The Homecoming Hero Returns. Joan Elliott Pickart

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СКАЧАТЬ through the wall and expand.

      Back in the kitchen, Sandra sorted the wash into piles on the floor, then reloaded the basket.

      If they got a loan to purchase the empty building, she thought, they would be so deeply in debt, providing, of course, they could even qualify for the loan in the first place. She’d had a glimmer of hope when David had suggested the idea as it didn’t make sense that he would be thinking of expanding the store if he was planning to leave her because he just didn’t love her anymore.

      But then this morning he’d made that reference to how quickly the twins would be up and gone and she couldn’t erase from her mind the image of David following them right out the door when they left.

      Oh, David, she thought, wrapping her hands around her elbows. They had been so happy once, so in love, seeing nothing but sunshine and blue skies in each new day. They’d adored their newborn babies, shared the chores connected with twins and ate endless macaroni and cheese dinners while taking turns making up delectable meals they would pretend to be eating.

      But at some point—oh, when had it begun?—a distance grew between them. David’s focused more and more on the children and the store, hardly seeming to have time for her at all.

      It was too many years of just scraping by, she was convinced. Too many. David knew what he could have had as a professional ball player and resented the shattering of his dreams. If he ever forgot what his potential had been, his father was right there ready to remind him, having never forgiven his son for not achieving the goals set for him by the senior Mr. Westport.

      “Hanging out with dirty laundry?” David said, poking his head through the doorway.

      “What?” Sandra said, as she came back to the moment. “David, when are we going to discuss further the possibility of expanding the store?”

      “I’m mulling it over,” he said, “and I also want to meet with the accountant and get his opinion.”

      What about her opinion? Sandra thought. David had never really asked her how she felt about it, had just said it was an idea that had popped into his head and might, or might not, be the answer they were looking for.

      “Oh.” Sandra nodded. “Well, I thought you and I could sit down and make a list. You know, pro and con. Brainstorm the whole thing…together.”

      “Yeah, maybe. Listen, I’m taking the kids over to the city pool. Too bad you don’t like to swim because it’s at least a way to cool off for a while in this weather. Catch you later.”

      “Bye.”

      Sandra picked up the laundry basket and only then noted absently that David had cleaned up after the pancake breakfast. How many men would have bothered? She stopped in the middle of the room and listened as the voices and laughter of her family grew fainter and fainter in the distance, then disappeared, leaving only a chilling silence.

      As David and the twins walked slowly along the sidewalk in the increasing heat, David once again sang a country and western song.

      “So gross,” Molly said, rolling her eyes. “No one listens to C and W, Dad.”

      “I do,” he said cheerfully.

      “Well, no one young does,” Molly said.

      David hooted with laughter. “There you go. At thirty-two, my sweet, I have one foot in the grave. Humor the old man and let me enjoy my choice of music before I check out.” He paused. “Hey, I want to stop at the store for a second and make sure all is well.”

      “Great,” Michael said. “Can I get some gum?”

      “Sure, if you pay for it,” David said, glancing down at his son.

      “That is such a lame rule,” Michael said. “We own a store and I can’t even have a free pack of gum or a candy bar or a…”

      “Zip it,” David said. “We’ve been over this tale of woe more times than I care to count. You want it, you buy it, end of story.”

      “Lame,” Michael said.

      “Dad,” Molly said, “my friend Angela got pink braces on her teeth. Those little metal things they stick on there are pink. Really. Can I have pink braces since I’m being forced to go through this torture?”

      “We’ll see.”

      “Mmm. I hate we’ll see because it always seems to end up being no.”

      “Well, sugar lump, it all depends on whether the pink ones cost more than the regular ones,” David said. “We’ll investigate the situation. I promise. Okay?”

      “I guess.” Molly sighed. “I wish we were rich.”

      “Money can’t buy happiness,” David said.

      “Are you happy even though we’re not rich?” Molly said.

      “Yep.”

      “How come?”

      “Easy question,” David said, as they approached the area behind the store. “I’m married to your mother and we have two rather weird but fantastic kids.”

      “We’re not weird,” Michael said, laughing.

      “Can we vote on that?” David said.

      The trio was smiling as they entered the store through the back entrance. David swept his gaze over the interior and nodded in approval while inhaling the tantalizing aromas of fresh bread and spices that wafted through the air. Hanging plants and a cobblestone floor created the atmosphere of an inviting outdoor market. Attractive arrangements of the multitude of offerings beckoned.

      Sandra did all this, David thought, for the umpteenth time. She’d turned an ordinary convenience store into a charming and unique establishment. She was really something, his lovely Sandra.

      “Hey, Henry,” David called out. “How’s it going?”

      “Busy,” the young man behind the counter said. “Big run on bread, cheese and wine all morning.”

      “People know your mom bakes the best bread in the North End,” David said, coming to the front of the counter.

      “Yep,” Henry said. “So, Molly and Michael, what kind of trouble are you up to today?”

      “We’re going swimming,” Michael said. “We don’t have air-conditioning at home and it’s hot. You’re lucky it’s your turn to work in here where it’s cool.”

      Henry laughed. “I know. Now if the customers would quit coming in and disturbing me I could get my studying done. I’m never going to be a famous lawyer if I don’t pass these courses I’m taking.”

      David smiled and wandered around the store as the twins chatted with Henry.

      He was so lucky to have connected with the Capelli family, he mused. They were a big Italian bunch who took turns working at the store as their busy schedules allowed. Maria Capelli, the mother of the clan, provided fresh baked bread and Italian pastries, which flew СКАЧАТЬ