We came to a stop just inside the room that looked like it was covered in snow. Thick bubbles continued to foam from the top of the agitated Maytag, creating a waterfall of soap.
Cash’s eyes widened. “Oh, wow.”
Bradley Cooper dove into the white fluff, nipping at the air.
I sighed. “I tried to turn the damn thing off, but it just keeps going. I don’t know what to do. It's too heavy for me to move to unplug it.”
“Do you have any tools?” Cash grinned. “I’m going to need a wrench.”
“Uh… yeah.” I pointed to the top shelf where I kept Craig’s old tools. They remained up there because they were basically useless in my hands.
He nodded and moved to retrieve the worn and dusty tool bag, his muscular arm extending above his head. After digging around the bag for a moment, he withdrew what I assumed was the tool he needed and sprinted from the room with Bradley Cooper yipping in his wake.
I followed him and watched out the window as he jogged outside near the street. He opened what looked like some sort of secret portal made of cement. Within seconds, the house fell silent. The washing machine had finally turned off. I was both relieved and crushed. It had taken its last breath without me.
He crossed the yard and came back inside, and I followed him back to the laundry room. I watched as he pulled the machine away from the wall with what looked like very little effort. He unplugged it and flashed me a satisfied smile as my eyes welled with tears.
“Hey,” he said softly, moving toward me as Bradley Cooper danced at our feet. “It’s just some bubbles. Don’t worry. I’ll help you clean it up.”
“It’s not that.” I shook my head. “It’s stupid. I’m crying over a fucking washing machine. Craig and I got this damn thing the night before I had Grace. The one that came with the house had died that morning, and I was panicked because I’d waited till the last minute to wash her newborn clothes. I had a meltdown right here.” I pointed to the spot in front of the washer. “Because if I couldn’t even wash my baby’s clothes, how could I take care of her? I just knew I was going to be a terrible mom. Craig, being the saint he was, took me to Sears ten minutes before they closed. He bought this Maytag brand new and paid his buddy a hundred bucks to help him take it out of there that night just so I could wash Grace’s baby clothes.”
Cash gave me a wistful smile as he reached out and squeezed my arm.
“I ate pizza while he hooked these things up, and then he stayed up all night with me, making sure all of Grace’s clothes were washed.” The memory was vivid in my mind—the way he held me when I was just a pregnant heap on the floor. He laughed gently because, sure, he had a lot of doubts in the world. But my ability to be a good mother was never one of them. He never once doubted me or us.
“Well, the good news is that Maytag is gonna live to wash many more of Grace’s clothes,” Cash murmured. “Who knows—it could outlive both of us.”
“What?” I sniffled. “But I thought—”
“It’s just the inlet pressure valve.”
“I’m going to pretend I know what that means.”
He laughed. “A trip to the hardware store and I’ll have your washing machine working again.”
“Are you serious?” I asked, and he nodded. I threw my arms around him and felt tears of relief slip down my face. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
He folded me in his arms. “What do you say we mop this up, and then we’ll go to Home Depot and get the valve we need. Maybe pick up some dinner while we’re out?”
“I’d like that,” I said, but something was eating at me. If I was having a meltdown over a fucking washing machine because of the memories it held with my dead husband, was Ireallyready to date?
* * *
“His name was Cash? Seriously?”Cash asked incredulously as I swallowed the last bite of my orange chicken. We’d cleaned up the laundry room, gone to Home Depot, and picked up Chinese takeout on the way back. “Thatwasa sign. But I like Bradley Cooper. A good name for a good boy. Right, Bradley?” Bradley Cooper huffed. “How’d you come up with it?”
I choked on a laugh. “You know who Bradley Cooper is, right? The super famous,super hotactor? ”
Cash rubbed his hand along his jaw that was peppered with the perfect five o’clock shadow.
“The Hangover? Silver Linings Playbook?”I pressed my lips together, and he gave me a blank stare.“A Star Is Born?”
A look of recognition flashed across his face. “Oh yeah! I know that one. That ‘Shallow’ song was good.”
I shook my head and grinned. “We’ve got to work on your pop culture knowledge. You work with famous people, for crying out loud. You never know when Bradley Cooper will call, and if he does, I better be the first person you tell.”
Bradley Cooper whined and settled near our feet at the bright, coral kitchen table.
“Deal.” He stood and grabbed my empty container, piling it on top of his, and tossed them in the trash bin near the back door. “Now, let’s go fix this washing machine.” He extended his hand to me and pulled me to my feet.
