“Not sure what I’m hungry for,” Jim said. He glanced back at Aden and nodded his head toward the fridge. “Peanut butter and jelly?”
Aden gave a slight shake of his head. While Jim went back to staring at the contents of the fridge and teasing Aden to creep closer, I watched Michelle. She was studying Jim and Aden intently. I glanced at the pair and saw Aden standing beside Jim, looking into the fridge. The little guy barely came to Jim’s thigh. Was she worried about Jim?
“I have some fish gill paste with broccoli,” Jim said just then. “Does that sound good?”
Maybe she did need to worry.
Aden quickly shook his head.
“Yeah, I don’t like it either,” Jim said. “It’s Emmitt’s. What about a ham and cheese sandwich?”
Aden nodded enthusiastically, and Jim had him assist in making us all sandwiches. The whole time Michelle kept a close eye on the pair.
Before we finished, Winifred’s car pulled into the driveway. I couldn’t wait to see what she’d purchased. A moment later she walked in, carrying three paper bags. I set my sandwich down and took one from her.
“I think you’ll be happy with what I found,” Winifred said to Michelle as she set two bags on Jim’s couch. “Emmitt, can you get the other bags for me? They are on the porch.”
There are some boxes we’ll want to store and show her at a later time, she added silently.
I set down the bag I currently held and went outside.
I listened to Winifred show the boys the ball caps she’d gotten them as I quickly moved several boxes into the garage. Winifred had found dishes and cookware and a few other household items for Michelle. She was right not to show any of it now. Michelle was...I shook my head. She was undecided about us, and housewares might come off as us pushing her to stay and likely send her running.
I grabbed the three remaining bags and noticed clothes for Michelle. Hopefully, she wouldn’t mind Winifred getting them.
I brought the bags in and set them next to the others. When I turned, I caught an odd look from Aden. A mix between suppressed laughter and guilt. I discovered why when I picked up my sandwich. Jim had taken a huge bite, and half of it was gone. I shook my head at Jim and ate the rest of my sandwich. I knew better than to leave food unguarded around him.
Winifred continued showing the kids the shorts, pants, shoes, sandals, and swim trunks she’d gotten for each of them. She’d even purchased new underwear and socks. Humans liked new stuff.
“Michelle,” Winifred said, breaking into my thoughts. “I hope you don’t mind, but I found a few things that I couldn’t resist getting for you.” She indicated the two remaining bags. “Would you like to see?”
Michelle nodded.
Like the boys, she had a full wardrobe that included shorts, two additional pairs of jeans, and several printed tees.
“I’ll let you look through the rest on your own,” Winifred said, stopping halfway through the second bag. “If something doesn’t fit, just let me know.”
“What?” Jim said in mock indignation. “No suit for her? Come on Nana, tomorrow’s the fourth. We could go to the lake.”
Please let there be a suit for Michelle, I thought to myself. I caught a movement out of the corner of my eye. Jim shoved something into his mouth.
“Of course I bought her one. She can look for herself.”
I looked at Michelle’s plate and saw her sandwich was missing. I elbowed Jim, and he grunted before swallowing hard. Michelle turned to look at us. We both found something on the walls to study.
Humor drifted from Aden and Liam. They both had witnessed Jim’s theft.
Michelle turned back toward Winifred and reached for her sandwich. She saw her empty plate then turned to look at Jim. He had the guts to point at me.
Aden burst out in giggles.
“Jim, if you can’t behave, you can go finish mowing the lawn,” Winifred said. “Boys, put your plates in the sink if you’re finished. Emmitt, can you help me take these up to the apartment?” She indicated the bags as she picked up two herself.
I quickly put my plate on Jim’s, then went to grab the rest of the bags. When Winifred asked someone to do something, it was best to listen. Jim put our dishes in the sink, then moved to go outside. With the riding mower still apart, I doubted he’d be mowing any time soon. Aden scrambled to put his plate away then followed Jim, same hitch to his walk and everything. I grinned as I headed up the stairs.
Winifred was already coming down them.
“Try to keep it all folded,” she said as she passed me.
I pretended to look puzzled but didn’t fool her. She laughed and kept heading down the stairs.
As soon as I was in the apartment, I started going through Michelle’s clothes until I found the swimsuit. It was two pieces. Winifred had my unending gratitude.
From the open window, I heard Jim begging Michelle to let him take Aden for a mower ride. Winifred scolded Jim and sent him to the basement to look for a mitt and a ball.
Then, I heard Winifred offer to watch the kids so Michelle could change.
I hurriedly put everything back into the bags and walked out of the door as Michelle reached the third floor. She gave me a timid smile and went into the apartment. She had no idea what that smile meant to me. A beginning. Grinning, I jogged down the steps.
Outside, I found the boys finishing their cookies on the porch. Liam glanced at Winifred and me.
“We would like to go upstairs,” he said quietly, reaching for his brother’s hand.
They were asking for permission to be excused. At their ages?
“Of course,” Winifred said. “Go see your new clothes.”
They went racing inside.
“Don’t worry,” Winifred said when she caught me looking after the boys. “We’ll do what we can to bring them around.”
“But will it be enough?”
Unable to just stand around and wait, I went to the garage and pulled out the push mower that Jim hadn’t destroyed. Jim had managed at least half the lawn with the riding mower before it broke, or he broke it. Either way, the rest needed cutting. After checking the oil and gas, I fired up the push mower.
Conveniently, Jim came out on the porch after I was already cutting a swath. I hated the noise within minutes and couldn’t blame Jim for taking the other one apart. Not only did it make it hard to hear much of anything beyond the drone of the motor, but it was hot work. I paused to take my shirt off and tucked it into the back of my pants.
A minute later, I heard Winifred call out that she was on the porch.
I glanced up just as Michelle stepped out. She was still wearing her old clothes. She caught me looking at her and quickly turned to Winifred.
“I wanted to thank you for the clothes, Nana,” she said, handing Winifred money. “And I was wondering if I could borrow a towel and shampoo for a shower.”
Tell her to keep her money, I sent Winifred.
Winifred looked at the bills.
I have more tact than that, she said silently to me before saying, “This is more than what I spent on the clothes.”
“It’s okay. I really appreciate what you did for us. It saved me from having to—it would have been boring for Liam and Aden, and I didn’t want to leave them alone.”
Winifred nodded as if in understanding.