This morning I’d rushed out to meet Sully for an early-morning run, then a meeting at work. I had just enough time to run a few errands before we needed to prepare for dinner at the brewery. We were anticipating a busier night than usual. With the Reds of Christmas chamber event tomorrow night, some folks would get their celebration on by going out tonight too. We added staff for this evening as well as Sully and I both planning on being there tonight and tomorrow night. I was looking forward to a great weekend.
Pulling in the parking spot at the grocery store, I went over my list in my head. I only needed a few things, namely dog food and bread for sandwiches. I typically did one shopping trip every two weeks, but a few things got missed last time and I wouldn’t make it until the next week.
The store wasn’t packed but had an early-afternoon crowd. I grabbed a small cart and nodded at a few folks I recognized from the brewery. As I walked up the first aisle, I pulled the list I’d found on Ivy’s fridge out of my pocket. She had a list started too, and I figured two birds, one stone and all. Glancing down, I took in her list.
Green seedless
Fruit Snacks
Triscuits
Tampons
Not much there, but I wondered how particular Addie was about her fruit snacks. My nieces refused to eat certain brands when they were her age. And did Ivy go with Tampax? I know Steph had opinions about pads and tampons, and she had educated Drew and me well. The only pads in her world were the ones with wings. Otherwise, back to the store you go. Oh well, better to be safe. I grabbed my phone and typed out a text.
Me:Preferences on fruit snacks and tampons?
Sliding my phone back in my pocket, I headed into the produce section to grab some fruit. I tossed the bag of grapes in the cart and headed toward the fruit snacks as my phone vibrated. Finding a spot that was out of the way, I pulled out my phone and looked at the text from Ivy.
Ivy:Congratulations for sending me the strangest text I’ve ever received.
Me:Got your list off the fridge, Ivy, since I was going to the store. Wanted to make sure I got the right shit.
Ivy:And you’re going to buy tampons for me?
Me:Well, you have them on your list. Don’t you need them? Though, not to be selfish, but I hope you don’t need them soon.
Ivy:You’ve got a week before I need them, Jake. FYI—Never could have predicted that you’d not only pick up tampons without being asked or that you’d be discussing periods with me in a text.
Me:Babe, you’ve met Steph. Periods are a part of life, a fact she drilled into us, often. So, brands? Absorbency? Is Tampax the only brand?
Ivy:Nope, not the only brand, buy I do use Tampax Pearl, regular absorbency. And Annie’s Fruit Snacks.
Me:On it.
I swung into the fruit snack aisle, then through the rest of the store, motoring through in record time. My phone didn’t vibrate again until I was getting into the truck. Looking down, I shook my head. This woman was killing me.
Ivy:Thanks, Jake. Sometimes you feel too good to be true.
I wanted to find her parents and throttle them for making her grow up in a world where she wasn’t taken care of. Always. I also wanted to go back in time and meet her nana and thank her for being the one decent family member in her life.
Me:Get used to it, Ivy. I’ve got you.
Before I tossed my phone to the seat, I checked out the time. Addie would just be getting out of school in fifteen minutes or so. I was about a block from her preschool, so I turned in that direction and found a spot to park and fired off another text.
Me:I’m in the neighborhood for Addie’s school. Cool if I swing by and say hi to her and Teri?
I figured I could swing by the school and say hello to her before heading to the brewery for the night. It was crazy to realize that just a few weeks back I had never met the little girl. Now the idea that I wouldn’t see her until Saturday at the earliest seemed wrong. I’d met Teri last week when Ivy and Addie brought her into the brewery for dinner. Nice lady. I could visit with her for a few, see the kid, then hit the road to play with Chief a bit before work.
Leaving the truck, I followed a few other adults who all seemed to be heading toward Addie’s school, but no sign of Teri. I nodded to a few parents I’d stood by last month when I’d picked Addie up for Ivy. It was pretty cool out. I was grateful I’d actually pulled a jacket on this morning instead of just a heavy flannel. The snow that fell yesterday had all melted off in the afternoon sun, but the temp had to be just a bit above freezing. I glanced at the brick building, but there was no sign of the kids yet. Glancing at my phone, I noted that we still had a few minutes until dismissal and that I’d missed a text from Drew.
Drew:Sully called, I’m coming in to the brewery tonight in case you all need backup.
I thumbed out a message back as I felt the gratitude that was getting to spend time with my brother regularly after all these years.
Me:Works for me.
Drew:Where are you at?
