.

  She wrapped her terry cloth robe around her nightshirt and smiled. Before she tied the belt, she looked at her form in the mirror. “Not bad for almost sixty.”

  Smiling, she shook her long hair sending it swinging at waist high.

  All this hair just might have to go. It had been a quiet act of rebellion forty-three years ago.

  Rather than a chignon at the base of her neck like her mother wore, Regina had chosen a braid to tame the long locks she’d refused to cut. Her mother hated it from the beginning, which was the main reason Regina had kept the style.

  “Time for another change,” she said, lifting it off her shoulders. She’d borne the weight long enough. “Too bad I didn’t think of it yesterday at the beauty shop.”

  Maybe they could get her in for a cut on Monday. She could donate her hair to the wig makers for cancer patients. Natural waves colored salt and pepper were still attractive. When Tillie lost her hair last year, she’d chosen to wear skullcaps that Annabelle knitted for her instead of a wig. Tillie would like the idea of Regina recycling her hair. Sam might be surprised, but she didn’t think he’d really mind.

  It’s only hair.

  Regina grimaced at the thought of all of the changes she’d gone through since Annabelle showed up on her doorstep that fall day two years ago. Her surprise arrival after eight estranged years irritated Regina then saddened her. She had resigned herself to the fact that the cousins would probably never be close. But, they could help each other. Family was supposed to do that kind of thing. And now, two years later, they had both mellowed and matured, with a surprising intimacy having sprouted between them.

  The cousins had made peace with past differences of wealth and status. They were family and had even become friends. On that note, Regina decided it was time to get a move on. She’d call for an appointment as soon as the shop opened Monday morning.

  Sam opened his door just as Regina exited her bedroom.

  “Dibs on the bathroom,” he said.

  She retrieved a towel and washcloth from the linen closet, handing them to him.

  “Go ahead, I’ll go make coffee. I can brush my teeth and wash my face downstairs.”

  “Thanks. By the way, do you know where Sugar spent the night?” He looked around the landing and peered over the handrail to the floor below.

  “With Tad, I imagine. I doubt Ms. Pickles would let her near the girls’ bed. That’s cat territory.”

  “You’re probably right. Sugar will let Tad know when she needs to go out.”

  “No doubt.”

  He stared at her a moment, his head cocked to one side. “You look different.”

  “How so?” She stood on her toes and gave him a quick kiss.

  “You’re clothed,” he whispered in her ear.

  Regina could feel the heat rising from her neck to her cheeks. Goose pimples climbed her arms.

  “Good to see you can still blush.” He winked.

  “You’d better hustle or you’ll have to share the bath.”

  He patted her behind as she passed. “Right.”

  Her step energized, Regina descended the stairs on her way to the kitchen and her morning java. She heard the alarm go off in the girls’ room.

  There goes the quiet.

  Their door opened, and Regina called up. “Sam’s got the bathroom first today.”

  “I’m next,” Peggy said.

  “He’ll hurry. He knows he has to share.”

  The cat stepped into the kitchen while Regina finished making the coffee.

  “Good morning, Ms. Pickles. I’ll get your breakfast before Sugar comes down.”

  The three-legged cat crossed the room to her bowl. The huge dog bowls placed beside them were empty. The cat wandered over, sniffed then sneezed and walked back to her now-filled dish to start eating.

  “My, aren’t we the regal feline this morning? Eat up, dear. Sugar will give you a race for your meal.”

  Pulling cereal and granola bar boxes out of the cabinet, Regina set them in the center of the table. She took down bowls and spoons, adding them to the pile.

  Footsteps thumped on the stairs. Regina smiled, recognizing Sam’s heavy stride. A big man, considerably taller than her five-foot-nine, he had hands the size of dinner plates. She loved those gentle hands.

  “Good morning again, my love.” He kissed her before pouring himself a cup of coffee. “What’s going on today?”

  “It looks as though I need to buy groceries,” she said.

  “By the way, the cell phones were a brilliant idea. Peggy is so excited. She said you picked a red one. What’s your number, honey?” He sat down at the table.

  “Um.”

  Sam grabbed her around the waist and pulled her into his lap. Pinning her arms, he nuzzled her neck.

  “Okay.” She recited the number and made a token effort to struggle.

  “Great idea, using the last four digits from our home number. I only have to remember the prefix. I like it.”

  “What do you like?” Regina asked leaning against his chest.

  He kissed the base of her neck at the shoulder. “I like this spot right here.”

  She laughed. “You’d better let me go or someone will see.”

  “All right, but I think this crowd is old enough to understand love and affection, don’t you think?” He released his hold on her and she turned in his lap.

  “Maybe.” She tweaked his nose.

  “While you’re at the grocers, Sugar and I will take Megan and Tad to the park.”

  “Good idea. Expend some physical energy. They’ve been cooped up too much lately. I’ll fix sandwiches for a picnic lunch.”

  “You’re getting quite domestic.” His eyebrows rose.

  “Don’t get used to it.” She slid off of his lap and dodged the swip
e he took at her behind.

  “The kids can learn to help out. I just hope Megan will be off of her crutches soon, so she can enjoy her summer break,” he said.

  Regina filled the napkin holder and added it to the center of the table.

  “She’ll be better in no time, big guy.” Her blue eyes softened as she looked into his chocolate brown ones. “I think she feels more comfortable with you around.” She squeezed his hand.

  “Maybe I can be home to meet her bus after school Monday.”

  “She’d love that.” She caressed his cheek.

  “Who’d love what?” Megan asked from the doorway. She leaned a little to the left, her right toe balanced on the floor behind her.

  “I thought you might like me to meet your bus tomorrow,” Sam said.

  “Would you?” The little girl beamed and hobbled over to the table.

  “At your service, princess.”

  She gave him a quick hug. “That’s great. Thanks.” Megan poured herself some cereal.

  “Where’s your sister?” Regina asked.

  Making painting gestures on her face, Megan closed her eyes and turned up her nose with an air of haughtiness. “She’s putting her face on.”

  “Sounds scary.” Sam winked at Megan, who giggled in response.

  “Not as scary as she used to be. Probably ’cuz of Miles.” Megan batted her eyelashes and cupped her hands over her heart. “At least, she used to. He hasn’t been around since the accident.”

  Sam took a sip of coffee.

  “Was your grandmother up?” Regina asked, changing the subject.

  “She’s waiting for Tad to finish in the bathroom.”

  “At least he doesn’t have to shave yet,” Sam said. “That takes a long time.”

  “He has a whisker now.” Megan’s finger pointed to her chin. “I saw it. But he won’t shave it off because it’s his first.” Moving her thumb and pointing finger a quarter of an inch apart she continued, “It’s like this big and blond.”

  “Really? I guess he wants to admire it for a while. I know I enjoyed my first whisker.”

  “He looks at it every time he passes a mirror.” Megan informed the folks around the table.

  “Can you really see it?” Regina asked.

  Megan scrunched up her face like she was looking at a tiny bug and spoke around a mouthful of Cheerios. “If you look real close and there’s lots of light you can.”

  “Good to know.” Regina hid her smile behind her coffee cup.

  Sam pointed across the room. “Look, Ms. Pickles is making a statement.”

  The cat was sound asleep in the dog’s empty bowl.

  Megan’s giggle blended with Regina’s laughter.

  “Well done, cat,” Regina said. “Let’s just hope Sugar doesn’t decide to eat her.”

  “Naw, they’re friends.” Megan finished her cereal.

  Kissing both of them on the cheek in turn, Sam headed toward the door. “I’m going to wash my car. See you later.” He did a backhand wave.

  “Hurry up, Tad,” Peggy yelled from the foyer.

  “I’m coming. Don’t get your panties in a twist.”

  “Woof.” Sugar barked as they bounded down the stairs.

  Clearing the table of crumbs, Regina smiled as an energetic Tad bounded into the room like his four-legged friend. His grandmother entered a few sedate steps behind with her hair flattened on one side.

  Handing Tad a granola bar, Regina pointed to the back yard. “Take Sugar out. You can have cereal when you get back.”

  Peggy reached for the box. “If there’s any left.”

  “Annabelle, do you feel up to going to the supermarket with me?”

  “I think so. Peggy, would you like to come, too?”

  “Sure. What about Tad and Megan?”

  Regina shook her head.

  “Sam’s going to take the kids and the dog to the park this afternoon,” Regina said.

  “Sounds like fun. Can Ms. Pickles come, too?” Megan asked.

  “I don’t think she’ll enjoy the park as much as Sugar. Why don’t we let her guard the house while we’re all gone?”

  “She’s not much of a guard cat.” Megan watched Ms. Pickles step out of the bowl and curl up on the rag rug. She closed her green eyes.

  Regina and Annabelle exchanged a look of relief. This would be the first real outing, besides school, that Megan had been on since she’d broken her leg. Evidently, she was feeling stronger.

  “Why don’t you take my digital camera along?” Peggy poured herself a half-cup of coffee. “That way you can take as many pictures as you want. I’ll run up and get it after breakfast.”

  “Thanks, Peg.”

  Pouring equal parts milk and sugar into her coffee, Peggy stirred the concoction and took a sip.

  Annabelle smiled at her eldest granddaughter. “That’s very sweet.”

  “She’ll be careful. I trust her with it more than Tad. He’d probably drop it out of a tree or into the river.”

  Annabelle chuckled.

  IN THE EVENING, the children were lazing around the parlor with books and magazines while Annabelle mended. Sugar curled up on the floor beside Tad and the cat fell asleep in Megan’s lap. Regina sat with Sam in the dining room drinking coffee and talking in hushed tones when the telephone rang.

  “I’ll get it.” Regina crossed to the kitchen extension. “Hello.”

  “Hello, Regina, how are you?” Tom asked.

  Before disappearing into the kitchen, Regina motioned her long fingers for Sam.

  He followed and leaned in to listen.

  “What do you want?” Grinding her teeth and making a fist, she felt her chest tightening.

  “My kids.”

  “Are you sure about that?” Sam watched her mouth the words ‘it’s Tom.’ His eyebrows climbed his forehead.

  “They’re my kids. I miss them. How’s Megan doing?”

  “What do you really want?” Regina twisted the phone cord around her finger.

  “I’d like to come by and see them.”

  “When?”

  “Today.”

  “You’re out of your mind.” Regina looked at Sam. “We need a little bit of notice.”

  “Could you put Peg on the phone?”

  “Not right now.”

  Sam took the phone from Regina. “Tom, this is Sam Duncan. Maybe it would be better if you talked to me.”

  “Who are you?”

  “I’m Regina’s fiancé and the family lawyer.” Sam’s soothing voice made Regina sigh in relief.

  “Great, that’s all I need. You can’t keep them from me forever.”

  “Where can we reach you?”

  “I work at Jenny’s Diner on Douglas and Hillside. I’m there most days and some evenings, too, but that’s because I don’t have anything else . . .”

  “Okay, I’ll give you a call back with a convenient time.”

  “Whatever,” Tom said and disconnected.

  Sam set the receiver back in the cradle.

  “What should we do now?”

  “You all will have to decide that as a family.”

  Regina sighed. “He is their father.”

  “Do you want me to talk with him?”

  “Thanks, but I think I’ll nab Peg and have a talk with her first.”

  “Honey, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  She ignored his advice and walked through the dining room to the stairs. Regina hoped to make it without disturbing anyone, but that wasn’t meant to be.

  “Who was on the phone?” Annabelle asked.

  “Wrong number.”

  The look on Annabelle’s face told Regina she wasn’t fooling anyon
e.

  “I think it’s time I did a little sketching. Peg, there’s something I want to show you.” Regina waited until Peggy acknowledged her before leaving the room.

  “You should draw a picture of Ms. Pickles,” Megan said. “She looks sweet all curled up. Or maybe Sugar.”

  Rolling his eyes, Tad shook his head at his baby sister. “It’s kinda hard to draw a ball of fur, squirt.”

  “I’ll decide when I come back down.” Regina headed up the stairs.

  Peggy unfolded herself from the corner of the couch she’d commandeered and followed Regina.

  “What’s so . . .”

  “Shhh, not here.” Regina put her finger to her lips then gestured up.

  The two entered the sanctuary of the attic studio and Regina shut the door.

  “What’s the big deal? Am I in trouble?”

  Regina sat on the lone stool and faced Peggy. “That was your father on the phone.”

  “Just now?”

  “Yes.”

  Peggy paced the small room, arms folded behind her back.

  “Have you decided when you want to see him?”

  “Not really. I’m curious and afraid at the same time.” She wrung her hands and kept moving. “He never hit us kids, you know, only mom did that. But he used to get so mad at Tad.”

  Regina watched the antsy teen. “He was a kid with three kids. Young and stupid go hand in hand.”

  This whole situation isn’t fair for the kids or Tom either, for that matter. I wish I knew what to do.

  “Yeah. And he’s a grown up now. Where has he been all these years? He never called. He never wrote.” Peggy abruptly stopped and leaned toward her cousin. “What’s up with that?”

  Clearing her throat Regina decided not to censor the young woman’s words.

  Peggy has a right to her anger and she’s out of earshot of her siblings or grandmother, so no harm, no foul.

  “I don’t know. Maybe you should ask him that question.”

  “I’m afraid of the answer. What if he really didn’t want us? Could he have changed his mind?”

  “I wish I could tell you. But having three kids before you’re twenty-five is a hard way to grow up.”

  “Please, tell me what to do, Regina. I want to see him but I don’t, you know?” Peggy’s eyes glistened. “What would you do?”