Something Old - Dianne L. Christner [51]
“You got it.”
She opened her mouth to reprimand him, but he’d already moved away. Then she heard the sound of tearing tape from across the room.
After that, it went smoothly, the dispenser gliding along seams. They worked at opposite sides of the room, and just when she’d relaxed, his voice whispered, “I miss hanging out with you, like this.”
Her hand flinched. She could smell him, faint sawdust and stronger soap. She redid a crooked strip, not daring to glance at him. “Did you know I’m dating David Miller?”
There was silence, and then he replied, “I heard. Is it serious?”
“Now that would be personal, wouldn’t it?”
“Hey, you brought it up.”
“Only because I want you to back off. Give me some space here. I’m trying to tolerate you, remember?”
“Oh. Right.”
Later that evening, Jake opened the back door and stepped into his mom’s kitchen. His grandma Minnie sat at the table, and the sight squeezed his heart with tenderness. He strode over and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Hey, Grams.”
“Sit down and see what I made,” she replied.
Jake dropped into a chair and pointed at the picture in a magazine the older woman was viewing. “You made that quilt?”
“Yeah. I made it for my little girl.” As usual since she had developed Alzheimer’s, Grams was living in her past memories, believing that Jake’s mom was still her little girl.
“That’s pretty. I’ll bet she loves it.”
“Oh, she does. But she’s playing now.” Then the elderly woman started to her feet. “I need to make supper before the children come in.”
He glanced at his mom by the stove. “Mom wants you to enjoy your quilt. She’s going to make supper for you tonight.”
“She is? How thoughtful. Are you sure, dear?”
“Yes, Minnie,” Jake’s mom called. “Fried mush, your favorite.”
“No, you were always Dad’s favorite,” she rebuffed. For some time, she’d been thinking that her grown daughter was her sister Martha. Usually Jake and his mom just played along. The only time her confusion really bothered him was when she mistook him for her departed husband, and Jake’s grandpa, but the resemblance couldn’t be denied.
He kissed her on her cheek. “I need to go change before supper.”
“Hurry back. I want to show you what I made for my little girl.”
“Okay, Grams. I’ll be right back.” He looked over at his mom, and she gave him a nod so he hustled up the steps to his room. After his shower, he speed-dialed Lil while he finished dressing.
“So did she say anything about me?” he asked.
“She’s not talking to me about you. Except about your work. She’s pleased with that.”
The compliment gave him a great deal of satisfaction.
“But I can tell by the way she looks at you that she still cares. It’s like she’s afraid to be around you.”
Jake leaned against the wall and crossed his arms. “She told me she’s dating David. That she’s only tolerating me. She’s warming up, but too slowly. I’m almost done at the doddy house.”
“There’s still the building committee.”
He straightened. “She’s smart. And you’re right about her keeping her distance. I’m scared this isn’t going to work. I can’t stand the thought of that Miller guy and her together.”
“I have an idea. What do people do when somebody’s in the hospital or there’s a death in the family?”
Jake shrugged and moved to his window. “I don’t know.”
“Think, chump.”
Jake looked down over the flat fields, clumps of snow still evident. “They send cards and take casseroles.”
“Exactly. Well, you’re going to take her a casserole.”
“I know you think a lot about food, but that’s pretty stupid.”
“A good-deed casserole.”
“Go on.”
“She’s under pressure at work. Her boss gave her tickets to take Addison to the ballet. To her this is a stressful thing. You’re going to hold her hand.”
“I’m taking her to the ballet?”
“Sort of. Here’s the plan.”
Jake listened and realized that Lil was a genius at more than cooking.
CHAPTER 13
February brought Katy