“When I went rummaging, I was hoping you’d stay. So, I picked up more than clothes.” She set the box on the island, opened it, and showed me a set of pots and pans. “There’s more in the garage. Do you want me to bring it all up?”
I smiled and nodded.
After the boys finished their beds, they went to find Emmitt and Jim. All four left the apartment, suspiciously quiet. I walked through the rooms, looking for what trouble they might have gotten into. Through the windows in my room drifted the sound of Aden laughing. I peeked through the pretty gauze curtains and spotted him playing with Jim outside.
Smiling, I went back to help Nana. We had a mountain of flatware, glassware, pots, and pans to labor through. While we worked, she asked about my research the night before and told me more about her friend, Sam, who was her age, mild-mannered, and sounded like a nice grandfatherly sort. She admitted that she humored him when he called for her input on the market, having no interest in it herself.
I didn’t notice how long we worked until Emmitt returned with two tired boys. The sun hung low in the sky. I glanced at the clock and saw it was almost eight. I hadn’t even thought of feeding them. Emmitt saw my frown and assured me they had already eaten dinner.
“Thank you,” I said to Emmitt. “Nana, I better get these two to bed. I can finish the rest on my own.” She smiled and left with Emmitt. My stomach chose then to growl, but looking at my brothers’ tired faces, I put off my own dinner to help them get ready for bed.
Liam and Aden excitedly tromped to their bedroom to get their pajamas on and then to the bathroom to brush their teeth. I thought they might fight going to sleep, especially in a separate room from me, but they didn’t spare that a thought. Instead, they both tried to claim the top bunk. I stepped in to settle it before it got heated. As the oldest, Liam had the top bunk. Aden pouted until I pointed out the bottom bunk made a better fort by adding a few extra blankets.
I kissed them goodnight, turned off the light, and left the door open. Even after they lay in bed, they giggled and talked until I reminded them if they didn’t close their eyes soon, they’d end up sleeping in and missing precious outside playtime. They quickly grew quiet.
I wandered back to the kitchen. Opening the refrigerator, I looked for something to eat. The vast empty belly mocked me. I’d moved our things but not the food.
Closing the refrigerator door, I crept to check on the boys before sneaking across the hall to snag some food.
Emmitt met me at the door. “Thought I might see you yet tonight.” He held a fork. On the end, he’d skewered a bite of grilled chicken. I grinned and popped it in my mouth. The temperature caught me off guard, very warm, straight from the grill. He’d probably timed it.
“I didn’t think you could hear through closed doors.”
“I can if I’m close enough. Just across the hall from a closed door, I can hear some things. Like footsteps.” He winked at me and stood aside so I could enter. Two plates waited on the island. “Will you eat with me?”
As if I could say no. My stomach summersaulted in the now familiar way it did when near Emmitt. I nodded. He smiled.
For the rest of the week, Nana and I took turns making dinner. When I cooked, I insisted the boys help me. I’d realized how little I did with them when we were together. So I made an effort to change that. They still went down to Nana’s apartment each morning to practice their ABC’s and do projects. Our refrigerator already sported two colorfully glittered works of glue and construction paper. In the afternoons, I practiced baseball with them.
Friday Emmitt cornered me with a request. “We’d like to give you a surprise tomorrow but need you to leave with Nana for at least three hours.”
I stared at him for a moment, knowing he meant without my brothers, and delayed answering. I’d been irresponsible with their wellbeing when I’d left them before. And I’d meant it when I said I wouldn’t do it again.
A flood of sunlight woke me. I lounged in the bed for a moment enjoying the novelty of my room. The quiet apartment told me the boys still slept. Sighing, I stretched and got out of bed. For fun, I walked to the closet and stared at my clothes. Sure, there weren’t many, but they hung neatly displayed, ready for selection. I picked a printed tee and cotton shorts and hurried to take a quick shower before the boys woke up.
When I finished, they still slept quietly snuggled in their new beds, so I decided to go talk to Emmitt. He hadn’t pushed for an answer yesterday after I made it obvious I didn’t want to talk about it. I owed him an explanation. I knew he just wanted to do something nice for me.