There Comes A Season. Carol Steward

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      Bryan picked a rotten apple and threw it at Kevin, hitting him in the stomach as he reached to the top of the tree for more apples, the surprise knocking him off the ladder. As expected, Kevin popped back up, both hands loaded, and ready to fire.

      “If you weren’t so skinny, you wouldn’t have even felt that.”

      “Boys,” a high-pitched voice hollered. “The baby’s diaper needs changing. I don’t know how to use these paper things.”

      “He’s your son,” Kevin bragged. “I’m only the uncle. That means, I don’t have diaper duty.”

      “Kevin, since you’re already on the ground, why don’t you give his daddy a break,” Lillian called.

      “Yeah, give me a break.” Bryan chuckled.

      At dinner that night, Kevin placed the meat loaf on the table and sat down. “The football team’s doing great You’ve taught them a lot, Bryan.”

      Sprinkling his food with salt and pepper, Bryan eyed his friend. “They’re eager learners. And the game’s still fun.”

      “Imagine that.” Kevin chuckled, pouring himself an over-size glass of milk. The ragged University of Colorado shirt, left over from their college days, was evidence of his friend’s dedication to the sport.

      Bryan knew that Kevin wanted to rub it in that he’d staged the entire winning fanatic episode on purpose. He wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of saying, “I told you so.” In his own mind, there was no comparing coaching three days a week to being a father.

      Jacob sat in the high chair next to the table, playing with a set of plastic keys while Bryan shoveled spoonfuls of strained fruit into his hungry son’s mouth as quickly as he could.

      “I have to be out of town Tuesday night. Do you want me to ask Laura to watch him?”

      “I can handle it. Pick him up after work Tuesday, then take him back to Laura in the morning, right?” He scooped another bite of mashed potatoes into his mouth. “No problem.”

      Bryan finished his bite then added, “You’ll go through his whole routine, won’t you?”

      “Yeah, yeah, bottle, play, diaper, eat cereal and fruit, play, then bed. We’ll be fine.”

      “No, it’s bottle, eat, bath, play, read a book, music, then, bed. Want me to write it down?” Bryan pulled a pen from his shirt pocket along with a pad of paper.

      “I don’t have to sing, do I?”

      “Whatever you do, don’t sing. You want him to sleep, don’t you? Laura gave us some lullaby tapes. I turn them on before he goes down.”

      “No bottles during the night?”

      Bryan shook his head.

      “Piece of cake.”

      Tuesday night, Bryan called from the hotel to check on his son and Kevin. They were getting along fine. It was him that was having difficulty. He used to enjoy the traveling. Since his son had arrived, he’d reassigned the accounts that required overnight stays to the junior executives. He hadn’t felt right flying off when he was just getting to know his little boy.

      This account was different. The owner of the company had requested Bryan, and his boss had given him no choice in the matter. Though he was grateful that his superiors had given him time to adjust to his new circumstances, he’d realized that it couldn’t last. Traveling was part of his job, an aspect that he could no longer delegate to others.

      It created a difficult situation that he’d ignored up until now. Expecting Kevin to fill in as daddy wasn’t fair. He’d already welcomed them into his home while Bryan looked for something to reinvest the money from his and Andrea’s home into.

      The arrangement was working well for both of them so far. When Bryan had learned about his son, Kevin discouraged him from finding a place of his own right away, claiming the adjustment would be easier with two of them. He’d been right. Bryan didn’t know how he could have managed alone.

      In the meantime, Bryan had invested his profits into the expansion of Kevin’s construction company. At the rate business was booming, Kevin would be paying back the money ahead of schedule.

      Bryan loosened his tie and kicked off his loafers, then turned on the evening news. After three reports of rising crime, he changed the channel, stopping to listen to the catchy children’s tune. What was he going to do when he had to be away for a week, or like the job in Sweden, a month? Something had to change.

       Chapter Seven

      Thanksgiving reminded Laura that even with all she’d lost this year, she still had much to be grateful for. That still wasn’t enough to ease the loneliness Todd’s death had created.

      Much about the day had been the same as always, family had gathered, the air was crisp, and the television continued to offer the traditional parades and football mania. Though everyone missed Todd, no one talked about him. That, too, had become a tradition in the short time since he had died. Pretending that everything was okay. That the pain, no matter how intense, would disappear if ignored.

      It didn’t.

      Even the call from Kevin had been a welcome break. After hanging up, Laura turned to her mother. “Bryan’s roommate just called. It turns out Bryan and Jacob stayed home alone today and Kevin seems concerned. Since we have so much food left over, I thought I’d take him some.”

      “I’m sure he’ll appreciate it, honey. Your dad and I’ll watch the kids. If he’s a football fan, maybe he’d like to come keep your father and brother company.”

      “Can’t hurt to ask.”

      Laura wrote down the address and got into the car. A few minutes later, she pulled into the driveway of Kevin’s home. She grinned at the image of two bachelors living here. Gathering the plates, she climbed the steps and elbowed the doorbell.

      Bryan answered after a long delay. “Laura! What are you doing here?” Before she could reply, Jacob tried to jump out of Bryan’s arms and into hers.

      “Happy Thanksgiving.” She held up the plates. “I thought you might enjoy this.”

      Bryan motioned her inside. His eyes narrowed. Laura set the plates of turkey dinner on a coffee table, then took the baby and snuggled him close. “Hi, Jacob. Are you and Daddy having fun?”

      “Just having a few beers and watching the football games,” Bryan mumbled, reaching for dirty dishes strewn across the table.

      “Sounds relaxing.” Laura handed him another empty beer bottle, then offered him a warm smile.

      “So, does your child care service always include complimentary, holiday dinners? Or am I a special case?”

      Puzzled by his mockery, she replied, “If you don’t want it, I’ll be glad to take it home. I’m sure someone there СКАЧАТЬ