“Yeah, whatever.”
“Well, thanks anyway.” Jewel went back outside and, sitting on the step beside her dad, handed him the water glass. “Drink this slowly.” She watched as he took little sips before finally finishing it off. She took the glass and asked if he was ready to go inside.
“Yeah. My chair.” He attempted to stand but didn’t have the strength. Despite Jewel’s attempts to get him on his feet, she couldn’t, so she called for Cooper and after a few aborted tries, the two of them managed to get him on his feet and slowly and precariously up the porch steps.
Finally, he was situated in his chair and, after being remindedhow to work the recliner mechanism, he stretched out and closed his eyes. Satisfied that he would stay there awhile, Jewel tiptoed back into the kitchen where Cooper was eating a banana.
“I think he wore himself out.” Jewel loaded a few dishes into the dishwasher, then paused to tell Cooper about the Saturday night barbecue.
“I already know about that.”
Jewel blinked. “How did you know?”
“Anna came by a little while ago. She brought me a video game she thought I’d like. She told me about the barbecue.”
“It’s nice that you and Anna are getting acquainted.” Jewel closed the dishwasher. She’d been cautious not to appear overly excited about this new friendship, worried that her approval could turn her daughter the opposite direction. Neutrality was the safe route.
“Yeah, Anna’s okay.” Cooper shrugged. “Now if you don’t mind, I’m gonna go try out that game.”
“Sure, that’s fine.” Jewel removed a pitcher of tea from the fridge. “By the way, did you feed the cat?”
“Mom.” She sounded exasperated. “Don’t you know I always feed the cat?”
“Well, I thought Grandpa still did it ... sometimes.”
“Seriously?” She rolled her eyes. “If we left that to him, poor Whiskers would starve.”
“Or live off the fat of the land,” Jewel teased. “You know he’s a mouser.”
“He still deserves some good food. And water.” Cooper’s expression softened. “He likes me now, even lets me pet him.”
Jewel raised her brows in mock surprise. “According to Grandma that’s no small thing. He totally ignores me. I guess Grandpa was the only one he ever warmed up to.” Jewel checked the thermometer on the kitchen window. “Gonna be hot today. It’s already eighty-five.”
“Tell me about it. I was helping Grandma in the garden and just about baked my brains out.”
“I noticed someone set up a sun umbrella out there.”
“Yeah, that was me. Some of Grandma’s baby plants were getting sunburnt and she was worried. It was my idea to move it over there, but she really liked it. She even sits out there sometimes.”
“Cool. I’m so glad you’re helping Grandma. And Grandpa too. Thanks, Coop. I know it’s not much fun being—”
“You don’t have to keep saying that, Mom. I’m not an infant. I get it. Okay?”
Jewel stepped back, holding up her hands. “Yeah. Sure. Okay.”
After another adolescent eye roll, Cooper grabbed a root beer and left. Jewel poured herself an iced tea and sat at the kitchen table, grateful for a moment of peace and quiet. Life with her parents on the farm kept such bipolar pace. At times she couldn’t run fast enough or even pause to catch her breath or think. Then suddenly everything would come to a screeching halt, and she wouldn’t quite know what to do with herself. It was confusing and disconcerting, and she was pretty sure it wasn’t going to get better.
14
Jewel
The second floor of the farmhouse was a furnace by five o’clock, but after a quick shower, Jewel felt ready to meet up with Aaron. Maybe she’d ask him for a recommendation for a contractor who could install a heat pump with AC into this old house. Otherwise, she could hardly expect B&B guests to stay in these second-floor rooms.
At the sound of a vehicle coming down the driveway, she looked out to see a big black pickup driving in, with a trail of dust behind it. She shoved her feet into her sandals and hurried down to see if it was Aaron. But her dad was already peering out the window, frowning with disapproval.
“Who’s that?” he growled.
“I think that’s the manufactured home man.”
