Hometown Reunion. Pam Andrews

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СКАЧАТЬ market wasn’t the only place he had to go. He’d just finished a job on Ridge Road. Now he had to get going on the café. He’d promised the committee an estimate in a week, and that meant he had to do the calculations this weekend. He planned to give them a rock-bottom price, not that he had any competition in the area, but he wanted to do what he could to help the town survive.

      “What are we going to do, Daddy?” Joey asked as he energetically shook the last serving out of a box of dry cereal.

      “Let me give it some thought,” Scott said as he measured out a scoop of coffee.

      “We could go to Uncle Cory and Aunt Doreen’s farm.”

      “Sorry. It’s too far for today.”

      Scott loved his older sister, but he wasn’t up to her incessant questioning about his dating life or lack thereof. He didn’t know why she was so gung ho to see him married again. Right now he didn’t have time for anything but Joey and his job.

      “Maybe the zoo,” Joey said hopefully.

      “Sorry, partner. We’re not going to drive all the way to Des Moines.”

      He had to give Joey the bad news that they were going to the big builders’ supply store. It wasn’t his son’s favorite place, but at least he wouldn’t have to have a sitter again this weekend. Scott had promised that he wouldn’t. He put bread in the toaster and milk on the table, then watched while Joey poured his own. Most likely he would spill some, but his son loved to be independent.

      “Remember when we went to Apple Grove and looked at that old restaurant?” Scott said.

      “Yeah, I liked Lori.”

      Scott was surprised that she’d made an impression on Joey. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t do for either of them to get too interested in her. She’d left Apple Grove once, and no doubt she’d do it again as soon as she could.

      “She’s going to cook there for a little while when I get it fixed up.”

      “I didn’t like it. It was scary.”

      “It’s old and dirty, but I’m going to make it nice again.” Scott patted his son’s uncombed hair. “It just needs fixing up, and you know that’s what I do. I thought you could be my helper today.”

      “How?” Joey liked specifics.

      “What I need to do is a little measuring, and then I have to make a trip to Bensen’s.”

      “That will take forever,” Joey wailed.

      Joey had trailed after his father too many times in the home improvement superstore. It wasn’t his idea of fun by any means.

      “I’ve been thinking,” Scott said. “I have a bag of wood scraps in the storage shed. Maybe it’s time to get you a hammer and some nails of your own so you can make something.”

      It was a bribe, but Scott was glad he’d thought of it. Joey didn’t have friends his age in the trailer park, and there wasn’t much for him to do when he wasn’t at day care.

      Joey’s enthusiasm proved it was a good idea.

      “Eat up while I get ready to go. We won’t have to spend much time at the café. We’ll leave after I have my coffee,” Scott told him.

      They weren’t going to day care. Joey could wear his shirt backward if he wanted to.

      It took longer to get going than Scott had hoped. Joey had to fill his backpack with the usual odds and ends, including Dizzy the Dino, who, his son insisted, liked to ride in the truck. Scott ate his toast, then took a few minutes to clean up the kitchen area and flip his bed back into a couch. They weren’t likely to have visitors, but he didn’t want Joey to grow up thinking it was all right to be messy.

      By the time they got to Apple Grove, it was after nine o’clock. Scott parked in front of the café and helped Joey out of his car seat, then took out the key Bess Raymond had given him. With his son at his heels, he went to the front door. It was unlocked. He stuck his head inside and called out loudly, not wanting to startle whoever was there.

      “Anybody here?”

      There was no answer, so he stepped inside, keeping Joey behind him. It was unlikely, but some transient might have broken in to spend the night.

      “Hello! Anybody here?” he called again.

      “Oh, I wasn’t expecting anybody. Hello! Hi, Joey! What do you have there?” Lori stepped through the swinging doors from the kitchen.

      “His name’s Dizzy,” Joey said, holding the plastic dinosaur up for her inspection.

      “Hope I didn’t startle you,” Scott said. She was like a burst of sunshine in the dingy café.

      She shook her head. “No, so many people have an interest in this place that I expect drop-ins. Well, Joey, are you Dad’s helper this morning?”

      “I’m going to get my own hammer,” Joey said excitedly.

      “Wonderful! Then you can build things like your daddy,” Lori replied.

      Scott was pleased that she showered so much attention on Joey. He was reminded of how kind she was, always concerned about other people. Even though they’d never dated, he’d always admired that about her.

      She smiled at him, and he grinned back to show her how much he appreciated the attention she was giving Joey.

      Did she know about Mandy’s death? He knew how gossip circulated in small towns, but possibly she didn’t know yet. He wasn’t sure how to bring up the subject, and the last thing he wanted was more sympathy. He’d heard enough platitudes to last him a lifetime. He’d finally figured out that saying conventional things helped people deal with a loss, but he much preferred to get past his wife’s tragic end.

      Had he been straight with Joey when he’d told him his mother had gone to heaven? Or had it been just another platitude? The important thing was that his son was comforted by the idea. He didn’t need to know how much Scott was struggling with his own beliefs.

      A year ago he’d made the decision to start Joey in Sunday school. He wasn’t sure why, but it just felt right to include his son in the life of the church, even though he didn’t feel moved to participate himself. Some day Joey would have to decide for himself what his beliefs were. Scott didn’t want it on his conscience that he’d failed to expose him to Christian teachings.

      Joey chatted with Lori as though he’d known her for ages. He didn’t usually take to strangers that quickly.

      Taking out the notepad that held all his measurements and specifications, Scott studied the pages. He needed to check a few more things, then wait for the exterminator to give him a copy of his inspection report. It would make a big difference in Scott’s estimate if he had to shore up the building the way he had the pharmacy.

      “Do you need any help?” Lori asked.

      “Thanks, no. I just have a few things to check,” Scott said. “What brings you here this morning?”

      “Don’t СКАЧАТЬ